Hours pass and nothing significant happens.

I'm lying in bed but I'm not sleepy.

I spend time checking the statistics and trying to learn more about them.

[Judgment] [mastery: 6]

[element: System] [target: 1, Deceased]

[mastery: 1] [Judgment] allows the [Empress] of the Underwasteland to judge the dead and consign them to oblivion. It delivers the [Dream] or the [Nightmare] status. Once a [Judgment] is received, it is immutable.

Too bad the cosmos doesn't tell me anything about how the [Judgment] is passed. Who evaluates? Is it an automatic procedure? On what criteria is it based?

I can't give myself peace.

A [Hero] who gains a [Nightmare] judgment.

I admit that Ilnerio was a little over the top… but he remains a deceased [Hero] to save his world.

In any case, [Judgment] is increased to [mastery: 6].

[mastery: 6] [range] [lv: 0 → lv: 60]

[Judgment] is affected by the change of [mastery]. By using it and reaching [mastery: 9], the [Empress] will be able to perform it and execute it against superior entities.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Oh, now it's clear why my father kept me waiting. If I had become [Empress] at [lv: 2], I probably wouldn't have been able to master the [skill].

I close the grimoire and lie face down on the bed.

The tail with the snake head is wrapping the umbrella. It's really enjoying the umbrella; it hasn't lost sight of that object since I received it.

I stretch out my arm languidly and touch the object with my nail.

“Scan.”

[Umbrella of murder]

[type: Object]

[status: 285/500] [endurance: 54/100]

[damage: 150] [critical: 1500]

[Umbrella of murder] is a fine umbrella that conceals an elven sapphire blade inside the handle. Flexible when cutting, if used sharply it can pierce any obstacle.

[ability 1] Hitting a peak vital point, [Umbrella of murder] inflicts [Deceased].

[ability 2] [???] + [requires: [d: 7 or more]]

[ability 3] [???] + [requires: [i: 7 or more]]

I widen my eyes.

I withdraw my hand.

Incredulous, amazed.

More than a gift!

This weapon is practically a treasure! A soul reaper should use it!

Which, in fact, Ilnerio intended when he handed it over to me.

I get up. My feet swing off the bed and I grab the umbrella. I'm looking for the opening mechanism, maybe a button.

No need, by squeezing the bottom of the handle and pulling it out, the thin blade radiates light.

The entire room is filled with blue. A deep blue with reflections of the sea. It's as if inside that crystal there was a slowly moving liquid.

It's gorgeous.

Enchanting.

I feel my pride growing. That sad elf decided to give me such a beautiful, unique gift.

Here comes the melancholy. I rest the blade on my thighs and look at my toes.

He didn't give it to me as a gift, he asked me for a favor. A favor I cannot return.

I judge the dead by an [skill]. But I have no control over it, I cannot inflict further rewards and punishments. When that hated enemy of his rains...

… It will be welcomed, I will listen to its words, and finally, I will use my ability.

I shouldn't feel guilty, he is the [Hero] who misunderstood. Yet, it's not that simple.

I put the blade back in its sheath and got up.

Ci-cin.

I shouldn't have accepted this offer.