Stepping up (P.1) – Chapter 11

"...So this mirror can show me what I'm capable of?"

"Yes, or that's what I'm guessing. Try placing your hand on the mirror."

Aoi, who was standing in front of the mirror with a doubtful expression, asked before looking at her reflection. 

Then, right as she placed her hand in the mirror, the screen began forming numbers and letters that both of us could understand.

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Stats

Name: Aoi Onaki

Intelligence: 4/10

Strength: 2/10

Defense: 6/10

Skills: 'Whip Master', 'Flow control'

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"Oh, it appeared!" Aoi exclaimed in awe as she looked at the information that popped up in the mirror.

"So that's what it looks like…."

"Huh?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just wondering about your last name." I wryly smiled as I tried to brush off what I muttered unconsciously.

"Oh, right…. I guess I never told you…" She said in a low voice while looking at her own status.

"No need to feel bad about that. Knowing your name is enough for me. And since we are stuck in this place, I don't think that your last name matters that much."

After a moment of silence, we both looked back at the stats that had appeared in front of Aoi.

"So, these 'stats', are they information like in a game? I think I've encountered a thing like this before in one of the novels I used to read."

"You already guessed it. This mirror basically calculates and shows what you are capable of through this window. And from what we can see, it seems pretty accurate."

Aoi sighed in awe as she was looking at her own status. 

"What about you?"

"Hm? You're interested in my stats?"

"...Y-yes…"

With a rather unsure and shy look, she nodded while trying not to glance at me directly in the eyes.

Then, without making her feel bad for asking about my information stats, I placed my hand on the mirror, showing the information that It had about me.

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Stats

Name: Sora ???

Intelligence: ???

Strength: ???

Defense: ???

Skills: N/A 

____________________ 

But what appeared next to the reflection of my hand left Aoi puzzled.

"Um... Why are all your stats showing up as question marks?" Aoi asked, her voice filled with concern.

"I'm not entirely sure," I replied, trying to make sense of it myself. "I've tried various experiments, and no matter what I do, the mirror keeps displaying question marks. At first, I thought it was malfunctioning, but after you entered this land, it became clear that it just doesn't work on me."

Looking at my stats with a rather disappointed and worried look, she wryly smiled at me.

"I'm sure that something must've happened. But don't worry, I'm sure that it's nothing bad."

"Don't tell me that you feel concerned that I can't see my own stats?" I asked in awe.

Aoi blushed bashfully and glanced to the side.

"Well, of course I would..."

Listening to her cute response, I couldn't help but chuckle.

"I appreciate your concern. But I've grown accustomed to not having stats. Even without it, I've managed to navigate through many dungeons in the past, so I don't think it will be an issue for me."

That's right. I've been in thousands of different dungeons that were similar to this, and I've always managed to find a route to complete it even without looking at my own stats.

I'm not sure what these stats are for other than seeing what sort of improvement someone has. 

This might help Aoi since it hasn't been that long since she was brought here. However, I do wonder why I'm not able to properly see my own stats.

Even my last name doesn't seem to be available. 

'Not that I remember it though…'

After we had entered the 'door' which led to this empty room, both me and Aoi found ourselves in front of this mirror.

This room is usually a safe spot that I used to find randomly around the dungeons that the door brought me. Even though the mirror was basically useless, this room made it possible for me to get plenty of rest without getting worried about getting killed by wandering monsters.

"Oh, right. Aoi."

"Yes?"

"Since we are already here, can you interact with the stats in the mirror? Like, can it show further information?"

"I'm not sure…"

Aoi, who looked a bit startled at my sudden question, turned towards the mirror and touched it once again. 

What appeared in front of the mirror once again, but after further checking her skills, there seemed to be an option of clicking it.

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[ Skill List ]

–Whip Master

Description: Harness the power of whips with mastery and finesse. Command and manipulate whips with unrivaled precision and control.

–Flow control

Description: Master the art of manipulating the movement and flow of objects like ropes and whips. Bend them to your will and dictate their path with seamless control.

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After we both carefully read through her skills, we found out how these skills had affected her mastery of the sword whip.

Now this all makes sense as to why Aoi was able to master one of the most difficult kinds of swords this quickly.

"Aoi, just to be sure. In your world, there isn't such a thing as skills or magic?"

"No, I've only read about skills and magic in novels. And I don't think anyone believed in them other than kids…" Aoi explained, her face filled with mixed emotions. 

She doesn't really have any reason to lie to me, so I guess she must be telling the truth. I'm sure that she also didn't get those skills through killing slimes since she was quickly able to use the whip sword the moment she saw it.

Maybe she was able to get those starting skills the moment she was teleported to the inescapable land?

That could also be a possibility.