Level Eater
Chapter 150

Tatsuro and his team wanted to let Leah out of the box soon, but they waited because they wanted to inform the house's owner first.

However, despite several minutes passing, the owner was still intensely staring at Piporin and writing something diligently on a piece of paper, not giving them any attention.

As they were wondering what to do, Reginald sensed the situation and called the doctor back.

When Tatsuro thanked him with a glance, Reginald responded with his usual refreshing muscle smile.

Brushing off that unnecessarily refreshing smile that could give one indigestion, Tatsuro waited for the doctor to approach and then spoke up.

"Doctor, actually, we brought another person with us. Is it okay if she comes out?" (Tatsuro)

"Huh? Brought another person... is she in that box?" (Doctor)

The doctor, who had been too absorbed in Piporin to notice, finally looked at the box big enough to hold a suspicious person.

"Yes, that's right." (Tatsuro)

"Normally, you would mention such things before bringing them into the house. Well, I was excited too and there was no time to explain. Alright then, do as you like." (Doctor)

"Then, we'll take you at your word." (Tatsuro)

As Tatsuro started to undo the latch on the lid, which was covered by a single board, Leah spoke up from inside the box.

"Um, besides the person called Doctor, there's someone named Reginald here too, right? Isn't he a merchant?" (Leah)

"Ah, yes. But, I think he's alright... Mr. Reginald?" (Tatsuro)

"What is it, Tatsuro?" (Reginald McDermott)

Deciding to investigate directly if he was worried, Tatsuro met Reginald's eyes. When Reginald gracefully smiled back, Tatsuro decided to ask all at once.

"May I ask something unrelated? Do you know a merchant named Moritz Holbein?" (Tatsuro)

"Of course, I know him. There isn't a merchant, especially one in the Merchant Guild, who doesn't know the name Moritz Holbein. A few years ago, he was around rank 5 in the Merchant Guild, but he rapidly increased his annual net profit and is now at rank 9. Because of his achievements, he rose to become the head of the Merchant Guild in the Liushten territory. There aren't many merchants as prominent as him." (Reginald McDermott)

Even without Reginald's level of information-gathering ability, any merchant would know of such a famous person. Keeping this information in mind, Tatsuro moved on to the next question he most wanted to ask.

"Mr. Reginald, do you have any acquaintance with him?" (Tatsuro)

"Hmm, I wouldn't say we have much of an acquaintance. We know each other's faces and names, and what kinds of goods we handle... that's about it." (Reginald McDermott)

"So, you're not particularly close?" (Tatsuro)

"That's right. If anything, I personally don't have a high opinion of him. Keep this between us, but his business practices are somewhat superficial. He just sells something by calling it new and then quickly moves on to sell another new product. I must admit his development ability is impressive, but it's clear he doesn't take pride in each individual product." (Reginald McDermott)

"I see. Thank you for answering my question." (Tatsuro)

"I'd rather you didn't spread this around... but given our relationship, don't worry about it." (Reginald McDermott)

Reginald smiled as if it was no big deal, but if he were truly lying, Tatsuro, still a novice, would have no way of seeing through it.

So, Tatsuro decided to let Leah herself judge whether to believe the story. If she couldn't trust it, he decided not to reveal anything to Reginald.

"Based on what you heard, decide for yourself whether to believe it." (Tatsuro)

"Me...? Even if you say that..." (Leah)

However, Leah didn't know Reginald at all. She was honestly at a loss as to whether to believe the story.

Seeing her hesitation, Ai, who had been silently watching, crouched down next to the box and spoke to her.

"You know, if telling Mr. Reginald about this leads to something bad, we'll run away together with all our might. So far away that no one knows who you are. I don't know how great that Moritz guy is, but if we try our hardest, we'll definitely escape. So, for now, can you trust us? I know it's hard since we haven't been together that long..." (Ai)

"......Understood. Even though it hasn't been long, you've done so much for a complete stranger like me, so I'm prepared for whatever happens next." (Leah)

"Then, should I remove the top board?" (Tatsuro)

"Please do." (Leah)

Confirming that Leah had made up her mind with Ai's encouragement, Tatsuro used earth magic to remove the seal on the top of the box and lifted it. Leah, looking sweaty and in a sitting position, stood up inside the box.

Naturally, Reginald's gaze, as well as that of the doctor, who seemed to be thinking, "I don't want any trouble," focused on her.

"After all the fuss, she's just an ordinary dwarf girl. Though she looks a bit too skinny, what's so special about her?" (Doctor)

"Given the context, it's clear she has some connection with Moritz Holbein... So, can we assume she knows the secret behind his technological advancements?" (Reginald McDermott)

With a slightly malicious smile, like a child about to pull a prank, Reginald hit the nail on the head. Tatsuro and his team couldn't hide their reactions, and it was clear on their faces.

Knowing that Reginald must have figured it out by now, Tatsuro decided to come clean.

"Mr. Reginald, you didn't know about this from the beginning, did you?" (Tatsuro)

"No, no, not even I could have predicted this far in advance. But if you two are going to deal with merchants, you should practice hiding your expressions a bit better." (Reginald McDermott)

As Reginald chuckled, Tatsuro and his team could only smile wryly. Surprisingly, the doctor, who had been listening, seemed intrigued by the earlier conversation.

"The secret of that detestable Moritz, huh? Interesting. Tell me more." (Doctor)

"Uh, you might get involved in some troublesome matters if you find out..." (Tatsuro)

"The person who brought this trouble into my house shouldn't be the one to say that. Besides, if we can get rid of Moritz from that position, I might even help out as long as it doesn't interfere with my research." (Doctor)

"You really dislike Mosuke, don't you? Do you have a grudge against him or something?" (Tatsuro)

"Mosuke? Oh, a code name. That way, we can talk about him in public without anyone catching on. I'll start using that name too. Now then, since he started managing the Liushten territory's Merchant Guild, the local economy has indeed become more vibrant. But ever since Mosuke took over, things that shouldn't be available have become easy to get on the black market. For example, addictive drugs, fur, meat, and horns from animals that are prohibited from being captured or killed, and the list goes on. As a result, the local ecosystem has been disrupted, and it's only a matter of time before it affects the plants I study. Every year it gets worse. There are also more suspicious people around, and the public order has deteriorated compared to the past. If he were gone, it might be a significant step towards improvement." (Doctor)

The doctor spoke so quickly, that Tatsuro and his team couldn't catch half of what he said, but the gist was that Moritz was behind the illegal trafficking of prohibited goods, leading to the overexploitation of resources, which negatively impacted the plants the doctor was studying. The doctor was very angry about this.

Judging by the timing and methods, the doctor was almost certain that Moritz was leading these activities.

"Uh, I understand that the doctor is angry with Moritz. However, please don't spread what I'm about to say." (Tatsuro)

"Hmm, why not?" (Doctor)

"Because it might put a girl named Leah Schleiermacher in danger." (Tatsuro)

"How so, Tatsuro?" (Reginald McDermott)

Reginald, narrowing his eyes at Tatsuro's serious statement, straightened up and listened more intently. The doctor also signaled for Tatsuro to continue by snorting as if to say, "Go on."

Since it seemed the conversation would be lengthy, they all sat around a circular table: Tatsuro, Ai, Nana, Leah, Reginald, and the doctor, each on a square, backless stool.

"First of all, about this girl's skill─" (Tatsuro)

So, as Leah shared her story, the group discussed the events leading up to the current situation.

"So, in short, her skill allowed him to reach that position. But now she's no longer with him. That means..." (Doctor)

"If Moritz can't find her from now on, his profits, which relied entirely on her, will dwindle, and he will eventually lose his position." (Reginald McDermott)

"Well then, it's almost like the problem is half-solved already. I won't need to help at all. All that's left is to ensure a proper successor takes over." (Doctor)

"However, it will be difficult to stay hidden from Moritz, who controls most of the logistics in this territory, until he is dethroned. How about returning to Lyadas and helping me until things settle down?" (Reginald McDermott)

Seeing Leah tense up at Reginald's words, Tatsuro while doubting his intentions, decided to confirm.

"You're not planning to use Leah's ability, are you?" (Tatsuro)

"Oh? Ah, sorry. I got carried away and lacked consideration. My apologies, Leah." (Reginald McDermott)

"No, it's..." (Leah)

"But you see, Leah, I want Tatsuro and his team to help me, not you for your skill." (Reginald McDermott)

"─What?" (Leah)

Hearing this for the first time, Leah looked at Reginald with wide eyes.

Reginald smiled back and continued.

"Indeed, if I used your skill, I could confidently make more money than Moritz. But that wouldn't be my own strength; it would be yours. I have the pride built by my family and myself. And above all, such business would be boring, wouldn't it?" (Reginald McDermott)

"I see..." (Leah)

At least, Leah seemed to believe that Reginald was sincere, as she visibly relaxed.

"Oh, by the way, we're planning to move forward instead of returning, so we won't be able to help you, Reginald." (Tatsuro)

"Oh, that's a pity. I wanted to use your talents at my house, given how you managed to quickly capture a monster that was thought to be almost impossible to find." (Reginald McDermott)

Reginald shrugged, not looking particularly disappointed. The conversation then shifted to the topic of Leah's physical changes following the installation of her skill.

"If things started going wrong after the system was installed, then that seems to be the likely cause." (Reginald McDermott)

"In this case, it's probably the skill rather than the system. While it's rare, I've heard of people with powerful skills experiencing physical abnormalities." (Doctor)

"Really?" (Tatsuro)

"Yes. It's said that if a skill is too powerful, the body might have a rejection reaction, or the system might impose restrictions to prevent overuse. Recently, the prevailing theory is that the system installs something additional to protect the user. Normally, the system is installed during early childhood when self-awareness begins to develop. If a dangerous skill that the child couldn't handle properly were given, they might accidentally harm themselves with their own power." (Doctor)

In other words, the system might provide a protective, safety-measure skill to safeguard the skill holder.

"Indeed... If I had fully used this skill when I was younger, I might have gone mad from information overload. In a way, being physically weak forced my skill to be downgraded, preventing all sorts of information from flooding into my mind." (Leah)

It seemed the idea of a protective function made sense to Leah, and she began to ponder, hand to her mouth.

"But if that's the case, can't the protective function be removed? Once you're older, you don't need it, right?" (Tatsuro)

"I don't know. If we don't even know if it's correct, there's no way we can figure out how to remove it." (Doctor)

Tatsuro then decided to ask the doctor a more fundamental question.

"Then, conversely, are there any conditions for obtaining powerful skills?" (Tatsuro)

"You guys, who seem to have powerful skills, would know that better than I would, wouldn't you?" (Doctor)

The doctor looked at Tatsuro and Ai with a mischievous expression. Tatsuro feigned ignorance, while Ai turned away, attempting to whistle a tune she couldn't manage.

The doctor looked exasperated at Ai, but after a sigh, he presented a hypothesis related to the earlier question.

"I think that those born with powerful skills have their state at the time of the system installation as the key." (Doctor)

"What do you mean?" (Tatsuro)

"Ah, in other words, the physical abilities, personality, intelligence, and inherent qualities at that time. Considering those factors, the initial skills are granted. That's why races like elves, fairies, demons, and dragons, which are superior, tend to receive powerful skills because their abilities are high at the time of installation." (Doctor)

With those words, something clicked in Tatsuro's mind. But trying not to reveal his realization, he calmly asked the doctor.

"…So, to put it extremely, if someone were born into this world as an adult, even if they weren't from a superior race, they might receive powerful skills?" (Tatsuro)

"Huh? Born as an adult? Hmm… if they were an adult from the start, even an ordinary person would have high intelligence, decent physical abilities, a well-formed physique, and personality compared to any child of other races… it might be possible. But remember, this is just a hypothesis, so don't take it too seriously." (Doctor)

"Yes, I understand." (Tatsuro)

Tatsuro was grateful for the unexpected piece of information that somewhat explained why they had obtained overpowered skills like [Level Eater] and [Valkyrie] even if it was uncertain.

Simultaneously, if that hypothesis was correct, the skill [All-Seeing Eye] seemed too much for a young Leah.

If it was installed despite that, it might mean that something unnecessary was also given to balance it out, pulling him down.

Tatsuro thought that if something was pulling down a skill, it could also be another skill itself.

"Is there an invisible skill when you check your status yourself?" (Tatsuro)

"Invisible skill? At least, I don't know. How about you, Reginald?" (Doctor)

"I don't know either. Tatsuro, did you think that invisible skill is affecting Leah's physical condition?" (Reginald McDermott)

"Yes." (Tatsuro)

"But if that's the case, there's nothing we can do. It's unfortunate, but if that's true, Leah will have to live with that condition for life." (Reginald McDermott)

"I knew it. So, I can no longer live a normal life..." (Leah)

At Reginald's words, Leah, who had already suspected this, couldn't hide her shock. Her originally pale face turned white, and she eventually lost consciousness. (T/N: Sorry dear, it is not your fault)

"Oh, I'm sorry. I should have chosen my words more carefully." (Reginald McDermott)

"No, it's just a hypothesis after all. We might find something to unravel it in a moment of inspiration." (Tatsuro)

"You're optimistic. As expected from a high-rank adventurer." (Doctor)

While deflecting the doctor's sarcasm, Tatsuro already had a solution in mind, which gave him confidence.

As Nana attended to the unconscious Leah and laid her on a mat from her item box, Tatsuro, now with some free time, asked the doctor and Reginald something that had been bothering him.

"By the way, why are you here, Reginald?" (Tatsuro)

"Hm? Why? To deliver the tank, of course." (Reginald McDermott)

"The head of the family himself come?" (Tatsuro)

"Hey, don't pry too much─" (Doctor)

The doctor tried to stop the questioning, not wanting to touch on the core of the research, but Reginald just laughed it off.

"It's fine, doctor. They already know." (Reginald McDermott)

"What!? How do they know!!" (Doctor)

"Because I told them." (Reginald McDermott)

"You told them? You won't have any complaints if the lord kills you!" (Doctor)

"It's fine, they are liked by the lord." (Reginald McDermott)

"─What? Then, they've been on our side from the start. Damn, you should have told me sooner." (Doctor)

Tatsuro and his team knew.

The lord who favored them, Reginald, and the plant doctor.

From this information, Tatsuro was beginning to grasp the relationship between these two.