“By the way, what are the ranks of your three Aether Attribute skills?”
“Mine is S-rank too.”
“I’ll tell you in advance just in case you feel bad for me. I have no regrets about my Aether Attribute skill being B-rank. Elemental types are fairly common to begin with, and I barely practiced at all.”
Unlike Reysir Daudabina, who answered Vigdis’s question simply, Hailga went on at length.
The skill ranks the others revealed were either A or S. In the midst of that, she likely worried that mentioning her own B-rank would create an atmosphere of pity.
However, regardless of what Hailga thought of her own skill rank, the readers would probably find it strange. For a character who would have been a valuable comrade if she hadn’t fallen victim to the ‘Heejuk’ incident in the original work, her skill rank seemed far too low.
‘If I were to state my hypothesis combined with the elemental skill settings…’
Everyone might have forgotten, but Nidhr’s skill name is [Earth Mastery]. Hailga’s skill name is [Flame Mastery]. As you can see, the attributes are different, but the suffix is the same. On the other hand, the skill name of Reysir, who possesses lightning abilities of the same elemental category, is [Lightning Dominion].
This is a characteristic of elemental abilities.
From F to D-rank, the name is [Element] Manipulation.
From C to A-rank, it is [Element] Mastery.
From S to SSS-rank, the naming follows the pattern of [Element] Dominion.
‘And just before the author Senna posted the notice of indefinite hiatus, the Original Protagonist’s skill hit EX-rank and the name changed to [Lightning God]!’
Although I suspect the fundamental reason was to make it easier to reuse skill names, it feels like the build-up was done properly.
‘So, there must be a reason why the rank of Hailga, a Heroine Candidate, is low.’
Despite never having practiced seriously, her skill name is ‘Mastery’ rather than ‘Manipulation.’ This can be taken as a clue that she isn’t talentless. If her rank rises quickly to A shortly after she begins training, it would further reinforce that image. Then, if she reaches S-rank through a special event and her skill name changes…
‘It could have solidly built a growth-type heroine narrative.’
To think he had to kill off a character he had meticulously shaped just because the readers hated her so much. How heartbroken must the author Senna have been? As a fellow writer, I couldn’t help but feel empathy and sympathy.
“The Tsundere Young Lord’s buff skill must be high rank too, right? He is a direct descendant of the Austri Ducal Family, after all.”
“Mine is S-rank as well.”
Hearing my answer, Hailga nodded as if she had expected it. Reysir and Liolikin also showed similar sentiments.
“I knew it! My stats increased quite a lot after receiving the buff. I figured it would be S-rank.”
“Th-that’s right! I felt m-myself becoming… incredibly strong..! My strength was just, just overflowing…! Th-that’s why I found the c-courage to s-stand in front of the monster…!”
Since these two naturally have very high physical stats, it is only natural that the stat increase would be significant when the [Goyang] skill, a multiplier-based buff, is applied.
However, Vigdis, who hadn’t even been training for a year, tilted her head in confusion.
“Was it really that much…?”
She seemed to think Reysir and Liolikin were exaggerating.
“Karbaldr mentioned before that the reason my physical abilities improved so noticeably after receiving the buff was because my body was already well-trained.”
“Does that mean the effect is greater the better the foundation is?”
“Yeah. For reference, both my stamina and strength stats are over 100. How about you, Vigdis?”
“My stamina is 51, and my strength is only 40….”
According to the settings of the Original Work, the average stamina and strength of an ordinary adult male who hasn’t received separate training is around 40. For Vigdis, a woman, to achieve those numbers in just ten months of training is actually quite impressive.
Nevertheless, the reason Vigdis was shocked and felt her stats were too low was that Reysir’s stamina and strength stats were far too high compared to his physique.
“B-but Reysir, is that r-really true?! My strength s…stat just barely broke 100, so how…?”
It seemed Liolikin was equally shocked by the disclosure of Reysir’s stats. He looked Reysir up and down with an expression of utter disbelief.
However, I wasn’t even slightly surprised by the fact that Reysir and Liolikin had similar strength.
‘Because the genre of this novel is fantasy, and Reysir is the Original Protagonist! That itself is the probability!’
For example, among the Heroine Candidates in the Original Work, there was a character whose strength stat exceeded 150. That female character, who used a giant hammer as a weapon, was set to have a short stature and a frail build.
Compared to that, how is Reysir’s physique? He isn’t bulky like Liolikin, but he has broad shoulders and solid muscles. For a build like that, having a strength over 100 is actually quite modest.
“It’s true… though it’s a shame I can’t show others the text that only I can see….”
“C-can we try arm wrestling n-next semester…?”
“Sure, sounds good.”
Liolikin usually lacks confidence in everything, but he seemed to have quite a bit of pride in his muscles. Unable to believe Reysir’s words, Liolikin even set up an arm-wrestling appointment.
However, since he decided to do it next semester rather than right now, the arm wrestling match between the two would likely never happen.
“A…and, Sister Vigdis. If you are worried about your strength being weak, why don’t we take the Basic Physical Training lecture together next semester? You know, me, Lord Karbaldr, and you. The th-three of us.”
“I already do physical training every day… is there a need to take a lecture?”
“O-of course there is!”
Liolikin began to explain enthusiastically ‘why professional help is necessary when building muscle.’
I can guarantee that no reader would want to see a description of such a scene. Therefore, while omitting that part, I will also skip the small talk that followed and resume the narrative from the moment we got off the carriage.
***
“I guess we won’t be able to meet for a while. I don’t know about the others… but Karbaldr, that guy definitely won’t respond to any invitations or visit requests.”
While standing in line to use the Gate and waiting for our turn, Reysir spoke up with a look of regret. He sent me a gaze mixed with both resentment and anticipation.
His intention was obvious. He probably thought my heart would weaken if he stared at me desperately, but not a chance.
‘If we meet during the break, all I’ll hear is more talk about him dropping out.’
It would be fortunate if that was all I heard after having fun. Following the rule that ‘incidents always happen around the protagonist,’ I might suddenly get caught in a Demonic Realm and end up on the verge of death. Since this was the point where the angst arc began in the Original Work, the possibility was more than enough.
I snorted and turned my head away sharply, indicating a firm refusal. At my behavior, Reysir let out a small chuckle and muttered quietly, “So prickly as always!”
Even if talking to oneself is a basic skill for a protagonist character, I wondered if he really had to voice those thoughts out loud.
“Anyway, I really had fun being with you guys this past semester.”
“I-I also had a lot, a lot of fun…! So next s-semester, definitely…! We all have to p-play together again…?”
“I had a lot of fun too. I’m already looking forward to the start of the next term.”
“The time spent with everyone was quite enjoyable for me as well. I hope we can spend even more time together next semester.”
Following the Original Protagonist’s words, everyone chimed in with a sentence starting with “I also.” Even Hailga, who had the same destination as Reysir.
Since I was the only one who hadn’t spoken yet, five pairs of eyes turned toward me simultaneously. The reason there were five pairs of eyes when there were only four people besides me was because Yor was also looking at me.
However, unlike the others, the baby Dragon wasn’t looking at me to pressure me for an answer. Seeing that gaze filled with concern, I wondered if I had looked like I was having quite a bit of fun with them.
‘It would be great if they just thought I couldn’t say anything because I was maintaining Karbaldr’s character…! But it doesn’t seem like that’s what that look means…!’
Just as it was starting to feel burdensome to keep my mouth shut because everyone’s gaze refused to leave me.
Fortunately, the people standing in front of us disappeared through the Gate. Taking the opportunity, I quickly hugged Yor, stepped onto the empty Gate circle, and announced my destination to the attendant.
“Karbaldr! Have a good break and let’s meet again next semester!!”
He hadn’t managed to get me to say I had fun, but he must have wanted to at least get a proper goodbye. Reysir shouted the words above while waving his arm wide.
How persistent.
“…You stay well too.”
At the same moment the Gate activated and the circle drawn beneath my feet emitted an intense light, my body began to float. It was at that very moment I thought it might be better to say goodbye since it was the last time, just so I wouldn’t have any regrets.
So, as I said those words, I think I might have accidentally smiled a little. It was because a sense of achievement and relief washed over me, realizing that I had actually achieved the goal I had voiced back in Chapter 39, which was close to a mere wish.
In a flash, the light that had dyed my vision turquoise scattered, the floating sensation vanished, and my feet touched the solid floor.
“……They probably couldn’t see it because of the light, right?”
“Nyaa, myooo.”
At my question, Yor shrugged his shoulders and made a cat sound. Judging by the gesture, I suspected he was saying he wasn’t sure either.
It felt naggingly uncomfortable, but what could I do about it now? It’s not like I could go back and claim, ‘I never smiled! If it looked like I smiled, that was just an illusion created by the light!’
‘Ugh, I don’t know anymore…!’
I tried to shake off the worries and regrets popping up in my head as I walked. As I exited the Gate facility, I saw a luxurious carriage emblazoned with the crest of the Austri Ducal Family waiting there. It was the same carriage and the same coachman from when I left the Duke’s Territory.
Thinking nothing of it, I opened the door to board the carriage, only to find an unexpected guest already seated inside.
“Grrrrrrr…”
“……”
I carefully closed the door. This was a reflexive response based on the survival instinct engraved in my DNA. I guarantee that if the readers opened a door and locked eyes with an unfamiliar predator, they would have done the exact same thing.
‘That just now… was a Leopard, wasn’t it? With pure white fur and purple eyes…’
Only after going through the process of information processing did I realize that the predator I just saw was a Familiar belonging to House Austri.
I regained my composure and tried to open the carriage door again. However, before I could, the door opened automatically, and a voice—calm, almost to the point of being cold—reached my ears.
“Little brother, stop playing around and get in.”
Because of the leopard’s presence, I hadn’t noticed earlier, but there was also a person inside the carriage. Naturally, that person was the master of the leopard-like Familiar, the eldest child of the Austri Family, and Karbaldr’s older sister.
It was Ragfrid Austrie.