PVCNC 12

Chapter – 12

Judging by the skill’s ability alone, it was definitely a broken, overpowered skill.

The problem was, there was no practical way to actively make use of it, which made it basically useless.

I briefly wondered if I should just jump into a pack of monsters and get beaten up.

But if I did that, my bones and flesh would probably get separated before I could even obtain the skill.

I had barely avoided becoming monster food, and now I was supposed to end up as boneless fried chicken?

‘Absolutely not!’

While rolling my eyes around in thought, an idea suddenly came to me and I quietly looked down at my own fist.

“Well… it said the condition was getting hit.”

That should mean it doesn’t matter who attacks me.

Which means… attacking myself should count too, right?

In that case—

I clenched my fist tightly and raised it high before swinging it toward my round forehead.

“Ow!”

Ding!

That really hurt since I put some strength into it.

But I definitely heard a notification sound, so maybe it worked—

“Huh?”

[The proficiency of Weak and Pathetic Punch (F) has reached 100%.]

[Duplicate acquisition is not possible because you already possess this skill.]

Weak…? Pathetic…?

• OneBridgeRival: Weak and pathetic LOLLLLL
• RomanceFantasyPresident: Self-abuse… this story is dangerous.
• ZeroCola: Why is Wendy so cute lol I never read the original but she’s super likable so far
  • Owen: In the original she was an extremely annoying nuisance character though…

[You have gained favor from 7 observers.]

[Total Favor: 12]

Comments kept popping up, many of them laughing their heads off.

There were even some unexpected positive ones.

But I was in no state to feel happy about that.

‘This is so embarrassing!’

My punch being called weak and pathetic? What kind of nonsense was that?

Back in elementary school I was practically undefeated in playground fights.

‘This has to be a mistake.’

With my face burning red, I rubbed my slightly swollen forehead and raised my hand again.

This time my target was my cheek.

There was no way the heroine’s older sister had such weak punches!

But just as expected—

Ding!

[The proficiency of Weak and Pathetic Punch (F) has reached 100%.]

[Duplicate acquisition is not possible because you already possess this skill.]

As if it were mocking me, the same message greeted me again.

‘Fine.’

Let’s see who wins, you stupid system.

Thud!

[Duplicate acquisition is not possible because you already possess this skill.]

Smack!

[Duplicate acquisition is not possible because you already possess this skill.]

Thud thud. Smack smack.

Wham bam crash.

[You alre-alre already poss-poss possess this ski-skill…]

As my madness escalated, the comment section also began to stir.

• RomanceFantasyPresident: Hey hey what’s wrong with her??
  • HulaHula: Judging by the rhythm she might have a future in traditional percussion.
• ColaBear: Someone stop Wendy, she’s gonna turn into a bloody mess at this rate

A bloody mess? This much won’t even injure me.

I was controlling my strength and hitting lightly anyway.

‘Maybe the grade will change after about a hundred hits.’

If even this didn’t work, then this skill was basically useless.

Otherwise I’d have to obtain skills in real combat…

But the chances of dying before gaining anything were much higher.

And I couldn’t just go around getting beaten up like that.

So this had to work.

If it didn’t, I’d end up just being a porter like in the original story.

Determined to see it through, I swung my hand toward my cheek again.

Grab.

Or at least, I tried to.

“I heard some noise and came out.”

A large, firm hand caught my wrist.

And a gaze looking at me like I was hopeless.

“What kind of new insane behavior is this?”

It was Zenon, who had woken up.

“So this is why you volunteered for night watch.”

His eyes naturally moved toward my red, swollen forehead.

“Seems you have some strange hobbies.”

Bloodshot eyes. Rough breathing.

Swollen cheeks.

Anyone seeing this without context would easily misunderstand.

“Stop it. You’ll affect tomorrow’s schedule.”

Wait. Stop it?

He was completely misunderstanding.

I needed to explain before this got worse.

“It’s not what you think. Sit down for a second.”

Zenon frowned, clearly annoyed at being grabbed.

I forced him to sit and quickly explained.

The strange skill. The condition that it could only be learned by getting hit.

After I finished explaining everything, his hostility softened a little.

“Anyway, it’s not like I wanted to do this.”

Even after the explanation, he still looked skeptical.

At least I seemed to have stopped things from becoming an irreversible misunderstanding.

“So you’re saying you were testing a new skill alone in the middle of the night?”

The look of pity still didn’t disappear though.

“A skill learned by taking hits…”

He frowned slightly as he thought about it.

“Quite interesting.”

I had expected him to tell me to just be a porter.

“All skills could benefit from something like that.”

That was unexpected praise.

“Right?”

I immediately agreed.

“It might not look impressive, but it’s actually pretty useful—”

“However.”

He suddenly cut me off and tapped my cheek lightly.

“If hitting yourself doesn’t work, why not just ask someone else to do it?”

“……”

“……”

‘Oh.’

Hearing that, I realized something obvious I had completely overlooked while admiring the skill’s potential.

“Are you stupid?”

His eyes were full of disbelief.

For a brief moment I thought we understood each other. I hated myself for that.

‘It’s not like I enjoyed doing this.’

A quest might start tomorrow.

I couldn’t just wake people up and randomly ask them to hit me.

And I needed to verify the skill.

Besides, things like this should always be tested in a safe place beforehand!

Who knew how long this peace would last?

‘What an annoying jerk.’

If I had someone to ask in the first place, I wouldn’t have done something this ridiculous.

But then…

“Wait.”

Now that I thought about it… I did have someone I could ask.

“Hey… Zenon.”

I grinned at him.

He immediately flinched and leaned back.

“Why are you looking at me with such a disturbing expression?”

Wow. That was hurtful.

“Disturbing?”

With her waist-length red hair, mysterious light-pink eyes, pale skin, and delicate features…

Wendy Porcelain’s appearance was top-tier anywhere.

Maybe handsome guys really did live up to their reputations.

Ordinary beauties probably didn’t impress him at all.

Still, I was the one who needed the favor.

“So anyway, Zenon.”

I spoke in an unusually gentle tone.

“I have a favor to ask…”

I widened my eyes and looked at him with an innocent gaze.

“What is it?”

Sensing danger, he tried to slowly move away.

I quickly grabbed his hand before he could escape and said brightly:

“Can you hit me?”

Zenon’s lips parted as if he couldn’t process what he had just heard.

His expression went from confusion… to irritation… and finally—

To the exact face of someone who just spotted a cockroach in their apartment.

“You’ve finally lost your mind.”

He shook my hand off and stepped back.

“Stay away. Madness might be contagious.”

He had already turned around to leave.

Crazy? Madness?

Seriously, every word he said scratched right at my nerves.

“…Fine.”

I suppressed the urge to grab his collar and shake him.

For now, I decided to back off.

If I had insisted, kindhearted Yeriel or Lilia might have helped.

But Zenon was different.

Just look at that face.

Harsh eyes. Dead gaze. Firm mouth.

No amount of whining would move him.

Fine. Maybe it was better this way.

Better to reject him first than get rejected.

“I don’t want to force someone who doesn’t want to help anyway.”

He stopped walking and looked back at me, seemingly surprised that I gave up so easily.

“Good decision. Don’t struggle pathetically. It’s unpleasant to watch.”

Unfortunately, that line hit a sore spot.

“Don’t cling to people. Don’t do weird things. Don’t make pointless efforts. Just quietly ride along.”

“……”

“That’s the best you can do anyway.”