Chapter 62: Do You Hate Me?

[Please Make a Choice.]

[Option 1: Reject Victoria’s invitation.]

[Reward: ??? (Legendary)]

[Option 2: Join Victoria’s class.]

[Reward: ??? (Epic)]

[Option 3: Reject the invitation and go to the secret training location selected by the System to strengthen your foundation.]

[Reward: ??? (Mythical)]

’...Mythical?!’

Nero almost couldn’t believe what he was seeing. This was the first time the System had offered him a reward above Legendary!

The first two options had unknown rewards, but the third guaranteed something of Mythical quality.

’What the hell is this secret training location?’

He was certainly interested, although rejecting someone like Victoria wasn’t a decision he wanted to make carelessly.

Joining her class was clearly the sensible choice.

Lilly trusted her, and Victoria had already trained several talented Awakeners. Someone with her experience could probably recognize his mistakes much faster than he could figure them out himself.

However, the third option offered something he needed just as badly.

His physical strength had developed far faster than his control over Cellular Reservoir, and today’s training with Enis had shown him how much he still needed to learn.

A location personally selected by the System might provide exactly the kind of training he needed.

’And I could practice my High-Human abilities without worrying about anyone discovering them.’

After considering everything, Nero made his decision.

"Thank you for the offer, Professor, but I think I’ll have to decline."

Victoria looked visibly surprised at his decline.

"You’re turning me down? I haven’t even told you about the camp yet."

"...Camp?"

"Yes. My class is leaving for a military training camp a week from now. We’ll be staying there for the next two months."

’Two months?!’

Nero hadn’t expected such a long commitment.

"It’s an excellent opportunity," Victoria continued. "You’ll receive proper guidance and plenty of chances to improve. Are you sure you want to refuse?"

Her offer was certainly attractive, but spending two months away from New Arcadia would also mean leaving several promises unfinished.

He had only recently promised Edmund’s family that he would help Mira train. Leaving without making any arrangements wouldn’t be fair to them.

Besides, he was far too curious about the System’s mysterious training location to ignore it.

"I’m sure, Professor. There are some things I’ve promised to take care of, and I want to focus on strengthening my foundation first."

"That’s exactly what I can help you with, Nero. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own."

"I know, and I appreciate the offer. But I’d like to try another approach first."

[Option 3 Selected.]

Victoria studied him for a moment before asking something completely unexpected.

"Do you hate me?"

"...What?"

"Did I offend you somehow? Perhaps I wasn’t friendly enough?"

"What, no! I don’t hate you!"

"Then why are you so determined to escape my class?"

"I’m not trying to escape! I just explained why!"

Victoria laughed.

"I’m just playing with you, Nero. You don’t have to look so worried."

Why did every women he met enjoy doing that?

First Lilly, then Serina, and now even Professor Victoria.

’Is there something written on my forehead that says, "Please bully me"?’

He had already decided. He won’t let this happen again.

"Anyway, I won’t force you," Victoria said. "It’s a shame, though. I was looking forward to seeing what you could accomplish."

"Thank you, Professor. I really appreciate it."

"You’re welcome. And if you change your mind someday, come find me."

"I will."

After saying his goodbyes, Nero continued on his way.

Victoria couldn’t remember the last time a newly awakened student had turned down her personal invitation. Most students would jump at the opportunity, especially after hearing about the military camp.

Yet Nero hadn’t wavered even after she explained what he would be missing.

’Just what kind of training does he have planned?’

Before she could think about it further, her phone rang.

"Hello, Dad."

"Well, well! Look who finally remembers she has a father! You finally decided to call your old man."

Victoria rolled her eyes.

"Dad, you were the one that called me."

"And if I hadn’t, would my little girl have remembered this poor old man?"

"I missed you." The old man said after.

"Then maybe you should’ve spent some time with me instead of locking yourself in your room reading novels."

"Well, the author kept ending every Chapter on a cliffhanger. What was I supposed to do? Stop reading?"

"Yes, Dad. That’s exactly what you were supposed to do."

Victoria shook her head with a sigh. "Anyway, why did you call? Don’t tell me you finished another novel and need someone to complain about the ending."

"No, no. Although now that you mention it, the latest Chapter ended right when..."

"Dad."

"Ahem! Right, right. I actually have some good news."

"What happened?"

Drake sounded happier than she had heard him in a long time.

"I’ve recovered from the demonic corruption. I’m even planning to throw a party soon."

"...What?" Victoria becomes dumbfounded.

"Like I said, the demonic corruption. It’s gone."

"Dad, are you serious? You’re not joking about this, are you?"

"Of course not! Do you think I’d joke about something like that?"

"Yes! You joke about everything!"

"...Fair point."

"Dad, how did this happen? The doctors said your condition couldn’t be treated. Did someone find a cure?"

"And why am I only hearing about this now?"

"Whoa, whoa! One question at a time! You’re going to give this old man a headache."

"Dad, if you don’t start explaining, I’m coming over there right now!"

Nero had barely left Pride University when a phone shop across the street reminded him of another promise.

Mira had asked him for a phone before he left her family’s house. He had agreed without thinking much about it, only to spend the rest of the day getting caught up in one thing after another.

He reached for his own phone to check the time, but before he could unlock it, the System appeared.

[Please Make a Choice.]

[Option 1: Buy Mira Smith the phone you promised her.]

[Reward: $20,000 (Common)]

[Option 2: Put off buying the phone and go straight home.]

[Reward: 1-Star Recovery Potion ×3 (Common)]

’Oh?’

Nero was pleasantly surprised by the rewards. Both were useful, especially after how much energy he had spent training.

Three Recovery Potions would make his training considerably easier, allowing him to recover without waiting for his Mana to replenish naturally.

However, he had already promised Mira a phone, and there was a shop right in front of him.

’And you’re offering me twenty thousand dollars just to keep my promise?’

Who would refuse that?

Nero selected the first option and crossed the street.

Inside the shop, an assistant showed him several phones with prices so ridiculous that Nero wondered whether they came with the ability to fight Gate Beasts.

He eventually chose a good model with a sturdy case rather than the most expensive one.

Mira needed something she could use to study and contact him. He doubted having a slightly better camera would make much difference.

Once he finished paying, the familiar notification appeared.

[Choice Completed.]

[Reward Received: $20,000.]

Nero checked his bank balance before putting his phone away.

’Not bad. I went shopping and somehow became richer.’

He certainly wasn’t going to complain about that.

After leaving the shop, Nero called Daniel and asked whether he could visit. Since the family was home, he changed his route and headed toward Willow Lane.