After a thorough rinse in the wooden bath, Shirou stood before the small mirror in his room, droplets of water clinging to his skin. He stretched his arm forward, fingers igniting with a faint orange glow. With a focused breath, heat radiated off him in gentle waves—his fire affinity proving useful beyond combat. Within seconds, his skin was dry, hair steaming lightly as the last remnants of water evaporated into the air.
He slipped into a fresh set of clothes—black cotton pants and a sleeveless tunic. His body still carried a faint scent of lavender soap, a small luxury he'd traded for earlier that week. Once dressed he ran his hand through his damp hair, tying it into a rough ponytail. Once done Shirou sat cross-legged on the bed, his posture upright and composed.
"Status window," he commanded softly.
A translucent blue screen blinked into existence before his eyes, casting a faint glow across the dim room.
---
[STATUS WINDOW]
[BASIC INFORMATION]
Name: Shirou
Level: 35 (148/550 EXP)
Race: Human
Title: None, ???? (Locked)
SYNCHRONIZATION RATE: 0.8%
[CORE ATTRIBUTES]
HP: 485
Mana Points: 694
Strength: 242
Agility: 242
Intelligence: 244
Endurance: 244
Perception: 228
[ELEMENTAL AFFINITY]
Fire Release
Lightning Release
[SKILLS]
Omnilingual
Skill Extraction
???? (Locked)
[COMBAT PROFICIENCIES]
Hand-to-Hand Combat – Intermediate (8/100)
Knife Mastery – Intermediate (4/100)
Dagger Mastery – Intermediate (12/100)
[INVENTORY]
inferno Fang (Dagger)
Aether Coins
—
Shirou's golden eyes scanned the screen with calm intensity.
"Experience… only 148 out of 550," he muttered.
The gap between levels was growing wider—just as he had feared. Back at level 1, gaining a few points meant almost instant level-ups. Now, even after defeating several enemies, the progress bar barely moved.
He tapped his fingers on his knee, eyes narrowing. "From what I've heard, there are no wild beasts in this world. No dungeons either… at least not that I have heard of. Which means the only way to earn experience is through combat against humans." He sighed. "And I can't exactly go around picking fights or killing random people just to get stronger. And the dungeon given by the system is also currently locked too."
He sighed and shifted his attention to the mana value.
"694 MP… way higher than HP. But considering how this world operates on mana and elemental control, it makes sense. Maybe everyone here has a high mana pool."
But he quickly shook his head.
"No… I can't be sure. No one else has a status window. Only I do. But if it is high, then it could be a blessing."
"All the other stats seem balanced," he murmured. Strength and agility were neck and neck, but his intelligence and endurance slightly edged ahead. His perception, too, remained high. A balanced build. He didn't mind that—it gave him flexibility.
His gaze moved to his elemental affinities—Fire Release and Lightning Release.
"Dual affinity," he whispered.
From what he'd observed and overheard, most people had only one. Two was already impressive. Three were rare. Four was legendary. And five? Practically unheard of.
"Five would probably make me a target the moment someone found out." The thought made him uncomfortable. He was still too weak to fend off that kind of attention.
"If I keep gaining affinities… I'll become a target. I have to keep this hidden."
His eyes landed next on a familiar skill:
Omnilingual.
He tapped it.
> [Omnilingual – Passive]
[Grants the user the ability to comprehend, read, and fluently speak any language.]
Shirou nodded. "One of the most underrated things I've got." Without it, he would've never survived here. This world's language was completely different from his own, but this skill made communication seamless.
His attention shifted to the newly unlocked skill:
Skill Extraction.
Tapping it revealed a small description.
> [Skill Extraction – Active]
[60% chance to acquire one skill from a defeated opponent.
Condition: Target must be fully deceased.]
"A 60% chance… That's not too bad. I won't always gain something, but when I do…"
He clenched his fists.
"It could completely change the game. The more people I defeat… the more I can grow."
But Shirou's curiosity deepened when his eyes returned to the locked portions of his window—Title: ????, Skill: ????, and the mysterious Synchronization Rate at just 0.8%.
"Locked. Hidden." He clenched his fists. "Are there requirements I haven't met? Levels I have to reach?
"What even is this synchronization rate?"
"Does it mean I'm syncing with the system? Or… something else?" He leaned back, eyes narrowing. "And what happens when it hits 100%?"
It felt like a key that would eventually unlock a greater truth, but he was still at the beginning of the path. Not knowing was frustrating.
"I swear, whoever made this system should've added a user manual."
His combat proficiencies flashed next. The levels beside them confirmed what he'd suspected: progression tracking.
"So these numbers next to each proficiency… they track my growth. Once I hit 100, maybe I'll unlock an advanced tier. Intermediate becomes… Expert?"
The thought gave him some motivation.
He leaned back against the headboard and sighed. "Well, no point stressing over what I can't control. Time will reveal it."
His stomach growled—loudly.
Shirou winced. "Alright. All of this can wait. First things first—food."
He adjusted his long hair. Smoothing out his clothes. With one last glance at the mirror, he stepped out of the room, locking the door behind him.
The old inn was quiet this evening. Dim lanterns lit the hallway as Shirou descended the creaking stairs. Behind the counter stood the familiar innkeeper—an young woman with silver-streaked hair and a knowing smile.
"Haven't seen you around much today," she called out, voice warm.
"Was exhausted," Shirou replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just woke up."
They exchanged a few more pleasantries, her tone growing inquisitive when she asked about Nana. Shirou smiled politely.
"She's with her father right now," he answered casually.
The woman nodded, seemingly satisfied with the reply.
Shirou stepped out into the cool evening air. The sky was streaked with the deep purples and blues of twilight. Street lanterns had already been lit, casting a soft amber glow over the cobbled roads. The town was quieter than usual—most shops were already closed, and fewer people were out and about.
He took a familiar path through a narrow alleyway that opened up into a small street lined with eateries. Warm smells of roasted meat and fried dough greeted him, making his stomach ache in anticipation.
He entered a modest restaurant tucked into the corner of the lane.
"Back again, huh?" the owner, a tall man with a chef's apron, grinned.
"Your cooking's the best I've found here," Shirou replied with a nod.
He ordered a hearty meal—grilled meat skewers, buttered vegetables, and a bowl of thick soup. The food arrived quickly, and Shirou devoured it with quiet satisfaction.
"Oh… now that hits the spot."
When he was done, he placed the coins on the counter and exchanged a few friendly words with the owner. Being a regular had its perks—people had started noticing him more and treating him as part of the community.
Night had fully settled by the time he left.
The stars twinkled above, the two moons shining even brighter and a breeze rustled the trees lining the streets. Shirou walked with hands in his pockets, mind still buzzing with questions. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—he needed strength, information, and money.
And right now… he had none of those.
But that would change.
Soon.