《DUE TO USE OF YOUR SKILL IN A NEW WAY, A NEW MOVE HAS BEEN CREATED. WOULD YOU LIKE TO NAME IT?》

As soon as I go to make my way back, I get a notification. I didn't expect it, but perhaps I should've. I guess I'll name it then? Superspeed sounds about right for something that launched me to the other side of the continent.

《MOVE CREATED.》

--------------

lvl 10

(Magic Molding)

Channel magic into your wings and zoom across the sky!

Originates from the act of channeling magic into your wings.

--------------

Huh. Oh wait, this means there are moves attributed to the other magic molding things I've done. I'll have to look at that.

Though, why is it level ten? Shouldn't it start at one?

《The skill's higher level means that any moves created level up faster depending on the level difference, and slow down when closer to the skill's level.》

Ah, I see. An experience incline, or whatever it's called. Now, to focus on getting back- and not getting distracted by anything along the way. Luckily, the Keyuu has a surprisingly good memory of the layout of the continent.

I don't get back until the sun begins to set. I refrained from using so I didn't over shoot the village and get more lost than I already was. The scenery was nice though, this continent is mostly inhabited by forests which is a Keyuu's preferred habitat. So there were no dangerous environments or whatever. I fly above the village, deciding to drop in instead of attempt to navigate the streets. I head toward the center, watching the people below point at me, until I spot Titania. Not difficult considering there's still a long line in front of her.

Maybe my stunt got more people interested? Not what I was aiming for but eh.

She spots me as I start to land, gliding in circles until my claws touch the ground and my body floats gently to the ground afterward. As soon as I'm landed, she walks up to me happily- in a good mood despite standing there for who knows how long. Did she even take a break?

"Hey! You wouldn't believe how many people are interested, you have so many candidates! Come on, let's get things set up." She pauses as the people in the line groan and complain, "Hush, you all. I'm not going to take names all damned day. Either set up camp in the street until I'm back, or go on about your life and come back tomorrow." A few people scatter at her stern look, while others decide to plop down and sleep on the ground.

The determination is admirable, at least.

She turns back to me, "Alright! Let's set up." She takes an item from her pocket. It looks like a pyramid, but made of cloth?

She walks to an open spot - next to the center bell - and places the item on the ground. She then taps her staff on it and speaks, "Resize." Once again, a rune on her staff lights up. It's a different one, this time.

Immediately, the item grows in size until its the size of a house. Oh! It's a tent! Specifically, a tent with runes on it. Rather than the runes being painted on, it looks like the runes are sown into the fabric.

If you weren't used to runes, it would look like a simple white tent with black designs on it. But I'm pretty certain they're runes. They just have that vibe to them. I wonder what the runes do?

Titania claps, gaining my attention. "This is my privacy tent! The runes on it ensure no sound escapes, and no magic sense can get in, so you have complete privacy!" She walks up to the cloth doors of the tent, pressing her hand against one of the runes. "On." She states, and the tent lights up.

Now, the tent looks completely white. With the setting sun, the glowing white runes stick out among the white tent- but I'm sure I wouldn't be able to spot the runes during the day.

She then raises the flap on the tent and waves me through. "Come in! We can talk in here. That way you won't have to deal with all the staring." I glance around and notice she's right- everyone nearby is staring at me, whether they try to hide it or not. Which isn't all that surprising, considering I'm a giant bird-snake in the middle of the town, and what most of the people here are gathered to see.

I slither inside, the entrance way larger than a human and allowing me to fit in easily. The inside is very underwhelming save for the runes on the walls; some lit up, some dark. It's empty, and I notice that the bottom isn't open to the dirt, closing the whole space.

Titania walks in after me, easily guessing my thoughts, "Yeah, I can't shrink furniture with the tent. Well, I could, but I'd have to shrink it separately, and that'd be a pain. I'll get some furniture later. For now, let me show you the runes." She walks up to one of the walls with inactive runes. "These runes are here to communicate with the outside. I've made it so that is will make the runes outside change color depending on how you touch this rune here." She points at - but doesn't touch - a particular rune in the center of the inactive runes.

"One tap triggers the runes for red." She taps the runes once. The rune lights up white, before a line connecting to a rune underneath it lights up and turns red. Then, the red spreads; pulsing through interconnecting lines and runes until the whole room is bathed in red. It looks really pretty, honestly. "All it does is change the color. I will be outside while you meet with others, and if I see red I will assume your visitor has turned aggressive and I'll come collect them. Understand?" She turns to me as the runes fade automatically. I nod in return.

"Good, now two taps are for yellow and three taps are for green. Yellow just means you're done with the visitor and decided you don't want to meet with them again. It doesn't have anything to do with their behavior. Green also means the meeting is over, but also that you like the person and want another meeting with them. I'll check on you every... Fifteen minutes, just to make sure you're alright. Sound good?" She explains in detail.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

I nod again, surprised. She really has put a lot of thought into this. She has to have done this before. Or at least thought of it often. All of this has made me want to learn runes as well, it seems really versatile at little to no expense to the user. Other than a bunch of cramming to learn, and being unable to make new runes in the heat of battle.

"Great! I'm thinking of putting the table in front of the rune for easy access, and a chair for your interviewee. Do you want a cushion? I have some really comfy ones! Big ones too, you wouldn't fit a normal cushion. Hmm, anything else would be excessive I think. Is there anything you want in here? You may be using this tent for a while, actually." She blurts out, looking very excited.

My immediate thought is a plant. I've always wanted to try gardening, I just... My parents would never let me try new things. They were always convinced I'd give up and it would be a waste of money.

Even though they're not in the picture anymore, I still don't think I should get one. There's no light in here, and my large talons wouldn't be very helpful in caring for it. I'd probably drop it. And I wouldn't be able to take it with me once I find my bonded. There'd be no point.

So, I shake my head.

"Alright, well let me know if you think of anything. In the meantime, let's go over how you'll be talking with the potentials! You remember my telepathy spell right?" I nod easily, I don't have the memory of a goldfish lady. "Yeah, I'll be using that but between you and the candidates. I would like to try something slightly different, with your permission. The spell I used on you allowed for privacy- meaning only thoughts we directed towards each other would be heard. But I was thinking, wouldn't it be better to not have that when deciding who you're going to share your core with? You get that type of telepathy naturally after bonding anyway. It'll take time before you can separate your thoughts from one another. It would remove any possibility of liars trying to take advantage of you! Oh, and don't worry, I won't be able to hear your thoughts despite being the one to cast the spell." She proposes.

It would be useful, but...

Wouldn't that give you away, Kurotto? If I think about something related to your UI, or my past life?

《No need to worry, I have it handled.》

Huh. Alright then.

In that case, it sounds like a good idea. Though this means I can't lie either, I'm fine with that. If Titania is correct, then I'll end up with my secrets laid bare once we bond anyway. Besides, I won't find who I'm looking for by acting like someone I'm not. Kinda ties into the whole 'willing participant' rule. You can't be willing if you don't know the whole truth.

I'm also pretty sure my [Spiritual Mentality] gives me the mental fortitude needed to just... Not think about things I don't want known. Maybe.

So, after a moment of thought, I nod to her.

"Awesome! I'll let them know ahead of time, I wouldn't be surprised if a few people back out because of it. Now that we've got that settled, you can sleep here if you want but you don't have to. Just be back as early as you can alright? The quicker we do this the faster you find who you're looking for!" She grins widely at me, energy radiating from her.

I nod, unable to properly match her excitement due to my lack of facial muscles. A snake's head isn't very diverse in expression. I could bare my teeth in a grin, but I feel like that'd be more unsettling than what I'd be going for.

I'd rather sleep in the nearby trees, so I bid Titania goodbye and leave the village- refraining from speeding off this time. The sky dims as I settle in a tree. I've got a long day ahead of me! Or, more likely a long month or more with how many people I'll have to sift through.

《SPECIAL QUEST 'FINDING A WAY' COMPLETED!》

|+25 Tokens|

|+Skill [System's Protection]|

--------------

|Finding a Way|

(Special Quest)

Find a way to meet potential candidates for bonding.

Rewards: 25 Tokens, [System's Protection]

Failure Penalty: N/A

--------------

Before I could sleep, I'm bombarded with a notification.

[System's Protection]? Let's see what that is.

--------------

[System's Protection]

(Passive)

Allows the user to send false signals to those using telepathy when certain keywords are thought. The user can set these up in advance, but cannot alter what telepathy has already heard.

Created as a precautionary ability to hide the presence of certain symbiotes.

--------------

I see. So I was given a skill meant to hide Kurotto's existence, basically. So this skill allows me to make certain phrases or words appear as something else if someone reads my mind?

《Yes. Simply will it to be, and it will be hidden.》

Alright then. I guess this could be useful for me as well. Let's see... Mentions of the UI should appear as thoughts on my general abilities in a regular manner rather than in a game-like fashion.

I feel something click in my mind. That's a weird feeling.

Any mention of Kurotto should be followed by a memory of a grandfatherly figure - while any current conversations with them should be blocked entirely.

Another click.

The word 'Skill' should be replaced with ability, and 'Move' with technique. My past life's memories should be replaced with similar memories my previous body has, or similar fake memories if none are close enough. Mentions of ages and time from my past life should be changed to whatever age matches the memories that replace them. Any thoughts about previously having a human body should be replaced by speculation about what it's like to have a human body.

Anything I'm missing, Kurotto?

《If you begin to think something suspicious, I will control the skill for you. Anything unrelated to my presence you will need to hide on your own.》

Well shit, why didn't you say so?

《Specializing the terms yourself allows you to know exactly what they have been replaced with. The terms I specify are ones you will be unaware of.》

Oh, I get it. If I know what these thoughts are replaced with, I can plan accordingly and carry a conversation with that in mind. But the ones you use may trip me up if they ask something that I have no idea about.

Well, now that that's done, I can rest. I'm excited for tomorrow!