Chapter 4 Support Character System
[Level 1 Support Character System (0%)
Ability: Level 1 Adaptability ( 5%)
Contained Energy: Psyche Energy (100%)
Strength: 1.2 (1.7)
Endurance: 1.5 (2.0)
Intelligence: 3 (3.5)
Supported List: Empty (0/1)
Support Bonus: N/A
Number of Supported Individual: 0
Current Stats Bonus: 0% of the average stats of Supported Individuals
Skills:
Psyche Boost (4 charges left)
Status: +0.5 Stats(System Bonus)]
Met with that System Window, I only thought of one thing: this system was somewhat trashy. Apart from telling me the numerical value of my stats and the added bonuses thanks to the system, there's nothing else.
Well, it's just a first impression, let's see if this will change in the future.
Currently, the only feature of this system was the Supported List and the things below it.
Do I have to list Yuko's name as someone I was supporting? Let's see.
[Ding! Add Sugawara Yuko as a Supported Individual?]
As if reading my mind, the system immediately responded. At least it did not lag.
"Yes." I unhesitatingly answered.
Right now, I'm her support, let's play that part while gathering more information from her and this new world.
[Added Sugawara Yuko]
[Support Bonus Activated]
[Select type of Support:
A. Level 1 Physical Boost
B. Level 1 Psyche Boost
C. Level 1 Health Boost]
"B."
This sounded like a permanent effect boost as long as she's listed as one of the Supported Individuals. Boosting her Psyche is a must for her ability, Foresight.
[You have chosen Level 1 Psyche Boost: Adding 0.2 Intelligence to Supported Individuals]
[Number of Supported Individuals: 1]
[Current Stats Bonus: 5% of the average stats of the Supported Individuals]
I see. Now, this is useful. I'll take back what I said earlier. Maybe it's not as trashy as it seems.
After adding her, the experience percentage of the system also started accumulating, albeit slowly. Perhaps it would level up by itself as long as I am supporting someone? Or perhaps when the Supported Individual was near me. Let's continue observing this point.
There's only one slot for the Supported Individuals. I guess I needed to level up my system before another slot opened up. With the rise of the number of Supported Individuals I can register, the bonus will most likely increase as well. Let's hope so.
Ah! My Adaptability was also listed in the system. It also has an experience gauge and it's already at 5%. If this reached 100%, my Adaptability will level up. I wonder what will change?
"Dai-kun, what kind of system did you get?"
Perhaps because of the sudden notification appearing in front of her when I added her as a Supported Individual, Yuko was a bit surprised.
"It's called Support Character System, Even this world is mocking my role, huh?"
Hearing the name of my System, Yuko giggled cutely.
"That's funny Dai-kun. My System is called Advanced Hero System."
What the hell? This world was so unfair. You should at least give me the Support Hero System, you know? Err. Wait. Advanced, did that mean that it was an upgraded system?
That's right, this system can level up. Hers being already called 'advanced' speaks the 3 years she spent going to and from here.
I wonder what her numerical stats are. It would not be bad to ask, right? Or is it a form of invading her privacy? Haa. Why am I thinking about every little thing?
"The System corresponds to the inherent energy of this world, Dai-kun. Perhaps that's why it was being called as World Energy. Most people in this world will receive a corresponding System depending on their fates. It can be upgraded but the process is too hard or too long. The way it accumulates experience is also a mystery. But the most common way to gather experience is to absorb energy."
As she carefully explained to me, I finally noticed that the air around Yuko became more dignified. She was like a beacon, shining brightly.
Is this because of her System? Earlier, when we were still on Earth although she's an unrivaled beauty, she's not this bright and dazzling to the eyes. I guess it's really the effect of her Advanced Hero System.
"Don't answer this if it's private but Yuko, Your system being called Advance... does that mean yours is already an upgraded version of your system?"
I voiced out my thoughts about her system to confirm it. It's better than ask it directly than wait for her to confirm it.
"Don't be shy to ask Dai-kun, as long as I have answer to it, I will. Also to answer your question, yes, my System already got upgraded twice. What I initially received upon arriving in this world is called Beginner Hero System."
This girl... Her trust in me is sky-high. She's really acting as my fiancee now. It's somewhat baffling but I don't hate the way she's treating me. There's no hint of falseness in it.
"I see, thank you, Yuko. I think I somewhat get it now. So what should we do?"
"Wait for someone to pick us up. I saw it with my Foresight. Someone will soon come."
Huh? So portal did not have a fixed location? She was being sent at random locations? That sounded like a hassle. I thought they could contact her from here.
This world might still be in the process of developing. But now, it was being attacked by forces who wanted to destroy this world. Or maybe, all the worlds. What could they gain by destroying it though? What was their motive?
Ah. I realized there was no use thinking about that for now. Now, my top priority is to protect this Hero. That's what I was hired for. She would surely save this world and, in turn, save our own from the threat of being destroyed.
Despite all this, I am still no Messiah. This is just a job for me. I might decide to run away once my life hangs in the brink of life and death. Well, if I can save this fiancee of mine then I will.
"Ah. Wait. I forgot something."
As silence reigned over us, Yuko suddenly exclaimed.
From where I was, I could see her start fumbling something in front of her. Most likely, her system interface.
While she was doing that, I took the time to look around us. We're currently on top of a small hill. From a distance, I could see signs of civilizations. And further than that was something like a fortress.
This World of System looked like it was still in the medieval era. Just judging by what Yuko was wearing, platinum chainmail and a pretty-looking sword hanging at her waist, it aligned perfectly with the atmosphere this world was giving.
Meanwhile… What about me? Well, I sure did still wear our school uniform. Talk about being out of place.
[Ding! You have been added to Heroine Sugawara Yuko's Party.]
[Received Party Bonus of +0.8 Strength and Endurance]
"There. You're now a member of my Party." She declared with an elated smile on her face. Somewhat teasing my confused face upon seeing the new system messages.
"This... So you also have something like mine. The boost I got from you is huge though. Compared to what you got from my Support Character System."
"That's because my system is already at Advanced grade. The bonus I'm getting from you will surely increase when your system levels up. But do you know? Yours is more valuable. Didn't you notice? I can only give a bonus on Strength and Endurance"
Ah. She's right. While I could only choose one, having Psyche among the choices was a big difference. It seemed like the stat in which I excel at was more important than the other two.
"So it's like that. I'll do my best to support you, Yuko. Just tell me what to do."
That's the only thing I could do for now. This is a foreign world and the Principal even told me to train with her.
Upon hearing that, Yuko smiled at me and nodded.
A few minutes later, a luxurious horse-drawn carriage appeared from a distance. From inside it, a little figure was waving her hands to Yuko.
Surrounding the carriage were a number of Full-plated Horse Riders.
Knights? So that person is really a bigshot.
Is it the Princess? Are we being picked up by the Princess of a Kingdom? Alright. Let's stop thinking more and just followed quietly.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Yuko immediately went near it. However, Yuko didn't forget to pull me along with her.
"You're finally back, Hero." From inside the carriage, the little figure smiled at Yuko as if seeing an old friend.
"Yes, Princess. And I brought someone else." Yuko answered then she turned to introduce me.
"Who is he? Is he from your world?" The Princess gave me a curious glance before asking Yuko again.
"Yes. He's Kuramoto Daisuke. My Support and fiance."
When the girl she called Princess heard Yuko's last word, she almost fainted from surprise.
"Hero's fiance. Is that true?!" The Princess exclaimed.
Huh? Why did she have this over-the-top reaction?
"You know me, I'm not someone that likes to joke, Princess." Still with a smile on her face, Yuko confirmed it again.
"But brother…"
"There's nothing between us." Yuko coldly replied, shutting down any more rebuttal from the Princess
Ah. I thought I am going off to an adventure but what is this sudden development? I got excited with the system, waited here with Yuko, and then now, a sudden love rival appeared in the form of a Prince?
What the hell? Where are the monsters? Where is the one who would be responsible for Yuko's doom? What am I supposed to do here? My veins are asking for some action--
Ah, wait. Hold on... I'm overthinking again. How many times has it been? I have to control this mind of mine.
"I see... Alright, hop in, Hero, we have to go now. Something is happening at the Western Border."
This Princess. I guess after being introduced as Yuko's fiancee, I'm now an eyesore in her eyes. A love rival for her brother. At this moment, only Yuko was special for her.
Even when Yuko enthusiastically introduced me, the Princess didn't even bother to acknowledge my presence after that brief curiosity about my identity.
Well, I had no right to say anything to that. After all, I was no hero. Currently, I was just her measly support.
However, when Yuko noticed the sudden change of attitude of the Princess towards me, perhaps ass an act of kindness, she held my hand and pulled me up with her to enter the carriage.
The Princess was about to say something but she held back. Yuko and the princess seemed to be really friendly with each other. But when the princess ignored me, it immediately put Yuko in a bad mood.
This just added more to my curiosity as to why Yuko was good to me. It might sound weird but, did she seriously love me? Is what I did from the past really enough to earn her love? Maybe I could find a way to restore that memory somewhere among the thirty worlds that I would be visiting soon. At this time, I decided to be just loyal to this girl who was so nice to me.
"Don't worry about it, Yuko. I don't mind it. I'm your Support. It doesn't matter what they think of me." Reassuring her like this proved to have an effect as her mood somehow turned for the better.
With a smile, Yuko pressed my hand tightly as an answer.
The Princess heard that but she still decided not to bother about me.
For now, it was fine if the princess would give me the cold shoulder. As long as she would never hinder my purpose of being here, I would not see them as hostile.
I remembered the Principal said that anyone could be the reason to their doom. It might not always be the enemy that would lead them to their deaths but their very allies could bring them to their doom as well.
I figured that as a Support, I needed to clean her surroundings so that she could move freely with the least possible worries.
Eh? I just realized... I was really getting into this support role I just took. My mindset was now completely geared towards supporting this girl, this Hero fiancee of mine. Is this fine? I'm still skeptical if I will continue this role after going back to Earth.
Haa... There's no choice mulling about this now, I'll just continue to observe, train and gather information while fulfilling this role.
The horse-drawn carriage continued its journey until we reached a walled city. The soldiers guarding the gate immediately opened it when they saw us from a distance.
When we entered the city, cheers from people suddenly filled every corner. I could see both Yuko and the princess waving at the crowd.
Celebrating the hero's return, huh? Very predictable, cliche, indeed.
I wondered how much change Yuko had already brought to this world. She was being sent here since their first year in middle school. She's probably just at the same age as this Princess. It must be hard for them but she persisted. All for the goal of preventing this world from destruction and in turn protecting our world.
This girl is truly admirable.
I took a few glances at her while her attention was still on the crowd of people. It hit me that she and I were truly far from each other. A girl like her, who's obviously heroic, she stood by her belief to fight for this world. Meanwhile, I was already thinking of running away if things were to go south.
I have to change. Even if little by little. Although I'm still not a Hero, I decided that I needed to improve myself further and make this somewhat mediocre ability bloom to its fullest potential.
A measly support character? I will do what I must to change that. And maybe, with that, I can really change the impending doom of the thirty Isekai Heroes of my class. Well, I don't know all of them yet and there's still a lot I don't know but that will change soon.