As the afternoon sun begins to set its sights on the world, it still leaves a glimpse of its warm ray of light basking in the people who are still present in the Meiji Jingu. The bustling sound that entered his ears made him realize that this place was really popular for the awakeners to stretch their wings.
The pleasant feeling of the warm breeze that grazed his cheeks as Soma stretched his upper body basked in the afterglow leaving the dim hole everyone called a dungeon.
Taking a deep breath before inhaling it, Soma raised his leg and he stopped at one of the stalls that sell some snacks. The sizzling sound of the hot oil that entered his ear made his stomach rumble in pleading for its maintenance.
Soma stood before the stall and greeted the middle-aged man who sold the food, a croquette.
"Excuse me, I would like to buy three pieces of croquette, a beef one please".
"Coming up Kid".
The man began to take three pieces of raw croquette before submerging it in the hot oil.
While waiting Soma observed the surroundings. There are still many awakeners that visit the dungeon at this time of hour. When he searched this place last night, the dungeon was open for twenty-four hours. So no wonder there are still a lot of awakeners that come to this place despite the day almost changing to a night.
After a while, the croquette was drained from the oil. Then the man took a piece of paper bag from the counter behind him and skillfully using the thongs packed three pieces inside before presenting it to Soma. The man didn't forget to show his sincere smile as he opened his mouth.
"Be careful it's still hot, the amount is one thousand and five hundred yen"
Soma connected his consciousness to the ring before taking three pieces of round metal that made a tinkling sound in his hand, before presenting it to the man.
The reason he took an order of the beef was because his body required a surplus of energy for he spent it in the dungeon.
"Thank you for the purchase".
Finished with the purchase he turn his attention to his surroundings looking for a certain place. He found what he was looking for as his legs carried him to that place. In one of the corners stood an empty metal bench then Soma flopped off his butt before unwrapping the paperbag in his hands. The faint scent of oil with a touch of a seasoning wafted through the air as it began to enter his nostrils.
The growl from his stomach began to intensify. He set aside the paper bag to his side and took one piece in his hand before taking his first bite. The crisp and rich taste that comes from the tender beef, and mashed potatoes with a little season mixed well together created a harmony that enhanced the taste further.
Soma's mouth couldn't hold to stretch wide as he savored every bit of the croquette before continuing to the second.
While savoring the food his mind began to wander for he remembered the word that Martial Saint left behind in his dream about the pointers.
Lightning was a type of derivative magic from the Wind element because it was still related to the storm that wind magic can cause if the user proficiency skill was at an advanced level.
However, from the pointer alone Soma was wondering what type of lightning skill he should have. Is it related to resistance? Control? Or maybe just a simple thing like the holder of a lightning magic.
There are not many people who have the chance to master the lightning magic, even the characters in the Chronicles Saga he read, no one has mastered lightning magic to such an extent, except. The cheat-living is the protagonist, the villain, and one mob character. Who accidentally stumbles upon tremendous luck in his life.
From the knowledge he read from the novel, there are two ways for a person to acquire the skill or in this case magic. First, you can buy it from the association, but be prepared because the price is not in the amount a regular person could afford. Then there is a way for you to obtain a certain skill if a person joins an organization that was built by the awakeners personally, but this method depends on how lucky the person is because it could only be experienced by the person who is recruited by the organization itself for their astounding and rare talents.
However, there are still other methods to obtain it. They can go explore the undiscovered Dungeon or Gate whether regular gate or trial gate. Inside, there is a slim enough chance that some people will stumble upon the scroll, that contains some skill or magic they could use. But, this method was a bit dangerous because they had to explore the undiscovered dungeon or gate, without knowing the danger that lurks around inside.
Soma claps his hand to get rid of the remaining crumbs in his hands, crumpling the paper bag before storing it in his pocket pants. A realization descended upon him.
"Should I just take the liberty of it?".
The mob character in the novel who accidentally gained the lightning-type ability, was also in the same year as the protagonist. So maybe there was a slim chance that his ability still has not blossomed. Because he remembered that the mob said he got the magic after spending his first long holiday after entering the Academy.
Soma takes out the phone from the ring, turns it up, and looks at the browser.
"If I am not wrong the location is..".
He opens the map function as he searches for a certain region in Japan that has the trial gate in which the lightning-type magic exists. He operates the apps that show the distance from his home and also the cost he must pay for the transportation.
After mulling it over he nodded his head and created a tag in his calendar to become a reminder of the event.
After he noted down the date. He also began to note another important thing he must have in preparation for the upcoming school event.
Earlier in the day, he is invited to come to the academy by Hiroshi in the hope of gaining his favor, but Soma is still thinking about whether joining the academy is a good thing or not.
However, after thinking it through last night while searching for the info about the dungeon he could visit. He realized that the academy was a must place for him to go despite the chaos that would unfold later.
There are still two months for him to prepare enough. So he wrote down every piece of information he remembered from the content in the novel.
Thanks to his enhanced brain he could remember the content easily. He felt like he was reading a book again. A weapon, items, skills, magic, and many more. Of course, he didn't plan to monopolize everything alone, the items or whatever that he thinks is good for the character in the novel. He would give it to them for their own development. He notes everything on his phone.
Time flies as Soma is still tapping his finger on his phone while having a strange gaze from the onlooker around him. Because of the bloodshot eyes Soma is having while looking at his phone.
He notes the important part for himself first, then Hina before continuing with the other heroines he feels attached to, and last is the protagonist. He noted every skill, item, magic, and equipment that will help them in their development before closing it with an additional character in the notes.
Finished his assignment, sighing. Soma closes the app and then turns off the phone before stretching his stiff body as he sits on the bench for quite a while. He realized the orange sky began to turn dark a little, as the warm grace of the sun began to put himself to sleep. The cold air began to seep into his skin, he stood up from the bench and tried to leave the Meiji Jingu.
"Time to go home".
Soma felt a slight vibration coming in his hands. He turns to look and finds a new message that has the name Akabane Hisako in it. He tilted his head and intended to look up the message he got before his phone displayed an incoming call from the same person.
"What the?".
He swiped up the display and he put the phone speaker near his right ear.
{Hello, Soma, where are you?}
A slight distress voice entered his ear and Soma began to feel an ominous feeling about this.
{Ah,,, um,, I am in..}
{Don't lie to me!}
Hisako cut off Soma's words as his hand and body began to tingle because of the chilling sensation that assaulted him suddenly like this. The phone in his ear began to shake his whole body was shaken. With a stuttered voice, Soma squeezed the word from his mouth.
{..I am in Meiji Jingu, ...finished my dive into the dungeon for the day}
{...}
No answer coming from the other side. Soma's heart began to throb and his fingertips began to feel cold from the nervous he felt.
Soma knew this feeling, this feeling was etched deep into his soul. It was at that time when he made his mother angry, and his body also never stopped shaking like a newborn toddler after facing her wrath. From that moment he swore to never make her mother angry again.
Now that event transpired again with a different person. He didn't understand why his body became like this, but he felt like Hisako reminded him of his late mother.
{Haa,, Stay where you are, I am gonna pick you up}
{Eh? but..}
{Don't go anywhere! Understood!}
{Yes Ma'am} With a reflex he saluted to no one.
{Good. Wait for me}
{..I understand}
The phone got cut off, as the chilling breeze was cooling his nervous body. But, inside his body felt warm, spreading joy off life because of the care Hisako had shown to him, and it put a smile on his face.
storing the phone in his pants pocket, in case there is another call. Soma resumed his walk leaving the shrine's Main gate.
"I better wait for her at the First toori".
Without him noticing. In The corner of his sight. A single male individual is wearing casual clothes and holding a steamed cup. Observe his every movement.
".. He is saluting? Is it to his boss like the manager said? Whatever I'll just write it done like the manager's instruction".
The man took a mechanical pen and noted the event that transpired here on his small notebook that he took from his pocket. Thus the misunderstanding between Him and Hina grew large without him knowing.