(Not) A Vanilla Levelling System

7

Hudson seemed odd from the first time we met.

I tried to scan her with  while we were talking, but this is what I got:

[NAME: EVANGELINE HUDSON

AGE: (Unknown)

STRENTGH: (Unknown) 

WEAKNESSES: (Unknown)

... click to see more]

What does unknown mean? Even her age?

When we talked about System, I thought she was a fantasy novel or comic book fanatic who couldn't tell the difference between a fantasy world and the real world.

Until I witnessed something she did to Jason.

I'm just guessing, but it seems to me that she also has [Advanced Observation] or something similar. But, unlike me, she needs a physical touch. His process is also more complicated, and the results may be more specific.

If that's the case, I can see why System wants her to leave as soon as possible.

Her purpose doesn't make sense, either.

Why is she hunting people like me anyway? Does that make her stronger?

Wait. It could be possible That could be a good foundation. What I'm going through is almost like an RPG game. System also calls me a "player" a lot.

And most role-playing games have a PvP system. I played that sometimes when I was a kid.

If we win, we'll not only get more rewards than from missions, but we'll also be able to take the things of the people we beat.

Starting with [Gold] and going all the way up to [Skill].

Is that her intention?

"Hey!" Mom yelled and waved her hand in front of my face to get my attention. "Why you're so lost in thought?"

I quickly came back to myself. It was time for me to spend time and please Mom. 

I'll think about this matter later. After what she did to him, Jason wouldn't just let her go.

"I'm just wondering when you agreed to my request to be sent to the city to have the tumor taken out."

Mom's face fell right away. "I told you, forget it. That will not happen."

"Come on, change your mind. Don't you want to get better?"

"Yes, I do!" Mom said something in a loud voice, then sighed. "But, I'm a bit scared."

I smiled to try to get things going. "What are you so afraid of? They won't be bite. It won't hurt either. The doctors are more competent, and the tools they use are more advanced."

"Hey, keep your voice down. What if Dr. Reyes finds out?" Mom spoke up and looked worriedly behind her.

"He was the one who suggested this anyway." I didn't care.

Mom gave another shake of the head and sigh. "Harry, that's not all of it. I don't think any of this is right."

I was surprised and asked, "How?"

"I've been moved to a single room in first class all of a sudden. And now you're offering me this. You know that everything costs a lot, right?"

I clapped my hands. "I told you not to worry about money," he said.

"I should be worried, in fact. Where did all of this come from?" Mom's eyes turned sharp all of a sudden. "You ... talked to him, right, your dad?"

What? "Of course not!" Why did it have to have anything to do with him? "My friend and I found a great new business opportunity together."

"Is there a new business idea that can make a lot of money quickly?" Mom said in a suspicious way.

I wasn't sure because of something. "We've been thinking about this for a long time and made it happen months ago. Therefore, the results can be picked up now.."

Still, Mom wasn't happy. "You never told me about this before."

"T-that. because ... I didn't expect it to be succecced. Yes. If I tell you first, I'm worried that the results won't be what I want, " I said, then laughed nervously.

Still, Mom's eyes were narrowed.

I couldn't have been telling the truth.

What mother would be happy to know that her child is getting by on money from selling drugs?

But she didn't look like she had the strength to be suspicious. "But promise me you're not doing anything dangerous, right?"

"Of course." Of course, it's a lie, I meant. "Not at all, you can relax."

But I'm the one who isn't calm right now.

It's 5 o'clock in the afternoon, but Shane hasn't asked to meet up yet.

He told me not to come unless he tells me to. He didn't want me to get into trouble or be seen by the police.

Did he forgot? No way. Does that mean something is wrong? Should I give him a call?

In that case, I'd have to go outside and use a pay phone. Using my own cell phone for a suspicious stunt like this was dumb, even if it didn't make Mom suspicious.

"Where do you want to go?" Mom asked, seeing me rise to my feet.

I shrugged. "To pee. It won't take more than 5 minutes. I'll be right back."

I checked my phone again when I got outside. Was there really something wrong? Or is it ...

No!. No way!

What I gave him is one of a kind and its components may have never existed.

There's no way someone can replicate it... right?

What if there is, though?

Hudson said that he wanted to meet people like me. Does that mean that there are other people in the world who also have this gift?

"AAAAAAAAAAA."

Almost everyone, including me, turned to see what the shout was about right away. From the way to the bathroom!

Guards and male nurses crowded around it.

I and a lot of other people who were also interested followed.

When we got there, a woman was moving around on the floor. I knew this woman. "Mrs. Butterwell?"

The woman looked at me with fear and tried to touch me.

I went to her by cutting through the line. The male nurses were trying to calm her down at the same time.

"Oh, thank God, Harry, dear. Help me. Help me stop this madness! Oh, forgive me, Lord."

Something that scared Mrs. Butterwell enough to make her jump out of her wheelchair and scream like that must be very extraordinary.

I looked inside to see what kind of terrifying thing she had just seen.

Now I knew why she was so shocked.

In one of the rooms, there was a body that had been torn apart. Its eyes were still open when it died.

My stomach acid went up right away, but knowing who the dead person was made me throw up.

That ... can't be.

It was Shane's body!

Not only that, but there was a sentence written in red ink—maybe blood—on the bathroom wall.

THE JUSTICE HAVE SPOKEN. YOU'RE NEXT!

*#*

It must be someone in the same business as him. Certainly. There is no doubt about it.

There's no way it's Hudson's doing.

Shane's position and behavior make me think he probably has a lot of enemies. He's not even liked by his own men.

Also, Hudson still doesn't know much about me. Even if she did, I'm sure she wouldn't do something that bizarre just to threaten me, right?

Still, I had to be ready for whatever might happen.

To avoid wasting time, I tried to find out if System had any other features I could use to protect myself better.

The answer is: yes.

Some kinds of goods were available in [SHOP], but I couldn't get to them because I was still at a low level.

But since I had made it this far, I could go to at least one category in the [SHOP] other than [Potion], which was the [Skill] category.

I just found out that an ability as good as [Advanced Observation] is a Class C, which is one of the lowest.

Charisma is used to buy [Skill], and yes, I finally know what that is for.

But, unlike [Potion], [Skill] had a high benchmark price.

[Advanced Observation] alone costs 100 Charisma for level C. And none of the other choices were good enough.

Walking on water, extreme weather resistance (still has a limit), automatic reflexes (this is better if I maximize Agility at the same time as the attribute points I have), and sprinting (the same as automatic reflexes, but this time its Speed that I should maximize).

After a lot of thought, I finally chose this [Skill]. I think this is another [Skill] that shouldn't be in C-class. The ranking of this ability makes me a little confused.

[Purchase this?]

[Confirm]  [Decline]

"Tha's him!"

"Where?"

"Don't run, you bastard!"

At least ten people are there. Just waiting at the last turn before my house. Three of them were people I knew. They were the ones who attacked me in the hospital bathroom! That Silas guy and also the other two.

Did they want to go to the funeral of their boss and ask me how business was? So, who was in charge now that Shane was dead?

"Don't let him loose!"

No. I don't think that's their intention.

No matter why they're here, things won't go well for me.

Now I know what [Attributes] to add.

[Give Speed +20?]

[Confirm]     [Decline]

   

Afterward, I took wide strides and ran as fast as I could

*#*

This time, I didn't pass out. I had never used [Advanced Observation] or any other [Skill] yet. So neither my [Mana Points] nor my stamina were drained.

But no matter how far I ran, they always manage to catch me up! That's because they're using a motorcycle, while I'm just using the power of nature.

At this rate, I'll end up being caught, too.

I need somewhere to hide! One that can be counted on more! People usually don't pay attention to answers they think are too obvious.

The place where Shane and I usually meet, which they won't be able to guess and won't pass by.

It's a strange psychological myth, but I hope it's true know.

It was an alley between a closed-down factory and a trash dump.

Since there wasn't much light here, it would be hard for them to find me.

It took me five minutes to hear the last roar of the motorcycle. When it was over, I could only hear silence.

The air felt like it was empty. Even night animals like crickets weren't here.

It gives me goose bumps. Every time I left here to go home, I was also afraid of running into a ghost. ButBut, ghosts are the last thing I'm worried about right now.

Have they already left? Or is this just a trap to lure me out?

I should ... try looking in.

But I stopped when I heard someone else walking.

Too fast, and going in this direction

No way! Di-Did they know? So, they're really trying to trick me?

Behind the only bright neon light were two bluish eyes that looked very scary.

I had no time to even scream.

That person charged at me and knocked me down.

"Mr. Class Rep, I can't believe you're such a good actor."

I cried out in pain and tried to open my eyes.

I was surprised to see who was putting pressure on me and grinning at me. "Hu-Hudson?"