Contact Lens

Rank 4

Effect: Allows the user to adjust eye color and depth of vision. Enhances dynamic and static vision. When mana is supplied, increases both by twofold. Improves focus speed, peripheral awareness, and mana perception through visual input.

…

"Oh?"

I raised an eyebrow and looked at Yuna.

"This is a high-quality relic, Lord of Shadows. It has two operational modes. The first is passive and continuously enhances your visual capabilities. The second is active and designed to provide a measurable advantage in combat scenarios."

'Yeah. The effect is ridiculously good,' I thought.

The second function was solid, sure.

Better dynamic and static vision allowed for better tracking, better reaction, and clearer movement reading in a fight.

That alone made it worth carrying.

But the first function was the real prize.

Depth of vision.

Since it was Rank 4 equipment, the improvement wouldn't be simple.

With this, my vision wouldn't stop at what the naked eye could see. It would push past that limit.

'Microscopic level.'

That was the real value.

Micro Runes were a bottleneck for the current me.

They were essential for advanced mechanics and high-level alchemy, especially when working with compact arrays or layered enchantments.

The smaller the rune, the more you could pack into a structure.

The problem was drawing them.

It wasn't just about mana control. It was about seeing what you were doing.

A normal microscope was useless in my line of work.

It could magnify physical structures, but it couldn't show mana flow.

And if you couldn't see mana, you were basically blind when it came to runes.

One wrong line, one misaligned curve, and the whole array would collapse.

This lens, though, was a relic.

That meant it worked on both layers. Physical and mana.

I could see the rune and the energy moving through it at the same time, even at a microscopic scale.

The next day, I returned to the domain entrance.

Rank 5. Bermuda Triangle.

The bathroom door looked the same as always.

I took the key out and slid it into the lock.

The moment it turned, I felt it.

The space behind the door was split.

One led back to the Drinking Whale Inn.

The other led to the narrow alley where I had first stepped out of the domain.

I didn't hesitate.

I pushed the door open and stepped into the alley.

Cold air hit my face, along with the low hum of distant murmuring and the damp smell of sea.

The door shut behind me with a soft click.

That was when I noticed them.

Three figures stood near the mouth of the alley, half-hidden by the mist that always seemed to gather in this place.

Saint Maverick was in front.

Behind him were two new faces.

The first was a man who looked more machine than human.

Bald head. Dark skin. One bright blue bionic eye that glowed faintly even in the fog.

Thin, metallic tubes ran from the side of his neck down into his chest and arms, disappearing under reinforced clothing.

He was broad-shouldered, built like someone who had never skipped training a day in his life.

Middle-aged, maybe in his forties.

The second was a girl.

She looked completely human.

Black clothes, practical but casual.

A long spear rested on her shoulder, balanced there like it weighed nothing.

She was chewing gum, blowing a small bubble that popped quietly as she noticed me looking at her.

Late teens, if I had to guess.

'System Church is really spending a lot of resources on me,' I thought, recognizing these powerhouses.

Saint Maverick stepped forward.

"Welcome back, Caelum. I trust you were not injured during your activities last night?"

"There's no way I'd get hurt by something at that level," I replied with a grin.

Judy floated forward from behind him.

A compartment opened in her spherical body, and a thin tube extended outward, waving slightly in my direction.

"Greeting protocol initiated. Status inquiry: physical condition of target Caelum."

I lifted a hand and waved back at the tube. "Still alive. Still functional."

"Assessment: satisfactory," Judy replied. The tube retracted.

I shifted my attention to the two newcomers. "So, who are you guys?"

"These are Saint Dexter and Saintess Cosette. Saint Dexter is Rank 4. Saintess Cosette is Rank 3. They will assist in escorting you to headquarters. My systems are currently operating below optimal performance, and full repairs are still pending," Saint Maverick said.

The cyborg man stepped forward first and held out a hand.

"Nice to meet you, kid. I've heard a lot of interesting things about you," he said. His voice was deep, but relaxed.

I shook his hand. His grip was firm.

He smiled slightly, seeing I wasn't cowering in fear even after knowing he was Rank 4.

I turned to the girl with the spear.

She looked me up and down, then grinned.

"Welcome to the System Cult," she said, popping her gum again.

Judy's sphere rotated slightly toward her.

"Warning: terminology usage incorrect. Correction required. The System Church is not classified as a cult."

"Yeah, yeah. You say that every time," Saintess Cosette muttered.

Saint Maverick cleared his throat.

"We should proceed. The Nautilus is currently under heavy supervision by the Quartermaster and the Captain.

"The Exorcist Union and Prime Five have also deployed personnel to investigate last night's incident.

"Remaining in this location increases risk exposure."

Judy extended a different tube, this one holding a small flame-shaped construct.

It hovered in front of her like a guiding light.

"Navigation protocol: active. Route calculated. Probability of interception: low."

She floated ahead, and we followed.

The mist thickened as we moved, curling around our legs and fading into nothing a few meters ahead.

The sound of the ship-cum-city felt distant, like we were walking between layers of the world instead of through it.

"So, what's going on with the Vampire Companies and the Exorcist Union?" I asked.

Saint Maverick didn't answer right away. He waited until we turned a corner and the flame brightened slightly.

"The Exorcist Union has filed an official complaint against the Southern Vampire Company. Their claim is based on the actions of Valen, who disrupted the meeting and killed an Exorcist affiliated with the Union."

"Heh, complaining? Is that all they can do?" I said.

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