104 - Connection
As a basic rule, skills can sometimes manifest in progressive stages of power.
For instance, if someone possesses a physical enhancement skill, its application is almost always a strengthened version of that same physical enhancement.
However, exceptions exist for everything.
My first-stage skill, [Experience], is a suspicious thing that allows me to obtain more experience points than usual.
Through this, I compensate for my weakness: my required experience is high, and I rarely reach a growth point.
But then there is my second-stage skill, [Connection].
This is a skill for establishing links.
Rather than obtaining more experience, it is a completely different skill.
It would have been fine if it just allowed me to gain even more experience. My [Experience] skill, which is constantly active, consumes a fair amount of mana.
Even if the consumption increased slightly now, my mana was abundant enough that it wouldn't be a problem.
The problem was that a completely different skill had manifested.
After encountering the Kirin, Shannon began saying I was suspicious, and since I was being pressed for answers, I decided to use this moment to explain the skill and divert the conversation.
It was a bad time to explain that the intentions of five previous heads of the family were recorded in the jewel I possess, along with their skills.
(I should have explained this before it came to this.)
The reason I hid it was simply that explaining it was a hassle.
Actually, I... have guardians accompanying me!
I didn't want to explain that, and I had a small amount of pride that made me not want to be perceived that way.
Night.
Having built a fire near Porter, we were pouring warm drinks into metal cups.
Everyone was waiting for me to start talking.
Inside the jewel, the previous heads remained silent, partly because Shannon was keeping watch.
(...The timing is just too bad.)
Shannon and Eva know about the jewel.
And they also know that Celes possesses a similar jewel. Therefore, if they show any aversion to the jewel, the conversation will become a hassle again.
Receiving suspicious glances from everyone—and some excited ones—I cleared my throat.
"...Actually, there's something I've been hiding."
White steam rose from the cup, and as I watched it drift away in the occasional cold wind, I began to speak slowly.
"It's regarding my skills."
Shannon tilted her head.
"Hey, why skills? Right now, if you just tell us about that blue orb hanging from your neck—"
"Because they're related!"
Shannon was so surprised that some of the contents of her cup splashed out and fell onto the ground.
Saying "my bad," I explained the skill.
"My skill—[Experience]—is a skill that allows me to acquire more experience. It's constantly active."
Hearing that, Eva spoke up.
"Wow, that's super convenient. Is it a support type? With that, couldn't you just make a living with the skill alone?"
I nodded while explaining the second-stage skill.
"However, the second-stage [Connection] is a skill for establishing links."
Clara had been bringing her cup to her lips, but she stopped and looked at me.
"It doesn't seem like an application of the first."
I took a single sip of my drink to moisten my mouth and continued.
"It's a skill that creates a special line centered around me. It allows for communication, but... yeah, it seems that activating it is what angered the Kirin."
The moment I said that, everyone's gaze sharpened.
Only Novem directed a suspicious look toward me.
(Yes! I can get through this!)
I decided to go with this because it was far more convincing than talking about the previous heads.
To tell the truth, I would have had to start with the jewel, then the skills of the previous heads.
And then I would have had to explain the fifth generation as well.
I wouldn't have minded talking that far, but it would be a hassle if they misunderstood. If they thought I was being manipulated, for example, it would be a pain to clear up the misunderstanding.
Based on Novem's explanation, everyone believes the jewel is related to why Celes started changing.
I didn't want to be seen as the same kind of person as Celes, and it would be problematic if my jewel were sealed.
Aria said, sounding exasperated.
"So, you angered it by trying to use a skill? ...As I thought, this is Liel's responsibility."
The looks directed at me became cold, but in my heart, I thought,
(Yes! Now the topic has shifted toward the skill!)
If I had just come clean earlier, I wouldn't have had to go through all this... I've regretted that more than once or twice.
Miranda spoke up.
"If that's true, Liel, you're something else. Being able to communicate is amazing on its own. It feels like a completely different skill."
First stage: experience increase.
Second stage: communication with allies.
Indeed, they are completely different skills. If you ask if that's why I hesitated to explain it, the answer is no.
(Ah~, should I say this? But I have to... though I really don't want to.)
The moment a skill manifests, the skill name and usage surface in one's head as if remembering them, and everything becomes clear.
This is why everyone understands their own skills. Naturally, I understand how to use Connection.
Because I understand it, I didn't want to say it until now.
(If I say this, more weird misunderstandings will happen...)
It was a skill I absolutely didn't want to explain, and if possible, one I didn't want to use. The performance is wonderful, but the method of establishing the lines with each other is the problem.
To be honest, even I think it's a bit much.
Miranda pressed me.
"So, why don't you use that skill on us? Do you not want us peeking into your head?"
I looked away from the smirking Miranda.
"...Once the line is created, I manage it, so peeking is impossible. You can just think of it as hearing each other's voices regardless of distance or obstacles. Ah, wait, distance does matter."
Clara pushed up her glasses with her fingertip, returning them to the correct position, and spoke with a hint of excitement.
"That's incredible. I believe there was a similar skill among support types, but just possessing it would make you a target for recruitment. It's a skill that allows a group to move much more efficiently."
The atmosphere became slightly excited, but then Novem spoke.
"...Liel-sama, why have you not used that skill until now? Is there some problem?"
I felt the time had come to explain and drained my cup. It had gone lukewarm, but that actually made it easier to drink.
Monica approached me and poured more drink into my cup.
"...It's a kiss."
Eva looked at me.
"What?"
"To create the line, a kiss is required! Moreover, it's required every time I use it! Do you think I'd be believed if I told you this!"
While everyone looked at me with complex expressions, Aria spoke up.
"A-A kiss is just a little thing, it's over in a second, right? Honestly, you're not a child."
Her face was bright red, so her words had absolutely no persuasive power. Among us, isn't Aria the most inexperienced in these matters?
"It's not a light one. To connect the line, it has to be the deeper kind! Not the kind parents give their children!"
Aria's face turned crimson, and she looked down, muttering, "D-Deep..."
Then, Miranda, who had been wearing a complex expression, let out a sigh.
"Haa... Liel, does that mean this is what happened? You tried to kiss the Kirin to establish that line."
I had no choice but to nod reluctantly.
"...Yes. That's right."
Clara remarked, "No wonder it got angry," and Eva gave a strained laugh, saying, "Y-Yeah, some people do that if they really love animals."
Shannon was completely repulsed.
"You angered it by trying to kiss a Kirin? Are you an idiot?"
I knew I'd be told that, but hearing it out loud dealt more damage than I expected.
Miranda gave me a look of utter exasperation.
Novem put her hand to her mouth, lost in thought.
Monica spoke up.
"Honestly... if you had only said so, I would have given you a kiss immediately, whether light or heavy! Now, you chicken coward... let us connect the line with an adult's kiss."
As Monica approached with her arms open, I pressed her head back with my left hand and told her the truth.
"No, for some reason, a line is already formed with you through mana, so a kiss isn't necessary. You're lucky; there's no need for me to kiss you."
Hearing that, Monica slumped down on the spot.
"To think you'd tangle tongues with an animal, yet you won't kiss Monica, the ideal maid... Even so, I will serve by the chicken coward's side until the end. Poor Monica. But I won't lose to a Kirin!"
(This girl is such a pain...)
As the surrounding atmosphere became awkward, I felt relieved that I had somehow managed to get through this incident.
However, I felt the price had been high.
Night.
After confirming that everyone except the sentry was fast asleep, I shifted my consciousness to the jewel.
In the conference room with the round table, the fifth generation was waiting for me.
He was sitting in a chair, but he seemed restless.
He rested his elbow on the round table, propped his chin with one hand, and tapped the table with his fingers.
『You're late.』
"I was misunderstood, but I managed to explain it. Thanks to that, I'm now treated as a pervert."
When I joked, the fifth generation tilted his head.
『Why are you a pervert just for kissing an animal? From an animal's perspective, that's probably just like a greeting. Anyway, come to my room immediately.』
Told that, I opened the door to the memory room along with the fifth generation.
The fifth generation's memory room led to a place like a stable.
However, it wasn't just horses there.
Animals of various sizes seemed to be living there.
"Um, what is this place?"
『A breeding pen I had prepared. At first, it was just dogs and cats, but then I started keeping birds, and from there, the number increased because these were the only ones I could trust.』
No, didn't you just increase them yourself?
While thinking that, I headed toward the back of the relatively large pen, and a door opened on its own.
Inside, a small Kirin with white fur, a yellow mane, and small rounded horns was lying down.
"Is that an injury at the base of the neck?"
Bandages were wrapped around it, and it was curled up in the back of the room, appearing cautious. The bandages around its neck were stained red, and it didn't seem to be eating.
『I named her Mei. Since she's a Kirin, I couldn't feel any attachment to the species name.』
The fifth generation stroked the frightened Mei, but since it was a memory, she showed no reaction.
Then, footsteps were heard from near the entrance of the pen. Several people entered, and among them was the middle-aged fifth generation, his bag filled with luggage.
The fifth generation in the memory looked at Mei.
『You won't get better if you don't eat.』
Then, a man who was likely a veterinarian, who had come along, spoke fearfully.
『Viscount-sama, I have heard that if a Kirin is captured, it calls its companions and seeks revenge. It should be returned to the wild immediately. Besides, I wonder what the surrounding lords will say...』
The fifth generation in the memory (Fredricks) turned to the veterinarian and scoffed.
『What of it? It was injured, so I brought it back for treatment. I have no guilty feelings whatsoever. Besides, you're telling me to throw out this child who is so injured they can't even walk properly? Could you really be that cruel!』
The fifth generation, who poured so much love into animals—.
(No, you should have poured a little more love into your family.)
I thought that, but I didn't say it out loud.
He took expensive medicine from his bag and handed it to the veterinarian.
『If it's not enough, I'll provide more immediately. You just focus on treating this child.』
The veterinarian accepted the medicine and began the treatment.
When the Kirin became cautious and thrust its horn forward, the wound seemed to open, and the bandages turned red. Blue-white lines crackled around it, and the fifth generation held it down.
『Hurry up!』
『V-Viscount-sama, it's dangerous!』
The veterinarian hurriedly finished the treatment, but by the time it was over, the fifth generation was the one who was battered.
The veterinarian immediately led the fifth generation out and shouted outside the pen.
『Someone!! The Viscount-sama is!!』
While the desperate screams could be heard, the fifth generation was laughing.
"Ah, now that I think about it, something like this did happen. I had completely forgotten."
I started to feel sorry for the veterinarian, but Mei, having finished her treatment, was lying down with her eyes closed.
Seeing that, the fifth generation said,
『Cute, isn't she?』
"No, thinking that this child grew to that size in seventy or eighty years, I'm a bit surprised, or something."
The Mei I encountered had the magnificent form of an adult.
I still remember the fifth generation's voice and how, for some reason, I was targeted with hostility.
"Um, so... why was I targeted with hostility? At first, it was fine."
When I said that, the fifth generation put his hand to his chin as if thinking.
『...No, I don't understand it either. In the first place, it was surprising that it even followed you. Kirins run through the sky and destroy demons. That's why they're called divine beasts. They don't try to approach humans.』
Kirin are considered lucky, and there's even a superstition that if you catch one, your house will prosper.
However, there were countless examples of people failing to catch a Kirin.
A few successful examples exist, but those are a tiny minority.
The divine beasts, who fly across the continent rather than just the country to destroy monsters, dislike contact with humans. No, they maintain a certain distance.
They don't attack humans unless attacked first.
"But it reacted to the fifth generation's voice, didn't it? You didn't do anything to be hated, did you?"
『...Listen here. I may have failed at marriage and parenting, but I've never failed when it comes to animals!』
I feel like that's a failure in its own right.
"Then why did Mei get angry?"
『That's why we're going to look through the memories. Come on, let's go to the next one.』
As I followed the walking fifth generation, the surrounding scenery began to change.
It was the inner courtyard of the mansion.