SCIAW: Chapter 241/242

Chapter 241: Amulet
"Amamiya, what were you doing just now?"

After watching Ren clearly finish writing, Aizawa Sakuya asked curiously.

Having completed the daily log, Ren took out a rather ordinary-looking white amulet. It appeared metallic, resembling a special kind of badge.

"This is what I was working on."

Staring at the round badge in front of her, Aizawa Sakuya blurted out instinctively:

"A badge?"

"To be precise, it's an amulet," Ren corrected her simply before explaining further.

"This is actually a defensive amulet, somewhat similar to a flash bomb. When thrown, it emits an intense light. Anyone whose eyes are exposed to that light will be hypnotized by it, losing self-awareness and the ability to resist for a short period of time."

"It was my first time operating it earlier. I didn't expect that some of its power would leak out just as it was nearly completed."

Aizawa Sakuya recalled the bright flash she had seen before fainting. So, it was that flash that had made her dizzy.

However, she didn't feel like she had lost consciousness completely.

So she asked instinctively:

"But I didn't lose consciousness. I only saw the white flash, and then, when the light faded…"

Suddenly, Aizawa Sakuya realized something.

"Amamiya, how long was I unconscious just now?"

"About half an hour… well, to be exact, forty-three minutes," Ren replied after checking the time, giving her an answer accurate down to the minute.

This response left Aizawa Sakuya a little stunned. She genuinely felt like it had only been the blink of an eye. Who would have thought she had been out for so long?

"Lose self-awareness… and resistance… for a short period of time…"

"Forty-three minutes. You call that a short period?"

Aizawa Sakuya felt that forty-three minutes was anything but short.

"That's for ordinary people," Ren replied calmly. "Also, you're still young, and your resistance isn't very strong. For adults, the duration would be shorter, probably around thirty minutes. For those who have undergone special training, it would likely be effective for about twenty minutes."

"If it's Kaguya and the others, it would probably last about one minute at most. For Ran, it would probably only work for twenty seconds."

Listening to Ren's explanation, Aizawa Sakuya felt her earlier judgment had been correct.

"Even so, this amulet is still incredibly powerful. After all, those with special resistance are the minority. Most people in the world are ordinary. This amulet is still very useful."

For ordinary people, it was essentially forced control for forty minutes. If they encountered danger, using this amulet could completely save them from the crisis.

Aizawa Sakuya carefully examined the amulet. On the surface, there was nothing special about it, which meant that most people would not be able to defend against it.

"But if this amulet is used carelessly, wouldn't it also put me at risk?"

Ren nodded slightly.

"There's indeed that issue. This kind of amulet activates when thrown to the ground, and the strong light affects everyone indiscriminately within a fifteen-meter radius. If I'm also within that range, I'd be affected as well."

"But there's actually a way to avoid that. With the right protective measures, the user can prevent being affected."

Aizawa Sakuya agreed that there had to be some kind of safeguard. Otherwise, this amulet would be too dangerous to use.

"Why did you suddenly decide to make this kind of amulet?"

Ren simply shook his head lightly at her question.

"I've actually had the idea for a while. In critical moments, a disposable defensive tool like this could make a huge difference."

"But the main reason is still Sonoko. Her situation is different from others. The power she receives doesn't directly strengthen herself. Her abilities are more auxiliary, so in essence, she's no different from an ordinary girl. She also needs some tools to protect herself."

Aizawa Sakuya understood immediately.

Because of her lack of abilities, Sonoko had to rely on external means to ensure her safety.

As someone who was also an ordinary person, Aizawa Sakuya could easily relate. After all, she had often been targeted for kidnapping in the past. Being from a family that was distant relatives of the Sanzenin, with some assets of their own, it was inevitable that they'd be targeted.

If she had self-defense tools like this back then, it would have made a big difference when dealing with kidnappers.

Ren gently pushed the amulet he made toward Aizawa Sakuya.

"Miss Aizawa, this amulet is for you."

"Huh? For me?"

Although Aizawa Sakuya had really wanted it, she hadn't expected Ren to give it to her. She thought he would be giving it to Sonoko.

"Well, Miss Aizawa is actually in a more dangerous situation. It's necessary for you to have some self-defense tools. Sonoko is usually with us, but Miss Aizawa isn't."

"Hmm…"

Indeed, Aizawa Sakuya hadn't planned to transfer to Teitan High School. She was doing fine at her current school and didn't see the need to transfer.

Under those circumstances, the only times she could meet up with the group were on weekends or when she occasionally took leave.

From that perspective, she was certainly the one who needed self-defense items the most.

"Then, I'll take it."

Without any false modesty, Aizawa Sakuya chose to accept it directly.

"Then, how do I avoid getting caught by the amulet's effect myself? Can I wear sunglasses?"

"That won't work," Ren shook his head slightly.

"The strong light works as a form of hypnosis and suggestion. It's not just ordinary light. Simply turning your head won't help. As long as you catch even a glimpse of the flash, you'll be affected. Unless you use special equipment to cover your eyes completely, it won't make a difference."

"As for the method I mentioned—"

At that moment, the RV slowly came to a stop, cutting off the conversation.

"Amamiya, Sakuya, we're here."

Nagi's excited voice came from the first floor.

Ren shook his head slightly and glanced at Aizawa Sakuya.

"Looks like we'll have to talk about this another time."

Aizawa Sakuya felt a little frustrated, like something had gotten stuck in her throat. The words were right there, yet she had to swallow them back.

But there was no helping it. After all, the weekend trip had already brought them to their destination.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to find time later."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 242: Deep Mountain Hot Spring Inn
The hot spring hotel we booked is located deep in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, but judging by the condition of the road, it is well maintained and does not look like a road that has been left neglected for long.

There are many green plants on both sides of the path, all carefully trimmed.

If these fast-growing plants were not pruned for even a week, they would quickly lose their neat appearance. However, there was no such problem here. Clearly, the plants are maintained frequently.

The name of the hotel is not particularly complicated, just two words: Benkei.

The moment Ren looked at the hot spring inn, he immediately had a certain feeling.

This must be one of those exclusive places that will never appear on maps.

The world of the wealthy… I really don't understand it.

Shaking his head, Ren reminded himself that his knowledge came from the perspective of an ordinary person. Naturally, he did not possess the mindset of the rich.

Although he had read many novels about the ultra-rich in the past, he had also seen many comments claiming that most of the scenarios in such novels were just fantasy. After all, real rich people would not write openly about their daily lives, as that would only attract resentment.

Ren agreed. Why would the wealthy expose their everyday life for no reason? That would only invite trouble.

It could only be said that ordinary people really cannot easily understand the world of the rich.

As they approached the entrance, a group of female staff dressed in the uniforms typical of hot spring inns stepped out to greet them.

The lead staff member bowed slightly.

"Welcome, Miss Kaguya."

Kaguya nodded politely while pulling her suitcase.

"Thank you for your assistance with this trip."

"No, this is our duty."

The lead female staff member stepped forward and took Kaguya's luggage.

The staff behind her also moved in sequence, collecting everyone's luggage, then returning to the rear to stand neatly in two lines.

"Everyone, please follow me."

The lead staff member turned slightly, pulling the suitcase along as she guided the group forward.

Walking into the hotel, they were greeted by rows of lush green bamboo at the entrance. Standing there, one could smell the fragrance of bamboo and earth. Surprisingly, there was no trace of the sulfur scent typical of hot springs.

After passing through the dining area and entertainment section, they reached the residential quarters.

Along the way, Ren found himself a little dazzled.

The paintings and calligraphy hanging on the walls, the porcelain pots decorating the greenery—viewed from the eyes of a Marauder, almost every object was highlighted as a valuable item.

Clearly, all of these decorations were high-value collectibles. If they were stolen and sold, each one would easily qualify as an antique.

It was truly luxurious.

Using such valuable antiques as hotel decorations… this level of extravagance was hard to imagine.

Shaking his head slightly, Ren followed the group to his assigned room.

"Mr. Amamiya, this is your room."

"Thank you."

The female staff carried his luggage inside and turned on the lights. The room was softly lit, with a slightly dim ambiance.

There was an outdoor area attached to the room, furnished with armchairs, a parasol, and a sizable swimming pool.

The room was fully equipped, and both the bedroom and bathroom had a home-like feel.

Of course, to Ren, this so-called homey atmosphere did not feel particularly significant. Perhaps for Kaguya and the others, it might feel more like home.

The outdoor space faced the scenic view of the back mountain, where rows of green plants were carefully arranged. As Ren glanced over, every plant was highlighted clearly in his vision. Without needing any explanation, he could tell that these were all high-value species.

Beyond the vegetation was a bamboo forest.

In the depths of the bamboo grove, mist could be seen rising.

Ren asked curiously, "Is there a hot spring in the back mountain?"

"Yes," the staff member replied immediately.

"Continuing past the residential area, there is a long path that leads to a natural hot spring in the back mountain. While it has been modified slightly for better use, it remains a natural hot spring. To maintain its condition, the hot spring is not divided into separate sections, so it is mixed bathing."

"In addition, the back mountain is also part of the hotel grounds. There are strict security measures in place, with guards patrolling the perimeter at all times to ensure that no outsiders can enter the private area."

She gave a brief explanation of the hot spring's setup and emphasized the hotel's safety, reassuring that no unauthorized person could enter this private hot spring facility.

A natural hot spring… it really creates a certain atmosphere.

Seeing that Ren had no further questions, the staff continued, "Mr. Amamiya, if you need anything, there is a landline here that connects directly to me."

"If there's nothing else, I will take my leave."

Ren nodded slightly, thanking the staff for her explanation.

"Alright. Thank you, I have no questions."

Hearing this, the staff bowed slightly and quietly exited the room.

Standing alone in the room, Ren took a deep breath.

"It really is hard to imagine the life of the wealthy."

Shaking his head, he began unpacking his suitcase, taking out his belongings one by one.

There was still half an hour before lunch. Now was the time to change into the bathrobe provided by the hot spring hotel and think about the hot spring visit after the meal.

It might take the girls a while to get ready, but as a guy, Ren really didn't need that much time to prepare.

After taking everything out of the suitcase, Ren stepped outside and continued crafting amulets using chalk and incense.

"My first attempt at making a one-time use amulet was quite successful, except for some mistakes at the start."

Ren was quite satisfied with the amulet he had crafted earlier. As a defensive item, it was very effective. Against ordinary people, it could completely immobilize them for forty minutes.

In addition to the control effect, there was also a very specific amulet designed to weaken and disable the target.

"Pray to yourself, then respond to your own prayers. Although the process is a bit troublesome, the results are pretty good. It feels somewhat like a gift system, only in the form of props."

"Next, maybe I could try making some items mixed with extraordinary abilities. I'm not sure whether the gift system can produce such props."

Ren was uncertain about this and knew he would have to experiment to find out.

"But for now, maybe I should start by crafting some simple ones, like luck charms or purification amulets."

Nodding to himself, Ren immediately began testing his next amulet-making attempt.

(To be continued.)