Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Solo Play
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Hero Candidate.
It is selected by Gifts.
Skills or techniques can be learned, but Gifts cannot.
Purely bestowed by the heavens, talents permitted only to those chosen by the heavens.
However, Gifts don't always match one's aptitude.
Because while they grant talents befitting one's ability, aptitude is a slightly different story.
Anyway, hero candidates have at least two A-grades.
If they possess one S-grade, they qualify as a candidate.
"By the way, someone with one S-grade holds more value than someone with two A-grades."
Ermé tapped the ground, spread out a small cloth there, and said.
Then she sat down demurely, interlocking both knees.
"S-grades are usually obtained by evolving A-grades."
"Gifts can evolve too?"
"Normally, there are growth-type Gifts, but their value is lower than standard grades. Ah, but if you feed them experience points to grow them, they become better than most things. They get pluses on their grades."
"I have one question."
"Yes."
"What's with the plus or minus next to the Gifts?"
"Hmm..."
Ermé made a pondering expression for a moment, then pointed to a wild strawberry nearby.
"Here's a plain wild strawberry. But this one's freshly ripened, so it's sour, astringent, and tasteless. These are usually minus grades, but it's still a wild strawberry, right?"
"Yeah."
"But when this wild strawberry ripens well, it's delicious. These are usually called plus."
"So a minus means it has disadvantages compared to other grades of the same rank?"
"That's right."
But why was Whisper of the Wind rated lower than Blood-Soaked Dagger?
'They told me to go for it because it was good.'
I just didn't get it.
On the other hand, the Champion's Sword sucked up mana so voraciously that I could tell exactly why it had a minus.
I leaned back against a tree, lost in thought.
Right now, we were at the clearing where I'd trained my swordsmanship before.
Because that other place had grown too ferocious, and I could sense presences of people starting to notice something was off.
'That's when the talk about the Saintess candidate Rozante came up.'
Ermé had also brought along Celli, the magic hero candidate she'd wanted to rescue.
But perhaps because she was just a kid.
She was dozing off next to me, whispering softly in her sleep.
"Anyway, S-grade holders are beings closely watched by nations, empires, and other races alike."
"And those are usually the hero candidates?"
"In the old days, they made them compete to produce a total of four heroes who slew the Demon King. But these days, most just try to raise them up."
"Once you're a hero candidate, the support changes completely. Even orphanages get tremendous backing."
"But why...?"
"My abilities aren't that great."
"Eh?"
Ermé countered Rozante's words.
Could S-grades and A-grades really not be good?
"Even so, that's weird, isn't it? At minimum two A-grades—that's something any type would be welcomed for everywhere."
"But... my abilities come with a lot of issues..."
"What kind of issues?"
Ermé spoke as if she couldn't comprehend.
"It's not widely known, but the healing priests use comes with pain."
"Right? That's why most priests end up half-mad."
"That pain is a bit different from what others feel. Didn't that glasses guy mention it? That priests without drugs still have value. They say priests endure pain so intense without drugs that recovery becomes nearly impossible."
"So priests hit the jackpot if they have a Gift to ignore pain."
"Even that isn't all that great when you dig deeper... Anyway, I have a Gift related to it."
"A Gift related to ignoring pain—why?"
"...Pleasure in Pain..."
"...Ah... Aah..."
As Rozante said it shyly, Ermé's eyes widened round as if she understood.
Pleasure in Pain?
I could guess the vibe from the phrasing alone.
'No way she feels pleasure every time she experiences pain.'
With that thought, I glanced at Rozante, and she bowed her head deeply.
"Y-Yes... Unlike other priests, I don't feel pain—I feel pleasure... And on top of that, my Gifts are all related to that side of things."
"...What Gifts exactly?"
Rozante let out a deep sigh and said,
"N-Normally I wouldn't tell anyone, but since you saved Celli, I'll let you know. I have the Dancer Gift, Combat Genius... and the Holy Water Creation skill."
"Dancer and Combat Genius are combat-related... but is there a Holy Water Creation skill? From the description alone, it sounds great."
"...M-My saliva turns into holy water."
"..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Sub Quest completed.] Ermé's pupils shook like they were caught in an earthquake.
Then she broke into a bright smile.
"...It's, pretty weird, huh."
"I-It is weird, but aren't they good abilities overall? Should be fine."
"I think it's good."
"Eh?"
Ermé spouted something foolish.
"No matter what, overcoming pain is the most crucial thing for a priest, right?"
"Y-Yes..."
"No need for drugs, and sure it's saliva, but she can produce holy water—that's immense value. Rather, you could say she hid it well."
"...Certainly."
"Purely in terms of value, it's actually a gain. Top-tier priest skills, plus you get a frontliner out of it—not bad at all."
"True, we now have someone who can handle front and backline duties. Not bad. Can switch roles situationally if needed."
"Actually quite capable. A priest who can protect herself."
"Uh, huh?"
Rozante seemed persuaded by my words, deep in thought.
'If you think about it, it's blatantly obvious.'
Probably blinded by the priest class stereotypes and the pain-to-pleasure Gift.
But one question lingered.
'No matter what, she's a Saintess candidate.'
Could someone like that really stay this quiet?
No way to make sense of it.
Something smelled fishy.
"Then..."
"Why not join our party next time?"
"Right, our party's pretty open. Gruff Berserker, magic-slinging glasses guy, and Yuseong and me?"
"P-Please take care of me..."
Rozante said, looking bashful.
*
"Kuh... Cheers. Take care of me from now on."
"...In the end, the thing I feared happened."
Marcel pushed up his glasses and let out a light sigh.
"But now that she's officially in the party, no take-backs. Take care of me too."
"Yeah, glasses."
Clink.
Rozante downed her glass, showing no trace of last night's shyness.
We were currently at the Adventurer's Guild.
The reason was simple.
We had a ton of loot to turn in, which delayed us.
'Day one had a good vibe.'
Couldn't hope for this forever. Better savor the happiness now.
'Should get a nice payout this time.'
No matter how I sliced it, I'd profited the most from this Labyrinth run.
Took the biggest gold share from loot distribution, snagged bow-related Gift and skill too.
'And the priest's favor.'
I stared blankly at the window floating in midair.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Encounter Quest completed.] The sub quest I'd gotten yesterday.
And the encounter quest from running into Rozante.
Truly bountiful.
My current status looked like this.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: 8 💨 Agility: 13 (10+3) ✨ Magic Power: 8 💪 Stamina: 8 🧠 Spirit: 8 👁️ Sense: 8 ◈ Gifts
• Rogue Mastery (S), Plunder (S), Sword Master (A+), Fatal Constitution (A), Sharpshooter (B)
◈ Skills
• Hidden Space (B), Charging Shot (B)
◈ Techniques
• Swordsmanship (Lv 15, 10+5), Archery (Lv 6, 3+3), Martial Arts (Lv 2)
A staggeringly grown status compared to the beginning.
Comparing now to then, it was like a total reversal of fortunes.
I felt proud gazing at my status window, then turned to the Gift card.
A blank white sheet of paper.
'Using this reveals my Gifts, right?'
Others use these to 'appraise' their Gifts.
But I'd never gone through that. Dropped straight into this world, after all.
In this world where they force Gift appraisal at age twelve, punishing any who refuse.
I narrowed my eyes at the Gift card.
'Gotta try it sometime.'
But even I knew my Gifts weren't normal.
Just look at Rozante with her three—Ermé had made a huge fuss over it.
'Though Ermé seems to have even more.'
More importantly, rewards first.
I glanced at the guild counter. Ermé's line was long; it'd take a bit.
'Quest complete.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Sub Quest, Chapter 2. completed!] [Encounter Quest, Rozante completed.] [Rewards: Aura Control (B), Mana Control (B) acquired!] I stared blankly at the blue window.
'...Two quests done, and only two B-grades?'
A hollow feeling washed over me. Had I gone through all that just for this?
Then knowledge pierced through my mind, and I understood why only two.
'...This.'
It felt like my body was completely full, like a vessel stuffed to the brim.
'Unsettling.'
Like the contents might overflow. Adding anything more to this packed vessel felt risky.
Rather fortunate it was only two.
'What to do about this?'
One thought arose instinctively.
'Level up.'
I figured leveling up would resolve it.
'But not today.'
Teresa looked dazed, glasses wore a fatigued expression.
From watching Teresa a few times, she seemed pretty worn out too.
After our forced march, it was only natural.
'First things first, inspection time.'
I checked Aura Control (B) first.
I recalled Rishiel's explanation for a moment.
Aura.
It was a force to intimidate foes. Even common mobs trembled in fear before someone with aura.
During the Hobgoblin Champion fight, glasses could barely move.
'Perfect for taking out mages.'
That was my thought seeing it.
Sticking around this Labyrinth, I'd eventually face archers or mages too.
For direct confrontations, this would be clutch.
And Mana Control.
'...Still no real grasp yet.'
I closed my eyes.
Mana existed within me. But I'd never wielded it properly.
'Used it like in a game.'
Skills just burned through it all.
But now it was different.
Mana could reinforce every part of my body like a power source, and I could manipulate the mana inside me at will—that sensation flooded in.
—What are you?
'What?'
—...Your mana handling changed.
The reaction came instantly.
Rishiel peered at me.
As if asking what had changed.
'How so?'
—Before, you were like a monkey fumbling without tools. Now it's like a proper human using them.
'...Monkey?'
I bristled without thinking.
I pulled Rishiel's soulstone from Hidden Space and gripped it tight.
Meant as a threat.
—Hiiieeeek...
Rishiel's reaction was off. Her face flushed—I shoved the soulstone back, annoyed.
—J-Just now... What did you do to me!
'Nothing.'
Perverted elf.
I gave Rishiel a cold stare, then pondered.
Every party member exhausted.
In that case.
'Hunt for a new party, or go solo.'
That sounded fun too.