[Quest: Reading [Completed]
Description: The host has discovered that time and effort is his greatest limitation. To pursue mastery, he must optimize how knowledge enters his mind.
Objective: Read all the books.
Reward: Cognitive Skill]
[Do you want to claim the reward?] - the system asked.
...
John smiled deeply and with a nod of his head, a calm wave enters his mind, and he felt that he was reprogramed and also reborn when he opened his eyes.
Then the system panel appeared again.
...
[Skill: Cognitive Reading Acceleration
Type: Cognitive
Tier: Beginner (Upgradeable)
Description: A cognitive optimization skill that enhances the host's visual processing and information intake, allowing knowledge to be absorbed far more efficiently than normal reading methods.
Effects: Increases reading speed by up to 5×, reduces mental fatigue during prolonged study, and improves retention when reading technical or complex material.]
...
Reading its effects John was awed by how powerful it was. A normal adult reading speed typically ranges from 200 to 300 words per minute.
While some people may read faster novels are generally quicker to read than textbooks, which are slower.
His reading speed fell within that normal range. Now if that speed was multiplied by five, it would reach 1,000 to 1,500 words per minute.
It was incredibly fast compared to a normal person. When he checked the time, he realized it was already seven in the evening, so he returned all the books and left the library.
He had not even noticed that someone had been sitting across from him at the table. He had been so absorbed in his reading that he paid no attention to his surroundings at all.
As he left, the person across from him lifted her head and watched him go.
"What a dedicated guy," she mused before returning to her book.
...
After leaving the library, he hailed another taxi. This time, he realized that the driver from earlier had cheated him out of five hundred.
This driver was more talkative than the previous two and through their conversation, he learned just how much he had been overcharged.
Under normal circumstances, he would have been furious and caused an uproar, but thanks to the quest reward, he no longer felt bothered by it.
After paying the driver another five hundred totaling to a thousand he returned feeling oddly satisfied.
He went straight to the market and bought some chicken and other necessities so he then started selling again.
Since there was no quest, he continued for about an hour. When it was nearly nine, he packed up and headed home.
As he arrived at the apartment while pulling his pushcart, Claire was already there.
"Mom said we're eating dinner together again. Are you coming or not?" she asked, her arms crossed.
He had just finished putting away the pushcart when she started acting bossy in front of him. Too tired to deal with her antics, and feeling hungry as well, he simply agreed.
After they arrived Aunt Ruth was already there, pulling him toward the table and serving him food.
The treatment made Claire jealous, she could only bite into her own meal while glaring daggers at John.
John who was exhausted after all that work, focused only on eating and thanking Aunt Ruth, completely ignoring Claire.
When the meal was finished he offered to wash the dishes, but Aunt Ruth stopped him.
"John you've been working all day and I can see how tired your eyes are. Go get some rest, you don't need to work for Claire will do the dishes."
Claire who had been about to head to her room froze on the spot, "What? Why do I have to do the dishes?"
"Can't you see the look on John's face? He looks like he could sleep for an entire week," Ruth reprimanded her softly.
Claire could not help but step back finding the situation hard to believe.
"How is it my fault that he's tired Mom? Hmph. I don't care, if he doesn't wash the dishes, then no one will," she said stomping her foot as she turned around.
"My dear daughter, if you also lack compassion and empathy, how can you get married," Aunt Ruth said while shaking her head.
When she heard her mother's words, she turned her head and saw John watching the two of them argue, which made her feel extremely embarrassed.
"If I can't get married then I'd rather stay single. I don't care really also who would even want a man? If every man is like that bastard, I'd rather marry a girl," she said pointing at John, who was simply minding his own business.
Then Claire stormed off to her room leaving her mother depressed of her daughters' temper, "Sorry about my daughter John, she doesn't mean it," she said.
"It's fine Auntie," he said while waving his hand to show it was no trouble.
"Oh yeah Auntie, can you give me your card number?" he asked.
"Card number? What's that?" she replied.
"A card number, like a bank account," he clarified.
"Oh, I don't have one," she said.
"Really? You don't have one?" he asked.
"Yes I don't have one. I don't trust my money with banks why are you asking about that?" she replied back.
Hearing this John sighed, he should have at least withdrawn some cash before returning.
Unlike the future where everyone had bank cards, this timeline was still developing and people had not yet fully integrated technology into their lives.
"Nothing I was just asking I'll go ahead and sleep. Good night Auntie, and thank you for the food," he said, bowing slightly before leaving.
As he walked up the stairs, he reflected on what he had wanted to do earlier. He had planned to ask for her bank account so he could send her money for the rent and for everything she had helped him with so far.
But if he had explained his purpose at that time, she would have immediately stopped him from repaying the favor.
That was why he needed to have the money in hand first, leaving her no way to refuse.
After that he took a shower, changed into the clothes he had bought, and fell into a comfortable sleep that lasted through the night.
...
[You have earned '2,445 pesos' today]
['4,890 pesos' was added in your account]
...
The system panel popped up while he was asleep. After waking up, he took another bath and wore the same clothes since he had barely used them.
He then sat on his bed and began planning for the weeks ahead.