Chapter 324: A Promise Impossible to Keep

“A promise is impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because depending on the situation, you might not be given the chance to speak.”

This is merely an excuse.

Even today proves it.

It’s not like there was no ‘opportunity’ to speak, yet I didn’t say a single word, did I?

Because if I share my plans with the original protagonist, there’s a high chance the original author will also learn of them.

The original author might create a situation where my plans inevitably go awry, in order to push forward the ‘Supporting Character Death Event’ by any means necessary.

Or they might keep the situation the same but drastically boost the enemy’s stats…

‘Instead of the supporting character they originally intended to kill, they might try to eliminate me—someone who interferes with the story development they’ve envisioned.’

Therefore, I believe there will be more cases where I cannot share my plans with Reysir, the original protagonist, than cases where I can.

Especially in situations like today, where I need to draw the enemy’s aggro.

Because that’s how I can ensure my own safety.

“Ah, that makes sense? There might be times when I have to come up with a plan on the spot and execute it immediately…”

Fortunately, Reysir seemed to understand on his own.

Even though I gave a careless excuse because I couldn’t explain the real reason.

“If a situation comes where you have to take a risk like today, come to my side. I’ll protect you as best I can.”

“Nyaong!”

My Baby Dragon gave Reysir a thumbs-up.

It seemed quite pleased with his answer.

But instead of thanking him, I suddenly felt like asking, ‘What if you and I are too far apart?’

But rather than putting that sentence in double quotation marks as dialogue,

As you can see from this narrative, I never voiced that question.

Asking for an answer based on a premise that can’t be helped—

It felt more like a tantrum or sulking than presenting an agenda to discuss countermeasures.

And also, since when did I live relying on others?

‘If such a situation were to arise… I’ll just handle it myself, what else!’

I didn’t intend to reveal the thoughts in my head.

I pressed my lips together to suppress a bitter smile, and only nodded my head.

Then the protagonist of another novel—

“Ahahaha! You’re embarrassed.”

—laughed, thinking I had nodded out of shyness.

That’s ridiculous.

Because his last words were about protecting me, shaking my head would have been a refusal, so I simply nodded to affirm for my own safety.

“…Isn’t it time to move on to the next topic?”

“Yeah, yeah. I was about to do that anyway.”

If he had rambled again this time, I was planning to glare at him with all my might and refuse to engage.

But Reysir seemed eager to talk about his newly acquired skill, so he immediately pulled up his skill window and read through the displayed content.

Thus, the information that readers had known since Chapter 311 also became known to me at this point.

And I had a question.

“Did you deliberately omit the explanation that it was a skill derived from your {Attribute}?”

“Huh? No, I didn’t.”

“…No?”

“Yeah. That kind of thing isn’t written in the skill description.”

“……!”

I have no idea what’s going on.

For Aether Characteristic Skills, unless they are basic skills provided by default, they always come with the phrase ‘a skill derived from the reflection of {Attribute}.’

At least, that was the case according to the original work I read.

“When you used that skill on the Boss Monster, what did you see?”

“A small ball of light flickered near its shoulder. The moment I saw it, I just felt it. That place had the ‘Power Engine’ containing the Magic Core.”

Seeing something glowing is the same as when the ‘targeting’ option of the [Eye that Perceives Truth] was activated in the original work.

“Did you try using [Eye that Perceives Truth] on that ball of light?”

“Uh…? No, I didn’t.”

“……Well, the situation was urgent, so you wouldn’t have had the leisure to study the skill calmly. Next time you get a chance, try it. Maybe you’ll see different information than when using [Eye that Perceives Truth] alone.”

The fact that Reysir didn’t use [Eye that Perceives Truth] on that ball of light isn’t conclusive proof yet, but if he had, I’m confident he would have been able to read the information on the Power Engine.

Maybe later, as the [Eye that Perceives Truth] skill grows, something might change, but for now, functionally, it’s safe to say there’s not much difference from ‘targeting.’

‘No, wait? Rather than no difference in function, it’s more accurate to say that particular option separated from the existing skill and established itself as a new skill!’

Despite being a post-learned Aether Characteristic Skill, the fact that [Eye that Perceives Truth] was treated as a basic skill rather than one derived from {Attribute} might be why.

‘Maybe… the [Encourage] skill had an influence?’

This thought crossed my mind for a moment.

[Encourage] is a skill created by the reflection of {Attribute: Author}, and with the phrase ‘The narrative flows with the author’s sentences, and the characters move forward,’ it also has a description that it enhances the target’s potential.

But…

‘There’s no evidence, and the possibility is slim.’

It’s just me interpreting things to my advantage and fitting them to my taste.

It seems more likely that Author Senna simply forgot to include the phrase about being derived from {Attribute} when writing the skill description.

“As expected, Karbaldr is amazing, right?”

“……Why did you suddenly say that?”

“Because as soon as you heard that I saw something glowing, you immediately figured out how to connect it with the existing skill.”

“Isn’t that not such a big deal?”

It’s an idea anyone could easily come up with, and in my case, I didn’t even think of it.

I just knew about the ‘targeting’ option of [Eye that Perceives Truth] from reading the original novel.

That’s why I could sneer and retort, but apparently, my reaction seemed quite surprising to the protagonist of another novel.

‘He probably thought I’d blush and shy away at his praise, but no way.’

His expression, blinking in bewilderment, was truly a sight.

Even though I wasn’t fighting him, I somehow felt like I had won.

But the moment I show that emotion, I’ll fall from winner to laughingstock.

I kept a composed expression, poked a bite-sized Moyak Fruit with my fork, put it in my mouth, and chewed.

The nutty and sweet flavor danced on my tongue.

Just as I was feeling satisfied.

“Well, you would think that way. After all, I got the skill [Eye that Perceives Truth] entirely by following the advice you gave me. You must have already thought of how to utilize that skill, so it’s only natural you’d react so nonchalantly.”

Incomprehensible words came out of the other person’s mouth.

It was more than just embarrassing.

If I hadn’t had food in my mouth, I probably would have immediately demanded to know what the heck he was talking about.

“I may not have immediately thought of the application method and executed it, but as you said earlier, the situation was urgent, so don’t treat me like an idiot and understand, okay?”

“I… I never treated you like an idiot…”

I quickly chewed and swallowed the food, then replied with an expression that asked what he was talking about.

Yet the protagonist of another novel’s nonsense didn’t end.

“Then will you praise me?”

“What kind of bullshit is this?”

“I successfully completed the incredibly difficult task you gave me, didn’t I? You just threw out a hint—‘the power to perceive truths that cannot be known by just looking with the naked eye’—and told me to instantly create a skill I could use right away! Most people can’t do that!”

I have absolutely no idea when I ever gave such a task.

I simply applied a buff skill that enhances Aether Characteristic Abilities, and told him to try using an option he would gain when the existing skill grows.

‘Him interpreting that as a task to create a new skill is a comprehension issue on his part, isn’t it?’

And what does he mean by ‘most people can’t do that’?

Is he saying he’s not ‘ordinary,’ so I should treat him as special?

Did Nidhr’s chuunibyou rub off on him?

“It might be nothing to you—who researched the characteristics of Aether, learned three buff skills on your own, and even gave proper advice to others—but this is really amazing! If this gets out, it’ll turn the entire relevant academic world upside down!!”

“?!??!!”

I’d rather it be chuunibyou that rubbed off.

Now I see—the protagonist of another novel is under a huge misconception.

‘He thinks I created an Aether Characteristic Skill on my own…?’

Readers who have been reading this novel so far will know, but I never did that.

After awakening, I just opened my skill window, got surprised by unexpected skills, and was confused.

But what kind of thought process led him to that conclusion?

‘However, I do know what I absolutely have to say right now!’

Because I can’t have everyone’s attention on something I never did, or turn the innocent academic world upside down.

“Reysir.”

“Yeah?”

“It would be better for you to pass off the skill you created today as a coincidence, or a miracle caused by a temporary awakening effect from adrenaline secreted in an emergency… something like that.”

I said this with earnest sincerity.

Fortunately, the protagonist of another novel agreed with me.

“I was thinking the same thing. If it gets known that you not only created a skill yourself but also gave me proper advice that led me to gain a new skill, there will be many people bothering you. Especially the Imperial Family—they’ll pressure you with both authority and a noble cause. Maybe, since they’ll find your very existence too tempting, they might even kidnap you, lock you up, and just study you…”

Let me correct that.

I thought our thoughts were aligned in direction, but not only were they slightly off, they also stretched too far.

Though I felt somewhat displeased, it wasn’t an entirely impossible scenario.

So I played along with what the protagonist of another novel said.

“Uh, um… Right… Even with hints, it’s not something anyone can do—creating a skill by one’s own will… Honestly, I have no clue what kind of skills other people might be able to create… Maybe you’re a special case? Anyway, it’s like that… so if anyone asks me for advice on how to make new skills, that would be very troublesome.”

“Yeah. Then if someone asks me how I managed to create such a perfectly timed and appropriate skill, I’ll just say it was a miracle born from my desperate desire to live up to your expectations.”

“What?! That’s… not quite right, is it…?”

“It’s not wrong at all. I think this is the best way to make everyone understand that a skill exactly matching what you demanded came about.”

The protagonist of another novel’s expression as he said this was excessively resolute.

I could feel his determination to do exactly as he said, no matter what.