Chapter 4

Here's the continuation of the short story!

I, Hikaru Matou, was exiled from my family home due to the Outlier Skill [Open].

On my way to the city, I saved a half-elf slave girl named Muzue.

[Conditions have been met.]

"! ...Again... this semi-transparent window..."

In front of my eyes, a semi-transparent window has opened.

It seems that Muzue cannot see this window.

"What is this, exactly?"

"Lord Hikaru, I have an idea."

"About this window?"

"Yes. It might be a [Status Window]."

"Hmm? A Status Window?"

It's a term I've never heard before.

"Apparently, the heroes summoned from another world could see this [Status Window], which is often shortened to [Status]. This window displays numerical values of the person's abilities and the skills they possess."

"Hmm... I see. A Status. But why are you so sure this is a Status? And how do you know about this, Muzue?"

"My grandmother... my mother's mother, apparently traveled with a hero from another world. She learned about the existence of Status during that time."

I see... Elves have long lifespans.

It wouldn't be unnatural for Muzue's grandmother to have lived during the time of the ancient heroes...

However, heroes were summoned from another world to defeat the Demon King.

What happened to them after they defeated the Demon King is not recorded in any literature...

Why do I have the same power as those heroes from another world?

...I don't know.

I don't know anything about Status or [Open].

I'd like to investigate thoroughly, but...

We are in the middle of a grassland where monsters roam.

One of us is injured, and the other is a woman.

If we spend too much time thinking here, we might be attacked by enemies.

If we dawdle, it will get dark. Camping in the wild without equipment is suicide.

So, I'll put thoughts about [Open] and Status on hold for now and head to the nearest city.

"Muzue, let's move to the city."

"Yes, sir... Oh!"

As I was about to start walking, Muzue squatted down on the spot.

I was concerned by her pained expression and squatted down next to her.

"I'm sorry, I was bitten by a gray wolf on my foot..."

"I see... your foot was bitten, huh?"

"Yes... but it's fine! I can manage with this much... Oh!"

She tried to stand up again but stumbled.

Her beautiful white left foot had a painful bite wound. She wouldn't be able to walk long distances like this.

"Hmm... this is a problem. Unfortunately, I don't have any potions."

We don't have any healing potions or healing magic.

There's no way to heal the injury. Even if I carry her, I'm injured too.

"If I could use healing magic..."

"Ah, um! I... can use healing magic."

"Really? But if you can use healing magic, why haven't you used it?"

She explained the situation with a look of regret.

"Actually... since a certain time, I haven't been able to use magic freely."

"You can't... use magic? What's the cause?"

"I don't know. But... after a certain point, my success rate with magic clearly dropped. If the cause can be removed, I can use healing magic to heal my foot and Lord Hikaru's injuries..."

The cause that's lowering the success rate of magic...

I've read a lot of books...

"There are indeed several conditions that can cause such a state. But there are many, and it's hard to pinpoint the cause. If we could identify something specific..."

Identify...

Right. When I opened my Status earlier, I remembered the skills I possessed.

I touched my arm again and focused on activating [Open].

～～～～～～～

Hikaru Matou (15)

HP: 8/100

MP: 50/100

SP: 120

[Occupation]

Open

[Owned Skills]

- Status Manipulation (SSS)

- Item Box (SSS)

- Supreme Appraisal (SSS)

- Supreme Ice Attribute Magic (SSS)

- Intermediate Swordsmanship (C)

- Lockpicking (SSS)

～～～～～～～

The Status window opened.

Hmm? My HP and MP are reduced.

I see, I used magic during the fight with the gray wolf, so my MP is reduced.

My HP... must be reduced because of my injuries.

And... hmm?

My SP has increased? No, that's not important. The issue is the list of owned skills.

"This is it... [Appraisal]!"

I activated the Appraisal skill on Muzue.

～～～～～～～

Muzue Anemosgiv

[Occupation/Skills]

- Sage

[Status]

- Slave Contract (Contractor: Hikaru Matou)

- Magic Sealing Curse

～～～～～～～

The Appraisal results for Muzue appeared in the Status window.

This is... the scene you see when using the Appraisal skill.

"What are you doing?"

"......"

The Appraisal skill is owned by only a handful of people in the world.

It's risky to reveal it unnecessarily... but.

Muzue is bound to me by a slave contract.

Information that would harm me won't leak out. So... it's fine.

"I used the Appraisal skill."

"Appraisal!? That's amazing... there are only a few people in the world who possess it..."

"Yes, so keep this a secret."

"Y-Yes! Of course!"

But the Appraisal skill... the information it reveals is less than I thought.

I can't see HP or MP, and the skills... no, wait.

[Occupation/Skills]

- Sage

What does this mean?

The occupation and skills are listed together...?

In my Status window, the occupation and owned skills are listed separately.

Maybe the information revealed by the Appraisal skill and what I can see with [Open] are different...?

[Open] might show more detailed information...?

I touched the [Magic Sealing Curse] in the status section.

[Do you want to use the skill Lockpicking on the Magic Sealing Curse?]

"!? What... is this?"

Lockpicking?

Do I have such a skill?

I touched the Magic Sealing Curse to investigate it more thoroughly...

But when I checked my Status, the Lockpicking skill was indeed there.

■Lockpicking (SSS)

→ Derived from Status Manipulation. Consumes SP to interfere with the status of others (or objects).

"Lockpicking... Interfering with the status of others...?"

If this is true, I might be able to interfere with Muzue's status and remove this curse.

[Do you want to use the skill Lockpicking on the Magic Sealing Curse?]

"Yes."

[What do you want to do with the Magic Sealing Curse? Please select from the options below.]

[Remove (Consumes 5 SP)]

[Evolve to Sealing (Consumes 10 SP)]

...Hmm.

I understand the removal. The curse will be removed.

The issue is the evolution...?

I tapped the Sealing option.

■Sealing (S)

→ One of the status-altering spells. While active, the target cannot use magic.

...I see.

Lockpicking is quite impressive.

By consuming SP, I can interfere with the status of others.

Interfering with status means rewriting or removing it.

...This is incredible.

Once granted, occupation skills cannot be increased or decreased.

The skills you receive are permanent.

...But with this [Open], the derived Status Manipulation, and Lockpicking, I can control not only my own skills but also those of others...

"Could this be... something amazing...?"

No, let's not get lost in thought.

The priority now is healing.

[Do you want to use the skill Lockpicking on the Magic Sealing Curse?]

"Yes. Consume 10 SP to evolve the Magic Sealing Curse."

[Do you want to evolve the Magic Sealing Curse to Sealing?]

"Yes."

By evolving it, the status effect will be removed, and I'll gain a new skill.

I'll consume SP, but I have a way to increase this value.

We'll get to that later.

[Request accepted. You have gained the skill Sealing.]

"Good. Muzue, use healing magic on your foot."

Muzue nodded obediently.

"You're unusually obedient."

"I trust you, Lord Hikaru."

"I don't think you can trust someone you just met..."

"You can manipulate Status, which only heroes can use. You must be a special person."

I don't know... but if she trusts me, it makes things easier.

Muzue placed her hand on the wound.

Then a brilliant light appeared...

"! It... it worked! Amazing! I couldn't use this magic no matter how many times I tried! This is incredible! This is magic!"

"That's good. I'm glad."

"Yes! As I thought... Lord Hikaru is amazing!"

After that, Muzue also healed me.

With our HP fully restored, we started our journey to the city.