'A Futile System'
My feet hit the ground as I moved away from the bench, my mind consumed with the sheer uselessness of this system. Three features, nearly worthless at this point, and I didn't hold out much hope for the last two, given my experience.
"Huff."
I took a deep breath, shaking off the frustration. Upon reconsideration, it wasn't as if I needed the system on my first day. A family like Martha and Jila's would be enough to get by for years. Plus, there was the whole world to explore, with its magic, that I was eager to experience...
Ah yes, the minor clairvoyance!
I remembered the ability I'd wanted to try for a while. I opened the system and checked the abilities, specifically Valvaro's secondary ability:
[ Secondary Ability: Minor Clairvoyance
Level: 1
This ability enhances the host's vision somewhat, and provides a slight understanding of things beyond the natural senses.
Cooldown time: 0 seconds.]
The description caught my attention—slight understanding. What did that mean exactly? I'd wondered for a while, even back in my previous world, surrounded by the supernatural. Miracles, magic... I'd once even tried to communicate with spirits with Jaden. All of it seemed to transcend the natural senses. But here, in this world? Surely, this ability was something everyone took for granted.
I wanted to test it.
Activate!
The moment I willed it, I felt something warm flow through my body. It was strange, like a liquid coursing through me, heading straight for my head. A wave of euphoria washed over me as it settled in my eyes.
"Whoa!"
I smiled, gazing around. My vision was sharper—doubled, in fact! What had once appeared blurry at two hundred meters now stood in crisp detail. Not only that, but it was as though my eyes were absorbing everything around me. I could count footsteps, notice subtle movements, and even spot the cat hiding behind a barrel in a stall across the way.
"Terrifying!" I muttered under my breath.
This was no ordinary ability. My mind raced with the possibilities of what it could do at higher levels—and this was only at level 1!
Huh?!
Suddenly, something strange entered my clairvoyant range. It was behind me. I turned, staring into the empty space, but the sensation lingered.
I walked back toward the garden to investigate. As soon as I stepped inside, the feeling intensified.
The fountain...
It was as if it was calling to me, whispering softly in my ear. I moved toward it, curiosity gnawing at me. But as I approached, there was nothing there. Still, the sensation peaked.
I climbed the fountain, making sure no one could see, and moved toward the marble statue in the center. It resembled a Roman sculpture—detailed features of a young man draped in a silk robe, a piece that might have been carved by Michelangelo himself... Or so it appeared.
Beneath the statue, I found an inscription:
"Honoring Pieck, the birthplace of one of the Seven Knights. The Artisan Guild moves forward to immortalize his memory in the city center... Glory and eternity to him."
Artisan Guild?
Had I heard of that before? My memories stirred, and I recalled that the Artisan Guild was a powerful, semi-secret organization that spread its influence across the world, feared by many. Even Valvaro knew little about them... Could this be the same group?
Freemasons...
I shook the thought away. This wasn't the time for such speculation. The strange feeling hadn't dissipated. I was on the edge of discovering its source... There had to be something hidden in this statue, but no matter how I looked, I couldn't make sense of it.
My gaze faltered, and I had to shut my eyes for a moment. I felt the warm liquid return to my body, vanishing completely. The clairvoyant ability had deactivated.
I quickly checked the system:
[Cooldown Time: 4:57]
Well, not bad.
Only five minutes? I had expected the cooldown to last hours—or even a full day. I'd been too harsh on the system; it wasn't as useless as I'd thought.
"Hey, what are you doing there?"
Damn!
The voice snapped me out of my thoughts. The tone was harsh, clearly not pleased with what they saw. I turned slowly.
"Valvaro?"
He knows me!
The speaker was a man in his thirties—handsome, well-built, wearing a strange white robe, almost religious in nature. I recognized him immediately.
"Sailor!"
"What are you doing there, Valvaro?"
Sailor, with his devout appearance, was a member of a religious sect... The Soul's Thorn. I recalled faint memories of him being a persistent but distant friend of Valvaro. Despite his offers, Valvaro had always refused to join their study of purification magic.
"I missed the garden... Looks like I overstayed a bit," I said awkwardly, hoping to deflect.
Sailor frowned, clearly suspicious.
Did I mess this up?
"Get down from there, man... That place is for kids."
Kids?
Oh, it wasn't a sacred spot after all. I had feared I'd violated something important.
---
I didn't know how it happened, but before I realized it, I was walking alongside Sailor. We had smoothly brushed past the strange incident in the garden and continued our way, leaving it behind.
Sailor was a good man, according to my memories. He seemed to hold some admiration for Valvaro and considered him a friend, which made our interaction easy and natural.
"It's been a while, huh? Ten days? Maybe more?" Sailor asked, a nostalgic tone in his voice.
Valvaro didn't often meet with Sailor. Their encounters were usually by chance, so Sailor appeared a little sentimental.
"Yeah, it's always like this with us, Sailor... just random meetings," I replied with a light laugh.
Sailor's tone shifted, becoming more serious. "Actually, maybe no one's told you yet, Valvaro... but Pieck's been going through some rough times lately."
"What do you mean?" I asked, genuinely concerned, and he responded with visible worry.
"The Purification Squad can't keep up with the strange energy spreading through the city. In the last few days, we even sent a messenger to the 'Filtch' priests to investigate. And last night, something strange happened..."
'Last night?' I thought, linking it to my own arrival in this world. Could there be a connection?
Sailor continued, "Our pure soul, Melissa Carter, became tainted. She died shortly after. We acted fast and contained the infection, but..."
"My God..." I whispered, struggling to find words. Valvaro's memories weren't much help at that moment, so Sailor pressed on.
"That's not all. This morning, the Forest Guards reported that magical beasts are acting strangely. Dire wolves are starting to move in packs."
"And what's causing this strange energy?" I asked, my curiosity growing.
"We don't know yet, Valvaro. I'm doing everything I can to search every corner of Pieck for a clue. We need to stop this before it gets worse. If we don't, the city could face a deadly infection."
"I'll help however I can, Sailor," I replied with determination.
I had to figure this out myself. Could my arrival have triggered some sort of mutation or disturbance? I wasn't sure, but magic often had unforeseen consequences. Still, the fact that Sailor mentioned this strange energy had started spreading before my arrival weakened that theory. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, I was involved.
"Thank you, Valvaro. I appreciate it," Sailor said, gratitude in his eyes. After a brief pause, he added, "Tomorrow, when you go to check the northern Pieck forests, I'd like you to look into the connection between the beasts' strange behavior and this energy... You're good at this kind of thing."
His words surprised me. At that moment, a new fragment of Valvaro's hidden memory opened up to me—information I hadn't known existed until now.
Valvaro had become the leader of the Forest Guards after the war, choosing that path because it combined his love for hunting with the tranquility of the forest.
It made sense now. Valvaro hadn't given up the fight after the war.
"I'll do it," I said firmly. "Leave it to me."
I felt confident that my minor clairvoyance would help uncover more about this strange energy. It seemed critical in this situation. I also needed to investigate something related to reincarnation.
---
After a few more steps, we parted ways. I had gathered some crucial information, thanks to Sailor. However, I realized that exploring Valvaro's memories was like wandering through a dark dungeon. The deeper I ventured, the more fragments I would uncover, but only by interacting with others could I fully piece together his past.
That's when I remembered Martha's request to see Teacher Cindy. I headed straight for Pieck's school.
It didn't take long—just a few minutes from the garden to the school.
And let me tell you, it didn't look anything like a typical school. It was enormous! No wonder all the children of Pieck studied there.
It was built like a cathedral, fitting perfectly with the Gothic style of the town. Adjacent to it was a sprawling green field, large enough for five basketball courts. I could see children, around Jila's age or slightly older, playing there.
Man... I wished I had studied here.
I walked inside and passed through a grand hall. A man in a formal blue robe stood behind the reception desk. I approached him and asked, "Excuse me, sir... I need to see Teacher Cindy. Where can I find her?"
The man smiled immediately. "I'll call her right away..."
Without moving, he closed his eyes for a moment, then spoke again, still smiling, "She's coming."
I blinked in confusion. What just happened?
Well, I could only assume he'd contacted her somehow. There was no other explanation. It was strange, though, that Valvaro's memories didn't always operate at full capacity. I should've remembered something like this!
"Thank you," I said, still somewhat puzzled.
--
It didn't take more than half a minute before a young woman entered the hall, moving with light, quick steps. Her short, blood-red hair and icy-blue eyes were striking. She was undeniably beautiful.
"Ah, sorry for being late, Mr. Valvaro..." She immediately apologized, and I knew this must be Teacher Cindy.
I was about to comment on her unusual speed when she spoke again.
"Can I help you with something, Mr. Valvaro?"
"Yes..." I replied without hesitation, then added, "May I have a moment alone with you, Miss Cindy?"
...
We stepped outside the school together, though I wasn't sure I had much to discuss with her. I reached into my pocket and handed her the rubel, speaking as I did.
"This rubel is for your care of Jila... You've done a great job, and both Martha and I are very grateful. Please accept it."
Cindy's initial look of surprise melted into a small smile as she spoke warmly.
"Valvaro... How many times do I have to tell you? I should be the one thanking you for saving my life. It's not like I expect anything from you... I consider Jila like my own daughter."
That caught me off guard. It seemed Valvaro was quite well-liked in this town. I'd have to get used to that, I suppose.
Cindy finally accepted the rubel, then spoke, her tone half-serious.
"Jila is the genius of this town. I've never seen a talent like hers since I started teaching. Some of the teachers say her older brother, Gilad, is better, but I don't agree. She's already learned to control the paths of Logos!" She leaned in slightly, whispering, "I hope to be her supervisor for the Lanis Academy nominations this year."
Her whispered words unlocked another piece of Valvaro's memories. The Lanis Academy was the empire's most prestigious institution. Only those deemed geniuses could attend, based on recommendations from multiple mentors. Gilad had entered the academy three years ago.
'Valvaro must feel proud!'
"Hmm... I'll discuss it with Martha," I said casually.
"Of course, of course... after you approve, of course!" Cindy replied with a playful tone.
We didn't talk much more after that, and she went back to her work. I, on the other hand, headed home.
'What a long day!'
Though it wasn't yet noon, it felt as if an entire day had passed.
...
On my way home, I decided to give the system another try, specifically the information room, which I hadn't fully explored yet.
I asked the system various questions, and each time, it requested a certain amount of reincarnation points. The cost seemed to correspond to how important the question was relative to my goal. Some basic questions were answered immediately, such as:
'What is Valvaro's wife's name?'
[Answer: Martha Scotts]
I started with simple questions, gradually moving to more complex ones. With each question, the cost increased, until I asked a particularly specific one:
'What is the strange energy in Pieck?'
[Cost for the answer: 1,000,000 reincarnation points]
'One million reincarnation points?'
I was taken aback. The number was higher than I expected. But then I realized—this energy was likely tied to my paths, and I needed to investigate its source.
I pressed on, asking another question:
'What is the villain's name?'
[Sorry, but the system level is insufficient to answer this question... please upgrade the system level.]
'So that's how it is...'
I'd anticipated an astronomical cost, but the system refused to answer. It made sense—it was indirectly telling me I wasn't yet ready for that knowledge.
At that moment, I was certain of one thing... the future wasn't looking promising.
---