NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3
"Huh? Why is this happening all of a sudden?"
Blinking my eyes open and sitting up abruptly, the transfer marker turned purple again.
Hastily shutting my eyes once more, I focused my mind on the avatar.
Sure enough, the transfer marker began emitting a blue light.
With a disappointed smile, I turned the avatar's head to check the time, realizing there was about a minute left.
'...So this is possible?'
Pondering the situation carefully, I realized something.
The physical form of the "avatar" perfectly matched my own body.
It wasn't an illusion or a separate entity.
If anything, it was akin to a newly grown body part.
Resources were also required to maintain it, and separate consumption of food was necessary to supply the energy needed for bodily functions.
The only downside was that the food expenses doubled.
If the main body constituted the upper half, including the head, the avatar was the lower half, excluding the head.
If I concentrated my mind, which could be considered the head, on the avatar...
'I could make the transfer marker recognize the avatar as my real body!'
Fireworks seemed to go off in my head. My body trembled with joy.
As I smiled contentedly, believing all my problems had been resolved, a low hum reverberated.
The magical circle emitting the blue light began to glow brightly and hummed loudly.
And then.
[The transfer is about to commence.]
My avatar was transported to another world.
***
[The transfer to the Outerica dimension has been completed.]
[Through the 'Return' option at the Karma Shop, you can return to Earth.]
[Currently, Karma owned: 0. You can check it at the Karma Shop later.]
Before the phrases displayed during the transfer could fully register in my mind, the surroundings brightened. The first thing I saw was the forest. The towering trees, the grass, and the flowers—it had been a long time since I had seen such natural scenery. Having been confined at home for two years, and not particularly fond of hiking even before that, it had been years since I'd seen anything like this.
As I realized this, a cold sweat broke out, and my breath quickened. I tried to reassure myself. It wasn't the Earth where the accident had happened; I had awakened my abilities and been summoned to this other world, so perhaps I could make it work somehow. After all, currently, I wasn't even in my real body but was using the "avatar." It was an improbable situation.
I quickly closed the avatar's eyes and focused my mind on my body back on Earth. When I opened my eyes, the sight of the familiar room greeting me unchanged brought a sigh of relief. The oppressive feeling that had become familiar over the years strangely comforted me. Even temporarily ignoring the sensations felt from the avatar's side, soon a strong sense of alienation set in.
There was a growing discomfort as I recognized the difference between concentrating on the avatar and focusing on my real body. The wind brushing my ears, the scent of the forest, the warmth of the sunlight on my skin, the process of inhaling and exhaling, the digestion of consumed food into energy, and the expenditure of that energy—all of it felt strange.
"Ugh...," I moaned. A strong nausea was creeping up on me. Soon enough, I understood the cause.
'I've been forgetting about the difference in time flow!'
Considering the existence of various other worlds, it wasn't accurate to assume that the flow of time in each world was precisely 1:10. Based on the experiences of returnees, there would inevitably be some degree of error. But what mattered now was that the time difference was at least 10 times. Despite concentrating my senses towards my real body, the nausea didn't abate.
While my real body took one breath, the avatar took more than ten. Despite standing still with my eyes closed, the avatar's metabolism was significantly faster than that of my currently moving body, making the disparity starkly apparent.
'Dizzy... I feel like I'm going to vomit.'
No, this won't do. I can't endure it any longer.
"Release the summoning."
Ah... that's better.
***
After lying down for a while, the nausea subsided. With a sense of peace settling in, various thoughts started to flood my mind. There was a sense of accomplishment in having somehow safely overcome the crisis, along with a subtle sense of regret for some reason. Feeling relieved that there would be no more transfers to this other world, I suddenly remembered a message I had sent to my friend and hurriedly checked my phone.
'Oh... luckily, he hasn't seen it yet.'
I deleted the sent message and sent a new one inquiring about his well-being. There was no need to unnecessarily worry him. Given the way things had turned out, it was fortunate that I hadn't reported it to the Administration for Ability Management.
Initially, I had intended to report it immediately upon returning, but with the change in circumstances, my feelings had shifted.
'I don't have any intention of committing a crime with this, but it's just too troublesome to deal with the complications.'
Upon closer examination, it was an ability perfectly suited for criminal activities. If one covered their face, committed a robbery, and then vanished, it could lead to a perfect crime. Even if there were suspicions, the real body could provide an alibi.
Upon releasing the summoning, any additional belongings would be left behind. However, there must be a way to make ends meet, considering that methods could be found.
'Of course, it's just a delusion.'
Didn't I confirm a while ago that I couldn't even go outside in the avatar state?
'Well, now it doesn't matter what happens.'
The crisis had passed, and there would be no more problems. With a little more practice with my abilities, I could even play games in two-player mode by myself. That would work out just fine.
And without much thought, I summoned the avatar again.
[Achievement unlocked! Returning to Earth by own power without using the Karma Shop.]
[As a reward for surpassing dimensions, you are granted the special ability 'Dimensional Transfer Stone.' Once a day, you can move to places you have been through the transfer.]
[You have made a significant impact on the world through your achievements. Your Karma has risen significantly.]
"···Huh?"
The phrases that I had thought I wouldn't see anymore were now right in front of my eyes.
***
Karma and the Karma Shop.
It's the method through which Awakened individuals can return to this world from another dimension. Karma accumulates through various means, be it good or bad deeds, contributions to life, or labor, considering the impact on others and the world.
However...
"Check the Karma Shop."
[Karma Shop]
[Return (1,000,000) (Unavailable)]
[Unique Skill Enhancement (300,000)]
[Status Enhancement - View Details]
[Available Karma - 1,910,213]
Come to think of it, amidst the chaos, I had forgotten, but when I had just performed the dimensional shift, there was a message about the Karma Shop. It stated that one could accumulate Karma and return to Earth through the 'Return' option.
'Typically, people would gradually accumulate Karma to return, but here I am, returning first and then accumulating Karma.'
How to utilize the Karma was up to the individual's intentions. It was important to distribute it appropriately, considering that being too weak could pose survival problems, and indiscriminate enhancements could cause missed opportunities and potential pitfalls.
'But I never expected things to unravel like this. 'Surpassing dimensions'...'
It seemed that the System had determined that the Avatar sent to this world via the Transfer had transcended dimensions upon its return to Earth.
'Could this be an error? Is it alright even if it is like this?'
Deceiving the system by sending the Avatar instead of the real body, and now, receiving these rewards, it was inevitable that someone might notice.
'Ah, the great system encompassing dimensions probably won't penalize me for such a trivial thing. It's not like I intentionally did anything wrong.'
Why leave any room for flaws in the first place? An error in the program was the fault of the developer, wasn't it? I had just done my best in everything!
Starting off as a self-justification, it turned out that each of my justifications was valid upon further consideration.
'Yeah! I'm not at fault! Damn right!'
Feeling proud of myself, I glanced at the sky and confidently shopped at the Karma Shop, as if going on a shopping spree with an increased bank account.
'Since I'm on Earth, 'returning' is meaningless, and the unique skill probably refers to the 'Avatar.''
Pressing to view the details of the status enhancement, a plethora of items blocked my view, making it dizzying.
Under the category of 'Physical,' there were various subcategories such as 'Muscular Strength,' with detailed lists of upper and lower body muscles, including specific sections like biceps and quadriceps.
Even 'Agility' had subcategories like reflexes, dynamic vision, and other detailed items. The same applied to other categories.
'...They put so much effort into the shop window, yet they don't provide a status window!'
Feeling somewhat despondent while browsing the Karma Shop, there was one item that caught my eye.
[Physical - Endurance - Reinforce Recovery (10,000)]
Staring at it hesitantly, as if possessed by something, I chose it without hesitation.
There was no dramatic effect. It was likely a gradual recovery, not an instant noticeable change, as with increased muscular strength.
[Reinforce Recovery (20,000)]
So, I selected it once more.
A sensation came from my legs. I felt as if the injury was healing.
If I stayed like this, it would eventually heal.
[Reinforce Recovery (40,000)]
I chose it again.
My legs tingled. The recovery period would be shorter, so it wouldn't be long before it was completely healed.
With each selection, the amount of Karma consumed doubled, but compared to the total amount I had, it was nothing.
[Reinforce Recovery (80,000)]
I chose it again.
The injury in my legs wasn't just discomfort. It was my pain, the scar from parting with my family, and the aftermath that kept me confined to my room.
It symbolized the remnants of all the negative emotions I had accumulated over time, including sadness, despair, pain, deprivation, resignation, and unhappiness.
[Reinforce Recovery (160,000)]
So, I chose it once more.
A surge coursed through my legs. As I raised my trouser leg, the smooth skin where the surgical scar had been before was now gone.
And then, I realized.
[Recovery has exceeded the standard. Acquired skill: 'Rapid Recovery.']
The leg that had been limping due to the injury had fully recovered, and it had become even stronger than before.
***
I was immersed in emotion for quite a while, reveling in the fact that I had shed one layer of the shackles that had bound me. It took me a moment to compose myself. Of course, not all the issues had been resolved. I still couldn't go outside, but now there was a budding sense of hope and belief that I could somehow overcome this.
Checking out the "Rapid Recovery" skill, it was indeed a skill that enhanced recovery. While it might not be feasible to regenerate severed body parts, it seemed possible to swiftly heal most wounds.
After calming my mind, I revisited the Karma Shop.
[Karma Shop]
[Return (1,000,000) (Unavailable)]
[Unique Skill Enhancement (300,000)]
[Status Enhancement – View Details]
[Available Karma - 1,600,213]
'How in the world did I accumulate this much Karma through achievements?'
It wasn't that I didn't like it, but it was enough to make me feel somewhat dazed at this point.
My gaze halted at the "Unique Skill Enhancement" option. The awakening of the "Avatar" had been the beginning of all the changes. If I enhanced this skill, what more could I accomplish? Perhaps it could assist in my further growth.
The growth of the unique skill was tailored in the direction desired by the Awakened individual. It could be achieved by honing abilities and skills without consuming Karma, but through the Karma Shop, this process could be significantly accelerated.
Now there was a way to travel to this other world without any risks. However, in my current state, it was nothing more than a useless tool. Enhancing the unique skill, I selected the option with the hope that it would aid me in this situation.
After a momentary headache passed, at first, I didn't realize any changes. It was because the 'Achievement of the Great Feat' message had popped up right after the re-summoning, causing the Avatar to be pushed into the subconscious.
But soon, I could discern what had changed. My brain had split into two. No, it had been two from the beginning, but while until now, one consciousness had been switching between the two bodies, I could now skillfully split my thinking into two and move them separately.
I stood facing my Avatar. I could naturally accept the two perspectives, feeling no sense of discomfort.
"Well, you certainly look handsome as ever."
"And so do you. Working out, huh? Seems like you did some exercise."
"Of course. It's the result of consistent effort."
Now we could converse smoothly with each other... though in reality, it was like talking to myself.
To figure out how far I could go, I started experimenting here and there. We could face each other and perform tasks in tandem. We could do push-ups and sit-ups simultaneously. I could even clean while browsing the internet and play two-player games that I had only played when friends were around.
'Oh, this isn't the time for that.'
I momentarily drifted off, but it was time to refocus. Clearing the game console with my Avatar, I organized my thoughts on the enhanced unique skill.
Not only had multitasking become more proficient, but I was now using two brains separately, enabling individual thought processes. It seemed like my mental and spiritual stats had also increased significantly.
'Plus, there's one more thing.'
I picked up the chair that had been in the room with my Avatar.
Then, upon releasing the summon...
The Avatar disappeared along with the chair. Now, in addition to being able to handle individual equipment with the Avatar, summoning and releasing were possible with the possessions I had! It was limited to the weight I could carry, but it was akin to creating a kind of extra-dimensional space.
This ability would undoubtedly be a great help in the future, and with the expectation of that, I nodded satisfactorily and checked the Karma Shop again.
[Unique Skill Enhancement (400,000)]
Fortunately, enhancing the unique skill didn't seem to double the cost each time. At any rate, I could strengthen it a bit more. Without hesitation, I selected 'Unique Skill Enhancement' once more, and with a headache, a message appeared before my eyes.
[Your unique skill has grown, unlocking its potential. You have acquired the special skill 'Mind Hub.']