Reaching level 6 had unlocked new paths for me, and the allure of the treasure hunter profession called to my restless spirit. I switched jobs on a whim, feeling a surge of excitement, only to be interrupted by a sudden, thunderous sneeze that echoed through my small home. Shaking it off, I glanced at the darkened window, realizing the late hour, and decided it was time to rest for the busy day ahead.
I sank onto the cool cedar floor, the wood's faint, earthy scent grounding me as I mumbled about my "poor dexterity" skills, confident they'd carry me through whatever tomorrow brought. The promise of the morning sun as my natural alarm lulled me into a deep, dreamless sleep, my body surrendering to the day's whirlwind of kisses, confrontations, and unexpected level-ups. With a final yawn, I closed my eyes, drifting off in moments.
A jolt woke me, my senses sharp despite the lingering fog of sleep. The world outside my window was an inky void, not even a sliver of moonlight piercing the darkness. Frowning, I tried to return to sleep, but unease gnawed at me. Hours later, I stirred again, the blackness unchanged, my head heavy as if I'd overslept a lifetime.
Something was wrong. Morning should have broken in by now. My eyes, adjusted to the dark, scanned the room as I crawled to the window. Reaching out, my palm met a rough, unyielding surface. With a push, it cracked, and sunlight flooded through, revealing a blackened parchment in my hand. "Who did this?" I growled, realizing someone had sabotaged my morning.
No time to hunt the culprit. The sun was high, and I'd overslept catastrophically. Skipping breakfast, I sprinted through the empty residential quarters, the shacks silent as everyone had already left for the Royal Pioneer Academy. My heart raced as I neared the castle-like school, its towering walls looming ahead, but something caught my eye at the main gate.
Flags of the Academy fluttered proudly against the stone, their blue fabric a familiar sight. Yet, one stood out; it was a black flag, stark and ominous, like a pirate's banner among the rest. My treasure hunter instincts flared, the skill tingling with the promise of hidden riches. "Could this be…?" I murmured, my curiosity overriding my urgency.
The flag was far above, fifty meters up the castle wall, well beyond the five-meter range of even the best treasure hunters. Yet, my level 6 senses screamed that it was no ordinary flag. Switching to my ninja profession, I scaled the wall with fluid grace, my fingers finding impossible holds as I ascended. Reaching the flagpole, I balanced precariously, my feet on a narrow ledge.
I grasped the black flag, its texture alien and leathery under my fingers. Switching to the appraiser profession, I activated my "Appraise" skill, and my breath caught. "Flying Dragon Leather," I whispered, heart pounding. Flawless and rare, it was a material of legend, worth a fortune, and nearly impossible to obtain. "How is this here?"
Tucking the priceless leather over my shoulder, I reverted to ninja and leaped down, landing with a cat-like spin that drew gasps from a few lingering students. I barely noticed, my mind reeling from the discovery as I sprinted toward the courtyard, already late for the morning orientation.
The courtyard buzzed with students, their chatter mingling with the clink of lunchboxes distributed by Vice Principal Yes Man. "Orientation's done!" he announced, his voice dripping with false cheer. "These special lunches are for everyone, except Leopin-kun, who's late! Such a shame, I'll just have to enjoy his share!"
His smug grin faltered as he spotted me sliding into the courtyard, the dragon leather slung carelessly over my shoulder. His eyes widened, and a piercing "KEEEE!" erupted from him, echoing like a banshee's wail. The students froze, their lunches forgotten, as Yes Man's face contorted in disbelief.
"Oh, yes, one more thing!" he recovered, addressing the crowd with forced calm. "We're choosing the student body president through a treasure hunt! I've hidden a piece of Flying Dragon Leather somewhere in the school. If you find it, you'll not only become president of the class, but keep the leather to craft legendary equipment!"
The students erupted, some abandoning their lunches to search, their excitement palpable. Yes Man's grin returned, smug and knowing. "Good luck finding it! It's disguised with magic, hidden in an impossible spot. Even the best won't find it for a week, unless someone does, and I'll make them vice principal!"
I stepped forward, the leather still draped over my shoulder, and cleared my throat. "Uh, you mean this?" I held up the Flying Dragon Leather, its surface glinting in the sunlight. The courtyard fell silent, jaws dropping as Yes Man's smugness shattered, his scream of "KEEEE!" ringing out again, this time laced with pure, unfiltered panic.