Chapter 5 – Exploring the neighborhood with a brick in my pocket (1)

Before that though, I pulled up the blessing and curse once more.

I had a clear understanding of what the curse would do to me, and while all the effects were terrible, the most concerning one was the fifth one.

Effect: You are not able to hide your presence or status from members of the 9 clans.

Due to the curse, I had a death-on-sight target on my back just for being part of a nonexistent clan. My gift allowed me to hide parts of my status sheet but with this curse, as soon as a random 9 Clan kid analyzed me, there would be no need for me to wait for Lionel Lionheart to chop my head off. I would be killed on sight. That was completely unacceptable.

To me, that was an even more annoying effect than having to commit a crime every day. It simply had to be the first effect that had to go.

“How do I remove a curse effect?” I asked out loud.

The screen in front of my vision immediately updated.

[Remove which effect?]

[

Asani Martin

Child of the Nox Clan

(Cursed L-Rank)

(Blessing L-Rank)]

Age: 16

Rank: F

▷Stats:

[Strength – F]

[Stamina – F]

[Speed – F]

[Perception – F]

[Vitality – F]

[Magic power – F]

[Intelligence – A]

[Charm – A]

Gifts: 3/3

Gifts: ▷Eye of Odin (D), ▷Beloved By Mana (F), ▷Mana Craftsman(F)

Curses: 5 Effects.

Blessing: 5 Effects.

Crimes committed: (0/1)

Time remaining until penalty - 6:45:37

Familiar: None

Mana attribute: N/A ]

I saw that the curse effects had reduced from 6 to 5 which meant one had been removed.

“Now that that’s done, time to find some food.”

I stretched before walking to the only closet in the room. I was currently dressed in what looked like a school uniform, with gray slacks and a long-sleeved white button-up shirt. Thankfully, there was an oversized black hoodie and scruffy sneakers inside the closet which I quickly threw on.

Additionally, there was also a threadbare wallet with only an ID card and to my surprise a brick.

To my eyes, it looked like a regular red brick used to build houses. Apart from the fact that it fit comfortably in my hand and had a good weight to it, it really seemed like a regular brick.

“Analyze”

[A regular brick with no additional properties]

[Imbue?]

“Sure why not,” I replied with interest. Although I had read about the different characters using their gifts, I was curious to see how these gifts worked in real life.

As soon as I confirmed it, a black light flashed around the hand that held the brick and I felt some energy drain out of me.

A couple of seconds passed and the light faded away. In place of the previous red brick was a sleek black colored brick. Then a new screen popped up.

[Shadow brick]

[Creator: Asani Martin]

[A brick infused with shadow mana. Due to inferior materials, it cannot reach its full potential.]

[Attributes: 2/2]

[Hidden: The brick becomes difficult to see especially in dark areas.]

[Fortified (C): The brick becomes as strong as the average between the creator’s Magic Power, rank, and intelligence*

*Due to a high mana affinity, two ranks have been added.]

“How interesting.” I grinned as I hefted the newly created shadow brick.

Stuffing it into my jacket, I whistled to myself as I walked out of the shabby apartment.

The apartment was on the ground floor and walking to the main street, I noted the location was clearly on the bad side of town. Broken-down cars, shabby apartment buildings, and dilapidated homes surrounded me. It seemed that I wasn’t just poor, I was destitute. Since it was evening time, the sun was beginning to set, causing everything to cast long shadows.

Unsure of where I was going, I simply strolled along the street, hands in my pocket as I played with the brick. In this type of neighborhood, I knew I wouldn’t have to look for trouble, trouble would look for me.

As I expected, once I turned the corner a man dressed in a gray hoodie sidled up to me. The smell of cheap cigarettes and body odor wafted into my nose as he threw his arms around my shoulder.

I stayed silent and continued walking, noting that thankfully, nobody else was following us.

“Staying silent huh? Because of you, I’ve missed my financial quota for the week. Now that you’re headed to a fancy school, don’t they give you guys some good things? Cough it up.” The man lightly slapped my cheeks while guiding me to a closed-off alleyway.

Once we got to the alleyway, he immediately shoved me into the wall and I finally got a good look at the man’s face.

A narrow face covered in patchy hair, beady eyes, and an ugly scar across his cheek. To put it lightly, he looked like a rat in human form. I glanced up at him in disgust and used Analyze.

James Clerr

Age: 32

Rank: E

▷Stats:

[Strength – E]

[Stamina – E]

[Speed – E]

[Perception – E]

[Vitality – E]

[Magic power – F]

[Intelligence – E]

Gifts: ▷Slight of Hand, ▷Night Vision

Familiar: None

Mana attribute: Wind

Seeing that his stats were not much higher than mine, I smiled softly.

“Why are you smiling you little punk? You know the drill. Hand over any cash you have and you get to walk home with a light beating.” James ordered me as he boxed me against the wall.

Giving him a small smile, I told him the truth “I don’t have anything.”

“Don’t fuck around with me. I know that fancy school you’re attending probably sent you something nice. You better give me everything you have or I’ll make you regret it! ” James yelled in agitation.

“Truly. I don’t have anything. And even if I did, what are you going to do? Kill me? We live in a just society. You can’t just go around beating up or killing somebody you don’t like. Besides if you harass me, I’ll scream and somebody will come running.”

“Hahaha. Are you stupid or have you lost your senses since you think you’re making it out of the hood? Do you think that we live in such a nice area? Even if I wanted to kill you and you were screaming bloody murder, nobody would say a word. There wouldn’t even be an investigation. You would be lucky if nobody spit on your dead body. And by tomorrow, your body would have disappeared.”

“Oh is that so? Final question, do you happen to have a phone on you?”

“Of course I do. What kind of question is that?” James asked incredulously.

“Good to know. I just remembered I do have my wallet. Give me a second let me pull it out.”

“Haha, that’s what I thought you little punk.” James sneered at me.

The moment he looked down, I whipped the brick out of my pocket and bashed the side of his head with it.