Early morning...
The sun's rays hit his eyes, causing Frizz to wake up. He stood up from his bed, scratched his back, and headed downstairs to start his day. After a quick look in the bathroom mirror, he washed his face and gargled mouthwash. Just as he was about to take a shower, a pop-up appeared.
[System]
Initiating daily objectives.
Daily Objectives: Answer five questions to earn free experience and a perk!
The pop-up startled him, but he quickly recovered. "Alright, let's do this. Hit me with the questions."
Displaying the first question:
« What is 0.0143 written in scientific notation? »
He blankly stared at the first question. "I have no idea what scientific notation is."
Displaying the second question:
« Convert 0.2 into a fraction. »
"What?" he blankly stated.
Displaying the third question:
« Sally is 54 years old, and her mother is 80. How many years ago was Sally's mother twice her age? »
He takes a moment to think but gives up. "I seriously don't know."
Displaying the fourth question:
« There is a three-digit number. The second digit is four times the third digit, and the first digit is three less than the second digit. What is the number? »
Frizz thought for a while but eventually gave up. "No clue."
Fifth question: Halted.
« The user is unlikely to provide the correct answer. »
Result: 0/5 questions answered.
Daily objectives failed: Try again tomorrow.
"Provide actually meaningful questions then." Frizz grumbled as he dismissed the system window. "What the hell is up with those questions, daily objectives my ass?"
The wall clock in the living room displayed 7:04 am, a prime time for a shower.
Six minutes later...
The shower was quick since he had other priorities today. He wore his long-sleeved white shirt and grabbed his father's spare balaclava mask. His stomach grumbled, but he paid it no mind, disliking today's breakfast anyways.
Without wasting time, Frizz headed outside, hopped on his electric bike, and pedaled away. Today wasn't about work; he had other plans.
Arriving at the convenience store, he hastily greeted a co-worker tending the counter. It was a woman with a scorn, a look of disdain, and eyes piercing.
"Good morning, Mina. Could you give this letter to Mr. Sim? I'm taking the day off." Frizz handed over a letter, ignoring the glare.
His coworker, Mina, clicked her tongue, reaching for the letter. "Today? And a letter? Why didn't you just text him? You should've requested leave yesterday," Mina questioned, her tone unfriendly.
"My phone's broken. I've explained it in the letter. Just pass it along, okay? Thanks." Frizz brushed off her concern and headed out.
Mina's frown deepened; the disdain turned into angered frustration. She never liked him, not one bit.
"Fucking asshole... always doing whatever he wants just because Mr. Sim has a soft spot for him," Mina muttered, seething and gritting her teeth.
Mina tossed the letter aside, not caring one bit about it. "Only four more months of this, and I'm out."
"I'm not some goddamned messenger." She cursed, slamming both of her hands on the counter and causing the faulty cash register to react. *Ding!*
⟐
Frizz mounted his electric bike again and pulled out his phone, pretending to be on a call.
"System, show me my status."
[System]
Name: New Name
Level: 4
Experience: 10/120
Health: 24/24 (+2)
Mana: 24/24 (+2)
Fatigue: 4/100 (peak)
Class: None
Perks: [In Good Faith], [Daily Life], [Enraged], [Reckless Approach], [Gluttonous Approach], [Telekinesis]
Talents: None
Frizz skimmed the status window and continued pedaling toward the destination on his mind. "The only way I know to get stronger is to beat up some of the bad characters around town."
Twenty minutes later...
From a distance, Frizz could see people loitering and just minding their own business. This used to be a part of town he'd avoid, but not today.
This was the bad part of his town, a location full of shady characters and illegal drug businesses. It was abandoned, neglected by the local government. Most people would avoid this part of town.
He parked his electric bike, locked it, and retrieved ten cans of beer from the compartment. "Alcohol lowers inhibitions, makes you bolder... just what I need," he reasoned.
Nearby was the internet café he would often visit before. He approached and knocked on the door. "Shane? It's me, Frizz."
The door cautiously swung open, revealing a person. "Frizz? Hey man, it's been quite a while. How long has it been? A year? Come on in."
"Yeah, I got a job. I miss coming to these places back when it used to be peaceful."
Shane smiled and spotted the pack of alcohol Frizz had brought.
"You brought alcohol? You know the rules—head to the back."
Frizz courtly complied, heading to the furthest section. "Give me three hours," he told Shane, who nodded and provided the requested hours from the admin computer.
Three hours later...
The hours flew by as Frizz downed beers, browsed memes, and listened to music. He checked his wristwatch, and it was 10:08 am; it was time to go.
He stood up, swaying slightly from the inebriation. A familiar chime played; it was a notification from his system.
[System]
New Perk Acquired: [Alcoholic Advantage] via Milestone.
Achievement: Drank enough to get drunk.
[Alcoholic Advantage] Description:While intoxicated, the user gains a significant boost to strength and endurance.
"Well, that's a surprise. At least I'll be more useful drunk." Frizz chuckled as he bumped into several occupied chairs on his way out, apologizing to the customers. He found his electric bike still locked up.
"Still here, thank goodness."
"Later, Shane," he called out, donning his balaclava and heading toward the rougher part of town. His intoxicated state was apparent, but he managed to hide it well enough.
Several people stared, wary and cautious, but he scoffed, "Stare all you want; I'm not bothered."
"Oh right, I should pray." Frizz made the sign of the cross and muttered a quick one-minute prayer.
[System]
[Daily Life] perk is active.
"It's active now," Frizz murmured but paused, realizing something. "I should've eaten. That glutton perk is currently inactive." He considered but ultimately decided to move forward.
"I'm strong enough. I think. I don't need that," he added, somewhat confident.
He staggered as he walked, and after several minutes, he noticed a group of four men drinking and obviously drunk. They were wailing and having fun.
"Ugly faces, check. Scrappy looks, check. Probably criminals, check."
Frizz took a deep breath. "I wonder how much experience I'll get from them." He muttered, approaching them with clenched fists. Two of the drunks noticed him and chuckled, catching the attention of the other two and snickering along.
"Hello," Frizz greeted, wobbling and lazily waving his hand.
"Hello yourself," one of them, a skinny guy, replied while barely holding a chuckle. "Can we help you?"
Frizz thought as hard as he could, trying to remember a name that was prevalent here, a name usually known for dealing and selling drugs to anyone. A friend had told him about this person once.
(What was his name?) Frizz wondered, then suddenly remembered, smiling.
"Baron. I'm looking for Baron," Frizz answered, slightly slurring.
"Baron Morales?" The drunks replied and exchanged confused glances.
"He lives over there," the skinnier one among the drunks pointed toward a house with a gray gate and a person standing outside.
Frizz glanced at the house, then glanced back at the drunks, continuing on their merry drunk ways, no longer paying attention to him.
(Shouldn't these guys be angry? That's how it goes in the light novels, right? This is the part where I get robbed for asking, right?)
(I guess they're not crooks or Baron's men, just drunks.)
(Ah, whatever.) Frizz walked away, heading toward the house. (They aren't even the least bit curious.)
Arriving at the gate, Frizz approached the gate guard. "I need to see Baron. I've got something for him."
"Never heard of him. Move along," the guard grunted, avoiding eye contact.
"He lives here. I know it." Frizz's voice grew tense, and the guard noticed his inebriated state behind the mask, waving away the reek of alcohol.
"Look, you're drunk. Get out of here." The guard warned, his patience slowly getting thin.
Frizz felt his frustration build. He had expected a fight—some kind of confrontation—but found none. Noting that nothing seemed to follow the usual tropes.
His view of reality has become slightly distorted ever since the system appeared.
"Of fucking course there are no tropes; this is real life." He muttered, realizing the present. The guard rolled his eyes, almost having had enough of the drunk person in front of him.
"Just get out of here, man."
"No, I've got money; just let me buy something." Frizz smiled and winked, conveying the idea that he was there to purchase something illegal.
The guard stiffened, looking around, thinking that this guy was wired. "I don't know you. Leave," he threatened, lifting his shirt to reveal a belt-holstered pistol.
A numbing chill ran down Frizz's spine as memories of being robbed flashed through his mind; he gritted his teeth behind the mask, but then slowly transformed into a grin.
"Good enough reason," he declared, and without hesitation, punched the guard in the face, causing them to recoil and hit their head on the wall post behind them. *Thwack!*
[System]
Enemy defeated: 20 experience.
In a flash, he dragged the guard's body inside the unlocked gate, hiding it among the plants. His heart was beating fast; he couldn't believe what he just did while drunk.