GLITCH

Unexpected Lead

MAIDEN'S GLOSS, Island of Maiden

December 1

7:07 am

"Thank you everyone for boarding the ship. Have a nice trip!"

I silently stared at the crew spouting the farewell message.

I'm Rylai Lux, 17 years old, a person possessing black hair and round silver eyes. I may have long hair before but after all that scenario during my expedition in Silver Island, my hair got really trashy due to cuts and that air pressure I received during that time. So now I have my hair cut in medium layers. It's pretty nice actually. Perhaps I should maintain this kind of hairstyle.

Casting that aside, I'm still continuing my journey to trace the whereabouts of that Fallen Blood Crystal. Unfortunately, the one in Silver Island isn't the one I'm looking for. To rub more salt in the wound, I have no more leads.

I returned to Crystal City after all that mess I've been through and yeah, my efforts aren't really in vain. The Silver Island is back to normal. It's now starting to supply silver in the market. Another bonus for that is a free trip to Island of Maiden, docking at the port of Maiden's Gloss City. Well since I've been given the opportunity, why not grab it? I might find some clues about the crystal in that city which brings me in my current situation.

The city is luxurious. The place is more awestruck than Crystal City.

But, why is it that all the facilities here are all white?

Oh well.

I started asking the citizens if there's an inn or a place similar to that nearby. I was then given the directions and of course, I went to my temporary shelter.

•••

CHIBI INN, Maiden's Gloss City

6:47 pm

Ah! What a nice bed!

It's so fluffy and smooth and in my opinion this is one of the best.

I'm glad that I accepted the offer.

By the way, it seems that I need to inspect my own Mantle since it is getting haywire of some sorts. In the recent incident, I don't know why my [Soul Read] isn't working as it should be. This is a skill liable for advance type of appraising someone or even something. But during my battle against that blabbering crystal, I wasn't able to appraise it. I wonder why. Maybe because I deemed that my skill can't appraise a non-living thing? No, I think it goes away more than that. I can't also use all of my skills without being unlocked by the Mantle itself.

This just means that I can't really rely on my Mantle that much. It is true that I'm starting to become dependent on it. Perhaps this situation of mine lets me realize this. But for now, it's essential for me to recalibrate my [Soul Read] skill.

I stood up and took a peek at the window, started appraising various objects and people here and there, and occasionally this skill of mine went back to normal. And yep, after a long period of not being able to see my own status, I finally grasp my eyes' prime potential!

However, instead of getting happy, I became more confused.

Rylai Lux –Death—

LV unavailable

STR stat unavailable

AGI stat unavailable

CON stat unavailable

INT stat unavailable

Skills:

Soul Read /Unique Passive/ – appraise an individual or an object and obtain more information than the normal [Appraisal]. It also boosts reaction speed and also applies foresight and slow motion sight if the user decides to.

Death /Unique Passive/ - (cursed lifted) disposes unnecessary and unrelated skills to Death. The user acquires all Death-related skill.

Huh? What in the world?

So my skills aren't 'locked' but are 'disposed'!?

And what's with these "data unavailable" stuff? I literally can't see a single number in my status!

This is a bug right? It has to be.

Please be a bug.

As if skills have bugs.

But then again, this isn't a computer program I'm dealing with—it's an unscientific, supernatural power dwelling inside of me.

Sigh…

What is happening to my body?

While I'm still thinking of things, I heard a couple of knocks pounding at the door. When I said enter, someone of the inn's staff came carrying the food I ordered earlier. I gave my thanks, and she eventually closed the door and walked away. I started eating when something is happening to my mind. It's like a shock to me. Unlike before in which I can hear a voice inside my head, it's more like something is implanted directly to it.

/ [Immunity] is in effect. /

Eh?

Immunity for what…?

When I looked at my food, I came to understand as of why [Immunity] pops out of nowhere.

It is poisoned. And the dose is lethal enough to kill several persons with just a single taste. What's the purpose of this scheme anyway?

Oh well, beside the poison, the food is cooked well and it really tastes so good so, better not waste it.

•••

At the same moment...

"Did you apply the poison?"

"Y-yes. I did as what you told me but why?"

"Why? Have you forgotten who's the real boss here you twerp? Or perhaps you want me to ask my boss to personally execute you?"

"P-please anything but that…!"

The goon, who's wearing a black suit and a hat laughed together with his conspirators. The reason why they told him to poison the girl is because they wanted to steal her belongings. For them, she's a rich lady. It's right on money.

The second reason is that if ever their plan has failed, the blame won't go to them but to the inn and its staffs. The manager of the inn wants to protest, but there's nothing they could do.

Despite the wonderful scenery anyone could see in the port, this place has a dark side to it.

Trembling before them, the manager is praying for the customer's safety. "Hopefully, she didn't eat it."

…

"Oh? So that's why there's poison applied on it?"

"H-huh? Who's there?"

A ghastly voice came out of nowhere. It freaked out not just the manager but also the hooligans.

"Oh, me…? Who knows? Perhaps I'm one of your victims."

"Hoh? Then, what can you do? You're nothing but a ghost now."

The hooligans started laughing nervously.

"A-also, our boss is powerful! And our supremacy is way more powerful! Even a ghost can't spook him out! Isn't that right boss? Huh? Boss, where are you?"

The one who's wearing a black suit is nowhere to be seen.

"I-it can't be…"

"So, do you know what situation you're in right now?"

The hooligans are now trembling with fear and fled afterwards.

"Whew, I guess that should do it. Now, you mister uh, manager…may I ask something? Are you one of them?"

"HIIII! Please spare me! I'm not one of them!"

"Ah, no, I'm just asking--"

"There's no way a vengeful spirit like you would just ask and not do anything!"

"A vengeful spirit?—Ah. I forgot to deactivate my skill."

"S-skill…?"

"There, you can now see me. Look behind you."

"B-behind!? Ahhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Wait, wait…!"

…

"…so there you have it. I'm sorry if that scheme of mine freaked you out."

"I-I see."

I thoroughly told the manager the events that lead me here, and why I did the vengeful spirit thingy to drive those thugs away. Oh, it's not just the manager here; all of the inn's staff is here, a total of twenty five. The one who delivered the food and the chef bowed to me and asking for forgiveness, but they don't have to be the ones to be blamed actually. Finally, they gave me their thanks.

"Ah, well…I just did that to have you guys feel a little better. So yeah, may I ask what's happening here?"

The manager cleared his throat and spoke to me.

"If you ever try to stick your nose to somewhere it doesn't belong, you might regret it."

"It's fine. I just want to poke a hornet's nest. That's all."

Yeah, I'm a bit lunatic to anyone who could hear my statement.

However, something caught my attention.

That man in suit has a peculiar yet interesting status condition.

Loid Flare

Mantle: Bomber

Status Condition:

Blessed by the Fallen – possessed a portion of a Fallen Blood Crystal's power

Who would've thought I got a good lead?