The morning sunlight filtered through the single window of my apartment, casting a warm, golden glow across the linoleum floor. I stretched on the slightly lumpy couch, still getting used to my new muscles popping and shifting with a deeply satisfying fluidity. There was no stiffness, no lingering ache. I felt like a coiled spring. I could really get used to this !
I sat up and glanced toward the bedroom. Eucliwood was already awake. She was sitting perfectly still on the edge of the mattress, her silver hair catching the morning light, her blue eyes fixed intently on me. The heavy steel plating of her armor gleamed, a stark reminder of the chaotic world I was living in.
"Morning," I smiled, running a hand through my hair. "Did you sleep okay?"
She gave a single, slow nod, before pulling out her notepad and scribbling.
I slept well. Thank you. Are you going to fulfill your promise now?
I laughed out loud. "The otherworldly pancakes? You bet. Give me ten minutes."
I hit the kitchen, accessing the System's Online Grocery. I purchased premium sub-dimensional flour, eggs that practically glowed with vitality, and a small jug of golden, impossibly thick maple syrup. My speed made cooking an absolute breeze. I whipped the batter into a perfectly aerated frenzy and poured it onto a hot skillet.
Ten minutes later, I set a plate down in front of Eucliwood at my small dining table. Three massive, impossibly fluffy soufflé-style pancakes sat stacked like golden clouds, topped with a generous square of melting butter and completely drenched in rich syrup.
Her eyes widened. She picked up her fork, her armored gauntlet clinking softly against the table, and took a bite.
Once again, time seemed to stop for her. A soft, rosy blush spread across her pale cheeks. She closed her eyes, her shoulders dropping in pure, unadulterated bliss. She didn't write anything this time; she simply demolished the entire stack with a rapid, focused intensity that was honestly adorable to watch.
"Alright," I said, leaning against the counter with my own plate. "Here's the plan for today. First, we are going shopping."
She stopped chewing, tilting her head. She pulled out her notepad.
Shopping? For what?
"Clothes," I stated. "Look at me. My shirt looks like a deflated parachute, and my pants are being held up by the drawstrings. I need a whole new wardrobe. And while we're out, we're getting you some new clothes too."
She immediately frowned, violently shaking her head. She wrote with heavy, rapid strokes.
I cannot. My armor suppresses my magic. If I take it off, my power will spiral out of control and cause a catastrophe. It is too dangerous.
"Okay," I said gently, tapping my temple. I already knew about the use of the armor and I bet she already felt the magic inside of me. But I needed to play the fool. "Oh I got it ! You don't need to take off the gauntlets or the chest plate. But you wear a dress underneath all that steel, right? Fabric gets dirty. It gets uncomfortable. You got soaked in the rain last night. We're just going to buy some fresh, comfortable clothes that you can slip on underneath the plating. You deserve to feel comfortable."
She stared at me, the pen hovering over the paper. The logic was completely sound, and she couldn't refute it. Slowly, she lowered the notepad and gave a tiny, reluctant nod.
"Perfect. Let's hit the streets."
After getting changed into another set of my deadbeat fathers old clothes, we left the building. Walking through the commercial district of Japan as a shredded, newly handsome guy walking next to a stunning girl in full gothic plate armor was... an experience let me tell you.
People stared. A lot. But it wasn't the malicious, grossed out stares I was used to from my Kuoh Academy days. It was awe almost reverence. Whispers followed us down the sidewalk.
"Is she a cosplayer?"
"Who cares, look at him. He's gorgeous."
"She looks like a literal doll. So beautiful..."
" You think she'd agree to go out with me ?"
" With your ugly mug, no chance ."
" WHAT DID YOU SAY !!?"
Eucliwood seemed completely unfazed, keeping her eyes forward, but I couldn't help the small, confident smirk that tugged at my lips.
We hit a popular clothing retailer first. I grabbed a dozen basic items—fitted black and white t-shirts, dark denim jeans, a sleek bomber jacket, and some heavy-duty cargo pants for when I needed to do manual labor. I tried them on, and honestly, looking in the fitting room mirror was still a shock. The clothes hugged my body perfectly. I looked like an action star.Or a super model...Yep I can't get used to this, no matter how hard I try.
Next, we went to the women's section. I let Eucliwood take the lead. She was hesitant at first, her armored fingers gently brushing against the racks of clothes. I helped her pick out soft, breathable fabrics: a few elegant, dark-colored sundresses with wide sleeves that could easily fit under her gauntlets, some comfortable leggings, and a thick, cozy oversized sweater. The women at the counter even ran over to help us pick out, she seemed incredibly enthusiastic.
" Don't you worry miss, i'll make sure you wear something that makes your boyfriends jaw drop !" She dragged Eucliwood into the changing room and let me tell you, it was magical !!
Everything she wore hypnotized me. She was cute in sundresses, hot in a gothic style clothing, and I think my nosebled a little when she came out wearing a set of pjamas. Armor or no armor, her beauty was literally etheral. And I am not ashamed to say I bought it all.
When I paid at the register— the women smiled brightly and thanked me before turning to Eucliwood. " You're such a lucky girl, not may boyfriends spend so much on their girlfriends." I wanted to tell the women that Eucliwood wasn't my girlfriend but I couldn't...HONESTLY I DID !!!
And as we left the store she tugged on my sleeve and held up her notepad. A down look on her face.
You are spending too much money on me. I am a burden.
"Eu," I said softly, using a nickname without even thinking about it. "You aren't a burden. You're my guest. And besides, I have a feeling we're going to make a lot of money today. Now come on, we have one more stop before we open the cafe."
We returned to the apartment, our arms loaded with shopping bags. I led her past my small living area and stopped in front of a closed door at the end of the hall.
The master bedroom. My parents' old room.
I hadn't opened this door since they abandoned me. It was a dusty, depressing hoarder's nest filled with broken furniture, old gambling receipts, and sour memories.
"Stand back," I told Eu.
I held my arm out and summoned the All-Purpose Farming Tool in a flash of golden light. Eucliwood tapped her pen against her notebook and wrote something down before showing it to me.
Is that your sacred gear?
She tore the paper and wrote again.
I felt magic from you yesterday
She tore the page out once more and wrote again.
Is this why ?
I rubbed the back of my neck and honestly speaking, I couldn't just tell her my sacred gear actaully takes me to another world, so I guess i'd have to settle for this. " Yep, you got it. My sacred gear can turn into any tool I can think of and it uses magic to increase their performance. I can also use it to create certain items that i've seen before, so don't be too shocked when I magically create things from thin air. Now get ready to watch the magic happen.
"Broom form," I whispered.
For the next two hours, I became an absolute force of nature. I used the tool to eradicate years of dust and grime in seconds. I hauled bags of trash down to the dumpster. I shifted the tool to Hammer and Saw forms, breaking down the old, rotting bedframe and tossing it out. I scrubbed the walls, fixed the squeaking floorboards, and polished the window until it gleamed.
Once the room was a perfectly clean, empty canvas, I opened the System's Online Grocery. I navigated to the hardware and furniture section.
[Purchase: Queen-Sized Memory Foam Mattress & Frame - 40,000 Yen]
[Purchase: Oak Wardrobe - 15,000 Yen]
[Purchase: Plush Area Rug & Blackout Curtains - 10,000 Yen]
Using my Woodworking skill and my massive Strength stat, I assembled the furniture in a blur of motion. I laid down the rug, hung the curtains, and dressed the bed with crisp, fresh white sheets and a heavy, warm comforter.
When I was finally done, I put the tool away, wiped a bead of sweat from my forehead, and turned to Eucliwood, who was standing in the doorway, her blue eyes wide.
"Welcome to your new room," I smiled warmly. "You can't sleep on the bed while I'm on the couch forever. Now you have your own space. You can arrange your new clothes in the wardrobe, close the curtains, and just relax."
She walked into the room slowly, her boots sinking slightly into the plush rug. She touched the soft fabric of the comforter. She stood there for a long time, her back to me.
When she finally turned around, she was holding her notepad. Her hands were shaking just a fraction of an inch.
Why are you doing this for me? You do not know me.
"I know that you were sitting in the freezing rain, completely alone," I said, leaning against the doorframe. "And I know what it feels like to be completely alone in this world. Nobody should have to feel that way. Consider it a perk of being the first official employee of Café Sunrise. Speaking of which..." I checked my watch. "We open in thirty minutes. Get settled in. I'll see you downstairs."
I slowly made my way out not seeing the tiny, unseeable lift of Eus lips. A smile though small, was nothing but warm. When I made it to the kitchen I immediately prepped, as any self respecting cook should. Also known as Mise En Place which translates to everything in its place, it's a crucial step for resturaunts that involve washing, cutting, proportioning and partially cooking ingredients before opening. Now normally the partial cooking takes place hours before opening but fortunately for me, I had a system that took care of that for me.
Eventaully the clock hit 12 and the lunch rush at Café Sunrise which came in a flash was nothing short of legendary.
Word of mouth had spread the day before like a plague through the district. By the time I flipped the sign to 'OPEN', there was already a line of thirty people waiting outside.
I tied my white apron over my newly bought, perfectly fitted black t-shirt. Eucliwood came downstairs a few minutes later, having successfully changed into one of the soft, dark dresses beneath her armor. She walked over to the counter and took a seat on one of the wooden stools, acting as a silent, incredibly beautiful mascot for the restaurant.
I fired up the grill.
The next six hours were a blur of sizzling Wagyu, perfectly rolled Omurice, and golden, crispy tempura.I moved through the kitchen with the performance of a machine and the grace of a dancer. But cooking wasn't the only thing I was doing.
I was actually talking to people.
Before the sub-dimension, I would have stuttered and looked at the floor if a customer spoke to me. Now, fueled by my new stats and the confidence of knowing I could punch a hole in a brick wall, I felt magnetic.
"Ah, rough day at the office, Tanaka-san?" I asked, sliding a steaming plate of Hamburger Steak in front of a tired-looking salaryman. He was someone who would often come by late at night for a drink and some snacks, back when I couldn't afford basic ingredients.
"You have no idea, Ard," the man sighed, loosening his tie. "My boss is riding me about the quarterly reports. I feel like I'm drowning. And my wife hasn't stopped spending monety like it grows on trees, I don't know what i'm gonna do"
"You got it kinda rough huh ? Well i'm not married and don't have an office job, but it sounds like you need to take control of your life. Tell it to your wife straight, i'm sure she'll understand that you can't afford to keep spending money you don't have. And with your job, if you tell your boss that you need a bit more time, i'm sure he'll listen. Either that or you just complain to the manager above him" I said, leaning casually against the counter and wiping a glass. " Take a breath, eat some good food, and tackle one problem at a time. The reports will get done. And your wife will definitely support you."
Tanaka looked at me, his eyes widening slightly before a genuine smile broke across his face. "You think so kid ? You know what? I think you're right. Hell if it doesn't work then i'll just come back and keep filling my belly ! This food... it really does heal the soul." He said with teary eyes as he scarffed down his meal.
I talked to high school girls complaining about their crushes, offering gentle, advice. Most of which I got from the animes I used to watch. But then again the Mc in those animes usaully never chooses the girl everyone else wanted him to choose. I talked to elderly couples about the weather, flashing them kind rogueish smiles. Through it all, Eucliwood sat silently at the counter, her blue eyes tracking my every movement, a tiny, almost imperceptible smile gracing her lips as she watched me work the room.
As the sun began to set, the final customer paid their bill, bowing respectfully before leaving.
I locked the front door, flipped the sign, and collapsed into a chair next to Eu, wiping my forehead with a towel.
"Man," I laughed, my chest heaving slightly. "That was intense. But we made a killing."
Suddenly, the world around me fractured into a brilliant, flashing blue light.
PING.
PING.
PING.
[System Alert: Culmination of otherworldly culinary techniques, cross-dimensional material integration, and intense social skill application recognized.]
[Innovation Stat has reached 100%.]
"Wait, what?!" I gasped, sitting bolt upright.
[Threshold Reached. Commencing System Level Up.]
[Host Level Increased: Level 1 -> Level 2]
[Innovation Stat Reset: 0/200%]
The blue screen expanded, filling my entire vision with wonderful glowing news. I felt a sudden, massive rush of pure, unadulterated energy flood my veins. It wasn't painful like when the system corrected my body instead it felt like a dam had just burst inside my soul, flooding my body with pure power.
[STAT INCREASE APPLIED: +10 TO ALL BASE STATS]
[STATUS]
[Name: Ard Voldigoad]
[Level 2: 0/200%]
[Strength: 18]
[Speed: 16]
[Stamina: 18]
[Endurance: 18]
[Vitality: 18]
[MP: 16/16]
I stared at the screen, my jaw physically dropping. "+10 to everything?!" I shouted, startling Eucliwood, who jumped slightly on her stool. "That's insane! An average human is a 10! I'm practically doubling the human limit right now! And my MP went up to 16!"
But the notifications weren't done.
[System Reward Unlocked: ITEM BOX]
[Description: Grants access to a personal, sub-dimensional pocket space. Storage capacity: Unlimited. Time within the Item Box is perfectly frozen. Organic matter will not decay, spoil, or change temperature.]
"You have got to be kidding me," I breathed, my eyes shining like a kid on Christmas morning.
I turned to the kitchen counter, where a leftover bowl of hot, steaming rice sat. "Item Box," I commanded.
A small, rippling black portal the size of a dinner plate opened in the air. I slid the bowl of rice inside, and the portal snapped shut. I waited ten seconds, then commanded it to open again. I reached in and pulled the bowl out.
It was still perfectly steaming hot.
"Time-frozen infinite storage," I whispered reverently. "I am officially overpowered. I can store an entire grocery store in my pocket!"
Eucliwood pulled out her notepad and held it up, looking at me like I was a maniac talking to the air.
Are you okay? You are shouting at soup
"I am better than okay, Eu," I laughed, spinning her stool around. "I am fantastic! But, I do need to run out for a bit. We're completely out of milk, and I want to grab some actual Earth snacks from the convenience store. You stay here, lock the doors, and relax. I'll be back in fifteen minutes, get ready, we're having a feast tonight!!!!!"
She gave a small nod, sliding off the stool and heading upstairs toward her new room.
I grabbed my jacket, feeling the raw power of my new Level 1 stats surging beneath my skin. I felt invincible.
The night air was cool and crisp as I walked down the dimly lit street. The convenience store was only four blocks away. I bought a carton of milk, some chocolate pocky, and a few cans of soda, storing them all safely in my newly acquired Item Box just to flex on reality.
I was whistling a tune as I cut down a narrow alleyway to shorten my trip back to the cafe.
SHING!
My Danger Sense exploded. Every hair on my body stood on end, and a sickening, cold wave of absolute malice washed over me.
I slammed my boots into the pavement, my new Speed allowing my body to halt its momentum instantly. I leaned backwards matrix-style.
A massive, glowing spear of pure, crackling yellow light impaled the brick wall exactly where my head had been a millisecond before. The bricks shattered, sending shrapnel raining down onto the asphalt.
I spun around, dropping into a low, defensive crouch, my eyes scanning the darkness.
A single, jet-black feather drifted slowly down from the sky, landing in a puddle at my feet.
"Well, well, well," a smooth, arrogant voice echoed from the top of the adjacent telephone pole. "I could have sworn I put a light spear through your pathetic heart a day or two ago. How is a piece of human trash like you still breathing?"
I looked up. Standing on the crossbar of the pole, silhouetted against the moon, was a man in a trench coat and a fedora. Two massive, leathery black wings sprouted from his back, casting a demonic shadow over the alleyway.
Dohnaseek. The Fallen Angel.
A rush of memories hit me.. this was the bastard who had cornered me and tried to kill me just for owning a sacred gear. He was the reason I started pushing myself to grow stronger.
"You've gotta be kidding me," I muttered, my heart hammering against my ribs. Not out of fear, but out of sheer, unadulterated adrenaline.
"I don't know what kind of stray devil magic kept you alive, boy," Dohnaseek sneered, raising his hand as another glowing spear of light manifested in his palm. "But I won't miss this time. Die."
He threw the spear straight at me!
"IT CAN GET WORSE!" I shouted.
But the fear I should have felt...The dread that filled me last time we met is gone. All that's left, was this wild, feral grin across my face.
'Perfect! You can help me try out my new skills !!!' I roared. 'Activate Enhanced Leg Strength! Activate Enhanced Arm Strength!'
[Skills Activated. -4 MP. Remaining MP: 12/16]
The world slowed down.
My base Strength of 18 and Speed of 16 were already superhuman. But with the buffs activated, doubling my physical output in my limbs? My stats spiked to an effective 36 in combat power.
The light spear wasn't a blur anymore. I could see it clearly. I could see the crackling energy swirling around its tip.
I didn't dodge. I planted my right foot, twisting my hips, and threw a straight punch directly at the incoming projectile.
My fist connected with the solid light.
KRA-KOOM!
A shockwave of displaced air exploded through the alleyway, shattering the windows of the adjacent buildings. The light spear didn't pierce my hand; it completely shattered upon impact, dissolving into harmless golden sparks against my hardened knuckles.
Dohnaseek's jaw dropped, his smug expression instantly evaporating into pure, absolute shock. "What... what are you?! A human can't shatter a light construct with his bare hands!"
"I've been working out!" I roared.
I engaged my Enhanced Leg Strength. I crouched low, the concrete beneath my boots literally spider-webbing from the pressure, and launched myself upward.
BOOM!
I cleared the thirty-foot vertical jump in a single bound, flying through the air like a fired cannonball. I appeared directly in front of Dohnaseek's face in the blink of an eye.
"Gah!" he yelled, frantically flapping his black wings to gain altitude, retreating higher into the night sky. "You little freak! Take this!"
He conjured three light spears simultaneously, hurling them down at me in a rapid-fire spread.
Gravity began to pull me back down, but I was entirely calm. My mind was sharp.
'System!' I commanded mid-air. 'Common Skill Creation!'
[1 Charge Available. State parameter.]
'Create Skill: [Basic Weapon Summon: Sword]. A skill that materializes a high-density, armor-piercing blade for a single strike!'
[Request parameters fall within Common Tier limits. Skill Synthesized. Cost: 5 MP.]
"Activate!" I roared.
A flash of blinding, silvery-blue light erupted from my right hand. The mana rapidly fled my reserves, solidifying into a massive, heavy broadsword made of pure, hyper-dense magical steel.
I swung the blade in a wide, vicious arc, channeling every ounce of my doubled arm strength into the parry. The flat of the blade collided with the three light spears, swatting them away like annoying insects. They crashed into the nearby rooftops, detonating in flashes of yellow light.
I hit the ground, bending my knees to absorb the impact, leaving two deep craters in the asphalt. I didn't stop moving. I kicked off the wall of the alleyway, propelling myself upward again in a zigzag pattern, bounding between the two buildings to rapidly close the distance to the sky.
Dohnaseek was panicking now. "Stay away from me! You're just a human!"
"I am Ard Voldigoad!" I bellowed, launching myself off the final rooftop, hurtling directly toward him with the sword raised high above my head.
He threw up his arms, desperately trying to conjure a magical shield.
It didn't matter.
With 36 effective Strength backing the swing, the heavy steel blade didn't just cut; it cleaved through him. I brought the sword down with a mighty, earth-shattering roar.
The blade smashed through his magical shield like it was made of cheap glass, sinking deep into his chest and slicing diagonally down through his torso. Blood gushing out like a fountain.
Time seemed to freeze as we hung in the air. Dohnaseek's eyes were wide with disbelief, staring at the human who had just completely overpowered him.
"H-How...?" he choked out, blood spilling from his lips.
"Check your stats, noob," I whispered.
I wrenched the blade free.
Dohnaseek's body convulsed. A blinding white light erupted from the massive wound, tearing through his physical form. He let out a final, agonizing scream as his body completely dissolved into a shower of black feathers and golden light, scattering into the night wind until absolutely nothing was left.
I fell back to the earth, landing heavily on the asphalt, my boots cracking the pavement one final time.
I stood up, breathing heavily, the adrenaline coursing through my veins like liquid fire. The magical sword in my hand dissipated back into blue mana particles, fading into the air.
PING!
[Target Terminated: Fallen Angel (Low-Tier).]
[Bonus Acquired: +1 Strength.]
[Current Strength: 19]
I stared at the notification, my chest heaving, a massive, victorious grin spreading across my face. I had done it. I had faced the monster that tried killing me, and I had absolutely destroyed him. I wasn't a victim anymore.
I smoothed down my jacket, checked my newly unlocked Item Box to make sure the milk was still perfectly chilled, and started the walk back to the cafe.
Eu might worry if I took too long...Hehe, It feels good having someone waiting for me at home.
Hi everyone, if you're enjoying this story so far and hope to read more faster, then for every 10 power stones I recieve I will post 2 chapters in a single day. So every 10 power stones is a day where i'll post twice ! Thanks for your support !!!