[Stella Academia] was an RPG with open-world elements, boasting a high degree of freedom.
But even so, it was still a 'game,' so there were inevitable constraints that came with it.
The biggest one was that when conversing or interacting with other characters, you could only choose from a set number of options.
There were a few things I'd always regretted during my countless playthroughs.
One of them was wanting to give Artel a break.
But there was no such option.
She was always doing something in the game.
Every time you saw her, she was either studying or training—one or the other.
To others, she might look like a born genius, but in truth, she was a hardcore hard worker.
Unfortunately, Artel's efforts were powerless against the flow of the fixed story.
As you progressed through the main quests, she gradually got pushed aside by the protagonist and the other 'real' geniuses with their overwhelming talents, her role shrinking.
Now that the game had become reality.
She was probably facing the same fate even now.
Honestly, I wasn't sure if I could change that massive flow.
But.
'At least, I want to give Artel a chance to catch her breath.'
She was just an academy freshman, barely twenty years old.
Yet she had to push herself that hard.
And the reason wasn't even something she truly wanted—it was for something else.
She wasn't enjoying it; she was suffering through it.
That's why I'd been casually friendly with her, cracking jokes and messing around up until now.
In hopes she'd loosen up even a little.
[A sudden quest has occurred.]
[Sloth is Best When Shared]
As I was thinking that, a perfectly timed quest popped up.
It was about spending some slothful time with Artel.
System, you bastard—you're likable sometimes, annoying others...
But this time, I approve. You've got heart.
So I said to her without hesitation.
"Artel, let's skip class."
A brand-new option that had never once appeared in the game.
***
"...What?"
Artel looked back at me with a baffled expression, like she'd just heard some foreign language for the first time.
"Skip class? What does that..."
"Skip the library and hang out with me instead."
I explained very kindly. She responded in shock.
"J-Jeron! It's still regular class time...! Even if the lecture ended early, we can't do that...!"
"The professor said it's self-study time anyway."
I shrugged nonchalantly.
"Is holing up in the library staring at books real self-study? Nah. Seeing the world firsthand, feeling it, experiencing it—that's true self-study, right?"
"...Sophistry."
"Oops, you caught me. But listen, Artel."
I took one more step toward her as she panicked.
"Eek..."
Her trembling blue eyes met mine.
What I was about to say.
Was what I'd truly wanted to tell the her on my monitor.
"I know how hard you're working. I know you're putting in more effort than anyone."
"..."
"But just working hard isn't everything. If you're always pulled taut like a bowstring, it'll snap someday. You need to ease up sometimes."
Artel looked deeply shaken.
"Or think of it as training for rest."
"Rest... as training?"
I kept pressing with that momentum, teasing her along until she finally gave in.
"Fine. But just this once..."
'Oh? Success?'
She caved faster than I'd expected.
Honestly, I'd thought she might flat-out refuse and fail the quest. Dodged a bullet.
Maybe my sincerity got through?
Or maybe Artel had been secretly hoping someone would say this to her.
She was so aloof that people didn't approach her easily.
No one had ever tried skipping class with her while she was studying—not like me, anyway.
The first place we headed was the academy cafeteria, which had quieted down after lunchtime.
'It should be around here. Ah, there it is!'
I spotted a white slice cake topped with a whole massive strawberry on the display shelf.
Strawberry shortcake.
One of the items in the game that got a great reaction when gifted to Artel.
Normally, you'd have to progress the story and build affinity first, but now's the time to feed it to her.
Sweet stuff loosens tension and opens hearts.
For the record, I paid with the basic pocket money in Jeron's wallet.
Sorry, Jeron. I'll use it well.
"Here."
As I set the cake and a glass of milk in front of her, Artel blinked down at it.
"Isn't this kid stuff?"
"Hey, it's training, remember? Eating something delicious is a key part of resting. You have to do it."
At my insistence, Artel reluctantly scooped up a bite with the fork. And then.
"...!"
Her eyes widened slightly.
Her tightly pressed lips softened just a bit, and her fork movements sped up subtly.
'Her reaction is delicious.'
Feels this good feeding someone? Guess I'm a Korean at heart after all.
After finishing the cake, we headed to the academy's sunny lawn.
I flopped right down onto the grass without a second thought.
Ahh, I'd always wanted to lie here in [Stella Academia]. Wish granted.
So soft and fluffy.
High-end maintained grass really has a different texture.
"Second training: spacing out."
"Spacing out?"
"Yeah, just sitting there with no thoughts. Empty your mind watching clouds drift by."
Artel stood stiffly, not knowing what to do.
I urged her on.
"Lie down quick."
She cautiously sat on the grass beside me.
She didn't lie down, just hugged her knees and gazed at the sky.
A clear blue sky with fluffy white clouds floating lazily.
Beneath it, we stayed silent for a good long while.
Just birdsong and wind whispering—a peaceful time.
She'd been fidgety at first, but gradually relaxed, staring blankly at the sky.
How much time passed like that?
'Feels like we've slacked plenty, but no quest complete notice yet.'
Not enough sloth for you, System...?!
Guess I need my secret weapon.
Healing's healing, after all.
I decided to take her to that spot famous among [Stella Academia] players as a hidden healing haven.
I went back to the cafeteria, bought a grilled fish, and headed to a disused warehouse corner at the edge of the academy.
"Why here?"
Artel asked, puzzled.
"Shh. Just wait."
As I wafted the fishy smell,
Sure enough, white and black cats started appearing one by one.
This was the academy cats' secret hideout.
They approached me without wariness, rubbing against my legs.
I crouched, flaking off fish meat and petting their backs.
Artel watched from a distance, eyes wide with curiosity.
"You try."
"I'm good. I've never been around animals..."
Before she finished, a tiny kitten toddled over and butted its head against her shoe.
Artel flinched and froze.
"Pet it. It's fine."
After hesitating forever, she tentatively—very tentatively—extended her hand and stroked the kitten's back.
The soft texture fascinated her; her touch grew bolder.
The cat purred happily, nuzzling her hand, and finally.
"...Hee hee."
A tiny, unmistakable laugh slipped from Artel's lips.
'Whoa!? She laughed!'
I was stunned.
Artel's laugh...! Paired with reddening ears, it was one of her rarest reactions.
Cats really are cheat keys? No wonder they say cuteness like that would've made them go extinct otherwise—it's violently effective.
Collecting two rare reactions just two days into enrollment? I'm kinda amazing.
Noticing my stare, Artel startled and quickly schooled her expression.
"...Staring like that is rude, Jeron."
She reverted to her cool face.
Long time no snark. Nice.
But it felt subtly different from before.
No edge to her tone, and her hand still gently petted the cat.
She cleared her throat and changed the subject.
"...S-So. Is the training over now?"
"Yeah. You pass. You did great."
[A sudden quest has been completed.]
[Slothfulness +200!]
[You can claim the 'Random Low-Grade Spellbook.']
I glanced at the quest completion notice and replied satisfactorily.
"But how'd you know about a place like this?"
Artel asked while petting the cats.
I brushed it off vaguely.
"...Cat-sensing instinct, I guess."
"You're definitely a weird guy."
Artel and I played with the cats in a now more relaxed atmosphere before standing up.
Just a short detour of a few hours.
But Artel's expression was worlds softer than this morning.
"Today's training was nice. Thanks."
In front of the girls' dorm, she murmured her thanks.
"I had fun too."
She nodded slightly at my reply, then turned and headed inside.
I returned to my dorm with light steps.
Gained some slothfulness, and got some healing myself on the sly.
Skipping class really hits different with a friend.
Especially dragging a diligent one along—double the fun.
Back in the day, I'd coax the model student friend to ditch cram school for PC bangs.
'Brings back memories.'
Weirdly, his grades went up while mine tanked.
Why? Still a mystery.
Lost in old thoughts, I reached my room, locked the door, and drew the curtains.
Then, without delay, I opened my status window.
'It's time.'
From the quest and my own slothful acts earlier, I'd accumulated 1200 slothfulness points total.
More than enough for the [Ultimate Growth Potion].
I opened the slothfulness shop and found the item I'd been waiting for.
[Ultimate Growth Potion (Legendary)]
[Consume 1000 slothfulness to purchase the [Ultimate Growth Potion]?]
"Purchase."
A shimmering glow bloomed in the air, and a palm-sized crystal potion bottle dropped into my hand. It contained a golden liquid radiating mystical light.
I uncorked it and downed it in one gulp.
'Hm? Actually tastes good?'
Like sweet honey water.
Whoosh!
The moment I swallowed, my whole body heated up like a furnace.
"Urk?!"
Felt like my bones were reassembling, muscle fibers rewoven.
Every cell reborn in a thrilling rush.
Like the bone-shattering rebirth from wuxia novels?
Soon, the heat subsided, and my body felt light as a feather.
I quickly checked my status window for changes.
Name: Jeron Airgia
Level: 22
Title: Stella Academy 1st Year
[Stats]
Strength: D (18)
Vitality: D (18)
Agility: C (25)
Intelligence: D (19)
Mana: D (18)
Luck +1
'Nice.'
Still way behind the top tiers, but now my stats matched a typical academy cadet.
My pathetic F-grade body finally shaped up.
This is legendary potion power...! So this is what roiding feels like.
I grinned in satisfaction.
"And..."
There was a blinking notification on one side of the status window.
[Unclaimed quest rewards available.]
When I confirmed, another glow bloomed, and a book popped out just like the potion.
The [Random Low-Grade Spellbook] from the Artel skipping quest.
"Please be something good...!"
Gacha time.