Another World Story

Day Seventy-Five:

"...."

As I opened my eyelids a not so familiar ceiling greeted my eyes, a plain white ceiling that seems like it was made out of marble tiles.

I'm in a different place...

Moving only my head I looked towards my right side, I could see a chair beside a rectangular table and on top of it is a small lamp. There were also fruits that I have never seen before mixed with fruits that I was familiar of inside a round basket. I could also see a small vase with a single white flower in it.

Seeing all the things on my right side, I moved my head once again, and this time to my right left side. There was a wide open window with blue curtains swaying as the wind entered the room. I could see that there were tree outside even if I'm lying down, I could also hear birds singing. And I could feel the cold air touching my skin as the wind entered the room.

"....I am.... alive... huh"

With a slight difficulty in speaking, I muttered. I could still vividly remember what happened to me. Raising my arms infront of me, I inspected them.

"They're back..." I whispered. I could also feel that my legs that was severed is healed.

I then brought my left hand to my chest.

"...It's...gone..."

The long diagonal deep wound that I received the moment my skills shut down, was now gone, as if it were never there to begin with. The wounds in my body have also disappeared .I could see, so my eyes that was gouged out have returned. I could hear so my ears that was torn and pierced is now healed.

"..."

It feels strange.... The painful parts is still clear in my head, when my eyes was grabbed and tossed like a ping-pong ball when I tried to save the princess, when my ears that was pulled and was torn and my eardrums that was pierced by his sword, the feeling of my arms and legs being slowly severed. I could still remember them clearly...yet, I feel calm. So calm at that that I feel even more afraid of this calmness than what was done to me.

Is it because my skills are now active?

Thinking this, I opened my status window and a transparent blue screen appeared infront of me, I surveyed it.

--------------------------------

[Status Window]

Name: #@$!%*&

Class: Unidentified

Level: 36

Age: 18

Sex: Male

Blessings: None

Curses: Curse of the Bladeless (NEW)

Titles: Apostle of a God, True Merchant, One Who Faced Death

Health: 4000/4000

Mana: 3400/3400

Strength: 240 (230)

Intelligence: 230 (220)

Agility: 321 (311)

Dexterity: 330 (320)

Stamina: 233 (223)

Persistence: 125 (115)

Composure: 200 (190)

Insight: 160 (150)

{Stat Points: 0}

SKILLS

-Production Skills-

Blacksmith Lvl 1

Tailoring Lvl 4 (1)

Alchemy Lvl 1

Sculpting Lvl 4 (2)

Cooking Lvl 10 (4)

Butchering Lvl 5

Potion Making Lvl 1

Carpentry Lvl 1

Fishing Lvl 2

Masonry Lvl 1

Wood Cutting Lvl 2

-Passive Skills-

Poker Face Lvl 10 (7)

Cold Eyes Lvl 10 (7)

Grim Demeanor Lvl 10 (7)

Marketing Lvl 1

Administering Lvl 1

Bargaining Lvl 2 (1)

Quick Calculation Lvl 10 (6)

Ashura's Life Lvl 1

Weapons Mastery Lvl 4

Magic Mastery Lvl 7 (5)

Mana Manipulation Lvl 6 (NEW)

Poison Resistance Lvl 1 (NEW)

-Active Skills-

Dimension Storage Magic Lvl MAX

Plunder Lvl 1

Everyday Magic

- Everyday Fire Magic Lvl 8 (6)

- Everyday Earth Magic Lvl 8 (4)

- Everyday Water Magic Lvl 9 (4)

- Everyday Wind Magic Lvl 8 (3)

Stealth-Shadow Assimilation Lvl 10

Assassinate Lvl 6 (4)

Fear Conversion Lvl 4 (1)

Night Vision Lvl 7 (1)

Soul Sacrifice Lvl -- (NEW)

-----------------

"...So they've reached the first cap..."

When I looked at my skill tab, the skills that I have used the most during the fight has reached their first cap. Which means that they won't be leveling for now, unless I get permission from the Great Gods. I also noticed that some of my skills have leveled up without my knowing, there was also a skill that I don't remember ever tried acquiring...

"Poison Resistance...*Shiver*"

Just seeing the name of the skill made me remember that agonizing days when Count Rudolf and Mr. James fed me poisons one after another... and yet I didn't received the skill at that time. Which means that I received that just recently.

Eh. No use thinking about this.

It was beneficial to me, so I didn't thought about it anymore. Instead, I took my pillow and leaned it against the wall. I then used my arms as a support and leaned on the pillow. I am now sitting upright. Then I pulled the blanket that was covering my body towards my waist, and looked towards my left, to the open window where I could see nothing but the tree branches spreading wide covering the sight beyond it.

You guys might be wondering: 'Why is this guy looking at the window when he could not see a thing besides branches?'. Welp, the answer to that is...

Click-

"...You're finally awake"

"..."

Without his usual messy hair, the man with his dark-blue hair fixed in a fashionable way gazed towards me with his gentle purple eyes. He wore an outfit that fit him so well, a dark-blue coat with golden lining on the edges, a purple tie and dark-blue formal shoes. He was also wearing his crest; a sword and shield protecting a silver eagle, it was attached to the chest part of the coat.

Seeing him infront of me, I finally figured out how I survived. Though vague, I remembered hearing his voice back in that basement. 'Rest now. I'll deal with the future' is what he said back then if I remember correctly. I don't know what he meant by that though, either he thought that I was a goner and said that to comported me by saying that. Or he said that knowing that I'm still alive and tried to save me, saying those words could also mean that he would take responsibility for whatever reason I was doing there.

Either way, I'm thankful.

"Count..."

With my still raspy voice, I turned my head towards him and called out to him. I already felt his presence, to be exact, his mana presence before he could even enter this room. That's why I fixed my posture, and tried to look as apathetic as possible. I still can't activate my skills, I don't know what's wrong but as long as I can't use them, I'll pretend to be the me with those skills active. I was also thinking before he entered to fake it and pretend that I forgot my memories, but knowing that the Count could tell lies from truth, I disregarded that. Makes me wonder how I could feel this calm without those skills...

"... How are you feeling?"

With a bitter smile on his face, Count Rudolf walked to my right side, took the chair beside the table and sat down. I followed him with only eyes and head.

"Fine... Though I still can't move my legs much"

"I see...…want some apple?"

"..."

I nodded my head. So those really are apple, huh? I thought they just look like one, so are those also the same? Oranges, grapes, and pears? I wonder how they taste...

Count Rudolf took a red fruit from the round basket, he took a plate and a pealing knife from the drawer underneath the table and started cutting the apple to bite size pieces. He's quite dexterous.

"Here"

I took the plate that contains the bit size apples, and using a toothpick that was lying on the plate, I ate them.

Taste the same as the apples in my world...

Just like the lemonade that I had with the Count. Come to think of it, there are words that I have been using and the people around here seems to know of them. So my theory from my 'To be Researched List' is kind of on point? Nah, let's not jump to conclusions, it might be the opposite.

Anyways... His stare is kinda bothering me...

"..."

"... Sir?"

Not being able to stand the gaze that seemed to look at my whole existence, I could out to him. I don't mind being stared at if it's a beautiful girl, but if it's a middle-aged man... I'll have to pass.

"Ah- My apologies. I was just feeling glad that you've woken up. I still couldn't believe that you've survive, and so I thought that if I turned my sight away from you... you would disappear"

It seems his trauma from the people dear to him disappearing one after another was quite deep... Wait? Does that mean I'm important to him?! Iyaah, I feel happy for some reason...

"As I said, besides the fact that I still couldn't move properly, I feel fine. So I won't disappear anytime now, I'm quite persistent you know"

"...Pfft- Puahahahahahaha!"

He laughed... Hey! Was that some kind of prank?! I was sincerely saying those words though!

"Aahh... My bad. I'm just not used when you are like this you see... Aahh, my stomach hurts..."

"...What do you mean?"

"What else? I'm talking about your tone. It's different"

"Isn't that because my voice is still raspy?"

"No. I'm sure that it gained something that it doesn't have before. I don't what it is though"

"..."

Quite the unreliable elder you are...

Welp, at least he's not staring at me like earlier. Good job, Me!

"Anyways. I'm truly glad that you've survive... I thought that you've never wake up"

…Wait, from his words it seems that I've slept for quite a time. Don't tell me I slept for two weeks again?!

"S-sir..."

"Hm? It's rare for you to freak out, what's wrong?"

With a serious face, he asked me.

"How long was I asleep?"

"....Two months"

"!!!"

His words that he seemed hesitant to say at first, made me almost went near him and grabbed his shoulders and ask him if he was saying the truth. But, thanks to my good control over myself, I restrained myself.

"Are you alright? It's rare seeing you panic, is something wrong?"

How can I not panic?! TWO months, TWO F*CKING MONTHS!! I wasted a lot of time you know!

I wanted to spill shout and spill those words, but I refrained. It would not be good. Although I lost two precious months to gain the favor of the princess and infiltrate the castle, if I asked Count Rudolf, there might be a chance for me to know where the heroes are.

Steel yourself, Me! You can do it!

With those motivating words in my head. I opened my mouth.

"No, nothing. But Sir. When can I go back to work?"

"..."