Chapter 7: The entry test (2)

Inside the room, Ivo lay on his bed and thought about the important matter of the moment. His gaze was directed to the ceiling of his room staring blankly.

He is currently faced with the most crucial problem experienced by all humans in the world.

'I have no money.'

This is the first problem that all players of this game have. There wasn't a single 'destiny' player who didn't come across this problem.

At least he didn't have to worry about expenses when he became a student of White Snow Academy. But there is also what is called operational costs while being an academy student. Such as activities outside the academy, personal equipment, even research that might have to be done.

Everything costs money. And that by a very large amount too.

"I can only do this in one go. Once done there is no going back."

"Well... not that this time is different from the times when I played games."

'Destiny' lacks the most important feature in the game. Save & Load.

This forces the players to move forward in the game. One mistake that results in death means the game will end there.

And what's even more terrible, even if we repeat in exactly the same way as the previous game, the storyline that we have will be very different.

This makes the game 'destiny' completely unpredictable. There may be special cases like raven but they are special cases.

"Never expect something to go your way. Everything you do has consequences." Ivo muttered in a low voice.

Even though he couldn't predict how this would end, but the knowledge he accumulated while playing destiny was real.

"Instead of thinking about reality problems and games it would be better if I think about how to get money fast." Ivo rose from his position and changed his position from lying to sitting. His head was still throbbing without showing any sign of disappearing even though it had lessened earlier at the academy.

There are several options in his head. Ignoring the pain in his head, Ivo focused his head on thinking.

'In the first place, I could just use the knowledge I have about games to my advantage.'

'No. It can't be done' Ivo shook his head, rejecting this first idea.

Right now he didn't have any power backing him in making use of all the knowledge he had. With the dynamics of this world, if he went this way, he might be found dead the next day.

Logically speaking, if someone suddenly came across rare and valuable items, or rare techniques and abilities without any support and news about that person spread widely. An unimaginable disaster would definitely occur. He would probably be found dead the next day.

Do not ask whether killing someone will lose value. The people of this world have a lot of tricks up their sleeves. If the secrets regarding all the knowledge he possessed were to become public, even he himself wouldn't be able to imagine what would happen.

"Looking for sponsors? No. It will never work" Ivo rejected this second idea. Right now he didn't have the slightest bit of value that he could show. Even if he had, Ivo would reject this idea naturally as it would limit his future actions.

'Selling things like potions? Maybe with the knowledge I have, there's even a possibility of great success' This idea crossed his mind.

'No I can't.' Ivo also rejected this idea. While the premise is good, it's not going to last long. It will also kill his future and potential.

One who focused on alchemy and blacksmithing would pollute the mana within his body and make that person more adept to the profession.

This is referred to by the players as 'speciality'. Conditions in which the body will be forged in accordance with the profession occupied. A simple example, a swordsman who focused on the sword would eventually allow the mana within his body to develop harmony with the sword. Therefore all the techniques and sword arts that the swordsman used would increase greatly while if the swordsman used other weapons such as spears, his efficiency would decrease greatly.

Right now his body was in the best state where his mana was still in its purest state without any specialties. With the talent and experience that he has, the direction of his development will not be limited.

Of course Ivo did not want to waste it. "I already know the development direction I want to go. So pursuing alchemy would be pointless."

Unlike the people of this world, as their talents and abilities blossomed their specialties would develop over time.

So doing this is like committing to a suicide.

"In the end my choices were restricted because I didn't have any power…" Ivo chuckled at his current state. It was possible that if he built up his own strength he would be able to destroy and mess up the economy in this world with his knowledge.

In the end he was restrained by his own incompetence.

Ivo touched his face and felt it all over his face. He seemed to check something on his face. "Maybe it can be done."

"Sorry everyone, don't blame me for my poverty but blame yourselves for your weaknesses."

Ivo looked out with a pitying face. His gaze was directed towards the white snow academy where 5 towers stood tall.

***

On the city streets of Ernest.

Raven walked casually aimlessly. Along the way, people were amazed by his good looks. Even the girls couldn't take their eyes off his face.

Raven ignored the circumstances around him. In contrast to the relaxed expression on his face, his head was contemplating another matter. "It's really weird, I can't see through him anymore after that night."

What happened?, Who was he?, Why had he never seen him in the academy before? That's the question that always pops up in his head.

He sensed something very strange from the person named Ivo, though he had no idea what it was. Even the eyes that he relied on so much right now were unreliable.

For a moment he doubted everything he already knew.

Raven stopped for a moment in front of one of the ice cream stands that stood around the streets.

"One vanilla ice cream, please."

"Okay..." The seller quickly prepared the ice cream he ordered. "Here sir…"

"Thank You." Raven handed the money to the seller and looked for a fairly quiet place around the park.

Raven stared at the ice cream in his hand and began to enjoy every bite. The coldness melts in his mouth and the vanilla sweetness tickles his tongue.

"Delicious." He took another and ate it carefully. Enjoy every bite and the delicacy contained in it.

Raven enjoyed leisurely while enjoying the calm and sunny atmosphere in the city of Ernest.

It's a great way to calm someone's stress.

"Still like to enjoy ice cream huh. Is something bothering you?"

"...?" Raven turned towards the sweet voice. A smile appeared on his face and a sparkle could be seen in his eyes.

"Rachel long time no see." Raven greeted him and asked her to sit down.

The two of them sat in the garden looking at Ernest's cityscape.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. It's just that my father always grumbled about maintaining the honor of the wishborn family and blah…blah… He never stopped nagging." Rachel made a sullen expression. Even so in her eyes, that sullen expression was very cute.

Raven smiled at that. He felt great turmoil in his heart but he restrained himself and kept quite a distance between the two.

"Hey why are you avoiding me." The further away the raven go, the closer Rachel got to the raven.

"Tell me, is something bothering you?"

"What do you mean Rachel? Nothing bothers my mind. I'm fine."

"Don't lie, I know whenever you have heavy thoughts you always calm down by eating vanilla ice cream."

Raven scratched his cheek while smiling awkwardly. "Am I that easy to read?"

She nodded. "Of course. It's easy for me to find out. Come on, we've been friends since childhood."

Glancing at the man next to her, Rachel cleared her throat "So want to share your thoughts? Maybe I can help find a solution."

Raven was about to say something but the words couldn't come out. He could only remain silent and answered with a smile.

"It's like that again."

"You know I have my condition."

Raven saw the disappointment in her eyes, and changed the subject. "Tomorrow the academy exams will begin. How are your preparations?"

"Hmph… I'm sure I'll pass." Rachel got up from the bench and pointed at Raven. "And I will surpass you, so that one day you will admit that I am not a weak person who cannot even share the burden of his friend."

Raven was speechless when she heard it. A little smile formed on his face. "I'm waiting for that moment."

"Ahem…Remember my words."

Rachel immediately went away from the man named raven. Her whole face was red, she couldn't even show her face to anyone at this time.

Seeing Rachel's figure slowly disappear from his sight. Raven was once again reminded by his current goal.

"I will wait. It doesn't matter how long it takes. When the time is right I will tell you everything."