Surviving as a Useless Bard in a Game

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Separation comes equally for both short and long relationships.

If measured by dates, it’s barely been two weeks. Even in this short span of just over a week, the time for parting has arrived.

There were some suspicious and scary parts, but should I be thankful that nothing ultimately happened?

Or should I despise myself for viewing a good person with suspicious eyes just because of their appearance?

Since my looks and personality are perfect, I naturally chose the former.

Hmm, yes.

“It seems like it’ll take a while to reach Regan from the North.”

In the end, money was everything.

It wasn’t a small sum, and if I were to budget wisely, it would last me for over a month. It’s a bit much to dismiss it as mere income.

Isn’t it common for men to have at least one dream they hold within?

Like wanting to become strong or wanting to use certain skills, those kinds of things.

Ever since I saw Nisha showcase an unknown skill reminiscent of a spearman, I tried to follow along a little… Just a little, mind you. Naturally, nothing happened at all.

“Emphasizing one side of a person, huh? Maybe following someone wasn’t the right approach to begin with.”

Even now, I think it’s too late. I’m about to leave soon.

In the end, there was nothing left other than money. While it’s said that money is the most important thing in life, isn’t this a bit too much?

“Skylar also found out that I’m not in good shape, and I couldn’t even test any buff or debuff skills. Plus, there were no new skills or anything beneficial for my health.”

Ultimately, the two silver coins were my only earnings.

No, if I’m being precise, I also made some money jamming while drunk at the Adventurer’s Guild… So while it’s a small income, I did earn a decent amount.

Maybe I can buy cheap items once I get to Regan. If there’s a decent city on the way, I’ll check out some shops.

I’ve said a bit, but ultimately, my tasks haven’t changed.

Buying items to manage my stamina and health status? That’s just a process. My ultimate goal is survival and returning home.

I want to get back to a world with the internet as soon as possible.

Why is there no community in this medieval fantasy world?

“It’s ridiculous. We’re in a world where long-range communication works through magic crystals… and nobody thought to create a community? Seriously?”

It doesn’t make sense.

One of humanity’s primal desires and traits is the craving for others’ attention; is it true no humans have ever attempted that until now?

“Or maybe… what if there already is one?”

There might already be a community named something like the Mage Tower—Inside or similar.

I waited for Skylar while entertaining these pointless thoughts, and not long after, he showed up with Nisha and Propertyius.

With Nisha and Propertyius beside him, Skylar looked a bit like their child, which made me chuckle a little.

If he finds out I was thinking this way, will he get angry?

It seems he can’t stand being seen as a kid, even if he is one.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just.”

“…I’ll let it slide for now.”

“More importantly, why are those two here?”

“They came to greet you.”

“Oh, really?”

Honestly, he didn’t seem all that affectionate, but Skylar probably knows better than me. They might have come to greet Skylar and not me at all.

I was starting to adjust, but now we’re leaving again.

Just as I get accustomed, we leave; getting familiar, and then leaving again… The adventurer’s profession is not easy at all.

Actually, there aren’t really any easy professions in this world, but surely there’s at least one that’s a bit less difficult. Choosing to be an adventurer and going through all this hardship, how unfortunate.

A long-term journey every week, in this state of being less than fully fit?

I’d rather be put to death!

“No, I’m not joking. I might really die. Isn’t it getting risky?”

These days, it seems the genre where a terminally ill protagonist talks big and then doesn’t die is trending.

Honestly, compared to those protagonists, I’m not even that sick; I’m hanging in there.

But as everyone knows, the penalties don’t come gradually; they hit unexpectedly all at once. If sleeping problems or clumsiness can’t be predicted, how could I foresee stat penalties?

I could drop dead suddenly.

Propertyius and Nisha waved to me as they followed Skylar into the Church.

I tried to follow them inside, but for some reason, the church door wouldn’t open. Even when I clung to the door, it remained shut tight.

After some pondering, I thought of a brilliant solution.

That was asking Skylar for help.

“Skylar, I want to go in too.”

“I closed it on purpose. Wait a moment.”

“Ugh.”

Only a cold response came from inside. In the end, I had no choice but to sit in front of the door, hugging my lute dearly while I waited for their conversation to finish.

How sad.

*

Skylar burned a scroll inscribed with a magic that blocks external sounds with his mana.

A round translucent barrier gradually expanded until it passed through the church walls and stopped right in front of the door.

Even if one could see the mana, if the magic activation happened somewhere out of sight, one couldn’t detect it. It’s one of the principles of magic often used when setting traps.

Skylar looked at Propertyius and Nisha, and it was them who spoke first.

Propertyius began.

“I learned a bit about the eyes.”

“…The fact that you came directly means you’ve discovered something, right?”

“Am I being viewed too negatively? I was, after all, a fellow companion.”

“That was merely a business relationship. Anyway… what’s the main point?”

“I found records about the previous owner of the eyes.”

“The body split for the last time 800 years ago, and we discovered it in exploration just over 200 years ago.”

After double-checking that Selina couldn’t hear this conversation, Skylar added.

His eyes had a fierce look as if he were suspicious.

“There’s no way there could be records left.”

“That’s true. The companion who chose the eyes lost contact not long after and reappeared 196 years later.”

“You’re well-informed.”

“But what if we found records of those who possessed the body before we did?”

“…What?”

“What if we were all deceived by a naive act?”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

Propertyius pulled an old, crumbling book from his cloak. The cover was so worn that it was barely recognizable, and most pages were rotted from moisture and mold.

Skylar frowned as he stared at the book, and Propertyius turned the cover to show the contents.

The writing was so faint it was hard to read, but it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.

At a glance, I could tell it was an eloquent script that conveyed knowledge, with impressive curves filled with strength… it was a diary.

The contents of the diary were simple. It contained records of observing others.

However, the details of that record were shocking.

“…What is this?”

It began with the unbelievable notion that one could glean insights about their own state and that of others simply by observing, showing human traits in numerical form. Moreover, one could immediately discern blessings and curses contained in the body.

It even suggested that one’s overall sense of sight has been enhanced, allowing one to avoid attacks swung by platinum adventurers simply by seeing them.

The ability known for enchanting others was actually not true; it’s closer to inducing others’ actions to bring forth the possibilities one desires… neither magic nor divinity, but a genuine miracle.

“I formed a hypothesis. Skylar.”

“…If this is true, does that explain my actions?”

“You aren’t the type to be kind to people for no reason at all.”

“……What about my image?”

“The bard accompanying you is pretending to be weak while searching for other body possessors—this is my hypothesis.”

“You’ve been silent while watching us. If this information were true, we would have died long ago.”

“No, listen carefully. I’m speaking about other ‘all’ body possessors. Peaceful types like us hide their bodies, and to find such recluse, you’d need at least three… no, four of them. The draws are too slow.”

“So, before finding body possessors I can handle, they’ll remain quiet? That act is just pretense? But…”

“I get it.”

Interrupting Skylar, Propertyius slowly moved his hand.

Hiding the diary back into his cloak, he continued.

“So I’m going to conduct an experiment.”