I could guess the reason.
'As expected... are [Skills] and 『Magic』 different things?'
I had felt something off when I manifested Ignition.
Even if there were differences in the acquisition process, Ignition was ultimately a skill.
If I had become able to manifest it, it meant that Ignition should have been created in my skill list.
However, my skill list remained sparse as ever.
《Skill》
Natural Enemy Relationship
Silver Mastery
Shooting Mastery
Simultaneous Shooting
Exorcism Ritual
It was the same when I manifested other magic.
That experience and this current experience.
From there, I reached one hypothesis.
[Skills] and 『Magic』 are completely different concepts.
When I placed those two on different lines and looked at them, it made sense.
'How much time and effort did it take just to manifest a single Ignition spell?'
I didn't know exactly, but...
I could tell that much—it didn't match the setting.
Why, the setting said that Grandfell could manifest magic immediately just by seeing it.
That chuunibyou-like setting of Grandfell, I mean.
I opened my mouth.
"Indeed, it was sufficiently warranted."
This time, it wasn't a defense mechanism.
[Skills] and 『Magic』 that were completely different.
But trying to understand skills as magic and comprehend them that way—naturally it would take that much suffering.
My head felt like it was going to split because I was trying to do something that couldn't be done!
'...But I succeeded in transforming a skill into magic and manifesting it, didn't I?'
In that sense, the setting of being the greatest genius in the Claude family's history seemed to have been properly applied.
I looked at the portal.
Indeed, it was different from when I had watched skills on NetTube.
I didn't even need pen and paper.
The process up to 『Detection』 and 『Interference』 was drawn in my mind.
『Portal』, a magic of such a high level that it couldn't be compared to Ignition.
I felt like I could really manifest that advanced magic.
Of course, manifesting it would require an enormous amount of mana.
I wouldn't even be able to attempt it right now.
However, just knowing that fact was enough.
I shifted my gaze and looked around at the view of the Magic Tower.
I would be visiting here often in the future, wouldn't I?
If it were up to me, I wanted to grab a passing mage NPC and ask them.
To show me magic.
Not anything too difficult, but basic magic step by step.
Of course, there was no way the high-nosed residents of the magic tower would grant my request.
Moreover, I knew that now wasn't the time for that.
─Hunt the vampires. (In Progress)
Announce that the hunt has begun. (In Progress)
"I have no need for such things as teachings."
...Additionally, this noble pride would never permit an action such as making a request.
Unless it were a command, perhaps.
Truly, what a tiresome personality.
I soon walked through the portal.
Clack─
With an utterly arrogant stride.
***
Whooosh─
...Damn it, it was cold as expected.
I should have packed hand warmers instead of just having the presence of mind to pack green tea bags!
It was cold enough to make me want to cross my arms and stomp my feet.
However, this body didn't even make requests.
There was no way I could perform such dignity-lowering actions.
I walked well enough on legs that felt like they would tremble at any moment.
My view changed, and what I saw was a dense forest.
Many people had already gathered there.
"Yes! I'm currently here in Russia, in front of a new rift."
Press reporters.
"Alright, I'll enter whichever rift you brothers want. Which number?"
NetTuber players.
"How's the situation? Is it okay? Oh, the video is streaming well."
Even guilds that had set up camps outside.
Indeed, it was a sight that showed at a glance the attention pouring into this Count Ascula rift.
First of all, I should say that most of them were competitors.
In any case, my quest objective was to hunt vampires.
Competition with flying guilds and players.
Honestly speaking, defeating Count Ascula before them would be impossible.
Not only in numbers, but the level difference was incomparably vast.
However, I was overflowing with confidence.
I hoped this confidence was confidence with grounds...
While hoping, I took steps toward the nearest rift.
"Hey, wait a minute."
"?"
"Hey! Let's observe some business ethics here."
The one who stopped me was some man.
A man with an impressive round face.
The man was holding a tripod with a camera connected to it.
A NetTuber, huh.
The man looked me up and down.
"There's no way I wouldn't remember a face like that... You're a newbie, right? The concept is fresh. What, some kind of 'salaryman in a rift' concept? Anyway. I'm going to review this rift, so look for another one. Shoo, shoo."
A newbie NetTuber with a salaryman concept.
Hard to argue with that, wasn't it?
My outfit certainly could look that way.
First of all, I didn't look like a player who came to conquer a rift to anyone's eyes.
But look properly.
Was I holding a camera like you?
Even though I wanted to answer him that way, I couldn't.
"Move aside."
"Wh-what?!"
"Right now, I have no patience left."
A voice colder than Russia's merciless wind.
It was the most gentle way I could express, within the limits of what I could express, my feelings of 'I'm too cold to endure.'
"Br-brothers, did you see that? These days, newbies really have no manners, I'm telling you?! Huh? You're saying I'm definitely in the wrong because you saw my face? No, big sis! Even you're saying that..."
Leaving the flustered man behind, I stood before the rift.
[Outskirts of the Territory]
[Appropriate Level: Lv.240~270]
[Collapse Progress: 9.7%]
My current level was 67.
I was short of the appropriate level by a whopping 200 levels.
Standing before such a rift, I had only one thought.
If I went inside the rift, I might be able to escape this cold...
Guild ranking 32nd, Berserker.
The guild master, Leonie Belucci, furrowed her white brow.
"Fuck, what the hell is this really?"
Currently, Leonie was level 348.
She was a ranker positioned within the top 100 of the player rankings.
Befitting that position, Leonie had countless experiences.
However, this rift was different from all the previous ones.
Truly, it was shitty.
Leonie swung her twin swords.
Swack─
She clearly cut its leg.
But that wolf with bright red pupils didn't flinch in the slightest.
"You damn mutt!"
Swiiish─
Sword strikes pouring endlessly from the twin swords!
Soon the wolf fell.
It was natural.
[Blood-Stained Wolf: Lv.230]
A whole 100-level difference.
A mere level 230 monster couldn't withstand her attack power.
Leonie checked the system message.
She had definitely defeated it, and definitely received experience points too.
But what was this unsettling feeling?
"...Guys. Is it just me?"
Leonie showed a serious expression.
However, even that serious face didn't match the current setting.
A cute face that could even pull off carelessly cut scarlet short hair.
A delicate frame.
Who could tell just by looking at this appearance?
That this was the master of the Berserker guild, a mad warrior?
"What now?"
"Sis is acting sharp again?"
"Really not scary at all."
So the guild members showed pleased smiles.
It was partly because her face was cute.
But also because, for all her pretense of being sharp, Leonie's intuition wasn't very good.
Of course, this warm atmosphere never lasted long.
"No, fuck. I'm telling you it's fucking unsettling?!"
Could there be anyone else in the world who could break the mood like this the moment they opened their mouth?
It was a shocking reversal even though they saw it every day.
The guild members sighed.
"...Right. This is our sis."
"But what's unsettling? What, because the raid is too easy?"
"My shitty intuition is triggered."
Leonie raised her fist with a thump─
"No, of course it's easy! Tsk! What level are we?"
"Sis. We can't control your language, but let's not have bad hand habits too."
"Shut up with the nagging. No, have you guys ever seen mobs like these?!"
Thud─
Leonie kicked the wolf sprawled on the ground.
"These guys don't show even a bit of pain until they die."
"Well, isn't it just because they're demons?"
"Fuck. Is this our first time catching demons? Haven't you heard imps screaming?"
...Wait, now that I heard it, that was really true.
Leonie and Berserker guild's elite 30.
They had entered the [Outskirts of the Territory] rift and continued hunting for about 3 hours.
In that process, they must have defeated dozens of [Blood-Stained Beasts] and [Blood-Stained Bandits]...
"...Have you guys heard them screaming or whimpering?"
Looking back, they really hadn't heard it.
When the guild members didn't respond, Leonie shrugged her shoulders.
"It's unsettling anyway. These bastards have something."
"So what is that something?"
"No, fuck. How would I know that?"
"Sis, now that you mention it, it is definitely strange... But wouldn't there be nothing special? Most importantly, the certain thing is, we killed them and definitely received experience points."
"That's true. But I have an intuition!"
There's a reason why the guild ranking is always around 30th.
Hovering around that range.
Our guild's master's dignity has hit rock bottom.
"Really, what do you all take me for..."
It was the moment when Leonie was about to throw a fit that wouldn't work anyway.
From a distant forest.
-Kyaa, kyaang!
Such a sound was heard.
"...!"
It was faint but sounded like a beast whimpering.
In that instant, gazes poured onto Leonie.
"...Hey, what's with those 'I knew it' looks?!"
How many players had entered the rift?
It could be the sound they're making...
-Ah, auuuuuu!
However, the pitiful howling that continued drove in the wedge.
Now it wasn't just looks but words that came out.
"I knew it."
"This is our sis alright."
"Damn. What's wrong where again?"
Why were they whimpering and howling?
Her feelings were half aggrieved, half curious.
Leonie led the guild members toward where the sound came from.
"It's better to join up anyway, right? In any case, we're in a position where we're raiding the rift together."
In fact, [Outskirts of the Territory] was a rift no different from a warm-up.
Even if demon race monsters appeared, the guilds participating in this raid could clear it without difficulty.
The real competition would begin after clearing all the outskirts rifts.
Starting from the [Count's Territory] rift.
"...Just what kind of bastards are they?"
To make those taciturn guys howl in fear?
Leonie listed several expected candidates.
'First, exclude Shining and Gaon. We avoided them.'
Rankings 1st and 5th.
What would we be but shrimp bursting in the whale's tail fight if we clashed with those two guilds?
With that thought, the Berserker guild had entered a rift far away from them.
Then there weren't many remaining candidates.
"From the looks of it, it's either Second Sun or Bohemian. One of the two."
But as mentioned.
Leonie's intuition wasn't very good.
"...?"
At the place they arrived following the crying sounds, there was no guild.
There was only a single man there.
But that man's appearance was as mismatched with the setting as Leonie's.
Not only dressed in a suit but even wearing dress shoes.
But most absurd of all.
Was the fact that such a man was holding a teacup in his hands.
Steam─
Rising up.
A teacup that looked warm just by looking at it.
But strangely enough.
The man's appearance didn't look unnatural at all.
Though he didn't match the setting.
A leisurely atmosphere flowed from that man.
That appearance was exactly like someone enjoying teatime.
Gulp─
"...What crazy bastard is that doing?"
At that scene, Leonie swallowed her dry saliva.
To such a Leonie, the man spoke.
"Unfortunately."
In an utterly resolute voice.
"I have no tea to offer you lot."
***
It was warm.
The chill was finally subsiding a bit.
Now that I knew the preciousness of teatime.
I had no choice but to treasure the green tea bag in my inner pocket.
So.
Gulp─
Even if you acted thirsty, I had nothing to give, was what I meant.
─Hunt the vampires. (In Progress) ▲
Announce that the hunt has begun. (Success)
Make them feel the terror of being hunted. (In Progress)
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