NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 22: 22
The cloudy sky mirrored Ren's mood as he walked through Yukemuri City. His earlier thought of finding inspiration had proven fruitless; the town, while charming, offered nothing of immediate interest for his grand schemes. He needed a new angle, a fresh approach to his "chore" dilemma. His gaze drifted to a small, struggling shop, then to an old woman fumbling with groceries. He didn't find any interest walking around the city but this made him find another way to get his new two tickets for today by helping some strangers on the way.
He spent the next few hours performing small acts of kindness: helping an elderly man carry his shopping, guiding a lost tourist, even assisting a street vendor with a tangled awning. Each act, no matter how minor, registered with the System, slowly filling his chore meter. By midday, sitting alone on a park bench, gazing at the cloudy horizon, the familiar chime echoed in his mind.
Ding!
A translucent blue window shimmered into existence before him.
[Congratulations! You have completed your daily chores. Two (2) Reality Tickets have been added to your inventory!]
[Daily chore counter has been reset to 0. Next Reality Ticket will require seven (7) completed chores.]
Ren checked his inventory, his eyes widening slightly. Two tickets! He hadn't expected that. His gaze fell upon the shimmering cards: [Ticket of Armament] and [Ticket of Talent].
Ding!
The System window expanded, providing detailed explanations for both.
[Ticket of Armament: Can make any object dangerous. For example, if used on a pencil, that pencil can defeat or even kill many people.]
[Ticket of Talent: Grants a talent that is inherent, something one is born with, unlike a learned skill.]
Ren's mind immediately went to the Ticket of Armament. "System," he thought, "can I use the Ticket of Armament on my hands?"
[Negative. Your hands are an integral part of your physical body, not a separate object. The Ticket of Armament is designed for external, inanimate objects.]
Ren frowned. He had hoped for a direct combat enhancement. He pondered other ideas, but nothing immediately came to mind. He needed something readily available, something he could always have on him. He decided to walk around, letting his surroundings inspire him.
His steps led him past a small, brightly colored store, its windows filled with sweets and toys. It was clearly for kids, but something inside caught his eye: a display of stylish rubber rings. He could buy a simple pencil, but a rubber ring was something he could wear, something already in his hands. He entered the store and bought a plain black rubber ring.
Sitting back on the park bench, Ren held up the rubber ring. "System, is this rubber ring a good object for the Ticket of Armament?"
[Affirmative. The rubber ring qualifies as an inanimate object suitable for the Ticket of Armament.]
A smirk touched Ren's lips. "I command the Ticket of Armament to imbue this rubber ring with the power to give extra damage whenever I punch someone."
The [Ticket of Armament] pulsed once, then dissolved into a thousand glittering motes of light that swirled around the rubber ring before vanishing into its black surface. Ren slipped the ring onto his finger. He felt no immediate change, but he knew the power was there. It was like an RPG item, a subtle enhancement that would only reveal itself in combat.
Now for the Ticket of Talent. Ren initially thought about using it to open a woman's heart, but he quickly dismissed the idea. It felt like a waste of such a profound power. This wasn't about manipulation; it was about inherent ability. He needed something grander, something that would truly elevate him.
Then, an idea, brilliant and audacious, struck him.
"I command the Ticket of Talent to make me the best at anything I focus on!" Ren mentally articulated, his resolve firm.
The [Ticket of Talent] pulsed intensely, then dissolved into pure light that surged into his head. A familiar, sharp ache immediately crawled into his mind, more intense than any he had experienced before. It felt like his brain was being stretched, rewired, an agonizing process of fundamental change. Ren clenched his jaw, digging his nails into his palms, fighting back the urge to scream. He was in public, and shouting was, in his mind, "gay." He wouldn't give in.
After a few minutes that felt like an eternity, the pain finally subsided, leaving him breathless and trembling.
Ding!
The System window reappeared, confirming his new reality.
[Reality Alteration Confirmed: Your inherent talent has been rewritten. You are now naturally adept at anything you focus on. This talent allows for accelerated mastery and unparalleled proficiency in any field you dedicate yourself to.]
Ren felt a profound shift within him. It wasn't just a skill; it was a fundamental change to his very being, an innate capacity for greatness. As long as he focused, he could be the best.
He decided to leave the park, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. He had two powerful new tools at his disposal. As he neared the park exit, he coincidentally met Chisaki Miyazaki. Their eyes met across the path, and for a moment, the world seemed to freeze. The unspoken tension from yesterday, the slap, the rejection, hung heavy in the air. Neither moved, neither spoke.
A person walking between them broke the spell, and they both snapped back to reality. Chisaki, her face unreadable, quickly averted her gaze and quickened her pace, ignoring him completely. Ren didn't call out to her. He was still stuck on what he would do to her, but the gears in his mind were already turning, formulating another plan to make her his woman.
He continued his walk home, his thoughts consumed by Chisaki and the endless possibilities of his new talents. When he arrived at Yuragi-sou, he noticed several unfamiliar faces entering the inn. He saw Chitose in the main living area, greeting a family with a warm smile.
"Chitose-san," Ren asked, "what's going on? Are these new residents?"
Chitose turned, her smile widening. "Oh, Ren-kun! Welcome back! No, these are guests. Other than being a dormitory, we're also a hot spring inn! These guests are here to stay for a few days." She added, "This is actually the main income of Yuragi-sou, you know. They usually need to make an appointment at least three days before they come."
Ren blinked. He remembered this detail from the original story, but it had always been a background element, something mentioned in passing. He had completely forgotten that Yuragi-sou was primarily a hot spring inn. He had been so focused on the supernatural residents and his own schemes that he'd overlooked the mundane, yet crucial, aspects of his new home.
"I see," Ren said, nodding slowly. "Well, I'll leave the rest to you, Chitose-san." He had more pressing matters to consider, plans to refine, and a woman to conquer.