The Eternal Walker!
While the name carried an aura of enigmatic charm, the effects were downright terrifying, as if Ash was perpetually destined to tempt fate and suffer. The small boost of +5 Luck in normal situations barely made a dent compared to the colossal -50 Luck penalty during critical moments.
Essentially, his profession turned him into a walking time bomb, where every failure would snowball into catastrophic consequences. To put it simply: Ash had essentially drawn the short straw of misfortune.
Other traits only worsened the situation—he was "more likely to trigger mysterious events," "more prone to causing chaos," "more susceptible to fate's malice," and "more likely to experience massive failures." It was as if the universe had decided to amplify his bad luck to cosmic proportions.
In theory, a stable life—a home, even—could mitigate the disadvantages of being an Eternal Walker. After all, the -50 Luck penalty only triggered during key moments. It was like moral blackmail: it required an active situation to take effect. If Ash could live a mundane life without major events, the worst he'd experience might be occasional mishaps, like spilling soda on himself.
But Ash had neither stability nor a home.
He couldn't help but imagine himself sleeping under a bridge, only to have the night interrupted by robbery, gang fights, serial killers, succubi hunts, or an invasion by interdimensional sorcerers—all due to his profession's "special charm."
Trying to build a life in this foreign land, from finding a place to live to securing a job, seemed like a recipe for disaster. Factor in his -50 Luck, and every person he encountered would probably turn out to be a scam artist.
Ironically, the contract he'd signed with Anan offered a strange sort of safety net. Sure, it limited his freedom, but the first clause ensured that Anan, as his "master," was required to protect him.
Anan's arrangement provided Ash with a shield during the treacherous "newcomer phase" of adapting to this world. And if his bad luck really acted like a localized storm, affecting everyone within a 50-meter radius, then at least Anan, Igula, and others could share the fallout.
The most likely trigger for this profession? The moment Selina headbutted him. The chain reaction was immediate: Anan swooped in to exploit the situation, and Lis manipulated him with her cute yet conniving antics. While the +5 Luck benefit remained invisible, the -50 Luck penalty had already proven devastating.
Ash's thoughts were interrupted as they entered the living room.
Anan's home took up the entirety of the 51st underground floor, designed as a massive open-plan apartment. The living room alone spanned over 100 square meters. As they walked in, Ash noticed mechanical spiders retreating to their charging nests.
Earlier, he'd seen these spiders cleaning the room. Their design was impressive: nimble, thorough, and capable of three-dimensional cleaning that left no corner untouched. It was clear that mundane household chores had been entirely outsourced to these machines.
Combined with the drone-based delivery system and the automated vehicle network outside, it became apparent that physical laborers had little place in this society.
Ash couldn't help but compare it to the Blood Moon Kingdom. Despite being a sorcerer-led civilization, it paled in both macro and micro advancements. A troubling thought crossed his mind—was the Blood Moon Kingdom the most backward sorcerer society in existence?
Was his isekai start on hard mode?
"Please, have a seat."
Anan, now clad in purple silk pajamas, was already waiting at the far end of a long table. Next to her, Lis sat in an adorable bunny pajama set, sipping milk with wide, alert eyes.
On the table lay four sleek rings made of a silver-gray metal, engraved with the numbers 1 through 12. They exuded a futuristic, high-tech aesthetic—three larger ones and one smaller.
"Pick whichever finger you prefer," Anan said casually, filing her nails. "Once you put it on, just give it a spin. These are the latest 'Gospel Rings' by Salome. They come in matte black, starry gray, and dazzling blue. If you'd like a different color, you can request an exchange within seven days. The numbers are purely decorative, just a time indicator."
"Gospel Rings?" Igula picked one up, inspecting it closely.
"That's right," Anan confirmed. "Once you wear it, you'll be able to access the 'Gospel Book.' Most of your questions will be answered there."
Lis wasted no time putting hers on and eagerly spun it. Ash, Igula, and Harvey exchanged glances before following suit.
The next moment, four distinct books materialized before them:
Lis's book had a crystalline cover, glowing with rainbow light.
Harvey's was bound in what appeared to be white bone, shrouded in gray mist.
Igula's book gleamed with blinding golden light.
Ash's book, however, stood out as the strangest. Its cover featured an upside-down, hooded figure holding a book that concealed their face. The figure radiated an unsettling aura of secrecy.
Even Anan glanced at Ash's book with mild curiosity before losing interest. "Focus on the Gospel Book and mentally say, 'My Profile.'"
Ash complied, and the book unfolded before him, displaying:
"Ash Heath"
Current Points: 0
Points Available This Month: 0
Current Ranking: None
"Uh, what?"
He glanced at Igula and Harvey, whose shocked expressions made him uneasy. This system didn't seem that different from the chips used back in the Blood Moon Kingdom, so why were they so stunned?
"Anan!" Lis exclaimed excitedly. "I'm ranked 10th on the Azuma Beauty List!"
Ash blinked in confusion.
Harvey's voice came next, tinged with disbelief: "I'm 1st on the Azuma Necromancy List – Two-Wing Subcategory. Though judging by their standards, necromancy here seems underdeveloped…"
"Wait a minute," Ash interrupted, his mind catching on something. "Harvey, since when are you a Two-Wing Sorcerer? Back during the Blood Moon Trial, you were still a One-Wing!"
"I had already accumulated enough progress," Harvey explained with a shrug. "The energy absorbed from the virtual realm during our escape pushed me over the threshold. I broke through to gold rank and advanced my core sorcery to Two-Wing."
"That's impressive," Igula said, raising an eyebrow. "Unlike my own rankings: 2nd on the Azuma Mentalist List – Two-Wing Subcategory, 5th on the Azuma Beauty List. It's frustrating, though. In the Blood Moon Kingdom, I'd have already hired someone to assassinate my competitor."
"Shouldn't you focus on surpassing them with your own skills?"
Igula smirked. "Spending money on assassinations is a skill. Resource management, networking, and intelligence-gathering are all cornerstones of mentalist sorcery. Power is just one piece of the puzzle."
Even Harvey nodded in agreement. "Fair enough. After all, corpses are also part of my arsenal, not just my raw sorcery…"
As they bantered, they realized something was missing—Ash's usual snarky interjections.
Turning to him, they asked, "Ash, what's your ranking?"
"Well, you see…" Ash hesitated, then resorted to deflection. "That's classified information. Unlike you two, I value my privacy—"
"Show me your profiles," Anan interrupted firmly.
Without hesitation, the trio complied. Even Lis dutifully turned her book toward Anan, who gave it a quick glance and dismissed her lingering suspicions about the girl.
In the meantime, Igula and Harvey's gazes locked onto Ash's profile.
Then, in an overly dramatic tone, Igula exclaimed:
"Ah, my dear Ash! You don't have a ranking at all?!"
"Seriously? Only Ash? Only Ash doesn't have one? Only Ash?!"
"Truly impressive, Ash," Igula continued, grinning ear to ear. "You're right—this is a secret worth guarding! Imagine how embarrassing it'd be if people found out!"
Ash's mouth twitched in frustration. Not only was Igula mocking him mercilessly, but even Harvey—the perpetually stoic necromancer—was laughing so hard his shoulders shook.
"Harvey, considering who held us back during the prison escape, I think the evidence speaks for itself," Ash shot back.
"True, true," Harvey said, still laughing. "Sorry, Ash, but this is just too funny!"
"Fine, laugh all you want," Ash muttered. "Mark my words—I'll make it to the top of a ranking someday!"
"'Mark my words—I'll get into college someday!'" Igula mimicked mockingly. "Oh, this takes me back. That kid who said that ended up as a barista nicknamed 'Silver Fire Dragon.'"
"It's okay, Dad!" Lis piped up, clenching her tiny fists. "I won't think any less of you!"
"Could you please stop calling me 'Dad'?"
"But who else would promise to protect me forever?" Lis said innocently. "I know my useless dad can still take care of me!"
Ash groaned. "Since when did 'forever' become part of the contract terms?!"
Harvey chimed in, smirking. "Technically, her vow didn't specify a time limit. Even if you die and I turn you into an undead servant, you'd still be obligated to protect her."
"Enough," Anan said, her voice firm but calm as she tapped the table. "Now that you understand the basics of the Gospel Book, let's get to business."
"It's about the rankings, isn't it?" Igula guessed. "The higher the rank, the more points we earn. Are you expecting us to funnel our points to you?"
"I've held top spots in multiple rankings since I was 16," Anan replied dismissively. "Even Banquet matches my numbers. Your measly points don't interest me."
"However…" Her eyes gleamed. "Your work does involve rankings. I need you to aim for the top.
"To become the future number ones."