Chapter 10 – The Cursed Skill

Together with Emma’s help I earned the school entrance fee of 300,000 ria quicker than expected. A pleasant miscalculation.

Thanks to that I had a peaceful awakening the morning after the rainbowhopper catching. There wasn’t any need to keep pushing myself, but let’s head to the guild today as well. Lola was full of motivation so I, reluctantly, bundled my determination and decided to take on a quest.

“I did it, I passed!”

When I arrived at the guild, Emma, who apparently got there a while ago, ran up to me. Looked like she had safely passed the test and become an adventurer, now she was happily skipping through the guild in some very high spirits.

“Was Gamon your examiner?”

“Yeah, that’s the one.”

“How’d you make him speak?”

“Mhmm, we fought like normal and when I got a hit in he let out his voice.”

“That’s… pretty amazing.”

Gamon’s level was above 80, that put him at more than four times Emma’s. Well, not like levels are everything though. Was there some kind of special tactic?

That question was answered with her very next words.

“Can you imagine, he kept staring at my chest in the middle of our fight. Talk about inattention.”

“Huh.”

I understand. Emma’s huge breasts aren’t something you can handle on first sight.

When they sway with each movement it might just be inevitable for a man’s attention to sway along.

“Also, after we finished he invited me to a weird shop. ‘How about working at our place,’ or something.”

“…Forest of Huge Boobs, eh.”

So he’s also working as a scout for huge busts.

Actually, maybe adventuring wasn’t his main job in the first place?

“That was the name, but say… why do you know?”

“Ah, well, there was a sort of ‘Come when you’ve got time’ invitation.”

“…Will you?”

With a firm gaze on me I quickly shook my head – exaggerated movements and everything, too.

That’s when Emma, suddenly gotten fidgety, looked at me with upturned eyes. There was something cute about it, like a pet.

“Even without going to that kind of place, it’s not like you can’t… I mean, my…”

“…I was thinking you’d dislike that kind of stuff.”

“With other guys it’s definitely a no, but if it’s you… just in your case, it’s…”

“Ahem. …Ahem!!”

Like that Lola loudly cleared her throat while watching us talk in front of her reception desk. Also, when did that queue right behind us form!?

Oh boy… I was getting so absorbed in the conversation I didn’t notice we turned into the center of attention. There was a huge grin on all the faces around us. If I had been capable of fire magic it would be blowing out of my ears right now.

Lola warned us with a hopeless expression.

“Please refrain from flirting in front of the reception desk.”

“…Sorry.”

“And anyway, what’s with that? One moment you force me into that one pose and make me say I love you, the next one you’re all over another girl.”

“Noir!? What was that just now!?”

Not good, the conversation was heading towards a fatal understanding. I was about to explain what happened, but Lola fanned the flames before I was able to.

“Noir and I are currently involved in an important affair, please try not to bother us, okay?”.

“…Mughh, I’m starting to feel like someone’s offering me a fight.”

I’m guessing what Lola was actually referring to was my ranking up, but wasn’t that phrasing a tad too provocative? With how intensely the two were staring at each other it felt like sparks would start flying at any moment.

“Phew, ain’t you popular, Noir,” and similar banter started making its way through the crowd, so I stepped between the two.

“Before getting too carried away, what is today’s quest?”

The quest I was given was a monster extermination request in the same grass plains as a while ago. Lola pouted when I announced that I’d accept the quest as a party with Emma.

By the way, when heading out as a group all party members receive points for the quest, although they’re less than when going solo. I suppose the fastest route to a high rank would be by completing difficult quests on your own?

As we were about to depart Lola came up to us in a quick skip.

And with a smile on her face she gripped my hand!?

“Let’s go out on a private dinner sometime soon, yeah?”

“Are. You. Going?”

“You’ll. Come. Won’t. You?”

How come I have to deal with the pressure of both of them!?

‘Tahahaha…,’ I put the matter on hold with a vague smile.

I do want to go actually.

“…Typical don of idiots.”

On our way through town Emma was voicing her displeasure. Mostly towards me. I’d prefer it if you did that while I’m not right next to you.

“Women are cunning creatures, okay? You should be more careful. Like with that invite earlier, before you know it you’re lured into a room, killed and

dissected.”

The Serial Killing Receptionist. There was a book like that I’m pretty sure. Well, not like Lola was that kind of bad person.

Anyhow, as I was trying to think of a way to lift Emma’s spirits―――

“Quick, bow your head!”

Urging me like that she suddenly grabbed my shoulder. She herself was already in a deep bow. Towards who?

I realized right away. There was a person whose… Aura was too different.

A supreme beauty in a pure white dress, blonde hair flowing like silk. Her eyes were of a charming blue and her skin white like porcelain, along with an exceptional figure. A glance was enough to think her loved by the gods.

Within her mature facial features she retained a sweetness typical for a young maiden. There was not a single flaw.

The white dress that was beautiful enough to evoke the image of a bride’s gown was a perfect fit for the flawlessly pure girl.

T-t-that girl was…

“Who?”

“Come on, isn’t that the daughter of House Albert, the dukedom? She was also accepted into hero school, in fact she’s even assigned to the same class as us!”

That explains it, something like a duke’s daughter is an existence too far beyond mine…

I lowered my head, but before I fully bowed our eyes met. She smiled.

Before me was the smile of an angel. After a moment of being startled I was about to properly lower my head, but she stretched out her hand as if to say there was no need.

“Good day. Noir of House Stalgia and Emma of House Brightness, right?”

Uwah… In that moment, I was tremendously moved. Of course, partly because she knew my name, but more than that because there was actual respect in her

attitude.

Back when I went to youth rearing school it was a jumble of nobles and commoners. When I occasionally met with nobles there, the majority looked down on me once they found out I was of baronet standing. Then again, those people were condescending towards anyone.

I returned the smile.

“Right, I’m Noir Stalgia.”

“I am Maria Fiana Albert of the same class as you two, although let’s just stick to Maria, yeah? Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

With her hands propped on her chest, which could rival even Emma’s, she performed a single bow. That gesture was elegance itself.

I couldn’t restrain my emotions, that was what a true noble must have been.

But it’s not like I fell in love at first sight or anything…

“I as well am glad to make your acquaintance.”

“I must say, when I saw your test in the second half of the exam I was truly surprised.”

Test in the second half, so she meant when I fired a stone projectile in front of the examiner.

“Stone projectile’s velocity does differ from person to person, but the size is close to identical for all of them. And yet the one you fired was quite tiny in size.”

“Indeed, it’s kind of my specialty.”

“Given your considerable talent I was just thinking about how dearly I would like to talk to you and look, now here we are. Who knows, it may be the guidance

of the gods?”

“I certainly consider it a blessing, it’s an honor.”

“Since I have matters to attend to for today I will take my leave, but let’s look forward to the entrance ceremony. I wish you farewell.”

“”I wish you farewell.””

Surrounded by retainers and what seemed like escorts she turned her heel and walked away. Her incredible beauty, genuine courteousness and refined elegance made it difficult to imagine she was the same age as us. Looked like she was too captivating even for Emma.

“Wha~, seeing her from up close she’s ridiculously pretty. Her skin had this fascinating feeling of translucence.”

“She really captures the meaning of perfection, paying her respects even to us.”

“Right? But say, I don’t even remember the last time I used something like ‘I wish you farewell.’”

“I don’t use it more than you, either.”

While chatting with Emma I followed Maria’s back with my eyes. Out of curiosity I allowed myself to analyze her.

Name: Maria Fiana Albert

Age: 16

Race: Human

Level: 30

Occupation: Student

Skills: 「One-Handed Sword Mastery B」 「Charged Thrust」 「Heal」

「16th Seal of Death」

One-handed sword mastery is a fairly popular skill, but B rank sure is impressive.

Charged thrust is a sword technique that allows one to release a powerful thrust after charging.

Heal is of the restoration branch of magic.

And the last one…

“Emma, do you know about the 16th seal of death?”

“Huh? What’s that?”

As expected I guess. Let’s try using analyze to see what kind of skill it is.

＜Cursed skill. Waves of violent pain attack the body in a set cycle. Together with growing age the pain intensifies, peaking at 16 years. By overcoming the age of 16 years the skill vanishes.＞

W-wait a moment.

Cursed skill… Cursed by who?

The curse is lifted by turning 17, but in case you can’t overcome the age of 16―――Death?

I was more than a little shocked.

With just that description there were still a lot of things unclear so I tried supplementing it with the Great Sage.

What is the probability of overcoming the 16th seal of death?

「0.00000000001%.」

“Seriously?”

“What’s wrong?”

“No, well, I just remembered that one thing our homeroom teacher back in youth rearing school would often say.”

“――’The more of a good guy you are the younger you die. That’s why I work myself to death to keep those folks alive,’ was it?”

“Right, that one. You know, I was pretty fond of that line.”

If there’s anything I can do I’d really like to help her.

With that thought in mind I departed towards the quest.

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