The pathway potion had great effects.
First, the physical enhancement was good—better than any effort made in the past years, but I feel like the effect was limited thanks to some limitations. Limitations that I suspect suppressed even the potion's benefits, at least stat-wise.
//
Masachika Kuze Age 15
Level: 10Race: Human(Beyonder)
Title: Essence User, The Gamer, Reincarnated, Child Prodigy, College Student, King of the Arcade, Youngest Entrepreneur
HP: 250/250 (+2.5/10min)
MP: 450/450 (+2.5/10min)
Ki: 250/250 (+2/10min)
Spirituality: 250/250 (+2.35/10min)
Sanity: 98%
Str: 13->23
Dex: 19->29
Con: 15->25
Int: 42->45
Wis: 22->25
Luk: 19->22
Free Points: 0
//
I gained ten additional points to each of my physical stats, which is great, and three additional points to my mental stats as well. The surprising part is the extra three points in my Luck. While I categorize it as a mental stat to balance out the three physical ones, it did not fit neatly into that category.
There is also a completely new skill tree called [LOTM], featuring skills derived from the potion I took yesterday. The first skill is [Marauder], and connected to it are [Superior Observation], [Acrobat], [Throw], [Dextrous Hands], [Short Weapon Proficiency], and [Theft]. Except for [Marauder], all of these skills are already at level 25.
However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. On my HUD, alongside my usual HP and MP bars, which I can mostly ignore, there are two additional bars—one more concerning than the other. The more intriguing bar is labeled Spirituality, while the alarming one shows my Sanity, which currently stands at 98%. As someone who has read and written about Lord of the Mysteries, I understand the implications of this, and it's both frightening and reassuring. This new bar provides a clearer way to gauge if I'm straying into dangerous territory.
Since the day had just started, I decided to have breakfast with Kyoya. After brushing aside the strange feeling of treasures hidden in Nanako and Shiroaki's rooms, I changed clothes and took a walk to a nearby library. As I left the house, I waved goodbye to Kyoya.
Once outside, I began walking, but with each step, I experienced increasingly strange sensations. I occasionally caught glimpses of shadows moving around corners, and faint whisperings that I initially mistook for the rustling of leaves. This wasn't just a one-time occurrence; it happened eight times.
While searching for the book I was interested in, my gaze drifted to the new bar on my HUD, and my heart rate spiked for a few seconds.
[Sanity: 92%].
I decided to open a notebook and start writing things down to alleviate any paranoia or the effects I was under.
The first irregularities I noted were all happenstances common in Japanese culture and mythology. They were similar to phenomena related to Youkai. My mind drifted back to a discussion I had with Hana after our rounds.
Myth and legends are real, and so is the local folklore. Youkai are everywhere in Japan; notably, there are two main factions of them, one of which is based here in Kyoto. Hana explained that while they reside here, their actual living space exists in an alternate, man-made dimension(some would say Youkai-made) called Urakyoto. However, many Youkai walk among us in human form.
Most of them have a human-like appearance, and with certain spells or racial abilities, they can appear completely human. Those Youkai with a physiology that differs significantly from humans find it harder to transform. Additionally, spells don't address the inherent strangeness of having a different body, so many Youkai prefer to turn invisible or camouflage themselves with their surroundings.
Since there isn't a 'Spirit World' lookalike in this world, I suppose there's a peculiar interaction between a Beyonder's condition and the local Youkai, or maybe with the local Myths?
"...I'm already loving this."
I'm fascinated by fanfictions known as crossovers, where different works are combined in unexpected ways. I enjoy the situations that arise from them.
What would happen if someone from our world were Isekai'd with the Force into the Harry Potter universe? How would reality function in a blend of fantasy and sci-fi? What if there were a hidden magical aspect to the world in My Hero Academia?
What are the potential interactions between different magic systems with endless possibilities?
Okay, now calm down and relax for a bit. Let that fantasy excitement subside.
The current power interactions are driving me a bit mad, and the only way I can think to cope is to immerse myself in a world devoid of supernatural phenomena.
Yes, that's the plan. Since I've already made a decision, why not kill two birds with one stone and try to find this sequence acting method?
More than half a year ago, while I contemplated my path, I created a setting that should, in theory, help speed up the acting process. Now, I'm ready to enter it for the first time.
---
*Bam!*
*Bam!*
*BAM!*
"Finally! That door was heavy as hell."
After kicking open the entrance door as forcefully as I could, I laughed boisterously as I stepped inside. The interior of the house was a mess. Lamps lay on the floor, some glasses were shattered, and liquid pooled around the table and carpet. Chairs were haphazardly pushed aside, likely in a rush as someone tried to get up.
It was strange; the disarray hinted at a chaotic event but didn't resemble the aftermath of a theft you might encounter in a detective story. This was the third house I had entered that carried the same eerie vibe, but it wasn't entirely surprising.
The noise I made was purposefully loud, and it worked like a charm. From the garden, two human shapes emerged. Zombies—though not the dungeon variety, they were close enough. A man and a woman shuffled toward me, limping, their legs missing chunks of flesh.
I retrieved my spear from my inventory and dispatched them with one precise strike, their heads flying off, their bodies collapsing like marionettes with their strings cut. That marked my eighth and ninth kills of the day.
I ignored the fallen bodies as well as the kill notification and decided to explore the upper floor in search of valuables. As I moved, I relied on my [Superior Observation] ability to locate hidden treasures. My mind drifted to the anime that inspired this setting: a world embroiled in a zombie apocalypse, where a single bite could turn you into one of them. High schoolers were desperately trying to survive, and—well, I didn't read the rest, but they'd probably save the world or something. Sounds right. The title is 'High School of the Dead', after all.
This was not merely a post-apocalyptic world (it's not truly post-apocalyptic if the apocalypse is still ongoing); it was a realm where people fought to survive, searching for food, water, and shelter amid citywide chaos and governmental panic. In such a state, people often overlooked the valuables in their homes—houses ripe for raiding. Perfect for someone like me.
In less than two hours, my [Marauder] skill skyrocketed from level 1 to level 22, and I was loving every moment. Just imagine the consequences if I were doing this in my world. Legally, I could face a maximum of 10 years in jail or a fine of 500,000 yen—essentially spare change for me right now. Socially, I wouldn't be in a better position; let's just say that in Japan, having a clean record is much more significant than in other places.
Shaking off those thoughts, I continued to loot the room when my [Superior Observation] activated, alerting me to something hidden behind a drawer—a safe. If the owners were still alive, I would have congratulated them for avoiding the cliché of hiding a safe behind a picture, a common trope I had seen in the previous two houses.
Removing the safe from the wall wasn't too difficult; I just had to hit it with a hammer until it came loose. The challenge was opening it. My [Superior Observation] indicated it contained something quite valuable, even more so than the other two safes, but I had no way to access its contents.
But that was a problem I could easily solve! Without hesitation, I sold the safe for 8 Shards in the [Shop]. I had to admit, this stealing business was a great business. In just two hours, I accumulated 160 Shards. Considering I was only selling safes and items I didn't need, my overall haul exceeded my expectations.
Heeding Nathaniel's wise words, I made my way to another room—a studio with a bookcase and a computer. Perhaps I could find a skill book in here; after all, those 22 points in luck should have their usefulness, right?