RA Ch 2

Chapter 2 - And I Decreed, There shall be Money!



Log:

You have finished your work!
Received 30 exp!

You have persisted with works that need much thinking!
Intelligence rose by 1!


(Alright! At last I got another intelligence up notification! I am getting smarter by one point now. Lucky~)

It has been 15 days since that fateful day… in many different meanings.
That day is the day where I received another misfortune.
That day is also the day where I miraculously survived a lightning strike.
That day is also the day where I finally made up with my parents.
And that day, is also the day where I awoken a special ability.

The lightning that would be the final hit for my unlucky streak comes out to be the bringer of luck to me.
How can it not? Because of it, my parents instantly forgot about their disappointment toward me in their panic, come out clean and honest with their feeling, and after a long heart to heart talk with them, we finally manage to make up.
Well, strictly said, it was kinda like temporary truce in the face of great danger but well, who cares? The important thing is that we made up.

We have a single goal to achieve as a family now: to pay my debt. And there is where the lightning provides another good luck. The lightning had destroyed a part of my house or to be exact, my room. Thank god that my house is just a single story building. If not, the damage would have been worse. Anyway, now that my house got destroyed partly due to ‘natural disaster’, it seems that my parents can claim the insurance for our house. With that insurance money, we can reduce the amount we need to gather significantly.

In the family discussion we had that day, we agreed that we will try gather as much money as possible before the deadline. I will try to find a way to raise money by myself while my parents will try claiming the insurance and also try to find other fund raising movement that they can do. That is namely finding families or friends who could lend us money. That is the most that they can do for now.

As for me, I have several way to earn money from the internet. And the most stable one I know is by doing translation works for foreign languages’ novel. But with only that, covering 50000$ in a month is still too farfetched. I have to find another way to quickly collect money. Stock exchange is also one of my aim but such dangerous place is really out of my area of expertise which was small to begin with. Thank god I learnt Japanese languages all those years ago because I love manga and anime. If not, i probably won't find a way now.

Well, I then join a famous translation group and post about my condition to the reader to incur their sympathy towards me so they will give me more donation. I also managed to post 3 work everyday since I start working there so I earned quite a lot. But it was still quite far away from 50000$ mark.

Actually, trying to collect 50000$ in a month by only doing translation work like this is simply impossible when thinking logically. No matter how hard I work, it would still be impossible no matter what. but it was only applied to normal human… Right? Why did I intentionally said normal human? Because… I think I’m no longer a “normal human” any longer and if it is me who is already not a normal human anymore, I might even be able to do something about the debt with my power that is definitely not something that can be possessed by a normal human… Maybe?

Well I had tell you about my parents and about the insurance so now what left is about my weird new ability. I had mentioned that I am no longer a normal human right? Why could I say something like that with full confidence you ask? Well, it was because...


Log:

You have finished your work!
Received 32 exp!

Quest “today’s quota” had been completed!
Received 256 exp!

Level up!
Level: 8 -> 9
You have received 5 status points!

The skill ‘concentration’ has leveled up!
Level: 13 -> 14

The skill ‘translation’ has leveled up!
Level: 10 -> 11

The skill ‘fast typing’ has leveled up!
Level: 15 -> 16


See? No normal human would see notification log like this. Or see your own self and other people name, level, and job above their head like this. By the way, the notification log is located in my left lower corner of my sight. It can be minimized so it wouldn't obstruct my view but every time a notice appeared, it would always give a noticeable blink like urging me to read it.

The log window, that’s how I call this notification thingy, can be center viewed like when you play an online game. But it was kinda annoying to see it blink every time so I put it in the corner of my sight and always keep it opened.

And of course, my weirdness isn’t just being able to see notification like what I just experienced earlier.


“Status window”


As I say that, another screen like object immediately appears in front of me. That screen shows some numbers and attributes. Yes, that is what most gamer would recognize as status window.


Status Window

Name: Robert Brown
Race: Human
Level: 9
Job: Translator
Title: Novice Translator

Hp: 180 / 180
Mana: 640 / 640
Stamina: 170 / 170
Energy: 37 / 85 (-50%)

Strength: 6
Stamina: 4
Intelligence: 48
Wisdom: 12
Agility: 4
Dexterity: 10
Luck: 7

Status points left: 5


Yup, the usual status window in most RPG game. But this is not in a game… It is really happening in real life and I am experiencing it now. Amazing isn’t it? My life just turned into something out of fiction. Or does it mean that my life itself is a game? …… I kinda feel hurt by that so let’s just give up this topic.

Well anyway this status window works mostly like the status window that is in a game. You collect experience points to level up then you will get bonus points which can be used to upgrade the status of your choice. The bigger the status nominally, the more it will give positive boost to your character or something like that. When I noticed this that day the lightning struck, I invest all my points into intelligence as it is the most important status to have in this modern age. Especially for money making purposes. IYKWIM.

So 5 bonus points, all of you go to Intelligence! Finally my Intelligence reaches 50! Today is a day worth commemorating.

Well, getting only 5 point intelligence buff won’t give you much visible change. The only visible change that it seems that every 1 point allotted to Intelligence status, my mana increases by 10. In contrast, for other change underneath, the change that I can’t point out by number, I really can't feel any difference whatsoever at the start. But then, as my intelligence rise and rise and finally hit 40 points, I start to feel the difference inside me like me being able to translate faster without even the need to think hard like before, being able to learn things and memorize faster, and other kind of things that only those who titled a genius can do I also can do it now.

Other status might give effects related to the name suggest I bet. I haven’t tested them yet. Well from the name, Strength seems like would give me strong power like that of an ox, Vitality would give me better stamina so maybe I can do marathon without feeling tired if my vitality is high enough, Intelligent is for memorizing faster maybe?, wisdom… I don’t get what wisdom will do to my personality or maybe my body?, Agility… run fast like the wind maybe?, Dexterity maybe will help me being more skillful?, and last is Luck… what would Luck do I wonder… I might be able to get rich quick with maxing out Luck but… there’s no guarantee for it. So I just went to the Intelligence path.

Once again the thing I’ve explained just now is just a speculation. I haven’t tested it yet anyway.

Beside Hp and mana which is obvious (and are the two major factor that almost exist in every video game), there is also stamina and energy. I don't really understand about stamina as I haven't checked it yet but energy seems to be my body total energy. If my energy is low, I will either be hungry or sleepy. Well it mainly seems to be my stomach meter that would be debuffed if I get sleepy. My energy tank to describe it easily.

This ability seems to somehow turn me into a game character maybe? A game avatar if you want to call it.

Beside status window and log window, there is also this experience points. Like in games, when I collect enough exp, I can level up. And every time I leveled up, I got 5 bonus points to spend at my status. I can get exp from doing training, work, or even doing everyday chore like dishwashing or cleaning. Well, most doesn't give that many exp though. Even my job as a translator only give me around 25-35 exp each chapter I done.

Other way to gain exp, and a more efficient one to gain it is by doing quest. Yeah, quest. A quest is like receiving mission to fulfill a certain condition that is just for your information. When done, the exp is usually got in the hundredth like what I receive before. To get a quest, you simply need to find someone who needs you to do something for them even if the requester is yourself. Think of it as self goal kinda mindset. Take example of ‘today’s quota’ quest that I just completed. It was my own mission to finish translating 3 chapters of novel by the end of the day. As the quest generator myself, I can set the condition as I like so why not? I can get more exp from it anyway. Abusing bug is one way to play this kind of game anyway.

Well there are still many mysteries behind this power but for the time being, this basic is enough for me to think for a plan to quickly get money. I can have all the time in the world exploring my own power after this I get through this mess.

Okay today's quote fulfilled, post it on the site then reset the donation box. Wow, I got quite a lot today. It must be because my tear jerker story and my diligent work that people become more than willing to support me monetarily. This world really still has good guys like them. I somehow feel a little bit warmer inside.

Now that I'm done with my translation, time to continue working on my ‘secret project’ to create the ultimate ‘secret weapon’. But first, let's do something about my low energy. Nope, it was not from being hungry, I just felt a little drowsy. And the easiest way to relief drowsiness is by drinking coffee.

I then took the cup that was placed in the side of my laptop casually and drink it all up in one go.


Log

You have drank ‘WakeMeUp’ instant coffee!
The caffeine kicks in and soothes away your fatigue!
Energy debuff caused by drowsiness is suppressed by a bit.


Okay now let's work on the “secret weapon”!

What is the secret weapon you ask? Well in short I want to earn more money but I can’t keep doing it for 24/7. I need to sleep, eat, excrete, etc. So what can I do to make that wish come true? Simple, I just need to make something that can do my work and can keep on working without rest for 24/7. It was just like having a second me who can keep on working all day long without resting forever.

So my secret weapon is… what did you say? A robot? Wrong! How could I build one with my skill and funds right now? Be real. Although it is cool to have robo-maid that can help all serve me and earn money from me and for the ‘other’ need also…… okay forget the last one. It is indeed tempting but it’s not the right time to think about weird things yet.

Eh? You don’t say anything about robo-maid? That’s blasphemy! How could you not understand the romance of a robo-maid? What about those breast missile!? Okay breast missile is too much but having a robo-maid seems very handy. Like that forever loli vampire who owns her own robo-maid, I want to make one someday too.

If it’s not a robot then perhaps shadow clone technique you say? That's even more unreal! Well, I indeed wish to have such skill so I can grind with multiple ‘me’ like that blonde reject kid who dreams to becoming a hokage did. With my game avatar skill and that shadow clone technique, I can grind in n times I can produce shadow clones! That is such a cheat! I can become a godlike character in a very short time with that.

But anyway do skills like that even exist in the first place? The skills that I have now are created from an action that I done repeatedly and it becomes a skill at some point. Fast Typing and Translating skills are obvious as I do translation with a computer. And Concentration seems to emerged from me being too focused from doing my translation work. Seems to, because I don’t even remember when or how I got such skill so I deduced it to be like that.

For shadow clone technique… what kind of action do I need to repeat to be able to get that skill? It was too much of a fiction that the logic behind the skill is just unthinkable. For now… maybe? If I somehow managed to learn magic, I might be able to do something… if there really are magic that is.

Well anyway robo-maid and shadow clone technique is my homework for later. Thinking about things that I can’t do now is only a waste of time for now. Let me tell you, my super genius money making plan. Eh? I’m praising myself too much? I AM a super genius now! My Intelligent is 53!

Why did I talk about nonsense here in my head when I said that I should focus? Well, maybe thanks to concentration skill? I can translate, type, and think about useless things in almost automatically movement. Is this that rumored parallel thought? Anyway even though my head is full with nonsense like this, my finger and brain keep on working on my secret weapon since I finished drinking coffee since a while ago in parallel… maybe? I have no definite proof for that. Again this ability still keeps a deep mystery.

Anyway let me tell you what my secret weapon really is. This is the fruit borne from me raking my brain on how to get money in day 1.

The secret weapon that I meant is an “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) that can do my task for me such as translating. That is the current goal for now. Current goal? So did I have future goals? Of course you silly. Anything that can earn me money. That is the final (maybe) goal of this AI! I, who already reach more than 50 int, should be the one who possessed the most brilliant brain in the whole world. Making one super AI is just a cinch for me now!

And now for the final line in the program… done! Executing!

Log

You have created your first artificial intelligence!

New title acquired!
You have received the title Upstart Inventor!
Received 500 bonus exp!

You have received the title Beginner Programmer!
Received 500 bonus exp!

You have received the title AI Creator!
Received 500 bonus exp!

Quest “secret project” had been completed!
Received 623exp!

########
BOOTING SEQUENCE START…

TRANSLATION AI STARTING UP…

INTEGRATING LIBRARY FILE… DONE.
INTEGRATING LANGUAGE FILE… DONE.
INTEGRATING LITERATURE FILE… DONE.

TRANSLATION AI READY.
########

[Good morning master. What command do you have today?]


Awww~right! It’s done. Now my AI, your first task is...

[Main objective is set to “Translating”]
[Secondary objective is set to “improve translation quality”]
[Optional objective is set to “gather information about getting money that is available for this AI”]

Now that should do it. Aaaaa~nd enter!

[Orders received! Executing command!]

Hahaha. I, who never get things done after my failure streak, at last, finally, done something noteworthy now. Well then let’s see how… What!? Already done 3 chapters!? As expected of computer power!

I just laugh in self satisfaction after I finish my secret project. But I can't soak too long in the feeling of victory as file after file starts to pop up in rapid succession in the laptop display. Seeing how fast my AI works, I brace myself again to continue working.

(Well now let’s check my AI translation quality. Ooh, it was quite well done. Ah some awkward place found! Fix it fix this fix that. Damn, a chapter done just like that! To think even with 50 intelligent I still have to struggle that much just to translate a chapter… It was like a joke. I’m so great for realizing it!)

(Oh this is bad. Not good. My useless narcist pride starts to come back. Hold it back hold it back… At least until I managed to pay back the debt and have no more business with that baldie bastard. Okay me?)

I was quite pleased with the result that I failed to realize that some important things have just happened… And that thing is still continue happening in my log window… My avatar skill’s log window… Without any sign of stopping,

(Hmm. Since a while back why did I see some rapid movement in the chat log? …… What the hell!?!?)

What the hell!?!? That was the only word I can say. How could I not? The log window adds log after log in a very fast succession like crazy! And each and every of them is all the same notice log!

Log

You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 34 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 29 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 32 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 26 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 29 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 31 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 28 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 33 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 27 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 29 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 28 exp!
………

Level up!
Level 9 -> 10
You have received 5 status points!

New title acquired!
You have received the title Adept Translator!
Received 1000 bonus exp!

You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 31 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 29 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 28 exp!
You have finished working on a translation work!
You received 35 exp!
……

What… The Hell… Happened!?!?