Though he'd spoken of clearing his mind, Luo Shu had merely found an excuse to leave the garrison and walk the streets.
'There's something off about Eriri's ability...'
He mused silently, keeping his thoughts to himself just as he'd refrained from voicing doubts earlier.
'Normally, individual abilities rank below composite Class abilities.'
'The difference is like comparing pure iron to alloy - both are metals, but the latter far outperforms the former.'
'Yet Eriri's ability somehow enables a single power to mimic Class characteristics.'
Luo Shu recalled Eriri's transformation into Kurumi Tokisaki.
Though the imitation only matched appearances with abilities at Common Rank - merely an initial form - Transformation had successfully replicated it, showing remarkable potential.
'A single ability managing to mimic Class powers, albeit degraded, still constitutes successful imitation.'
'Does this mean Transformation isn't as simple as I assumed?'
'Could it be the primary ability of some powerful Class I'm unaware of?'
'Or perhaps abilities awakened through the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System possess unique traits?'
Luo Shu found himself uncertain about these questions.
After all, even now, he still couldn't determine the exact circumstances of a Familia's awakened abilities. He could only vaguely confirm that a Familia's awakened abilities often had a strong connection to their experiences, thoughts and physical constitution.
For instance, Utaha Kasumigaoka's awakened Mind Reading ability stemmed from her frequent transfers between schools during childhood and the isolation she faced due to her striking looks, which fostered a deep desire to understand others' thoughts.
Meanwhile, Hagoromo Gitsune's awakened power, Mother of Darkness, was influenced both by her own unique nature as a being nearing Demigod status and her desperate longing for offspring. The result was the manifestation of a Demigod Rank support ability entirely dedicated to nurturing descendants.
Similarly, Natsuki Minamiya's spatial control also leaned in this direction.
But then, what about Eriri's Transformation ability?
Logically speaking, shouldn't her personality lean more towards something art-related?
Even if we consider the more... unsavoury possibilities—like hentai doujinshi—it still wouldn't explain why she developed an ability to alter her appearance, let alone one that extended to mimicking Classes.
Could it be that Eriri secretly fantasises about becoming a heroine in adult comics? Hence, she awakened this kind of ability?
'...Well, given her personality, that might actually be plausible.'
Luo Shu's expression turned slightly awkward at the thought.
He didn't want to slander Eriri, but he had to admit the possibility wasn't zero.
Of course, thinking more seriously, Eriri did have legitimate reasons to need disguise and transformation in her daily life.
Her otaku persona at home and her refined British lady act at school were two completely different identities.
And yet, Eriri had flawlessly maintained both roles all this time.
That was why, despite being a hardcore otaku, she was frequently invited to participate in school events—and sometimes even earned Utaha Kasumigaoka's disdain.
Because in the eyes of Toyogasaki High School's students, Eriri was the sociable, high-class lady, while Utaha was the cold, aloof, and unapproachable senior.
Factoring in these aspects, her awakening of the Transformation ability did hold some logical consistency.
At this realisation, Luo Shu exhaled deeply, his lips quirking into a self-deprecating smile.
"I overthought it. In reality, who needs that much logic anyway?"
Regardless, the fact remained that Eriri's awakened ability held immense potential.
As for whether she'd waste it or not, Luo Shu couldn't be bothered to worry too much—he hadn't even fully grasped his own abilities yet.
"I'm still struggling to master the Calamity Priest Class myself, yet here I am worrying about others..."
Shaking his head, Luo Shu turned into a narrow alleyway.
Since the garrison fell within Akihabara's district—an area that doubled as a tourist hotspot—the surroundings were well-maintained, with no litter in sight. The alley was lined with various shops catering to the otaku subculture.
Even in such a backstreet, Luo Shu occasionally encountered cosplayers in eccentric outfits. If their makeup was particularly impressive, he'd pause for a second glance.
It was during these solitary strolls that his thoughts tended to wander most freely.
"If the Calamity Bringer spreads misfortune to strengthen their grasp over Class abilities, then by the same logic, does the Calamity Priest also need a similar method?"
"Calamity Priest... a priest of calamity... Does it require me to absorb power defined as calamity and then perform some kind of ritual?"
"But would absorbing calamity into my body even count as a ritual?"
"Also, regarding rituals—in the common sense, rituals describe a religious ceremony, using specific rites and prayers to seek divine blessings or pray for safety and the like."
"Does this mean I need to dress as a Shinto Priest and perform rituals for calamity? But calamity is such an abstract concept—how exactly would I even conduct such a ritual?"
As Luo Shu walked, his thoughts grew increasingly scattered, yet his overall alertness heightened significantly.
After all his abilities merged into his Class, the Subconscious Manipulation he initially obtained hadn't disappeared but had instead integrated into the Class itself.
In Luo Shu's deduction, the prerequisite Class for the Calamity Bringer—the Excellent Rank Calamity Revelator—possessed such a passive ability.
It often allowed precise detection of danger and anomalies, the ability to 'smell' impending disaster, and thus prepare in advance, whether by evasion or confrontation.
After ascending to the Hero Rank Calamity Priest through the ritual, all his prerequisite Classes were fully consolidated. Though his conventional strength hadn't increased, it granted him numerous auxiliary abilities.
"There seems to be a strange scent nearby..."
As Luo Shu murmured this, a voice called out near him:
"Misses, would you be interested in a part-time job?"
Following the voice, Luo Shu turned his gaze and spotted a black-haired, straight-haired maid handing out flyers at the alley entrance diagonally opposite.
Purely in terms of appearance, the maid was quite attractive, only slightly less so than Utaha Kasumigaoka, whom Luo Shu knew best, but her demeanour was far inferior.
From a man's perspective, the maid carried a bit too much of a 'worldly' air.
"Our maid café just opened and is still short on staff. With your qualifications, the hourly wage could easily exceed 8,000 yen. Would you like to give it a try?"
Already sensing the scent of calamity, Luo Shu couldn't help but pay attention now.
Such a high wage...
This maid café's maids must be a bit... improper, no?