Chapter 62

It's a dim room.

A small light shines on the table above.

I move my body, which has been thrown onto the carpet, slowly.

My hands are tied behind my back, making it difficult to get up.

I kneel and manage to raise my upper body.

Only after this does my head start to clear.

I met Thorn, the guild was set on fire, I got on a carriage, and then? Right, where is Eugene?

"---Warp, why did you bring this one? Don't do anything that's not part of the plan."

"Be more relaxed. It's fine, he might be useful."

A voice comes from the other side of the table.

The first voice sounds like Thorn.

The next one has a feminine tone, but Warp's voice is definitely that of a rough man.

"Oh, stop it, Thorn. ---So? Is his skill the real deal?"

"Yes, Lady Mary."

Another new voice.

Probably a young woman.

She speaks with an air of authority.

There's little information, but I've gathered a few things.

I was kidnapped by these people.

I was lured by Thorn and got into the carriage.

I don't know why they kidnapped me, but from what they're saying, it's because of my skill.

At least three kidnappers are in this room.

I can't see Sir Cody, so I can't make a judgment.

I focus my eyes on the direction of the voices.

The light is too small to reach the corners of the room.

"Is he waking up soon?"

Warp's eerie low voice echoes, sounding cheerful.

"Hehe, shall we get to business then?"

"As you wish."

At Mary's words, Thorn seems to move.

Without a sound, Thorn appears from the darkness.

His face, half-lit, is expressionless like a mask.

"Oh, there was no need to wake him up. Come, Lady Mary is waiting. Stand up."

I am lifted up, still bound, and forced to stand.

I decide not to resist uselessly for now.

Being obedient might give me a chance to find an opening.

Thorn walks me to the table and presses down on my shoulder.

I stumble and kneel on the ground.

Thorn keeps his hand on my shoulder and whispers in my ear.

"You're being cooperative. It's better not to think of foolish things? ---For your friend's sake, too."

"Eugene...!"

"Hmm. This one is cute... He's trembling all over."

This must be Warp.

Warp, twisting his body eerily, says.

He is more practical than Thorn but of the same ethnic type.

His exposed forearms are pressing into Eugene's neck with bulging muscles.

His other hand is covering Eugene's mouth.

Eugene's eyes are blinking rapidly, probably out of fear.

"Noah Essex. If you don't want to lose your friend, answer my three questions?"

The woman called Mary speaks from in front.

All I can see faintly are her legs in a dress.

Her high heels reflect the light dully from her crossed feet.

"One. What are the conditions for acquiring the skill called your Ability Score?"

"---I don't know."

This is the truth.

If I knew all the conditions, I would have found someone suitable and told them.

"Tell me what you do know."

Mary's tone is soft but carries a refusal to accept no for an answer.

When I open my mouth but say nothing, a pained groan comes from Eugene.

"Stop...!"

"Answer quickly."

Even when I try to step forward, Thorn doesn't allow it.

"The only thing I can think of is that I have the appraiser's skill! It's true!"

I can't say for sure if the level of the skill is a condition because I don't know my own level.

I've only reported this much to the uncles.

"That's a shame. If there were two or three more of you, it would have been very useful for creating the kind of soldiers I like."

Mary's voice sounds genuinely disappointed, but the thought sends a cold sweat down my back.

If this skill is misused, it could easily select people with desired abilities.

It could also provide advice to quickly train strong soldiers in a short time.

However, those whose abilities don't bloom quickly or who lack physical strength would need to be discarded.

The result would be a powerful and terrifying elite army.

"Two. You met Princess Daria, didn't you? Tell me her skill."

"I don't know! I saw nothing."

Mary's questions are all difficult.

I glance at Eugene, but he is still restrained by Warp.

"It's strange to say you saw nothing. You must have learned a secret that put you in danger? It wouldn't be fair if you didn't know."

Is Mary working for the Lotte Empire?

If Princess Daria had a secret and they wanted to confirm if I knew it, that might explain these questions.

But my answer remains the same.

"It's better not to know unnecessary things. For your own protection."

"Oh, how wise. But not knowing can also be a problem."

How can I make her believe me?

Princess Daria seems to have learned from somewhere that I have the Ability Score skill, but does that connect to her secret?

"Poor you. You know nothing. The late king and your adoptive father already know who leaked your secret to the princess?"

"---If that's true, if the late king decided I didn't need to know, then that's that."

For the first time, I lie. I can't help but wonder who that person is.

What I say is a facade, a resignation.

I have no idea where I am, but I can't have been unconscious for long.

I want to believe that.

Still, Quincy and Luke will surely find me.

I can only wait for that moment.

"I'm tired of the 'I don't know' answer. It's time to tell the truth."

Mary crosses her legs and says coldly.

Warp lifts Eugene.

When the tall Warp stands straight, Eugene, whose neck is being squeezed, naturally hangs in the air.

"Ugh...!"

"Eugene! Stop! I...!"

I almost say "I don't know" but hold it back.

Saying the same thing won't convince Mary.

"Speak quickly. About the Ability Score or Princess Daria, anything will do."

Thorn leans in and whispers.

If you want to create an army, why not use Thorn's skill?

It's a bit different from mine, but he should have the ability to discern skills.

"Surely there are one or two things you haven't reported to Lord Essex?"

Thorn's words seem to be leading me.

But even knowing this, seeing Eugene's suffering face makes me want to say something.

"It hurts! Hey, this kid bit my hand!"

Warp says in a deliberately high-pitched voice.

Eugene, released from the chokehold, is still being held by Warp but takes a deep breath.

"...Cough, Mr. Noah! Don't listen to Thorn's words!"

"Be quiet, boy."

Mary's voice is so gentle it trembles, and therefore terrifying.

"Eugene, keep quiet."

Mary has no qualms about hurting people.

If I talk, Eugene's life will be in danger.

"This one's skill can read minds!"

"---Oh, you finally noticed."

Thorn doesn't seem particularly shaken, narrowing his eyes in affirmation.

"I was going to say it. You're no longer needed."

Mary's slender arm extends from the darkness.

Light gathers at her fingertips, compresses into a small ball.

This is bad.

What can I do?

Quincy isn't coming.

"Goodbye."

I can almost see the smile on Mary's lips.

The small ball of light is instantly sucked into Eugene's chest.