Bastard Swordsman

Chapter 61 : If, for argument's sake, this world was some kind of fabrication—

If, for argument's sake, this world was some kind of fabrication—

In this world, there exist supernatural abilities called skills.

These are different from gifts. Like magic, they consume magic power when used, but I suppose they're just a bit easier to acquire than magic.

Within the Holy Kingdom of Sangreal, it's said that these are powers bestowed by the gods. In the Halperia Kingdom, the belief isn't quite as strict, but people still accept something along the lines of "humans have mastered the techniques of the gods' world..." or so. Even in Halperia, where the populace doesn't care much for the gods, the fact that skills are still linked to the "divine" shows that, to some extent, skills are considered special everywhere.

One characteristic is that, upon activation, the user's eyes glow. The way they glow varies according to the person and the skill—red, blue, yellow, pink, that sort of thing. It's a unique luminescent phenomenon in this world called magic light, or magelight. The glow isn't very noticeable during the daytime.

In contrast, when casting magic, the user's eyes don't glow—their wand, hand, or whatever implements the spell will give off light instead. That distinction, small as it is, is another way to tell skills apart from magic.

It's a minor thing, but when you actually run into a criminal with a skill, it can be critically important. You can tell if they're about to use a dangerous skill, so it's crucial to watch their eyes, lest you fall victim to a sudden, devastating attack. In a drawn-out fight, you can read their next move by the way their eyes light up. If you're a gloomy introvert who can't meet people's eyes, you'll die quickly if you get targeted by the wrong sort—so be careful out there!

As for how often skills are acquired... who knows.

People say it takes ten years to learn a single skill. But I've heard of fast learners picking one up in five years, and it's not rare for it to take fifteen for some. There's a lot of individual variance, so it's impossible to say anything with certainty. But by rough estimate, in my case, it wouldn't be odd if I'd acquired three by now—though none of mine are particularly respectable, so I'm no role model.

And, after saying all this, I should clarify: all of this only really holds true for guild members and soldiers.

Among ordinary people, many don't have skills at all. Why's that? I think it's because most skills are geared toward combat.

As far as I know, you can't acquire a skill unless you actually fight. Not just with animals, but with creatures classified as monsters... To put it in crude terms, I suspect that you don't accumulate "experience points" or "proficiency" otherwise.

So, just being a livestock farmer who slaughters animals for a living doesn't mean you'll suddenly sprout a skill. You've got to fight with monsters that humans can't control—that, I think, is the only path to mastering a skill... probably.

Maybe that's why there are no skills for daily living.

No blacksmithing skills or woodworking skills, either, obviously. Personally, I think the world would be a much more peaceful place if those did exist...

Or maybe it would just lead to a world dominated by a handful of violent people... Hard to say.

Skills are exclusively for combat—but within that limitation, there's a wide variety.

Sword, dagger, staff, spear, bow, blunt weapon, shield, or even martial arts and support techniques... The guild's reference room has a compilation of skills and their effects; it's pretty entertaining to read when you're bored. Someday, you'll probably end up fighting someone with a skill—in fact, it's practically inevitable—so it's best to get familiar with them as soon as possible. I was the type who enjoyed reading game strategy guides even for games I never played, so after I became a guild member, I immediately hammered all the info into my head.

Still, there are tons of undocumented skills, so you'll never run out of things to memorize. It's crucial to stay alert, ready for any skill the enemy might use.

The system is such that, as you equip the relevant weapon and use it in combat, your "proficiency" with it rises... or so it's said.

Once you reach a certain level of proficiency, the name and activation method of the skill will flash in your mind, or so they say.

If you use sword types for a long time, you'll learn 『Power Slash: Hard Slash』, or if you use a shield, you'll acquire 『Shield Strike: Bash』, that sort of thing.

So if you keep switching weapons and end up learning a random assortment of skills, you're looking at a rough road. If you're picking up bow, sword, and spear... You might be versatile, but in the end, your range in battle narrows, so be careful.

There are no crazy things in this world—no skills, gifts, or quests that give you an inventory or unlimited storage. Nobody's lugging around every possible weapon.

That means you master skills by choosing a weapon type and sticking with it.

... This method of raising proficiency is just like a game.

Frankly, I've often questioned whether this world is a game, but even so... it just doesn't have that sparkle.

You know, the kind of radiance or narrative quality you'd expect from a made-up fantasy—it's missing. Sure, there are monsters and the classic dragons, but those guys aren't even the strongest species. The strongest monster in Halperia is a lion. I mean, they're strong, sure... And for Sangreal, it's a giant jellyfish. Are those things really strong...? If this was originally a game, I doubt anyone would get excited about that.

On another continent, there's an intelligent species called demons that look just like humans. Supposedly, they tried to clash with humans in the past, but since their diets are so drastically different, they discovered they couldn't eat any crops from each other's lands, and couldn't grow their own crops abroad. So, now they have only minimal trade relations. Humans, of course, are always fighting each other, and the Demon Continent has such insanely strong monsters that people there don't have time to worry about faraway humans. Despite such grand worldbuilding, nothing ever happens. By the way, the Demon Continent is so far that ships often sink spectacularly. A new world, with no real appeal.

There are elves—the classic long-eared fantasy type—but they don't live much longer than humans... maybe about twenty years more? But that just seems like a margin that comes down to diet or something...

They don't live in forests, don't only eat vegetables, aren't particularly good with bows, and don't have excessive magic power. What's up with these guys? Sometimes you see elves as peddlers, but they don't attract any special attention, almost like they're invisible. In fact, their long ears make them seem weird, so they're less popular looks-wise than regular humans, and even the prostitutes are cheaper. This is the first time I've seen elves treated so pitifully.

It kind of feels like a game, but not quite.

I wonder what this world was based on. And is there a god? ... And is my reincarnation connected to any of that?

Are there multiple reincarnators? Have people like me existed before?

Is there a god? If so, what's their purpose?

Is this world a pure isekai? Another planet in a different galaxy? Is it a game? A light novel? An anime? A manga? Or even a web novel?

If it is some kind of story, am I the protagonist? A background character? If I don't get popular—am I going to get axed, and will this world suddenly come to an end...?

「... The rain just won't let up.」

It was raining outside.

Relaxing in the inn, my thoughts kept wandering.

Thoughts I could never share with anyone else—things that ought to remain locked away in my head.

Outside my window, a guard in a cloak jogged toward the station.

Just another passerby—a city guard.

But even he has a name. He's lived a life of substance for over twenty years—enough to tell his own story—and that story will continue for decades yet.

That's not fiction, and it's far too vast to be captured in anime or manga—not something that can be shrugged off as the life of a mere background character.

Even if this world happened to be built on some foundation, its reality is such that I can't treat it as someone else's business.

At the very least, I couldn't half-heartedly beat up some thug just for hassling me on the street.

「... An anime, huh.」

If this world were an anime—and, say, I were a character in it—

「Who would I want to voice me...?」

I'd want some veteran voice actor for me. Someone with such a calm, slightly rugged voice that it alone would attract fans—yeah, that would be just perfect.

Make the design a little more handsome. I'd love for my bastard sword to be more shiny, too.

It's up to you now, anime studio. The acclaimed voice actor I haven't even met yet...

Then, I'd get popular—ranking high in character polls, getting more screen time and all sorts of preferential treatment. At the very least, I'd secure a position where I wouldn't get killed off unceremoniously.

And then, maybe in some modern-day parody or whatever, I'd go to school... or, in my case, maybe take the teacher role.

If that happens... if that happens, let me live in that modern parody world.

Even if it's a spin-off that never gets much attention—that's fine, I'm begging you.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

I like this chapter...

The thoughts are so idle...

Also, a little world building with skills and magic...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】