"Miracle Ring?"
Having worked for several years in the simple and honest Racoon City in my previous life, I was quite familiar with these "Hieroglyphs" that replicated the Inazuman Script.
{T/N: Inazuman Script is from Genshin Impact. Do a quick search on their Wiki and you will get it. He's talking about reading the Latin alphabet and understanding it.}
After scanning the text, Kael used the stolen gun-shaped ignition magical tool to light the parchment. The paper blackened and crumbled to ash.
He hadn't held high expectations for his awakened Magic — whatever he awakened would be forcibly converted by the [Second Dimension Pandora] anyway.
"Still, it brought me a pleasant surprise."
At least in normal state, without refreshing the panel, he had some means of self-preservation.
"Being able to use all Magic is impressive, but this randomness..."
I might plan to unleash an atomic bomb but end up pulling a lighter from my pocket. Or worse — when my mind is nearly spent, attempt a simple fireball only to trigger an explosion spell.
This world offers no warnings for insufficient mana — mental exhaustion leads straight to Mind Zero.
Though in times of crisis, pulling out a game-changing hero's strike remains possible — perhaps that's the true charm of miracles.
"Even more than this unpredictable No.1 Magic, I'm intrigued by this additional status!"
With [Second Dimension Pandora]'s skill drawing, luck reigns supreme.
From my two experiences drawing skills, ultimate moves appear far rarer than those pesky minor skills. Or perhaps there's a level restriction? Level 4 or 6?
The higher the luck, the lower the chance of drawing useless skills, and the better odds of securing ultimate moves.
The next ability refresh comes in six days. Until then, the "Miracle Ring" can serve as either training tool for my Magical power or a last resort when facing impossible odds.
But what exactly is this Luck E rating? E, F, G, H, I? Fifth level is quite impressive — if it's a Lancer's E... hmm.
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In an empty dead end, Kael folded the "Reverse Veil" he was wearing and tucked it into the leather adventurer's pouch he had taken from Fels' warehouse.
This pouch was a Magical tool crafted from special beast leather, with remarkable elasticity that allowed it to store many items. Its pockets adhered to the skin, making it nearly impossible to lose.
Kael took stock of his acquisitions.
"Besides awakening Magic and the 'Reverse Veil', I picked up quite a collection of Magical tools. 'Expansion Pouch', 'Miniature Igniter', 'Sacred Tree Phonograph', 'Fiber Corrosion Potion', 'Death Substitute Ring'... Tch, what a random assortment..."
Not everything in Fels' collection was meant for combat.
What irked Kael most was the toy gun-shaped lighter.
He smiled bitterly, "I thought I could do some proper American-style shooting, but..."
Among Fels' research was work on Magic hand cannons, but the emergency warehouse held no finished products. That special Magic cube made from Great Sacred Tree branches had disappointed him too — what he'd hoped was impressive Magical formal wear turned out to be merely a portable speaker.
"Who wastes Great Sacred Tree branches on a music player?! Come on, Great Sage!" Kael complained.
Still, some tools proved useful, like the "Death Substitute Ring" — identical to the one Syr gave Bell — which could block a single fatal attack.
Kael wasn't eager to activate the ring; at the moment, the [Working Like a Dog] held more appeal.
Caught up in the excitement, he instinctively jumped to "dunk" on a low-hanging branch, but his legs buckled on landing, sending him face-first into the ground.
"Damn, I forgot about Working Like a Dog's side effects."
Taking off the hood of the "Magician's Shell", he checked his injuries. To his amazement, the incurable curse on his body had vanished without a trace!
Under [Goes Where He Pleases]'s life recovery, his fatal injuries had healed completely, and his skeletal arm had regrown with fresh, fair flesh.
"Is this... the effect of this antique clothing?" Kael stared at the "Magician's Shell" in wonder.
He carried no curse-breaking tools — if he had to identify the culprit, it had to be this V$5,000,000 Magical robe.
"Who knew you'd be such a treasure!"
Given its curse resistance alone, V$5,000,000 seemed like a fair price.
Not losing is winning! Things were looking up!
With renewed optimism, Kael lifted his head high and swaggered out of the alley onto the street.
The sunlight felt gentle on his skin as elf sisters and beast-eared ladies batted their Maybelline eyes, stealing glances his way.
Ah, my irresistible charm — such is the vigor of youth.
But before Kael could fully bask in his glory, a shout rang out from behind:
"That's him! Hold him!"
"Arr—est!"
What? Me? Already exposed? Since when is Orario's justice system this efficient?
"Wait, wait, I can explain! I demand a lawyer!"
Before Kael could react, a tremendous force struck his neck. His body tilted forward, and his face made intimate contact with the ground.
Crack...
The gray-haired girl, holding his wrists with both hands, blinked in confusion, "Eh, what was that sound?"
"Id-idiot, his bones broke! His bones broke! This guy isn't a criminal! What are you doing, Adi?" Her companion wearing the elephant-nose mask exclaimed.
"Waaaaaah! So-sorry! I just acted reflexively... are you okay?!"
"Heh, hehe." Kael muttered lifelessly, his face pressed against the ground.
And here he'd thought Fels had discovered his actions, but instead...
"Justice strikes again."
"I'm sorry!"
"If sorry was enough, we wouldn't need guards."
"Um... we are the guards." The elephant-mask one mumbled.
"That's right! I'm the upright and popular Shakti's sister, Level 3 Adi Varma~! Ta-da!"
The gray-haired girl had eyes as clear as a lake. Unlike her companion wearing the elephant-nose mask, she wore a deep blue midriff-baring combat outfit with a form-fitting black undershirt that accentuated her girlish figure.
As she spoke, she unconsciously thrust out her chest — from Kael's experienced assessment of mature women, she was at least a B-rank powerhouse!
A B-rank powerhouse at 15 — how terrifying!
What kind of uprightness is this?! Oh, you meant your sister, never mind then. Tch, she's the type of saint-like character I'm worst at dealing with.
Kael muttered with a sidelong glance, "...So what if you're a guard!"
After saying that, he shrank his neck, afraid that Adi might suddenly declare "Being a guard really is something!" — how would he respond to that?
"...Are you not going to let me go?" Kael asked quietly.
"No can do."
"Why?!"
Adi said sternly with a straight face, "Because of you, the whole city is on alert, so now you have to come back with me."
"What?" Kael blinked.
"Also, it's wrong to be afraid of shots. When you're sick, you should properly accept treatment. Don't run away next time, okay?" Adi said with a smile as she bound him securely.
Who's afraid of shots? That's slander!
Before Kael could protest further, Adi tucked him under her arm. In the next instant, the surroundings blurred as she sprinted at near-sonic speed, leaving trails of afterimages.
"This is murder! Unlawful detention! I demand to speak to your supervisor! I want to file a complaint!"
Kael's protests echoed through the street.
Above them, a peculiarly patterned owl perched on a tall pillar, tilting its head as it observed the scene unfold.