Chapter 8: Morning?
Monsters here were classified similarly to hunters, ranking from E to SSS. Each rank had roughly three stages as well. For monsters, they were Fledgling, Adolescent, and Mature. Hunters had the same, with Low, Core, and High stage. Terror-ranked monsters were the counterparts to rank A hunters, or paragons, and those guys were basically national treasures. After all, the highest-ranked human was still at rank S, or at the level of an angel.
’If I remembered correctly, the skinwalker was a Matured Terror.’
Its rank meant it had been able to slip completely unnoticed into the academy, infect a high-ranking official, and break its defenses. That alone was the reason for the massacre that occurred during the finals.
The only silver lining here was that I knew the identity of said skinwalker. I wasn’t sure exactly how I’d expose him safely yet though; for that, I needed information.
I tapped mindlessly on the keyboard.
’The skinwalkers weren’t the only events that occurred during the first year. Another part of the first volume is the character relationships and the overall academy arc.’
While it might have seemed trivial compared to a Terror-ranked skinwalker hiding within the academy walls, it was equally, if not more, important. Because it set the basis for which characters interacted with each other in the much later arcs and volumes, monsters were not humanity’s only enemies. Hell, the rival human factions were probably much more damaging than the monsters.
It was necessary to unite the cadets under a shared goal or faction, at least the high-ranking ones. Having them fall under the influence of rival clans and factions was a one-way route to a bad ending.
’Far easier said than done though. Still, at the very least I have to try.’
Those were my two main goals then — getting closer to main characters and exposing the skinwalkers. Thankfully, the first volume was relatively safe and normal. The hand of the father hadn’t yet made any moves, the church of the new mother was still relatively dormant, rival factions hadn’t begun open skirmishes, and the frontlines in Manchuria, far eastern Russia, and the shores west of the Sakhalin Islands were still stable.
Being trapped on Jeju Island for most of the first year, there wouldn’t be much I could do to influence any of these events.
’Even if I could, I am far too powerless to do anything.’
I sighed at the thought, rubbing my forehead.
I’d do my best while taking any opportunities that might pop up. There was no point in stressing beyond that. Worst come to worst, I’d just die again.
I’d rather not, though. I’d almost forgotten how it felt to live without cancer. Sure, while this body wasn’t the best — especially with that crazy burden — I’d take it any day over dying or getting cancer.
’Speaking of burdens...’
"Status."
A semi-transparent display popped up immediately.
[Status]
[Name: Victor]
[Rank: E-]
[Potential: SSS]
[Gift: Error]
[Abilities]: [Error sense]
[Error sense: Nothing is truly perfect. Even the word itself is not, as its meaning changes with context and setting. By setting a baseline and definition of perfection, the user is able to detect flaws in objects they are in contact with.]
[Artifacts (0/1)]
[Physique: None]
[Physique rank: E-]
[Burden]: [Cleansing]
[Cleansing: This world rejects the user, for they should have never been. They are an anomaly, an error, a virus, and a bug that will surely be cleansed. This cleansing manifests as an incurable disease in the user. Current effects: Fever, nausea, and weakness.]
The threat that had popped up earlier was gone now. Yesterday had been so hectic that I’d almost forgotten about it.
’Was it the system that sent it? Or something else?’
The system was sentient in a sense but had no will of its own. It was like an emotionless AI that only existed to serve the purpose it was created for. What said system was powered by — this universe’s soul — did have a will, though. But it was a primal thing, unable to articulate words and thoughts in any form.
’Did its will bleed into the system’s sentience?’
I found it unlikely, but it really was the only possibility I could come up with. It was the only one with access to the system that might have a genuine reason to hate me.
’It’s because I come from another universe, isn’t it?’
Like antibodies detecting a foreign object in a system, it was trying to flush me out. Which was exactly what my burden looked like.
’So, it’s that bastard that gave me this burden then?’
It interrupted me right before I’d seen my burden.
’Meaning I could have gotten something lighter? Fuck.’
I really felt like beating my past self with a pipe.
’Why did I even write this shit?’
I sighed. Running my hand through my hair, even after washing it, it still looked shaggy. I looked at the status screen again.
Apart from my gift and potential, there really was nothing worth talking about. No physique, no artifacts, and a rank of E- all through. I was a complete novice through and through. The only relatively supernatural thing I could even do was Error Sense, and I was skeptical of using that. My symptoms had calmed down a lot since the last time I used it; I had a feeling they’d flare up again the moment I tried using my powers.
Of course, I’d eventually have to use it again at some point. Certainly not now though — I wasn’t feeling like getting sick again.
I rubbed my forehead in frustration. At least I’d set some goals; still, at the moment I was completely powerless.
’I need to advance as soon as possible.’
For that, I needed resources. Being stuck on Jeju, the only viable way of achieving this would be performing highly in assessments. So, I added that to my mental list as well.
Now that my thoughts were a bit in order, I wanted to test something.
When writing, I’d only really expanded on things I found interesting or related directly to the plot, which meant there was a huge gap of vagueness I’d left that the world would have to flesh out itself.
’Can I fill said gap before the world does?’
It was a simple test, really. I would try imagining a fake company and see if it actually existed. If it did exist, it would mean I could preemptively fill the gaps or vagueness before the world did. Meaning, I could basically make things up in places I hadn’t properly defined or outright skipped in the story.
I imagined an ore extraction company called Nova Mines, operating in what was formerly Pyongyang, North Korea. Said company’s owner was Alexander Vladmir, the last member of a lesser noble family.
’This should be enough.’
I pulled up the interface. As though noticing I was at the desk, it automatically positioned itself above the metallic plate, its shape changing to that of a large monitor.
’Convenient.’
I pulled up the search bar, checking Nova Mines.
Nothing.
I tried searching Alexander Vladmir. A few popped up, but none were nobles nor did they have any affiliation with any mining companies.
’It’s a bust.’
Not that I wasn’t expecting it, but it was still worth the try. I had to try anything that would give me even the slightest advantage in this brutal world.
"Grrr..."
The sudden grumble of my stomach pulled me out of my thoughts.
’Oh right, I haven’t had a bite since I got here, have I?’