Chapter 36: Simulation and the Ten Great Talents
Sunday.
Haruka woke up full of energy.
After receiving several body enhancements, his physical strength was now formidable, and his mental state felt excellent. Four hours of sleep a day was enough to keep him energetic all day.
He felt that with a few dozen more enhancements, he could count as a super-low-budget, knock-off Superman.
Then rise as the ultimate alpha in the city?
Iceberg CEO? Gorgeous milf? Pure school beauty?
Hmm, why do I feel a subtle sense of nausea?
Holding these nonsensical thoughts, Haruka finished making onigiri and tamagoyaki for breakfast, then went to Sora's room.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Sora, wake up. It's time for breakfast."
Faint rustling sounds came from inside, along with a girl's startled gasp.
Haruka tapped his forehead, feeling a slight headache.
The body enhancement was comprehensive, including his five senses.
His hearing was quite sharp now. Sometimes he was afraid he'd overhear people's privacy, which would be incredibly awkward.
Click.
The door opened.
Dressed in a black and white Lolita outfit that firmly covered her petite and exquisite figure, paired with that forced willful expression on her face and the long silver twin-tails swinging behind her back.
It all gave Sora a charm that combined cuteness and rebellion.
If anyone saw Sora like this, a lot of perverts would probably target her.
Of course, Haruka would never let anyone else see Sora like this.
How could he let others admire his cute sister?!
Besides, Sora usually only wore this outfit at home; she had absolutely no intention of wearing it outside.
"What's for breakfast today?" Sora asked with a hint of anticipation.
"Onigiri, tamagoyaki, and oh, your favorite cheese sticks."
"Really?" Sora was pleasantly surprised.
"Ahem."
As if realizing she had exposed too much emotion, Sora hurriedly coughed twice, returning to her calm and composed demeanor.
Haruka smiled.
He was already used to Sora's act of pretending to be calm and indifferent in front of him.
"Alright, if we wait any longer, it'll get cold. I'm not responsible for reheating it."
"Oh right, you're washing the dishes today. Don't even think about getting out of it."
"I know, I know."
After saying that, Sora trotted downstairs first.
Haruka shrugged and followed her down.
This was life.
Actually, sometimes it wasn't half bad.
***
Nighttime.
After holding back from running the simulation all day, Haruka finally washed up, lit some incense, and took a bath.
In front of the small items he had arranged on his shelf—little Shinto charms, a tiny fox statue from a shrine visit, and a few good-luck talismans—he pressed his hands together.
After a few quiet, mumbled prayers, he let out a slow breath.
Only then did he lie on the bed.
He closed his eyes.
"Simulator, before the simulation, I have a question."
"What exactly is the Real Simulation?"
"Can the Talent Selection Rights be used in the Real Simulation?"
This was the most critical question.
Since the Simulator appeared, the introduction had mentioned this "Real Simulation."
[Perfect Evaluation not yet unlocked; Real Simulation unavailable. First Perfect Evaluation not obtained; Real Simulation information cannot be disclosed. Talent Selection Rights cannot be used in Real Simulation, but experience gained in Talent Simulations, etc., will persist forever.]
"So, if I want to know the situation of the Real Simulation, I have to get a Perfect Evaluation first, right? And in a Talent Simulation where Talent Selection Rights are used, the experience or knowledge gained will also exist in the Real Simulation?"
[Yes.]
"Does it exist in reality?"
[There is a probability it will appear in the rewards.]
"In other words, I can't bring it all out."
Haruka was thoughtful.
It was clear that the Simulator had significant restrictions, but it also left a path forward.
Therefore, for the entire Shoko Nishimiya simulation, the most important one was this Talent Simulation!
That's right. Haruka prepared to activate the Talent Selection Rights this time.
Although there was still one "Good" evaluation reward left unclaimed.
But Haruka had no confidence he could get a "Good" evaluation in one go. In fact, getting a "Poor" evaluation directly in the fourth simulation was already far beyond his expectations.
Under normal circumstances, the "him" in the simulation didn't have the Simulator and didn't have so many simulation memories. It would be normal to grind many times before a "Good" rating appeared.
He didn't want to wait any longer.
So...
[Simulation Attempts: 1]
[Selectable Simulation Targets: Omitted]
[Locked Simulation Target: Shoko Nishimiya]
[Start Simulation?]
"I choose to use the Talent Selection Rights."
[Please confirm usage of Talent Selection Rights?]
"Yes."
[Simulation Start. Talent Selection Unfolding...]
[Detected first-time usage of Talent Selection Rights. Rarity significantly increased.]
As these two lines of text faded.
The entire room darkened, plunging into a profound abyss, and a blue light flashed.
Before Haruka's eyes, ten cards shimmering with mysterious light instantly appeared.
They slowly rotated around him.
And in the distance, countless cards seemed to shine like stars, but they appeared very far away, remaining only as specks of starlight.
His room resembled a sea of stars.
Magnificent and beautiful.
Haruka focused his mind, looking at the ten cards.
The ten cards revealed their true faces.
Card 1: An image of a tiny figure screaming into the vast sky.
[Willpower Breakthrough]: There is no limit to human will. When you truly want to do something, pouring your full focus and effort into it, and your will is unshakably firm, the task you undertake, the goal you want to accomplish, will inevitably achieve a major breakthrough!
Will! Determination! Resolve!
Card 2: An image of a tiny figure falling off a cliff. On the cliff are weeping relatives, but below is an endless pit of blades and fire.
[Misfortune Companion]: You are naturally self-sacrificing. As long as you wish it, for the people you care about, you can attract their misfortune to yourself and weaken it by half. (Misfortune that has already occurred cannot be changed.)
I... seem to regret this a little... Ah!
Card 3: An image of a tiny figure with two heads, incredibly bizarre.
[Past and Present Lives]: You can designate a portion of memories to be stored in your brain, unsealing step by step as time passes! (Stored memories can be brought into the simulation.)
Ah! I... I remember!
Card 4: An image of a huge, muscular figure crushing a mountain with one punch.
[Mixed-Blood Giant]: Your physical talent is extremely high. Healing power, strength, stamina, speed, etc., surpass humans in all aspects. By the time you reach adulthood, even bullets cannot penetrate your skin. However, your lifespan is only sixty years.
Why am I not pureblood! I don't want to die!!
Card 5: An image of a tiny figure with a charming smile, possessing an incredibly handsome face. Countless people kneel behind him, but they look at him with greedy and crazy eyes, quietly approaching.
[Evil Charisma]: Your beauty is a curse and a blessing bestowed by fate. As you age, your attraction to the opposite sex increases little by little. By adulthood, you can even slightly attract the same sex. In your prime, your charisma reaches its peak. Humans? Just toys at your feet.
I… think I've lost all hope for love? Ah! W-Wait, what are you doing?!
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