Chapter 11

I did something wasteful... I killed them before taking their skills because I was too angry... It seems that skills can't be taken from a dead target... haa

Nina was walking beside me with a smirk. I asked her if she didn’t care that I had killed two people.

"They were trying to kill us, so it’s only natural that they got killed!"

That’s what she said. It seems that in this world, life is not valued highly.

"Nina, I’ll teach you combat techniques."

Since I’ve become friends with Nina, I decided to teach her some of the things I know. I can’t teach her about the skill theft, but everything else should be fine.

"Really? Yay♪"

"In exchange for teaching you my abilities, I want to know something. First, I can see a person’s abilities just by looking at them."

"Yu, you can use an analysis skill? What level is it?"

"My ability isn’t an analysis skill; it’s an inherent skill that lets me see a person’s abilities. I want to know if there are any differences between the status I can see and the status displayed on the guild card. I also want to know more about the guild card."

"Sure~"

Nina showed me her guild card.

Name: Nina Leva

Race: Human

Job: Thief

Hometown: Vivit Village

Age: 16

Gender: Female

Rank: F

Level: 13

HP: 79

MP: 23

Strength: 22

Agility: 55

Stamina: 23

Intelligence: 17

Magic: 11

Luck: 22

Passive Skills:

Detection LV1

Trap Detection LV1

Dagger Technique LV1

Stealth LV1

Active Skills:

Steal LV1

Ambush LV1

Trap Removal LV1

Stealth LV1

Inherent Skills:

None

The differences between the status I can see and the status on Nina’s guild card are: 'Hometown', 'Age', 'Gender', and 'Rank'. Summarizing the information from Nina:

1. Guild ranks have 10 levels from SSS to G.

2. Most people who obtain a guild card for identification purposes are G rank.

3. When a guild card is created, personal information is magically embedded, and it reflects growth.

4. Information on the guild card can be hidden at will (e.g., hiding some parts).

"By the way, those guys were talking about something called 'magon' earlier?"

"That! I was wondering about that too. Why can Yu activate sword techniques without chanting magic words? And you don’t chant magic words for spells either. Could it be the inherent skill of 'Great Sage'!?"

Magic words? Do you mean incantations? 'Great Sage'? Is there such a skill...

"Indeed, I don’t chant those magic words, but I do say the skills in my head and infuse them with magic power."

"Huh? Say them in your head!? Can... can you really do that?"

"Well, I’ll explain that too. First, let’s learn combat techniques, and then maybe dagger techniques? Do you automatically learn dagger techniques once you learn dagger skills?"

"I’ve learned Dagger Technique LV1, so I think I’ll naturally learn them as my level increases."

"Hmm, can you see this?"

I activated a combat technique.

"Hmm, I can’t see it... but I can kind of feel it..."

"Then let’s start by feeling the magic power and then try to see it."

"Also, I’ll sell the equipment from those guys, but if we sell it in Resel Village, it might be recognized. Let’s sell it in Vivit Village, where Nina is from."

"Eh!? No way..."

"Zzz..."

"Fine, fine..."

It was a waste to break the spear in half.

On the way home, I hunted and brought back two Horn Rabbits (rabbits with horns).

"Grandma Stella, I’m back~"

"Yu, welcome back. Oh, Nina is with you too."

"Hi, Grandma Stella~"

"Hehe, it looks like you’ve become friends."

"Y-Yes! Thanks to Grandma Stella!!"

The two of them were giggling, ignoring me. Tonight’s dinner is Grandma Stella’s bread and soup, along with the fresh Horn Rabbit meat I just hunted. Grandma Stella hasn’t been feeling well lately, so she needs to eat more nutritious food.

"Grandma Stella, is this enough for dinner?"

"Phew, I’m already full with this."

"Munch munch..."

Nina is eating like a fool.

"Nina, you’re eating too much!"

"It’s just so delicious..."

"By the way, Yu, the villagers said they saw bandits in the mountains. Be careful when you go to gather herbs. It’s terrible that they kidnap children and women to sell as slaves..."

"Got it. I’ll be careful when I go to the mountains."

Bandits... They probably have a treasure hoard. Maybe I should look for it.

"Come on, Nina. Stay the night."

Nina keeps glancing at me.

"Grandma Stella said so. Do as you please."

"Yay!"

"Yu, be nicer to girls."

"Ugh... I got scolded because of Nina!"

"Eh!?"

"Hey... why are we sharing a bed?"

"Yu, don’t you know? Men and women under 20 have to sleep in the same bed."

"!? Is that true... Nina, I’m not familiar with these customs, so please keep teaching me. But why are you hugging me?"

"......This is......a law......decided by the country......mumble mumble"

She mumbles something and keeps hugging me, sniffing my scent. Honestly, I wish she would stop.