“Hey, Tsukasa.”
The day after the Raid ended, Keiichiro called out to Tsukasa.
“Hm? What is it, Onii-chan?”
Tsukasa turned around, looking puzzled.
—The two of them were in the training ground Akino had prepared.
As a fellow member of 【Omokage】, Tsukasa also used this place sometimes.
Although, in his case, it was more often used as a hangout spot, attracted by the expensive equipment here.
This place was prepared by Akino.
Naturally, it had amenities like TV and internet, but even the water in the refrigerator was different from what ordinary people would expect.
It was hard to imagine Tsukasa, a middle schooler, having connections to such luxury items, so perhaps it was inevitable that he would hang around here if he had the right to come and go freely.
In any case, it wasn’t unusual for Tsukasa to be here.
And that fact was convenient for Keiichiro today.
“Will you help me out with something?”
“Eh?”
A strange sound escaped Tsukasa’s lips.
His usual teasing demeanor was nowhere to be seen.
His eyes darted around unnaturally.
“Eh… ah… yes…”
And for some reason, Tsukasa looked down and nodded.
His hands tightly gripped the hem of his Gothic Lolita Dress.
His ears, peeking out from his night-colored hair—were red.
“Alright, let’s do it now then. Honestly, I’ve been eager to try it out.”
Keiichiro took Tsukasa’s hand and started walking.
He intended to act calm, but perhaps he was a little hasty.
“S-So soon…? A-And we’re doing it outside…?!”
Tsukasa followed Keiichiro, voicing his confusion.
Ahead of them was an expanse of lawn.
“U-Um… O-Onii-chan. I always talk like that, but actually, I don’t really have much experience with this kind of thinggg—”
☆
“Yeah. I figured.”
Tsukasa said.
The emotion dwelling in his eyes—was it exasperation?
His gaze was directed straight at Keiichiro.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothiiing?”
Tsukasa pouted his lips.
Did Keiichiro seem too much like he was frolicking around?
Indeed, Keiichiro acting like a child who had just received a toy might have been a bit problematic for someone older.
“So, what’s up?”
However, it seemed he didn’t intend to pursue the matter, as Tsukasa asked Keiichiro in his usual tone.
“You know, during that last Raid, my level surpassed 100.”
“Oooh. Triple digits finally!”
Tsukasa clapped, praising Keiichiro.
Level 100.
It wasn’t just a simple change from two digits to three.
Generally, this was the point where the future as an A-Rank Adventurer started to come into view.
If B-Rank was top-tier, the world from A-Rank onwards was a demonic realm.
Awakening to an advanced class.
Acquisition of new Skills.
It was the time when one began to step into a different dimension from other Adventurers.
“So, the reason you called me is—”
“Yeah. I learned new Skills. Two of them, actually.”
“Learning two Skills at the same time is rare, isn’t it?”
The type and timing of Skill acquisition depended entirely on the individual.
Even within the same class, the Skills learned differed, and they weren’t necessarily obtained at the same level.
In such a chance-driven process of Skill acquisition, getting two simultaneously was quite rare.
“So I want to try them out a bit.”
“Okay. Sure!”
Tsukasa’s eyes sparkled, perhaps also interested in the new Skills.
“Sooo. What kind of Skills are they?”
Tsukasa asked, looking extremely curious.
“Honestly, I have no idea how to use one of them, so can we leave it for later?”
“Of course!”
Saying that, Tsukasa—jumped backward.
Normally, an [Assassin] like him excelled at close combat.
Fighting at a certain distance was, rather, the domain of Keiichiro, the [Trapper].
Tsukasa probably knew that well.
But this time, the purpose was strictly to test Keiichiro’s Skill.
Therefore, he voluntarily chose the range Keiichiro excelled at.
“Alright then—get ready.”
Keiichiro raised his right hand.
Then, facing his palm towards Tsukasa—he chanted.
“—[Aerial Deployment]!”
“No way!? Could it be a Unique Skill!?”
Tsukasa’s expression was dyed in astonishment.
As a B-Rank Adventurer, Tsukasa should have known the names of most basic Skills.
A Skill name that even he had never heard of.
Thus, Tsukasa instantly understood that the Skill Keiichiro used was not widely known.
“[Trap Set].”
Near Keiichiro’s hand—an [Arrow] appeared in mid-air.
This was the ability of [Aerial Deployment].
A Skill that allowed one to—set Traps in mid-air.
Originally, Traps had to be set by affixing them to something, like the ground.
However, [Aerial Deployment] destroyed that principle.
It broke the shackles of Traps, pushing them into an even freer domain.
“Whoa…!”
Tsukasa jumped sideways.
A Knife shot through the spot where he had been moments before.
That was something Keiichiro had thrown using an [Arrow].
Since it wasn’t a multiple Trap, the throwing speed was normal.
Nevertheless, Tsukasa, reacting within a range of several meters, was undoubtedly top-tier.
“Hmm… Honestly, it feels like you haven’t quite mastered it yet, don’t you think?”
Tsukasa’s expression clouded over.
What he said was reasonable.
The way it was used just now was no different from what Keiichiro had done before.
There was no novelty, no necessity.
Indeed, with this, one couldn’t say he was handling it well.
“No problem. This is an experiment.”
But Keiichiro had no intention of stopping here either.
Having gone to the trouble of asking Tsukasa to be his opponent, Keiichiro had also thought about how to use the Skill beforehand.
“I’m going to get a little serious this time—so be careful.”
After giving that warning, Keiichiro reached for something at his side.
He reached for a waist pouch.
This was an item bag he had been using since his time in 【Holy Sword】.
Inside, while not as good as the Twilight Dual Swords he usually used, were weapons equivalent to B-Rank or A-Rank.
“[Trap Set].”
At Keiichiro’s command, multiple [Arrows] deployed above his head.
The [Arrows] fixed in mid-air were all—pointed towards Tsukasa.
“Eh, that—”
Tsukasa’s expression cramped.
He too must have realized the meaning behind Keiichiro’s actions.
“Launch!”
Keiichiro threw a large quantity of weapons up from his item bag.
Spears. Knives. Chakrams. Axes.
Those random items scattered into the air—and touched the [Arrows].
“Ah, wai— Kyaaah!?”
More than ten weapons bore down on him.
Tsukasa hurriedly left the spot.
Deadly weapons assaulted Tsukasa like buckshot.
Dodging all of them was an extremely difficult feat.
“Hey, this is a bit too intense!”
Black slashes flashed.
The Knives gripped in Tsukasa’s hands knocked down the approaching weapons.
He slipped his body into the gaps created in the barrage.
“That was certainly amazing just now…!”
Saying that, Tsukasa lowered his stance.
And then—he kicked off the ground.
“But…! Toryaa!”
The ground gouged, and turf flew.
What Tsukasa chose was—to close the distance.
He intended to use the [Assassin]’s speed to force the fight into the close range that [Trappers] struggled with.
But—it was too late.
“[Trap—Set].”
Keiichiro already—dominated the range.
“!?”
Tsukasa’s eyes widened in shock.
The reason was simple.
An [Arrow] had—suddenly appeared right in front of Tsukasa.
“Agh…!”
Having charged right into an [Arrow] pointing downwards, Tsukasa was slammed into the ground.
Just like that, he—didn’t move.
Tsukasa didn’t get up, his limbs sprawled on the ground.
“Onii-chan, you’re strong…”
Tsukasa muttered, still face down on the ground.
“This Skill has more applications than I imagined.”
Keiichiro gazed at his own palm.
Being able to set Traps in mid-air.
That meant being able to create a Trap right in front of an enemy.
One could set a guaranteed-hit Trap against an opponent who had built up speed and could no longer cancel their movement.
Even without that, just deploying Traps in the surroundings would likely make many enemies hesitate to approach.
In terms of dominating the battlefield, [Aerial Deployment] possessed unparalleled strength.
“Unique Skills really are strong, huh? I was so surprised.”
Tsukasa, perhaps tired, rolled over on the spot.
“Hey, hey. What’s the other one like?”
Keiichiro had obtained two Skills.
One of them was the [Aerial Deployment] from earlier.
“Ah… for this one, it might be better once everyone is gathered.”
Keiichiro averted his gaze from Tsukasa.
The second Skill.
Actually, this one could be called the main topic.
At the very least, it was a Skill he might not be able to handle alone.
“Eh? Is it pretty dangerous? Like, will it cause a huge explosion or something?”
Tsukasa made a displeased face, perhaps sensing Keiichiro’s apprehension.
It seems Tsukasa thought it was a Skill that might even involve allies.
—Keiichiro was also worried about that possibility, though.
In any case, the current situation was that he didn’t even know if it was dangerous.
“No… Just from the Skill name, I can’t predict what will happen at all.”
“If you can’t tell from the Skill name, that means—”
“Yeah. The other one is also a Unique Skill.”
That’s right.
The two Skills Keiichiro had acquired.
The other Skill was also a Unique Skill.
Even looking it up, the Skill’s details were unknown.
Therefore, he couldn’t even be sure if it was dangerous or not.
“Onii-chan. Aren’t you awakening too many Unique Skills?”
“I can’t deny that.”
Normally, Unique Skills are only granted to a limited number of Adventurers.
Even if granted one, it’s only ever a single one.
Moreover, it’s not uncommon for it to be something completely unrelated to the person’s aptitude.
(Could it be… that she’s the one behind this?)
Keiichiro recalled.
The accident involving the giant that appeared from the Origin Gate.
The mysterious girl he met there.
He remembered the strange, unsettling girl.
It seemed she was also the catalyst for Trap [Arrow].
If that’s the case, is this also inevitable?
Three Unique Skills, something that shouldn’t normally be possible.
And the fact that all of them, to a greater or lesser extent, are ‘related to Traps’.
Were these things orchestrated by that girl?
“Well then, just tell me the name. It might be helpful.”
“Hm? Oh, right—”
Tsukasa’s words interrupted Keiichiro’s thoughts.
He had already contacted the other members.
However, making them wait without telling them anything would probably be boring.
Besides, he might notice something from another person’s perspective.
“The other Skill is—”
(If it was inevitable that I would awaken this Skill—)
“—Trap [Dungeon].”
(What does she want from me…?)
The Unique Skill Keiichiro had awakened.
The word [Dungeon] resided within it.
Conditions for Awakening to an Advanced Class.
1. Level 100 or higher.
2. Clear the conditions specific to each class (details unknown).
However, even among Adventurers level 100 or higher, less than 5% awaken to an Advanced Class.
Incidentally, all three members of 【Holy Sword】 have Advanced Classes.