Chapter 155: Turtle Forest (8)
Jake's real-life schedule was thrown out of the window.
He hadn't been in college for a week and hadn't even studied at home! He focused everything on learning about the wilderness with Elizabeth.
Jake also spent an hour every evening eating supper and bathing in Asta Bow's mansion. That precious hour could have been used to study the notes his college friend had sent him.
That said, Jake couldn't bring himself to do that yet.
He would rather sleep for eight hours and enter the game world fresh and ready to practice.
At times, he wondered if it was an addiction rather than sacrificing everything to the archery because of his personality trait.
Jake convinced himself that it was not an addiction and that he was serious about archery. However, if it didn't help him with his adult life, then perhaps it'd be better to lower his gaming hours and seriously build connections in college.
By now, Jake understood that connections in college were more important than studies themselves. His college organized crucial parties for students to meet with various company representatives.
Nonetheless, it was so difficult for Jake to give up on his archery goal.
'Man, I wish I was back in the middle school!' Jake thought as he brushed his teeth. He told himself he'd pick up the thrown-out college from his yard and properly study and engage with others there once he'd finished his turtle forest arc, but even that didn't sound convincing.
He'd rather play the game… he was such a lost cause.
'The waitress I met in the tavern in the outside zone said she worked part-time there… and that the pay was good… nah, I can't go this route,' Jake spat as he thought about it. 'The plan to sell traces is wrong until… I find a steady source of at least unique traces to sell. I'd turn upside down the entire world, though.
It should be fun… it makes me want to dig deeper into the main quest and learn more about the statues, legendary traces, and other mysteries.'
The question was if he had enough time for that.
Jake spat again, 'Why am I so serious? Lukas's having a lot of fun, I heard. I'm just eighteen years old! I should have fun for a few years, then think about the future…' He stared at himself in the mirror… 'I know, a few years is such a stretch. Two years!'
He sighed.
'Just because Mary is stupid and has Robert by her side, she gets to have so much fun! I guess she's also a celebrity in the game world, but it's so unfair!' Jake spat into the sink as though Mary's face had been there. 'I don't regret getting into the game late and spending so many months in the tutorial… oh!'
Jake suddenly received a new idea.
In fact, it wasn't a new idea at all since he had discussed it with his father during their conversation about colleges.
'I'll make a video of my second debut in the training grounds!' Jake told himself.
His plan to convince The Emperor and other households was tightly connected to the training grounds. Once Jake learned more in the turtle forest and inspired himself to create his second bow, he'd return to the training grounds and show people the power of archery.
He'd show his archery and make people think about it!
He also wanted Viktor to engage his house's people in the training grounds and reward archers for training there. It was already so disappointing that no one from Asta Bow Household even bothered with players trying to learn archery.
Though it may not be enough, Jake hoped to get more time for Asta Bow's household in this way. He wanted to rouse the entire Asta Bow household and its members with his style!
'It should get lots of views!' Jake smiled.
He finished his morning reflections with a splash of cold water on his face.
'It's time for a date,' Jake said.
-
Jake and Clara left the Asta Bow's residence alone.
While Jake was wearing his casual clothes, Clara was wearing her black bodysuit. She didn't hide her face, but her appearance still brimmed with the vibes of an assassin. She was a gorgeous assassin who could stir different thoughts in her targets.
Her black hair was short, and her skin was unnaturally pale—Jake was confident this was due to her occupation and clothes that covered her from head to toe.
It suited her, though.
'It doesn't really seem like a date,' Jake thought. He walked abreast to Clara, but they looked more like a student and teacher because the age gap between them could be seen, just like in Ingrid's case. 'I thought she'd be more pushy? What the hell did I expect… it must have been a play on words.'
A few minutes later, Jake and Clara found themselves on an open land.
It was a vivid and calm grassland.
The grass was mowed.
"Nervous?" Clara asked.
"Uh, not really…" Jake replied.
Clara chuckled at him. "You were so lost in thoughts that I couldn't even find a moment to start a talk."
"That's… my bad. I'm confused because you made it sound like it'd be a date. I've never been on one, so…" Jake explained the reason for his silence.
Clara tilted her head and asked, "Isn't it a date when a man and woman meet alone?"
"Is it?" Jake asked, confused. Perhaps it was this world's view, but Jake had met his female friends alone at the time and never thought of those meetings as dates.
Clara stretched her arms as she replied, "In our midsts, it is… you see, Archer. Does it not excite you when I stretch like that?"
Jake didn't expect to hear such a blunt question. Of course, Clara's womanly assets had drawn Jake's eyes as she stretched her arms, pushed her back forward, and more. It was a tantalizing sight that couldn't escape Jake's attention. He was a young adult who hadn't had any taste of romance yet.
With his cheeks reddened, he said, "It does…"
"Thanks," Clara curved her lips up. "It makes me happier. I have a lot of confidence in myself… still, I'm just warming up not to hurt my muscles, yet it makes you excited?"
"Don't tease me like that after so bluntly asking about it," Jake rolled his eyes. That said, those quickly rolled back to admire Clara's curves. He knew she wouldn't mind after all this talk.
Jake also believed it wasn't wrong.
That was when Clara lifted her leg over her head. She was standing like a pole. The sight froze Jake and made him stare at her with widened eyes.
'I see! We're really on a date! She's purposely teasing me and having fun!' Jake thought. He didn't want to be the only one on the receiving end, so he decided to counterattack her.
He took off his shirt and exposed his muscles. He'd been training a lot in the game world, and his occupation turned Jake into a semi-bodybuilder. His lean and toned muscles stole Clara's attention. His tattoos added such a mysterious charm to his sculpted body that Clara's dark eyes scrutinized every detail of them and his muscles.
She smiled widely and lowered her leg.
She then dropped her hands low to touch her feet. It was another kind of warm-up, yet Jake was once again on the receiving side as Clara lowered down two heavy shapes along with her back. It was kind of unavoidable.
'Oh god… it must be difficult to be an assassin with this much baggage!' Jake thought. He didn't want to stay idle and gaze, yet nothing really came to his mind. He came to the conclusion that he'd learn from the experienced and just carried on with his warming up.
That was a smart choice. Clara peeked at Jake from time to time, having a lot of fun teasing him.
"Dates in our world usually end up in the bed," Clara said.
"That does sound… amazing," Jake gulped. It's no wonder players want to increase their relationships with NPCs so badly!"
"We get to know our compatibility," Clara smiled.
"Compatibility?" Jake asked.
"Yes, whether both parties feel great in the bed," Clara explained with a soft smile. She didn't expect to talk about it with Jake, but he was so green in this area that she spoke with lots of details.
She told him that some women didn't like when a man was too big down below.
'Does it really work this way?' Jake asked himself. He was partially corrupted by the Internet and its jokes about male genitalia. 'I'll make a call to Lukas.'
He opened his friend list and called his good friend.
Lukas had dated a few women and should be experienced in this area, so he'd confirm Jake's doubts!
"Lukas!"
"Bruh! Has the snow fallen or what?"
"I have a question for ya."
"Ok," Lucas replied. He then listened to Jake's question and clicked his tongue. It was so audible that Jake wondered if he had hit Lukas' weak spot.
Lukas was honest with his buddy, "Jake, my brother."
"Yeah?"
"I haven't managed to enter a wet chamber yet."
"Oh… you're using a metaphor, so I guess you haven't seen… a wet chamber in person."
"Is it my fault that I end up with reserved and traditional women?! When they tell me about the marriage and wait until then, I ditch them and go next! It's so painful, bruh! But there's something worse… I haven't told anyone that yet… I fear it…"
"You know you're not getting away until you tell me what's worse, right?" Jake sneered.
"I don't like fish."
"Huh?"
"I puke when I smell fish."
"Huh? So what? What does it have to do with women?"
On the other side of the game world, Lukas shed a tear. "You will know once you enter a wet chamber, my brother."
"What are you talking about, bruh?" Jake asked.
Alas, Lukas didn't tell him the whole story. He wouldn't tell his friend what kind of crap he'd read on the Internet!
Jake sighed and switched the topic.
After a few minutes of casual talk, he hung up.
"I'm done. We can start the practice," Jake told Clara.
Both of them were warmed up and ready to practice the movement skill—Shadow Dash. Of course, Jake wanted to know the principles behind it and the tricks so that he could create his own version of the movement skill.
Since it was both of them and it was a date, Clara didn't want any honorifics.
"The real fun starts now, then," she grinned. "You've already learned the perception skill, correct?"
"Yes," Jake nodded.
"The perception skill is the key to Shadow Dash's true potential," Clara said, starting the martial arts lesson.