After the seaside vacation ended, there was still nearly a month left of summer.
In Japan, summer break is a bit shorter than in China, lasting from late July to early September.
That day, after finishing his daily piano practice, Toru, feeling rather bored, decided to start another simulation.
Since his social circle at school was limited, his summer vacation was mostly empty. Yesterday, though, he'd been dragged by a certain drunken older lady to help with a performance and she nearly worked him to death.
Hiroi Kikuri was an interesting person, great to have as a friend, but definitely a bit of a handful as a girlfriend.
Likewise, Ryo-san was about the same, fun to hang out with, but as a girlfriend, it would be… complicated.
Still, Toru admitted that in his second simulation, he had made some serious mistakes. He had focused too much on the bass and neglected his girlfriend's feelings. Devoting himself entirely to his career had cost him something important.
[You have launched the Life Simulation Game.]
[Please select your profession for this run—]
[1: Doctor (Heal the sick, save lives with compassion. Choosing this profession grants 10x learning speed and 10x comprehension speed. Final evaluation is doubled.)]
[2: Assassin (Everything is permitted. Kill in ten steps, leave no trace for a thousand miles. When the deed is done, vanish into the shadows.)]
[3: Keyboardist (Perhaps you can help Kessoku Band reach the world stage?)]
[4: Random (The unknown fate. Choosing this option increases final evaluation by 140%. )]
This time, the professions were all fairly ordinary.
Toru wasn't sure which one to pick.
The first one, he had dabbled in it before, though back then he was focused on pharmaceutical research, not actual medical practice. His motive had been simple, not some noble ideal of saving lives, but merely to heal his frail daughter.
The second one [Assassin] was an obvious trap. At least for Toru, it was a profession he absolutely couldn't choose.
The Life Simulation Game evaluated performance based on four factors: life achievements, happiness, time efficiency, and professional mastery.
Being an assassin meant living by the blade, sacrificing happiness for blood. According to the bucket theory, one weak link dragged down the whole score, making it hard to achieve a high evaluation.
Next up, the keyboardist.
That covered a wide range: synthesizer, electric piano, acoustic piano. The instrument depended on the band's style.
Toru considered it. His skills were definitely good enough; he wouldn't drag anyone down. But after so many simulations, he had never directly interfered with Kessoku Band's development.
Forget it, he thought. Let's see the next one.
The fourth option…
"Random fate again, and the score boost increased." Toru muttered to himself.
Still not enough. One hundred forty percent was too low. Maybe if it reached double, then he'd consider it.
Which one should he choose?
Right, he still had a reward left unused from last time.
Toru used up his remaining talent card, then checked his stats.
[Talent: Extraordinary]
Before his last simulation, he had used a talent card that upgraded his talent from "Peerless Prodigy" to "World-shaking."
Now, it had evolved again to "Extraordinary."
Did that mean his talent had surpassed human limits?
The game's tone was starting to sound more like a cultivation novel…
After closing his personal panel, Toru selected his profession [Doctor].
There really wasn't a better choice.
Just as he was about to start the game, the simulator sent a new message—
[Notice: Distributing rewards from the previous simulation.]
[You have unlocked—Quick Mode.]
[Mode (Quick): Your learning speed is increased by 3x and comprehension speed by 5x. However, at the start of the game, you will randomly receive a non-lethal illness that may worsen over time. Note: This illness cannot be cured by your own ability. NPCs are not restricted.]
[Remaining trials: 3 (Increased by earning an X-grade or higher evaluation. Shared with Extreme Mode.)]
Quick Mode?
Toru examined the details. Compared to Extreme Mode, the bonuses were smaller, but the illness wouldn't be fatal.
"Wait, so this one's basically free benefits?"
He was stunned. If it didn't kill him, then it was basically free stat boosts.
He still had three runs left. Without hesitation, Toru activated the mode.
[Game start.]
[Mid-August. You have determined your lifelong goal: to become a doctor.]
[Buff acquired: Heaven's Short Years (Learning x3, Comprehension x5)]
That name sounded ominous. Was it cursing him to die early?
He grumbled, then kept reading.
[Buff acquired: Gifted Mind (Learning x10, Comprehension x10)]
[Debuff acquired: Asthma (A common non-lethal condition. Mortality rate 0.075%. Causes breathing difficulty and chest tightness during attacks. Global annual deaths: 30,000.)]
Nice.
A minor illness like this? If he died from it, he'd deserve to lose.
No way an asthma attack could cause trouble.
Time to plan his life.
[Your current weekly schedule: 1. Study medical fundamentals … 7. Study medical fundamentals.]
[Monday. You gave up on music and began studying medicine. Skill gained - Medicine LV.1.]
Toru checked his stress level.
His current stress limit was an impressive 160 points.
So he planned to train his skill up to LV.5, then trigger the Extreme Pressure Method at the right moment to level up quickly.
He should survive.
…Probably.
——
Meanwhile, Ryo opened her simulator as well.
[You have used your Advanced Control privilege. Please seize the opportunity to enter as a pampered dependent.]
That's right, after Hitori cheated her way through, Ryo decided to follow suit, imitating her. This time, she planned to play big.
In real life, she had already won more than half the battle; she had even, vaguely, confessed once.
With the simulator's advantage, handling Toru should be easy.
Ryo recalled the last simulation.
Toru's body had been healthy; it seemed that not every run ended with him collapsing. Sometimes, he managed to stay normal.
"This time, my luck can't possibly be that bad, right?"
Ryo refused to believe in misfortune.
What Hitori hadn't encountered, she might.
Damn it, if she really did, she'd accept her loss.
At worst, she'd die with regret again. In reality, she had already won big anyway.
Besides… if her guess from last time was correct, sooner or later, she'd have to settle things with Toru.
[Game start.]
[Please bind yourself to a high-quality benefactor soon, and lie your way to the top of life.]
[August 6. You begin your long-term plan of living off someone.]
[August 8. Summer vacation is nearly halfway through.]
[You decide: ]
[1. Diligently attend Kessoku Band's practice sessions.]
[2. Visit Toru's house and play games with him to build your bond.]
[3. Simulate independently.]
That one was easy.
Option 2.
Time to slack off.
---