When I arrived at my empty apartment, I decided to check my skills. It seemed wiser to do this now rather than wait until I was in danger.
The system showed me four different skills. The first one on the list was [Stygius Summoning], and its function was evident from its name.
Stygius was the name of Zagreus' sword, the first weapon available in the game. It was a slightly elongated blade, both in handle and length. The guard was decorated with a red-horned skull, and the tip of the blade was vividly red.
Unfortunately, in the Aspect of Zagreus, it doesn't have any special bonuses. However, later on, I would surely be able to obtain the Aspects of Poseidon, which granted the power to control water, and the Aspect of Arthur, which was literally the Holy Excalibur.
'It's really good to already have a weapon like this, because in this world acquiring a quality weapon might prove challenging without drawing attention,' I thought with a proud smile. 'Now, the second skill...'
Just like the first time, a screen appeared to detail the following skills.
+
[Stygian Flame - Level 1]
Description: A manifestation of inherent infernal power, channeling the cold, dark energy of the River Styx in the form of flames.
Effect:
- Enables the user to summon and manipulate the flames of the River Styx (See more details).
+
[Primordial Divine Vigor - Level 1]
Description: The awakening of latent divine physiology, granting physical attributes superior to mortals.
Effect:
- Colossal increase in all Physical Attributes.
+
[Blessing of Hades - Level 1]
Description: Hades, Lord of the Underworld, granting a small advantage due to your connection to him.
Effect:
- Drastically increases the chance to detect enemies, see souls, and interact with them.
+
Each of these abilities had been granted without me even spending the points I received earlier. I couldn't wait to discover what abilities would unlock at fusion level 2.
The next day, I woke up early and put on my Kuoh Academy uniform. The male uniform wasn't as unique as the female one, but it was still stylish — certainly an improvement over the lack of uniforms at the American school I attended in my past life.
Kuoh Academy wasn't too far from where I lived, so I walked there.
On the way, I saw several classmates in uniform. Some were walking in groups, others alone. As I passed by, I noticed a few of them stealing glances at me.
I was well aware that my appearance in this life attracted a lot of attention, but to be honest, I didn't care. What did bother me, though, were the whispers.
As soon as I reached the school gates, they started...
"Is he the exchange student?" I heard a girl whisper to her friend.
"Yes, he is! He's so handsome... and he looks so serious!"
"I wonder if he talks to anyone? I heard his voice is still a mystery."
At that moment, I had an idea. If there's one thing, I learned in my previous life that I now had a chance to get right, it's to seize every opportunity and experience every sensation.
My lips curved into a slight smile, and I turned to the group of girls nearby, raising my hand in a casual greeting.
"Good morning!" I said naturally.
The girls froze for a moment, their faces turning red almost instantly.
"G-Good morning!" they replied in unison, clearly awkward.
It amused me how such a simple gesture could leave such an impression. No wonder some people leaned into overly charming personas.
I continued walking toward the main building, listening to the excited whispers behind me.
Inside the school, the movement was intense, with students rushing to their classrooms before the bell rang.
I followed the directions from my memories until I found my classroom, 3-A.
As soon as I entered, I saw that the students were gathered in small groups, chatting while waiting for the teacher. I got a few glances, but they were just normal glances this time. The reason? Four other figures in the room unmistakably stole the spotlight: Rias Gremory, Akeno Himejima, Sona Sitri, and Tsubaki Shinra.
It was almost surreal to see these girls in person. In my previous life, they had been mere fictional characters. Here, they were alive, breathing, and stunningly beautiful.
Rias was in the upper left corner of the room, sitting next to Akeno. Meanwhile, Sona and Tsubaki were seated closer to the front.
Without showing any reaction, I walked to the back of the room and chose a seat near the window. For now, I preferred to observe and understand the dynamics of the school before engaging directly with anyone.
The bell rang, and soon the teacher entered the room, starting the class with an enthusiastic introduction.
During the initial explanation of what today's class would be about, I took the opportunity to discreetly test one of my abilities.
Focusing on Hades' Blessing, I tried to sense the souls around me. A slight energy flowed through me, and my field of vision seemed to expand. Immediately, I realized that the presences of Rias, Akeno, Sona, and Tsubaki were completely different from those of the other students.
'Perfectly accurate,' I thought, impressed by the precision of the skill.
This was a very good skill because it could help me sense the abnormal even in large crowds or in the dark. It felt similar to possessing the Witch Eyes from The Witcher.
My focus was interrupted by the teacher's voice, who turned to the class with a slightly challenging smile.
"Class, before we move on with the lesson, I want to hear your opinion on something," he said, pointing to the blackboard.
On the board was the question: Why did Napoleon choose to crown himself emperor instead of allowing the Pope to do so?
Before the teacher could think about choosing someone, Sona Sitri raised her hand confidently.
"You may answer, Sona," said the teacher, with an encouraging nod.
Sona stood up, adjusting her glasses with one hand while keeping the other close to her body.
"Napoleon crowned himself emperor because he wanted to symbolize his independence and supremacy over the Catholic Church. By taking the crown from the Pope's hands, he demonstrated that his power was derived from himself and not from any religious institution."
'Wait, isn't that answer a bit incomplete?' I thought casually, with one hand on my chin.
[Ding! The system proposes the mission "Rebuttal!"]
1 - Ignore Sona Sitri's answer. (Reward: 1 Fusion Point)
2 - Complete Sona Sitri's answer correctly. (Reward: 5 Fusion Points)
3 - Stand up and state that Sona Sitri's answer is wrong. (Reward: 10 Fusion Points)
The teacher smiled, satisfied with Sona's answer. At that moment, I discreetly raised my hand, getting his attention.
"Yes? Nishihara-san, do you have anything to add?"
I felt a gust of wind hit my face as everyone in the room turned to look at me.
I took a deep breath and lowered my hand. "Sona's answer is largely correct, but there's an additional context worth noting."
"During the period when Napoleon became emperor, the French Revolution had significantly weakened the influence of the Church in France, and many viewed religious institutions as archaic or corrupt.
"Crown himself emperor was a way to align himself with the republican ideals that resonated with the people, even as he consolidated power in his own hands. As such, the act of taking the crown from the pope was a strategic move to reinforce his authority and ensure that no one, not even the pope, could be seen as superior to him, gaining support from public opinion that was not aligned with the Church."
There was a moment of silence, followed by a low murmur among the students.
[Ding! The Master chose option 2! Reward: 5 Fusion Points]
The second option didn't give me as many points as the third would have, but there was no reason to claim Sona's answer was wrong when it wasn't. Doing so would have been unnecessary and counterproductive.
Sona stared at me, her serious eyes fixed on me for longer than necessary.
The teacher smiled from ear to ear. "Very good! Both Sona-san and Nishihara-san made excellent points. That is the essence of history: understanding the multiple factors that influence the actions of great figures. Let's keep it up!"
I sat back down, keenly aware of the curious glances from some of the other students.