(Not) A Vanilla Levelling System

8

"Don't pretend to be dead. I won't be fooled by your acting again."

I wasn't pretending to be dead in the first place.

"Well, that's better," Hudson said when I opened my eyes and looked back at him. "I get a bit annoyed when the person I'm talking to doesn't look back at me."

While the girl was babbling, I tried to stand up and take the opening to escape. Wait, what is this? My hands ... are tied? Since when? And where did this rope come from?

"Ah... you shouldn't try to escape, or struggle. The rope I'm using has a unique technology. The more you try to untie it, the tighter it will get, perhaps to the point where it will rip and mince your flesh slowly."

I gulped. If this was a normal situation, I would have laughed right away. However, I think Hudson was joking she said that, and she also has the similiar power as me.

She had a system, and definitely had all sorts of strange devices that could be utilised.

"Good. You still have some common sense. Now, tell me, Class Rep, wait, you really are the Class Rep, aren't you? I can't take another lie," Hudson said at length.

I didn't respond. Hudson just sighed. "Silent treatment? Whatever."

"You've got this wrong. I can assure you this is all just a misunderstanding, " I said. It was a pathetic defence. But there was no harm in trying.

Hudson just shook her head and sighed. Her gaze seemed to say, 'Have you no shame?", before her mouth actually opened. "Huft... you're making this harder and more sickening." She grabbed something out of the air. From there, four bottles of liquid emerged, which were strikingly coloured and looked very familiar.

My potions!

"This is awesome, and stupid. But, still, it's awesome. Reselling Potions to ordinary people as drugs, I never even thought about it. No wonder the System chose you."

"So is this about that silly thing again?" I asked while gulping. "I told you, I don't know anything--"

"Then you want to prove it?" she said. Her face was now so close.

Wait, what... is she going to do the same thing she did to Jason?

Not that I'm going to hate it. Even if she's a bit strange, Hudson still a beauty. A tiny cute face, full lips, a long neck exposed by that ponytail, and her chest--

Tsk. Shit. What the hell was I thinking? 

That's when my forehead was flicked.

"You were just thinking dirty, weren't you," she exclaimed as she pulled away and chuckled. 

I blushed and looked away. She was just trying to tease me.

"You don't have to worry. I've got standards anyway," Hudson said again, which was a bit heartbreaking this time. "Anyway, I have something more effective.

I feel my cheeks being pinched.

No, it wasn't just a pinching The sting is longer and more pervasive. There was also a moist texture seeping out.

When I looked again, Hudson was holding a piece of glass similar to a preparation in chemistry practice with the centre stained with blood. 

I was sure it was my blood. My cheek had just been cut.

Hudson turned round, pushing the preparation against the invisible window. There's an invisible process she's researching right now. Just look at that awkward, seemingly causeless nod.

"Fighting type? Didn't expect that. And I had thought you'd be caught with a cheesier type. You know, mind games, hypnosis. Although that's fine, anyway."

I tried to rebel quietly again. And Hudson's words were instantly confirmed. It was like the rope had a soul of its own. It was like a vicious snake that could smell fear and use it to dominate its prey.

"You must be wondering why I'm doing this."

"Huh?"

Hudson chuckled. "Hey, hey. Don't start. I'm not going to tell you something that important. Or should I?"

"You look like you really want to do it. Why hold back? I won't remember anyway." And that could also give me more space to think. After all, this damn rope must have a weakness.

The antidote could have been found in [SHOP].

I opened the [SHOP] menu, scrolling with my mind power, trying to find something useful. 

I didn't have time to look at it carefully, but this thing offered quite a variety of items.

[Mana Healing Potion]

Lv.1

Price: 10 Gold

Restores 50 Mana Points

[Mana Recovery Potion]

Price: 1000 Gold

Restores 50% Mana Point

[Stamina Recovery Pills]

Price: 1000 Gold

Restores the body's stamina as before

[Booster]

Price: 400 Gold

Gives a 20 boost to all Status Attributes

[Strawberry Juice]

Price: 200 Gold

A strawberry variant juice concocted by the best bartender in the multiverse that makes you taste heaven.

Isn't anything here useful enough?

"What?"

Hudson's sudden shout made me jump. I looked up in alarm to see if she saw what I was about to do.

Hudson's eyes were bulging angrily and his hands were clasped around his waist. There's no way she can see this  ...., right? 

"Asking such a private thing to a girl on the third meeting? Huh, are the men in this world really not that polite?"

H-huh? "I-I..."

"But, well, I really wanted to share that. Keeping secrets is almost as hard as sticking to a diet programme, even though I don't need a diet programm anymore." Hudson chuckled by her own words.

While she rambled on, I kept nodding, then searched again.

Not this.

Not this.

Not this.

"Look, I came from a place that's not so different from now. Did pretty much the same thing you did. You know, silly things like making friends, studying, school. Adolescence, huh. But, this power came, offering me amazing things. Saying I can shape the future or something."

I just nodded while occasionally responding. "I see."

"But, it wasn't as wonderful as I imagined. The world fell into... what you could call an apocalypse. People with abilities like mine fought each other and boom, the human race was finished. I was the only one left."

"Okay." I'm still searching. Why is this potion list so long? Counting, it seems like I've reached the 20th page now.

"As the last human, I was called the winner and was privileged and allowed to participate in the next Tournament. It was fun, at first, but one day I met someone. You know, stupid childish love and it changed the way I thought. From there on, I tried to stop this so-called fun game."

"Yes, yes."

"But, I failed every time I tried. I couldn't save that person. My stupid love ended, but I still thought it wasn't fair. This crazy game ... should at least end. Hey, you've been out of earshot, haven't you?"

I looked up, smiling widely. "That's a great story, Hudson." That wasn't just cheap acting.

I think I found it, albeit at a high cost.

[Divine Presence]

Price: 700 Gold

Removes debuff effect for 3 seconds

That took all the money I had. The equivalent of 7000 dollars. I could buy anything for months with that money, and probably wouldn't be able to get it anytime soon.

But, I had to do it.

[Purchase this?]

[Confirm]       [Abort]

On second thought, despite the strange reaction, the texture of this rope was not too different from ordinary rope. Sticky, hard, rough. That meant, perhaps, this was really ordinary rope after all.

That meant that everything that happened was due to some kind of Skill. Perhaps an authentic ability that could make things become half alive or cursed.

It could be wrong, but I'll give it a try.

After all, the Item I bought just now had no physical form. It was a momentary flash of light.

After the glow disappeared, I instantly felt stronger. The effect of the [Booster] I took returned. 

With the additional Stats I gained, I tried to break away once more. This time it worked!

Hudson realised that. "Wait, how did you do that?"

I didn't have time to answer that ridiculous question. My body rose up, my legs lifted, and the effect of the Speed boost was immediately felt again. I took wide strides and started running.

I heard Hudson cursing, so loudly from behind. Like calling me a coward, a loser, a liar, or something.

Well, mock me all you want, I won't be affected. Fighting her would be suicide. Besides, fighting and losing to a girl would hurt my pride (if it still existed), even if she was a half-monster.

It had only been three seconds, and I had already reached the end of the alley. The atmosphere became more brighter and lively here.

Cars were passing by, a group of teenagers were hanging out and laughing in front of the burning barrel, while the sharp end of the casino about a kilometre away loomed.

As powerful as Hudson is, she wouldn't provoke a ruckus in a crowd. She might talk about erasing memories or something, but such an amazing skill would take up a lot of Mana Point, and brainwashing everyone would make her run out of steam first.

So... good luck with that--

DUAKKK!

I was hit by a car. My body was shaken and thrown backwards. If my body was still as fragile as before, I'd probably be dead by now.

I must be careful.

"You're a disappointment, Class Rep."

H-huh?

I stopped groaning, and looked up. A feeling of nostalgia filled me. Hudson was standing with her arms folded across his chest. Her face was sullen.

I gulped, and got back up while holding my stance.

"What, are you trying to fight me now?"

I should have thought about the possibility that she would be faster than me. I should have bought an Item that could attack, or paralyse her as well.

After all, what did I have?

 <<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>

NAME: HARRY MCKANE

AGE: 16 LEVEL 8. 

HP: 800/800

MP: 800/800

POWER: 15

VITALITY: 15

AGILITY: 30

INTELLIGENCE: 21

SPEED: 35

Skills:

[Calculative], [Balanced]

 <<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>

I should have added the POWER part. That would have made me three times the size of a normal human (though it probably wouldn't have matched Hudson's).

At least, I have a slight advantage in agility. No need to attack. Just lure, dodge, and then run back if the opportunity arises. "You don't have to do this, Hudson."

"Oh, I have to do this. Just give up. It's not going to hurt. Okay. It might hurt a bit, but that's how life is. Can't gain without a pain."

I needed something to provoke her. It seemed like she was rambling on about her life just now, too bad I wasn't really listening.

I think she was talking about love. That's the big point. He touched on it in a few sentences. "This is why you can't save him" I said.

"What's that?" said Hudson with a frown.

"The person you love. You were too busy taking care of people's problems, and let him die," I replied with a nervous smile. I could see Hudson's pupils dilate for a moment.

Was she angry?

"You don't seem to be listening to my story at all, Class Rep. It makes my heart hurt," Hudson said as she looked down.

Looks like I succeeed. Yes. Succeed in causing more trouble.

"But, you're right," Hudson continued. The girl leaned back, raising her hands in front of her, while a purplish glow radiated throughout her body. "I should show more seriousness in this matter."

I gulped.

Hudson didn't attack until a few seconds later.

Her two hands came forward at the same time, her range was far, my nose was almost hit and broken, but I managed to step back and argue.

My nose was hit and broken.

I don't know what happened.

The attack was similar to a grenade explosion. Although there was no direct impact, the wind of the explosion was just as destructive.

The fist stopped about five centimetres in front of my face, but I was sent flying. My nose was bleeding, stinging.

I let out a stifled scream, Hudson moved in, I stood up quickly, too late! Hudson's foot moved in a circle, her heel hitting my cheek as fast as a bullet and as hard as a boulder.

My brain was jumbled, my vision blurred. The next thing I knew, I was plummeting to the ground and the buzzing of the warning

[HP in critical phase! Please proceed to heal immediately]

[HP in critical phase! Please proceed to heal immediately]

[HP in critical phase! Please proceed to heal immediately]

I want to, but my energy was drained. My whole body is numb.

Let alone running, I can't even move anymore. 

Hudson looked down, saw my condition, and sighed. "I told you, there's no chance you could win, right," she said, holding my head. My head hurt more than ever, I don't know what she was trying to do. "Well, now go to sleep, forget this nightmare, and enjoy your life normally, okay."

I lost.