Chapter 4

< My Little Brother is Strange (2) >

I've come back to the past, haven't I? Wasn't it supposed to be as if it never happened?

‘Does what happened before I came back still affect me?’

That's why the caregiver title changed, right?

Before checking the title, I looked at the rest of my stats.

[Level 1

Health: 6 Strength: 4 Agility: 5 Spirit: 4 Magic: 2]

Hmm, this is the same. Except for magic, the average stats for level 1 are less than 5, which is an F grade.

The Awakened's stat grade is determined by the average stats at the same level, excluding the extremely slow-growing magic. So, the stat grade can change based on growth, but usually, it can only rise by one or two levels at most. It's impossible for a cat to become a tiger.

[Skills

Spirit Boost (E): +5% Spirit (Immediate effect, cannot stack with similar or identical skills), Duration: 30 minutes

Agility Boost (E): +5% Agility (Immediate effect, cannot stack with similar or identical skills), Duration: 30 minutes]

The basic skills were similar to before. In the past, it was Strength instead of Spirit, probably because the awakening situation changed.

The skill grade is E, one level above the bottom. It's a decent skill that can rise to D if well cultivated.

‘But I couldn't raise the grade because Yuhwan kept interfering.’

Even if the stats are F, if the skill reaches D, the Awakened's grade can rise to E. So, it's not uncommon for someone with F stats to become a B grade due to their skill. About one in fifty million?

There is one Awakened in the world with F stats and an SS skill, reaching A grade. Emily Spence, the Saint who can save someone as long as they are still breathing, is a remarkable lady who was often suggested to be S grade. However, she remained A grade because she couldn't help in S grade dungeons, which are too dangerous to protect F grade stats.

‘I'll barely pass the Hunter qualification this time too.’

There are many Awakened in the world. They were already common, but after the Awakening Center opens in half a year, everyone from the old man next door to the kid next door and the uncle behind will become Awakened.

However, out of 1,000 Awakened, 999 have F stats and F skills. In other words, they are just ordinary people.

Moreover, F grade skills cannot grow, so their grade cannot be raised.

Therefore, the Hunter qualification is only issued when either the stats or the skill is E grade or higher. This is why there are many Awakened but few Hunters.

‘Now, the title...’

I swallowed dryly. Not A or S, but L. Two legendary titles.

However, there was no change in my stats.

‘Is Dragon Slayer a skill title?’

Titles are divided into skill titles and stat titles.

Stat titles directly increase stats, while skill titles come with additional skills.

An L-grade stat title would at least raise the stats to B grade, which is a pity.

‘If my stats were B grade, Yuhwan wouldn't overprotect me. I guess I can only rely on the skills.’

Defense skill, come out, defense skill, come out.

I prayed and opened the Dragon Slayer title information window.

[Dragon Slayer (L)

Proof of a hero who single-handedly hunted a 1st-grade dragon (Rautitas).

Title Additional Skills

Poison Resistance (L)

Curse Resistance (L)

Fear Resistance (L)

Rautitas's Nemesis (SS)]

Four initial additional skills, indeed legendary. Usually, S grade has 2-3, A grade has 2, and lower grades have 1 initial additional skill. Moreover, B grade or higher titles can grow, potentially adding more skills.

‘All the skills are related to Rautitas. If I defeat a fire dragon, I get fire resistance, and if I defeat an ice dragon, I get freeze resistance, right?’

Rautitas is known for its poison and curses.

The resistance skills' effects can be guessed from their names, but I checked them anyway.

[Poison Resistance (L) - Completely immune to all poisons below legendary]

[Curse Resistance (L) - Completely immune to all curses below legendary]

[Fear Resistance (L) - Nullifies all intimidation below legendary]

These are really good, almost cheating, skills.

If I were an A grade or higher Hunter on the front lines, that is.

‘Where can I use these?’

There are dungeons that focus on poison and curses, but most require physical attacks. Even Rautitas, which is immune to poison and curses, would slice me with its claws if my agility and physical defense are not up to par.

‘On the other hand, if an S grade Hunter had this title, they would be unstoppable.’

It's like putting a pearl necklace on a pig, ugh.

I sighed deeply and checked the last skill, Rautitas's Nemesis (SS).

[Rautitas's Nemesis (SS) - All skill effects are doubled when facing Rautitas and similar dragons]

It's a miss! A complete miss!

All the skills are resistances and buffs. Even if they double in front of a giant lizard, they would just be snacks! The same goes for similar dragons. Even the weakest 5th-grade dragon is not something an F grade can mess with.

‘Damn, so frustrating! If this went to someone else, especially an S grade, how could I not give it to Yuhwan?’

If Yuhwan had these amazing skills with double effects, he could beat Rautitas like a dog!

“Ahh, ahh-.”

It's so frustrating that I want to cry and my stomach is twisting. Ahh, so frustrating!

After hitting the ground for a while, I calmed down and looked at my status window again.

‘Perfect Caregiver is still useful, right?’

Yeah, I decided to live quietly, so I shouldn't think about crawling into dungeons. I should just give growth buffs and live.

[Perfect Caregiver (L)

Proof of a caregiver who raised a world-class strong person. The caregiver's past stats were 100% higher than the current stats of the person they raised, making it even more perfect.]

······What?

Wait, what's this in the title description?

The first part is the same as the previous Caregiver title. Proof of a caregiver who raised a world-class strong person. But the Perfect Caregiver has an additional line.

‘If the person raised has 100% higher stats... Could it be that Yuhwan died and received a double buff, and that's why my title became Perfect Caregiver?’

A past event that disappeared in the future is affecting the present. Thinking about it makes me feel strange. Is it okay? Could there be other side effects besides the title?

‘But it really is a legendary title.’

It's extremely difficult to achieve the title conditions.

You have to raise a world-class strong person, at least S grade, and be twice as strong as that S grade in the past.

‘I got it because of the past regression trick, but if done properly, it would take a munchkin of SSS grade to raise an S grade.’

If the person raised dies and receives a double buff, it doesn't count because it's not in the past. After that, raising another S grade would be possible, but is that easy? As far as I know, I'm the only one with the Caregiver title for raising an S grade.

There might be others who kept it hidden like me.

‘Then, the skills...’

How did they change? I looked down slightly and checked the additional skills.

[My Child is the Best (L)

Final Revenge (L)

My Child is So Good (SS)

A Promising Seedling (S)]

The number of skills is the same as Dragon Slayer, four, but the grades are lower. Two L grades, one SS grade, and one S grade. Of course, this is still impressive, but it's a bit lower compared to the same L-grade title.

‘But this is much more useful to me.’

With a satisfied feeling, I opened the information window for My Child is the Best. The skill name is terrible.

[My Child is the Best (L) - +100% growth speed of the target who hears the keyword

Duration: 3 days

Once the target is inspired, the keyword is not needed

Cannot be used on the same target again

30-day cooldown for the same target

Keyword: I love you

※Cannot be applied if the target is aware of the keyword's effect

Inspired Target (1)

Yuhwan (S)]

Good, all good.

‘What the hell, why is the keyword like this?!’

It was definitely "cheer up" before! Is it because I told Yuhwan I love him? Did he get inspired by that?

Damn!

‘How am I supposed to use this?!’

It might be doable with family or even adult women, but what about men? Or children? I could end up with a silver bracelet trying to raise a minor Awakened!

Moreover, just saying "I love you" to anyone won't work. If the conditions are the same as the previous skill, you need to spend time with the target, listen to their interests, and engage emotionally before saying the keyword at the right moment.

Or save their life in an extreme situation and confess...

Confess. Yeah, I'll end up confessing. Haha.

‘...I'll just use it on Yuhwan.’

It's a pity, but I have no choice. Fortunately, I only need to say the keyword once to inspire them.

...Once, so if there's someone worth raising, I might pretend to be crazy and use it. Ugh.

While in deep thought, I opened the information window for Final Revenge.

[Final Revenge (L) - When the inspired target dies, transfer their skills and stats with double efficiency

Duration: 7 days]

It's the upper-level version of my previous skill, Final Repayment. Seven days is quite long, but it's a one-time use. Why is it L grade?

‘This should be sealed.’

It's better not to use it, and I can't tell anyone about it.

Think about it. Who would welcome a skill that can steal abilities by killing someone? It would make people feel uncomfortable and suspicious. They would think, "If we're in a dangerous situation, that guy will kill me and survive."

So, I didn't tell anyone before the regression.

Next, I checked the skill My Child is So Good. The name is terrible too.

[My Child is So Good (SS) - When cheering for the inspired target with the keyword in front of five or more intelligent beings, the target's stats and skill effects increase by the number of intelligent beings (up to 100%)

Duration: 30 minutes

10-day cooldown

※Cannot be applied if the target and surrounding intelligent beings are aware of the keyword's effect]

The keyword. That damn keyword.

I thoroughly checked the skill information window, but there was no specific keyword mentioned. That means...

‘This time, it's a public confession!!’

Shit, I can't even use this on Yuhwan!

The skill itself is good. Really good. If I gather 100 spectators, it's a double boost.

But why is it a love confession? Is it trying to make me die of embarrassment?

‘And with a 30-minute duration, I have to be right next to them.’

After calming down, I realized I couldn't use it properly. I can use My Child is the Best before entering a dungeon because it lasts 3 days, but if I use My Child outside the dungeon, the effect will wear off before the boss fight, let alone halfway through.

Moreover, there are dungeon member limits.

‘Sigh, this is just a pie in the sky.’

I really want to give it to someone. If I give it to a pretty buffer or healer with B-grade stats, they can use it without feeling weird, and it would be perfect.

A skill that increases all stats and skill effects at once is A grade even at +10%. There are many stats-boosting skills, but skill-effect-boosting skills are rare. S-grade dungeons usually have a 30-person limit, so if it's fully filled, it's a +30% boost. It would be incredibly helpful in boss fights, but it's so frustrating.

Not being able to use Final Revenge and this skill properly, I can't help but sigh.

‘The grades are good, but most are misses.’

With no expectations, I checked the last skill, A Promising Seedling.

[A Promising Seedling (S) - Can check the expected awakening grade of a non-awakened person and optimize the awakening of the inspired target

30-day cooldown for optimized awakening]

······Huh? Wait a minute.

‘This is amazing!’

Just being able to check the expected awakening grade is a big deal. It means I can pick out potential S or A grade Awakened in advance. But the real deal is the optimized awakening.

About three years later, it was discovered that post-awakening abilities change based on the awakening situation. For example, if you awaken in a drowning situation, you get water-related skills, and if you awaken in a falling situation, you get flight-related skills. Moreover, you can get plant control skills if you awaken while farming, and hypnosis skills if you awaken while dealing with difficult customers at a call center.

In my case, my title and some skills changed because I awakened in a different situation.

Moreover, there were studies showing that the awakening grade is also influenced by the awakening situation. Even if the maximum potential is A, if the situation is poor, the awakening grade could be B or lower.

But adjusting the awakening situation to match the target is not an easy task. It was impossible even five years later.

However, the A Promising Seedling skill allows optimized awakening.

‘The highest grade and the best skills based on potential!’

It means I can pick the best rookie every month.

Wow, this is really amazing, even L grade would be impressive...

‘...But it's another keyword.’

Ah, really. It's so dirty, really! Really, I, I!

...But I have to use it. Sob.

< My Little Brother is Strange (2) > End

ⓒ Geunseo

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