Copy Skills with Affinity! - Chapter 8

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Natty

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Copy Skills with Affinity! ◈

Chapter 8: Death Wish

──────

The closer two people are to casually trading harsh words, the better they tend to understand each other.

Seeing how quickly the Emperor and Dunadan reached the same conclusion made that seem convincing enough.

“If word gets out, it’ll be chaos.”

“I agree, Your Majesty.”

There was one fact everyone who handled abilities knew.

Every ability was a unique authority bestowed by a god upon their followers.

They were powers in their purest form, never to be damaged or altered.

Those born under a god’s domain and granted an ability could submit only to that authority. To wield another ability, they had no choice but to abandon the first.

Handling such powers simultaneously was an extraordinarily rare talent.

Put another way, it meant being chosen by several gods at once.

And yet.

That Aiden fellow had wielded two of the most unusual abilities at the same time.

Pure-white ki, which only Noel could use even among ki users, and divinity, which only the Holy Empire’s royalty could wield.

Both were powers so difficult to master that neither would accept being called second-best.

“I expected him to show us something, but still.”

The Emperor muttered as he snapped shut the document folder on the table.

Someone had had the foresight to take a photograph at the scene.

It clearly showed a pillar of fire tearing through Noel’s barrier field as though it were cardboard and bursting out.

“Even among the Holy Empire’s royals, there are only two people who could do anything similar.”

“The Pontiff and Deathwish?”

“Yes.”

“...He truly is an extraordinary uncut gem.”

It was too early to place him among the monsters who represented entire nations.

Even so, there was no denying that he had shown the potential to stand on the same level as them.

On the bright side, this alone would swiftly sweep away most of the opinions claiming that he was unqualified to be Lionheart’s husband. Their original goal had been achieved.

The problem was that it had been achieved too well.

The Emperor relit the pipe and squinted.

Having seen all manner of things since ascending the imperial throne, the Emperor coolly calculated the situation, quite apart from any surprise.

“Dunadan.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Keep their mouths shut.”

“Of course.”

“Just keeping them quiet won’t be enough. If necessary, take personnel from the Imperial Assassination Bureau and put everyone under surveillance.”

“Some information leaking to a few people will be unavoidable.”

“I don’t expect perfect secrecy to last forever. But if we make it clear that the Emperor of the Empire is this invested, that will serve as a shield for a while. Anyone who tries to lay claim to him will be picking a fight with me.”

There was no way someone of Aiden’s talent could remain unknown forever.

But at the very least, word could not spread right now.

The continent had yet to fully recover from the direct damage of the war.

If such a delicious catch suddenly dropped into the middle of all that, it was not difficult to imagine the chaos that would follow.

And there was another reason they wanted to avoid that situation.

The Emperor and Dunadan shared the same thought.

“...He’s too good to hand over to anyone else, isn’t he?”

“Of course.”

The Emperor and Dunadan exchanged grins.

Handing someone else a lottery ticket guaranteed to win would be far too painful.

“Noel already has him by the nose, so let’s keep him close through her for now.”

The Emperor had thought Noel had dragged home some frail nobody. What a windfall this was.

The Emperor looked once more at the pillar of fire captured in the document.

It was quite an interesting sight.

‘Pure-white ki, which Noel uses, mixed with divinity so hot that it’s rare even among the royals...’

Ki had no particular attribute, but it possessed exceptional output and reserves. Divinity, meanwhile, had destructive power through heat, but it was difficult to raise its output very high.

Yet the pillar of fire Aiden had created seemed to combine pure-white ki’s strength in output with divinity’s strength in attack power.

As though the traits of two abilities had merged.

Divinity pouring forth like pure-white ki.

‘Surely not.’

The Emperor snorted and refilled his pipe.

It was too excessive an assumption.

To take only the strengths of two abilities and blend them together.

If that were truly possible...

‘...That would be omnipotence.’

There was no telling what kind of monster Aiden would become.

▣

- System Log

▶ You have made contact with Lionel XIII, ‘Emperor of the Empire.’

▶ You have made contact with Dunadan U’zal, ‘Dragon Slayer.’

▶ They are major and supporting characters who may influence the story.

▶ Your influence over the Main Story increases.

▶ A new special ability has been unlocked!

- Skill Info

◈ Weaver of Fate

【 Noel Astria Seamus 】

- Bond: Level 2

◆ Heart of Pure White

◆ Ki Enhancement: Consecration

【 Katia Heinkel Craven 】

- Bond: Level 1

◆ First Vow

『 Lionel XIII 』

- Bond: Level 1

- You can copy 1 skill.

『 Dunadan U’zal 』

- Bond: Level 1

- You can copy 1 skill.

Aiden stroked his chin as he looked over the new information.

It seemed what he had expected had worked exactly as intended.

‘It definitely drew a lot of attention.’

He had expected some reaction if things went well, but even Aiden had not expected such terrifying firepower.

Thanks to that, he had gained one chance each to copy the skills of these incredible people. There was no reason to complain.

But.

- Quest Info

▶ Failure to complete the events listed below will result in severe penalties!

◈ Fake Marriage

- You have been chosen as Noel’s spouse. Maintain your contract with your partner until the end!

◈ Act One, < Imperial Capital Rift >

- Your contact with the scenario’s key figures is becoming frequent enough.

- Your existence will soon be formally incorporated into the scenario. Your choices will determine the scenario’s course!

- A related event will occur soon. (D-3)

It was good that skill-copying opportunities had appeared so he could prepare for what was coming.

Still, couldn’t they have given him something more reasonable?

This was too much.

No.

Absolutely not...!

He had tried so hard to avoid getting drawn into this world’s Main Scenario, and now it was right in front of him.

Gathering skills and preparing was only for dealing with immediate dangers. He had not the slightest intention of replacing the protagonist!

‘I’ll get out somehow...!’

Ever since he had been dragged here, that goal had never changed.

He did not even want to imagine what hellish road awaited him if he was pulled into the scenario.

To make matters worse, it now said an event that would drag him in would occur within three days.

‘If I look at it positively...’

Something would definitely happen then, which meant he could at least prepare.

Until now, he had only been dragged around by events whose nature he did not even know. At least he could make a rough guess at what this one would involve.

Whether he could escape the scenario or not would likely be decided here.

“...”

Aiden began searching through the vague knowledge of the original story still left in his mind.

Considering how the story had progressed, he could roughly guess what kind of event this would be.

If it was so clearly connected to the scenario, the odds that it would involve nothing more than a peaceful conversation were very low.

Violence, blood, and someone’s suffering would follow.

Which meant what he needed right now was an ability suited for battle.

■ Omnipotence [ Stage 1 ]

You can combine two or more abilities to produce effects more powerful than before.

▶ Combinations Currently Discovered

〓 Guardian’s Flame (Heart of Pure White ↔ First Vow)

Traits: High Output, High Firepower

Deploy divinity using pure-white ki as its foundation. It possesses greater firepower than ordinary divinity and can affect a far wider area than divinity used alone.

※ As the skill stage rises, the number of abilities you can combine will increase, and additional effects will emerge.

※ Raise the skill level by increasing the number of abilities you can wield!

■ Origin [ Locked ]

This skill is locked.

...In that regard.

What was written here might not suit his aptitude, but it was still reassuring.

These abilities would become his lifeline when the event occurred three days from now.

‘It can amplify effects by mixing abilities...’

Aiden still did not fully understand abilities, so he could not tell exactly how effective this was. Even so, having such a trait allowed him to make one deduction.

The more abilities he possessed, the more options he would have.

Then his best current choice was...

『 Dunadan U’zal 』

- Bond: Level 1

- You can copy 1 skill.

This person.

When he selected the window, Dunadan’s skills filled his view.

Most looked terrifying, befitting someone called the Dragon Slayer, but Aiden was looking for only one.

- System Message

▶ Copying ‘Generic Ability: Spiritual Power.’

The Spiritual Power wielded by the Plains Coalition’s warriors through self-imposed restrictions.

He would have to learn how to use it later, but given the nature of his abilities, there was no other skill that would be this efficient right now.

“...”

Of course, there was still one person who remained as consistent as ever.

Aiden kept glancing at Noel before speaking.

Even after yesterday’s massive incident, her attitude seemed almost unchanged.

“Is there something you want to ask?”

Apparently noticing his gaze, Noel gave him a soft smile and spoke at once.

Despite the huge accident that had occurred only yesterday, Noel’s expression remained unchanged. Her politeness, and the smile she wore like a mask.

“...No.”

He remembered how pale she had gone when he wielded divinity yesterday, but now that they were together in her office, she seemed no different from usual.

When he put those thoughts into a question, she answered with the same calm expression.

“I was certainly quite shocked when I first saw it, but...”

“But?”

“Didn’t I tell you from the beginning? I brought you here because you are someone whose limits I cannot see.”

“...”

“...Honestly, you keep making it abundantly clear that you knew me before, even though I do not remember you.”

Ah.

He had done that.

Thinking back, he had pulled that scam just recently to get himself out of trouble.

From Noel’s perspective, it probably only felt as though another hidden fact about this mysterious person had come to light.

“You still do not intend to tell me what you meant earlier, do you?”

“...”

Noel smiled, rested her chin on her hand, and spoke in a gentle voice.

It was honestly intimidating.

But there was no way he could tell her.

He had never met Noel before in the first place...!

“Then you may remain as you are. It will be more fun if I find out myself.”

“...”

There was nothing to find out.

Aiden sighed inwardly and leaned back in his chair.

It was an attempt to get even a little rest.

Of course.

- System Message

The window that suddenly appeared stole away even that modest attempt.

▶ Deathwish, Katia Heinkel Craven’s favorability toward you has increased!

▶ Your bond stage has risen!

- Skill Info

◈ Weaver of Fate

You alone know the truth of this world. Form bonds with important figures in the Main Story to gain new rewards!

【 Katia Heinkel Craven 】

- Bond: Level 2

- You can copy 1 skill.

Aiden’s brow furrowed hard.

...What was this now?

▣

Within the royal palace of the Craven Holy Empire was a room no one wanted to enter.

The lights were always off from morning until night, and strange sounds echoed from inside at all hours.

Senior officials often used it to fool newcomers into believing it was haunted, and the trick had a surprisingly high success rate.

But no one would dare make that joke in an official setting.

Everyone in the palace knew exactly who the room belonged to.

“Katia.”

Alester Fanshus Craven, First Prince of the Holy Empire, spoke again, concern in his voice.

The golden priestly robes that marked the direct heir glowed softly, allowing him to make out what his younger sister was doing even in the dark.

“...Did you hear me properly, Katia?”

A gunshot came in place of an answer.

The sounds of flesh being crushed and bone splintering filled the room.

They were hardly sounds that belonged in the middle of a leisurely conversation, yet neither of the two people in the room changed expression.

Not the First Prince, who had witnessed the gun firing before his eyes.

Nor the Second Princess, who had put the gun to her own forehead and pulled the trigger.

“I keep telling you to stop doing that.”

Still, Alester’s voice remained calm as he watched. He sounded as though he were scolding a child with no self-control.

As though he had witnessed the same thing dozens of times.

In fact.

A childish, innocent voice fitting that tone answered him.

“Ah, I didn’t hear you. What did you say?”

She did not seem bothered in the slightest despite having fired a gun at her own head.

“...”

Alester looked into the darkness with troubled eyes.

A succession of thick, sticky sounds, like someone digging into an ear, came from within it.

He could not see clearly through the darkness, but it was easy enough to imagine what was happening to his sister’s head, pierced by the bullet.

Incomprehensible. Revolting. Disgusting. Horrific.

No matter how kindly one put it, it could not escape that range of descriptions.

Katia Heinkel Craven. An unparalleled genius whose talent overwhelmed even the other members of the Holy Empire’s royal family.

A monster whose abilities ranked among the greatest divinity users in history.

But the nature of her ability was something that, for Katia herself, could only be called a curse.

Alester lowered his gaze and continued evenly.

“It’s a mission. Mother gave the order herself. She said someone important has appeared in the Empire.”

“Someone important?”

“They possess divinity. Despite not being royalty of the Holy Empire.”

That seemed to surprise Katia as well.

Her golden eyes, visible even in the darkness, turned toward Alester and blinked with a clear light.

“How is that possible?”

“They said he possesses multiple abilities.”

“Wasn’t that something that only existed in the records?”

“They say one was found this time.”

“How credible is it?”

“Quite credible.”

Katia blinked in silence for a moment.

She was clearly sorting through the information she had just received.

Despite her bizarre behavior, Katia’s mind worked with remarkable speed.

“Then we should bring him here?”

She immediately deduced what the Pontiff wanted without needing any further explanation.

Alester gave a bitter smile and nodded.

“I think you’ll have to go yourself. You may use force if necessary, but you must bring him back.”

“Me? Isn’t that using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken? Has Her Holiness finally lost it?”

Alester’s bitter smile deepened at the blasphemy that came out so confidently.

Honestly, she was roughly right.

Bringing that man to the Holy Empire would not be difficult.

Divinity belonged to the Holy Empire’s royal family. If it had manifested in an outsider, they had grounds to investigate the matter at the very least. The justification was on the Holy Empire’s side.

And yet.

The reason they were sending such an unstable... monster was this.

“That man is Lionheart’s husband.”

Katia’s eyes narrowed the moment she heard that.

“Since it concerns Lionheart’s husband, we don’t know how she’ll respond. More importantly, the Emperor of the Empire has already stated an intention to protect him. There may be an armed clash.”

“Lionheart’s husband?”

“Yes. His name was...”

“Aiden Kellermain.”

This time, Alester’s eyebrows bent in a strange direction.

“...That’s right. How do you know him? Until yesterday, he was completely unknown.”

“I was a little interested.”

Katia yawned and rolled around on the bed.

Except for the violent surroundings, she looked exactly like a lazy cat.

“Brother. This person called Aiden.”

“Yes?”

“How strong is he? What do you think?”

“...From what I’ve heard, he is formidable. Perhaps not yet, but he will certainly grow strong.”