MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

After a long bath, Anthony sat by the window in his room, his head resting lightly on his palm as he gazed out at the sprawling military base.

His eyes wandered over the familiar sights, the area he had been confined to.

There was little else to occupy his time, so he simply observed, letting his thoughts drift as he looked out beyond the confines of his current reality.

Then, without warning, a knock echoed from the door.

Anthony's senses had already detected the presence beyond it.

He wasn't surprised.

During his year of military training, Anthony had deactivated many of his abilities, preferring to keep them subdued.

But after the Baptism, the need for restraint had faded, and he had reactivated them all.

There was no longer any reason to keep them dormant.

Rising from his seat, Anthony moved toward the door, his footsteps quiet and deliberate.

With a soft creak, the door swung open to reveal an elf standing in the threshold, a tray in her hands.

Upon it, a black card rested, its presence subtle yet significant.

The elf spoke in a voice as serene as it was measured.

"Private Null Anthony. Here is your military point card"

She moved the tray forward, halting it just a few inches from Anthony, her movements precise and graceful.

Anthony reached out and took the black card, feeling its smooth, cool surface as he rolled it between his fingers.

The card was an obsidian shade, its matte surface broken only by his name, 'Null Anthony', etched in stark white block letters.

"Your military points have already been credited"

The elf continued, her tone unwavering.

"All you need to do is send a small portion of your mana signature into the card, and it will be registered to you"

Anthony complied without hesitation, channeling his mana signature into the card.

It vibrated subtly in his hand before his name, once written in white, shifted to a brilliant gold.

The card retained its sleek, obsidian design, the transformation barely perceptible, yet undeniable.

As soon as the connection was made, Anthony could sense the exact number of military points stored within: five hundred.

It was a simple, immediate awareness that flowed into his mind.

Once she noted that Anthony had finished, the elf continued, her voice unwavering.

"Please be sure not to misplace the card. Should the military need to issue a replacement, five thousand military points will be charged to your account. If you do not have sufficient points, the military will consider the balance owed"

Anthony nodded, slipping the card into his pocket.

As it touched the fabric, it vanished, seamlessly stored within his inventory.

"Anything else?"

Anthony asked, his voice calm and neutral.

The elf didn't hesitate, answering without a moment's pause.

"You may use the points on your card to purchase resources online, which will then be delivered directly to you. Alternatively, you can visit one of the resource bases and make your purchases in person"

Anthony's brow furrowed slightly as he considered the options.

Then, a thought occurred to him.

"Would a phone be included in the resources the military provides, or would I need to acquire one myself?"

He was already contemplating the convenience of online orders.

Why go through the trouble of seeking it out in person when he could have it delivered?

"A phone, or any similar device, will not be provided"

The elf responded swiftly, as always.

"You will need to purchase that with your points. Even a space ring must be acquired using your military points"

Anthony absorbed the information, nodding slightly.

"When can I expect the resources to arrive?"

The elf's expression remained neutral as she answered.

"I'm not in charge of the logistics, so I cannot give you an exact time. However, it will certainly arrive soon, and it will not extend beyond today"

She paused, then, ever efficient, asked.

"Do you have any other questions?"

"No"

Anthony replied flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.

Without another word, the elf turned and walked away, her movements swift and purposeful, as though every second was precious.

Anthony returned to his room, his steps heavy as he sank back into the seat.

The dull ache of boredom settled over him once more.

A sigh escaped his lips. "No phone. No TV. No entertainment. No games. I might lose my mind if this keeps up"

The thought of it almost made him scream in frustration.

He had grown accustomed to these comforts since his first life, and now, deprived of them, he felt the stirrings of madness creeping in.

He had managed to survive a year without them, though, thanks to his rigorous training schedule, from 4 AM to 9 PM, there hadn't been a single moment to even think about gadgets.

"I might as well check out the resource base the elf mentioned"

He muttered to himself.

He had been too lazy to visit it before, but with nothing else to do, he finally decided to make the trip.

After walking for a while, Anthony arrived at a modest bungalow building.

With steady strides, he entered, his gaze sweeping the interior.

There was nothing remarkable about the space, just plain walls and the faint hum of a quiet room.

Behind a desk sat a staff member, tapping his fingers idly across the keyboard of a laptop.

Anthony couldn't help but think to himself.

'Are the military so stingy with their budget that everything has to be this dull?'

His eyes lingered on the laptop screen, where he noticed the staff member was engrossed in a game, completely ignoring the purpose of the space.

The staff member finally paused the game, turning to Anthony with a look of indifference.

"What do you need, newbie?"

'Is it really that obvious?'

Anthony thought, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Can I see your catalogue?"

He asked.

The staff member raised an eyebrow.

"How many military points do you have? Your balance determines which catalogue I give you"

"Five hundred points"

Anthony replied.

Without a word, the staff member summoned a book from thin air.

He handed it over to Anthony, his expression unchanged.

Anthony flipped through the catalogue, his brow furrowing as he saw the prices.

They were absurd.

A military phone alone cost a hundred points.

The cheapest space ring? A thousand military points.

Even potions were priced higher than space rings.

"Just give me a military phone"

Anthony stated, his voice flat.

The staff member stood up without a word and walked to another room.

Moments later, he returned with a small box, handing it to Anthony.

"Swipe your card here. As you inject your mana signature into it, think about the amount of military points you wish to deduct"

The staff instructed.

Anthony nodded, following the instructions without hesitation.

He swiped his card, focused on the amount, and confirmed the payment.

Without wasting a second, Anthony turned on his heel and left the building.

'Since everything is so expensive, I might as well buy everything from the system'

Anthony thought as he walked.

However, his train of thought was interrupted when Corporal Daniel approached him.

"Colonel Vazeryth wants to see you. Follow"

Without waiting for a response, Corporal Daniel turned on his heel and began walking.

Anthony, without a word, fell in step behind him, his footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway.