(Not) A Vanilla Levelling System

5

"For someone who looks like a loser, you have a lot of guts."

The prison was one of the place I should have stayed away from. I already had too many problems, and the last thing I wanted was to get involved in illegal matters.

Yet, here I was talking to a criminal about the possibility of selling a new kind of drug.

I don't think it's quite right to call it a drug, either.

During the first [Mission], I found out about this. It was about introducing the [Store] and the items I could 'buy'.

There were many categories, but I could only buy potions because everytime I try to explore it furteher, it always said "Your level isn't high enough."

The various [Missions] I had done also provided compensation. They included things like Gold, Charisma, and EXP Points.

L, I was very happy to see that my Gold balance had reached 100.

I thought it was real money worth a hundred grams of Gold, but it was just a way to trade things within the system.

Except for [Attribute Points] and [Skill], I was starting to think that this miracle I had received was pointless.

Before I saw that Potion.

[Health Potion]

Lv. 1

Price: 10 Gold

Restores 500 Health Points.

(Warning: Giving potions to non-players will cause unexpected effects.)

It seemed like the warning knew what I was going to do.

So, yeah, sure. This was all gambling.

Six of Shane's men were still waiting for me when I came out.

If this transaction didn't go well and the Potion I brought didn't work the way I wanted it to, this will be my end.

Shane asked, "So, where's the stuff?"

I looked at his face and it wasn't that bad.

Even though the pebble-struck eye was bandaged and probably wouldn't get better, Shane was as fit as ever.

I put down the bottle I was holding and put it on the table. Earlier, to avoid suspicion, I had poured the Potion first.

Shane looked unhappy and asked, "What is this?"

I gulped. "The stuff."

Shane looked at me for a second and then started laughing out loud.

Even the guard who was watching us from the doorway watching us from the doorway noticed and everyone was staring at us.

What was that laughter all about?

After that, Shane grabbed my shoulders, pulled me forward, and whispered in a harsh voice. "Hey, you have five seconds to tell me why I shouldn't kill you right away."

Wh-what? "Wait. I-I think there's a misunderstood here. I meant it. This is the stuff I kept talking."

"So, to sum up, you're the dumb, know-it-all teenager who would say that your rotten chemistry crafts is a drug?"

Crafts? "No, sir. It's ...." It's not worth arguing further. "Listen, sir. You must understand this is my last chance, and I'm not going to mess around."

"Yes, but you might fool me."

I gulped. I needed something to build trust between us. "Just like you, I need money."

"Everyone needs it, kiddo."

I had no more ideas. "All right." I reached for the bottle again, but Shane stopped me.

He asked, "What are you doing?"

I was surprised, to be honest. "I brought a gift and an offer. I already gave you a gift." I pointed to the big fast food meal I'd bought on the way here (it was the last of my money for the month). "But we didn't come to the deal we wanted. I'm sorry, but I'll have to offer this to someone else."

Shane made a chuckling noise. "So you have another bidder?"

"People are always excited to try something new. It has a great opportunity, maybe this 'other bidder' can see it the way I do."

Shane gave an unpleasant look. "You... threatening me? You?"

"N-no, sir. Just summing up what we talked about today."

Shane just looked at me for a very long time. It was a blank look that made me feel scared. Especially when both of his lips suddenly pulled up into a wide grin. "I'll give it a try. If I die, you die too."

*#*

What did he mean by 'give it a try'? Did they let him use it when he still in jail?

No, I didn't have to worry about anything except how to get out of it without getting hurt.

Shane gave me a chance for one more day, but I didn't know if it would work or not.

Even though I have [Skill].

"... I wouldn't even call it a game. I think I could beat them even if I didn't open my eyes."

"Hahaha, look at him getting pretentious. You bastard."

"I mean, since they finished second in the championship, I thought they were that good."

"Prove it then."

"Hm?"

"Now, throw as well as you did on the field."

"Here? Are you crazy? It's inside the class."

"Then what? It's great that they can see a world-class shooter play live. Here, think of it as a ball. Toss it."

And that's how I almost got hit in the head with an iron eraser.

Raising [Agility] seemed like the right choice. Quick reflexes saved me from another broken nose this time.

When I looked over, everyone was staring this way.

Carl, whom I thought was the culprit, was staring in shock.

"World-class shooter, huh" Jason said with a grunt of amusement.

Phil said, "I think you're just lucky, man."

"Either that, or he's just playing against the reserves."

Being the target of his friend's jokes, Carl came at me with a hardened face.

When I saw his face, I thought of something very important. Oh, I remembered. "Carl, about Jason-"

"Hey, you jerk." Again, Carl's tone was cold. "You did it on purpose just now, didn't you? Are you trying to embarrass me?"

"What do you mean?" It was a natural thing to do. Did he think I would just stay like that and let myself hurt?

"Meet me at the warehouse after school. Let's see if you really have the balls."

He turned around after that. Unexpectedly, something happened while my heart was full of both confusion and anger.

[DEFEND YOURSELF]

Some rude people are trying to scare you and put you down. Prove to them that you deserve to be respected!

Objective(s):

(*) Get Carl on his knees!

(*) (Optional) Use force!

I'm in a tough spot 

Even though Carl grew up to be a jerk, he was still a friend who I grew up with.

Indeed, his recent behaviour irritated me, but I didn't hold a grudge.

However, deep down, it makes me content.

Even though I didn't hold a grudge, I always thought Carl's actions toward me were too much, and as a good friend, I sometimes had to tell him to stop.

This mission gave me a reason to do that.

"Well, why don't we do it now?" I yelled as I got out of my chair.

Carl, who heard that immediately replied in displeasure. "What did you say?"

I've learned one thing recently: your chances of winning can be higher if you strike first.

I didn't need [Skill] to face Carl. We grew up together. I know what he likes, what he fears, and the weak points he tries to cover up.

However, I need to cross the boundaries I used to have to do that.

[Add +5 to POWER?]

[Confirm]   [Return]

Five points isn't a big boost, but that's not what I'm looking for.

Carl's hands are his best asset as a basketball player. The right hand in particular.

Carl has always been skillful. In sixth grade, he was chosen to be the leader of the basketball club. In junior high, he went out of town to compete in the junior national championship.

So, even though Carl and I were almost the same size, he fit right in with the cool kids at school.

It was his hand that gave him the gift. It was also the hand that made him as arrogant as he is now..

I should have taught him a lesson.

I try to grabbed Carl's right hand, twisting it until he was forced to turn around.

He was surprised by how quickly I moved and how strong I was.

I launched a follow-up attack when he was caught off guard.

This time it was the foot, right into his shin.

Carl opened his mouth wide and tried not to scream.

If I'm not mistaken, he was just bragging about his match from yesterday, right? So, that part must still be fragile.

Carl slumped down while grimacing.

To be honest, the back of my leg hurt as well. I shouldn't underestimate the hardness of athletes' bones.

Carl whimpered, "Bastard..." as he tried to hide his shame.

At that moment, I realized that everyone in the class had turned around and seen us fighting.

Crap!

But since there was no point in defending myself, I just continued a little more. "So, do I look like I've got guts now?"

*#*

[NAME: HARRY MCKANE

AGE: 16

LEVEL: 4

STRENGTH: ANALYSIS AND FAST THINKING

WEAKNESSES: TOO AFRAID TO MAKE DECISIONS

HP: 4000/4000

MP: 4000/4000

POWER: 15

VITALITY: 15

AGILITY: 30

INTELLIGENCE: 21

SPEED: 15]

So much crazy stuff is going on that I can't keep up.

Particularly about System. I did read the terms, but it was a quick read and I only got the big picture.

I just learned that each Mission can make me level up. Or the rewards were not just [Gold] and [EXP Points].

I could feel people's eyes on me as I walked and looked at my current status in the [PROFILE] menu.

Did the news about me defeating Carl in two moves spread that quickly?

I knew it wasn't right to be proud. I should feel bad and sorry, but the excitement of winning was too much to handle.

Let people sometimes look at me as the class president, not just because I look like a nerd, but as a person who can lead.

At least that's what I thought until I saw the front gate.

Because a group of scary-looking men were sitting right behind the fence up ahead. Asking the same student's name as each one walked by. Looking of someone: me.

It's Shane's men! When one of them saw me coming, he waved at me like we were old friends.

This time, there was no warning by the System, so it wasn't a sign of danger.

I went up to them, even though they were looking more and more strange.

This was hopefully good news.

One of them said, "Shane agreed." He's the only one left from yesterday's bathroom siege, he's also the one showed me the way to Shane.

"Excuse me?" I can't believe it.

"He wants to talk it further. I hope you have nothing else to do after this."

Actually, my homeroom teacher told me to talk to the discipline committee about something. But that could wait until the next day.

My safety is the priority now.

Also, the chance of getting money. "I don't have much choice, do I?"