After eating, Kuro gently stroked the 'Black Sword'.
Even though his heart was churning with many thoughts and all sorts of ideas.
Whether it was memories of his previous life, this world's story, or his body that though healed still occasionally felt phantom pain.
However, he didn't have a clear goal.
He used to think he wanted revenge, wanted to kill everyone who'd ever hurt him.
But when people showed him kindness, Kuro started hesitating.
Should he really go through with revenge? After revenge, where would he go?
His thoughts were chaotic, completely messy.
Always easily influenced by the outside world, changing himself because of it.
What Kuro needed most right now was to steel his heart, and magic was the path he chose.
If skills were a summary of the past, then magic was longing for the future.
However, grimoires that could actively help people awaken magic were expensive—without special means, it was impossible to get them.
And Kuro, aside from the valuable black sword in his hands, the most precious thing he had was probably those somewhat blurred memories.
Even though he tried hard to remember future plot points, unfortunately too much time had passed.
Besides a few unforgettable scenes, if he didn't see related items, Kuro could barely remember much of the other details.
The next day, following Fels's directions, Kuro went to that shop.
The shop owner had already been notified—when Kuro arrived, he'd already prepared three grimoires and ten million valis.
After receiving the goods, Kuro returned to the church.
Right now Hestia should still be out selling jagaimo, not at the church.
So after Kuro took off his equipment, he immediately began reading the grimoires with full enthusiasm.
Even though Kuro also wanted to awaken magic, he hoped more to understand his own inner world.
...
From the first time I saw it, I was completely captivated.
Trapped in it, unable to get out.
That beautiful world that doesn't exist.
Bell who admired heroes, wanting to save everything; Kirito who always faced crises alone; the incredibly gentle Tanjiro who even in suffering still saved others; Shadow whose words became reality; Subaru who despite experiencing cycles of life and death still wanted to save everyone...
'Yeah, reality is painful, oppressive what are you gonna do about it?'
I prayed countless times, hoping to escape from this world full of falseness and suffering.
Finally, the gods heard my countless prayers.
'You came to this world did you get a satisfying life?'
I came to the other world I'd dreamed of, but here there are no thrilling adventures, no gentle beautiful girls either... there's only betrayal and torture.
I'm not a beautiful girl, so there's no brave protagonist fighting desperately to save me.
I'm not the protagonist either, so I don't have the luck to rise from death.
'So what are you gonna do?'
I prayed countless times, hoping someone would come save me.
Ah!
Kuro suddenly understood why he was despairing, why he wanted to seal his memories.
He wasn't afraid of remembering that painful torture, but afraid of remembering his weak self when facing despair, who could only pray like before.
Only this time, there was no god who granted his wish.
'What's wrong with praying, what's wrong with being weak, we're just ordinary people.'
No, I don't want to be ordinary. I didn't leave my original world to come here just to be ordinary in this world.
'Then what kind of person do you want to be?'
Scene after scene flashed through Kuro's head. there was sweet love, bloody battles, laughter, sadness.
I want to fight alongside them, overcome difficult obstacles, become the protagonist of my own life!!!
'Haven't we already been doing that?'
...
Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw was a ceiling that was half covered.
"You're finally awake, Kuro-kun."
"Yeah!" Rising from Hestia's warm lap, Kuro propped his body up with one hand and answered: "Hestia-sama, welcome home."
"I'm home." Hestia smiled in response: "As soon as I got back I found Kuro-kun sleeping on the table. How was it... my lap?"
Taking the grimoire that was placed beside him to look at it, he found the writing inside all three books had disappeared.
He handed the books to Hestia.
"I traded the information I got before for some grimoires."
"What? So Kuro-kun has already awakened magic." Hestia looked at the three empty grimoires happily and said: "And three types too."
"How many types awakened isn't certain yet gotta wait for a blessing update to know."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's update your blessing quickly. come on, take off your shirt."
Hestia said while trying to help Kuro take off his clothes.
"Hestia-sama, aren't you angry that I used up all the grimoires? If we'd just saved one book, we could've significantly improved the familia's condition and given you a more comfortable living environment."
Hestia's fingers gently touched the edge of the black shirt.
"So what? Those grimoires belonged to Kuro-kun anyway. Besides, if Kuro-kun gets stronger, can't he earn more valis?"
"Thank you. Being able to join the Hestia Familia is a great honor for me. I'll do my absolute best to make the Hestia Familia's name famous throughout the world."
Looking at Kuro whose smile was still somewhat stiff, Hestia suddenly hugged him tightly.
"Me too... being able to have such a good child like Kuro-kun makes me feel very happy."
Even though she wasn't clear what had happened, this was the first time Hestia had seen Kuro smile.
Though her heart was full of joy, that smile was, indeed, hard to look at!
Kuro Lv1
Strength F392→E428
Endurance S944→S987
Dexterity F358→F390
Agility F339→F376
Magic G231→G265
Magic: Distant Call
Skills: Flames of Revenge, Mask of Suffering, High Player
Magic Name: Distant Call
Effect: Summon unknown chaos
Chant: "Coming from unknown places, traveling far! Dimension fusion, destined meeting! Contract already formed, price already paid! Pierce through, my soul! Call forth, unwavering resolve! Here it is, the opening of change!"
"Kuro-kun, you finally smiled." Hestia smiled, recording the updated skill values and the new magic he'd gained, handing it to Kuro: "Did something good happen?"
"I just suddenly realized that the suffering has already become the past."
Kuro tried smiling again, but that smile was more forced than crying. After trying several times, he finally gave up.
"Of course, our Hestia Familia's future is bright."
Hestia jumped lightly onto the sofa, waving her fist and cheering energetically.
"Too bad three grimoires only awakened one magic." Kuro sighed and said: "Hestia-sama, what's this magic's function?"
"Don't know!"
"?"
Kuro looked at Hestia in confusion, not understanding what she meant.
Don't think I don't know, magic names and chants are created by gods based on the magic's effects.
"Don't know means don't know." Hestia turned around, saying mysteriously: "Maybe this is a miracle of the lower world."
Since Hestia didn't know the situation, might as well just try activating it.
Since the underground space was cramped, Kuro decided to go outside to try. After taking a deep breath, he began reciting the chant.
"Coming from unknown places, traveling far! Dimension fusion, destined meeting! Contract already formed, price already paid! Pierce through, my soul! Call forth, unwavering resolve! Here it is, the opening of change!!"
As his mana ran out, a blue magic circle appeared at Kuro's feet.
Kuro felt part of his consciousness seemed to sink into an ocean of emptiness, floating continuously in endless empty space.
This feeling was like putting your hand into a large water barrel.
Kuro thought, using this part of consciousness to keep exploring in the empty space. After who knows how long, accompanied by dizziness, the magic circle at his feet shattered, and Kuro also lost consciousness.
Hestia, curious about the magic's effects, quickly ran forward to support Kuro, preventing him from falling to the ground.
"This is mana exhaustion!"