After finding an inn for the night and sleeping, I decided to go around the city to find a place to eat breakfast. Right now I'm in the market district. I found a small bakery. Looking through what they offer, I decided to get a small chocolate pastry. Going to the shopkeeper, I see something that I did not think of — I see a really, really small curse spirit on the girl's shoulder. My power changed the reality. I asked my system:
"Yes, but on a really small scale. At most, at this level, you will meet really small cursed spirits, but it can change the stronger the template. But it works on things you need — like, you can't have cursed energy without cursed spirits. But if you get nen or magical power that are not consequences of the world the template is from, then there will not be any difference."
Thank god."Hello mister, what would you like?" the shopkeeper asks me.
"Yeah, I would like this chocolate pastry, what is it?"
"Chocolate and almond tart — our specialty. Would you like anything else?" she says with a smile but obviously strained.
"No, that would be all. But are you okay? You seem a bit tired."
"You're sweet, but don't worry, I'm okay."
"Don't worry, I know a technique to make the tiredness go if you'll let me."
"Okay, but nothing perverted, mister. I got my eyes on you," she tells me with a playful tone and smile. And with that, I kill the small curse on her shoulder with a swipe of my hand.
"Oh wow, you did not lie! It feels like I lost the weight on my shoulders, thank you mister! How did you do that?" she says, amazed. I just smile, tell her it's nothing, pay for my cake and leave, telling her goodbye.
"Hey mister, thank you very much, and please come back to the bakery!"
"Yeah sure, this pie is pretty good and the shopkeeper is pretty cute too," I say with a wave as she blushes.'What was that? I'm getting really influenced by my template. It must have been Senku being honest and direct with no meaning behind it.'
[Freya POV]
A cold stare settled in my eyes. Who is this, and why are you talking to her? Since my eyes settled on him yesterday, they never left. His soul is ever-changing in color and shape, always moving. Even if I tried to take my eyes off him, I couldn't. Normally a soul has a shape, a color, and can change under huge pressure — and even then, it does not change like his. It stays in form or color and changes the shade or refines its form.But him… he is ever-changing, even when sleeping. I want his soul. I need his soul.Without realizing it, my hand goes back between my legs. It's been like that since my gaze met his soul.
[Arthur POV]
After eating the pie, I decided to go look for a place to train my blacksmithing skill. Or maybe I could make the forge myself. Focusing cursed energy in my feet, I jumped to get on the roof of a house to search for a place. I think while the church is not used by Hestia and Bell, I'm gonna use it as my workshop. Finding it and looking around, it's gonna need a bit of cleaning. Let's see if I can use Senku's brain to make a schema like Senku would do, and the information comes to my brain just like that. The schema is a bit rough, but the knowledge is here and the ideas are there, so let's get started. I'm gonna go get the raw materials.
(3 hours later)
After finally finishing the tools, I'm ready to start training — but after all that, I feel like I already trained.
"System, could you show me the progress in the template?"
"Of course, Arthur. Here:"
Kaseki 20% → 70%, Nanami 1% → 10%, Senku 5% → 20%
"Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about! If it's like that for every template, I'm gonna be OP so fast!"
"While that may be true, do not forget that you're still in another world. If divinity takes notice of you too early, they may try to kill you — or if the dungeon feels a slight bit of divine energy in you, it will target you."
"Yeah, that's true. I need to be careful with that."
Okay, what should I do now? There are two days before the competition. Maybe I should go in the dungeon for a bit and end the day, make a bit of money to train tomorrow with different kinds of metals. Blocking the access to the forge with a big rock from the ruin in front of the church… yeah, let's do that. But before, I'm gonna grab something to eat.
(5 hours later)
Coming out of the dungeon, I go back to the guy that lent weapons in front.
"Hey dude, here is your dagger," I say cheerfully.
"Thank you," he says with the most defeated tone I ever heard.
"Hey, what's going on? You okay?" I ask, concerned.
"It's nothing really… the shop has been slow. There are no other customers," he says, still defeated.
"I mean, it's understandable — the weapons here are shitty, they'll probably break after ten strikes."
"You know?" he says, shocked.
"Of course I know, it's obvious. I mean, I have years of experience blacksmithing. You know what, let's make a deal. For now, I'll give you a good reputation using your weapon, you scam people, and after that, when I open my shop, you'll work for me," I say with a smile. I mean, I'm not the kind of person to fight all my life. Maybe I can use that as a passive income when I want to be lazy. And since I'm going to join the Hephaestus Familia, and I'm pretty sure everyone has a shop in the Familia…
"What, you serious? I mean, the scam has been found and I don't make much money, so maybe I should accept," he says, asking himself and whispering.
"You know, I have years of experience, and you scam people for a living. Do you want to do that forever? What I'm offering you is a decent job, not too hard and calm. You'll just sell my creations — of course, you'll need to know the specifications of each piece and all that, but it's better than what you're doing right now," I say with a smile, going for a handshake.
"You got me. Deal. For now, use what I have here, and then when you open your shop, you can use the raw materials from this place. Oh, and my name is Rowan Veldt. And you are?"
"The name's Arthur, and welcome to the shop. We don't have a name for now, so we'll need to brainstorm. But for now, welcome."
Going to the guild to sell my crystals, searching for Misha, seeing her alone at the counter, walking toward her with a big smile. Oh, and she saw me — is that tears? Am I that ugly?
"Hey, how are you doing since yesterday? You don't look well."
"Hello sir, no no, everything is good." She doesn't look well.
"Sorry about yesterday, I did not have my bag." Getting my bag from my shoulders and dumping all the content — and it took a minute for it all to fall out since I opened my inventory from the bag.
"Will that be all, mister?" Now she looks more alive than ever — I think she de-aged a bit.
"No, wait a second, I forgot." Getting my hand in my pocket — now she aged at least 10 years. Taking out just one crystal and looking at her, then smiling.
"Will that be all, sir?" she asks this time, hopeful. I just nod.
"Here is your money, sir, and thank you," she says, giving me a bag with my money.
"Oh wait, mister, I almost forgot," and she takes out a coin from her pocket with an innocent smile, giving it to me.
"Not bad, you almost got me," I say laughing. It's funny, but I feel like this is a threat — if I ever do what I have, she will take revenge, and it will take a long time.
Let's get something to eat and go back to the inn and get some shut-eye. Walking through a busy street, I bump into someone.
"Oh, sorry, are you okay?" giving a hand — fuck, this is Syr, so Freya. She takes my hand with a smile — I really don't like that smile.
"It's okay, but if you want to make it up, you could come and eat inside." Looking to my left, I see the Hostess of Fertility. Great. Now if she makes a sound, the girls inside would probably attack me — not even talking about Mama Mia. Yeah, don't have a choice, and I'm hungry. But if I'm forced to come in, I'm not getting scammed. Following Syr inside, I look around — the place is crowded. Looking at the plates, I decide to go with roasted meat with a side of potatoes and a soup. Okay, I'm ready.
"As you can see, we are a bit crowded except for the reservations, but there's a place at the counter if it doesn't bother you.""No, it's okay," I say, taking the lead to sit at the counter.
"Do you know what you want or—" I see Mia ready to say something, I don't let her."Yeah, roasted meat with a side of potatoes and a soup, and a juice, please.""Of course, I'll be back in a bit." Even if Mia doesn't show it, I can feel it — she's a bit angry, at least annoyed. Syr said there were reservations, so maybe the Loki Familia is coming.
"Here is your food, Arthur" — wait, I did not present myself earlier, she slipped up."Thank you… uh, what was your name? Wait, how did you know mine? I don't remember giving you my name — maybe I forgot, I had a long day," I say, acting while she sets down the food. She is really quick-footed."Yes, while getting inside you already forgot my name, that is rude — but my name is Syr.""Then if I forgot, I'm really sorry, Syr," I say, starting to eat. "Wow, it's really good," I say, starting with the soup. Looking at her, she smiles but doesn't move."Syr, get back to work!" Mama Mia shouts from the other side of the pub.
'Am I that special? Even in front of Bell she never slipped up in the anime. I mean, I did not watch it all, but I don't remember anything like that.'
[Mama Mia POV]
What is going on, Freya? You slip up, you just stare at him. Is he that special? I don't see anything — a bit handsome face, he is strong but not much. He doesn't seem special. But it's all in the soul, so I don't know what to think. And there she goes staring at him again."Syr, go back to work!" I did not even get to scam him and now he's costing me a waitress.
"Hey mama, the Loki Familia are here, nya!" Anya comes and tells me — finally good news, big spenders.
"Do you know what's going on with Syr? She's unfocused and stares at the man at the counter. Do you think she's in love?"
"Don't know, don't care. What are you waiting for? Get back to work!" What are these waitresses not working?
[Arthur POV]
Finishing eating, I look for someone to pay."Would you like something, Arthur?" And she appears behind me — this is scary, it's just her and she can get behind me without me noticing."Yeah, I would like to pay.""So, a roast with a side of potatoes and a soup — that'll be 350 valis."
"Sorry, didn't see you here."Fuck — Bete Loga. This guy is a fucking man-child.
"You better be trash.""Yeah, sure." Trying to walk away, but he wants a fucking fight."Change the fucking tone, bitch!" As he tries to kick me, I dodge and grab his ankle. Normally I would not have been capable of dodging, but he's arrogant, and I knew what to expect from him.
"Are you a child, Bete? Why do you feel the need to create problems everywhere you go?"Hitting him with her scepter, she grabs his head and bows it."Sorry for his actions. Do not take it to heart, he's a bit childish.""It's ok, I know people like that."
Walking away — finally, a bit of peace. The day has been long.'Hey sis, show me the progress please.'
Kaseki 70% → 80%, Nanami 10% → 20%, Senku 20% → 35%
Good news — I'll have finished assimilating Kaseki and get a new template before the competition.
[Riveria POV]
Grabbing Bete by his hair and dragging him to the table with the others, I sit down next to Aiz and Lefiya."So, what took you guys so long, mama?""I was gone for 30 seconds. Bete was being a child.""So nothing special," Gareth mocks Bete."What did you say?!" Bete starts shouting."Although Bete was not going all out, the man dodged and grabbed his ankle.""Even if he did that, he didn't have the strength in his grip. The guy is a weakling, max a level 3.""What does that make you, Bete? A man with half your level did that, and you're still arrogant," Loki joins in, mocking Bete.
[Freya POV]
Without any Falna, he did that… what will he be capable of doing when he gets it? And his soul — brighter than any soul I've ever seen.'Syr, come back to your body.'
Looking through my mirror, I look at him. I don't think I can wait. I want him now — not just watching from afar."Ottar, tell me everything you got about him.""Of course, goddess. But I'm sorry — I failed to bring you back any information. It's like he started existing yesterday. There are no records of him, nor any people that know him personally.""Disappointing. You got nothing… but maybe it's for the better. Getting to know a soul with so many facets will be exhilarating."
author here i know i have not been updating and i'm sorry but school has been taking most of my time but i have questions
1.should i use chatgpt to correct ?
2. love interest (harem or not) any suggestion ?
3.what style of wrighting sould i use (like sould i take line for every line of dialogue)?