Chapter 2. Welcome, Aerum-ssi!
-1st week, 5th day in the TNE world-
"Yah! Bihyung! Get out of my spot!"
"Nooooo~ It's my spot now! Finder's keepers, Losers weepers!"
Yes. I gave the co-author of TNE a name.
And yes. The reference came from Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint. Cause why not?
I am an ORV fan and reader. Obviously, the choice would be either Dokkaebi or Bihyung. It really fits though. Dokkaebi*(1) because as far as I have observed and unfortunately experienced, the man likes to scare people(me) and has a cheeky personality. He also creates scenarois and sh*ts from the way I read TNE. And Bihyung because he's my favourite Dokkaebi, which he should be honoured to be named because Bihyung is the best!
These past few days. Like 5 days, was a total blast. We both decided that I should just train for the 2nd week and make myself comfortable and adapt into this World this week. So we just spend the days laying around, eating when hungry, go to the Mall and buys some new clothes (because unsurprisingly Yu Taehyung's clothes aren't exactly my type and my size after the Synchronization), watch movies, dance, play music and sing along with it.
So far, so good.
Me and Bihyung bonded together. Get to know each other even though I had the feeling that he already knew most of what I told him about myself. Atleast, we got to know each other and respect each other's boundaries. We'll stick together until the satisfying ending of the story and that would surely last for a couple of years, so might as well know the Godly being sticking on me.
Anyways, I gave the lying man on the couch a death glare. The scariest I could muster because he just freaking monopolized MY couch and MY spot!
"You know that won't work on me."
I let out a huff as a smug look makes it way on the dimensional being. Walking my towards the other couch, I pointedly ignored the man who asked for MY popcorn. I made myself comfortable in a lying position and let my eyes wander off to the playing movie that unexpectedly exists in this World. Frozen 2. Which is a relief because I need some comfort movies for the future.
"Aerum-ssi~ I want popcorn too~"
"Then go make your own popcorn."
"But Aerum-ssi~"
I immediately decided to ignore the whines coming from the Dokkaebi-like being beside my couch and watched the movie in full attention.
"Aerum-ssi~ I promise to answer all your questions for every exam you'll have to pass~"
...But apparently my focused attention wasn't full enough.
" Damn it. "
ಥ‿ಥ
Using my weakness is a foul!!!
*****
-1st week, 7th day in the TNE World-
Yu Aerum and Bihyung are as close as bestfriends. It was an amazing feat to see two people going from strangers to best of friends within a week.
Putting their differences aside, the similarities between their personalities and hobbies are definitely uncanny. Despite both coming from different species. From their preferences in books, music to food.
"Ho-ho-holiday! Ho-ho-holiday! Yeeeeaayy~"*(2)
"Ho-ho-holiday! Ho-ho-holiday!"
"I'm feeling good~ Oh baby~—"
*ding* *dong*
"FOOD~!"
"PIZZA!"
Both men ran towards the front door. Excited for their junk food. Making the best of their day. Excited and relishing tomorrow as the start of training week and end of their laz– getting use to the World week.
*****
-2nd week, 1st day in the TNE World-
"Aerum-ssi~ Wake up! You need to start training!"
Bihyung pushed the sleepy teen lying beside him. Said teen almost falling from the King-sized bed.
"Nooo~ Am twierd~"
Aerum, the sleepy teen kicked the dimensional being off the bed. Both of them pushing each other off the bed. Although, at the end of their game. No one won. Both tired.
At the very end of the day, Aerum didn't get to train. The two making another day of extension of Aerum's first week. Just sleeping and relaxing.
Really. What can you expect from two lazy bums?
┐(￣ヘ￣)┌
*****
-2nd week, 2nd day in the TNE World-
As the two got out from the bed, stretching their muscles a move to evade the drowsiness coming back to his mind and body. Before the laziness could even come back to their bodies, both stood up and greeted the peaking morning sun from the glass window.
Both male walked out from the bedroom after washing their faces, Aerum walking his way into the kitchen and dining area to eat breakfast. Bihyung entering the quite spacious training room or gym of the house to prepare Aerum's training.
After the quick breakfast and preparation. Aerum entered the training room as Bihyung leaned on the wall. Watching Aerum sitting on the clean floor.
"I need to train my stamina right?"
"Yes. It's an important part for you who doesn't really have that much stamina. I guess you already expected that."
Aerum nodded at Bihyung's guess. One of the first chapters of the novel in mind.
"Hajin is definitely just chilling in his house right now like what the Novel said and he'll soon regrets that after going to CUBE. In the novel, he thought that he should've trained his stamina, after seeing that he's lagging behind from most of the students."
Bihyung nodded at this.
"As you train and get more points in stamina and other stats as well. You need to train and get yourself used to holding, slashing or using a weapon. At your part, weapons. Check your stats first so we can see the difference later."
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1. Yu Aerum
▶️ Stats
* Variable Stats
[Strength 3.4]
[Stamina 4.1]
[Speed 5]
[Perception 5.7]
[Vitality 4]
[Magic Power 8]
* Invariable Stats
[Intelligence — 3/10]
[Perseverance — 5/10]
[Luck — 4/10]
[Charm — 7/10]
> Gifts
▶️ [Observation and Reading (RV)] — ability to observe characters.
— ability to read chosen characters movements and pattern.
— ability to know character details with no medium.
▶️ [Shadow Monarchy] — ability to control and command the dark and shadow with the consumption of mana and vitality.
— creative minds and usage unlocks skills connecting to the shadows and the dark.
— great familiarity and efficiency in weapons with history relating to death and darkness.
▶️ [Reader's Mind] — ability to remember everything.
— ability to read with fast comprehension.
— defense against mental attacks, skills and gifts.
— nullifies pain.
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"...I'm still bitter with my intelligence. Why is Hajin's intelligence higher than mine when he's THAT oblivious."
"Hmmm~? atleast you'll know your charming even though you can't see your face~"
Aerum let out a huff. A part of his mind agreeing that indeed he was relieved to know that he is charming in this world and it's standards. Even though, he is still unsatisfied and weirded out whenever he came across with a mirror or his reflection.
"What category of charming am I?"
Bihyung chuckled at the reader's question. His eyes trailed on the reader's face and body. Studying the details of the charming boy in front of him, although he already checked and studied it a lot of times in the past few days as they get to know each other.
"With a soft face and slim body like yours. You would be the cute feminine type of charming which your sexy personality would add more charm. Perfectly suited for your position as a power bottom~ A fine delicacy~"
Aerum's face turned red at the co-author's compliment and sweet tongue. Embarrassment creeping in after realising what he asked.
"Hahaha... Ummm..."
As the time of silence grew, Bihyung's smirk also grew. Enjoying the embarrassed and blushed face of his friend. Which annoyed the reader greatly.
"Is there any more questions you would like to ask before we start your training? Aerum-ssi~"
Aerum stayed silent for a while. Calming his self down before asking the smirking dimensional being in front of him.
"...From the looks of it. My gifts are quite powerful except for the [Observation and Reading] one. I remember Hajin has the same. So—"
"Excuse my rudeness, but yours is [Observation and Reading (RV)]. There's (RV) at the end which Hajin's gift doesn't have. Yours and Hajin's are different. Yours is the reader's version. While Hajin's is the unaltered version. While you can check everyone's details. Hajin cannot. Hajin described this World uniqueness in every person's gifts so there are no gifts out there the same as yours. Some are just similar but not the same."
The reader was silent for a moment. Pondering on the co-author's words before nodding his head in understanding.
"...Ok. I understand."
"Is there any other questions, Aerum-ssi?"
"Hmmm... You said that I have a unique ability in me that stopped you from giving me another one, right?"
The questioned male looked at the other male with a knowing look before answering said question.
"Indeed. I had."
"Is it the [Shadow Monarchy] gift?"
"Correct again, Aerum-ssi~"
Aerum wore a thoughtful look before jokingly saying:
"It's like an inspired or copy gift of Sung Jinwoo*(3) and Nico di Angelo's*(4) abilities. Both shadow controlling characters. Even the [Reader's Mind] feels like an copyfrom the skill [Fourth Wall] in ORV."
Bihyung chuckled at the reader's humor and also thought so as well. After a few seconds, his face morphed into a serious one, his glinting mischievous eyes looking straight at the reader's.
"Any more questions?"
Aerum shook his head as a 'no' before staring right back at Bihyung. Which the being smiled at.
"Then shall we start training?~"
*****
-2nd week, 6th day in the TNE World-
The black haired teen swing the sharp glinting black scythe in a fluid manner. His body and scythe dancing in a beautiful and dangerous way breaking every dummy coming down on his way. Slicing heads, arms, and legs with ease. The realistic illusion of blood and faces not bothering him in one bit.
In one minute, all dummies and illusions ceased. The panting and sweating teen at the center of the room.
Suddenly claps from the other person in the room echoed throughout the training room.
"Impressive. As expected from Aerum-ssi~"
The pants from the teen boy stopped slowly. A breathy laugh coming out from his lips after a few seconds.
"...Well, What can I say? I have a great training instructor with me."
Bihyung laughed heartily at the compliment. Tossing a towel at the sweating teen.
"Get some rest. We won't train excessively anymore. You just need to do your morning work out and mana circulation. After that, we can spend the rest day relaxing. We only have 1 day before we go to CUBE."
Aerum used the towel. Dampening it with his sweat as he listened to what Bihyung's said. Smiling brightly as he heard the word 'relaxing'.
He has been exhausted these past few days or should he say weeks. Apparently, the being manipulated the room and created it into one of those special rooms in some of the novels he read where time moves faster in the room and slower in the outside world. Which in his case, the room's 3 hours is equal to 1 hour in the outside. He almost spent a month in training which was taxing to Aerum as he really wasn't a person who exercised that much.
"Hmmm~ How about we watch Umbrella Academy. I heard it's good and I saw it online in this World."
Bihyung smiled at the reader's suggestion. Clearly interested in watching said series. His other dimensional friends also suggesting said series to him from their few meetings with compliments.
"Okay~"
"Hehehe... Last one at the living room is cooking dinner tonight!"
With that the teen ran out of the training room. Making his way on the living room before hearing a familiar crack with his heightened hearing. Bursting into the room, he sees the co-author laying comfortably on the couch. A smug look on his face. Irritating the reader greatly.
"UNFAIR! You used your powers!"
"You didn't said I can't use it~"