"What a surprise."
After pleting today's diary entry, Ren drew his lottery reward.
The tent of today's diary wasn't particurly rior did it have any signifit impa other diary holders, yet the reward still came through.
[Lord of Mysteries]
[Obtained Sequence 9: Seer Potion]
A dark blue, slightly sticky liquid appeared in a test tube, about as thick as two finger joints.
"It seems as long as I carefully rey daily life, I'll tio receive rewards."
"And the items I draw seem to not only align with the tent of my diary but also with my current stage ress."
"How siderate."
He picked up the test tube, removed the cork, tilted his head back, and dowhe potion in one gulp.
The sticky texture wasn't particurly pleasant, it felt like swallowing a soft, green tongue.
As for the taste, it resembled a strange mix of pound juices.
In short, it could be summarized in two words:
"It's awful."
Potions were unpleasant not only in taste aure but also because of the i risks they carried.
Drinking a potion involved assimiting the spiritual imprint tained within it, f a frontatioween one's self and the imprint.
As one progressed further down the sequehe accumution of spiritual imprints would increase, heightening the risk of mental instability or even schizophrenia.
"But this... feels refreshing."
The spiritual imprint from the potion became evident, yet instead of resistance or flict, Re a pleasant sense of assimition.
Rather than indug the usual symptoms of schizophrenia, the spiritual imprint seemed te harmoniously with his own sciousness.
The imprint didn't resist or struggle but actively cooperated, willingly being part of him. It even aided him in abs the potion's power.
"So this is the effect of 'Wild Card.'"
Ren couldn't help but grin.
As he had anticipated, this characteristic was incredibly patible with the potion system.
The side effects of the potion system, such as mental instability aual "out of trol" phenomena, were fually ed by his urait.
Normally, individuals walking the sequeh would either absorb or suppress the spiritual imprint from the potion, but the e ofteo mental fragmentation.
However, "Wild Card" pletely flipped the script.
This trait embraced the spiritual imprint, allowing it to bee a natural extension of his personality.
Rather than the imprint assimiting him, it willingly reized him as the dominant personality, submitting itself to him and choosing te.
It was as though the imprints yearo return to their source, with him as their natural destination.
"And I don't eveo act. I tinuously draw on the power of the spiritual imprints tthen myself."
"If I incorporate the ag method, perhaps I speed up the absorption process even further."
"I'll have to experiment with that."
The implications were clear: "Wild Card" wasn't just helpful, it was an unparalleled advantage.
For aaking the sequeh, possessing such a characteristic would save them from tless risks and plications.
"Tomorrow, I'll buy a divination book to start supplementing my knowledge of the occult."
But that was a matter for tomorrow.
Yawning, Ren began to feel drowsy. He rubbed his eyes, headed to the bathroom for a refreshing shower, and climbed into bed, falling asleep with the satisfa of having officially embarked on the sequeh.
---
The night passed quickly, and before long, it was the m.
Ren arrived at Teitan High School in high spirits.
The school atmosphere was the same as usual.
Just like st year, he remained an insignifit presence.
At school, he was an introvert among introverts. He avoided unication, refrained from socializing, and naturally had no so-called friends.
This detat made it easier for him to observe aermine who might have obtaihe diary.
He took his seat in the and began listening carefully to his cssmates' gossip.
"It seems that Kudo appeared on TV again."
"Yeah, I saw it. He solved a case while visiting Tropical Land. "
"That guy might be arrogant, but his reasoning skills are undeniably impressive."
The buzzed with chatter about what had happe Tropical Land the day before.
Many expressed envy, marveling at Kudo's abilities.
Indeed, Shinichi was someohers couldn't help but envy.
He was handsome, intelligent, and came from a wealthy family. He lived in a vil with its own private courtyard, a lifestyle straight out of an anime protagonist's script.
What made people even more envious was his childhood friend, Ran Mouri.
Ran was well-known throughout the school, a beautiful girl with a good figure, a gentle personality, and an approachable demeanor. Her fiery side only emerged when dealing with Shinichi.
Of course, everyone was aware this dynamic art of the "Kudo couple's" daily iions.
Rumors about Shinichi and Ran being a couple had circuted in school for a long time.
her had ever firmed or dehe rumors, whily fueled the teasing. Many referred to them as the "Kudo couple" i.
Ren adjusted his gsses, picked up his diary, and began writing.
---
[Diary Entry]
[As soon as I arrived at school, I overheard my cssmates talking about what happe Tropical Laerday.]
[Just like always, Shinichi's case-solving process and his remarks in front of the camera were reported on.]
[Not surprising.]
[However, starting today, Shinichi probably won't make any public appearances for a long time.]
[I feel a little sorry for Ran Mouri.]
[As for Shinichi, I wonder if he'll follow the inal story and move into Ran's house as a guest.]
---
He paused for a moment, resting his on his hand in thought.
"As long as nothing major happens, Shinichi's story will likely tinue along its inal trajectory."
"If not, it would mean Ran or Sonoko got the diary."
"But even if one of them has the diary, would they really resist Shinichi moving into the Mouri household?"
It was difficult to predict.
As for Shinichi and Ran's retionship, at most, Ran might hesitate a little before ultimately f Shinichi to move in.
"This will serve as a key indicator to determine if either Ran or Sonoko has the diary."
If either of them held the diary, Shinichi likely wouldn't be able to move into the Mouri household.
That would serve as a crucial point of judgment.
