Chapter 63: Labor Abuse

Chapter 63: Labor Abuse

Sitting up again, Sage had an overwhelming sensation, no, this was deeper than the vague excitement he had felt before. It was not just a fleeting thrill of something new; it was something substantial, almost tangible.

A sense of strength flowed through him like a steady river, not wild or chaotic, but solid and reassuring. This strength settled in every part of him, his limbs, his chest, even his breath.

His muscles felt taut, his bones sturdier, and his mind clearer, as if the world had been recalibrated to reveal sharper details. He tightened his fist, a simple motion that surprised him with its intensity.

There was power there. It wasn’t the raw force of a seasoned warrior or the overwhelming might of an experienced mage, but it was definitely more than what he had yesterday.

A laugh bubbled up before he could stop it. "Now this," Sage said, looking at his fist with genuine satisfaction, "this is real strength."

A broad, boyish grin spread across his face, so infectious it reflected a pure sense of triumph. For once, the universe had not shortchanged him.

He had taken a step forward that felt wholly his. Almost immediately, his thoughts organized themselves as habit kicked in.

He lifted his hand slightly and summoned the familiar translucent panel he had grown accustomed to.

The Status Panel appeared before him.

--------

Name: [Sage Alistair]

Race: [Human]

Identity: [Guild Rookie]

Class / Path: [Mage Path]

Warrior Rank: [1-Star Beginner Mage]

Elemental Affinity: [Fire, Wind, Lightning]

Talent: [Mid-Grade]

Level: [1]

Experience: [50 / 100]

Core Attributes:

Strength: 10

Intelligence: 19

Speed: 11

Vitality: 17

---------

Sage leaned in closer, his eyes darting over each line and number as if blinking too long might make it all disappear.

"Nineteen intelligence," he murmured, instinctively comparing it to his previous self, weak, unremarkable, painfully average.

The changes were striking. Every attribute had seen improvement. His strength was no longer dismal, his vitality felt sturdier, and even his speed, though modest, suggested a newfound agility.

And intelligence... Sage pressed his tongue against his cheek, both amused and impressed.

"So this is what it’s like to have the mind of a real mage," he said softly. "No wonder they look down on everyone else."

His eyes were drawn to his talent grade: Mid-Grade. Not extraordinary, but also not terrible.

"Just average," he thought. Yet, instead of feeling let down, a sense of calm washed over him. Mid-Grade implied potential for growth, it meant he wasn’t at a dead end and that effort could still make a difference.

For someone like him, who usually preferred to do the bare minimum, that was oddly reassuring.

Content, Sage let the panel fade and only then did fatigue catch up to him. The adrenaline faded, leaving behind the dull ache from his expanded mana veins.

His shoulders slumped, and a long yawn stretched his jaw. "Yeah... that’s enough heroics for one night."

Unsteadily, he rose and crossed the room, collapsing onto his bed without bothering to change out of his clothes.

The mattress sank comfortably under him, like an old friend welcoming him home. The moment his head hit the pillow, the world around him blurred, and sleep enveloped him almost instantly.

---

Morning arrived softly. The sun peeked over the horizon, its golden rays pouring over Greyvale City like warm paint from above.

Rooftops glimmered first, followed by the streets and the narrow alleys that wound between sturdy stone buildings, each one a witness to countless generations.

Vendors began setting up their stalls, creaking wooden shutters were lifted, and the gentle hum of life stirred awake.

Somewhere, the rhythmic ringing of a blacksmith’s hammer echoed, and laughter floated through open windows. The city came alive.

In the bedroom of the Adventurer Guild, Sage was in a deep sleep, completely oblivious to the world around him.

He lay awkwardly on the bed, one leg dangling off the side and an arm draped over his face. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, but what was even more unsettling was the faint, content smile on his lips, as if he was lost in a sweet dream of endless relaxation or a life free from obligations.

But just then....

[ DING! DING! DING! DING! ]

The sound reverberated through his skull like a gong.

Sage shot up in bed with a startled cry, his body jerking as though jolted by electricity.

"GAH!"

His heart raced wildly as he clutched his head, his eyes bloodshot and unfocused.

"Not again," he groaned, his voice rough. "Seriously, System?"

He looked downright dangerous, his hair a wild mess and his dignity nowhere to be found.

"Can’t I catch a break for just a few days?" he snapped, frustration thick in his tone. "I’ve been working my ass off, negotiating, strategizing, and nearly being driven to madness by stress. Can’t I just rest?"

The System wasted no time in responding, its voice as emotionless as usual.

[ Host has awakened as a Warrior. From now on, Host must commit to a minimum of five hours of daily cultivation.]

Sage froze in disbelief. "Five hours?"

His eye twitched in annoyance. "That’s not cultivation; that’s just labor abuse."

[ Host, I’m aware of your personality; you are extremely lazy. If I don’t enforce this, you won’t bother to train.]

The System replied, a hint of exasperation in its tone.

Sage opened his mouth in protest but then stopped short. "Okay, that’s a bit rude."

[I’m not being rude; that’s simply the truth.]

He gaped at the empty air in front of him, momentarily lost for words.

The System pressed on, relentless.

[ You seem to believe that the Guild’s invincibility buff means you can let your guard down, but that’s a mistake. Both external and internal threats exist. You aren’t shielded from consequences.]

Sage rubbed his face slowly, dread creeping in as he realized where this was heading.

"System," he said cautiously, "how about we approach this like civilized individuals?"

[Failing to meet daily training requirements will lead to penalties.]

A chill ran down his spine.

"What kind of penalties?"

There was a brief pause.

[Penalty: Castration.]

[Additional Penalty: Removal of Guild Invincibility Buff.]

The color drained from Sage’s face faster than he thought possible.

"WAIT...!"

He sprang upright, all remnants of sleep evaporating in an instant.

"O-Okay! Alright! Five hours! I’ll train!" he blurted out, hands raised in surrender and a worried, awkward smile plastered on his face. "Let’s avoid anything... irreversible!"

Inside, he was screaming.

"This is outrageous! How can the System treat me this way? It’s pure abuse."

[Compliance acknowledged.]

Sage slumped forward, shoulders heavy with resignation as he muttered curses to himself.

"So this is my life now," he mumbled. "A system instructor who won’t let me be lazy in peace."

It was as if the System could read his thoughts.

[Your first lesson is Mana Control. The objective is to sense mana, draw it, and circulate it. Your second lesson: Introduction to Magic Circles.]

Before Sage could even ask what that entailed, the air in front of him began to shimmer.

A small portal appeared and from the portal books started to tumble out.

One by one, hefty volumes landed on the floor with loud thuds, piling up into a chaotic mountain of books in front of his bed.

Sage gaped at the stack."Seriously? This is a joke, right?"

He reached for the top book.

"Foundations of Mana Perception: Volume I."

He then started grabbing the books one after the other.

"Introduction to Mana Circulation and Internal Flow."

"Basic Magic Circles and Their Structural Logic."

"Theoretical Principles of Elemental Affinity."

"Mana Density, Compression, and Control for Beginner Mages."

Sage felt a violent twitch in his eye.

"Why do these titles sound like I’m staring at advanced physics textbooks?"

His head was already pounding just from looking at them.

[Time allocation confirmed.]

[Three hours: Reading.]

[Two hours: Practical application.]

Sage let the book drop back onto the pile and fell back onto his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Even in a different world," he sighed, his voice filled with frustration, "I can’t escape school."

Deep down, the System remained silent.

And Sage couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that it was secretly relishing in his plight.