100. Assessment and Kotone

Shiro and the others were tasked with training the Hero group—Kotone and her companions. Aria, Albert, and Steven were also participating. Emilia and Miradia had insisted they wanted to join too, so they’d be training together.

By the time Shiro arrived, Kotone and the others had already undergone basic training and magical instruction, and could now perform elementary standard spells. Kotone, however, couldn’t. No one had any idea why.

“So, what about your professions and skills?” Shiro asked.

“I’m a hero! I’ve got the Sword Saint skill in all attributes,” Makoto said.

“I’m a sage, all attributes,” Masaki added.

“I’m a mage—wind and light,” Mizuki said.

“…And Kotone?” Shiro asked, turning to the quiet girl.

“I’m… a modeler. I don’t know what it means. No one I asked could tell me,” she said softly, her voice tinged with sadness.

“Ahh, I see. The other three are at least straightforward. Kotone…?” Shiro tilted his head.

If taken at face value, the term “modeler” suggested to Shiro—well-versed in Kotone’s hobbies—something like 3D modeling. But if that were a skill or even a spell name, the situation changed entirely.

“I’ve never heard of a skill like that,” Shestia said.

“Shiro, it’s probably one of your Idea Skills, or something like mine,” Mitoka said. “My database doesn’t list a skill by that name.”

“Huh. In a case like this… what do we do?” Shiro frowned.

—Assessment can’t be used easily on people, and even if it could, would it reveal the skill’s actual function? Shiro wondered.

“Shiro, skill assessment is possible. If we first assess Kotone to extract information, then assess the skill itself, we might learn more about its details,” Mitoka said.

“Huh, really? Well, but assessing people…?” Shiro hesitated.

He’d never used assessment on a person before. It worked fine on beasts, but there were actual restrictions when it came to people.

One: you had to touch the person in a certain way. Two: the person had to trust the assessor. Three: the assessor couldn’t harbor ill intent.

In this world, you couldn’t just glance at someone’s status. It was, in fact, a security measure—designed by Shiro himself—so status data couldn’t be easily abused.

If you wanted to know someone’s stats or skills, just ask them. That was all.

Back then, it had seemed like an odd belief, an odd rule. But Shiro had never imagined it would become real life, so he’d completely forgotten about it.

Mitoka and Shestia exchanged a glance and nodded.

“Shiro, I’d recommend assessing Kotone,” Mitoka said, unusually earnest.

“Shiro, you should do it,” Shestia said with a smile.

“Huh? Really? But… just a sec…” Shiro looked confused.

“Kotone, come here. Shiro, wait,” Mitoka and Shestia said, leading Kotone somewhere.

After a while, Mitoka returned.

“Shiro, Kotone agreed,” she said, gesturing for him to follow.

To the others left behind, Shiro said, “Just do some light training for now.”

They were waiting inside the empty room just next to the plaza.

Shestia and Mitoka nodded at Shiro.

Shiro sighed, defeated, and spoke to Kotone.

“Kotone. I’d like to check your status now. But actually, in this world, there are some restrictions on personal鉴定….” He faltered.

“…Shiro-senpai, what kind of restrictions are there? Shestia-chan and the others said it’s fine to leave it to you,” Kotone asked, her voice tinged with worry.

“No, actually, there are three rules. First, Kotone must trust me. Second, I mustn’t look at the subject with ill intent. And third…” He hesitated.

“Those two make sense, senpai. So what’s the third?” Kotone asked.

Shiro took a breath and said it.

“You have to place your right hand on their head and your left hand directly on their heart,” he explained.

Kotone stared, blinked, then went utterly red-faced.

“I’m not forcing you, but… there’s no other way to perform a skill鉴定. In this world, it’s like a medical exam. Still, I know it’s a bit much,” Shiro muttered, half-apologetic.

“Kotone, this is necessary. If it were me, I’d let Shiro look without hesitation,” Shestia said. Then, “Ah, then I’ll be the one to demonstrate first.”

Kotone panicked.

“Shestia-chan, no! I’m fine, really!” she cried, then steeled herself and looked straight at Shiro.

“Don’t have any wicked thoughts, Shiro-senpai?” Kotone asked. “I trust you… but…” she whispered, so softly it didn’t reach Shiro.

“None! Not even a little! Absolutely none!” Shiro shouted.

“Huh… none at all…” Kotone murmured, sounding disappointed—but again, Shiro didn’t hear.

“By the way,” Mitoka added, “the heart’s in the center. No need to show your chest.”

Then, Kotone said, unzipping her jacket with help from Mitoka and Shestia, carefully exposing just the middle of her chest.

Shiro gently placed his right hand on Kotone’s head, his left on the center of her chest.

Kotone flinched, but stayed still, eyes closed.

“Mitoka, I’m about to perform a diagnosis. I’ll need your support,” Shiro said.

“Yes,” Mitoka replied.

“[Diagnosis],” Shiro murmured.

＝＝Status Check＝＝

Kotone Igarashi, Human, Female, 17

Level: 50

Class: Modeler

Vitality: 100/5000

Magic: 100/5000

Stamina: 100/500

Physical Attack: 500

Physical Defense: 500

Magic Attack: 500

Magic Defense: 500

Agility: 900

Dexterity: 900

Luck: 100

Status: Ultra Healthy

Attribute: None

Title: [Blessing of Isanamia] [Blessing of Firumia]

Plugin: [Advanced Magic Spirit] [Soul Link]

Unique Skill: [Modeling] Max Level

Skills: [Magic] Lv. 1, [Magic Perception] Lv. 1, [Magic Manipulation] Lv. 1, [Concept Language], [Magic Control] Lv. 1

“Wow… Level 50, and stats like this…” Shiro started to say,

"Comparable to a knight's corps," Mitoka said.

"Kinda makes me feel like it's unfair, thinking about my own case," Shiro said.

"Shiro, in the end, you're beyond human, so it's not really a fair comparison," Mitoka replied.

"...Ahem, senior. You're not going to stand there chatting—please hurry and check it already..." Kotone gave Shiro a sharp look.

"……Ah, this is it. The 【Modeling】. Wow, max level, really impressive," Shiro muttered.

"Shiro, focus your awareness on examining it," Mitoka instructed.

"Ah, right. Let me take a look at this skill..." Shiro concentrated.

――『【Examination: Skill Analysis】Level 1 acquired』

"Ooh, got a skill. So, what's the content...?" Shiro began analyzing the Modeling skill.

＝＝【Modeler】＝＝

Creates a 3D model of any shape based on an image, materializes it, and can summon or recall it as needed.

Installs magical spirits, usable as familiar spirits. The maximum number of familiars is limited by level. Max: 1,000

Equivalent to the 【Ideas】 skill's 【Modeling】

Ask Shiro for usage details!

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

"……Wait, was that last line meant to be an explanation?" Shiro couldn't help but quip. Then,

"Ah, right. I thought I’d heard that skill name before—this is the Idean skill's Modeling, isn’t it?" Shiro suddenly recalled, after so long having used it, that he’d nearly forgotten his own skill.

"Shiro, in a sense, this is an independent, higher-tier upgrade of the Idean skill's Modeling. Her version includes spirit installation. And the maximum number of familiars is 1,000—this means she has a significantly high awareness level and core capacity," Mitoka explained.

"Ah, I see. Still, this spirit link thing—” Shiro started to say,

“Shiro, the objective’s been met. Touching a maiden’s skin any further isn’t advisable,” Shestia cut in, forcibly pulling her hand away.

“Huh? Oh, right. Kotone, thanks… Wait, is ‘thanks’ the right word? …Anyway, I get the skill mechanics now,” Shiro said, staring at his own hand, then looking at Kotone with a flustered expression.

“…Senior, you’re really not harboring any… *questionable* thoughts, are you?” Kotone glared at him, adjusting her clothes with a sharp eye.

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