Oh no, oh no.
How do people even have conversations again?
Ugh, I have no idea.
Master barely talks as it is, and when he's drunk, he just rambles on about his own stuff without listening to a word I say.
It's been so long since I had a conversation with a sane person without using hypnosis that I've forgotten how.
I tried putting on a superior tone so I wouldn't come across as beneath him, but... is it working?
I'm not coming across as weird, right?
I somehow managed to brush off the fact that I couldn't even remember his name — or his existence, for that matter.
I glance sideways at Lars, pretending to read the book.
He's reading with a totally serious expression, not the slightest bit concerned about how I'm doing.
Then again, that whole "you're not even worth my attention" attitude is pretty irritating in its own right.
I was the one who suggested reading to avoid having to keep the conversation going, but this silence is awkward too.
Also, what even is this book?
Master's the type to make a book just because he hates talking, but wouldn't it have been harder to put a book together than to just talk?
If he'd stepped in as a go-between, I could've kept my mouth shut a lot more.
When it's one-on-one, it'd be weird not to answer when someone asks me a question.
Complaining about someone who isn't here isn't going to get me anywhere.
Let me just read the book for now.
Let's see... "Shiro-chan's Simple Skill Guide"?
I've got to hand it to you — from the very first page, you've got a real talent for making me lose all motivation to read.
As expected of Master. You're the world's greatest at pissing me off.
What's with this, anyway? You never show me a shred of affection, and now you pull this deliberately cute act?
Are you kidding me?
Oh, no, no. I need to actually focus.
*"A Skill is a modification of a portion of the soul, designed to draw out the soul's power that a living creature possesses."* Huh?
*"For this reason, each Skill is equivalent to a part of the soul, and the more Skills one has, the more of the soul's capacity is being consumed. The soul naturally has a tolerance limit, and there is a cap on the number of Skills one can hold, but the system of this world forces the soul to grow beyond that limit in order to cram in more Skills."* Right.
There's supposed to be something incredibly important written here, but there's a pushy little mini-spider character dancing around next to every line, making it impossible to focus on the text.
*"While these normal Skills only modify the surface layer of the soul, there exist special Skills that modify the deep layer of the soul. These are the Seven Deadly Sin-type Skills and the Seven Virtue Skills. Commonly known as Dominator Skills."* Seven Deadly Sins.
My Envy is one of those, right?
Lars has
Not that it matters now, but should I really not comment on his naming sense? Giving himself "Lars"...
*"Because Dominator Skills modify the deep layer of the soul, their effect on the owner is on an entirely different level from other Skills. First, the Skill's effect itself is incredibly powerful. Second, each Skill also influences the owner's personality. Third, the more it is used, the more it erodes the soul. Therefore, if Dominator Skill usage is not kept in check, it will not be long before the Skill hijacks the owner's personality."* Wait. Hold on.
Nobody told me about something this important.
Using it will let the Skill hijack your personality?!
*"That Skill erodes the soul. Like that oni over there — if you do not wish to lose yourself, do not use it."* The words of the black-clad man who had crashed into my fight with Lars echo in my mind.
So *that's* what he meant?
If so, was Lars being consumed by Wrath?
Or was he on the verge of being consumed, barely holding on?
I take a proper look at Lars this time.
He's still reading the book with total focus, paying no attention to me whatsoever.
That must mean the contents of this book are important to Lars.
In other words, he knows this from personal experience.
And I'm not immune either.
I have the Skill of Envy, after all.
So *that's* why Master told me not to use it.
I always think this, but he really uses too few words. If he'd just explained it properly, I wouldn't have used it.
*"There are four countermeasures. One: do not acquire a Dominator Skill in the first place. Two: refrain from using the Skill. Three: endure it through sheer willpower. Four: raise your Heterodox Resistance and acquire Heterodox Nullification."* The third one is ridiculous, but I'll ignore it.
I'm starting to get why Master paired me and Lars together this time.
*"Heterodox Resistance cancels out adverse effects that directly interfere with the soul. With Heterodox Nullification, attacks within the system's power are rendered virtually ineffective — this applies to Dominator Skills as well. To wield a Dominator Skill to its fullest while minimizing its harmful side effects, this method is the most suitable."* So basically, Lars and I can raise each other's Heterodox Resistance.
Huh.
There's more in the book, but I can read the rest later.
"Hey, can I ask you something?"
"What?"
This guy — I'm addressing him and he doesn't even look up. Some nerve.
*<Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill 'Pride Lv1' has been acquired.>* Looks like I gained a Skill, but that can wait.
"Do you have Heterodox Magic?"
"I do."
"Good. Then cast your weakest spell on me."
"What?"
Lars finally looks up.
With an expression that says he genuinely cannot fathom what I just said.
"Oh? You read this book and you *still* don't understand?"
I say it with just a touch of condescension.
Lars really doesn't seem to get it — his face is full of confusion.
Good. This superiority feels nice.
*I'm* the one who understands what Master was trying to say.
It's not for nothing that I've been by his side since infancy.
There are still plenty of things I don't understand, mind you.
"I'm saying that to suppress the effects of Dominator Skills, you need to acquire Heterodox Nullification. And to do that, you need to hit me with Heterodox Magic."
Lars seemed to understand that much, but his face still clearly said he couldn't wrap his head around it.
I have an announcement in the activity report.