Chapter 22 - Again

When Zack was bored, he used Fire Lance on the goblins and learned that he only recovered one point of MP per minute. Three of them in the head could kill a goblin, though. It gave him a nice change of pace, but soon night came, and he was really hungry. 

"I wanted to try to reach forty today, but the goblins are being a pain in the ass," Zack thought. "I guess I will finish things here before I make some sort of mistake because of hunger. I got the sword, so I should feel happy with this much."

Zack (Cheater) - Lv 37 (1590/7500)

HP: 790/790

MP: 140/140

SP: 210/340

Strength: 72 + 20

Intelligence: 07

Dexterity: 27 + 20

Constitution: 27 + 20

Spirit: 07

Focus: 07

Unallocated Points: 75

Skill List: Auto Aim Lv 10, Instantaneous Movement Lv 10, Speed Hack Lv 10, Inventory 04, Fire Lance Lv 01, 

Unallocated Skill Points: 07

The journey back home for Zack was surprisingly easy. The rain had stopped, leaving the streets dry and the night air crisp and clear. With the obstacles of rain and wet streets out of the way, Zack decided to make use of his skills without worrying about anything.

Activating Instantaneous Movement, Zack blinked out of sight from the streets, appearing at the city wall in the blink of an eye. The lack of raindrops pelting him during the high-speed teleportation made the experience much smoother than before.

Zack also activated Speed Hack, his movements suddenly accelerating to an astonishing pace. He dashed through the quiet streets, the wind rushing past him as he moved at blinding speeds.

Reaching the city wall, Zack glanced around to ensure he wasn't being observed. With the coast clear, he leaped effortlessly over the wall, his enhanced speed making the jump seem almost effortless. Landing on the other side, he quickly disappeared into the shadows, leaving no trace of his passage behind.

After following his normal routine, Zack went home and then threw himself on his bed with his stomach full. He was a bit sleepy, but he had to plan the actions of the next day.

"I can't sell the stuff directly to the shops in the city since they work for the guild, so I guess I will use their portal again," Zack thought. "I can reach level forty this time, but I guess they will try to watch me fight."

Zack could probably fight the goblins without having to use his skills now, perhaps even without using the goblin king's sword. It would be a hassle, but it would be for the best. Besides, he had learned his lesson. It was time to take his plans a step further.

The next morning, Zack went to the guild as planned, and then he found Sarah's group at the entrance once more. They looked ready for an expedition, but it was weirdly convenient… Zack could already tell what was going to happen.

"Hey, Zack. Are you heading to hunt some goblins?" Sarah asked.

"I am not sure. What are you up to?" Zack asked.

"We are still deciding what we are going to do. We usually hunt with a group of five, but we need a frontline today. Do you want to join us?" Sarah asked.

Zack felt a heavy sigh building up within him. Did everyone have to act like that just to appease the guilds? It all seemed so shameless to him. He had never seen himself as someone particularly prideful until recently. Still, he couldn't deny the growing sense of disdain he felt towards those who were willing to sacrifice their dignity for the sake of their guilds.

He recalled that she was recruited pretty early that year, and yet here she was, playing the part of the guild's faithful agent with such an act. It made Zack's skin crawl. In any case, he had long decided that playing the role of a pawn for the guilds was not something he was willing to do.

As he walked on, Zack couldn't shake the feeling of disillusionment that had settled over him. He had always believed in the importance of independence and self-reliance. These values seemed to be sorely lacking in the world of guild politics. But he refused to let himself be swayed by the allure of power and prestige. He had his own path to follow, one that didn't involve kowtowing to the whims of the guilds.

"I will have to pass," Zack said, then proceeded to talk with the receptionist.

In the end, Zack was able to feel some death stares coming from pretty much all sides. He had come at the same time as before, but the guild hall had a lot more people than before.

Maybe it was just a coincidence, but Zack felt that it wasn't… in any case, he went to the goblins' territory once again to follow his planned routine. As soon as he arrived, Zack realized that the place was quite empty, thanks to his actions the previous day. Still, the atmosphere looked a bit oppressive.

"Let's use the anti-blood knives today and improve my throwing skill for a while," Zack thought, and then he increased his strength and dexterity by twenty points each.

Zack did some tests, and he felt satisfied with the results. Hitting some trees around with the blade of his knives and making them pierce deeply was quite easy.