Chapter 10

The Keiyo Line, which represents Chiba Prefecture, immediately stops whenever a typhoon or a bit of strong crosswind occurs.

Whether it is world-famous or not, I don't know, but when it comes to theme parks that boast high visitor numbers in Japan, Chiba Makiland is a staple.

Of course, Maihama Station is on the Keiyo Line.

People who don't know the geography well apparently call it Tokyo Makiland by mistake, but since it's in Chiba, I wish they would call it Chiba Makiland.

Currently, I am at the Chiba Employment Service Office, which is about a 10-minute walk from Chiba Port Station, one of the stations on the Keiyo Line.

"Number 11, please!"

A voice comes from the Employment Service Office consultation window.

The number "11" is also displayed on the machine hanging from the ceiling.

Of course, the waiting number in the clear file I am holding is also "11."

"Yes."

I head to the consultation window and sit in the chair designated for my number.

"Hello."

A slightly older man, probably over 50, speaks to me.

"Nice to meet you."

We exchange brief greetings.

Perhaps it's not necessary to exchange greetings, but such things are essential for smooth interactions as a working adult.

First, I try to be friendly to people who might be beneficial to me.

By doing so, I make them feel good about their work and hope to achieve good results.

"Let me take a look."

The man examines the clear file I placed on the desk.

After looking at it for a while, he says, "I'll check it," and starts typing on the computer, suddenly frowning.

"Is there a problem?"

I ask, thinking there might be an issue with the job content.

"---No, please wait a moment."

The man at the consultation window goes to speak with a more senior man sitting in the back.

From where I am, I can't see the detailed information about the companies that the Employment Service Office staff can see.

The only thing I can say is that, probably, the company information contained some unfavorable content.

"Thank you for waiting."

"No, so, how is it?"

"It seems that all the companies you submitted are recruiting only women..."

"But that wasn't written anywhere?"

"No, it's not allowed to recruit only men or only women under the Equal Employment Opportunity Law."

"---I see..."

All five of the job application forms I submitted were rejected...

This means I can't even verify my charm status in an interview.

"---But!"

"Yes?"

Suddenly, the male staff member, whose nameplate read "Ueyamada," grabs my hand.

"Mr. Yamagishi, I understand that you don't have anyone supporting you..."

"Ah, yes... well..."

I nod several times, slightly pulling back.

---More importantly, let go of my hand!

"Would you like to marry my daughter?"

"No, thank you."

---I answer immediately.

"Please reconsider! My daughter is 27 years old."

"No, thank you! Excuse me."

I shake off his arm, ignore the voice calling "Mr. Yamagishi!" from behind, and leave the Chiba Employment Service Office, sitting down on a bench next to the entrance.

"Ha... What's going on? You're really overstepping into my private life."

Normally, this would be unthinkable.

If he did something like that, he would deserve to be fired without complaint.

"---Hmm? Normally...?"

Then I notice.

A girl, about 5 years old, holding her mother's hand, is staring at me intently.

When our eyes meet, she opens her big, bright eyes, blushes, lets go of her mother's hand, and approaches me.

"Uncle... I like you!"

Suddenly, the little girl hugs me, and a woman in her late 20s screams, "What are you doing?!"

I freeze at the sudden situation.

People walking by turn their gazes toward me.

Some out of curiosity---

Others out of suspicion that I'm a criminal!

"Mom! I'm going to marry Uncle!"

"You! What are you doing to my daughter?!"

"I'm not doing anything. I was just sitting."

This is completely baseless.

"Then give my daughter back!"

The hysterical mother yells, and I sigh.

"You, there's a huge age gap between us. If we keep this up, I'll end up in jail, so can you please go back to your mom?"

"...If we get married, it won't be a problem!"

That's a big problem.

I'll be socially dead.

I stand up, forcibly hand the little girl back to her mother, and run toward Chiba South Station.

After running for about 10 seconds, I start to breathe heavily, but I keep running.

As I approach the intersection, the voice calling "Uncle!" fades away, and I feel relieved.

What's going on...

Strange things keep happening.

"Could it be..."

A revelation descends upon me.

Could this be the effect of increasing my charm status?

I can't think of any other explanation.

I run to Chiba Port Station, pass through the ticket gate, and board the nearly empty Chiba Urban Monorail.

"Really..."

I sigh, placing my hand on my forehead, muttering words I usually keep to myself.

The reason is related to the semi-transparent window that appears in my field of vision, displaying text.

---You have obtained the skill "Loli King LV1."

What... Loli King...

I've never looked at little girls like that.

At the very least, I understand that protecting children is an adult's responsibility.

This is a complete misunderstanding.

"Ha---"

Only a sigh escapes me.

The Chiba Urban Monorail continues to run quietly, carrying my gloomy mood.

Then it stops.

I sense a large number of people boarding.

Looking up, I see that the station platform is labeled "Chiba Monorail Station."

It seems I've arrived at the largest station in Chiba.

Of course, a large number of people boarding is to be expected.

"Hey, that guy..."

As I'm lost in thought, I hear a voice.

"Yeah, isn't he really uncool?"

"Ah, he's a bit chubby, but he's cool!"

"Maybe I like the belly part!"

I turn my gaze toward the source of the voices.

There are some high school girls, apparently talking about me, but they turn away as soon as I look at them.

---No, maybe I'm just imagining it...

Surely I'm not cool...

"No---, wait a moment..."

Could it be that by increasing my charm status, I'm being seen as attractive by the opposite sex?

---In other words, if I keep increasing my charm status, I could even get a rich woman and use her, right?

And the "ideal parasitic life" wouldn't be a dream.

---That's ridiculous...

Absolutely ridiculous.

Even if someone likes me because of my status, it wouldn't be genuine...

That's something I despise the most.

Such things are not real.

I don't need such lies.

I don't need such things.

---The thought of manipulating affection through status makes me feel sick.

Suddenly, a "ping" sound rings out, and a semi-transparent plate appears in my field of vision.

---Do you want to reset your status? (y/n)

Without hesitation, I choose "y" to reset my status.

A "ping" sound rings out.

No one in the train seems to notice.

Perhaps only I can hear it.

I immediately check my status.

Name: Yamagishi Naoto

Age: 41

Height: 162 cm

Weight: 102 kg

Level 64

HP 640/640

MP 640/640

Strength 17(+)

Agility 11(+)

Power 16(+)

Magic 0(+)

Luck 0(+)

Charm 0(+)

▽ Owned Points 23

It seems my status has returned to its initial state.

The high school girls who were looking at me and gossiping a moment ago are now talking among themselves, as if they never gossiped about me at all.

Seeing this, I feel a bit relieved.

...Still, there's a ▽ mark on the left side of the owned points... What is it? I don't remember this from before.

I think about pressing the ▽ mark.

The ▽ button changes to a darker color.

Name: Yamagishi Naoto

Age: 41

Height: 162 cm

Weight: 102 kg

Level 64

HP 640/640

MP 640/640

Strength 17(+)

Agility 11(+)

Power 16(+)

Magic 0(+)

Luck 0(+)

Charm 0(+)

▼ Owned Points 23

Reset Owned Points 40, 300 seconds to unlock

...I see.

The points don't reset but go into a waiting state...

That's 300 seconds.

In other words, after 300 seconds---5 minutes, I can reallocate my skill points.