[Initialized.]
[Please refer to status for more relevant information.]
[Welcome to your new life.]
I got up to the monotone sound of a woman. I would have originally questioned where she was, given that I couldn't see all that well, but a red semi-translucent screen was in front of me. In contrast to the rest of the blurry surroundings, this thing was in 8k, impossible for me to not see.
'Status.'
Having been a reader of many webnovels, from fanfics to original series, I was aware of what this was. This woman was a system-like entity which was cool, but one thing I didn't like right now for my situation was that I didn't have any memories from the original host of this body. The same body that was aching disastrously.
[Kye Vancroft]
- Strength: C
- Endurance: C
- Agility: C
- Mana: C
- Luck: A
- Unique Origin: Convergence
[...]
'Damn…'
I finally managed to stand straight, leaning against the wall for support until my legs stopped trembling. As I shifted toward the bed, I found myself face-to-face with a tall, ornate standing mirror tucked into the corner. A lock of royal blue hair fell over my brow as I stared, paralyzed, at the stranger in the glass.
I looked many times more athletic than my previous self. My skin was strikingly pale, yet it possessed a healthy, polished luster that my old body never had. My jawline was sharp, cutting a far more refined profile, but the most arresting feature was my eyes. A deep, vibrant crimson that stood in stark, beautiful contrast to my dark hair. Everything about this new vessel was so far above my previous existence that, if given the choice, I don't think I'd ever want to go back.
[Would you like an explanation of your current situation?]
"Please," I whispered with heavy breaths as I slowly got over to the lone bed on the other side of the room.
[Understood.]
[I am "Wayfinder", an artificial entity that specializes in world-hopping.]
[You are now "Kye Vancroft", the last survivor of the "Vancroft" mage family, currently attending the Clock Tower in the year 2026 AD. Your current world is that of the "Fate series" or more accurately "Type-Moon".]
'Great…'
The bed creaked as I shifted to lie down, staring up at the ceiling. "Wayfinder" continued her explanations, opening my eyes further.
[World-Traveling presents opportunities for you to grow uniquely so that you can explore the higher mysteries of this verse and/or other verses. As for how it helps, it is mainly due to your unique origin, only possible because "You" exist. Another point to add is that because of me, the normal restrictions of growth no longer apply and you are effectively limitless.]
'Care to explain my ability? I think I can kind of guess given the name, but I would like to hear it from you.'
[Sure.]
[The "Vancroft" family is unique to this world-line of the Type-Moon verse. A family that specialized in recording the Foundation of all types of magecraft regardless of region or family. Though, the original body's soul sold all of that information to the Clock Tower for an absurd amount of wealth.]
[That aside, your ability is the perfect gift for someone of your lineage. You can analyze and record the "Formula" or "Blueprint" of any supernatural phenomenon. In this universe, every Mystery is built upon a logical structure or formula. Your eyes allow you to deconstruct that structure, archive it, and then replicate/modify it using your own mana.]
"Hahaha~"
I couldn't help but laugh.
Assuming that the original host couldn't use this origin, it would make sense why he would sell that information, but it sucked for the current me. I would have loved to go through it all now, but alas, I couldn't. Perhaps, though, this was for the better, given that what point would there be for the world-hopping ability of Wayfinder if I just got lost in reading books instead of actually experiencing the vast multiverse.
'How about this world-hopping?'
[Would you like a random world or would you like to choose?]
'Random? You won't throw me in some hellhole, right?'
[Probably not.]
'U-Uh, I don't like the sound of that. I'll choose a world then.'
[Okay.]
[Given your circumstances, I would choose a good starter world to simply break in your ability.]
'Yeah, that's actually pretty smart… how about Jujutsu Kaisen?'
They had sorcerers and it was relatively basic. If my parameters that I saw were correct, then I was probably around a Peak Grade 1 sorcerer in JJK. Well, the luck stat aside, of course.
[That's good. What point do you wish to teleport into?]
'Hmm…' I stared at the ceiling in deep thought. Honestly, my choices were before Satoru got sealed or right after Shibuya. The best option was…
"A-COUGH! Damn this exhaustion. Do before the Kyoto Goodwill Event Arc."
[Confirmed. Would you like to jump now or after you rest?]
I turned over slowly, careful not to hurt anything.
'After I rest.'
[Noted.]
[Sleep well, host.]
…
..
.
[Jump completed.]
'At least, I arrived fashionably.'
The jump system was instantaneous after I willed it.
Here I was in the city of Tokyo in a high quality black suit with a white dress shirt beneath paired with a dark blue tie. Of course, I didn't just appear in some busy street, the empty park around me was enough to know that "Wayfinder" was incredibly competent in this department.
'Now.'
Raising my palm, I allowed mana to flow through my circuits with every steady breath; the cool sensation was surprisingly relaxing. My primary goal was to "break them in," a necessary precaution in case I encountered something dangerous upon arrival. Without any of the previous host's memories to rely on, every aspect of mana and how these circuits interacted within my body felt entirely foreign. I was well-versed in the lore—I loved the Fate side of the Type-Moon universe and understood Jujutsu Kaisen just as deeply—which was exactly why I had chosen it as my first destination.
Shifting my focus back to my ability, I realized that "understanding" a mystery was more complex than simply knowing the theory behind it. I had already attempted to replicate several abilities I knew like the back of my hand, but each effort resulted in failure.
My working theory was that knowledge alone wasn't enough; the "Archive" required a completed blueprint. I needed to witness the flow of energy firsthand. Whether that meant witnessing the ability in person, being hit by it, or seeing the activation sequence, I needed to record the "Reality" of the technique. It seemed that to truly replicate a formula, I had to see it manifested in the world rather than just remembering it from an anime.
"Well~ Well~, and who might you be, mysterious stranger?"
'That voice…' Turning around slowly, I almost fangirled.
The white hair!
The Blindfold!
The Presence!
"Satoru Gojo as a welcoming party isn't bad I must say." I suppressed all the fan energy as I responded. It actually hurt that I couldn't lose myself in being a fan but the bright side was that at least I could meet him.
"Hahahaha~, well, when you appear like you did, I'd say it's a given."
"Fair point."
"So. Who are you? Friend? Or foe?"
Satoru got face-to-face with me, so close that I could feel his breath. I kept steady, not succumbing to him. He actually wasn't even doing anything, but I knew of his abilities well enough to know that if he wanted me dead, he could do it.
"Friend. A really good friend!"
Silence echoed after I said that. Until Satoru broke it.
"Pfft! Okay then. I'll believe you, but answer me this: why does your cursed energy not feel like cursed energy? It's like you're imitating it rather than actually possessing any."
"Bloodline specialty."
"Hmm~? I feel like there's more to the story, but fine." Satoru put a hand on my shoulder before I could even blink. The surroundings changed even quicker, like a gust of wind hitting one in the spring. Today was going to be a long day, I felt.