'I really think you're more of a businessman than a system… Wait, so I won’t die?'
---
> Ding!
Host, you won’t die.
---
Before I could question further, another notification popped up.
---
> Ding!
Host, there is no need to worry about anything. Just live the life you want.
---
'So, I just go with the flow and wait to see what happens? But—you’re recommending that I use it, right?'
---
> Ding!
Yes, Host. It is highly recommended by the system. If you don’t use it, your attachment to this world will grow stronger. This environment is almost perfect—changing anything would be meaningless. It’s like a god descending into a martial world. This isn’t even a starting point, but you can call it home.
---
'Yeah… You’re right. Let’s wait. I need to think about it.'
I got up, washed up, and stepped outside. The streets were quiet. No friends, no enemies, no school, no job—just a complete family and nothing else.
As I walked, I asked, 'System, how do I create things?'
---
> Ding!
Host needs to create a [Identification] skill to identify the object that want to create and [Item Creation] skill to save and create the Item . And stly [Decomposition] skill for its building blocks.
---
'So I need skills first… Why?'
---
> Ding!
Skill function as a factory. The system can collect energy, but without skills, there is no way to process it. For example, the [Heat Converter] skill was included in the beginner package—without it, even with the system, I would only be able to communicate like a normal person, not function as a system.
---
'Then, How do I create an identification skill?'
---
> Ding!
Host has been detected attempting to create a detection skill. Choose a primary
sense:
Eye
Touch
Smell
Hearing
Taste.
---
'…Taste? Do I have to lick everything I want to identify? No thanks. I’ll go with eye.'
---
> Ding!
Host needs 100,000 energy to create the skill.
---
'How much do I have now?'
---
Energy: 1,450;
---
'Not even close. I’ll head back home.'
I returned, lit a candle, and pced my hand over the fme. A sharp, searing pain shot through my skin.
'Shit—!' I yanked my hand away.
'System, how much energy did I gain?'
---
> Ding!
Energy +1,983.
---
'…Are you trying to burn me alive?'
Shaking my head, I climbed onto the roof, letting the sun soak into my skin.
---
> Ding!
"Energy +260."
---
'Much better. System, notify me when I have enough.'
An hour passed.
---
> Ding!
It is detected that the host’s skin has received excessive sun exposure. Continued exposure will cause damage.
---
'Tch. Didn’t think of that.'
I climbed down. My skin stung, red from the heat. At least no one was home to see it.
---
Energy: 85,400;
---
'Not far now… Just a little longer.'
Another hour of waiting inside the house.
---
> Ding!
Host can now create the [Identification] skill.
---
'Then do it.'
---
> Ding!
Creating skill in 3... 2... 1...
---
A sharp, blinding pain erupted in my eyes.
"Ahhh—!"
I clutched my head, vision burning, the world going dark. The pain dragged on—longer than I thought possible. Just as panic set in, it stopped. My vision cleared.
Breathing hard, I cursed. 'You didn’t warn me.'
---
> Ding!
Host, warnings are only issued if something is preventable or dangerous. This was neither—just pain.
---
'Doesn’t make it any better.' I exhaled. 'Is there a way to remove pain from skill creation?'
---
> Ding!
Host can create a skill for that, but eliminating pain entirely is impossible—it is a natural defense mechanism.
---
'Then how much for a reduction?'
---
> Ding!
The lowest cost is 250,000 energy for a 5% reduction. Each additional 5% doubles the price. A 20% reduction requires 4,000,000 energy and the next 5% reduction is 10x the corrent amount and so on
---
I frowned. 'So the more I try to suppress it, the harder it gets?'
---
> Ding!
Correct. The cost scales exponentially, but as long as the host has enough energy, the success rate is 100%.
---
'Figures…'
I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. The pain still lingered, but the skill was mine.
