Chapter 9: Chapter Nine: When the Natural Airhead Meets Amnesia (Please Collect!)

After understanding what had happened to Nagazawa Yuki, Minazawa Yuu checked the time and said she needed to catch the last train, so the task of seeing Nagazawa Yuki home fell to Niino Li.

"Really, never thought I'd get lectured by a high school student."

At night, the bright streetlights and intoxicating moonlight blended together, illuminating every passerby.

Seeing Niino Li's unusually youthful appearance, Nagazawa Yuki's eyes glowed with something strange, and she smiled, shaking her head gently.

Let those two months of dazed days be a nightmare—I should wake up now.

"High school students grow up too," Niino Li murmured in reply, thinking of his own age.

Memories after a Ghost Encounter fade with the Ghost Spirit's dissolution; for Nagazawa Yuki, this might be a good thing.

"If you grow up, you'll probably become a psychologist or a lawyer, right?"

When they reached the foot of the Nagasawa Residence, she suddenly turned to Niino Li, who was about to leave, and said this, then climbed the steps one step at a time.

Her steps were firm, without a hint of hesitation.

"Psychologist? You want me to dance the baboon dance with my patients?" Niino Li recalled those words as he opened his door.

Drawing manga is more profitable—and more comfortable.

"The Mantis Ghost is dealt with, but the system hasn't issued a completion message—looks like there are second and third rounds." Sitting on the edge of his bed, Niino Li pondered the task and summoned the system.

Name: Niino Li

Strength: 16

Constitution: 0

Agility: 19

Intelligence: 15

Skills: 【Painting Lv2】, 【Cooking Lv1】, 【Bare-Hand Combat Lv2】

Current Task: Resolve three consecutive Urban Legend incidents (2/3)

Reward: +1 Skill Point

Remaining Skill Points: 0

Huh?

The standard adult attribute is 10 points; when Niino Li first saw the system panel, he realized he was no longer at the standard adult level.

Aside from Constitution, which always shows as 0, all other stats have improved—but aside from the Skill Point reward tasks, he hasn't received any other reward tasks.

In truth, from discovering the system to resolving the Urban Legend today, only three days have passed.

The sudden appearance of Urban Legends and the system disrupted his original plans.

"Increasing my own strength is good, but I should focus on Bug Grudge and the start of school," Niino Li thought, lying on his bed, squinting at the calendar on the wall.

The calendar was annotated in different colored pens by the previous owner, saving Niino Li considerable effort in understanding his daily routine.

Today was a day of abundant harvest.

Facing the reassuring morning sunlight, Niino Li locked his door and went downstairs to begin his morning training.

According to Niino Li's guess, the skills listed on the system could not only be upgraded with Skill Points—they could also improve through personal practice.

Just like when he first tried drawing illustrations for Goodbye, Another World, he stared fixedly at the paper, his mind blank, with not a single idea.

But the moment he set up his drawing board and gripped the pencil, Niino Li felt an instant sense of perfect harmony.

It was as if he had practiced a thousand times before—his wrist moved, his strokes steady, and soon he completed an image of a Skeleton Urban Legend.

In later work, his efficiency was unusually high.

Thus, after the battle with the Mantis Ghost, Niino Li drew inspiration from Minazawa Yuu's combat style.

Even as physical attributes improve, mastery of advanced combat techniques remains the key to victory.

Recalling Minazawa Yuu's slender frame and absurdly long spear, Niino Li crossed beneath the tree shade by the road, heading down the path to the left-front, silently whistling in amazement.

This is what they call contrast charm, isn't it?