1 Chapter 1. Sequence

As they say, "All troubles have one beginning – a woman was bored." Although, no. Perhaps, let's not go that far and start with how I met the most important and beloved person in my life – my grandfather.

At that time, I spent my days in eager anticipation in one of the numerous orphanages located in the suburbs of Kyoto. The years were restless then, as Japan was hit by a wave of natural disasters: earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, insect invasions, and the rapid development of the internet – all of this swept through the country like a roller, resulting in a significant increase in the number of children left orphaned. Although, I lost them for different reasons... Anyway, I don't like talking about sad things.

It was always interesting to compare this place to a self-igniting matchbox. This comparison was not only because the orphanage smelled of wood and sulfur at times, though such moments did occur, but also because of the constant ups and downs, reminiscent of a roller coaster. Every day here felt like a potential fire, and sometimes it actually happened...

That's why I enjoyed spending time on the roof of the orphanage from time to time. It was quiet there, far from potential sources of trouble, and, most importantly, the air was always fresh. It's strange, but I had never thought before about enjoying an ordinary morning... It's always like that, we only appreciate what we lose. However, on that morning, I was far from introspection and enjoyment because my head was pounding from information overload and sensory overload. Besides, a strange neon-blue panel suddenly appeared before my eyes:

Name: Yami Sukehiro

Path: Red Priest - Low Sequence 9: Hunter

Acting Process: 0%

Abilities: [Enhanced Physical Attributes - Low Rank], [Heightened Senses - Low Rank], [Traps Mastery - Low Rank], [Survival Knowledge - Low Rank], [Spirituality - Low Rank], [Sense of Danger - Low Rank]

I remember well that a sigh of disappointment escaped me. To be reborn in modern Japan was the best decision for someone who gave me a second chance, and to go along with the crowd and give me something as clichéd as a system was the worst.

No, don't get me wrong, I wasn't a capricious idiot, and I certainly wouldn't complain about such a service. In fact, I was filled with the excitement of having supernatural abilities, and any objections were pushed aside. Moreover:

"If I need strength in this life," I mumbled, describing with my eyes the departing swarm of grotesque black flies the size of a fist, as thick as tar.

Shifting my focus to the neon window in front of my eyes, I went through the list of "attributes" that were displayed there. The name... There's no need to explain. The only thing to note is that in my second life, I inherited the name of a real "gigachad," the best captain and just a good guy. At first, it was a bit awkward... I felt like an eighth-grader with an eighth-grader's syndrome, but after a few years – I got used to it.

However, the line indicating the "Path" was far more interesting. In my previous life, I wasn't a genius, more of an adventurer or pirate, but certainly not a scientist. Even so, I had enough common sense and a bit of that male intuition to understand that this was the "Class" of my "character." Although, the fact that my class was a "Priest" didn't make me happy at all! Who actually enjoyed standing on the sidelines and healing? That's right, nobody!

"That's why 'Witch Doctors' or 'fairies' usually got a five and were given Aghanim's Scepter to mess up the whole map," I mused aloud, recalling the old days in the gaming community. "Of course, it didn't always work out, but who cared?"

In any case, no man wanted to stand on the sidelines and play a supporting role. I was no exception. Therefore, I was incredibly pleased that the name of the "Path" did not convey the true meaning of the power I had received. Moreover, the list of abilities I possessed was extensive and did not focus on support.

Looking at the list of abilities, I finally understood why my morning was worse than any hangover and more unpleasant than any scorching day in a house filled with kids, many of whom were crying and screaming.

[Traps Mastery - Low Rank] and [Survival Knowledge - Low Rank] – although these abilities did not turn me into a true master, even so, my mind was filled with knowledge of how to search for, create, and camouflage artificial traps, as well as detect natural traps, such as unstable rocks or shifting sands. Besides:

"They say the first soap was made from the ashes of heroes,... And they also say that with enough soap, you can blow up the world."

That's right! I became Tyler, goddamn Durden, because now my brain was crammed with knowledge about using and making explosives to the extent that I could pass as an expert in demolitions or set up complex explosive traps. And the icing on the cake was knowledge of survival, providing me with an understanding of wild plants and animal organs, allowing me, as a Hunter, to better survive in the wild.

In short, there was so much information that an ordinary person would have suffered from a terrible migraine for the next twenty-four hours. But here I am, even with a headache and nausea, still alive and well, sitting on the roof, looking at the morning sky through the neon characteristic panel.

The reason for that lay in the next two abilities: [Enhanced Physical Attributes - Low Rank] and [Spirituality - Low Rank]. Even with a low rank, these two abilities drastically changed my life because now my child's body had no trouble recovering from the intake of a large amount of information, and I had the strength and agility to climb to the roof of a three-story building along the cornices and pipes. Endurance, strength, balance, and agility increased significantly, which was incredibly inspiring. On the other hand, [Spirituality]... This ability affected me just as drastically as [Enhanced Physical Attributes] because now I started feeling my own "Cursed Energy"!

In turn, compared to other abilities, [Sense of Danger - Low Rank] didn't show itself in any way, which I was still happy about. However, the thought of how this skill would manifest still lingered in my mind. Would it emphasize my [Spirituality] and be something like "Observation Haki," or would this ability rely more on my senses and manifest as some kind of "Spider Sense"?

However, [Heightened Senses - Low Rank] attracted attention in the crudest and most direct way, namely, by driving stakes into my head. I remember that as soon as I woke up, my newly acquired heightened senses, which were developing in a geometric progression, allowed me to smell freshly baked bread in a bakery about fifty meters away from the orphanage, then discern the six eyes of a spider hanging in the semi-darkness about five meters from me, and finally estimate the weight of a matron by her footsteps. Thanks to whoever or whatever it was, supernatural sensory abilities only manifested when I concentrated my attention and, probably, lost control, taking the form of a weaker version that did not interfere with everyday life.

So, having sorted out the abilities given to me "by default," it was time to pay attention to the so-called "Acting Process" indicator. It was incredibly strange for something like a system, no quests, no experience, no grinding – just a strange role-playing scale. Of course, thinking logically, I needed to role-play something, and since I was a Red Priest, I needed to take on the role of a clergyman, right? On the other hand: I still had this "Low Sequence 9" with the note "Hunter," and maybe I needed to wear the skin of an "Hunter"...

My thoughts were interrupted by the cry of the orphanage manager: "Sukehiro, get down from that damn roof and come to me right away." The manager... A good woman, though too strict and with strange habits, like using profanity in front of children. But no matter what I thought of her, I had no intention of saying anything out loud to this tyrant. Let's just say I learned that from a bitter experience and a sore backside... I hadn't felt such humiliation in a long time! So, revenge would be sweet!

"Right now!" I said, smiling sweetly at her and the gray-haired man standing next to her, and ran towards the stairs.

...

"Who knew that you would be the one to decide to adopt a child," the raised eyebrow on the manager's face and the expressive amazement in her voice spoke for themselves.

"He is my blood," not a single emotion crossed the scarred and wrinkled face, and the calm, almost emotionless, voice sent shivers down the spine.

"Is that why he's been here for over a year and a half?" an expression of disbelief and even a hint of contempt stretched across the woman's face.

In response, the man didn't utter a single word or show any reaction; he simply took another drag from his cigarette. Looking at the man's steely, cold face, the manager sighed wearily.

"I haven't been in Japan for a long time," the calm gray eyes met the firm maternal gaze. "But even so, I'm surprised that you've switched from being a Sorcerer to a mother."

"There's so much contempt in your old tone," the manager irritably rolled her eyes. "Anyway, it's much better than turning your own offspring into weapons for exorcising Curses."

"Everyone has their own demons," the man shrugged his broad shoulders.

As soon as I found myself within ten meters of these two "adults," they stopped their conversation and stared at me. I'll be honest: first, having super hearing is just awesome! Second, I shiver from just one look from my so-called relative.

"You do see them, right, kid," these were my grandfather's first words to me.

"Damn," the manager snapped, irritated and with a hint of resignation.