Chapter 2: [Chapter:2][Studying really is important for everyone.]
"I levelled up?"
Echo felt no different from a moment ago. Looking at his status, the reason was obvious.
"So I get 10 Stat Points per level. But my own Stats remain the same."
He assumed all his stats, or at least those related to the Job, would rise, but 10 SP per level was quite fine too, he supposed.
He decided not to use the 10 SP yet, since he had no idea if what he had in mind for levelling up would work. If it did, though, then raising his Job to level 100 would only be a matter of time.
"100 levels, meaning 1,000 SP…well, let's not get too far ahead, but still…it's good to make plans."
He thought of an ideal build for himself, but it would depend on weather he would still have the same problem as the original. Not being able to raise one of his stats far above any other.
In most games, min maxing stats was something obvious. After all, few games would actually let a 'Jack of all Trades, Master of None' prosper. But the original system didn't allow one to keep the stats too disproportionate.
"Thoughts for another time."
Thinking of it all now would make no sense, when he was still at level 1 with 10 SP.
Instead, he looked at the four skills available to him.
. . . . . .
[Focus]
[Analysis]
[Research]
[Scholar's Knowledge]
. . . . . .
Echo wasn't given Ah other information about the skills other than their descriptions, and tapping one only made a 'Select this skill?' prompt appear.
"I don't know if I'll be able to learn another skill either…"
Assuming he wouldn't be able to, he decided to get the skill which seemed most useful to him at the moment.
"Focus."
He might be able to get the skill on his own too, but he didn't want to risk it. Echo knew for a fact that his focus had always been bad, a demerit of being emotionally challenged. And with a solution for the very problem that made him drop out of high school in front of him, he didn't really hesitate.
((Skill selected. Learned skill [Focus].))
Looking at his status and the description of the skill, he nodded as he realised he didn't make the wrong choice.
. . . . . .
[Focus(Lv-1)]
Type : Skill / Active
Description : Using the skill would allow one to focus entirely on the matter at hand, making them resistant to, and at max level, immune to any and all distractions, while also increasing the efficiency and result of what the user does.
Increase EXP gained by 1%
Cost : -
. . . . . .
The effect of the skill wasn't much, but since he could use it indefinitely, and considering he would mostly stay at home at that, Echo knew he would be able to level it up quite quickly.
With that in mind, he walked to his laptop and started it up, opening the browser and looking for some random knowledge related article.
"Since I got the Job from doing math…"
He opened an article titled 'Intricacies of Calculus', and began to seriously read it while activating 'Focus'.
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
*ding* *dong*
Echo blinked as he snapped out of the trance he had been in, the sound of the door bell ringing bringing him back to his senses.
"Wow…that was…amazing."
His eyes widened ever so slightly, a barely noticeable look of surprise appearing on his face, as he realised, by looking at the time, that he had spent the last five hours reading something which would have made him sleep in less than three minutes before.
"And I remember most of it too…"
He didn't remember all that he read completely, yet he recalled at least half, and surprisingly, what he recalled, he understood quite well!
Meaning, in five hours, he had already 'learnt' the basics of calculus.
Just as he was pondering on how much the 'Focus' skill had benefited him, the door bell rang again.
"Coming.", he spoke to no one in particular, softly enough that only those in the room next to him would be able to hear, but knowing that both his mom and his big sis would could hear him speak even when they were outside.
Walking down, he opened the door and let them in.
""We're home!""
"Welcome home."
Leah and Rhianna seemed to be in a good mood, most probably due to the bags they had in their hands, while Aya merely smiled at them as she rubbed her son's head.
"What have you been doing?"
"Studying."
She paused, and so did the other two, as they looked at him with wide eyes.
"Studying? You?", Leah asked in surprise, and though it might have sounded insulting, she was genuinely surprised. After all, she knew of his problems, not being able to concentrate on anything for too long, which was why she didn't mind it when he decided to drop out.
"Are you alright?", Aya asked in concern while her eyes glowed for a brief moment.
((You have been subjected to a basic analysis spell by [Aya Howers].))
Echo blinked at the sudden prompt, which was repeated again but with his sis Leah Howers being the caster instead.
"I'm fine. Also, I can concentrate a little more now."
He wasn't going to reveal his 'Gamer System', at least not unless they ask.
Echo loved his family, more than anything in the world. They had given him everything he could possibly ask for, more than what he believed he deserved. So he never intended to keep secrets from them.
Though, he also wouldn't be actively revealing it all. Not because he didn't want to. Simply because he was too lazy.
Another side effect of being unable to properly feel emotions. Indifference to anything other than the three people before him, even his own life, and near permanent boredom. And that boredom caused him to be quite lazy too. Something which slowly yet surely became a part of his character.
"Well, that's good."
"Hmm."
While Rhianna was confused over what they were talking about, since the three had never mentioned Echo's condition to her so as to not worry her, Aya and Leah patted his shoulders in encouragement. Based on their expressions which they didn't hide as well as they believed they had, however, he knew they didn't really believe him.
'They probably think I'm just trying to make them worry less…'
Shaking his head, he walked back to his room upstairs after taking a glance at Rhi.
'Still as awkward as ever…'
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
"So, what did I miss?"
Looking at his changed Status, he thought about it for a moment before saying,
"Log."
And a screen containing all the system notifications appeared before him.
. . . . . .
((Skill [Focus] levelled up!))
((Conditions met. Skill [Mathematics] learned.))
((Conditions met. Skill [Calculations] combined with skill [Mathematics].))
((Skill [Focus] levelled up!))
((Skill [Mathematics] levelled up!))
((Skill [Mathematics] levelled up!))
…
…
…
((You studied seriously. Intelligence increased by 1.))
((You studied seriously. Wisdom increased by 1.))
((You studied seriously. Intelligence increased by 1.))
((You studied seriously. Wisdom increase by 1.))
…
…
…
((Job [Scholar] EXP +10.))
((Job [Scholar] EXP +10.))
((Job [Scholar] EXP +10.))
…
…
…
((Level up!))
…
…
…
((Level up!))
…
…
…
. . . . . .
All in all, his Status has changed quite a bit.
. . . . . .
[Status]
Echo Howers
Level : 4 (63.20%)
Job : [Scholar(Lv-4/100)]
HP : 110/110 (11 per min)
MP : 240/240 (21 per min)
[Stats]
Strength : 13
Endurance : 14
Vitality : 11
Agility : 13
Intelligence : 19 —> 24
Wisdom : 17 —> 21
Senses : 11
Charm : 19
Stat Points : 40
[Skills]
[Focus(Lv-6)] (New!)
[Mathematics(Lv-4)] (New!)
. . . . . .
"Five points in Intelligence and Wisdom for five hours…"
Looking at the Log, he realised that they had increased in intervals of one every hour too.
"The original System had a limit to how much stats can be raised naturally…does this one not have such a limit? Or is 1 hour some kind of threshold, after which stats related to the work I do will increase by 1?"
While it was certainly a cheat to be able to grow at such a pace at the beginning, when his stats reach three, or even four digits, an increase of 1 per hour isn't nearly enough. At that point, levelling up would most probably be far more efficient, unless, of course, a single level up would take over 10 hours.
As for the other changes…
"I'll have to experiment more on stat gain. If there is a limit, then I will distribute the points I have after I reach it. If there isn't, I should probably use them all to increase my Wisdom…"
At the moment, increasing his MP reserves would prove to be more detrimental. He wouldn't be able to roam outside with high MP reserves without having a sufficient combat strength, not to mention, he had no use for large amounts of MP anyway.
The only skill he had that currently used MP was [Void Fade], and it was a continuous skill that used a set amount of MP per second rather than a large amount of it at once. He would be able to use it better with a high recovery.
And as for the change in his skills…
"The EXP increase for 'Focus' changed to 6%…which isn't little, but it isn't much either. And as for 'Mathematics'…"
He honestly didn't feel much different even with the 'Mathematics' skill at level 4. It wasn't like he suddenly had new knowledge inside him either.
Looking at his laptop, he opened a math questionnaire and tried to solve some of the problems…
"Oh?"
Echo's brows rose slightly when he realised he suddenly knew how to solve the problem given to him.
"So that's how it is…rather than cramming my head with all that knowledge, it'll be available to me as and when I need it…"
He didn't have much to do, so he decided to continue solving math questions while not only levelling up, but also levelling up his skills and even increasing his stats.
"Three birds with one stone…"
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
*knock* *knock*
"Hmm?"
The door of his room being knocked interrupted Echo, making him come out of his trance.
"Yes?"
The door opened, revealing Aya coming in with a tray in her hand.
"You…really are studying?"
She paused at the sight of Echo with a pen in his hand, sitting before his laptop and the notes before him filled with words.
"Yes.", he nodded, "I'm able to focus much better now. There's no other improvement other than that, but it's something I guess."
He barely finished his sentence when he felt his head being stuffed into something soft and comfortable.
Aya had practically flashed to his position in the blink of an eye, making him wonder if she realised how clearly supernatural it was, and was currently hugging tightly.
"That's good…that's good…"
Echo stayed silent as he felt her body tremble lightly, and hugged her back as her tears spilled onto his head.
"I'm fine…really. My condition…it's nothing more than a discomfort."
He didn't know how many times he had said that. And he truly meant it.
He was uncomfortable with not being able to feel or express those emotions he did manage to feel properly, but it was just that, discomfort. It didn't change who he was, nor did it make life difficult for him.
Granted, he was rather sad at not being able to get closer to Rhi, or being able to show how much he loved his family…
"It's good that you're fine…I'm happy…"
Aya muttered softly as she continued to hug him, and Echo simply stayed motionless as he let her get it out of her system.
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
"So why are you here?"
It's not that he didn't appreciate their presence, which she knew, but Echo was simply curious as she and Leah, and Rhi, would normally not disturb him without a reason.
"Well, I realised you hadn't eaten anything, and brought you your favourite dishes…"
She picked up the tray that she had placed on his bed and showed him his favourite food, pizza.
"Thanks."
Aya smiled as he took the plate and began eating without another word, knowing he liked it too much to wait. And it made her happy seeing him enjoy her food.
"Eat up, I'll come back to take the plate later."
Rubbing his head, she walked out of the room, an obvious skip of joy visible in her steps. Knowing her, Echo knew his sister Leah would soon barge into the…
*bang!*
'Oh, speak of the Devil, or rather, Angel.'
He quickly set the plate aside, and just in time as his face was once again plunged into comfortable softness.
"…"
"…"
Unlike Aya, Leah didn't say anything, simply hugging him tightly as she let her tears of happiness fall.
She had waited for nearly two whole decades for this day, and words alone weren't enough to express herself, her joy…
"I'm fine."
"I'm sure you are."
She let him go after a few minutes, and ruffled his hair with a bright smile.
"Enjoy your food. I won't disturb you."
She closed the door as she walked out of the room, and Echo saw his little sister Rhi look at him with a confused expression.
"She's old enough to know about me, I guess."
He sighed as he thought of the discussion he and the others would probably have to have with Rhi.
"Well…I'll think about it when the time comes."
Finishing his pizza, and washing the plate, he set it outside his room before closing the door, and concentrating on a few things he realised.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone