Tools Before the Execution
Ruko run by the feeling he just had and start to remember what his father said. "Listen to me Ruko. If your in certain danger or having a bad dreams, so remember this. I'm not a scaredy-cat, I'm a lion cub who will conquer all fears with my pride and mind," End memory flash back and Ruko slip and drop on his face.
"Owwowow my face again," ruko think back what his father and state. Hmphm ...ok dad i think your right so i'll go back to the guild since it's early at this time of evening and I'll think I'll check the training hall."
The guild training hall smelled like old wood, sweat, and cheap alcohol, which made it the perfect place for people to pretend they were preparing instead of panicking. Ruko stood near the center of the room while the rest of the party watched from varying distances, some interested, some nervous, some pretending not to care.
The planning from the previous day had settled in. This wasn't theory anymore. This was the last calm before Axel either held together or broke to nothing. Ruko flexed his hand slowly, eyes half-lidded as he focused inward.
He hadn't spent a single skill point since arriving in this world, not because he couldn't, but because he didn't trust shortcuts. Skills taken too easily were skills you didn't understand, and skills you didn't understand were the ones that got you killed when things went wrong.
Beldia wasn't the kind of enemy you brute-forced. He was old, arrogant, and cruel, which meant he had habits. Habits could be exploited. "Alright," Kazuma said, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. "You said you wanted to 'test something.' Try not to blow up the guild. We're already on thin ice."
"No promises and my skills arelowers than you, so how can i blow up the guild," Ruko replied flatly. Megumin perked up. "If something explodes, it should at least be me." Darkness nodded enthusiastically. "I volunteer to be hit by whatever he's testing."
"No," Ruko said immediately. "Absolutely not." He closed his eyes and activated Copy, not reaching outward blindly, but narrowing his focus to specific mechanics he had already observed over the past few days. The faint movements of mana in Kazuma's basic skills, the way Aqua's purification resisted curse-type energy, the structural logic behind low-tier reinforcement magic used by veteran adventurers. He wasn't copying power. He was copying method.
A sharp pressure pulsed behind his eyes, then eased. The guild card at his waist flickered faintly. Kazuma blinked. "Did… did your card just react?" Ruko pulled it out and placed it on the table.
The familiar Konosuba-style layout shimmered into view, simple and brutally honest.
Name: Ruko Satou
Class: (Unassigned)
Skill Points: 15 (remained)
Level: Low (15)
HP: 51 / 51 STR: (12.9)
VIT: (11.9) AGI: (15.9)
INT: (15.9) Luck: (61.9)
Skills (Natural / Acquired):
– Curse Resistance
– Mental Stability
Aqua squinted. "That luck stat looks illegal." Kazuma groaned. "Of course it does." Ruko studied the list carefully. The new entries weren't flashy, but they were exactly what he needed. Basic reinforcement to keep his body from folding under pressure. Some minor curse resistance, not enough to negate Beldia, but enough to buy seconds. Mental stability, which is a new skill which this world didn't have but to keep his thoughts clear when the fear hit. These weren't hero skills. They were survivor skills.
"Wow," Megumin said, crossing her arms. "You learned all that without points and a new skill ..that hasn'tbeen in the skills dairy?" Ruko looked up. "Points are for people who want instructions. I prefer understanding."
A nearby adventurer snorted. "Sounds like cope."
Ruko turned, stared at him for a second, then raised his middle finger slowly with kitty expression. "You look like the kind of guy who blames the healer when you die first." The room went quiet. Kazuma coughed to hide a laugh. Darkness stepped forward. "So how does this help against Beldia?"
Ruko sheathed the card and walked toward the door. "It dont know and im not sure yet. That will have to come next at the battlefield." They moved outside as evening fell, the sky painted in dull reds and purples. Axel's outer wall was crowded with adventurers, guards, and nervous townsfolk peeking from behind buildings. Torches lined the ramparts. Everyone knew what was coming, even if they pretended otherwise.
Then the air changed. A cold pressure rolled in like a wave, heavy and unmistakable. Horses screamed in distant stables. Torches flickered. A low, mocking laughter echoed from beyond the gates. Beldia had arrived.
The Demon General stood in the open field outside Axel, mounted on his undead steed, headless form radiating authority and malice. Behind him, his minions gathered: skeletal knights, cursed spirits, undead soldiers dragging rusted weapons through the dirt. They didn't advance. They didn't need to since this was a declaration of war. The town froze.
Ruko stepped forward onto the wall, coat snapping slightly in the wind. Without hesitation, he jumped down, landing hard but steady in front of the gate. Several people shouted in panic.
Kazuma leaned over the wall. "Are you insane?!"
Ruko didn't look back. "Relax. I'm not fighting." "And owowow my fucking legs their hurt!" Ruko rampage in his thoughts. He walked forward a few more steps, stopping well within sight of Beldia's army. Then he raised his hand and flipped his middle finger straight at the Demon General.
"Hey, Dullahan," Ruko called out. "You ride like a corpse that forgot how balance works." The undead army stirred. A few minions growled. Beldia's presence sharpened, attention locking fully onto Ruko.
Kazuma whispered, "He's dead. He's so dead." Ruko continued, voice calm but carrying. "You cursed a town because a kid blew up your house. You're not terrifying. You're petty trash. If you wanted respect, maybe don't build a mansion next to an explosion addict."
A heavy silence followed. Then Beldia laughed, the sound echoing unnaturally. The curse pressure intensified, but stopped short of activating. He was interested and irritated at the same time. Megumin grinned. "Oh, he's mad."
Ruko turned and walked back toward the gate, not rushing, not flinching. "Good. That's the point."
He stopped beneath the wall and looked up at his party. "This is your warning shot. Tomorrow, we fight." Kazuma swallowed, then nodded. "Yeah… yeah. Let's end this." Behind them, Axel braced itself for the begin of defense.
And this time, they were ready.