The morning air was crisp, a reminder that autumn was settling in. Kenji stood in the kitchen, carefully cracking eggs into a bowl. He had made a promise to himself—small steps, consistent efforts. Breakfast was another opportunity to show his family that he was trying.
The previous night had been a minor success. Ren had enjoyed his cooking, and while Anastasia and the girls hadn't outright praised him, they also hadn't rejected the meal. That was something. It was progress, however small.
---
[System Alert!]
Basic Cooking has leveled up! (LV 4)
Kenji smirked. Even the system acknowledged his effort. Every little bit helped.
---
As he placed plates on the dining table, Anastasia walked in, dressed impeccably as always. She paused, her eyes scanning the meal before flickering toward him.
"You're up early," she noted, her tone neutral.
Kenji nodded. "Figured I'd take care of breakfast."
Ayaka and Aoi arrived next, their expressions wary but not outright dismissive. Ren bounced into the room, his excitement clear as he took a seat.
"Pancakes!" Ren grinned, grabbing a fork. "You made them!"
"I did," Kenji confirmed. "Hope they taste good."
Aoi hesitated before serving herself, while Ayaka merely observed. Anastasia took a seat but didn't say anything.
Kenji sat down.
---
[System Alert!]
New Passive Skill Acquired: Household Management (LV 1)
Kenji blinked at the notification, nearly laughing. Guess the system really is tracking everything.
---
After breakfast, the kids left for school, and Anastasia headed to work. With the house to himself, Kenji decided it was the perfect time to explore his abilities further. He grabbed a small backpack with some essentials—water, a notebook, and a simple wooden stick he had found in the garage—and headed to an isolated area in the woods near their home.
The woods were quiet, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds. Kenji found a small clearing and set down his bag. He took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill his lungs. This was his chance to experiment without anyone watching.
Kenji had no magic books or teachers to guide him, but he wasn't deterred. He had read enough fantasy stories to know that magic often started with, the first step is always control, to be able to feel and draw out your mana, the manipulation of raw mana. He closed his eyes and focused, trying to sense the energy within him.
At first, he felt nothing. But as he concentrated, he began to notice a faint warmth in his chest. It was hard to miss the unfamiliar feeling that he knew did not exist in his old life. It was subtle, like a flicker of light in the darkness. He focused on that warmth, trying to draw it out and shape it.
---
[System Alert!]
New Skill Acquired: Mana Manipulation (LV 1)
Effect: Allows the user to sense and manipulate raw mana.
---
Kenji's eyes snapped open, and he grinned. He had done it. He could feel the mana now, a swirling energy within him. It was raw and untamed, but it was there.
He decided to try shaping the mana into something tangible. He focused on creating a small ball of mana in his hand. Slowly, the energy began to coalesce, forming a glowing orb.
---
[System Alert!]
New Skill Acquired: Mana Ball (LV 1)
Effect: Creates a small ball of mana that can be thrown or used as a light source.
---
Kenji held the Mana Ball in his hand, marveling at its glow. It wasn't much, but it was a start. He practiced controlling the ball, making it brighter and dimmer, and even tossing it into the air and catching it.
Next, he decided to try something a bit more complex. He focused on shaping the mana into a thin, flexible strand, like a rope. It took several attempts, but eventually, he managed to create a glowing, ethereal rope.
---
[System Alert!]
New Skill Acquired: Mana Rope (LV 1)
Effect: Creates a flexible strand of mana that can be used for binding or climbing.
---
Kenji grinned as he manipulated the Mana Rope, wrapping it around a tree branch and pulling himself up slightly. It wasn't strong enough to support his full weight yet, but it was a promising start.
---
With magic out of the way, Kenji turned his attention to physical skills. He picked up the wooden bat he had brought and began practicing basic strikes and blocks. He imagined himself facing an opponent, moving through the motions with precision.
---
[System Alert!]
New Skill Acquired: Blunt Weapon Mastery (LV 1)
Increases proficiency with blunt weapons, such as clubs, bats, and staves.
---
Kenji swung the bat with more confidence, feeling the skill take hold. He practiced for what felt like hours, his movements becoming more fluid and precise. The Gamer's Body perk ensured he didn't tire, allowing him to train without rest.
By the time he finished, the sun was high in the sky. Kenji sat down on a nearby log, wiping the sweat from his brow. He opened his system interface to check his progress.
---
[Status Update]
Name: Kenji Takahashi
Level: 4
Free Stat Points: 12
Attributes:
- Strength: 47 (Tier-10)
- Speed: 48 (Tier-10)
- Endurance: 47 (Tier-10)
- Intelligence: 56 (Tier-10)
- Wisdom: 51 (Tier-10)
- Charisma: 43 (Tier-10)
- Luck: 95 (Tier-2)
Skills:
- Observation (LV 3)
- Basic Cooking (LV 4)
- Self-Discipline (LV 2)
- Household Management (LV 2)
- Mana Manipulation (LV 1)
- Mana Ball (LV 1)
- Mana Rope (LV 1)
- Blunt Weapon Mastery (LV 1)
Perks:
- Gamer's Body (Passive): Grants immunity to physical exhaustion, enhances recovery rate, and prevents permanent injury from non-fatal wounds.
- Gamer's Mind (Passive): Grants immunity to psychological effects such as fear, stress, and mental manipulation, while allowing calm, logical decision-making.
---
Kenji exhaled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He was making progress, both physically and magically. The Gamer System was truly a game-changer, and he was determined to make the most of it.
As he walked back home, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. He had taken another step forward, not just in improving himself but in preparing for the challenges ahead.
This life just started but he was already having fun compared to his constant work in his last life.
His quest to mend his family has been getting better too.
---
[System Alert!]
New Quest Progress: Mending a Broken Family (2% Completed)
---
A small step, but even mountains were climbed one step at a time.
Before heading to bed, Kenji sat at his desk, opening the system interface. He had avoided looking at his stats too often, afraid of stagnation, but today felt like a good moment to reflect on his progress.
---
[System Alert!]
New Quest Acquired: Strengthening Family Bonds
Objective: Spend quality time with each family member individually.
Reward: +3 Charisma, ???
---
Kenji smiled. The system understood his intentions.
Tomorrow would be another step forward.
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