I woke up with a massive headache the next morning. Rafaela had tried to wake me up, but I just couldn't.
I remembered I was checking on my Status and suddenly went to sleep after Cherubim's last words. And when I woke up, what greeted me was a pair of almost opaque eyes. Although I can still see some black part of the pupil in both eyes, most of it was opaque. Nonetheless, they didn't affect my eyesight.
What is this? What happened to my eyes!?
What the hell!
[Confirmed: New Active Ability Unlocked: Psyche]
Huh? What is that? Ability?
[It's a new ability you unlocked. It might have triggered during your fight with the BeastFolk and the desire to know one's Status]
Oh? Not a Skill?
[No. Ability and Skill are not the same]
Gah! I don't understand!
[ An ability cannot be obtained or imitated. You have it in you; all you have to do is unlock it. Skill is what you can learn but, in your case, imitated.]
So what can this new ability do?
[Status reading. It's an active ability. It means you are actively using it]
Woah! For real?
[Yes]
"Big brother Troy, what happens to your eyes?" Rafaela asked me, worried.
"I don't know, but yeah, I'm okay. I can still see. Let's go outside, Raf."
Mister Heizou stood at the counter smiling when I walked out of our room.
"Good morning, Master Troy."
"Please, not you, too."
He gently chuckled. "Congratulations on succeeding in the position as our new faction leader."
"Yeah, I somehow managed."
He nodded and shifted his gaze to Rafaela. "How's the battle? Did you enjoy it?"
Rafaela immediately nodded. "Big bro, Troy was so cool and strong!"
That's Rafaela for you.
"Too bad I didn't see it." He shifted his gaze on me. "As an aside, it surprised me to see an actual Summon in person, and I heard that Holy knights wiped your bloodline thirty years ago; it turns out it's not entirely true."
Summon?
Now that he mentioned it.
"So you know some things about us?"
He shook his head. "No, all I know about your bloodline was what I've read in some history books. Summons were the offspring of otherworlders and an extinct demon race." He pointed at eyes. "But, many people know how to recognize one by looking at your eyes, or the most distinctive red horns should have appeared on your head, which is common."
"I see, at least, we are not considered an abominable race, right?"
"No, being a potential catastrophe doesn't make you a bad person.
Wait! That sounds very wrong.
Is he low-key saying I'm a walking disaster just by being a Summon?
"Ah." I slowly nodded.
"Ah, the new boss!" Lina waved her hand at me.
"Yo." I shifted my gaze back to mister Heizou. "I'm going out for today, Mister Heizou.
Mister Heizou bowed his head. "See you around, mast- mister Troy."
Both I and Rafaela went outside. But I kind of feel sleepy suddenly. It was not even half an hour when I decided to return to our room and immediately yawned.
Rafaela lay on her bed while I, on the other hand, sat on mine.
"What did you do while I was asleep at Leo's place?"
"Waited for you to wake up."
That sounds lonely.
"The whole time? Isn't that a little... I don't know, boring?"
She shook her head and looked at me with her very sleepy eyes. "No, big bro Xin and big bro Leo accompanied me. They played with me while you were sleeping."
I can't picture Leonidas playing with Rafaela, but I think that would be funny.
"I'm glad to hear that they're kind to you."
She smiled. "Yes, they're kind, but big bro Leo sounds like he's always angry."
I chuckled. "We can't do anything about that."
Even after sleeping for a whole day, I could still feel the exhaustion and easily put myself to sleep when I lay my body down on my bed.
However, I woke up due to the loud knocking on my door.
The hell?
I stood up, and even Rafaela was woken up by the noise.
I opened the door and wandered my narrow eyes to the five people standing in front of my door.
It's Leo and Xin, along with the other three faction members.
"Yo, boss. Already sleepi- what the hell happened to your eyes!?"
Leonidas was shocked to see my new eye color.
Name: Leonidas
Age: 20
Race: Evolved Lion-type Beastfolk
Attribute type: Physical
Strength: Above Human Physical Level
Magic Type: Elemental type Wind Magic (common) (rarely used)
Special Skill: Warrior Rage (Physical) (maxed level)
Woah! I can read his Status now! As expected, he's a physical ability user.
"Boss?" Leonidas cleared his throat.
"I don't even know either. Is there a problem?"
Rather than answering my question, Leo entered our room." This is your room? Man, isn't it too small?" He wandered his eyes around the room.
"Oh, Lil missy, are you still awake? Good, I don't have to wake you up."
"She was asleep; however, someone slammed the door without considering that we were already sleeping; anyway, what are you doing here?"
"Really? What kind of bastard would do that to the new faction leader?" He shrugged.
"I know, right?"
He doesn't seem like he knew who I was pertaining about him.
"Forgive us for intrusion." Xin peeked his face through the door and wandered his eyes around. "Oh, you've got a nice room."
Name: Xiniao
Age: 30
Race: Supreme Fox-type Beastfolk
Attribute Type: Physical
Strength: Superhuman Level
Magic Type: None
Minor Skill: Warrior Rage
Special Skill: Berserker
Huh? What the heck is Berserker?
[Assessing]
Xin was actually stronger than Leo! How the hell did he defeat him?!
[Berserker is an evolved physical skill of Warrior Rage]
Just how strong is it compared to Warrior Rage?
[500%]
Gah!!!! Seriously? The one hundred percent Warrior Rage strength broke my bones; what more if this insanely Skill hit me?
[100% death]
Remind me not to piss Xin, please.
[Confirmed: Berserker Skill Imitated Successful!]
Ah, it seemed like Cherubim imitated it.
Leo put his hands on his waists. "Looks like you're already prepared. Let's go now, boss."
Ha?
"Go where?"
Leo narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean where?" His eyes shifted towards Rafaela. "You didn't tell him?"
Rafaela's eyes immediately widened, and looked at me. "I forgot."
"What? Kids these days." He scratched his head. "Well, whatever; we're throwing a party tonight to celebrate your proclamation as the new faction leader."
A party?
"For a person who just lost his crown, you look so delighted about it."
Leo extended his hand on my shoulder and tapped it twice. "Me? Delighted? You don't know how glad I am of finally getting freed of those stupid responsibilities Xin forced me to do." He slowly nodded while a menacing smile gradually emerged on his face. "It's your turn now, boss."
"Ah... su-sure."
"Should we go now? Everyone is already waiting for you, Troy," Xin said, walking towards the door and giving us a 'let's go' gesture.
"Aight, we'll be waiting for you at the venue." He pointed his index finger towards Rafaela. "You too."
Rafaela just nodded at him.
After some time, we walked downstairs with Misha and found more faction members waiting for me downstairs.
Both Lina and Mister Heizou were with them and bowed their heads.
Even though I felt awkward, I nodded and faced the six faction members standing beside them.
How could I tell if it was them even though they were not wearing a uniform? They're all bowing at me in the most dramatic way possible!
Half-body bow while one of their arms was pointing at me!
"Master Troy, we are part of the Fang faction security personnel; we are here to pick you up."
Like a personal bodyguard, I see.
"Where are Xin and Leo?"
The one with the dog's ear walked towards me. "They're already waiting for you in the venue; we were tasked to guide you and..." He paused. "Lil missy the way."
"Just call her Rafaela."
He repeatedly bowed his head. "Yes, forgive me, master Troy."
Isn't it a little bit over the top?
We proceeded to walk out from the inn, and what greeted me was the completely emptied marketplace.
There were no people around, and all the shops were closed.
Since when did this place become a ghost town?
I heard a noise from my back. Lina and Mister Heizou closed the inn and walked with the security personnel.
The hell?
"Let's go, Mister Troy." Mister Rudwick called for me.
"Yeah."
What kind of party are they throwing for me?