The village was not what I expected. It's more well-off than I could have ever imagined. You know how in fantasy games, there are usually some kids with poorer backgrounds than others in the village and they steal and stuff, but, it's completely different here. It's like the ideal society of communism. Everyone has their own job and they earn equal amounts, with the plus that they lead their own society.
Elice is actually a nice place. I wonder if all of the villages in this world are like this, though I highly doubt it. This is one heck of a place to live.
'Rina, is that him?'
An older man approached us. He was built big and had a well-grown beard. I wonder if I would've looked like that if I reached my fifties. I mean, he looks like he's trained every day of his life, so compared to the old hikikomori version of me, I guess I'd be a skinny NEET.
'Yes, Carlos, this is him. Zyn's child.'
I seriously need to know more about this Zyn's child. I wasn't originally going to ask, but I guess I need to know to soothe my curiosity. But curiosity killed the cat... oh well, it'll be fine. I'm just overthinking it.
'Excuse me, but I have no idea what Zyn's child is. Could you explain it to me?'
'You're a young chap not to know something like that.'
I guess that's one way you could say it. If age counts from when someone enters this world, then I'm merely one day old, but if we're counting from my previous life then I'm... I won't even try and count that.
'Then I'll enlighten you, chap!'
Sensei!
'Zyn's child refers to those who mysteriously appear in this world. The first Zyn's child was sacrificed for the greater good.'
'I-I won't get sacrificed, will I?'
'No, of course not! Zyn's child is signs of good luck.'
Okay, so assuming that others also reincarnated, some were sacrificed and others survived. I feel at peace knowing that I won't be sacrificed. Though there isn't any way I can confirm that I won't be dead by the time I leave this village.
'Now, what will you do, chap?'
'What will I do?'
'For a job? Calling of some sort. You're going to stay in the village, aren't you?'
Huh, I guess that makes sense. Calling. Labour would be the hardest thing to do, but I won't know what it feels like to wield an axe or something similar. Helping out with cooking would be the best choice. Making food before fighting.
'Can't I work as some bakery?'
The older man, named Carlos, set his arm around me and put pressure on my neck as he pulled me in toward himself. I felt like I was dying. It was obvious that he wasn't doing it on purpose. Damn, having a smaller body really puts me at a disadvantage.
'You're a man! Work as a lumberjack!'
In the end, I had no choice at all. And that's how I ended up here, slicing at some wood on a tree with an axe that is practically bigger than me. I won't lie, swinging this axe is easy, but it's hard because of its size. One more cut and... another tree felled! The tree created a loud noise as it hit the ground. But seriously, should a 25-year-old man in the boy of an eight-year-old be doing hard labour like this.
«Threshold reached.»
Huh? Who's there?
A female voice spoke. I looked around, but all that I could see were males, trees and logs. There wasn't a single female in sight. That voice... it sounded like it was reverberating in my head. Is there something wrong with me?
I knocked on my head like a door to make sure that I wasn't imagining things. My vision went from the ground to something else. Almost like the whole world transfigured itself. I was standing in distorted space. It looked like the galaxy around me.
«You have levelled up.»
Levelled up? Is this like a game?
«Demon, Altair Nox, has levelled up. Level 1 → Level 2.»
Wait a minute. Did it say "demon?" So, the reason that god guy, Zyn, kept quiet about what I would reincarnate as was because he wanted me to figure it out at this moment. Demon, huh? If anyone finds out, I'd be done.
«In accordance with levelling up, you have unlocked the three skills.»
I don't really understand the situation, but I unlocked three skills from simply levelling up. How did I even level up? Surely it wasn't from simply chopping wood.
...
Maybe it was.
«The skills you have unlocked are as listed: Status Skill, Identify; Ultimate Skill, [Harbinger of Adversity]; Exclusive Skill, Multi-Mana Affinity.»
The world shifted back to the wooden forest environment.
Identify is some sort of appraisal, from what I can tell. Multi-Mana Affinity is probably something to do with being able to use more than one type of magic. With this Exclusive Skill, I can confirm that magic exists in this world. The skill that I'm worried and unsure about is... [Harbinger of Adversity].
[Harbinger of Adversity] is probably what it sounds like. Bringer of misfortune or something similar. If this is a passive skill, then I'd be bringing danger closer to me wherever I go, meaning that I need to get stronger in the process. Of course, that's if [Harbinger of Adversity] is a passive skill. It sounds like it very well could be.
'Oi, kid! Help me with this tree.'
'Ah, okay!'
Over the time I stay in this village, I'd like to get more skills and test them out, if possible. Eventually, I'd like to move out of this village and go somewhere new to gain new powers and meet new people. Just being in this village is lucky enough, that's why I need to get stronger, in order to survive in the world. I'll move up the food chain.
Now, female AI voice, let's see what skills you'll give me next.