Clearing The World That's Inside A Novel

Chapter 21: No Rank Up?

After we were done with the mana covenant and talking a little more about how we got back to the shelter (Elina did the most talk) we were finally exempted. Elina and I were assigned our rooms.

We both had the same one. Why? 'coz Elina got the duty of watching over me so that I don't make some sort of mess in this base ..or you can call it shelter.

That's right.

They decided to put a watchkeeper on me, or a guardian for a better word, which I, of course, didn't like. I want my own room, but oh well, gotta act like a mature person.

Once we were done, Aria and Albert, went inside the council room for ..interrogation purposes. They will be asked for their backstory, their names, and what not. To verify the contents of the story, they will use something like truth and lie detector.

I had managed to avoid the whole thing by attacking Edward right after entering the council, which made it really look like I was someone whose village really was destroyed by him and afterward, they simply assumed my story according to their own imagination.

People assume things however it suits them.

In the novel, the protagonist and his team had a hard time when they were questioned. It's easy to guess why, they came into this world out of nowhere, they didn't have a solid backstory, which resulted in them having to go through a tight scrutiny, they were also made to wear restrictive chains all the time, poor fellas.

I won't have to go through all that shit, well, I got Elina to watch over me but eh, it's better than what they had to go through.

Entering the room, I directly went towards the bunk bed and sprawled over the lower one.

'Ah, feels nice'

"I will be going to take a bath" Saying so, Elina left, her expression was kinda crestfallen which I ignored.

Anyway, what am I supposed to do with that info?

If you are worried I might enter then just lock the door. I am not dumb enough to not know the meaning of a locked door.

Really, people are such weird creatures. Why do they feel the need to speak for no reason whatsoever?

Still, sprawled on the bed, I slowly let go of the mana that I had overlapped with my brain for brain tempering.

And so, I slowly started to feel the pain all over my body.

Why is it happening? Well, I did the same shit I did when fighting the minotaur, that is, try to increase my rank temporarily.

Though there's a difference, I wasn't putting my life on the line and my body was in its peak condition this time.

'Ouch..'

I tried to move and it hurt a lot.

It was like having cramps all over my body and a painful headache, I bit down on the tablet hidden inside my mouth, and in the next instant, the pain vanished.

'Seriously, instant heal is the bes-'

Wait, what?

I could feel my fatigue, my cramps gone but there still remained a slight throbbing in my head.

... It's supposed to get me back in shape in an instant.

So why?

What's the reason?

I took another bit of the tablet inside my mouth. I had four hidden, 3 being 'high uncommon' and 1 being low epic, well now it's down to one for both of them.

..

Damn it!

I can still feel my head throbbing, a slight headache.

Why...

I get that I am bad at controlling mana since I never really did this shit in life and it's been only 19 days since I came to this world but still, no matter how much damage I incur, the potion should be enough to heal me back up in an instant, that's why I asked for it as a reward.

I will have to figure it out or just ask Light Blue why the healing potion isn't working properly after I am done with this place.

This is a concerning matter except I can't do anything about it.

Let's focus on another thing. It's just a slight headache, it will disappear over time.

"System-san? You recorded my stats when I was fighting with Edward, right? Show them to me." I said as I dematerialized the necklace hidden beneath my hoodie, by putting it back in my inventory.

It was now time to look at how much my rank increases every time I do this stuff.

=======================================================

Name: Noah

Rank: G+

Strength: G+

Stamina: G+

Agility: G+

Perception: G+

Mana proficiency: F+

Luck: B-

Intelligence: B+

Charm: B+

(Do you wish to rank up? Choose Y/N)

=========================================================

[Your status window when you were fighting that guy]

...

Are you fu*king with me?

"So, my rank didn't increase or anything"

[How could rank increase when you haven't chosen the yes option?"

"You mean, rank only increases permanently?"

[Yes]

Damn, the system lies as easily as it breathes. I knew it! The absolute master thing was a crap!

I know the protagonist's rank increases in the novel temporarily!

Okay, I get it. He has a skill for it but still!

I clearly know I was faster and way stronger when I was fighting Edward than usual.

Damn it! If my rank doesn't increase then does that mean I was wrong?

I had been thinking that maybe skills are just cheap imitations of what can actually be done with your own abilities.

How did I come to this conclusion? Well with the help of brain tempering, I can remove all the pain which works as a pain resistance skill, and all that, you get the gist of things.

It doesn't make sense, I definitely was stronger back there when I fought Edward, or is it because I am messing with my brain and feeling mana which I never did in life-making me feel like- I did something great when in reality nothing really happened?

Am I analyzing things wrong?

click~

"If you wanna take a bath, go ahead"

Old hag, I am in serious deep thoughts right now. Don't disturb me!

And for the sake of morality don't just come out of the bath with nothing but a towel. I mean, I get it, the main parts are all covered but still!

Oh, wait...

"Hey, so like, when I fought against Edward what do you think my rank was?"

"Hm?" Elina tilted her head towards me, her left eyebrow arching and then she looked back at the wardrobe for clothes.

What? Did I just get ignored?

The hell?

T-The audacity!

"Hey, I asked something."

"When did a newborn baby frailing his hands against someone start to be termed as a fight?" Elina asked taking out the clothes from the wardrobe and started wearing them by removing her towel, so she was wearing her undergarments.

Anyways, the nerves of this hag!

"Yeah, you are right. A newborn baby frailing his hands against someone and poisoning them can't be termed as a 'fight', can it?"

"Huh~" Elina sighed, done with clothing herself up as she walked towards the kitchen, by the way, this room is one of the special rooms, with bathing, kitchen, and all necessary stuff. Edward decided to give one to me.

Why? Well, you know, the guilty feeling makes you do favor towards the person you are guilty to, that kinda thing.

Normally, people sleep and live in a huge damn hall, there's a designated time for having breakfast, lunch, and dinner, if you miss the timing, you won't get anything. There's only a single bath to use for everyone, there's a time designated for women and men, of course.

And as you can expect, I was aiming to get this room from the beginning. It was clear it would happen, except I didn't think I had to get it from Edward because he felt guilty but because I helped the rest of the council members by revealing a traitor in their ranks.

I shook my head a little 'Novel info be damned..'

I looked at Elina's back moving in the kitchen making who knows what.

So this is it, huh?

Until now, she had been pretty much listening to everything I said but now that she doesn't have any restrictive chains or any need for me, she is acting like this.

People really do change in an instant.

"Hey, are you gonna give me an answer or not?"

"You are annoying, shut it and you are smelling, go take a bath already."

Damn.

You know what? Fuck you.

Okay, it seems like my rank doesn't increase. Numbers are in front of me, what else do I need as confirmation?

I stood up and went to take a bath.

Just so you know I am not doing it because I don't wanna anger an S- ranker in this room. Moments ago, I already picked a fight with SS rankers out there!

It's just, I have always been planning on taking a bath.

The baths are good.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I came out of the bath and I saw, an array of dishes lined up along the table.

Hot damn is this Elf really gonna eat this much...

Scary, scary.

During the trip, she hadn't eaten this much but that must be because of our situation, I guess.

Ruffling my wet hair with the towel, I threw myself on the bed.

I am still wondering what's going on, the things I learned from talking to council members, the thing about my rank, and of course, the slight headache I have even after taking the potion tablets.

"Why are you lying on the bed? Aren't you gonna eat?"

Hm? What?

That's for me...

Why? I didn't ask for it, she also doesn't have any obligation to make any for me.

I mean, no, I know her character, but wasn't she just ignoring me moments ago?

Slowly, I stood up and made my way towards the table.

Sat on the chair, opposite to me Elina took her chopsticks and began eating.

I just followed the suit.

Putting the piece of meat-which belongs to who knows who- in my mouth, I began to eat.

It's been quite some time since I ate any homemade cooking since my mom and dad have been busy with work.

I always had to order a takeaway.

But still, it felt weird.

It felt hella weird.

Look, I don't mind silence but the one we currently have, I definitely mind it!

I don't know how to explain it but it felt stifling. I wanted to say something but I am not wearing my necklace, right now.

I could be dead before I even know it. I don't wanna take chances.

It's true that I can dematerialize (putting it into inventory) it as long as I am touching it but when I materialize it (pulling it out of inventory) it appears in the palm of my hand.

And I have to 'wear' the necklace in order to use it but Elina here will snatch it from my hands before I can do anything.

...Maybe it was a bad idea to have dematerialized it in the first place.

I know, Elina won't kill me but I don't wanna take any chances.

Trust is like a bitch, it's meant to betray you at least once.

Let's not dampen the mood of this Elf until I wear my necklace back.

"What happened to you? I thought you would be passing some sort of comments?"

"Don't wanna rile up a S-ranker. I still want to live."

"You really want me to believe in that crap after what you did in the council room?"

Hm?

I had a necklace on which no one knew about, if I felt like I was gonna get captured or tortured I would have just used it or if they decided to insta kill me, my necklace would have activated on its own.

Basically, they can't capture, torture, or kill me.

But it's different, right now.

Shit, why did I take it off again!? Am I dumb!?

..No, I am not.

Ahem ahem.

I mean, look, lying on the bed with a necklace doesn't sound good. So, it's not like I am dumb, okay. It's just not comfortable.

What? Why didn't I put the necklace on when I was in the bath? ..Well, you see, the problem is, that's an idea I wish I had thought of before!

Why am I so slow!?

"...Noah, why did you lie, earlier?" a soft, low voice reached my ears.

What?

What is she on about? When did I lie?

I don't lie! I simply hide the whole truth!

"What do you mean?" I asked in a polite tone, as polite as I can be.

"You said you were a G+ ranker but when you were fighting Edward, you seemed to be around D rank"

...

I knew it! I knew it! My rank did incre-

Wait whaaaaaaaaaat!???

Around D rank!?

"Mind saying what you just said again?"

I need to c-calm down. Gotta confirm

"I asked, why did you lie about being a G+ ranker?"

No no no!

Not that part!

"What rank was I when I fought against Edward?" I asked

"You are ignoring my question aga-"

"Just answer."

I know patience is important but patience-san, please piss off for now. I really am not in the mood.

"...Around D rank"

Standing up, I walked towards my bed and sprawled on it. I have no longer any appetite.

"Noah?"

Okay, let's see...

My rank increased but it didn't increase at the same time.

And it went up to D rank...

My brain tempering.

My slight headache hasn't been cured yet.

Also, the high stuff potion that was given to me by light blue as a 'personal reward' after my fight against the minotaur.

Are there any pieces that fit with each other?

I gotta think.

I closed my eyes trying to concentrate and fit any piece that seemed to fit together since my coming to this world.

...

Okay, so my slight headache that still remains, brain tempering, and the part of the light blue's 'personal reward' seems to be a fit.

As for my rank, I am still not sure.

Not enough. I don't have enough information.

Damn...

Ah, whatever, all I can do is wait for more information to be available but for now I think it would be better to not temper with my brain unless it's absolutely necessary.