Inside Ray’s room, the five of them sat around the coffee table. The atmosphere was a mix between apprehension and excitement.
Ethan spoke first, “So, Ray, you said that the ‘Status Screens’ are online?”
“Yeah, why the fuck are you even asking me?” Ray looked puzzled, “Just check it yourself.”
“Fine,” Ethan sighed. “Status!” And true to Ray’s words, a larger screen appeared in front of his face. The other four stood up and grouped next to him to peek at it.
Name: Ethan Field
Race: Human
Age: 24 years
Level: 5(Exp. required: 0/50)
Title:
Affinity: 『Water』『Metal』
Job: 『Aquamage』『Pitcher』『Hero』
Blessing: 『 Usige’s Water Manipulation』
Skills: Advanced Comprehension(82%), Translation(Complete), Basic Water Manipulation(0%), Advanced Alchemy(68%), Basic Throwing(90%), Basic Aim(92%), Ingredient Identification(Incomplete), Danger Sense (Primitive), 21 more minor skills and 10 more locked skills.
“…what the fuck? Are these percentages referring to my proficiency? Why is Water Manipulation locked? What is Ingredient Identification, and why is it incomplete? Primitive Sense Danger?” Ethan began rambling to himself, “No, wait. Perhaps, it’s locked because I don’t have my mana veins yet. Ah, I don’t think I know any ingredients from this world, and I think the last one refers to the instinctual sense of danger every creature has.” Just like that, Ethan was once again lost in his thoughts.
“Wait, so, you’ve seen your status?” June stopped paying attention to Ethan and asked Ray.
“Uh, yeah?”
She reached out her arm and made a ‘give’ gesture, “Well, show us then.”
“…sure. Status!” Ray’s status screen appeared.
Name: Ray O’Brien
Race: Human
Age: 25 years
Level: 5(Exp. required: 0/50)
Title:
Affinity: 『Light』『Wind』
Job: 『Hero』『Influencer』 『Paladin』
Blessing: 『 Sunne’s Light Of Life』
Skills: Advanced Comprehension(50%), Charm(96%), Integration(92%), Translation(Complete), Danger Sense(Primitive) , Sword of Light(0%), Basic Posing(78%), 27 more minor skills and 11 locked skills.
"Pfft!” June and Janet burst out laughing, seeing his status.
“Influ-haha-encer! It says that you’re an influencer.”
“Even the world knows how trash you are! Fucking E-boy!” Issac watched as June and Janet circled Ray and made fun of him.
“S-Shut up!” Ray felt his cheeks heat up. “I’m a paladin; a paladin. Why not show your statuses, and let’s see if you can still laugh then?”
“Sure,” Janet shrugged, “Status!” June, Ray, and Issac took a look at her status screens.
Name: Janet Winters
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Race: Human
Age: 25 years
Level: 5(Exp. required: 0/50)
Title:
Affinity: 『Fire』『Lightning』
Job: 『Hero』『Heavy Weapons Wielder』 『Berserker』
Blessing: 『 Cogadh’s Frenzy For Battle』
Skills: Advanced Comprehension(21%), Heavy Swing(92%), Judo(89%), Translation(Complete), Danger Sense(Primitive) , Battle Cry(0%), Body Training(58%), 16 more minor skills and 11 locked skills.
“Why the fuck is my Taekwondo at 89%? I’m a black belt!” Janet huffed.
June slapped her head, “Yeah, yeah, it’s my turn.” After Janet shut up, June brought up her status screen.
Name: June Kyoshita
Race: Human
Age: 24 years
Level: 5(Exp. required: 0/50)
Title:
Affinity: 『Plant』『Earth』
Job: 『Hero』『Lady Nature』 『Saintess』
Blessing: 『 Flùr’s Affinity with Flora』
Skills: Advanced Comprehension(61%), Charm(80%), Basic Forecast(98%), Translation(Complete), Danger Sense(Primitive) , Plant Memory(0%), Sunny Day(0%), 27 more minor skills and 19 locked skills.
Issac slowly backed away as the other four began to get engrossed in their own conversation.
He didn’t want to show them his status without finding a way to conceal his involvement with Nyx. Under the influence of 『Malice』, he had no way of knowing what they’d do. No, he feared the Queen’s action more.
Quietly whispering to himself, he brought up his status screen.
Name: Issac Noir
Race: (1/8th) Spider Demon
Age: 25 years
Level: 5(Exp. required: 0/100)
Title:
Affinity: 『Dark』『Ice』
Job: 『Demon Lord』『Illusionist』 『Night Owl』
Blessing: 『 Nyx’s Throne of Night』
Skills: Advanced Comprehension(76%), Charm(76%), Basic Illusion(45+45%), Expert Illusion Theory(98%), Translation(Complete), Danger Sense(Primitive), Truth-seeking Eyes(Max), Night Blade(0%), Night Walk(0+10%), 24 more minor skills and 20 locked skills.
“Wait, Issac, you’ve opened your status without telling us?” Issac heard June’s surprised shout and began sweating bullets. Even if he couldn’t look at his status entirely, he saw just enough for him to know that it would cause problems if anyone saw it.
Seeing them approaching, Issac began to pray to his status, “Change Race to ‘Human’ and Job to-”
But it was too late. June and Janet took a peek at his status screen, and their expressions paled. Confused by their reactions, Ethan and Ray also took a look. While Ray had a similar expression to the girls before him, Ethan looked ecstatic.
After a while, two words came out of June’s quivering lips, “『D-Demon Lord』…?”
And with those words, the atmosphere became heavy and stagnant. Ethan looked around and was confused by everyone’s sudden somber mood.
“…How can a human be a 『Demon Lord』? Veronica didn’t tell us this.” Ray muttered darkly.
“…Human?” Issac’s heart was palpitating furiously with anxiety. However, Ray’s words gave him some respite. At least they didn’t know he wasn’t a human anymore. “Speaking of which, why aren’t I h-human anymore? Why am I a 『Demon Lord』? Shouldn’t I be a He-” Suddenly, the pieces in his mind clicked as he remembered the Queen’s words from days prior.
“They had found three heroes already, but all this time, people have been referring to us as the 『Seven Heroes』….” Issac understood that he had been stupid. Drowning himself in suspicion, he forgot to notice such a crucial detail.
“Hey, guys, why are you all in the dumps? This is great news, isn’t it!?” Ethan’s optimistic voice broke them all out of their heavy-hearted and glum mood.
“…get to the point, Ethan,” Ray, unable to see a silver lining, ordered.
“We have a 『Demon Lord』 on our side. That means eight on our side and six on theirs. With Issac on our side as a 『Demon Lord』, that’s one less on their side. It’ll make our fight much easier!”
“Huh, you’re right!” Issac brightened up, and gradually, so did the others. The only one to still be skeptical was Ray.
“That sounds good but are you sure there won’t be any problems?”
“Yep.”
“What if Ver- the Queen wants to see our statuses?”
“No worries,” Ethan assured them, “apparently, it’s rude to peek at others’ statuses in this world. At most, you can tell them your job and/or skills but not show them your entire status screen. At most, she’ll ask us about our jobs and nothing else.”
“How do you know-” Ray was about to ask, but his expression changed as the answer hit him, “-ah, right. Books.”
“Bingo!” Ethan snapped his fingers.
“So, let me get this straight-” June interjected with a worried face, “-we’re not telling the Queen about Issac, right?”
“No,” Issac and Ethan said in unison.
“As long as it doesn’t cause problems, then no, I’m not telling shit,” Janet also agreed.
After a moment’s hesitation, Ray also agreed, “…then I’m not saying anything either.”
“Then I’m not saying anything either. But what do we do now? Our status screens and mana veins have opened up.”
Issac answered June, “Simple. We just tell her about those two things once we got our bearings in order. Because I don’t know about you-” he suddenly walked over and crashed onto the sofa. Exhaling deeply, he continued, “-but I’m a bit spent.”
“My brain’s overheating too,” June did the same and sat down next to him.
One by one, all of them sat down on the sofas. They looked at each other and exhaled in unison.
“Even though it’s not night-” Issac sighed, “-I still feel dog-tired.”
“Then why not go and take a nap?” Ray suggested.
“Honestly, that sounds like a good idea.” Issac got up, “Yeah, I’ll take a nap, and we’ll talk about our future plans later. Okay?” He looked at everyone for confirmation.
He then left the room, and soon, so did the others. They returned to their rooms with conflicting thoughts and worries about their future.