Chapter 59: Profound Wisdom By Nero

[Option 1: Deliver a profound speech about how not every moment in life requires your presence, then leave dramatically before anyone has time to question your wisdom.]

[Reward: Training Amplifier + Warm Meal Voucher]

[Option 2: Stand there like an idiot and watch another man receive his heaven-defying power-up.]

[Reward: $5,000]

’What the fuck is wrong with this System?!’

’Can’t I even watch something in peace without you calling me an idiot?’

And what was with the first option?

’A profound speech? What am I supposed to be, some eighty-year-old philosopher handing out life advice nobody asked for?’

Still, the first reward was tempting. A Training Amplifier could improve his training efficiency, which was worth far more than five thousand dollars right now.

The Warm Meal Voucher was a nice bonus too.

’Fine. I’ll become a motivational speaker for thirty seconds. Anything for free food.’

Nero selected the first option.

"Well, I think I’ve seen enough," he announced.

"Already?" Jasmine asked. "Don’t you want to see what Richard’s second awakening gives him?"

Nero clasped his hands behind his back.

"Jasmine, let me tell you something."

Lilly immediately became suspicious.

"Why are you standing like that?"

"Sometimes, a man must understand that not every grand event in this world requires his presence."

"...What?"

Nero continued with the solemn expression of a wise old philosopher.

"Look at Richard. He’s standing there glowing like the sun, receiving a heaven-defying power-up while hundreds of people watch in admiration."

He gestured toward the pillar of light.

"But tell me, will watching him make us stronger? Will his breakthrough magically increase our Power Index?"

"Well, no, but..." Jasmine began.

"Exactly! If watching another man’s success made people stronger, I’d spend my entire life staring at the strongest Awakener in the Federation. By next week, I’d be S-Rank."

Lilly stared at him as though she were looking at a complete idiot.

Unfortunately for her, Nero wasn’t finished.

"Richard has his path, and I have mine. While he enjoys his glorious moment, I shall return to training and improve myself!"

He paused, searching for something that sounded even more profound.

"After all, a wise man knows when to leave. A foolish man stands around waiting for something to happen, and an even greater fool stands around watching another man glow."

Jasmine didn’t know whether to agree with him or laugh.

Lilly, on the other hand, had heard enough.

"Nero, did that light hit your head earlier?"

"...No?"

"Then why are you talking like some retired professor giving a graduation speech nobody asked for?"

’Woman, I’m trying to earn a reward here!’

"Ahem. You wouldn’t understand, Lilly. Some wisdom can only be gained through experience."

"...You really are an idiot."

Nero ignored her and gave the two girls what he hoped was a wise smile.

"Well then, greatness doesn’t build itself. The training room awaits me. Farewell, my friends."

With his hands still clasped behind his back, Nero turned around and left before either girl could question him further.

’Please complete. Please complete. Please complete!’

[Ding! Choice Completed.]

[Rewards Distributed: Training Amplifier + Warm Meal Voucher]

Meanwhile, Lilly was still watching him leave.

"What’s gotten into him?" Jasmine asked.

"Don’t ask me. He was struggling with basic exercises this morning, and now he’s acting like some famous motivational speaker."

"Well, he did make a good point about training."

Lilly turned toward her in disbelief.

"Don’t tell me you’re falling for his nonsense too!"

Nero had barely left the crowd when someone called out to him.

"I feel you, Nero Martinez!"

’...Huh?’

Damian approached him, accompanied by an orange-haired student.

"Your speech was exactly what I needed to hear!"

’Oh no.’

"We can’t waste this opportunity!" Damian continued enthusiastically. "You’re right. Richard is getting stronger, and instead of watching him, we should be training harder!"

’Damn it. Someone actually listened to that nonsense?’

"Damn right!" the orange-haired boy agreed. "I don’t plan on losing to Richard either!"

"We’ll break through to D-Rank and show him what we can do!"

Damian patted Nero’s shoulder.

"I especially liked what you said about the foolish man watching another man glow. That really opened my eyes."

"...It did?"

"Of course! Why should I waste time admiring Richard’s achievements when I could be working toward my own?"

’Brother, I made that up because my System promised me lunch.’

But Damian seemed genuinely inspired by the speech.

"Work hard, Nero Martinez! With that kind of determination, I think we’ll become great friends!"

’Determination?’

Nero had been thinking about a Training Amplifier and free food the entire time.

’Well, if these two idiots want to believe I’m some wise motivational speaker, who am I to disappoint them?’

He then remembered where he had seen the orange-haired boy before.

Peter Griffin.

He was the annoying guy who enjoyed picking on people and supposedly argued with Lilly whenever they met. His Talent was Flame Control, and he was also one of Victoria’s students.

"The heck are you looking at?" Peter demanded.

"Nothing..."

Nero immediately regretted his timid answer.

’Why the hell am I still getting scared when someone talks to me like that?’

He had awakened, evolved into a High-Human, and fought monsters far more dangerous than Peter. Yet some of his old habits still refused to disappear.

’Seriously, I need to work on that.’

"Well, I’ll get going. Good luck with your training."

"Same to you, Nero!" Damian replied. "Let’s all reach D-Rank!"

"Yeah, let’s do that."

Nero left before either of them could drag him into another motivational speech about catching up to Richard.

Damian watched him leave with admiration.

"Did you hear that, Peter? He didn’t even bother staying to watch Richard’s second awakening."

"Yeah, he’s got guts," Peter admitted.

"We can’t fall behind either!"

With that, the two headed toward the training facilities, while Nero was already thinking about his rewards.

’Training Amplifier and a Warm Meal Voucher... Not bad for embarrassing myself in front of half the university.’

Behind him, the pillar of light was beginning to fade as the crowd pressed forward again.

Nero had no intention of returning, though. He wanted to book his lesson with Enis and find out exactly what his new reward could do.