With the Purity Formation and Breath Concealment Formation successfully established around his new residence, it was as if an invisible barrier had been erected in this chaotic other world—granting Shin an unprecedented sense of security.
However, continuously drawing formation runes and activating the arrays had nearly drained the nascent, thread-like True Qi within his Dantian. Mental fatigue followed like an unshakable shadow.
He meditated inside the empty old residence for two full days.
During those two days, aside from necessary meals and brief periods of sleep, he barely stepped outside.
Most of the time, he sat cross-legged in the courtyard, fully operating the Inner Elixir Breathing Technique.
The Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth—initially filtered and softened by the formations—was slowly absorbed, replenishing his dry Dantian and repairing the depletion of his mind.
It wasn't until the morning of the third day, when he sensed that more than half of his True Qi had recovered—and had even slightly increased due to the extreme cycle of depletion and restoration—that Shin finally stopped cultivating with satisfaction.
It was time to go out.
The new house was good, but it was almost empty.
He needed to purchase basic living supplies to truly turn this old residence into a livable home.
More importantly, drawing formations and practicing talisman crafting had consumed nearly all of the basic materials he had previously purchased from the mysterious street. Replenishment was unavoidable.
Walking through the streets of Kuoh Town once again, Shin's mindset was vastly different from when he had first arrived.
The initial vigilance and unease had faded, replaced by the calm sense of belonging of someone who now considered this place part of his world.
He smoothly found a large supermarket, took a shopping cart, and—like any ordinary young man—picked out bedding, kitchenware, grains, oil, rice, fresh ingredients, and various daily necessities.
At checkout, he once again used his Magic Bank Card.
The cashier casually swiped it across a specialized device engraved with faint magical patterns. The process was smooth and unremarkable, drawing no curious glances.
The integration of supernatural systems into this world was far deeper than he had initially imagined.
After temporarily storing the bags of daily necessities in the supermarket lockers, Shin changed direction and headed once more toward the secluded street that housed the supernatural shops.
His destination was clear—
The "Mysterious Ancient Books and Rare Materials Specialty Store."
Pushing open the door, the familiar chime rang out, and the mixed scent of old paper, herbs, and incense enveloped him.
The sharp-eyed old shopkeeper was still dozing behind the counter. He looked up at the sound of the bell.
When his gaze landed on Shin, a faint difference flickered in his slightly cloudy eyes.
Last time, it had been pure scrutiny and unfamiliarity.
This time, there was an added hint of inquiry.
Shin didn't notice the subtle change. He walked directly to the shelves containing cinnabar and talisman paper.
Unlike before, he didn't hesitate.
He selected several sheets of higher-quality yellow talisman paper, a jar of purer cinnabar, and two talisman brushes with evenly distributed wolf hair.
Then he moved toward the section holding low-grade spiritual materials.
His eyes swept across faintly glowing ore powders and dried herbs.
Based on the knowledge from the Overview of Formations and the Classic of Hundred Herbs and Elixirs, he accurately chose several items—
A small packet of Iron Essence Powder for reinforcing formations.
Several bundles of Dewdrop Grass and Earth Root Flowers, materials suitable for refining the lowest-grade Qi Recovery Powder.
He even noticed a pile of nearly depleted low-grade jade scraps tossed carelessly in a corner. They were extremely cheap, so he took all of them.
These items might be useless to others, but to him, they were perfect consumables for practicing formations and attempting simple artifact refinement.
When Shin placed the items on the counter, the inquiry in the old shopkeeper's eyes deepened.
The old man slowly manipulated an antique, calculator-like magical artifact and quoted the total price.
"Young man," he said casually while packing the goods into a thick paper bag, his voice hoarse,
"the things you bought this time are much more interesting than last time."
"It seems the things passed down in your family… haven't been completely lost."
Shin's heart tightened slightly.
He maintained a calm expression and replied evenly, "Just a personal interest. I'm only researching casually. Please don't laugh at me."
Once again, he used the 'family inheritance' identity provided by the System.
The old man raised his eyelids and looked at him deeply, as if trying to peer beneath the surface.
Instinctively, Shin activated the Breath-Hiding Method, locking every trace of Qi and his newly recovered True Qi firmly within his body.
The old man detected nothing.
He merely chuckled softly, revealing a few yellowed teeth.
"Interest? Heh. A very good interest. These days, not many young people care about the things of our ancestors anymore."
He didn't press further and pushed the paper bag forward.
Shin paid, took the bag, nodded politely, and turned to leave.
As he pushed open the door and the bell rang once more, he faintly felt the old man's gaze lingering on his back—until the door closed completely.
On the way back, carrying two large bags, Shin's thoughts lingered on the shop.
That shop owner was definitely not ordinary.
His sharp perception and probing words only reinforced Shin's caution.
"I need to be more careful," he warned himself silently.
The Breath-Hiding Method and his formations could protect him—but they were far from infallible.
In this world, a single misstep could draw unpredictable attention.
He walked along a bustling commercial street toward the supermarket to retrieve his stored goods.
At that moment, at an outdoor café table across the street, a young woman with shoulder-length short hair, glasses, and a composed, impeccable demeanor gracefully raised her coffee cup.
Her gaze, initially casual, paused briefly as it passed over Shin.
She was Tsubaki Shinra.
Secretary of the Kuoh Academy Student Council.
And the Queen of Sona Sitri's Peerage.
Her eyes didn't linger—just a passing glance—but her professional caution and sharp observational skills immediately picked up subtle details.
The black-haired youth appeared ordinary, carrying supermarket bags and a paper bag marked with the name of a supernatural shop she recognized.
Yet her intuition stirred.
The aura around him was… too clean.
Not physically—but an indescribable clarity that felt out of place in such a bustling environment.
And he had just exited a street known for supernatural material trade.
In Kuoh Town, very few truly ordinary humans visited that shop.
Calmly setting down her coffee cup, Tsubaki's fingers moved subtly beneath the table.
A faint, nearly undetectable magical ripple spread outward, silently sweeping across the street.
The result made her brows knit almost imperceptibly.
Nothing.
No demonic aura.
No Sacred Gear reaction.
No magical fluctuation.
Not even a distinct life-force signature.
It was like probing an ordinary rock—or empty air.
That, in itself, was abnormal.
Either he was a completely clueless human with occult interests…
Or he possessed an extremely refined method of concealment.
Recalling President Sona Sitri's recent instructions to remain vigilant for any anomalies or unstable elements, Tsubaki decided to note this discovery.
She didn't act further.
She simply recorded Shin's appearance and direction, then withdrew her gaze and continued sipping her coffee.
Surveillance and intelligence gathering were routine for the Student Council—especially for its meticulous secretary.
Meanwhile, Shin remained completely unaware.
His formations and carefully controlled techniques had successfully blocked the subtle probe.
His mind was already occupied with thoughts of testing his newly purchased materials and reinforcing the courtyard formations once he returned.
After retrieving his stored items, his hands full, he headed toward his secluded home on the outskirts of town, his figure slowly disappearing around the corner.
And near the café, within the shadows of a narrow alley, another figure quietly withdrew her gaze.
A young woman in a café waitress uniform—eyes sharp as a hawk.
Yura Yui, a Pawn of the Student Council.
She had received Tsubaki's subtle signal and conducted a brief follow-up observation.
She saw Shin enter the supermarket.
She saw him leave with additional supplies.
And she noted his direction—away from Kuoh Academy, toward the remote outskirts.
"Large quantity of daily necessities… supernatural materials… living in a secluded area… transfer student…"
Yura rapidly categorized the information.
Low-priority person of interest.
Her figure melted silently into the shadows and vanished.
Shin remained unaware.
He simply carried his heavy bags home beneath the setting sun, his long shadow stretching behind him.
He did not know that his seemingly ordinary shopping trip had already created subtle ripples—like a pebble dropped into a calm lake.
And that from this moment on, his daily life was no longer truly ordinary.