The Clarkson household consisted of Mrs. Samantha Clarkson and her 5 kids: Susan F18, Sammy M16, Sage & Sinclair FF14 and Simon M10.
Susan is basically the second mom of the house and helps keep the other kids in line.
Sammy's just a typical teenager. His lithe build and his bang covering one eye had Jason almost mistaking him for a tomboy. Almost.
Sage and Sinclair are your run-of-the-mill twins who are glued by the hip. Meaning their teamwork is topnotch and they get a lot done fast.
Simon goofs around most of the time. Makes things much less boring.
After the introductions, Jason was led by Susan to his room. His work will start in earnest tomorrow, but today, he has to clean up his room and make it habitable again.
That night, as Jason lay on his bed, he was contemplating things while looking at his Skill [Gigamind]. He was trying to figure out what it allowed him to do.
He recalled the titular supervillain off by a 1000. He was very intelligent and created things light-years ahead of everyone else. So what, he's super smart? Doesn't feel any different than before his fall, though. Maybe he hadn't triggered it's effects yet? Who knows.
One guess he did come up with was experiencing with mental powers seen in fiction: mind reading, mind control, moving things with his mind, mind swap, dream manipulation, etc.
He intends to experiment extensively and hopefully something bites. Well, that's enough thinking for now, rest is needed. Future plans will be postpone to tomorrow night.
Zzzzzzzzz..
World: 6 days.
Clarksons: 1 days
Tomorrow roles around, and it's laundry day. The former occupants of the house left behind alot of clothes. The ladies opt to handle that while the guys head on up to the attic to sort through the content before cleaning.
Anything of use will be set aside while the remaining junk gets reboxed. It was hard dusty work, but the three of us managed to get it done by noon.
After lunch, work resumed with miscellaneous tasks all around the house and farm: Cleaning, Repair, Maintenance, all the good stuff.
Jason went to bed mildly sore, yet in a decent mood.
[+0.05 STR]
[+0.05 STR]
[+0.05 STR]
[+0.05 VIT]
...
[+0.05 VIT]
Not much in terms of stat gain, but feels good regardless. As he lay in bed, he took a moment to consider the past few days of his new life: from his fall, treatment, realization of exotic species, to his current situation. Funnily enough, he recalled it all in perfect detail as if he was watching a pov video recording.
Unsurprisingly, he kept replaying the memory of Alexis and Sam. It can't be helped. Their very existence is pleasant to the eyes and ears.
[DING]
"WTF?!"
Promptly opening his status, Jason combs through in search of the answer to his question and found it in the Skills section.
[Videographic Memory]
As always, no description, but just a title.
"Hahaha!!! I've stumbled unto gold! Oh yeah, baby!" After fist bumping the air for a time, Jason got off his high and began thinking things through.
"It appears I can create my skills, but they won't [ding] into existence if I don't use them to some degree. Guess I'll try multitasking/parallel thought tomorrow." Satisfied with his plans, he contacted.
"Also, with this new Skill of mine, I can learn stuff hella fast: all books and professions are at my fingertips. Guess I'll start out with any I can find in this house, then in town. When I've earned enough from working here, I'll go find a more profitable profession. I can learn anything I want now." With his mind made up, Jason goes to sleep, ending his second day at the Clarkson Residence.
Zzzzzz
World: 7 days.
Clarksons: 2 days
Waking up at the morrow, Jason beats himself up a little for not trying to Lucid Dream last night. "No biggie, there's still plenty of time."
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Today, the Clarkson's spent all day preparing the soil for planting their early Fall crops. Some will be left to overwinter while others will be harvested late fall.
While working, it was hard to find something to multitask, as practically all Jason did required both hands. Guess he'll have to do it in his own time.
At lunchtime, Jason ate quickly and make his way into a bedroom converted into a study. There were hundreds of books here, but most were novels, so he had to search a little for somethings more practical. And practical he did find. It was a map.
Jason unfurled it on a nearby table and placed weights on the edges to keep it straight. A couple seconds of scanning, he had memorized it, so seeing no use for it, he placed it back where he found it and returned to work. He would be back.
As the afternoon chores carried on, Jason thought about the map. It was the biggest information dump he'd gotten since his fall into this world. He was in Tatter Town, which was within Dakota Dukedom/Island. Nearby were two other Dukedom/Islands called Yorkvania and Drakintina respectively.
The other Dukedom/Islands were at the corner of the map, so he didn't know their true scale or any other detail beyond their names since the map concentrated on Dakota. Notable Villages, Towns and Cities where indicated as well as terrain and waterways.
What was curious was all these settlements where located near the shore; circling the island. Some where along rivers further inland but not too far. It reminded him of Australia, however here, there wasn't a desert in the middle of the island.
The terrain is indicated near and around settlements, but not deeper into the island. It's as if it hasn't been navigated. Does that mean it's too dangerous to get in?
Oh well, he'd get his answers sooner or later. As of now, he already had his short-term destination planned out. The nearest city was 3 towns away, and Jason made getting there his goal.
Goals.
Well, a better time than ever to think it through. "Let's see..."
Information Gathering.
Skill Acquisition.
Martial Strength.
Money.
Jason needed to know more about this world. It's history, norms, and most importantly, laws. He wouldn't want to accidentally indenture himself. This world doesn't appear that advanced.
He'll start by acquiring everyday common knowledge from the locals; the Clarksons seem like a good start.
He'd then have to get his hands on books about legislature and anything of that ilk. The family library will be ravaged first, then the town library, then any documents in the Mayors office.
Next off was Skill Acquisition. He needed something that would earn him good money wherever he went. He'd save himself the hassle of brainstorming that and just ask around.
Now, Martial Might. Jason needed to get strong and skilful in battle, if for no other reason but for self-preservation. There were people several magnitude stronger than him prancing around this world if what little he gleamed from Alexis's words were accurate.
He had to leverage his system and understanding of the power system to that end. Additionally, Jason might have to consider joining a notable organisation for protection till he was strong enough to strike out on his own.
This isn't some overpowered MC in an E-tier Isekai show. It was real life, and he was too squishy for his liking, and no plot armor was going to save him.
Money. Nuff said. Ok, maybe not nuff. He'd like to have his own place, buy his own stuff, and eat food he paid for himself. Being under the care of a third party didn't feel comfortable.
Plus, beyond just existing, he'd need said money to purchase gear, weapons and anything that would further his other goals.
So, with that said, Jason grand plans shall begin with devouring the house library and learning stuff from the Clarksons. He'd move from there.
[Ding]
'Nani?! Well, what a pleasant surprise! However, it'll have to wait since I'm busy at the moment and can't pause to check my status. Unless I multitasked, but that'll only make me less effic... Wait.'
"Status."
As Jason whispered the command, he felt an alien sensation as he split his attention between reading his Status and performing his task. He was able to pay full attention to both tasks with zero reduction in efficiency. There was still no better way to explain it other than 'Alien'.
---
NAME: Jason
HP: 100%
White Ki: 100%
Red Ki: 100%
ABILITY: [Giga Mind]
SKILLS
[Videographic Memory]
[Parallel Thought]
---
'How succinct. Regardless, I'm happy with the addition. Guess my midwork musings coaxed the Skill out. I'm now a Chinese sweatshop owner's wet dream.'
Deciding to occupy his mind with something different for the time being, Jason sought out Sammy for some non-idle chatter.
"Yo! Sammy, buddy, I would like to seek your guidance on something."
The teen in question jolted from the surprise interaction, then stared at Jason like he had grown a second head. "Huh? Wha?" The Blondie managed to get out.
Jason proceeded to converse with him over seemingly trivial topics of common knowledge all the way till dinner time. After that, he made his way to the study inorder to select which book he shall devastate. A few caught his eye:
Adventurers Guild Rulebook.
Hazard Beast Bibliography.
Outdoor Cookbook.
Taking the three, Jason sat at the desk illuminated by a reading lamp. The opened the rulebook first, then started reading like he usually did before stopping.
After some thought, the decided to scan the page instead, and see if he could recall it all.
Success.
Then he began flipping pages faster, to see how fast he can scan. After a bit of trial and error, he got the most effective pace and was able to complete the small book within 2 minutes.
"Woah! I can recite the whole thing if I wanted. It's kinda trippy. Ok, next up, the Bibliography."
Jason finished the larger book in 5 minutes, and the cook book in 4. He had plenty of time to grab more books to read, but he decided against it, opting to digest what he'd already absorbed.
With that, Jason made his way down the hall to his bedroom where he would settle in for his 3rd night .
Zzzzzz.
World: 8 days.
Clarksons: 3 days
The next day was the same as the last few: chores, chores and more chores. Pleasantly enough, Jason realizes that the tasks aren't as tiring as they were on his first day; likely due to his STAT gains.
Another pleasant thing, was seeing the power system of this world being used in the form of Samantha doing laundry.
Samantha Clarkson was leaning over a wide waist high barrel which was covered at the top except for a hole wide enough for her arm to fit all the way to her elbow.
Initially when Jason stumbled upon the sight, he was confused as to what was going on. Even the sound of liquid churning inside said barrel didn't give him much clues.
Seeing him lost, Samantha helpfully explained that she was using a Domestic Spell to churn the mixture of laundry, water and detergent within the barrel. So the barrel was basically a huge Washing machine and she was the motor.
Between work, and during meals, Jason made inquiries and received some answers.
Domestic Spells as the name suggests were meant for performing tasks at home. It required basic proficiency in ki manipulating and knowledge of the specific hand gestures called Katas.
Some examples include:
A dehydrating spell that draws moisture out of things; used for drying food and object such as damp cloths.
A Spell for starting fires.
Another for heating up the body,
A wind spell which compliments a familiar looking contraption for vacuuming as an alternative to being powered by a Ki stone (We'll get to those later.)
Another wind spell coupled with another familiar contraption that acts as a leaf blower.
And much more, but Samantha didn't know all that existed; just the ones that have been passed down to her.
Of course, Jason was adamant to learn these, and Samantha didn't deny him, but only under the conditions that, 1: He'll have to use his day off for that, and 2: He'll have to train his Ki manipulation first.
With that settled for the time being, the conversation turned towards the direction of Ki stones.
Jason learned that every creature possesses a Life Core specifically within the hearts of creatures who had the organ, or an organ of similar role, or elsewhere in creatures that didn't at all.
Life Core stored two types of Ki: Red Ki and White Ki. The Red Ki was for mainly healing, physical techniques and breakthroughs, while the White Ki was Spell and other Ki Techniques.
When a living being was killed, all the red and white kid will be sucked into the life core immediately. After being extracted, the kid within can be absorbed to grow one's cultivation.
Once contents of the life core is fully absorbed, it turns into a ki stone as it now only stores White Ki.
Ki stones are used in powering ki tools of all kinds, as well as in replenishing one's white ki levels at rates faster than if one meditated. They are a prominent energy source of the world and therefore always in demand.
Another interesting thing is that ki stones of the same grade stick to one another and over time merge into a large sphere.
After Dinner, Jason was off to the study once again to eat some books. After a brief search, he found some decent stuff:
Regular Cook Book.
Basic Domestic Spell Kata.
A Book on Foraging.
After eating the books, he went to bed as usual. The 4th night passed.
Zzzzz.
Tatter Town, Dakota Dukedom.
World: 9 days.
Clarksons: 4 days