I asked the Transcending System a series of questions, mainly to determine its uses and limitations.
I learned some things that were pretty neat.
And pretty concerning.
Basically, I had parallel thought streams now.
One where I was monitoring and narrating myself from a semi-dissociated perspective, like so.
And another where my conscious thought lived.
Which was private, I suppose?
It was weird.
Anyway, the System’s AI wasn’t sentient.
It was just a super-complex magical algorithm.
Magic was real, and it was pretty much just programming reality, which was cool as fuck.
But the System made it clear that it didn’t allow cheating.
If I wanted to learn magic, I had to learn it correctly.
Bummer.
Reasonable, but annoying.
I found out that by thinking Status intentionally and strongly, I could project a screen into my mind’s eye that quantified my physical abilities and conceptual stability into numbers.
However the fuck that worked.
The soul could be quantified?
The concept of identity and individual reality could be measured?
Who was the judge?
Who made the measuring stick?
Eh.
Screw it.
The System said it would give me a quest log.
It would never force me to do anything.
It would simply record the decisions I had made.
It was kind of like a save file in a video game.
Only instead of saving game data, it was more like my fundamental understanding of reality was being saved.
Not my progress in life.
It’s just there as a reminder of what I have chosen to do with my reality.
System, are there any starter packs or something?
I’m really not looking forward to all the looks the Student Council President is going to give me now that I have an existence.
[Request acknowledged.] DING.
[Starter Foundation Package acquired.] [You have received: ????
Soul Bloodline.] [You have acquired: Algorithmic Thinking.] [You have acquired: Fleet Footwork.] [You have acquired: Basic Talisman Crafting.] [You have acquired: Basic Onmyōdō.] [You have acquired: Basic Martial Arts.] I blinked.
“…Wait.
I thought you said you didn’t allow cheating?” [Correct.] [The System has provided foundational knowledge, compatibility, and initial pathways.] [Host must still practice.] Reasonable, but damn it.
No summoning electricity from my fingers yet.
As expected, my new sense of presence was noticed instantly by our wonderful Student Council President.
And by that, I mean a stuck-up bit— “Hello, President,” I said with a bow as she approached.
She didn’t seem to expect me to speak to her first.
What?
I was just being polite.
She stood there with a furrowed brow behind her glasses.
She looked confused, but not offended.
Although she was famous for being a hard-ass, she was beautiful.
Sharp glare.
Perfect posture.
Not my type, though.
And no, brain, we are not comparing devil heiresses….
gifts right now.
“Hello,” she said, clearing her throat as she looked me in the eyes.
“Are you a new student?” “No?
I’m in my second year here.” I really hoped she wasn’t doing mind-reading magic.
“I’m so sorry!” She quickly bowed in apology.
“You looked familiar to me.” “It’s okay!” Seriously!
I did not need a member of the seventy-two Pillars of Hell bowing to me!
Why were Middle Eastern and European demons in Japan?!
[Title Effect: Karma Magnet has activated.] Ah, motherfucker.
[Canon proximity increased.] I looked at the Student Council President.
She glanced at me with focused eyes before reaching out her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you.
My name is Sona Shitori.” She introduced herself kindly, then looked at me expectantly.
Right.
My name.
“My name is Raoul.
Uh—Raoul Kurokaze.” I shook her hand.
I didn’t have a surname.
That was what felt right, though.
“Well, Kurokaze-san,” she said, adjusting her glasses, “get to class.” “Yes, President.” As I left, I could feel her and the others in the Student Council glancing at me.
[Stabilization increased.] [Host has acquired provisional surname: Kurokaze.] [Warning: Names carry power.] — [Status] Name: Raoul Kurokaze Race: Physical Human Classification: Former NPC Existence Density: 0.01% Soul Integrity: 5.25% Soul Bloodline: ????
Narrative Weight: Negligible Titles: [Karma Magnet] Current World: Draconic Deus — Attributes: Str: 10 Int: 8 Wis: 7 Dex: 6 Luk: 99 — Skills: Algorithmic Thinking – Think in systems.
– Fleet Footwork – Avoid getting hit.
– Basic Onmyōdō – Repel evil.
Purify corruption.
Establish order.
– Basic Martial Arts – You can kind of fight.
– Talisman Crafting – Your talismans look like a toddler drew them, but they work.