The next morning, I went out to the plaza.
Silence. The air was cool.
No one was in the plaza.
'Where did she go.'
I clicked my tongue. I had confirmed Jena went into the 'house', and when I followed later, she wasn't there. I was willing to give up the sofa.
Not the bed, though.
It doesn't matter.
The Training Ground was open. If I'd spent the last week moving my mind, now it was time to move my body. I entered the Training Ground's door.
[Training Ground Lv.1]
It was about 50 pyeong wide. (Note: approx. 165 sq meters or 1780 sq feet)
Scarecrows made of straw were set up here and there. Display racks in the corners held practice weapons like wooden swords, wooden spears, and shields. Other than that, it was starkly empty, but it was only a Level 1 Training Ground. I was grateful for even this much.
I started running along the walls of the Training Ground.
Two light breaths in, one deep breath out.
It was a simple technique learned from military running drills. I ran like that for 10 minutes.
Maintaining a slow pace, I didn't feel my calves straining or my breath becoming labored.
I opened the status window.
[Han Israt (★) Lv. 5 (Exp 44/50)]
[Class: Novice]
[STR: 15/15]
[INT: 15/15]
[VIT: 15/15]
[AGI: 15/15]
[Skills Owned: None]
Pathetic.
I frowned. The growth per level is only 4 points total. And why is Intelligence increasing? It's an utterly useless stat for a physical type.
But even so, it's definitely superior to my body on Earth. After my military discharge, I hadn't exercised one bit, and since I always drove, even climbing a few flights of stairs left me panting.
I was the epitome of a modern person lacking exercise.
But now, it felt like I had returned to my military self.
Back to when I struggled desperately to become a Top-Class Soldier.
'This world's laws are different from Earth's.'
The ramen in the cupboard and the orange juice in the fridge, no matter how much I ate or drank, were replenished the next day, and if I thought of something I needed and opened a drawer or closet, the item would appear. Of course, things like K-2 or AK-47 rifles wouldn't show up.
What I could get were daily necessities like clothes, pencils, or tissues.
After running like that for 30 minutes, my body warmed up nicely.
I caught my breath lightly and started doing push-ups.
Now I understand.
Occasionally, there are heroes who show different combat power from others despite having the same grade.
One thing they have in common.
They don't neglect training.
In the early days, I couldn't understand. Why did they hole up in the training ground when training didn't increase stats or levels? Still, I thought it was commendable for game characters to put in effort, so I consistently upgraded the facility for them.
Thinking back now, perhaps they weren't just game characters.
Anyway, their efforts bore fruit, and as their levels and grades increased, they gradually began to stand out.
I had defined this as 'Constitution' or 'Foundation'.
Just as building a tall building requires sturdy foundational work, it's about solidifying the basics.
1-star heroes start with base stats of 10.
Strength 10, Intelligence 10, Vitality 10, Agility 10.
Whether it's a plump middle-aged woman or a grandpa on his last legs, their physical abilities should be the same. But the outcomes differ.
'First, mentality.'
Masters don't even glance at heroes who easily fall into fear or panic.
The strength to remain calm in any situation and find the possibility of victory.
That's why 'Combat Logic', which makes this possible, is recognized as an S-tier passive.
'Second, skill.'
The second condition for discerning potential is skill.
Some heroes are good with swords, others with spears. Talent for weaponry varies by hero. High-tier heroes are usually summoned with their talents already awakened, while for low-tier heroes, it's often hidden and must be found by the Master.
I don't know my own skill yet. There will be plenty of opportunities to find out. I decided not to be anxious.
'Third, physique.'
This is what I'm doing now.
The process of giving direction and elasticity to growth.
Spirit.
Skill.
Physique.
When these three elements align, I will gain the competitiveness to contend with natural 5-stars.
I know from fighting them,
Those guys are real monsters.
While I was working out hard like that,
"What are you doing?"
A familiar voice called out.
I stopped my push-ups and stood up. Looking at the training ground entrance, Jena, her red hair braided down, was watching me.
I said.
"Training to kill monsters. Why?"
"Why are you so aggressive? I finally found you."
Jena grumbled as she entered the training ground. Then she fiddled with a wooden bow from an old barrel.
"Look, I thought all night. About what to do next. We really can't leave here, right?"
I didn't answer.
Jena took out the wooden bow and drew the string.
"Let me join you. I'll listen well."
"Join what?"
"You know what I mean. Look, I may not look like much, but I'm good with a bow. I won't be a hindrance. My father was a hunter, so shooting bows in my spare time was my hobby."
Jena picked up a wooden arrow from the barrel and quickly shot it. With a soft thwip, the arrow embedded itself in the scarecrow 10 meters away.
"Crying and whining won't change the situation. Oppa, you know how to survive, right?"
"Was yesterday your first real fight?"
"Of course. I just stayed cooped up at home."
"How well do you shoot?"
"So-so."
Jena shot again.
The same scarecrow. A hit.
'Status Window.'
[Jena Shirai (★) Lv. 2 (Exp 5/20)]
[Class: Novice]
[STR: 11/11]
[INT: 10/10]
[VIT: 11/11]
[AGI: 12/12]
[Skills Owned: Low-Grade Archery (Lv.1)]
Her growth is low at 4 points, but Agility increased by 2 points instead of Intelligence. Plus, despite being a 1-star, she has a starting skill.
Among the three who fled, she was the only one who came back.
Though she felt fear during her first real battle, it didn't escalate to panic, and she shot down one goblin. She didn't seem hung up on the people who died and had clearly set a goal for what to do next.
'Raw potential.'
I recalled yesterday's battle. The three who only ran away even when given weapons. What if the next ones summoned are the same? Can I handle the enemies alone?
Before competition, don't I need to survive first?
I answered.
"Alright. I'll help you."
"Please take care of me, Oppa."
Jena smiled and extended her hand.
I clasped it.
['Jena (★)' feels Favourability towards 'Han (★)'.]
[Affinity Bonus generated.]
[Tips/ Forming parties with heroes who have high affinity for each other provides stat bonuses. Utilize this well.]
"My father told me. If you want to live, ride the right line."
"Is that so."
"He's a great father, right?"
I explained the basic rules of Pick Me Up to Jena.
That there's a being called a Master who gives us commands. That we must follow those commands to defeat enemies or complete missions. That the floor number increases with each completed mission, and reaching the 100th floor might mean liberation.
"So we have to fight monsters constantly?"
"That's why we train. We need to build strength."
There are other ways to get stronger besides training, but at this low floor level, most content isn't unlocked. Training was about all I could do at this point.
"Do the two of us have to fight alone?"
I also explained about summoning. How the Master uses resources called Gems and Gold to call humans from other worlds. How we got caught up in that summoning and came to this world.
That people will continue to be summoned, and we'll have to sometimes compete and sometimes cooperate with them to complete missions.
I hid the truth about this world and my own identity.
"That's about all I can explain. Understood?"
"Yes, I understand."
Jena nodded. Her complexion wasn't great, but she didn't show it openly. She was keeping her feelings under control.
There was no childish whining or tantrum one might expect.
She was accepting the situation calmly.
'She seems useful enough.'
"So we're bound together in life and death (Illyeontaksaeng)?"
"Illyeontaksaeng?" (Note: Buddhist term meaning souls destined to be reborn on the same lotus flower; implies sharing the same fate.)
"If I die, Oppa dies too, and if Oppa dies, I die too."
That's not quite right.
I didn't explain synthesis.
"Anyway, the Master will be back soon, and then the battle starts. Train until then. It's better than doing nothing."
"Yep!"
With an exaggerated salute, Jena picked up her wooden bow.
Training began again. It wasn't anything special, just physical conditioning or swinging swords and shooting arrows at scarecrows.
But neither I nor Jena was messing around.
Our lives depended on it.
After the day's training.
The reason I couldn't find Jena in the dorm was also revealed.
When I opened the dorm door, a modern-style house appeared. When Jena opened it, it was the interior of a cozy wooden house. When I called Isel and asked, she said:
"[Got a problem? Be grateful I'm not stuffing you in a barn!]"
Since we had no complaints about our living situation, neither Jena nor I argued. It seemed the place changed depending on who opened the door.
Third day since starting training.
[Welcome to Pick Me Up!]
I stopped swinging the wooden sword.
The scarecrow made of straw bales was ragged.
'Status Window.'
[Han Israt (★) Lv. 5 (Exp 44/50)]
[Class: Novice]
[STR: 15/15]
[INT: 15/15]
[VIT: 15/15]
[AGI: 15/15]
[Skills Owned: Low-Grade Swordsmanship (Lv.1), Low-Grade Shield Arts (Lv.1)]
I gained two skills. Low-Grade Swordsmanship and Low-Grade Shield Arts, which give bonuses to swords and shields respectively. Jena's Low-Grade Archery rose to level 2.
We did as much as we could.
"Get ready. The Master's here."
"Already?"
"What do you mean, already? It's been three days."
We returned our weapons and went out to the plaza.
Equipment from the Training Ground couldn't be taken outside.
[Loading Complete.]
[T O U C H !(Selected)]
The announcements were skipped, and the Master entered the main screen.
I calculated the time dilation between Earth and the waiting room. If the Master logs in here every day, then one day on Earth seems to be three days here.
The Summoning Chamber door opened.
"Summon!"
"Right, they're coming."
A party's capacity is five.
They'll probably summon three times.
[Hero Summon!]
[Summon heroes with Gold or Gems. Try summoning the infinite heroes generated by Moebius Summon!]
[Master, starting summoning. Excited to see which heroes will appear!]
[Clack, Dururururu.]
[Tada-ran!]
[Common!]
[Master 'Amkena' has acquired the hero 'Aaron (★)'!]
[Common!]
[Master 'Amkena' has acquired the hero 'Toby (★)'!]
[Common!]
[Master 'Amkena' has acquired the hero 'Yelsens (★)'!]
All 1-stars?
Faint light emanated from inside the Summoning Chamber.
A moment later, three men walked out looking bewildered.
"Where is this?"
"That's what I'm sayin'."
"Uncles! Get ready to fight first. I'll explain after it's over safely!"
"Ready to fight? Who are you? Answer!"
[Forming Party.]
[Drag and drop heroes!]
['Aaron (★)' joins 'Party 1'!]
['Toby (★)' joins 'Party 1'!]
['Yelsens (★)' joins 'Party 1'!]
[Open, Rift of Time and Spaaaace!]
Clunk.
The front gate opened.
Simultaneously, the Armory door opened.
Much faster than last time.
"Jena, grab a weapon before it's too late!"
"Yep!"
We ran.