Chapter 16 - Marksman Academy

Each class of Second Life Online has its designated academies. These academies are built to help the players grow more. The instructors give out quests to the enrollees as a substitute for lessons.

These quests or what the instructor calls as lessons also gives out rewards – skills, stats, and even equipment.

As much as it has big and pretty rewards, the academies are only accessible if a player from its class has finally reached level 30 and unlocked their respective class academies. However, as Yoshi was given a hidden quest from instructor Douglas, he was able to come here even if the class academy still haven't been unlocked.

"Manager! A level 16 marksman has arrived at the marksman academy!" A woman shouted as she was looking at a computer monitor which is displaying Yoshi.

"Quickly put your screen on the big monitor!" I said as I heard her shout.

Yoshi was displayed on the big screen and the manager was looking at the screen attentively.

"Mark this boy on our watchlist!" She said. 'How in the world did you get to this point so quickly?' She whispered as she was looking at Yoshi.

---------------------------------------------------

"Don't say a word, and don't shout," a voice said, "Now, walk until I say stop."

I followed the person's instructions and walked straight until we were in front of the table and chair.

"Stop! Sit on the chair." The person said.

I immediately sat down on the shabby wooden chair.

"Tell me, why have you come here?" The said with a scary tone.

I opened my inventory and reached out to the emblem instructor Douglas gave, "I-I'm supposed to give this to the M-marksman Academy I-instructor."

The person looked at the emblem and grabbed it aggressively.

"Who are you?" The person said.

"I'm Y-yoshi, and Instructor Douglas sent me to this place." I said nervously.

The person patted my back, "You should have said so in the beginning."

'Eh!? You were pointing something and someone's head.' I murmured.

As I felt that I was safe, I looked back and was shocked that I saw a grown woman with huge breasts, golden brown hair who was blushing and is rubbing the emblem on her face.

"Oh my darling Douglas, when are you coming to visit me?" She uttered with voice that is full of love.

'Simp?' I whispered to myself.

I asked the woman, "Are you both acquaintances?"

The woman said passionately, "Of course, we fought in the past war together. I was supposed to die by the enemy's sword but then he saved me." Her eyes were shining brightly with passion, "Ohh my darling Douglas."

As I saw the whole scene happening with both my eyes, I was disgusted by how she was acting.

The woman came back to her senses, "I'm Katelyn by the way. The best marksman in town!"

"I am Yoshi. I was introduced by Instructor Douglas to enroll myself here in the academy."

"Follow me!" She said,

We went outside the building and after a while of walking, we had arrived at a shooting range.

"To be frank with you. Looking at you, you seem weak and stupid, but because my dear Douglas had introduced you. I will accept you as my student.... if you pass my test on one condition." She uttered, "Shoot a bullseye on that dummy that is 300 meters away." She pointed to a dummy far away.

"300 METERS!?" I shouted.

"What's wrong? 300 meters is an easy feat." She said, "I can even hit a target 300 meters away with my eyes closed." She boasted with confidence.

"300 METERS! EYES CLOSED!" I yelled at her face.

"Stop with all these yelling." Katelyn grumbled. "There's not a lot of time to waste, just shoot the target. If you hit it, you pass. If you don't, come back here once you are stronger." Then she walked to the target and she stood beside it.

As I had resolved myself that I won't be going out of this building without enrolling myself to the marksman academy I became determined and hell-bent on passing the test.

I blurted out, "All of the status points to Dex"

[70 status points allocated to Dex]

[As Dex has reached 200 points passive skill Gun Mastery has leveled up]

[Gun Mastery has leveled up 2 - 3]

As I saw the notification, I was planning on checking out the skill but Katelyn was getting impatient.

"We don't have all day for this. Just quickly get this over with." She said as she was yawning.

As I saw her yawning and being carefree, I whispered to myself, 'I guess she really had expected already that I am going to fail this test.'

I quickly positioned myself and reached out the gunpowder from my inventory and I tore it off and poured half of it inside the gunpowder pan, and poured the other half on the muzzle. Reached out the roundball and put it inside the muzzle and grabbed the ramrod and pushed it inside to snug the gunpowder and the bullet together.

Then I raised the musket and aimed at the target. As I was aiming at the target I noticed that my hands were shaking. I was nervous, then I felt like my hands were becoming slippery. Maybe because of wanting to be enrolled in the academy so bad made me nervous. It was a first since I had played the game.

Katelyn noticed that I was nervous and yelled out, "Don't let the nervousness take over you. Regulate your breathing and clear your mind from all the other thoughts and just think about hitting the target."

As Katelyn told me, I followed her instructions.

I inhaled slowly, and then exhaled, and let go of a breath "Haaa~"

I did another one but this time it was longer and timed.

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.'

My eyesight became clear. My shaky and slippery hands disappeared. I gripped the musket tightly and then I pulled the trigger.

*Bang*

Smokes emerged in the air and a loud sound resounded on the shooting range.

As soon as he fired the shot, a notification appeared.

[You have learned a skill]

================

Lvl 1. Calm Mind (Passive)

Calming the mind and regulating one's breathing is an essential part of being a marksman. If you use it correctly the accuracy of your shot will greatly increase.

Effect: 25% Accuracy

Cooldown: 5 minutes

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He quickly scanned the screen and he smiled brightly. He closed the screen and approached Katelyn to know the result of his test. .

Katelyn gloomed, and as Yoshi saw her expression he was saddened.

"You pass," Katelyn said.

Yoshi couldn't believe what Katelyn had just said.

"I passed!?" He shouted in joy.

Katelyn slapped Yoshi's head, "Don't overreact, this is only the beginning."

I composed myself, "Yes ma'am!" But a smile just emerged as I thought again of me hitting the target at 300 meters.

A notification appeared.

[Hidden Quest - Enroll at the Marksman Academy (Complete)]

[You are now enrolled at the Marksman Academy]

[Raised familiarity with Katelyn - 10%]