Only I Am A Reader

'Finally.'

Almost five weeks later, Leo was back at the first Coffee Shop he visited when he finally found the fresh Mission Listing he was waiting for!

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[ Newcomers Initiation Mission ] - MissionManager-WRC45

Calling out for new Roleplayers of the Skylight Country, this is your chance to experience your first mission under the World Reservation Council's protection.

There are several locations and targets that we will set out for, so add in your city and we will distribute the applicants appropriately. You are also free to hide your information.

Additional information and instructions will be sent to your DM if your application is accepted within a week of this post.

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Although the post was less detailed than the one Leo saw before, it made absolute sense. After all, they were guiding newbies who wouldn't know what to do with the information they would receive.

'Seems like it's something they do every generation.'

Just as Leo expected, the Council wouldn't miss the opportunity to plant its powerful image in the minds of newcomers. It just looked like they were late preparing for it.

There were no other filters or specifications aside from the zero-generation classification. Everyone could just hop in!

~~~~~~~~~

Comments:

1. ConfusedCouch: Applying! Cloud City Resident.

2. SnowWhite: I wish to join. Light City.

3. OPMC67: Jajajajajaja.

4. OPMC68: Forget this, follow me instead! I have a much better mission, and my ability is great for protection!

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The comment section looked to be quite empty since the post was just added less than an hour ago, yet somehow, the previous troll had also appeared. Only this time…

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Comments:

1. ConfusedCouch: Applying! Cloud City Resident.

2. SnowWhite: I wish to join. Light City.

3. This comment has been deleted.

4. This comment has been deleted.

- OPMC67 has been banned.

- OPMC68 has been banned.

__________

The response was almost immediate!

In addition, as Leo took his time making an account, more and more comments were added to the post.

~~~~~~~~~

Comments:

…

5. SupermanWannabe: Count me in, I'm excited! You pick the place, I can just fly there

6. PointingDownward: As a certified Forum Senior, I can't recommend this more for newbies. It's best to open your eyes early!

7. PointingUpward: Just here to let you know that the handsome person upstairs isn't me. I agree with him though, 'thumps-up emoji'.

8. HairCovered-Eyes: Do I really need to do this?

9. PointingUpward: Ignore it if you want, but you are on your own if you come to regret it later, 'pensive emoji'.

10. HairCovered-Eyes: …Right. I will join. Also from Cloud City.

11. GoldenHat: Heh, trying to use us as cannon fodder… I'm also in ;)

12. Always_Shocked: Woah :0

13. WhiteTiger: Applying from Light City.

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After much deliberation, Leo finally settled down on giving Baekho's username to Arthur's face.

In all honesty, he could have just withheld his location, but it didn't really matter since his identity as Arthur the Swordsman was already set in place.

It wasn't like he was going to appear as a different person for every other matter, so a convenient location would be appreciated!

'It's starting to grow on me.'

Leo enjoyed the fact that there was still a hint of chaotic flavor even in a serious post like this. After checking this weird Forum more and more frequently, it became another new source of fun.

'Oh.'

As soon as left his comment, his DM tab instantly lit up.

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Your personal chat with MissionManager-WRC45 has started.

MissionManager-WRC45: You have been registered for the Newcomers Initiation Mission. Further details will be sent later.

WhiteTiger: Thank you. 𝐛𝗲𝗱𝐧𝗼𝐯𝗲𝗹．𝐧𝐞𝘁

__________

'That was quick…'

Not greatly anticipating it or extremely anxious about it, Leo only left a simple reply. His mood has been getting better and better these days.

'I wonder which will come first?'

While the same month that Leo had last time had already passed, the Energy bar in the Personal Book was now only half-full.

If nothing unexpected happened, his True Reading break might be twice longer this time, but Leo learned not to trust the Energy bar!

'Should I delay it?'

That being said, he did have a whole 10 days of permissible delay time before, so even if the energy bar became full right this instant, Leo could still wait until he finished the mission first.

It was different now that he was no longer preparing for something completely unknown.

Leo would have struggled a lot more in the meeting if he only had his experience as Arthur, but both Baekho and Arthur's backing should be more than enough to deal with a tutorial mission.

'I still don't want to regret it later.'

On the other hand, delaying it when the bar was already full worried Leo that he might be wasting precious time that he would come to miss in the future.

Compared to suppressing his curiosity about the mission, only having a half-full bar when he was in need of an instant power-up was far more disheartening!

'Let's hope I don't have to make this decision.'

Facing his conflicted heart once more, Leo just wanted things to follow the best way they could.

In fact, looking back at his wish for more control over his True Reading, Leo started doubting himself even more.

What if he picked a certain book with good powers but ended up gaining too few Reading Points? How would it feel to obtain a power too strong that he couldn't even exchange for its lowest level?

What if consuming his entire break time to extensively prepare for the book that he knew ended up being all for naught? He could enter a chapter where it was already too late for everything!

Leo could already feel the poisonous snake of regret coiling over his heart just by thinking of these possibilities.

'I'm not ready for that just yet.'

Although he was feeling increasingly better these days, he was just getting started. Leo could only hope that he would have finally become emotionally stable by the time he gained that ability…