Right, so what happened next? Well, Ashin was really excited, like, super excited. To the point that we head out immediately. I mean, now was as good as time as any, I guess.
So, we headed out to good old Trale Travelling Services or whatever they're called! You know, so we can like, get there faster? Bit of a miscalculation before not taking into consideration just taking a carriage there.
Anyway, that's where we are now! Currently, Ashin is trying to get a good deal or something... Huh, I should have thought of that back when I used them to get to Draila. Ma--
"What do you mean you can't get us there!?" Ashin yells, distracting me of my most pleasant thoughts. Seriously, can't you be a bit quieter? You're going to break my eardrums! Oh, well, I guess I don't have any eardrums.
"I am quite sorry, sir, but I have direct orders from my superiors not to have any of our carriages go anywhere near the Vernin area. It's simply not a safe place at the moment, with all the monster attacks reported." Oh, hey, it's that same guy that wears a suit! Haven't seen him in a while, huh?
"Dang it," Ashin sighed, putting his arms behind his head, "guess we really will have to go on foot."
Well, isn't that annoying? And to think, I had my hopes up...
Anyway, with no other choice, we left the capital, specifically from the south exit.
So, we're on the road... again! Great, fun, yeah... listen, it's sorta hard to be excited about this, you know? The last time I was walking on foot to get somewhere, I almost burnt to death. Sure, sure, I might be exaggerating a tad, but my point stands!
Alright, with that introduction out of the way, what's there to do in the meantime? Hm...
Oh, right! I never actually checked the statuses of those three, huh? Alrighty then! Let's start with good old Ashin.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Name: Ashin Dest
Species: Human
Lv: 25
Class: Swordsman
Health: 65/65
Mp: 0/0
Strength: 29
Agility: 22
Vitality: 22
Defence: 24
Intelligence: 6
Wisdom: 14
Charm: 16
Skills: [Sword of the Determined.], {Straight Sword Technique >LV 5<}, {Tactician >LV 4<}, {Leadership >LV 3<}, {Swift Slices >LV 4<}, {Focused Eyes >LV 6<}.
Affinities: {N/A}
Spells: {N/A}
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Oh, yes, yes, I see... damn it, this guy's stats are better than mine just like almost everybody... Hey, wait a minute! Isn't that whole, 'Class' thing new? I know I don't have the best memory at times, but there's no way I would miss something like that!
{Question received. While the Appraisal skill does not level up in the same way other skills do, it scaled directly with the wisdom stat, meaning the information gained will increase with higher wisdom. A select few other skills that do not level up work the same way.}
Wait, really? Dang, that's pretty cool. So, stats affect way more than I first thought, huh? Hey, why wasn't I told about anything as vital as that?!
{You had never asked.}
... Alright, valid excuse, I'll excuse your inability to fulfil your duty just this once! You should feel honoured!
{I feel no such thing, as I am unable to.}
It's like talking to a brick wall with this guy...
Ahem, anyway, I'm getting really off track. So, back on the topic of Ashin's Appraisal results! Impressive stats aside, I'm pretty interested in that 'Sword of the Determined' skill of his. Didn't that Seralt guy have a similar sounding skill? Shield of the Determined or something? It could block one attack of his choosing a day, right? And it didn't even matter how strong it was, right? Pretty strong skill, I wouldn't mind having it myself.
So, this one Ashin has must do something similar, right? Oh, right, I can just appraise the skill.
So, I activate Appraisal, focusing on the skill rather than the entire person. Oh...? What would you know, this skill is potentially even better than the one Seralt has! Basically, it guarantees one hit on the opponent. I don't exactly understand how that would work in actual combat, but jeez would I not want to go against it! Just imagine, you're opponent is way too fast to hit normally, but they're so defensively weak that one hit would do them in! So, with this skill, they'd be immediately down for the count! It's the ultimate counter to speed!
Anyway, it seems this guy doesn't have any talent for magic, like at all! I don't know if that's common or rare, though. But seeing his stats, I don't think he would even be able to use magic even if he had the talent.
Alright, moving on... let's next check the status of Quenilla! Let's see here...
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Name: Quenilla Fenra
Species: Human
Lv: 22
Class: Healing Mage
Health: 36/36
Mp: 105/105
Strength: 14
Agility: 18
Vitality: 14
Defence: 12
Intelligence: 32
Wisdom: 25
Charm: 18
Skills: {Focus Mana >LV 1<}, {Mana Absorbtion >LV 4<}, {Mana Operation >LV 4<}, {Mana Sense}, {Lesser Regeneration >LV 4<}, {Physical Boost >LV 3<}.
Affinities: {Water}, {Electricity}
Spells: {Water Healing}, {Water Ball}, {Static Strike}.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Damn it... Ashin had me beat in pretty much all physical, and now Quenilla has me beat in magic! I seriously can't win here...
So, uh, Healing Mage, huh? Judging from the name, some sort of mage that both heals and attacks using magic? But she really doesn't have that many skills, and pretty much none of them are really combat-oriented. I guess there's that Mana Focus skill, although, I don't actually know what that does. It's times like this Appraisal truly comes in handy!
Oh! So, this skill lets you more readily focus your mana? Yeah, no, I have no idea what that means. Maybe it's something like you can focus more mana into one spell, increasing its strength? Huh, that'd be really strong, actually! Maybe I shouldn't underestimate this girl.
But, water and electricity? That's a pretty interesting combo of attributes to have! I mean, just think of the possibilities! If you could somehow cast both attributes at the same time as a spell, then that would be pretty powerful! If only my incredible ideas could be put to use...
Okay, so, moving on to the last of these trio, Theca, I think. Let's use appraisal one last time!
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Name: Theca Web
Species: Daminid Arachnis
Lv: 30
Class: Assassin
Health: 44/44
Mp: 62/62
Strength: 24
Agility: 38
Vitality: 18
Defence: 19
Intelligence: 26
Wisdom: 22
Charm: 18
Skills: [Unhindered], {Thread Creation >LV 7<}, {Thread Manipulation >LV 6<}, {Dagger Technique >LV 8<}, {Short Bow Technique >LV 7<}, {Mana Absorborbtion >LV 5<}, {Mana Operation >LV 5<}, {Mana Sense}, {Piercing Stab >LV 5<}, {Concentrate >LV 9<}, {Elude >LV 7<}.
Affinities: {Fire}, {Illusion}.
Spells: {Fire Arrow}, {Form Hide}, {Ignite}.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Eh...? That's a lot of information to take in, seriously? Who the hell is this guy?!
Okay, first of all, come on? Agility was the only stat I was better in than anybody here, and now Theca has a better agility stat than me? I seriously can't win at anything... Okay, but those stats are seriously insane. Sure, he might be more of an all-rounder, but all his stats are super good! Even his charm is higher than everybody here... even if I don't know what that stat actually does, it still hurts my pride a bit.
Next, what the hell is a 'Daminid Arachnis'? Sure, I know my stuff when it comes to the basic races in fantasy novels and games, but I have never heard of a thing like this.
Third, why are his skills so high level! I don't think I have one skill of mine that is higher than theirs! And what's up with that one skill that has different brackets than the others? Looking back on it, didn't 'Sword of the Determined' have those different brackets? Is it to signify some sort of different type of skill? I can't use appraisal on a bracket, and I can't exactly ask anybody.
[Right, guess I no longer exist.]
Oh, hey! I thought you were busy translating that book!
[No, I finished that a long time ago.]
Huh? Then... why didn't you tell me?
[... So, you want to know the difference between the brackets? And you also seemed to be confused about what that species is.]
Oh, well, yeah, but why are you acting so nice to me?
[Well, I realized that since you paid for the translation, you don't technically owe me anything. So, I'll help you with this once for free for a favour in the future.]
Hm... well, that doesn't sound so bad! Please explain these new concepts to me, teacher!
[I'm... not your teacher, but moving on from that. There are two types of skills, 'Normal', and 'Distinct'. A normal skill is just any skill any person could get under the right circumstances. So, basically, skills an entire race is born with, ones you get with advancing levels, etcetera. Distinct skills are skills that only a few select people have, such as skills passed down family lines, or skills a single person is gifted with from a Divine entity. An example of a Distinct skill would something like your Gluttony skill, but that doesn't exactly mean each one is just as strong.]
Oh! I thought all skills were the same rarity and stuff, but I guess not... So, about their race...?
[Right... Basically, it's a type of Demon. Ones descended from a type of spider monster.]
Wait, what? Demons are descended from monsters? And, as well, this is the first time I'm hearing about demons existing in this world! Are they super evil or something?
[Well, Yeah. Demons are just the result of a Devil and monster making a child.]
Huh... I'd rather not think about that. So, devils are a thing too? Oh, uh, I'm getting off track. Um, nice to know! Thanks, but, when will I be able to read the translated book?
[Yeah, sure, and right now. Bye.]
Oh, and now Gamma is gone once again. You gotta wonder if they've just stopped talking, or are just 'asleep'.
Anyway, after all that, we have to be pretty far away from the capital! So, I look behind me... and it's still directly in my line of vision. Damn it, this is gonna be such a long walk...
[Chapter 33, end.]