chapter 45 park
After breakfast, Fighter and Kaizer went their separate ways. Fighter wanted to look around the central entertainment hub, while Kaizer went to see the matches between the second-year students.
Fighter's main goal was to find a specific item that could help him. He wandered around the shopping mall, the swimming pools, and the various recreational zones.
Fighter thought, Although the novel's description of that item was very vague, and it wasn't even taken by the MC... it was found by a minor side character who was briefly used in the first volume—in other words, a useless character. Who knows what happened to him after the first volume? Honestly, I hated that character anyway, so I don't feel bad taking something he never truly used.
Sometime later, the sky turned a bruised, bleeding red. It was late afternoon.
At last, Fighter dragged himself to the park. He was exhausted, and he hadn't even eaten lunch. He had practically combed the entire Middle District, but he still hadn't found a trace of the item.
Fighter spoke aloud in annoyance, "The novel should have been more descriptive! I like exploring, but my body is way too weak for this. I have to find it today—that bastard character had the nerve to say, 'I found it on my first day at the UCA.' Easy for him to say!" He added, gasping slightly for breath, "I know I have to fully explore and memorize the whole UCA layout. The real problem is how. At least Rechel could help me with that if she wanted to."
Rechal replied, [I did tell you that completing the first trial would make things much easier. Ok.]
Fighter complained, "I didn't hear a peep from you all day. I thought you fell into a deep sleep after dumping that first trial on me, and besides, I don't have the materials to complete it quickly anyway."
Rechal shot back, [You dishonest man, you have more than enough time to explore, which means you have enough time to work on the first trial. Ok.]
Fighter muttered, "For now, exploration is more important than the trial."
Why was Fighter pushing himself to map out the UCA as much as possible? Because of Kaizer. It wouldn't be long before the notorious "First-Year Hunt" began, triggered entirely by Kaizer's actions.
It was going to start in the Arena when a very important second-year student got beaten black and blue by the MC. Inspired by that display, many first-years would rise up against the upperclassmen, leading to retaliation where nearly all the second-year students would start hunting the first-years down. To keep himself safe, Fighter desperately needed a secure hiding spot—hence why he was mapping out the Middle District.
Fighter was nearly finished with the Middle District's layout. He had mapped out every place he could potentially run and hide, leaving only a portion of the park.
Fighter looked around. I think I'm near the west side of the Middle District. It had taken him nearly six hours. Just how massive was this district?
He was almost done checking the park, yet there was still no sign of the item.
Fighter sighed, "Maybe that item is actually in the North District."
He planned to head back toward the canteen, grab something to eat, and then resume his search later.
As he turned to leave, Fighter spotted an old manhole tunnel sticking out of the ground in the distance. From afar, it looked like a natural rock formation, blending seamlessly with the other stones around it.
Fighter's explorer senses were tingling.
At last... a sign of hope.