My Evil System

"That's reassuring," Thomas sighed. "At least there's someone with authority in here that would defend us."

"And that's it," Jorge concluded.

"Huh? That's it?" I questioned. I felt like I got scammed. I thought he would tell us a lot but what he told us wasn't even worth 1000 gil!

"Teacher Fey is the only one we could befriend here?" Thomas stuttered, tears pooling beneath his eyes, and any moment now, he would slump on the floor and cry his heart out.

"In the first place. There are not many players here that would genuinely befriend you. Most live by the rules that every man for themselves. If you're not useful, then you can die on the side, and nobody will help you.

"Look at that girl by Amara's side. They called them her friends, but in truth, they functioned more like a servant to Amara. They accepted their fate to be her followers so they could ride her fame. It was a good deal since they were being protected and fed by Amara's popularity. Though to get in that circle, you have to be a girl and useful. At least thirty ATP is required in there."

"T-that high?" Thomas exclaimed though I wondered why, since he was not a girl, so he couldn't possibly go over there and join their group no matter how much he was desperate to go.

"Of course, that high. You sometimes formed groups and ventured into the woodlands, after all. So you need at least that much to kill the beasts there."

"H-huh? W-what do you mean, venture into the woodlands?" I asked, confused. The more I listened, the more I regretted ever stepping into this Academy.

Jorge blinked. "Wow. You really don't know anything about the Player's Academy, huh?"

That's why I was paying you for information! I wanted to scream at him.

Jorge then extended his hand. "I can tell you all about the major things you're going to do while you're in the Academy for 1000 gil."

". . . Can't you just tell us?" I commented.

"Business is business."

I wish Evil Eyes could tell me that, but unfortunately, this skill had limits.

"Fine," I said.

"C-Cross. Maybe I should pay?" Thomas said, but I knew that based on his worried expression, he didn't have any money or if there was, it was not enough. Maybe he thought to pay with his CR.

"It's fine, Thomas," I told him. "I accumulated enough gils during my travel here." I hope I was believable, at least.

After paying him, Jorge's smile returned to his face.

"Thanks for your patronage. So here's the thing, I know that you already know that you can earn CR points, right?"

We nodded in confirmation.

"One of the things you can earn CR is through venturing into the Woodlands and killing beasts and getting their mana core. But these beasts with mana cores are impossible to kill with a newbie player alone. So you need to form groups."

"I-I see . . ."

"C-can we not go there and kill those beasts?" Thomas felt like he was going to puke. His face was so pale.

"You can," said Jorge. "But I don't recommend it. A lot of representatives from other countries and kingdoms are here because of Amara and Jin. Two BUG players in a single academy are very rare, and a lot of those representatives are trying to covet them.

"If you don't fight and put up a good performance, then no country will offer you any contract, wasting your time in here. After all, the sole purpose of the Academy is for newbies to get accustomed to this world and give them an opportunity for a favorable contract from other kingdoms. You'll only get to enrol here one time.

"That's why others waited until their ATP is good enough to be offered a contract. Though players over a year wouldn't be accepted in this Academy anymore."

". . ." I think Thomas was here because of the free shelter and food, while I was here because I was curious.

So no venturing into those Woodlands for us. "Is there another way to earn CR points?"

"There is." Jorge nodded. "You can earn one point if you correctly answer a teacher's question. You can also earn by challenging other players to duels with your CR points in the line. Or . . . you can earn through bullying a weaker player and coerce him to give you his points."

"Egh . . . T-then . . . isn't this school dangerous?" Thomas stammered.

"Nowhere is safe in this world," Jorge told him with a flat tone. "I told you before. This school is just another prison for you to survive each day."

"What would happen if we left the school? And what would happen to our CR" I questioned, and Thomas seemed to have the same idea as me since, all of a sudden, our chances to survive outside was greater than staying in here.

"Huh?" Jorge looked at us like we were idiots. "Don't you know that once you entered an Academy, you can't teleport or go to another country until the seven days are over?"

". . . What?!" Thomas and I exclaimed at the same time.

Jorge looked at us with fake surprise. "Wow. You two really are idiots, huh? At least other newbies that I offered my services knew that much."

"So we can't leave here while the seven days are up?" I repeated just to make sure.

Jorge nodded. "That bracelet isn't just any ordinary bracelet that lets the school gather your Stat and information, but it also prevents you from teleporting out and going to another country. You can roam around castle rock, the woodlands and the nearby areas, though. But beyond that . . .  You're stuck in here for seven days.

"What's more, you have to deplete all your CR points before your time is up here. That bracelet will disappear together with your points. There's also an option of converting your points with gil if you want.

"Most players took it as an opportunity to kill beasts and sell its mana core for CR points before their time is up. CR points is higher in value compared to gil, after all. So you can double even triple your gil after your time here ends."

"So that meant . . ." my heart raced, and I felt them beating hard against my throat. ". . . This place is a scam."

"Ahahaha." Jorge laughed. "That's a good one. You can't expect that free 1000 CR, the roof under your head, and those times of trainings and teachings you'll get here don't have anything in return."

". . ."

". . ."

Jorge picked up the fork and stabbed at the salad before he put them into his mouth. At this point, I didn't care if he finished our meal. That was how shocked I was.

"In return for those, you have to stay here and finish those seven days. Don't worry. It's not that hard just lay low and avoid those people I told you to avoid."

( . . . continuation on NOTES)