Chapter 15

"Crane, are you there~?"

"Y-Yes. Leonis, what's the matter?"

"I have something to talk about. Is it okay?"

After reporting to Marry and finishing my meal at home, I was reading a book when I heard a loud voice from the entrance.

I thought it might be a disturbance to the neighbors, but the surroundings were already noisy. The entrance has good soundproofing, so it shouldn't be a problem to be called from inside the shop. I should get a doorbell to prevent strangers from entering, though.

And... considering the structure of the house, it might not be good that the shop area has no lock and can be entered freely.

"Sure, come in~"

When I opened the door, there were two people with Leonis: an old man with a cane and a young man with a neat, but somewhat frivolous appearance.

...And my intuition is warning me to be on guard.

Unlike before, it's giving me a danger alert.

Is it really that bad...? I wish I had known before opening the door...

"Hey, Crane. What's wrong? You look pale."

"......I might not... be able to..."

Leonis is looking at me worriedly as I start to tremble.

I want to say I'm fine, but I'm too scared to do so.

"Hmm..."

"Ahahaha, well, I'll come in then."

I feel bad for the worried Leonis, but these two seem quite dangerous. It's not just a feeling; they are definitely dangerous. Especially the young one. His lips are curved upwards, making it look like he's smiling, but I can tell he's not.

"Crane?"

"......Am I going to be killed...?"

Leonis supports me and leads me into the back room with the bookshelves. Once there, I crouch down and whisper. My intuition tells me that these people have the authority to do so.

"Killed? Why would you think that?"

"Leonis... Yeah, depending on what you tell me, I might decide to kill the foreigners, including you."

"Hey!"

There's a possibility that foreigners will be executed.

The first thing that came to mind was the report I gave to Marry a few hours ago. Is there a connection? It's very unsettling.

But... I had a feeling that the vandalism was the work of a foreigner with only half-baked knowledge.

Yeah... I can understand why they're angry. I don't know why they came to me, though...

"Foreigners are dangerous. It's not unreasonable to think that it's better to eliminate them before they become too powerful. Do you understand?"

"......"

"Hey. Raz, don't scare him too much. Crane, this guy isn't a bad person."

"Leonis, but the actions of foreigners are dangerous. We need to make him understand. That's why we had to scare him... I see you understand."

They are dangerous.

I understand that. I know nothing about this world, but I'm getting stronger... no, I will get stronger.

In this world, the stat increases when leveling up are higher than in game worlds.

My stats have already tripled or quadrupled from the initial values.

If I become even more dangerous as I level up, I can understand why they want to take care of me now... I didn't come to this world by choice, though.

I understand, but I don't want to be executed. I don't want to die... My body is shaking.

"Right, right. Hey, I want to know your purpose. I didn't get much useful information from your companions. But if you tell me, your treatment might change."

What I have to say...

I glance at Leonis. I can tell he's worried about me. He's been kind to me, like a mentor, and I think he's a good person.

There's not much I can tell.

But... when I tell everything about the foreigners, it's better if fewer people know.

I don't want to involve Leonis because... I'm grateful to him.

I don't want to cause trouble for my mentor or Diana.

"Crane. Raz and I have been in a party before. Think of him as an important person in this town. This old man is the guild master of the Adventurer's Guild. He promises to protect you and not kill you."

"......"

"Even just telling what you can is fine. Is that okay?"

"......Can I set a condition?"

"Hmm. What is it?"

"......Leonis is not involved. I don't want to involve him, so please let him leave."

If Leonis hears this, he might find it hard to act if something happens in the future. I can't cause him any more trouble.

Shaking, I meet the young man's eyes. After a few seconds of staring, he looks away and says, "Okay."

"Crane? Hey, what's going on?"

"Depending on what I say, I might be silenced."

"Leonis was my companion. Even I find it hard to act against him. Is it okay to not have his protection?"

"......I don't want to involve him and have him silenced with me."

I don't think they would silence someone as capable as him, but I feel like I need to say everything I know. I think there are things Leonis shouldn't know if I tell everything I know and imagine.

"Leonis was supposed to make me feel safer... Can you let him go?"

"......I understand. ...Crane, don't overdo it."

"......I'm fine... Thank you."

I force a space in the storage room and have them sit on the floor. I don't guide them to my living space. It might be rude, but it's hard to treat them as guests psychologically.

"Hmm. Sorry, but can you place your hand on this artifact?"

The artifact is the one used for registration at the Adventurer's Guild. It's used to verify the truth of statements. I nod and place my hand on it... I need to be careful with my words.

"......So, what should I say?"

"Hmm... Do you know why the foreigners appeared?"

"......I don't know. ...Suddenly, we were gathered in a white space and told we would be transferred to this world."

The artifact emits a blue light in response to my answer. The guild master nods in confirmation. The young man is smiling, but it's hard to tell what he's thinking.

I feel that the young man is more dangerous and has a higher status. It's safer to be honest.

"To whom?"

"......I don't know. I don't think it was a person. It resonated directly in my head... It wasn't a voice, but... I heard it. It wasn't someone's voice, but a will was sent to my head... It's hard to express... I didn't hear it with my ears, but... it was conveyed...?"

"Hmm..."

"‘You will be transferred to another world. Choose how you will transfer.’ That's how I understood it, but I haven't confirmed with others."

The blue light from the artifact makes the two of them look puzzled.

Discussing the existence of something that isn't human here is strange... Normally, people would think I'm crazy if I said this. But at least, it proves that I believe this is the truth.

"Then, did you think you were chosen as heroes?"

"......I didn't think I was that type. But a young boy nearby was excited and declared, ‘I'll be a hero!’ ...No one denied him. I saw that many people were enthusiastic. I think more people were positive about it."

Hmm... Well, there are novels about heroes summoned to another world.

But I know it wasn't on a class-by-class basis... How many of the people there will become chosen heroes...

"Hmm... Did you all discuss and decide anything?"

"......The number of people gathered was... 1,000 or 2,000? There were so many. If everyone had to decide together, someone would need to take the lead... There was no one like that at the time. Also, I think people would resist being forced by strangers."

"2,000? There are about 30 foreigners in this town, and as you told Leonis, the number hasn't increased since that day?"

"There was a time limit for the transfer. I think time flows differently in the white space and this world... I thought we had to transfer within three days in this world, so I told Leonis to wait until the date changed... Also, not everyone comes to this town."

I suddenly wondered how information from other towns is managed.

From what they said, they thought the 30 people in this town were all of them. I don't think they have information from other towns?

"Then, where did the others go?"

"I think they chose other places. There were three countries: the Empire, the Kingdom, and the Republic, and ten cities in each country to choose from... But..."

"Could they choose their favorite place?"

"Do you remember the names of the cities?"

"......I don't remember the names of towns or villages I've never heard of. But there was one capital, and three towns, villages, and cities each."

Honestly, I chose a town without knowing what it was like... I didn't remember the names. But when choosing a town, it wasn't confirmed. After choosing, it could be canceled... No, that's not right.

Weapons and armor could be canceled. If they were too heavy, I could change them. But I couldn't cancel when deciding abilities?

Unique skills couldn't be undone. Magic, skills, and abilities couldn't be canceled... Yeah. Something feels off... I might be missing something...

"Hmm. Was it only the Republic and the Empire besides the Kingdom?"

"Those three."

"Was there no Principality, Holy Kingdom, or Beast Kingdom?"

"......I could only choose from three... I didn't know there were other countries. But... there was space below the countries, so it's possible that some people had more options."

If asked, "Was there no other country?"... I want to ask, "Did other people have them?" But I don't have the right to ask questions... Yeah. I'll just answer what I know.

I need to gain some trust or I might be killed... I'm scared!

The two people in front of me are observing my every move.

I'm scared... I'm so scared...

Maybe I should have had Leonis stay? But involving him would be unfair to my mentor and Diana. They've been kind to me, so I can't involve them.

"Then, did you come to this world without talking to anyone else?"

"......I decided on my own without talking to anyone."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't have a trusting relationship with anyone else. If the other person was more experienced and could give me advice, I might have considered it... But no one at the time understood what was happening. I couldn't entrust my future to someone else."

Well, there was also the fact that I found it hard to talk to people.

But I'll just say I couldn't entrust my future to strangers. It's not a lie.

"Hmm?"

"Then, do you know nothing about the other foreigners?"

"......I listened and observed a bit, but that's not enough to know. Everyone was busy with their own affairs. Even if they gathered to talk, it was usually in groups of about ten, and I didn't see larger groups making decisions."

"Did you not talk to anyone after coming to this world?"

"Right after arriving, I noticed a group of similar people gathering outside the town and giving speeches, but I didn't approach them."

"Hmm. Why didn't you approach your companions?"

"......I got a bad feeling."

Well, I think it was my <Intuition>... But I can only say it felt bad.

Should I mention that it's due to my status? I don't know how to use it. It would be easier if it was a clear revelation, like the correct choice glowing.

This bad feeling... Is it because of my <Intuition>? I'd like to ask someone who knows.

"Hmm... You're not lying, but it seems you're hiding something."

Yeah. I was wondering if I should mention my <Intuition>. It's hard to hide my expressions.

But I don't want to reveal all my information and become expendable. It's a survival tactic to show some hesitation. But if it's discovered, I'll explain.

"......I just thought it was better not to get close. I think it's because of my <Intuition>... a unique skill. It just gives me a bad feeling, and I don't fully understand how to use it. And I'm not trying to hide anything. I intend to answer any questions honestly."

"Hmm... Can you explain it more clearly?"

Clearly?

About the unique skill?

Well, you probably know more about how this world works than I do, right?

"......Before coming to this world, I chose my abilities myself in the white space. There was no explanation on how to use them or what they were, so I chose based on the names. When choosing magic, skills, and unique skills, I chose <Intuition>. But I don't fully understand how it works. I just get a bad feeling when it's dangerous... I think."

"Hmm... Dangerous like when attacked by a monster?"

"I didn't feel it when fighting monsters after coming to this world. I felt it when I first tried to approach a group of foreigners, when I tried to cast a spell on the large room downstairs, and just now when I met you. I think <Intuition> is warning me of danger."

So far, I haven't felt it when facing monsters. I don't plan to overexert myself in solo battles and avoid being surrounded, so I haven't been seriously injured. I have healing magic and potions, so my HP hasn't dropped below 60%.

I've only felt <Intuition> three times. According to Leonis, it might be a passive effect that activates during combat.

"Did you feel danger from us?"

"......I thought it was dangerous, so I asked Leonis to leave and am telling you everything I know."

The old man lets out a deep breath and looks at me. I meet his gaze. I'm not lying about thinking they are dangerous.

His eyes seem to see through my clumsy thoughts.

I hope he understands that I don't intend to be hostile...

"......Do you think I'm a dangerous person?"

"You have the power to decide my life and death."

Not just me, but the rights of the foreigners in this town are in the hands of these two... I think the young one has more power. And if they wanted to, they could kill me right here. They don't have swords or weapons, but I'm sure they are both very powerful.

"......Can you explain in detail what you mean by choosing your abilities yourself?"

"I used points to choose magic, skills, abilities, and unique skills freely."

"Unique skills?"

"From what I remember... half were things like <Etiquette of...>, <Way of...>, <Mastery of...>. The rest were various things like swords, axes, water, fire, and titles. I don't remember everything, but they all had three levels, used more points than other abilities, and had no levels."

"It doesn't seem like you're lying. But if you could really choose..."

The artifact is still glowing blue.

While confirming I'm not lying, their confusion suggests there's something about unique skills. I can guess that they are powerful unique skills.

For the people of this world, knowing them is a threat.

I feel a chill down my spine. I tried to act tough, but I can't stop sweating.

<It's not my Intuition, but I can feel it... It's not exactly a killing intent, but a similar feeling... I must have said something bad.>

"Then, how many points do these unique skills require?"

"Unique skills require 50, 150, 250... Uh... What's the problem?"

"Hmm... There are a lot of abilities, not as many as stars, but quite a few. Some are easy to get, some are hard, and it varies from person to person... But many are easy to get."

"Yes, I've heard that. There's something like proficiency."

"Hmm. The existence of abilities like <Etiquette of...> and <Way of...> is not wrong... But they are hard to get. Some people can't even get <Etiquette of...> in a lifetime. I've never heard of unique skills before, but I assume you're talking about abilities without level indicators."

"Eh?"

<Etiquette> was the one that required the least points? It takes a lifetime?

...Wait, so getting the second and third levels... That's... not normal, right? Is that what being a hero means?

Is the balance off?

"Right, you have sword skills, right? When your sword skill level reaches 10, you can learn <Sword Etiquette>. By the way, just having it gives a huge buff to sword attacks."

"......"

"Leonis, who has been an adventurer for 30 years, has a maximum shield skill level of 9. Even for excellent adventurers, reaching level 10 is difficult. If you can get <Etiquette> with a unique skill, that's a great deal. If you have multiple <Etiquettes>, you can create a human weapon."

Multiple <Etiquettes> make a human weapon... So, <Way> and <Mastery> are very rare...

To get sword skills to level 10, it takes 220 points. For a unique skill <Etiquette>, it's 50. ...Definitely, the balance is broken.

This is bad... Wait, my <Intuition> is only at the second level, and it's not something that clearly shows mastery... It's unpredictable how it will turn out.

"......I could only choose one unique skill..."

I'll at least convey this. Even the information that no one can have multiple might make them a little more cautious... No, it won't, right?

I wish they would stop stroking their beards and thinking. It's intimidating.

I'm really scared. I wish someone could turn this cold atmosphere into a warm one.

"Are you sure?"

"I was interested in two, but once I chose one, the other options turned gray and couldn't be selected, so I'm sure... Yes."

Yeah. There's no way to change the choice... Once I chose, it was final. I confirmed when I chose <Intuition>, so I'm sure.

I couldn't cancel it. I tried, but I couldn't cancel other abilities either.

"It's fine if you can