Chapter 7: Skill: Holy Maiden
Hugh Pnosis
Skill: Firekinesis Lv.Max … Manifest fire on any target
The word “Brainwashing” had vanished from the skill section of my status panel.
“What the hell? Did I really manage to trick the display…!?”
No matter how many times I rubbed my eyes and looked again, the skill displayed was Firekinesis. There wasn’t a trace of Brainwashing.
However, above my reflection in the mirror, “Under Brainwashing” was still displayed.
Now that I think about it, I don’t feel that hazy sensation like when I brainwashed Cervus… I clearly remember that my original skill was Brainwashing. Is there a difference between brainwashing others and brainwashing myself…?
“…解除〈洗脳〉” (解除: Release)
I tried to release the brainwashing and check my status again, and the skill had reverted back to Brainwashing. I used Brainwashing once more to switch the skill to Firekinesis.
The status panel now showed Firekinesis, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of uncertainty. There was a possibility that this was just an illusion visible only to me… If I checked with a magical tool and it still showed Brainwashing, that would be a disaster.
Still, there had to be a way to confirm this…
I couldn’t keep worrying in the restroom forever. If I took too long, Lily would start to get suspicious. At this point, I had to take a gamble and see what happened.
Resolutely, I stepped out of the restroom, only to find the school building in an uproar.
“Hey, did you hear that?”
“Skill: Holy Maiden? That’s just a fairy tale, right!?”
“That filthy commoner…!”
“It must be some kind of mistake…!”
Various voices filled the air, swirling with emotions like surprise, envy, and jealousy.
At the center of the commotion was a girl with light blue hair. Lecty seemed bewildered by the surrounding reactions, her gaze darting around in confusion.
It didn’t look like she was being harassed by Idiot again.
Still trying to grasp the situation, I made my way over to Lily, who was deep in thought nearby, her arms crossed and a fist pressed to her lips.
“What happened?”
“Oh, is your stomach feeling better now, you country bumpkin noble with a bad case of diarrhea?”
“It wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience, but I’m just going with the flow now.”
“Could you stop with the worst kind of acceptance? You didn’t, by any chance, wet yourself, did you?”
“I’ll leave that to your imagination.”
“…………”
Lily took a step back from me in silence. Apparently, in her imagination, I had a little accident.
“So, did something happen to Lecty? It seems to be quite the uproar.”
“Her skill was a bit… no, it was extremely special.”
“Special?”
“Skills granted by the gods can be classified into several categories. For example, Thunderbolt. It’s a skill that allows you to unleash lightning to attack. Skills that manipulate natural phenomena like fire, water, and wind are collectively referred to as Nature Skills.”
“Is Firekinesis one of those Nature Skills?”
“Yes. Is Firekinesis your skill, by any chance?”
“Yeah, sort of. So, how do Hunter and Cook skills fit into this?”
“Those skills are classified as Job Skills. They’re quite rare. The chance of receiving a Job Skill is about one in three thousand.”
“Seriously?”
So, my parents’ skills are actually incredibly rare.
“The characteristic of Job Skills is that you gain more than one ability. For instance, if you receive the Knight skill, you also benefit from skills like Swordsmanship, Spear Arts, and Horsemanship.”
“That’s an incredibly powerful skill…”
Now that I think about it, my father’s Hunter skill allows him to track animal footprints and benefit from Archery as well. My mother’s Cook skill is a bit harder to understand.
“So, the cause of this uproar is that Lecty has been revealed to possess an incredibly powerful and rare Job Skill?”
“You’ve hit the nail on the head. —Skill: Holy Maiden. A legendary skill thought to be a mere creation of fairy tales. I felt there was something special about her, but I never imagined she held such incredible potential. Truly, a Diamond in the Rough.”
“Skill: Holy Maiden…”
Ignoring Lily’s expression of delight, I pondered.
When I think of a Holy Maiden, I picture Joan of Arc from my previous life, but what kind of status does that hold in this world?
The Pnosis Territory is so rural that there are hardly any books, and now I realize how lacking my common knowledge and education are.
“Um, excuse me. Lily-chan, Hugh-san, did I do something wrong again…?”
Lecty approached us with a worried expression, seemingly thinking she had caused some trouble based on the surrounding reactions.
“No, it’s not your fault, Lecty.”
If anything, you could say it was just bad luck, but it was something beyond her control. There was no reason for her to feel guilty about it.
“Lecty, you have been granted a wonderful skill by the gods. It’s something that has surprised and made many here envious.”
“Is that so…?”
“You don’t need to worry. Hold your head high with pride. That skill granted to you by the gods is uniquely yours.”
“Y-yes!”
Encouraged by Lily, Lecty seemed to regain her composure.
Afterward, the commotion was quelled by the examiners, and Lecty was escorted to a separate room by Lily and the examiners. I was asked if I wanted to accompany them, but since I hadn’t confirmed my skill yet, I had to remain here.
“See you later.”
“Hugh-san, see you later!”
“Yeah, see you.”
I bid farewell to Lily and Lecty as they left. There’s a chance I might never see them again. It was a short acquaintance, but thinking about it made me feel a bit lonely.
…Now then.
“Next person, please come this way.”
Prompted by the examiner, I entered a small room partitioned by curtains. Inside was a large crystal about 30 cm in diameter. So, this is the magical tool used to check skills…?
“Please tell me your name and skill.”
“Hugh Pnosis. My skill is Firekinesis.”
“Then, please place your right hand on this crystal.”
Touching this crystal would reveal my skill. I fought to suppress the trembling of my hand from nerves and reached out to the crystal.
Here goes nothing!
The moment my right hand touched it, the crystal glowed faintly, and letters began to float inside.
Hugh Pnosis
Skill: Firekinesis
“Yes, confirmed. Please follow the instructions of the staff and proceed to the practical exam.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed to the examiner and stepped out of the private room.
Following the guidance, I headed toward the exam venue, letting out a sigh of relief.
Somehow, I managed to pass the first hurdle…