Surviving in my Own Unpublished Failed Novel

After the four-people squad's dinner, Russell Moon parted ways with them as he was the only one with the different Student Dormitory – Andromeda unlike the other three; Freya Moon, Amelie Rose Merveil, and Amery Blight who were on Student Dormitory – Rigel.

After quite some time, in a quiet dorm, sitting on the couch beside his bed, he thought of the upcoming event 'Banquet of Obelisk' where the first year students would be given a chance to form peers especially one that would be beneficial for their own futures.

'An event full of hypocrisy' he thought.

Though as an aspiring author before his reincarnation, Russell cannot feel whether he should blame himself or not for the existence of some bastards that were aligned on his novel in this world.

As far as he remembered, it would be managed by the Student Council, Disciplinary Committee, and the first year professors of each section numbering at least sixty people excluding the assigned professors for elective classes.

Alone in his room, Russell took a glance on the window placed on the wall beside his bed, seeing the Moon which was emanating a bluish light, affected by consolidation of Mana on the 'world'.

There were other moons that could only be seen on the other part of the world which size became seven times its original diameter.

Lost in thought, while looking on the Moon that blanketed the sky, Russell suddenly thought of tomorrow's elective class as he formed a self-deprecating laugh.

'General Overall System Theories'

As he knew full well the 'main character' he wrote on his novel, he knew that Han Jiho would also take the elective class he's taking.

'Or should I say, someone recommended it to him?'

The 'General Overall System Theories' discussed the basics of basics of everything necessary since the Emergence, it was an elective class that was full of 'what's, why's and when's, thoroughly aiming of the general knowledge since the changed of the world, but without the how's.

What is the 'System?'

Who are the first-known Constellations?

When does a Tower open its doors to Players?

Why did the 'Emergence' happened?

Han Jiho barely knew such things especially basic human etiquette as he lived on a 'mountain' his whole life, on a village secluded on the modern technology, but destroyed during the 'Emergence'.

'I guess I'll see him tomorrow on class.' Russell thought to himself.

...

Tuesday Morning

'Emergence History and Widely Known Constellation Class'

"Even today, there are knowledge still unknown to us, especially the exact number of other races that scattered and living throughout the world since the Emergence, and we do not know the other races intent nor know if we are really ready for excessive contact with them, and so far, the races that us, humanity have in contact with are 'Dwarves', and 'Elves.'

Russell Moon, sitting on the far side of the classroom listened to the professor in front of the class, discussing the Emergence, and the races that so far made contact with human race.

'Professor Rey Smith'

He didn't know someone like him on his novel, but as he checked on his 'Status Window' at least he's like a man whose loyalty was on humanity, and no hidden nature.

'He's your typical super loyal soldier type of person', aligned with the bulky build of his body that didn't match the subject he's teaching the students.

Russell thought, as he listened to the interesting lesson being taught by the man with a conviction.

"The existence of 'Towers' are still complete mystery to this day, and humanity just conformed to the System's functionality. The number of Towers known to us are not fixed because as we know, the world became bigger, and the Satellites of the old world were destroyed during the 'Emergence'. There are classifications of Towers to this day, which are called:

Dungeon Towers that consists of five (5) floors,

Higher Dungeon Towers that consists of ten (10) floors,

Peak Dungeon Towers that consists of (15) floors, and the so-called

Close Mystery Towers that no one knows about until this day.

Now, what do you call the Dungeons that formed outside of a Tower?"

A girl whom Russell Moon considered as 'Untouched Element' raised her hand as soon as the question was thrown.

"Yes, Mira." Professor Rey called Mira, Leon von Obreyon's younger sister.

"Sir, they're called Strayed Dungeons!" Mira answered delightedly.

"That's right, the Dungeons that were not built as a Tower and have a maximum of two floors are called Strayed Dungeons."

Russell listened to their exchange and found it interesting even though he knew what they're discussing as he felt like becoming a High School student again.

As he remembered, any kind of Dungeon Towers, from lowest classification to peak, had different challenges on them.

For example, a Dungeon Tower with (5) floors could have Goblin-type Monsters, and on its first floor, consists only of unintelligent goblins, then on its second floor, consists of both unintelligent goblins, and goblins with coordination; while from third to fourth floors were goblins with different ranks like goblin warrior, goblin magician, goblin archer, etc. The floors three and four were the beginning of utilizing optimal strategies of the raid team leader as the monsters had a bit of intelligence, and good coordination while on the last floor of the Dungeon Tower, the Goblin Chief would appear, a completely intelligent one, with its aides such Goblin Knights and Goblin Reapers.

Russell was snapped out of his thoughts as he heard Professor Rey continued with his lesson, and this time it's about the 'Clearing Duration' of raiding a tower based on the previous records set by the 'Players'.

"These were the average 'clearing duration' of Towers from Dungeon to Peak classification."

He flashed a holographic screen through the opaque board on the front using a tablet he's holding, and there, information regarding the average clearing duration were shown.

Average 'Clearing Duration' of Towers

Dungeon Towers: 5 weeks

Higher Dungeon Towers: 16 weeks

Peak Dungeon Towers: 32 weeks

The students' different reactions were evident on their own faces as they looked to the information laid out before them, except for Russell as he knew the difficulty of Higher and Peak Dungeon Towers, though the rewards were extravagant, one wrong decision was tantamount to 'death.'

Professor Rey Smith spoke as chattering between some students continued on.

"As you can see, the 'Clearing Duration' were long, but don't worry, the Players inside can teleport outside of the Tower to resupply, and rest with the given time every 4 weeks, considering the Towers were classified as Higher and Peak because the Dungeon Tower, with the average clearing time of 5 weeks, players wouldn't have the chance to teleport out as per the System's rules."

Russell smiled inside as he thought of one of the 'main character' he wrote aside from Han Jiho.

'That rule wouldn't apply to that person!' he lampooned.

...

Freya Moon, who had the same schedule as everyone else regardless of section, started to pack her things up for lunch break.

"Hey, you coming?" Freye asked Amelie Rose

"That…"

The hesitant Amelie Rose couldn't instantly decide, and as if Freya knew what she's thinking about, she said,

"Don't worry about it! It is okay, Oppa wouldn't mind that."

Freya was referring last night dinner about Oppa who took the elective General Overall System Theories, and Amelie who abruptly said that it's for stupid people. Apparently, Amelie felt guilty with the situation.

"Come on! Also tell Amery to come with us."

"Alright, but… I don't think it's necessary, look behind you."

The confused Freya who was almost done tidying her belongings, while her back facing the front of the classroom, reflexively looked behind, and saw Amery standing near them with the still aloof expression, but with approachable atmosphere.

"Ah? Okay let's go."

The momentarily dazed Freya urged both Amelie Rose and Amery to OC1 (Obelisk Cafeteria One) where they usually took their lunch and dinner with her older brother.

...

Obelisk Cafeteria One

"Oppa, what do you think about the Close Mystery Towers?"

Out of nowhere, as they're eating their meals, Freya asked Russell a question, though he knew what they were, it's not something he could just talk about casually.

"Well, I don't know? Maybe a blessing or a curse in disguise?" He replied, causing the interest of Amelie Rose, and Amery Blight to spike up, and looked at him with curious eyes.

'Hey don't look at me like that!' Russell silently lampooned.

"What do you mean a blessing or a curse?" His younger sister asked, also emitting a 'curious' kind of aura on her tone.

"You know, Dungeon Towers are blessing due to various rewards if successfully cleared, but at the same time curse if the raid failed, and failure inside the Tower means 'death', I think that would be the same with Close Mystery Towers."

Russell shared his idea that would be the truth for now… not in a few years when Close Mystery Towers open one by one. Though the 'Tower of Growth' that will open in few months time were also considered one, it's a stepping stone for humanity, at least for those who were initially hopeless as 'Players' due to various reasons such as lack of connections and resources.

He remembered the 'True Key of Chaos' he got with one of its function as opening a 'certain tower'. It's also one of the 'Untouched Elements' he encountered as he had no idea what tower would the key was referring to.

"Sounds about right! Also we wouldn't know unless it one opened right?"

Amelie Rose said as she chew on her meal, while Amery looked at Russell with wonder in her eyes.

'What are you looking at!?' Russell screamed in his mind, getting embarrassed with her stare.

...

With a few minutes of rest, Russell separated from the trio and went back to his respective classroom, passing the time, waiting for the elective class General Overall System Theories while a girl with friendly energy along with other of his classmates approached him.

"Hello, I'm Mira. You see, we saw you're mostly alone, so maybe you could use a company?"

She's really a friendly one. Russell thought, as she's accompanied by three others, one boy with brown hair, black eyes, with normal build, and two girls, one with black hair, brown eyes, and fit stature, and the other with blonde hair, blue eyes, and fit stature respectively.

"Hey Mira, let him be! Maybe you're disturbing him!"

Said the girl with black hair, and brown eyes.

'You're right! Thank you!' Russell lampooned within his mind.

"Is that so, alright, uhm…?" Mira as if wanting to ask something paused for a moment as she couldn't mustered up the courage to ask.

"Russell… Russell Moon."

Understanding her, Russell replied out of courtesy.

"Okay, Russell… Russell Moon, join us if you need company! Let's go Lyn!"

With the embarrassment on her tone, she paced quickly away with the others.

'That's weird.' Russell thought.

With his belongings, he reached the classroom assigned for the General Overall System Theories, and saw the 'main character' already sitting on one of the chairs.

'Han Jiho…' he muttered to himself.