Chapter 9 of 10

Chapter 9

4 min read1,104 words

"It looks like a game, but how am I supposed to press these buttons?"

Four rectangular buttons are displayed at the bottom of my field of vision. No matter how I touch the rectangular buttons with my fingers, nothing changes.

--- However, the layout of the icons, the placement of the level, HP, and MP bars within my field of vision gives me a vague sense of déjà vu. It feels like I've seen this somewhere before...

"--- No good, I can't remember. First, I need to figure out what's happening to me. The icons are [Status], [Magic], [Skills], and [System]... Now, how do I---"

I think about how to press the buttons. As soon as I consider pressing the status button, the green button turns black, and a semi-transparent window appears in my field of vision.

Name: Naoto Yamagishi

Age: 41

Height: 162 cm

Weight: 102 kg

Level 41

HP 410/410

MP 410/410

Strength 17(+)

Agility 11(+)

Power 16(+)

Magic 0(+)

Luck 0(+)

Charisma 0(+)

Owned Points: 40

"......I see..."

Looking at the displayed status, I understand it somewhat. This status probably represents my current state. I don't know if my Strength, Agility, and Power are high or low since I don't know what the average person's stats are. And since this world doesn't have magic, it makes sense that my Magic is 0.

But there's something I can't understand. It's the fact that my Charisma and Luck are 0. Especially the lack of Charisma is clearly wrong.

I may not look it, but I should be able to maintain a decent social life at work. I'm often relied upon when something happens.

So, having zero Charisma seems like a bug in the system.

"Maybe it's because I'm not a regular explorer but an outlier."

Rrrrrr.

While I'm thinking, my smartphone rings. Who would call at this late hour? The date has already changed. Reluctantly, I answer the call.

"Yes, this is Yamagishi---"

"It's Sasaki. Senior, something terrible has happened! Please help me!"

"Me and you are no longer in a senior-junior relationship at the temp agency. As a working adult, you should handle it yourself."

I hang up on the former colleague and junior who called me at such a late hour. He really has no sense of propriety.

--- I'm not your friend, you know.

Well, to begin with, I don't have any friends. Every time I get a new phone, it's a hassle to tell my acquaintances the new number. Because of this, my friendships reset with each new phone.

It's a common occurrence.

So, the only contacts saved in my smartphone are from the temp agency and my family.

"Hmm..."

I still have no idea why my Charisma is 0.

It might be a bug, but I don't know if it's a different system from other explorers.

"--- Well, then."

Next is...

Rrrrrr--- Click!

"Yes, this is Yamagishi."

"Senior! Something terrible has happened!"

"Haah. Were you even listening to me? You're a college student, you should handle your own problems."

"--- But!"

--- Click!

"I'll turn off my smartphone for now."

--- Well, then...

"First, let's check the status."

Name: Naoto Yamagishi

Age: 41

Height: 162 cm

Weight: 102 kg

Level 41

HP 410/410

MP 410/410

Strength 17(+)

Agility 11(+)

Power 16(+)

Magic 0(+)

Luck 0(+)

Charisma 0(+)

Owned Points: 40

"The owned points are probably the points I got from defeating the Raging Spirit Tree and leveling up. There's no other explanation."

I imagine clicking the (+) next to Strength. I learned earlier that the buttons and icons in my field of vision can be activated just by focusing on them.

Name: Naoto Yamagishi

Age: 41

Height: 162 cm

Weight: 102 kg

Level 41

HP 410/410

MP 410/410

Strength 18(+)

Agility 11(+)

Power 16(+)

Magic 0(+)

Luck 0(+)

Charisma 0(+)

Owned Points: 39

"I see, my prediction was correct..."

But--- there's one problem. Once I've spent points to increase a status, there's no (-) icon to reduce it, so I can't undo it. Is that the only issue?

"--- Well, then, I need to decide which status to allocate points to."

I carefully consider which status to allocate points to. I can't waste the points.

Thinking about the future, I decide---

"Alright! I've decided which status to increase."

I immediately allocate points to the chosen status.

Name: Naoto Yamagishi

Age: 41

Height: 162 cm

Weight: 102 kg

Level 41

HP 410/410

MP 410/410

Strength 18(+)

Agility 11(+)

Power 16(+)

Magic 0(+)

Luck 0(+)

Charisma 39(+)

Owned Points: 0

"Well, I don't know if it will really have an effect, but maybe having Charisma will be advantageous for job hunting."

I nod several times. I have no impure thoughts about being popular with the opposite sex. From my real-life experiences, including online, I know that dating women only wastes time and money and brings no benefits.

So, it's only for the sake of making job interviews go smoothly! I need to keep that in mind.

"--- Well, then."

Just in case, I'll level up and strengthen my status. I don't know if it will really help, but...

I open the drawer. The dungeon inside the drawer is still there. First, I need to find prey. I want something strong.

I look down into the miniature dungeon.

I spot a black lizard-like creature about a centimeter long.

I crush the black lizard with my index finger.

Suddenly, a semi-transparent window appears in my field of vision, displaying "--- LV671 Dark Dragon defeated." When I defeated the Raging Spirit Tree earlier, there was a loud noise, but there's none this time. This is a good thing, but the window shows:

--- Level up. Gained 1 point.

The level in the top-left corner of my field of vision also increases.

"Level 64, HP 640/HP 640, MP 640/MP 640... My level has increased dramatically. The problem is the owned points..."

Name: Naoto Yamagishi

Age: 41

Height: 162 cm

Weight: 102 kg

Level 64

HP 640/640

MP 640/640

Strength 18(+)

Agility 11(+)

Power 16(+)

Magic 0(+)

Luck 0(+)

Charisma 39(+)

Owned Points: 23

"--- Well, what should I do? I'll keep 23 points for testing. If I get an interview, I can try allocating points in front of the interviewer and see their reaction."