[Main Quest Completed!]
[Reward Received: 20 Points, 5000 Gold]
[Special Skill Unlocked!]
[You have acquired the skill: "Character Insight"]
Character Insight? It sounds… weak?
[Would you like to open the skill description?]
[Yes / No]
"…Yes."
[Skill Description Unlocked]
The system screen scrolled down, lines of text appearing one after another.
+
[Skill: Character Insight]
Class: General (Passive–Active Hybrid)
Rank: B → can increase as the user grows
Skill Effects:
• View Statistics
• View Attributes & Skills
• Read Status Effects
• Reveal Hidden Traits
Note: This skill only functions on characters.
+
I blinked slowly. "…How is this weak? This is completely broken."
With this skill, I could see someone's entire information. Their stats, skills, even their hidden traits.
Including… Kael's stats, my beloved Kael.
"All right. Should I try it?" I stepped out of the tent and was immediately greeted by the cold evening wind.
"Are you finished?"
"AAACK—!!"
Eve was already standing behind me, arms crossed and clearly annoyed.
[Skill 'Character Insight' activated!]
+
[NAME] Evelynn Lawyen
[AGE] 21
[LEVEL] 25 — Assassin Class / Mage
[STATISTICS]
STR: 41
AGI: 88
VIT: 39
ARC: 72
WIL: 67
TOX: 75% Immunity
ATTRIBUTES:
• Venom Heart
• Shadowstep
• Toxic Immunity
SKILLS:
• Black Venom
• Serpent's Breath
• Nightshade Field
• Silent Step
• Poison Assimilation
• Serpent Hide Shield
• Viper Blood Awakening
+
My jaw dropped.
Even in the novel, Eve's abilities were never explained in this much detail. All I knew were Serpent Hide Shield, Silent Step, Viper Blood Awakening, and Poison Assimilation. I didn't expect her to have this many skills.
Level 25, huh? I should compare that with Kael's level later.
"Kim? What are you looking at?"
I snapped out of my thoughts and smiled at her. "Nothing. Where's Lei?"
"He's in tent 2. By the way, are you really going to let him away? He's a killer, you know." Eve shot a sharp glare toward Kael, who was calmly wiping his sword clean.
In their eyes, Kael was the killer who murdered their comrades. Of course they'd feel this was unfair. Who in their right mind would want to team up with someone who killed their own companions?
"I'm sorry. But for the western region, we need him."
"You know something about the conditions in the west?" Eve asked, puzzled.
I quickly looked away, nervous. I had to choose my words carefully so they wouldn't become suspicious.
"T-that… I'll explain it to Lei too."
_____________________
_________
"Lei, we're back," Eve said as we entered tent 2, where Lei was.
He was sitting on a chair, stacking small wooden blocks into a tower. He didn't even look at us when we came in. He was clearly ignoring us on purpose—definitely because I let Kael join.
[Skill 'Character Insight' activated!]
+
[NAME] Lei Grogan
[AGE] 24
[LEVEL] 26 — Berserker Class
[STATISTICS]
STR: 102
AGI: 54
VIT: 110
ARC: 18
WIL: 70
ATTRIBUTES:
• Giant's Blood
• Rage Absorption
• Steel Muscles
SKILLS:
• Earthshaker Fist
• Berserk Mode
• Titan Grapple
• Iron Body
+
"…Holy crap. His STR is three digits."
His defense and strength were insane. In an RPG, he'd definitely be a top-tier Fighter. If Earthshaker Fist ever landed on my head, my skull might turn into modern art on the ground.
Well, his build was huge.
"Lei, stop playing," Eve said, pulling up a chair and sitting down.
"You talking to me?" Lei replied coldly without looking at her.
"Kim wants to explain something."
"Explain what? That she let the killer lunatic stay? We'll probably be nothing but severed heads in a few hours."
Yeah… understandable he's upset, but the way he acts really pisses me off. I had to try really hard to keep my expression neutral.
A vein almost popped on my forehead.
"This is about the second Cataclysm in the western region," I said, trying to get his attention.
"And?"
Should I punch him now?
"If you're worried about Kael, then I can guarantee he won't kill you."
Lei finally stopped messing with the blocks, leaned back in his chair, and stared at me lazily. "Oh, yeah? Got proof?"
I pointed at the thin gold-layered necklace around my neck. "You recognize the symbol, right?"
Kael frowned slightly, while Eve moved closer to get a better look. When she finally recognized what it was, her eyes widened in shock.
"Don't tell me…?!" Eve covered her mouth in disbelief.
"You… made a contract under the Temple Gods' oath?" Lei's gaze sharpened, clearly stunned as well.
"Relax, I didn't make some random—"
"Idiot." Lei cut me off.
Uh… I could feel my jaw clench and the veins on my face starting to show. Holding back frustration was extremely difficult!
"So do you have a better solution? If I let you two fight, you'd die."
Lei straightened up, glaring at me. "Are you saying I'm weak?"
"I never said that. But Kael is far stronger than you."
"Don't underestimate me…!" Aura exploded from Lei, strong enough to make objects around us vibrate.
[Special Skill 'Reader's Protection' activated!]
Of course, thanks to the skill, I felt nothing at all. Lei's expression twisted in irritation seeing that I wasn't affected.
"Lei, enough." Eve raised a hand, gesturing for him to stop.
Lei sighed in annoyance, his aura dissipating. Then Eve asked again, "Kim, I'm curious about something. Please answer honestly."
Lei grumbled and looked away.
"Why did you let someone like Kael stay? You said we need him to reach the western region. Do you know something about the west?"
I knew she'd ask this.
"You've seen how strong Kael is. If he becomes our enemy, we'll die. One of the contract clauses forbids him from killing anyone without my permission. So you'll be safe as long as the contract remains."
Eve's eyes widened, while Lei scoffed and looked away.
"Then how do you know about the Cataclysm in the west?"
"That's thanks to one of my abilities."
"Your ability? Do you have a power related to the future?" Eve asked, startled.
"Well… something like that. But not really. I'm definitely not a fortune-teller."
"And how did you know about my poison magic?"
"That's also one of my abilities."
"And how did you withstand Lei's aura?"
"That's also one of my abilities."
…..
Silence fell over the three of us. Their faces clearly showed disbelief. Was it because my answers sounded unconvincing? I was trying to explain as efficiently as possible!
"I told you she's a spy…" Lei muttered, cracking his knuckles and gathering aura into both fists.
"Why are you so suspicious?!" I snapped back.
"Move, Eve. I'll deal with her," Lei growled, stepping closer while loosening his wrists.
"Lei! Stop causing trouble…!" Eve shouted, clearly tired of us both.
"Hey! I saved your life, you know! You should be thanking me for stopping Kael!" I started backing away.
Lei really was going to punch me this time. Seriously.
"I don't need that."
"What did you say?! You ungrateful human!"
"Shut up."
The energy in his right hand grew even larger as he swung his fist toward me. But it never reached—an invisible barrier blocked it.
"Lei!" Eve yelled angrily. The barrier protecting me, of course, came from Eve's magic.
"I told you to stop! Look at the mess you've made! What if Liam sees this?!"
"I just want to punch her once!" Lei pointed at me.
"Are you insane?! I'm a woman!" I snapped back.
"In here, all genders are equal," Lei replied coldly.
This bastard… he's completely insane!
"What's going on here?"
Lei and Eve froze instantly at the voice of a man who suddenly appeared beside me.
"C-captain…?" Lei's eyes trembled.
"It's quite a mess, isn't it?"
The man's expression was icy as he scanned the fallen objects on the floor.
Is he… Liam? The leader of the Ziert party?