As always, I wander through the Middle Layer.
Hmm.
It's been a while since I came down here, but I still can't see an end to it.
As expected of the world's largest labyrinth.
If humans tried to clear this thing, they'd need to be prepared to devote their entire lives, right?
**《Proficiency has reached a certain threshold. Skill 'Appraisal LV9' has become 'Appraisal LV10'》** Oh?
Ohh?
Ooohh!?
At last.
At long last, Appraisal-san has hit the cap!
Holy crap, I'm so happy!
The very first skill I ever picked up—the one that's been with me through thick and thin—has finally, *finally* reached its complete form!
Back at the start, Appraisal was practically useless. The subtle little extras it gained with each level-up. The slow joy of figuring out how to make it work better. The way it shed its rough exterior and became something truly impressive. You worked so hard to grow, even while I grumbled at you the whole time.
And now, Appraisal-san—recognized by all—has become something truly great.
And you too have finally, *finally*— Waaah!
It's about time.
You did great.
I'm moved!
Thank you, Appraisal-san!
Let's keep at it together from here on out!
But... no Evolution or anything?
I mean, it's fine. The fact that Appraisal-san maxed out is already incredible on its own. Still, I was kind of hoping for... I dunno, some kind of evolution befitting a skill that governs ultimate wisdom? Nope, huh?
I thought maybe, with Appraisal-san being what it is, but... nothing.
That's a bummer...
...Really nothing?
**《Zzz—...zzz—...zzz—zzz—zzz—...》** ...What is this, the static of an old TV?
**《Zzz—requesting—zzz—...upper-level administrator authority acce—zzz—...》** Huh?
What? What's going on?
**《Zzz—...ministrator Saliz———zzz—...denied—zzz—》** Something feels really bad.
I don't know what's bad or why it's bad, but it's *bad*.
**《Zzz—*ping*!》** That sharp, clear *ping* cut right through the noise that had been coming through, and I couldn't help but flinch, my whole body shuddering.
**《The request has been accepted by Upper-Level Administrator D》** **《Constructing Skill 'Sagecraft'》** **《Construction complete》** **《Conditions have been met. Skill 'Sagecraft' has been acquired》** **《'Appraisal LV10' has been integrated into 'Sagecraft'》** **《'Detection LV10' has been integrated into 'Sagecraft'》** **《Proficiency has reached a certain threshold. Skill 'Taboo LV7' has become 'Taboo LV8'》** **《Conditions have been met. Title 'Sagecraft Sovereign' has been acquired》** **《Due to the effects of Title 'Sagecraft Sovereign', skills 'Pinnacle of Sorcery' and 'Star Magic' have been acquired》** **《'MP Recovery Speed LV4' has been integrated into 'Pinnacle of Sorcery'》** **《'MP Cost Reduction LV3' has been integrated into 'Pinnacle of Sorcery'》** **《'Magic Power LV9' has been integrated into 'Star Magic'》** **《'Guardian LV4' has been integrated into 'Star Magic'》** Huh?
Huh?
Huuuuh!?
No, no, no.
This is wrong.
This is, like, *seriously* wrong on multiple levels.
What's happening?
How did this happen?
What am I supposed to do?
Calm down. Body-section, deep breaths first.
Haa—haa—hoo...
Okay.
Let's go through this step by step.
It all started when that weird sound first started coming through. What was that? I don't know. Normally I'd just shrug it off—can't figure it out, so why waste time overthinking it? But this time I can't do that.
Because this is clearly an abnormal situation.
Abnormal. Yes, abnormal.
Up until now I'd just accepted this world at face value—oh, this kind of world exists, so of course it has Skills and stuff. But if this were Japan, Skills wouldn't exist at all. In Japan, the *existence* of Skills would be the abnormal thing.
I'd been fine with that reasoning before.
But not anymore.
Because what the Voice of Heaven (presumed) just said was: **《The request has been accepted by Upper-Level Administrator D》** **《Constructing Skill 'Sagecraft'》** **《Construction complete》** As if someone has been *watching me*, and, in response to my grumbling, *created* a Skill just like that.
If that's really true, then the culprit is someone called Administrator D. And if the title "Upper-Level" means what it implies, then there must be more administrators than just this D.
So what exactly do these administrators manage?
That's obvious.
Skills.
Thinking through this chain of logic, there's really nothing else it could be.
In other words— The Skills in this world were *given* to people by those calling themselves administrators.
Why?
How?
Those parts I still don't understand. But there's one thing I can say for certain.
Something about this world is *wrong*.
A cold chill runs down my spine. It's a different kind of fear from when I encountered the Earth Dragon or My Mother—something that creeps in and eats at me, bit by bit.
Are the administrators out there somewhere, watching me flail around like this, and chuckling to themselves?
I'm scared.
The Skills I've been relying on until now now seem like some incomprehensible, alien thing.
What am I supposed to do from here?
What *should* I do?