P-System Log

We're finally out of the dungeon. After Aster and Jerome picked up the Dungeon Core, a pathway opened out of the back. I guess that notification was supposed to be something like "Dungeon Clear". Even if the Dungeon Core is super corrupted by the skill, I guess it still has some functionality left. I haven't distributed any W Inertia yet, so I need to get that done.

We're in the meadow just outside the cave that the Dungeon Core had holed up inside, and the sound of the trains has returned. The ambience of the air is back. I still can't tell whether it's mana or something else, but I don't think it's a cause for concern. I feel more comfortable with it around, and that's what matters.

Aster: The R Beasts were thorough. Their trail has been masked. We are unlikely to catch them.

Jerome: In that case, do we just... leave?

Aster: A hasty one, aren't you? I must get my affairs in order before we depart.

Jerome: Alright. Back to Maplecrest proper, then?

Aster: Indeed.

Back through the meadows and back to the village it is.

Hero's Personal Log 038 Uh, just wondering, do I have the option on selecting which skill I can get XP on? P-System Log

Shit, I do have to do that. Hmmm... what's reasonable to give for an [Objective]--actually, let's be honest, this is basically a tutorial quest. That shouldn't grant too much, I think, and even less should be awarded because the R Beasts cleared the dungeon before us.

Also, I spent way too much W Inertia back in there.

Current W Inertia: 37649

Max W Inertia: 38359

P-System Log

Jeez. I'm 710 in the hole. Given that the dire wolves gave like 50 W Inertia apiece, that's a lot of monster-killing to recover. I've spent so much that spending just a little more doesn't even feel that wrong to do, but I know that I have to be stingy with the W Inertia Jerome gets. [W%M;G,P] gave me some idea of what happens to a System that hits 0 W Inertia, and I don't think I want that to happen. Jerome might not always listen to me telling him to kill more monsters, which would leave me in a tricky spot when it comes to spending W Inertia. As such, I want to conserve as much as I can. Being dependent on others for continued survival... not something I've ever enjoyed.

So, that in mind... how much W Inertia should I be spending? I've already blown past any reasonable limits I could've set, thanks to that stupid fucking Strength stat increase. I've decided that I'm not going to spend anything on his Mana stat. He has more than he needs already, and he also was willing to give up his rewards in order to have me attempt to un-corrupt this Dungeon Core later.

I only have two things to split W Inertia between. Skill XP and general XP. Jerome's general stat sheet doesn't display XP, though I'd imagine an [Assess] might be able to see it, given that it doesn't take me much W Inertia.

I'm just going to focus on the concept of progression as I examine him. It's been pretty easy to differentiate between individual stats by the feel of them, and hopefully adding this modifier to my thought will let me see XP. Burn two W Inertia to get past the most basic of basic blocks, and here we are.

Jerome Smith (abbreviated) Stat Value XP 32/900 Spell Stat Value Magic Missile Level 3 Magic Missile XP 5/120 Assess Level 1 Assess XP 31/100 Blazing Spear Level 2 Blazing Spear XP 4/160 P-System Log

Hey, that worked out. Alright, I definitely don't want to spend enough to fully level either [Magic Missile] or [Blazing Spear]. I think I'll limit it at ten. Now, is that ten overall or just ten for a skill?

I think I'll go on the lenient end for now. If Jerome thinks the System favors him, it might be easier to threaten or coerce him into following my suggestions. Especially since it's going to take a while to level him up, I can give him W Inertia. Then again, stat increases for level ups are largely handled by me. Leveling doesn't actually technically do anything except hit milestones.

Actually, that's probably not true. There's so much that I still don't know about the Origin System and the world itself. Just because I haven't seen noticeable changes yet doesn't mean there aren't any. I need to keep an open mind.

Well, that's that then. Spending a full twenty W Inertia hurts, but it hurts less than it should. I can't get used to constantly dumping W Inertia on Jerome. Not until he starts killing monsters consistently enough to make up for my expenditures.

Ten W Inertia into general XP, here we go.

As for the rest...

P-System Message

General XP rewarded!

You may select any of your skills to distribute 10 points amongst. Each point will be worth roughly 10 XP with a random modifier.

Hero's Personal Log 039

Random rolls, huh... man, I played enough comp Pokemon back in my time, I really could've done without that shit.

That doesn't matter, nevermind that. System, can I actually see how much XP I have?

P-System Message You will be able to examine your XP once you level up the skill [Assess]. P-System Log

That's a bit of a lie. I think. I don't know if it includes XP at the next level up, but [Greater Assess] didn't. Then again, that spell hadn't been aimed at Aster's self.

Under the assumption that [Assess] at level 2 won't include XP, I'm pretty sure I can just manually glue Jerome's XP stat onto the stat screen. Theoretically, I could do that now, but it would be odd for Jerome's System to suddenly gain abilities when there's been no progression in his skills.

I'll have to get used to doing this kind of System hijacking. As I gain more confidence in my control over the screens, I think interfering with pre-programmed structures like the stat screens and such is probably a step I should take. After all, I won't have [W%M;G,P] helping me forever, and I haven't even gained the self-knowledge necessary to know when that skill will stop taking effect.

I need to burn part of a W Inertia point every time I access his XP, and I might need to burn more in order to enable him to see it. That's a cost I'm going to have to be willing to stomach. I still want to be stingier with these points. Let's be real here, though--all I have to do is shove Jerome in the direction of monsters. That might be harder with a guide that could want to keep him out of trouble, but I think I'll manage.

Hero's Personal Log 040

Deadass, bro? That's so cringe on god no cap.

...that slang feels a lot weirder when I'm putting it into a System log. Ugh.

Okay, sure, can you put the points in [Assess] until it levels up?

P-System Message Acknowledged. Distributing points... P-System Log

Dear Origin, or God, or gods if this place has any, or whoever the fuck I offended...

Why did it have to be a gamer?

P-System Log [leveling Jerome's Assess]

Alright, time to actually do the work. This should be seven points.

It's getting worryingly easy to spend them. I gotta be careful with this. If I get too used to burning it, the day will certainly come where I reach for more and find absolutely nothing.

Strict limits. That's the play.

Skill leveled up! [Assess] lv. 1 -> lv. 2 Efficacy increased. Mana cost increased by 10%. Hero's Personal Log 041 Thanks! Can I put the other points in [Magic Missile]? I think that's a more worthwhile investment right now, unless [Blazing Spear] is very close to a level up, which it shouldn't be. P-System Message Acknowledged. Distributing remaining points. P-System Log

We're returning to Maplecrest proper, looks like. I can feel the Adventurer's Guild building up ahead.

Aster: Let's get you refreshed, shall we? Afterwards, I will set my affairs in order and obtain supplies, then we may depart.

I still think it's kind of weird that she's dropping literally everything to go with this guy she just met, but I suppose Jerome is a bit of an edge case when it comes to Integrated.

"Refresh" seems to be a specific function performed by the Adventurer's Guild. It's probably facilitated by skills of some sort, because I can sort of sense the inside of the building now that we're almost there. It's got a section that oozes mana, liquid magic stored in... glass bottles? Damn, they have mana potions here?

Well. Guess that's that then. Aster just directed Jerome on some people he should talk to and left, probably to talk to Axel.

Now, we get Jerome healed and recharged, and then it's off to the first real leg of our adventure.