6 The Hater Is Looking For A Skill
The Arcana Library graced every respectable Household that valued self-respect. Ostensibly meant for flaunting their extensive collection of Arcana and Skills, it stood as the most significant place in every household, housing a reserve of all Arcana Books and Skill-Orbs acquired throughout their existence.
I harbored no doubt that the Duke of the esteemed Starfrost lineage had amassed a colossal collection. My hope was to discover a fitting Arcana or Skill for myself.
Forget everything I pondered earlier.
"What in the freaking hell is that?" I exclaimed as I gazed at the scene in front of me.
It was a sizable library with Skill-Orbs on the left and Arcana on the right. However, what drew my attention and fueled my desire to blow the whole place up was its emptiness.
As vacant as the readers of smut novels.
Sorry, guys, it was on the tip of my tongue until now; I had to say it. It's not an insult, though, as I deeply respect those who manage to stimulate their imagination by reading a few words crafted by who knows what kind of person.
Hell no, you wouldn't want to see the authors behind smut novels, believe me. It will give you PTSD, I assure you.
"Milord..."
"Yes, Shana? Will you stop speaking as if you're ending your words with an ellipsis? It's pretty uncomfortable for me," I remarked while chewing on a non-existent piece of gum, strolling inside the library.
The Skill and Arcana Library of the Starfrost Household, situated in the southern region of Adrencia.
Disappointment would be too weak a word to encapsulate my current emotions. Scarcely any Skill-Orb and Arcana Book remained in this place.
"The Library of a Duke Estate. Is that a joke?" I shot a cold glance at Shana.
"B-But Milord was the one who took all of them..." Shana stammered once again, punctuating her words with an ellipsis.
It was Jykrain, then.
But I only had one Skill, so...
"Do you know for what purpose I took them or where they are now?" I asked, walking ahead with my hands in my pockets to avoid punching the glass windows that housed the Orbs and Books, fueled by anger.
Because I am a well-behaved man, you'd think?
Ain't way.
Breaking my glasses with my own hands just for Tier-D Skills? Nah, that's a waste of blood and not my style.
"It seems Milord sold them to friends or to pay…" Shana left her words hanging, letting my imagination fill in the blanks.
Given my brain's extensive exposure to messed-up novels, I quickly jumped to a conclusion. "To pay for women and orgies. No need to be shy about it, Shana. Who knows, one day you might take part in it," I teased with a grin, brushing off her bewilderment.
You ever heard the theory that calm girls are the most unpredictable? I swear by that theory. Jessica, too, was as soft as a feather, but little did I know she was playing off-ground tag behind my back.
Damn.
Never trust blond men and women, folks.
My venture into the Arcana section was disappointingly short. Only three Arcanas, and they were all 3-Stars. Considering that Arcanas can go up to 6-Stars, I decided to hold off on choosing one. With my weak-ass body, I wasn't in a rush to snag another Arcana. I'm not asking for a 6-Star directly, but hey, in this new world, I'm not settling for anything less than four stars.
Some might argue that lower star Arcanas could be better, but you know what? I don't care. Who do you take me for?
A weak-to-strong character who starts weak and gets strong?
Yes I am!
But I ain't wasting my time elsewhere.
[You: Rohhh! ChadLord! Are you stupid! Some lower stars Arcana are probably better than higher ones! You are precipitation yourself!]
Ooh.
Good finding Einstein.
But I don't care!
Who do you take me for?
Someone with the tag, Weak acting strong?
Screw those brainless protagonists.
Acting weak for a hundred chapters for what?
What's the point?
To craft a cringeworthy entrance that impresses women when they're in danger, who had underestimated you until you swooped in to save the day? Hell no, spare me that embarrassing moment.
Grumbling under my breath, I made my way to the Skill-Orbs section. There were a dozen of them, but I swiftly filtered through the options. When it came to Skills, as much as I wanted a higher tier, I knew my limits. High-tier skills are better suited for those with overall higher strength; otherwise, you're just burdened by them. The fact that I already had a Tier-B Skill was a miracle in itself, but it also meant I needed to pick another Skill for a semblance of balance.
That Skill was Jykrain's only redeeming quality, so I had to give it some credit for that.
Tracing my fingers on each glass box enclosing a Skill-Orb, I stopped at a specific one. My eyes quickly scanned the notice board explaining the Skill, and a grin formed on my lips.
I scanned my hand on the sensor, and the glass box slowly lowered, revealing the shimmering Skill-Orb. Grabbing the medium-sized orb, it radiated a sublime medium blue color.
The color and size would differ according to the Tier of the Skill. A SSS-Skill might be of a considerable size.
This is time you say: You ain't getting any SSS skill any time soon nigga.
Allow me a little indulgence in dreaming.
Clutching the Skill-Orb, I channeled my mana, and the Orb responded.
This step was critical because, much like with Arcanas, some Skill-Orbs could reject you if they didn't align with your body.
Fortunately, this one responded favorably.
No way I was getting rejected by anything else other than Jessica.
The knowledge of the Skill quickly flashed in my mind, and I fully assimilated it; the Skill-Orb lost its shine and became a useless gray orb. Swirling the orb on my index finger, I admired it for a moment before stashing it in my Storing-Watch.
A useful Skill.
These two Skills should suffice until I find an appropriate Arcana that matches my worth.
Exiting the Library, which closed down automatically, my focus shifted to another matter—I needed a weapon.
Returning to my room, Jykrain did indeed possess a personal weapon, a simple C-Ranked sword. Weakness issues probably limited him from wielding something stronger, and I couldn't blame him entirely. If he truly wanted to become stronger, he had the Duke's influence and power at his disposal.
However, I'd never used a sword before, and keeping one just for show wasn't in my plans. It would be a burden on my waist, hindering my movement and potentially leading to my demise. Until I mastered the art of swordplay, wearing one was out of the question. Walking properly with a sword wasn't easy for the uninitiated—it was just an unnecessary burden.
So, the most obvious choice was a weapon I had already tried on Earth, purely out of curiosity. I'm no killer, even though there were a couple of people I wouldn't mind eliminating. Jessica, for starters, and her boyfriend right after.
"I need a revolver," I said to Shana.
"—Huuh?" Shana looked visibly bewildered at my request.
"I... need a revolver," I whispered in a low tone. "Get it fast. I don't care about the quality for now. Just get me one quickly."
"Yes, Milord—" Shana bowed and hurriedly left.
Left alone, I finally turned my attention to a more pressing matter. Closing the door behind me, I tossed my coat onto the bed and rolled up my sleeves. "Let's see what you're hiding, Jykrain."
Doubts crept in after reading about the Family-Loving Trait and considering how he was treated like scum in this house. Something didn't add up, including the mysterious expenses from selling Arcanas and Skill-Orbs.
