A sharp boom tore through the night as Akira shot across the sky, a trail of compressed air rippling behind him. He was already kilometers away from the girl before the echo of his departure reached the ground.
"Wow…" Selena's teasing voice echoed in his mind. "Did you really have to reveal her true name like that, brother?"
"I didn't!" Akira shot back immediately, exasperation clear in his tone. "I just blurted out the anime's name, alright? It's not my fault her true name happened to be the same. I'm innocent here!"
He slowed slightly, brow furrowing. "…Wait. Does the whole 'true name' thing even work in this world?"
Akira knew about them, True Names in Isuca; true names were powerful. They were the sacred names of beings who wielded spiritual energy, spirits, monsters, and even hunters. Knowing someone's true name meant you could command them. But whether that concept functioned here the same way, Akira wasn't sure.
Selena answered calmly, "Some people here do use them, but not everyone. Think of it like this: only those who deal with spiritual energy care about true names. Even among them, it's not universal. Only certain people use them, and even then, not always. Think of it as something mostly tied to characters from the Isuca world."
Akira thought back to the girl's shocked expression when he'd said her name… and then remembered something else. "Wait. The protagonist of Isuca had a true name he didn't even know about, right?"
"That's right."
"…Then, do I have one too?"
There was a brief pause before Selena answered, "Probably. Even if you haven't used spiritual energy before, you can if you choose to. That means it's not impossible you have a true name too."
"Really? Then what would it be?" Akira asked, half curious, half nervous.
Selena chuckled softly. "True names are more mysterious than you think. They're often tied to something deeply important about a person. If it's you, brother… it might even be your previous name, it should be A…"
"Stop." Akira cut her off before she could say that name nervously. "Don't say it. If it's true, I'll fall under your control."
Selena giggled. "Alright, alright. I won't say it."
She changed the topic smoothly. "Now then, brother, don't forget to check your mission rewards."
"Oh, right," Akira called up the system screen, a familiar interface flickering into view before him.
[Mission Complete: Evaluation S]
Do you want to check your rewards? – Yes / No
"'Evaluation'?" Akira muttered. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"The system judges how well you complete your mission," Selena explained. "The better your performance, the higher your evaluation, and the better the rewards. And no, I don't decide it. The system does, based on how you handled everything. I finished programming that part, so it's fair for everyone."
"Got it." Akira tapped Yes.
A slot-machine-like wheel spun before his eyes, clinking and flashing until it stopped on SSR. A new message popped up:
[Reward: Seed of Destiny]
"'Seed of Destiny'? What's that?", Akira asked in confusion.
Selena's tone softened. "That one's special. I programmed the system so that the very first reward anyone ever receives is always the Seed of Destiny. Unlike other rewards, which are skills or items borrowed from different anime or manga, this one is unique to you. Think of it as a seed that grows into the power you most need. It's random, but always deeply connected to you and your future."
"Sounds powerful… so where is it? Why didn't it appear?" Akira asked, since from the stories he knew, the reward should appear right before him when she chose it.
"It's special," Selena said. "Unlike normal rewards that appear remotely, the Seed of Destiny must be collected directly from the castle."
"Of course it does," Akira sighed. "Anything else?"
"Actually… yes. Look at the other notification."
Another message blinked into view:
[Hidden Achievement Unlocked: Your Name]
[Condition: Say the true name of the girl you are saving]
[Reward: Eye of Truth]
"'Hidden achievement'?" Akira blinked. "What's that?"
"Exactly what it says," Selena answered. "They're secret conditions determined entirely by the system, so even I don't know what they are. It's a surprise for both of us. And unlike normal rewards, hidden achievement rewards are always fixed."
Akira frowned. "Eye of Truth… That's from Isuca, right?"
"Yes," Selena confirmed. "In the original story, it reveals the true name of anyone you kiss."
"Yeah, I'm not kissing random people… or monsters… or spirits," he deadpanned.
Selena asked mischievously, "What if it's a beautiful girl, will you do it then?"
Akira said with a frown, "Sister, you should know I don't like to have unnecessary physical contact with just anyone as long as they are beautiful."
Selena laughed. "I figured you'd say that. Still, why not retrieve it and see how it adapts to you?"
"Fine," Akira said, selecting Yes.
Instantly, something shifted inside his body. His vision blurred for a second, then cleared, sharper, deeper, different. A message appeared:
[Mystic Eyes of Reason → Evolved into → Mystic Eyes of Truth]
"What the hell just happened?" Akira muttered.
"Your Mystic Eyes of Reason evolved," Selena explained. "They're now the Mystic Eyes of Truth. Try looking at someone."
Akira glanced down at a random person below. Information flooded his vision: their name, a brief summary of their identity, even fragments of their life.
"It's like… an appraisal skill," he whispered.
"Exactly. And I'm sure it can do more than that," Selena said. "What do you think?"
Akira smiled faintly. "It's very useful. I've always struggled to tell if someone's an anime character or not since their real-life forms are slightly different. Now I'll know instantly."
"I'm glad you like it," Selena said with a smile.
"So, should I come back to the castle to get the Seed of Destiny?" Akira asked.
Selena shook her head from her Crystal throne. "No. Wander around for now. Erika-chan just woke up."
Akira blinked. "Already? I thought she'd be out until tomorrow."
"Apparently not."
"…Alright, then." He spread his arms and accelerated again, a sonic boom splitting the air as he vanished into the distance.
Selena watched his figure disappear through the starlit sky, a faint smile curling her lips. "Things are going according to plan…"
She turned to another screen, where Erika stirred awake in her bed. Her expression softened. "Now… everything depends on how she reacts."