Chapter 26

After escaping from the factory dungeon and confirming its disappearance, I, along with Mr. Kido, gratefully received the thanks from Mr. Higashi and the other factory workers before leaving the scene.

The next dungeon is on a hill in the suburbs, and we will use public transportation to get there. Since it’s around lunchtime, we decided to stop at a fast food restaurant in front of the station to grab a bite.

"It’s been a while since I had a hamburger. The junk food satisfaction isn’t bad at all."

"It’s reassuring, hasn’t changed from the past to the present. I think it probably won’t change much in the future either."

We bit into our hamburgers while talking. After clearing two dungeons, our stomachs were quite empty, but we couldn’t overeat since we still had another battle ahead. We aimed for being about 80% full, and I managed to control my voracious appetite as a student, swallowing the hamburger, fries, and juice set into my stomach.

"Itadakimasu."

"Itadakimasu... Phew. Let’s take a moment to relax and check our status."

"Sure, go ahead."

After saying itadakimasu with clasped hands, I used the post-meal moment to display the status screen. After clearing two dungeons, my level might have increased, or I might have gained a new title. At least until this morning, I was a "Work-Life Balancer," but what about now?

Name: Yamagata Kosei

Level: 20

Title: One who walks the path with courage and lives with compassion

Skills:

Name: Walk through the barren wasteland where even the wind does not blow

Name: O soul seeking salvation, the wind comes with light

Title: One who walks the path with courage and lives with compassion

Description: To use the power in one’s hands correctly is called courage.

To protect the good with the power in one’s hands is called compassion.

Effect: When specific skills are activated, a luminescence phenomenon is granted.

Light is emitted from the entire body, healing the spirits of those who see it.

"Title 'One who walks the path with courage and lives with compassion' confirmed as the world’s first acquisition."

"First acquisition bonus granted. All base abilities are raised by one level."

"......A soul that upholds courage and compassion is one that is wrapped in light. This is the brilliant light that signifies your noble soul."

"......Luminescence?"

I was stunned. That was all I could think.

Luminescence? Emit light? What? What is this? How do I explain this?

"Kosei-kun?"

"Mr. Kido... It seems I’m a firefly squid."

"A firefly squid...?"

"Or maybe a lanternfish."

I managed to squeeze out these words to Mr. Kido and looked up at the sky. System, what do you want from me? What do you want me to do? Defeat some evil thoughts or something? Emit light from my whole body?

No way! Just because I’m a shiny new first-year, you’re really going to make me glow? What does courage and compassion have to do with me glowing when I start fighting?

"System, what do you want from me...!"

"What happened? I can sense that your title has changed."

I explained to Mr. Kido about the new title, "One who walks the path with courage and lives with compassion," and the luminescence effect. She was completely frozen, unable to understand it. She had to ask me several times to grasp the current situation. It’s no wonder; who would have thought the effect would be such a nuisance?

She looked at me with a terribly awkward expression.

"Kosei-kun, you glow?"

"It seems so."

It’s like buying a toy and finding out it glows in the dark. I didn’t ask for it, it’s not particularly valuable, and it’s a bit annoying and bothersome.

What’s the point of this? We discussed it for a while.

"Apparently, the luminescence has an effect of healing the spirits of those who see it."

"Like aromatherapy? By the way, are there similar effects?"

"I know there are skills like 'Massage' and 'Mental Care' that focus on mental follow-up, but they are all active."

"They can be turned on and off by the user’s will."

"Being forced to emit light and interfere with others’ spirits without the user’s will is quite unheard of. It completely ignores the user’s will."

"That’s scary..."

The specific skill that triggers the luminescence is unknown, but the idea of glowing automatically without my will or intention is terrifying and uncontrollable.

The effect of healing spirits is vague and unclear. Giving someone the ability to influence others’ minds without control is too scary.

This title is nothing but problems and concerns. I’m now stuck with a major landmine, and I don’t know what to do.

Just then, Mr. Kido’s smartphone rang.

"Yes, this is Kido."

"What do we do with this...?"

I thought, do I have to live as a glowing human from now on? I might end up on a documentary about mysterious people from around the world. If I start glowing while walking at night, I’ll be considered a suspicious person. Or maybe I’ll become a local celebrity as the walking lantern man.

I was trembling at the thought of this terrifying future.

"Yes, yes. I understand, we’ll head there immediately. ...Kosei-kun."

"What’s wrong?"

"...Monsters have attacked the town. It’s what’s known as a 'stampede.'"

Mr. Kido’s words echoed with a serious expression.

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