an: just wanted to tell you something. I'll upload this thing on ao3 too. I recommend you to read there, because I can put pictures in the middle of the story! How epic is that?! And there's no limitation towards letters, so I could use any damned symbols that I wanted.
Especially the damned plus. I don't have to write "Plus" like a lame a-
I can directly put the plus symbol there. It's amazing.
-‹›-
"Teacher, are these...?"
"On point my Protégé! These are quest sheets, pinned onto the Quest Board for the nearby Adventurers to receive. However, it was somehow weird. Why does the guild in a peaceful town like Axel have the minimum level of danger with B-rank alike?"
The comical teacher-student duo was up to investigating the Quest Board, where most of the requests and missions and also dangers were pinned to notice the nearby Adventurers. Megumin, being more knowledgeable in this matter adorned a puzzled look, adjusting her funky, huge hat to get a more clearer look towards the quests.
"Let me confront the staff member."
"Confront...?"
Turning confused by her choice of words, Kazuma was lost for words and just stared ahead as the petite demon went on her way to the nearest staff member.
When his eyes caught the sight of her floating cloak, he was reminded about her skill section. Now that he could think it more thoroughly, he began to contemplate as he recalled the only skill that she possessed.
[ Explosion Magic Lv. 9 ]
It was a weird thing, because as a demi-god, perhaps god-level potential Wizard, wasn't she supposed to have like, dozens of spells in her arsenal?
Nevertheless, as more time he spent on thought, he came to a couple of conclusions. Kazuma took a thinking position as he leaned on the wall beside the Quest Board.
It could be that this [ Explosion Magic ] was the so-called 'Extinction Maker' and conceivably, because of such a nonsensical spell in her arsenal, she couldn't afford to learn other spells of her 'lack' of mana.
But she could learn a couple of simple, self-defence skills for self-insurance. Surely, that wasn't impossible.
However, there was another factor for this issue. That is her indistinguishable obsession towards this spell that was meant for destruction, demise and extinction. But surely, it couldn't be to the point of disregarding one's safety, right?
His teacher isn't the one to make stupid mistakes, considering her overly intelligent and observant traits.
Finishing his analysis, the most probable conclusion is the assumption that her skills were hidden away, potentially, or maybe certainly, because she was a high-position member of such a powerful clan.
Kazuma inwardly nodded affirmatively. That was a commendable, logical reason.
On his waiting, as he was getting bored the more time passed, he brought out the panel and began to ponder as he set his eyes on his accumulated points.
'60000 Affectum Points and 5 Upgrade Points... should I just upgrade my Talent to unlock the [ Magic Status ] or maximise the Archaic Roots effect by upgrading all of my stats to rank B?'
To confirm his thoughts, he went to his status to make a better hypothesis.
[ Physical Status ]
«Strength › 136» [ D Plus ]
«Agility › 123» [ D ]
«Vitality › 143» [ D Plus ]
«Charm › 96» [ E Plus ]
«Talent › 174» [ C ]
He hadn't thought about it before, but when the [ Upgrade ] option mentioned the requirement and the amount of Affectum Points he needed to upgrade, do the costs... was being affected by the rank increasement of his class and [ Upgrade Points ] or would it just independently upgrade his stats? Remaining unaffected by those factors?
Or could it be that the amount of Affectum Points needed would be increased according to the stats his [ Status ] showed?
If so then if he wanted to upgrade his Talent, he had to upgrade all of his stats to C-rank first before he could upgrade it again with the [ Upgrade ] option.
Technically, he had only upgraded his stats five times. All of which cost him 500 Affectum points combined.
With all of these thoughts, Kazuma decides to test things out. First, let's check the lowest of stats, the one that was simply increased by the class increasement and an upgrade.
«Do you want to upgrade your «Charm» to rank D Plus with 1000 Affectum Points?»
'Ah, the price remains the same despite being increased by class.'
Of course, it was just a one-time test, so it wasn't enough for him to conclude. To make it more legit, he went to check the second-lowest stat. The one that was the same as Charm.
Agility.
In which the only increasement it had experienced is from his class and an upgrade with Affectum Points.
«Do you want to upgrade your «Agility» to rank C with 1000 Affectum Points?»
'So it wouldn't overlap with rank increasement from [ Class ].'
It brought relief then. That means it was like back when he upgraded his Agility from E-rank to D-rank. Supposedly, it would cost him 1000 Affectum Points, but because his pure Agility back then was F-rank if the class's rank increasement was excluded, it counted as an F-ranked stat.
However, how about [ Upgrade Points ]?
To clarify it, Kazuma already had a stat in mind. His green eyes shifted to the bottom and saw his highest stat. The one that was purely increased by [ Upgrade ] and [ Upgrade Points ].
Talent.
He pressed his index finger against it.
«Host was required to upgrade all stats to rank-C to elevate this stat with Affectum Points!»
'Oof...'
Well, that was disappointing.
'[ Upgrade Points ] works the same way as [ Upgrade ], albeit its lacks requirements and the necessary Affectum Points. Still...'
Simply, they work the same way, albeit the former lacked the requirement and the cost.
Kazuma puts up a long face, staring at the azure, transparent screen on his face. Eventually, he just gave up.
Maybe he was being a little bit too greedy. Or urged by his teacher's insane Aptitude.
His green eyes stay on his [ Status ] screen momentarily before he decided. With his current Affectum Points, it wouldn't be too heart-wrenching to spend a little.
Thus, the familiar integration he felt accustomed to yet was still feeling amazed by it commenced. What he remained unnoticed, however, was the sudden stares he got from the nearby female Adventurers.
"Hey, it is just my feeling but does that young man gotten a little bit more... hotter, than before?"
"Heh, not only you twerp, I noticed it too. Probably released his concealing spell or something. But who cares? What's important is to savour such hotness!"
"Gergh, you bunch of unbridled maidens. Do fix those unladylike attitudes first before approaching the harbourer of those gorgeous green eyes!"
"What confidence you had to spout such words when your face was burning up like a bitch in heat?"
«Charm › E Plus » -› «Charm › D Plus»
«Charm › 98» -› «Charm › 148»
«1000 Affectum Points have been spent!»
[ Remaining Affectum Points: 59750 ]
«Agility › D» -› «Agility › C»
«Agility › 123» -› «Agility › 172»
«1000 Affectum Points have been spent!»
[ Remaining Affectum Points: 58750 ]
[ Unlocked: Upgrade Phase 3 ]
«From rank D to Rank C required 10000 Affectum Points»
«Locked [ Upgrade 5 stats to rank C to unlock ]
'...Uhhh...'
The gazes that struck his back stiffened his posture.
Maybe he shouldn't have upgraded his Charm.
Kazuma blamed a part of him that desired attention. As a 16 years old teenager, it was natural to desire such illustrious treatment. To be in the middle of attention. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, it's not wrong that he did covet such treatment.
But now that he received it, he realized that it wasn't something to feel good about. Those particular gazes that glimmered with unspeakable things directed at him aren't something nice to have around. Primarily that one look from a guy.
A shiver went through his spine.
'Fuck, even a guy-?!'
His teacher is right. It's better to not put a high-charm stat-based face on display!
Unconsciously, he looked around the Guild Hall, searching for an escape route. Occasionally, his gaze would pass the Quest Board and see some rather... unprecedented things.
'Flying pigs invasion brought utter bankruptcy towards fertilizer producers, rewarding 350,000 Eris...? Giant Toads seamlessly consume nutritious victims continuously for the past month, rewarding 100,000 Eris...? Ah, wha- Shit!'
The second he became distracted in a dire situation was the moment he'll be fucked. Still, he couldn't believe the first one to approach was that one guy!
"Excuse me, my fellow esteemed Adventurer! May I invite you to my house as we enjoy a dinner tonight-?!"
The expression of his fellow female Adventurers distorted like demons as the man in warrior gear took the first step.
"We were outstepped by a man for a man?!"
"Unacceptable!"
It seems comical at first glance, but as a person who was directly involved in this situation, Kazuma felt apprehensive. He cannot help it, why would he be chased by a damned man of all kinds?!
However, as if the Goddess of Fortune, bless her perfect being, was watching over him, he saw a door at the corner of his eye. It was barely noticeable if one did not investigate the Guild Hall thoroughly.
As the hand of the man in warrior attire was an inch away from him, Kazuma, with his newly found speed, turned into a gush of wind. At least, that is what it seems for the Adventurers nearby. He rushed out of the scene and threw himself against the door.
Fortunately, the door was not locked. As the door opened by the force he extorted, he was thrown into a small road, seemingly residing at the side of the considerably big Guild Hall's building.
His face showed puzzlement, however, the sound beyond the door he just passed stiffened him, and without an ounce of hesitation did he run in a random direction. Concurrently, he looked around intensively to withstand any surprise ambush, if there are any.
This kind of dark, damp alley at the side of big buildings is always filled with tragedies. It was a perfect place for crime to commence.
Kazuma looked upwards, trying to perceive the way the light was sourced from. To find the nearest exit from this alley through the nearest light source.
However, it was his second concern at the current moment. Kazuma knew that somehow, somewhere, right at this alley, there would be some unexpected, unforeseen accidents.
It was presumptuous to consider an assumption as a fact of course, but as he ran and ran at full speed yet still couldn't reach the nearest light source, an instinctual signal told him.
'Illusion? Space-Warp?'
Illustrious and comical, but it wasn't brazen to assume such thoughts.
Do remember that his agility is D-rank, numbering over 120 points. How could he not cross over a building despite running full speed for a couple of minutes?
Cold sweats dripped over his forehead, and he chose to stop.
Kazuma took a deep breath and exhaled it out, green eyes dead set on the road ahead, which was filled with more darkness. It seems like the more he ran, the darker the alley would become.
He looked the other way, and what greets him is the same sight.
His face took a grim countenance.
'What the hell happened?'
A normal man would collapse in hopelessness and despair, witnessing that all of their routes are filled with nothing but darkness and unknowns, but Kazuma has a thing that he could depend on.
It's this somewhat strange system.
'Maybe it's time to upgrade these stats.'
The plan was formed long ago, but Kazuma was waiting for the opportunity to perform it. It was a weird constraint, but a strange feeling told him to spend these points with utmost efficiency. Use them when they were needed the most.
He shrugged inwardly, 'Eh, who knows, maybe it meant something.'
Kazuma looked over his status. It was amazing, for an Adventurer with hours worth of experience like him. No, it could be said to be an unprecedented achievement. An achievement no one in history has ever achieved.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to solve the current issue.
And if there's one thing that he learned from the lots of games that he played, it's that power towers everything. Absolute power is undefeatable. While relatively idiotic, if one could actually achieve it, it wasn't something to be denied.
Well, at the current moment, what choices he had, really?
As the surrounding was getting mysteriously darker and darker, Kazuma puts his gaze on the azure, rectangle screen in front of him. It was weird, even for him, to be calm in this kind of situation.
But, well, that's it.
Inwardly, he was scared shitless.
'Fuck fuck fuck fuck come on!
Work for me!'
His sweaty index finger spontaneously pressed against the [ Exchange ] option, trying to find the delayed Archaic Roots and perhaps other goodies. No matter what, he gotta used his points with utmost efficiency!
The thought of the troubles his increased Charm would generate crossed over, but he cannot care about that!
Then, as soon as the Archaic Roots appeared in his face, he smashed his index finger against the screen, not bothering with any other products.
"HAH! EFFICIENCY MY ASS!"
Efficiency would cost him his existence!
[ Would you like to buy »Archaic Roots« for 10000 Affectum Points? ]
"YES! COME ON!"
The urgency was getting more intense. He knew that if he delayed it any longer, he would be fucked! Or it could be that he was being anxious. But it's better to be safe than sorry!
«Archaic Roots has been purchased!»
[ Remaining Affectum Points: 48750 ]
«Congratulation! One of the First Revolution requirements, the Archaic Roots, has been fulfilled!»
«All your stats have been increased by a rank!»
«Received Title: The Lost Bringer»
«Received Title: Magical Integration»
«Strength › 136» -› «Strength › 187»
«Strength › D Plus» -› «Strength › C Plus»
«Agility › 172» -› «Agility › 223»
«Agility › C» -› «Agility › B»
«Vitality › 143» -› «Vitality › 193»
«Vitality › D Plus» -› «Vitality › C Plus»
«Charm › 148» -› «Charm › 199»
«Charm › D Plus» -› «Charm › C Plus»
«Talent › 174» -› «Talent › 275»
«Talent › C» -› «Talent › A»
[ Requirement has been met. Unlocked: Magic Status ]
Numerous notifications kept barraging his face. With his increased stats getting transmitted into his body, and it was all aspects simultaneously nonetheless!
The feeling of getting integrated by an increased stat was godly enough, but then this happened.
In short, it was otherworldly.
But then, as he took aside a long side glance, a glint from the darkness flashed out in the corner of his eyes, and in shock, Kazuma jumped back, albeit clumsily. He was no mean an experienced fighter. Dexterity-based moves and attacks are not something he could do.
Not yet.
Drenched by cold sweats, his green eyes shifted swiftly, but the glint was too fast. In the blink of an eye, it lunged towards him yet again, with nothing but the intent to kill. Kazuma barely dodged and thwarted it with his hurriedly unsheathed sword.
A shadow of a blade flashed before it was coated by the darkness yet again.
"A newbie that harbours unprecedented strength, agility and vitality... They're not wrong."
Before he could recollect himself, a voice lingered out. It was raspy, cold and indifferent. Filled with nothing akin to an abyss. A cold, terrified shiver went through his spine, but Kazuma tried to hold his ground.
Painstakingly tried to do so.
"Hm? Such a handsome face. But a pity, what could it do to prevent how the unfairness crushed you under its feet? You, a newbie, by the request of a client, were targeted by me. What a shame."
The words contained arrogance, but the tone did not. A weird mix. Kazuma thought subconsciously as he tightened the grip of his sword.
"Ah, but you know, it was you who was kinda naivé. You've heard of the saying that different kinds shouldn't flock together?"
Heard?
Kazuma experienced it.
"I've heard the report. You managed to be the hell-bringer's disciple. A rather fearsome child of a teacher, eh? But I expect much from you. Maybe you could be a little bit smarter but alas..."
He, the listener, kept his mouth shut. Ready for any incoming attack. What the culprit said intrigued him, but it was a stupid circumstance to ask a question. Hasn't he heard enough? That the culprit came to him to target him?
Chit-chatting wasn't the primary motive here.
"But you're strong. Well, at least strong enough to be considered a qualified soldier of an Empire. But anyhow, the deadline is coming. Say hello to the King of Hell if you met him for me, if you can..."
The flat tone hung in the wind, and then something flashed by. However, by his agility, he could dodge it at the last second.
It was a string. Right before his eyes. It glinted in the dark, like the sharpest of razors.
"...Eh?"
His green eyes veered to the source, and a masked man poked out from the darkness. All were covered, except for his black eyes. Which, contained nothing but abyssal, devoid dark space.
Kazuma wanted to move. He truly wanted to. But this was too frightening. He never experienced such an incident before. To be targeted by a superhuman assassin capable of blending himself with the darkness that he probably cast around here.
Even now, after he dodged, his body was shaking.
He felt fear
Kazuma doesn't want to admit it, but right now, he is one thing.
He is a spineless coward. The one who succumbed to fear.
His plans went haywire and his fear dominates.
What's the use of having powerful stats when he was but a flower in a greenhouse? Hell, he doesn't even know how to properly swing a sword! All he did since he arrived is cast skills and do basic swings that don't even have any essence within them!
All he could do is to overpower his enemy with his pure stats!
What could he do when being trapped in this pitch darkness?!
Even when he had these rather powerful stats, he doesn't know what to do!
'Argh, what to do, what to do...'
Tears of frustration start to build up. From afar, he was like a miserable, depressing person, tearing up in despair and helplessness as he kneeled on the floor.
His mind breaks down.
"Tsk, you're crying? Are you serious? You're a harbourer of the unprecedented constitution for god's sake! How could you cry in this situation!?"
The masked man's abyssal-like eyes widened as he looked at his target, but the mentioned target keep kneeling down, hammering the ground with his fists, as if he was bawling.
His sword was forsaken and coldly lay on the cold ground beside him. He, a supposedly Swordmaster, dropped his sword.
It wasn't an exaggeration to call him a flesh of pathetic-ness
He was just a normal civilian in a peaceful era! He had no experience towards fighting, not to mention being surrounded by pitch darkness caused by a spell like this while being targeted by an assassin! What fighting experience?! What talented?!
'What a hopeless, weakling of a teenager like me could do!?'
Kazuma was too self-indulgent in his incompetence that he forgot everything else that he'd done. Hopelessness and despair are truly the recipes for breaking a mental of a person.
"Just like that? Fuck! I saw a poor, weak, boney man standing up for his family. With a brave smile and a resolved look. Ready to give up everything that he had for them. People like you who were privileged yet break under the slightest of pressure are so fucking repulsing."
Kazuma knew that the moment the previously indifferent tone turned violent and laced with disgust, he had disgusted even a cruel assassin who had bathed his hand with blood.
A cold, painful feeling slowly crept up into his chest as he began to realize the revelation.
Slowly, he stopped what he was doing. As if giving himself one last chance. Because if he wastes it.
He'd be done for.
A coward...
Kazuma admitted. He is a coward. A piece of shit who fears death and disregards anything when it comes to the safety of his life.
But accepting it?
He began to ponder, disregarding the life-threatening condition he was currently in.
Living under the things of his parents imposed on him, he was forced to obey and upheld their words. No matter how torturous it would be. Because he was scared. Scared that he wouldn't have anywhere to go and died.
He was scared of death.
It's been 16 years. And it has integrated with him. To be a spineless coward who only listens and obeys the orders of others. To follow whatever procedures presented by the people surrounding him. To fulfil the demands that they pushed on him.
...Has he been a coward his whole life?
Is that what he is? A coward?
Is that what he meant to be?
An empty, swallowing feeling engulfed him, threatening to throw him into a pit of grim.
...But did he, even only once, ever accept that?
Numerous memories flashed by.
And Kazuma discovered.
When he was seven, he screamed in disobedience when imposed to study before he was punished by dozens of whips.
When he was ten, he tore apart the procedures presented by his parents from frustration and was grounded for four months with nothing but his studies and unnecessary subjects.
When he was sixteen, he was threatened, he was to be excommunicated by his whole lineage if he did not comply to enter a hellish tutor, where he spent time studying 24/7.
He had lived like a slave.
And yet, he remembered something.
All those times... He only feigned one thing.
He feigned disobedience.
He never accept the treatment that he got.
He vetoed them.
But it's like he ain't got any other choices.
...However, how about now?
In this new world?
...In this new life?
Ain't he got like, lots of choices?
And now that he got the chance, would he really just choose what was imposed on him by others? Would he really fucking do that after all this time?
Would he do all of that again?
...Especially when there was a cute, demon teacher who promised to teach him and a silhouette of perfection that was waiting for him?
Would he really give them up merely by this feeling that was integrated with him by those pieces of shit that he called his parents? Who had done nothing but treat him like a slave?
An explosive feeling peaked out. Kazuma felt something snap from the depth of his soul.
"FUCK!"
He bawled again, but the fist was different. It contains all of his frustration, rage and unruliness. This time, the masked man's expression drastically changed. His hand that was prepared to behead the disgusting coward was retracted.
Because the punch was too powerful.
It represented sixteen years' worth of frustration, after all.
"I REFUSE!"
The fist landed on the ground, and a loud bang was heard across the Guild Hall and other several buildings. The ground of the alley cracked apart, and from where the culprit stood, it was approximately spread around twelve meters in radius.
The masked man considered retreating, witnessing the inhumane power. It was an instinctual fear, coming from the depth of his soul.
Unfortunately, a pair of insane green eyes shifted to him.
"You? Imposing things on me? Go to hell!"
Kazuma was considered a genius back home. He was depressed, suppressed and caged, but a considerably smart person, looking at his capability to compete with the geniuses in his country. So for him to act irrational and unruly like this...
Something has changed.
Before the masked man could respond, his target shoots up. He truly shoots up! With a punch ready in motion filled with unadulterated power and rage. The masked man used his strange darkness-attributed spell again, but Kazuma was right about one thing.
That power towers everything.
BOOM!
The fist, as if breaking the space itself, broke through the fabric of darkness, letting the sunlight engulf the previously covered alley. However, that's not the worst part.
It's the thrown masked man.
'Fuuuck! You want me to handle a monster like this?! I was just a ranked-D assassin goddamn it!!!'
The punch wasn't enough to finish the masked man off, but the effect was severe, to say the least. His ribs were broken, his organs in the middle part felt like they were about to malfunction and his head spinning spontaneously.
He'd rather die...
Ah, if only he hadn't talked too much and finish the newbie in one go...
'Me and my big mouth!!!'
A lower-ranked assassin like him was usually arrogant, wanting to be applauded for their abilities and achievements by the people, feeding their arrogance with praises. They also tend to enjoy their victims' fear of their presence. To feel powerful, and in control.
They're different from those assassins who truly embraced their natures. The ones who became an assassin only for the sake of profit and killing.
Those who tempered their mind to be fit of that of an assassin.
"Fuck! What was that?!"
"Holy shit!"
Of course, the disturbance undoubtedly alarmed the near dwellers, who came out of their dwellings. However, their expression soon distorted when they saw a black thing shoots down from the sky, planting itself into the ground.
"Goddamn! Is that a treasure chest?!"
"Fuck treasure chest, it's black."
"What do you want to say about us black pe-"
"Shit, it's a person!"
After the dust cleared up, the figure slowly revealed itself. Showing the spectators a masked man with severe wounds, with limbs that weren't supposed to bend that way. And was embedded into the ground as if he was some sort of sculpture, nonetheless.
"Huh, I didn't know an arm could bend that way..."
"Dimwit, it wasn't supposed to be bent that way!"
"Fuck! You dumbshits, didn't you realize from the attire that the man was a member of the Timemus Association?!"
"Those bunch of mad bounty hunters that treat assassination as income?!"
"I've heard that an Emperor was rendered crippled by them..."
"Who the hell managed to put such a man into this kind of pathetic state?!"
The location has been absurdly crowded by people, but they were Adventurers and villagers who were used to living in danger. With their experience, they put quite a distance between themselves and the crater. No one's dumb enough to go near that.
The figure slowly raises from the crater, albeit shakily, and was desperately trying to escape by crawling away. Regardless, what's the use of that?
The culprit already stood in front of him, after all.
"Eris... That man was too handsome, is that even allowed?"
"Hya~ Is he the one who brings judgement upon this wicked man?! What a valiant hero!"
"Stop using metaphor to conceal your filthy wants, you bitches. With such a handsome man like that in sight that even I can't denounce, it's useless."
The bickerings of the people nearby seem to get louder as Kazuma appeared. Nonetheless, what the main attractor was focusing on was the masked man before him. A battered, wrecked assassin who has abandoned all façade and exhibits a cowardly nature.
Maybe this is what would those things he called parents would do if he was to beat them up. Just thinking about them ignites an inborn rage within him.
Kill him!
Kill... Sometimes he thought about it. A human, to kill a human.
It's a sin.
But a question arises. Do this kind of person deserves to be called a human?
Obviously, no.
See? It's simple.
Such people if being kept alive was an even more sinful act than killing a human.
Very simple.
The masked man looked upwards in despair, trying to initiate some mercy from his target. But what greets him is a pair of defunct green eyes, shadowed by the auburn bangs.
"Die."
Not every human deserves to live. Well, at least the human he considers as that.
Searching for acceptance of one's hypothesis from the whole human race is just wasting time. Wasting energy and breath.
He had enough of doing that.
With a single stomp, the scene of the death feline repeated itself. However, human blood wasn't as disgusting, and the fact that he already experienced this multiple times...
Kazuma swatted away the blood and bits of organs from his shoes and turn away. He has a probably concerned, cute teacher who's waiting for him. He was presumably getting scolded.
Yeah, he definitely would.
Simultaneously, he looked over a brand new option that he unlocked. Additionally, there was a notification beside it.
[ Unlocked: Magic Status ]
«Mana is equivalent to the fuel of the soul»
«Soul is equivalent to the container of the soul»
«Control is equivalent to management of the soul»
«Power is equivalent to the strength of the soul»
«Aptitude is equivalent to the potential of the soul»
[ Magic Status ]
«Mana › 24» [ F ]
«Soul › 223» [ C ]
«Control › 72» [ E ]
«Power › 0» [ F ]
«Aptitude › 425» [ S ]
[ Received Title: ]
[ • The Lost Bringer ( The one who brings the way that was lost in the river of history. Increased Aptitude by a rank and Soul by two ranks )
• Magical Integration ( A human meant to be mortal forever, managed to forcefully integrate himself with magic. A miracle itself. Increased Aptitude and Talent by a rank ) ]
The new information regarding the stats was useful. And he was somewhat impressed with his original stats. He hadn't upgraded any of them yet one of them already reached rank S.
However, putting the titles into consideration, Kazuma concluded some things.
'Hm... it means that my original Aptitude is AA rank.'
He would've been ecstatic, knowing that he was actually talented in something. But his teacher taught him that this wasn't something to be proud of.
What's this in the face of SSSSS with a plus?
And while his Power was not outstanding in any form, if he thought about it, the only way to unleash power is to through spells if one wanted to attack with soul. And currently, he doesn't have any spells in his arsenal.
It makes sense.
In the end, he was satisfied. Especially when the magical stats integrated with his body. It was a curious, but soothing feeling, as if he was granted the ability to control of what was inside him. His soul, he means.
Nodding in gratification, he turned into a gush of wind as he left the scene. With awestruck and stunned gazes stuck on his back.
In the dark alley where Kazuma was trapped, a black-draped figure silently emerged. Its exposed abyss-like eyes shifted to the departing figure from afar.
"Mission failed. Tsk, what they did expect from a freight who was stuck in rank D for 3 years, anyway?"
The figure brought out something like a book, to which it eerily glowed before the figure heaved a breath.
"Anyhow, at least the procedure was successfully inaugurated."
After muttering in disdain, the figure looked around before remerging with the darkness. Before he was gone, a voice drifted in the wind slowly, "For the Righteous of Ours."
"For the Righteous of Ours."