Ch:63 – My new skill*

"With the corruption gone, I can finally focus on building my own party."

I took a deep breath, leaving the mirror world behind—Anatra, the name that came to my mind when Kagami asked me to name it.

"Still quite cold over there," I felt good, though. It was the type of weather my body was used to after growing up here in Astia village.

I sneaked into the living room. Not a single family member in sight.

I found my mother's sword lying on a table. Plain and old weapon that had endured quite a lot.

"I will become stronger no matter what!" My conviction knew no boundaries. My hands shook; delight reflected in my hands. I had decided to stop at nothing. My revenge would come. The enemies of humanity would fall. I would make sure of it, especially the goblins who humiliated me.

"Curse!" I shouted. 

Notice: System consumed 50 mana. 

A strange sensation seeped from my fingers to my nails and then to my mother's sword. It glowed in shades of black and then returned to normal.

"Not blue?" This skill didn't match my element. I figured all skills I would get to obtain and use would be like my freezing one. Class skills, however, turned out to be a little different.

"Well, it doesn't really matter." I looked at the sword. "What changed?" The moment I lifted, I felt a change. "It's heavier?"

Notice: Your power has cursed the sword with demonic weight. Its strikes have a small chance to inflict a fear debuff lasting 3 seconds. This effect can't stack. The weapon can no longer be repaired. 57 durability remaining. 

"Oh no." My poor self-stated having to buy another weapon soon. "A fear effect..." still, my surprised self-caught up. It was a good bonus to have, one that my opponents wouldn't even guess.

"A small chance... that's a little vague. I could find out with an appraisal, but..." I didn't have enough mana for such a powerful skill.

"So be it." I placed my sword on my waist. The new weight made carrying it a bit uncomfortable, but not to the point that I wouldn't be able to do it.

I headed to the guild. 

Upon entering, I moved to the counter. The gazes hadn't lessened from last time. This guild was, as usual, bursting with life and drunk adventurers.

'They must make a lot of money just on selling beer and food.' It made me want to open my own business. 

'Is there something I could sell?' The weight on my waistline gave me a tip. 'If I could get some useful curses... potions...' 

I halted for a moment, realizing I could make a lot of money. 

'I need to collect more herbs... and gain more levels.' I smiled, remembering that I was level 3.

I resumed the march all the way to the closest staff member.

"Good morning!"

"Good morning, fellow member. How can I help?"

"I'd like to recruit some members for my party called Unknown." I showed him my guild card, which he stole a quick glimpse of.

"Are you looking for anyone with a specific class or skill?"

I considered those words with what I had in mind after all the experience I had gathered as a helper and also as an adventurer but also with the teaching of my mother.

"Someone who uses a shield would be nice, and a water mage."

"Interesting choices. People don't usually go for either of those."

I smiled at those words.

"We'll submit your request, and we'll tell them to head over to your address when we find someone that matches that criteria."

"Thank you for the help."

I turned to the side and ended up stopping by the quest board. 

"Goblin quests keep increasing." My awareness about them was sky-high.

"Rumors are that a stampede will happen soon."

I followed the voice which came from my right side, catching sight of someone in full armor. A circular shield rested on the back.

"That looks heavy, mister."

"Miss Reyna, and yes, it is, but it also provides good protection. Lowly creatures like goblins, for example, it's the best. They cannot penetrate it as they wield no weapons and their claws are weak."

"Oh, that's amazing! I didn't think equipment made that big of a difference."

She chuckled before turning around. "Equipment is everything." 

I watched her walk away, a full metal soldier of sorts.

The sword on my waist proved to be rather uncomfortable. I couldn't possibly use a whole set of heavy armor like that. I wouldn't even be able to walk. Not to forget, it made a clanking noise with every step.

'Some people are quite eccentric.' In a way, I found my sister a bit more normal whenever a new adventurer made their way to me.

I moved her way with soft steps, and then, with a smirk, I approached my palm and used my curse skill on her back.

Without allowing her to notice me, I turned to the side, towards a counter to buy bread. 

Notice: System consumed 50 mana. Your power has cursed the armor with a ghostly effect. Every time the armor receives an attack, it'll scream in agony. May confuse the attacker. The armor can no longer be repaired. 103 durability remaining.

I escaped the guild, palm in front of my lips, hiding the uncontrollable laughter.

'This new skill is so much fun.' I looked around, wondering what other object to curse once my mana recovered enough.

'I should get better equipment too.' If I had enough money, which wasn't the case. Still, these two items had received some useful effects. Perhaps, it wouldn't always be like this. Yet I'm sure people would appreciate causing debuffs on their enemies for practically free. Such effects cost equipment durability over mana. Thus, they were rather practical in combat.

"I should work on my alchemy." I headed home to my room.