Translator: pinkyoneesama Editor: anirhapsodist
Hereditary Skills and Box Opening
After the inspection, the contract to the room was signed. Elysha and the others returned to their lodgings once more.
I too went back to Nornil Heights together with Igarashi-san. Feeling indebted for the past couple of days for their wonderful hospitality, it’s somewhat regrettable to leave. It can’t be helped though since I’ll be moving from one place to another until I can purchase a property to settle in. I have to get used to moving often.
“Atobe-san, please do your best out there. I’ll be rooting for you.”
“Thank you very much for everything. Please always be in good health, Landlady-san.”
“Do remember the name of this grandma. Palm Arthur. For a promising seeker as yourself, may the hidden god always smile upon you.”
Is Palm her name? She knew mine but I haven’t heard hers. – That was rather rude of me.
“Well then Atobe-sama, where do you plan to go next? Please let me know, at least. I’ll be very happy to have you here again, but since a promising seeker needs to be on the road, time will always be of the essence.” (Palm)
“Uhm… Palm-san, hearing you say that, were you also a seeker back then?”
Igarashi-san asked me on why I was bothering myself on inquiring. Well obviously, they were talks involving seeker exploration.
“Yes, when I was young, I was a seeker with the job of a “Thief”. Although people say that I am a thief, it was only by name. My specialty was removing traps and lock-picking. It was over 30 years ago. I have retired and my level has already gone down.” (Palm)
“Oh, Is that so…?”
“Though I may look like this right now, I was called “Cat’s Hand” when I was young. I ranked up to the 6th-district where I eventually met my husband. That person is no longer with me, but I am not lonely because I have my daughter and grandkids with me.” (Palm)
When I retire from being a seeker, how will I spend my days? I haven’t been thinking that far ahead, but for now, and as long as I can, I’ll continue in the active duty.
Will I be able to leave behind a meritorious service? Or will I be in a position where I have to support other seekers as well? Either way, anyone can have a place where they belong in the Labyrinth Country. It is stated that “All the reincarnated must become seekers.”, but it looks to me that as long as you play a certain role after reincarnation, you’ll be able to live freely.
“After this, we’re planning to go to the store and have the box opened…”
“My, oh dear. There are three box maker shops in town and it so happens that one amongst those shops is owned by my daughter.” (Palm)
“Is that so? It’s a small world indeed, isn’t it?”
“It is the best box maker shop and I can personally guarantee you with, given her skills. They were contacted by my daughter, the “Lock-Picking” and “Remove Trap” skills which made it relatively easy for her to improve. I may have retired two years ago, but I was able to maintain my skills. I can still open a box exceedingly well.” (Palm)
“Skills were contacted… Does it mean that they were inherited by your daughter? That’s nothing short of amazing.”
When the child takes from the skills of the parent, is it possible for them to have a talent exceeding theirs?
“It is said that nothing but only the skills of the parents are transmitted. And my daughter pretty much resembles me.” (Palm)
“If it’s true, then the skills from different jobs can be inherited making them all around…… There’s no way that it should happen, right?”
“Children’s parents do not give birth just for the sake of them becoming seekers. I wonder if God even considered what he wanted to give.” (Palm)
Grandma Palm’s statements were relevant and it made me wonder.
In this country, you can get whatever you desire, you get position and prestige just by moving up the ranking order. However, pushing forward by without being fair is different from what I usually observe.
“But if Atobe-sama decides to go on that direction, then… No, it’s rather a sensitive topic. I’m sorry, as I grow of age it seems that I tend to lose a bit of hesitation.” (Palm)
“I- I’m not yet in that kind of relationship with Atobe-kun!” (Kyouka)
“………”
Igarashi-san who was beside me became flustered while Theresa just looked at me. If there’s no mental telepathy, it would really be hard to read this silent maiden’s heart.
“L-Let me see… Uhm… Palm-san, I’m glad that you’ve told us about a lot of things. If the box maker that we’ll be heading to is your daughter, we’ll send her your greetings.”
“Yes, thank you, I would really appreciate that. Take care, both of you. Don’t push yourselves too hard.” (Palm)
With the grandma Palm seeing us off, we left the lodgings. Igarashi-san didn’t speak for a while, not until we reached the bottom of the hill and on our way towards town.
“A-Atobe-kun. Just to inform you, my level has reached level 2 and the number of skill points that I have increased by two. What skills do you prefer I take?” (Kyouka)
“Congratulations! Would you mind showing me your license then?”
“Well, I don’t mind. Aren’t you able to view our skills in the party?” (Kyouka)
“Theresa seems to be a special case because I can view it. However, in the case of a fellow party member, I won’t know unless they show me their license.”
Establishing trust and no more than that is needed to view another’s license. Igarashi-san took her license from the pouch belted to her waist then shows it to me.
◆ Skills Acquired ◆
Thunderbolt: Run a bolt of lightning towards an enemy. Low probability of inflicting the shocked status.
Blinkstep: Enter a “Mirage” state and evade enemy attacks for a short span of time.
◆ Skills Available ◆
Double Attack: Increase the number of weapon attacks.
Brave Mist: remove the “Fear” status from an ally.
Freezing Thorn: Freeze the enemy’s feet to delay their movement.
Snow Country Skin: Gain immunity from the “Freeze” status. Increases “Charm”.
Bulletproof 1: Indirect enemy attacks are less likely to hit.
Decoy Doll: Consume a “Doll” to create a decoy replicated from yourself.
Remaining skill points: 2
“So Valkyries can acquire a lot of skills… “Snow Country Skin” is listed here, is there any relationship between your Valkyrie job and a snow country?”
“…Maybe because my mother was from the colder part of the country?” (Kyouka)
“Oh, that may be so. You also have Thunderbolt… maybe because you frequently dropped them on me?”
“I took ‘ Thunderbolt ‘ first, but I guess it was because of my personality…” (Kyouka)
“Is that really the reason…? Thunderbolt is a good skill to have. If a monster gets electrocuted, then they would be easier to hit.”
Igarashi-san looked at me with disappointed eyes. I should have been more careful about talking about the past. I even told myself to forget them, but despite that, I remained persistent.
At first glance, the stronger skill would be “Double Attack”. It will have a good compatibility with Support Attack.
If we encounter a monster that can inflict the fear status, I want her to take “Brave Mist”, just in case someone couldn’t fight properly.
“…Uhm, Well… Atobe-kun, what’s your opinion if we say “women of the snow country”? (Kyouka)
“Enough to say that they’re like beauties from Akita? I can imagine that they have a light complexion.”
“Uhm… My mother is also from Akita, but that’s good enough. I’ll change the question then. Do you think that it’s better to take this skill as a countermeasure before a monster that can inflict the freezing status even comes out? ” (Kyouka)
“Let’s see, we can gain resistance via equipment, so it’s safe to skip on that one… Oh, but I’m a bit curious because it will increase your Charm.”
Igarashi-san is a beauty. What would happen if she takes “Snow Country Skin”? She’ll become more beautiful. Well, she’s not a demi-human so she’ll never go light like a yuki-onna.
“Th-that was way out of my intentions, but… for now, it’s better to choose another skill. This Decoy Doll, maybe it can divert the attention of monsters.” (Kyouka)
“I agree. It will be an auxiliary skill. It appears to be a powerful skill but it will depend on how you will actually use it.”
“Can I take it? The other one will be yours to decide.” (Kyouka)
In truth, she really wanted to take “Snow Country Skin”. She merely chose to remain patient because the skill isn’t urgent.
I have a good feeling that our levels will rise again for today’s exploration, so let me choose “Double Attack” for now together with the “Decoy Doll” that she wanted.
“However, it would be best if you produce some dolls before entering the labyrinth.”
“Now that you mentioned it, I saw it in the general store in front of the labyrinth.” (Kyouka)
“Okay, let’s buy it from there. The other skill is “Double attack”.
It is possible to say that all of her skills can be useful, but it really depends on the situation. If I hesitate to take action, then her active role will also be reduced. With “Double Attack”, it will be noticeably effective starting from today’s battles.
(How much mana does that skill actually use? If it costs about the same as my Blaze Shot, then we can use it in every battle.)
“…And with that, it’s settled. Ah, there are still so many skills that I wish to try out, but there aren’t enough skill points.” (Kyouka)
“Same goes for me. I would also like to take as many as possible. There are skills to try out and assess, but I couldn’t save enough.”
“Yes. The exciting feeling of taking these skills each time could become a habit…” (Kyouka)
“For Theresa as well, if her level goes up, then we’ll take a new skill.”
She had been looking all the time at Igarashi-san when she was deciding on her skills, so Theresa is definitely interested with hers. Right now, I am holding 1 skill point, but I am considering taking a new skill, much sooner than expected.
I’ll also ask for Suzuna’s skills later. I would also love to see Elysha’s skills. However, if she finds it difficult to disclose the skills of a Cursed Blade, then I won’t rush myself and wait for the right opportunity.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
When I entered the box maker’s shop that was referred to us by Louisa-san, beside the table was a woman wearing an apron reading a book to a boy and a girl.
“Welcome, did you come with a referral from the guild?”
“Yes. I have been referred to you by Louisa-san. My name is Arihito Atobe.”
“Okaa-san, will you open it using that trick?”
“Yay! Show us the trick! The trick that Plum loves so much!”
The older child somehow appears to be the older brother, about 5 years old. The younger sister is about 3 years old. They look similar to each other. And they seem to be emotionally attached to their mother, the shopkeeper of this box maker shop.
The old landlady said she had a daughter and grandchildren, so this mother and children should be them.
“I’m sorry, they came over to play. But I won’t allow them to enter the cellar where the box will be opened.”
“Eh~. It’s only a simple box.”
“Sorry, Eik. This customer’s box will be very difficult to open.”
“But mommy can open it, right?”
“Okaa-san is a “Trap Master!”
Trap Master. That is the job of this lady box maker. Can she disable it despite a difficult trap looming in the box?
“Eik, Plum, go outside for a bit. Give grandma this letter. I’m sure she’ll be happy.”
“Mommy won’t come?”
“I will go after my work is done, okay? Eik, Plum too, I’m counting on you.”
“Okay! We’ll be waiting at grandmas!”
As the both of them prepare to go out, a big white dog from the corner followed them from behind. –As though it was their bodyguard.
Igarashi-san became interested with the dog, so with gleaming eyes, she started talking to the shop owner.
“…Wan-chan, you say?”
“…W-What are you trying to involve yourself with? You just can’t call somebody like that, you know.”
“Fufu. I also call her like that. That child is a breed of “Silver Hound” and she was originally an escort dog accompanying a seeker.”
“So nowadays, she’s just escorting the children.” (Kyouka)
Just like a faithful dog. I also like animals, so it’s refreshing to see a dog after a long while.
“……..”
Theresa appeared to be scared of the dog. Standing still the entire time, her hands placed on top of my shoulders. Hmm, I guess it’s natural that everyone has their own weaknesses.
“I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I am Falma Arthur. Regarding Atobe-sama’s “Black Box”, I humbly accept the job of opening it as the guild-approved trap master.”
Her appearance was like a married housewife in an apron. But in reality, was the trap master.
With a smile that is filled with nothing but warmth and an embroidery of a dog on the apron’s chest –There was a magnificent rise pulling it towards its limit.
“…Atobe-kun, will karma rise in a place like this?”(Kyouka)
“Ye-Yes… No, I wasn’t looking at it.”
Igarashi-san pinched me in the arm to divert my attention. Unaware of our exchange, Falma-san puts a hand on her cheek. She blushed and smiled as if she was observing an intimate couple.
Thx for the chappy, pinkyoneesama~!