[Main Quest completed!]
[Rewards received: 20 points, 5,000 gold]
[Special Skill Unlocked!]
[You have acquired the skill: 'Character Analysis']
Character Analysis? Is that my new skill? It sounds pretty weak.
[Do you want to view the skill description?]
[Yes/No]
"Yes."
[Skill description opened]
The system screen instantly changed, displaying details about the skill I had just acquired. The description was long enough to make the screen scroll downwards.
+
[Skill: Character Analysis]
Class: Special Skill
Rank: B → Can be upgraded as the user progresses
Skill Effects: View Statistics, View Attributes and Skills, Read Status Effects, View Hidden Traits
Note: This skill only works on characters.
+
I was quite surprised. This would make it much easier for me to find out information about someone. Plus, I could see their stats and skills.
I could even check the stats of my beloved Kael.
"Shall we give it a try?"
I stepped out of the tent and looked around.
"Are you done talking?"
Eve's voice, appearing suddenly, startled me. I turned around to see her standing there with her arms crossed and an annoyed look on her face.
[Skill 'Character Analysis' activated!]
+
[NAME] Evelynn Lawyen
[AGE] 21
[LEVEL] 25 - Class: Assassin / Mage
[STATS]
Strength: 41
Agility: 88
Vitality: 39
Sense: 65
Intelligence: 26
Magic: 69
Poison Resistance: 75%
[ATTRIBUTES]
• Poison Heart
• Shadow Step
• Poison Immunity
[SKILLS]
• Black Venom
• Serpent's Breath
• Nightshade Field
• Silent Step
• Poison Assimilation
• Serpent Scale Shield
• Viper Blood Awakening
+
I was surprised. Even the novel didn't go into detail about Eve's abilities. Well, the companion Kael chose certainly wasn't just anyone. Level 25, huh? I should compare her level to Kael's.
"Kim? What are you looking at?"
I snapped out of my thoughts and smiled at her. "It's nothing. Where's Lei?"
"He's in Tent 2. By the way, are you really just going to let things be? He's a killer, you know." Eve shot a sharp, annoyed glance at Kael, who was cleaning his sword with a cloth.
In their eyes, Kael was the killer who had slain their comrades. I knew this must feel incredibly unfair to them. What madman would want to be in the same party as the person who killed their friends?
"I'm sorry. But we need him to get to the western region."
"Do you know something about the situation in the western region?" Eve looked at me, full of questions.
I quickly looked away, feeling nervous. I had to be careful with my words so they wouldn't get suspicious. "A-about that... I'll explain it to Lei as well."
....
...
"Lei, we're back," Eve said as we entered Tent 2, where Lei was staying.
Lei was sitting on a chair, assembling a tower out of small wooden blocks. He remained silent when we arrived. I was certain he was ignoring us on purpose, almost certainly because I had let Kael tag along.
[Special Skill 'Character Analysis' activated!]
+
[NAME] Lei Grogan
[AGE] 24
[LEVEL] 26 - Berserker Class
[STATS]
Strength: 102
Agility: 54
Vitality: 110
Sense: 46
Intelligence: 31
Magic: 9
[ATTRIBUTES]
• Giant's Blood
• Rage Absorption
• Steel Muscles
[SKILLS]
• Earth-Shaking Fist
• Berserk Mode
• Titan's Grip
• Steel Body
+
He truly possessed extraordinary defense and strength. In an RPG, he would likely fall into the 'Fighter' category. His Strength stat alone was over 100, just how powerful would his punch be if he used the 'Earth-Shaking Fist' skill? Could it actually shatter the earth?
He certainly had the massive physique to back it up.
"Lei, stop playing," Eve said, pulling up a chair across from him and sitting down.
"Are you talking to me?" Lei retorted sharply, not even glancing our way.
"Kim wants to explain something."
"Explain what? About how he let that ruthless killer tag along? In a few hours, we might be nothing but severed heads."
Well, it was understandable for him to be annoyed. Still, his dismissive attitude was infuriating. I felt a strong urge to punch him right in the head. I had to struggle just to keep my expression neutral.
"It's about the second disaster in the western region." I tried to get his attention.
"So?"
Should I just punch him right now?
"If it's Kael you're worried about, I can guarantee he won't kill you."
Lei stopped what he was doing, leaned back in his chair, and looked at me lazily. "Oh, really? Any proof?"
I pointed to the slender, gold-plated necklace around my neck. "You know what symbol this is, right?"
Kael furrowed his brows, while Eve moved closer to get a better look at the necklace. Once she recognized it, her eyes went wide with shock.
"Don't tell me...!" Eve covered her mouth in disbelief.
"You... made a contract based on a temple deity's oath?" Lei's gaze sharpened. I could see he was just as shocked as I was.
"Relax, I didn't just make any random contract—"
"Idiot." Lei cut me off immediately.
Ugh... I could feel my jaw clenching and the veins in my face bulging. Holding back my temper was incredibly difficult!
"So, do you have another solution? If I let you two fight, you're going to die."
Lei straightened up, glaring at me in annoyance. "Are you saying I'm weak?"
"I never said that. But Kael is far stronger than you."
"Don't underestimate me...!" Lei unleashed an aura so powerful it made nearby objects tremble.
[Special Skill 'Reader's Protection' activated!]
Naturally, I felt no pressure at all thanks to this skill. Lei looked even more annoyed when he saw me remaining completely unfazed by his aura.
"Lei, stop." Eve held out her hand, signaling him to halt. "Kim, I'm curious about something. Please answer honestly."
Lei sighed in frustration and dispelled his aura. Then, Eve asked, "Why are you keeping that man, Kael, around? You said we needed him to get to the Western Region, right? Do you know something about the Western region?"
I knew she would ask this.
"You saw how strong Kael is, didn't you? If we make an enemy of him, we're dead. One of the terms of my contract forbids him from killing anyone without my permission. So, you'll be safe as long as the contract is in effect."
Eve's eyes widened in shock, while Lei turned his face away in annoyance.
"Then how do you know about the disaster that's going to strike the Western region?"
"That's thanks to one of my abilities."
"Your ability? Do you have a power related to the future?" Eve looked surprised.
"Well... something like that, but not quite. One thing's for sure, I'm no fortune teller."
"How did you know about my poison magic?"
"That's one of my abilities, too."
"And how did you manage to withstand Lei's aura?"
"That's also one of my abilities."
.....
A sudden silence fell over the three of us. They were clearly looking at me with disbelief. Was it because my answers weren't convincing enough? I had tried to answer as efficiently as possible.
"I told you, she's a spy..." Lei said, clenching his fists. He was gathering aura in his hands, likely preparing to punch me.
"Why are you so suspicious...?" I retorted in annoyance.
"Step aside, Eve. Let me handle her." Lei stepped toward me, loosening up his wrists.
"Lei! Stop causing a scene...!" Eve ordered, clearly growing weary of the situation.
"Hey! I saved your life, you know! You should be grateful I stopped Kael!" I started backing away slowly.
Lei was actually going to hit me this time. I wasn't kidding.
"I didn't need that."
"What did you say?! You ungrateful human!"
"Shut up." The energy concentrated in his right hand swelled as he swung at me. But the punch never landed; a barrier stopped it in its tracks.
"Lei!" Eve shouted angrily. The barrier protecting me was one of Eve's skills.
"I said stop! Can't you see things are getting knocked over?! What if Liam sees this?"
"I just wanted to punch her once!" Lei pointed at me.
"Have you lost your mind?! I'm a woman!" I retorted irritably.
"Here, all genders are equal," Lei replied, fixing me with an icy stare.
This guy is seriously out of his mind...!
"What's going on here?"
Lei and Eve froze instantly upon hearing the voice of a man who had suddenly appeared and was standing beside me.
"C-Captain...?" Lei's eyes wavered nervously.
"Quite a mess, isn't it?" The man's expression was cold as he glanced around at the items scattered across the floor.
Could he be... Liam, the leader of the Ziert organization?