Charisma is all about influencing people with communication. Ben also read that one common trait of charismatic people is excellent speaking skills, so what better way to improve charisma than studying motivational speaking? It should also develop his communication stat. It was perfect!
Ben took down the information on the flyer and checked the website on his phone for details. Even though the seminar wasn't free, it was for students so it was affordable. However, there was an issue–it would interfere with one of Ben's classes.
The seminar would start tomorrow and last for 7 days, using several hours per day. At the scheduled time, Ben had a writing class. This was a problem. His eyebrows pinched as he considered how to resolve the conflict.
After a short while, he realized it was pointless to worry about it. Time was running out. What was the use of class if he died in 2 weeks? Ben made a firm decision.
He would stop going to all his classes! Rather than wasting his time there, he was better off opening women and attending the seminar. If still alive in 2 weeks, then he'll return to his studies.
Would his parents or teachers protest? Let them complain to his corpse!
If Ben's parents found out he was skipping classes to chase women, they would choke him to death! But they didn't have a dominatrix system sitting on their heads, threatening to kill them!
He used his phone to buy a ticket for the event on the website.
***
"Is this it"? Ben was gazing at a classroom entrance with people shuffling into it. It was the noisiest area in the pearl-colored hallway.
Near the door was a wooden desk and a chair with a person sitting there, checking for tickets from everyone who entered. "It's her?" Ben recognized the person and approached to say hello.
"Benjamin-san?" It was Miyuki, Ben's R.A. It turned out she worked as a teaching assistant for the professor who ran this seminar.
'She must've posted the flyer in our dorm's floor,' Ben realized. The two exchanged a few words and he walked inside, not wanting to disrupt her work.
'Tall,' is what Ben thought when he saw the classroom. He realized it differed from the others in the university. He'd already attended enormous wide lecture halls, ones that could house hundreds of students. While this one wouldn't fit so many, it had towering multi-story ceilings, like it was a room with special acoustics, meant to intensify speeches…and the judgments of those listening. The professor must have reserved this solemn space for this reason.
The seats were arranged in a semi-circular formation, focused around a speaking area at the front. They filled up as people arrived one after the other. Some minutes later, everyone who bought tickets was present, and the professor closed the door.
Miyuki was the last to enter and sat in the last empty seat; By coincidence, it was right next to Ben. "Hello again, Benjamin-san," Miyuki greeted with a warm smile.
He greeted her back with a cordial smile. Meanwhile, in his mind, he grinned like an idiot because of the fortuitous seat arrangement. Ben inhaled the light scent of vanilla emitted from her body. He didn't know if the smell was natural or perfume, and he didn't care. He just treated his snout. Life was good.
On the other side of Miyuki, a man watched their interaction and frowned. 'This b*tch greeted this kid before me?' He had very short black hair, an aquiline nose, and was as slender as a snake. He was older than Ben, around the same age as Miyuki, with darting eyes that displayed a wily temperament.
Miyuki turned to the man, greeting him with a flat voice, "Hello again…Zachary-san."
At that, the man's frown disappeared. "Hello, Miyuki!" he responded with a shrill voice, leaning forward to get closer to her. He'd been working on convincing Miyuki to date him for the past year.
Zachary was also an R.A., a fellow teaching assistant, and was here to help the professor. He thought having so much in common would be conducive to a relationship. Yet, Miyuki always told him she didn't date colleagues. He took that to be bullsh*t.
Instead of speaking with him, Miyuki turned to Ben. "Benjamin-san, how did you discover this seminar?"
Benjamin replied that he found the flyer by the elevator, to which Miyuki laughed and admitted she posted it.
As the two continued to chat, Zachary's face became uglier and uglier. 'Who is this little sh*t?
When everyone settled in, the professor went to the front and spoke. His words were eloquent and attention-grabbing. Ben understood why he was teaching this subject.
Ben traced the palm-sized Stat Growth Multiplier card in his jacket pocket. He'd waited until now to use it so that he got full value of the 7 days. When no one was watching, he took it out. He'd verified a while ago that others couldn't see his system items, including his screens. Still, they would see his motions when he used them, so he tried to be careful. Not wanting to waste more time, Ben activated it with a thought.
*Whoosh* His dopamine receptors fired up like a blazing forest! It was like a drug! Similar to when he used the Stat Growth Multiplier for looks, an intense drive struck him to develop his charisma. 'I need to be influential! Be motivational! Charismatic!'
He was developing the mindset of a junkie! The system was a drug-dealer in disguise!
Ben imagined this was the urge con-artists and politicians felt when they started their careers.
As the professor lectured, Ben paid attention to every word. He imagined each syllable as an energy ball containing a fraction of a stat point floating into his head. 'Yes…come to daddy…feed me…don't stop talking…don't stop.' His bloodshot eyes ogled the professor like he was a Victoria's Secret model.
The professor gulped and loosened his shirt collar. His spine felt a chill like he was being watched by a perverted beast. As a professional, he brushed it off and explained what they would do in the seminar. First, he'd teach about all the factors involved in motivational speaking. Then they'd participate in various activities. At the end of the week, everyone would give a motivational speech and receive constructive feedback.
At the moment, they started an introductory activity.
The professor said, "Everyone, the first thing we'll do is allow each of you to introduce yourselves with a few sentences. You may consider this your first activity."
As the professor's assistant, Zachary chose who would speak. He went around the room, pointing to people one at a time by seating order. Ben sat in the back so he was one of the last to go.
He'd always avoided public speaking because the thought of people judging him made him uneasy. He even made excuses and called in sick when there were projects in his school that required it. As a result, he hadn't done it for many years. This time, however, he didn't feel the need to run.
He'd been opening girls for several weeks now. This was only speaking in front of a few strangers. How hard could it be?
When Ben's turned arrived, Zachary sneered, but pointed to Ben and told him to stand. Ben already knew what he would say and got up.
Moments after he left the chair, the confident smile on his face froze. He felt like he'd been ejected into the absolute zero of space.
A terrible wave of fear flooded his body, like a premonition of imminent disaster.
*Thump* *Thump*
His heart threatened to burst out of his chest. His mouth became dry. Breath short. His eyes popped out, bouncing around the room seeking the cause.
'What's going on?!?' He panicked.
