Homework and discovery

(Lex POV)

I played a few rounds of hiding and seek with Angie today, safe to say she's earned her titles. I've never been close to catching her is no biggie as at some point I had to concede and use [Fortune Search]. She always manages to relocate quickly though...

I had to ask her how she does it, and it would seem that from her wishy-washy explanations is that it's innate. She does, after all, have [Hide and seek] maxed out in her abilities.

"Lex how do you always know where I am!"

I winked,

"That's a secret~"

It was just after I got my teachings for today, I did visit the library but only to borrow some books, I made my apologies to Amber because I wanted to head back and rest.

Throughout the day I had seen Esel run to and fro carrying boxes of some sort in the direction of the healthcare facility.

'Lily must still be sick...'

I silently prayed to anyone, for Lily's health to improve. What can I say? It's not exactly possible for me to be an atheist anymore... not until I can overpower even the gods.

'I'll get there someday...'

I didn't spend time lingering on the far-flung future however instead focusing on the present moment by reviewing the skills I've learned. Post my training I'd receive notifications for my new skills; [Tempest blossom arts lv. 2], [Cola kingdoms sword arts lv. 1], and [Beginner swordsmanship lv. 7].

The contents of which aren't anything special there are no details I didn't already know and no clues to the history behind either of the arts. What I wanted to focus on was another skill I possess, I have used all the skills I earned in the {Path to Paradise} class except for one bit of functionality in [Fortune Search lv. 2]

...

[Fortune search lv. 2]

Ask 2 questions regarding someone's true fortune including yourself and receive an answer. Host as the protagonist now has a keen eye to find fortuitous talents that could ally with you. Locates danger in a 30-meter radius and indicates the luckiest route. (Condition for level up: Gather one loyal ally) (Consequences: Host's unique class creates no consequences only weaknesses of skills remain.)

...

I've used the locating part of the ability a lot, I've seen the fortunes of some people. Ichiro is a superbly talented person according to my eyes, it's an unexplainable feeling but it's there... Arlan, Fenitz, and Angeline also fit into the superbly talented category.

There's rarely any danger, in spars, it doesn't identify it as a form of danger. The last aspect is asking questions to which I can now ask two!

'[Fortune Search]...'

Activating it I could feel those who carry talent more than others. I can also find the so-called 'luckiest' route. Which I don't plan to follow [Plot armour] is on and for now, I don't want to see where my good luck takes me.

Angeline who now understood the existence that is the system, comfortably sat as I rubbed my chin in thought.

"How does my fortune look for the next week?"

I ask to what most people would see as thin air, but once again following my gut I could understand that someone was listening in.

[["The protagonist's fortune shows discovery..."]]

"Discovery huh? More I less what I expected from a fortune cookie of a skill...

"Tell me about the protagonist's daughter's fortune for the next week."

Angeline could hear the words spoken out loud but didn't particularly refute any of them...

[["The daughter's fortune shows discovery as well..."]]

"That's not very useful, but okay next time I should probably just ask if we'll survive the week... since you follow me around anyways Angie."

A slight nod and Angeline runs off to look at bugs in the garden, they can't touch her so it seems she's outgrown a lot of children's fear of bugs.

"Man~ I miss my phone..."

I silently stare out into the sunset, this is one of the few moments I can take in and absorb everything that's changed. Sighing I wonder what my parents on Earth were doing, maybe time is dilated and I've only been gone for a day, or even worse it could have been years...

I could only revel in the fantasy, thinking about various plotlines my story could follow. It is how I always dissociated myself from the world after all...

'*Sigh* let's just get to work.'

I swung the wooden katana I borrowed through the night.

***

"Ow! owowowow! God's sake why does my body hurt so bad!"

My muscles were aching all over, particularly the balm of my hands got some skin ripped off from swinging my sword for hours on end. I inky occasion took a 'break' to practice the art from the manual. Lampooning inwardly I wondered if I might have become a bit too used to pain this early on...

'Alright... at least I don't need the character development to be able to work inhumanly hard.'

I gave myself some comfort, and while it is true that it's good to work hard, especially since I have all the resources and abilities to do so.

I'm not exactly looking to be a cultivation protagonist, but I've not given myself a choice.

'I would be nice to receive a [Hardworking protagonist] class soon for all my efforts.'

[[Continue at your current rate for the next two years and we'll consider.]]

"Two years!?"

I yelled involuntarily in the middle of the corridor and it brought me some unwanted and weirded-out attention from the other servants this early in the morning.

"What are you talking about Lex?"

Angeline asked, I whisper.

"I'll tell you later when we're alone."

***

"Hello, Lex did you rest well?"

A kind smile on the good-looking Ichiro Takashi's face brought a relaxing charisma to the atmosphere.

"Yeah, I'm good thank you Takashi sensei..."

The day prior Ichiro had brought up that he wanted to be able to teach others martial arts in the name of self-defence in the future.

So he brought up if I'd be willing to address him as sensei and use his last name like in the east. It took a bit of getting used to but it was like fun roleplay for me at this point.

He smiled brightly at how I addressed him and so we went on with the lesson.

"I've heard some interesting information from Sir Euler, supposedly you both are going to try and develop a sword art of your own?"

"Yes, we are trying to create a new art."

"I see, that's fascinating would you be willing to share the details, Terrence says he's only willing to share if you are."

"Um, I think I'd like to keep it a secret maybe I'll reveal it in a duel someday."

"Alright then I won't pry, I'll be happy to see it someday."

***

"Okay kid, have you done any modifications to the Sword?"

"Yep I have I made it a bit thinner and longer, then applied some reinforcement inscriptions on the different parts of it."

"Is it more comfortable for you that way?"

"That's the goal."

Terrence and I spent the next few hours practising sword swings and we discussed some minor ways to increase the force and speed of the movements.

We came up with adding a sheath, then added a switch inscription that makes it stick to the inside and one to detach it.

That way when I pull it out of the sheath the amount of pulling force I've applied will spring out when released. A simple idea really, it's incredibly difficult to balance it once it's out though.

I ended up being pulled forward by my force which in turn almost got me breaking my shoulder.

...

"Lex I've been meaning to ask, but did you train with the sword after your lesson with Arlan?"

"What makes you say that teach?"

Terrence picked up my hand and showed me my palm, raising an eyebrow and asking if I got the memo.

"Oh~ that? Yeah, I might've done some work for around an hour and a half."

"Are you sure you only spent an hour and a half doing that?"

Terrence's feelings showed that he disbelieved my statement but I could only continue the lie hoping he'd let me be. To which he got my intentions and let it be with a sigh.

"I don't know why you're treating yourself like this, but I'm not about to work overtime good luck with Arlan's lesson..."

I sighed, at that last statement,

'I don't want to go!'

***

"... And that's pretty much the gist of the types of aura nature's that are commonly found. There's still a lot of uncertainties about the true nature and it's assumed that only once someone reaches the world level can they almost communicate with the energy."

Today's lesson was far more interesting than yesterday's that's for sure. There have been hundreds of different coloured auras and today we made some basic observations of its use at the higher level.

As well as what hypotheses can be made by closely observing a person's aura.

"Once someone's aura stabilizes, they can see a general distortion in that person's appearance. For example in your case Mr. [Otherworlder] you constantly at all times have an aura of chaos around you..."

"Do I? Maybe it comes from my previous world otherwise I don't have memories of its origin."

Arlan looked me up and down looking for signs of lying, but unfortunately Mr. mage you won't find a single tick on me. I have enough experience in lying about having completed my homework.

If you've stayed with your parents, for so many years of course they can most easily tell when you lie. So out of a sheer commitment to the gods of procrastination I'd learned how they find out my lies and so I'm in complete control of them!

"*sigh* I guess that could be right, maybe you were once an aura user as well haha..."

"True, true..."

To be honest Kim Oh-Jin's end didn't exactly provide me with all his memories only his most find ones. No names or voices, just experiences as he flashbacked to his lost companions.

Now it was my turn to sigh because that part of me felt like an empty void that provided zero information. Not even the outer god thing, or whatever it could have been that caused everyone's demise.

Arlan picked up on my fullness but only made guesses in his head.

"Alright, enough of that I'm going to give you some homework~."

'Homework!??'

I looked at Arlan with wide eyes,

-Thump!

I closed the book in front of me, did this man just say he was going to give me homework, please say no.

(A/N unfortunately he did my dear protagonist.)

'Nooooooooo!!!'

"Your assignment for the next week is to come up with clues for the assailants that invade this castle a few weeks ago."

"H-how am I supposed to accomplish that!"

"I don't know, I have my experiments to finish. I want you to help me release some emotions I've been holding back since little Harper passed away."

"*Sigh* Fine but isn't a week too short?"

"You should be grateful I didn't ask for it in the next three days!"

I looked at this half-elf bastard, no wonder no one serves him.

"Besides it's not like it'll go unrewarded."

My eyes sparkled,

'A reward! I'm going to ask him for so many special materials to level up my [Creatine control] skill, hehe~'

For some reason, Arlan awkwardly looked at his wallet on a table corner and gulped. He felt a foreboding pinching sensation.

******

A/N finally one of the big two arcs I have planned for this world, in particular, will start from the next chapter!