In Another World with Absolute Awareness

[Detected a Divine Branch. Would you like to store it in the system? Y/N]

Just like before, I clicked [Y].

[The Gaea System has received a Divine Branch from Hunter Aventine Tidea. (4/42 » 5/42)]

[You have gained an increase in . Each level-up will grant you an additional +1 to all your attributes.]

[Happy Hunting!]

Seeing the familiar messages after a while of silence, I found a mild sense of comfort.

Furthermore...

Did the Gaea System just... ding?

—Ding!

[As the Gaea System has been supplied with five (5) Divine Branches thus far, additional benefits per the Solaris Treaty will be made available!]

[Upgrades to the Gaea System will be completed in twenty-one (21) hours. Please look forward to it, Hunter Aventine Tidea!]

Oh wow, it can react to my thoughts now. How nice.

I opened up my stats.

[Name: Aventine Tidea]

[Level: 1]

[Health: 189/190]

[Mana: 600/600 » 117/630 (Mana Storage Capacity: 326/900 )]

[Gift: Absolute Awareness (???-Rank)]

[Physique: 19]

[Mind: 19]

[Spirit: 62 » 63]

[Traits: Perfect Estimate (B-Rank), Power of the Sky (A-Rank), Power of the Sea (A-Rank), Power of Death (A-Rank), Blessing of Light (SS-Rank)]

[Divine Branches Contributed: 4/42 » 5/42]

o=o=o=o

[Class: Mage (Third Circle)]

[Engraved Spells: Mana Core (108.66667/300 (x3) | F-Rank), Mana Storage (3/3 | E-Rank), Manakinesis (Lv. 1 | D-Rank)]

[Memorized Spells: (UPDATED!) Water Bullet (Available | E-Rank), Fireball (Locked | D-Rank), Chill (Locked | E-Rank), Earthen Grasp (Locked | E-Rank), Mana Flash (Locked | F-Rank)...

...

...

...

...

999+ more currently locked...]

Oh, it seemed like I’d somehow tapped into my memorized spells and unknowingly learned Water Bullet.

Well, it made sense since I scanned every magic spell cast in the earlier battle.

I understood how Water Bullet was cast, and I even grew familiar with higher-tier Water Magic.

Fighting had its charms indeed, but I guess it was only fun when it wasn’t aimless.

I made a significant impression on Kuvie.

That was the main goal of this battle. The drakon was secondary.

***

Roa sighed in relief upon seeing the drakon in her subordinate’s hands.

”We made it before the deadline.”

Cilliade’s exams were tomorrow. Today was literally their last chance to retrieve her pet.

Had the adventurer, Aventine, not acted with such ferocity and haste, then the Silo Family’s reputation would most likely take a hit when Cilliade failed to follow through with her promises for the ranking.

Looking at the adventurer in question, she caught a sight of his side profile.

Currently, his obsidian eyes were gleaming a fierce blue under the influence of mana. His similarly dark black hair seemed to glow the same shade as his eyes.

Mana swirled around him as they moved. Pouring straight into his body.

’?’

What a terrifying talent...

It was no wonder that Aventine’s spellcasting had been so seamless, without even an incantation.

From what Roa could see, the only reason that Aventine was still a Third-Circle Mage with D-Rank spells was a lack of an appropriate C-Rank spell to engrave for advancement.

His experience and abilities were indeed worthy of a C-Rank combatant.

Perhaps that was why he had turned to adventuring—to find an opportunity for an appropriate spell as he roamed the layers beneath Walvaskaz.

Understanding this, Roa was no longer so surprised.

”Adventurer Aventine, we would like to thank you for your help today. I will convey your contribution to our Young Miss.”

The young adventurer smiled and bowed slightly with grace. ”There’s no need to do that. In fact, I was quite... aware... of the dangers this quest would have entailed. I sensed it when I dove into the water.”

He paused, seemingly in thought. His eyes glazed over as if peering through an uncanny distance.

”Though I would appreciate it if you could spread the word of my name. I’m an... well, I guess you can call me an ... and if you need anything found or a place needs navigation—contact me through the Guild.”

A reasonable request.

Still, there was something she found curious. ”If I may ask... what was that magic spell that used the coin? I have never seen something like it.”

The young man raised a brow. ”Well, it’s the power of wealth!”

”...” Roa did not know how to reply.

** *

After parting ways with the group from the Silo Family, I found myself reviewing my earlier performance.

I adjusted my demeanor, my speech patterns, and even added a little bit more liveliness to my general façade. Unlike the time when I was acting like a rich, noble young master, it seemed like I embodied the whimsy of an adventurer quite well.

Perhaps it came a lot more naturally to me. This kind of freedom.

”With that said...”

It was time to visit a certain adventurer party.

After moving out of the water and quickly drying myself with a command using , I activated my gift.

[Absolute Awareness].

A few faces appeared in my consciousness, lingering in a tavern several blocks away.

Unfortunately, it seemed like they were packing up.

But for what?

Well, I belatedly realized how late it was. I didn’t notice it a while ago because of the constant murky glow of the aquatic area, but it was already deep into the night.

The sky above my head was dark, polluted only by a mild haze of lanterns and flames.

Perhaps it was indeed time to prepare for bed.

So, I hailed a carriage.

”To Chef Hau’goth’s barony.”

After an uneventful ride home, I locked myself in my tower, took a quick shower to wash off the grime of the aquatic slums, and observed my surroundings one last time...

And finally fell asleep.

”...”

When I woke up...

I didn’t wake up peacefully.

”Oh, shit.”

***

The was under attack.

Melia held her sword in front of her as she leapt backward to disengage. Her knuckles had turned white, yet despite it, she continued to fight.

—Swish!

A grotesque hand swung through the empty air she fled from.

It was a giant hand, connected to a giant arm... but it was connected to a body half her size.

’An Ogre Imp!’

Melia’s breathing became heavy as cold sweat trickled down her back.

In front of her was a minion—the cannon fodder of the Demon Race.

’I can’t even beat something like this?’

Biting her lip, the destined Hero, whose fated sword had been taken by another, felt deep despair.

Death was here for her soul.