[Reward Calculation Complete.]
[Returns Granted.]
Reinhard’s eyes lit up as the first reward appeared.
[Legendary Reward Granted: Fooling Enhanced.]
[Effect: Illusions created by Fooling can now physically affect the target.]
[Additional Effect: The effect becomes stronger when the target subconsciously accepts the illusion as reality.]
Reinhard raised an eyebrow. So illusions can actually hurt people now?
That was a significant upgrade. He glanced at one of the nearby officers, who was talking with a colleague and completely unaware of what Reinhard was about to do. "Let’s test it."
A faint distortion appeared around the officer’s feet, and the man suddenly stumbled as if the ground had shifted beneath him. "What...?!"
Reinhard dismissed the illusion before he could fall, and the officer looked around in confusion.
[Additional Reward Granted: Mana Reinforcement Enhanced.]
[Effect: Multiple areas of the body can now be reinforced simultaneously.]
[Available Areas: Arms, Legs, Torso, Senses.]
[Additional Effect: Allows smoother reinforcement during continuous movement.]
Reinhard flexed his fingers. Until now, he had to focus his mana on one part of his body at a time, and now he could reinforce several at once, arms, legs, torso, and even his senses. Judging by the timing, he was about to get a chance to test it.
CRASH!
Part of the ruined restaurant shifted again, sending large chunks of metal and debris hurtling toward the street.
Reinhard’s mana surged, strengthening his arms, legs, torso, and senses all at once, and he moved. His fist smashed one piece apart, his elbow shattered another, and his leg kicked a third away before it could reach the crowd.
The debris flew past him, and not a single piece touched Emily, Maki, or Lily.
He looked back. "You three okay?"
"We’re fine," Maki said. Emily nodded, and Lily gave him a thumbs-up.
Another notification appeared.
[Additional Experience Granted: Mana Sovereignty: One Year Experience.]
The moment it disappeared, Reinhard felt something change. His understanding of mana had grown deeper. It wasn’t stronger, but more precise.
He could feel the flow of mana through his body far more clearly, and tiny amounts of waste he would never have noticed before now stood out immediately.
Even shaping mana felt faster and cleaner, and the same amount of power took less mana than it had a moment ago.
[Legendary Additional Reward Granted: Veil Enhanced.]
[Effect: The duration increased to two minutes.]
[Additional Effect: Up to three attacks can now be concealed while Veil remains active.]
Reinhard’s eyes narrowed.
Veil had already hidden his presence and mana signature, and now it could hide his attacks too, a punch, a weapon, or even an ability. As long as he concealed it before it reached the target, it would stay hidden until the moment it landed.
[Legendary Additional Reward Granted: Iron Mind.]
[Effect: Mental pressure and psychological effects received by the user are reduced by 20%.]
Reinhard’s expression turned more serious. After what had happened during Emily’s treatment, he knew exactly why this mattered.
The pain had not only attacked his body. The visions, voices, and doubts had attacked his mind too.
Twenty percent might not sound impressive, but against an enemy who could attack the mind directly, every bit counted.
[Legendary Additional Reward Granted: Mind Glance.]
[Additional Uses Granted: 3.]
[Additional Effect: Allows deeper access to the target’s thoughts.]
[Restriction: Complete memories and direct mind control remain unavailable.]
Reinhard’s eyes brightened.
Three more.
The extra uses were useful, but the deeper access was even better. If someone was hiding something, he might now be able to see past their surface thoughts.
He would have to use it carefully, but he had a feeling it would come in handy sooner rather than later.
[Additional Reward Granted: Cooking Skill Advanced → Expert.]
Reinhard stared at it. "Expert?" His gaze drifted toward Lily, and a grin spread across his face. "She’s going to be unbearable."
[Additional Reward Granted: Legendary Recipe Obtained.]
[Rapid Regeneration Cuisine.]
[Effect: Temporarily accelerates the body’s natural regeneration.]
Reinhard nodded. Useful.
[Additional Reward Granted: Legendary Recipe Obtained.]
[Restoration Cuisine.]
[Effect: Gradually restores damaged physical functions when consumed consistently.]
Reinhard’s expression changed. He didn’t need to think twice about who came to mind. If the recipe worked the way it said, it could become another tool for Emily’s recovery, and he quietly memorized every detail.
[Legendary Additional Reward Granted: Merchant King’s Lens.]
[Effect: Can identify damaged or defective components within an object.]
[Additional Information: The Lens can estimate the cost of repairing the damaged component and its effect on the object’s value.]
A slow grin spread across Reinhard’s face. The original Lens had already let him find undervalued objects, and now it could spot defects no one else could see. That opened up an entirely new way to make money.
He glanced at a nearby piece of equipment and activated the Lens.
[Damaged Component Detected.]
[Estimated Repair Cost: $2,400.]
[Effect on Value: -$12,500.]
Reinhard’s eyes widened slightly. "Now we’re talking."
One final notification appeared.
[Legendary Additional Reward Granted: Link Chain.]
[Additional Effect: A link can now be established between two separate targets.]
[Restriction: The user does not need to be one of the linked targets.]
[Additional Information: Extremely High Mana Cost.]
Reinhard stared at it. Until now, Link Chain had required him to be one of the linked targets, and now he could connect two other people entirely. That opened up quite a few possibilities.
The notification disappeared, and Reinhard looked at the empty space in front of him. Eleven rewards, covering combat, utility, money, and cooking, and most importantly, two things that might help Emily.
His smile returned. "Not bad at all."
He pushed himself away from the wall. "Let’s go home."
Emily nodded, and the five of them started walking together, with Maki staying beside Emily and Yuna and Lily following behind.
By the time they reached the apartment building, Reinhard noticed a few people looking at them. A man passing by slowed down when he saw Emily, and his eyes moved from her to Reinhard and back again. "Wait..."
Another person looked over, then another, and whispers began to spread about the man from the restaurant who had saved everyone.
Nobody approached them, and no crowd formed.
Lily looked around with an amused expression. "You’re famous."
Reinhard shrugged. "It’s expected."
"You’re enjoying this."
"Maybe a little."
The moment they stepped into the apartment, Lily stopped.
The television was already showing the news, footage of the damaged restaurant followed by emergency crews helping civilians away from the scene.
Then the report shifted, and Reinhard’s face appeared on the screen as the reporter described an unidentified Awakener who had stepped in during the attack and protected several civilians before the explosion.
Lily stared. "Wow."
Maki folded her arms. "Things won’t be quiet anymore."
"Probably not," Reinhard said, and then he remembered his newest reward. Three more uses of Mind Glance, with deeper access to people’s thoughts, and his curiosity won.
He glanced at Maki, who stood by the couch with her arms folded, watching the news with her usual reserved expression. He activated Mind Glance, and her thoughts surfaced.
He really did save us. I still don’t understand what happened to him. But... I’m glad he was there.
Another thought followed.
If Reinhard hadn’t been there, I don’t think I could have protected everyone.
The connection faded, and a faint smile crossed Reinhard’s face. So she was finally admitting he was useful. He had a feeling Maki would rather swallow glass than say it out loud, but he would take the victory anyway.
His attention shifted to Yuna. She was still watching the television, but there was tension in her face, and Reinhard activated Mind Glance again.
I’m glad I’m an Awakener. If I wasn’t... so many people would have died.
Reinhard’s expression softened as another thought surfaced.
Reinhard really has changed. I’m glad.
A faint smile touched his lips. He would take that too. But then Yuna’s thoughts drifted back to the restaurant.
That last attack... that magic grenade came so close. If Reinhard hadn’t grabbed me and gotten us out...
The connection disappeared, and Reinhard’s eyes narrowed. A magic grenade. So that was what the strange sphere had been. He hadn’t known what it was when he stopped it. He had only known it was dangerous. Good thing I didn’t stop to figure it out first.
His gaze moved to Lily, who was sitting on the couch watching the news and glancing over at him every so often. He activated Mind Glance a third time.
We could have gotten hurt. I’m glad Reinhard came. I don’t want him to get hurt.
Reinhard stared for a moment. That was unexpectedly sweet. Then one more thought surfaced.
Idiot.
The connection faded, and a smile slowly spread across his face. There she is. That was much more like Lily. He decided not to tease her, at least not yet.
Only Emily was left. Reinhard looked at her and hesitated for a moment before he activated Mind Glance.
He’s really an Awakener now. I’m glad.
Reinhard smiled faintly, and then another thought appeared.
I want to recover soon. Then maybe I can take him deeper into the world.
Reinhard raised an eyebrow. Deeper into the world? Before he could wonder what she meant, her thoughts shifted.
But he and Yuna came so close to getting hurt. If they had been any slower... The thought stopped, and then suddenly, Could the explosion be because... those pests again?
The connection vanished, and the smile left Reinhard’s face. Pests?
He looked at Emily. She was still focused on the television, her expression calm, and if not for Mind Glance, he would never have known that thought had crossed her mind.
Apparently, there was a part of his wife’s past she still hadn’t told him about, and judging by that single thought, whatever had happened before might not have stayed in the past.
His curiosity immediately wanted answers. Who were these people, what had they done to Emily, and why did she think they might be behind tonight’s explosion?
There were plenty of ways to find out.
He could ask her directly, wait until Mind Glance recovered and look deeper, or start digging into her past himself.
Reinhard considered each one, and then he let them go. Not yet. If Emily wanted to tell him, she would tell him when she was ready.
He wasn’t going anywhere, and he had plenty of time.
Emily suddenly turned toward him. "Thank you."
Reinhard blinked. "For what?"
She looked at him for a moment. "For staying."
His expression softened. "I’m your husband," he said with a smile. "Where else would I be?"
Emily’s lips curved upward, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. Whatever those pests were, Reinhard would deal with them when the time came. For now, he had a wife who was smiling at him, and that was enough.