Masao nodded thoughtfully as he processed the information.
"A five, huh? So what does that actually mean?"
The System remained silent for a moment. (You were nodding so sagely, I assumed you'd already figured it out.)
[Regarding the Charm attribute] the System finally explained its tone clinical.
[A score of '5' indicates a symmetrical face with no notable defects. A '10' represents physical perfection. Exceeding 10 will not further alter your appearance; instead, it enhances your charisma, passively increasing your affinity with other living beings]
Masao found the description quite satisfactory.
He spent the next few minutes grilling the System on the other attributes.
· [Strength] governed raw muscular power and could theoretically be increased indefinitely—so long as his [Constitution] could support it. Otherwise, he risked throwing a punch only to end up with a broken bone.
· [Agility] was a composite of running speed, reaction time, and overall bodily coordination.
· [Constitution] defined the durability of his bones, organs, and vascular system, influencing his recovery rate, stamina, and resistance to toxins or disease. With a high enough score, feats like becoming poison-proof, regenerating lost limbs, or even turning blade-proof were theoretically possible.
· [Spirit] enhanced his memory, focus, and powers of observation.
The [Luck] attribute, however, was… unique. It was a nebulous, almost philosophical stat. A higher value tilted probability in his favor, making fortunate encounters more likely, but it was no guarantee against misfortune. Conversely, even with abysmal luck, a stray windfall wasn't impossible.
Once he had a firm grasp of the mechanics, Masao returned to his original grievance.
"System, why did I get a free attribute point? I paid for a random talent."
The point was a welcome, of course, but a single stat boost was a poor substitute for a game-changing talent.
[The 'Random Talent' purchase does not guarantee a talent will manifest] the System chirped, its cheer feeling deliberately obtuse. [But please rest assured! This System incorporates a user-friendly pity mechanism. For every ten 'Random Talent' purchases, the host is guaranteed one Professional Skill. For every ninety purchases, one true Talent is guaranteed.]
This… This soul-crushing, miserly mechanic felt hauntingly familiar.
Masao hadn't expected to face such predatory schemes even in his new life. 'Did a gacha game designer create you?'
The System was starting to feel like a massive scam. With probabilities this brutal, a single decent talent could cost him nine million Corruption Points.
"Ah, whatever," he sighed, resigning himself to his fate. "The random stat points aren't terrible, and it's not like earning Corruption Points is that difficult."
[Host, I never said that a free attribute point was guaranteed.]
Masao's eye twitched. "What are you talking about? There's more in the pool?"
[Correct. The prize pool contains a multitude of items. Free attribute points are merely one category. However, if the host's desire is singular, attribute points are now available for direct purchase in the System shop.]
A small, damning footnote flickered in his vision.
(Note: Individual purchases do not contribute to the pity counter.)
A trap. This was a trap. He could all but smell the greed.
He pulled up the shop interface. Just as promised, a new listing had appeared.
[Free Attribute Point × 1] - Price: 100,000 Corruption Points.
—
What followed was a veritable symphony of profanity, so creative it would make a seasoned sailor blush.
Gasping for air, Masao finally finished venting his frustrations. He couldn't stand to look at the exploitative interface any longer.
Still, a stubborn part of him whispered: if he could just amass enough Corruption Points, he would eventually clean out the System's entire prize pool.
The System, sensing his grim determination, seemed to coo. (That's the spirit. Your dedication fuels our symbiotic relationship.)
Pushing the infuriating system windows aside, Masao turned his attention to the two [Random Items] he had purchased.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on obtaining…]
Familiar manuscript paper materialized in his hands. His eyes widened as he scanned the contents.
"Are you kidding me? More doujinshi? Wait… this is pretty good!"
This batch featured the famed duo, "Sunflower" and "Hydrangea." The art quality was, as expected, masterful. The storyline was just as… compelling as the last.
"It looks like my path to fortune is well and truly paved," he muttered, shaking his head with a mix of resignation and wry amusement.
He picked up his phone and dialed Sawamura Sayuri.
"Moshi moshi, Masao-kun?"
"It's me, Sayuri-san."
"You didn't come by this weekend! I was looking forward to your visit," she said, her voice playful.
"Ah, I'm sorry Sayuri-san… I've been swamped. I'll definitely stop by next week."
"Promise? You absolutely must. So, to what do I owe the pleasure, Masao-kun?"
"Right, well… I've finished two new projects. I was hoping you could assist with the publication again."
"Eh~? So soon?" Genuine shock colored Sayuri's voice. "Is this what has been keeping you so busy? Masao-kun, you must take care of yourself! Don't burn out for the sake of your art."
As a fellow artist, she understood the grueling nature of the work, and her immediate reaction was one of heartfelt concern.
A wave of gratitude washed over him. Though their acquaintance was recent, Sayuri Sawamura had proven herself a genuinely kind and caring mentor.
"Thank you, I'm fine. I promise I'm getting plenty of rest."
"I'm relieved to hear it. In that case, I'll reach out to my publisher contact for you."
"You don't need to review the quality first?"
"Not at all. I trust your skills Masao-kun. Just bring the manuscripts with you when you visit."
"Thank you so much, Sayuri-san. I appreciate it."
—
After hanging up, Masao opened his social media account under his pen name, Takeda.
He shared Sayuri's confidence in the System's product quality. Certain of their publication, he decided to build some early hype.
Thanks to the commercial success of his first work, his account now boasted over thirty thousand followers.
These were devoted fans who had sought him out after his debut, a community thriving in his comments section where they dissected plots, sang his praises, and expressed their fervent admiration.
The moment he posted the preview for his new works, the comments began flooding in.
[Wait, is this real? Takeda-sensei is releasing a new work already?]
[It's true! It hasn't even been a full week since the last! Sensei's output is god-tier!]
[Whoa, slow down, Sensei! I'm still recovering from the last one! My heart (and my body) can't take this pace!]
[Haha, I've nearly worn the spine out on my copy. I've been waiting for something new.]
[The art style is as breathtaking as ever. That black-haired beauty is divine! And that smile… She looks so innocent. I'm betting this one's a sweet, vanilla romance.]
[I'm more intrigued by the other one, the mature office lady. She has a dangerous aura.]
The comment section was a bastion of excitement and positive anticipation. It was a space devoid of hate or trolling.
Scrolling through the supportive community, Masao nodded to himself, a satisfied smile touching his lips.
"They're all such good, pure-hearted kids."
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