Reincarnated into Madness: Yandere Family's Unwanted Slave-Chapter 16: Awakening to Mana.

Chapter 16: Awakening to Mana

Hitoshi held the small pouch in both hands, staring at it with awe. It looked so ordinary, just a tiny thing made of fine, soft fabric, but he knew better.

" Eri Onee-san said it was a spatial treasure, something that could hold lots of stuff yet still remain this small." His eyes shimmered even more, a wide grin on his chubby little face.

"All I have to do is use mana and think about what I want to take out..." he recalled her saying. But then, a thought struck him. His excited expression froze.

'Wait...she mentioned something called mana?'

'Do I even have that?.'

Hitoshi blinked, tilting his head in confusion. He had never felt anything like mana before, and when he had checked his status once, it had said 0/0 under mana.

'Doesn't that mean I don't have any...mana.'

Before he could think about it any further, a translucent blue screen suddenly appeared 10 centimeters in front of his eyes.

[System Notification: Do you need any help, Host?]

"Ahh!!" Hitoshi yelped, stumbling back in shock. The pouch almost slipped from his grasp, but he quickly tightened his hold on it. His heartbeat raced. "D-Don't just pop up like that!" he huffed, puffing his cheeks in frustration.

The system had always done this, showing up whenever it felt like it. At times it was annoying but this time it popped up too close to his face.

'Your trying to play a prank on me aren't you!, you really are a bully!'

He crossed his arms, giving the glowing screen an exaggerated pout. "I don't need your help!, you big bully!"

To his surprise, another notification appeared immediately after, this time filled with multiple messages at once.

[System Notification: I'm sorry!]

[System Notification: I didn't mean to upset you!]

[System Notification: I was only trying to assist you... please don't be mad!]

[System Notification: I just wanted to help, I promise!!]

Hitoshi blinked, the system's frantic messages catching him off guard.

'Huh?, are you... apologizing?' He face froze for a moment, his head tilting to the side in confusion.

[System Notification: Yes!]

[System Notification: Please just let me help!]

[System Notification: I promise I won't try to force you to use your stat points or skill points anymore, okay? I only wanted to make you stronger... But I was wrong!, Please forgive me!!]

To his surprise, several more notifications with begging emoticons appeared in succession.

Hitoshi frowned, staring at the messages for a moment before letting out a small huff. He wasn't actually mad, but seeing the system panic like this made him feel a little bad.

'Hmph!, That'll teach you not to tease me'

He felt satisfied seeing the system beg but that didn't mean he was going to let it off the hook that easily.

He puffed out his chest, furrowed his brows, and tried to look as serious as possible. "Hmph!, You made me feel all helpless before!, Onee-san never made me feel that way, but you did!" He crossed his arms. "So tell me, why should I forgive you when you were a big meanie!"

[System Notification: I'll do better!! I promise I won't ever make you feel helpless again!]

[System Notification: Just please let me help you!]

Hitoshi closed his eyes and raised his chin feeling proud yet, he still used his slightly opened left eye to watch the systems messages flood in one after another. The more he read the more his little mind began thinking that the system really sounded desperate... and kinda pitiful.

He soon began feeling guilty seeing it beg so much, he really didn't expect it to beg from the beginning. All he did was ignore it a little yet here it was acting like a desperate saleswoman who couldn't get someone to purchase her goods.

But in the systems case, though her desperation was unwarranted, the fact that it was surprised, that someone wouldn't feel at all tempted in it's abilities was understandable.

Not willing to watch the system act depressed any longer, Hitoshi let out a small sigh, finally relenting. "Fine, fine... I forgive you."

[System Notification: Thank you Host!]

" Hmph, you better thank me, your lucky I forgave you after how mean you were." Hitoshi raised his chin while puffing out his chest as if he'd done a great deed.

" Also, why do you keep calling me Host, it sounds weird, from now on call me Onii-chan!." Hitoshi nodded again and again, feeling as if that was the best way the system could address him.

[System Notification: Uhh...but I'm obviously older–]

"Wanna be ignored again?"

[System Notification: No!]

[System Notification: Onii-chan's idea is perfect!]

Hitoshi grinned. "Now that's better! And I'll keep calling you Affinity System since that's your name, okay?"

[System Notification: Okay!!]

The next message made Hitoshi perk up even more.

[System Notification: Onii-chan, I already set your Affinity Points, Level Up, Stat Points, and Skill Points notifications to silent mode, so they won't bother you anymore!]

Hitoshi's eyes widened. "Really? So I can talk to Onee-san now without getting interrupted?"

[System Notification: Yep!!]

His face lit up. "Thank you, Affinity System! You're not so bad after all!"

[System Notification: Hehehe!!] A flurry of blushing and giggling emoticons filled Hitoshi's vision, only quieting down after 19 seconds or so.

Now that they had settled things, Hitoshi returned his focus to the pouch. "Alright! You said you wanted to help, right? Then tell me how to use this thing!"

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

[System Notification: Of course Onii-chan!] The system replied instantly only to pause the next moment.

[System Notification: Umm...Onii-chan, There's a small problem, though.]

Hitoshi frowned, his cute face scrunching up a little. "What problem?"

[System Notification: You don't actually have any mana right now Onii-chan.]

"...Eh?"

[System Notification: Your body is completely locked off from mana Onii-chan. That's why your status showed '0/0' before.]

Hitoshi's shoulders drooped, his eyes moistening. "Oh... So I really don't have mana..."

[System Notification: Wait, wait! That doesn't mean you can't get mana!]

His eyes brightened again. "Really? How? Tell me, tell me!"

[System Notification: Well after your reincarnation Onii-chan, your body was instinctively cut off from mana to avoid any mishaps.]

[System Notification: But if you want to unlock it, That's simple!]

[System Notification: All you have to do Onii-chan, is think about absorbing mana from the surroundings!]

[System Notification: Try replicating the movements of the diagram below.]

A soft chime echoed in Hitoshi's ears as a floating screen appeared before him. Unlike the usual flat blue panels, this time, the system displayed something different, an intricate, glowing 3D projection of a humanoid figure.

Hitoshi's eyes widened in amazement. "Whoa... it looks so real!" He reached out to touch the figure, but his fingers swiped through thin air.

[System Notification: Mana exists everywhere, Onii-chan. It's in the air, the ground, and even within every being, whether living or dead.]

The glowing figure in the projection suddenly moved, settling into a cross-legged position. Small, shimmering particles, each flickering with different colors, began to swirl around it, slowly sinking into its body.

Hitoshi watched intently, his lips slightly parted. "Ohhh! These little lights... are they mana?"

[System Notification: Your correct Onii-chan, but you can call them mana particles.]

Hitoshi nodded eagerly, feeling a sense of importance at naming them himself. "Mana particles..." He whispered the words, rolling them on his tongue.

[System Notification: Just like in the video, all you have to do is sit down or if you'd like, you can remain standing as well to avoid dirtying your clothes but standing might distract you and you won't be able to focus completely.]

'Ok, so what do I do now.' Hitoshi stared at the pouch in his hands, his eyes shimmering with curiosity.

[System Notification: Just imagine these particles flowing into you, and absorb as much as you can. Your mana status will then update to reflect how much mana your body can currently contain.]

Hitoshi gasped. "That's it? That's all I have to do?" his eyes widened.

[System Notification: Yep! Try it now!!]

Hitoshi clenched his fists, determination flashing in his eyes. "Got it!"

Without hesitation, he plopped onto the ground, folding his legs just like the glowing figure. Closing his eyes tightly, he took a deep breath.

'Okay... imagine the particles... Just like in the video...'

'Absorb... absorb... absorb!!'

The more Hitoshi tried replicating the diagram in the video, the more he felt a tingling sensation pricking at his skin. The air around him soon began feeling strange all over, as if it was hot, wet, dusty, refreshing, cold and so on.

It wasn't long before that prickling feeling grew to the point of feeling like an invisible pressure, like warm mist curling around his body.

'Is this mana?'

His fingers twitched at the thought, His chest turning warm as if something inside him had shifted.

And then, as if a dam within him suddenly shattered, the world around him changed without warning.

A vast ocean of shimmering mirage-colored particles emerged, swirling and dancing through the air. At first, they simply surrounded him, floating gently. But then, they multiplied.

More and more mana particles poured in from nowhere, rushing towards him in an endless stream. The entire hallway became saturated with them, the sheer density making the air feel thick, almost tangible.

Hitoshi sucked in a sharp breath, he had opened his eyes out of curiosity but what he saw was completely unexpected.

"W-Whoa... there's so many...!" His voice echoed within the entire hallway before a look of worry suddenly emerged on his face.

For a moment, he hesitated. He began wondering whether he could really absorb all of this? It looked like an impossible amount!

But then, his lips curled into a small smile.

'Onee-san said I should always try my best.'

So, with a determined nod, he closed his eyes again and imagined his body absorbing all the mana particles.

The result was instantaneous. The swirling mist of mana suddenly shot toward him like an unstoppable wave. Every single mirage-colored particle rushed into his body, sinking into his skin and vanishing within him.

Hitoshi shuddered. It felt... strange, warm and tingly.

Like tiny bubbles popping all over his skin. He let out an involuntary giggle, squirming as the sensation tickled him from the inside out. "Ahahaha! It feels so funny!"

After a few minutes, the strange sensation finally ended and when he finally opened his eyes, he beamed. "Did I do it right?"

[System Notification: Uhh.....]

Instead of answering immediately, The system remained silent.

Hitoshi tilted his head. "Affinity System...?"

[System Notification: Well you did just absorb a sizeable amount of mana Onii-chan so i guess it worked]

Hitoshi's face lit up. "Yay!!" He jumped up to his feet, practically bouncing in excitement.

But he didn't stop there. Before the system could even tell him what to do next, he turned his attention back to the spatial pouch.

"Onee-san said I just have to imagine my mana pouring into it, if I want to pull something out" He murmured, his fingers brushing over the pouch's soft fabric.

Excitement bubbled within him as he closed his eyes again, this time focusing on directing the mana inside him into the pouch.

Almost immediately, images flooded his mind. Brooms, potions, brushes, cleaning cloths, weird trinkets and so many other things stored inside!

His eyes practically sparkled at the sight of them all.

"Wooaah... there's so much stuff in here!!" he instantly became amazed by the multitude of equipment, But one thing in particular caught his attention.

A feather duster.

Grinning, he focused on the image of the duster in his mind. And then—

Poof!

The pouch trembled slightly before suddenly spitting out the feather duster onto the ground next to him.

Hitoshi gasped. "I did it!!"

He clenched his fists, his entire body bursting with excitement. "I really did it!!"

With an ecstatic grin, he turned to the system. "Did you see that, Affinity System?! I really got something out of the pouch! Just like Onee-san said!"

[System Notification: Yes! Well done, Onii-chan!]

Hitoshi giggled, barely able to contain his excitement. He bent down to grab the feather duster, waving it around playfully. Then, with newfound confidence, he spun on his heel and dashed toward the first door on his right.

He pushed it open with both hands.

"Time to start cleaning!!"

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(AN: Hey everyone, I'm so sorry for not posting sooner. Like I mentioned before, since I got rejected on Webnovel, I decided to turn my story into a light novel volume series and was stuck trying to finish volume 1)

(AN: follow this link below to download the volume 1: https://lordgrimx101.itch.io/reincarnated-into-madness-volume-1)

(AN: As a token of apology, I decided to make the volume 1 free until the 31st of march, I hope that's enough to smooth things between us. Again I appreciate every single one of you guy's, especially @illusionGhost, @PBJSandwich_471, @Theunknown3455, @kurama34gojo, @Zer0o, @ArkNPingu and @Mystical Eevee)

(AN: if anyone would like to donate I'd really appreciate but I'm sure that's definitely wishful thinking on my part)

(AN: For up to date info on following works, Character arts, side stories. Please follow this link to my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574696767056)