This Novel is not my Novel

Still, it feels a little wrong to stand here doing nothing while everyone else fights... Maybe I should at least extend the buffs?

Unlike the 【Exaltation】 buff Valtraus had granted long ago, 【Encouragement】 still had a fair amount of duration remaining.

Even so, there was no timer displayed anywhere, nor would an alarm sound a certain number of minutes before it expired. Since I had to rely entirely on my intuition to know when to extend it, keeping the durations of all the buffs aligned as closely as possible would make it easier not to forget any of them.

"Try to do a decent job, all of you!"

With that shout, I reactivated 【Encouragement】 while simultaneously cracking my whip against the ground to extend 【Exaltation】.

Several people stared at me in disbelief.

Then again, the combination of my words and actions just now was more than enough to rub people the wrong way.

I was only doing this to preserve Karvaldr's characterization.

I had by no means lost all common sense and objectivity.

Therefore, I fully understood how they felt, but...

"I merely extended the buffs. Is there some problem?"

...I said shamelessly, raising my chin with arrogant hauteur.

Not only did the expressions of those staring at me turn utterly dumbfounded, but even the protagonist of someone else's novel, who had been struggling alone to unlock an additional function of 【Truth-Reading Eye】, ended up looking my way.

A wave of embarrassment swept over me.

"Reisir! Concentrate on your own task! Can you not see that everyone is fighting desperately and counting on you to resolve this problem?!"

I needlessly snapped at the protagonist of someone else's novel to divert everyone's attention.

Fortunately, at that very moment, the Boss Golem, which had materialized and relocated its power core, returned to its original form. Everyone's gaze left me and shifted toward the enormous rock monster.

The protagonist of someone else's novel also realized that now was no time to let himself become distracted and closed his eyes to draw out every last shred of concentration.

Wouldn't it be better for him to use 【Truth-Reading Eye】 on anything and everything to raise its proficiency, even if only a little...?

That was what I thought.

But rather than point it out and force him to grind proficiency, I decided to trust the original protagonist's judgment.

A "protagonist" was someone destined to reach his goal no matter how roundabout the path, so he would manage somehow.

Besides, although accumulating proficiency was necessary to develop a skill, truly breaking through a wall also required "enlightenment."

Every proper protagonist should have at least one experience like this—trusting the people around him, placing his safety entirely in their hands, shutting out his vision, reflecting on his own ability, and discovering a clue that leads to growth!

Admittedly, it was somewhat troubling that one of those people was the future traitor from the original work.

Still, he probably wasn't going to betray us right this instant.

Now, the only thing I can and must do is...

Wait, endure, and keep my impatience at bay.

So it was only natural and unavoidable that my gaze should be drawn toward the person capable of bringing that wait to an end.

"Try to do a decent job, all of you!"

"I merely extended the buffs. Is there some problem?"

Despite the shameless words and arrogant-looking pose, Reisir could see that Karvaldr had failed to hide his embarrassment completely.

The sight left Reisir feeling both familiarity and disbelief.

It also amused him, so he did not dislike Karvaldr's contradictory words and actions in the slightest.

If anything, he found them immensely endearing.

"Reisir! Concentrate on your own task! Can you not see that everyone is fighting desperately and counting on you to resolve this problem?!"

The same went for the way his bashful friend cried out so sharply.

Pretending to be spiteful, Karvaldr had gently revealed the concern he could not conceal while subtly expressing his trust in Reisir.

Having read this description, dear readers, you have presumably realized that the "***" used this time marked a shift in perspective rather than a change of scene.

And—

[Wasn't this novel written later, when Ymir used the 【Writing】 skill? Then how can it contain narration from an omniscient perspective centered on Reisir?]

—you have likely found yourselves asking that question.

However, revealing the details here would constitute a spoiler.

I can only ask for your understanding as we move on without further explanation.

Now, returning directly to the matter at hand and continuing the narrative:

Before Karvaldr became genuinely angry and disappointed in him, Reisir hurriedly resolved to close his eyes and concentrate.

Unfortunately, he still had no idea what he was supposed to do or how he should go about doing it.

【Truth-Reading Eye】 only lets me see a target's name, stats, and descriptions of their skills...

The result had been no different when he used the skill on the Boss Monster instead of a person.

It had shown him that the rock monster was called a "Golem," along with its stats.

It had also revealed that the creature possessed a skill called 【Reconstruction】, which allowed it to move the "power core" containing its magic core anywhere it wished.

There was nothing about how to defeat the target, how to prevent it from using its skill, or where its weakness was located in real time.

No matter how many times Reisir reread the words on the translucent window floating before him, the result remained the same.

Knowing its name was utterly useless. He had already experienced its stats firsthand through combat, and they had long since realized that it could move its magic core around.

Had he obtained this information before the battle began, he might have considered it fairly useful.

Now, however, it was nothing more than a pretty shell with nothing inside.

But there was a strange certainty in Karv's attitude.

Karv knew what Reisir could see with 【Truth-Reading Eye】 and how much information the skill provided.

He also knew what was written in its skill description window.

Reisir himself had told him everything.

In that case, the basis for Karv's certainty must also lie somewhere within what Reisir had told him.

Come to think of it... Didn't the description window for 【Truth-Reading Eye】 say that it was ?

Reisir guessed that Karvaldr might have pinned his hopes on that line.

The thought troubled him.

To Reisir, a target's "weakness" and its "hidden essence" seemed like two separate things.

The "principles of the world" seemed even further removed.

Moreover, even the skill's name emphasized the act of "reading."

Suppose the skill advanced and added categories such as "weakness" or "location of the magic core," only to list "torso" or "right leg."

The Boss Monster called a Golem possessed an enormous body, and each individual part covered a vast area to match.

If I can't determine the exact location—no, if I can't see it directly with my own eyes—then we still won't be able to destroy the magic core. It will simply use 【Reconstruction】 to move it somewhere else again.

Karvaldr must have known that as well.

That was presumably why he had asked Reisir whether there was any way for him to "see the magic core's location directly."

As Reisir unwittingly recalled Karvaldr's voice, he remembered what Karvaldr had said immediately afterward.

"My buff strengthened your skill."

The only buff skill Karv originally possessed was 【Exaltation】, right? That's also the only buff skill Karv's older brother used on us...

Rather than dwelling on the surface meaning of Karvaldr's words, Reisir began digging into what lay behind them.

But in addition to 【Exaltation】, Karv has 【Exhortation】, 【Encouragement】, and even 【Character Analysis】. That's four skills altogether, isn't it?

In truth, 【Character Analysis】 was not a buff skill.

But since there was no one around who could read Reisir's thoughts and correct him, let us simply move on.

How did Karv manage to create so many skills?

Neither Karvaldr nor Ymir had ever made a deliberate effort to create new buff skills.

Reisir did not know that, however, so he continued pondering the question.

In a way, he was turning his back on the immediate objective and investigating a completely unrelated mystery instead.

Yet at that moment, Reisir was seized by a strange premonition.

He felt that the solution to their current predicament might be found within the question that had just occurred to him.

So instead of drawing away from the mire of uncertainty, he willingly approached it, stepped inside, surrendered himself, and sank deep.

The Austri family's purple Ether originally possesses two abilities: buffs and poison, right? But for some reason, Karv can't use the poison ability... Did he work to develop his buff ability to compensate for that?

Respect for such effort and ambition welled up within him.

Unable to express it at present, Reisir suppressed the emotion born from his misunderstanding and continued thinking.

How on earth did he do it?

Having returned to his starting point, Reisir felt the impulse to simply ask Karvaldr for the answer.

But he suppressed that urge as well.

His friend, who could never admit that he was smarter than other people, would probably look at him with exasperation and ask whether Reisir truly needed to be spoon-fed even that much.

And...

Karv is waiting because he's certain I can figure it out on my own, isn't he? And I answered that I would do it no matter what. Asking Karv for help now would be... embarrassing, I suppose. Or maybe it just wouldn't look very impressive... Either way, it wouldn't feel right.

For that reason, Reisir decided to think about it alone for a little longer.

Not long afterward, he felt sincerely relieved that he had done so.

To learn a new skill, I first need to understand what attribute the silver Ether possesses, don't I?

The attribute of the silver Ether was listed in his status window as "Truth," and the skill granted to him by default was 【Truth-Reading Eye】.

Then what was "truth"?

Until now, Reisir had believed that he understood the meaning of the word.

Now, he no longer did.

It seemed so abstruse and difficult that his inability to grasp its meaning left him confused.

The sentence written in the description window for 【Truth-Reading Eye】 only deepened that confusion:

One who reads truth shall someday confront the truth of the world, so let those who are unprepared close their eyes.

At that moment, Karvaldr's voice played inside Reisir's mind.

Silver Ether possessed "the power to perceive truths that cannot be discerned merely by looking with the naked eye."

Karvaldr had already given him the answer.

If I'd asked him despite that... I really couldn't have complained if he treated me like an idiot.

It was not the fundamental meaning contained within the word °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° "truth."

However, it was easy to understand and directly connected to the objective before him.

With every second precious, sinking into the philosophical question of "What is truth?" would be a luxury.

Reisir reflected on the sentence Karvaldr had given him.

His wise friend had already spoon-fed him the answer.

There was no need to overcomplicate matters. All Reisir had to do was accept it.

The instant he reached that conclusion—

Like a breath of wind, or perhaps a burst of dazzling radiance, a certain word swept away the fog filling his mind and brilliantly illuminated the path ahead.

It was both guidance and the answer.

Even so, simply standing around as though I were watching a fire from across the river feels a little... Maybe I should refresh the buffs?

Unlike the 【Exaltation】 buff Valtraus had applied long ago, 【Encouragement】 still had a fair amount of duration left.

Even so, there was no timer displayed anywhere, nor would an alarm sound a few minutes before it expired. Since I had to rely entirely on instinct to decide when to refresh it, keeping the buff durations aligned as closely as possible would make it easier not to forget either one.

"All of you, try to do a decent job!"

With that shout, I reactivated 【Encouragement】 while striking the ground with my whip to extend the effect of 【Exaltation】.

Several people stared at me in disbelief.

Then again, the combination of my words and actions just now was more than enough to rub people the wrong way.

I was only doing this to preserve Karvaldr's characterization.

I had by no means lost all common sense and objectivity.

Thus, I fully understood how they felt, but...

"I merely refreshed your buffs. Is there a problem?"

...I said, brazenly and arrogantly raising my chin.

The expressions of those staring at me naturally turned incredulous.

Even the protagonist of someone else's novel, who had been struggling on his own to unlock an additional function of 【Truth-Reading Eye】, ended up looking my way.

A wave of embarrassment crashed over me.

"Reisir! Focus on what you should be doing! Can you not see that everyone is fighting desperately in the hope that you will solve this problem?!"

I needlessly snapped at the protagonist of someone else's novel to divert attention from myself.

Fortunately, the Boss Golem, which had just rematerialized after relocating its power core, regained its original form at that very moment. Everyone's eyes left me and shifted toward the enormous rock monster.

The protagonist of someone else's novel also realized that now was no time to let his attention wander and closed his eyes, seeking to summon the utmost concentration.

Wouldn't he be better off using 【Truth-Reading Eye】 on everything around him to raise its proficiency even a little...?

That was what I thought.

But rather than point it out and force him to grind proficiency, I decided to trust the original protagonist's judgment.

A "protagonist" was someone destined to reach his goal no matter which road he took. He would manage somehow.

They said that building proficiency was necessary to improve a skill, but truly breaking through a wall also required "enlightenment."

As a protagonist, he ought to have at least one experience like this—trusting the people around him, entrusting his safety entirely to them, shutting off his vision, reflecting on his own ability, and discovering the key to growth!

Although it did bother me somewhat that one of those people was the traitor from the original work.

Still, it wasn't as though he would betray us right now.

Now, what I can and must do is...

Simply endure the wait while suppressing my impatience.

So it was only natural and unavoidable that my gaze would turn toward the person capable of bringing that wait to an end.

"All of you, try to do a decent job!"

"I merely refreshed your buffs. Is there a problem?"

Despite his shameless words and arrogant-looking pose, he had failed to hide the embarrassment on his face.

Reisir felt both familiarity and disbelief.

He also found it amusing, so he did not dislike Karvaldr's contradictory words and behavior in the least.

On the contrary, he was extremely fond of them.

"Reisir! Focus on what you should be doing! Can you not see that everyone is fighting desperately in the hope that you will solve this problem?!"

The same was true when his easily embarrassed friend cried out so sharply.

While pretending to be spiteful, Karvaldr gently revealed the concern he could not conceal and subtly expressed his trust at the same time.

Having read this narration, I believe you, dear readers, have already realized that the "* * *" used here signified a shift in viewpoint rather than a change of scene.

And—

[ Wasn't this novel written later by Ymir using the 【Writing】 skill? Then how can it contain omniscient narration centered on Reisir? ]

—I expect that question has occurred to you.

However, revealing the details here would constitute a spoiler.

I can only ask for your understanding as I move on without further explanation.

Now, returning directly to the matter at hand and resuming the narrative...

Reisir decided to hurry and close his eyes so he could concentrate before Karvaldr genuinely became angry and disappointed in him.

Unfortunately, he still had no idea what he was supposed to do or how he was supposed to do it.

【Truth-Reading Eye】 only lets me see a target's name, stats, and descriptions of its skills...

The result had been no different when he used the skill on the Boss Monster rather than a person.

He could read that the rock monster was called a "Golem," along with its stats.

He could also see that it possessed a skill called 【Reconstruction】, which allowed it to move its "power core," containing its magic core, freely throughout its body.

There was nothing about how to defeat the target, how to prevent it from using its skill, or where its weakness was located in real time.

The result remained the same no matter how many times he reread the text on the translucent window floating before him.

Knowing its name was utterly useless. He had already experienced its stats firsthand through combat.

They had also realized long ago that it was moving its magic core from place to place.

Had they possessed this information before the battle began, it might have proved quite useful. Now, however, it was nothing more than an attractive but empty shell.

But there was a strange certainty in Karv's manner.

Karvaldr knew what Reisir could see with 【Truth-Reading Eye】 and how much information it revealed.

He also knew what was written in its skill description.

Reisir had told him all of it.

Then the basis for Karvaldr's confidence must also lie somewhere in what Reisir had told him.

Come to think of it... the description window for 【Truth-Reading Eye】 said it was "the power to see through the principles of the world and reveal hidden essences," didn't it?

Reisir guessed that Karvaldr might have pinned his hopes on that line.

That left him troubled.

To Reisir, a target's "weakness" and its "hidden essence" seemed like entirely separate things.

The "principles of the world" seemed even further removed.

Moreover, the skill's very name emphasized the act of "reading."

What if the skill advanced and added entries such as "weakness" or "location of the magic core," only for them to say merely "torso" or "right leg"?

The Boss Monster called a Golem possessed individual body parts with areas as enormous as its overall size suggested.

If I can't determine its precise location—no, if I can't see it directly with my own eyes—we still won't be able to destroy the magic core. It will simply use 【Reconstruction】 to move it somewhere else again.

Karvaldr must have known that as well, which was why he had asked whether Reisir could "see the magic core's location directly."

Reisir involuntarily recalled Karvaldr's voice, then remembered what he had said next.

"Your skill has been strengthened by my buff."

Originally, the only buff skill Karv was given was 【Exaltation】, right? That's also the only buff skill Karv's elder brother used on us...

Rather than dwelling on the surface meaning of Karvaldr's words, Reisir probed into the background behind them.

But in addition to 【Exaltation】, Karv also has 【Exhortation】, 【Encouragement】, and even 【Character Analysis】. He has four skills in total, doesn't he?

In fact, 【Character Analysis】 was not a buff skill.

But no one could read Reisir's thoughts and correct him at the moment, so let us simply move on.

How in the world did Karv manage to create so many skills?

Neither Karvaldr nor Ymir had ever made any deliberate effort to create new buff skills themselves.

Reisir, however, did not know that, so he continued pondering the question.

Viewed one way, he was turning his back on the immediate objective and investigating an irrelevant mystery instead.

Yet at that moment, Reisir was seized by an uncanny premonition.

He felt that the solution to their current predicament could be found within the question that had just occurred to him.

And so, rather than retreating from the mire of uncertainty, he willingly approached it, stepped inside, surrendered himself to it, and sank deep.

The Austri family's purple Ether originally possessed two abilities: buffs and poison, right? But for some reason, Karv can't use its poisonous ability... Did he work to develop its buffing ability to compensate for that?

Respect welled up within him for such effort and ambition, but he could not express it now.

Reisir suppressed the emotion born of his misunderstanding and continued thinking.

How exactly did he do it?

Having returned to square one, Reisir felt the urge to simply ask Karvaldr and have him provide the answer.

But Reisir suppressed that impulse as well.

His friend, who could not admit that he was more intelligent than everyone else, would probably find him pathetic and ask whether he needed even that spoon-fed to him.

Besides...

Karv is waiting because he's certain I can figure it out myself, isn't he? And I told him I would do it, no matter what. Asking Karv for help now would be... undignified, I suppose. Or perhaps it wouldn't look very impressive... Either way, it just doesn't feel right.

For those reasons, Reisir decided to think on his own a little longer.

Not long afterward, he felt sincerely relieved that he had.

To learn a new skill, I first need to understand what attribute silver Ether possesses, right?

The name of the silver Ether's attribute in the status window was "Truth," and the skill granted to him by default was 【Truth-Reading Eye】.

Then what was "truth"?

Until now, Reisir had believed he understood the meaning of that word.

But now he no longer did.

It seemed profoundly abstruse and difficult, and his inability to comprehend its meaning left him confused.

This was made worse by the sentence written in the description window for 【Truth-Reading Eye】:

Those who read truth shall one day confront the truth of the world, so let those who are unprepared close their eyes.

At that moment, Karvaldr's voice played inside Reisir's mind.

Silver Ether possessed "the power to perceive truths that cannot be discerned merely by looking with the naked eye."

Karvaldr had already given him the answer.

If I'd still asked him after that... I truly couldn't have complained if he treated me like an idiot.

It was not the essential meaning contained within the word "truth."

But it was easy enough to understand, and it was directly connected to his immediate objective.

With every second precious, indulging in the philosophical question of "What exactly is truth?" would be a luxury.

Reisir reflected on the sentence Karvaldr had given him.

His wise friend had already spoon-fed him the answer. There was no need to overthink it. All Reisir had to do was swallow.

The moment he thought that...

Like a breath of wind—or a brilliant ray of light—

a single word swept away the fog filling his mind and brightly illuminated the path ahead.

It was both guidance and answer.

==========

【Truth-Seeing Eye】 - (S)

: Allows the user to see what cannot be seen.

: No matter how secretly or thoroughly something may be hidden, the instant your gaze falls upon it, it shall be clearly revealed.

==========