Chapter 36: Envy Mixed with Jealousy
"This is completely normal. Your body's current energy output can't sustain that amplified power level, so the excess has reverted into latent potential and gone dormant. Under normal circumstances, you only have the peak combat ability of a 3rd dan black belt—that's the limit your physical strength can actually support right now.
There are two ways to unleash your full potential combat power.
First: Through rigorous, dedicated training. Since you already possess this latent potential, as long as you train hard, there's basically no upper limit before you reach Tier 3.
Second: By burning magic power. Just like with ordinary reinforcement, you can temporarily access Tier 3 combat strength."
"Burning magic power?"
[Exactly. It's very simple. Silently chant 'Burn' in your mind, and your magic power will ignite, flooding your body with boiling blood and heat. This maintains your peak combat state.
1 point of magic power sustains 7 minutes of peak 7th dan black belt combat power.
1 point sustains 6 minutes at peak Tier 2.
3 points sustain 5 minutes at peak Tier 3.
And so on—the higher the tier, the more it consumes and the shorter the duration.]
After reading the explanation, Takumi froze for a second… then gave a wry laugh.
"So I've basically turned into one of those hot-blooded anime protagonists. Except instead of relying on courage, nakama power, or getting beaten half to death like the Bronze Saints to unlock their potential… I just have to burn magic points. Convenient."
[In the real world, your stable peak 3rd dan black belt level is already more than enough for self-defense. If you ever encounter real danger, burning just 3 points lets you reach Tier 3 combat power. As long as you're not surrounded by multiple AK-47s, you'll be perfectly fine.
You should aim to accumulate 100 regular magic points as soon as possible. Once you do, the magic interface will unlock the Shop function. You'll be able to purchase various fantasy items or abilities.]
"Fantasy items? Like what?"
[Anything you can imagine. Money, for example—you can exchange magic power for virtual fantasy currency to use freely in 2D worlds. Sports cars, weapons, gadgets… but these items function exactly like game assets: they only exist and work inside secondary dimensions.
In the real 3D world, due to the laws of human destiny and causality, fantasy items purchased this way simply cannot be manifested or used.]
"I see… That's actually super convenient. At least I won't have to worry about money when I'm in 2D worlds anymore."
Takumi let out a relieved breath.
In the real world, he had zero intention of using his powers to become some flashy rich playboy. He just wanted to live a peaceful, ordinary life. But adventuring and conquering heroines in secondary worlds? That definitely required funds. He had originally planned to smuggle some gold over… but now it looked like that wouldn't be necessary.
Of course—the prerequisite was reaching 100 regular magic points. Looked like he needed to speed up the conquests in Oni Chichi I. Both heroines.
The next morning, Takumi got up early and prepared breakfast for his little sister. While the tyrant imouto was slurping her soy milk, her sharp gaze remained locked on him the entire time.
Takumi couldn't help but ask, "What's up, Empress?"
"I feel like you're different today. Hmm… stronger? No—more mature, perhaps."
Takumi's heart skipped. Stronger made sense—he was now at peak 3rd dan black belt, martial strength surpassing even his little sister's peak 2nd dan taekwondo combat ability. But mature…? A boy becoming a man… wasn't that exactly because he had lost his virginity?
Yep. Takumi could now proudly declare: he was no longer a virgin.
But in front of the tyrant imouto? Absolutely not admitting that.
He gave an awkward laugh. "Really? Must be your imagination."
Her eyes narrowed, radiating full Empress-level intimidation.
"Very suspicious. Have you perhaps committed the crime of deceiving your sovereign?"
"Haha, how could I?"
She huffed, finished her soy milk in one go, then turned and went back to her room to change. Takumi exhaled in relief, quickly headed downstairs, grabbed his electric scooter, and ten minutes later was speeding toward school with his sister on the back.
As expected, they ran into that policewoman again. But under the influence of Takumi's Hypnotic Demon Eye, she obediently waved them through—much to the outrage of everyone else who got stopped. Loud complaints erupted, but the officer simply deemed them unreasonable and stubbornly wrote tickets and impounded vehicles, sparking quite the scene.
Ding-ding-ding—
The final morning class ended. Takumi stretched lazily… and his left hand accidentally brushed against something soft and yielding.
A startled yelp.
He turned— Aoi Yuu's face was bright red. He realized exactly where he had touched.
"S-sorry! I didn't mean to!"
"Riiight. So it was on purpose."
A sleazy grinning face appeared, slapping a hand onto Takumi's shoulder. No need to look—it was Aoki Haruto, the resident lolicon.
Takumi smacked the hand away. "Even dogs don't spit out ivory. We may be friends, but keep spouting nonsense and I'll sue you for defamation."
Haruto's expression turned odd. "No, seriously… it's not just my imagination. You look way more jacked today. Like you've been hitting the steroids or something."
"You're the one on steroids. I'm not from KFC—why would I need hormones?"
Takumi was genuinely startled. Even this guy who saw him every day had noticed? Was the change really that obvious?
Haruto opened his mouth to say more—then suddenly froze. A sweet fragrance wafted past.
The Golden Sparkling Ojou-sama was slowly walking over.
She stopped right in front of Takumi.
"Takumi."
"What is it, Golden Sparkling Ojou-sama?"
"Don't call me that. Use my name."
"Fine then… Ryūko-hime."
"You—!"
Ryūko glared at him in annoyance. Takumi grinned back shamelessly. Their eyes met.
Suddenly, a flash of blue light in Ryūko's eyes.
Takumi's mind blurred for an instant. At the same moment, red light flickered in his own gaze.
Like positive and negative poles, their eyes locked together with irresistible magnetic force.
Takumi stood up without control.
Ryūko stepped forward without control.
Their bodies were drawn inexorably closer, as though invisible magnets had been embedded in them.
"What the hell is this? Love at first sight legend?"
"Heaven… why is the princess gazing so passionately at Takumi?! My princess… my heart is breaking!"
"Waaah… I must have woken up wrong today. This is a daytime nightmare."
Amid the class's collective shock, heartbreak, and disbelief—Takumi and Ryūko slowly drew nearer.
"Aoi!"
At that moment, Aoi Yuu—face scarlet—jumped between them and shoved hard with both hands.
Takumi snapped back to his senses. "W-what just happened to me?"
The blonde princess also looked horrified. She stared at Takumi in disbelief.
"The evil eye!"
Takumi turned toward her. She hurriedly averted her gaze, refusing to meet his eyes.
"Takumi—I came to return your umbrella. After school today, wait for me at the school's back gate."
With that, she rushed out of the classroom.
The previously dead-silent room exploded into market-level noise. Every gaze directed at Takumi was filled with raw envy… and thick jealousy.
"What the heck was that? My mind just went completely blank—like I was the one being hypnotized. Does that blonde princess have hypnotic powers too? But my hypnosis is just a weak spell… Wait, 'The evil eye'… oh right, isn't that just Magic Eye?!"
Takumi's heart raced. A far more outrageous possibility suddenly occurred to him.
"Hey! Snap out of it!"
Someone was violently shaking his shoulders. He blinked—Haruto again, now staring at him with naked admiration and envy.
"You're seriously on fire now! Openly exchanging heated glances with the class prez-princess! Haha! You really do have princess luck, huh? First the Empress, now even the princess has fallen for you?!"
"Get lost!"
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