[You drew Bulletproof Vest (Lining)]
"Bulletproof vest?"
Toru looked at the reward he had drawn this time and furrowed his brows.
Is this thing useful?
Of course it was. If used properly and at the right time, it could save a life.
Especially since modern bulletproof vests are actually quite powerful. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber combined with ceramic plates is enough to stop rifle bullets.
Even if the recoil is significant and could break a few ribs, if the choice is between getting pierced by a 7.62mm bullet or just breaking a couple ribs, anyone would obviously choose the latter.
But bulletproof vests at that level are too bulky and heavy, only suitable for missions, completely unsuitable for daily wear.
"If I really needed to go on a mission, I could get top-tier bulletproof vests directly from the Central Intelligence Agency. Can this so-called bulletproof vest you gave me even stop autocannon rounds or a Barrett?"
Toru muttered inwardly, then suddenly had a thought.
Wait, this is called Advanced Technology. Maybe it really can?
Thinking this, Toru became a little expectant and immediately chose [Claim].
Just like before, a piece of clothing wrapped in plastic suddenly appeared on the table in front of him.
"This is... a shirt?"
Toru picked it up in surprise, tore open the plastic, and examined it carefully.
From the feel, the craftsmanship and material were excellent. Selling it for several thousand yen in a luxury store would be no issue at all.
But in terms of weight, it was definitely just a shirt. It had nothing to do with bulletproof vests.
Still, since it came from his cheat, it must have incredible effects.
Toru thought for a moment, picked up the shirt, and went to the basement.
After buying this mansion, Toru had the engineering team from Japan's Central Intelligence Agency build him a small basement.
Inside was a shooting range wrapped in high-grade soundproofing on all sides, and an armory made from special steel, like a vault.
That way, even if the ammo inside exploded, it wouldn't do much damage to the house above.
Toru didn't want to be sitting on a bomb.
He arrived at the basement, entered the password, and scanned his fingerprint in front of the metal door. As the door opened, the armory was revealed.
Toru didn't need to fight a full-scale war, so his armory wasn't that large.
On the wall hung more than forty firearms of various types, including handguns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, along with ammunition, grenades, flashbangs, smoke grenades, and a complete set of bulletproof gear.
The most powerful items were a few anti-tank mines, shoulder-fired Stinger missiles, and heavy weapons like rocket launchers.
He took down his favorite Beretta M9 from the wall, grabbed a magazine, and headed to the shooting range.
There was a dummy in the shooting range. Toru put the shirt from the system on it and turned on the nearby computer.
He fired at the dummy with a handgun from ten meters, then nine meters, and so on until the final shot from one meter away.
The 9mm bullet hit the shirt. The bullethead didn't even embed itself. It deformed and fell to the ground. The surface of the shirt remained incredibly smooth, not even a single hole.
Seeing this, Toru's face lit up with joy.
He walked over to the computer, where the software had already analyzed the kinetic energy each shot had delivered to the dummy.
"The bullet can't penetrate this shirt at all, and its absorption capacity is extremely high. Most of the kinetic energy is absorbed."
"Although some kinetic energy still gets through, it wouldn't cause serious damage even to an ordinary person. At most, just bruising."
"And with my physical fitness, this level of force would only hurt a bit. It wouldn't do any actual damage."
"In other words, wearing this shirt, I can completely ignore handgun bullets."
Toru looked excited. This really was Advanced Technology! It's called a bulletproof vest, but it was more like the bulletproof suits from John Wick.
No, this tech is even more advanced than in John Wick. In that movie, they wore suits. Compared to this shirt, suits are way heavier and far less comfortable.
Not to mention, suits are formal wear. They're not suitable for every occasion. But a shirt you can wear under anything? That's different. You could wear it every day, and it wouldn't stand out at all.
A real pleasant surprise.
Even though Toru's physical fitness had already surpassed human limits, as a carbon-based lifeform, he was still far from being able to take bullets bare-chested.
But now, with the help of Advanced Technology, he could resist bullets with his body!
Excited, Toru returned to the armory and pulled out an AK109 assault rifle.
"Da da da"
After loading the magazine, he fired several more shots from ten meters away.
Even the 7.62mm bullets couldn't penetrate the shirt. But the kinetic energy data on the computer screen made Toru frown.
"No, it can fully block handgun rounds, but rifle bullets are still a bit too much. I'd survive if I got hit, but I'd definitely be badly hurt."
"So when facing rifles, I still need to dodge. I can't just tank them."
The results were a little disappointing, but Toru wasn't discouraged.
It's just a shirt, and it's only one reward of Advanced Technology.
Maybe future rewards would include a three-piece suit. If he had the complete set, maybe even rifle bullets wouldn't hurt him.
The parenthesis next to the item says "lining," so it probably is part of a set. Only when all pieces are collected would the full effect be unlocked, Toru muttered.
If the whole set could block rifle rounds, then that would be truly invincible tech.
Stroking the silky-smooth fabric of the shirt, Toru couldn't bear to put it down. He immediately put it on.
He felt incredibly secure.
Aside from the Advanced Technology reward, Momiji had also contributed one point to his physical attribute this time.
Toru casually added it, and his physical stat reached 12.
After adding the point, there wasn't much of an obvious change. Just like before, the stat still needed exercise to bring out its full effect.
Still, it made him stronger.
The strongest person in this world is Makoto Kyogoku.
If Makoto Kyogoku's karate is S-rank, and his physical fitness is the human limit of 10 points...
Then previously, when Toru's physical stat was 11, he could barely win against Kyogoku in a tough, close fight.
But now that his stat was 12, victory would come more easily.
"I still need to keep stacking points. I'll only be considered qualified once I can one-shot Kyogoku."
Toru set a goal for himself.
If he could truly reach that level, able to one-shot Kyogoku, the biggest human bug in this world, then he'd be a real superhero.
And if he combined that with Advanced Technology equipment, why couldn't he become invincible?
Just then, his phone vibrated.
[Sakiko: Mr. Fujiwara, I hope to get this job. When can I come for an interview?]
Seeing the Line message, Toru's lips curved into a smile. He replied: [You can come over after 6 PM tomorrow. I'll be home then.]
After enjoying the benefits of improved physical fitness and Advanced Technology, Toru felt he needed to take the initiative again.
Beautiful girls, bring me your gold coins!
"Mature women like Eri and Yukiko can't be expected to fall easily. They've seen too much of the world and may not even believe in love anymore."
"Conquering Vermouth took two years, but it only took a few days with Momiji. As expected, young girls are simpler and believe in love more!"
Toru sighed, put on his jacket, and went for a run.
In the run-down house of the Togawa family, Sakiko was curled up in a closet. She looked at Toru's reply on her phone and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"If I can earn 5,000 yen per day, that's 150,000 yen a month."
"No, I shouldn't calculate it like that. Fujiwara-kun might not need me every day. Let's base it on 20 working days. That's still 100,000 yen."
"After rent, utilities, phone bills, and daily expenses, there should be some left. I could even buy a few new clothes."
"Oh right, Fujiwara-kun doesn't seem to use the piano in the practice room. Could I ask to use it? That room has great soundproofing, so I wouldn't disturb anyone even if I practiced."
"No, no, Sakiko, Sakiko. Don't get greedy. You finally got a good job opportunity, so just focus on doing the job well."
Sakiko patted her face and quietly encouraged herself.
She had her own goals. What she needed most were her musical skills and management abilities.
So she couldn't slack off on piano practice. Letting her skills decline would be fatal. Although she could use the school's piano to practice, the time available was too limited.
"I also need to quit the customer service job. Otherwise, the schedules will clash. Working for Fujiwara-kun might be tiring, but the hours will be less, and I'll have more time to plan my life."
Sakiko suddenly felt like life wasn't so hopeless after all. Even during the hardest times, she had endured.
And now, she had something to hope for.
"Life's difficulties aren't meant to make you angry, but to make you more composed."
Sakiko softly recited a quote she couldn't quite remember the source of. She curled up in the closet and slowly drifted off to sleep.
She still had school and work tomorrow, so she had to preserve her energy.
...
As usual, after finishing his night run, Toru saw the girl in white and the black cat in her arms sitting on the steps of the building.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)