Scumbag Fate System-Chapter 10: Integration

[A Minor Fate is another woman whose story can significantly influence your future. However, the scope and reach aren’t close to being as big as a Main Fate.]

Reinhard blankly stared at the description. But before he could do anything, he heard another sound of footsteps.

He quickly continued moving, jumping over a low decorative wall before he landed on the other side in a crouch. He pressed himself against the wall and listened to see if the footsteps were heading over here.

Nothing.

"You said scopes aren’t the same." He murmured internally, already moving again. "Is it possible that the impact of a Minor Fate can potentially equal or even exceed a Main Fate’s?"

[As expected from my Host!]

He was sometimes grateful the system had no face and could make no expressions.

[That is correct! A Minor Fate’s impact can equal or exceed a Main Fate’s if the right conditions are met.

He filed it away without slowing.

Two trees ahead, a gap between buildings, and somewhere behind him a patrol that would complete its loop in approximately four minutes.

He’d been counting.

"Okay, then, specifically determines the impact of a Main and Minor Fate?" Reinhard furrowed his brows.

[Only one factor, would you like to guess, host!?]

"Both Main and Minor fate seemed to have one thing in common... That’s me."

[Correct! Impact is measured entirely by how much the Fate affects you, not the world.]

He reached the wider trunk at the tree line’s edge and stopped, back flat against the bark, scanning the path ahead.

Clear.

"If that’s the case. Then the scope is just the range? Like Rika’s range is small, but her impact on me is big because of how much it changes my life."

[Yes!]

He moved away from the tree and kept moving.

"Does the Impact value change, or is it set?

[Minor Fate Impact value does change, and this is because of too many factors. But the main factor is generally how much it affects you.]

"Regardless of whether it’s positive or negative?"

[Yes. Whether it’s good or bad doesn’t matter.]

Reinhard fell silent and paused briefly before hiding behind a towering tree, and leaned back as he fell into thought. "Perspective-wise... Do you mean something like... the destruction of a town far away would be less impactful to a person than say their child dying?"

The system paused, which it almost never did.

[...Yes. Sort of like that, the former is news while the latter rewrites your life.]

That was actually interesting and terrifying when he thought about it seriously. The Fate System, in a limited yet roundabout way, allowed him to see in advance who would greatly impact him.

It’s basically being told the end result of your future but not how it will happen...

"So, what specific benefits does capturing a Minor Fate give me?" Reinhard asked as he continued navigating toward the exit.

The system’s response came swiftly.

[You can finally acquire your first Sigil! Although you won’t receive an improved version from Rika. You will receive her Sigil with alterations specifically made to best fit your personal compatibility!]

Reinhard’s steps faltered slightly. "This means I can finally-"

[Yes! You can finally stop being a normal human and become a hunter.]

For a moment, Reinhard simply blinked as he thought he would remain a normal person for a lot longer.

Trying to seduce a target like Yor would require planning and time since she was most likely the ice-princess and pushing people away type. Those types required constant interaction to really get through, instead of a smooth one for most cases.

But then he realized something.

"Why are you only telling me about this now?" Reinhard asked with a raised brow. "Couldn’t you have told me this during the whole Main Fate explanation?"

[I thought you would be overwhelmed... But I didn’t expect you to capture a Minor Fate so quickly! And I thought interrupting during your moment with Rika... would ruin everything. Was I wrong?]

Despite the situation, Reinhard smiled. "No, good choice."

[Thank you, Host! Would you like to see the specific Sigil you’ve acquired?]

"Show me."

The screen shifted, displaying an intricate symbol—an eye, beautifully stylized and geometric.

[Precognition]

[Source: Minor Fate - Rika Sigil.]

[Perceive 5 seconds into the immediate future.

Cooldown: Twenty seconds between uses.

Note: Will grow stronger with Host’s development]

"Five seconds into the future," Reinhard muttered with awe. "That’s incredible."

[Indeed! In combat situations, 5 seconds is an eternity! You’ll know enemy movements before they happen!]

"Can I integrate it now, or do I need to be somewhere safe?" Reinhard asked, resuming his path toward the dormitory exit.

[Yes! Once you give the okay, I’ll begin the integration process!]

He first took a glance around and only heard the distant sound of a fountain. He had about over a minute before he had to move.

"Wait." Reinhard frowned. "I need to know if this causes noise or creates a spectacle around me?"

[Don’t worry! Everything will be internalized. The process will manifest in your mind and not in reality. You’ll remain fully conscious and it won’t even take a minute; everything will be over in a flash.]

Reinhard inwardly sighed in relief. "Alright. Do it."

[Beginning Sigil Integration!]

The world shifted, and then he blinked before finding himself in a vast hall. Looking around, he realized it was familiar, and then his eyes slightly widened as he recognized it was the awakening chamber.

He turned around to see the crystal in front of him, the Obelisk Crystal. In addition, the stones with sigil symbols inscribed in them were surrounding the area. The stones glowed before they began rising up, and then they began to rotate around him.

Just as the crystal color began to change, from blue to purple, the stones gave off a terrifying light. Soon, the stones turned into a blue wheel, and then the crystal in front blasted out with a beam of energy. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

It struck his chest and made him blink as magic poured into him in waves.

It didn’t hurt, which surprised him. His thirty years of life had taught him to brace for pain the way other people breathed. But this time it wasn’t needed as he felt a warm feeling rushing through him.

It came one layer at a time, finding the empty place where a Sigil had never been.

Then, filling it with magic.

He felt it happen and stayed quiet with the same detached attention he’d used to observe his own interrogations. Noting each wave of sensation without letting it become panic and tracking the changes.

And then he felt a flash of joy and curiosity pass by him.

It had nothing to do with him and everything to do with Rika, who’d laughed softly. While explaining things she thought were obvious and had been surprised by, every single time, he found them interesting.

He felt it for exactly one second, and then the vision shattered.

He was back in the real world, still walking and moving through dormitory shadows. Still on schedule, the patrol was forty meters back and receding.

Nothing had changed on the outside.

Everything had changed on the inside.

His body felt stronger and lighter somehow, like he could leap over all the walls without needing to climb. And then he felt it, the magic deep inside of him; it was a sensation he had never felt before.

It was just waiting to be called.

This was different.

This is what they all feel.