Chapter 3

After deciding to participate in the war, Aichi and the others had to learn combat techniques. No matter how extraordinary the power lurking within, it was impossible for Japanese high school students, who were completely immersed in pacifism, to suddenly fight against monsters and demons. However, this situation was, of course, anticipated. Istar said that Aichi and the others would receive training and preparation at the foot of the Holy Mountain, the headquarters of the Holy Church, in the Kingdom of Helius. The kingdom and the Holy Church had a close relationship, and it was said that Sharum Bern, a follower of the creator god Eshid, whom the Holy Church worshipped, was the traditional founder of the kingdom. With the church backing the state, the strength of their connection was clear.

To go down to the Kingdom of Helius, Aichi and the others came out of the main gate of the Holy Church. The Holy Church seemed to be at the top of the Holy Mountain. After passing through the grand triumphal arch, an endless sea of clouds stretched to the horizon. They felt no difficulty breathing, characteristic of high altitudes, so they hadn't noticed they were on a mountain. It was probably adjusted by magic. The dazzling sunlight, the magnificent sea of clouds, and the clear sky left Aichi and the others in awe. Urged forward by Istar, who was proud, they saw a large, circular white platform surrounded by a fence. Passing through a beautiful colonnade made of the same material as the grand cathedral, they were urged onto the platform. A large magic circle was engraved on the platform. On the other side of the fence was the sea of clouds, so most of the students huddled in the center, timidly looking around, while Istar chanted something.

"The path of the chosen one opens with faith. 'Heavenly Way.'"

At the same time, the magic circle under their feet shone brightly. Then, the platform, like a cable car, started moving and slid down the slope. Clearly, the 'incantation' had activated the magic circle engraved on the platform. This was indeed a cable car-shaped platform. The first sight of 'magic' caused a stir among the students. There was also a commotion when they plunged into the sea of clouds.

Soon, they passed through the clouds and saw the ground. Below was a large town, no, a country. Buildings that seemed to grow out of the hillside were a massive castle and a town that spread out in a radial pattern. The capital of the Kingdom of Helius. A tall tower and the royal palace were connected by an aerial walkway, and the platform seemed to continue to the roof of the tower.

Aichi smiled at the ironic and excellent performance. Coming down from the sky through the clouds, they were like 'apostles of the gods.' From this perspective, it made sense that the Holy Church believers would view Aichi and the others, who were related to the Holy Church, as sacred beings. Aichi couldn't help but think of pre-war Japan, an era when politics and religion were closely linked, and the various tragedies that followed. In this world, there truly existed supernatural powers that could interfere with other worlds, and, as the name suggested, this world revolved around the 'will of the gods.' The possibility of them returning home and the future of this world were all in the hands of the gods. Looking down at the capital becoming clearer, Aichi struggled to suppress the indescribable unease in his chest. For now, he could only do what he could, clench his fists, hold his breath, and walk straight ahead.

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Upon reaching the palace, Aichi and the others were led to the throne room along a straight path. Walking through corridors that were no less grand than the church, they passed by knights in armor, officials, and maids, all of whom looked at them with eyes full of expectation or awe. They must have had a good idea of who Aichi and the others were. Aichi felt uncomfortable, so he quietly followed at the back. Finally, they arrived at a large, beautiful, and intricately designed double door. On either side of the door stood two soldiers standing at attention. They loudly announced the arrival of Istar and the heroes, and without waiting for a response from inside, they opened the doors. Istar walked through the door with a calm demeanor. Most of the students, except for a few like Hikari, nervously followed.

Inside the door, a red carpet stretched straight to a luxurious throne placed in the back. An elderly man exuding authority and charisma stood before the throne, waiting. Beside him was a woman believed to be the queen, and next to her was a beautiful young boy with blonde hair and blue eyes, around ten years old. Beside him was a beautiful young girl, also blonde and blue-eyed, around fourteen or fifteen years old. On either side of the red carpet stood about thirty people, with armored knights on the left and officials on the right.

Istar made Aichi and the others stop in front of the throne and walked to the side of the king. The king respectfully took his outstretched hand and lightly kissed it. It seemed that the Pope's position was higher. At this moment, Aichi was certain that the entire country revolved around 'the gods,' and he sighed inwardly. The introductions began. The king's name was Alexius S. B. Helius, and the queen was probably Luluaria. The blonde young boy was Prince Randel, and the princess was Lilianna. The captain of the knights and the prime minister, among other high-ranking officials, were also introduced. Incidentally, it seemed that the beautiful young boy's gaze was drawn to Kashiwagi, indicating that her charm was effective even in this world.

Afterward, a banquet was held, and they were satisfied with the otherworldly cuisine. It looked almost the same as Western food on Earth. Occasionally, they saw pink sauces and drinks that shimmered with seven colors, which were very delicious. Prince Randel frequently spoke to Kashiwagi, and the boys in the class watched this with anxiety. Aichi couldn't help but feel a small hope that the prince might become a rival, though he was only ten... In the palace, they were provided with food, clothing, and shelter for training, and their instructors were introduced. The instructors were selected from the active knights and court mages. This was to deepen camaraderie in preparation for the impending war. After the banquet, they dispersed and were led to their assigned rooms. Aichi, who was not shocked by the canopy bed, felt a sense of inner turmoil in the luxurious room. After such a tumultuous and tense day, he felt like he was melting. He leaped onto the bed and lost consciousness.

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The next day, training and studies began immediately.

First, the gathered students were each given a silver plate measuring 12 cm by 7 cm. The students looked at the mysterious plates, and the captain of the knights, Merudo Rogins, personally began the explanation. Aichi had wondered if he would be training with the captain, but it seemed that entrusting the 'party of heroes' to amateurs was not an option, both inside and outside. Captain Merudo laughed heartily, relieved that he could push all the trivial tasks to the deputy captain! So, it should be fine. However, the deputy captain would not be fine...

"Alright, everyone finally has their plates? This plate is called an Attribute Plate. As the name suggests, it objectively displays your attribute values. It's the most reliable ID. With it, even if you become a lost child, you'll be fine. Any questions?"

Merudo spoke very casually. His personality was open and straightforward, and he advised, "From now on, we're comrades, so no need for formalities! You can interact with other knights casually too." For Aichi and the others, a relaxed atmosphere was better, and being treated politely by the elders made them feel uncomfortable.

"One side of the plate has a magic circle engraved on it. Use the needle provided to prick your finger and drop a drop of blood on it. The owner will be registered. When 'Attribute Open' appears, your attributes will be displayed. Ah, want to know the principle? I don't know. It's an artifact from the age of the gods."

"Artifact?"

Hearing the unfamiliar term 'artifact,' Hikari asked.

"An artifact is a powerful item that cannot be reproduced in modern times. According to legend, they were created on the ground by the gods and their followers during the age of the gods. The Attribute Plate is one of them, and it is the only artifact that has been widely distributed throughout the world since ancient times, along with its replica. Artifacts are usually national treasures, but this one is widespread among the general public, making it a convenient ID."

Nodding, the students frowned and pricked their fingertips with the needle, smearing the blood on the magic circle. The magic flashed with a faint light. Aichi did the same and looked at the surface, and...

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Nagumo Aichi, 17 years old, male, Level: 1

Occupation: Alchemist

Strength: 10

Endurance: 10

Stamina: 10

Agility: 10

Magic Power: 10

Magic Endurance: 10

Skills: Alchemy, Language Understanding

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The attributes were displayed. Looking at his Attribute Plate, Aichi felt like he had become a character in a game. The other students were also intently looking at their attributes. Captain Merudo explained the Attribute Plate.

"Everyone has seen it, right? Let me explain. First, the 'Level' is straightforward, right? It increases as other attribute values increase. The upper limit of 100 is the human limit. In other words, the level represents the realm a person has reached numerically. Level 100 means that a person has maximized their potential as a human, and there is no one who has achieved that."

It seemed that, unlike in games, the attributes did not increase automatically when the level went up.

"Attributes will naturally increase with daily training, and magic and magical items can also boost them. Additionally, people with high magic power tend to have high other attributes. The details are unclear, but I believe that magic unconsciously assists in enhancing physical performance. Also, you can look forward to the equipment you'll use in the future. In short, the national treasure vault will be open to the heroes who will save the country!"

From Captain Merudo's words, it seemed that there was no such thing as leveling up by defeating monsters and gaining a lot of attribute points at once. It was necessary to steadily hone their skills.

"Next, let's talk about 'Occupation.' This represents 'talent' and is linked to the 'Skills' at the bottom. In the field of that occupation, skills can exhibit unparalleled talent. People with occupations are rare."

Occupations are divided into combat and non-combat types. Combat occupations are one in a thousand, and in some cases, one in ten thousand. Non-combat occupations are at least one in a hundred, and one in ten may have a rarer occupation. Most people with non-combat occupations are producers.

Aichi looked at his attributes. Indeed, his occupation was "Alchemist." It seemed that 'alchemy' was a manifestation of talent. Well, as Istar had mentioned, Aichi and the others were from a higher world, so it was natural that they had higher specifications than the people of Todes. Thinking this, Aichi couldn't help but smile. It was nice to be told that he had talent. However, his joy was blown away, and he broke out in a cold sweat when he heard Captain Merudo's next words.

"Then, as you can see, your attributes are... Normally, at Level 1, attribute values are around 10. But in your case, they are several times to several dozen times higher! I'm so envious! Ah, quickly report the contents of your Attribute Plates to me. I'll use that to plan the training content."

In this world, the average attribute value at Level 1 is around 10. Aichi's attributes were a neat row of 10s, and he wiped away the cold sweat, completely at a loss.

(That...? It looks like the average... It's a perfect average, isn't it? Shouldn't it be a cheat? I'm not... not... not... not? ...Except for me, the others are? Really, what's the point of starting like this...)

Aichi, harboring a sliver of hope, timidly looked around. Everyone's faces were glowing, and no one was sweating like him. After Captain Merudo finished speaking, Hikari was the first to step forward and report his attributes. They were...

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Amanogawa Hikari, 17 years old, male, Level: 1

Occupation: Hero

Strength: 100

Endurance: 100

Stamina: 100

Agility: 100

Magic Power: 100

Magic Endurance: 100

Skills: All-Attribute Adaptation, All-Attribute Endurance, Physical Endurance, Composite Magic, Swordsmanship, Great Strength, Shunshin, Precognition, High-Speed Magic Recovery, Aura Sensing, Magic Sensing, Limit Break, Language Understanding

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The embodiment of a cheat.

"Wow~ Truly worthy of the Hero. At Level 1, the attributes are already in the triple digits... That's a bit of a shock. The skills aren't just a few... An extraordinary guy! You're very reliable!"

"Hehe~"

Hikari scratched his head bashfully after being praised by the captain. Incidentally, the captain's level was 62, with an average attribute of around 300, which was the top level in this world. However, Hikari's attributes at Level 1 were already close to a third of his. Considering the growth rate, surpassing him would not be a problem. Incidentally, skills = talent seemed to be innate and could not be increased. The only exception was "Derived Skills." These were the result of long-term training of a single skill, and "those who transcend barriers" could acquire them later in life. In simple terms, it was like suddenly grasping the knack and drastically improving after a long period of no progress. To others, Hikari was special, not only because his attributes were extremely high but also because his occupation was a combat type... Aichi stared at his own "Alchemist" occupation, unable to imagine himself as a combatant. He only had two skills, and one of them was the common skill "Language Understanding" in this world. In other words, he effectively had only one. Aichi gradually showed a dry smile. As the reports proceeded, it was his turn to show his Attribute Plate to Captain Merudo. Until now, Captain Merudo had only seen extraordinary attributes, and his expression was cheerful. He was probably happy to have gained many powerful comrades. However, his expression froze with a "Hmm?" while maintaining a smile, and he muttered, "Did I see it wrong?" as he tapped the Attribute Plate. He then held it up to the sunlight, examined it for a while, and returned it to Aichi with a very subtle expression.

"Ah, well, this is an Alchemist. In other words, it's a blacksmith's job, which is convenient when forging iron..."

Captain Merudo's explanation of Aichi's occupation was hesitant. The boys who viewed Aichi as a thorn in their side would surely seize on this point. Blacksmithing was clearly a non-combat occupation. With all the other students having combat occupations, Aichi was likely to be useless in combat situations. Hinoyama Daisuke laughed and called out.

"Hey, Nagumo. Are you, like, a non-combat type? How do you fight with a blacksmith's job? Mr. Merudo, isn't blacksmithing a rare job?"

"…No, one in ten blacksmiths has this occupation. All the royal blacksmiths have it."

"Hey, Nagumo~ Are you going to fight like this?"

Hinoyama put his hand on Aichi's shoulder, which was extremely annoying. Looking around, the other students, especially the boys, were laughing.

"Tsk tsk tsk, you won't know until you try~"

"Hey, let us see your attributes too. Even if your occupation is trash, high attributes can make up for it~"

Aichi sensed that the content was not good from Captain Merudo's expression earlier, and Hinoyama's insistence was particularly annoying. The three lackeys were also teasing him. Bullying the weak and fawning over the strong was typical of a despicable person. In fact, Kashiwagi, Shizukana, and others showed signs of displeasure.

(He clearly likes Kashiwagi, so why doesn't he notice?)

While thinking about this, Aichi casually handed over his Attribute Plate. After seeing the content, Hinoyama burst out laughing. Then, Saito and the others passed the Attribute Plate around, and the others also burst into laughter and mocked him.

"Hahahaha~ What is this! Completely average human level!"

"Hahahaha~ In fact, the average attribute of 10 might be weaker than the kids around here~"

"Hehehe~ No way! This guy will die soon! He might be useful as a meat shield!"

Faced with the continuous mocking from the students, Kashiwagi angrily stepped forward. However, before she could, another person spoke out in anger. It was Teacher Aiko.

"Hey! What are you laughing at! Mocking your comrades is something I absolutely won't allow! I absolutely won't allow it! Quickly return the Attribute Plate to Nagumo-kun!"

Teacher Aiko, with her small stature, tried her best to show anger, and the students, intimidated by her relentless aura,