"Isn't this basically a fucking Kaioken?!" was my first reaction when I read the pill's description.
'The temporary stat boost…the severe side effects…it's all way too similar!'
I was speechless for a moment before forcing myself to focus on the pill's actual usefulness.
'This definitely isn't something I can use lightly. Unless it's a life-or-death situation, it's better to leave it alone. It'd be too wasteful to consume it just for the sake of a 5x stat growth multiplier.'
'By the way…just how strong is B-Rank anyway? Wait, I haven't even checked my status yet!'
Almost immediately, I summoned the system.
Name: Aiden Edwards
Race: Human
Class: None
Skills: [Sensual Touch]
Lust Points: 0
Love Points: 0
[Stats] [Quests] [Milestones] [Store]
'It feels weird seeing a stranger's name on my system. But whatever. I should just treat it like it's my In-Game Name.'
'It's not like there's an option, or a purchasable change name ticket anyway.'
'And if I'm going to get used to this life, I can't keep thinking of Aiden Edwards as someone else. From this moment forth, this is my identity.'
'My name is Aiden Edwards...'
...
Not far from the forest where Aiden woke up, there was a large city surrounded by thick walls about three meters high. To the north, a beautiful blue sea stretched out to the horizon. To the south, a wide river runs from the east.
In the distance to the west, a silhouette of a massive mountain range can be seen clearly.
This was Putih City.
Here, it was rare to see a building that wasn't painted white. Almost everything was the same bright color.
As one of the biggest and important cities in the kingdom, it also served as the main market hub for nearby villages to sell their harvests. The streets were always crowded with merchant wagons and people.
In the center of the city stood a tall, pristine white cathedral with a pointed triangular roof crowning its highest tower.
On one of the towers, a large clock showed the time.
When the clock struck twelve, a loud bell rang out, echoing across the entire city.
White pigeons took flight.
Right away, everyone below stopped what they were doing and pressed their hands together in prayer, eyes closed. All over the city, people did the same, dropping whatever chore they were in the middle of.
After a few moments, they opened their eyes and touched their forehead, then their left and right chest, as if drawing an invisible triangle.
"Praise the Justice!" they all called out together.
At the same time, in the West Borough of Putih City, the most crowded area where the poor and the criminals mixed together, the bell meant nothing.
No one stopped what they were doing. People kept on with their chores, their eyes dull and tired.
On one particular crowded street, a building stood out with a large sign over the door:
"Carnivore Bar"
Inside, girls of various ages wore outfits so thin and minimal they could hardly be called clothes. Men watched them with shameless, hungry eyes. All around, people danced and drank, lost in their own indulgence. At some tables, people had already passed out; on their tables, a few packets of white powder were strewn across.
Suddenly, a loud noise came from one of the rooms.
Everyone in the bar turned to look. But when their eyes fell on the symbol on the door, they quickly looked away and went back to what they were doing, pretending nothing had happened.
People from other parts of the city might not recognize what the green skull represents, but anyone from the West Borough knew it could only mean one thing:
Sadis!
It was the symbol of one of the Five Rings, which ruled the West Borough, the Sadis Gang.
Not even other criminals dared to mess with them carelessly, unless they wanted their bodies to be found floating in the Serayu River the next day.
Inside the room, a few people can be seen together, but they clearly weren't having a pleasant conversation. The atmosphere was tense, ready to explode at any moment like a ticking time bomb.
"What did you just say? You failed to seduce Norman, the guard captain?" a man with spiky hair that looked like it had been struck by lightning shouted.
His right eye was hidden behind an eyepatch, while his other black eye glared angrily at the woman in front of him.
"Y-yes, sir," a woman said in a meek voice, kneeling in front of him.
If Aiden were here, he would have recognized her immediately. She was the same woman who had accused him of a crime, leading to his interrogation by the priests not long ago.
"Useless!"
The woman trembled even harder.
"Then what was the point of me spending all that money on you, so you could doll yourself up, if you can't even seduce Norman? Do you think my money grew from trees?"
"I-I promise I'll get him next time, Lord Sadis. I swear!"
"Next time? As if there will be another perfect opportunity. Do you have any idea how long I've waited? Three years! Exactly, three fucking years, do you understand? And yet, you wasted it! You failed me! What a worthless bitch. I can't believe I wasted so much money on you for nothing."
"Peter, get this bitch out of my sight."
"Keke, yes, my lord."
A short, plump man with two front teeth sticking out like a rat answered in a squeaky voice. He hurried over and yanked the woman to her feet, his hand groping her inappropriately as he did.
"Where are you touching me?!"
"Shut up! No one's touching you, you ugly witch."
"You-" She looked ready to explode, but when she caught sight of Sadis's darkening expression, she swallowed her words immediately.
Just as Peter was about to drag her out, Sadis leaned back in his chair and called out, "Wait a minute."
He tapped the armrest. "I heard that Yonke is looking for his twentieth mistress. I was actually keeping this one hidden from him because I needed her to get close to Norman. But since she's failed and outlived her usefulness, there's no reason to keep her here. Peter, change of plan. Send her to Yonke, the weapon merchant."
Almost instantly, the woman froze, her face draining of all color.
Just hearing Yonke's name made her shudder as if she'd remembered something terrible. She had never met him herself, but there were many rumours surrounding him. And none of them were good!
The most popular story was that he liked to collect mistresses and use them to satisfy his twisted desires. In just five years, all nineteen of his previous "mistresses" had vanished mysteriously after entering his mansion. No one knew for sure what had happened to them, but everyone believed they were as good as dead.
Realizing what kind of fate awaited her, she began to struggle frantically against Peter's grip, screaming, "Lord Sadis, please don't send me to Yonke!"
"I'm begging you! Sell me to a brothel if you have to, just not to him!"
"Please!"
Her screams gradually faded as Peter dragged her out of the building.
A couple of minutes later, Peter returned.
Sadis immediately turned to him. "Did you do what I told you?"
"I handed her over to Yonke's men, just like you ordered, my lord."
"Hm. And what about that ugly bastard? Did you find what I've been looking for in his house?"
"Ugly bastard?" Peter repeated, looking confused.
"The bastard who took my treasure map. That ugly, fat piece of shit Radhanian, Aiden Edwards."
"Oh. Him."
"You fucking idiot. Do I really have to say that disgusting name out loud so you can understand me?" Sadis snarled, grabbing Peter by the collar and yanking him close.
"No, my lord. I-"
"Dumbass!"
Sadis kicked him hard in the stomach. Peter let out a wheeze and tumbled over like a bowling ball.
"If you make me repeat myself again, I'll sell you to another gang just like I did to that bitch. And believe me, you won't enjoy it."
"Y-yes, my lord." Peter gagged, clutching his stomach as he hurriedly scrambled back to his feet.
"So, did you find it?"
"N-no, my lord. We searched the entire house but didn't find anything that looked like a map. But…I did come across a book full of writing. You know I can't read, so I have no idea what it says."
"A book?" Sadis arched an eyebrow. "Did you bring it?"
"Of course, my lord."
Peter brought out a slightly thick book with a worn-out cover from the nearby table.
Sadis took it and flipped it open. As his eyes scanned the first page, the corner of his mouth twitched.
...
I, who now viewed myself as Aiden Edwards, stared at the screen before me.
[Stats]
Strength: E
Agility: E-
Intelligence: G
Stamina: E
Charisma: G-
'This is definitely better than my stats when I was still a ghost, but I can't call it exactly good news either. Most of my stats are still just E-Rank after all.'
'But if I go by my memories, my physique and raw strength were considered above average compared to locals in the Avalon Kingdom, thanks to the Radhanian blood I inherited. I even remember fighting a knight once, and we ended up in a draw. So it's safe to assume I'm about as strong as a knight. As for the average citizen, they'd be closer to G-Rank.'
'So, in that sense, having E-Rank stats isn't bad at all.'
'Now the question is, just how strong is B-Rank?'
'If I'm already as strong as a knight at E-Rank, does that mean with B-Rank stats I'd be on par with a Knight Commander or a top-ranked adventurer?'
I shook my head almost right away. There was no way to know for sure unless I actually took the pill. But one thing I could say with confidence:
'I'd be ridiculously strong.'