Chapter 6: Evaporation
[Edited by: Arthur300000]
[Proofread by: ArchmageNaoki]
[Deathbricks joined the party]
Adventurer grade Attack Assist Device
Model: DE-50-X
Assist Power: 1.4 GSops
Capacity: 2.200 KJuiz/spell
Gain: 88 dP
Price: 6,800 Credits
Warning: Gun type device can only cast single point spell. Casting Area of Effect (AoE) spell through this device may cause an explosion.
Manufacture by: PMS & ED Corporation
“It looks cool, right Kuro-chan? But you need an adventurer certificate to buy it.” Pristia explained when she noticed how intensely I was staring at it.
“It’s not that good. It has high gain I admit that, but PMS & ED is too conservative. Nowadays, most attack assisting devices are competing with special features of other devices like spell memory and automatic repeat casting.” Aunos, the apparent know it all nerd explained. How a nerd like him is packed with so much muscle is beyond me. Is he using his muscles as a brain? Should I call him muscle for brain or brain for muscle? And no, you are misunderstanding, my brother. I don’t want it. No matter how cool it is, I don’t want to have to answer “What device are you using?” With “I have PMS and ED.”
I ask them to take me to this shop because I want one of those dimensional rings. However, after I saw all of the different magical devices in front of me I wanted to inspect them all. But before that, I needed to know what those numbers in specification meant.
“What does Gain mean?” I pointed at the third line of the spec.
“It’s the spell intensity amplification rate of the device. Devices with higher gain have more power to break through an opponent's spell or defense. You can also consider it penetration power. Normally, the gun type will have the highest gain while utility type will have the lowest gain.” Mr. Pheromone suddenly explained from behind. Thinking back from footstep noise in my memory, he even positioned himself to approach from the downwind direction. Is he a professional stalker?
“Having fun?” He asked while patting my head. This time, I agreed by nodding. In my past life, I told myself that “Real women are not needed, and 2D girls are the best!” Right now, well, 2D girls are still the best. But if someone harmed my sister, they shall face my wrath!
“Better not make your mother wait, let’s go back everyone” What? I also have a new mom? I never felt loved by my mother because she divorced my father and left when I was young so I wouldn’t know what having a mother would feel like. It’s just feeling... unexpected.
While I was still deep in thought, my new family members were discussing today's activities. Looking at them made me really want to be one of them. However, mentally I'm still a lonely 30 years old guy. Will they accept me? Why did they decide to adopt me? I'm too afraid to ask.
“Will you be ok with that dress? The temperature outside is so cold at night” Mr. Pheromone asked me. However, right now my body is not reacting to him violently anymore. Maybe he ran out of juice.
“It’s ok. I can walk around in [Frigid and Deadly] conditions for about 30 minutes before I need to start looking for shelter.” Oops, I just answered them in Skyrim terms. Old habits die hard huh?
“I have high cold resistance!” I tried to correct myself while they looked worriedly at me. We walked in silence to the car park. Is my answer that weird? Why is everyone silent?....
“Oh! Kuro check your ID again. They should have updated it now.” Huh? My ID card? I fished it out from my one piece dress' pocket.
Name: Kuro Velvori Age: 15 years old
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Race: Human Gender: Female
Institution: Royal Adventure High School
Class: 2B
Credits: 4,070
Note: If you find her alone in the public spaces, please contact authorities in the area immediately.
“Royal Adventure High School Class 2B?” I read what was updated on my card. However, that racism note was still stuck on it.
“Isn’t that the same class as us!?” *WHAM* My sister, somehow far too excited than what should be possible, jumped at me to get a clearer view of the card. My brother also moves closer to see.
“Uhuh. I was worried about Kuro safety, but that guy at Outsider Management Institute said ‘With her power it’s fine.' Will you really be all right, Ms. Kuro?” Huh? Who is that guy? Is he Mr. Anderson?
“Don’t worry dad! We will protect her!” My sister just jumped up and answered. Firstly, what the duck are they teaching at that high school? What does royal adventure mean? What are you worried about at the first place?
“It’s the adventurer's preparation school. They teach us how to fight monsters and explore the dungeons of the world. You need to at least have strength to protect yourselves.” Is my brother a mind reader? I looked at him.
“It’s written all over your face.” My Know-it-all brother said while we entered the car. I sat in the backseat with my sister.
“So do you think you are strong enough?” My father worriedly asked while he inserts a dark spherical object into the console.
“Isn’t that a monster core?” I would never know how strong is enough anyway. So let’s talk about that monster core.
“Hmm? This? Yes.” My father tossed one of them to me. It’s was the size of a table tennis ball and shiny like a pearl but with a dark red color. Maybe I should try to imitate my sister and call him dad? It’s difficult to call him Mr. Pheromone every time. Moreover, I don’t want to remember that dark past.
“The energy stored inside is determined by the size and color of it. Bigger ones have more capacity and darker ones have more energy inside.” Mr. Know-it-all started to explain.
“And the white ones are depleted!” My sister finished my brother explanation and hugs me for no reason. Or is it about my white one pieces dress related to a depleted monster core by color?
“Can we recharge it?” Yup, if I can recharge it, then I just need a few cores and keep reusing it forever.
“No each of the cores won’t accept any more energy if extracted from the host. Thus, we cannot merge, transfer, or recharge energy to a monster core” So they're disposable goods huh? I rolled the monster core around in my hand. It’s cool to the touch, but I can sense a little life force from it somehow.
“And it will explode if you break it.... Just kidding” I almost dropped it.
“Play nice Aunos, what did I say about treating girls?” My dad chided him. Are you planning to open gigolo school, dad?
“Yeah, dad... It won’t explode, but the energy inside will disappear faster” Huh? It’s also perishable goods?
“If it’s in a complete sphere form it will retain 80% of its energy after 100 years. However, if you grounded it to dust, it will completely lose all its energy in a matter of hours” How do you know what I want to ask?
“It’s all on your face my sister” He winked. Like father like son huh?
Soon, we parked in front of a hexagonal-like house. It's two stories high. The light leaking out from the windows showed that there is someone inside the house. The smells of butter, seafood, and meat in the air showed that whoever was inside is cooking something delicious. After a woman inside the house opened the door, the warmth and her scent flowed through my body. It’s the warmest moment ever in my life.
“I'm home.” The short sentence that my dad said resonates with something inside me.
“Welcome home.” A kind woman in front of me answered.
Her hair has the same hazelnut color as Pristia. However, her features looked more mature and warm. I just stand there blankly before dad put his hand on my head and said.
“Let’s get in. It’s cold out here.”
The interior of the house has a comfortable and cozy atmosphere, and the warm air was packed with the scent of everyone. Bobo the flying pig lazily glided around us to observe me. My sister pulled me to sit at the dining table, and Dad carried a white cake with a lit candle on top to me while everyone sang a silly happy birthday song.
“Since don’t know your exact birth date we’ll just mark today as your birthday. Happy birthday Kuro!” Dad said while warmly smile at me.
“I know my birthday, it’s 9th November” *silence*...
“Ahem…. Let’s just celebrate anyway!” Oi! Don’t just ignored me like that! My new easygoing family just happily resume that silly happy birthday song like nothing had happened.
While everyone said “Happy birthday!”, Rainbow confetti went flying everywhere, and the flying pig made a hard landing on the cake and splattered it over everyone. While everyone was laughing merrily, my 30-years worth of memories flashed through my mind and began comparing itself to the current moment. Overwhelmed, I cried in earnest.
“I’m home.” Was the only thing I said in my mother's arms that night.