It had been two days since the scene in the pub, since Loki and Hestia had almost pulled each other's hair. Things had calmed down since then.
I used those days to buy what we needed most: two new couches, two new beds... but somehow Hestia ended up sleeping on my chest every morning, even though she had started in her bed.
I also bought a stove that seemed to run on magic stones instead of electricity. Similarly, I hung lamps made of magic stones to illuminate and frighten the darkness. This world had no electric power as such; the energy that powered various artifacts and appliances came from the magic stones. In short, the creations and advancements of this world leaned more toward the magical.
Now, as I lay face down on the bed with Hestia sitting on my back, the familiar tug of the status update coursed through my body. It was a strange sensation, as if a chain blocking me was breaking. Hestia seemed focused in her own way as her small hands caressed my skin.
"This shouldn't take long."
This little girl had become my goddess, and as playful and energetic as she appeared to be, she was very serious about this relationship.
Come to think of it... Isn't this relationship a little uncertain? I could tell that Hestia's eyes reflected some kind of love. But is it the same for me? Do I love her or do I just feel responsible for her?
"R-ready. Mmm... you can move now."
Shaken by her words, I slowly sat up. I felt the weight of Hestia's gaze, her eyes wide as she held the paper with my updated status. Perhaps because of what she saw on my back.
"Anything interesting?"
I knew that my stats continued to grow. That meant every upgrade was a step towards becoming stronger.
Hestia blinked, as if trying to regain her composure. But she was Hestia, if she could do this, it would be amazing.
"Ei-kun!" She jumped in excitement, climbing onto my lap and waving the paper in front of my face. "Your stats, this is amazing, look!"
I took the paper and examined it.
[Eithan]
Lv 1
Strength: G - 210
Endurance: F - 300
Dexterity: G - 220
Agility: G - 240
Magic: I - 0
...
To be honest, I hadn't expected them to improve that much.
I knew how the Falna worked. If you wanted to increase your endurance, you had to take hits until your skin broke and your bones ached. If you wanted more agility, you had to move until your muscles screamed in protest and your breath became a knife in your lungs. In other words, to improve a particular value, you had to suffer, to push yourself beyond what your body could handle.
Extreme effort for better results.
But I had the system.
Every time I leveled up with the System, the System instantly improved my stats. Fatigue simply disappeared, and lost HP and MP were restored to maximum. So the question was: if my body never reached its limit, the kind of effort that made the Falna really reward you, how was it possible for my stats to go up so much?
Oh, Falna is not only bound to the body.
If Falna affected the body, it must also affect the soul. Every time I got hit, even though my body wasn't damaged because I'm made of data, my soul wasn't damaged in the same way. That is, every wound I received physically, I received it deep inside me.
It drained my HP, in this case the numerical value of my soul.
Was that the key?
'I get wounds in my soul when I get hit, and even though my body doesn't show it, my soul gets stronger. And that is transferred to the Falna.'
The answer was finally clear.
[The energy flow in your Falna begins to change...]
[Passive Skill: Energy Transmutation has found another energy source]
―Falna Stats: 970
―Transmuted into System Stats Points: 97
---
Note: The numbers engraved on your Falna will still be displayed on your back, but will no longer provide any additional benefit. All of the power that previously flowed through your Falna has been fully integrated into the system.
---
With each level up, the soul has adapted, hardened, and strengthened. And each time my Falna was upgraded, the system absorbed it. My growth came from the data the system analyzed.
'This is useful...'
The stats in the Falna were fixed. What you gained in Strength could not be turned into Agility, and what you accumulated in Endurance could not be turned into Dexterity. Once you gained a value, it stayed that way.
But the system had changed that. Thanks to its ability to absorb those points from the Falna, I could now redistribute them as I pleased. This control over my stats became an advantage.
"Hephaestus told me some things about the progress of children, and let me tell you this. Wow! You're progressing at a rate that even the heroes of legends couldn't match!"
In fact, they were better than me in the Falna.
"Are you okay? I mean, I know you're a little stoic sometimes, but hey, you've grown so much! You should be more excited. This is a big win for us―look at this!"
[Magic]
-
[Skill]
―Weapon Mastery
...
"Hmm... a skill?"
My gaze was fixed on the paper. It wasn't what I expected. Advanced Regeneration, one of the most useful skills I possessed, did not seem to be registered on my back. It was clear that the Falna could not read everything that was available to me.
By the way, in this world, adventurers could awaken Skills. They did not depend on level to acquire them, and each of these skills corrected and improved basic abilities: strength, dexterity, magic... and even certain actions.
"Ei-kun! Isn't this exciting! You have a skill!" Hestia jumped onto my lap and hugged me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "To discover a skill is rare, you know? And if that skill has an effect that few or no one else has... then it's considered a Rare Skill."
Weapon Mastery. The name didn't sound like something rare or special. But Hestia was excited, so I nodded.
"Umumu~ This name... it's quite simple. Even if it is not an instant mastery, it will help you fight better with any weapon quickly. Have you felt that, have you noticed that before?"
I thought for a moment and remembered. "Yes, I noticed it. The chain sword... In a single day, I was able to handle it as if I had held it for a long time."
The chain sword was a difficult weapon to master. Anyone else would have needed weeks, even months, to learn how to use it without cutting off their upper or lower head.
"Chain sword, what is that!" Hestia looked at me with wide eyes. I barely remembered that I hadn't shown her my equipment.
Without a word, I opened my inventory and pulled out the weapon. The chain sword materialized in my hand, and I stretched out its chains and laid the blade on the ground.
"I've never seen such a strange weapon. Umu. Such a dangerous appearance... I'd ask you to be careful when using it, but luckily, you have this skill! Hehe~"
She seemed happier than I expected. She started humming while swaying slightly in place. It seemed that anything that made me stand out was a source of pride for her.
Ahh... My heart is warm.
Just then, a screen appeared in front of my eyes.
[Do you want to extract the Falna skill or keep it?]
Note: In the future, it will be more beneficial to leave the skills you have acquired in the system.
---
I looked at the message for a moment. If I could control my skills more effectively... there was no reason not to.
I accepted without hesitation.
[You have acquired the skill: Weapon Mastery]
―Skill: Weapon Mastery―
Type: Passive Skill
Rank: D
---
―Description―
Instinctively adapts your body and fighting style to the weapon you are wielding, improving your maneuverability and effectiveness in combat with any type of weapon.
Currently, this skill increases your ability to maneuver and adapt quickly to the following weapons: Chainsword, Spear, Bow.
---
'Currently?' Those words immediately caught my attention. 'Does this mean that I can upgrade skills through the system?'
I don't remember that option existing?
As Hestia said, this skill didn't allow me to master it immediately, but it increased my understanding and adaptability to use it as quickly as possible. Even though there were only three weapons available at the moment, it was still enough for me, as I liked to fight with a chain sword.
However, it would be advantageous to know the fighting style of all the weapons, so that when I fought against the users of those weapons, I would already know how they worked, and it would be harder to be caught off guard.
***
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