Chương 2: Hacking for Money.
—
The next morning, Accelerator woke up to the first light of dawn seeping through the window. With a groan, he got out of bed and made his way downstairs. As he entered the dining area, he saw Rin already seated, eating breakfast. She glanced up at him and smiled, her demeanor much friendlier than the previous night.
"Good morning. Care to join me for breakfast?" she offered, gesturing to the food spread out on the table.
Accelerator instantly refused. "No thanks. Do you have any black coffee?"
Rin raised an eyebrow but pointed to the coffee maker on the counter. "Over there. You have some weird tastes, you know. You're definitely not older than me, yet you drink black coffee. Did it turn your hair white or something?"
Accelerator walked over and poured himself a cup of the bitter liquid, ignoring the sugar and cream. He took a sip before turning to look at her. "My hair? No, it has nothing to do with the coffee. I automatically block ultraviolet rays, so my body doesn't produce melanin. That's why my hair is white."
Rin's eyes widened in awe. "So that's the reason? I always thought it was just some weird genetic thing. That's actually pretty fascinating."
Finishing her breakfast, Rin stood up, already dressed in her school uniform. She was about to head out when Accelerator's voice stopped her. "Hey, I'm going to look around. Give me some money."
Rin's face flinched at the word "money." She looked away, muttering something under her breath.
"What was that?" Accelerator asked, his voice louder this time.
Rin sighed, finally meeting his gaze. "I said I'm in a bit of a tight situation financially. I can't lend you a large amount."
Accelerator stared at her, baffled. "You've got to be kidding me. This place is huge, and you're telling me you don't have any money? What are you, some kind of fake noble?"
Rin flushed slightly, her pride wounded. "It's not like that! Just because I have a big house doesn't mean I have a lot of money to spare. Maintenance alone is a huge cost, and being a mage isn't exactly a profitable career."
Accelerator snorted, shaking his head. "Unbelievable. A mansion and no money. You really are something else."
Rin glared at him, her irritation clear. "Look, it's not like I asked for you to show up out of nowhere and start making demands. I'm doing the best I can here. If you need money, you're going to have to find a way to earn it yourself."
Accelerator leaned back against the counter, sipping his coffee. "Fine. I'll figure something out. But don't expect me to stick around and play nice if you can't even provide the basics."
Rin's expression softened slightly. "I get it. Just… try not to cause any trouble, okay? This world isn't exactly forgiving to outsiders."
"Yeah, yeah," Accelerator muttered, waving her off. "Go to your school or whatever. I'll manage."
Rin gave him one last look before heading out the door, leaving Accelerator alone in the dining room.
A few hours later, Accelerator lay on his back, staring at the ceiling of his temporary room. His thoughts churned with a mix of frustration and confusion. What the hell was he doing here? Why was he even bothering with this situation? His face twisted in anger as he muttered curses under his breath, cursing Rin for her carefree attitude.
"Damn her," he growled. "Didn't even bother to restock her food. I'm going to get hungry today at this rate."
With an exasperated click of his tongue, Accelerator stood up and went to the kitchen, where he poured himself another cup of black coffee. The bitter liquid was the only thing keeping him somewhat sane in this strange world. As he drank, he began thinking about how to make some money. Without access to his usual resources and without the advanced technology he was used to, he felt cornered. He sighed, realizing he needed to find a computer.
He spent the next hour searching Rin's mansion for a laptop or any kind of computing device. Each room he entered was either filled with dusty books, strange magical artifacts, or personal belongings, but not a single piece of modern technology. As the fruitless search dragged on, he muttered to himself, "That woman is a fucking bum… Mages are stupid as shit for not using technology."
Defeated, he decided to venture outside. Making his way through the unfamiliar streets, he eventually found a café and stepped inside. It was a quaint place, filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the soft hum of quiet conversation. He quickly scanned the room and spotted several customers using laptops.
Taking a seat at an empty table, Accelerator observed a man engrossed in his work, a laptop open in front of him. His calculating mind went to work. In Academy City, his brain was more powerful than any supercomputer, and here, in this technologically backward world, a simple calculation was all it took to hack their systems.
With a vicious smile, he focused on the man's laptop. In less than a second, he had breached its defenses, taking control without the man even noticing. The screen flickered and then came to life, moving too fast for the man to comprehend. Accelerator's eyes danced over the screen, running calculations at lightning speed.
The laptop opened a bank site, created a new account, and then accessed an online casino. Using the man's wallet, it began placing bets on high-stakes games. Accelerator's calculations were flawless, predicting the outcomes with precision. Within seconds, he had turned a small amount of money into millions, exploiting every loophole and pattern in the casino's software.
The man, now aware that something was amiss, stared in disbelief as his laptop seemed to move of its own accord. He tried to regain control, but Accelerator's manipulation was too fast. The entire process took less than ten seconds before the laptop returned to normal, the screen displaying the bank account balance with millions of newly won money.
The man could only lament his slowness, staring at the screen in shock. By the time he realized what had happened, the money was already gone, transferred to a secure account. Accelerator stood up, a dissatisfied look on his face. "Pathetic," he muttered under his breath.
As he left the café, he felt a sense of triumph. The ease with which he had manipulated the technology here only confirmed his superiority. Walking back to Rin's mansion, he mentally reviewed his newly acquired funds. This should be more than enough to cover his expenses for a while.
Returning to the mansion, Accelerator found Rin still out, probably at her school. He went back to his room and sat on the bed, his mind still racing. Despite his initial frustration, he now felt a strange sense of excitement. This world was different, and there were new challenges and opportunities.
But underlying his actions was a deeper, darker current. The voice of the Salvation System echoed in his mind, and he couldn't shake the feeling that it had chosen him for a reason. Could he truly be saved? Did he even want salvation?
His self-loathing thoughts surfaced again. How could a monster like him, someone who had taken so many lives, ever find redemption? The very idea was absurd. Yet, the system had claimed he was worthy of salvation. He hated the word, hated what it implied. He was beyond saving, a creature of destruction and chaos.
With a sigh, he pushed those thoughts aside. There was no point in dwelling on them now. He had money, he had a place to stay, and he had a mission. For now, that was enough.
As the day turned into evening, Rin finally returned home. She greeted him with a smile, seemingly oblivious to his inner turmoil. "How was your day?" she asked cheerfully.
"None of your business," he snapped, but there was less bite in his voice than before.
She shrugged and went about her business, leaving him alone.
—
Because of his growing hunger, Accelerator finally descended the stairs, each step heavy with irritation. The mansion was eerily quiet, save for the faint sound of pages turning. Entering the living room, he spotted Rin engrossed in a book, her expression serious and focused. She barely acknowledged his presence as he passed by, heading straight for the kitchen.
He flung open the refrigerator and pantry doors, his frustration mounting with each empty shelf he encountered. "What's this? You didn't restock?" he demanded, his voice laced with annoyance as he turned back to face Rin.
Rin paused her reading and looked up, shaking her head. "I have a schedule, you know. I'll go grocery shopping tomorrow after school. But if you're that hungry, there are some leftover onigiri in the kitchen. I couldn't finish them."
Accelerator's scowl deepened, but he knew he had no other options. "Tch," he clicked his tongue in irritation but went to the kitchen nonetheless. He found the onigiri, cold and unappealing, but it was better than nothing. He wolfed them down quickly, swearing to himself that he would restock this empty house tomorrow.
He returned to his room, trying to ignore the gnawing dissatisfaction in his stomach and mind. As he lay on the bed, he felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. Despite his irritation, his body needed rest, and he soon fell into a restless sleep.
The next morning, Accelerator woke up early, the sunlight streaming through the window casting long shadows across the room. He got dressed and headed downstairs, only to find that Rin had already left for school. On the dining table, she had left a small note and a single 500 yen coin, along with an apologetic message explaining that it was all she could spare for the week.
"Pathetic," Accelerator muttered, picking up the coin with a sneer. He didn't need her pity or her charity. He stuffed the coin into his pocket, more out of habit than need, and left the house.
Walking through the streets, Accelerator's mind raced with thoughts of how to secure a more stable source of money. He soon found an ATM, realizing how simple it would have been to hack the withdrawal machine the day before. Kicking himself mentally for not thinking of it sooner, he approached the machine.
With a few quick calculations and keystrokes, he hacked into the system, bypassing the need for a physical card. Instead, he linked the machine directly to his newly created bank account. The process was child's play compared to the high-tech systems he was used to in Academy City. He withdrew tens of thousands of yen, repeating the process at different machines to avoid hitting withdrawal limits and drawing unnecessary attention.
As he walked away with pockets full of cash, Accelerator couldn't help but observe the people around him. Families, couples, and individuals all going about their day, their faces relaxed and carefree. It was a stark contrast to his own life, filled with constant struggle and danger. He clicked his tongue in disgust, both at their naive happiness and his own cynicism.
Finally, he made his way to a grocery store. The automatic doors slid open, and the cool, conditioned air greeted him. He grabbed a cart and started down the aisles, throwing in items with a mechanical efficiency. Fresh produce, meats, snacks, and essentials—all went into the cart as he methodically restocked Rin's empty kitchen.
Reaching the checkout, he paid for the groceries with his newly acquired cash, ignoring the cashier's curious glance at the large amount of money. He loaded the bags into his arms and left the store, heading back to the mansion.
The walk back was uneventful, but his mind was far from calm. The image of the carefree people on the streets still lingered, a reminder of a life he could never have. Their innocence and simplicity were alien to him, and he wondered if he would ever understand it.
Returning to the mansion, he found the place still empty and silent. He unpacked the groceries, filling the refrigerator and pantry with a sense of grim satisfaction. It was a small victory, but a necessary one. He couldn't afford to be dependent on anyone, especially not someone like Rin.
With the kitchen finally stocked, Accelerator felt a little more in control of his situation. He poured himself another cup of black coffee, the bitterness a familiar comfort. Taking a sip, he leaned against the counter and let his mind wander.
He still had a lot to figure out about this world, about Rin, and about the strange system that had brought him here. But for now, he was prepared. He had food, money, and a place to stay. The rest would come in time.
As the day wore on, Accelerator felt a strange sense of anticipation. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he would face them head-on. After all, he was the strongest. And nothing, not even this bizarre new world, would change that.
—
Rin returned home with an excited smile on her face, her mind buzzing with anticipation. Tonight was the night she would finally summon her Servant. She had meticulously prepared for this moment, hoping fervently that there wouldn't be any mishaps and that she would summon a Saber-class Servant, renowned for their strength and versatility. Her heart pounded with excitement, and she found herself skipping as she entered her mansion.
However, her excitement was momentarily interrupted when she spotted Accelerator sprawled out on her sofa, napping. His presence was still something she was adjusting to, given the abrupt and unusual circumstances of his arrival. She approached him, deciding it was time to wake him up.
"Hey, wake up," she said, giving him a light shake. Accelerator stirred, his eyes snapping open with an irritated glare.
"What do you want?" he growled, sitting up. But, surprisingly, he didn't curse at her this time, which was a minor miracle in itself. Rin smiled, taking it as a small victory.
Her eyes fell on the note she had left for him that morning, and to her astonishment, the single 500 yen coin was replaced by a crisp 10,000 yen bill. She blinked in surprise, then quickly sprinted over to grab the note, holding up the bill with a mixture of disbelief and excitement.
"How did you manage to get this?" she asked, turning back to Accelerator, who was giving her a slightly bewildered look.
"None of your business," he replied curtly, getting up from the sofa and heading towards the kitchen. Rin followed, her curiosity piqued.
"But seriously, where did you get the money?" she pressed, her excitement bubbling over. "Did you find a job or something?"
Accelerator ignored her, opening the refrigerator and pulling out an apple. Rin's eyes widened in surprise. The refrigerator was stocked full of food—milk, meat, eggs, drinks—everything she had neglected to buy.
"Hey, wait!" she exclaimed, grabbing the refrigerator door before Accelerator could close it. She peered inside, her eyes tearing up at the sight of all the provisions. "You restocked everything?"
Accelerator took a bite of the apple, chewing thoughtfully before responding. "Yeah. Someone had to do it, and you clearly weren't going to."
Rin wiped away a stray tear, feeling a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. "Thank you," she said softly, genuinely touched by his unexpected act of kindness. "I didn't expect you to do this."
"Don't get used to it," Accelerator muttered, his tone brusque. "I just didn't want to starve."
Rin couldn't help but smile at his gruff exterior. "Still, thank you," she repeated. "I really appreciate it."
Accelerator waved her off, clearly uncomfortable with the gratitude. "Whatever. Just don't make a big deal out of it."
Rin nodded, deciding to change the subject. "So, what did you do today?" she asked, trying to make conversation.
"I went out and got us some money," he replied, not looking at her.
"From where?" Rin asked, genuinely curious.
"Don't ask" he said nonchalantly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "This place's technology is a joke compared to what I'm used to."
Rin's eyes widened. "Don't tell me you hacked into a bank or something?"
Accelerator shrugged. "Tch"
Rin felt a mix of awe and apprehension. "You know, that's technically illegal," she pointed out, though her tone lacked any real admonishment.
"Don't care," Accelerator said bluntly. "I did what I had to do. Besides, it's not like anyone here can catch me."
Rin chuckled, shaking her head. "You're something else, you know that?"
"I've been told," he replied dryly, finishing his apple and tossing the core into the trash.
Rin decided it was time to focus on her own plans for the evening. "Well, tonight is a big night for me," she said, her excitement returning. "I'm going to summon my Servant."
Accelerator raised an eyebrow. "Servant?"
"Yes, for the Holy Grail War," she explained, her eyes lighting up. "It's a competition among mages to obtain the Holy Grail, which can grant any wish. Wait, I already explained that to you"
Accelerator looked intrigued, though he tried to hide it. "Sounds like a load of crap," he said, though his tone was less dismissive than usual.
Rin laughed. "You'll see. It's very real. And I'm going to win it."
"Good luck with that," he said, leaning against the counter. "Just don't expect me to get involved."
"We'll see," Rin said with a knowing smile. "Anyway, I need to prepare. Make yourself at home."
As she turned to leave, Accelerator called after her. "Hey, woman."
She looked back at him, surprised by the use of her name. "Yes?"
"Thanks for not being completely useless," he said, a rare hint of sincerity in his voice.
Rin smiled warmly. "You're welcome, Accelerator."
She left the kitchen, her heart lighter than it had been in days. Despite the rough exterior, she sensed there was more to Accelerator than met the eye. And as she prepared for the summoning ritual, she couldn't help but feel hopeful about the future.
—
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