"My ultimate trump card, Speed Demon, won't activate — why?!"
"That would be the [Idaten] skill. I confiscated it earlier. There was supposedly a skill that 'guarantees you move first no matter what,' so I figured I'd see if it was real. Turns out you've got a pretty absurd skill on your hands."
"What did you say?! Give it back — that skill is my lifeline!"
"Sure, sure. But apparently it burns through a hefty amount of magic each time you activate it. Pretty terrible fuel efficiency, if you ask me."
When I'd received that strange invitation at the adventurer's guild, I'd peeked at Shaal with my [Divine Eye] and discovered he was actually the master of the Dark Guild.
That was old news by now, so it didn't matter. What caught my eye was the [Idaten] skill.
It seemed like an interesting skill, so when he started spouting nonsense, I figured I might as well take it. And judging by my [Divine Eye], there was absolutely zero chance Shaal could beat me anyway.
Still, I wasn't sure whether I'd naturally outspeed Shaal just by having the skill, or whether it was specifically [Idaten] that gave him the edge. So I decided to play along with his little theater and let him try it.
"You pass."
"Pass... what?"
He'd managed to take the initiative against me and use Marionette String, so I deemed him worthy and acquired the skill via [Snatch Skill].
Now then.
What should I do with him?
He'd said something about "putting me to work as much as I please," so maybe I should do just that.
As for Shaal himself, he was tugging at the slave collar around his neck, trying desperately to pry it off or tear it apart.
Eventually, he gave up and spoke in a defeated voice.
"So this is the end of my ambition... I built this organization from nothing, no matter how small, and now it's all for nothing... Fine. Kill me, enslave me — do whatever you want."
"Careful saying things like that. I'm going to put you to work for me plenty. For starters — [Regeneration Heal]."
And so Shaal's severed wrist began to regenerate.
"Since you've come under my wing, I'll heal you."
"Ugh, what ARE you?! Dark Magic's Slave Choker, Holy Magic's healing — there's no way one person can use both. Are you some kind of monster?"
"Calling me a monster is quite rude, you know. Should I cut your wrist off and heal it a few more times?"
"...Don't."
"I'm kidding. You're going to work hard for me from now on. With the Slave Collar on, you can't disobey anyway."
"Why do I have to suffer like this..."
"Figure it out yourself."
For now, I make the Slave Collar transparent so it can't be seen.
"Oh, one more thing."
"There's still more?"
"I'll give you back [Idaten]. Without it, your intelligence work won't be as effective."
Using the same method as the Snatch Skill, I return [Idaten] to Shaal.
"That's helpful, but are you sure? I might slit your throat while you sleep."
Maybe it's because the skill he'd called his lifeline came back, but this good-looking middle-aged guy is getting cocky again.
"I already told you, the collar makes that impossible."
Besides, if I stop time with [Space-Time Magic], a guaranteed first-strike skill won't matter anyway.
I don't say that, though.
And now I'll break his spirit with my next words.
"Also,
Right now
Just Now
J-
-ust
-now
"I also acquired Idaten, so even if I compete with Shar, I won't lose."
If two people with the same Idaten...
cancel each other out
and don't have any effect.
By the way, I was able to get Idaten by reversing my agility aptitude as an experiment.
I thought it would be nice to get Idaten or a similar skill, but this time it was exactly Idaten.
"The skill I finally acquired after years of effort..."
Shar slumps his shoulders.
It's fine, that level of unfairness is so common in this other world that it doesn't even count.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
I also considered not returning Idaten, but I decided against it.
Skills: [Reverse][Divine Eye][Sword God][Fist God][Spear God][Blazing Magic][Freezing Magic][Clear Storm Magic][Rock Iron Magic][Holy Magic][Dark Magic][Space-Time Magic][Thunder God Sword][Phantom Thief Gentleman][Ninja Master][Truth Seeker][Monster Force and Gods][Idaten][Pain Relief][Complete Status Ailment Resistance][Dark Spirit Protection][Super Intuition][Heaven's Gate][Abyss Contractee][Magic Hand][Treasure Search][Seduction][Agitation][Eloquence][Strong Luck][Growth Speed x10][Growth Limit Break]
Rank: Orichalcum