Side Story 2: Ghost Phenomenon

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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“Ghost phenomenon?”

The unfamiliar term made me repeat it without thinking.

Of course, I knew what a ghost was, but I couldn't quite grasp what was meant by a “phenomenon.”

It didn't seem to mean something as simple as ghosts appearing.

“Yeah. To help you understand… I'll need to start by explaining what a ‘skill' actually is.”

“Skills? I know a little about them, but…”

Skills are broadly divided into two types.

“Divinely Bestowed” and “Acquired.”

Divinely Bestowed skills are granted by the gods during the coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen.

Acquired skills, like a priest's “Oracle” skill, are obtained through one's everyday actions and conduct.

And then there is a higher tier above both, known as “Awakened.”

That much is common knowledge in this world.

“But actually… most of the skills you think of as ‘Divinely Bestowed' are really ‘Acquired.'”

“What?”

Shiro's words abruptly overturned common sense.

“For example, in your party, ‘Dragon Fang Bite,' the only ones who currently possess skills that can truly be called Divinely Bestowed are Lena and Nick.”

“Th-then what about my ‘Sword Saint'?”

“That's the result of the effort you put in before turning fifteen. The coming-of-age ceremony merely revealed it, nothing more.”

“Then what about Nonoa's ‘Accounting'?”

“That comes from her innate intelligence and talent. In that sense, you could call it ‘divinely given,' but it's not something she was granted at the ceremony.”

“Innate talent?”

“Exactly. In other words, the coming-of-age ceremony itself mainly serves as an indicator—based on your past actions and natural aptitude—of what field you're suited for, like saying, ‘You might do well on this path.'”

If that's the case…

Then if Shiro's explanation is correct, Phalan's “Mighty Spear” must be the same kind of thing.

As I was thinking that, I was suddenly struck by a powerful sense of unease again.

I had never been introduced to him.

And yet, without realizing it, I was naturally recognizing the man in front of me as “Shiro.”

“That's it, Erius.”

“That's… what?”

“Right now, you're recognizing me as ‘Shiro,' aren't you?”

His words felt like he could see straight through my thoughts.

Startled, I asked him,

“…Who are you, really?”

“For now, let's say I'm a specialist. In matters like this. Anyway, back to the topic… there's a major difference between Lena's ‘Saint,' Nick's ‘Wyvern Eye,' and the three of you with Acquired-type skills.”

“A difference?”

“Whether or not you can perceive, discern, and operate what's known as the ‘Law System.'”

…Law System?

A completely incomprehensible term.

“…I don't get it at all.”

“Yeah, it's hard to understand… Let's see. For example, Lena's healing magic. Normally, humans don't have the ability to generate light and heal wounds.”

“Well, yeah. It's not something just anyone can do.”

Indeed, magic is considered a skill that depends heavily on innate talent.

On rare occasions, even if someone isn't granted a magic-related skill at the coming-of-age ceremony, they may awaken to magic later on…

Even when I dropped formal speech out of surprise and suspicion, Shiro didn't seem to mind and continued.

“But Lena can do it. That's because, as a Saint, she has the aptitude to use the Law System.”

I couldn't quite grasp it, but…

In other words, Lena's “Saint” allows her to exceed normal human limits thanks to this Law System.

“Nick's ‘Wyvern Eye' is the same. Vision and kinetic perception far beyond what humans naturally possess—he makes that possible with the support of the Law System. And honestly, I know you're probably not fully following this so far.”

“Oi…”

“What I want you to understand for now is this… this world has a ‘Law System' that transcends human understanding. By using it, one can surpass human limits.”

“Well… I guess so. If a specialist says so.”

“And normally, only certain skills make use of these ‘laws,' but… skills that are too powerful can actually affect the laws themselves.”

“…Meaning?”

“Divinely Bestowed skills are an efficient way of using the laws. Think of it like having your own boat and riding the river current to move faster and more effectively than walking along the bank. But if the influence is too strong, it can change the river's flow itself.”

“So… powerful skills end up distorting this ‘Law System'?”

“Exactly.”

Nodding at my words, Shiro continued his explanation.

“Actually, the world you're in right now was newly created by a powerful skill.”

“…Huh?”

The conversation suddenly felt absurd.

But without waiting for my understanding, Shiro went on.

“There's a ‘wedge' driven into the laws of this world by that powerful skill. Using the river analogy, it's like damming the flow and causing distortions to surface.”

“A wedge?”

“Yeah. That wedge is showing you—and Nonoa, and to a lesser extent, Lena—fragments of a world that should have been lost. That's what I called the ‘Ghost Phenomenon.' I came here to remove it.”

Well… I don't really understand, but…

Basically, whatever strange things have been happening to me and Nonoa lately have some kind of causal connection.

And Shiro came to remove that cause… right?

“That's right.”

“What, can you read minds too…?”

“No. I can't read minds unless certain conditions are met. I simply guided the conversation so you'd arrive at that conclusion yourself.”

It doesn't feel all that different, but apparently it is.

“Yeah, it's different.”

“Stop that already…”

“Alright, I'll stop. It does make things go faster, but you'd get angry if I kept doing it.”

So everything's in the palm of his hand, huh.

…He's a hard person to deal with.

Still, there's no reason to refuse an offer to fix whatever's wrong with us.

“Then hurry up and remove that ‘wedge.'”

“No, you'll be the ones to remove it.”

“Us?”

“Yeah. I want you to head to a place I'll designate next.”