Chapter 8: Chapter 8
As Althea’s voice slowly faded, I gradually snapped back to my senses.
I hurriedly opened the System to check what gift I had received.
[You’ve received: Starter Gift Pack]
’Is that even a question? Of course yes! Accept it! Accept now!’ I frantically screamed in my mind.
Immediately, a box wrapped in pink paper with a matching ribbon appeared out of thin air.
I rushed to grab it before it could hit the ground. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on NoveI(F)ire.net
"Phew, almost let it hit the ground. By the way, why is the box so cute? The paper even had a piggies pattern. Is this Althea’s doing? Her taste sure is weird."
Just because the box looked adorable didn’t mean I was going to hesitate to open it.
I tore it open like an excited kid unwrapping birthday presents.
The whole process took less than five seconds before the cute box looked completely ruined, as if a wild animal had gotten to it first.
I eagerly peered inside.
"Err... what exactly are these?"
There were three items, well, technically dozens, but most were duplicates. In essence, there were three different kinds of items.
I curiously picked up what looked like a talisman on the left side of the box. There were exactly ten of them.
Unlike a normal talisman with a complex inscription or writing, this one simply had a drawing of an eye without eyelids.
[Inspection Talisman]
[Function: Allows the user to see a target’s personal information, such as name, stats, race, and age. It can also reveal weaknesses or hidden conditions and illnesses.]
[Usage: Aim the talisman at your target. It can be used from a distance. Speak your chosen Incantation to activate it.]
Using this talisman could potentially alert the target that they are being observed. Success chance decreases against targets of higher rank.]
’So it’s a talisman that lets me see the detailed information of whoever I target? This will definitely be useful for my survival! I mean, with this item, I would be able to know if I were to pick a fight with the wrong guy. Just a perfect item for a coward like me, haha!’
[Do you wish to set the Incantation now?]
[Please choose the Incantation]
I paused, trying to come up with something that sounded powerful, cool, and impressive. My first ideas were:
They sounded cool in my head, but in the end, I settled on something much simpler and easier to speak in a hurry.
"Peek," I said in Avalondria.
Avalondria was the official language of the Avalon Kingdom.
[’Peek’ has been chosen as the Incantation formula.]
"Ugh, it sounds kind of lame, but at least it’s short. In an emergency, that’s what matters."
"Now, what about this item?"
I picked up the book that was placed in the middle of the box.
"Whoa. It’s actually quite heavy and thick." I was slightly caught off guard by its weight and density.
There was nothing on its leather cover, no titles, no images, no symbols. Nothing. I started to doubt its uniqueness. Just then, a similar window screen appeared right before my eyes.
[Low-Tier Random Skills Book]
[Function: When used, the book grants the user a random skill.]
[Usage: Open the book.]
"So this is a book that gives me a skill? But it’s random? Shit. Knowing my luck, there’s no way I’m getting anything good. Probably just trash." I couldn’t help but voice my thoughts in disappointment.
Other people wouldn’t understand, but I had always known I had terrible luck. So the moment I heard it would give a random skill, instead of letting me pick something I liked or preferred, I knew I was doomed from that moment on.
Considering how awful my luck was back on Earth, and that wasn’t even counting the ill fortune of the original Aiden, I was almost sure I’d end up with something worthless.
"Even so, it’s still better than nothing." I sighed and flipped the book open, already preparing for the worst.
’I pray to you, RNG God!’
Immediately, it displayed a picture of something along with a description underneath. But before I could even read the first sentence, the pages started flipping on their own rapidly as though there was an invisible hand flipping them.
I was stunned and didn’t know what to do. I wanted to stop the book from flipping but was afraid it might ruin the book and leave me with no skill at all. In the end, I chose to just watch and wait patiently.
Under my expectant gaze, the pages flipped for ten seconds before stopping on a particular page.
It showed an illustration of hands. Underneath was a title:
[Grants the user the ability to stimulate pleasurable sensations in a target through physical contact. The effect can be controlled in intensity, ranging from mild comfort to overwhelming arousal.]
[Usage: Touch the target’s skin with your hand while focusing your intent. Prolonged contact increases the effect.]
Limited to one target at a time. Does not function through gloves or barriers.]
"What... what the hell is this skill?!"
"This skill is... it’s absolutely perfect for me!"
Mind you, that was the complete opposite of what I meant to say.
I had already prepared myself for disappointment. My tongue was ready to blurt out trash, but somehow, against all odds, the skill turned out to be exactly what I expected.
It was basically the ideal skill for me. And in addition to the original Aiden’s talents, it felt just like giving a tiger wings.
’Has my rotten luck finally turned around? Praying to RNG God, is actually working?!’
Sure, at first glance, this ability sounded completely ridiculous. In that split second, I even fantasized about how I was supposed to defeat my future enemies. By overwhelming them with pleasure? That was downright diabolical.
I wouldn’t have minded so much if it were just for fighting women. But men? Ew. Why would I ever want to make some guy squirm under my touch? Just the thought made me sick.
I was supposed to defeat my enemies by smothering them with fire or freezing them with ice. That was the image I always had in my head.
A Song of Ice and Fire!
Yet in the next instant, I remembered my real purpose in this world wasn’t to become a hero who defeats the demon king. Or a demon king who tries to conquer everything.
My goal here was to establish a religion or maybe a cult devoted to Althea. To spread her teachings about embracing lust, love, and freedom!
Sensual Touch was exactly what I needed. As an inexperienced man with no clue how to satisfy a woman, this skill couldn’t have arrived at a better time.
’Along with the massage skill inherited from the original Aiden, this Sensual Touch skill had landed in exactly the right hands. With this, I could confidently open the first ero massage parlor in this world! Wahahaha!’
However, even though my mood was soaring with enthusiasm, I knew better than to let my excitement cloud my judgment.
There were still plenty of issues I needed to deal with first.
For example, I hadn’t even checked the last item in the gift box.
Soon, I came back to my senses.
I immediately went to check the box for the last items.
Inside, there were two identical pills.
[Mid-Tier Temporary Stats Enhancer Pills]
[Function: Grants the user a temporary boost in all stats to B-Rank for 60 minutes.]
[Usage: Consume directly.]
Can only be consumed once a month. If taken again too soon, severe side effects may occur, including permanent paralysis, brain death, muscle tears, internal injuries, and multiple complications. Upon usage, the user receives a x5 stat growth multiplier for one week. However, any pain and fatigue experienced during the period will also be multiplied by five.]
"Isn’t this basically a fucking Kaioken?!"