NOVEL SIMPLE Like always, no idea what’s going on.
So his name was Elas Maulan, huh? It'd need Eric a while to get used to it. He flew to the ground. Where should he head now? The moment he landed, the surrounding students excitedly surrounded him.
Damn, for a scum he was exceptionally popular, huh?
"To the dorm," luckily the system came to his rescue and Eric excused himself with the usual holy aura that had people fall for him left and right.
For Eric to play this character, it actually wasn't hard. He just had to be himself. How convenient. The campus in front of the main building where Eric stood had many small gardens. Eric walked through them before he reached the dorm. The dorm luxurious and elegant as well. The entrance alone looked like a 5-star hotel Eric used to reside in for free.
The hallways were covered with red carpets and from the ceilings, chandeliers hung. Eric's face fell a bit. Just how much did they pamper these students? Were they all some rich heirs and heiresses? What the hell? Students should learn and not indulge in luxury like this!
What bullshit. Eric's room was on the 10th floor. Using the lift, he finally arrived. The second he opened the door, countless, "Elas!" flooded him. Hm, Eric plasticly smiled, he wasn't used to this name yet.
In his literal penthouse-like room, three good-looking people sat. Goodness, Eric refrained from his urge to shake his head and dramatically put it in his hands.
Just how could Leon's story go down the drain like this? Eric's feedback ruined everything!! No, no, in the first place it was Leon's fault for not properly adhering to Eric's feedback. Yes, it wasn't Eric's fault!
"Hey, guys," Eric said as naturally as possible, then he closed the door behind him and walked into the large living room with the open kitchen. Two small hallways led to a bedroom and bathroom. On the large sofa, two girls and a guy sat. They seemed to be around 17 in age. Wait, how did Eric look?
"Hey, Elas how was it?" the guy asked but Eric quickly said, "Wait, let me first go to the toilet. I've been holding it right now."
WIthout shame, Eric rushed to the luxurious bathroom.
"Damn, everything is way too expensive for mere students!" Eric looked around before he headed to the sink with the mirror. One look and-
"What the hell?" Eric was surprised. He looked like himself? Only that he was younger!
"System, how old am I?"
"19."
"19? Then the others?"
"18 and 19 as well."
"This is what it feels like to be young again," Eric touched his youthful face and was immersed in his bliss that he forgot he wasn't that much older now. He was still in only 25.
"Host..." the system tried to refrain from any comments but seeing this narcissistic guy glued in front of the mirror, even the system swearing to be just a mechanical guide, lost its patience and face, "Please stop touching yourself and follow the story."
"Right," Eric brought himself back on the track. He had to finish the story and his additional mission to leave here. Washing his face, Eric stepped out and was greeted by the youngsters again.
Ah, the youthful times. How nostalgic. Eric sat on the sofa with them and as he observed each of his allies, a little box appeared in his vision with character description.
A girl with bright blonde and crystal blue eyes gently smiled at him [Tani. 18. healing power]
Even the characters were cliché and predictable! Just what happened to Leon's story? How did he mess it up so badly?
The girl next to Tani had black hair with bangs and green eyes, she seemed like a cold beauty but when her eyes met Eric's, a mischievous glint shone in them [Eclair. 18. Torture magic]
See, she also- T-Torture magic? What the fuck is this shit? Hey, someone get her out of here!
Although Eric appreciated the fact that she was an ally and not an enemy, damn.
The guy who sat next to Eclair stood up and seated himself next to Eric, opposite to the two girls, "And finished scouting?"
Eric looked at the box. With brown, short hair and twinkling bright eyes, his name was Dan. 19 years old. Type of magic used: Elemental strength.
Excuse me good sir, what the hell's that supposed to be? Eric shook his head slightly at the crappy story but his allies misinterpreted it.
"You failed?"
"Was there something dangerous? Even for you?" Tani worriedly asked while Eric had no bloody idea what was going on.
"Look at this airhead," Éclair sighed and twirled the tips of her hair around her fingers, "Not even clearing the path can you do."
"What's wrong?" Dan also noticed how Eric was spacing out and weirder than usual. Eric knew they'd be suspicious if this kept going, so he vaguely answered, "There was nothing."
"Nothing dangerous?" Éclair, quickly asked but seeing how Eric didn't answer she scowled, "Nothing what? C'mon speak properly! What's with you today? Do we need to pull it out of your nose or what?"
Eric thought back on the place he found himself and just took a shot in the dark, "Yes, nothing dangerous."
"Really?" Tani smiled excitedly, "That's good. You also cleared the path yet? Then we can keep going like this! Dan, take out the map."
"Here you go!" Dan tapped in the air and an interface appeared. Eric narrowed his eyes. How... convenient!
Eric wanted this in real life as well! Dan tapped a bit more before a whole map was projected in the air. From the looks of it, the size and the details, this was a map of this world?
"Good, since Elas has scouted our biggest concern, it's safe to say we can head to the first checkpoint without worries. What happens after it..."
"We have to prepare then," Eclair finished. Eric was lost. What were they talking about?
What was this map for? What was going on? He couldn't just stupidly ask because apparently, this had been in talks for a while now. Damn, what should Eric do? Just smile stupidly and nod?
"Elas what do you think?" Tani turned to Eric as Dan marked the path to the first checkpoint.
Dammit, what was the first checkpoint?
"I'm not too sure..." Eric answered.
"Oh no, I knew it, it's still dangerous, isn't it?'' Tani became anxious, "We finally found the way to the treasure but it's obviously dangerous. We've prepared for so long but if Elas isn't sure then..."
Thank you, expositional walking spitting trope, I finally figured it out. So basically, Elas and his allies already found the way to the treasure but it's dangerous and there were checkpoints. So, it was like this. Wait, Eric froze. Wasn't this... way too easy?
They already found the location of the treasure and all the danger, wasn't this only the beginning of the book?
Shouldn't the location be revealed towards the end? What the hell was this legendary treasure when they already knew where this thing was?
Eric got a headache. Would the journey take so long? Wait, Eric remembered stories about treasure hunts that probably took over the 2000s episodes to find the private king's- cough, no copyright here, but... hopefully, this wasn't one of these stories!
Eric didn't want to get stuck here forever. How did they even find out the location? Goodness, this part obviously needed to be changed!
When Eric found Leon, he would properly teach him the basics of story writing! A good plot couldn't drag on for too long!
"We gotta risk it," Dan led the map, "We're already here. No point to back out."
"I agree," Eric finally spoke up, easing everyone's worry, "We still have to go as soon as possible. I'm not too sure about what happens after the first checkpoint but we need to first get there."
Anyways, Eric had to continue the story quickly. The mission with the villain worried him the most.
"Let's head out. Practise is soon, break's over. We'll discuss this later," Éclair stood up and threw her long hair back before a grin appeared, "I can't wait to mess with these fools."
Excuse me, who's this again? Éclair, I need you to properly establish your character, ok?
So, you're trying to be mischievous here? Not rough? Eric wordlessly followed them out of the dorm to the training building. On their way, gossip and whispers flew in Eric's ears. Especially the admiring gazes and words made him spit blood.
"The 4 OPs are here! Wow, look at them! So cool!"
4... OPs?
Cough! Spit! Eric lost all of his blood. What the fuck was this naming sense? Too on the nose! Get out of here!