The Hero at the Center of Fate's Vortex.... Huh? Not This One?
The hero stands at the center of fate's vortex.... Huh? Not this vortex? I'd probably drop dead if I had to escort the upper echelons even one more time. Even riding in the carriage to rest, I didn't let my hands idle. I spent the time diligently crafting Spiritus.
Since Po'runga had rented out the entire carriage, the only passengers were me and her.
It had become so routine that receiving a Constellation Ticket felt utterly normal. Towering walls rose into view, and beyond them, the academy came into sight. I probably would've been living the student life there under normal circumstances.
What the hell do I do about my stats? At first, I figured slaying monsters would level me up and boost my abilities. But reality was harsher—no status window meant trekking to the guild to check them manually. And to top it off, my already pitiful stats had taken a permanent dip.
To cast [Fireball], I'll need to buy a memorize spellbook first. The curse that triggered on injury was a massive drawback. With no skills or means to recover stamina, it could straight-up kill me.
My top priorities were clear: earn cash and make the most of my skills. Things like Time Rewind or hamster transformation. Even skills I couldn't use due to missing sub-skills could work if I met the conditions.
But the real problem is... I can't learn skills on my own!! I'd tried a few basic methods to pick up simple ones, but they all failed. Po'runga tried to console me, saying not everyone can learn skills reliably. Even without them, dedicated training could mimic their effects. Relying too much on skills often lost to raw honing. In the end, it boiled down to talent... or maybe the limits of my vessel. Perhaps a penalty for getting unlimited skills from the constellations.
No constellation that gives a status window, huh? Actually, maybe one already had—and I just hadn't won the random draw yet.
We were nearly there, so I tore the ticket to check its contents. The thrill was fading fast, which was troubling.
Constellation [ri■ G_4■■]
The child who beheaded the Jabberwock—now you are the protagonist of this poem.
(Jabberwocky Poem—Summons the Bopal Sword bound to the poem's effects and the user. Like the child who slew the monster Jabberwocky from a strange land, wielding the blade feels as natural as your own body. Any foe beheaded by this sword dies without exception, regardless of their powers.)
[Provides the skill most similar to those offered by the constellations.]
[Bopal Weapon]
A magic sword used by one of the Four Heroes, Daegomgei.
Nullifies all physical resistances, immunities, and reflections.
Any whose neck is severed by this blade dies instantly without exception.
The wielder gains the [Divine Sword Unity] skill.
Jabberwocky is a poem from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. A bunch of nonsensical gibberish, basically. I blinked hard, checking the skill again. No real restrictions—maybe the best one after Clear Mind.
".....1 million?"
The power balance had just rocketed into orbit. My combat power was a measly 21.... Still, a magic sword instead of a holy one? I figured it'd be a holy sword, but one empowered by the Hero's swings? Usually it was the other way around.
How strong was this Fourth Hero, anyway? And the Hero Party's classes looked off.
No cleric, huh.
"[Bopal Weapon]!"
Right after dismounting the carriage, I summoned the sword with trembling anticipation. The moment I gripped the hilt, mortal peril surged through me, and I flung it away.
A ruby-hued greatsword lay neatly on the ground amid the rising notifications. The hilt was massive—enough for two hands with room to spare—and the blade longer than I was tall. Nearly 2 meters of beguiling, hypnotic aura emanated from it.
...Okay, think calmly. The hilt materialized in my palm like the chamber pot. Then I immediately dropped it to the dirt. No special reason—it was just too damn heavy. I strained with all my might, grunting as I yanked the hilt, but it didn't budge.
A shortsword's already a workout—how could I swing a Hero's blade? Total white elephant! But it hovered briefly on summon. Otherwise, I could jump and drop onto it mid-air or something. Plus, that insane surge of sensation when I gripped it—my instincts made me drop it. Reflexively, I knew: holding this would rip my arm off.
"This thing's no joke."
I called Po'runga over to try gripping it, but her arm passed right through the blade.
"It's soulbound. No one but the user can touch it."
"....For real?"
True white elephant. Still, needed to test it. I asked her to toss it lightly. As she flung it, I resummoned the Bopal Sword and grabbed the hilt. Instantly, visions flashed: the greatsword slamming into the ground, shockwave erupting, my body corroding into bloody rust.
The visceral taste of death made my body react on autopilot. I smacked the sword away; it clunked harmlessly onto the earth.
.....My body couldn't handle it. The blade's destructive power was straight-up lethal. Why was the Hero named Daegomgei, anyway....
I just wandered around in one pair of triangular panties.
The true warrior fights bare!
After hearing the goddess's tale, I quietly closed my eyes. No... that's not gay, that's just a pervert.... Even a 1-million-stat Hero dragged it— no way a 21-stat scrub like me could wield it. If only I could prop it up as a shield.
Without my grip, it wouldn't even stick in the ground—just flopped like a buggy object. Whatever... if it doesn't work, it doesn't. But maybe there's a way to use it somehow.
"So... what now?"
Unexcited by the new skill, Po'runga and I returned to Trust Union. She shared lodging with Rokuka Besikyuu, a fellow female adventurer and guildmate. As my month-long mentor, she offered to crash at the inn together if I wanted.
Her tail coiled lightly around my wrist as she asked. I politely declined.
"Nah, I'd feel bad imposing that far...."
"O-oh, okay...."
She looked seriously disappointed. I gifted her several bottles of Spiritus and a basket of fried chicken. Thanks again, and if anything comes up, find me at the guild. We parted with her waving as I walked away.
"Library first, I guess."
Inn room was already booked—no issue there. Smart move, honestly. Grab some sauce for the chicken on the way back. No salad kills the vibe.... Fruits pricey?
Info to research was neatly listed: Four Heroes, Chronicle Continent Races, Monster Ecology Survey. Basic common sense, but plenty to learn.
New armor too. Clothes were a Cocos necessity, but Po'runga insisted on buying weapons here. C-grade adventurers prioritize quality gear.
Ideally, carry spares—but weight says no. Got the Hero's... magic sword, not holy, but unusable anyway.
Ding-a-ling—
"Welcome!"
At Po'runga's recommended armory, I browsed. Unfamiliar weapons to ones I knew. Gun-like things surprised me. Ammo sold separately? Mana something—definitely not for me.
Ding-a-ling—
Not as crowded as expected. Non-humans eyed gear more intently than me, underscoring their seriousness about weapons.
Shortsword and buckler first.... After browsing varieties, I picked what suited me—no greed. Extra knife maybe? As petty urges swelled—
"Human?"
Voice from behind. I turned. Golden twintails, crimson eyes. Flashy pink dress with frills and ribbons at chest and waist. ....A petite girl—140cm?—maybe, shouldering a shovel, looking up at me.
".....Magical girl?"
She scowled at my question. No, anyone would call her that.
"I'm a dwarf. Can't you tell?"
Dwarf in bizarre magical girl getup. ....But folks stared at me oddly. I'm not the weird one—the shovel-toting magical girl is!
"If you don't know, just say so. Don't beat around the bush."
"Sorry, I'm not familiar with other races."
Honest apology earned a nod of approval. So, why'd she approach me?
"Marry me."
A total stranger dwarf proposes marriage. Onlookers didn't bat an eye. Reeling from Trent-level shock, I closed my eyes calmly. Even Clear Mind faltered at this absurdity. Bewilderment had nothing to do with composure. Cold logic left me speechless.
"I decline."
"Fine, no marriage—let's just sleep together then."
"I'm losing my mind here."