Overlimit Skill Holder (Web Novel JP)

Vol 6: Chapter 10 (2)

The World Conference is over.

The participating countries have signed a “Treaty to maintain a joint front in relation to the World Union”. They started returning to their own countries to strengthen their national defences. A number of magic airships fly through the dusk sky like dragonflies dancing in autumn.

Many ships also started setting sail across the large lake.

There were countries who assented and those who didn’t, but we have accomplished what we could.

Pledgers of the races were also leaving. We will all meet again here in two months’ time. Until that time comes, I was requested to strengthen countries with strong ties to the Church with【Earth Magic】. That’s all I can do right now.

「Hey, I didn’t have time to talk with you privately, after all.」

A figure approached me as I was observing the take off of magic airships from a distance.

It was Representative Holiday, accompanied by about 20 people.

I hurriedly bowed towards him.

「There is no need for that. You don’t have to be so humble. ーI want to talk with him for a little while, so go ahead first.」Holiday said.

The escorts started walking to their magic airship, leaving only a minimum of three escorts.

「Umm… What do you wish to talk about?」I asked.

「I truly wish for you to come to our country.」he said.

His tone changed to a polite demeanour, just as when we first met.

However, there are times when you don’t know what people are truly thinking inside their heads. So I decided to practice caution.

「I will act alongside the Church.」

「Is that so? There are very few users of【Earth Magic】in our country, so it would be helpful if you could come.」

Shrewd and decisive. This man is the definition of a “politician”. He is neither a nobleman nor a king, but a politician. Such humans are very rare in this world.

「Why me? I’m the Child of Disaster.」

「Fufu… That word was used only that one time, right?」

Representative Holiday called me the “Child of Disaster” shortly after the World Conference began, after which the Church stated that the Pope would guarantee my identity.

However, according to Holiday, he was instructed to do so by Cardinal Thomasson.

「…That said however, I do think there was a real Child of Disaster.」

Holiday said with his hands tied behind, and gazing at the magic airships soaring in the evening sky.

「It is said that they possessed unbelievable power and rampaged across the world. Power that cannot be comprehended with ordinary skill orbs.」

「…………」

「I am aiming for a world that doesn’t rely on skill orbs because I want to eliminate such differences in power. Do you think I sound crazy?」

「……No.」

Does this man perhaps know? That I, no, that black hair black eyes — those who have a previous life, have 16 skill holders.

「Duke Grenjido of the Kruvan Holy Kingdom said that the eighth Pledger is blank. Don’t you think it’s strange?」

「……EH?」

I was shocked by his sudden question.

「We, Pledgers, only know the details of our own Covenant. We don’t even know who the other Pledgers are. But Duke Grenjido knew that the eighth, which no one else knew, was “blank”. El-Gu-Larun did not tell him, because if he had found it, he would have immediately told the other Pledgers, because he promised to do so.」

Promise, huh. Perhaps El-san promised to give all the new information he learns in order to get the information on the Covenant from the Plegers.

「In that case, how did Duke Grenjido find out about it?…Come to think of it, Reiji-san, it seems that you entered the Kruvan Holy Kingdom only four years or so ago.」

Holiday’s facial expression was difficult to grasp due to the sunset at his back.

This man is suspicious of me. He somehow knows that I have deep knowledge of the Covenant.

He must have noticed the look Duke Grenjido gave me during the meeting.

——Two months after the conclusion of the treaty. The preparations will be completed by that time, it seems. If possible, I would like to have all the Pledgers themselves gather here at Lake Brunstalk and revoke the Covenant together.

——What if they do not assemble?

——We will still move forward as planned.

With my presence, even if all the Pledgers do not assemble, we can still revoke the Covenant. That’s what the look Duke Grenjido gave me meant.

「Reiji-san, now do you have the desire to visit Windle Republic?」Holiday asked.

Judging by how the current conversation flowed, I don’t really want to see Holiday again

「Yes, I am looking forward to it.」

But I replied as such with a smile.

「In two months’ time, I will come again. At that time, the world will change.」

He left those blunt parting words and started walking towards his magic airship.

Without the presence of skill orbs, it would be an equal society.

It’s not that simple, however. I am sure there are cases where skill orbs closed the disparity in society.

But Representative Holiday is dead set on achieving his goal.

「Reiji!」

「–My Lady.」

「What’s wrong? You have a sour look.」

Lady Eva approached me as Earl Sillys headed for the magic airship with Duke Grenjido. The Earl called out to her saying, “There is not much time”. Lady Eva waved to the Earl saying, “I will be right there!”.

「This past week has been quite hectic, but it is going to get even more hectic when I return to the Holy Kingdom.」the young lady said.

「Yes, probably.」

「Reiji, you are not coming to the Holy Kingdom, are you?」

The Kruvan Holy Kingdom is one of the most powerful nations on the continent. They wouldn’t need the Church’s support.

「No, I don’t think so.」

「I see……」

The young lady gave a downcast look.

「If so, I shall give it to you now.」

「Hmm?」

She presented a slightly rainbow-colored skill orb to me.

「I promised you before, didn’t I? That I would gift you a skill orb.」

I recalled the memories of that time.

——I will gift you a skill orb that is suitable for you! Rejoice!

She said something embarrassing as such.

——I would be happy, my lady.

——Really?

——Of course.

——You can look forward to it.

To think she still remembers the gentle exchange from that time.

I carefully looked at the skill orb.

【Underwater Breathing ★★】

……Underwater Breathing?

「I actually wanted to take more time to choose a good one! But I did not think I would meet you so often… so I thought to give you this…」

「I’m very happy to receive this. It is a little surprising, though.」

「Father said you would be more pleased with a skill orb which is a little more different than a combat-oriented skill orb.」

The Earl knows me well.

「Can I use it right away?」I asked.

「Of course. After all, skill orbs will disappear in two months.」

I grasped【Underwater Breathing ★★】and took it into my body.

「H-How do you feel?」

「I don’t feel anything unusual, but I’m sure I can breathe in water now.」

「O-Oh, is that so?」

The young lady probably expected me to jump in joy. I wonder if she was let down by the anticlimactic outcome.

「There is a lake right there, so I’ll go test it out.」I said.

「You don’t have to do that!」

Right then, a knight of House Sillys appeared and told the young lady that it was time to leave.

「I shall be going now.」

「Take care.」

「Reiji…」

As the young lady tried to take a step forward, she reluctantly stopped.

No—perhaps I perceive it as reluctant because it is actually me who is reluctant to part with her?

「When the World Union is over…」

「……Yes, my lady?」

「No, it is nothing. Be careful, Reiji. You will probably be heading to conflict areas from now on. It is you we are talking about, after all.」

「W-Well…」

「You have to be extra careful exactly because you are strong. The next time we meet, rather than your heroic tales, tell me that you are safe.」

It didn’t feel like the words of a noble or a teenage girl. Those were the words of a person who was genuinely worried for me from the bottom of her heart.

Those words echoed in my heart.

「Of course.」

「You promise?」

「Yes, I promise.」

The young lady held out her right hand and twined her index finger and middle finger.

It was the same promise I made on the night I left the Holy Kingdom.

I held the young lady’s finger. Warm and soft fingers.

Little by little, but surely, the young lady’s hands were growing into that of a woman.

「See you again.」she said.

The young lady released her hand and started walking. She did not look back anymore.

「…Definitely.」

I renewed my resolve to absolutely make this “World Union” a success.