Unraveling Clogged Chest
Afterwards, we chatted about all kinds of trivial stuff.
Mother looked apologetic for some reason when I told her how I was doing in Japan after her passing and grumbled about my work.
She had a perplexed look on her face when I narrated how I just randomly found myself in this world after waking up one day.
She quipped at how I got saved by Alma while I was on the verge of death from goblin attacks, 'Why are you the one being saved, shouldn't you be the one doing the saving in this kind of story.'
Don't ask for the impossible. I never even got into a fight back then.
This person is not really my mother. She's a Floor Boss with a copy of her personality.
Yet, I can't help but interact with her like she's the real one, just like with Alma.
Both mother and Alma also interacted with me normally despite being fully aware they're not real.
I can't bring myself to reject and tell them off, 'You're not real'.
...Heck, I'm afraid of putting a sad look on my mother if I did that.
It's impossible for me even if the mind knows she's not real.
"But really now, getting whisked away into another world huh. I'd have told you to quit that childish daydream if it weren't for the situation we're in right this moment."
"I never dreamed myself in the middle of a middle school kid's delusion either... Also, I didn't even get a Skill, forget about the classic cheat abilities and stuff."
Even the smallest of fry got at least one Skill yet my Skill List was ruthlessly written with 'None'. It's even turned into 'Unobtainable' these days.
"Seeing my Skill List and confirming my lack of talent got me down in the dump. Guess I really was inept. Hahaha."
"...Ah, about that, you know. Can you read my Skill List for a bit? You can see magic beasts' right, go on and take a look at mine."
"Eh? Well, sure..."
『★Open Scar』 perfectly replicates its shapeshifted's target status.
In other word, her stats right now is exactly that of my mother. Wonder what it's like.
...Huh?
Kajikawa Yui
Ｌｖ１
Age: 38
Race: Human
Job: ERROR (Unidentifiable)
State: Normal
【Attributes】
ＨＰ：０/０
ＭＰ：０/０
ＳＰ：０/０
ＳＴＲ：０
ＡＴＫ：０
ＤＥＦ：０
ＡＧＩ：０
ＩＮＴ：０
ＤＥＸ：０
ＰＥＲ：０
ＲＥＳ：０
ＬＵＫ：０
【Skill】
None
These hopeless stats look strangely familiar. It's not just weak.
I mean all the numbers are at zero, even HP. The Skill list displays 'None' too.
The exact same I had when I first got thrown in this world.
N, no no wait.
Mother cooked way better than me, and she was really good at housekeeping and sewing.
Also, I'm sure she was a rank holder in Kendo. Everything else aside, her not having Swordsmanship Skill can't be right.
"Yep, that's how it is. My Status are all zero zero zero. I have no Skills, don't I? What a riot hahaha."
"W-what's going on...? Didn't you use to do Kendo, mother? Why wouldn't you have a Skill...?"
"I don't know why I have this knowledge. But 'Skills' are the form of one's abilities taken shape 'In this world'."
Mother spoke while shrugging her shoulders and half smiling.
'In this world', what?
"In other word, the 'skills you have on earth' are not reflected at all on your Status Display. Even the world's best martial artist would have this same exact Status if they were dumped here."
"...So you mean, my and your Status are like this because..."
"Just because your Skill is displayed as 'None', it doesn't mean you don't have talents at all. It's the opposite in fact. Earthlings hold 'unlimited potentials unreadable by Status'."
"Unlimited...?"
It feels as if something just clicked in me.
As if the choking feeling I always carried deep in my mind just got unclogged.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"People in this world generally only have two choices, either production or combat Skills. Having your talents clearly expressed may sound like a good thing, yet it also means they have less than average capabilities on everything else."
"Once you're a swordsman, you can no longer become a chef, a blacksmith or a novelist. Choosing a path means closing all other paths."
"But not, earthlings. It's like, you can be anything you want. Everybody has things they're good and bad at, and yet they still have vastly more options than the people in this world... So, Hikaru."
Mother gently gripped my hands.
I can feel warmth and kindness from her much smaller hands.
Just like what Alma said to me when I was in the pit of despair from my Status after coming to this world.
"You're not untalented. Not everybody can achieve what you have accomplished with these hands. You made it happen. 'Alma-chan's memory' is sure of this fact."
"...I, guess. But I always got told I'm replaceable at the factory I worked in Japan..."
"Ah, right, that factory went bankrupt not long after you came here and were declared missing."
"...Eh? Wait, say, what?!"
Wait wait wait! No, for real!
In a way this news came as the biggest shock I had ever since I got here!
How did they go bankrupt anyway!?
"I have no idea why I know about all this. But that factory was apparently a major sweatshop."
"Y, yeah. It sure was."
"Unpaid overtime and working off days abound, pushing unreasonable quotas on their workers, taking time cards in account for performance reports, and all their absurd warning bordering on brainwashing cut on workhour so workers end up with more overtime. I had no idea it was this terrible... I should have looked into your place of employment harder back when I was still alive."
"Yes. It was terrible indeed. Really. I don't want to get involved with that factory anymore if I could help it. But I picked that place myself. You don't have to feel responsible, mother."
"As part of your search effort, that place was also investigated and all manners of labor law violations they practiced came to light, which ultimately led to their bankruptcy."
"...Is that for real."
"For real. Well, you might have been the impetus, but it wasn't your fault. That kind of environment would have collapsed under its own weight sooner or later. Serves them right."
Mother slapped her right hand with her right hand while sending a middle finger on the ceiling. Fakkyu.
I see, it's a shame that place went bankrupt, but I can't explain this refreshing feeling after hearing that.
Heck, why would that mysterious noise go all the trouble of giving that information to mother.
It's kinda roundabout if the goal was to inform me.
Hold up, if knew about my workplace, then maybe...
"Mother, can I ask you something?"
"Hm, what is it?"
"Do you know how's gramps and granny doing these days? They're in good health, right...?"
There's no doubt the two of them would get worried sick after my disappearance.
Heck, they could very well search for me themselves... I just hope they're okay.
"Ah, they're doing well. Because they both know you were thrown in this world."
"...Come again?"
"The day you got to this world, a god-like person came into their dream and explained your situation. They had no idea what to make of it at first when they confirmed they had the same dream, but they were eventually convinced of it once they kept having dreams about your activities in this world nearly every day. They did request for a missing person search and questioned by police as witnesses though."
"Who's this god-like person?"
"Who knows? God himself maybe? I dunno."
This god went through all that trouble for me huh. Sure is one attentive god.
"Apparently they asked the god to relay their messages to you, 『It doesn't matter where you are as long as you're happy with your life.』, 『Can't say we don't feel lonely without you around but you don't gotta worry about us. Be well.』 Maybe the real reason I shapeshifted into 'Kajikawa Yui' was to deliver these messages."
"...I see."
It's a huge load off my shoulders knowing gramps and granny are doing well, but I kind of can't get over how shortened it is.
W, well that's fine. No point fretting over trivial matters. Live long you two.
As I chatted with mother, every shocking news lightened up my heart.
My sense of inferiority, my discontent about workplace, and my worries for my grandparents are dispersing one by one.
A chat with your family is so nice. It's truly the most precious time.
However, all things must end. I have a duty to.
But just for a bit, a little bit more.
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