Tutorial Quest #2

Liam stared at the blue words floating in front of his eyes. They weren't really floating, but it sure felt like it. The System. His new, weird, kinda scary gift.

[Tutorial Quest #2: How to be a genius]

[System will grant you a skill that can put all the knowledge on a book but first go to the nearest library!]

[Reward: Instant Learn Skill]

"Nearest library?" Liam muttered, scratching his head. He lived in a pretty decent apartment complex, but the library? That was the fancy one downtown, the one for rich folks and serious students. "Well," he shrugged, pushing his chair back, "it's for a good cause anyway." Getting smarter sounded pretty good. Beats sitting around watching reruns.

He lived close enough to walk. The sun was shining, not too hot yet. Liam jammed his hands in his pockets and started down the sidewalk. His neighborhood was mostly quiet, families and older folks. The library was a big, stone building with tall windows. Looked important.

Walking inside felt different. It was quiet, like everyone was whispering. Or trying to. There were students everywhere, heads bent over thick books, laptops glowing on tables. Big study carrels filled the main floor. Liam saw maybe one or two adults, probably parents waiting for their kids. Mostly just young people, serious looks on their faces.

"Feels like a museum," Liam whispered to himself, feeling a bit out of place in his t-shirt and jeans. He wandered towards the computer section. That's where the thick, scary books were. He needed one for the quest. Computer Engineering. That sounded smart. And hard.

He found it. A massive book, like a brick. Liam took a deep breath and reached out. His fingers touched the cool, rough cover.

"AAAGGGHHH!!!"

It wasn't just a shout. It was like someone stuck a live wire in his brain. A million pictures, numbers, diagrams, exploded inside his head. Lines of code flashed faster than lightning. The smell of ozone filled his nose. His knees buckled. He dropped the book, clutching his head, screaming louder. Tears streamed down his face. It felt like his skull was splitting open.

People looked up. Shocked faces. Whispers started. "What's wrong with him?" "Should we call someone?" A librarian nearby started walking quickly towards him.

[Seems like host can't handle it! If you can't then the quest will fail and results to death!]

Death?! Liam's eyes widened in pure terror. He couldn't die! Not now! He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to breathe. Handle it! Handle it! He squeezed his eyes shut, focusing on the pain, the flood of knowledge. It was too much, a roaring river threatening to drown him. He pictured a dam, building it brick by brick inside his mind, trying to contain the flood.

Slowly... slowly... the roaring in his head lessened. The screaming in his throat died down to ragged gasps. The world came back into focus. He was on his knees on the polished floor. The librarian was standing over him, looking worried.

"Are you alright, young man?" she asked, her voice gentle but firm.

Liam blinked, wiping his eyes. His head still throbbed, but the agony was gone. "Y-yeah," he managed, his voice hoarse. "I... I tripped. Sorry." He scrambled up, grabbing the heavy book he'd dropped. "Just clumsy." He avoided her eyes, heart pounding. That was close.

He stumbled away, needing to get out of the spotlight. He found a quiet corner near the history section, leaning against a bookshelf. His hands were shaking. That was insane! What the hell was that?!

[Tutorial Quest #2 Completed! Reward has been granted!]

[Host Skill List!]

[Slot 1: Instant Learn]

[Slot 2: Empty]

[Slot 3: Empty]

[Unlock more slot in the next stages.]

Instant Learn. The name was simple. The experience was anything but. Liam stared at the words, still catching his breath. "Woah," he breathed, relief flooding him. "This system is insane! What will I do next?" He felt like he could take on the world. Or at least, read a book without screaming.

[Tutorial Quest #3 Finale]

[Touch 3 books (for now)]

[Reward: Unlock System Potential!]

Three books. Easy enough. He needed to touch them. Just touch them. He could do this. He took another deep breath, straightening up. He needed two more. He walked slowly towards the Literature section. Poetry? Novels? He grabbed a thick anthology of classic poems. It felt lighter than the engineering book, but still substantial. He closed his eyes, braced himself, and touched it.

"AAAGGGHHH!!!"

Again! But different. This time it wasn't circuits and code. It was words, feelings, stories. The rhythm of sonnets, the despair of tragic heroes, the joy of first love. He saw images of castles, forests, battlefields. His mind was filled with metaphors and similes. It was overwhelming, but less like a physical pain, more like an emotional tsunami. He rode it out, using the same trick, building the dam, containing the flood of stories and emotions. It took longer this time. Finally, the wave receded. He was left gasping, clutching the book, heart racing again.

He put it back carefully. Only one more. Business Management. He found a textbook on marketing strategies. This one felt... drier. Less intense than the first two. He touched it, expecting the worst.

"AAAGGGHHH!!!"

It happened. A scream ripped from his throat. This time it was charts, graphs, profit margins, supply chains, leadership theories. The dryness didn't make it less painful; it was just a different kind of mental assault. He gritted his teeth, focusing, building the dam faster this time. He was getting better at handling it. The flood subsided quicker. He was left sweating, dizzy, but standing.

He staggered towards the exit, clutching his throbbing head. He had done it. Three books. He just needed to get out before he screamed again.

"Excuse me! Young man! Hold on!"

The librarian from before was jogging towards him, her face stern now. Other students were staring. Liam froze.

"Sir," she said, reaching him, "your behavior is highly disruptive. Screaming in a library? Twice? You need to leave. Now." She pointed firmly towards the door.

"But... I didn't mean to..." Liam started, but he knew he was beaten. The looks from the students were unfriendly. He couldn't explain the system. They'd think he was crazy.

"Out. Now." The librarian repeated, crossing her arms.

Liam nodded mutely, feeling embarrassed and exhausted. He shuffled out of the library as fast as his shaky legs would carry him. The heavy doors swung shut behind him, cutting off the quiet hum of the library. He leaned against the cool stone wall outside, gulping air. His head still hurt, but the worst was over. Three books down.

[Quest Complete! System is now Upgrading!] [Update Failed!] [Repeating the update!] [Update Failed!]

"WHAT!?" Liam shouted, pushing himself off the wall. "Why!? Why failed?!"

[Repeating the update!] [Update has been completed!!] [Host can now use points, to by talents and knowledge!] [Host has unlocked the second upgrade!] [New system acquired from the update!] [The glow up system!] [The glow up works when you consume points!] [Glow Up shop required!] [Upgrade has been completed!!]

Points? Glow Up? Liam stared at the words, his mind trying to catch up. He had points now? And a shop? And another system? This just kept getting weirder. "Woah!!" he breathed, a dizzying mix of relief and excitement washing over him. Points! I can buy stuff!

[Tutorial quest has been completed! Host will now receive a main quest!] [Quest #1: Write your own novel!] [Reward: $500K, Webtoon Artist Talent! 100 Points!]

Write a novel? Liam blinked. Okay. That was... random. But also kind of cool. He could do that. He had the Literature knowledge now, right? "This will be awesome," he said aloud, a grin spreading across his face. "But is there a specific genre?" He asked the system, looking around like it might be hiding.

The words appeared, then vanished, then appeared again. Dots flashed rapidly.

[Use Isekai Genre!]

Isekai? That was the 'trapped in a video game' or 'reborn in another world' stuff. Popular. Liam didn't say anything else. He just nodded. "Alright then. Isekai it is."

He turned and practically ran the few blocks home. His apartment was small but neat. He dumped his bag on the couch and scrambled to his desk. His old laptop hummed to life. He had to start now. The system said so.

He opened a blank document. The cursor blinked. He needed a title. Something catchy. Something that fit the Isekai genre but with a twist. He remembered the engineering knowledge flooding him. Bows. Arrows. Modern weapons. That could be cool.

"Modern Archery in Another World." He typed it out. It sounded good. Simple. Action-packed.

He started plotting. The system wanted a novel. He had the knowledge. He started typing the structure:

Prologue: MC (that's him, right?) gets hit by a truck. Classic Isekai opener. Cheesy but effective.

God Intervention: The God of Archery appears. Offers a deal. Instead of a sword or magic, gives him modern archery gear. Cool weapons. Grants skills. Why? Maybe he's a fan of Earth's tech? Or needs someone to shake things up in the new world?

Rebirth: MC wakes up in a forest. Confused. Scared. Checks his new gear. Modern bow. Carbon fiber arrows. Maybe a compound bow? High-tech quiver? Skills like 'Perfect Aim' or 'Enhanced Strength' or 'Arrow Tracking'? Yeah, that worked.

Survival: First encounter with monsters? Goblins? Slimes? He uses his new bow skills to survive. Shows off the cool factor.

Goal: Find civilization? Figure out why he's here? Maybe become the best archer in the world?

He typed fast, ideas flowing. The knowledge from the books helped. The engineering knowledge made the weapons feel real. The literature knowledge made him think about character feelings, pacing, dialogue. He didn't have to stop and think about how to write a novel; it just came.

He started writing the first chapter. The truck scene. The pain. The light. The God. The offer. Waking up in the forest. He described the bow: sleek, black, unfamiliar. The arrows: glowing tips? High-tech fletching? He described the skills activating: a surge of power, perfect balance, the world seeming to slow down when he aimed.

He got into it. Really into it. The words poured out. He described the forest: tall trees, strange plants, the feeling of being watched. He described the first monster – a low-level goblin, ugly and stupid. The goblin saw him, snarled, charged.

Liam wrote the fight. The MC drawing the bow. The smooth motion, the thwack of the string, the arrow flying true. The goblin falling. The shock. The realization. He was alive. He had power. But he was alone. In a strange world.

He wrote and wrote. He couldn't stop. The story flowed. The characters felt real. The action was exciting. He wrote about the MC's fear, his confusion, his growing determination. He wrote about the bow feeling like an extension of his arm. He wrote descriptions of the forest, the sky, the strange sounds. He wrote dialogue, the MC talking to himself, trying to make sense of it all.

He looked at the clock. Hours had passed. His stomach rumbled. He ignored it. He had to finish this chapter. It had to be perfect. It had to hook readers.

Finally, he typed the last sentence. He leaned back, staring at the screen. It was long. Really long. He checked the word count. 20,000 words. Whoa. He never wrote that much before. Ever.

He saved the file. "Modern Archery in Another World." He needed a cover. He opened a simple art program. He tried to draw. He was terrible. A stick figure holding a bow? Bad perspective. Ugly colors. He sighed. "Well, don't judge a book by its cover, I guess." He saved it anyway. Awful cover. Done.

He uploaded the chapter to a popular online novel site. He hit 'Post'. It was live.

He refreshed the page. Comments started appearing almost instantly.

[Woah! 20k words? Author-san, are you insane?!]

[Started reading... whoa, the truck scene is brutal!]

[The bow! That description of the modern bow in a fantasy world is so cool!]

[MC seems smart, using his head.]

[Is this Isekai? But with actual modern weapons? Love it!]

[The goblin fight was intense!]

[Read the whole thing in one go! Can't wait for the next chapter!]

[Woah! I didn't think it's this good!]

[I hope the author continues on writing this!]

Liam's eyes widened. He scrolled down, reading faster and faster. They liked it! They really liked it! Despite the terrible cover! The writing, the story, the concept – they loved it! His heart hammered with excitement. This is working!

[Quest completed! The rewards have been granted!]

[Current Points: 100]

[New Quest!]

[Quest #2: End the novel at 253 Chapters!]

[Reward: $100K, 250 Points!]

253 chapters! That was a lot! But he had 100 points now! And another $100k waiting at the end. He could do this. He felt unstoppable.

He didn't sleep. He wrote. He wrote Chapter 2. The MC exploring the forest, finding a path. Chapter 3. Meeting the first human – a lost merchant, scared out of his wits. Chapter 4. The MC helping the merchant, buying basic supplies with some modern knowledge (thanks, Business Management!), introducing the modern world subtly. Chapter 5. Reaching the first town. The reactions. The confusion. The awe.

He wrote all day. He barely ate. He just typed. The words flew. The story grew. He posted each chapter as soon as it was done.

By the end of the first day, he had written over 100,000 words. Five chapters. He collapsed into bed, exhausted but buzzing.

The next morning, he checked the site. His novel was blowing up.

[Holy crap! 100k words in one day?!]

[Author is a machine!]

[Chapter 5 was amazing! The town reactions were so funny!]

[The MC is smart, using his modern knowledge practically.]

[This is way better than most Isekai out there!]

[Update soon please!]

[This is my new addiction!]

[Dear Author, Can you change your book cover lol!]

Liam chuckled at that last one. He couldn't blame them. It was terrible. But he had a reward now. He looked at his notifications.

[Host Skill List!]

[Slot 1: Instant Learn]

[Slot 2: Webtoon Artist Talent!]

[Slot 3: Empty]

[Unlock more slot in the next stages.]

Webtoon Artist Talent! That was new! And perfect! He could draw a good cover now! He felt a surge of artistic inspiration, something he never felt before. The talent was working!

He opened the art program again. This time, it was different. Ideas flowed easily. He sketched the MC, tall and determined, standing in a dense fantasy forest. He drew the modern compound bow clearly, sleek and powerful. He added glowing arrows. He colored it with vibrant, cool tones – deep greens, metallic silver, glowing blue. He added a dynamic pose, the MC drawing the bow, an arrow nocked, aimed off into the distance. It looked professional. It looked awesome. It screamed "Modern Archery in Another World!"

He saved it. "Modern Archery in Another World - Cover (Fixed!)." He uploaded it.

He refreshed the novel page. The new cover was live. The difference was night and day.

[WHOAAAA! NEW COVER! MUCH BETTER!]

[So cool! Love the bow design!]

[Author actually listens! Awesome!]

[This cover is perfect for the story!]

[Front page here I come!]

He watched. And watched. Within an hour, his novel shot up the rankings. It climbed the daily popular list. It climbed the weekly popular list. It wasn't long before...

[Your novel "Modern Archery in Another World" has reached the front page!]

Liam stared at the notification. Front page! On a major site! This was huge! He felt dizzy with success. He had done it. He was a published author! A popular one!

He was still grinning when another notification popped up.

[Side Quest #1]

[Start a business!]

[Host Current funds: $500K]

[Reward: $1M, FerrariLaFerrari Car!]

A business? Now? He was in the middle of writing a best-selling novel! Balancing that and a business? "I have to start a business now! And balancing with writing novels!? Fine!" He sighed, rubbing his temples. The system kept him busy. But $1 million and a Ferrari? That was hard to say no to. He'd figure it out. He always did. For now, he had chapters to write. The readers were waiting. And he had a novel to finish. 253 chapters. He had a long way to go. But he had the skills. He had the knowledge. He had the points. And now, he had the money. Liam cracked his knuckles, a fierce grin spreading across his face. Time to get to work.