After spending the entire day working at the blacksmith’s shop, Ryosho did not have time to meditate until evening.
Meditation was the only way to strengthen his Psychokinesis and develop the various psychic abilities required for Cloth Repair in the Cloth Repair Guide, such as Clairvoyant Sight.
In a sense, meditation could also strengthen his Cosmo.
Both Psychokinesis and the Cosmo he currently possessed drew their power from the Sixth Sense.
They simply manifested in different ways.
In fact, nearly every Saint possessed one psychic ability or another.
At their core, those capable of such powers were all people with an exceptionally strong Sixth Sense.
And any discussion of the Sixth Sense inevitably led to the Seventh Sense, the very essence of Cosmo.
Whether a Saint could comprehend the Seventh Sense directly determined their level of power.
The Gold Saints were so powerful precisely because they had attained the Seventh Sense.
That perception, which far surpassed the five senses of ordinary humans and transcended even the Sixth Sense of psychics, was the source of all extraordinary power.
Ryosho only knew that the Seventh Sense was a perception beyond the Sixth Sense.
As for what it actually felt like, he had no idea at all.
While the Sixth Sense could be awakened and understood through specific methods, the Seventh Sense could only be discovered through one’s own efforts.
It was not something that could be learned through instruction or guidance.
It had to be awakened and comprehended firsthand through repeated battles in which one faced life and death without hesitation.
His battle against the fake “Saga” had brought him enormous benefits, greatly deepening his understanding of the Sixth Sense.
He suspected that this was also why he had felt no noticeable effect from the ‘Cosmo Comprehension and Strength +1’ bonus he received after unlocking the Cloth Compendium.
Part of the reason was that the increase really was quite small.
More importantly, the insight he had gained through actual combat was far greater.
Those greater gains had overshadowed the effect of the +1 bonus.
The same thing had happened when he unlocked the Crateris Cloth Compendium.
The enhancement provided by the Cloth had largely masked the sensation of the bonus.
Once he understood that, Ryosho no longer thought the system’s reward was insignificant.
It was a fixed numerical increase, something that went beyond what he could gain through insight alone.
For now, that increase was barely noticeable.
But one day, it might become the key that allowed him to comprehend the Seventh Sense and even the Eighth Sense.
Ryosho continued meditating until late at night.
When he finished, he sat up on the bed.
Despite not having slept, he did not feel the slightest mental fatigue.
Seiya should have returned to Japan by now.
The Galaxian Wars should be about to begin as well.
Once the Galaxian Wars began, the evil forces within Sanctuary would start making their move.
But…
What exactly was going on with that fake “Saga”?
Aside from Saga and Kanon, who else in this world could use ‘Galaxian Explosion’ and ‘Another Dimension’?
Based on everything Ryosho knew about the Saints, there should not be a third person capable of using those two techniques at this point in time.
Could it truly have been someone raised from the dead?
With that thought in mind, Ryosho put on his clothes and used Teleportation to leave the room.
“Where are you going?”
He had just reached the entrance to the village on the outskirts of Sanctuary when Shaina’s voice suddenly rang out.
Ryosho stopped and looked toward the source of the voice.
Shaina was standing atop a pillar not far from the village entrance.
After calling out to him, she leaped down and landed beside him.
“Shaina?”
Ryosho looked at her in confusion, wondering why she was standing there alone in the middle of the night, striking such a pose.
Then again…
Come to think of it, he was also wandering around in the middle of the night, so he was hardly in a position to judge.
“Are you going into Sanctuary?”
Shaina looked Ryosho up and down.
He was not carrying his Cloth Box, which meant he was not planning to travel far.
But anyone going out in the middle of the night was probably up to something they did not want others to see.
Instead of answering, Ryosho asked, “Were you waiting for me here, Shaina?”
“I came to warn you about something.”
Shaina turned away from him.
With her back to Ryosho, she looked aloof and commanding, radiating an icy air that discouraged anyone from approaching.
To Ryosho, however, it seemed more like stubborn pride than genuine coldness.
He knew Shaina well enough to understand that beneath her distant exterior, she had a warm heart.
She must have heard something and come all the way here specifically to warn him.
“Is this how you’re repaying the favor you owe me?”
Ryosho looked at Shaina’s back as the evening breeze carried her faint fragrance toward him, then asked in a teasing tone.
“My life is not so cheap that a single warning could repay it.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I’m simply offering you some friendly advice.”
“You didn’t need to come all the way here in the middle of the night for that.”
Shaina abruptly turned her head and glared at Ryosho.
But with her mask covering her face, Ryosho could neither see her expression nor her widened eyes.
“Are you saying I shouldn’t have come?”
Ryosho realized she had misunderstood him.
He had only meant that she could have warned him during the day instead of deliberately coming at night.
It was fortunate that he had decided to come out on a whim.
Otherwise, had she planned to stand at the village entrance posing all night?
Of course, he could never say that aloud.
Given Shaina’s temper, she might tear him apart on the spot.
Besides, she certainly would not have remained there all night.
Ryosho immediately changed the subject.
“So, what did you come to warn me about?”
“Marin is secretly investigating you.”
“Oh?”
Ryosho thought that the two of them truly were bitter rivals.
Apparently, this was important enough for Shaina to come all the way here in the middle of the night.
“And…” Shaina paused.
“The Sanctuary seems to have taken notice of you as well.
I don’t believe Marin reported you, and I don’t think they mean you any harm, but I thought it would be better to warn you.”
Ryosho narrowed his eyes thoughtfully at her words.
He naturally did not believe Marin would report his existence to the Sanctuary.
Given her personality, she would investigate him on her own.
Unless she discovered that he posed a threat, she would never do something so ungrateful.
Shaina, who had come to warn him despite the possibility of defying the Sanctuary, clearly would not do such a thing either.
That made the situation all the more suspicious.
Had the commotion from his battle with the fake “Saga” drawn the Sanctuary’s attention?
That was certainly possible.
The battle had taken place very close to the Sanctuary.
It would not be surprising if Saga’s senses had detected it.
Aside from that obvious explanation, however, there was another possibility.
The Sanctuary, or more precisely, the real Saga who ruled as Pope, might already have known about the fake “Saga” and the attempt on Seiya’s life.
He might even have been involved in the plot.
If they were working together, that would explain why the fake “Saga” could use Galaxian Explosion and Another Dimension, techniques known only to generations of Gemini Saints.
But whether it was the former possibility or the latter, Ryosho’s situation was far from favorable.
Any investigation into him would inevitably involve Manos and Cynthia.
He did not need to fear the benevolent Saga.
But Evil Saga, who had inherited the position of Pope under the name Arles, was another matter entirely.
Manos and Cynthia were Ryosho’s greatest vulnerability.
After arriving in this unfamiliar world with no family or friends, it was Manos and Cynthia who had given him the warmth of a home and the care of a family.
When he struggled with the language and the many difficulties of daily life, they had continued to support and encourage him, giving him the strength to keep going.
No matter what happened, he would never allow either of them to face danger or misfortune.
With that thought, Ryosho looked at Shaina again and spoke solemnly.
“Thank you, Shaina.
This warning is very important to me.
It is more than enough to repay the favor you owed me.”
Still facing away from him, Shaina glanced back from the corner of her eye.
“I’ve delivered the warning.
Take care of yourself.”
With that, Shaina quickly left.
Ryosho remained where he was, considering whether he should still sneak into the Sanctuary.
While he was struggling with the decision, Marin appeared in the distance.
“Well, tonight is certainly lively.”
Ryosho looked up at Marin as she hurried toward him and could not help but remark.