Chapter-04 · EP-067
Episode 67: When in Doubt, Ask the AI
Yesterday was another turbulent day.
Not only did I raise Yuno and the others' levels to 3 in a single day, but I also discovered a hidden ability of my skill.
That ability: I could use the skills of my party members as if they were my own.
It was, to put it mildly, cheating.
If I formed parties with various people and secretly copied their skills, I could probably become the world's greatest skill user in no time.
But what would happen if I was discovered? The country would surely consider me dangerous. Depending on the situation, I might even be captured and confined. Unlike my past life, I had some concerns about human rights in this world.
So today, I decided to try out the downloadable version of the AI Meiris that was introduced to me yesterday at the Dungeon Reference Room, and look into these matters.
I scanned the QR code I'd learned about yesterday with my smartphone and installed the downloadable version of Meiris.
After a brief greeting, I decided to ask various questions.
'I have a question about skills. Is there a skill that allows you to see your own status like a Skill Board?'
Meiris answered my question.
'There is a skill called Analysis. Using Analysis allows you to see the target's status, item information, and monster information.
Also, the American Dungeon Exploration Bureau has succeeded in developing a portable Skill Board using fragments of Skill Boards. Using that device, you can achieve the same effect as the Analysis skill.'
'Is that portable Skill Board the kind they have at airports?'
'No, the ones at airports are ordinary Skill Boards found within dungeons. Incidentally, developed countries use Skill Boards to analyze people entering and leaving the country, and can bar those with dangerous skills from entering or leaving. Explorers above a certain level may also be subject to monitoring.
The portable Skill Board developed in America is wristwatch-style, used during dungeon exploration to analyze monster information and immediately analyze items when they are found. Further information is classified as a secret of the United States of America, and details are not publicly available.'
Huh, so such a thing exists. It would be nice to know enemy information and item information. I'd like one.
'If I were to buy one, how much would it cost?'
'Unfortunately, it is not for sale. Even for Japanese people, if you moved your base of operations to the United States and contributed to American dungeon exploration, you might be issued one. Also, if mass production progresses and they become cheaper to manufacture in the future, they might become available for sale.'
What, I can't buy it? That's too bad… But the conversation drifted. Let's see…
'What kind of dangerous skills would be subject to being prohibited from leaving the country?'
If my skill was discovered, I might not be able to go abroad.
'There are what are called [State-Monitored Skills].
These rules anticipate undiscovered skills. If you possess a special skill that could be used for crime, Japan may restrict not only your departure from the country but also place your daily life under state supervision.
For example:
- Instant Death Skill: A skill that stops the heart suddenly, can be misused for murder.
- Dimensional Storage: Can be misused for smuggling.
- Teleportation: Can commit theft etc. without leaving evidence.
- Invisibility: Similarly, can be misused for theft.
If special skills like the above are discovered, there is a possibility of being placed under surveillance or even immediately detained.
Whether such State-Monitored Skills already exist is not publicly disclosed. There may already be people detained, or there may be none. Since this also involves human rights issues, whether it will actually be enforced when such a skill is discovered is still under debate.'
F-for real… That was heavier than I expected.
Storage, a common ability in games, but if it existed in reality, you could smuggle guns or drugs. You could even hide crime evidence in storage, making the perfect crime possible.
Which meant my skill might also be on a rather dangerous line.
'Then, for example, if there were a skill that could copy and use other people's skills, would that be subject to monitoring?'
I asked the crucial question: whether my skill would fall under that category.
'That is a very delicate line.
In fact, no such skill has been discovered to date.
For example, if the skill unconditionally stole another person's skill through copying, it would likely be classified as a State-Monitored Skill.
If it only copied without affecting the target's skill, since it doesn't harm others, it might not be subject to state monitoring.
However, these are rules prepared in advance for newly discovered skills. If such a skill is actually discovered, it would need to be discussed again.'
It's a close call… It might be just barely safe, but for now, I have no choice but to keep hiding my skill.