Chapter One: Awakening Ceremony
Raymond browsed through the system window once more, trying to understand its workings. After numerous attempts, he settled on calling it "System." It sounded crazy, but Raymond's guesses were influenced by the books he had read, where such systems were often referred to by simple names.
Finally, Raymond delved into the detailed description of Chapter One. The previous summaries and requirements he had read were just a glimpse. To fully grasp the challenges ahead, Raymond knew he needed to delve deeper into the intricacies of the system's demands.
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Chapter One: Awakening Ceremony
After awakening a # Grade Talent, you will receive your first skill from the same ceremony. You will be tasked with improving your grasp of the Talent you have and will come to the academy after a month.
The month will decide if the student is qualified to be supported by the village. If the student couldn't grasp more of their Talent, the village would put them on the waiting list where their studies would be extended for two years for them to learn more about it.
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Raymond nodded as he absorbed every word of the contents he had read.
It wasn't surprising that Chapter One would revolve around the academy; it was a common trope in fantasy stories. However, Raymond cautioned himself not to jump to conclusions. This was just the beginning of the description, and there was much more to uncover.
As he read through the description, he encountered a censored part. Curiosity tugged at him, but he resisted the urge to dwell on it and focused on the rest of the text. After all, this was just the beginning, and there was still much more to uncover in the final description.
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Chapter One will cover five years. Three years before the awakening, one year for the academy, and another one year after the academy. Hence, it will end when you are 17 years old.
But in this chapter, what needs to be learned are relationships, affairs, and monopoly. It would be beneficial for you if you had the three skills, but if you are unable to have all of the three, learn the last skill, monopoly.
By monopolizing things around you, you will achieve more in life. Achieving things in life is what the purpose of this life is. You are destined for greatness, but you should work for it.
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Raymond sighed as he reached the final text of the description. How should he react to it? Was it challenging, or was it just confusing? In truth, he couldn't decide, as none of it seemed particularly significant to him.
The contents of the description didn't excite him; they didn't seem helpful at all. What held more value were the memories he had acquired from the plot injection the day before. Those memories had become an integral part of his core being.
As he recalled the moments from the plot, a rush of emotions flooded through him. They weren't all pleasant; some were scornful and challenging. Yet, they were important, not to be forgotten. Even if the plot could be altered, Raymond refused to become complacent.
Amongst the memories, friendship stood out prominently. It was a relationship he had nurtured since childhood. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't the only one destined for greatness if successful. There might be others with similar potential.
Speculating about the future, Raymond guessed that relationships were crucial, which explained why the first chapter prioritized them. The mention of Mission #2 signaled the need for preparations for what lay ahead, though the details remained vague.
His knowledge extended only to the first five years; anything beyond that was a mystery. The second sign hinted at the necessity of planning and readiness for the unknown future.
"Hmm... the affairs. To be more specific, it should be political matters," Raymond muttered to himself, delving deeper into the complexities of Chapter One.
Political involvement was a significant theme in the chapter, particularly concerning powerful individuals in the village. The village elders, often addressed as "Lord," held considerable sway, but they weren't the only ones with political power; merchants also wielded influence.
"I guess I should note that down," Raymond said through gritted teeth, recalling a troubling memory.
In two years' time, Raymond would find himself in conflict with a wealthy individual who had bullied his childhood friends, Anna and Arthur. What was intended to be a confrontation turned physical due to the rich kid's clumsiness, resulting in injuries.
The repercussions were severe. The rich kid's influential status led to Raymond's family facing consequences. His father lost his hunting job, and their access to essential resources was cut off, rendering them practically ostracized within the village.
The absurdity of the situation was not lost on Raymond, as it highlighted the harsh realities of power dynamics and politics within their community.
As absurd as it was, the wealthy family managed to conceal their actions from other officials, painting Raymond's family as lazy and deserving punishment. This false narrative put them on the brink of being expelled from the clan.
"It's all because that kid asked his overindulgent father to punish us," Raymond muttered in frustration. "And how foolish his father was to let it all happen."
Despite the unfairness of the situation, Raymond felt powerless to intervene directly. Instead, he had a contingency plan prepared for such eventualities, ready to be deployed when needed, and hidden from prying eyes.
The skill to be learned from this chapter, monopolizing, caught his attention. It seemed clear that Raymond needed to retain the information he gained to exert control over others. The plot injection section had proven invaluable, providing him with advantages even amidst challenges.
Raymond's smile widened as he stood up from his seat. He still had three years ahead to enjoy before the bulk of the challenges hit in the fourth year of Chapter One, coinciding with the beginning of the ceremony and his time at the academy.
"I should dedicate myself to mastering mana control," Raymond thought aloud. "It's frustrating that mana dominates this world but it will transform into my MP due to my unique nature. Still, another advantage since people don't know that."
The realization of having a system akin to a game brought a surge of excitement. He didn't need to focus on expanding his mana coverage; instead, MP would serve as his primary magic power. This setup was immensely beneficial, offering rewards and opportunities for expansion without hindrances or difficulties.