Konbini Ossan Volume 14 Chapter 3 — Skill ERROR
“Alright! Then next, let’s talk about the ERROR display in the skill column!”
Shuri-kun energetically shifted the discussion forward.
Even so, there was no avoiding the heaviness in the air.
After all, I myself had already reached that ERROR state.
To change the atmosphere, I decided to begin speaking first.
“One thing we know for certain is that skills cannot be stolen from the descendants of summoned ones, in other words, the current monsters.
…
From that, we can predict that theft only occurs between first-generation summoned ones.”
“We don’t know about second or third generations, or generations closer to the first, but as things stand, that’s probably correct.”
“In other words, simply killing monsters gives almost no possibility of achieving Skill ERROR.”
Shuri-kun and Matsuriya added to my observation.
“Based on that, you’d want to say that no summoned ones are likely to achieve Skill ERROR from here on,” Shuri-kun said troubledly. “But unfortunately, it’s not that simple.”
He continued.
“Otogin and Naitō. Both of them achieved Skill ERROR before ever killing another summoned one. Which means the direct condition for achieving Skill ERROR isn’t stealing skills or killing fellow summoned ones.
…
In other words, every summoned one still has the potential to reach it, right?”
“Yes, exactly.”
I nodded at Shuri-kun’s deduction, then added my own thoughts.
“When summoned ones kill each other, souls are absorbed. Based on Hero Avril’s diary, that phenomenon is almost certainly indirectly fulfilling the condition for Skill ERROR.
…
If our Status ERROR theory is correct, then among those effects, skill theft itself is likely the indirect key to fulfilling that condition.”
At that, Arisa organized the discussion and began her analysis.
“Which means if we identify what Yūichi and Naitō have in common, we might figure out the condition.”
“Sounds like you already have a theory.”
“Yep. Their common point is possessing multiple skills. But not just ordinary multiple skills. Both of them had lots of skills that should never naturally coexist.”
Everyone found Arisa’s deduction convincing.
“Naitō described his own skill, «Absolute Domination», like this: he could reclaim the skills acquired by the people he controlled.
…
Assuming he also reclaimed race-specific skills from beastkin or elves, or even skills derived purely from physical constitutions, that means he possessed skills he should never have been able to learn simultaneously.”
“And Otogin had all sorts of skills forcibly stuffed into him by the goddess. Skills from monsters, objects, plants, all kinds of things. Naturally, he has numerous skills a human should never possess.”
“I see. That certainly is a point unique to those two.”
Having gained everyone’s agreement, Arisa continued.
“And Avril’s situation also lines up. The Demon King’s skills were all skills Avril herself could theoretically learn. So she didn’t reach ERROR then.
…
But one of her summoned companions must have possessed a skill Avril herself could never acquire. So the moment she killed that person, she ascended to godhood. That’s one scenario we can reasonably infer.”
I nodded at Arisa’s words and summarized.
“Whether that’s true or not is irrelevant for now. What matters is that there’s a strong possibility Skill ERROR occurs when incompatible skills that should not coexist are acquired simultaneously.
…
That is exactly the point we need to be most vigilant about if we want to avoid triggering Skill ERROR.”
“Hmm, but that makes things difficult, doesn’t it?” Shuri-kun frowned. “For example, what if a summoned one’s cheat skill evolves in a way that starts contradicting their existing skills? That could potentially trigger Skill ERROR, right?
…
Can we really get the other summoned ones to understand that further growth is dangerous without explaining the full circumstances?”
Shuri-kun’s concern was valid.
But most of that concern could likely be avoided through one particular approach.
“If we’re only talking possibilities, then the chance of someone independently evolving their skills enough to fulfill the conditions for godhood like Naitou is low. Even Hero Avril never reached Skill ERROR until the very end.
…
She fought enough to trigger Status ERROR, gained vast experience, even stole the Demon King’s skills, and still didn’t achieve it. That means Skill ERROR cannot be reached under half-hearted circumstances.”
“So even if we don’t know the exact requirements, Hero Avril’s case suggests it’s something that ordinary means could never realistically achieve?”
Shuri-kun caught on quickly, and I nodded.
“My case and Naitou’s were far too abnormal. One possessed skills reclaimed from every citizen across three nations.
…
The other learned skills belonging even to non-living things. As long as we maintain surveillance, we should be able to prevent any future summoned one from fulfilling such conditions.”
“So if we monitor summoned ones’ activities, we can detect behavior leading toward Skill ERROR in advance. And intervene before it happens?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
Shuri-kun seemed satisfied.
“Okay, got it! So to summarize: monitor the summoned ones’ movements, and spread information that makes them avoid killing each other so they don’t fulfill the Status ERROR condition.
…
With those two countermeasures, we can almost completely prevent summoned ones from ascending to godhood, right?”
“Yes. Which is why I’d like your help monitoring the summoned ones as well, Shuri-kun.”
“Of course! At this point, I’m already fully on board anyway!”
And so, we successfully organized the conditions under which summoned ones could ascend to godhood, as well as the means of avoiding it, and the meeting came to an end.
However, there was one topic we deliberately avoided discussing during the meeting.
Namely, what should be done to prevent me from ascending to godhood.
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E/N:
That's a good deduction!
Stay tuned!
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