WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Alyo

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◈ Surviving as a Warrior in a TRPG World ◈

Chapter 68: The Return (2)

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Gerik snapped out of his thoughts at the sudden presence. Ilvern opened the box and held it out to him.

A pouch and what looked like a bill of exchange lay before him. Gerik asked in confusion,

“What is this?”

“A reward for saving a direct descendant of the family. It is also compensation for your costly equipment that was destroyed in the process.”

“Uh... well...”

Still accustomed to the modesty typical of Koreans, Gerik hesitated to accept the reward. Perhaps pleased by that humble reaction, Ilvern burst into hearty laughter.

“Haha! Don't feel burdened. Take it. You can check it here if you like. I'm a knight before I'm a noble, so I don't care for such etiquette.”

Gerik smiled awkwardly and examined the contents of the box.

‘Oh...’

When he opened the weighty pouch, twenty gleaming gold coins appeared inside. That alone was good enough, but the real prize came next.

The gold-leafed document beside it was a bill of exchange worth a full thirty gold coins.

‘That covers my equipment!’

The damaged equipment had been worth roughly thirty gold coins, so the bill of exchange fully compensated him for it. That still left him with twenty whole gold coins, and Gerik could not hide his satisfaction.

“Thank you.”

Ilvern shook his head instead.

“What is there to thank me so much for? I know the value of your equipment. Strictly speaking, the actual reward is only twenty coins.”

Then he lowered his voice and added,

“The life of an Ashburn direct descendant is never worth such a paltry sum.”

Ilvern went on to say that the Ashburn family intended to provide Gerik with further compensation as well.

“On that note, is there anything you want? If you're willing, I could recommend you to the Ashburn family's Order of Knights.”

After fighting the Grizzly Owl alongside Gerik, Ilvern seemed to have taken quite a liking to him.

‘An Order of Knights...’

It was an offer that might have tempted Gerik in the past.

Joining a noble family to build his strength, or learning skills such as Ash Strike, which Ilvern had displayed in battle, and that mysterious ash-gray shield technique by watching Ilvern, were both attractive opportunities.

‘Maybe in the past. It has no meaning now.’

This time, Gerik had crossed into the Destroyed World through the key and undergone a world-shaking experience.

Even without relying on a powerful faction, he could grow as strong as he wished if he made proper use of the key.

‘And getting caught with the key would be dangerous.’

Now that he carried the immense secret of the key, recklessly tying himself to an organization could expose its importance. He might lose his life without a trace, or be dragged into some grand destiny against his will.

So Gerik casually brushed aside the offer to join the Order of Knights and changed the subject.

“The skills you used in battle, Sir... what exactly were they?”

Surprisingly, Ilvern did not seem particularly taken aback by Gerik's refusal. Then again, that made sense.

Based on his conversations with Gerik, Ilvern had mistakenly assumed that Gerik had a hidden identity.

To the old knight, Gerik's reluctance to bind himself carelessly to any organization probably seemed only natural.

Perhaps because of that, Ilvern readily began speaking about Ilvern's skills without any sign of agitation.

“Before I explain the skills, I should first briefly go over the history of the Ashburn family.”

Ilvern began by explaining that the Ashburn family possessed an ancient secret connected to Ash, through which it could obtain special skills and classes.

Ilvern added that what Gerik had witnessed that day were skills that only knights who had sworn loyalty to the family could learn.

“The attack I imbued into my mace was called Ash Strike, while the skill I used on my shield was Ashen Aegis.”

Having named the skills, Ilvern began explaining their effects. Ash Strike imbued a weapon with the power of the Ash of Destruction to strike down an enemy.

It ignored physical and magical defenses to a certain extent and delivered a powerful blow, while also adding fire enchantment damage. It was a well-balanced offensive skill.

Ashen Aegis granted powerful physical resistance to armor and drastically increased the equipment's durability.

“That is fascinating. Doesn't it have any penalties?”

Gerik asked with interest, and Ilvern smiled.

“My boy. What would be the point of telling you that?”

Ilvern brushed off Gerik's question in a cheerful tone. Ordinarily, it might have been considered a rude question worthy of offense.

But perhaps because they had spent a fair amount of time together and learned each other's dispositions, Ilvern was not displeased. Instead, Ilvern even made a joke.

“If you're that curious, join our Order of Knights!”

Caught up in the mood, Gerik had asked without thinking. He belatedly realized his slip and gave an embarrassed apology.

Of course, since he had asked knowing Ilvern's personality from the start, there was not much sincerity in that apology.

Once the light joke had eased the mood, Gerik honestly revealed what he wanted.

“Actually, there is something I'm aiming for. I've learned Slash and Charge, and... I want to use them as a foundation to advance into a special class. You said you would help me with anything, so... is there any way?”

Ilvern's expression grew serious at Gerik's earnest question. After thinking for a moment, Ilvern shook their head.

“That would be difficult. Special skills and advancement into special classes based on them are essentially the source of each faction's power.”

Ilvern said that special classes were the secret teachings and power guarded by every faction, including nobles, royalty, local powers, and temples. They were never allowed to leak outside.

Restrictions preventing the disclosure of skill combinations were only the most basic measure. Even if a combination somehow leaked out, it would be useless.

The secret of acquiring the skills was held only by a very small inner circle within each faction.

“For that matter, I too have obtained only a peripheral branch of Ash's power. The true skills are passed down solely to blood relatives.”

In the end, it meant that outsiders could never obtain special skills and classes.

Gerik felt disappointed. Still, he had already somewhat expected this, so he soon accepted it calmly. Instead, he decided to ask for help with something more realistic.

“Sir, then may I tell you what I want?”

“Hmm? What do you want?”

“I want to learn the final skill needed to advance into the Warrior class. It's called Strength Enhancement. I would like you to use your influence so that I can learn it through the Adventurers’ Guild.”

During this journey, Gerik had keenly realized the advantages of enhanced attributes.

The extraordinary effects of Intelligence +2 and Perception +2 went without saying. Even Strength +1 and Health +1, only half that amount, had been an enormous help on the previous journey.

That was why Gerik wanted to raise his Strength once more through a skill and firmly strengthen that foundation. Ilvern nodded after hearing him out.

“A good skill choice.”

Ilvern praised Gerik's judgment.

Gerik was skilled at striking and withdrawing through Charge, bold by nature, and above all, preferred fighting alone. Strength Enhancement was an excellent fit for him.

“Very well. I will report this to the family and help you receive a skill reward.”

Ilvern readily promised to arrange things so Gerik could obtain the relevant Skillbook through the Adventurers’ Guild. Gerik beamed and expressed his gratitude.

Now that Ilvern had confirmed the skill reward, Gerik would have all three skills needed to advance into the Warrior class. He asked about the advancement process.

“...I understand that gathering three skills lets me advance into the Warrior class. But how does advancement actually work? Does it happen automatically once I have them?”

“Only half of that is right.”

Ilvern corrected Gerik's misunderstanding and began explaining. Obtaining the three combination skills necessary for a class was only the beginning.

“To be precise, after acquiring the three skills, you must train them to a high level. As you use them, you will eventually get a sense of it. Something indescribable... something transcendent.”

After finishing his explanation, Ilvern added with a slightly regretful expression,

“Still, it's a shame that someone as promising as you must obtain an ordinary first-tier class like Warrior rather than a special class.”

Gerik nodded absentmindedly, then the phrase “first-tier” suddenly jolted him awake.

‘If there is a first tier, does that mean there is a second tier too?’

He already knew from their previous conversations that special classes existed, superior to ordinary classes like Warrior that could be obtained through the Adventurers’ Guild.

But this was the first time he had heard that higher classes, including a second tier, existed above them. Gerik's eyes brightened.

“Are there separate higher classes as well?”

Ilvern gave a small laugh. Gerik's uneven level of knowledge no longer seemed to surprise him much.

“There are.”

Ilvern explained that after obtaining a first-tier class, one could accumulate extensive experience and cultivate the power of the soul. Based on the additional advanced skills gained through that, a second advancement became possible.

At those words, Gerik suddenly remembered something he had forgotten. An unemployed person could learn only three skills.

‘Wait. I've already learned Telekinesis... Can I even learn Strength Enhancement?!’

Remembering a potentially fatal problem, Gerik's face drained of color.

“Sir, I understand that while unemployed, one can learn only up to three skills... is that correct?”

“Hmm? In principle, yes.”

Ilvern nodded, but seemed about to add a qualification. As Ilvern began as though there were an exception, Gerik hurriedly pressed Ilvern about it.

Ilvern was puzzled by Gerik's sudden reaction, but did not question Gerik further and continued the explanation.

“That limit of three applies when using Skillbooks. However, I've heard that one can learn additional skills through special secret arts.”

Ilvern added that such cases were rare in practice, since both secret-art skills and special skills were now usually passed down in the form of Skillbooks.

‘...Maybe the Telekinesis I gained this time falls under that special case.’

Gerik reassured himself and suppressed the anxiety creeping up inside him.

But if the skill limit prevented him from obtaining a class, it would be a serious problem. He could not stop his heart from pounding.

“But why three specifically? And why is there a limit on learning skills at all?”

“Who knows? Even I don't know the exact reason.”

Ilvern shrugged.

Ilvern offered their own thoughts. Perhaps the restrictions placed on Skillbooks strengthened their power accordingly. Or perhaps organizations such as temples, Mage Towers, and kingdoms that created Skillbooks had deliberately installed such limits to prevent the unchecked emergence of superhumans.

“Personally, I believe there is little more dangerous than an uncontrollable superhuman. Still, that's only my speculation. I don't know for certain.”

After finishing the explanation, Ilvern said that as promised, Ilvern would seek the Adventurers’ Guild's cooperation and help Gerik learn Strength Enhancement. Gerik repeatedly thanked him for his kindness.

Ilvern gave a small laugh.

“Still, it will take a few days. The atmosphere at the Guild has been rather unsettling lately.”

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