'What?!' I almost blurted that out loud as Celeste's profile popped up before me.
To say that I was in complete and utter bewilderment would be an understatement.
I swallowed, blinked, and even had to reread the profile again because I just couldn't believe it.
~~~~~~ Character Profile ~~~~~~
Character Name: [Celeste Anele Martini]
Age: [16]
Level: [17]
Grade: [2]
Element: [Fire]
Class: [Warrior]
Class Attribute: [Berserker]
Bond Name: [Lilith]
Bonded Ability: [Queen after Death]
Exclusive Skills: [Demon Queen's Chains - Lv9]—>[Conditions not met], [Thou shall not die - Lv10]—>[Conditions not met]
EXP: [500/10,000]
~~~~~~ ============== ~~~~~~
This… was just unbelievable.
'What do you mean Level 17?'
The protagonist of this game was at level 17, which made him the strongest first year at the moment. Everyone in our year knew this.
But now, I'm reading that Celeste too is level 17 on her profile?
How? How is that even possible? And how come no one knew about this?
Also, from my previous knowledge of the game, Celeste did not return after our first lunar eclipse, while many who were even weaker did. Which begs the question: how did someone this strong die?
I turned my gaze to look at her. The way she was shivering, huddled tightly against the wall with her eyes wide and unfocused, made her look like the weakest person in the cell.
How could she be this way, yet is the strongest first year, alongside Leon?
This made no sense at all.
When my head began to hurt from thinking about this absurdity, I decided to put the numerous questions aside for now.
Then something else on her profile caught my attention.
'Gamer Privileges. Pull up my profile.'
A different screen appeared by the side of Celeste's profile.
~~~~~~~~ Character Profile ~~~~~~~~
Character Name: [Cedric Anele Martini]
Age: [17]
Level: [9]
Grade: [1]
Element: [Darkness]
Exclusive Class: [Gamer]
Exclusive Class Attribute: [Gamer Privileges]
Bond Name: [Aika Soryu]
Bonded Ability: [Chrysalis]
Exclusive Skill: [Flames of decay - Lv1]—>[Can't be used]
EXP: [3,050/10,000]
Karma Points: [2345]
~~~~~~ ============== ~~~~~~
My gaze immediately went to the exclusive skill section.
'Just like I thought… It's different…'
Like Dion's, mine was showing can't be used. This was probably due to the anti-magic barrier.
But why was Celeste's own different?
Rather than can't be used, it showed conditions not met.
'Strange…'
Everything about this girl was strange.
Even her bonded ability, and her exclusive skills sounded overpowered. I couldn't help but wonder what they did.
'Gamer Privileges… can't you tell me what these abilities do?'
I waited for a bit, but there was no response.
After a moment, I sighed and scratched the side of my head.
'So Gamer privileges can't tell me that.'
Tsk.
It would have really helped if I could also tell what exactly the abilities did.
I turned my gaze from the screen to the cadets, precisely, Dion and Celeste.
'To get out of here, I need to work with both of them.'
I could maybe get Dion to work with me on a plan out of here, but… could I also work with Celeste?
'…No.'
She wouldn't even want to work with me in the first place as she probably also hates me. So…
'I'll just focus on Dion.'
In the meantime…
I looked back to my profile, more specifically, to the EXP, and the side of my lips curled up.
Just over a month ago, when I first checked it after Aika had killed the guy at the inn, I was only at five hundred. But in just a few weeks, I was able to raise it to over three thousand.
Most of that EXP came from my everyday training with Aika, as each training session gave fifty EXP. I had first noticed this after my duel with Damon, which also yielded fifty EXP. So I made sure I didn't miss a day after that. Since I did not miss a single evening of training for over six weeks, I ended up with a bit over two thousand EXP.
When that was added to the EXP I received for killing the two ghouls earlier, the total rounded up to: [3,050/10,000].
Now, not only was I feeling a bit stronger, but the next level didn't seem so impossible to reach anymore.
Though, my smile faltered when I suddenly remembered that I still had one more level to pass before I finally get into the next grade and unlock a second exclusive skill.
I sighed.
'I need more exp. I really, really need to level up.'
If I had a second ability, I'd have a bit more… choices in my arsenal.
Right now, I was so weak, and even the only skill I had was at the lowest level.
Feeling dejected, I ran a hand across my face. But, after just a short moment, I forced myself to put all this aside and return to focusing on getting out of here.
Turning off all the multiple screens hovering in front of me, I drew in a deep breath, then exhaled, and my attention returned to Dion who was now lying down on the ground like someone who had completely given up on life.
'What am I going to say to him to get him to work with me?
…Do I just say hey, let's work together?
…No. He'd just tell me to go screw myself.'
After a brief moment of thinking and hesitation, I called out.
"Hey, silver-haired dude, we need to talk."
Dion just lifted his head slightly to look at me, then dropped it back carelessly.
"The name is Dion. Also, what would a loser like you want to say to me."
I ignored the jab and continued after a few seconds. "We need to find a way to get out of here. If we stay here, we'll all die."
Dion replied in his same world weary tone. "No shit, smartass, I didn't know that. Thanks for letting me know."
I gritted my teeth.
"Tsk."
This guy was insufferable, but he was currently my only viable option.
After a few seconds of quiet thought, I sighed, and a large smile slowly formed on my lips. "You might want to hear me out, Dion. If you don't, you'll really regret it."
At this point, even the other two girls had turned to look at me with questioning and desperate expressions.
Dion finally sat up angrily and ran a hand through his hair, then spat. "What could you possibly—"
I didn't let him finish.
"My bonded ability is that, to some extent, I can grant a person any material wish of theirs. However, they would have to grant me a favor in return."
Dion's eyes went wide at my words, while my smile widened as a notification popped up at the side.
[You have acquired 5 Karma points.]
[Available Karma points: 2,350]
I then reached slightly to the side, where upon command, my inventory screen appeared. "Your wish is that you need alcohol, correct?" I pulled out one bottle of Aika's wine from the inventory, then shook it in front of him.
"What do you say? Are you interested in making a deal with me?"