Temple of the Demon Lord of Wishes-Chapter 75: Awaited Changes

After finishing the discussion with Nathan and Reves, Ivaim leaned back against the counter, arms crossed. The quiet warmth of the bakery was a stark contrast to the weight of their conversation.

He let out a small sigh, glancing at the two.

"Well, that’s that, then. We’ll see what happens at the Regionals," Ivaim said, his tone steady but edged with uncertainty. "I’ll do my best."

Reves grinned faintly, though the boy’s usual enthusiasm was dampened by the gravity of their talk.

"You better. No excuses."

Nathan stood near the door, his gaze sharp as ever.

"Do more than your best," he said bluntly, his voice like a command. "If you don’t, you won’t stand a chance."

Ivaim chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Always the optimist, huh?"

Nathan didn’t reply, only giving a curt nod before stepping outside. The faint jingle of the doorbell echoed in the air, signaling his departure.

Reves hesitated for a moment before following, but not before looking back at Ivaim.

"You’ll be fine. don’t worry uncle..." the boy said quietly, his confidence tempered with concern.

’That would’ve been nice to hear without the uncle part...’ Ivaim’s lips twitched as he forced a small smile.

Once the door closed, the bakery settled into silence, save for the soft rustle of paper bags and trays being shifted at the counter.

Grandma Neli was wiping her flour-dusted hands on her apron, her movements slow and methodical.

"An old friend?" she asked, her raspy voice breaking the stillness. She glanced over her shoulder, her weathered face curious but kind.

Ivaim offered a faint smile.

"Yeah. Something like that."

She nodded, her expression thoughtful.

"Good to know."

He didn’t reply, but the weight of her words lingered in the air. Neli turned back to the counter, stacking trays and brushing off stray crumbs.

"Don’t forget to clean up the counters, the kneading boards, and the trays," she said, her tone brisk but familiar.

"Check the oven too. I don’t want a repeat of last time."

Ivaim nodded, rolling up his sleeves.

"I’m on it."

She began packing the leftover loaves and pastries into small bundles, muttering to herself.

"These will go to the orphanage tomorrow..."

Just as Ivaim moved to grab a rag, a sudden, unnatural sensation gripped him.

It was as if his heart skipped a beat—no, trembled—like something had reached inside and shaken the very core of his being.

His hand froze mid-motion, and his eyes widened. A faint, glowing screen materialized before him, its text sharp and otherworldly:

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

[Believer Count has Reached 50, your Title and Authority have now undergone a qualitative change.]

[The title, Spirit of Good Luck, has been updated...]

[A new title is now being generated according to your existence...]

Ivaim blinked, his heart racing. ’What does that mean?’

Before he could even fully process the strange words, the screen continued, flashing a new title in bold letters:

[New title Obtained]

Spirit of Temptation

Ivaim’s mouth twitched as he read the words. He felt a slight shiver run down his spine.

’Spirit of Temptation?’

The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. "Great," he muttered under his breath. "Now I sound like some sort of incubus..."

The screen flickered again, showing another message.

[Reality Master’s Title has now been adjusted accordingly.]

[System will now function properly.]

[A new Authority has been distributed]

The sensation of something shifting deep within him made Ivaim’s skin prickle. He had grown used to the system updates, but something about this felt... different. As though his very existence was being shaped.

[Authority Gained : Influence]

Ivaim’s brow furrowed.

’Influence?’

His mind raced with questions, but before he could think too much, a final message appeared.

[Skill has been gained]

[Whisper] (Memory Middle-Tier) :Allows the user to whisper in the ears of a target despite standing from a distance. This allows the user to subtly influence their target’s thinking

Ivaim stood there, speechless for a moment, staring at the screen.

’Whisper? Influence? What kind of power is this?’

He laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck in a self-deprecating manner.

"Is this because I keep using my mouth too often?" he thought aloud, shaking his head with a dry chuckle.

’If only it had been something more... useful. Like combat skills, or something that could make my fights easier.’

Ivaim sighed, slumping his shoulders as he leaned against the counter.

’Unluckily, it’s not an physically offensive type...’ His mood dampened further as the reality of his new abilities settled in. He had hoped for something more... practical, something that could help him out of the countless tough spots he often found himself in.

Instead, he’d received a power based on subtlety. He couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

The screen in front of him flickered again, and this time, he felt the urge to test out his new abilities. His eyes scanned the bakery, where Grandma Neli had just finished cleaning the counters.

She was now packing up the leftover bread, humming softly to herself as she moved about the room.

’Hm, maybe not Grandma Neli...’ Ivaim thought, glancing toward the window instead. Outside, a man was walking toward the bakery.

His gait was purposeful, but something about the way he approached the door made Ivaim curious.

The man was dressed in a thick coat, his face partially obscured by a scarf, but there was a hint of hesitation in his step, as though he was second-guessing his decision to come inside.

Ivaim’s lips curled into a faint smile.

’Hm, you’ll do.’ He took a slow, steadying breath and closed his eyes for a moment, centering himself. He focused on the subtle energy now pulsing beneath his skin as he activated his new skill— [Whisper]

He murmured, barely parting his lips.

"Turn back."

The words floated on the air, reaching the man’s ears with uncanny precision. He took another step, but then his foot faltered mid-stride.

His brow furrowed slightly as he stopped in front of the door, hesitating. He glanced back over his shoulder, looking uncertain for a moment, before taking a step back.

The man stood still, almost as if he were battling with himself. He glanced inside through the window, his eyes catching the sight of the warm light and the shelves of freshly baked goods.

Yet, after a few seconds, he turned around and walked away, heading down the street instead.

Ivaim watched the man retreat, his smirk fading into a thoughtful expression.

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’Ah, my bad, might’ve just made us lose some profit...’

He couldn’t help but feel a little guilty, but at the same time, there was a strange sense of satisfaction that washed over him.

’So, this is what I can do with this power. Subtle, but effective...’