Unique Ability.
A so-called ultimate move!
According to what I’ve heard here and there, it’s an ability that allows you to achieve what you desire the most.
Like Hermila’s ability to see the future.
Or Heinzel’s power to manipulate gravity.
Or Yuria’s ability to control nature.
The unusual unique ability is… well, electricity controlled by Delia?
They say it’s a strange case where all magical powers and magic turn into electricity.
Besides that, there’s… Lucia’s sword that slices what’s visible and Alex’s power to manipulate steel or something.
I’m not sure how each of them manifested their abilities based on their desires, but anyway, it’s said that going through trials and elevating the soul leads to the birth of unique abilities.
But for me…
“… You don’t know?”
“Yes… eheh.”
I don’t know.
Or maybe it’s better to say I don’t have one.
Just like I explained to Rubia last time, I only feel lighter and as if I’m getting closer to something.
Regarding the unique ability… I don’t feel anything at all.
It’s not like there’s a skill window like in games, so I wouldn’t even know how to find out…
No, in games… unique abilities were fixed by weapon types, so there wasn’t a need to check.
Silence.
Amidst that, Ser’s voice broke in.
“Didn’t Hermila also go through a trial?”
“Right.”
“So, after the trial ended, how did you come to understand your unique ability?”
Hermila tilted her head for a moment and spoke slowly as if rummaging through her memories.
“Um… I just felt it. That I could see the future if I wished for it. Of course, everyone else must have felt the same. They all seemed enchanted as they manifested their unique abilities.”
“That’s quite vague… Doesn’t Noah have something like that?”
“… Yes.”
Can you feel it? The unique ability?
I only feel… just bizarre things…
“Then… what about that amazing slash you showed last time, Noah?”
Amazing slash…?
[Aren’t you talking about the one you sliced after the trial?]
Ah, the summoning circle…
“Th-That’s not a unique ability…”
Hermila’s expression twisted.
Ser also…
“Is that so…?”
Rather than a unique ability… um…
“I just… sliced it clean…”
“Hahaha…”
“This is not the time for jokes, Noah.”
Hermila laughed awkwardly, and Ser chuckled softly while tilting their coffee cup.
“Seriously, it’s not a joke… it’s true…”
Wow… I’m really aggrieved, huh?
How do I explain this?
Concentrating on sensing, finding the center that forms that existence, delving back into that center to locate the core, and penetrating into the core… that’s the most… uh, um…
‘Cartia! Help me out here!’
[With what?]
‘You know what, Cartia!!’
[They’ve never even used a sword; how are they supposed to understand this? Besides, even if someone did use a sword, a normal person wouldn’t get it. You’re truly special.]
‘Ah, hehehe… Am I special?’
[…Oh. There’s nobody as dull as you. You’re the only one.]
‘… Cartia smells like ginseng.’
[You little bastard-]
“Um, I think it’s true what Noah said; you really just sliced it.”
While Cartia and I were bickering in our heads, Rubia nodded in agreement.
Rubia is truly the best!
“Back when we went to the eastern ruins… um, Habron, Noah sliced the castle wall.”
“Ah… I’ve also heard that from Heinzel.”
“Was that not an exaggerated rumor but the truth?”
“Yes. At that time, Noah had no magical power and didn’t have a special weapon like now. Just a cheap… um, ordinary great sword. I think this incident is similar to that one. Right, Noah?”
[Did you do something like that?]
Even Cartia sounded surprised, asking me in disbelief.
“Y-Yeah…! It feels the same as back then…!”
The only difference this time is… I can do it more easily? Back then, doing it once made me feel like my head would split open, and I was extremely tired, but now it feels like nothing.
I… am awesome.
“Didn’t you just crush it by force?”
“No. I thought so too, but that wasn’t it. The cutting surface was smooth. I just sliced it simply.”
“Oh, really? Hmmm…”
Ser’s face, tinted with deep curiosity, turned towards me.
“If you weren’t a friend, I would have taken a look inside your brain. What a pity.”
“Ugh…”
“See, Noah? I told you earlier, right? Wizards could dissect you.”
“W-Wait, was that… real…?”
“Not that they’d kill you. They’d get your consent. Besides, the incision can heal without a trace.”
Saying it as if it were entirely reasonable, Ser spoke with an incredibly confident tone.
At that response, I wrapped my arms tightly around Rubia.
“Don’t! N-No… please don’t…”
“Anyway, yeah. When you fight, you can cut through magic, right? It seems related to sensing.”
“Oh… Y-Yeah.”
“I thought cutting through magic was related to the level you possess, but was that also done through sensing?”
“R-Right…?”
Ser, who had fallen into a moment of silence, looked at Hermila.
“Doesn’t Hermila also sense?”
“Not as much as Noah, but I can sense it to some degree.”
“Can Hermila do something like that?”
“Um… I’ve never tried, but I think I can’t. Sensing isn’t something you can use so freely. If visibility is obstructed, or if you can’t see the opponent’s attack, or it’s truly unavoidable, you’d avoid using it. If you’re not careful, your brain might explode.”
Laughing lightly, Hermila put down her coffee cup and concentrated magical power at her fingertips.
Then, on the table created by Ser.
Stroke- Sweep- she began to draw.
“To explain it simply, as soon as you activate sensing, all the information in this area enters your head. From the dirt rolling on the ground to trash, living things, non-living things, even the magical power melting in the air, everything.”
Various shapes of drawings were added around the cartoonish figure that Hermila mentioned: trash, living things, non-living things, magical power, etc.
“There’s also tremendous pain that comes with such a process. Then, as you gradually get used to sensing, you can start erasing this kind of unhelpful information. Like filtering out the bell peppers in fried rice.”
Sweep- Sweep-
And one by one, she erased the drawings surrounding the human figure.
“And through that, one can feel only what they need the most. Normally, beings that reach this level… excluding masters, there are only about… 4 others in the world.”
A pretty person with a clenched fist.
A bald man holding a halberd.
A tall person with a bow.
A tiny… dust holding a great sword?
And a one-eyed person holding a sword in one hand.
“Anyway, just reaching this level is highly regarded. Since you can sense the opponent’s movements and the flow of magical power to predict the next attack. But Noah…”
“Beyond prediction, it’s certainty… isn’t it?”
“Based on the battles I’ve observed of Noah so far, I think it’s to that extent.”
“Hmmm. Perhaps that might be related to the unique ability.”
Hermila and Ser’s gazes were fixed on me.
“E…”
“Since Noah doesn’t seem to understand, allow me to explain it easily for you, kindly provided by Ser.”
Clang- With a pleasant smile, I extended my fist towards Hermila.
“Hermila, let’s play rock-paper-scissors.”
“Huh? What’s this all of a sudden… oh.”
“Oh… Surely, this method might work.”
“Haha, I’m a genius.”
Hermila, who had tilted her head, reached out with an expression as if she understood something.
Behind her, Rubia also nodded as if it was a good idea.
I… am lost.
“Okay, Noah. We will play rock-paper-scissors, so shout out who wins.”
“Ah, I get it.”
“Rock, paper, scissors-”
“Ser…!”
Along with my shout, Hermila’s fist and Ser’s paper were drawn.
“… Oh.”
[Wow, damn it. Let’s go gamble.]
Then, Rubia clapped her hands, astonished.
Cartia made some… nonsensical comments…
Hermila looked at me, her mouth agape in surprise.
“How did you match that just now?”
Ser had a knowing smile, as if they anticipated it.
“Uh…? Th-That’s right…?”
How did I match that?
“Don’t you know? Then, I’ll try one more time. Hermila, utilize even the tiniest muscle movements, or if needed, use foresight, and give it your all.”
With a serious expression, Hermila nodded again, extending her hand.
Ser, too, assumed a solemn expression that made me wonder if there needed to be such seriousness for rock-paper-scissors…
Well… for now, since everyone else seems serious, I should focus… right?
Slowly breathing out, I pictured the two people in my head just like usual.
The shape of their hands, the muscles beneath, the blood vessels, the blood flow.
The flow of magical power.
“Rock, paper, scissors-”
And then-
“Hermila!”
As soon as I uttered those words, the result appeared.
Hermila’s paper was spread out, and Ser’s fist was curled.
At that, Hermila’s face, which had been agape, twisted.
“… How on earth…?”
“Hermila, what was the future you just saw?”
“Both of them… drew… in that future.”
“How did Noah match that?”
“… I-I just did?”
Hermila’s intense gaze was fixed on me.
And.
Ser, looking towards me, then Rubia.
“Hermila’s foresight was narrowed down to one path. However, now, that has changed.”
Slowly, they opened their mouth.
“The power to overturn a certain future. I believe Noah’s unique ability is related to this.”
