Not to mention the parents fishing in the countryside of Hokkaido from the original host’s memories, and Evelyn Harris, who is still in elementary school in the countryside—suddenly treating those strangers as family was a bit of a psychological hurdle for Edward Harris.

So, being able to live in New Tokyo, Edward Harris definitely didn’t want to go back to his old home.

Of course, that’s only if he can first graduate smoothly from Takehara South Private Academy.

Edward Harris hadn’t held out much hope for this before, but after a dreamlike encounter last night, he inexplicably gained a “Sin Handbook” in his mind.

Although the fastest and most direct way to gain attribute points is by catching criminals, that comes with certain risks—if he runs into a truly vicious outlaw, he might end up getting himself killed.

Fortunately, there’s also a “dumb method.”

That is: exercise.

Exercise is tough, but as the saying goes, “one must seek out hardship to grow”—otherwise, how could there be the saying “after suffering comes happiness”?

Before going to bed last night, Edward Harris set up a “civilian training” routine for himself, combining push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and running.

Why not just get a gym membership?

Well, no money.

The bonus from the Metropolitan Police Department only covers a little over two months’ rent and living expenses—where would he get extra cash?

But since the so-called “body limiter” was forcibly broken and removed by the Sin Handbook’s point-adding method, and last night he confirmed that even the simplest exercise—push-ups—was effective (even if the effect wasn’t that “obvious”), Edward Harris felt that gradually increasing the intensity of his workouts could be quite feasible.

After all, you don’t get fat in one bite.

Edward Harris was lucky enough to live again.

Before, he had no choice but to let himself go.

Now, the chance to establish himself in this world was right in front of him—even if it was tough and tiring, he was full of motivation.

......

After washing up with his sore and aching body, Edward Harris changed into the Takehara South High School uniform—a white long-sleeved shirt, a brown two-button suit jacket with an embroidered school badge on the left chest.

After putting on gray-blue long trousers, Edward Harris picked up his black briefcase, and as he left, grabbed a clean tie from behind the door. The lower part of the tie had a pattern of interwoven white lines, and he carefully tied it in front of the mirror.

As the saying goes, clothes make the man.

For Edward Harris, even though the Takehara South Private Academy uniform was already finely tailored, it looked even more refined and aristocratic on him—no one would guess at first glance that he was a country boy from a small fishing village in Hokkaido.

As he went down the stairs, he happened to run into John Watson from the same floor, and Emily Watson, who was rubbing her sleepy face and holding a somewhat worn-out stuffed bunny with floppy ears. The two were washing up in the hallway.

Edward Harris couldn’t help but glance at the time on his phone—5:42. He felt a bit puzzled.

Why get up so early?

John Watson works at a nightclub and usually doesn’t get up before noon.

Emily Watson’s elementary school doesn’t start until 8:30. Kids need plenty of sleep to grow.

But since their father was with them, Edward Harris, as an outsider, didn’t feel it was his place to comment. He shook his head and continued downstairs.

......

Thump thump thump—!

Just as he reached the third floor, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed in his ears. Even though Edward Harris didn’t turn his head, a 360-degree image instantly appeared in his mind.

The all-around perspective of the “Nine-Eyed Six Paths.”

In the image, a long-haired girl in a navy windbreaker uniform and boots, with a briefcase tucked under her arm and a sandwich in her mouth, was skillfully tying her hair into a ponytail with her right hand as she strode down the third-floor corridor.

Normally, the girl wouldn’t be able to stop in time and would probably crash right into Edward Harris in the hallway.

Hmm... very much like a scene from a morning drama in the Land of Wa.

But what hasn’t Edward Harris seen before?

He simply flipped his black briefcase in his hand, quickly stepped forward with his left leg, followed with his right, squatted down, gripped his “shield” with both hands, and instantly struck upward at a 45-degree angle—striking a classic anti-riot “upper block” pose.

......

“Crap! I’m going to be late! Damn it! Stupid old man insists I come home once a week!”

In the corridor, the hurriedly walking Mary Bennett muttered under her breath, about to speed up and dash down the stairs as usual as she turned the corner.

She’d lived in this apartment building since she was little, and in middle school she could dash down several flights in just a few big steps.

But in the next instant, her whole body froze—a black... briefcase appeared right in front of her?

All this sounds complicated,

But it happened in a split second.

There wasn’t even time to shout.

Bang!

Sure enough, unable to stop in time, Mary Bennett’s face crashed right into it, and her “beautiful girl embracing the morning” expression instantly twisted.

It didn’t really hurt, but it was pretty annoying.

Who the heck was this?

......

“Senior Mary?”

At this moment, a calm voice sounded from behind the briefcase.