Okay, now I'm concerned. If is a novice-level skill that every club-wielder should obtain, I might be doing something wrong if I still don't have it.

“Wait, this is something I haven't heard about! I've been using my bone clubs all this time but I never got a skill named . Why is that?”

“Well, I have one idea… a rather likely one.”

Fiara looks slightly hesitant. Maybe she’s worried the answer will be embarrassing for me? It's likely my own mistake after all… But,

“What is it?!”

I have to know.

“Well, it's general knowledge that you can't learn a new skill while using an existing one--unless the new skill is a derivative of the first. For example, one of the Orc Lords of the past had a subordinate who was a fourth level magic caster. He wanted to find out if he could learn new magic by having it cast on him instead of going to the trouble of preparing a situation where the desired magic is necessary. He managed to do it, but he had to unlearn his magic resistance skills before it was possible. Because it was impossible to learn an attack magic when a resistance skill was in use. However, from taking a high-level magic without any resistance, he nearly died.”

“I'm thinking that because you are always using non-weapon skills when you wield your weapon, you're unable to learn the usual weapon skills.”

“…”

… I'm speechless. There was something like that this whole time?

If Fiara hadn't come along today, how long would I have gone without knowing this?

… Okay! During this next fight, I absolutely have to obtain a weapon skill!

This time when we left the village, we left through the East entrance, and we’ll gradually curve north as we search. After about fifteen minutes pass, I activate .

Let’s see… Nothing yet.

Well, it's not like Magic Beasts are all that common in the first place. A few more minutes passed before I found a set of tracks with magic power infused. It looks like… a centipede. A giant centipede.

Well, as long as it isn't a spider, I'm not that bothered.

Since I expect this enemy to be fast, I give the order to surround it as soon as we’re in range.

The plan this time is a bit selfish.

The three male Orcs who came along will keep the beast from escaping. Meanwhile, I will deal regular strikes with my Demonic bone mace in order to obtain weapon skills. Fiara will support me with magic as well as deal the finishing blow.

I don't know where this thing’s eyes are or how it detects its surroundings, but since I'm not looking to make a sneak attack this time, I'm not worried about it. Also, this thing isn't humanoid, so reading its eye movements wouldn't help me much while fighting it.

While blocking the attacks from its many short, pointy legs and attacking in between, I managed to obtain and embed several weapon skills. Right now I’ve learned , , , , and .

However, the spirits started rattling off immediately after.

[[First level skill has been absorbed by second level skill .]]

[[Conditions met. Set completion has caused first level skills , , and to unify into skill set .]]

[[Conditions met. Acquiring new skill set has changed the user’s stats. Kinetic vision up, precise movements up, rhythm up.]]

What I just heard causes me to freeze in place. The centipede beast notices my change and spits some green fluid at me. I panic.

It’s acid, right? Won't it eat through my weapon? There’s no time to dodge. Shield! I need a shield!

[[Conditions met. acquired.]]

I activate it immediately. It seems to be a barrier of the Holy attribute, which glows a faint white color and covers me totally like a dome. It blocks the acid so it falls to the ground, where it dissolves the grass.

“Finish it!” I give Fiara the go ahead. I'm lucky this thing didn't start shooting poison earlier.

With a wave of her hands, a large ice shard materializes and pierces the centipede’s abdomen. It writhes in pain for a moment before the end of its life. When she saw the coast was clear and no poison was leaking, Fiara trotted over.

“Chief, what happened earlier? You suddenly stopped moving.”

“No, that’s… The spirits just suddenly said something about stats…”

There are stats?! How do I see them?! Are they numerical or abstract?? Why am I only finding out about this noooow?!?!

“What about it?”

“What about it?” she saaays!!?!

“... Well, see, it's my first time hearing about it.”

“Oh. Well, of course, “stats” is what the spirits call our natural abilities. Things like speed, strength, and intelligence are all stats.”

“And?!”

“And..?”

“How can I find out the values of my stats? What does it mean if the spirits suddenly increase my stats? How can I increase my stats? How many stats are there?!”

A...ah… I'm not calm. I think I'm scaring Fiara. Well, but, it's stats, right? It's the spirits’ approximation of my natural abilities, right? The most accurate way to grasp your strengths and weaknesses is through stat values! How can I not immediately want to know everything about them?

“Um… there are too many stats to count. Just training yourself will increase them over time, but the spirits can also give you a boost. And… values? They aren't quantifiable, you know? I think the only way to understand a stat is to demonstrate it and see how well it performs in action?”

“E-eh?” It's not all that different from normal life, then. I am… greatly disappointed. I wanted a status screen, and to watch my numbers climb. Instant gratification is extremely motivating.

…

…

“... Chief Vyra?” Fiara cocked her head worriedly.

“... Ah, sorry. I got my hopes up too high. Now I'm somewhat disappointed.”

“No, I think I understand. I also use the chief’s tests to measure my memory stat. The clear, point-based scoring is quite gratifying.”

“... Well, it's also true that some soul is lost in numbers. It's probably better this way. At least, I'll think of it like that for now…”

“Chief, can we go home now?” Dodoran interrupted the awkward air between Fiara and me. Thank you, Dodoran.

“Yeah, let's go home. Careful not to let any acid drip on you while carrying this thing.”