Infinite Skill Devourer
Chapter 38: A Solution To His Age Regression I

Chapter 38: A Solution To His Age Regression I

Ryuen strolled through the streets of the city, the cold night air cooling every nerve in his body.

The faint glow of the streetlights cast long shadows across the road, offering a clear view of the empty streets.

He had his hands in the coat pocket Daiki had given him, but his mind was still a mess, especially after Kaori’s confession.

"Morally gray..." he muttered to himself, the words echoing in his head.

She had no idea how right and wrong she was.

The Masked Crusader was the epitome of moral ambiguity, standing between the lines that defined a villain and a hero.

But more on the villain side.

And yet, hearing that she liked a few good things about him.

Completely unaware of who he actually was—sent a very uncomfortable chill down his spine.

His sister having a crush on him was already traumatizing.

Talk more about the scenarios she might have created in her head.

He shook his head, trying to clear the image of her dreamy eyes as she spoke about him.

It was unbearable.

The streets were mostly empty, except for a few late-night hustlers and shop owners packing up.

He couldn’t deny the city reminded him of Japan at midnight.

The streetlights, the aroma of freshly baked bread from the stores that opened for midnight wanderers.

And the alleyways with graffiti staining the walls—it was oddly beautiful, despite being illegal.

As he turned a corner, a small shop immediately caught his attention.

It was wedged between two huge buildings, with a metal sign above that simply read...

"Antique Café."

He frowned. "Isn’t this supposed to be a coffee store?"

He asked no one in particular, narrowing his eyes to get a better look.

The windows were blackened, but he could see the lights inside and nothing else.

The aroma of coffee and cake wafted toward him, enticing him like a siren’s song.

And as a coffee addict, he couldn’t help himself.

He hesitated for a moment, then glanced at his watch.

"Plenty of time before midnight," he said, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Maybe a few cups won’t hurt."

He moved toward the store and pushed the door open, causing a creaking sound as he stepped inside.

A small bell announced his entry.

The interior was spacious, split into two sections.

On one side was a café, and on the other was a regular shop setup with a counter by the door.

Shelves lined with various objects filled the shop. Many were kept inside glass cases, while others were books stacked neatly.

Almost immediately, Ryuen sensed a faint energy in the air.

Almost invisible, but enough to make the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

He wandered deeper into the shop until he found an empty seat at the back.

Settling there, he called for the waiter, who approached him with a warm smile.

"What can I get you?"

Ryuen dragged his gaze from the shelves to the man and smiled.

"What blend do you serve?"

The man looked stunned but quickly masked it, moving his gaze to the notebook in his hands.

"Mocha, latte, macchiato, cappuccino, and espresso."

"An espresso would be nice."

The man nodded, agreeing with his choice, but as he turned to leave, Ryuen stopped him.

"What type of beans?"

"You want a particular type?"

Ryuen raised a brow. "Can’t I ask what type of beans you use?"

"No... no, you can. I’m just a little surprised, that’s all."

"Oh," Ryuen mumbled, leaning against his hand that rested on the table. "So, what do you have?"

"Kona, Kagoshima, Hokkaido, Sakura blend, Kyoto blend..."

’Japanese coffee exists here too. That’s wonderful.’

Ryuen thought and cut the man off. "I’d like the Kyoto blend, more Arabian, and then Hokkaido-type beans."

"Do you want anything to go with it?"

"No, thank you," Ryuen replied with a warm smile.

As the man turned to leave, Ryuen’s expression turned cold again.

Suddenly, his system screen popped up before him:

_____

[LANDMARK REACHED]

Welcome to the Relic Shop

Enjoy coffee and gain knowledge from relics from various places.

Description: Relics are unique artifacts imbued with abilities or knowledge from the past. Each relic has a history and purpose. Use caution when interacting with them.

Relic Identified: Mark of Paradox

Type: Blue Coffee Beans

Effect: Offers the holder the ability to alter minor outcomes of events, but at a cost.

Cost: Life force or memories. Use sparingly.

_______

Ryuen blinked and instinctively scanned the shop to ensure no one was watching him.

It was then he realized he was the only person in the shop, which felt cozy but somehow strange.

He shifted his gaze back to the screen.

"Altering outcomes, huh?" he muttered, almost whispering, before moving his gaze to the picture of the object.

It was a jar filled with vibrant blue coffee beans, labeled Antique Café on the container.

It actually looked useful since the system would not hesitate to take a year off his life.

And while his memories were precious to him, there were a few he couldn’t quite place.

.emories that felt strange and unfamiliar, almost as if they didn’t belong to him.

"Do you feel it?"

Ryuen turned sharply, clenching his fists in preparation for a fight and instinctively reaching for a weapon that wasn’t there.

A man stood beside him, his appearance as peculiar as the shop itself.

He was tall and thin, with gray hair falling in messy strands over his face.

His gray eyes seemed lifeless, faintly glowing in the dim light.

"It chooses who sees it," the man continued, gesturing toward the far end of the shop, where a transparent case stood.

Inside the case were the vibrant blue beans.

"Not everyone who walks in here feels the energy... but you did."

Ryuen straightened. "Different how?"

The man smiled faintly.

"It recognizes strength, but also desperation. It knows when someone is willing to pay the price to get whatever they want."

"I’m not desperate," Ryuen said flatly, though he wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince the shopkeeper or himself.

But deep down, he could agree with the man—he would do anything or risk anything to achieve his goals.

"Not yet," the man replied, his tone teasing. "But you wouldn’t be here if fate didn’t intend it."

Ryuen shifted his gaze back to the vase, its intricate carvings too beautiful to look away from.

The idea of altering outcomes was undeniably tempting—especially with everything going on in his life.

He could use it to turn the tables on Jun, the king, and Aika.

Oh, how much he wanted to make her pay for what she did to him.

"What happens if I take it?" he asked in a low tone.

The man smiled. "That’s entirely up to you. But you should be careful—it doesn’t just grant power."

The man turned to face the vase. "It will test you in many ways."

Ryuen’s eyes narrowed.

He wasn’t sure he could trust the man, but if there was anything he’d learned in his 22 years of life, it was this:

Accepting what life throws at you shouldn’t make you give up.

It should make you stronger—make you face what comes next with a heart of steel.

If the system recognized the shop and the relic, then it had to be important.

It had to be useful.

"Fine," Ryuen said as he rose to his feet. "I’ll take it."