**Chapter Six**
[New Quest: Reach the Academy on Time]
**Reward:** Vampire Bloodline
When I saw the reward, I was speechless. Words caught in my throat before I could utter a sound. I blinked hard, thinking I'd misread—but no, the reward was unmistakable:
*A vampire bloodline.*
Though it required periodic blood consumption, it was one of the game's rarest lineages. With it, I could boost my Mana by 10 points. I bit my lip in excitement.
I'd planned to leave in two days, arriving on the third. But now? I couldn't risk losing this reward to some roadside mishap.
I packed hastily and set off.
The academy was **40 kilometers** away. I'd cover that in two hours.
———
**Two Hours Later**
"Ugh… I can't move."
Checking the map, I'd barely covered **4 kilometers**. I'd overestimated this body's stamina.
"I'll rest an hour, then continue."
I couldn't push too hard—I needed energy for the academy's entrance test.
———
**One Hour Later**
"A little more rest won't hurt…"
———
**Three Hours Later**
"Damn it! The day's almost over, and I've only done a little of the distance!"
I grabbed a stick to steady myself and trudged on. The barren road stretched endlessly, devoid of life. In the game, this route was scenic—characters sprinted effortlessly. But now? My legs trembled with exhaustion.
Checking the map again, I froze.
"Are you kidding me?!"
After all that effort, I'd moved **100 meters**.
———
**One Day Remaining**
Only **20 kilometers** covered.
"How the hell am I supposed to make it in time?!"
Frustrated, I kicked a small rock—
"Grrr."
The ground rumbled. A **worm** emerged from the sand.
"Why is there an earthworm here?!"
Neither the game nor novel mentioned desert worms.
"System, show its stats."
[Request received…]
**[Name: Sandworm]
**Type:** Tier-2 Evolved
**Strength:98
**Intelligence:22
**Speed:22
**Mana:89
My jaw dropped.
*"Why are all this game's monsters so disgusting?!"*
The worm's body was lined with razor fangs. Hundreds of eyes clustered on its head, and its saliva **melted sand** (don't ask how—even the developers ignored that question).
Its one weakness? **Speed.**
"If I sprint, I can outrun it to the academy!"
[Correction: Host means *'escape'* to the academy.]
I scowled at the blue text.
"I'm 'strategically advancing,' not fleeing!"
As a veteran player, I refused to call it running.
…Fine. Survival first.
"System, summon dagger."
A blade appeared in my palm—I'd grown adept with it.
[Correction: You will throw the dagger at him and run away.]
"Why are you so annoying lately?! And where's the 'Defeat Worm' quest?!"
Silence.
"Of course. Silent when I need you."
Gripping the dagger, I took a combat stance.
"One… two… THREE!"
I hurled it—
The worm **swallowed the dagger whole**, barely glancing at me.
I smoothed my hair back, trying to intimidate it.
"P-please don't kill me?"
The worm stared blankly, then—bored—burrowed back underground.
"Did I… scare it off?"
[Correction: It went back to sleep.]
Done with the System's sass, I demanded:
"How long until the academy starts?"
**22 hours remaining.**
No time left. I bolted toward the academy.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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