Chapter 5

We set off for the town.

While walking, I recalled the status that Muse showed me earlier.

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Muse Anemos Giv (15※Human Equivalent)

HP 40/40

MP 100/250

SP -

【Occupation】

Sage

【Owned Skills】

・Advanced Wind Magic (A)

・Four Elemental Magics (A)※Not Unlocked

・Healing Magic Potential (A)

・Chant Omission (A)※Not Unlocked

・Keen Hearing (C)※Not Unlocked

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"Hmm..."

I realized something about the status.

It seems that to open the status (use the status manipulation skill), you need to touch the target.

Next, about the occupational skills.

It seems that when using the appraisal skill, the occupation and skills are combined and displayed.

Moreover, the problem is that only the first notation appears.

For me, it says "Open," and for Muse, it says "Sage," but the skills the person has are not displayed.

The appraisal ritual only shows the occupation.

It cannot determine what innate skills a person has... so it can be said to be a quite flawed ritual.

In other words, that ritual does not decide everything in life.

Even if you don't get the occupation of Sword Saint, you might still have sword skills.

Well, that's fine.

The next thing that caught my attention was the "※Not Unlocked" part.

It seems that even if you own a skill, it might not be unlocked.

I need to investigate this more thoroughly.

"Muse, can I borrow your hand?"

"Y-Yes! I'd be happy to!!!!"

Muse extended her right hand, and when I touched her right arm, she seemed confused, saying "Eh...?"

Hmm?

"I wanted to check the status."

"A-Ah! I see! That's it!"

Hmm? What do you mean "that's it"?

Well, never mind.

I opened Muse's status and tapped the skill.

・Keen Hearing (C) (1/10)

Using the appraisal skill, I found out that (C) represents the skill rank, and (1/10) represents the proficiency level.

It seems that this skill increases in proficiency through certain actions, and once it reaches the limit, the skill is unlocked.

So, I must have had sword skills because I practiced swordsmanship a lot, which increased my proficiency and unlocked the previously unopened skill...

But I need to increase my proficiency by 9 more points.

If I knew the conditions...

"【Appraisal】"

I used the appraisal skill to find out how to increase proficiency for Keen Hearing.

・SP 5 to unlock the skill

・SP 10 to evolve to Enhanced Hearing (A)

・SP 20 to evolve to Super Hearing (S)

Hmm...

It seems that by consuming SP, you can unlock or evolve skills.

SP seems to be a value that is consumed quite heavily.

What should I do?

■Enhanced Hearing (A)

→ Activated at will. Can distinguish the voices of monsters within a 5-kilometer range.

■Super Hearing (S)

→ Always active. Activates when a monster appears within a 5-kilometer range. Can also determine the exact position of non-monsters.

Hearing seems to be a skill like detection.

Having this would make travel easier.

"Muse, I have a proposal. I want to grant you a skill."

"Proposal...?"

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"A-Ah, no! It's unprecedented for a slave to be consulted. Normally, one just follows the master's orders."

That's right.

But...

"I respect your will. You are not a tool."

Because I believe that slaves are beings we, the powerful, should protect.

Noblesse oblige. I think it should be applied to everyone.

"Ugh... What a kind master you are. I am very happy to be your slave. I am the happiest slave in the world..."

"Quite dramatic, aren't you?"

"It's not dramatic! You are the best master! I will swear my loyalty to you for life! I will stay by your side until I wither away..."

That's my intention.

No need to ask.

"Is that okay, then?"

"Yes! Please do."

Hmm... If the person wants it, there's no reason not to.

I consumed SP to unlock Super Hearing (S).

SP 110 → 90

Some might point out that it's not good to recklessly consume points.

But since SP, unlike HP, has no upper limit, and it increases when monsters are defeated, I don't think there's any risk (like death) if it reaches zero.

In that case, it should be used aggressively.

"Muse, I've unlocked a skill for you that will let you know the position of enemies. You will be able to determine the location of enemies within a 5-kilometer range."

"!"

Muse's body trembled.

What's wrong?

"Such... such wonderful power can be granted! Amazing...! Could you be a god, Hilak-sama!"

"Too dramatic. Rather, can you sense any monsters?"

"Um... Yes! Straight north, this voice... it's a dragon."

"Hmm... A dragon ahead."

It was a good decision to keep the hearing skill.

If I had walked unknowingly, I would probably be in the dragon's stomach by now.

A dragon, huh.

A troublesome opponent. I've heard that a fortress was destroyed by a dragon.

I don't know how strong I am, and while the "Open" is indeed incredible, there are still many unknowns.

So, it would be best to avoid the risk and go around... but wait.

"Muse, I remember that skill can distinguish voices. Can you hear any voices other than the dragon's?"

I don't think a dragon would suddenly appear without any warning.

It must have come down because there was prey... that makes sense.

"You're right, Hilak-sama! I can hear human voices nearby!"

"Of course... let's hurry, Muse."

"Yes!"

If human lives are at stake, it's a different story.

I will fulfill my duty as one who holds power.

Damn, but the distance is quite far.

Even if I run, I can't see the dragon at all.

Should I attack from a distance with magic?

But I don't know if it will hit. If there are civilians near the dragon, I can't just randomly cast spells.

Hmm... If only I had a skill to aim at distant enemies...

'Conditions met'

At that moment, the status appeared before my eyes again.

'You can now obtain Eagle Eye (SSS)'

What the... a new skill here?

There were no conditions, I just wished to hit the dragon with magic... is that enough?

■Eagle Eye (SSS)※Not Unlocked

→ Consumes magic power to enhance vision. Locks onto a target within the field of view. Ensures that long-range physical and magical attacks hit the target.

・40 SP points to unlock

Hmm... Unlike evolving an existing skill, it seems that a lot of SP is required to obtain a new skill from scratch.

40... quite a number, indeed.

"Obtain and use."

Human lives are at stake. If I won't die even if SP reaches zero, there's no hesitation in using it.

I consumed half of my remaining magic power to enhance my vision.

In the zoomed-in field of view, I caught sight of a wyvern.

"I will snipe from here."

"!? We're quite far away!"

"No problem. 【Ice Spear Barrage】!"

Boom...!

A fierce headache hit me.

It must be from overusing magic.

Damn, I didn't have enough magic power. The number of ice spears seemed fewer than the first time I used it.

But thanks to the effect of Eagle Eye, the spears accurately pierced and killed the wyvern.

SP 50 → SP 150

Phew... As I expected, SP recovers when you defeat monsters.

I will use SP more aggressively from now on...

"Are you okay!?"

"Yeah... I'm fine. The dragon is dead. The civilians are safe."

"That's amazing... but! Are you okay, Hilak-sama! Hilak-samaaaa!"

I passed out from overusing magic.