Looking down at his wrist, Tsukuru saw the number of his watch change from "8,210" to "10,710", making him smirk.
He went back into the Shop, and sold his glathrium knuckle, too. The knuckle had gone for 25 Bronze Coins. He chose the same options as before, and soon, 250 credits were transferred to his card, bringing his balance to "10,960", meaning that he actually had more credits than he had started with.
With that, Tsukuru dismissed the System screen with a flick. It broke down into square pixels, and faded.
With that, Tsukuru got up, and stretched his arms.
Hearing his yawn, Vorden looked up at him.
"Well, I'm gonna see where Quinn wandered off to." Tsukuru muttered, before walking away from the table.
As Quinn walked around the library, he remembered what Vorden had said. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to peruse the fantasy section. What was the worst that could happen?
As he entered the fantasy section, a book titled "The Truth About Vampires" caught his interest. He picked the book up, and began to quickly read through it.
Immediately, Quinn found that a majority of the book was useless, as it didn't relate to him. It stated that Vampires needed to drink human blood, could transform themselves into bats, and cast illusions and use hypnosis. None of those things applied to Quinn. The only thing he could relate to was getting weaker in the sun.
Eventually, Quinn decided to put the book down and call it a day. Quinn let out a long sigh.
He heard footsteps approaching him. He looked back, and saw Tsukuru standing behind him, the fantasy book closed, and in his hand.
"Hey, any luck?" Tsukuru asked, his eyebrow raised in confusion.
Before Quinn could answer, a System screen appeared in front of him. Due to Tsukuru being in close proximity, he could see it, too.
[You have gained more knowledge about the System. 10 Exp received. Exp: 15/100]
Both Quinn and Tsukuru stared at the message in surprise. They looked at each other, and shared a shocked glance.
"What?" Quinn muttered, dumbstruck. The two stared at the message and read it multiple times. "How did I get Exp from reading a fantasy book?" Quinn asked in confusion.
Tsukuru watched as Quinn began to pour over fantasy book over fantasy book. No new System messages appeared.
"Quinn." Tsukuru replied. Quinn's gaze snapped back over to him, seeing him with his face buried back in his fantasy book, which Tsukuru was quickly starting to believe wasn't fantasy, but rather long-lost history. "The simplest solution is usually the correct one." He replied. "Think back,what were you reading when you got the System message?" He asked.
Quinn thought for a second, then remembered that he got the Exp after he had finished reading a book about Vampires. Curious, he picked up another book about Vampires.
When he finished the book, no new System message had appeared.
"Nothing." Quinn muttered. Tsukuru shrugged his shoulders.
"Hey, what do I know?" Tsukuru replied.
The two walked back to the desk, and saw that Vorden was nowhere to be seen.
"Huh, could have sworn he was still there when I left a few minutes ago." Tsukuru muttered.
Tsukuru then began walking towards the librarian, a bored-looking elderly woman with glasses. She looked up as she saw him approach.
"Hey, can I borrow this?" He asked, raising the book to show her. The librarian raised an eyebrow.
"Hang on." She muttered, before wheeling herself away from him in her chair. When she was out of earshot, she pressed her finger on her wristwatch, and opened a com link.
"Head General Paul, a student wishes to 'borrow' a book." She replied.
Back in his office, Paul had received the call. He brought the watch up to his face.
"Which student?" He asked in a bored tone, hoping this conversation would be quick, so he could get ready for the upcoming meeting.
In the background noise of the coms, he heard the whirling of tires across a wooden floor.
"Hey, what's your name?" She asked in a bored tone.
Paul's eyes widened when he heard Tsukuru's voice from the other end.
"Hikiko Tsukuru, ma'am." He replied.
In the library, Paul's voice was audible to both Tsukuru and the librarian as he responded.
"Hikiko Tsukuru." Paul replied. "Which book is the one in question?" He asked.
Tsukuru looked at the book.
"Uh, a fantasy book, sir." Tsukuru replied. "'Dragon's Revenge: Reincarnated as a Human'."
Paul could be heard sighing from the other end.
"If it's just a fantasy book, it's of little concern." Paul replied. "Just take it."
Paul's response caused Tsukuru and the librarian to exchange surprised looks.
"Alright." Tsukuru replied, as he began walking towards the exit. "Thanks, I guess."
He joined Quinn as he was walking out of the door. When Quinn saw him approach him, he noticed the book, still in Tsukuru's hand.
"Don't you need to return that?" Quinn asked, confused.
Tsukuru glanced at him.
"They said I could just…have it." He said, equally as confused.
As the two walked out the door, another System message appeared in front of Quinn.
[Daily Quest 2 has been completed. 5 Exp has been received. Exp: 20/100]
"You completed a Quest just by staying cooped up in a library for a few hours?" Tsukuru asked.
Quinn snapped his head over at Tsukuru, almost glaring at him in indignation.
"It's to stay out of sunlight for eight hours!" He hissed, defensive, as they began to walk back to the dorms. "Don't you have 'Daily Quests'?" Tsukuru thought for a second.
Tsukuru tilted his head up, thinking for a moment.
"I have a Daily Quest." He answered. "But all I have to do is play video games or watch TV for ten minutes a day to complete it."
His words made Quinn stop mid-step. He stood there for a second, suddenly overcome with intense irritation and jealousy.
"Your System sounds so much better than MINE!" He hissed, before he resumed walking.
As the two turned a corner, they saw a boy being pushed against the wall by another student.
Seeing the boy in question, a look of recognition could be seen on Tsukuru's face, as he narrowed his eyes.
"Hey, isn't that Peter?" He asked, pointing at him.
As Quinn glanced at the boy against the wall, he recognized Peter's brown hair and glasses. It was Peter.
Glancing at the attacker's watch, Quinn noticed that he was a Level 1.2 Ability User.
"How pathetic." Tsukuru muttered.
Hearing him, the boy attacking snapped up to them.
"What was that, midget?!" He hissed.
Irritated that the bully had brought Tsukuru's height, or lack of it, into this, Tsukuru lifted up his watch, so the bully could see the "1.3" displayed on it.
The bully's eyes widened, as he realized he wasn't the strongest person in the group anymore.
Tsukuru opened his grip, as he prepared to activate his Ability. However, he then saw Quinn walk forward. Seeing this, Tsukuru closed his hand, canceling the Skill.
Seeing this, the bully sneered.
"Oh, yeah?" He asked. "And what's a Level 1 piece of trash like you gonna do?!" In
response, Quinn let out a long sigh.
"You know, I was waiting to see how long it would take for someone like you to appear." He muttered. "It seems I lost a bet with myself. I thought it would at least take a few days for scum like you to act out!"
The boy's eyes narrowed.
"What'd you say, punk?!" He snapped.
In front of Quinn, a new System screen appeared.
[An enemy Ability User has been detected. You have received a new Quest:
First Fight
Defeat your opponent.
Reward:
50 Exp]
As Quinn and the bully squared off, Peter took the chance while the bully was distracted to run over to Tsukuru's side.
"Come on, kid!" The bully taunted Quinn, his hands behind his back as he stepped forward. "What happened to your big balls?"
Quinn smirked.
"You seem to be playing with them behind your back." He retorted.
An audible snort could be heard from behind them, as Tsukuru was unable to stop himself from laughing.
The bully's eyes narrowed in rage.
"You little shit!" He snarled, before charging forward at Quinn.