WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Alyo
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Surviving as a Warrior in a TRPG World ◈
Chapter 72: The Return (6)
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“I have come on the Count Ashburn family’s orders. There is something to be bestowed upon an adventurer who has rendered distinguished service.”
After hearing Ilvern’s explanation, the knight carefully read the document Ilvern presented.
Once the knight confirmed Ilvern’s affiliation with the Ashburn family and the pass authorization granted by the person in charge here, he politely admitted the two inside.
Following Ilvern into the guild, Gerik was met with an unfamiliar sight. Adventurers’ Guild employees, knights, and priests who seemed to have been dispatched from another branch were interrogating the staff here.
‘Uh... that receptionist is...’
Among them was a receptionist Gerik recognized. With a troubled expression, she answered the knights’ and priests’ questions one by one.
The knights spread documents before the staff and pressed them about whether they remembered this or that. Beside them, a priest continuously recited an unfamiliar prayer.
‘What are they doing?’
As Gerik stared blankly at the scene without understanding, Ilvern noticed his reaction and quietly explained.
“They are using divine spells to discern lies.”
“Ah...”
As Gerik nodded in understanding, an employee from another branch began leading them away. The employee took them to a reception room, seated them, and served tea.
“Weren’t we supposed to go up to the second floor?”
“My boy, with the guild in this state, do you think they would let us into the upper floors?”
Gerik immediately agreed with Ilvern. Even if he were one of the knights, he would not allow outsiders into a critical area at a time like this.
‘True...’
Not long afterward, the employee who had left returned carrying a Skillbook.
“I have brought the Skillbook you requested. It is Strength Enhancement. Please check it.”
Ilvern took the Skillbook, handed it to Gerik, and gestured with a nod.
Gerik took it with a face full of joy and opened his status window. As always, a skill acquisition window appeared before him.
『Skill Name: Strength Enhancement』
『Grade: Common』
『Effect: Greatly increases muscular strength.』
『Note: No secret technique can be performed with an exhausted body. The first weapon a knight must hone is his own body. Hagen, the Iron-Blooded Knight.』
After confirming the contents, Gerik immediately accepted the skill. Then, as before, he realized he was inhabiting someone within an illusory space.
『All right, don’t hold your breath~ Breathe in as you lower, breathe out as you rise! Ah, ah...! Keep your back straight! Don’t use momentum! I’ll help you just a little with the last rep, but use your own strength! That’s it! Ah, good! Good, but let’s do just one more!』
Unlike his previous experiences, which had always taken place in fantasy worlds, this one had a completely different atmosphere. Bright white fluorescent lights, mirrors covering the space, and every sort of exercise machine filling the walls.
Gerik realized, dumbfounded, that he had entered a gym he had often visited in his previous life.
Meanwhile, a muscular man in a sleeveless shirt stood close behind the body Gerik inhabited, shouting loudly.
『Great work! Remember that feeling just now! That’s the right kind of stimulation! Got it? And in this state...』
The man went on to explain how to target each muscle group and how to squeeze out one more repetition at the limit.
『One more rep! Don’t forget! That’s when muscles grow! Got it?』
It was a ridiculous experience, but everything he learned was perfectly engraved into his body.
As though he had trained steadily for ten years.
“Hah...!”
When Gerik awoke from the vision, he felt immense vitality flowing through his entire body.
‘What is this feeling...?’
He felt as though he had become a gym rat who had built his body for over ten years. Every muscle was filled with strength. He felt like he could easily handle weights that would once have made him strain and groan.
“I understand that you are happy, but restrain yourself.”
Ilvern’s low voice suddenly reached him. Only then did Gerik realize that he had forgotten everyone around him because of the vision and openly displayed his excitement.
“Ah, I apologize.”
Gerik smiled awkwardly at them and apologized. Then he cautiously broached the subject.
“Given the situation here... it seems difficult to visit often. Would it be possible to borrow a Manifestation Page?”
He had already learned the skill, but to hide his unusual ability, Gerik requested to borrow a Manifestation Page he did not even need.
The guild employee looked troubled at Gerik’s request.
“I am sorry, but that would be difficult. It is true that you have performed well recently, but... your rank is still insufficient for us to lend you a Manifestation Page.”
The employee added that if Gerik wished to use Skillbooks, his only option was to come here every day with Sir Ilvern, as he had today.
Then Ilvern, who had been quietly listening, spoke.
“Why? There is no need to make it so troublesome. You can simply lend it to me.”
Ilvern said that Gerik might not yet be qualified, as the guild employee had said, but surely his own status would be sufficient.
The guild employee seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding.
“If someone affiliated with the Ashburn family personally guarantees him... that changes things.”
At the employee’s answer, Ilvern readily said that he would guarantee Gerik. The employee had a subordinate bring the documents, and Ilvern signed them without hesitation.
Having finished the matter concerning the Skillbook, Gerik followed Ilvern to the estate where he was staying.
“I will remain here for the duration of the Skillbook loan. Come by every day and learn the skill.”
Without showing the slightest sign that he had already learned it, Gerik pretended not to know and gratefully accepted Ilvern’s consideration.
“Thank you, Sir Ilvern.”
After parting with Ilvern, Gerik left the estate and immediately opened his status window to check his stats.
‘Oh...?!’
[Name: Gerik]
[Class: Unemployed]
[Attributes]
Strength: 6 (An attribute that affects muscular strength, weight limit, and attack power)
Dexterity: 3 (An attribute that affects balance, reaction speed, movement speed, manual dexterity, and more)
Health: 4 (An attribute that affects endurance, disease resistance, and vitality)
Intelligence: 5 (An attribute that affects memory, logic, reasoning, language, and thinking)
Perception: 5 (An attribute that affects awareness of the surroundings, danger detection, and intuition)
Charisma: 3 (Influence over others in negotiation, persuasion, intimidation, and more)
[Skills]
Lv. 4 Slash (99/100)
Lv. 2 Charge (86/100)
Lv. 1 Telekinesis (44/100)
Lv. - Strength Enhancement (Passive)
[Achievements]
* One Who Crossed the Line of Death (Passive / Rare)
* Transcendent Procedure Success (Passive / Epic)
* Heir to the Wild Blessing (Passive / Legendary)
After examining his status window, Gerik confirmed that his Strength had risen by two points. It was double what it had been when he had first reincarnated into this world.
‘Still... the strength flowing through my body is on a completely different level from when I first arrived.’
Gerik newly realized the power of Strength Enhancement. His Strength had only risen by two points, yet his body, once at an ordinary person’s level, had transformed into that of a veteran athlete forged through years of training.
Judging from the sensation, he guessed that an Attribute score of around six might be equivalent to an amateur athlete’s level.
‘However... unlike active skills such as Slash, Charge, and Telekinesis, it seems that passive Strength Enhancement cannot be leveled up...’
He was happy, but discovering that Strength Enhancement was not a skill that could grow left Gerik just a little disappointed.
Still, for a low-tier skill, the increase in Attributes was enormous, so Gerik decided to be satisfied.
‘Now that my Strength has increased... should I get some armor fitted?’
After checking his Attributes, Gerik headed to Grimdal’s forge with much lighter steps.
“Welcome, brat!”
Grimdal warmly greeted Gerik, whom Grimdal had not seen in several days. Grimdal had an assistant bring over the neatly repaired Grizzly Owl leather armor and leggings, then handed them to Gerik.
‘You could tell me they were new, and I’d believe it.’
Gerik was impressed by the equipment, which had been restored without a single flaw.
Meanwhile, Grimdal presented two shortswords of different lengths and a pouch made from Grizzly Owl hide.
“...What are these?”
“Open it, and you will see.”
At Grimdal’s words, Gerik unrolled the bundle. Before his eyes appeared all kinds of crafting tools forged from Grizzly Owl talons.
“Oh...?!”
Gerik was extremely interested in the equipment before him. He picked out one item and asked Grimdal exactly what it was used for.
“It is multipurpose equipment that combines camping gear with tanning tools. It is perfect for someone like you, who will camp often.”
Grimdal told Gerik to stop by when he had time and learn a little tanning. The more Grimdal thought about the Grizzly Owl hide Gerik had been unable to bring back last time, the more it felt like a waste.
“I’d love that!”
Grateful for Grimdal’s kindness, Gerik chatted with him lightly for a while longer. Then, lowering his voice, he suddenly asked Grimdal to keep a secret.
“What is it?”
“To be honest, I obtained the Strength Enhancement skill today.”
“Already?!”
Grimdal’s eyes widened. Gerik told the astonished Grimdal that, with the Ashburn family’s assistance, he had been able to learn it more quickly than others through a secret teaching.
Since there was no way Grimdal could verify it with the Ashburn family directly, Gerik made up the story without hesitation.
“Huh. Well, with the power of such a great house, I suppose it is possible.”
Fortunately, Grimdal readily accepted Gerik’s excuse. Then, looking pleased, Grimdal suggested checking once more exactly how much weight Gerik could handle.
“How is it?”
“...It feels light.”
The full plate mail had required Gerik to squeeze out every bit of his strength just to keep himself upright when he wore it last time. But now that he had gained Strength Enhancement, things were different.
Even while wearing that heavy equipment, Gerik could move his body easily, as if he had never struggled with it at all.
“Ho...”
Watching Gerik move without difficulty while wearing the heaviest armor in the forge, Grimdal’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“At this level... you should have no trouble moving in any equipment. In that case, how about making plate mail based on the Red Iron we used last time?”
“...Would that be the best choice?”
“I think so. To be honest... full plate mail is something meant for large-scale battlefields. For an adventurer who must run on their own two feet, it could instead become a burden. Plate mail would be just right.”
After hearing Grimdal’s explanation, Gerik readily nodded.
Having used the longsword forged from Red Iron last time, Gerik already knew its strength and lightness well. He gladly agreed with the proposal.
“Good! I will make both the sword and the plate mail entirely from Red Iron! Look forward to it!”
However, because plate mail left the arms exposed, Grimdal said vambraces would also be made to protect them using the hide left over from repairing the Grizzly Owl brigandine last time.
“Sounds good! Should I pay five gold coins as a deposit, like last time?”
“Do that. We have plenty of Red Iron in stock, so I will have it ready for you in fifteen days.”
Gerik agreed without another word. After paying five gold coins as a deposit and saying he would return in fifteen days, he left the forge.
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