Surviving as the Second Main Lead: Second Lead's POV

“Alright, it’ll be your first lesson in mana coding. I take it you have never seen a ‘system Analytics’ before?”

Horas tried to understand what Mark was saying but it sounded like gibberish. It was disheartening to know that he did not understand this aspect of something he created himself.

‘No, I should not get discouraged. I might have written this world but that does not mean I know everything about this reality.’

The more Horas had seen, the more he had understood that not everything would go his way just because he knew things. Even the weapon he had chosen would be at a disadvantage in the future.

“I don’t know anything. Where should I start with?”

Horas cringed as soon as he asked this question. There was a shrewd glint that Horas recognized as ‘pain and suffering.’

“You see this book? Read it twice and then I will get you started on the basics. Look up what you don’t understand on the internet and ask me only *very important* questions.”

Horas looked at the weapon of mass destruction in front of him. It was a huge tomb that was heavy and would weigh at least 5 KG if he had to guess.

He looked up at Mark and his expression read ‘seriously?’ Mark only laughed at his ridiculous expression.

“Sorry kid. But you will have to make do with reading. I am the only analytic here so I am quite busy.”

Suddenly, Horas felt bad for Mark. This man had dark circles under his eyes from over-working and he wanted to help Mark out. But then he looked at the book in front of him and had second thoughts.

But in the end, he did pick up the book and began reading it. He needed to do something with his time.

…………………..

Horas would like to say that he had learned a lot in a week but that would be lying. All he had done was get started on the basics of the system and learn a few commands.

He was not a genius so he had to start slow and easy. But he finally felt like he was getting a hang of it by this point.

But that was only as long as it concerned the system part. His ‘physical and weapon’ training on the other hand required a lot of concern. He was just a disappointment.

“Hey Horas, it’s time for you to head over to the weapon range. Your instructor is waiting for you and I heard he has a surprise for you today.”

Horas paled as soon as he heard the words ‘surprise.’

Usually, he loved surprises and even looked forward to a few. But this was a fictional world he had written. And since he knew this world very well, he also knew that nothing good would come out of being surprised.

“Are you sure I cannot bail out of training? I promise to study harder with you.”

Horas made a promise but he knew that it would not go through. There was a blank expression on Mark’s face as he looked Horas in the eye.

“I don’t know where you learned to say such things but I will not allow you to skip out on training. I don’t want to face principal Marble and she will come down if you are not in class.”

Sometimes, Horas got the feeling that Mark forgot he was five years old. The older ma certainly remembered it only at times when he needed to.

“Fine, I get it. You will be in trouble if I don’t go, right? I am going now.”

Ultimately, it was Horas’s loss, and he quickly made his way out of the lab. He looked toward the garden and it suddenly occurred to him that he had not been outside for a whole week and no one had questioned it.

‘Stupid world and stupid moral rules here. I should have given these people some consciousness.’

…………………..

“Cadet Horas, you are finally here. Did you get stuck somewhere because of your short legs? We will have to rectify that later.”

Horas wanted to inject and tell the inspector that it did not matter if he had short legs or not. It would not matter since it was his age that was the problem.

But of course, Horas knew the loud man well. And since he knew the loud man well, he also knew he should save his breath and not say anything right now.

“Anyway Cadet, now that you are finally here, I can introduce you to the team. This here is Nesh and that is Lucas. They will be accompanying us on our outing.”

The loud man, also known as Instructor Harris pointed toward his side where two teenagers were standing with their mouths hanging open.

“Ummm, Instructor, I think there is a mistake here. You said that we will be meeting our third team member, not a kid.”

Nash reminded the instructor as she looked Horas up and down. And from what Horas could see, Nash did not look impressed with what she saw.

On the other hand, Lucas had a more interested expression on his face. But even he looked a little taken aback when he saw Horas.

“Nash, I know what I promised, and Horas here is your team member for real. I have been training him for a week and I feel like he’s ready to come with us.”

“But he’s a kid.”

“And he’s also your team member so you better pay respect to him. He’ll come in handy for sure and besides, we don’t have a choice. This is what the principal ordered us to do.”

Nash went quiet once she knew that the order to include Horas came from the principal herself. Principal Marbel was one of the top 10 Adventurers on this continent and she was highly respected.

As such, her words could not be taken lightly.

“Well, if it’s the Principal who ordered us to be stuck with a kid, there is not much we can do about it. I am sure she has a plan for us so calm down Nash.”

Lucas put one hand on Nash’s shoulder as the only female calmed down. She looked Horas up and down before sighing.

“You better be worth the effort, kid. I do not want to risk my life because you did not manage to pull your weight. Are you even a kid? Or just someone with weird abilities that make you appear like a kid.”

Horas did not reply to Nash’s question since he was not sure. He was sure that he was a kid currently but only physically. Mentally, he was older than everyone in this room.

“Alright, enough chit-chatting. Pick your weapons and let’s go.”

Horas did pick up his gun but he doubted he would be using it at all. He did not have enough practice, his body was not developed enough to hold the gun properly and he was not able to maintain the recoil properly.

He could see that Nash had a lot of words to say when she checked his equipment window, but then she thought that it was better to keep quiet right now.

“Alright, let’s go. Let’s cheer for a successful mission.”

…………………..

Horas hated walking with his short legs. His body presented Horas with a problem and that was his physical fitness. It was unfair to ask a five-year-old to keep up with a teenager and a trained soldier.

“Huff, can you all slow down?”

Horas requested with his red face as he tried to catch up with the group in front of him. He could tell that he was causing the group significant delay but what could he do?

“Should I just pick you up and carry you along? It might be faster than to slow down intentionally for you.”

Nash’s irritated words were meant in a way that should insulting but Horas’s legs were hurting. And since he was offered, Horas would not deny the service being offered.

“You’ll be picking me up? Thank you in advance for your service.”

Nash’s mouth fell open at Horas’s reply. He could tell that Nash had not expected Horas to take her up on the offer but her pride prevented her from taking her words back.

She silently marched up to Horas and picked up his small body. Nash was not a tall or buff lady and she seemed not to have invested skills in stamina. She would run out of gas even before an hour was over.

Horas did not care much for Nash’s physical health but the same could not be said about their instructor.

“Nash, it will be better if I take the kid. I know you can handle him but you also need to conserve your strength for the mission. This dungeon is not going to be easy.”

Nash looked upset and her eyes looked ready to fight the instructor and make him back off. But no matter how stubborn she was, even though she knew her physical capabilities but she was not happy.

It was not her opinion but Nash handed Horas over to their instructor. Horas allowed himself to be handled and carried away. He still had no idea why he had been brought along on this mission but he was not about to say anything.

He had a feeling he would know soon enough.

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