章 6: Genetic Information

"Yuanba!"

"Oh, big brother Tatsuya! How are you?"

Tatsuya who was walking the hallway, spotted the leisure Xia Yuanba in the corner. He immediately walked towards him, as he greeted the bulky man. Xia Yuanba unhesitatingly smiled at Tatsuya, as he greeted back.

"I'm doing fine. How about you?"

"Well, some things happened but we'll be alright…"

Tatsuya's stoic face remained still, as he wondered inwardly about Xia Yuanba's statement. It seemed that there was a problem, but at the same time, it was something that the guy cannot disclose to him. Tatsuya tossed away the idea of getting himself into trouble.

(Elemental Sight, Activate.)

"I see, where's your big sister?"

"Well, uhm…"

Tatsuya activated his innate ability, Elemental Sight, and accessed the Eidos of Xia Yuanba. He minimized his optimal usage of his innate ability, so he would be able to minimize the risks of getting detected by someone.

While multi-tasking, such as analyzing the genetic modification of Xia Yuanba and committing the information into his memory, he saw the troubled expression that Xia Yuanba carried. It seemed that something is happening within the clan. And, it wasn't a simple matter.

"If you cannot disclose it, you don't need to force yourself. I won't ask about your clan's personal matter."

"Thank you, big brother Tatsuya."

Although, it was short, Tatsuya had released an information that he knew that there was something occurring within the clan. His usage of "clan's personal matter" already hinted that he got the gist of the whole matter, although it was only on surface level. But, Xia Yuanba seemed to have not noticed that hint and practically carried his usual attitude.

"So, big brother Tatsuya, do you have any plans for today?"

"Hm, I don't. But, could I ask you to help me ask your father, if I could leave your clan?"

"Oh, you don't need to ask about that. Father already stated that as long as you already healed you can do whatever you want. Though personally, I want you to stay for a bit longer…"

Confirming that he could leave this place any time he wanted to, Tatsuya felt a flow of relief enter his body. It seemed that Xia Yuanba had already got attached to him, but it was still in average levels of affection. Tatsuya stared at the bulky young man before him, as he shook his head.

"Sorry, but I will leave tomorrow…"

"Is that so…?"

Xia Yuanba's face expressed everything, it was obvious that he will feel sadness over the fact that Tatsuya would leave. Seeing him, Tatsuya felt a bit shocked that his deduction about his and Xia Yuanba's relationship is off. It seemed that it had gone above the normal friendship.

It was at this time that Tatsuya noticed that he had already committed everything about Xia Yuanba's genetic configuration into his memory. It took him a few minutes before actually memorizing everything. It was a feat that only he could probably accomplish.

(Elemental Sight, Deactivate.)

"Actually, I haven't seen your big sister for a few days already. Is she busy?"

"Well… she isn't busy. Do you want to meet her?"

"Yes, I thought of saying farewell first before actually leaving."

"Actually, today is your only chance to meet her, big brother Tatsuya."

"Then, I'd like to meet her."

"Okay, I'll tell her."

Tatsuya's indifferent eyes rippled, as he realized something. Something felt off, that's what he felt. Just from the conversation between him and Xia Yuanba, he could already feel that something is amiss. And, it's obviously connected to his big sister, Xia Qingyue.

"Thank you."

"No no, it isn't much."

Tatsuya slight bowed his body, as Xia Yuanba panicked while waving his hand. Although, Tatsuya didn't really felt any emotional attachment towards Xia Yuanba, he could already tell that the latter treated him as a friend. It was something that Tatsuya would never forget, as he was the first individual he had gotten closed to, since arriving to this world.

"Well then, I'll go first big brother Tatsuya. Also, I'll send you off tomorrow. Don't leave without saying goodbye, okay?"

"Sure sure. See you later then."

"Mm."

Xia Yuanba smiled at the tall and slender young man before him, as he nodded his head. Tatsuya, meanwhile, only watched his back that was getting farther each second.

When he confirmed that Xia Yuanba had already vanished, his eyes sharpened. He knew that whatever the problem that was occurring within the clan, it wasn't his business. However, seeing that Xia Yuanba was that depressed, something is up.

(I'll try to help. But, with the way I am now, I wouldn't be able to. Since, I already have this 'genetic structure,' I should start my experiment now.)

Tatsuya inwardly thought to himself, as he went back to his room. After entering his room, he immediately locked the door. Knowing that everything that would happen next should be a secret, he painstakingly applied a Systematic-Type Magic, that would block any watching eyes, and hearing walls.

Systematic-Type Magic isn't his forte, but focusing everything he had on this magic, he was able to create a wall that could block whatever that needs to be blocked.

…

Time quickly passed, as the sun already went down and got replaced by the shimmering moon. The magic that was deployed around Tatsuya's room vanished into thin air, as the young man stood up from the chair.

Beads of sweat could be found on his forehead, as Tatsuya's demeanor emitted his exhaustion. Obviously, the process of analyzing the genetic configuration was hard. It wasn't something that could be done in a mere few hours.

(Sigh, their genome are vastly different compared to magicians. If the magician's genome focuses heavily on the adaptability to use psions, then the people of this world instead focuses on the adaptability to use profound energy.)

(Creating the another innate ability, Eidos Modification, would take some time. Unless, I somehow manage to acquire a genetic modification that will allow me to skip the crucial steps…)

While, Tatsuya was pondering about his plans, he suddenly sensed someone's presence appear behind the door. He was familiar of this presence that always oozes warmth. However, he could sense a thread of cold within that warmth.

Tatsuya immediately frowned upon noticing the abrupt change of Xia Qingyue's presence. He instantly knew that something must've happened that resulted to this current development.

"You can enter, Qingyue."

After he said that, the door creaked as it opened slowly. What emerged from the door is Xia Qingyue. However, the coldness she emanated the moment Tatsuya saw her, was something that changed.

"You said that you wanted to meet me?"

"Well, yeah…"

(Elemental Sight, Activate.)

Tatsuya nonchalantly replied to Xia Qingyue's obvious inquiry. Xia Qingyue quickly sat on the bed, as Tatsuya didn't mind her. After all, this room was their property, not his. He was only freeloading under the assumption that he was sick. Though, he would leave tomorrow.

"I would leave tomorrow."

"Then, that's good."

Tatsuya looked at Xia Qingyue with his stoic face, as the beauty stared back. An unprecedented scene appeared, as Tatsuya actually frowned at the beauty.

"You can actually make some expression, huh?"

"Obviously, I can. I had already showed my face filled with helplessness, right?"

"Indeed…"

Silence filled the air, as Tatsuya became more surprised and surprised as time passes by. Based on the Eidos information about Xia Qingyue that he was receiving, the latter began to practice an art that would give them strength, but in return would seal their emotions.

"I see. So that's why Yuanba was that sad."

"Yuanba was sad?"

"I don't know why you're doing this, but I advice you to stop whatever art you are currently practicing. It will seal your emotions, and slowly but surely, you will become Xia Qingyue that not either your father and little brother knew."

"…I won't heed your advice, outsider."

"Now, I'm not particularly concerned about you. But if you keep this up, Yuanba will be sad."

"…I can't turn back now. In the first place, how did you knew that I was cultivating an art?"

"…"

"I see, you won't speak, huh."

Tatsuya shook his head in helplessness, as the frown on his face disappeared. He knew that further conversation would be pointless, as Xia Qingyue wouldn't even listen to him. He was clueless as to why this beauty was so obsessed in getting stronger…

In that moment, he realized that he had finally committed everything about Xia Qingyue into his memory. An unseen rippled appeared on his blue-eyes, as the information he had received was something he desperately needed.

The information that would allow him to skip crucial step, and would help him shorten the few months of experimenting into a single day of actual practical creation of his new innate ability, Eidos Modification.

(Elemental Sight, Deactivate.)

"If that's all you have to say, I will leave now…"

Tatsuya deactivated his innate ability, Elemental Sight. Xia Qingyue slowly stood up from the bed, as she leisurely approached the door while emanating an unusual coldness that she initially did not possess.

"I really hope that you will stop this pointless- No, this nonsensical way of getting stronger…"

The moment Tatsuya said that, Xia Qingyue halted her steps. The coldness she emanated intensified, as she quickly turned her gaze at Tatsuya in lightning speed.

"Say more, and I'll kill you."

"I see… You're that determined, eh? Then, I won't interfere further. But, I hope that you carve this words to your head, 'It will be too late to regret it, if you won't stop this now.'"

"Hmph."

Xia Qingyue ignored his advice, as she quickly left the room in haste. Tatsuya shook his head out of disappointment, as his face turned back to its stoic and emotionless state. Since, the girl won't let anyone dissuade her, Tatsuya tossed her current situation into somewhere else, as he began his creation of his new innate ability.

(Since the world- No, myself had been given such chance to live freely. I will gladly take it. This world might just help me satire my curiosity and hunger for life.)