To Become Stronger
The witch is cursed. That saying had existed long before Emilia was even born. And it wasn't wrong, really. Witches truly were cursed beings.
Three trees sustained the roots of the world. Among them, witches were despised by the Shadow Tree, guardian of harmony and order. They were rejected wherever they went. That had been the case ever since the Witch of Silence brought eternal night upon the world in some ancient incident.
The very existence of witches became a taboo word. In their world, it was an age-old tradition to be cursed by one's own mother at birth and abandoned. The curse laid upon Emilia was the Curse of Namelessness. If her name was ever spoken, she would die. No matter who uttered it. The time until activation varied wildly. Sometimes death came instantly upon hearing her name. Other times, it triggered suddenly years later.
And so, everything Emilia had ever loved died. The kitten Nero she had raised first. The familiar she had first grown attached to. Every single one, without exception.
That was why Emilia sealed her lips. A mouth that summoned calamity always demanded silence.
One day, as she lived in that muteness...
"I know you're a witch."
"……!"
A man who had tracked down Emilia, who had been hiding her identity, said this.
"If you don't want to burn at the stake, you'd better do as I say from now on."
Though their treatment had improved somewhat, witches were still seen as harbingers of disaster. If her identity was exposed, she'd be chased out of the village or become a target for witch hunters, forced to flee forever. Neither option was appealing.
With no choice, Emilia followed the man. He didn't torment her or anything. To humans, witches were too dangerous even to speak with. So she was treated like little more than a living compass.
A year passed like that. Emilia, who hadn't received proper pay or even regular meals, was in poor shape. Her body was gaunt, and hunger had become routine.
Then...
"Let's make a big score this time!"
Eventually, the group gambled on something dangerous. They overheard info at the Sun Inn about a rare monster. Dreaming of enough money from its Soul Stone to retire on the spot, they headed to the plains.
But what awaited them was a monster beyond imagination. In a single strike, they all turned to blue smoke and died.
Emilia was the only one left.
Am I really going to die like this...?
Emilia wasn't a Wanderer. Without the blessing of resurrection, she had only one life.
Terror of death for the first time. But what she unexpectedly received from the skeleton was a bright red apple.
It was the first gift Emilia, who had always been shunned, had ever received from anyone.
The apple was sweet. Sweeter than any food she'd tasted before.
The giver wasn't human, but Emilia didn't care. So what if he wasn't human? Even she was just used by humans.
For the first time, she experienced kindness without motive. And gratitude.
Deep within Emilia's heart, her witch's true nature began to awaken. Debts must be repaid. No matter how many times over.
Returning to the village, she overheard people planning to hunt "Skully." Rushing to warn him, she was too late. The subjugation party was already closing in.
All witches could see emotions as colors. The mob below was red and purple—fear and wariness.
Emilia turned to look at Skully. His eyes were calm, sunken. No expression, so she couldn't read his thoughts.
But she could feel it. The fierce shift in his emotions.
And then the battle. It ended in overwhelming victory for Skully.
He won. He survived. She should be thrilled.
But why...
Why does he have such a sad color?
A color she'd never seen. Yearning tenderly for something, yet sorrowful. It looked somehow bittersweet.
So Emilia gave him her most cherished handkerchief as a gift.
But Skully just stared blankly at her.
The books say comforting others is done like this...
Awkward with people, Emilia tried a hug for the first time. Clack. Skully's body was harder than expected.
I need to get stronger.
I mulled over rough plans for how to do that going forward. I'd survived haphazardly until now, but from here on, I'd need to think a bit harder.
First, figure out what levels do. From faint memories, levels generally make you stronger. That's the ultimate point of levels.
But not for me.
Levels don't seem to change much.
Thinking back, nothing felt different from level 1 to 25 now. That early sense of lightness was probably just a placebo.
So what's the point of levels? After pondering long, I reached a conclusion.
Levels are fuel. The minimum requirement consumed during Inheritance.
Levels and Soul Stones. That's why they reset right after Inheritance!
Soul Stones determine inheritance options. Now I get it.
Best to think of levels as mere consumables. So even max levels won't make me stronger.
Does that mean I have no way to grow? No. I have one more thing.
It's changed a lot. From three skills at the start, now up to seven.
Two main ways to get skills. One is through Inheritance. That requires Soul Stones and levels.
Wait. If I inherit from a new Soul Stone, what happens to existing skills?
"……."
An ominous thought. Usually, concepts shift and skills change with them.
Nah, no way...
But I couldn't shake the unease.
Think positive!
Switch gears. Focus on the re:bone skill. It replaces bones and grants skills—a real lifesaver. How many dangers has Evasion saved me from?
re:bone is only level 1. If it levels up, maybe I can replace more bones.
But how do skill levels rise?
"Clack?"
Skills like Craving or Charge of Hatred rose automatically. Does using them build proficiency?
How to level re:bone? No clue yet. But getting another replaceable bone might reveal something—strange certainty there.
So two ways to grow: Inherit new powers via Soul Stones, or get bones for new skills.
And luckily, I know one place with all that.
Back to the dungeon.
More Soul Stone holders inside, surely. Hunting them should change something.
Resolved, I stood to enter the dungeon. Deeper in, to grow stronger.
But first...
Clack. I turned to Emilia, still sitting blankly beside me.
Staring at me dumbly. I handed her something: small gems I'd pocketed just in case. The Fallen Knight's armor didn't fit, but its gems did.
Emilia stared at my outstretched hand, then fidgeted her fingers, head bowed. Glancing at me slyly, she suddenly snatched them.
Bowing deeply in thanks, she fled.
I watched her go, then turned. Vast plains, lush greenery—a peaceful vista. I took it all in before heading to the dark dungeon.
Farewell for now. I bid adieu to the blazing sun.
At the same time, in the Starting Village.
Bam!
"We need to request help from the Administration Bureau right now!"
A Wanderer from the subjugation party spat excitedly, foaming at the mouth to push his point.
And he wasn't alone. Everyone who'd joined was still reeling from the brush with death.
"Haa... where the hell did that monster come from?"
The Starting Village had long been famous as the entry point for newbie Wanderers. Easy difficulty, decent rewards. The monsters scattered around were never truly dangerous.
They even said experiencing death before leaving the village meant you lacked talent as a Wanderer.
Yet a monster appeared. A skeleton massacring Wanderers. Whispers now claimed it might surpass even a Lord.
"Everyone, calm down. The Hero arrives tomorrow."
"The Hero...? Someone like that's coming all the way to this backwater?"
Nine Heroes in the world, achievers of great feats. A Hero coming here?
"Yeah, someone already reported to the Administration Bureau."
No Wanderer hadn't heard of the Heroes. Everyone had their idol when first becoming one.
The word "Hero" lit a fire in Wanderers' hearts.
And a day later, the Hero arrived in the Starting Village. Denib, the Iron-Blood Hero who soloed boss monsters.
"Welcome to the Starting Village!"
"Thanks, but guide me to the target immediately."
Heroes were busy. World issues everywhere—ten bodies wouldn't suffice. He came because the village mattered; otherwise, no Hero would bother.
Thus, Denib headed straight to subjugate the infamous skeleton.
But...
"...What? Nothing here."
"Huh...? That can't be...? There was definitely a monster here...!"
The skeleton's habitat, visited with the Iron-Blood Hero. Only wind-swept grass remained.