[While Lin von Shiraki was awakening his physique]
[POV Change: Dongmei von Shiraki]
I am Dongmei von Shiraki, the only daughter of King Qing von Shiraki. Because of my high status and great talents when I was born, I had to live up to people's expectations.
I didn't disappoint my family and rose above the rest of my peers. I even surpassed some of my seniors.
My beauty and strength were a temptation to a lot of flies but I was able to swat them away. They won't even dare offend me in public because of my status.
There were still some annoying pests who still tried to ask me out even with my reputation like Mac Rider. He flaunted his status the first time he met me and said it was an honor for me to be asked out by the son of a prominent guild leader.
He was too arrogant, my goal is to join one of the top 10 guilds of the Gala Empire. I couldn't stand him and shut him down immediately.
Later that day I heard that he was defeated by his peer who had a 3-star talent in magic. Judging from his arrogance the other day, I wouldn't be surprised if he was caught off guard and beaten down with a few tricks.
That was what I thought until I found that the same junior who defeated Mac also defeated a cultivator. Although a cultivator is always stronger than a mage and is sure to beat the mage if they were in close proximity, I saw with my own eyes how he defeated the Gerwulf in close combat.
He stopped the punch of Gerwulf with a 1-star [Mana Sheild] then dodged the fist with the bought time. He simultaneously ran his Mana and Qi to his hand while executing the 1-star [Disruption Palm Technique] and a 1-star [Speed Up].
[Author Note: So I decided to lump together the spells and technique together with the same categorization since it's so complicated enough. 1-star spells are commonly used by Rank 1 and 2. 2-star is used by Rank 3 and 4. and so on.]
The martial art was a [Curse] element that disrupts the Qi of the enemy. Because it's a 1-star, there were many restrictions and flaws to it, especially that the junior hasn't mastered the technique.
The restrictions were that the Rank of the opponent had to be 2 or less while the area of the attack must be directed at the abdomen where the [Qi Core] is located.
This junior was able to make the perfect conditions to barely affected Gerwulf's control over his Qi. He not only caught him off guard but he also performed several consecutive palms with the assistance of magic. He is quite ingenious to come up with that combination on the spot.
He was able to execute one palm after another but there was something off with his attacks. The body needs to train in a martial art technique to get used to executing the attack. He hasn't even entered the early-stage mastery and yet not one of his attacks failed to show their intended effect.
Gerwulf's [Qi Core] has been badly damaged, he had to concede defeat. The junior was able to defeat Gerwulf who was 2 ranks higher than him. He defeated the expectations of others.
I guess this was the moment when I started being interested in him.
While others just become what is expected of them and I surpassed the expectations around me, This guy, Shinji Backpfeifengesicht, was born with average talent. No one expected much out of him and yet not only has he surpassed their expectation but he even broke them.
I became quite curious, what would he do next that be unexpected. Was what he did just a fluke?
I passed by the library with these thoughts until I notice something. There was Shinji, leaving my brother who was sitting crossed legged cultivating.
Out of curiosity, I ask with my ever emotionless attitude, "What is my brother doing there?"
Shinji stops walking and replies casually, "Lin is awakening his hidden physique.". He then took out a microphone from his pocket and was working on it.
Again, Shinji replies with something totally out of expectation. My brother who was thought to be useless by the people around him, except for his family, is now undergoing a legendary phenomenon.
Physiques are very rare and born randomly in people. Some Households or Clans are more likely to awaken a specific Physique. Bloodline is the same but it's the magic equivalent.
Physiques are mostly random and some of them may even be hidden when the person is born. I now realize why my brother couldn't advance to Rank 3 these past 2 years. His Physique must have certain conditions.
Nevertheless, since my brother has now awakened it, he can now pay back the humiliation that the students of this academy have given. I'm sure father will be greatly happy.
I ask Shinji my urgent question, "Were you the one who helped brother Lin awaken?"
He smirks as he attaches some parts to the microphone, "Although I do have a hand in his awakening, he would have awakened his Physique on his own."
He seems totally uninterested in me and fully concentrating on making that machine.
"Did you make that microphone on your own?"
"Yes I did, I thought that it would be fun to make this."
"Wouldn't it be better to concentrate on more important things like increasing your already pitiful cultivation base?", I was always brutally blunt. Maybe that was riled the anger of those who were rejected by me.
"Unlike how others are always 'expected' on becoming stronger. I am free from those 'expectations', I get to do what I want for my enjoyment." He emphasized 'expectations' for some reason. It was quite annoying.
"I'm also still attending the classes here anyway so I'll cultivate once my curiosity has been sated.", But you seemed quite uninterested in the combat lessons yesterday is what I thought but I just kept it in my head.
Shinji then says, "The awakening will take 3 hours, Lin had to awaken his physique in the open. I'll be going to the engineering department while you watch on your brother."
I think for a while and say, "I'll set up some talismans on my brother. I would like to come along to observe."
Shinji seems unsurprised and replies, "Suit yourself, though no one would try to disturb the prince unless they want to accidentally kill him through Qi deviation."
I say as I set up several 3-star talismans on my brother, "You don't know how many people are willing to kill it for money."
"I guess I don't. I'll be going now, if you wish to observe me then I wouldn't mind as long as you don't disturb my work."
I nod as I follow.
A while later, we got to the department. Shinji took a lot of free parts from the department and went to find the manager of the department.
He requested a batch of parts that are either 1 or 2-star materials. These materials had to be bought with Clusters, the currency here. Shinji took out a card and infused his mana in it. He also did a set combination and a bunch of Rank 2 Mana Clusters.
Clusters could also be used as cultivation material. Mana Clusters and Qi Clusters have the same value. I forgot that Shinji is just a son of a marquess, and of the lowest kingdom at that.
Shinji explained, "There are quite a lot I have in my mind to invent but the lack of Clusters for 3-star materials are insufficient, not to mention 4-stars."
I suggest, "I could cover the costs for some 3-star materials if you want but you will owe me."
Shinji looks at me and says, "I didn't 'expect' for you to help me but people wouldn't couldn't even 'expect' someone like you to even accompany me.". He emphasized 'expect' again. I'm getting quite irritated.
I reply, "I just find it quite beneficial for future investment."
He snickers, "Do you really just 'expect' me to believe that? I 'expected' much more of you."
My face scrunched as I say in a cold tone, "What do you mean? What other reason would I have helped you?"
Shinji sighs, "Follow me.". We then start walking to his lab. Those who signed up for engineering lessons get one of those. The same goes for alchemists and blacksmiths.
When we arrived, He looks at me and says, "You really don't understand what your feeling don't you?"
I nod.
He revealed what I was feeling yesterday, "You are jealous. you recognize that I am a free bird that can enjoy myself and yet destroy 'expectations' that weren't even 'expected' of me."
"Because of this feeling you haven't felt before, you thought that I'm just someone that caught your interest."
"You, the [Winter's Sword], had to live up to the expectations around you. you had to keep up pretenses. You're stressed and couldn't stand someone like me."
"How presumptuous! Do you think I actually care for a bug like you doing what you want? I am just doing my duties as the only princess of King Qing!", I shout.
"You actually do! you keep saying to yourself that you have to keep cultivating and training to meet standards that you can't handle!", Shinji insisted.
"Don't you think I don't know? You followed me for a reason, you think you can get rid of that irritating feeling by-ack!"
Shinji was gripped by the neck...by me.
"Aren't you just making fun of me? Showing off at every turn?"
He was choking but he still spoke, "Looks like your finally showing your true colors. I wouldn't even need to ridicule you anyway. You would have found that out on your own."
"I know you're very stressed by a lot of things like duties, expectations, and whatnot but you shouldn't envy me so much. You shouldn't push yourself and get a break"
"Violence on me won't make you feel satisfied! Calm your nerves woman!"
"There are much more people who suffer from the same stress as you. Don't act like your suffering justifies anything you're doing right now, even if I'm a worthless bug!"
I calm down and sigh. he is right, I did feel like I wanted to kill him. Did he really expect everything to happen this way?
Oh, he is still choking. I let go of my hand.
"*cough**cough*I'm never seeing a heroine the same way again*cough**cough*"
"*cough**cough*At least the 3-star materials are worth it."
As Shinji regains his hair I look around the lab, There were lots and lots of blueprints with different names tagged on them. Piano, Camera Drone, Plasma Gun, Hover Board...
Shinji then says as he regains his bearings, "I gotta get you a hobby right away."
I question, "Hobby? like those where you go hunting or like fighting competitions."
His dull eyes looked at me as if he lost hope in people.
"We don't do something so backward as that.". He will surely get killed if he said that to the Gala Council.
Shinji's eyes regained life as he scoured through the blueprints. I have never seen this side of him.
"Was there at least anytime in your life where you found something amazing aside from battles."
I contemplate and say, "I don't think I have seen anything interesting, ah! I remember when I was still in our kingdom's capital I saw a painting that looked quite beautiful."
He nods as he looks around, "So you like art...huh I found it". He took out a folder with the tag 'Arts and Crafts' in it
"Hmmm, 2-star [Rainbow Golem Powder] can be used for pigment, 2-star [Bog Water] for the Solvent, 2-star [Rain Tree Resin] for the binder, then some other additives that are all 1-star."
Shinji asked me to get the materials while he worked on his projects.
By the time I came back with them, he already had set up a large canvas and he also drew some lines on it. It was a realistic drawing of the front view of the school. There were also students in front of it. What was confusing though was that there were numbers scattered throughout the paper.
I look to the side to see Shinji already working on the materials. He said he was making paint for different colors.
He created several cans full of paint. He then took one of the papers on the canvas. Wait, there was more than one paper on the canvas?
He placed the paper on a machine that I assumed he created. It's a wonder how he was able to create all of this today. He then began placing all the papers one by one until they were all taken by the machine.
I then say, "So what happens now?"
Shinji replies, "We are done, for now, let my automatic program do the work. It will color the areas with the right colors by analyzing the numbers. Let's go and check on Lin."
I forgot about my brother, I was too caught up in what Shinji would show me.
Before leaving the lab he said, "Don't forget to come back to the lab, I'm not finishing this on my own. A hobby is something not only you like but something you work for. It may seem stressful at first and quite useless overall but the feeling you get once you see your finished work will certainly make you understand."
He really is trying to make an effort in making me happy. But his life was on the line a while ago so it would be that he's doing it to live.
I really wonder why I was so impulsive, I never knew that I had so much kept in emotions in me.
------------------------------------------------------
[Back to Present]
[POV: Shinji Backpfeifengesicht]
That was quite tiring. I had to die quite a few times just to find out why she wanted me dead then another few more just to find out how to quell that jealousy.
At least I wasn't like that when I was stressed. I just broke down and cried! Aren't I so great! It is also what I do when I keep dying so much.
Anyway, this Lin guy definitely looks like a protagonist. As for Dongmei...I'll have to reconsider what the hell is up with her template. Then again, I can't really just assume that everyone follows a certain character type template.
It's quite great to have a prince as a friend! I'll also have Dongmei as my assistant in my projects... as long as she won't kill me that is.
"Shinji, what is sister Mei doing with you? you're not thinking of hitting on her are you?", Lin whispers to me.
Oh, I did hit her as hard as I could, didn't end well for me.
"I wouldn't even think of that, I have such a low talent."
"Shinji, if I were to say who would be the best be my older sister's partner then I would choose you over any of those bastards trying to court her."
Lin, my dude, if I weren't to exist, by plot logic you would be the one to perform incest with her.
I sigh as I say, "Forget about it since you should focus on more important matters on hand. You need to break through to the 3-rank!"
Lin is quite slow if he were distracted by other topics so only now did he realize, "Ah! you're right!"
Lin faces Dongmei, "Sister Mei, I finally awakened. I will definitely show you that not just a freeloader!"
Dongmei replies, "Brother Lin, you should already know that I never thought of you as a freeloader. I am already very happy that you awakened your hidden physique."
Lin nods with a smile on his face and leaves to go into closed-door cultivation. The next time I see him will be the rise of a face-slapper. Please amuse me well Lin von Shiraki.
I turn to Dongmei, "Since we are here in the library, I should introduce to you some books about art here."
Dongmei asks curiously, "There were books about such random topics here in the academy?"
I reply, "A library is a library anywhere you go, it should house those random books even if they weren't related to Magic or Cultivation of any kind."
I took the related materials, I read the books in the library when I'm tired of dealing with what is trying to kill me.
I teach Dongmei the principles of art. Drawing, Shapes, Perspective, Lighting, Colors, etc. She was very talented for a beginner... my first drawing was a stick figure so I could only look on in shame.
I leave her with the books and art tools and tell her, "I'll go back to my project then have a nap. I leave to you a spare key to my lab so once you feel like you're ready then you can add the finishing details to the papers."
Dongmei nods. She looks so tame that I wonder if she was the same person who choked me out of jealousy and spite.
I went to the lab to finish making my project. It was a project I once wanted to make even back on Earth, I said to myself that if I ever isekai'ed then I would make this.
Have you guessed it? It is a band of instruments made of fantasy material! Think about it! What if you recruited fantasy girls as your idols and then slapped in some music that the girls themselves made into the ears of the fantasy world?
It's an amazing dream... that I won't do since there are risks of the people desiring the girls. reality is often disappointing, even in a fantasy setting.
After a few hours, I finished assembling a band of instruments by using Qi to rejuvenate my body and endurance. I also kept using 1-star [Speed Up] on myself. This is my training method for my control of mana and qi while also training my body's fitness.
If you also want to think about it, It is also training my mental fatigue as I really wanted to sleep after how long I have stayed awake.
Dongmei hasn't actually come to the lab so maybe she went back to her room? My weeb senses are tingling and my innate curiosity told me she might have stayed in the library still.
I went there just to check as I dragged my body lazily. There I saw a very cute scene. A beauty sleeping on top of some books.
This is quite illogical as the body is refined by Qi and is made to withstand hours of no sleep. Maybe the stress being relieved of her is making her comfortable in which then she slept?
I couldn't really come up with an answer. I approach her. The most cliche thing to do would be that the protagonist would be conflicted on whether to steal a kiss or not but I didn't need to do that.
I had a power of return by death so I could just do both. So... I didn't, the horrifying way in which she strangled me is giving me shivers. A beautiful face just won't wipe that memory out.
I try waking her up.
"Oi, Oi, Okiro!"
"...*snore*"
"Dongmei your brother is suffering from Qi deviation"
"Wha-! Where is my brother!"
"Hey, you, you're finally awake."
"Shinji? did I read too much and slept?"
"Seems so, go back to your room. I wanna get to a soft bed already."
I left first not even bothering to look back.