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Over the Infinite Chapter 25 Part 3

 

「We’re borrowing this, so don’t break it. 」

「I know. It won’t break against lesser foes. 」

「Uh, Celery-san? This might be a bit late to ask, but can you actually wield this? 」

「Eh, yes. I can’t with one hand, but I practiced before coming here. 」

「Ah, I see… okay. 」

 

What’s going on? These kids. Swinging a sword more than twice their height with those slender arms?

 

「Bolkan-san, would you like to try using it?”

 

No, Carrot-san. You suddenly start talking and now this? What are you saying?

 

「Carrot, isn’t it a bit much to offer this to an outsider? 」

「But, …he meets the ability criteria. 」

「Eh, really? … We are not in Labyrinth City, though. Oh, Carrot, you did ((Appraisal)) in silence again, didn’t you? 」

「…Sorry, Bolkan-san. 」

 

Her voice was barely audible, and she didn’t seem very remorseful.

Had I been ‘appraised’? Like by a priest at a church?

 

「It’s fine, but what kind of information does that reveal? 」

「Um, since Bolkan-san isn’t from the Labyrinth City… name, gender, race, status values, possessed Gifts, possessed Skills, what else was there? 」

 

Tiese explained on Carrot’s behalf.

In terms of content, it’s not that different from what church does.

 

「And, your real name… Bolkan-san’s real name is Ori… 「Whoa, wait, wait a minute!! 」… Yes. 」

 

That was close, what is this girl thinking?

Even the church can’t see it if you change it.

 

「Listen, Carrot. If someone is using a false name, there’s a reason. You can’t just publicly disclose it. 」

「Uh, …sorry. 」

 

She didn’t seem truly remorseful, but I couldn’t say much after being apologized to.

Besides, I wasn’t trying that hard to hide it, but I didn’t want these kids to know.

Let’s just hope that Carrot isn’t a former Japanese person.

 

Please don’t be laughing in your head at something like 『Ori main character lol Baros lol 』. Give me a break. I don’t want to be teased about that name now.

 

-3-

 

「And so? When you say I meet the necessary ability criteria, are you talking about status values?

I’m just an ordinary adventurer, you know. I might be a bit above average compared to a commoner, but… 」

「Um, it’s about the possessed Gift, can I say it? 」

 

Gift? The only one I have of any use is ((Super Translation)).

I’ve gained various skills, but my Gifts have been ((Super Combat Power)), ((Super Magic Power)), and ((Super Translation)) since I was born.

((Super Combat Power)) doesn’t actually make me stronger, and ((Super Magic Power)) doesn’t seem to have increased my magic status… I think.

I’d rather not think that this is the result of being enhanced.

 

「It’s fine, but ((Super Translation)) is the only one that’s been useful. 」

 

((Super Translation)) is extremely useful. I can read and translate books in any language.

It’s not my main job, and the income is irregular, but most of my living expenses are covered by it.

 

「((Super Translation))? Not just ((Translation))? I haven’t heard of such a skill. 」

「Um, that’s probably the normal ((Translation)). The name is because of ((Super Magic Power)). 」

 

What? Is the mystery of my Gift finally being revealed at this age?

I would have liked to have heard this a bit sooner. Starting to dominate at this age isn’t ideal.

 

「((Super Magic Power)) means the word ‘super’ is added before the name in the same category… a skill in the ((Disguise)) tree.

((Combat Power)) becomes ((Super Combat Power)), ((Translation)) becomes ((Super Translation)). 」

「…Eh, that’s all? 」

「And because of ((Disguise)), the word ‘disguise’ is removed from the same category of Gifts. 」

 

What was I thinking that I could be OP (Over-Powered)?

 

「Well, something like magic power increasing… you know, by fulfilling certain conditions… 」

「That’s all. In the Labyrinth City’s skill search, the description is ‘super amazing’. 」

「Huh, I see. It’s a rare skill. 」

 

I don’t need such consolation, Tiese-san.

What do you mean by ‘super amazing’? It’s not amazing at all. Are you mocking me?

 

…Damn it. Have I been tormented by such skills all this time?

In my youth, I believed that one day I would awaken some incredible power, and I did a lot of research, only to end up with this.

 

「So, what about ((Super Combat Power))? Oh, or just ((Combat Power)). Ah, is this… ((Combat Power Disguise))? 」

「Yes. It’s a ((Disguise)) skill too, but it has its meaning. 」

「Is it another skill that disguises something? 」

 

I wish I hadn’t asked. It’s nothing good.

 

「((Disguise)) here means ((Combat Power Disguise)) slightly alters the perceived status values. 」

「…My status is just average. 」

 

By appearance, the numbers suggest I’m somewhat strong.

 

「The status itself doesn’t change. ((Combat Power Disguise)) fools the ability assessment needed for skill acquisition or weapon usage. It’s pointless for ordinary weapons, but for something like this Dragon Breaker with ability restrictions, it can bypass those conditions. 」

「So, it’s not about physically being unable to wield it because of its weight, but some other kind of restriction? 」

「Correct. If you don’t meet the restrictions, its performance drastically drops. In the case of Dragon Breaker, if you don’t meet the base value, it becomes extremely heavy. Conversely, if you surpass the standard, it feels lighter. 」

「I see… 」

 

So the gift I thought was meaningless actually has a purpose.

…I won’t forgive ((Super Magic Power)), though. I wish I could get rid of the ‘super’.

 

「The range of ((Combat Power Disguise)) should just about cover Bolkan-san’s abilities. 」

「Why don’t you give it a try? 」

「Just don’t swing it around too much or you’ll break the carriage. 」

 

Try… this monstrous chunk of iron? It seems impossible.

Their claims are absurd, not something normally believable.

But they’ve already seen through my real name. They could have researched this beforehand, but there’s no point in that… Maybe it’s okay to just try?

 

「I’ll give it a try. 」

「Originally, it is quite heavy, but if you meet the ability requirements, it shouldn’t feel as heavy as it looks. 」

 

I grip the handle and lift it.

 

「Ugh… 」

 

Damn heavy, like lifting a steel beam… but it’s true, it doesn’t feel as heavy as it looks.

So this is the effect of the skill. No wonder I never understood it. The name changed too.

I carefully lower it back to the floor while keeping the force.

 

「…It’s not impossible to lift. Indeed, it feels lighter. …But swinging it around is definitely out of the question. 」

「I see. 」

 

I might have managed it with training in my younger days.

 

「What a relief. A long-standing question has been cleared up. 」

 

Knowing this earlier wouldn’t have changed much in my life.

Maybe just a few more orc defeats. Then, this sword is overkill.

 

Even if I can use this sword, it doesn’t change my actual ability values, so I’m still no match for stronger enemies.

I can’t handle ogres seen deep in the mountains or minotaurs and bull demons in dungeons.

And certainly not a dragon, even a lesser one.

 

Understanding the effects of my gifts, I realize these kids are telling the truth.

Probably everything they say is true, and they can easily defeat even dragons.

And the labyrinth city is likely a place where “all wishes can come true.”

 

I settle back into my original seat.

 

「…Is the Labyrinth City really a place where any wish can be fulfilled? 」

「Not anything. There are naturally limitations. The rumors are a bit exaggerated. 」

 

The answer I got for confirmation was surprisingly realistic.

 

「Without doing anything, wishes aren’t fulfilled. 」

「Dungeon conquest, right? 」

「Exactly. The further you progress, the greater the rewards. Anything outside the Labyrinth City can be achieved. 」

 

I see. That’s why people don’t return.

Human desires are endless. The wish for ‘more’ grows larger.

 

「I think this system is quite malicious. 」

「Why? 」

 

A half-elf living in the Labyrinth City criticizing it?

 

「There’s no real risk, just work hard and your wishes will be fulfilled, even compromising to a certain extent is far more comfortable than living outside.

Death and pain are just fees in that city. You can try again countless times. It’s like a pitfall trap you can’t escape once you enter. 」

「So, the story about not dying is true? 」

「Yes. Technically, it’s regeneration after death. …That’s why, as long as you have a goal, you can challenge infinitely until your spirit breaks. Even if a wish is fulfilled, if there’s a next one, it continues. 」

「But aging still happens, right? 」

「You can rejuvenate, and preventing aging is even easier. I am genuinely 14 years old. 」

 

What’s that about?

 

「I think this system isn’t much different from hell. …What do you think, Bolkan-san? 」

「I agree. It’s malicious. It all sounds like a dream, but looking at the whole picture, it seems like an endless prison. 」

 

An infinite hell, unrecognized by those inside.