“Sadly… This is harsh.”
Today, a girl in her twenties tried to persuade me.
‘I will be honest, you really should give up on being a seeker. With your abilities, going at it solo will be impossible. Do you have any plans to team up with others?’
‘No, Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone who would.’
I’m a loner. Well, I do know people I go out drinking with, but working in a company whose ethos was making things without relying on the dungeon means I have no such connections.
‘You could use a party matching application, but your age is already a handicap, and when you combine that with your stats and skill, I highly doubt you will get a match. If you do, it is most likely a scam, and I ask that you report it.’
She said… Fufu, so I won’t get any matches. Yes, an old beginner with all F stats would only be picked by scammers.
But let’s look at this another way. Not being in a party means I can’t be thrown out. That means I successfully avoided the whole drama with being thrown out. Fufufu, how futile.
“Ahh, do I have to face reality?”
I’m in the same apartment I’ve been living in ever since I moved to Tokyo. I still have savings, so I won’t have a problem continuing to live here for now.
“Gate open.”
In response to what I just said, a hole about eight centimeters in diameter appears on top of my hand. This is the Storage Gate, the entrance to my Storage Magic skill. By the way, I’m the only one who can see it.
I don’t actually have to vocalize that, but since the skill is activated at will, tying it to words in my brain prevents me from accidentally activating it, and makes it easier to bring out.
A Storage Gate would normally be blurrier, but mine is a perfect circle. I asked about that, and apparently it could be because of my low stats. According to the receptionist girl anyway…
‘About awakening surgery. It turns people’s dormant potential into points that are placed onto Physical Strength, Aim, Agility, Stamina, and Intelligence. If you have the talent for skills, they are also distributed into them randomly.
If that is the case, skills will emerge, and if the points are distributed into stats, their rank will increase. It seems all of yours went into the Storage skill.’
‘Does that mean I have a strong skill?’
‘No, and I apologize if my explanation raised your hopes. What is raised is something called strength of presence. The effects vary depending on the skills, but it means the output is raised. In the case of the Storage skill, it means the Storage Gate is tougher, and its storage power fixed, but that is all.’
‘In the end, what does it mean?’
‘The size is fixed, meaning no matter how much you level up, your storage power won’t increase. My condolences.’
Ahh…
It’s going to be hard for me to become the greatest seeker. Even my first step seems so far away.
But this Storage Gate really is tough. I hit it with a frying pan, but it doesn’t disappear or change position at all. It feels like any impact would shatter it immediately, but here it is, fixed in the air. Wait, could I ride this?
I start thinking about getting on this hole I created, but it being six centimeters in diameter makes that a challenge.
And so, I grab the seat from the bicycle I have by the entrance, and put it on the hole.
Ah, this is fixed well. Yes. I can sit.
———————————
【Next time】
What he gained was an invincible shield. Ferocious wings that can flap to the heavens.
But it cannot kill. It cannot destroy. Next, Zenjurou will need to show fangs. And once his fierce fangs are out, the hunt begins.
