The following days in the Kagami household were filled with a tense, almost fragile atmosphere. Ayame kept a close watch on Seito, and Kenshi, usually silent, became even more sullen, checking the door bolts and shutters every evening. The incident with the worg pup spread through the village like a dark wave, adding fuel to the fire of the already prevalent anxiety. Elder Orrick doubled the patrols, and parents became even stricter about watching their children.
For Seito, this hyper-vigilance was both agonizing and… useful. On the one hand, he felt like a bird in a gilded cage, unable to break free for his training. On the other—the forced confinement gave him time to think. Time to analyze the fight in the forest and come to the only correct conclusion.
The System had to remain his secret. His most important and most dangerous secret.
Thoughts came one after another, cold and logical. If he told his parents, they wouldn't understand. They would think he'd lost his mind from fright, or worse, suspect spirit possession. Healer Tobas would be summoned, there would be some rituals… No, that was out of the question.
If he told someone else… Rumors would spread through the village. 'The Kagami carpenter's son sees numbers in the air!' They'd either burn him at the stake as a warlock or, more likely in this practical world, try to use him. Make him a test subject for the local elder or Tobas himself. His life would become a living hell.
No. The System was his weapon, his advantage, his curse, and his salvation. And sharing it with anyone would be the height of foolishness.
This decision brought an unexpected calm. Now he had a clear plan: to live a double life. On the outside—be Seito Kagami, the obedient, somewhat withdrawn son of villagers. On the inside—be Light, the obsessed seeker of power who used every chance to grow stronger.
And opportunities arose. The hyper-vigilance gradually weakened. His parents couldn't keep him under lock and key forever, especially when he demonstrated exemplary behavior. He began helping around the house with redoubled zeal—not because he was so good, but because in every chore he saw a training opportunity.
Helping his father in the workshop became his main training ground. He didn't just hand over tools. He studied them. Weight, balance, grip. He mentally visualized how he could use a plane or a hammer in a fight. The System immediately responded.
[Skill «Item Analysis» increased to Level 2.]
[Skill «Craft (Woodworking)» increased to Level 3. Dexterity +0.1.]
When he carried firewood, he didn't just carry logs. He tried to distribute the weight to work all muscle groups. He walked with a special gait, training his balance.
[Strength +0.05. Stamina +0.05. Skill «Balance» Level 1.]
Even helping his mother in the kitchen turned into training. Peeling vegetables with a sharp knife was a great exercise for fine motor skills and concentration. He learned to feel the tool, to make it an extension of himself.
[Dexterity +0.1. Skill «Light Blades Proficiency (Novice)» Level 1.]
He even trained at night, lying in bed. He practiced a breathing technique he'd observed Tobas using during a healing session. Deep breath, hold, slow exhale. He imagined that with each breath, the world's energy entered him, and with each exhale, fatigue and weakness left.
[Skill «Concentration» increased to Level 4. Magic Perception +0.2.]
He began to notice the System responding to his constant, unceasing work. It gave more bonuses for repetitive actions, as if encouraging his methodical approach. Tiny +0.01s added up to +0.1s, and those to whole points. His progress, though not as explosive as in «Emergency Mode,» was stable and constant.
One evening, after an especially exhausting day spent chopping wood and planing boards, he sat on his sleeping mat, reviewing his status. He noted with satisfaction the growth of his parameters. His Strength and Stamina were almost at the level of a sturdy teenager, not a child. His Dexterity was advanced for his age. But he was most pleased with the growth of «Willpower» and «Magic Perception.» He felt… more focused. More real.
He mentally commanded the System to show his full status, as he always did. But this time, the interface responded differently.
The letters and numbers blurred for an instant, then rearranged themselves, forming a new, more complex and structured view. A new heading appeared at the top: [STATUS].
[STATUS: Seito Kagami]
[Level: 2]
[EXP: 162/200]
[Condition: Healthy. Slightly Fatigued.]
[True Name: ———]
---
[Strength: 5.8]
[Dexterity: 7.2]
[Stamina: 6.1]
[Intelligence: 8.5*]
[Wisdom: 6.9*]
[Willpower: 9.3*]
[Luck: 1.0]
[- Attributes affected by past life memories and soul strength]
---
[Magic Affinity: ———]
[Magic Perception: 4.7]
---
[Skills:
- Observation (Lvl. 3)
- Concentration (Lvl. 4)
- Physical Fitness (Lvl. 2)
- Running (Lvl. 3)
- Item Analysis (Lvl. 2)
- Craft (Woodworking) (Lvl. 3)
- Light Blades Proficiency (Novice) (Lvl. 1)
- Balance (Lvl. 1)
- World Sense (Passive) (Lvl. 2)
- ...]
---
[Titles: Worg Hunter (Slight damage increase against worgs)]
---
[Unique Abilities: Emergency Mode (Locked for 23:47:12)]
Seito froze, impressed. The System had evolved. It wasn't just giving scattered data but providing a complete, structured picture of his condition. He saw not just the numbers, but their meaning. His «Willpower» was almost 10—almost at the level of a hardened adult. His «Magic Perception» was steadily growing.
But most importantly—he saw [Condition]. Right now it was just «Slightly Fatigued.» But he immediately understood the potential of this function. It could warn him of illness, poison, blood loss, or, more importantly, mental state. If panic overwhelmed him again, the System could record it.
He also saw that «Emergency Mode» was locked for several more hours—apparently, the cooldown after use was more serious than just a parameter decrease for an hour. This was crucial information. Now he knew he couldn't rely on this ability constantly.
He sat for a long time, studying his new status. It was like receiving a detailed manual for himself. He saw his strengths and weaknesses as clear as day.
"Intelligence and Wisdom are high… but that's my past life's legacy," he mused. "But 'Luck'… only 1.0." He gave a bitter smile. That explained a lot. Both his first death and the second one that almost happened. It seemed luck was never his ally. Well, he would achieve everything himself, without its help.
The new status became his map and compass. He knew exactly which way to go. He needed to keep increasing «Willpower» and «Magic Perception.» He needed to level up to get new stat points. He needed to develop combat skills, as «Light Blades Proficiency» level 1 was only slightly better than nothing.
He lay down to sleep, but sleep wouldn't come. His mind was busy with plans. He imagined how he would train next. How he would use the new status function to monitor his condition during exercises. How one day, when his stats were high enough, he would try to approach the «Magic Affinity» line again.
Now he wasn't just a child with a System. He was a strategist holding a full hand of his strengths and capabilities. And he was determined to use this advantage to the maximum.
His secret training had reached a new level. Now he had a clear plan. And he had no intention of stopping.