"Unnecessary skills with no use. Annoying skills that are nothing more than a nuisance. I will relieve you of the skills you have no need for, no charge! Alternatively I will also purchase them! Any skill is fine, just freely approach!"
With a loud voice and spring in my step I walked around the newly visited city.
She was on the chubbier side, but her face was most charming. An amiable person.
Let's switch to a slightly louder voice so they can properly hear,
It allows one to purchase skills and make them one's own."
Noticeable surprise responded to that revelation, stirring could be heard from here and there around us.
For normal skills, although there is a wide variety of them, none are particularly uncommon. Usually there are who knows how many people that possess the same skill set; the number of adventurers with the skills「Sword Mastery」,「Hand-to-Hand Combat」,「Resilience」and「Inhuman Strength」can hardly be counted.
They knew that skills are not necessarily a blessing.
Summoning small misfortune,「Bad Luck」
Growing old quicker than other humans,「Aging」
——For those without the skill「Control」.
"What do you say? Would you allow me to purchase that bothersome skill of yours?"
Hearing those words her spirit swayed. To me, who had「Psychology」Lv 10 toggled on, the other party's feelings were like an open book, their gestures their prose.
"...If I sold the skill, what would happen to it?"
"It would be transferred to me, the buyer."
"But wouldn't that mean I made you shoulder my troubles?"
To think she would worry about me, what a kind lady.
Practical experience in purchasing skills. Proof of that, as well as softening the doubts that I'm some villain. And most importantly, making the unrealistic event of losing one's skill easier to take in.
Thus I lighten the mood, not letting the grave atmosphere set in, allowing people to sell their skills at ease - That is my daily endeavour.
I focused my concentration on right above the lady's head. With little delay my field of vision was filled with red letters floating in midair.
Skills
「Cooking」Lv 7
The other two are quite splendid skills. They're both on the common side, but there's no downside to possessing them. You could say that inn keeping and cooking were her calling.
"Could it be that you work at an inn or restaurant?"
"My, well done. Then you really do see people's skills, that's amazing. Yes, I work at an inn just down this road. Do come by if you'd like."
"I will make sure to stop by later, thank you very much. But I went off-topic, my apologies. Now then, since your「Monster Attractor」is a rather potent skill, how about 10,000?"
Locking eyes with the other party I voiced the appraisal's results. Shock was written on her face, eyes wide open and her mouth agape. She certainly made it easy to tell how she felt.
"O-of course, I suppose a removal free of charge would be unreasonable for such a bothersome ability... That's just how expensive of a matter it is..."
The lady dropped her shoulders and let out a deep sigh.
There are beasts in this world that you are near impossible to happen upon under regular circumstances. Harmless creatures of immense value due to their adorable appearance. However, they are swift and almost never encountered in the first place.
Further uses would be going along with adventurers to speed up their monster extermination quests, or attracting monsters for a rookie's first practical training session. There were plenty of ways to utilize her skill.
"I'll sell it! Gladly!"
"Thank you for your patronage."
Very well, this concludes negotiations.
Incidentally,「Purchase」can be activated without saying anything at all, but reciting something reminiscent of an incantation makes the seller's anxiety sink while their trust rises.
Of course, this was more acting. A combination of「Luminescence」and「Telekinesis」.
It was no act out of philanthropy, but what joy to bring happiness to others.
"Now then, ladies and gentlemen. Do you, too, hold an undesired skill? Keep in mind, skills with overflowing potential that you have no realistic way of harnessing are also appreciated. If you are troubled by monetary matters but in possession of an excellent skill, then please, do approach! The amount of money will have to be negotiated, but there is no need to hesitate; the price assessment is free of charge."
After appealing to the onlookers around me I was soon swamped with requests by spectators of the earlier live performance.
Now then, let us move on to actual business!
It's a truth hidden from the world, but skills have a level mechanic attached to them. The ability remains the same, but the higher the level the more powerful
Some people have high level skills from birth, but raising those levels yourself is also a possibility. Applying a skill over and over for years, or decades even, might cause a level up.
For me, raising those levels is a simple task. When purchasing skills I already possess, their overlap causes them to combine with an increase in level. The higher the level the less frequently does the merge result in a rank up, but even low level versions can cause a level up more often than one may think, just by combining them with a high level one.
present the right amount of money.
After a quick check at the map I had kept in my breast pocket I entered the district's back alleys.
As I walked through an alley void of activity I sensed three figures lurking ahead of me.「Sensing Presence」continued to prove useful. One could call it part of the reason I was still among the living.
"The three gentlemen hiding over there. Let us show each other's faces if there is business between us."
I could sense the vibrations of their flickering auras.「Sensing Presence」was a common low level skill, which resulted in many opportunities to acquire it. Consequently, my current level easily surpassed 30. Level 10 could be considered first class proficiency, but something like level 30 was the realm of masters.
"Noticed us, eh. Not bad."
What appeared from the dark was what seemed like a group of thugs, wearing thick fabric sewn together into clothes. Most likely something along the lines of ruined adventurers or ganged up criminals.
Hm, let's go with「Hand-to-Hand Combat」,「Swift Feet」,「Inhuman Strength」,「Good Luck」 and「Sensing Presence」, level 20 across the board.
Paying no further attention to the one that just got sent flying, a head kick to the temporal region knocked out the next fellow.
I listed my offers for each of their skills on three separate pieces of paper and entrusted them to the pockets of their clothes.
"Should you be pressed for money I'll gladly take care of your skills. Quite some wasted talents there."
With those words I left that place behind.
It appeared like a mere isolated building, but a mere isolated building was not equipped with two spear men guarding its entrance.
"Good evening. I am here regarding the request."
"Oh, the skill collector! Leader's waiting inside."
The two visibly brawny men stepped aside to let me pass, even opening the door for me.
a high class sofa, was a man with a raised hand and a naked upper body.
"Ohh, so you're back. Over here, come, come. Sit with me."
The man with the mane of a lion patted the spot on the sofa next to him and I obediently obliged.
The only men to try meddling with him after seeing his body were either fools or without grasp on their senses.
High grade alcohol and an extravagant buffet. Looked like he was in a welcoming mood.
"Don't hold back, you can eat and drink as much as you want. How'd it go?"
"Right, there were no problems. I acquired「Monster Attractor」."
"Bravo, well done! So, how much?"
Despite his wide smile and high spirits his expression certainly turned serious rapidly once negotiations began.
I allowed myself to respond with the full set of「Articulation」,「Talkative」,「Psychology」and「Negotiator」.
This time as well I was able to settle on my desired sum, ...at a hundred times the buying price.
"Alright, now insert「Monster Attractor」, I beg."
"Are you certain? It turns out to be rather potent, once you take possession of it just leaving town will result in constant monster attacks."
"That's my wish. I ain't satisfied with my arm, nowhere close, I still have to keep honing it. This arm brought me wealth and fame, but my hunger for strength ain't sated! Challengers stopped daring to approach me a long time ago and even monsters just panic from sensing me."
"That's no surprise after you spent five years defending the title at the capital's arena."
Champion of the capital, "The Undefeatable." That was the man sitting next to me. Even with my most supreme skill set, victory would be uncertain. His strength was of a different order of magnitude.
"But damn, how convenient your skill is. Being able to buy skills and even sell them again."
"Although the selling part isn't known outside a select circle, keep in mind."
My Only Skill. Its true name is not「Purchase」, but「Trade」.
begging for my services, even being caught up in crime wouldn't be unlikely. Thus I pick my buyers, approaching them myself.
The champion was seeking「Monster Attractor」, so I wandered the town until I discovered the lady. To then acquire her interest, I promoted myself next to her. A simple task with no elaborate tricks.
I easily made up for today's expenses and was thinking of staying at the lady's inn for tonight. I did owe her for the profit I turned that day, so I felt like passing her a gift.
"Oi, stupid brat! Can't you see you sullied my clothes!"
"I-I beg forgiveness..."
A man's anger and a woman's remorse could be heard from an alley to my left.
On a whim I toggled「Stealth」and peaked in on them.
The victim he picked was a girl with ruffled hair and meagre arms thin like sticks, wearing clothes with traces of dirt all over them. By no means did she invoke the impression of leading an easy life.
With「Ground Contraction」I instantaneously moved to behind the drunk man, from where I toggled「Hardened Body」while squatting down. Next I folded my hands and with only my index fingers stretched out I fixed my aim on his buttocks.
It was a shame, in more ways than one.
When she handed me the flowers I allowed myself to use「Appraisal」.
I was a little shocked, it was the most unfortunate collection of skills I had ever seen. Had misfortune preordained all her life?
opportunity to be analyzed in the first place.
Despite being a child of poverty she didn't throw away her pride. A noble spirit.
"This is my thanks for the lovely flowers. It may look like too much, but I made a lot of money today, you see? I would love to have you share that fortune
Today I acquired money and also some beautiful flowers.
I said it, did I not? "May I buy everything?"
That's conclusion of contract.
"Since the payment was still a little meagre for a purchase of three skills I compensated her with「Fortune」. I hope it fits her tastes."
While thinking about the girl's future with a smile on my face I briskly headed to the inn, the bought flowers in hand.
I already knew a lady to gift them to.