Chapter 139
"Can I ask you something? If what you said is true... then we're evolved humans, just like those predecessors of ours, the mutants and New Humans, right?"
Takako gently rested a hand on Parna's shoulder as Parna fell silent, looking frustrated, then asked Kurusu. He smiled as if to say she was exactly right and gave a small nod.
Takako understood. Learning that they had lived in a closed-off world that didn't truly exist wouldn't change anything. What mattered now was understanding their position and making the right decisions about what to do next.
"You may have already realized this, but your Role represents your aptitude for the kind of evolution you can undergo. Some are specialized in physical ability, others excel in intelligence, and there are many other possibilities. Your Role is determined by evaluating all of them. Then, as proof of your continued evolution, your Level rises and is reflected in your Status. What Level had you reached...?"
In response to Kurusu's question, Takako said, "245." Kurusu smiled happily, clapped his hands, and praised her. "Wonderful."
"Even if we're evolved beings... wouldn't we still be useless? Especially someone like me... I can't use magic. There must have been plenty of people with strong bodies alone, right?"
"Yes, there have certainly been plenty of people around your Level. But you're mistaken about one thing."
"Mistaken?"
"Yes. You don't have to be an evolved human to use magic, you know. It's the ability to use the mana within your body to create phenomena. Well... it's one kind of psychic power, but it's something humans are naturally born with. Of course, Earthclear's inhabitants evolved to have greater amounts of mana so they could use it freely."
Everyone looked bewildered by his words. If that was true, they couldn't imagine themselves accomplishing what those who had presumably reached higher Levels than them before being summoned to this Earth had failed to achieve.
"The same goes for the body. We have tools—weapons—that let us wield power close to that of an evolved body. It's true that people with exceptional bodies can wield that much power without weapons or fuel, making them a tremendous force. But even so... it's not an entirely revolutionary power."
"Then... what are you expecting from us? Why are you smiling so much?"
"What do you think evolution is...? What are mutants? New Humans? Transcendents?"
Kurusu's cryptic questions left everyone frowning in confusion. Yet only Menou and Takako seemed to understand. "...I see," they murmured, deeply moved.
Takako realized it by considering why people with the same Role were being created. Menou realized it because of the special traits they possessed that others did not.
"Even if anyone could use magic, if there were people back then who were still called evolved, they must have had some special power that earned them that name. In other words, what we would call... Skills."
"Correct. That's exactly right. Each of the people who once fought on the front lines had one special ability. They were more powerful than any weapon, but they were lacking in too many respects. Their bodies and the mana needed to use magic couldn't be compensated for by their special abilities alone. And more than anything, they only had one special ability. By contrast, you have multiple special abilities—Skills."
Hearing that, Rex stared intently at his own body, then immediately asked Kururu to blow him away with wind magic. Kururu unleashed an explosive gust at point-blank range, trying to send Rex flying. But thanks to his Skill, Super Armor, Rex remained right where he was.
"Amazing... Is that the power of your Skill? Each person gains an entirely different ability from their Skills. We don't know what conditions grant which abilities, but once someone has one, we can analyze it. Earthclear's main computer must have told you what your Skill does through your Status Window, right? Could you tell me, too?"
"Before that, can you answer one thing? If you want people with Skills, then why can't we get them until we reach Level 100? According to what you've said, our evolution is a process brought about by pain and suffering, and the way each person grows differs... So when someone acquires a special ability shouldn't be something you can manage with a number."
"That's quite an impressive deduction, Builder Takako, was it? I'm looking forward to seeing how much you accomplish. You're right: Skills aren't something that arise naturally."
"Then... what are they?"
"Skills are acquired by analyzing the bodies of those once called New Humans, mutants, and Transcendents, then injecting special genes that can awaken their abilities. But if you inject them into an ordinary person, their cells break down. You need a strong enough body to withstand those genes."
Hearing that, Takako looked down at her hands. She repeatedly clenched and opened her fist, then murmured, "I see," as if she'd understood, and punched the ground.
The next instant, a small explosion burst from Takako's fist. She nodded as if confirming her realization, then looked at Kurusu and declared, "You're right. If an ordinary person used this, their arm would be torn off."
Perhaps it was a Skill Kurusu had never seen before. A sheen of cold sweat appeared on his face at the blow unleashed by Takako's enormous body, whose Role was Martial Artist. "I'm really... looking forward to this," he murmured.
"Incidentally, we inject that drug every 100 Levels because giving someone who already has a special ability another one puts too much strain on their body. Well, I've never seen anyone with more than three Skills."
Hearing that, everyone thought of Kagami almost at once. For some reason, they were all bothered by the fact that Kurusu still hadn't brought him up.