HP: Sacred Gear Chat Group (2) - Chapter 2 (Patreon)

Chapter 2 - Sub-Species Sacred Gear?

A System? Now? After all this time my obligatory reincarnator Cheat appears?

No, not just any System, but a fucking Multiversal Chat Group!

No matter how I looked at it, that purple-colored screen floating in front of me was definitely a System. Just what had triggered it? Why hadn’t it appeared years ago?

Did it need magic to activate?

Just as even more questions began flooding my mind, the purple screen shifted and a new message appeared.

[ Do you wish to start the initialization process? ]

Uhh...?

“Are you ready, Al?” Mom entered my room before I could even give the System a reply. “What are you staring into the air for? Are you still dazed from getting your Hogwarts letter? You should hurry up. Ollivanders isn’t open all day!”

So she can’t see the screen. Good to know.

At least I wouldn’t attract unnecessary attention if my System or the Chat Group decided to act up in the middle of something. Like right now, when I was supposed to be getting my wand.

Can’t I minimize the screen or something?

The moment I thought about it, the screen vanished from my field of vision. With another thought, I made it reappear before dismissing it again.

“I’m coming, Mom. Just let me grab my jacket.”

———

The rest of the evening passed in a blur.

Mom and I spent over half an hour at Ollivanders, where I tried several different wands, making me one of his beloved tricky customers. In the end, though, I managed to get my wand just like everyone else.

There was no need to follow that made-up bullshit fanfic trope about having Ollivander custom-craft a wand specifically for me. And I actually asked him if that was possible.

Apparently, there was no such thing as a wand that could simply be custom-crafted for a specific person.

While the materials played a role in determining what a wand was good at, they didn’t have as much to do with finding a compatible match as one would believe. I couldn’t simply ‘feel’ which materials suited me and have Ollivander make the perfect wand from them.

A match was largely determined by the personality a wand developed after being crafted. While different materials influenced how a wand tended to behave, each wand still possessed a individual personality of its own made up by the sum of it's materials, the crafting process, and tons of different random factors like the environment, weather and so on.

For example, a wand made of acacia 'might' refuse to work properly for anyone other than its owner, certain materials made specific personality traits more likely to develop. But materials also had a history that is affecting the wands personality in the end, and that history can't be generalized by a specific material.

My new wand ended up being made of yew, twelve inches long, with a dragon heartstring core.

I liked it, even if it supposedly had a strong disposition toward the Dark Arts. A yew wand never chose a mediocre owner, which was a sentiment I could certainly agree with.

Besides, I had nothing against the Dark Arts in principle. Magic was magic, and what really mattered was how you chose to use it. If someone shot up a school, it wasn’t the gun’s fault.

Once we returned home, I successfully cast my first spell on the very first try. The Wand-Lighting Charm wasn’t particularly difficult, even though I had completely failed to cast it wandlessly earlier.

Unfortunately, Mom refused to let me experiment with any more magic that evening because it was still my birthday, and we were celebrating together as a family.

Well, a part of the family, at least.

It was just Mom, Dad, and me.

As someone who had spent most of his life being treated as a Squib and was homeschooled on top of that, making friends had never been particularly easy. The people closest to my age I had a positive relationship with were my younger sister, her best friend, and her best friend’s younger sister.

Unfortunately, all three of them were still at Hogwarts and wouldn’t return home for the Christmas holidays until the day after.

The next surprise came while I was opening the presents from my parents.

Besides my wand, I received some sweets, a new scarf, and two separately wrapped books. One of them was a Herbology book titled ‘The Grand Encyclopedia of Ingredients’, probably meant to gently nudge me toward eventually joining Dad at the apothecary.

The other book, however, genuinely surprised me.

“Congratulations, son. Your mom already had a hunch that you would receive your Hogwarts letter this year,” Dad said with a chuckle as I stared at the title of the book.

“So that’s why the books were packaged separately?” I realized aloud as I pulled out the black leather-bound volume.

“Exactly. We didn’t want you to be disappointed in case she was wrong,” he admitted easily. I would have done the same.

“But where did you get it? That couldn’t have been easy to get your hands on,” I wondered as I held the book up in front of me. “They’re strictly regulated.”

Mother looked as though she had swallowed a lemon the moment I asked, but she still gave me an answer.

“Your grandparents decided they want to ‘reconnect’. They want you, your sister, and me back in their lives,” she grumbled in annoyance before a predatory grin appeared on her face. “So I convinced them to send me a copy for your birthday.”

I didn’t miss the fact that she hadn’t mentioned Dad.

Still, that raised a rather big question.

“Why? Weren’t they perfectly happy pretending we didn’t exist all these years? I believe they don't even know that I have been considered a Squib.”

“There’s no need for you to worry about it, Al. I already have a good idea of what they’re thinking, so let me handle it. Instead, focus on preparing for your time at Hogwarts,” Mom said with a kind smile before pointing at the book in my hands. “I know you’ve wanted a book like that for years, but don’t get too absorbed in it. It isn’t part of the Hogwarts curriculum, and you still have four years of material to catch up on.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. I won’t,” I replied while holding my copy of ‘Mind Arts: An Introduction’ tightly against my chest.

“I’m not going to take it away from you. I wouldn’t have given it to you if I didn’t want you to have it,” she said with a laugh.

“So, have you already considered which electives you want to focus on, Al?” Dad asked from the other side of the table as he levitated my birthday cake out of the kitchen. With a flick of his wand, he cut it and floated a piece onto each of our plates.

“Obviously. I’ve been thinking about them for years.”

I had to admit that it was a little sad, but I really had. I had dreamed of attending Hogwarts for most of my life.

“Muggle Studies is out. I know enough from you, Dad, to know that the class at Hogwarts is a complete joke.”

And I’m a reincarnator who used to be a Muggle, so there really isn’t much point.

“Yeah, I guessed as much.”

“Divination is out too, since there hasn’t been any sign of me having the Sight so far. I’d like to try Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures over the next few months before the school year starts. Then I can see which two I enjoy the most.”

“That’s reasonable,” Dad agreed with a nod. He never liked Divination, always calling it a Scam, “You can use the study as much as you like. Your mother’s and my old schoolbooks and notes are in there, along with all the other books we’ve collected over the years. There aren’t any dangerous books in there, so feel free to use whatever you need. We have material covering all three subjects. Although Care of Magical Creatures will be a little difficult since there’s no real way for us to give you the practical experience you would have received in class at Hogwarts.”

“It’s fine. I’m sure the theory will be enough for now. As for the practical side, I can probably catch up once I get to Hogwarts if I ask the professor nicely.”

Hagrid is a nice guy who genuinely loves magical creatures. If I actually decide to pursue his class, I’m sure he’ll help me catch up.

“If you have any questions, you can always come to your mother or me. We’ll help you,” Dad assured me with an approving nod.

At that moment, Mom decided to involve herself in the discussion.

“In fact, there are a few rules you’ll have to follow, young man. First of all, no lazing around. We trust you to work hard, especially after waiting your entire life to use magic, but we’ll still test you and check your progress. Secondly, you need to be careful when practicing spells. Anything that can cause serious damage is only to be practiced under supervision!”

“Serious damage?” I asked innocently.

“Like the Fire-Making Charm, for example. It might be a beginner-level spell, but it can still be dangerous! I don't want to come home to a burned down house! And don’t you dare skip ahead just because you get bored or think the early spells are too easy. I know you, young man! I don’t want to find out you’ve been trying a Bombardment Spell or something similar when you haven’t even built a proper foundation in spellcasting yet!” she warned me with a serious look.

“Fine, I won’t try any overly advanced magic while I’m alone at home.”

The shop downstairs is still technically part of our home, after all.

Which means Dad can be considered almost always at home, even when he’s working.

———

After celebrating my birthday with my parents for a while, I returned to my room under their knowing looks, even though I wasn’t planning to practice any more magic tonight.

There was something far more interesting I wanted to check out first, and I had already ignored it long enough today so my parents wouldn’t get suspicious.

Once I closed the door behind me, I pulled out my new yew wand and pointed it at the door.

“Colloportus!”

With a simple click, the door locked itself.

"Hehehe, I can use Magic~"

It seemed like I wouldn’t have much trouble figuring out the first-year Charms since they had all been pretty easy so far. Still, I would have to test that assumption properly tomorrow. If it turned out to be true, though, that would be great. The faster I mastered the simpler magic, the sooner I could move on to the fun stuff without pissing off Mom.

For now, there was something else I needed to deal with first.

With a single thought, the purple screen appeared before me again.

[ Do you wish to start the initialization process? ]

Hmm, there aren’t any buttons, but it reacted to my thoughts earlier. So something should happen if I simply think... yes.

[ Beginning Initialization... ]

[ Awakening Sub-Species Sacred Gear Dimension Lost: Multiversal Chat Group ]

Now hold on for a moment.

What the hell am I reading here?

That isn’t from the Wizarding World or Harry Potter! Isn’t that from that titty light novel series where the protagonist gets a power-up from touching boobs?

Oh, hell no.

I am not going to rely on that pervert, who should be in jail by the way, to stop whatever apocalypse he happens to encounter.

Am I living in some kind of crossover universe?

And not a weak one either...

This is bad. Very bad.

The difference in peak combat power is enormous. We’re talking about someone like Voldemort or Dumbledore being capable of destroying a town with sufficiently powerful spells like Fiendfyre, while the Four Great Satans operate on the scale of a moon or two.

The Dragon Gods are even beyond that.

And now I have a power from that universe, which automatically involves me with it.

A Sacred Gear, and not just any Sacred Gear.

I have a fucking Longinus.

A tool capable of killing God.

And I know for a fact that Sacred Gears can be sensed once they awaken.

Which I just did...

With me possessing a Longinus, there’s no way they’ll simply leave me alone if they discover me.

Maybe the wards around Diagon Alley and Hogwarts will keep me hidden? Or perhaps the Wizarding World is considered its own faction within the supernatural community?

But I’ve never heard anything about that, and I’ve lived here for eighteen years now.

Considering the difference in power, we wizards probably aren’t a particularly strong faction either.

Just great...

Now that I know about the existence of a much wider world, I can’t simply ignore it. I’ll need some kind of backing to protect myself, and I’ll have to become stronger as quickly as possible.

Man, I only just got my magic.

My life really refuses to give me any time to simply enjoy it.

[ Welcome to the Multiversal Chat Group! ]

[ 1. Chat ]

[ 2. Travel ]

[ 3. Market ]

[ 4. Gacha ]

Oh, It has a menu!

At least there’s more to this thing than just a Chat Group.

Talking with people from across the Multiverse sounds useful, but it doesn’t exactly give me a simple way to become stronger.

Beyond the Chat Group itself, I can apparently travel to other universes if i understand it right. I’ll definitely need to learn some magic first, though, and I’ll also have to come up with a convincing excuse for my parents whenever I disappear.

Then there’s the Market.

Why isn’t it simply called a Shop like it would be in a normal System?

Let’s see what it does.

The moment I selected the Market, the screen changed.

[ Nothing here yet. Please open a Chat Group first! ]

Okay, I expected something like that.

It’s called the Multiversal Chat Group, after all, not the Multiversal Market. Still, I wonder why opening the Chat Group is necessary to unlock the Market.

Maybe the available products are based on the universes the Chat Group members come from?

That seems possible.

At least, it would make sense.

Does the Gacha work already?

[ You have one free Spin. Do you want to use it? ]

Of course the gambling feature works immediately, and it’s already trying to lure me in with a freebie.

The worst part is that it’s working.

What can I get from it?

[ Rewards come from the entirety of the Multiverse and can be anything. The probability for it being somehint usable is increased. ]

[ Do you want to Spin? ]

Not yet.

How do I get more Spins, and do I receive any kind of bonus for saving them up?

[ By accomplishing notable feats, the User will receive more Spins based on the accomplishment. The current Version has no form of Bonus System for saving up Spins. ]

Well, then I should probably use them as soon as I get them.

Do the other members of the Chat Group have access to the other functions?

[ Not all of them. The Chat Group and Market functions are available to all members. The Travel and Gacha functions are exclusive Perks of the Admin. ]

I see.

But I can take people with me using the Travel function?

[ As long as they agree. ]

Good to know.

In that case, give me my Spin.

[ Rolling... ]

[ Congratulations! You received a Common Spell Tome! ]

Common?

Is that some kind of rarity system, or is the item itself just called a ‘Common Spell Tome’?

[ It is a Rarity System based on power, usefulness, and rarity within the item’s Universe. The Rarities are listed in ascending order: Junk, Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythical, Divine. ]

Got it.

Well then, show me what kind of Spell Tome I received.

The moment I thought that, a leather-bound tome appeared in front of me and dropped onto my bed.

‘A Guide to Magic’

Oh!

It seems to be a beginner’s book.

Magic from another world could come in handy, even if it only contains simple spells.

The leather binding and paper both looked rather crude, while all the words inside had been written by hand. So it probably came from a fairly medieval world, most likely one without a printing press or anything similar.

At least it has magic.

The problem is that it’s written in a language I’ve never seen before.

Yet somehow, English words appear directly beneath the original text.

Is that your doing, System?

[ Confirmed. The Chat Group and any form of reward related to the System will automatically translate any Language to make it usable. This also applies to goods purchased through the Market. ]

[ Warning: Language Barriers encountered while travelling through the Multiverse are the Traveller’s own responsibility. ]

Well, I’m glad I learned that before randomly travelling somewhere.

Hmm...

Let’s see what kind of magic this book has for me.

Magic power is determined at birth?

That doesn’t sound right.

I’m pretty sure magical power grows through use, age, and study. At least, that’s how it works here in the Wizarding World.

A wizard’s Magical Core is the source of their magic, and it functions somewhat like a muscle that can be trained while also naturally growing stronger with age.

At the same time, a wizard’s Magical Core is connected to their soul. By growing wiser, gaining knowledge, and developing as a person, the core itself can supposedly become stronger as well.

At least, that’s the most accepted theory in the Wizarding World.

Maybe things work differently in whatever world this book came from.

The spells also seem to be divided into different ranks.

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Saint, King, Emperor, and finally God.

Wait.

I know which universe this book came from!

Those ranks make it kind of obvious.

It’s from Mushoku Tensei, a universe with a rather well-developed power system. Compared to many others, its magic is surprisingly detailed and organized.

And this book is actually wrong about magical power being fixed from birth.

It can grow through repeated use, especially during early childhood. The protagonist, Rudeus Greyrat, who is also a reincarnator like me, figured that out himself.

That world also has some incredibly powerful magic, far beyond most of the strongest spells in the Wizarding World.

Fiendfyre would probably qualify as a Saint-Rank spell, perhaps even King-Rank depending on how its destructive and uncontrollable nature is judged.

And I can’t think of anything from the Wizarding World that truly compares to Emperor-Rank magic or anything above it.

On the other hand, their magic system is much more limited in scope than ours.

They generally divide magic into three broad categories.

The first is Offensive Magic, which mainly consists of elemental spells involving Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth.

The second category is Healing or Support Magic, which is divided into four schools: Healing, Detoxification, Divine Strike, which seems to be some form of exorcism and anti-monster magic, and Barrier Magic.

Lastly, there is Summoning Magic, which does exactly what the name suggests.

At least, that’s their general understanding of magic.

There are clearly many other possibilities, including Gravity Magic, time travel, teleportation, reincarnation, and probably much more. Most of those areas are simply poorly understood or barely explored.

This book, however, only covers the basics of Offensive Magic.

It contains Beginner-Rank spells for every element, along with one Intermediate-Rank spell for each.

I’ll definitely include it in my studies.

There’s no harm in learning magic that nobody else in this world knows.

For now, though, it’s finally time to open the Chat Group.

[ The Multiversal Group Chat is officially online! Congratulations to “Hogwarts Student” for becoming the Admin! The members have been invited. ]

[ Ding! “'Kozuki Oden'” has joined the Group Chat! ]

[ Ding! “Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess” has joined the Group Chat! ]

[ Ding! “Queen of Dragons” has joined the Group Chat! ]

[ Ding! The invitation to “Musclebrain” is still open! ]

[-- End of Chapter --]