The Skill Collector

"Please, I want you to come to my village!

As we rode the streets and even went east on a carriage, a badly eyed woman popped out in the direction of the path and shouted at us.

The carriage stopped suddenly in action, but the woman in front of her doesn't even show a frightening bare gesture at a critical, stopped horse.

A young woman with dark green hair bound together depending on the addition or subtraction of light. I also thought you were an adventurer because you carry a sword on your hips, but you're not wearing armor.

I don't look bad, but the dark bear under my eyes and the congested eyes are ruining everything. Age looks around twenty.

Pretty stuck in cutting feathers, or restless. You don't look like a bad person.

A merchant and adventurer aboard the carriage look suspiciously at the impatient woman's attitude.

"What are you talking about? We need to get to the city a long time ago. Out of the way, out of the way."

He waves as if he were going to drive away the worm, but the woman does not make it slight. So you don't want to leave.

Like a stranded beast, a woman with a strained mind. If I touch your body, you're going to bite me.

"We're going to have a bunch of demons in the village up ahead! So help me!

"A bunch of demons, huh? There are only miscellaneous fish out here. It would be a safe place. To that extent, even villagers could be exorcised. There are some great adventurers in the carriage, but I'm busy."

"Ouch. I don't have time to deal with low-level demons."

One of the adventurers is rolling up his arms and appealing to his strength.

I just looked it up in The Appraisal, and the three adventurers on board possessed skills that the intermediate class might have. He's right, there's no problem with demonic opponents appearing in this area.

"It's not! More vicious demons push in the herd, not in the lower classes!

I'm not relieved by the words of the adventurer, and the woman keeps begging us to come with a face she's about to cry.

I tried activating 'Psychology' because it didn't look like I was saying it in a lie or joke, but I decided that what the woman was talking about was not a lie.

"Psychology" can read the movement of the mind to some extent, but it's not about omnipotence. If you have high 'acting' skills, you can be fooled without reading your mind.

But at my 'psychology' level, deception would be difficult even for famous stage actresses.

"I'm gonna push you in the herd, huh? You know, if you're gonna throw up more lies, you're gonna throw up more lies. Besides, did I just tell you I'm going to show up? How do you know that?

"Well, I have 'prediction' skills!

That's a lie. "Psychology" determines so.

If you look at her upset, it's obvious she doesn't have to activate her skills.

"Damn, don't throw up a visible lie. If you have such rare skills, do something yourself. If you're not going anywhere, don't complain if they keep jumping! Yes!"

When your master waves down the reins, the horse begins to move forward relentlessly.

As the woman flew in a hurry, the carriage ran through its side.

"Damn, damn it! Why, why, nobody understands! Also, you fail me! How helpless...... How many times should I repeat it? How many times do we have to keep watching everyone get killed!

He has collapsed without force and slammed his fist to the ground many times.

I said goodbye to my fellow passengers and jumped off the carriage, and I gently walked over to her.

"Can you tell me more about that story?

I guess you didn't even think I was there. She looks up at me with a wet face in tears, and she's stunned.

It is also true that I was concerned about her words and actions, but there are more concerns than that. I was interested in skills that I could hardly even see as thin with a high level of 'appraisal'.

"Back to Death"

This is probably, like, one-of-a-kind skills.

"My name is Ripley"

Deeply bowing his head, Ripley seemed relieved to see my face, which was left alone, and he still looked like he was about to cry.

He still seems to be biting his lips off and holding his fist all the time, desperate to push his emotions to death.

"I may not be a big help alone, though."

"No, I'm comfortable with one. You're the only one who listened to me. If you don't mind if I tell you your name?

"It's not a name, but you all call me a collector,"

"Collector...... is it?

It's quite famous among the city and the powerful who base it, but doesn't Ripley know about me? I've never visited this neighborhood, so it's obvious.

"We buy the skills you no longer need, the skills you don't need, the skills you interrupt at a high price"

"Are you buying skills? I've never heard of it."

There still seems to be time for the demonic raid, so I'm just walking shoulder to shoulder with Lipre to the village, introducing ourselves to each other and explaining the situation.

"I'd like to ask you to keep it a secret that my skill 'Buy and Sell', which allows me to buy and sell skills, is… an only skill."

"Eh, onlyskill..."

Lipre took his breath away, he leaned down. Keep walking silently without saying anything.

Again, did you react to this word? If her 'Back to Death' is an only-skilled as I am, I thought there would be some reaction.

I honestly talked about "buying" and "buying and selling" without telling a lie, in order to get this person to trust me.

"There is a thing in the world called rare skill, which is said to have only owned a few people in the past. More valuable than that, there is only one skill in the world, including the present past. That's the only skill. Haven't you heard of it?

Knowing Lipre's abilities, I dare to throw the question.

She looked up bent over. Did she make up her mind, punched herself in the cheek and gazed at me.

"I know. I know it better than anyone. I also have only-skills… because I have 'Back to Death'"

"Does that mean 'prediction' is a lie and the real skill is' back to death '"

"Yes, I'm sorry I lied. Because my skills can't be explained to anyone to believe me."

One-of-a-kind skills have many special abilities and many are not trusted unless you actually see them.

In her case, it's not the kind of ability that people can easily see. By name.

"I have general expectations, but can I ask you to explain your abilities in detail?

"Yes. Time returns roughly a day before I die. I'm the only one with memories."

"Time returns... and you say"

I had predicted it, but it's hard to believe when it's actually spoken of.

I can see your skills. Even I'm about to suspect it, but it would be a difficult undertaking to trust a normal person.

"I'd like to believe it, but do you call it some kind of proof, you just want a decision-maker"

"Then it's time... time. In a few minutes, there will be an earthquake in this area. That will collapse the entrance to the cave where the demons were sealed. Then a massive demon appears… turns into hell"

He says he just spoke pale, but he's going to believe that word unconditionally.

There was force and authenticity in its eyes and expression that did not allow objections.

"I'm coming," she muttered as she looked up at the sky.

It's coming from underfoot as soon as possible, so much sway that it's hard to even stand up against us.

Is this the earthquake Ripley was talking about? I was sure of that. She's been through this future, at least once.

"How long have you been gone back to death?

"Eight times, I repeat the same day. Last time I dared commit suicide to make up for the lack of time. I bought some time to get to the streets where I could meet with the collectors."

You mean you've been through death eight times?

I've missed a lot of deaths. I know. that more people wander overwhelmingly ugly than those who can accept sudden death.

Fear of death, pain, regret. It floods the moment of death all at once, people are disturbed, they speak of regret, and sometimes they curse what is alive.

Not so long ago, death is a terrible thing.

"You've had a hard time"

"Yes, every time you die, can't you go back next...... isn't it really time you die this time? The cold of that moment of death, the feeling of life extinguishing… I'm not going to get used to it"

I don't even know if 'Back to Death' is infinite. Consideration should also be given to the possibility of a limit on the number of times. Next time you die, there is no guarantee that you will return to death.

Even so, Ripley returned earlier than usual after committing suicide the last time. The courage deserves respect.

"On three occasions I asked the villagers to run away because demons would push over, but no one believed me. I shared my destiny with the village. I recklessly went to check the cave and got inside and got killed once. Only those who believed fled, but twice were chased and killed by demons. It was the last time I killed myself. The other time, it's the first time I've died without understanding why."

Is the result of scratching and scratching now?

The desperate state of affairs at that time convinced me with this explanation.

If we fail again this time, 'Back to Death' may be activated again. But my mind won't go back to normal if my body goes back.

How many more times can her heart endure death? Its eyes were filled with a flame of obsession, but it was shaking violently and seemed to disappear now.

"What was Mr. Ripley planning to do after this?

"If the adventurer helped me, I was going to manage to seal the cave again. But in this situation, it's reckless."

She doesn't know what I'm capable of. So you honestly wouldn't expect it to be a force for war.

Lipre's skills are also called "swordsmanship" and "stubbornness". The number of slots available is high.

I don't know what to do. If I challenge the cave, I'll probably win. If you use your skills to be serious, you're not willing to lose.

But you can't do that. The village will be saved, but the protagonist in this story is Ripley. The settlement should be put on her.

Her hard work and hard work so far must be rewarded.

"Mr. Ripley. Go with me to the cave and exorcise the demons."

"I can't do that. There were a fair number of demons and intermediate masses, and I think I saw some chilling advanced demons just before I died. Not very much, but the two of us don't have hands or feet. I regret it..."

"No, it's fine. You must have grasped this possibility in" Back to Death, "even though you died many times. So now I'm buying and selling your hopes in" Buy and Sell. "

As I had heard beforehand, an uncountable amount of demons pop out of the cave with us first.

Two of them intercept it: me, the collector, and Lipre, who is also a swordsman.

Normally, it's a reckless, extreme battle, but the enemy is mutilated before overwhelming violence.

I'm not knocking him down. Ripley is burying his enemies alone.

"This is" Advanced Swordsmanship "! 'Health' no matter how much you fight! 'Cut out' was such an excellent skill! We can see the enemy's movements stopped!

He runs around the battlefield with joy as if to clear up his previous depression (nagging).

Hey, I guess I gave you too many skills. But if you think about the days so far, you can have as many rewards as this.

Even so, I promise to have it returned later.

By the way, I didn't lend my skills just out of pure kindness.

In the unlikely event that she activates' Back to Death 'again in this state, what happens to the skills she gives away? I'm interested in that.

The condition of the body and the dirt and scratches on the clothes return to their original condition. I know that, but Lipre is back in the past with his memory maintained.

Which means the inside is not back to normal. Remember something before you go back and the memory will remain with her.

That means your skills are unlikely to be undone. The skills I've given her continue to linger after I return to death.

If this speculation is met, can we not expect further possibilities?

Give her skills and she'll lose them from me. She's the only one back in the past whose insides never go back, but the rest of us go back to being the same as before.

If I use this, can I grow my skills?

Suppose you gave your Level 10 skills to Rep and went back to death, the Level 10 I gave you is back to normal. And she will have skill level 10 left.

... Don't do anything, doesn't that mean you have ten more skills?

But this will not be substantiated because her return to death is a prerequisite measure.

"This will never bring me back to death again! With this power, we can save more people than just villagers!

He says something like a brave man. Hey, are you drunk on your powers?

I thought there was a strong sense of responsibility and justice, but wouldn't it be dangerous for someone else? It seems out of my mind that I didn't give it to you, I'm just lending it to you temporarily.

With all that skill, you won't lose...... but you're drowning in power and your attention is getting scattered. Do I have to lend a hand here?

"I'll join you."

I was sidelined in the rear, and I stepped out a long time ago, but she stretched out her arms to the side of those who were unarmed, blocking my path.

"Don't worry. With this power, any enemy is an easy victory for your opponent!

Were you in good shape when you gained strength? Don't turn around in the middle of the fight.

It was also softened at the worst possible time when advanced demons were approaching.

I activated "shrinkage," "leap," and "instantaneous force" to reduce the distance by more than a dozen steps at once... but while I was kicking the demon that popped out in front of me, a giant sword waved down by the demon in her brain - fell.

I had plenty of time in a riding carriage east of the street.

On board is a pair of trio adventurers and parents and children.

It's usually a solo journey, but it's not bad to get rocked like this by a carriage from time to time and enjoy a relaxing journey. The destination of the carriage is the city of the coal mine, but it is the immigrant village along the way that we need it.

It seems that a large number of people have flown from neighbouring countries, so I'm on my way to find out if there are any useful skills there.

The adventurers' skills have already been examined, and they all look like intermediate class adventurers.

They're all beneficial skills, so I'd like to buy them, but I don't think the adventurers would sell them.

Do I check my skills because I have too much time? Every day, I do it before I go to bed, but it's not a bad idea to relax and look out the window and look back at my skills.

It's an achievement I've collected over the years, but it's a collection of a tremendous number of skills about me.

One level at a time is also a strange thing. Especially easy to collect 'swordsmanship' or…. Hmm? That's a diminishing level of Advanced Swordsmanship. What do you mean...

There is also a dramatic decrease in the level of combat-based skills where there is some other demand.

I don't know why. There's no way you can forget that I sold off my skills. I check every day, but I had no problem last night.

"What's the matter, hon. My face is dark."

"Hey, I was thinking about yesterday's business. Because it was in deficit."

"Life. That's obvious."

Properly embellish the adventurer who has spoken up. Looks like you cared, but this one's not the other way around. This is a hell of a situation.

Did they erase your memory? No, I also remember in detail who I met from my dinner dedication. Then it is also possible to tamper with memory. In fact, I have the skills to rewrite people's memories, but I don't think that works for me.

What happened... If someone exists to get me out of here, it's...

"Sorry! Stop, please!

I was called back from a sea of deep diving thoughts with a woman shouting all the way into the car.

I wanted to chill my boiled head, so I open the window to confirm the Lord of my voice with all my interest.

A young woman with dark green hair bound together depending on the addition or subtraction of light. I also thought you were an adventurer because you carry a sword on your hips, but you're not wearing armor.

He has an excellent appearance, and his voice and standing are grand and confident.

"There you are, collector. This is Lipre. Thanks for your help last time."

A strange woman is bowing her head to me.

What, who? He's been talking to me intimately, but I don't recognize him.

Is she also relevant as to why the skill level is decreasing?

"I just got caught off guard and bothered you. Don't worry, we'll do well this time!

I don't know, but I decided I should listen to her.

It's also hard to throw away the possibility that someone as paranoid as someone else here is, but examine her skills to instantly grasp the situation.

All the skills that disappeared from me were there. The high skill level of 'honesty' would be something I didn't know I had set up.

And above all, there is one skill I care about.

Try to let me hear directly from her mouth about what happened to the future I don't know, probably not the first time I met her.