30 Acquire a new skill!
Skill points have increased. A new skill should be acquired.
But this must be done with caution.
There is the risk of鉴定, and deciding too hastily leads to visible regret later.
First, focus on thought. Secure safety, then consider slowly.
Ignore the remains of the consumed frog. Quickly construct a makeshift home.
Now, a makeshift home can be made with one hand, so familiar.
Good.
Now concentration is possible.
Begin with skills that must not be taken.
Examples exist, such as Heretic Magic. Magic-related skills should all be avoided.
Even if acquired, the outcome is clear: inability to use due to lack of understanding.
Similarly, skills whose effects are unclear based solely on name must all be excluded.
Next, avoid skills that could be obtained independently.
Based on prior experience, skills each have a proficiency level.
Accumulating proficiency to a certain threshold raises the skill's level.
This accumulation occurs even below level one, and once the threshold is met, a new skill can be acquired.
All skills I have obtained through this method so far have been resistance-based. This may indicate a characteristic unique to resistance skills.
However, if a skill can be obtained independently, there is no need to spend skill points to acquire it.
Given that, obtaining the鉴定 skill was not entirely misguided.
After all, it is unclear how proficiency in鉴定 increases from zero.
Moreover, unlike magic, its usage became apparent immediately—something that, upon reflection, was highly advantageous.
Despite repeatedly claiming it was useless,鉴定 may have been an exceptionally rare effective skill.
Considering those factors, the skill I should acquire is one whose application is clear, and whose independent acquisition appears difficult.
The conditions seem rather stringent.
The system itself is too terrifying—acquiring a skill without knowing its effect, based solely on its name.
Even the name itself required persistent inquiry into the Celestial Voice (temporary designation) to uncover.
Previously attempted, but to acquire a skill by spending skill points, one must apply to the Heavenly Voice (temporary designation) for the desired skill name.
If the skill bears that name, the Heavenly Voice (Temporary) will respond. If no such skill exists, it will remain silent—no response at all.
Therefore, one must inquire directly with the Heavenly Voice (hypothetical) in this manner to determine whether the skill exists.
Frequent inquiries during spare time had already revealed the names of certain skills.
Select a skill from these that meets the criteria and appears usable.
Five options.
Poison Claw
Manipulate Thread
HP Auto-Recovery
SP Consumption Reduction
Detection
Poison Claw and Manipulate Thread enhance existing skills.
Poison Claw is a claw variant of the venom fang.
Manipulate Thread improves efficiency in using spider silk.
Potential issues: Poison Claw will likely be significantly weaker than the venom fang immediately after acquisition.
Manipulate Thread depends on understanding its usage—uncertain at best.
HP Auto-Recovery and SP Consumption Reduction are purely supportive skills.
Effects probably match their names. Having either would be highly advantageous.
Detection is riskier—highly experimental.
Still, survival in a dungeon requires preparedness against ambushes.
The skill in question—its effects may or may not align with what I require. Whether I can even master its use is equally uncertain.
Taking this skill feels like a gamble.
There were other skills I desired, but practicality led to this selection.
Even I couldn’t afford romanticism when my life was on the line.
Then there are skills I want but lack sufficient points for.
Undying, for example.
The required points are clearly in a different order of magnitude.
Hmm.
I hesitate.
Rather than developing new tactics, the focus has shifted to reinforcing existing ones.
Still, avoiding the cost of poorly chosen skills is unavoidable.
Therefore, I’ll remove HP auto-recovery from the candidate list.
In my case, HP depletion equates to near-certain death.
Continuing with the assassin's style ahead means such circumstances as HP depletion must be avoided.
Two out of the remaining four.
What to do, now...
Not that there are no drawbacks—this is just SP consumption reduction.
Feels too safe, too unremarkable.
Poison claws would expand tactical options, but leveling up the skill seems difficult.
The thread manipulation ability would be highly useful if effective, but ineffective use would result in significant damage.
Divination is nothing more than gambling.
Mmm.
Umm.
Very well. Decided.
Current skill points: 200.
The skill 'Thread Manipulation LV1' can be acquired by spending 100 skill points.
Will you acquire it?
YES.
[Acquired Skill: Thread Manipulation LVL 1. Remaining Skill Points: 100]
Current skill point total: 100.
Skill 'Perception LVL 1' can be acquired using 100 skill points.
Acquire it?
YES.
'Perception LVL 1' acquired. Remaining skill points: 0.
Thread Manipulation and Perception acquired.
Said you wouldn’t gamble with your life, yet chose two abilities with high risk.
Ah… maybe I’m not cut out for gambling.
Regardless, it’s done. No turning back.
Just pray they work.
If they don’t… I’ll cry.
Whether spiders shed tears or not—unknown.