My Bugged System Made Me Too OP!-Chapter 32: Difference
He adjusted the strap over his shoulder and turned toward the exit.
Some students stepped aside reluctantly, while others deliberately brushed shoulders with him as he passed.
A few muttered insults under their breath. A few laughed again, emboldened now that the authority figure had spoken.
Lloyd watched him go with an amused expression, the faint curve of his lips never fading.
Rad and Drey remained beside him, their presence reinforcing his silent victory.
Noah walked past them all without lifting his gaze. He passed Instructor Brey without so much as a glance, the cane still planted firmly against the floor beside the man’s polished shoes. He did not bow his head, nor did he slow his pace.
As he moved down the corridor toward the academy doors, his thoughts sharpened.
’You all can treat me however you like,’ he told himself.
He pushed the doors open and stepped outside, the noise from within dimming as the heavy wood closed behind him.
The air outside felt cooler against his face, quieter than the charged atmosphere he had just left.
He walked several steps forward before slowing, then stopped and turned slightly to look back at the academy gates in the distance.
The tall structure stood as proudly as ever, iron bars gleaming faintly beneath the afternoon light.
Students continued to move in and out, unaware of the vow forming in his mind.
’But watch,’ he continued inwardly, his eyes narrowing just slightly. ’I’ll really become the most powerful magus to ever walk this world!.’
The thought did not feel childish or exaggerated, and if anything, felt more realistic when he remembered the system.
A faint smirk formed on his lips.
’Then I’ll see who’ll be mocking me then.’
His gaze lingered on the gates a moment longer.
’I’ll make sure to teach this place a lesson,’ he thought calmly. ’One way or another.’
The smirk remained as he turned away fully this time. Adjusting his bag once more over his shoulder, he began jogging down the road toward home.
*
A few minutes later, Noah had already arrived at his house.
The jog from the academy to his home was not particularly short, especially with the slight incline toward the rural outskirts where his family lived.
He slowed to a stop in front of the wooden door.
His chest rose and fell steadily.
He exhaled slowly and lifted the back of his hand to wipe the thin layer of sweat from his forehead. A few strands of hair clung lightly to his skin, damp but not drenched. His breathing settled faster than he expected.
’Compared to the first time...’
He straightened slightly, rolling his shoulders once.
’I don’t feel that exhausted.’
The difference was subtle, but undeniable.
When he jogged to the academy, his legs had felt heavy by the third repetition. His lungs had burned. His calves had screamed in protest. He had needed to stop multiple times just to catch his breath.
Now—
There was fatigue, yes.
But it was manageable.
His body didn’t feel like collapsing.
His thighs weren’t trembling uncontrollably.
Even the sweat was lighter than before.
He glanced down at his hands briefly, flexing his fingers.
This was clearly because of the increase in his stats from leveling up earlier today.
The boost hadn’t been dramatic. It hadn’t turned him into some overwhelming powerhouse overnight. The increase had only been a few points in strength, agility, and stamina. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
But those few points were enough to show a difference.
Enough to change how his body responded.
Enough to make the improvement tangible.
A faint flicker appeared in his vision.
[Daily Quest: Jog for 5 minutes (5/5)]
[Status: Completed]
[Reward Granted: 20EXP]
[Daily Quest: Jog for 5 minutes (5/5)]
[Status: Completed]
[Reward Granted: 20EXP]
[...]
[...]
He shifted his attention fully to the floating tabs, his eyes scanning through them carefully.
A small nod escaped him.
He couldn’t help it.
There was pride there.
Just like this morning, he had completed the quest twenty times again.
Each one granting twenty EXP.
That meant—
Four hundred EXP.
Another four hundred added to his total.
The number felt solid in his mind.
He mentally calculated the accumulation, watching as the final reward notification faded slowly into nothingness.
His lips curved faintly upward.
Even if the academy suspended him—
Even if the students mocked him—
They had no idea what he was building in silence.
The interface flickered once more before disappearing completely, leaving the air in front of him empty again.
Noah reached forward and pushed open the wooden door.
It creaked softly as it swung inward.
He stepped inside.
The interior of the house was quiet.
Too quiet.
He slipped off his shoes near the entrance and glanced around.
There was no movement from the small kitchen area. No clatter of utensils. No faint hum of conversation. The air carried the faint scent of dried grains and wood, but no fresh cooking.
He walked a few steps further in.
Still nothing.
He frowned slightly.
His mother wasn’t there.
Neither was his sister.
That wasn’t unusual.
His mother would have gone to the farm as usual, tending to crops under the fading sunlight. The fields required constant attention, and she rarely returned before evening.
His sister would have gone to school, her lessons stretching until late afternoon.
The house being empty at this hour made sense.
He stood there for a moment longer before exhaling quietly.
’That’s good actually...’ he thought.
His shoulders lowered slightly.
’I don’t know how I’ll explain to them that I got suspended...’ he mumbled inwardly, his jaw tightening faintly. ’For a week...’
If his mother heard that, she would surely be disheartened, and would even feel worse if she heard the full story about the suspension.
But then, he would have to tell her at the end of the day.
However, that would be for later.
For now, he could simply relax, and do whatever he wanted to do.
He moved further inside, setting his bag down near the wooden table.
