abcnovels
Chapter 251: Chapter 251 - EMOTIONAL DAMAGE
Chapter 251: Chapter 251 - EMOTIONAL DAMAGE
Five Hours Later
'Wow… that's a lot to absorb,' Anna said, trying to process the reality of the two years that had elapsed during her deep slumber.
"Yeah, you should've witnessed the things I did. If you'd been there, it would've been a lot more enjoyable," William said, recounting his experiences and the events that had unfolded in her absence.
'If I'd been here, I could've stopped you from doing some of those reckless things,' Anna thought, recalling a few unnecessary actions that could have been avoided.
'But at least now I'm here, and I can accompany you on nearly all the adventures this world has to offer— and the ones you'll inevitably face,' Anna added with a subtly enigmatic tone, which William, preoccupied with something else, failed to notice.
"What do you mean by 'nearly all'? Shouldn't you be with me through everything in my life?" he asked, puzzled.
'Yes, that's true, but there are certain places and situations that won't permit me to be there. I can't go everywhere,' Anna explained, her words deepening William's confusion, though she swiftly shifted the conversation. 'To think that the William I once knew has improved so much— it's almost unbelievable.'
William realized she was deflecting but decided not to press her. He smiled. "Yeah, I've really accomplished a lot, haven't I?"
'Yes, you truly have. The William who once had nothing but money he couldn't spend without getting into trouble— the William who desperately sought my help so many times— can now stand on his own. The William who was afraid to venture into the most dangerous places is now employing the most dangerous criminals and has a creature older than history sleeping under him.
It's just' Anna trailed off, struggling to find the right words to finish her thought.
But instead of feeling proud, William's expression darkened. "I wasn't that desperate… Maybe somewhat, but not that much."
'No, no, you really were. I can still remember it like it was yesterday… oh right, it was yesterday for me.'
"… Ha… ha… Your sense of humor has really improved."
'But I wasn't joking, just stating facts.'
William didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so he remained silent until he thought of changing the subject. "So tell me, how was it when you were in sleep mode? What was it like?"
Anna pondered for a moment but couldn't recall anything clearly. Actually, I don't know. It felt like I closed my eyes for a moment and opened them the next… If I had eyes, that is."'
"So you didn't feel anything at all?"
'No… maybe I did. I think I felt somewhat cold… like ice-cold, as if I were submerged in a dark, frigid underground water tank. But that too might be a false memory. I can't seem to recall anything except saying goodbye to you and then suddenly 'waking up' and seeing you.'
William nodded. "Yeah, that… doesn't tell me much."
'I know, but let's move on. What's this GODDESS you seem so captivated by?' Anna asked, her tone tinged with a hint of venom.
'If I didn't know better, I'd swear that sounded like a jealous woman's tone… It could've been, if it weren't so mechanical,' William thought.
"Well, I don't know what to say about her. It's like she's genuinely a good person who's just trying to help me, without any hidden motives."
'A god without ulterior motives… yeah, I'd sooner believe the sun rises in the north.'
"I know, right? It feels incredibly suspicious when I think about it, but when I'm in her presence, all I can see is how beautiful, innocent, and kind-hearted she is," William said, reflecting on his thoughts.
'It's most likely her divine skills.'
"Divine skills?" William asked.
'You know how you have skills and innate abilities? Just imagine the highest-graded, most formidable skills that are nearly unbeatable— those are divine skills.'
"So you're saying that those who possess divine skills are virtually invincible?"
Unless you possess a divine skill specifically for combat, pretty much."'
"And I can expect Baphomet to have some kind of badass divine skill too, right?"
'Yeah… but at least you're wealthy. That counts for something.'
"… Yeah, you're right. Who else has a system that generates infinite currency and a shop that can sell almost anything?"
'COUGH COUGH'
"Yeah, and a helpful assistant who assists me with nearly everything in my life."
'Now all you need is a girlfriend… but that might be an issue with your complete lack of rizz.'
William deflated, recalling the bargain he'd struck with GOD. "You just had to bring that up, didn't you?"
'It's our weaknesses that make us stronger.'
"And how is having zero rizz supposed to help me get girls?"
'You've got a handsome face, a lot of money, and you're slightly naive too. Now you just need an absurd amount of luck, and you could literally become a protagonist.'
William nodded thoughtfully before countering, "OR I could act cooler and more menacing and become the greatest villain who ever lived."
'You watched a lot of anime in your past life, didn't you?'
"… Why the judgmental tone? And for your information, if I hadn't watched anime, I don't think I would've been reincarnated like this or gotten a much better life," William said, attempting to defend his choices.
But Anna wasn't about to back down. 'Yes, if you hadn't watched anime, you probably would've lived a normal life, married a kind girl, had a few kids— maybe even grandkids— and lived a quiet, fulfilling life.'
Hearing her words, something inside William cracked, and 'EMOTIONAL DAMAGE' was practically written on his face. Realizing she might have gone too far, Anna quickly pivoted. 'Well, it's not like that matters now, right? And what was that cool skill that WH—Goddess gave you again?'
William didn't notice the slight slip in pronunciation and regained his enthusiasm, remembering the incredible skill. He opened the stats system to review everything there. He wanted to know what changes had occurred due to the recent advancement he'd undergone.
[ William's Stats ]
[Name: William Trust]
[Potential: Godly]
[Level: THREE]
[Realm: Beginner]
_________________
[ Stats ]
[HP: 400]
[Mana: 700]
[Mana Regen: 250 Per Min]
[Strength: 400]
[Agility: 400]
[Constitution: 400]
[Luck: 70]
[Affinities: Light and Darkness (Complete Mastery)]
[Affinities: Dragon Arts (Complete Mastery)]
[Affinities: Chaos Arts (Complete Mastery)]
____________________
[ Skills ]
[Money Generator 2.0 {Innate}]
[System Shop 2.0 {Innate}]
[Penetrate {Innate}]
[Deal With Heaven {Innate}]
[Light and Darkness Dual Breathing Art - Breathing Skill - Fusion - Super Special Rare]
[Dragon Breathing Art - Breathing Skill - Dragon - Super Special Rare]
[Chaos Breathing Art - Breathing Skill - Unknown - Super Special Rare]
_______________
[ Beast Souls ]
[Level SIX - Thunder Burst Tiger (Clawdia)]
__________________
William noticed several changes in his stats— most notably, each of his attributes had increased by 100 points due to the recent advancement. Though it didn't seem like much, he knew that in reality, it represented a significant boost. He glanced at the skill section and noticed some changes, but he decided to focus on the new skill that had appeared.
[Deal With The Heavens {Innate Skill} – Description – A skill that takes effect when the user makes deals with any being. The effect exerts a psychological influence on them, making the signee increasingly friendly toward the user. The skill's effect will vary depending on the situation, rules, and the existing relationship.]