NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13: Rewards II
[Ding! You have opened the rewards pack!]
[You have received the following items:
- 30 Crude Daggers [F-rank]
- 7 Large Axes
- 30 Crude Axes [F-rank]
- 30 Goblin Hide [E-rank]
- 30 Goblin Core [E-rank]
- 7 Goblin Champions Hide [D-rank]
- 15 Mana Crystals [E-rank]
- 1 Goblin King Hide [C-rank]
- 1 Dark Shaman's Staff [D-rank]
New skill acquired:
- Inventory [B-rank]: Allows for more efficient management of items.
- Basic Regeneration [E-rank]: Slowly regenerates health over time.]
"Wow, if I sold these, I'd have enough money to last us for four months without any inconvenience," Noah muttered, his eyes scanning the pile of items he'd collected from the dungeon hunt.
[Ding! Do you wish to store items in the inventory?]
"Yes," Noah replied, and instantly, the items began to disintegrate, slowly disappearing into thin air as they were stored in his inventory.
Noah let out a sigh of relief as he gazed out the window, his eyes taking in the bustling streets below. The view stirred a sense of nostalgia within him, reminding him of his past life. He had been a night owl, working late shifts that often ended at 5 a.m. The grueling routine had ultimately taken a toll on his health, leading to his untimely demise.
"Life was pretty much the same, though," Noah mused, his thoughts drifting to his current existence.
"The only difference is that I wasn't an orphan from birth this time..." His voice trailed off as memories of his new life flooded his mind.
He recalled the happy times spent with his parents, who had been powerful individuals in their own right. The pain of losing them still lingered, a wound that would never fully heal. The news of their death, delivered to him after they had fallen in battle against an ancient creature, remained etched in his memory like a scar.
As Noah's thoughts continued to wander, he remembered the days following his parents' passing. His sister, Lily, had been just a newborn, and he had taken on the responsibility of caring for her. He had sacrificed his own needs and desires, including his education, to ensure Lily's well-being. He hadn't even attended the academy properly, and on the day of his awakening ceremony, he had missed it to celebrate Lily's birthday instead. This was a testament to the depth of his love and devotion to his sister.
However, their lives had taken a drastic turn when the Hillix bank had confiscated their family's funds, claiming that his parents had borrowed a loan that had not been repaid. This had left Noah and Lily in a state of crude poverty, marking the beginning of their suffering.
"But now... I'm going to rebuild everything from scratch!" Noah declared, his fist clenched in determination.
-Creak
The door swung open, revealing a girl with vibrant purple hair. She stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Noah.
"Noah?!" she exclaimed, rushing towards him as he sat in the chair. "What happened to you? I saw your scan – you shouldn't be moving around!"
Maya's words spilled out in a frantic torrent, leaving Noah staring at her with an open mouth.
"M-maya?!" he stuttered, his face breaking into a nervous smile. It was surreal to see Maya speaking to him so freely; she was usually reserved and quiet around him. Noah's shock was palpable.
"You were just admitted here not too long ago, and now you're back! Why do you always get into trouble?!" Maya exclaimed, her voice stern as she towered over Noah. He shrank into the chair, feeling intimidated by her fierce demeanor.
"I-its okay, my body is pretty strong, you know!" Noah attempted to lighten the mood, but Maya's glare only intensified.
"You think this is something to joke about?! You-" Maya began to scold him again, but her words were cut short by Lily's sudden comment.
"Beautiful hair..." Lily said, her eyes wide with wonder as she reached out to touch Maya's long, purple locks.
"Hey, Lily, that isn't appropriate," Noah said, trying to intervene, but Lily ignored him, continuing to marvel at Maya's hair.
Maya's face flushed with embarrassment, but she couldn't help smiling at Lily's innocent compliment.
Maya cleared her throat, her expression turning serious. "Anyway, I heard from Lily that you're a student at STARLIGHT Academy."
Noah nodded slowly, sensing where the conversation was headed.
"Good," Maya said, a hint of a smile on her face. "Then get ready for tomorrow. You'll be heading to the academy with me, and yes, you have no say in this matter!"
Noah felt his plans for freedom slipping away, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation.
Lily, on the other hand, celebrated with a smile of victory. "Yay!" she exclaimed.
Maya smiled and waved. "Okay, then. Have a good rest and prepare for tomorrow."
With that, she headed out and locked the door, leaving Noah to his thoughts.
Noah let out a frustrated sigh. "Tsk, why do two girls I just met a few days ago act like they've been my lifelong friends?!" He shook his head, unsure how to process his emotions. "I guess I just have to go with the flow for now. I'm already in my second year... just one more year until the final year."
He trailed off, his thoughts a jumbled mix of confusion and resignation.