Chapter 3

After finishing breakfast, I returned to my room and began to think alone. Was my conversation with the goddess Muse really just a dream?

"Right, she did mention something about a 'skill'..."

Just before I regained consciousness, the goddess Muse said something about me having a skill. I focused my mind and checked my status.

Klaus: Human

Gender: Male

Age: 16

Title: Blessed by the Goddess Muse

Strength: E

Endurance: E

Agility: E

Magic: G

Spirit: D

Luck: G

Status: Healthy

Skill: 'Hatching'

This 'status' magic allows me to check my condition just by focusing my mind. Each attribute is ranked in the order S > A > B > C > D > E > F > G, and the average for a very ordinary person who doesn't make a living from fighting is F. 'Magic,' 'Spirit,' and 'Luck' vary widely from person to person, but 'Strength,' 'Endurance,' and 'Agility' can be improved through training. Those with high 'Magic' often aim to become mages, and those with high 'Luck' often aim to become merchants. Since I have G in both, I had already given up on such positions.

"Hmm, as expected... I do have a skill."

A skill is a power that allows you to perform specific abilities. Having one means you can excel in that field, and treatment can vary depending on whether you have a skill or not.

"So, I really did meet the goddess Muse."

The appearance of a skill that didn't exist before confirms that it wasn't a dream. If that's the case, the story about monsters being more active in the magic realm might also be true. For now, I need to verify whether this is really a skill. I tried to leave the room to go outside, but I couldn't find Seria.

"Hey, Mom. Where's Seria?"

"That girl went out to work."

"Huh? But didn't she quit her job?"

Seria is about to enter a prestigious school in the capital. She has the 'Magic' skill, which is rare among those who can obtain skills. If she studies and develops her abilities, working in the castle is not out of the question.

Given that, I thought she had quit her job, so why is she working now?

"Well, it's fine. She must want to do it."

I tilted my head, but my mother looked troubled and mumbled.

"Alright, I'm going out for a bit."

"Are you sure you're feeling well? Shouldn't you wait for Seria to come back?"

My mother looked worried. But that wouldn't help. I need to confirm whether this skill really works on my own.

"I've been in bed for so long, my body feels stiff. I'll just go for a walk and come back."

I said this and left the house before my mother could stop me.

I headed to the chicken farm outside the town, thinking that the 'Hatching' skill must be related to eggs. The farm, along with the ranch and fields, is outside the town, so it takes quite a while to walk there. Since I had been bedridden for a whole week, my endurance seemed to have dropped, and I was slightly out of breath by the time I arrived. Still, I managed to get some chicken eggs and hid in a shed where no one would notice, ready to try out my skill.

"...I'm a bit nervous."

Seria told me that if you have a skill, the way to use it comes naturally when you focus your mind. I held the egg in both hands and concentrated hard.

"What... is this?"

The next moment, I felt something being drained from my body. A fatigue far greater than what I felt while walking overwhelmed me. I managed to keep my consciousness and continued using the skill...

"Wow! Just a little more?"

Cracks appeared on the egg, and a beak became visible. I stopped using the skill and watched the egg...

"Peep peep"

After a while, a chick hatched.

"Indeed, this skill is real..."

The goddess Muse's words were true, and I can use the skill, but... my body is reaching its limit, and my eyelids are getting heavy.

"To hatch one chick... this... is... not... usable..."

I lost consciousness right there.

"Is Seria angry?"

Standing in front of the door to our house, I sighed, dreading the scolding I would receive from my sister. It was already night. I had told my mother I was just going for a walk, so what would happen now that I'm back so late...

After that, I lost consciousness due to the side effects of the skill and woke up to find the sun had set. The chick I hatched had disappeared. I dragged my tired body back home.

Given that I had just recovered from an illness and didn't return, Seria must be worried sick.

I pressed my ear to the door to listen to the family's conversation...

"Seria, are you sure about this?"

"You were looking forward to studying in the capital, weren't you?"

I heard my mother and father's voices.

"Please don't make me say it again, I've decided to stay here."

Hearing Seria's words, I froze.

"You are the only reminder of your deceased sister. I have the duty to raise you until you become a fine adult."

"That's right, Seria. You have a skill and are very talented. There's no need to ruin your life because of a momentary confusion."

"Both of you, stop! We took out a loan to buy medicine! The tuition for the school in the capital is also needed. I don't want to burden the family!"

The argument continued while I was frozen in place. It seems they took out a loan to buy medicine for my treatment.

Without the tuition, the family would be in trouble, so Seria decided to give up on her education and work.

Neither my parents nor Seria wanted to worry me, so they never showed any concern in front of me. My mother does the laundry and prepares meals every day. My father teaches me sword techniques even when he's tired from work.

My sister, who is always there to take care of me, and whom I know wanted to go to the capital so much.

"I have to do something..."

Working a regular job won't be enough. I decided to become an adventurer to change this situation.