The Scumbag's Guide To Heroism novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9: 9 | Moral Considerations Are Secondary to Survival

She offered her hand. I took it. Her palm was warm and callused.

〘Physical contact established. Temptation Gauge +1%. Current level: 26%.〙

She pulled me up with enough force that I stumbled forward. Almost crashed into her. Stopped myself with my hand on her shoulder.

〘Physical contact maintained. Temptation Gauge stable. Subject comfort threshold maintained.〙

"Sorry," I muttered.

"For what? Being slow?" She smirked. But she didn’t move away from my hand.

Heat crept up my neck. "For assuming I could track you."

She stepped back. My hand fell away from her shoulder.

"At least you learn quick," she said. "Let’s try something else."

For the next hour, Sloane ran me through basic defensive postures. How to protect my head. How to absorb impacts I couldn’t avoid. How to fall without breaking anything important.

I was drenched in sweat. My muscles burned. But I was learning. Actually learning.

〘Physical stats increasing: Stamina +1, Durability +1. Current values: 11, 11.〙

A notification popped up in my peripheral vision.

〘📋 SIDE QUEST UNLOCKED

Quest: No Pain, No Gain

Description: The host body is a disgrace. Its physical parameters are below the acceptable baseline for a protagonist. Fortunately, an opportunity for state-sanctioned improvement has presented itself. Do not waste it.

Objective: Complete ten (10) training sessions with Heroine Candidate Sloane Fitzgerald.

A ’session’ is defined as a minimum of 60 minutes of continuous, good-faith physical training.

Time Limit: 30 Days

Rewards:

One (1) Random Skill Pull Ticket (Guaranteed Rarity: E ~ B)

+10 Stat Points

System Note:

Progress is its own reward. But a tangible incentive has a documented history of improving compliance. Consider this an investment in your future utility.〙

Well, that was convenient. Almost like the system was finally working with me instead of against me.

"Let’s take a break," Sloane said. She tossed me a water bottle from a mini-fridge I hadn’t noticed.

I caught it one-handed. Small victory.

She grabbed her own bottle and drank half of it in one go. Water spilled down her chin, dripped onto her chest. Her sports bra was dark with sweat, clinging to curves that—

Stop staring, idiot.

〘Target susceptibility increased during physical exertion. Quest completion probability rises to 58% if attempted within next 5 minutes.〙

Sloane caught me looking. Wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "What?"

"Nothing," I said. "Just surprised you’re taking this seriously."

She frowned. "I said I would, didn’t I?"

"Yeah, but..." I hesitated. "You were pretty clear about how pointless this is."

Sloane sat down on a weight bench. Patted the spot next to her. I joined her, keeping a careful distance.

"Look," she said. "You’re Unmarked. That’s a fact. But..."

She trailed off. Stared at her water bottle like it held answers.

"But what?"

"But I respect that you’re trying," she said finally. "Most people would just accept it and move on with their lives. Find a normal job. Be a normal person."

"I’m not most people."

She snorted. "Clearly."

We sat in silence for a moment. The quest timer continued its countdown. 14:47:22.

"Can I ask you something?" I said.

"You just did."

"Ha ha. Seriously though."

She shrugged. "Go ahead."

"Why do you care if I apply to Halloran? It doesn’t affect you either way."

Sloane went very still. Her knuckles whitened around the water bottle.

"Because you’ll get hurt," she said quietly.

"People get hurt all the time."

"Not like this." She turned to face me. Her blue eyes were intense. "The exam isn’t just hard, Lukas. It’s designed to break people who shouldn’t be there."

"You think I shouldn’t be there."

"I think you’re Unmarked in a world that wasn’t built for you." She looked away. "And I think watching you get hurt trying to be something you’re not would be..."

She didn’t finish the sentence. Didn’t need to.

〘Temptation Gauge +2%. Current level: 28%. Subject experiencing protective instinct conflict.〙

The moment stretched between us. I could have reached over right then. Put my arm around her shoulders. Pulled her close. The quest would have been done in seconds.

It would also have been the douchiest thing I’d ever done.

I stood up. "Let’s keep training."

Sloane looked up at me. Something unreadable crossed her face.

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