18: True beginning of changes

"The world has its dark sides, but that doesn't mean the dark side is necessarily negative — it's a part of reality, whether you can deal with it or not."

— Nilloen

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●.

Oreki sat on his bed, holding the Book of Investigation with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The cover, made of a leather that seemed to pulse with mana, reflected the soft light of the room, as if it were alive.

[This book helps the bearer discover the truth about anything. It will provide answers as long as the wielder asks the right questions and is willing to receive insight and perspective on the question the wielder has asked.]

The screen in front of him showed this description of what the book can do.

He pondered the power this artifact held. "What should I ask first? Something simple, to start."

After a few minutes of pondering, he decided it would be wise to test its capabilities with something personal and immediate. Chae Nayun and Yoo Yeonha, two figures who occupied his mind frequently.

"What is Chae Nayun's view of me?" he whispered to the book, focusing his thoughts on the question.

Suddenly, a wave of drowsiness washed over him, as if he were being pulled into a deep dream. Colors and sounds began to blend together, and the vision materialized before his eyes.

He found himself in a training ground, where Chae Nayun stood there, intently focused. She pulled the bowstring with precision, releasing the arrow that sliced ​​through the air, hitting the target in the center. After a few series of arrows, she sat down to rest, the bow at her side, panting but with a smile of satisfaction.

"I'm getting better," she muttered to herself. "I have to stay focused, I can't let anyone surpass me. Especially that... oh, it doesn't matter. Even if he had fought that Djinn, there's no way he could surpass me."

Oreki watched in silence, trying to absorb every nuance of her words and expressions. Chae Nayun seemed determined, but there was a subtle frustration in her words. Even though he already knew that, relief flooded him when he realized that she didn't see him as someone hostile.

He noticed the small details around him: the soft sound of the wind and the intensity of the mana that emanated from her training.

When his eyes returned to Chae Nayun, she was looking at him deeply.

The vision abruptly disappeared, and he found himself back in his room.

"Third-person vision or astral projection...? It doesn't matter, how did she see me? Or was it just a coincidence?" Oreki pondered, analyzing both Chae Nayun's strange action and the book's ability.

He shook his head to continue with his tests.

"Let's see Yoo Yeonha."

"What is Yoo Yeonha's vision of me?" he asked again, feeling the drowsiness return. A new vision began to form, richer and more vivid than the last.

Suddenly, he found himself in Yoo Yeonha's room, a space that displayed undeniable elegance. A bookshelf full of books occupied one corner. The study table was impeccably organized, and a digital clock on the wall showed exactly 9:59 p.m., indicating that this vision was in real time.

Yoo Yeonha sat on her bed, a notebook open on her lap, reviewing information about the Giant Swamp Soldier. Her expression was focused, but there was a restlessness in her gaze, which often strayed to a nearby bowl of cheese balls and a sandwich that Oreki had given her through Jin Sechan.

"I guess a little taste wouldn't hurt…" she muttered, biting her lip in frustration. "Your cooking skills must not be impressive enough to make something so simple taste delicious."

Oreki watched her, his smile blossoming as he saw that his 'strategy' of using food with Yoo Yeonha and being useful to her was working. He knew that if it were earlier, she would probably have given the snack to Jin Sechan, even if she was slightly sad that she hadn't tried it.

"Come on, let me see your reaction." He thought, feeling an abnormal excitement.

Yoo Yeonha approached the pot and opened it, smelling the fried food and wandering her nose.

"What is it made of?" She mumbled as she brought the cupcake to her mouth.

"Come on. Let's go." Oreki's smile was starting to get more arrogant and proud.

Oreki's vision was starting to get blurry.

"No, no. Not now. Wait." He desperately begged not to disappear.

When he blinked, he woke up while lying on his bed, back in his room.

"..."

Oreki stared at the ceiling, his eyes lifeless. Frustration and sadness took over his heart, while a tear threatened to fall from one of his eyes.

"You're not going to be sad about this, are you?" Blood spoke in disbelief, as he played chess in Oreki's mind.

"No..." Oreki mumbled in response. "I'm already sad."

Blood stopped moving his chess pawn and felt a sudden urge to hit his head with an atomic bomb for having his companion be sad over something so mundane.

"Blood..." Oreki said, his voice unrelenting.

Blood didn't respond.

"I hate you." Oreki finished saying and turned his attention away so as not to hear anything from Blood.

As he stood up and sat on the bed, he felt the weight of mental fatigue building up. It was as if his mind had run a marathon while competing against Usain Bolt at his peak and with infinite energy, and now he needed a moment to catch his breath.

"So this is how it works," he said to himself, holding his head. "This book will be very useful."

These visions gave him a new understanding of Chae Nayun and Yoo Yeonha, but they also made clear the power and demands of the Book of Investigation. He would need to use this artifact wisely, so as not to exhaust his mental strength.

It took a few seconds for his mind to calm down, and he began to reorganize his thoughts, ready to use the book again.

"Time to use it again."

Oreki sighed heavily, his hands still tightly clasped around the Book of Investigation. Mental exhaustion still hung over him.

Feeling a growing pressure in his temples, he opened the Book of Investigation once more and focused his thoughts, formulating the question precisely.

"What is Yun Hyuk's plan regarding Yoo Yeonha?"

Then, Oreki's vision began to blur again.

He was pulled into the vision abruptly, as if he were being torn from reality.

Opening his eyes, the first thing Oreki noticed was the viscous sheen of something red dripping across the floor.

"This is..." He thought, as his quick mind recognized what it was. "Blood."

Tension coursed through his body, his senses reflexively alert, but with a simple act of concentration, his Corporeality kicked in, erasing the agitation. He forced himself to remain calm. "It doesn't matter."

His eyes adjusted better to the scene before him. The floor was painted crimson, and the sound of muffled crying filled the room. It was the kind of sound that betrayed someone on the verge of collapse, a cry of despair that couldn't break through the barrier of pain. Oreki looked up.

The sight was slightly disturbing, even to him, who had an impressive resilience.

A boy with short black hair was tied to a chair, his body a collection of open wounds and deep cuts. Blood ran freely from his arms and legs, where chunks of flesh had been torn away, revealing the horror of his torture. His Cube suit was in tatters, the remaining scraps of fabric soaked in blood. His eyes, dilated and filled with terror, were staring into space. There was no scream—a thick rope around his mouth prevented him from making any sound other than muffled moans.

Suddenly, a shrill, excited laugh reverberated in his mind. "Heh... the work of a brutal rookie." It was Blood, excited to finally witness such a grotesque scene after so long in Oreki's stillness. The spirit seemed almost euphoric, as if this violence awakened something within him.

Oreki, for a moment, wanted to scold him, but restrained himself. Blood is not... normal. He knew that. The existence inside his mind was not simply sadistic; He had seen unimaginable horrors. To Blood, this was just another scene.

Floating in his spectator form, Oreki approached the boy, examining the prisoner's pitiful state.

"Are you finally awake, my dear friend?" The voice echoed through the dark room, soft and almost caring. The sound of footsteps echoed through the room, slowly approaching.

Oreki didn't need to turn around to know who it was. "Yun Hyuk." His name left Oreki's lips with disdain, each syllable filled with revulsion.

The boy, upon realizing his tormentor's approach, began to struggle in the chair. He was desperate, struggling frantically against the chains that bound him, his eyes wide in panic. Yun Hyuk advanced slowly, a calm and reassuring smile on his face, as if all of this were normal, a simple routine.

"Hey, hey. Calm down," Yun Hyuk's voice was gentle, almost paternal. "There's no need to worry. No need to struggle."

But the boy didn't listen. He continued to struggle, terror clouding any reason. His muffled moans became more desperate.

"Hmmmf... Hhhhf!"

Yun Hyuk sighed, clicking his tongue in irritation. "Tsk. That's enough." His voice was now cold, devoid of the false tenderness from before. "Take your axe. It won't amuse me anymore."

A distorted, unintelligible sound responded, accompanied by the metallic noise of something being dragged across the floor.

Oreki, curious, tried to focus his vision on who was responding to the order. But at that moment, everything began to blur. His vision began to fade, the scene collapsing around him.

"Damn, not now." Oreki muttered as the vision faded in his mind.

"We'll go... two... we-?" Those were the last words he heard before he blinked and found himself back in his room.

The familiarity of the welcoming darkness of his dormitory enveloped him. Oreki felt the slight weight of the Book of Investigation beside him, but his mind was still immersed in the brutality of the vision.

He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to clear his thoughts, but the disturbing scene still throbbed in his memory. The trapped boy, the blood, the metallic dragging sound... Yun Hyuk.

"It's probably him..." Oreki sighed, running his hand over his face. His body was tense, and a mental fatigue was beginning to set in.

For a moment, he stood still, staring at the ceiling.

The scene didn't affect him emotionally as it would others. But still, there was something else, something that bothered him. Maybe it was Blood's presence managing to influence him, or the fact that he was seeing this kind of scene for the first time. He felt a slight discomfort, but it quickly disappeared.

"This is the real world, not a story," he thought, feeling the slight twinge of pain in his head. His nose began to tingle, and soon, a trickle of blood ran from his nostrils.

"Shit." He brought his hand to his nose, wiping the blood with the back of his hand, knowing he was close to his limit. "I can only use it three times before I pass out." The words echoed in his mind, a countdown of his limits.

He got up from the bed, staggering slightly, and walked to the window. The cool night air gently seeped through the glass, and he took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind.

"I think I'll make that plan..." Oreki muttered to himself, but Blood was excited about this plan.

As he looked out the window, he saw the horizon stretching out before him, the stars shining brightly. It was time to enjoy the revelations the Book had given him and prepare himself for what was to come.

***

Late night, Sunday.

Kim Suho was training at the Rookie Fitness Center. Kim Suho was a regular visitor to the fitness center, but today's scenery was different from what it was at the beginning of the year. Today, the fitness center was packed with cadets. This was undoubtedly because the exams were coming up.

"Kuu"

After finishing a set of some exercise, Kim Suho looked around while resting. Jin Hanjun, Kim Horak, Shin Jonghak, and even Yoo Yeonha and Rachel, who were rare visitors, were there.

Of course, there were also frequent visitors to the place, such as Oreki and Chae Nayun, who were in the gravity room.

"I didn't expect you to play both sides."

At that moment, a sudden coldness touched his face. Kim Suho turned his head back in surprise. There was only one person who would play such a prank on him. Kim Suho glared at him. Yi Yeonghan shrugged and handed her a drink.

"So, are you?"

"No, I just..."

"Yes?"

"... I just thought it was a rare event."

Kim Suho pointed at Rachel with his chin. Yi Yeonghan looked at Rachel and nodded in agreement.

"I guess you're right. This is the first time I've seen a real princess working out in a fitness center."

Her blonde hair shone under the artificial light of the room, her eyes were like refined emeralds. Her figure showed no imperfections and exuded elegance and charm. Even when covered in sweat, she looked like she had stepped out of a painting. Rachel was from the royal family of England, hence, of noble lineage.

"Who do you think she'll marry in the future? Not us, right?"

At Yi Yeonghan's comments, Kim Suho smiled.

"Is that a slight? Do you think you can marry her?"

"That's not it. I was agreeing with you. I don't think she would marry someone like us."

"Uuk!"

As the two of them were joking around with each other, a sudden sigh caught their attention.

"Shhh!"

The strange sound of breathing came from a man who was sitting in the lotus position, breathing deeply.

"... Is he really meditating in a place like this?"

Yi Yeonghan looked up doubtfully as to whether he was really seeing this.

Not just Yi Yeonghan. Almost all the cadets looked at him as they walked.

"He's wearing headphones, so he probably can't hear."

"At least he's trying hard." Kim Suho replied shortly, noticing Oreki's discipline.

As he watched him, Kim Suho analyzed Oreki's training. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs completely, and held it for thirty long seconds before slowly exhaling. The entire process was as meticulous as it was intense.

"He refined his breathing technique in such a short time?" Kim Suho was surprised, since he himself had a breathing technique developed over years, and seeing Oreki's evolution in such a short period of time was impressive.

"Why are you looking at him like he's something surprising?" Yi Yeonghan commented, finding Suho's surprise unnecessary.

Kim Suho responded with just a smile, but before he could say anything, Yi Yeonghan frowned and grabbed his shoulders in an exaggerated gesture of discomfort. "Dude, stop smiling like that, it's creepy."

Suho just laughed, releasing his grip. "Look, it's Chae Nayun." He pointed with his chin, seeing the girl leaving the gravity room.

Chae Nayun was exhausted, covered in sweat, and her unsteady gait made it clear that she had exerted herself too much. She looked ready to leave, but when she noticed Oreki meditating, she stopped and stared at him for a few moments, frowning.

"She's been standing there for a while. What is she doing?" Yi Yeonghan muttered, glancing at Chae Nayun.

Kim Suho shrugged, but before she could answer, Nayun approached. Her eyes were still fixed on Oreki, but she let out a dry cough when she noticed Suho and Yi Yeonghan watching her.

"He's strange, isn't he?" She commented, gesturing to Oreki.

"... Strange?" Kim Suho asked.

"That guy. Ever since I got here, he's been there... meditating. And I got here an hour and a half ago." Nayun said, still in disbelief.

"When Shin Jonghak and I arrived, he was training normally. I don't see any problem." Kim Suho replied, still remembering how Oreki was handling absurd weights.

"Normally? Define 'normally'," Nayun made air quotes.

"Once when I was training with Oreki, I found out that the average weight he used was from five hundred kilos to almost a ton." As Kim Suho spoke, the two didn't find it very strange, since that was the average for cadets. "But suddenly he made a jump of over a hundred kilos in everything."

At that, they were very surprised. A jump of such strength was not normal, even for cadets.

However, before they could comment, three cadets approached Oreki. Suho frowned. He recognized these three, well-known delinquents who always followed Shin Jonghak around like lackeys.

"Hey, what are you doing, loser?"

"Look at him. Want to be a monk? Go somewhere else, this is for heroes." They started to tease him, poking Oreki, who stood his ground, completely oblivious to the taunts.

"Are you deaf or mute? Say something!" One of the cadets insisted.

The insults only got worse, and they started to openly ridicule him. "You're a waste. You should give up being a hero. I bet your parents are ashamed of you!"

Kim Suho stood up, his patience exhausted, but Yi Yeonghan grabbed his arm. "Let it be. They're Jonghak's lackeys. Nothing good will happen if you get into conflict."

Before Suho could respond, Yoo Yeonha appeared, clearly observing the situation from afar. Seeing that Kim Suho noticed her, she walked over to them, her eyes shining with curiosity and judgment.

"What's going on?" Yeonha asked.

"Probably nothing. Oreki doesn't mind insults." Nayun replied, though her tone showed that she didn't entirely believe it herself.

Before they could argue any further, Shin Jonghak approached. His posture was always imposing, and he was clearly aware of everything that was happening in the room. "Nayun," he called out casually, a familiar smile on his face. "How's training going?"

Kim Suho clenched his fists, controlling his anger. He knew Jonghak was behind the delinquents, but the arrogant heir of the Shin clan maintained his innocence.

"Don't look at me like that, Suho. I didn't tell them to do this." Jonghak said with a reassuring smile, something not quite like him.

Yi Yeonghan shook his head in disbelief. "Impossible!"

Jongha glared at him. "Uhh?"

But before the mood could worsen, something unexpected happened. Oreki, who had remained silent the entire time, slowly opened his eyes, still in his lotus position. His previously calm aura changed drastically.

The delinquents, sensing the change, involuntarily took a step back.

"And finally he moves," Yi Yeonghan muttered, while Suho and the others watched, uncertain as to what would happen next.

Oreki calmly stood up and looked at the two delinquents. His eyes, usually filled with a slight irony or disinterest, were filled with unconditional confidence. There was something in his gaze that reminded him of Shin Jonghak's, the difference being that Oreki emanated an aura of silent superiority, enough to make the delinquents shiver slightly.

Without saying a word, Oreki took a step forward. Instinctively, the two delinquents stepped back, their eyes wide with surprise. It wasn't just Oreki's gaze that intimidated them; it was the way he moved—an unshakable, almost arrogant confidence, as if he was certain he could destroy them at any moment if he wanted to.

But instead of attacking or confronting, Oreki simply turned and began walking towards the exit, whistling the Poseidon melody. The slow sound echoed calmly, carrying a sense of power, as if he were completely indifferent to what had just occurred.

"Eh..."

The quintet watching the scene — Kim Suho, Yi Yeonghan, Chae Nayun, Yoo Yeonha and Shin Jonghak — made the same sound of confusion, not expecting this reaction. They had expected something more dramatic, perhaps an exchange of words or even a fight. But Oreki had handled it almost comically, as if he were watching two children playing.

Kim Suho raised an eyebrow, watching Oreki's figure disappear through the door. "Has he always been like this, or am I starting to notice something different about him?"

Suho thought, the friendly image of Oreki in the hospital flashing through his mind.

"What the hell was that?" Yi Yeonghan shook his head, still processing the situation. "He didn't even say a word."

Yoo Yeonha crossed her arms. "That was the same feeling I felt when he saved me at the museum."

Chae Nayun, like Kim Suho, noticed a clear difference in Oreki. "Ever since the day we left the party, he's gotten stronger."

When Oreki was completely out of their sight, the gym slowly returned to normal.

Kim Suho sighed, picking up his towel. "Well, let's get back to training. Exams are coming up."

However, as they got back to training, they couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen—something involving Oreki.

***

Oreki was excited about having managed to complete the technique he'd been working so hard to develop.

"You haven't created your own breathing yet, so don't be proud." Blood said, irritated by Oreki's attitude of being happy with a generic breath

"I know, but completing something where I had little information is gratifying."

Oreki remembered that it had been a while since he had opened his status window. He was more interested in seeing his skills, so he moved his eyes straight there.

▷ Gift (2/2)

「Sharp Perspicacity」

[Null attribute]

Description:

—Keen Insight:

Allows the user to grasp and understand the intentions and emotions of others, through the analysis of micro-expressions and body language.

—Detailed Reading:

Expands the ability to obtain information about people, objects, and environments, revealing origins, abilities, weaknesses, and rarely possible futures of the observed elements.

[Arcanoelement]

[Classification: Advanced] [Attribute: Arcane/Elemental] [Evolution – Rank 9] [EXP 45%]

— Elemental Mastery:

The user can infuse their weapons or objects with arcane and elemental energy, granting them magical powers and special natural properties. The strength of the infusion depends on the amount of mana injected.

— Advanced Versatility:

The user can choose from a wider range of elemental magical effects, such as fire, wind, ice, or electricity, in addition to merging elements to create new combinations.

— Deep Elemental Connection:

Allows the user to sense and manipulate the elements around them with heightened perception, providing an advantage in combat against opposing elemental abilities.

▷ Arts (1/2)

[Corporeality] [Proficiency 51%]

[Low-Intermediate Rank]

— Increased flexibility and range of motion.

— Increased physical endurance and cardiovascular capacity.

— Enhanced body awareness, allowing for more precise and efficient adjustments during physical activities.

— Reduced recovery time after intense physical activities.

— Development of advanced breathing techniques to optimize physical and mental performance, equality with your mind-body connection.

(Complete adaptation of the user's physique)

▷ Physical (1/1)

[Physical Breathing]

The technique that transforms each breath into raw power.

Respiratory Enhancement

— The body uses oxygen more efficiently, generating an instant increase in physical capabilities. Each deep breath strengthens muscles, improves reflexes, and heightens perception. The effects are proportional to the user's control over their breathing rate, and can increase their physical stats by up to 50%, but the intensity of the enhancement consumes stamina quickly.

Lung Reservoir

— While breathing, the body stores a limited amount of energy in the lungs, which is released gradually, keeping the enhancement active for short periods even during a break. Overuse can lead to exhaustion, reducing the effectiveness of the technique over time.

Progressive Growth

— Over time, refined control of breathing increases the efficiency of this technique. Constant practice can permanently expand lung capacity, raising the maximum enhancement limit by small margins.

=======

"So you finally unlocked it, huh." Oreki said aloud, feeling a slight excitement and doubt that it had been unlocked now.

"You're hinting at the adaptation of my physique. Does that mean..." Oreki was deducing, but Blood interrupted his train of thought.

"It means that you had to expand your lungs and improve your body to be able to unlock it." Blood replied, a satisfied smile on his lips, clearly enjoying the chance to interrupt Oreki's train of thought.

Oreki felt the need to insult him. "Your head is starting to work now. Are you learning from me?" He said this, with a perfectly fake cheerful smile on his face.

[Oreki houtarou]

▷ Stats

* Variable Stats

[Strength 3,262]

[Stamina 3,284]

[Speed ​​3,318]

[Perception 3,846]

[Vitality 3,152]

[Magic Power 3,065]

* Unchangeable Stats

[Intelligence – 8,108 / 10]

[Perseverance – 10 / 10]

[Luck – 3,448 / 10]

[Charm – 6,152 / 10]

======

"..." Oreki fell silent.

"..." Blood fell silent as well.

At that moment, a young woman with green hair appeared, her curious eyes scanning the area for someone. Upon seeing Oreki, a mischievous smile spread across her face.

Determined to surprise him, Hazuki ran towards him, her steps light and agile. With a quick and energetic blow, she slapped his shoulder. "Oops!"

"What the hell!" Both Oreki and Blood mentally exclaimed at the same time.