Day 123rd is Monday, and I have to go to school. And today's reward was a hat. I stop fussing over the poor reward. I then used the points to upgrade my Martial Arts Mastery skill to the max level. It might be helpful in some situations.
School is usual, but I still don't know how to become friends with Yukino. Well, you need a topic to talk about. But what do girls in this period like?
'Since I don't know, let's try becoming friends at another time.'
After school, I go back home, do the usual things, and sleep.
On day 124th, I received a watch and upgraded my Cooking skill to the max level. I then went to school and spent the day like usual.
On day 125th, I received a keyboard. I've now convinced the rewards from the Item category are a gamble. You have to be lucky to get the good stuff. Regardless, I used the points to upgrade my Language skill to the max level. The day passed like usual.
On day 126th, I received a tissue box, and I don't think this can be a reward. I also upgraded my Shield Mastery to the max level. Today is the day to spin the gacha to get a better thing, but I'm not optimistic.
'With how low my luck right now, I don't think I can get the OP prize.'
[Ding! You received a pink fox from the gacha!]
A black hole appears in front of me, and a pink fox jumps out and lands on my lap. It turns its head upward and looks at me.
"Wao!"
Seeing its cuteness, I can't help but pat its head. At the same time, a thought ran inside my head.
'Wow, the System is shameless in kidnapping characters from popular IP. And from what I see, this is Yae Miko from Genshin. But she's now in her fox form.'
I remember seeing a video about her being 500 years old by looking at her tails. Looking at the fox on my lap, I guess she isn't that old yet. And in this form, I don't think she's OP.
'But she is cute.'
I then lift her and hug her in my chest. She's fluffy and cute. No wonder she has many fans. Although the System just kidnapped her, I'm thankful for it. She looks up at me from my chest and seems to smile at me.
"Wa!"
"Hehe! Aren't you a cutie fox?"
Mikan, who sleeps next to me, wakes up from the noise. She gets up and looks at me with sleepy eyes.
"Good morning, onii-chan... Ah."
Mikan then looks at Yae Miko in my arms. She lets out a squeal.
"Ahh! Onii-chan, what are you hugging? It's so cute!"
"Wa!"
Yae then raises one of her legs to say hi. Mikan looks delighted and cuddles Yae's head.
"Wow! It's so cute and fluffy! Where does it come from, onii-chan?"
I then realize something.
'Although it seems like a good reward, how to explain where I got her is the problem. But I can lie my way through because, with Yae's cuteness, the lies can be ignored.'
"I don't know. It was just here when I got up. Mikan, do you want to keep her?"
"Yes!"
"Let's tell dad about this and ask him so we can keep her."
The problem is quickly resolved with Mikan's puppy eyes and Yae Miko's cute cry. I named her Yae Miko, like the original. I have to go to school today, and letting Yae Miko at home alone isn't to my liking. So, I decided to bring her to school.
I pick Yae Miko up and let her on my shoulders. I also used my original ability to let other people ignore how unrealistic this is. Following seven days, I can't choose different categories aside from Items. I can't only sigh at the situation.
At school, there're a lot of people taking notice of Yae Miko on my shoulders. And she's taking a look at the surrounding with sparking eyes.
'Well, at least she's having fun.'
During school's lunchtime, girls gather around my table to see Yae Miko. Her head is raised high as she seems to enjoy being liked by everyone. I shake my head dejectedly and shoo all the girls away because I want to eat my lunch peacefully.
Taking out the bento, I eat and feed some to Yae Miko. I remember she has a favorite food, so I will cook it for her when the ban on world traveling is lifted. I can also see Yukino sometimes glancing at Yae Miko.
'As expected, cute animals are still effective toward young girls.'
I now have the topic to talk to Yukino, but the real reason is I don't have much experience in talking. Or, to be more exact, I don't want to talk very much. The core reason is that I'm lazy and I like sitting in a quiet place.
I lay my hand on Yae Miko and start petting her. She seems to enjoy my petting. After school, I go back home and spend time spoiling Yae and Mikan.
On day 127th, I received a necklace and upgraded the Gun Mastery skill to the max level.
On day 128th, I received a regular ring and upgraded the Hidden Weapons Mastery skill to the max level. I also started to feel annoyed with the extra 200 points before the multiplier. I will deal with them tomorrow.
On day 129th, I received sunglasses and upgraded Cold Weapons Mastery to the max level. With extra 500 points, I bought 5 Spirit pills and fed them to Yae Miko. I wonder if she will have any effects.
I look at her, but she doesn't turn into anything. She tilts her head while looking at me with curious eyes. I then pat her head.
'Well, it's okay, I guess.'
On day 130th, I received a hand sanitizer and upgraded my Piano skill to the max level. I upgraded that skill for fun. And I also start to feel the limitation of living as a child. It's so dull when you're a child because there aren't any exciting events.
I wonder again about my decision to start my new life as a child. What's in my head at that moment? Sighing and lamenting can't help me with anything, so I drag my lazy body to the school. The class is also familiar with yae already, so it doesn't induce much impact like before.
'Wow, it's already Monday again. Time flies so fast.'
Three more days till I can world travel again.
'Oh, my games, please wait for me.'
On day 131st, I received a wallet and upgraded my Drawing skill to the max level.
On day 132nd, I received a crowbar and upgraded my Mechanic skill to the max level.
On day 133rd, the day the ban is lifted. I then receive today's reward, a table. And from the gacha, it's a katana called Ruinous Sakura. I wait till night when Mikan is sleeping and immediately travel to Earth.
Back at my apartment on Earth, I put down Yae, who I am hugging, and let her run around.
"Artoria, Altera, and Atalanta, you guys can materialize."
When they appear, Yae's surprised and hides behind me. But she looks curiously at them. I smile and pat her head.
"It's okay, Yae. They're good people. Oh, and can you guys help me with something?"
"Yes?"
I then write down a list of ingredients for today's party. I hand it to Artoria.
"Artoria, can you go and buy things on the list? They're for today's meal."
Artoria then looks excited.
"Master, I won't let you down."
"Okay. Altera and Atalanta go with Artoria."
"Yes, Master."
"Un."
When they go to the market to buy the ingredients, I search the fandom for Yae's favorite food. It's called kitsune udon. I then take a look at Yae.
'Can Yae use chopsticks to eat udon? I highly doubt it. Maybe it's when she has a human form.'
Nodding at my theory, I decide to feed her anything tasty. Upon receiving the ingredients from the Servants, I demonstrate my maximum cooking skill. I forgot I had Telekinesis, so I used it to cook several dishes simultaneously.
It makes me smile to see them eating happily. After that, I return to my world and go to sleep. I wake up, not in my room, but in a different place. Altera is beside me.
"...I was waiting. I was waiting for you to come, Rito."
Looking around, I then talk to her about my guess of the place.
"Are we in a dream?"
"Yes. You have a good intuition, Master."
I shrug my shoulders at her answer. It's an easy guess for me. Altera then continues to talk.
"I can't be certain, but I can guess to a certain level. This place is inside of me. It's not something physical but psychological. I still can't say that for sure nevertheless, it's my memory about me. Who fought as the great King of the Huns. ...Inside of the memory of myself "as a hero." "
"Hero, huh?"
"It means what I said exactly. The memory of "me," who was once called King of Destruction, Altera. One who kept destroying every civilization like a thoughtless, wordless machine."
"..."
"It's my memory. That's why in here... there's nothing. I didn't think "like a human being." I didn't feel like one, either. I couldn't think and couldn't feel. ...To you, what do I look like?"
I don't answer her question yet. I want to hear her entire story first before replying. Altera notices my intention since we have been together for about 60 days. Maybe. I don't remember. But she should know a bit about my personality. I want to continue listening to her story.
"To me, only the sky and the ground stretch endlessly. It's the end of a star, which was leveled with no feeling or purpose."
Altera takes a moment before continuing.
"To you...I suppose it looks like a view "closest" to what you've seen. How you see it might be different, but this dark wasteland is undoubtedly me. Even though I'm supposed to be looking at my memory, I see nothing. No friends, and no family..."
"..."
"I can't hear anyone's voice, nothing but gusty winds. ...Heh, talk about empty. Despite the fact I've led many into battle, how come not even a single person is in my memory."
Altera's voice seems to have little emotion, but she appears melancholy. I look at the surrounding place, and it feels calm to me.
"But this place is calming, though. I quite like it."
Altera looks at me and says.
"You're kind. Well, I suppose that's what people would call someone like you. I never..."
"...?"
"...I never wished to destroy lives. Still, I always kept destroying civilizations far as the eyes could see. Do you see the contradiction? I can't help myself from choosing this way."
I continue my silence and listen to her.
"I deviate from this planet's absolute principle—that its purpose of survival is breeding."
I then look at her with questioning eyes. How can breeding be the purpose of survival? Sure, I guess if you see it from the perspective of specie, it's true. I hold back my shock and continue listening to her.
"Destruction is implanted deep within my heart. I don't want to kill willingly, but I want to destroy. As a result, people die. I killed many of them. The ground was always soaked with blood."
When I heard this, I felt shame about what she said. The destruction guy is killing for fun and entertainment. But she has a hard time dealing with her past. I held back my sigh.
"...However. What is left for me is this dark wilderness... Look–it's coming."
"—"
A roar can be heard in the distance. I thought it would be a peaceful event.
'It seems like I was wrong.'
"I said there's nothing, but it wasn't true. I've got ones like them. They're people who have unclear names with no faces."
"Wow."
"Those whom I fought against and killed. I only fought and killed without recognizing them as individuals. Now it's time to use your power, Master."
I snap my neck as it seems a good exercise.
"Okay, it's been a while since I fought."
I summon Fire Spirit Type-II, double pistols for range damage, and Grips of Tai Xuan for close combat. I want to test out the effect of the max-level skills.