Chapter 17 – Morning Struggles
[System Notification]
🔹 [System is up from maintenance.]
🔹 [New features unlocked.]
🔹 [Good morning.]
AGHH.
I groaned as I woke up to a glowing blue screen floating in front of my face.
It's too early for this.
I lazily glanced at the clock on the wall.
🔹 [7:00 AM]
Perfect.
I had one whole hour before class started at 8 AM.
I sighed in relief—
Until another system message popped up.
🔹 [Host status report: Weak chicken (lightly bruised)]
🔹 [Best way of survival at your current state: Running.]
🔹 [Mission: The Key to Survival for Weak Chickens]
🔹 [Objective: Run 5 km]
🔹 [Time Limit: 12 hours]
…
Are you kidding me?!
Weak chicken?!
I wasn't that weak. If I had been, I wouldn't have survived falling off a cliff, fighting monsters, and dealing with a psychotic teacher.
I scowled.
And then I saw it.
🔹 [Running – the key skill that has saved Host's pitiful life countless times.]
🔹 [Host's pride refuses to accept the truth. The truth is bitter.]
…HEY.
WHO ASKED FOR YOUR opinion?
With a deep sigh, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
The moment I entered, my nose twitched.
I stink.
Correction—I reek.
…But obviously, it was fragrance.
Not stink. Fragrance.
I took a long shower, washing away all the "fragrance" from my glorious body.
After drying my hair, I tidied my bed. I wasn't a perfectionist, but it was nice when everything was in their right place.
And that's when—
🔹 [System Notification]
[Why are you here? Go to your right place (Chicken Coop).]
I froze.
EXCUSE ME?!
Was my own system bullying me?!
"Are you even on my side?" I muttered.
🔹 […]
It didn't respond.
Suspicious.
I opened my wardrobe.
Inside, my brand-new uniform hung neatly.
I paused.
"…Damn."
The outfit was surprisingly nice.
I put it on and admired myself in the mirror.
I looked good.
No—I looked amazing.
"Truly, my greatest flaw is being too handsome," I muttered narcissistically.
---
After getting dressed, I checked the time—
🔹 [7:45 AM]
SHIT.
I had 15 minutes left before class started.
I hurried out the door.
…Then stopped.
Should I bring books?
…Wait, I didn't even have books.
Should I just go empty-handed?
I had no time to hesitate.
In a last-minute decision, I grabbed the water bottle on my bedside table.
Better than nothing.
I rushed to the elevator.
Waited.
Waited.
…
I gave up and took the stairs instead.
By the time I reached the ground floor, I was panting.
"I need food," I muttered.
I spotted the cafeteria nearby.
Most students had already finished breakfast, but a few latecomers like me were still ordering.
I ran up to the counter.
"A peanut butter toast, please!" I gasped.
The cafeteria auntie looked at me.
"Hohoho,Card please."
I blinked.
Oh. Right. Merit points.
I handed her my student card without a word.
She scanned it and handed me the toast.
"Here you go, young lad," she said.
Then she smirked.
"Better run fast. It's 8 AM straight."
WHAT?!
---
Holding my precious toast in one hand, I sprinted outside.
Only to be met with a nightmare.
The campus was HUGE.
Too many buildings.
Not enough time.
Where the hell was my class?!
I looked around frantically.
That's when I spotted a passing janitor mopping the floor.
"Excuse me!" I called.
He turned to me—
And froze.
His eyes widened.
I saw his soul leave his body for a moment.
Why was he looking at me like that?!
After two whole seconds of awkward silence, he snapped out of it.
"Ah—ha?!" he coughed. "S-Sorry, what did you say?"
I repeated myself, out of breath.
"Where… is the Final Year Class?"
The janitor scratched his head.
"Oh, that?"
"Yeah, it's in the white building on the west campus."
I nodded.
"Thank you!"
I turned and ran.
…
"WAIT!"
I stopped mid-step and looked back.
The janitor sighed, pointing in the other direction.
"You're running EAST. West is that way."
…
Oh.
I wanted to disappear.
I bowed awkwardly and ran in the other direction.
But inside?
I was screaming.
WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME?!