17 Embracing the Darkness lol (1/2)

-Morning, Hieda's Mansion-

-Me POV-​

Greed can make you blind.

Wise peoples or just old people in general often said that greed can make you blind; you will forgot your real objective, it will kill you, so on and so forth. It past down from generation to generation so that their descendant not fall to their greed and keep become humble.

Well, I have a reason why I tell you people about this, but first, I need to explain what happen just now.

In the early morning, I'm sitting in my room floor, after I came back from SDM, I feel really exhausted with what happen that day so I immediately went to bed. But now that I'm awake, I will spent my points and upgrade all my stuff.

First, my skill.

[Body Enchantment Lv.4 - 5/Max = 48.000 AP]

My muscle start getting firmer, I can sense my power swelled up in my body.

My eyes start getting sharper; I can see great detail from every object in my sight.

My hearing also getting sharper, I can hear faint conversation between other servants in other section of the mansion.

And unexpectedly my sense also getting sharper, in this room, I can sense that I'm the only person in here, there're several something that I sense in other direction, probably the servants that I hear just now, and there's another people that I sense from beyond the Mansion's wall, probably the guard.

'Oh boy, trying to sleep while sensing this 24 hours is gonna be a challenge.' I think worriedly.

I think that's it for the ability part, gonna need to save it if anything unexpected happen.

Also my levels go up from Lv.47 to Lv.49.

Now, it's the item turn.

'I'm wondering for a long time now, System, can the item can be upgrade?'

[Yes]

'…Can I upgrade my Yukata?' I ask anxiously.

[Yes, please unequipped material]

'OMG, I did it.' I think excitedly while taking off the Yukata and put it on the floor, leaving me top naked.

[Upgrade cost: 5.000 IP, please confirm?]

'Yes, upgrade it.'

[Please choose clothes design]

[Displaying design]

[…]

[…]

I start to stare at hundreds of Yukata design that the system display.

'…Okay…let's choose a cool design but normal for a Yukata to have…you know what, fuck that, Winter is coming, I need something that looks warm.'

I choose a design with long and wide sleeve, a collar that looks like have padding in it, a slit on each side of the leg portion, and lastly black cloud motif.

'Done, with this I can move freely more than the usual.'

[Upgrade Complete]

[Night Cloud, Add-on: +Defense Up[NEW], +Durability Up[NEW], + Air Conditioning, + Self-repair]

The Yukata on the floor starting to be enveloped with light, it start to change it shape, after a few more second it stop shining, revealing a brand new Yukata, just like what I choose in the system.

'Let's enchant and upgrade few more stuff shall we.'

[Night Cloud, Add-on: +Defense Up[NEW], +Durability Up[NEW], +Vitality Up[NEW], +Vitality Regeneration[NEW], +Energy Up[NEW], +Energy Regeneration[NEW], + Air Conditioning, + Self-repair]

Enchant cost: 12.000 IP, with this, I have more confident to battle someone.

'Infinite Space Waist Pouch' turned into 'Infinite Space Waist Pouch MK-2' after upgraded, the name sound stupid but the pouch capability certainly rise. Now, it have red round glass in front of the pouch.. In the past, the pouch can't store any item that's bigger than the pouch itself but now, it can shoot red laser from the round glass toward any big item that I want to store, it will be stored inside no matter what, just like when Pokeball shoot red laser toward its Pokemon.

I tested it by storing my futon inside it, it's working perfectly.

Upgraded cost: 100.000 IP, I can see why it priced that much, point well spends it is.

'Perfect Voice Synthesizer' turned into 'Doppelganger Belt' after upgraded, because it named itself as a 'Belt' it became big when upgraded, but surprisingly the size can be adjusted, so I still keep it as a choker.

The original function is still there but now it can use holographic projection to make me look into somebody else, according to its instruction, I only need to inject the image to the device and then it will project that image as it surround my body to look like what I imagine. Because I have Photographic Memory, the imagining part is easy but I need to be caution with something, it's my smell, the device only change my look, so if I turn into someone and they remember the smell of that someone, they will notice something strange. As for the behavior change, I can just bullshitting my ways out, just like usual.

I pull hand mirror from my pouch and start testing the device.

I first tried turning into Meiling, I touch my choker, I closed my eyes and start recalling my memory of Meiling.

*kyuu-kyuu-kyuu* a digitized sounds start resounding inside the room.

I open my eyes. What I see in my hand mirror is a woman with scarlet hair with a green beret on her head, its Meiling.

I look down.

I see two bumps that covered by green Chinese clothes.

'It's boobs, I have boobs!' I surprised.

In my surprised, I unconsciously tried to grab those bumps, but unfort-*mindcough*-thankfully my hand went through and I can feel my hand touch my own muscular chest.

”Dammit!” I hit the floor.

After I hit the floor, I realize that I'm using my own voice, not Meiling's voice.

'Guess I haven't talking that long to Meiling ever since we first time met.' I'm wondering.

I put away the hand mirror but instead buy [Dress Mirror: 100 IP] from the system and put it in front of me.

I observe Meiling image in the mirror, in a few minute of observation, I feel something strange.

Next, I decided to change in to the Kid that I save from the well.

That's when I understand the strangeness that happen, it's the height.

Meiling is higher than me, that's why I almost not sensing anything wrong with it, but now that I turn into someone who's shorter than me, I notice it clearly.

When I look straight to the mirror, I didn't see anything but when I look down, I finally see the kid I turn into, but he's also looking down, just like me.

It make sense actually, the device only project someone I imagine, but not including their height or their smell.

'Guess that's one thing I need to look out for when I doppelganger into someone.' I think understandingly.

Upgraded cost: 100.000 IP, I also can see why it priced that much, it can become very deadly if it used right.

Now, finally, I think this is the root of what's happening right now.

[Upgrade Cost: 400.000 IP, you do not have enough point.]

'…As expected, I really lucky that I got 'Gaia Tattoo' from Random Roll.'

I tried to upgrade Gaia Tattoo but unfortunately, it's just too expensive for me…for now.

'If it's that expensive, that also mean the effect must be big too…I want it.'

The greed came.

'System, how can I get more constant point beside from the Daily quest?'

[User can choose to be bestowed with a 'Challenge Quest' from the System.]

'What is this 'Challenge Quest'?' I ask.

[User will be given a random challenge by the System, the duration of the challenge varied, and the reward of the challenge also varied.]

'Good, give me the Challenge Quest.'

[Giving User Challenge Quest]

After the System said that word, my vision turned completely dark.

I panic and start scanning my room for an enemy.

For a minute, I'm confused as I don't sense anything inside the room or any Youkai in this mansion but my vision still dark.

Until finally, the system rang.

*ding*

[Challenge Quest]

[User will be permanently blinded and User must survive with that restriction until 1 month passes.]

And that's why I said Greed can make you blind; BECAUSE I'M PERMANENTLY BLINDED FOR 1 MONTH BECAUSE OF IT! GOOD JOB ME!

Ugh, I'm really grateful that I saved up my point there.

[Energy Echolocation]: 5.000 AP

[Let User send wave of energy that will reflecting back to User when it touch something, User will be able to mental map what the surrounding are from reflected energy]

[Cane of Guidance, Add on: +Durability Up, +Auto Repair]: 10.000 IP

[A Cane that will guide the User to their destination or pointing User destination by let it fall after saying the landmark name. P.S. the cane can only guide User to place that they already visit]

Even though I already spend more point to buy those ability and item, the problem is still half way done, moreover there's another problem I need to deal with.

It's Akyuu, I already have my fake reason why I got blinded, but I'm more worried with her reaction after she noticed I'm blinded for a month.

'…Man up dude, I'm living with her, sooner or later she will noticed what's going on.' I convinced myself.

”*sigh* this is gonna be an interesting months.” I sigh tiredly.

I store the Dress Mirror and then proceed to go out from my room…slowly.

-Mansion Main room-​

I finally arrive at the mansion main room, somehow.

Energy Echolocation consumption is little and with Energy Regeneration I can just spam it whenever I want, as for the range, its only 1 meter but I can compensate the rest with Magical Sense to sense any Youkai in the distance.

As for walking, I need to more believe with what I step is what I think it is, because if it's not, then I'm fucked.

Right now, I closed my eyes btw, blind people usually can be seen through their eyes, so we mustn't ruin the surprise won't we.

I sense Akyuu already in the room, and the servant waiting on the other side of the hall, as if they are waiting for something.

”Did something happen Arah-san? You're awfully late for breakfast, I almost send a servant to check on you.”

”Breakfast? …Oh yeah, I completely forgot about breakfast.”

”…Did something really happen? If you forgot about breakfast then did you searching for me?”

”Well, how about we eat first? I can tell you about it after that.”

I then proceed to sit on the side of the room but to be more accurate, I'm sitting on Akyuu right side. She offer me this spot after I hug her for the first time in the past, it's a proof that she's trust me more and I'm happy with it.

Akyuu order her servants to start placing the food to us.

And once again, somehow I succeed in eating all the food, albeit it's slower and messier than the usual, I can sense the rice falling all over the place but I clean it up using my ability in the end. I think Akyuu starting to look at me suspiciously after that.

Akyuu start asking after the servants pick up our eating table.

”Now that we have finished eating, can you tell me what happen? Ever since you arrived in the room, you always closed your eyes and what about that cane beside you?” Akyuu ask impatiently.

”Calm down, calm down, I'll explain it right now.” I tried to calm Akyuu.

Akyuu starting to quiet down but I sense she still restless about it.

”This morning I start to redesign and enchanting my Yukata for the upcoming winter,” I tap my Yukata to show her that's it's different than the usual. ”But there's a little accident when I enchanting some item.”

”…Accident? What accident?” She said anxiously

”Well…” I opened my eyes.

I've seen what blind people eyes looks like in the internet, so I think me opening my eyes gonna make her understand that fact, but I'm worried that she never knew what blind people eyes looks like.

”!” she gasped. ”Your eyes! Did you go blind?!” she asked me in horror.

She knew.

”As a matter of fact, yes, I did-””Why did you still relaxing?! Come on! We must go to the Shrine! Reimu-san must be knew something that can cure your blindness somehow!” Akyuu's panicking and start pulling my hand.

But I resist her and start pulling her hand instead.

”Wah!” Her body fall backward and of course, I catch her.

I hug her tightly so she doesn't escape.

”Arah-san! Release me! We have to go to the Reimu-san place!” Akyuu start struggling.

”Calm down, it's gonna be okay.”

”How?! How is that gonna be okay?! You are blind right now!”

”It has duration.”

”…Duration?” Akyuu stop struggling.

”I will have my vision back when the duration is over.”

”…When will it over?”

”A month.”

”…How did you know it will disappear in a month?”

”Because I said so.”

”…” She fell into silent.

Since I don't want to make her struggling again, I opt to silent too, but for precaution.

*pat**pat* I pat her head.

”…Are you still gonna go to the mountain today?”

”No, but I will go to a place that will help me adjusting to this blindness.”

”…Then I will go with you.” She moved away from me.

”Are you sure?” I ask her.

”Yes, I'm sure you need me to lead you around.” She said surely.

-Late Morning, Hakurei's Shrine-​