SWNOVELXO Volume 1 Chapter 53 - I want skills
I got out of the taxi and headed to the back entrance, nodding to the security guard before entering the guild. Passing through the corridor to the back of the reception desk, I walked out into the lobby.
Surprisingly, there were a few other adventurers present even though it was a Monday afternoon. I thought to myself that unusual things do happen as I made my way over to Kaede-chan.
“Hello.”
“Hello.”
When I greeted her, Kaede-chan greeted me back. As expected, when she talks to Eleanore, her tone is a bit more business-like.
“It’s crowded today.”
“It’s sad to call five people crowded, but yes.”
Oops, my apologies. But it can’t be helped, usually, it’s just me here.
“Is it because of the auction?”
“Probably… it starts today. Maybe they’re just rubberneckers?”
Well, they have too much time on their hands.
“Let’s head to our usual spot.”
I didn’t specify where since there were people around, and you never know who might be listening.
“Understood. You should go quickly.”
Kaede-chan said, placing her sword and staff at the reception desk. This likely meant that Nanapon was already on her way and waiting for me at the Diana Mine.
“What do you think?”
I touched my ponytail.
“You decided to tie it up. It suits you.”
Her reaction is a bit subdued…
“Does it really not suit me?”
“No, it does! Just check the internet when you get home. You’ve become the Frontier princess who can’t even tie her own hair…”
Is that a joke I made to Claire at the ramen shop? Did someone hear and believe it?
“That’s stupid. I’m clearly not a princess.”
I’m a witch, actually.
“Well, rumors tend to grow tails.”
That may be true.
“Alright, I’m off.”
I put my sword and staff in my bag and headed toward the gate at the back. Passing through it, I arrived in a dim, rocky area.
Right next to the gate was a small shack with a rickety table and chairs, where Nanapon was sitting. She looked up, saw me, and her face lit up as she ran over.
“Hello, Eleanore-san.”
“Hello, sorry I’m late.”
I apologized for my tardiness.
“No worries, I just got here myself. You tied up your hair today.”
“Yes, it gets in the way when I’m moving around. Is it alright? Did I do it well?”
“Absolutely, you’ve become quite skilled. It suits you very well.”
Whew… If the sharp-tongued Black Nanapon says so, it must be true. Kaede-chan might just be being polite.
“Thank you. So, for today, I’m thinking of acquiring a new skill.”
I thanked her and announced the theme for today’s adventure.
“A skill?”
“Yes. Excluding unique skills, we only have one each, right? I only have swordsmanship, and Nanaka-san has only fire magic. Wouldn’t it be better to have a few more?”
“Well, I’ve thought about it, but do we need them?”
We do!
“The other day, I saw the status cards of those two foreigners.”
“How was it?”
“They had a whole list of skills.”
“So, you’re jealous, basically…”
Well, yes.
“So, let’s acquire some skills! Starting with this!”
I took out a handgun from my bag, a gift from Claire.
“A gun? Is it an airsoft gun?”
“No, it’s a real one, traded for a translation potion with American agents.”
“What!? It’s real!?”
Nanapon was shocked and stared at the gun.
“Yes, it’s real. I can’t use my Air Hammer here, right? So I thought this would be good for long-range attacks. Plus, I read online that you can acquire a sniping skill if you can use this.”
“Um, it’s very hard to say this, but firearms don’t work in the Frontier.”
They don’t?
“No, I know guns are illegal in Japan, but no one’s watching. I’ll use it discreetly.”
I mean, we’re in a place like this, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
“That’s not what I mean. For some reason, firearms don’t work in the Frontier. Even helicopters and drones can’t fly here.”
I feel like I learned something like that in school a long time ago…
“I vaguely remember something like that.”
So does that mean that information was false…
“Some theories suggest that the Frontier people fear an invasion from Earth’s military forces. But are you planning to shoot skeletons with that gun? They’re just bones. Plus, it might not be a good idea in the confined space of a mine.”
“…”
I silently put the gun back in my bag and pulled out my sword. Then, I unsheathed it.
“Look, Nanaka-san. Behold the brilliance of this sword…”
I raised the sword and gazed at its glittering blade.
“Huh? Is it beautiful…?”
“I’ve been swinging a sword since I can remember. Yes, the sword is my path in life.”
In reality, it should be a katana, not this short sword.
“I see…”
“I’ll show you something impressive.”
I took my wallet out of my bag, pulled out a 10-yen coin, and tossed it straight up into the air.
“Ho…”
Nanapon followed the tossed 10-yen coin with a bewildered expression.
“Watch closely!”
I lowered my sword and faced forward. Then, timing it just right, I swung upward. I felt a solid sensation in my hand.
“How about that!?”
I looked at Nanapon.
“Um, what…?”
I said to watch closely…
“Pay attention… um, where is it?”
I started searching the ground and quickly found it in an area without any grass. I picked up the 10-yen coin and showed it to Nanapon.
“How about this!?”
“Ah, it’s cleanly split in two. That’s amazing.”
Her reaction is a bit muted…
“Alright, let’s cut that rock over there!”
It’s a bit big, but it should work!
“No, no, please stop! You’re amazing! I don’t think you need a gun!”
“Really? You get it now?”
“Yes… I now understand how Asakura-san felt when he called Okita-san an idiot.”
Kaede-chan is quick to make fun of me.
I should get mad at her next time.
“Alright! Let’s do some strength training then!”
“Is that the one that increases attack power?”
Nanapon sure knows a lot. Well, he’s more experienced and probably has done some research.
“Yes, the basic one.”
“Do I need to do it too? I’m a mage, you know…”
Nanapon probably doesn’t need it. He’s not going to be hitting things with a staff.
“What kind of skills do mages have?”
“Things like Magic Power Increase.”
“So, it increases the power of spells?”
“Right. The common belief is that you’ll naturally acquire it if you keep using magic.”
Well, in that case, there’s nothing special to do. We’re already using magic all the time to maintain lighting in the mine.
“Hmm, so do you want to do strength training together?”
Let’s get buff.
“Um, do you really need to increase your attack power, Elenora-san? You pretty much one-shot everything, don’t you?”
“But, the skill…”
“To be honest, when I first became an adventurer, I thought the same way. I researched a lot and trained a lot. But then I realized, ‘Do I really need this?’ I mean, the monsters in the Eden Forest, the Cooner Ruins, and even here aren’t that strong, are they?”
Well, maybe he’s right.
“But still…”
“When I was a newbie, I asked about it online. I didn’t have many adventurer friends at the time. The result? I was mocked for wanting skills as a beginner. They said those things come later. Beginners should prioritize safety and gradually level up.”
Hmm, I did ask on a forum. I probably got mocked a lot.
“So, we should just continue to level up as we have been?”
“Apparently, it’s also important to stick to one type of weapon. Well, we’ve already decided on ours, so we should just focus on leveling up.”
“How old are you again?”
“I’m 19, but…”
So young… I’m getting lectured by a kid.
I feel like a child wanting a toy called ‘skill.’
And I’m already 26…
“I get it. Let’s just hunt Hide Skeletons as usual. Follow me, my apprentice!”
“Please don’t try to mount a 19-year-old… I now understand why Asakura-san called Okita-san a small man.”
Kaede-chan, all she does is bad-mouth me… She should praise her boyfriend a little.
“Ignore that… Alright, let’s go… Oh, right. Nanaka-san, do you want an autograph? I’ve been practicing.”
“Please do. But don’t write my name on it.”
He’s planning to sell it…