WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Natty
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Copy Skills with Affinity! ◈
Chapter 37: Divinity (2)
──────
“...”
“...”
A dreadful silence filled the hut built in the traditional style of the Plains Coalition.
Apparently, Rania would soon leave the Empire and return to the Great Plains. Hearing something that might leave a terrible impression just before she left was enough to explain the mood.
Even Aiden was breaking out in a cold sweat from the terrifying silence...
‘... That damned old man.’
Naturally, his first thought was resentment toward Meyer, the one who had put him up to this.
Meyer had urged him to do it, saying they could only enter the Mindscape together if they slept while holding hands.
“If you wanted to introduce the spirit and me, you didn’t have to go that far.”
If Rania had not said that in a weary voice, he would probably have continued stewing in those feelings.
“... Excuse me?”
When Aiden asked, Rania put her pipe to her lips again and pointed at the bracelet around his wrist.
“There’s a spirit in there. You make a Mindscape every night and meet it. Isn’t that right?”
“...”
It was such an accurate observation that he had nothing to say.
As he blinked blankly, Rania snickered and tapped the eye not covered by her eyepatch.
“I’m a shamaness. Of course I can see spirits.”
That was true enough.
Come to think of it, it was thanks to this person’s ability that Meyer had been found and brought here in the first place.
As Aiden nodded, Rania filled her pipe with tobacco and continued.
“Give it to me. I’ll at least hear why it came here.”
He had no reason to refuse, so he held out the bracelet. Rania took it, frowned, and peered inside.
“... This is the Dawn Knight.”
“... Right?”
“You’re handling someone far too great.”
“... Am I?”
“Yes. Someone who would never have crossed paths with you in your entire life.”
“...”
It should have felt strangely insulting, but it did not. She stated it with such obvious certainty.
In truth, though he had known her only briefly, that was the overall impression Rania gave him.
Iron. Stone. Her words and actions were so plain and even that those were the only fitting descriptions. She always spoke only the truth, never with the intention of looking down on anyone.
“Honestly, what you’re worrying about is a stupid problem.”
Perhaps that was why he was not too angry when Rania, who had been staring at the bracelet for a moment, continued.
“... What do you mean?”
“Your ability isn’t the kind that can help someone grow stronger.”
“...?”
“How much do you know about the Celestial Pantheon?”
As he tilted his head at the cryptic words, she suddenly asked that question.
“I’m not interested in theology. I only know it as the place where the gods reside...?”
“More precisely, it is where the ‘known’ gods reside.”
“... What?”
Something ominous lurked in that wording, and Aiden asked again. Rania calmly explained.
“A god’s power is determined by the size and influence of their followers. Only those whose divinity has been proven can enter the Pantheon. It is a symbiotic relationship. Just as followers need gods, gods need followers.”
The oaths followers offered to their gods, Consecration of Ki, vows of Divine Power, and mantras of Spiritual Power, were all proof of that mutual relationship.
Followers offered their god the virtue under that god’s domain, and the god bestowed authority upon those followers.
But...
“There are quite a lot of gods. There are as many divinities as there have been abilities throughout the continent’s long history.”
In other words...
“Not every god can prove their worth.”
Naturally, there were gods outside the Pantheon.
Forgotten gods. Those dwelling in the dark corners of heaven.
Some had been forgotten simply because they lacked sufficient influence over their followers. Others existed outside the Pantheon for rather different reasons.
“Among those heavenly outlaws, there is a worst kind.”
“... What kind?”
“Divinities sealed by other gods.”
The aberrations called Outer Gods.
Acrid smoke rose from Rania’s pipe.
“Sealed?”
“They are gods whose names and powers have been forcibly ‘stripped’ from their followers. Even if they fully qualify to remain in the Pantheon, they are driven out of it by force.”
“How does that happen?”
“If they threaten the Pantheon’s existence, that is what happens. A prime example is the god worshipped by demonkind long ago.”
Rania snickered as she continued.
The god worshipped by demonkind, Wornil, God of Devouring. A mad god who had tried to grow stronger by consuming even its own kind.
Its greed and hunger had no end. Left unchecked, it was said it would have brought the entire Pantheon to ruin.
As the foremost example of a sealed god, it was quite an instructive tale.
“Why do you think I’m telling you this?”
Aiden silently met Rania’s eyes.
Having heard this much, it was obvious where the conversation was going.
“What has attached itself to you is that sort of being. Not an ordinary god that forms a symbiotic relationship with followers.”
“...”
“One that exists wholly on its own. Not a god chosen by followers, but one that chooses its followers.”
Something too alien to call merely a god. Unknown. Unknowable.
At this point...
He immediately understood why Rania had once said that something terrible was attached to him.
“What is attached to you is one of those. An Outer God. Its purpose, power, and origin are all unknown.”
“...”
“That must be why gods grant you abilities so readily. I still do not know why they go that far, though.”
Aiden stared blankly at Rania, unable to speak. She merely shrugged.
“Well, don’t get too depressed.”
... She had just revealed something enormous, yet her closing words could not have been simpler.
“Even if it is an Outer God whose domain and true name are unknown, you can’t conclude that it is necessarily evil. More accurately, at this stage, we know nothing.”
“... Is that so?”
Aiden accepted her reassurance calmly.
It was awkward to say to someone trying to comfort him, but he was not actually that depressed.
‘It’s hard to be depressed when...’
The scale of the revelation was too immense to grasp immediately. He was closer to being stunned.
Naturally, he had questions as well.
“... But, Shamaness.”
“Yes?”
“Why did someone so terrifying choose me?”
That was his greatest question.
Why would an ordinary person like him ever catch the eye of such an overwhelming being?
“...”
Rania fell silent for a moment, then snickered.
“Because it likes you.”
“... Pardon?”
“That is how it feels to me. At least, it does not feel like it wants to harm you.”
“...”
“I do not know why, but it seems to have taken a very strong liking to you.”
“...”
... Rather than being answered, his question had only grown deeper.
“Anyway, back to the original subject.”
Rania rested her chin on the table and continued.
“That is the origin of your ability, so it is impossible to strengthen that side of things. Nobody could help you with it, not just me.”
“... Is that so?”
“Yes. So if you want a powerful means of attack in a short time, you would be better off looking for top-grade material.”
“Material?”
“An ability that the Dawn Knight can use as raw material to carve out what you want.”
“...”
“I do not know what domain the Outer God attached to you governs, but wouldn’t it be better to make use of it?”
... Ah.
She was telling him to stick to the basics.
‘... Raise Affinity and wring skill-copying chances out of people, is that it?’
Aiden inwardly chuckled. In any case, that was the only ability he definitely possessed.
It felt like returning to square one, but learning its origin was still a meaningful gain.
Because...
‘If it’s something as grand as an Outer God...’
... Then didn’t that mean he could keep getting skill-copying chances from anyone?
As long as he could raise their Affinity, there was no limit.
It felt like he had received a permit allowing him to fleece whoever he pleased...
“...”
It felt strange when he thought about it too deeply, but anyway.
It would be best to focus on what was urgent.
Now then, the first thing he needed to consider was...
“... Is there anyone remarkably impressive connected to Divine Power?”
“Remarkably impressive?”
“If I could somehow approach someone with an elegant mastery of Divine Power, I think that would be good.”
If the target was a spirit, an ability related to Divine Power should take priority.
Katia was nearby, but he had stripped her skill-copying chances dry long ago.
And if he tried to raise her Affinity further here... honestly, he could not think of a way to do it right now.
Finding someone new would be the right answer.
Rania listened quietly, then blew smoke from her mouth and continued.
“It has been noisy. People are coming from the Holy Empire.”
“Pardon?”
“A delegation. Isn’t it related to you?”
Ah.
Aiden’s eyes narrowed.
He had heard about it once before. A delegation was supposedly being dispatched to investigate why he could wield Divine Power, something only royalty could use.
‘... They are people I have things to collect from.’
He did not have good feelings toward them, for one reason or another.
Nearly all his memories connected to them were unpleasant.
So...
... Whatever he did, he probably would not feel very guilty.
“You have the face of someone thinking bad thoughts.”
When Rania grinned and said that, Aiden could not help smiling similarly.
“Thank you for your help, Shamaness.”
“Call me Rania. No thanks needed. I’m putting you in my debt in advance.”
“Pardon?”
“I think we will be seeing each other often from now on.”
She waved her hand lazily as she answered.
“See you again, Aiden Kellermain. Next time, let us have some Far Eastern noodles you like.”
“...”
She was a truly strange person.
She was a shamaness, but beyond mystical, she gave an impression bordering on eerie.
Even as they exchanged farewells and parted ways, Aiden kept turning that thought over in his mind.
She did not seem like a bad person if she was inviting him out for noodles, but...
‘Huh.’
... Wait.
Had Aiden ever told her about his taste in food?
“...”
A shiver ran down his arm as Aiden left the hut.
▣
The Kellermain family’s dinners were always simple and modest.
Their small house was home to only Kenneth Kellermain and Sissela Kellermain, so it would be harder for anything to happen.
“Dad, I’m home!”
Sissela Kellermain opened the front door with her tiny hand.
She always came home this late after finishing class, but even taking that into account, the house was so quiet it felt cold.
“...”
Pouting, she shuffled into the house.
Kenneth always worked late, so that could not be helped. Still, she could not help feeling lonely.
‘... My brother used to greet me.’
Even though his own job kept him endlessly busy, she suddenly missed her brother, who had always waited for her to come home from school.
‘Where has he gone? He still hasn’t shown his face...’
Her father said that her brother had suddenly needed to go far away for a while, but could he not have at least said goodbye before leaving?
With a gloomy expression, she set down her bag and shuffled toward the kitchen.
She had gone there to make herself something to eat, but...
The moment she turned on the kitchen light, she saw something she could never have imagined.
“... Ah, are you Aiden’s younger sister?”
A woman was speaking.
Kenneth lay unconscious right in front of her.
The woman was holding the collapsed Kenneth with both hands...
“...”
Sissela’s pupils shook wildly.
“W-What did you do to my dad?!”
“... I know it looks strange, but he suddenly collapsed, and I was trying to help him...”
“W-We haven’t done anything wrong! Get away from my dad!”
“... I didn’t make him faint. He just heard my name and suddenly...”
“I said get away from my dad!”
“...”
... This was not how it was supposed to go.
Noel thought that blankly.
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