The Speedrun Manual of Miss Witch - Chapter 9

「Reality」

「Saint Year 741, June 17, 18:45」

「Evaluation: Combat! Exhilarating!」

「By defeating two adult men stronger than you and a quasi-transcendent, you unleashed a power even you couldn’t imagine under desperate circumstances and against their unpreparedness!」

「Take this—it’s your deserved reward based on your performance.」

「Rewards: Fate Points *20, 【Precognitive Sight Lv.1】, 【Calm Mind Lv.1】」

「Fate Points: 24」

“Haah—”

On a rickety iron bed, a red-haired girl shot upright as though suffocating in a nightmare, clutching her chest and gasping for air.

Ciel greedily inhaled the fresh air, slowly pulling herself out of the cold, suffocating sensation that had overtaken her moments ago.

Compared to her previous near-instant deaths, the experience of using the “Death Reversal” ability—where she could feel her body temperature and thoughts slipping away bit by bit—carried a despair that was far harder to endure.

Without taking much time to compose herself, Ciel raised her head to look at the flickering silver-white screen before her.

“20 points…”

Seeing the number of Fate Points she had earned, Ciel heaved a slow sigh of relief, raising a hand to rub her temples.

This simulation had earned her more points than the previous two combined. It seemed her do-or-die actions had paid off.

After confirming she’d accumulated enough points for her next simulation, Ciel shifted her focus to the new skills she had unlocked.

Her previously acquired skills—【Dexterity Lv.1】 and 【Death Reversal Lv.1】—had both proven to be immensely helpful.

Without 【Dexterity】, her previous clumsy body might not have even succeeded in killing the first stalker, let alone surviving the subsequent battles.

And 【Death Reversal】 had similarly paid off. Without it, allowing her to regain clarity, she’d likely have been devoured by the black-robed man. She wouldn’t have been able to acquire the potion, notes, or that bizarre tendril from him.

As she focused on her new abilities, the skill descriptions unfolded before her.

「Precognitive Sight Lv.1: Passive skill. Allows you to see the state of all objects one second into the future.」

「Calm Mind Lv.1: Enables you to maintain calm and rational thought in extreme situations.」

Looking at her newly acquired skills, Ciel nodded slightly.

These skills were all tied to her actions in the simulations. They were directly or indirectly related to what she had done in that world.

Just as the system had explained at the beginning, her first simulation, which involved running, had earned her 【Dexterity】. Facing death without fear had granted her 【Death Reversal】.

In the most recent simulation, her inexplicable instinct to preemptively react to the black-robed man’s attack had resulted in her gaining 【Precognitive Sight】.

Meanwhile, 【Calm Mind】 seemed more like a reward akin to 【Dexterity】—a reflection of her performance.

Both new abilities were highly valuable to her. 【Calm Mind】 would allow her to resist the hypnotic, trance-inducing voice of someone like the black-robed man, while 【Precognitive Sight】 could help her avoid potential threats in advance.

Ciel pulled her gaze away from the system screen and looked at her right hand. The moment she thought about raising it, she saw a faint phantom-like shadow of her hand lifting slightly.

As soon as she abandoned the idea, the phantom dispersed, and she felt a mild dizziness—akin to the sensation of motion sickness—wash over her brain.

It seemed she wasn’t yet fully accustomed to this unshuttable passive ability and would need time to adapt.

She turned her attention back to the system interface and opened the store this time.

The system’s store interface now displayed several new items. In addition to cloaks and clothing, she saw some of the objects she had hoped to acquire during her last simulation.

「【Thomas’s Diary】」

「Fate Points: 1」

「【Duven’s Research Notes】」

「Fate Points: 2」

「【“Avenger” Reconstitution Potion】」

「Fate Points: 100」

「【“Instigator” Mystical Material】」

「Fate Points: 50」

Two notebooks, a vial of black mist-like potion, and the tendril referred to as mystical material.

What was “Avenger”? And what about “Instigator”?

During her confrontation with the black-robed man, he had mistaken her for some “Excellency” involved in a “Reconstitution Ritual.” According to the system, he was a quasi-transcendent. Was he performing the reconstitution ritual himself?

Questions swirled in Ciel’s mind, accompanied by an overwhelming wave of exhaustion.

In the previous simulation, she had expended an excessive amount of mental energy, especially when using 【Death Reversal】, during which her mental energy had been drained continuously, as if being pumped out by a water pump.

However, it hadn’t yet reached the feeling of complete mental exhaustion she had experienced in the simulation. Ciel still had enough energy to handle other tasks, though she felt a bit more sluggish than usual.

Ciel was certain that in the last simulation, she had encountered powers beyond ordinary comprehension. To resolve the doubts nagging at her, those two notebooks seemed worth exchanging for.

They might offer her a glimpse into the world she had never seen before.

Ciel redeemed the two notebooks, using 2 Fate Points.

「Redemption of 【Thomas’s Diary】 and 【Duven’s Research Notes】 successful. Mystical markings within 【Duven’s Research Notes】 have been cleared.」

「Remaining Fate Points: 21」

The research notes had cost one additional Fate Point compared to the diary—likely due to the effort required to remove the mystical markings inside.

A cheap, nondescript notebook resembling her own journal and a finely crafted black leather notebook appeared beside her.

She set aside the plainer diary and, after a moment’s thought, decided to open the black leather notebook first.

A line of blocky handwriting appeared on the first page.

【Reconstitution Research Notes – Duven Favali – Church of the Savior Goddess】

The title page bore no additional text. Ciel turned to the next page.

【Like other priests, I have begun writing a mystical journal, hoping to accelerate my devotion. I never dreamed that a mere believer like me could become one of God’s servants. I will devote myself entirely to the church and incorporate this discipline into every corner of my life. May the Goddess bless me to pass my trials and become a priest.】

“Rustle.”

Ciel flipped the page. The following entries were filled with mundane details of daily church life, none of which seemed noteworthy. She quickly skimmed through until she came to a halt on one particular page.

【High Priestess Uris caught me writing my mystical journal. She admonished me in private, telling me not to be so ambitious… But is it wrong to want to dedicate everything to the Goddess as soon as possible?】

【I went to the black market and found someone to inscribe mystical markings into my journal. This way, no one can see what I’m writing. But I can’t stand the way that black-market scoundrel looks at people.】

From this point onward, the previously casual handwriting grew firmer and more intense. Ciel continued flipping through.

【I’ve done everything other ascetics have done—no, I’ve endured even greater suffering than them! Why hasn’t High Priestess Uris acknowledged me yet?!】

【The Goddess said that the more pain we bear, the less suffering exists in the world. But I’ve done more than anyone else—why won’t they let me perform the Reconstitution Ritual?!】

Reconstitution Ritual?

Ciel’s interest was piqued, and she turned a few more pages.

【High Priestess Uris has been promoted to Archpriestess. Apparently, there’s some emergency, and she’s been transferred from this church. The new High Priest approved my priesthood trial with ease. I knew it—my efforts have not gone unnoticed.】

【The new High Priest taught me how to apply mystical markings. At last, I can write my mystical journal openly.】

More pages.

【I received the ascetic’s reconstitution potion. It’s time to show the Goddess my results.】

More pages.

【Why… did I fail?】

Page after page, the handwriting grew increasingly chaotic. Ciel found it harder and harder to decipher the notes.

More pages.

【It wasn’t my fault… It was the doctrine that was flawed.】

【If the world’s suffering is fixed, then as long as I kill those who bring suffering to others, the balance will be maintained. The potion was missing something—I know it… The Goddess told me… The new path is called ‘Avenger’…】

【They don’t understand me… I must find another place to complete my ritual.】