[Host Has Acquired The Unique E-Tier Skill > ★ IMITATE★–? ]
'Huh, I think I heard something just now.'
At first, when I heard a chime in my head, I thought it was the constant ringing of the distant cathedral bell.
But there was something speaking in my head just now, telling me I had awakened a unique skill.
My mind slowly wound back to what I had just heard.
Was this the skill the pope was talking about? A smile slowly spread across my face, and I turned to one side, struggling to hide it.
[The system will serve Host in matters relating to the unique skill: ★ IMITATE ★ ]
System? Was this part of the goddess's blessing or what?
My breath caught...
Even if I ended up in a bad position, at least I had something to rely on now. I sneaked a glance at Adrian.
He didn't look like he had gone through the same process as me.
I wondered if the system was related to the status magic the pope mentioned earlier.
If so, that meant Adrian had also accessed his own but was trying to stay silent about it.
'System, I would like to know more about this skill.'
Even before they used the status magic, I wanted to know where I stood, that was why I asked about the skill.
A window appeared in my vision, making me gasp, eyes wide.
'So this is what the system could do'
This was really convenient for me. I immediately looked around to make sure no one could see it, and luckily, it seemed to be visible only to me.
[Unique Skill: —★ IMITATE ★—] {E-Tier}
[Mimic a target ability when it is activated. You can only mimic ability of the same Tier.]
E-Tier...
The world trailed off in my mind.
E-Tier, E-Rank, E-Grade, power ranking that started with E wasn't something foreign to me.
After reading many novels, I could more or less guess that it was the lowest rank.
In the first place, was it not a novel that caused me to be summoned?
My expression immediately crumpled.
This was basically like turning me into some minion, a tagalong.
Was I destined to be the hero's minion after all?
It was even worse, given I could only mimic the lowest tier skill when it is activated.
'Damn it! Goddamn it! What the fuck is this skill?'
I clenched my teeth in anger, my breath growing heavy as I felt my blood boil.
This meant I could use any target ability when they activate it in front of me, but it had to be an E-Tier.
Was it because it was an E-Tier?
'Why did it have to get nerfed like this?!'
At that moment, I felt lost, and my hope of becoming something in an Isekai crumbled.
And in a few more moments, this trash skill would be displayed for everyone to see.
The next thing I knew was a nervous feeling crawling inside of me.
Adrian turned to me with a suspicious expression, his brow furrowed slightly as though he sensed something was wrong.
But the bastard simply turned away as if to increase my anxiety.
'Hey, what is your ability? I'm sure you would have gotten it.'
I whispered quickly out of anxiety because my chances of becoming powerful had dwindled. I felt I needed to know his ability.
Maybe I could leech off him; after all, we were classmates before, even if we had never really talked at school.
The only way now was to get friendly with the main character, to seek his protection, or else my safety was not guaranteed in this foreign world.
"Don't be in a hurry, Rei boy. It will soon be displayed for all to see."
I knew it! I had my doubts about asking, but I just wanted to confirm it—he had gotten a powerful skill.
If not, why would he say something like that? Compared to me, who didn't want our skills to be displayed, he was actually looking forward to it.
'Tch! As expected of a narcissist.'
The sound of multiple footsteps echoing in the distance changed the atmosphere of the hall.
Silence filled the air as the sound grew louder, like marching soldiers.
Royal knights in gleaming armor flooded the hall in an instant, and a young lady flanked by two knights stepped in gracefully.
Her presence was breathtaking. She walked in a way befitting royalty, and with just a single glance, anyone could guess who she was.
'Princess Lousielle Alveron.'
She slowly walked toward us, her black hair flowing freely behind her like a silken waterfall.
Her head was held up high, her ruby eyes blazing with a determined expression.
The Mage Sisters of the Holy Order bowed slightly, their hands folded over their chests in reverence.
She stopped a few feet in front of us. Her gaze shifted from Adrian to me, and a crease formed on her brow.
She shot me a piercing look that made my whole body tense.
'What an intimidating presence. So this is Princess Lousielle.'
Seeing her up close like this completely changed the opinion I had formed of her in the novel.
'What is with that icy gaze?'
Although her character had only been shown superficially in the early chapters, she seemed even colder than what the novel had depicted.
To prevent any misunderstanding, the pope shuffled over and whispered something to her.
She nodded, then turned those ruby eyes back to me.
"Honourable Heroes, on behalf of my father, King Alveron Leonis IV, I have come to welcome you to our kingdom."
Her voice was calm and regal, exactly as I had read in the novel.
She bowed slightly and greeted us elegantly.
Adrian stepped forward, took her right hand, and gave it a peck.
My eyes widened. That bastard really went and did it. As expected of the main character!
"Thank you for heeding our summon."
"The pleasure is mine."
Adrian released the princess's hand and stepped back elegantly.
A maid in the princess's service stepped forward, holding something that looked like a crystal ball on a red velvet pillow.
She handed it to Adrian. Great. Time to see just how perfect Mr. Golden Boy really was.
"Honourable Hero, by holding this Orb, everyone shall witness the skills and blessings the goddess has bestowed upon you."
Just as he placed a hand on it, light flared above him and runes shimmered in the air.
A large window appeared before everyone, detailing his full name, race, and ability lists.
The lists went on and on, causing a reaction in the hall.
Murmurs filled the hall the moment the information became public.
The Mage Sisters' eyes widened, and even the knights couldn't stop whispering.
The pope rushed toward Adrian, looking up at him as if he were a god.
"Lord Adrian, you have obtained an S-Tier unique skill and even a talent. I'm so pleased that you were summoned."
His body shook with utmost devotion. It was as if his salvation had descended through Adrian.
Apart from other B-Tier and A-Tier skills, Adrian had received an S-Tier unique skill [Sword Saint] and an S-Tier Talent [Greater Ally].
"A Talent?!"
"For him to receive a goddess blessing..."
Murmurings filled the hall, at every corner, everyone was whispering, Adrian name filled the mouth of the maidens.
My stomach churned; although the skill description was not displayed, all of Adrian's skills appeared to be overpowered.
My conjecture was confirmed by their reactions.
Like every other power system, an S-tier skill is the most powerful, with skill power decreasing from A-tier onwards.
So what about mine, which was E-Tier? Wouldn't that translate to trash?
The thought of this made my heartbeat heavier.
Adrian beamed proudly, his head held up high as he looked down at Lousielle.
I could have sworn I saw a flicker of irritation at being looked down on flash across her face.
And I knew Adrian would have caught that too. He gave a smug little smile and walked to a nearby knight.
In an instant, he unsheathed the knight's sword, his eyes scanning the blade all over.
The knight gasped. He looked like he wanted to protest, but when he realized Adrian was a hero, he backed down immediately.
A knight's sword is his life and pride—I had read that in one of the early chapters of the novel—but Adrian didn't seem to care.
Adrian held it up. The metal hummed as he raised it over his shoulder.
A golden glow wrapped around the steel.
Then—one swing.
FWIP!
Five arcs of golden light sliced through the air, unstoppable until they collided with the high ceiling.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The whole hall shook intensely as though there was an impending earthquake!
Everyone trembled in panic.
After a brief moment, the chaos subsided.
The hall fell silent. The pope's mouth opened, but no words came out.
Lousielle narrowed her eyes at Adrian. The guy had found the perfect moment to show off.
My face twisted bitterly. Now that he had had everyone's hopes up, my situation looked even worse. I didn't know what kind of mockery I would receive.
"A-As expected of the hero class. A sword skill with holy magic. I can feel the amount of holy power in it, it resembles the Celestial Light Goddess."
The Pope practically squeaked, his body shook with excitement!
"Yes, this is the first form of Sword Saint: Five Fold Holy Slash. I suppose with more training, I can master more forms."
The bastard was even naming his move.
Anger flared up within me, even if I were an extra, why did I have to get the lowest tier ability?
As Adrian lowered the sword with a smug look, it were as if what he had done wasn't a least impressive to him.
At the same time, this reaction sparked a buzz among the everyone, especially the Mage Sisters and the royal maids, causing them to go crazy over him.
'The bastard is already building a hero fan base I guess.'
CRACKAKAK!!!
The blade in Adrian's hand suddenly cracked, golden light spilling from the fractures.
Before everyone could react, it exploded into metal shards! Leaving the crowd staring in stunned disbelief.
The Pope breathed in deeply, his eyes widened, then he breathed out relaxingly and cleared his throat.
A thin smile slowly formed on his face as if he had gotten used to Adrian's grandeur.
"The holy power is too much for such a weapon. We shall get you a sword worthy of your strength."
Then the orb was placed in front of me.
I swallowed.
It was my turn now. I felt like making a hole in the floor and tunneling away, but there was no escape.
I gently placed my hand on it.
A faint glow.
Glowing runes appeared before everyone, and they gasped softly.
[Name: Rei Turner]
[Race: Human]
[Unique E-Tier Skill: ★ IMITATE ★ ]
Just that.
The skill was written boldly along with its ridiculous tier.
Then silence, as if everyone had read it at the same moment.
Was it the fact that the lowest tier skill was called unique or because a hero had gotten the lowest tier skill?
Something that had never been recorded in the kingdom history of hero summoning.
The silence was worse than laughter.
A few stifled giggles broke out from the maidens.
Lousielle gazed at me as if I were the lowliest scum to ever cross worlds.
Even the Pope's look of betrayal wasn't hidden.
I felt heat crawl up my neck.
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