The center of the Novus is the village square, having the surface area of a hundred square meters and in the middle of it stands the Pedestal of Power, a purely white pedestal standing at ten meters, engraved with a symbols that cannot be understood by many, and it gives a sacred feeling to those who look at it. In the square, a six elderly people were in front of the pedestal, a middle-aged man was in in front of them, including a black haired young girl. Around them were the onlookers, the villagers who were watching the questioning unfold.

"Like I said, we cannot trust outsiders, how can you trust someone you picked up at a dangerous place like the forest?"

"You cannot risk the safety of the village like this. Rye, you may be the one who trains most of the warriors here, but that does not mean you can make rash decisions."

"You are all paranoid, what the hell can a young lass do to this village, so much for being a settlement of strong warriors, how unbecoming, being scared of a little girl."

"Haaa~ whatever, I'm not going to participate in this, how troublesome~."

"Since when did this village become a place where we abandon people who need shelter, remember what we have agreed on years ago, as long as it is a good person we will help them."

"Ve, Verna? We thought you won't interfere with these things, you were not interested in things like this, why now?"

The village elders over the top cautiousness towards Alex, Rye's exasperated replies, an elder's remark as if it was not his problem, and Aunt Verna's firm statement rang in Alex's ears. As the spectacle unfolded in front of her, she was thinking whether if she will be able to stay here or not, from what she learned yesterday, the nearest village is miles away, no way she will be able to make it on her own. Living in the forest is in fact, very impossible.

"How can you be sure she is deserving of our trust then? What's your justification?" asked one of the elders in opposition to Alex staying in the village.

"The spirits."

"Ha?" Alex accidentally lets out her voice, earning gazes from the people around her. She lowered her head embarrassed.

"Spirits are attached to her, I saw it," Aunt Verna explained while thinking that it was strange Alex was unaware of the spirits since there were a lot of them gathering around her, they were increasing too.

"Do you actually believe that spirits will be gathering around this girl if she was bearing ill intentions?"

The villagers and the elder council were silent, Aunt Verna was right, even if this village is more isolated than the others they are knowledgeable about spirits, Spirit Seers were born in the village every so often, and Verna was one of them, she will never be mistaken about his, and there is no point for her to lie.

"Umm, what do you mean by spirits?" Alex asked timidly, once again they directed strange looks at her, she felt as if daggers were piercing her, but she endured the feeling. "I don't see any?"

"The fact that you can't see them is strange, normally anyone with the aptitude towards the spirits will be able to see them if they try you know~"

"Then if it is true she doesn't remember anything else aside from her name huh, I guess we'll find out with the pedestal then."

The lazy elder explained to Alex, while an elder who has been silent all along finally spoke his piece. The expression Aunt Verna's face was simply saying, You are the only one who thinks straight here, why did you only speak now? Noticing that the elder just shrugged and replied with a gaze saying, I thought it would be interesting that way. Alex noticed their conversation through their gazes, thinking that they really have a weird assortment of people, almost like a delicate balance

Alex asked if there is any way she can see them, and Aunt Verna told her to concentrate and if she notices something different then she must focus on it. She did as she was told but it took her a while to actually notice the spirits, strangely enough, the elders were silently looking at her and waited for her patiently.

I can't see a thing. Alex thought in her mind, no it was not because she cannot see the spirits, but rather, her whole vision was filled with them blocking everything else. They seemed like transparent, ethereal beings, but the sheer number of them blocked her vision. There were so many of them that she was troubled. Not only that, she knows what they're saying, they were not letting out voices but only transmitting thoughts to her, saying that they only crowded here because they know she can't see them and they thought that it would help her perceive them if they were many. They also considered the fact that a spirit seer will help her if the seer notices that an abnormally large number of spirits would congregate around Alex.

I see, thank you very much, everyone. But, is it really necessary with this number? Alex transmitted her thanks to the spirits. Then the spirits admitted that they went overboard, it was due to the fact that the spirits have tight communication and they love gathering at places that interest them. The nearest spirits gathered here because they were curious. To them it was worth coming, they seem to like Alex very much.

"Can you see them?" One of the elders asked when they all saw the change in Alex's expression.

"Yes, but they are everywhere and now I can see nothing but the spirits." As she said that as if on cue the spirits dispersed, but they didn't go far they just scattered so that Alex can see, she once again transmitted her gratitude and the spirits said not to mind it.

"Oh they scattered, they seem to like you a lot, actually making way for you," Aunt Verna said with a laugh, she was also troubled by the amount of the spirits, not once in her life she would witness someone surrounded by spirits to the point they can't see anything else.

[Passive Ability Obtained] <> allows one to perceive spirits.

[Passive Ability Obtained] <> allows one to communicate with spirits.

[Passive Ability Obtained] <> allows one to use spirt-assisted magic.

"Now that we got that out of the way, can we just go to the pedestal just for one final confirmation?"

"Yes, it would be better to go straight into it, right?~"

"You'll be just fine kid, don't worry."

"You're the one who's more worried than the person herself, Rye."

Alex is completely silent while watching the elder council plus Rye making a decision, the elders who doubted Alex also nodded in agreement to the arrangement. They then signaled Alex to approach the Pedestal of Power as they made way for her. 

Meanwhile, the girl was nervous, what if they saw her abnormality? She was anxious about it, so while the meeting was going on she fiddled with the [Menu] which she had discovered, apparently, there was actually an options page, and there were things that answered her questions, as to why she understands their language, and how they understand her, there was a setting that says [Auto-Translate], it was convenient, it helps her read too, but she still can't write their language. Then she also saw one of the options, which she badly needed, it was something that will change what others will see if they look at her status. She hid most of her abilities, excluding the <>, <>, her newly gained eavesdropping--- no, enhanced hearing ability, and her spirit related abilities. She halved her attribute points because an average of 50 points will be way too much.

"Place your hand on the pedestal."

Alex did as instructed, and as she placed her hand on the pedestal she felt something strange course through her, she wanted to resist but since she felt that it was fine she just let it be while hoping that it will not show her true status. Then a screen suddenly appeared above the pedestal

[Personal Profile]

Name: Alexandria Leonhart

Race: Human

Level: 2

Title: N/A

Profession: N/A

[Stats]

Strength: 25

Agility: 25

Intelligence: 26

Dexterity: 25

Luck: 25

Magic: 25

Health Points: 100/100

Mana Points: 500

Stamina Points: 500

[Crimes]

None

Her status window showed her stats being halved, it seems that it doesn't show her skills and abilities, which is convenient for her. It also appears that crimes made will be displayed, it seems doing evil things will not go unnoticed unless you can avoid the pedestal. Contrary to her own relief, the rest of the people who saw the numbers that were shown were surprised, a level 2 with an average of 25 points, normally it would for people who are above level 10, but even those people do not have uniform stats, some have fewer points on everything else other than their strong points. All of them are surprised, all except Rye and the other hunters that came back with him. They all so for themselves how strong Alex was if it was lower then it would not make sense for her to kill the Bronze Mountain Boar. Rye also thinks that it still way too low considering what he saw back then.

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While everyone else was having their own thoughts, Alex was still troubled by how the course of energy that came from the pedestal still did not stop, she can't even let go. After a few moments, the stream of energy stopped then and a notice suddenly came to Alex's mind.

[Skill obtained]

<> allows one to see the basic information on other individuals, also including other living beings. Proficiency will also increase the information that can be seen.

She tested it out Rye while looking at him, and for some reason, it only showed her his name and race, everything else contains a question marks. Probably her proficiency is too low, so she left it at that, at the very least she can know the names and the race, and that's good enough for her. After she removed her hand the screen disappeared, and at that point, there were suddenly murmurs among the villagers, and the Elder Council seemed to have a discussion. While it was all happening Rye approached her and said, "So Leonhart is your surname huh? Hmmm. Were you a noble or something?"

While Alex was thinking about how she didn't see a surname for Rye with <>, she concluded that surnames were normally possessed by nobles, just like how it was in the books she read. While she was lost in her thoughts, a shout resounded in the square.

"Impossible, you are only level two, there is no way you are stronger than me!"

"This idiot..." Rye sighed.

It was a young man who wore leather armor, he was wearing a dissatisfied expression as if finding Alex's existence unpleasant. For his age he was known to be talented, reaching level 15 at his age. Alex understood his feelings, in a world where strength was respected, it was expected that a person like him will find her absurd stats acceptable. She decided to appraise him.

Name: Tom

Age: 18

Level: 15

Race: Human

Title: N/A

Profession: Apprentice Swordsman

[Stats]

Strength: 23

Agility: 15

Intelligence: 10

Dexterity: 17

Luck: 7

Magic: 5

There Alex understood that her existence is indeed, absurd. In fact, Tom's stats were not bad at all, it was quite good in for his age. But Alex, on the other hand, surpassed him in every aspect, and she was still level 2 with no profession.

"The pedestal must be broken, yes, that's probably it, there's no way," Tom said with bloodshot eyes. He had worked hard to get this far, and in exchange for his hard work, he reached this point, he was given praise, but unfortunately, it all went to his head. When he saw Alex's stats he became restless and doesn't want to be outdone.

"Impudence, the pedestal will not be mistaken and it will never be broken, and you know that." One of the elders said sternly, giving Tom a sharp glare. The elder thought that Tom is getting more and more arrogant to the point that he will actually question the results given by the Pedestal of Power which was said to not give a mistake, and it is also indestructible, even if the village was erased off the map the pedestal will remain unscathed. 

"Th, then she must prove it," Tom said while flustered, he was keen on dragging Alex down, his pride won't let it be. His statement earned him disappointed gazes while those who didn't like his attitude sneered. Tom ignored them and glared at Alex saying, "Fight me."

Alex gave a troubled look towards Rye, having an expression of Do I really have to? While the council also looked at him with gazes telling, You can do whatever you want with this idiot. Rye sighed and gave his decision.

"Alright, Alex, spar with him, whoever wins doesn't matter anyway. Tom, don't you dare do something stupid, otherwise, I'll lynch you, no, not  just me, but everyone in the village will."

Tom shuddered at the warning, he knows how scary his fellow villagers are, of course, he did not want to totally harm Alex, he only wants to assert his dominance, at the very least, he wants to humiliate her. The young man faced towards Alex while glaring, while she returned a look as if it was troublesome, further infuriating the arrogant Tom. The people around them gave them space, while Rye was acting the referee. They were going to fight barehanded.

"You cheeky little..." Tom growled, then he suddenly charged at Alex, intending to grab her. He was very serious even his peers would be struggling at this because he was quite fast and competing against him in a contest of strength is a bad idea.

While staring straight at Tom's eyes, Alex watch him approach, she held no fear whatsoever, she gave an air of confidence and integrity as if she will not flinch in the eyes of death. Tom was surprised but still charged at the unmoving Alex, he grabbed at her intending to pin her down, and when his hands neared her he grinned, but then his expression went to shock when instead of grabbing her he only grasped air. Then he suddenly felt that he was in the air and felt an impact when he realized it, he was staring at the sky. He felt pain on his back and on the back of his head.

Tom did not understand what happened, and to the onlookers, they thought that Alex was done for, but then Alex lightly moved and grabbed Tom and flipped him over. Meanwhile, Alex was thinking that she messed up because she didn't adjust the strength, she planned to throw him but not hard enough for him to feel pain, her current strength was still new to her. While she was thinking that another announcement rang in her head. 

[Skill Obtained] <> includes two forms, one is for suppressing enemies, while the other is for giving counter-attacks.

[Skill Obtained] <> makes the movement of the individual untrackable, will make avoiding attacks easier and more efficient. Agility and Dexterity will provide more ease in movement. The effectiveness will be raised with the improvement of technique and proficiency.

The reason why Alex was able to defeat him was due to her slightly activating <> on her own, rather than something grand, it was a simple side-step, it's a no-brainer to dodge something intending to bulldoze you. Alex only timed her actions right.

Why does she know how to do this? It was all because of curiosity, she was interested in martial arts before, hence she attended many dojos and schools. In all of them, she managed to learn a lot of things and used all that she had learned in how she will defend herself. The things training she went through, all her hard work, and her ability to learn led to this, still she had no real fighting experience, but if it is a mock battle though, she will not go down without a fight.

Even though she knows what she was doing, Alex still thinks that that <> also helped, some sort of correction thing. It made movement easier for Alex, which was fine for her, the safer she was the better, it might attract the wrong kind of attention though.

Tom on the other hand still cannot accept the truth, that he was beaten, fair and square though Alex is quite an abnormality. Given that pride has gone into his head, he was glaring at Alex with more ferocity, rather than intending to beat her, he was emitting killing intent, and his opponent noticed it. The elders noticed that and intended to stop the battle, but Rye gave them a look saying that girl will be able to handle it. Aunt Verna, on the other hand, was a little concerned, but still, thinks that it might be fine.

Isn't he getting a little bit edgy? 

Alex thought that his attitude his way too abnormal, and the other villagers too, they think that he is way out of control now. He is losing his reason, his vision is getting clouded by hatred, and his mind is being corroded by his blind pride. The elders can see that detail all too clearly, they would have taken action about this already, but seeing that Alex is still as calm as ever they thought that it might be a chance to further evaluate her, if anything gets out of hand they will be able to prevent any deaths. But never did they expect what was going to happen next.

"Y, you damned bitch, DIE!" 

Tom suddenly charged towards her, a very reckless charge, his posture was a wreck and the attack that he is attempting is full of openings, but somehow a strange pressure came from him which would have immobilized anyone else even if they know how to avoid. But Alex is not just anyone, at the very least she has resistance to these kinds of things and for her, the bombs that she saw over the horizon back then was far more concerning that Tom's  frenzied tackle.

Alex dodged to the side with light movements, which further provoked her opponent's berserk state, she thought that it will be done soon, but when she saw a glint from Tom's hand her tension was raised again. He was hiding a dagger in his clothes and it looks like he is really intending to kill. She will be able to unarm him, but she cannot be overconfident regarding this since she will surely die if she makes a blunder.

"Attacking an unarmed fragile girl with a weapon, how tasteless," Alex muttered, but it seems that everyone else heard that, and Tom heard it crystal clear, hence he was further enraged.

Tom unleashed a frenzied cry and began slashing at Alex with the dagger, his attacks show the signs that he trained, but since he was not thinking clearly, he is attacking quite clumsily. Alex was dodging by a hair's breadth, it seems like she was barely dodging, but to the more experienced warriors, she gave them a surprise, being able to dodge those calmly very difficult even for a youngster, Level 2 at that.

<> proficiency has been raised. 

Oh, it so that's how it is.

Alex still has leeway to think about the announcement, if Tom knew this he would definitely vomit blood. She was focused, but not her entirety, she can easily read his movements after all, and if it is a battle of attrition, with her infinite stamina she will win eventually. But rather that tiring him out, she decided to end it quickly. Since he had taken out a weapon, she also took out her dagger that she also hid in her clothes. She then proceeded to parry his next attack and using the hilt to hit the back of his neck to make him go unconscious when he lost his balance. All of it happened in a second, and left everyone else amazed, everyone excluding Rye who somehow found it natural for her to do that.

Tom was collapsed on the ground and his the whites of his eyes showing and he was also foaming at the mouth. He was not dead alright, one of the elders sighed in relief, it was not because of Alex winning but at Tom actually not dying in the process. Alex also thought that she probably put in too much strength, she was not used to her own body, mostly due to the status correction, and it was also the reason why she became so beat up when fighting the Bronze Mountain Boar.

"So, any objections to her living with us?" Rye asked the council, it was also directed to the onlookers as well.

"Haa~ Let's just get on with it," the carefree elder sighed, throwing a slight glance at the still fainted Tom. "The young man over there will surely die if left alone you know?"

"Alright, from this day forth, Alexandria, you shall be one of us now, just don't cause trouble, okay? "

"Hoo~ looks like we have increased our fighting force, someone who is specialized in anti-personal combat as well."

"Agreed, and also, please pardon the cold welcome, we have a bad experience with outsiders recently, but then again you're no longer an outsider anyways. Welcome!"

Voices of affirmation came from the elders and the other villagers were also nodding in agreement. Alex found it strange for this village to have an almost unanimous decision, but the fact that they manage to survive out here was a testament to their unity as well. Was it her strength? No, it was due to the fact that she still did not kill Tom even though he was the first one to attack with intent to kill. Adding on the matter of the spirits approval, she also shows that she had the strength and rational thinking to back it up, unlike a certain someone who clearly lost his wits. 

"Haha, welcome to Novus, kid," Rye said with a wide grin. "You want to become a hunter right? I'll work you like a horse, even if you are a girl, I'm going to make sure you will be a professional."

"Welcome Alex," Aunt Verna gave her a gentle smile. "I'm going to teach you about being a spirit seer, don't worry it's safer than what that muscle-head plans." 

"Who are you calling a muscle-head huh?!"

Congratulatory words and wishes for good luck were heard after another. Alex was truly thankful, she was thankful for ending up here, and meeting these people, especially the two people who supported her to the end. She vowed that she will do her best here, her new home. 

"Thank you very much for everything."

On that day they saw a beautiful girl's heartfelt smile and gratitude.