Chapter 1: In American Comics, Diagnosed With Mental Illness
Metropolis.
The sunlight was fairly bright.
Inside a psychiatrist’s consultation room.
A gentle breeze lightly stirred the curtain, with mottled light and shadow swaying on it. The youth sat on a sofa that wasn’t particularly comfortable, looking up at the psychiatrist in front of him.
“I don’t have mental illness.”
Ian Kent spoke softly.
“Everyone who comes to me basically thinks they aren’t sick.” The psychiatrist, impeccably dressed in a suit, resembled a gentleman with an elegant and upright posture; in front of him sat an exquisite notebook and a pen.
“It’s just that my parents often find me waking up in shock at night, so they think I need some psychological counseling.” Ian sat on the sofa, adjusting his position.
He seemed to be searching for the most comfortable sitting posture.
“What did you dream about?” The psychiatrist asked at the right moment and smoothly picked up the pen in front of him; his magnetic voice carried a power that could induce people to open up.
But Ian had no such need.
“Adolescent youths always have some unrealistic fantasies that they’re ashamed to talk about, right?” After pondering for a moment, Ian chose to give an evasive answer.
The psychiatrist nodded without changing his expression upon hearing this.
“I can understand that you don’t have much trust in me yet; we can talk about this issue later.” As he spoke, he scribbled on the notebook.
From Ian’s position, he couldn’t clearly see what the psychiatrist was writing.
“Maybe you can just prescribe some medicine for me directly.”
Ian proactively made a suggestion; compared to therapy through talking, he preferred to coolly show off some technology and tricks. There were things in his heart he didn’t want others to spy on.
For example, that he was a transmigrator, and also that his old man in this life was Superman with ears more sensitive than sonar detectors… and that world which appeared in his dreamscape every few days.
Everything seemed frozen, with snowflakes filling the sky and carrying fierce cold winds raging; the outlines of shattered buildings faintly appeared in the haze. Such an environment would make everyone walking in it feel increasingly oppressed.
It might be a nightmare.
It could also be some other thing.
After all, in this world where anything was possible, Ian wasn’t too sure what his dreamscape meant; he only knew he would wake up on time when the bell sound rang.
While Ian was lost in recollection, the psychiatrist had already stopped the nib. “In my profession, I haven’t seen many patients like you who actively ask for medicine.”
He seemed somewhat surprised.
“Although I firmly believe I have no mental illness, I occasionally still feel some symptoms of anxiety…” After a pause, Ian added in a somewhat cover-up manner, “It might be related to my rather heavy schoolwork; I think taking some medicine for this could help me calm my mood.”
The youth’s voice was very sincere and frank.
The psychiatrist subconsciously glanced at the top of Ian’s head, not finding any signs of pointed ears. “From what I know, your grades can be called extremely excellent.”
He was clearly doubting the source of Ian’s anxiety.
“Precisely because of that, to continuously stay ahead among peers my age, the pressure I bear is definitely far greater than others’.” Ian gave what seemed like a sincere but insincere answer.
“Mm.”
Upon hearing this, the psychiatrist first nodded, his deep gaze locking with Ian’s for a long time.
“I think you’re not telling the truth.”
He directly stated his view and recorded it again on the notebook. In response, Ian merely silently watched the psychiatrist’s actions.
The source of his anxiety indeed wasn’t schoolwork.
In fact, as a unlucky guy who scored over 700 on the Gaokao before transmigrating but was forced to restart before even attending university, the learning tasks at this public school weren’t actually difficult for him.
The thing that truly made Ian feel anxious actually stemmed from the golden finger he had only recently awakened, the so-called transmigrator benefit in most people’s mouths.
When the “ding” sounded in his mind, he knew he was no longer an ordinary mortal; however, the system’s awakening didn’t make him happy for long.
This system was different from the sign-in systems, check-in systems, or even eat soft rice systems he had dreamed of; it was more like a character panel from an unfinished game.
【Name: Ian Kent】
【Ordinary Profession: Student lv7〔12/640〕】
【Supernatural Profession: None】
【World Recognition: Ordinary NPC】
【Strength: 0.7】
【Constitution: 1.5】
【Intelligence: 2.3】
【Spirit: 2.5】
【Talent Skills: None】
【General Skills: Learning〔Elite〕】
【General Skill Points: 7】
……
There were no tasks, no mall, no fancy functions of all kinds; there was only a panel, and the function to datafy and innovate Ian’s abilities and situation.
【Learning】 This skill might be a remnant from his previous life, innately at〔Elite〕 quality, allowing Ian to learn new knowledge at a speed surpassing most peers his age.
However, since Ian hadn’t entered society in either his previous or this life, and book knowledge didn’t manifest as skills, his skills section looked a bit empty.
The real reason Ian felt anxious was the 【World Recognition】 shown on the system panel; the glaring “Ordinary NPC” stung him so much he wished his corneas would fall out.
His liver, gallbladder, and kidneys also felt in jeopardy.
Wasn’t this the perfect template for sacrificing to the heavens, to stimulate his family’s potential and talent? Ian watched some movies in his daily life, so he naturally had suspicions about this.
After all, American dramas loved this trope.
And wasn’t he currently living in an American comics world? It was worth noting that after awakening this system, Ian also realized he wasn’t his parents’ biological child in this life. What could be a better sacrifice to ignite Superman’s fighting spirit and his two older brothers’ bloodline potential than an adopted son!
How to survive!
This was Ian’s greatest anxiety after dying once; although he was working hard to level up his 【Student】 profession, besides some upgrades to intelligence and spirit attributes, he had only gained seven general skill points. This could at most be used to learn and upgrade skills like 【Cooking】 or 【Dancing】.
Reading might not change fate.
It had truly materialized for Ian.
He even felt somewhat despair because of this, which was why he proactively suggested wanting medicine. As for the true cause of this anxiety, Ian had no way to tell it to the psychiatrist in front of him.
The reason wasn’t just the unspeakable secret issue.
It was more because the psychiatrist his parents found for him had a name that didn’t sound like a good person’s— Ian’s gaze glanced toward the nameplate on the doctor’s desk.
【Hannibal Lecter】
Yes.
Right upon entering.
Ian had noticed the psychiatrist’s extraordinary nature.
This damn prejudice.
He only hoped it was truly that he had severe paranoia.
