Ch02 - First steps

Samuel couldn't help but smile.

Instant Dungeon, or ID, originating from the manhwa "The Gamer". The pocket dimension where one could train or fight without consequences for the surroundings in the real world. A place where your actions couldn't be viewed or sensed from outside. People may be able to detect it if they were strong or perceptive enough, but Samuel doubted anyone bellow innate would notice it. The Instant Dungeon was one of the greatest training aid in his opinion.

The Shop. While there wasn't a Shop function in The Gamer, Samuel couldn't help but think it was an alternative to the Abyss Auction, but managed by the system instead of a shaddy organisation. He would be able to buy items and skill books in total privacy. No outsider would be alerted that he purchased this or that. And he had 250 000 credits to spend from the beginning.

'Now, I have to think about what to do carefully. I don't have the Sword Spirit, and I'm pretty sure it was thanks to her that fictional Yue Yang managed to contract the grimoire. So I need to buy something that will allow me to contract the grimoire.'

'But he is also supposed to have a high quality bloodline from his mother side, so maybe I just need to awaken the potential in the blood?'

'The invisible innate sword qi was the trump card of fictional Yue Yang, and it allowed him to cultivate innate qi before reaching the innate rank, and it gave him a boost in his ability. So I need to cultivate innate qi. And without the Sword Spirit help.'

'I need something to awaken the potential of my body and contract the grimoire. I need an innate qi cultivation technique. Because I'm weak, I need to avoid unwanted attention, so I need a good stealth technique. And to counter other stealth users, I need a good detection technique. I need a good body cultivation technique to increase my strenght, constitution and agility.'

'I already have a weapon technique, so a good hand-to-hand combat technique would be appreciated. I can't always have time to draw my spear, and I can't always be allowed to use a weapon. To support my combat skills and to take care of my body, first aid and accupuncture would be good. A hidden weapons technique would be good with stealth, hand-to-hand combat and accupuncture. It could make up for not having the invisible sword qi.'

'That should take care of my immediate needs. For the future, it would be good to know alchemy, smithing, runes and mechanics. I would be able to make medecine, cultivation pills, enchanted equipment, and finally puppets, though they should be called golems or automatons.'

With all those revelations and all his thinking, Samuel got tired, so he decided to check the shop. He wanted to take something to awaken his potential and be able to contract the grimoire before going to sleep. He also though it would have better effect if he took it before sleeping.

In the Shop, there were several categories: weapons, armors, equipment, consummables, materials, skills, abilities, divers. There was also a search bar. He mentally typed "talent awakening item" and confirmed the search. A list of items appeared, from the cheapest at 1000 credits, to the most expensive at 10 000 000 credits. That one would awaken all latent abilities hidden in the genetic code.

He settled for the "New Leaf awakening pill" at 75 000 credits, leaving him with 175 000 credits. It would cleanse the body from most of its impurities and stimulate its blood enough to partially awaken the capabilities inherited from the father and mother. Since both of his parents were quite talented, he though it would be enough.

It appeared in his inventory, and he wasted no time in taking it out and swallow it. As he felt warmth spread over his body from his stomach, he drifted into a restfull sleep. What he didn't know was that his transmigration and the death experience of the body had already awakened the potential of the body. Using that pill had doubled his potential.

He was woken up by the sensation of a wet towel moving on his skin, and both the pleasant scent of soap, and a foul smell of unknown origin. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked around. This action startled the cute brown haired maid that was tending to him, making her squeal and back away.

The maid actions caught the attention of the other person in the room, a beautiful and dignified black haired woman who seemed to be in her early 30s, with a simple but elegant dress showing her generous curves without exposing too much skin around the bust. She had a worried expression on her face. Samuel knew who she was, because he had read the novel. But for some reason, he felt affection for this unknown woman, and got a few flashes of himself interacting with her.

"Xiao-san! You're awake!" she said as she got up and moved next to him. The maid retreated a little more. "San-er, please don't be so rash again next time. Who gives you the notion to drown into the river when things get hard?"

Samuel lifted his hand up, signaling her to stop. It wasn't good to be swept away by someone's pace, and he often berated japanese protagonists for that. He knew he would have to deal with the people that knew him. He knew he would be different from what they were used to because he was a different person, so instead of trying to act like someone he didn't know, he would use memory loss and the schock of "near-death" to justify the changes. And he would take charge instead of letting others decide things for him.

"You're aunt Xian. Even though I somehow know who you are, I don't remember you."

At least, not completly. Samuel guessed that the flashes he saw were memories from the original Yue Yang. And he inherited some of his feelings, which was why he felt affection for the unknown woman. He didn't know that it was the pill which had awakened some of the memories of the body. He also noticed he spoke and understood the local language like a native, something most likely inherited from the body.

Xian didn't know what to think for a moment. Her precious nephew just told her that he didn't remember her. She would have never though that he would awaken with such a terrible condition as memory loss. She had to sit down on the nearby chair to digest the information. The maid, who was still in the room, looked like she didn't know what to do. She wasn't done cleaning him from the impureties he lost during his sleep, but she also knew she should give them some privacy. Samuel noticed it from the corner of his eyes.

"You can leave the towel and the bassin here, I can take care of the rest myself. Thank you for you work" he told the maid with a small smile.

She blushed, bowed and left the room after living the bassin and the towel on the table. That was enough for Xian to regain her composure.

"San-er, tell this fourth mother, what do you remember?"

"I remember nothing, just a few images flashing in my head, I can't tell what they were about. I just know things. Like I know you're my aunt. Even though the memories are gone, the feelings remains. I don't remember you, but still care about you a lot. It's... weird. What happened to me?"

Xian had a beautiful yet sad smile on her face. She was happy that her nephew still loved her despite losing his memories. But she was also sad because he lost his memories, and because of what she was about to reveal to him.

"You tried to drown yourself in the river because your engagement with the daughter of the Xue family got rejected."

"... I don't think so, no."

"What do you mean?"

"You said that I tried to commit suicide? It feels wrong. My heart tells me it's wrong."

As he said that, he resumed cleaning himself. The maid was only halfway done, he had to take care of his lower body, so he turned his back to his aunt. She had the decency to turn around as well.

"I woke up earlier today, and I knew I had been in some kind of life-threatening incident. But suicide? No. I don't like it. I wouldn't trust the witness who said I tried to kill myself. I may not be able to use my memory, but I trust my heart."

This was a good way to hide the fact that he already knew someone tried to get rid of him, probably his cousins from the Yue clan. He wasn't supposed to know anything, so he used "the memory of the heart" (or memory of the body for others) to hide his knowledge. He also saw that the beautiful woman was getting more distressed with what she was learning, so he decided to change the subject.

"What's more important is that it looks like I got a lot better compared to before. My body seems to have expelled a lot of impurities during my nap. I feel quite fine."

"Ah! That would explain it. When I came and saw you in such a terrible state, I though your condition had worsened. Since you weren't cultivating, I didn't think it would be some kind of breakthrought."

"Rather than a breakthrough, it's more like my body fully healed itself from anything bad."

"Is that so? It does makes a bit of sense. If that is the case, then maybe San-er will be able to contract with the grimoire now."

"Grimoire contract? Ah, summoning. Yes, it probably won't be a problem."

As he said that, he looked at the big ornate book on the table, and felt drawn by it. He stood up, causing his aunt to be embarrassed by his revealing attire, and reached for the grimoire. The moment he touched it, the grimoire started to glow. Xian sucked in a sharp breath and held it, her eyes wide open with disbelief.

[You have found a Summoning Grimoire. Do you wish to contract it?] [Yes] [No]

While he was surprised by the notification, he didn't hesitate and accepted. The glow became so strong the 2 people in the room had to shield their eyes. He felt knowledge entering his brain without him being able to do anything about it. Not like he would try to stop it. Some things he already vaguely knew due to reading the novel became more clear. There was also other things he couldn't comprehend. The light disappeared, living the 2 people slightly dazed, but for 2 differents reasons.

[You have contracted a summoning grimoire. + 25 000 credits. +1 Wisdom fruit. Occupation changed to Apprentice Summoner.]

The bronze colored book floated in front of him, and Samuel could feel the connection he had with it, like a part of him, a new limb. He was also happy with the system reward for the succesful contract. He looked at Xian and saw her beautiful face full of tears, with a bright smile. His heart skipped a beat. The woman was a MILF, and seeing her tears of happiness with such a pretty smile was very touching yet exciting. He nearly popped a boner in his lightly clothed state.

"See? No problem" he said, shrugging his shoulders and taking the grimoire with him back to the bed.

"San-er? Did you just contract the grimoire?"

"Yes."

Xian was stunned by the matter-of-fact response. To her, it was something she waited for years to happen. But for her current nephew, it looked like it was just a formality to pass. Seeing him so calm and confident, she couldn't help but calm herself as well. At least on the surface. In her heart, she leaping from joy, thanking her departed sister and kowtowing to the heavens.

While she was composing herself, Samuel was looking into the grimoire. As expected, he had the Twin Star Inherent Skill with Counterfeit and Divine Vision, and his Guardian Beast was the Phantom Shadow.

"So, San-er, tell me already what inherent skill you got."

"A very usefull support skill."

"San-er, don't tease your fourth mother."

"As I said, a very usefull skill, so I want to keep it secret. Sorry aunt Xian, I'll tell some other time."

"... Ah, fine. What about your guardian beast?"

"A particular one, different from the norm. Same with my inherent skill, very usefull so I'd rather keep it secret for the time being. I have to be cautious until I'm stronger."

"I understand, I won't insist. Still, today has really been a great day. I should let you finish to clean yourself" she said while gracefully fleeing from the room.

Even though he wasn't fully exposed, it was too much for the proper lady. She had forgotten his state of undress due to witnessing the contract, but once she calmed down, she couldn't ignore it.