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"Sorry, Takamiya-san. I just got a pop up telling me some kind of skill is unlocked, so I would like to check it first."
"Huh, you gained a skill just like that?!"
"Well, I am not really sure what it is, hence I want to see the details."
After all, it was neither acquired, or learned, but 'unlocked.' I thought maybe there's some changes in my skill «Gacha Game - Spendlock». I didn't know we could get skill besides leveling up.
With so many thoughts popping up in my mind, I hurriedly examined my status.
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Kashima Souta
Level : 5
HP (Endurance) : 28/28
SV (Skill Value) : 7
Skill Slot (1)
・—«Gacha Game - Spending Restricted»
・—Derivative Skill I : «Friend Gacha»
・—Derivative Skill II : «Team Formation»
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It appears the pop up was due to new derivative skill. I knew it was a flight of fantasy to expect an increase in skill slot value.
Then again, maybe this new derivative might have combat potential? I guessed to myself, and tapped on the skill for a more detailed explanation.
«Team Formation»: Select a party member to strengthen them, as well as set their equipment.
What was I even expecting... Nothing about it screams combat potential.
Anyway, for now, It seemed it wasn't a coincidence, it happened because I made a party with Takamiya-san. I wasn't really sure of this theory, I mean we'd formed a party during the practical lesson of the training course, but it didn't unlock then.
Maybe because I’d level up to a certain degree? If not, then I guess it'd have to be due to skill value.
It was just a guess, but I think I was quite confident of it. I was still lost on what action to take while levelling up, so I think I would follow that hunch. Better than running blind.
Oh well, that was something to think about later. For now, I’d wanted to test it out immediately, but we'd just met, so I wasn't really sure if I should do it.
"Um, Senpai?"
Just as I was lost in thought, Takamiya-san's voice fell into my ear.
"What kind of skill did you get? I will explain mine too, so I was hoping to exchange information."
Hmm, it wasn't polite to ask of someone else's skill, but that wasn't a problem if both sides agreed. And more importantly, it might be a temporary party, but we're still on this together. Strategically, it was best to know about the party member's abilities as that would allow to form a better plan.
I guess, there was no harm telling her. Besides, we're both demerit skill holders which had made us targets of ridicule. It should be more reassuring.
"Alright, let's do it."
"Thank you! But just to be forthright, I would've still revealed my skill regardless of your decision, Senpai."
"Huh, why?"
"I am sure we will stumble on at least one or two goblin groups till entrance. Say, Senpai, how confident are you that you can deal with them unhurt?"
"That's a bit tricky. If it's just once, I think I can avoid getting hurt, but repeated battles will inevitably force me to take some damage."
I'd have used my arm guard to tank some of the goblin's attacks.
"Thought so. That's why I want to clear my skill’s effect. It would’ve been dishonest otherwise, moreso when you went out of your way to save me.”
Just what in the world was the effect of her skill that she was so apprehensive?
"My «Game System: Eroge» has two derivative skills—«Dress Damage», and «Heavy Equipment»."
"...Aren’t derivative skill’s names cooler?"
"Please, I don't want to hear that......"
It was truly impressive how the naming of the main skill, and its derivative skills, were worlds apart in impression. As that thought occurred in the corner of my mind, I listened to Takamiya-san's details.
"«Heavy Equipment» allows me to handle weapons heavier than me with ease. I typically use a Great Shield to exploit the effect, but I lost it somewhere around when I encountered the goblins you defeated. So I can't do a practical demonstration for that."
Heh, she's even explaining skills she didn't have to when it’s unusable currently. I mean, Takamiya-san just had to make it through the dungeon entrance, so she could've chosen to hide it. Still, this sounds like a pretty normal skill, so I presumed the problem had to be in another skill?
"The effect of another skill, «Dress Damage», is, well......"
"You don't have to say it if it's hard to speak about it."
Hearing her stammering words, I unwittingly remarked.
"N-no, that can't do. I must explain this for a precise reason! Basically...... when party members take damage, the damage is instead transferred to the clothes they're wearing."
"......That's really something out of Eroge."
"...Ngh."
I had seen similar scenes—the characters would strangely be harmless despite their clothes being completely in tatters—in the Ero...I mean, gal-games Akihito often plays. And recalling back, it was also quite normal for girls in those games to fight with weapons often bigger, or even gigantic, compared to their stature.
"So, to put it together, the derivative skills might appear like they are disconnected from «Game System: Eroge», but some of the aspects are still an offshoot of it huh."
"I think we've talked enough about me! It's your turn, Senpai. What is the effect of your skill?"
"Ah, err, my skills are—"
I gave a rundown on «Friend Gacha» and «Team Formation».
"I see, so that's why you're greeting everyone at the school entrance."
"That's basically the gist."
"But if that's the case, then I presume the skill you just acquired is «Team Formation», right? If you would like to, you can try it on me."
Author — Arggh. Are they glued to the ground or what? Just how long are they planning to talk?! (T/N - Author often adds such postscript, typically at the end of arcs, so I will be adding them all. Some of them are like conversations between author and MC.)