Chapter 1

Chapter 1 The day their fates partedways

Translator/Editor: Mana

Special Thanks: Rinkage

Youre kidding

It took quite some time for me to register the fact that those words were mumbled by my own mouth. Thats how shocked I was.

Me, Note Athlon. By the words floating on the slate before me.

Mapping

Rarity: SR (Super Rare)

Slot cost: 3

Effect:

The ability to map up to a 1000 metre radius around a previously traversed point within the brain and store it as knowledge.

The words that tumbled out were not out of happiness. Rather, the opposite. They came from despair.

Mapping. I have known about the existence of this skill for a while now. Almost everyone knew about it. That was how famous this Mapping skill was in this world.

As a trash skill.

The presentation ceremony.

It is a ceremony in which those over the age of 15 are bestowed with unique abilitiescalled skillsfrom God, by praying to the slates scattered throughout each region.

What is a skill? The answer to that is simple.

If you acquire the skill Swordcraft, youll develop an aptitude for swords, and if you acquire the skill Clairvoyance, youll obtain the ability to see faraway lands. Thats how its explained, anyway.

Even if you dont obtain the Swordcraft skill, you can still swing a sword. However, those who have the Swordcraft skill are guaranteed to have talent with a sword. But the rate of gaining sword experience is different, and the maximum level of swordcraft that you can reach is also different.

You might think that if thats the case, then those without Swordcraft should just work twice as hard as those with the skill. But without talent, those efforts will be wasted. Even with just a little bit of talent, those with the skill will be able to direct their resources to other areas in the time those without the skill focus on the sword. They can focus on areas such as training their bodies, raising their physical stats, and learning simple support magic instead.

In the first place, there is no guarantee that a person with talent will work any less hard than those without. For these reasons, the skills you have are extremely important in this world.

Incidentally, there are abilities like Clairvoyance which humans cannot obtain outside of the skill, no matter how hard they try. Mapping is in the same category of skills like that.

Then why is Mapping such a trash skill?

Looking at the effect of the skill might make you think, What? Its useful, isnt it?

If you look at the rarity you might think, SR (Super Rare) is a jackpot, isnt it?

And yet, Mapping is a trash skill.

Rarity refers to the chance of being bestowed with that skill during a presentation ceremony. In other words, it represents how many people have it. The higher the rarity, the less often you see the skill.

No matter what the skills strength is, the higher the appearance frequency, the lower the rarity becomes. Although generally speaking, the better skills are usually a higher rarity anyway

Slot cost is an indication of how much of the owners skill capacity the skill occupies. There was a problem with the slot cost of the Mapping skill.

Human can only have three slots. No more, no less. There is no exception. In short, those who obtain Mapping cannot receive any other skills.

Usually, skills acquired in the presentation ceremony cost one slot. Meaning a normal

person would have three skills. Occasionally, a strong skill with a high rarity may end up using two or three slots.

Skills that people can not learn through their own efforts such as Clairvoyance tend to use multiple slots. Because of that, Mapping also takes up three slots.

However, Mapping has an exceptional effect. To be able to automatically map a radius of 1000 metres around yourself is quite convenient. But thats where the problem lies.

In this world, there are three known types of mapping skills. Mapping, World Map, and Area Map. The effects of World Map, and Area Map are as follow:

World Map

Rarity: UR (Ultra Rare)

Slot cost: 3

Effect:

The ability to map up all areas of this world within the brain and store it as knowledge.

Area Map

Rarity: R (Rare)

Slot cost: 2

Effect:

The ability to mapa fixed range of this world from your current position within the brain and understand it as knowledge.

World Map is already a complete upgrade to Mapping, and while Area Map cant be stored as knowledge, it only takes up two slots. This skill is enough for those who dont want to get lost on the road.

Even so, you may think that the wide-ranged Mapping which can be stored as knowledge may be useful. That thought would be mistaken.

Because in this world, world maps are an item in circulation. Created by those who have the World Map skill and draw up precise maps. That is why everyone calls Mapping a trash skill.

Several generations ago, there was a helpful story about a capable but problematic prince of this country who was bestowed with Mapping in the presentation ceremony. He was immediately deemed incompetent, publicly ridiculed, stripped of his right to the throne, and fell into ruin, eventually dying a quiet in the countryside, making the skill even more well-known for being useless.

Because of this story, even commoners like me knew the details of the skill.

How did it go, Note?

A girls voice could be heard from the other side of the only one door in this room. It was a familiar voice. Despite the raised tone, the voice was beautiful like a bell.

I opened the door without responding to that voice.

The sight of a half-elf girl, my childhood friend, greeted me.

Her figure was illuminated by the morning sun, making her look even more beautiful than usual. The golden hair weaved into a braid hanging over her shoulder was glossy and shimmering. Fine, delicate eyelashes. Deep, emerald-green eyes. Skin so white it could represent the concept of the colour itself. Facial features that emphasised the purity of that white. Thin lips.

I was in love with her. With Miya Line, my childhood friend from the same hometown.

Miya seemed to get the hint by looking at my depressed figure.

Did it go badly?

Miya came closer and peered up at me, looking into my eyes. To be honest, I found this habit of Miyas difficult to deal with. The distance that could close suddenly. The gaze right in front of my eyes. That deep emerald. My reflection in those eyes.

The continuous staring that made me feel like I was being sucked in

Y-Yeah

I took a step back in a panic, breaking eye contact with her.

Ive been together with Miya for years, but I never got used to this habit. Rather, the opposite happened. I gradually found it harder and harder to deal with, as I became more aware of Miya as a girl.

Take a look at my skill

I pointed at the slate in the middle of the narrow room to shake off my inner turmoil. The details of the skill I received from God were still displayed there.

Miya took one look at the words there and seemed to understand. That I had just rolled a trash skill

D-Dont be so sad I think Mapping is a useful skill, you know! At least you wont get lost anymore! It might come in handy when were adventuring together? Miya falteringly tries to reason.

Wasnt that just a little unrealistic? But it made me feel happy.

It was hard to be an adventurer with the Mapping skill. Of course I knew that. Miya probably did too.

Which was why Miyas words were the words of our dreams.Well become adventurers together, hit it big somewhere and make our name known!She was telling me that shed keep our promise. Despite the fact I rolled a trash skill.

Ive always loved Miyas kindness and consideration for others.

Its my turn next Watch me! Ill roll good skills for adventuring and protect Note!

Miya does an enthusiastic fist pump with both hands, then starts praying to the slate of God.

Normally, this room should be entered alone. This was because you should avoid revealing the skills in your possession to others.

There were famous teachings in this world of how people obtained skills that grant great wealth, or peculiar skills like Mind Reading, and were treated completely differently by those around them.

No matter how close you are with someone, you should always think twice about showing your skills. Thats why this room was closed off by walls on four sides, as if to conceal the skill displayed on the slate of God.

But Miya began praying regardless of the fact I was still in the room. It was a sign of her trust in me. I felt somewhat happy, somewhat embarrassed, and somewhat wary of her lack of precaution. Shouldnt she be more careful? Worried feelings ran through me. But ultimate, I felt happy.

I still do not know if Miya felt anything romantic towards me. I havent checked. Its true that I want to try ask her. What do you think of me, Miya? Do you love me?

But at the same time, is there really a need to ask?I questioned myself.

The relationship between us was fine like this.

I wanted to hold hands and go out with her, and I wanted to kiss her. But Miya was too wonderful a girl to be wasted on me.

Miya and I were born in a small village called Changs. A small village with nothing but fields. Miya and I were the only kids of our age. It was only natural that we would get along.

That is why I believe that once we get to the big towns and meet all kinds of people, Miya will probably find someone more worthy than me. When Miya finds a suitable person better than me, I want to wish her happiness with a smile. I want to tell her Congratulations. As just a childhood friend.

Thats why the relationship between me and Miya was fine like this. Even if we couldnt become lovers. As long as I could stay beside her.

I directed my gaze to Miyas face. Her perfect doll-like face was suddenly illuminated by blue light.

Words appeared on the slate.

Protection of the Forest King

Rarity: SR (Super Rare)

Slot cost: 1

Effect:

Grants the ability to wield spirit magic of the Earth, Wind, and Water elements. Increases physical stats by 20% within forest areas. An elf exclusive skill.

Bowcraft Master

Rarity: UR (Ultra Rare)

Slot cost: 1

Effect:

Aptitude for bows reaches maximum level.

Physical Boost Large

Rarity: SR (Super Rare)

Slot cost: 1

Effect:

Increases physical stats by a large amount.

Seeing the words on the slate made me gulp reflexively.

Impossible.

All the skills were SR or higher.

On top of that, all the abilities worked in harmony with each other, making not one skill useless. A skill combination as compatible as Miyas was unheard of. There are probably less than ten people in the world whove been this lucky.

Thats how abnormal the words reflected on the slate were.

Miya opened her eyes and seemed to realise the irregularity of her skills too.

Yay! Strong-looking skills!

She gripped my hand and jumped up and down.

They not just strong-lookingskills, you know I felt just a bit of irritation at Miya for expressing it in such simple words.

Even as I felt the warmth of the hand grasped in mine, mixed emotions swirled in my chest. If only I had gotten better skills then I would have been able to feel happier from the bottom of my heart

Miya was so absorbed in her joy, she didnt seem to notice the state of my mind.

She turned her bright smile my way. Yay! Now I can adventure together with Note! Lets become first-class adventurers together!

I averted my eyes from both Miyas honest and straightforward words and smile.

Why can I only think of myself

Being inferior to Miya made me feel bitter. I was jealous. What an empty and egotistical pride. But it was fine. As long as I could be with Miya. Thats what we promised, after all. Even after rolling such a trash skill, Miya said we would still go on adventures together. Isnt that the best?

That alone is enough.

Yes, that alone was enough. Surely.

Perhaps I was a little arrogant.

With Miyas good will. With her kindness. I was spoiled.

Thats why I was betrayed half a year later. By her. By that arrogance.

Note. We should go our separate ways.

It wasnt Miyas usual tone. She left her parting words in a voice as calm and cold as a bell.