5. “Humanity’s Greatest Invention” (2)
[Processing completed. Skill name: [Hawk Eye] Debtor: Altora]
[We will start collecting at a real skill rate of 116,144,339,796%]
「Ugh…」
Right after I was pushed through the door, the skills of four people flowed into my body. Starting with the oldest – Altora’s [Hawk Eye], the skills that I lent were returned to me with skill points that were literally on another order of magnitude.
An overwhelming number that even physically shocked me. The pain was so bad that I felt like my head was going to explode and I started losing consciousness. When I touched the warmth I felt around my mouth, there was something sticky and red on my hand.
「Ka-ha…!」
[Activating safety mechanism.]
……………….
………….
…….
「Where am I……」
When I came to, I was standing in a pure white space. I was surprised to see that I wasn’t wearing any clothes, but strangely I didn’t feel cold or helpless.
[Transfer to protected area confirmed.]
「Protected area? Did I move somewhere else?」
I was dumbfounded by those unfamiliar words. Is it something like spatial teleportation magic?
[No. This is only in your consciousness. Due to the huge amount of information in the skill, there was a risk of brain damage. Only your consciousness is protected in the protected area.]
「My brain is damaged?」
[Once it ruptures, it loses its original form, but it can be repaired using advanced healing skills. Do not be worried.]
「Don’t worry, huh?」
On the contrary, it’s scary to think that even though my brain is completely destroyed, my consciousness still remains intact.
「Anyway, so you’re able to have a conversation. I thought you were like a machine that was incapable of thought.」
[Personality has been set. Although there is no body.]
The fact that it was set means that there was someone who set it up. Even when I asked who it was, I received no answer.
[Repayment processing will be completed soon. You will wake up as soon as your brain is repaired.]
[May the studies you have accumulated day after day brighten your future.]
「…I guess you have been watching.」
Even in the S-class party, no one was watching what I was doing. No one noticed what I had worked so hard to think, to accumulate, and to refine. I thought there was none.
But it seems that there was one who was surprisingly close to me.
[I have been watching. Closer than anyone else. Even though no one noticed, I was seeing through your eyes. The years that were taken away from you will become the strength of righteousness. That is my wish.]
「Tell me one last thing. What’s your name?」
[Simply, “Koe”.]
「That’s a nice name.」
I’m tired of seeing people adorned in borrowed things. I feel more comfortable with this simple and unadorned name.
My consciousness gradually faded. I guess it’s back to reality.
[Repair of damaged organs has been completed. Synchronization with the brain nervous system, complete. Going into awakening. Going into awakening. Going into awakening. With this–]
[Recollection of all loaned skills has been completed.]
◆◆◆
In the deepest part of the dungeon “The Abyss Where Evil Comes From”, Eria rushed towards me with a pale look as I saw Marge off into the boss room.
「Submitting opinion to Altora. Rush in immediately.」
「Rush in?」
Marge should have been cut into pieces on the other side of the door. Did she have a sudden change in feelings?
「What are you going on about? Why the hell would you wanna save someone like that?」
「Negative. This is not a rescue. I strongly recommend killing him as soon as possible.」
This doesn’t make even more sense. Why do we have to go out of our way to kill someone who is going to die soon anyway? I had always had a hard time understanding what Eria was thinking, but what she was saying now was even more strange than usual.
「Listen, Eria. You are smart. You have a wisdom skill, after all. But, there’s common sense in this world. Do you get what I’m saying? Common Sense….」
「The boss should kill Marge soon enough. There’s no need to rush.」
「That’s right. You shouldn’t say such cruel things like killing someone as soon as possible.」
Eria refused to give up on this even when the three of them were admonishing her. Sweat appeared on her forehead, which was somewhat different from the sweat of impatience she had been feeling up until then.
「No, no, com…pound…is…!」
「what……!?」
My vision flipped. I could not breathe. My ears were ringing strongly. My limbs went numb and I fell to my knees. I had long forgotten this feeling. The feeling of having my life sucked out of me.
「Poi-son…!?」
「[Angel’s White Wings]…is…not wor…king?」
Eria, Tina, and Gordon all collapsed one after another and were covered in mud. And I also lost consciousness.
RELEASE RATE
Skill Lender Get Back His Pride
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 90 hours
Ooh. At the start of the first sentence, I had a guess that with the compound interest, Marge may actually be able to use the skills with affect now cause of the accumulation.
Seems I was mistaken that one of them could still be friends with Marge. I’m guessing after the boss defeat, he’ll rescue them as he leaves?