O_o
"Huhhh…?"
"What the heck is this?"
Blake froze in place, his face filled with disbelief as question marks practically floated above his head after seeing his sign-in reward.
"Sign-in confirmed. Congratulations, Host, for receiving: an autograph of Sydney Sweeney."
"…An autograph?"
"What the heck am I supposed to do with an autograph in this world?"
Blake whispered in disbelief, complaining to the system while crying internally.
"Please be mindful, Host," the system responded calmly.
"There are many people out there who would be willing to die to obtain this autograph—and even resort to murder for it."
"Oh yeah? Then tell me," Blake scoffed.
"Who in this world even knows her? If it were my original world, sure. But here?"
"…Wait a second."
Blake suddenly stood up from his bed, his expression turning even more shocked.
"How are you able to talk to me now?"
He stared into the empty space in front of him and questioned the system in his mind.
"The stronger the Host becomes, the more I can communicate and unlock additional functions."
(^^)
"…More functions?"
"So you have other functions besides sign-in?"
"The stronger the Host becomes, the more functions will be unlocked. For now, I can only answer one question per day until the Host breaks through to the 2nd Rank."
After communicating with the system, Blake felt his determination rise to an even higher level.
I must become stronger… and unlock everything this system has to offer.
A status panel appeared.
***
Host: Blake
Rank: 1st Rank (Mid-grade)
Physique: Human (1st Rank Peak-grade)
Mana Core Affinity: Fire, Water
Sutras:
• Silent Sutra (5th Rank)
• Fire Sutra (1st Rank Mid-grade – 100%)
• Water Sutra (1st Rank Mid-grade – 100%)
• Berserker Sutra (3rd Rank Early-grade – 1st Rank Peak-grade)
Storage:
• Golden Shield Talisman
• Autograph of Sydney Sweeney
• 1st Rank Sword (Low Quality)
• 1st Rank Shield (Good Quality)
***
Blake closed the panel and resumed cultivating, aiming to break through to the 2nd Rank.
"At most… two days."
Just thinking about the breakthrough made Blake excited.
The next two days passed quickly.
Blake continued his routine—cleaning during the day and cultivating at night.
After returning from work one evening and finishing dinner, he resumed cultivation.
When he opened his eyes again, it was around 2–3 a.m.
"Huff… that felt good."
"Let's sign in for today."
"System, sign in."
"Sign-in confirmed. Congratulations, Host, for receiving: Lightning Peach Fruit (2nd Rank Mid-grade)."
Lightning Peach Fruit (2nd Rank Early-grade):
A spiritual fruit that helps warriors temper their bodies.
It also assists lightning mages in forming a purer and stronger lightning core.
Blake's eyes lit up.
This was exactly what he needed to push his cultivation into the 2nd Rank.
"Nice. Looks like I got lucky tonight."
"For the past several days, the rewards weren't anything special."
Blake sighed softly and recalled the previous rewards.
"11th day – 1st Rank Sword (Low Quality)"
"12th day – 1st Rank Shield (Good Quality)"
"13th day – 1st Rank Appetite Pill"
"14th day – 1 kg Sandalwood"
"15th day – Rusted Metal Sword"
"16th day – Claw of a Black Fire Wolf"
"17th day – 1st Rank Mana Pill"
"18th day – Tiger Strength Pill"
"19th day – A bowl of cooked Mana Rice"
"Oh well… the past is the past."
"No point dwelling on it."
"It's time to break through to the 2nd Rank."
Blake bit into the Lightning Peach Fruit.
The moment it entered his mouth, it melted like ice cream, releasing an intense surge of energy throughout his body.
He immediately began guiding the energy to temper his outer body.
Crack—crack—crack!
His skin suddenly turned pitch-black as lightning sparks flickered across his body. It looked as though his body was being scorched by lightning.
Five minutes later, Blake looked like a charred statue sitting cross-legged on the bed.
Yet not a single strand of mana leaked out, nor was there any sound.
All of this was thanks to the Silent Sutra.
Otherwise, the violent lightning energy would have awakened everyone nearby.
Blake slowly opened his eyes and gently shook his body.
The next moment, all the burnt skin peeled off and fell to the ground.
He was completely naked.
"Holy sh*t… did my clothes burn up too?"
Blake hurriedly got off the bed and put on another set of clothes.
After that, he examined his body.
His skin looked far better than before—smoother, firmer, and faintly radiant.
"Let's test how tough my skin has become."
Blake took out the sword from his storage and pressed its tip against his arm.
Clang!
The sword failed to pierce his skin.
To Blake, it felt like trying to stab a rock.
"So this is what it feels like to reach the 2nd Rank."
"What I read in those novels wasn't a lie."
"Breaking through to a higher realm really does feel amazing."
Without wasting time, Blake continued cultivating.
He knew very well that laziness could cost him his life.
The next morning, while Blake and the other children were eating breakfast, a child suddenly ran in and slammed the door open.
"Everyone listen!"
"Old Stan has been promoted, and we have a new boss!"
"He told me to inform everyone that we must gather at the sheds area immediately!"
"Huh? Old Stan got promoted?"
"It was about time. I thought he'd die before that happened."
"Same here."
"I need to eat faster or I'll be late."
Blake frowned slightly.
"Old Stan got promoted…"
Old Stan rarely checked on the children, which was why Blake could sometimes skip work unnoticed.
"Well… whatever. That has nothing to do with me."
Blake quickly finished his meal along with the others and headed toward the sheds.
All the children soon gathered there.
About ten minutes later, a man appeared.
He was a middle-aged man with brown hair and brown eyes.
What stood out the most was his height—at least seven feet tall.
"Listen up."
"My name is Gail Brown, but you can call me Mr. Brown."
"From today onward, I'll be in charge of you."
"I'll assign each of you to different areas of the mansion. Some of you will work inside as well."
"You already know the mansion layout."
"The front is the main garden. The back is the rarely used garden."
"The left side houses important figures, and beyond that is the soldiers' training area."
"This area—where you stand—is the far right."
"Now," Mr. Brown said coldly,
"those whose names start with A, B, C, or D, step forward."
Blake and around fifteen other children stepped forward.
"All of you will be assigned inside the mansion."
"Do you understand?"
Mr. Brown stared at them.
The children who stepped forward had gloomy, despair-filled expressions.
Working inside the mansion was the most dangerous assignment.
One mistake.
One broken object.
One offended person.
And their lives would be over.
The children standing behind them looked on with pity and sadness.
Don't mistake the Rodrick House's actions as mercy.
They saved children because they needed workers—and future soldiers.
In this world, human lives were worthless.
If you were a mortal, you might not even know how you died.
"Now I'll assign your specific areas," Mr. Brown said coldly.
"Bow to anyone you see. Don't offend anyone."
"And don't cause me trouble."
"Otherwise, I'll personally show you what hell looks like."
After assigning everyone their duties, Mr. Brown turned and left.
Blake and the others headed to their assigned locations.
Blake was assigned to the inner right side of the mansion.