Skill Check

“What should we do now?”

After burying Futoshi, we gathered round to discuss our next move.

It must have been past noon.

The temperature had risen, and the blood-red sun was glaring down on us even more harshly.

Insects buzzed and hummed around the riverbed, sounding unlike anything I’d ever heard of.

Their buzzing reminded me of cicadas, except louder and more grating. I felt ill listening to them.

“Even if we catch up to the others, they’re just gonna attack us again, right? Let Tsukasa and his team recapture the castle. We can go at our own pace.”

Although Saburo hadn’t been motivated from the start, he had a point.

At this rate, we might very well end up having to bury another comrade.

“Can we still go home even if we arrive at the castle later?”

“Sure. I really don’t care what you do, so long as you take back the castle.”

Shizuka and Chika breathed a sigh of relief at Charlotte’s words.

I guessed they didn’t want to fight anymore.

“However, I’m quite certain that we’ll run into some monsters at least once on the way. Do you think the five of us can make it?”

She’s right. I highly doubted we’d be able to get there without engaging in battle.

“Can you guys show me your phones?”

Saburo’s skill was the only one we’d seen so far.

Depending on what Shizuka and Chika’s skills were, we might be able to come up with some sort of plan.

“Huh? But...”

“Come on, Chika. It’s the least we can do.”

Chika seemed reluctant at first, but Shizuka managed to convince her.

Apparently, these two knew each other’s skills.

The four of us formed a circle and shared our screens with each other.

Student number 9 (male), Saburo Tanaka.

Skill: Sloth.

Makes time pass slowly for both target and skill user.

Student number 4 (female), Chika Kawai.

Skill: Injury swap.

Transfers damage inflicted on your body to target.

Student number 14 (female), Shizuka Nanami.

Skill: Bazooka.

Transforms anger and resentment into ammunition. 

Student number 2 (male), Ryo Izumi.

Skill: None.

Countdown: 38 remaining.

I was shocked to see Shizuka and Chika’s skills.

Depending on how you used them, they could be incredibly powerful.

Apparently, Tsukasa hadn’t been ranking us by the potency of our skills alone, but also by whether we were able to wield those skills to their full potential.

I guessed neither Shizuka nor Chika had used their skills during the goblin attack.

“What about you, Charlotte?”

“I don’t have any skills since I’m not a Savior.”

This meant that Charlotte was pretty much the fifth wheel of our group. I could say the same about myself, though, since I didn’t have a skill either.

However, if we used Shizuka, Chika, and Saburo’s skills effectively, we might have a slim chance at survival.

“What’s that countdown for, Ryo?”

“I don’t know. It only appeared later on. Charlotte, do you know anything about it?”

I was just as clueless as Shizuka. Charlotte took a peek at my screen.

“I’m not sure. Looks like it got updated on its own. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Charlotte smiled as if she were genuinely enjoying herself.

“I wonder what will happen when the number reaches zero? I’m very curious.”

Charlotte looked at me like a scientist observing a lab rat, her face devoid of all emotion.

A chill ran down my spine, and I quickly turned away to escape her gaze.