Looking at the panel that suddenly appeared before him, Yuto was momentarily stunned.
He could understand each word individually, and he could understand them when they were linked one by one, but why...
When they were fully linked, he couldn't understand them at all?
Huh?
He just directly gained participation rights?
Shouldn't there be a preliminary process, telling him he had purchase authority, and then he could buy his way in with popularity points? Wasn't that the normal procedure?
Thinking of this, Yuto abruptly sat up from his bed, and with a thought, he summoned the light screen that resembled a mall, carefully examining it.
["Participate in Character Story Quests": 2000 Popularity Points]
[Currently Available Characters: Furina, Navia]
[Currently Possessed Participation Rights for: Neuvillette, Arlecchino]
Looking at the changed panel before him, Yuto frowned slightly, then began to ponder his conversation with Neuvillette earlier today.
After a brief thought, Yuto believed he had found the reason.
"Is it because... I revealed Neuvillette's core issue in advance, which directly linked me to his Story Quest, so there's no need to purchase it?"
"And Arlecchino's Story Quest is related to settling those orphans, and now I've directly inserted myself, so does that mean... I'm bound to appear in it?"
Thinking of this, Yuto nodded gently.
To put it simply, Story Quests are just their own stories.
They are used to flesh out characters or to experience the stories they bring, and not every one of these stories necessarily involves Yuto.
Just like now, he doesn't understand what Fontaine Opera is, so Furina's Story Quest has nothing to do with him.
Moreover... the relationship between him and Furina is still uncertain; if he were there... Furina might not become Fontaine's sole designated spokesperson for macaroni.
And the kind that doesn't even charge for advertising.
Thinking of this, Yuto sighed slightly, as if recalling the sight of that little fellow eating macaroni every day, feeling a bit uncomfortable for a moment.
"Alright... We'll talk about future matters later."
Yuto muttered to himself as he continued to examine the panel before him, eventually discovering that the spot that had been empty due to obtaining a Vision... now had something extra.
["Exquisite Swordsmanship": 10000 Popularity Points]
Looking at this item before him, Yuto frowned slightly.
Ten thousand Popularity Points for... swordsmanship?
This thing can't be some kind of scam, can it?
However... this thing can even produce a Vision, so improving a person's swordsmanship level doesn't seem difficult, does it?
After all, in this world there are also things called canned knowledge, so it doesn't seem impossible to improve one's combat power through such means.
What's more, he genuinely needs to improve his more definite and concrete combat power right now.
Don't look at how impressive he was in front of the Lucine Fountain last night; in reality, he still had the upper hand in speed and elemental power.
He could still handle fighting those brainless tin cans with ease, but if he were to fight people like Arlecchino, Tartaglia, or even Clorinde...
That would be completely suicidal.
Thinking of this, Yuto nodded gently, then chose to purchase without hesitation.
As a sharp pain swept through his consciousness, countless sword techniques and tactical skills instantly appeared in his mind.
After a while, Yuto slowly opened his eyes.
A sharpness had appeared in his sea-blue eyes, like a sharp blade sheathed and tempered, with a hidden edge but not revealed, giving off a profound and unfathomable feeling.
However, this profound state did not last long; after a short while, Yuto naturally fell asleep.
After all, this memory infusion was like stuffing all those things into his brain, which was a huge drain on his mental energy.
The fatigue accumulated during the day combined with the current mental exhaustion, together created... Yuto, who, despite being almost five hundred years old, could still say: "It's good to be young, just fall asleep."
...
Early the next morning, after preparing cat food specifically for the kitten, Yuto sat down at his desk, ready to work.
As for why it was "ready" instead of starting immediately... the main reason was simply that Sedna hadn't delivered the documents yet.
However, he didn't mind this, as his working hours were usually about fifteen minutes earlier than the regular staff at Palais Mermonia, so not having them delivered yet wasn't considered late.
After waiting for a short while, Sedna rushed in, carrying a stack of documents.
"Sorry, Lord Yuto! I was supposed to inform you last night, but... I couldn't find you when I left work yesterday, so I just left..."
Looking at the seemingly breathless Sedna, Yuto gently ruffled her small head, then asked:
"It's fine. What was it that needed to be told to me a night in advance?"
"Um... there's a public Judgment this afternoon, it seems to be... it seems to be regarding the 'Serial Disappearance of Young Girls'."
Sedna placed her small hand over her mouth, shaking her head slightly as she spoke.
Upon hearing this, Yuto first froze for a moment, then remembered a certain... duck who constantly spoke of "partners."
He glanced at Sedna before him, gently ruffled her small head, and said:
"Okay, you've worked hard. I understand, I'll go as scheduled, it's just... today's documents might not be received until tomorrow."
"Mhm! It's fine."
Sedna seemed very happy because Yuto had ruffled her small head, and she skipped out of his office.
Looking at that innocent and lovely back, Yuto felt as if he had returned to a long time ago, when he and Neuvillette brought the Melusines out of the village.
"Perhaps... you were meant to live under this sky."
A gentle light flickered in Yuto's blue eyes, and then he began to review the documents.
After all, the Judgment wouldn't begin until noon, and now... he still had some time to work. He couldn't just leave all the pressure for his future self, could he?
One must know, wherever this golden-haired humanoid mobile disaster went... as time passed, things would only get bigger, not smaller.
Therefore... Yuto's main job would only become less and less available as time passed; it would only pile up, not decrease.
...
At noon, Yuto called Furina, who was sitting in the next room seemingly lost in thought, and together they went to the Opera House.
They were not the main characters of this event, so... he just needed to settle his God and then be ready to step in and fight Tartaglia at any moment.
However... he still felt uncertain about it.
After all, Tartaglia was also a grand-disciple of The Foul, and with his Evil Eye and "Demon King Armed," he might truly not be able to defeat this guy.
Yuto's working style is primarily focused on stability; he absolutely does not do things he's not confident about.
If he couldn't defeat Tartaglia, then Fontaine's overall combat power level would drop by a notch, and his popularity would be affected along with it.
But... now he really could defeat him.
After understanding those sword techniques, Yuto truly felt... terrifyingly strong.