Chapter 67 (2/2)

Daniel owed them all an explanation for this.

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Randidly glanced around at the students listening to the professor's lecture. This was the 3rd lecture they sat through, and honestly… most of it was trash. More hurtful than helpful, although not in any permanent way. The 1st professor had recommended gathering as much PP as you could, and then spending it all at once, to increase the effectiveness of the stat gains.

The third professor had speculated on the source of the system, and whether god was involved.

It was only the 2nd professor of the day, a small, greek man, who Randidly found fascinating.

“Why,” He had asked, “Is this happening?”

The classroom had remained silent, and the professor had continued. “And I’m not talking the technical details of why… but the larger scheme. Why. Why has this ‘system’ been installed on our planet? Why are we pushed towards killing monsters, growing stronger, and gaining classes? There is no such thing as a free lunch. What are we losing?”

A student raised his hand. “Our humanity? We are becoming desensitized to the value of life-”

The professor waved that answer away. “Technically correct, but you are thinking that humanity is the center of the universe. It is clearly not. Anyone else?”

“Money?”

“Resources? Precious metals?”

“Control.” Randidly spoke softly, but his voice resonated strangely, carrying over the other whispers.

The professor gave him a long look. “Control over what?”

Randidly shrugged. After a pause, the professor continued to talk, moving on to the resemblance to RPGs, and what that could possibly mean about the why.

Randidly and Tessa went on to the next lecture.

After lunch, Tessa stood, her hands nervously smoothing her hair. “I… need to go. Oh but! I wanted to ask…”

She squirmed a bit, looking at him, and he simply waited. Then she said. “There… there’s a concert tonight. I have enough tokens to buy us tickets, if- if you want to go, with me.”

Randidly waved his hand. “Don’t bother.”

She visibly wilted. “Oh, then I should really.”

“Ah, Tess, that’s not what I meant.” Randidly scratched his head awkwardly, uncomfortable at making her upset. Even if he wasn’t interested in her now, he still had fond memories of their time together. He didn’t want to hurt her. “I, uh, was given these. So you don’t need to buy tickets.”

He produced the backstage passes, and her eyes widened into saucers. Shrugging, he offered them to her.

She held her hands up. “Oh wow! No, you keep them. I wouldn’t want to lose them at work. How… how did you get these again…?”

Randidly coughed into his hand. “For… sewing.”

“Sewing.”

“Yes. Is it really that strange I can sew?”

She burst out laughing. “No! It’s strange that sewing can get these! I didn’t even know they existed… where did you- well, nevermind. I need to get to work. Meet outside my building at 8 pm?”

Randidly nodded, and then watched as she smiled at him over her shoulder and left.

Bemused at her timid attempts at flirting, he turned and walked towards the nearby job crier, and swiftly obtained a job on a farm. It was apparently how Franksburg supported itself, with cutting edge vertical farms, but still, Randidly was relieved to find an activity he recognized..

At least this he had experience with.