Blood 29: Confusion

This is bad. Really bad.

How do you even talk to people?

Ah, I can't remember.

My master never speaks to begin with, and when drunk, he only monologues at me without listening.

It's been so long since I've had a normal conversation with a sane human being that I've forgotten how.

I tried to keep my tone aloof to avoid looking beneath him, but—does this seem to be working?

Am I not coming across as odd?

I managed to gloss over not remembering her name, or even her existence, somehow.

I glance sideways at the book, pretending to read, while stealing glances at the demon, Lars.

He's focused on the book, expression serious. Doesn't seem to be paying attention to me at all.

That's exactly the kind of attitude that makes me furious—like I don't even exist to him.

Proposing to continue reading instead of conversation became difficult, but this silence is equally awkward.

What is this book, anyway?

Given my master’s nature, it’s likely he chose to write rather than speak—yet creating a book requires more effort than simply speaking.

If he would just step in, I could speak even less.

In a one-on-one setting, failing to respond to questions would feel unnatural.

Complaining to someone absent achieves nothing.

Let us read the book.

Hmm, Shiro’s Basic Skill Tutorial?

A masterful opening—exactly the kind to kill my interest.

As expected of my master, you’re unmatched at provoking me.

What’s this? Acting cute now, despite your usual lack of charm?

Are you mocking me?

Ah, no—bad idea.

You won't understand unless you read carefully.

『A skill is a modification of a portion of the soul, designed to allow a living being to easily draw out the power of the soul.』

Huh?

『Therefore, a skill is equivalent to a part of the soul. The more skills one possesses, the greater the soul's capacity is consumed. The soul has a natural capacity limit, and there is a maximum number of skills that can be held. However, the system of this world forces the soul to grow beyond its limits, artificially increasing the number of skills.』

Um...

There should be something extremely important written here, yet the miniature spider character hopping aggressively beside the text makes it impossible to focus.

『While standard skills modify only the superficial layer of the soul, specialized skills exist that alter the deep layer of the soul. These are the Seven Sins skills and the Seven Virtues skills—commonly known as Dominance Skills.』

The Seven Sins.

My jealousy—this is what you mean, isn't it?

And his wrath, too.

Still, I suppose it's best not to comment on your naming sense for yourself, Lars?

Dominance Skills alter the deep layer of the soul. Their effects are distinct from other skills. First, the skill's effect is inherently powerful. Second, each skill influences the user's personality. Third, prolonged use erodes the soul. Thus, failure to limit use results in the skill gradually taking over the user's personality.

Wait a moment.

I didn’t hear anything about this important detail.

You said using it causes the personality to be overtaken by the skill?

"Use it only if you wish to lose yourself—like the demon in that place."

The words of the black-haired man who interrupted the battle with Lars return to mind.

So that was what he meant?

If so, then Lars had his soul seized by wrath?

Or perhaps he had been on the verge of being seized—had stopped just short?

Now, look at Lars properly.

Still intensely reading his book, not glancing in our direction.

That alone indicates how important what is written in this book is to Lars.

In other words, he has personal experience with it.

It's not something distant to me either.

I possess the skill of jealousy as well.

That's why my master told me not to use that skill.

Always think he says too little.

If he explained clearly, I wouldn't need to use it.

"Countermeasures: four options. One, never acquire the dominion skill. Two, refrain from using the skill. Three, endure through willpower. Four, increase Heretic Resistance and eventually obtain Heretic Nullification."

Option three is questionable, but ignore it.

Something about why I was paired with Lars this time is beginning to make sense.

‘Heretic Resistance negates adverse effects that directly interfere with the soul. With Heretic Nullification, attacks of any strength within the system are nearly nullified. This applies equally to Dominator Skills. To maximize the use of Dominator Skills while minimizing their negative side effects, this method is most effective.’

In other words, we’re to mutually increase each other’s Heretic Resistance.

Huh.

The book has more to say, but that can wait until later.

‘Understand?’

‘What?’

He doesn’t even look up when I call him. Bold, aren’t you?

[Skill acquisition complete. Acquired skill: Pride LV1]

I’ve gained a skill, but I’ll deal with it later.

‘You have Heretic Magic, don’t you?’

‘I do.’

‘Then cast the weakest spell you have on me.’

‘Huh?’

Lars finally lifted his face.

A look of utter incomprehension.

“Ah? Can’t understand this book even after reading it?”

Said with a hint of mockery.

Lars genuinely seemed confused, his expression bewildered.

Fine. Let me have this sense of superiority.

I understand what my master means better than he does.

Not for nothing have I been by his side since infancy.

There are still many things I cannot grasp, of course.

“In short, to suppress the effects of the Dominance Skill, you must acquire Nullification of Heresy. That’s what I’m telling you—to use Heretic Magic on me, so you can obtain it.”

Lars now appeared to understand, yet still wore a face suggesting incomprehension.

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