Chapter 35: What Concerned Me Was the Possibility That Kazu’s Skills Were Experiencing an Abnormal Status

"Anyway, sit down there."

With a completely nonchalant expression as if nothing had happened, Ebony pointed at the two deck chairs lined up facing them and called out to Kazui and Yuri.

While the two of them were coming up on the lift, Ebony had brought over two deck chairs from another spot for them.

Kazui sat in the deck chair facing Ivory, and Yuri sat in the one facing Ebony.

Thinking it would be better for him to sit in front of Ivory, who would be performing the examination, Kazui chose the seat opposite her.

"Please take this!"

Kazui held out the box of cheesecake he had been carrying to Ivory.

"It’s nothing special, but it’s a token of thanks from me and Yuri."

"There’s no need for thanks. We’ll properly receive the standard reward from Aquila’s autonomous government for the work we did as the reinforcement unit."

Ivory spoke words of refusal.

On this continent — the Northern Continent — no nations existed; every city that existed was an autonomous city.

The absolute and inviolable "Heroes’ Charter," the fundamental law of the Northern Continent left behind by the twelve heroes who protected the world from the Demon King’s hands, did not permit the existence or activities of nations on the Northern Continent.

Therefore, no nations existed on the Northern Continent; only autonomous cities that did not belong to any nation.

Within the limits permitted by the Heroes’ Charter, free politics were carried out in the autonomous cities, and autonomous governments existed.

Since the possession of military force by autonomous governments was not permitted by the Heroes’ Charter, the autonomous governments entrusted the defense of their cities entirely to the so-called Adventurers Guilds, which maintained civilian combat personnel known as adventurers.

This time, Iron Maiden, which had participated in Aquila’s city defense battle as a reinforcement unit, would receive the prescribed reward from Aquila’s autonomous government.

Even though Iron Maiden had clearly performed far beyond the value of that reward.

"In that case, our feelings won’t settle unless you accept it, so please take it."

At Kazui’s words, Yuri also nodded deeply in agreement.

"Well, if that’s how it is, then I’ll gratefully accept it. I do like sweets."

Ivory took the box and placed it on a nearby table.

On the table were several books she had been reading until Kazui and the others arrived.

"Well then, let’s get started with the examination right away."

Ivory continued.

"I examined you yesterday as well, but there was one thing... that concerned me."

"Was I... not healed?"

Kazui asked with a slightly anxious tone.

"Your body should be healed. Just to be safe, though, I think it would be best if you took the day off from work and training for about today."

Hearing Ivory’s reply, Kazui let out a sigh of relief and then voiced a question.

"Then what was it that concerned you?"

"What concerned me was the possibility that Kazu’s skills were experiencing an abnormal status."

Hearing the words "abnormal status," both Kazui and Yuri showed surprised expressions.

"Yesterday, out of necessity for the treatment, I took a look at Kazu’s skill list."

"Eh? You can do that even without being the Guild?"

Kazui was surprised by Ivory’s statement.

Using appraisal skills and the like, one could freely peek at basic status information such as another adventurer’s level and class.

However, when it came to detailed information such as a skill list, even using appraisal skills, one could not look at it without permission.

The common knowledge was that only the Guild, which monopolized Authenticas, could confirm every status regardless of the adventurer’s will.

Yet Ivory had said she had looked at his skill list, which was why Kazui was surprised.

"Actually... I possess an ultra-rare item that allows me to do that."

Ivory added.

"I make it a rule not to use it except in emergencies like this time, though."

"I see."

"Sorry for looking at your skill list without permission."

"It’s fine, if it was necessary for the treatment."

Seeing that Kazui had forgiven her, an expression of relief appeared on Ivory’s face.

Even though it had been necessary for treatment and an emergency measure, she had felt a certain amount of guilt about looking at another person’s skill list without permission.

"Getting back to the point, when I looked at Kazu’s skill list, there was a skill written in characters I couldn’t read."

"A skill written in unreadable characters?"

Ivory nodded at Kazui’s question.

"Have you done a status check since you regained consciousness?"

"No, not yet..."

Because far too many things had happened, the thought of performing a status check had not even crossed Kazui’s mind.

"Try doing a status check."

Told by Ivory, Kazui touched the Orb on the back of his left hand with his right hand and began a status check.

An abnormal status literally meant that one’s condition was abnormal, so he felt it would be troubling if there was some problem.

Immediately, status-related information appeared in Kazui’s field of vision.

His vision became like that of someone wearing a VR headset while playing a game and opening the status screen.

After checking his status, Kazui raised a voice of surprise.

"Huh? My level has become 4!"

His level, which should have been 1, had for some reason become 4, which surprised him.

"Why? My level isn’t supposed to go up that easily..."

"I’ll explain the reason later, so first check your skill list."

Hearing Ivory’s words, Kazui wished to check the list of skills — the skill list.

During a status check, the information an adventurer wanted to know would be displayed simply by wishing for it.

"The skill list is... eh?"

Seeing the displayed skill list, Kazui was surprised once again.

"There’s a skill written in unreadable characters... right?"

Asked by Ivory, Kazui nodded.

"There is a skill written in unreadable characters... but my skills have also increased. Two of them, even."

Kazui was surprised that a skill written in unreadable characters was lined up in the skill list.

But even more than that, he was surprised that two skills had been added.

The last time Kazui had performed a status check, only three skills had been listed on his skill list.

Aside from his native skill Replication, he had only possessed Aura Mail and Aura Shot.

Yet now five skills were lined up on the skill list.

Even though he had no memory of acquiring new skills, two more skills had somehow been added to his list.