'I've got the cheat that I was promised, so...'
Ignotus, who was now sitting on the side of a small grassy hill, laid his back on the ground.
'…I guess I'll have to hold my end of the bargain too.'
His eyes looked towards the sky.
'But first...'
Or rather, they looked at a projection in his mind's eye.
'Let's see what I've got.'
—
╔══════════════╗
║Saint System Active║
╚══════════════╝
{Class: Seeker (Class Twelve)}
{Ordination: 1}
[• Soul Fragments: 0 / 10 •]
{Health}
[• HP: 40 / 40 •]
{Divinity}
[• D: 45 / 45 •]
{Statistics}
{Inventory}
{Runes}
{Rune Path}
{Titles}
{Soul Glyphs}
{Reputation}
{Quests}
—
He nodded to himself, seeming quite pleased with its design.
There were a few things he didn't quite understand from it, such as 'ordination,' 'statistics,' and 'inventory,' but that didn't seem like much of an issue.
Ignotus could feel these... tabs; they were intertwined with his Soul.
And that connection alone made him comprehend a little of what was before him.
The 'inventory' worked much like a Dimensional Item, able to store things as he wished.
Having an inventory was going to be incredible, saving him the trouble of carrying everything on his back or wasting a mountain of gold on a Dimensional Item, which was a Divine Relic with the Space Element.
This system was basically giving him a Space Root Rune for free, which, if it hadn't been stated enough, was very good, as he certainly wasn't going to get one.
He honestly didn't really care for Space or any such strong-sounding Element; they were strong, very much so, sure… but they took time to become of use, especially the Time Element, ironically enough.
Looking at their history, one could plainly see that what was once so rare became common, leaving what was so common now rare.
Ignotus personally found it hilarious but thought nothing more of it.
He knew he had better choose something quicker, and he did. And now what better way to move on from such thoughts than to realize that this little... feature couldn't be used?
It was grayed out, and he barely felt a connection to it.
'That's going to change very soon.'
—
{Inventory}
[• Ordination: 1 / 10 •]
—
'Very soon... '
Ignotus only needed to reach ordination ten.
Furthermore, from what he understood and expected, this system wasn't anything too overpowered, only capable of assisting him in accomplishing his main quest.
Yes, he was going to gain 'Soul Fragments' from... others and increase his 'Ordination,' but that was something that everyone could do in this world. Both Runebearers and monsters gained the Soul Fragments of those they slew, strengthening their own.
This system basically quantified that...
Same with his statistics.
—
{Statistics}
[Strength] 5 (F) (World Avg: E)
[Intelligence] 16 (E) (World Avg: F)
[Willpower] 19 (E) (World Avg: F)
[Speed] 5 (F) (World Avg: E)
[Endurance] 5 (F ) (World Avg: E)
[Appearance] 70 (B+) (World Avg: C)
[Personality] -1 (G) (World Avg: D)
[Luck] 60 (B) (World Avg: C)
—
It seemed that with every Ordination increase, the stats that Ignotus focused on would increase.
'Hm...'
Curious about what came after, he leaned in mentally and opened the Soul Glyphs tab, scanning the new script before him.
—
[Rule Breaker]
[Description: ???]
—
'Not too bad a name.'
The '???' annoyed him, but thankfully, he could deeply... feel it to be that of Space and... some other Element.
Of course, this wasn't the only Soul Glyph he had, as just below it, there was another.
—
[Beholding Eyes]
[Description: Your eyes are those of the author.]
—
'Ah, so that's what helped me read those Runes.'
Perhaps it was the consequence of his witnessing the Truth.
Something that, by now, he remembered nothing of... or close to nothing.
An expected consequence... everything was crammed directly into his mind in a moment... it was natural he lost it in another.
Now, Beholding Eyes did just as the name implied, allowing his eyes to 'behold' all that was, meaning that he, just by focusing on an object or enemy, could know what it was and what it could do, unless what stood before him was too strong, hiding from his gaze.
Also, this system was of the same Soul Glyph, a mark upon his Soul, changing how his body carried Divinity, the energy of this realm.
So yeah... this was it.
This was everything he figured out about this... his system.
Again, it was obvious that his system wasn't all that useful in combat.
But honestly, he didn't mind that; his revenge wouldn't be his if he relied on it completely.
Though before he dismissed those tabs, he wanted to make sure of one thing, something that had been bothering him for a while.
"…Are you sentient?"
[…]
He squinted his eyes.
"I know what kind of Gods you are... I know you're watching."
[…]
"Staying silent is a smart choice, but whatever, enjoy the show."
[…]
"I'll make it worth your while~."
Finally done with that part of his system, which was most of what he found interesting, his eyes lowered to the final tab.
'Let's see if it's there...'
—
{Quests}
[Main Quest: Break The World]
[Objective]
[End The Three Great Lords]
[???]
[Rewards]
[???]
—
…So those eight really wanted that.
He didn't bother thinking why... One simply does not pry into the secrets of Gods.
Rather, he was more focused on the fact that, besides his goal of revenge, there wasn't anything else, only another question mark... a forced mystery, or perhaps a personal issue.
Ignotus didn't actually have anything he wanted to do except kill those three; his past life wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows, so it made sense that such a vague quest held no objectives.
His family... he didn't care enough to beat them up, nor did he care to prove them wrong and clear his name.
He only wanted to kill his hunters…
Was that bad?
He didn't know.
Maybe that'd change in the future, but for now…
'Let's go have some fun.'
Pushing himself up, he started heading back home, expecting a very warm welcome.
...
But, of course, before he could even pass through the manor's gates, two figures blocked his path.
Those 'figures' were his father, Genus, and that rooster brother of his, Acer.
Ignotus casually paused before his father, believing he knew exactly what the man was going to say.
"This evening, I'll have Theodore of Lower House Gift visit the manor."
But this time...
"I'll wed you to his bastard daughter to strengthen our relationship."
Ignotus was completely gobsmacked.
"We can't have our hold on our vassal houses loosen. Especially not after your disaster of an Ascension today."
Genus's every word was out of left field.
"After you meet your fiancée, we'll send you to one of our far estates where you'll make our presence known, reminding them of us... whether in a good or bad light. Once you finish eating, start packing; the maids won't help you."
Indeed, this took him off guard.
This hadn't happened in his past life... nothing even came close.
More than that, Genus was a lot cooler-headed than Ignotus expected, making logical decisions even now, not the emotional outburst he expected from him, though he still didn't let his surprise show on his face.
For that to happen, the entirety of Runethera would need to fall; in other words, it was an impossibility. And that seemed to completely vex Acer, who seemed to have only come here to see a look of failure on his brother's face.
After all, he, a child of a Main House, marrying a bastard from a Lower House, would forever bind him to the lower caste of Runebearers for the rest of his measly life.
Yes, Ignotus could still climb out of there, getting more Runes, raising his land, and expanding it, but Acer never thought that possible.
Luck was useless!
"Hah! I knew you'd never be a Derived Element! Plant is too good for the likes of you!"
Ignotus stared at his brother...
'Why?'
Why did this little thing have such animosity towards him?
Nothing in his memories really explained the reason.
Did he forget, or was this rooster made to act in such a way?
Was it a height complex thing? He seemed shallow enough for that.
Ignotus didn't know, and so...
He could only come to one conclusion.
"Are you mentally ill, brother dearest?"
Genus immediately wiped down his face, knowing where this was headed, as Acer, confused as ever, stepped towards his brother.
"Is that really the best you've got? A dumb insult made by that trash brain of yours! Trash!"
Genus sighed, as did Ignotus, only much louder.
"You are pitiful. If I were a father, I'd be depressed after hearing that dumb shit you just spewed out of your whore mouth."
His father's head quickly snapped up at those words, as it seemed that Ignotus's... banter had finally hit his limit too, angering him enough so that Acer's quiet held from the sheer pressure he began to exude.
"Boy, don't trouble me any further. Apologize to your older brother right this moment."
Ignotus grinned.
"Or what?"
He stepped right before Genus and stared straight at him, without needing to look up... unlike a certain someone.
"What? What will you do? Will you kill me now? Hours before this marriage you pushed on me? Yes, they are our vassal House, a Lower House, but even then, it's not in our best interest to go around making enemies, right?..."
His grin remained wide.
"Our owners wouldn't like that."
Genus's brows flinched a little at that line, though he said nothing back.
"Besides, strategically speaking, shouldn't you wait? I might be a 'lost cause,' but I'll still get into Saint Academy; my name alone will allow me to get that second Rune and become a Disciple, skipping the test entirely."
None of what he said here was false.
"Of course, you could still bypass their Rune Contract by killing me outside Academy grounds. So... wouldn't it be a real waste? Abusing the Rune-Leash Decree this early? And just for a Luck Rune, might I add? I say wait for another one."
Finally, he paused and glared at the still surprised Acer.
"…Will you do it?"
"..."
"..."
Neither of them said a single word.
"That's what I thought~."