Chapter 38: Worry

Arthur sat comfortably in a chair inside the fleet vessel’s main control room.

A smug smile rested on his face as he stared at the System window floating before him.

〘ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED!〙

〘Congratulations, Player!〙

〘You have successfully obtained the Achievement Title: Speedrunner X〙

Arthur’s smile widened.

Another notification immediately appeared.

〘Achievement Title Progression Complete.〙

〘Achievement Skill Reward Granted.〙

〘Skill Acquired: Riki Telekinesis Art: EX Rank〙

Arthur’s eyes immediately lit up.

"...Oh?"

A grin slowly spread across his face.

"Now that’s what I’m talking about."

His eyes eagerly scanned the information.

Then...

Another notification appeared.

〘SYSTEM NOTICE〙

〘Player’s current cultivation is insufficient to utilize Riki Telekinesis Art: EX Rank.〙

Arthur’s smile froze.

〘Minimum Cultivation Requirement: Awakening Realm: Second Stage〙

〘Current Cultivation: Insufficient.〙

Arthur stared silently at the notification.

"..."

His expression slowly became complicated.

"Seriously?"

Genesis appeared beside him in her miniature holographic form.

"Unfortunately, Master, you cannot use a skill that exceeds your current cultivation capabilities."

Arthur sighed.

He leaned back in his chair.

"I would have really liked to try it."

His eyes remained fixed on the System window.

"...If not for Mother, I probably would have cultivated more by now."

His expression softened slightly.

Of course...

Arthur couldn’t really blame her.

His mother had insisted that he wait until he entered the Imperial Academy before beginning serious cultivation.

She wanted him to obtain a far more advanced cultivation technique.

One suited specifically to his natural abilities.

And Arthur understood her reasoning.

House Ashbourne simply didn’t possess the necessary equipment to properly determine what type of Riki Handler he was.

Without knowing his exact natural affinity...

Choosing a cultivation technique blindly could potentially cause problems in the future.

A cultivation technique that contradicted his natural affinity could slow his progress.

Or worse...

Negatively affect his development.

So, despite his disappointment...

Arthur had agreed to wait.

I suppose Mother has a point.

It would be pretty stupid to start cultivating a technique now, only to discover later that it completely contradicts my natural affinity.

Arthur sighed again.

Still...

His eyes drifted back toward the System window.

I really want to try that skill...

Just then...

Footsteps echoed through the main control room.

Arthur glanced to the side.

Seraphina approached him.

Her expression appeared somewhat thoughtful.

"Young Master."

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

Seraphina stopped beside him.

Then she spoke.

"Young Master, I have questions..."

Arthur shrugged.

"Fire away."

Seraphina paused for a moment.

Then she asked,

"What exactly was that back there?"

Arthur blinked.

"What was what?"

Seraphina narrowed her eyes.

"Don’t play dumb with me."

Arthur’s expression became slightly awkward.

Seraphina folded her arms.

"You didn’t just cure Octoria."

"You fixed the problems affecting every single Iron Angel in this fleet."

Arthur remained silent.

"You didn’t use any medicine."

"You didn’t make them ingest anything."

"You didn’t perform any medical procedure."

Her eyes narrowed further.

"And the power you used was neither Chi nor Riki."

She paused.

"Which doesn’t make any sense, considering you told everyone earlier that it was some sort of ancient Riki Art."

Seraphina stepped closer.

"What exactly was that back there?"

Arthur let out a sigh.

Then he stood up.

"I can guarantee you that you don’t have anything to worry about."

He casually gestured toward the exit.

"So, why don’t I go take a look around the fleet’s shop..."

"Of course I’m supposed to worry."

Arthur paused.

Seraphina suddenly grabbed him by the shoulder.

"And you aren’t going anywhere until you explain yourself, young man."

Before Arthur could react...

She pushed him back into his chair.

Arthur blinked.

"..."

Genesis suddenly appeared beside him.

Her miniature holographic form floated through the air.

"Ohhh..."

She placed both hands against her cheeks dramatically.

"Seems she’s onto you, Master."

Arthur glanced toward Genesis.

Then toward Seraphina.

"...This is becoming troublesome."

Seraphina crossed her arms.

"Start talking, and don’t lie to me again, ’cause I’ll be able to tell."

Arthur tried his best to dance around the question.

"It’s really nothing."

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed.

"Nothing?"

Arthur shrugged.

"Nothing you need to worry about."

"What exactly does that mean?"

Arthur looked away.

"It means exactly what I said."

Seraphina took another step closer.

"Arthur."

Her tone made him glance back at her.

"You stood in front of five hundred Iron Angels and did something that shouldn’t have been possible."

Arthur’s expression remained calm.

"Yeah."

"You cured them."

"Technically."

"You cured Octoria’s Chi Psychosis."

Arthur shrugged again.

"And then you somehow fixed the defects affecting the entire fleet."

"Seems that way."

Seraphina stared at him.

Arthur avoided her gaze.

Her eyes narrowed further.

"Stop doing that."

Arthur blinked.

"Doing what?"

"Answering my questions without actually answering them."

Arthur let out a sigh.

"Seraphina..."

"No."

Her voice suddenly became firmer.

Arthur paused.

Seraphina stepped directly in front of him.

"You don’t get to dismiss this."

Arthur’s eyebrows rose slightly.

She pointed toward the direction of the main hall.

"What you did back there was impossible."

Her expression became increasingly serious.

"I know Chi."

"I know Riki."

"And I know what advanced Riki Arts are capable of."

Arthur remained silent.

"But whatever you did..."

She slowly shook her head.

"...wasn’t any of those things."

Arthur’s expression stiffened slightly.

Seraphina noticed.

Her gaze sharpened.

"You know something."

Arthur looked away.

"And you’re refusing to tell me."

"It’s complicated."

"Then explain it."

Arthur sighed.

"I can’t."

"Why not?"

Arthur’s jaw tightened.

Seraphina took another step closer.

"Arthur."

Her voice softened slightly. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

"You need to tell me what’s happening."

Arthur looked at her.

Seraphina’s expression was serious.

There was concern in her eyes.

But Arthur was beginning to feel increasingly pressured.

"I already told you."

"And I don’t believe you."

Arthur’s eyes narrowed.

Seraphina continued.

"You said it was an ancient Riki Art."

"It was."

"Then explain it."

"I can’t."

"Why?"

Arthur clenched his jaw.

Seraphina didn’t back down.

"Why can’t you explain it?"

"Seraphina..."

"Arthur."

His patience was slowly beginning to run out.

"I said I can’t explain it!"

"And I’m asking you to try."

"IT’S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"