Fanfiction by: Final_Order
Delusional Multiversal Travels
Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Chapter 3
- - -
While this world didn't have the concept of levels, it was only natural that humans could become stronger.
SKILLS
They were a major part of humanity's strength, and the only way to get stronger was to train the skill.
Not only the skill, but one's physical body too. If someone had the base stat of 10, and their skill multiplied their base stat by 2, rounding that up would equal 20.
However, if one had the base stat of 20, with their skill, it would be multiplied to 40.
Which was why training the body alongside the skill mattered.
Currently, we were all lined up, receiving prep talks from the knight commander.
I, on one hand, was groggily listening, allowing the words I wanted to hear to filter in.
Ugh… I'd gone ahead and snuck out of the kingdom yesterday night.
And, I'd come to realize that things weren't simple with this kingdom.
Currently, I feel like I'm gonna burn.
Doing things they're not asked to, but because of the oh-so-gracious kingdom's wishes, they had generously allocated a large field near the castle for our use.
This was no ordinary field—it was massive, easily the size of a football stadium, complete with racks of gleaming weapons along one side.
It also doubled as the knights' training ground.
"Look at him."
"So carefree."
"Yeah, just 'cause he's a little strong."
"Miyamoto-kun is still the best."
Mhm. I could hear some buzzing sounds all around me, and for some reason. But very well, they shall be left to their own devices.
And then, soon enough.
"Alright, with this, I believe we can bring this theory session to a close and move along with the practical aspect."
The shitty bootlicking knight commander said that as everyone scattered across the field, boots thudding, blades rattling in their scabbards.
Well, almost, if not most girls, then went towards Miyamoto. Swarming like flies to light.
I, on the other hand, ambled away, found a place to camp out, leaning back against the cold stone near the walls of the enclosed training ground while continuing to doze.
The moss felt nicer than the company.
Nakatani, however, had also been left to his own devices. I'd brief him too concerning our training.
I would only train him discreetly, and during the usual training time, he'll be left alone to do whatever he wanted.
There are some things I know I shouldn't largely interfere with, like for example… this situation.
"Yo, Nakatani. What are you doing? You know that sword's totally useless in your hands anyway, right? I mean, come on, you're a total weakling!"
A black-haired male without any noticeable features, his voice voiced out in the air like a thrown rock, loud and smug.
He tilted his head, flashing his teeth in a mock grin while twirling a wooden practice sword in his hand like a toy.
"Hey man, that's going too far. I mean, you're totally right though, Takashi... Gyahaha!"
Another black-haired male, like the previous, barked out laughter, slapping his thigh as if he'd heard the greatest joke in history.
With that, another guy behind him started howling too, doubling over dramatically.
"Why do you even bother coming to training? I'd be way too embarrassed if I were you!"
"Hey, Takashi. He's just so pitiful... Don't you think we should help him out with his training a little?"
Shogou and the others laughed hysterically, as if Takashi had actually said something funny.
"Huh? Come on, Shogou, don't you think you're being a bit too nice to him? Well, I'm a nice guy too, so I guess I don't mind helping out."
Takashi rubbed the back of his neck as if troubled by how generous he was, grinning ear to ear.
"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. I'm also a super nice guy, so I'll pitch in. Man, you better thank us, Nakatani. We're taking out some of our precious time to help out a weakling like you."
They put their arms around Nakatani's shoulders in a false gesture of kindness to drag him away to an inconspicuous location.
Most of the rest noticed, but they pretended not to see anything.
"Oh no, I'm fine by myself. You don't have to waste your time on me."
Nakatani tried to refuse, though he knew it was pointless.
"Huh!? Here I am going out of my way to train your sorry ass and this is what I get? I can't believe you! You should be on your knees thanking me!"
Takashi's tone turned sharp. He shoved Nakatani hard enough to make him stumble, his foot kicking up a puff of dirt.
Haah, all this was a farce, and honestly, I should attempt to stop it. However, since I knew this was a farce, I continued dozing.
Regardless of what I thought, in the end, they dragged him over and then, as anyone on the training ground had expected—
Takashi drove his fist into Nakatani's side, hard. A dull thud echoed off the courtyard wall, followed by a choked groan as Nakatani's knees buckled slightly.
He clutched at his ribs, breath snagging in his throat. His face twisted.
Since yesterday, he'd been aware that they would get violent with him.
They were Onizuka goons, and they'd had it for him for a while now. This wasn't new. It just escalated.
While it might've been natural for hormone-driven boys in puberty to go mad with power once they got their hands on some, that made it no easier for the one who had to bear the brunt of their lapse in sanity.
And so, the punches came easy.
Though it was not as if there was anything Nakatani could do to fight back.
All he could do was grit his teeth and try to bear it. White knuckles. Tight jaw. Nothing but breathing.
Eventually, Takashi thrust Nakatani down to the ground. A rough shove to the collarbone. Nakatani stumbled back and hit the dirt with a thump.
"Come on, get up. It's time for some fun training."
Takashi, Shogou, Takuya, and Kitadori all stepped in, forming a loose ring around him.
Each already cracking their knuckles or rolling their shoulders like they were just warming up.
One of them spat off to the side. Another kicked a stone out of the way.
Nakatani bit his lip in frustration as he stood up. One knee first. Then the other. He didn't bother brushing the dirt off.
"Guah!?"
Another strike, this time from Kitadori—an open-handed smack to the back of the head that knocked his balance off again.
Nakatani staggered forward, barely catching himself.
As for the classmates in question, without a speck of difference, they all had the same black hair and above-average height for their age.
Generic build. Generic laughs. Generic cruelty.
Except for the fact that they really did have a punchable face…
"Hey, you. . ."
"You!"
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
I heard those voices calling me out of my dazed state. Though dazed, I was also playing the shadows.
That was why I knew what they were doing.
Naturally, the person in front of me, blonde-haired, wearing knightly armor, different from the blonde-haired chick magnet.
The knight commander of this kingdom.
What was his name again?
I couldn't even be bothered to check his status or show any interest in him.
"What is it?"
Gradually, I opened my eyes to focus on him. My vision was strained, causing his figure to appear blurry.
"Shouldn't you be training? You might be strong but—"
He was also ignoring Nakatani, wasn't he? I can't say I was surprised.
Fully adjusting my sight, I narrowed my eyes on him.
"Shouldn't there be someone else who needs the assistance of the glorious knight commander?"
He flinched.
Still at my position, leaning my back against the wall, crossing my hands, I tilted my head up slightly.
"You... hmph. What could you possibly mean?"
"Playing dumb, are we, commander?"
Leaning forward slightly, appearing behind him. I leaned my back against his back, mirroring him, pressing in just enough to make it clear I could've done worse.
His breath hitched and he stepped forward on reflex, gripping the sword by his waist tightly.
"When did he—?"
"So even you couldn't see this, huh? Now who's the one that needs the training?"
Saying that I continued walking away.
Of course, I knew I wasn't one to talk, since I was simply gifted with the power.
However, now it's mine, and not for a second did I believe I was untouchable because of these abilities.
If anything, my desire was to grow stronger.
Certainly, there are many bizarre occurrences happening in this kingdom. And I feel I'd need strength.
Especially after what I heard yesterday.
Heh, still, I can't help but notice the astonished expressions on everyone's faces as I strolled away.
And speaking of which, I could feel the hateful and envious glares directed at my back.
Honestly, as much as I want to pummel you into submission… I'll save that for another day.
Returning to my room.
It's been about three hours since then I guess.
I poised on my bed, elbow plunged into my bed, and my head rested on that with my eyes closed.
While it looked like I was sleeping, in fact, I was playing around with [Shadow Sense].
To be fair, I'd been using it for most of the day, relying on it rather than my normal senses.
My senses couldn't go past 20 meters, it seems, but anything within that range can be sensed.
Additionally, if I thin it out, I can sense further.
There was also a more funny discovery. Magic exists in this world, though its usefulness is questionable.
First off, this world seemed solely focused on, "I can blow up mountains with my fist" and all, but not magic.
Other than basic magic, every other ability in line seems to come from skills, if I'm not wrong.
And then, the skills themselves ranged.
Heroic Strength. Sage. Sword Saint. Ogre God. Goddess of War.
Something about those skills screams "overcompensating."
Well, I wouldn't really say the magic of this world was extremely basic, but perhaps, the knowledge of advanced magic is being hidden?
Or rather, it's simply not everyone that has the knowledge?
Though my powers on the other hand seem to grant me more than just skills.
They also grant me resistances when I unlock certain skills:
Physical resistance, magical resistance, abnormal condition resistance, and a whole lot of others.
Now that I think about it, Night-Walker doesn't seem like the typical name for a skill.
Maybe it's simply me.
Forget it. Just as I mused,
Knock! Knock!
A knock sounded at my door. Using [Shadow Sense]...
"Nakatani, huh?... Come in."
The door slowly opened as he entered, looking all bruised and beaten. They'd really done him that bad, huh?
Seeing him enter, I sat cross-legged on my bed, motioning the wooden chair by my bedside for him to sit.
"First off, I think you should get yourself healed. Minase can help with that."
He flinched hearing her name.
"I… I don't want to bother her…"
Nakatani said this almost shyly, with a wry laugh while scratching his cheeks.
Nngh.
I let out a huff.
"That girl doesn't care about the prejudice the class is giving you. But fine, if you wish."
Closing my eyes, I mused about it before slightly opening my eyes to level it at him.
Now I think about it. Isn't Minase too…
Ahah. My lips curled slightly.
Hehe, this can work too.
"W-why're you suddenly smiling like that?"
"Screw that for a moment and stretch out your hand."
Nakatani blinked. "F-for what…"
"Just hurry up and do it."
Hesitantly, he stretched out his hand, and I grabbed it. And the moment I did,
THUM!
We both sunk into darkness, into the shadows.
…it was dark, like the bottom of the ocean; so was how it looked.
The surface where light reflected was the border that separated the normal world from the [Ocean of Shadows].
Okay, this is a cool one.
[Ocean of Shadows].
Like its name suggests, an ocean of darkness. Simple and easy to understand, no?
Just like how underwater, you can see light reflecting upon its surface, the same concept applies here.
Just that…
"Uguu… were…"
Nakatani asked, almost choking on his words. Well, he'd have done so if I weren't keeping hold of him.
In fact, he would have sunk inside it.
"This place is the [Ocean of Shadows]. But well, just hold on tight."
Saying that, I stretched my hands forward, and then, like breaking the surface of water, we appeared.
But this time, our surroundings changed.
We appeared in what seemed to look like a forest.
"This…"
And when I turned back, I could see the figure of the kingdom kilometers away.
Yet, at the same time, I felt exhaustion wash over me.
[Shadow Step Lv.1]
Guess I shouldn't have gone past my limits for this ability. But doing so will push the mastery of my skill, which is also good.
Wiping the sweat that crept down my forehead with the back of my sleeve, I exhaled.
My vision wobbled slightly, but I steadied it with will.
"It's time to train."
"Huh?"