Chapter 95: Alone in the Dark
As of the moment, Roy believed he had no use for the Blank Love Letter and Magic Hair Spray other than selling them. The only real boons were the two new skills, six apples, and three stat points.
’Though if I give Master Abe one of the Magic Hair Sprays, I can use the other on myself. An eighty percent increase in my charm doesn’t sound bad,’ Roy nonchalantly thought, whereas he was really intrigued by the charm-increasing factor of the uncommon item.
’I guess I can test out my summon cards now. If that bastard stalker is still here, then... wait...’
Roy stood on his feet and stretched. It was time to test out his Love Sensor.
When he received the two skills, the knowledge on how to perform them automatically entered his mind.
From deep within his chest, he stirred his latent energy with his mind solely focused on the passive skill.
Suddenly, a light pink wave gently spread out from him in a twenty-metre radius.
[You possess a love meter that gauges the affection of an individual who has been around you for at least 60 hours.]
Roy was fully aware of the description of the skill, and according to it, he first ’sensed’ the individual before he had to wait for sixty hours to know their affection towards him.
Of course, he could shorten this time by half if he used the 2x Multiplier, but the energy expenditure would be much higher, and also, he didn’t really need to know what level of affection the stalking shadow had for him.
’The main use of this skill is simply its ability to sense others,’
Roy thought and noted that there was absolutely nobody around but himself. The [Love Sensor] was a passive skill, so after the initial manifestation of the skill, which cost about 25% of his current energy, he didn’t need to spend any more energy to maintain it. Not yet, at least. After all, he just attained this skill, so this was still the testing phase.
Roy wanted to attempt Cupid’s Kiss, but the method to perform the skill made him feel embarrassed.
"Yeah, I’ll leave that for when it’s necessary." He also had to account for his energy reserve. Who knew when next he would have access to energy crystals?
He clicked his tongue. "I have to sign in with a weapon on me from now on."
Proceeding, Roy put his attention back on the blue panels spread out before him. Their glow didn’t reflect in the darkness around them, and neither on Roy’s face. If Roy ever did see the panels emit the blue light on his surroundings, it was mostly a trick of his mind.
+
Item: [The Weeping Ghost] ×2
Type: Card
Tier: 2 (Uncommon)
Description: "Even in death, Hanabira Reina didn’t want to leave your side. Summon the weeping ghost to aid you once per day."
+
With a simple thought, the card materialized in a virtual form. In it was the illustration of the ghostly Reina in her red dress and gloves, her long, straw-like black hair flowing and covering most of her face. Her skin had a pale complexion.
"Summon."
The virtual card glowed pink, then dissolved into particles that swirled and coalesced in the darkness, with a figure appearing.
It was Hanabira Reina.
Her black hair fell in straight curtains around her pale face. She stood motionless in the darkness.
Roy could hardly see her, but weirdly enough, she was picked up by the Love Sensor.
Summoning her only took around 5% out of his energy reserve, but keeping her summoned cost energy.
’I was considering summoning the two weeping ghosts I have at once, but that won’t be smart anymore,’ he noted and observed the being before him.
’She’s getting picked up by Love Sensor, does this mean she’s alive?’ Roy held his chin.
[...]
’Keeping silent, eh? Fine.’ Roy straightened his back and asked aloud, "So, what can you do? No, wait. I can’t see in this goddamn darkness!"
Roy palmed his face and de-summoned The Weeping Ghost.
It was time to search the perimeter.
He stood up and followed the only ounce of moonlight peering into this space.
Master Abraham normally found well-hidden areas for the group to rest and step out of the vehicle to get some fresh air without too much worry of finding themselves standing before an abyss creature as soon as they did.
Roy walked towards the rectangular opening that permitted the moonlight to enter, and it became larger in his vision.
He dodged some stone obstacles and figured that this place must have been an underground garage, and the stone debris was some of its broken pillars and ceiling.
As Roy neared the opening, his eyes that had adapted to the darkness eased into this dim moonlight, relaxing. Walking barefoot was still annoying, as many things lying around tried to prick his feet. He just prayed he wouldn’t have to run for dear life anytime soon.
At the opening, he could now clearly see the night sky, and oddly enough, it was a cloudy red hue.
’No wonder the moonlight seemed extra dim,’ he thought.
In the red clouds, there were red lightning flashes, and ash-colored snow fell from the sky.
"Kree~"
Roy heard the screech of a flying abyss creature and hid by the corner of the opening.
He peeped out outside and looked up, but not directly at the creature like Master Abe had taught him. At least twelve spearhead wyverns were flying in the direction away from the red night sky.
An uncanny thought surfaced in Roy’s mind, but he brushed it away. That wasn’t possible.
He waited for a few minutes when he was sure the migrating abyss creatures had passed, and came out from hiding.
’But... why is it snowing?’ Roy thought and locked onto a tiny ball that fell right outside.
He stretched his palm forward to let it land on it.
"Don’t touch that."
Roy immediately retracted his arm.
The sudden male voice came from outside, and he felt a presence enter the Love Sensor’s twenty-metre field of radius.
Roy was alarmed at first, but calmed down right after as he not only recognized the voice, but the owner of said voice walked into his field of vision.
Master Abraham had on a black overcoat in his iconic tactical getup.
Roy noticed there was a wide arch above the C-Class Executioner created using his [Shapes] skill. It prevented the greyish snow from touching him.
"If you touch it, you will catch a fever and become an undead," he added.