"Well, anyway, see you later, Grace," Cassius said, waving warmly as the girl lingered at the door, clearly struggling to leave. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, and her gaze darted between Cassius and the hallway. She didn't want to go, that much was obvious, but the guilt in her eyes told him she thought he needed more rest.
"You promise to contact me later…?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
"I promise," he replied with a reassuring smile.
That seemed to satisfy her, and she nodded, her entire face lighting up as she skipped out of the room in an unnaturally good mood. A few nurses and doctors in the hallway exchanged curious glances, wondering what had happened to the normally reserved girl. But before anyone could ask, she was already gone, leaving behind only a lingering sense of her newfound energy.
Back in the room, Cassius sighed, his smile fading as he turned his attention to a flashing red system screen that demanded his full focus. The light from the display illuminated his sharp features, casting long shadows on the walls as he stared out the window.
"It seems is where my journey as a Hunter truly begins," he muttered under his breath.
{[Main Quest #1]} - (E-Rank)
—[The world is infested with magical Gates that connect to other dimensions, and as one who aspires to attain maximum character development, it is your duty to conquer them all.]
—[Skipping past F-Rank Gates, you are to solo-conquer the E-Rank Gate 'Savage Jungle' appearing in front of Hoshito General Hospital at midnight, in 12 hours and 45 minutes.]
—[Reward for Quest Completion: +3 Points in all Stats.]
[Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]
[If you fail to complete this Quest within 8 hours of the Gate's opening, you will not only lose your reproductive organs, but everyone in the Hospital will die. All active Hunters will be occupied with other Gates and will thus be unable to intervene.]
[P.S. Trying to warn the Hunters now will make you seem like a lunatic claiming knowledge of Sudden Gates. This will also be seen as defiance of character development. A.K.A., you will lose your balls. ^~^]
Cassius stared at the screen, the muscles in his jaw tightening. "This system really has it out for my testicles," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "But if this is the way to make me stronger, then I'll do it. Albeit it reluctantly…"
[Hint: Locate a weapon, maybe through theft, because you will need it!]
"You're not going to give me one?"
[Nope! ^-^ Good luck!]
The silence that followed was deafening. Cassius's face contorted into something between annoyance and resignation as he leaned back against his pillow. "Of course not. Why make things easy when you can make them as difficult as possible?"
Shaking his head, he turned his attention to his injuries. His Endurance stat had already proven its worth by accelerating his natural regeneration, and he decided to capitalize on that. Allocating 3 AP into Endurance, he immediately felt a warm sensation spread through his body, his Health Regeneration doubling in speed.
"That should bring me back to full health before the Gate opens," he mused. "I'll save the other 7 AP for emergencies."
With his immediate concerns addressed, Cassius allowed himself to relax, his mind wandering as he contemplated his next move. He needed a weapon—something practical but accessible. A janitor's closet seemed like his best bet, but the plan would have to wait until his health fully recovered.
For now, it was nap time.
A few hours later, nurses came and went, their footsteps quiet against the tiled floor. Some lingered longer than necessary, stealing glances at Cassius's sharp features and toned body. A few even brushed against him under the guise of checking his vitals, but he remained blissfully unaware, his focus elsewhere.
When his Health hit 100%, Cassius stirred, the faint ache in his muscles now fully gone. Stretching briefly, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and rose to his feet, moving with a precision and silence born of his heightened Agility. His steps were nearly soundless as he slipped into the hallway, the dim lighting casting eerie shadows along the walls.
He made his way toward the Janitorial Ward, his mind focused. A mop, broom, or even a sturdy metal rod would do. Anything was better than facing an E-Rank Gate empty-handed.
[Long and hard, unlike what you will lose if you stop pursuing further character development. ^••^]
"Wow, so funny," Cassius muttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes as he reached the door labeled Janitor's Closet. He tried the handle, but it didn't budge. Locked.
He frowned, testing the door with a bit of force, but it held firm. Leaning against the wall, he ran through his options, his mind turning over possible solutions.
That's when he heard it—a faint, familiar sound echoing through the hallway. Soft moans, low and rhythmic.
"...You've got to be kidding me," Cassius muttered, déjà vu washing over him as he followed the noise to its source.
Peering into an open janitor's room, he spotted the source of the commotion. A young nurse and a janitor were fully engaged in an enthusiastic display of affection against a metal shelf. Cassius blinked, his expression unreadable as he took in the scene.
"Of course," he muttered under his breath. "Why not have wild sex in a hospital? That's something only super responsible people do."
The situation seemed consensual, so he opted not to intervene. Instead, he slipped into the room, his movements silent as a cat's. The couple's, ahem, activity provided ample cover for him to move unnoticed as he approached a bucket filled with cleaning supplies.
After a brief search, he grabbed two mops and four brooms, their sturdy handles the closest thing to a weapon he could find. Turning back, he retraced his steps, the rhythmic creaks of the shelf masking the faint sound of the door as it clicked shut behind him.
Back in his room, Cassius laid out his "loot" on the bed. Two mops and four brooms.
He stared at the collection for a moment before shaking his head. "Not exactly the arsenal of a hero," he muttered, picking up a mop and giving it an experimental swing. The balance was… acceptable. Barely.
Sighing, he leaned the mop against the wall and sat back on the bed, his mind already shifting to the task ahead. Midnight was fast approaching, and with it, the Gate that would mark the true beginning of his journey.