Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Sword Embraced Lightning
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I was flustered by the sudden turn of events, but since it was far from a bad thing, I decided to first check out the skill I'd just acquired.
It looked like there really was such a thing as a Thunder God.
His lightning had faintly taken root in it.
And its rank was a whopping C-rank.
From my own experience classifying trait and skill ranks...
F-rank was practically meaningless, E-rank the stage of taking first tottering steps.
D-rank was enough to pull one's weight.
Higher ranks I hadn't experienced myself, so I couldn't say for sure, but by deduction, C-rank meant proficient enough to handle more than one person's share, while B-rank was expert level.
A-rank and above were beyond my grasp entirely, impossible to even guess at. In any case, what I meant was that even C-rank wasn't some low tier.
"...This is ridiculous."
It was sudden good news, but utterly absurd.
I hadn't skipped sword training a single day until now.
Knowing I had no talent for it, I could proudly say I'd put in tremendous effort.
But nothing had changed.
I'd gained Assassin's Sword as a technique, but that was really just a new addition born from blending it with a trait—it wasn't my existing skills growing from my efforts.
Thus, my actual swordsmanship rank remained E.
And yet.
Just like that—plop.
Casually, so effortlessly, they'd tossed me a C-rank skill. It didn't feel bad, but it didn't sit right.
I knew this world valued talent over effort, and luck over talent. Still, it felt a bit unfair.
"Might sound like the gripe of a full belly."
At least, that's how it felt to me.
More importantly, how the hell was I supposed to use this lightning?
The word "Lightning" showed up in my Status Window, but I had no clue how to activate it.
"Lightning..."
The Status Window didn't grant knowledge just because something new appeared there.
It was like an achievement log, showing what I'd already learned or accomplished.
Which meant "Lightning" was something I'd already mastered or possessed in some form.
How to manifest and wield it was entirely up to me.
"Visualize the image of lightning?"
I'd never seen a mage in action, but from what I'd heard in passing, the basics of casting involved forming a clear image in your mind.
Maybe it was similar. I drew my sword, closed my eyes, and pictured thunderbolts in my head.
Might as well imagine the most destructive bolt I could conjure.
"...Ah, shit!"
A sharp tingle grazed my fingertips.
The unpleasant zap of static made me nearly spew curses, but knowing the room's soundproofing sucked, I swallowed them back down.
"...What the hell was that just now?"
Felt like static discharge, but no way that was the 'lightning,' right?
If a C-rank—neither F nor E—only produced this much, then I clearly wasn't using the ability right.
"Well, now that I've got it, I'll need to experiment and study it for a while."
Muttering nonstop to myself like some lunatic, I planned my next steps.
This incident made me think.
I shouldn't stray far from the safest place, the capital.
I shouldn't even get near the schemes of devil worshippers and their ilk.
Not just for my own safety, but for everyone's—for the greater good.
The system clearly harbored malice toward me.
It couldn't touch base probabilities, but it could pile on modifiers to juice the numbers.
Me wandering around outside was a walking disaster.
Therefore.
"I need to hole up in the capital, where nothing happens, security is tightest, and even if something does go down, there are people who can handle it."
Until when? Until I could resist the system's malice to some degree.
My very existence was a public nuisance.
So until I had the strength to clean up my own messes, I'd stay put.
Even for training spars or requests to cover living expenses, I wouldn't venture far.
"Alright. It's decided."
That was my resolution.
So today, I'd crash hard. Tomorrow, I'd meet Marcel and Shan to resume training.
Shan still suspected me but wasn't certain.
Which meant he'd keep helping, and Marcel had already promised spars.
It felt unfair, guilty.
This wasn't all my fault—the system bore malice toward me.
Disaster had struck where I was, dragging them in.
"...I'll get revenge for them."
Truth be told, I wasn't close to the townsfolk, so I had no intention of avenging the whole city.
I wasn't a good person, and in this world, surviving alone was challenge enough.
But for Tori and the kids I'd grown fond of? Yeah, I'd avenge them.
The devil worshippers—and the system beyond them.
I harbored malice toward it all.
The system called me evil, so I'd live up to it.
Viciously, repugnantly.
For the worshippers and the system alone, I'd become the villain. That was my vow.
Despair? I'd already been through it.
Ever since dropping into this world, not a day without it.
I was already at rock bottom—no lower to fall.
Already broken, so unbreakable now.
But that didn't mean I'd stop moving. Heart shattered and despairing, I'd press on.
Just moping in defeat felt too infuriating—I'd go mad.
"Wait, maybe I already am mad."
After all that shit.
Chattering nonstop to myself, quickly sorting emotions and making plans—it hit me that this might already be outside normal bounds.
...Still, I'm fine, right?
I tried comforting myself, but the voice in my head shook it off.
What're you saying?
You saying I'm crazy?
"No, I haven't gone mad yet. Or maybe I have. But who could blame me? This is bullshit—why does this crap only happen to me? Should I just die? Close my eyes and off myself, end it all? But then who's gonna avenge me? After this hell, run away? No. Hell no. No matter what, I'll rip apart the bastards who did this to me. Hoo... Calm down. Just calm."
Muttering to myself, I took deep breaths and stared into the mirror to steel my resolve.
My reflection met my eyes.
Loathing surged as always, but I'd braced for it—no self-harm urges this time.
Just disgust.
".........Pretty face, though."
Not empty flattery.
Not self-consolation.
Objectively, this look went beyond pretty or cute—it was beautiful.
Even if it looked too young.
A girl like this would normally draw affection.
Instead, people felt revulsion.
I sighed.
Then, as Shan had once advised, I tried on the expensive sunglasses I'd bought upon arriving in the capital.
And checked the mirror.
"......Huh?"
It worked.
More precisely, the disgust lingered, but noticeably dulled.
"......Oh."
If sunglasses alone cut the revulsion... I'd have to wear them everywhere.
I'd grown used to keeping my gaze down, but comfort was comfort—familiar discomfort still sucked.
The world looked a tad duller in tint, but this was the best option now.
Better methods could come later—no need to overthink.
"Good."
I'd reported to the Adventurer's Guild, retrieved my translation commission, and unexpectedly snagged 'Lightning' too.
Sword in for repairs, bathed, clothes laundered.
Sunglasses procured to ease the disgust, proper meal after ages.
Still early, but I'd call it a day and grind training tomorrow.
I set the sunglasses on the table, buried my face in the pillow.
Too much fatigue, too much pain.
The soft, cozy bed and pillow pulled me into dreamland.
Thus dawned the next day. I dragged my stiff body out of the inn early.
My sword was in for repairs.
Not just minor nicks this time—it'd been battered badly, lots to fix. Repairs would take time, so I drew the rental sword for the interim.
Heavier than my usual blade.
Balance felt solid, but the edge was dull, poorly honed.
Terrible as a sword, but perfect for training.
Dull edge and extra weight would build me up.
I swung at empty air.
A flicker of white electricity appeared soundlessly, then vanished.
"...Huh?"
Swinging a few more times yielded nothing—like I'd imagined it.
"......What?"
I was baffled.
"I said I'd help, but training at this hour?"
Marcel approached yawning from afar, so I explained what I'd seen.
No point hiding—this wasn't the hideable sort. Full disclosure.
"......Lightning from the sword?"
I nodded vigorously enough to make my head whistle, and Marcel's face scrunched up.
"If you're still sleepy, sleep more."
"...No, really!"
The sword had embraced lightning.