ch1-ch20 · 007-ch7

Chapter 7: The Secret of the Skill

The next day, I came to my family home to discuss what to do next.

After glancing at the zelkova nameplate that read "Maeda," I stepped through the gate. A stone-paved path stretched deep into the property, lined with trimmed pine trees on both sides.

"Been a while since I've been home."

"Why don't you live here?"

"There are... reasons."

With that exchange, we walked along the gravel path. In the large pond at the center, koi fish swam gracefully in the clear water.

Entering the house, I found my sister sitting alone at the table in the middle of the spacious living room.

Her glossy black hair was loosely tied back. She wore a black turtleneck and skinny jeans.

She slid a bookmark into the book she was reading and turned her gaze toward us.

"Dad's at work, and Mom's at work too."

"What about you?"

"I'm protecting the house."

Well, that's one way to put it.

Sis was already opening the souvenir sweets and starting to eat them.

"Want some tea?"

"Oh, yeah."

Sis poured hot water from the pot and placed a steaming cup in front of me.

"So, who might that be?"

Sis's gaze was fixed on Lumiel. By the way, unless Lumiel was in white cat mode, apparently anyone could see her (as was the case at the office).

Lumiel was also munching on the snacks.

"This is, uh, like my summoned beast."

"Like? So your skill is Summoning Arts?"

"...I am not a summoned beast."

"Huh...?"

After studying Lumiel with interest, Sis looked at me with a sharp expression.

"So this is the hero of Aoba Town, isn't it."

"Huh!" A sound escaped me involuntarily.

Sis lowered her eyes and took another bite of sweets.

"How did you know?"

"Because I'm your big sister."

She said it was based on various deductions, but she didn't seem particularly surprised, smiling a small, proud smile.

"...Hey, Sis."

"Hm?"

I fidgeted with the cup in my hands, choosing my words carefully as I began to speak. Sis just listened quietly.

I didn't think there was anyone I could trust more than my sister. So I told her everything. About my Awakening, about my skill, about Lumiel, about the World Clock.

"--And you know, this whole thing got me thinking."

About helping with the recovery, about being thanked by so many people, and about how with Lumiel, I could save even more people going forward — I was starting to arrive at an answer.

Sis stared at me intently.

I braced myself and continued.

"I'm thinking... maybe I should become a Hunter."

A moment of silence.

"...Yeah, I figured."

Sis slurped her hot tea and let out a deep sigh. I pressed on.

"Helping with the recovery made me feel a sense of purpose in helping people. If I become a Hunter, I can stop the World Clocks in the future and save even more people!"

"I'll do it too. I support that."

Lumiel nodded emphatically.

At my passionate words, Sis narrowed her eyes slightly.

"...The thought itself isn't bad."

"Right!?"

"But you're not suited to be a Hunter."

She cut me off sharply.

"Huh... why?"

"Do you intend to hand this girl over to the Hunter Association?"

Lumiel, now the focus of attention, tilted her head in confusion.

I couldn't help but frown.

Why would that even come up?

"I don't understand what you..."

"See? That's why you shouldn't become a Hunter. Because you're kind."

Sis set down her cup, crossed her arms, and continued calmly.

"First of all, your idea of 'helping people' is naive."

"What do you mean?"

"Being thanked for disaster recovery and saving people as a Hunter are completely different things. On the battlefield, there are more lives you can't save than lives you can. If you're serious about helping people, you need to be prepared to face that reality."

Her sharp words left me speechless.

"You're only looking at the 'people you saved,' but are you really looking at the 'people you couldn't save'?"

"..."

"Being a Hunter is a job where you carry the weight of 'lives you couldn't save' while you live. Your comrades can die right in front of you. Would you still do it?"

My sister's gaze seemed to carry a hint of reproach for my past behavior.

"Saying 'I want to help people, so I'll become a Hunter' without thinking about that — I have to say, your resolve is lacking. That's why I told you before, right? 'It's not something you become out of admiration.'"

Coming from someone who had actually worked as a Hunter, her words carried weight and conviction. She continued.

"Besides, you don't even know anything about your own skill, do you?"

Honestly, I had no information about Descent Arts at all. So I'd just been thinking of it as "a skill that summons a strong creature" without much thought — but judging by my sister's reaction, that was apparently wrong.

"Your skill... Descent Arts is a skill that's under special management by the Association. The fact that you couldn't find any information about it is probably why."

A specially managed skill.

I felt a chill run down my spine.

"Is Descent Arts really that dangerous of a skill?"

Sis lowered her eyes slightly and let out a breath.

I couldn't see Lumiel's expression from where she sat on my lap.

"Those who have used Descent Arts... die."

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