episode_0020

I hastily throw on some clothes and step outside the dormitory.

Crossing through the park to get to the academy, there are fewer people than usual.

Probably due to the Requiem’s attack.

With a crazy cult targeting the academy, it’s no wonder people are feeling scared.

After disappearing following a scuffle back in the mainland, I thought they were gone for good, but here they are, launching an attack on the academy.

You need nerves of steel to wander outside in times like these.

Of course, knowing the original story, I don’t feel particularly scared or tense about it.

There’s still quite some time until the next attack, and the academy is protected by barriers, so it’s not easily breached.

Anyway, today I’ll just head into the academy and claim the reward I missed out on.

With nothing else to do, I’m curious about what the reward might be.

If they’re going to give something, I hope it’s in coins.

I don’t have much money right now, and I can’t afford to buy new weapons.

Hopefully, the academy will provide well.

In the original work, the rewards given after events were usually quite substantial.

Walking with happy thoughts, I suddenly find myself at the academy.

The interior of the academy is eerily quiet. It’s so silent that it gives me a chilling feeling.

It’s around lunchtime, but due to the school closure, there are only teachers around. Unlike the usual bustling atmosphere with students, it feels rather refreshing.

However, that feeling fades as soon as I reach the faculty room.

Because finally, it’s time to receive the reward. What awaits me today?

Tap tap

Swoosh

Knocking and opening the door to the faculty room, I find teachers working diligently despite the school closure.

Most of them seem to be struggling, probably due to the terrorist group’s attacks, sporting dark circles under their eyes.

I make my way to Caron’s desk and call him over.

“Caron, I’ve come to receive the reward promised by the academy.”

As I call his name, Caron Walker finally looks in my direction.

Running his hand through his disheveled hair, he gazes at me intently.

“Ah, Bern Flame… Right, the reward. I almost forgot. Just wait a moment.”

He looks quite worn out.

Having worked continuously for the past few days, his hair is unkempt, and dark circles are prominent under his eyes.

Hang in there, Caron!

Though it’s been tough, the thought of receiving the reward lifts his spirits again.

Rummaging through his desk, he picks up a key.

Unlocking a drawer with the key, he then retrieves a small box.

“Here, this is the reward from the academy. Open it.”

“I will.”

But wait, the box seems a bit small?

If it’s not coins or weapons, what could it be?

With a hint of disappointment, I begin to open the tightly sealed box.

And inside the box reveals…

A small pouch that appears to be of high quality.

“This is…”

“Yes, it’s a magic pouch. Also known as a spatial pouch. Even if it may seem insufficient as a reward for someone who risked their life to protect the students, I hope you appreciate it.”

No, this is actually a great reward.

In some ways, it’s more necessary than money or weapons.

A spatial pouch serves as an inventory in the game world.

Unlike games where the inventory function is always active, here, you need a spatial pouch to use the inventory feature, making it an essential item for me.

However, depending on the quality and grade, the capacity of magical pouches varies, and higher-grade ones can fetch exorbitant prices.

To receive such an item as a reward is truly remarkable.

I haven’t checked the capacity yet, but since it’s something provided by the academy, the performance should be guaranteed.

Well, even if the capacity is small, it doesn’t matter. Having an inventory will be a big help for storing weapons and potions.

I tucked a pocket dimension pouch about the size of my fist into my pants pocket.

There’s no reason to stay here any longer. I should head back to the dormitory now.

“Well then, Caron, I’ll go back.”

“Sure. Once again, thank you so much. For looking after the students on behalf of the teachers. I really appreciate it.”

Since the academy is off until the day after tomorrow, maybe I should just practice some magic.

I do have a new technique in mind.

If I could leave the academy, I’d go get Hidden Pieces or gather herbs to sell.

Since I can’t leave, I’m stuck hanging around the dormitory.

The academy strongly advised against leaving the dormitory.

Just as I was about to slip out of the office, Caron approached me.

“And, Bern. I’m sorry. I heard rumors about you at first and judged you recklessly. I thought you were a troublemaker who only trusted your family.”

Caron, always straightforward with his words.

But, what he said isn’t entirely wrong.

Judging by Bern’s actions, most people probably think that way.

Well, the new friends I’ve made in Group B don’t seem to think that way.

“I see. But all those rumors are true.”

“Yes, even so. The way you’ve shown yourself this time is completely different from the image I had judged recklessly. Being swayed by rumors and judging people recklessly is unbecoming of a teacher.”

“No need to blame yourself. Caron, people always make mistakes.”

“Haha… Thank you. You’re indeed different from the rumors I knew. There must be something wrong with those rumors.”

“Is that so? Well then, goodbye.”

Is this straying too far from the concept?

But I can’t walk around like a complete trash either. It’s unavoidable.

I just want to live quietly.

I don’t wish for my reputation to change. But I can’t keep behaving recklessly either.

Since I don’t have many friends anyway, I’ll just quietly pass by.

And when classes resume, everyone will be too busy with their studies to care, right?

I just have to act as usual.

With that thought, I headed towards where the dormitory was located.

….

“Gone. It’s gone.”

Extremely flustered.

I was so flustered that I almost cursed inwardly.

My expensive inventory that I had put in my pocket was gone!

Damn it. I’m not the type to lose things while walking around.

Even after rummaging through my pockets, the pocket dimension pouch didn’t come out.

It couldn’t have been stolen. Because there was no one on the way here.

Then what could it be?

It felt as if the pocket had been empty from the beginning, as if nothing existed inside.

No, what is this?

Or could it be?

“Status Window.”

————

Name: Bern Flame

Age: 18

Occupation: Student (2nd Year)

Title: None

Race: Human

Traits:

≪Magic Amplification≫: Amplifies magic.

≪Azure Flames≫: All fire-based skills are transformed into azure flames and strengthened.

Health: 5 (+1)

Strength: 4

Skill: 7

Agility: 4

Magic: 6 (+1)

Skills:

≪Endurance≫: Once a day, restores all health and magic.

Remaining Stats: 6

Equipped Accessory: ≪Grace of Nature≫ (Epic)

Inventory (New!): Empty

————

Huh… A new section has been added to the status window.

It’s quite different from the initial setup.

Indeed, it’s definitely different from a game. Unlike the status window that provided many functions from the start, my status window seemed different.

Should I say that I’m alive? Or should I say that I’m continuously evolving?

If certain conditions are met, the status window continues to change.

This time, a new inventory function that wasn’t there before has appeared.

Has my pocket dimension been absorbed into the status window?

There’s no way to know, but still, this is a tremendous gain.

If it’s a function existing in the status window, then there won’t be any chance of losing the pocket.

However, something feels off. It’s an unpleasant status window.

It may be strange, but gain is gain.

So, I guess I should test its performance.

When I mentally thought about the inventory, a blue interface window appeared out of nowhere in the empty space.

I started putting the items around me into the emerged inventory window.

From knives and lanterns to potions and various other items.

The inventory seemed to have unlimited capacity as everything kept fitting in endlessly.

Thinking of putting all the items in and closing the inventory, the blue window that was in front of my eyes disappeared.

This seems to work on the same principle as the status window. However, since it’s not visible to others, I need to use it cautiously.

Afterward, I conducted various experiments.

I tried putting food in or putting a lit candle inside.

What I learned from the experiment was that time does not pass inside the inventory.

The items stored in the inventory maintained the same state as when they were put in.

And another thing I found out is that you can summon the items stored in the inventory.

For example, if you store a knife and summon it, the knife appears in your hand.

Of course, you can also re-summon it.

This makes weapon switching very easy.

Being able to switch between multiple weapons means there are many strategies to use.

It seems like I’ve received something incredible.

For now, as long as you have multiple weapons, it doesn’t matter much because the inventory itself is no different from a cheat weapon.

I need to conduct more experiments, but just looking at what I’ve learned so far, it’s an ability close to cheating.

And by storing the sword in the inventory, I can carry a sword with me on campus.

After going to school, it will be a series of events, so being able to carry a sword is a huge advantage.

This is going to get interesting.

Then I’ll check the inventory later and maybe take a look at the stats after a long time.

The remaining stats obtained from defeating the chimera total 6.

6 isn’t bad.

Stats start getting stronger from 10 onwards.

So, should I invest in magic power or in health?

It’s a pleasant dilemma.

Alright, how should I invest?

It’s time to upgrade the specs.