Chapter 8

The Iron Box Monster is a negative girl!?

I ran along the river for a while, and soon the view opened up.

Cold mist was faintly drifting in the air, cooling my body pleasantly after running and getting out of breath.

A wide basin and a waterfall cascading straight down from a cliff came into sight. Just watching it made me feel like my heart was being cleansed. It was truly a mystical scene. I understood why Filoรฉ had been eager to show me this place.

โ€œIsto-san. Over there. Thereโ€™s something under the waterfall.โ€

Filoรฉ pointed to the deepest part of the basin. Right where the waterfall was hitting, something large and black was lying there.

We circled around the basin and approached the black mass.

โ€œWhat the heck is thisโ€ฆ?โ€

It was about the size of a wagon. It was a splendid โ€˜square box,โ€™ as if a craftsman had carved it into shape.

โ€œLook at the bottom. The water around where this iron box is submerged is a bit murky.โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re right. The dirt on the boxโ€ฆ no, wait. This cloudy lookโ€ฆ could it be?โ€

Knowledge Iโ€™d gained from documents surfaced in my mind.

โ€œThis could be a monsterโ€™s โ€˜miasma.โ€™ Itโ€™s being purified by the holy water from the waterfall. If thatโ€™s the caseโ€ฆโ€

Filoรฉ and I looked up at the iron box.

โ€œCould this weird lump be a monster!?โ€

What a surprise. I had never seen a monster shaped like this.

But something felt off.

Even though it was supposed to be a monster, I didnโ€™t sense any ominous aura from it.

Was it because the holy water had cleansed the miasma?

โ€œOh! Whatโ€™s that?โ€

Fearless as ever, Filoรฉ approached the back of the iron box monster.

There was a large crystal embedded there, about the size of a kiso fruit weโ€™d seen in the forest.

I stopped Filoรฉ as she reached out to touch it, and instead, I took a closer look.

โ€•No use. I couldnโ€™t figure out what it was at all.

Filoรฉ tugged on my sleeve.

โ€œHey, Isto-san. Donโ€™t you think this crystal looks a lot like the Tear of Fate?โ€

โ€œNow that you mention it, it really does.โ€

โ€œIsto-san, Isto-san. In that case, why donโ€™t you try using Awakening Appraisal?โ€

โ€œThat skill isnโ€™t really meant for something like this.โ€

โ€œBut! If itโ€™s Isto-san, Iโ€™m sure youโ€™ll figure something out! Youโ€™re Isto-san, after all!โ€

Ughโ€ฆ

How do I deal with those expectant, confident eyes?

One day, Iโ€™ll have to properly teach Filoรฉ. Iโ€™m neither a hero nor a sage.

But anyway.

If this crystal is anything like the Tear of Fate in humans, Awakening Appraisal might reveal something. Filoรฉโ€™s suggestion wasnโ€™t entirely unreasonable.

โ€œFiloรฉ, step back.โ€

I stood in front of the mysterious iron box monster and used Awakening Appraisal on the crystal.

And thenโ€•

โ€œMonitoring Level 1 activated. Displaying the skills the target possesses:
Personality Liberation
Spatial Expansion
Kettle of the Dropletโ€œ

โ€œHmmโ€ฆโ€

โ€œH-How was it, Isto-san?โ€

โ€œI found out what skills it has through Monitoring.โ€

โ€œWow, thatโ€™s amazing!โ€

โ€œBut thatโ€™s all I know. I still have no clue what this thing actually isโ€•โ€

Just as I was about to finish my sentenceโ€ฆ

The crystal suddenly began to glow. At the same time, the entire iron box started to tremble.

Uh-oh.

โ€œFiloรฉ!โ€

โ€œAh!?โ€

I grabbed the slender girl and quickly moved us away.

Holding her tightly to shield her, I glared warily at the iron box monster.

โ€œUhhโ€•โ€œ

โ€œโ€ฆ Is it coming!?โ€

โ€œUhh, uhhโ€ฆ waaaaaahhhh!โ€œ

โ€œHuh?โ€

โ€œWaaaahhh, waaaahhh, wuaaahhh!โ€œ

Crying. And in the voice of a cute little girl, no less.

Wait, hold on. What? Whatโ€™s happening?

I used Awakening Appraisal on the iron box-shaped monster and learned it had some mysterious skills. Then it started crying out loud for no reason.

I have no idea whatโ€™s going on.

โ€œSniffโ€ฆ sobโ€ฆ itโ€™s so painfulโ€ฆ so lonelyโ€ฆโ€œ

I donโ€™t get it, butโ€•I could tell this strange monster was crying from the bottom of its heart. Unlike someone like Gabby who had hidden intentions, this was pure emotion.

โ€œIโ€™mโ€ฆ better off not existingโ€ฆ Iโ€™m just a useless thingโ€ฆ a piece of trash in the winds of lifeโ€ฆ nothing more than a trash canโ€ฆโ€œ

Wow, thatโ€™s some serious self-deprecation. And trash can? Really?

โ€œSniffโ€ฆ excuse me, humanโ€ฆโ€œ

Suddenly being addressed, my eyes widened.

โ€œIโ€™m sorry. It must be scary with me hereโ€ฆ Iโ€™m in your way, arenโ€™t Iโ€ฆ? Donโ€™t worry. Iโ€™ll disappear soon.โ€œ

The trembling of the iron box monster stopped.

A crack formed on its surface.

โ€œIโ€™m no longer neededโ€ฆ Iโ€™m just a useless thing. Iโ€™m sorry for scaring you. Thank you for listening. Goodbyeโ€•โ€œ

โ€œWait a second!โ€

Before I knew it, I had spoken up.

I walked closer to the monster.

โ€œI donโ€™t know what happened, but donโ€™t be so hasty.โ€

โ€œButโ€ฆ Iโ€ฆโ€œ

โ€œI donโ€™t sense any ill will from you. Iโ€™m not scared. So, why donโ€™t you tell me whatโ€™s wrong? It might make you feel a little better.โ€

โ€œHumanโ€ฆโ€œ

I gently stroked the crystal.

โ€œI donโ€™t know what to do anymore. I canโ€™t remember who I am or why Iโ€™m here. Being here feels like Iโ€™m changing, and itโ€™s scary, and Iโ€™m so lonely and sadโ€ฆ Why am I hereโ€ฆ? Who am I, reallyโ€ฆ?โ€œ

Nodding, I listened quietly to this peculiar monsterโ€™s words.

I felt like I understood.

It didnโ€™t know its purpose. It didnโ€™t understand why it existed here.

Thatโ€™s why it wanted to disappear.

Even though it was a monster, it had a very human heart.

I couldnโ€™t just leave it like this.

โ€œHey. If youโ€™d like, how about I give you a name? If you donโ€™t know who you are or where you come from, maybe it would help.โ€

โ€œA name, for me?โ€œ

โ€œYeah. How aboutโ€ฆ Redelia?โ€

โ€œRedeliaโ€ฆโ€œ

โ€œItโ€™s an old human word that means โ€˜to smile.'โ€

The crystal blinked softly, and to me, it looked like a smile.

โ€œItโ€™s a wonderful name. Itโ€™s far too good for something like a trash canโ€ฆ but I love it.โ€œ

โ€œIโ€™m glad you like it.โ€

If possible, Iโ€™d also like it to change its overly negative mindset, but I decided not to say that aloud. I figured it had probably been through a lot as well.

As I nodded in satisfaction, Filoรฉ poked me in the side with a hand chop, making me jump.

โ€œWhoa!? H-Hey, what was that for?โ€

โ€œPuff.โ€

She puffed out her cheeks and looked up at me.

โ€œโ€ฆWhat?โ€

โ€œPuff, puff!โ€

I had no idea what she was doing.

So, I patted her head. Her inflated cheeks instantly returned to normal.

โ€œUmโ€ฆโ€œ

Redelia timidly spoke up. It seemed calmer now, and the crack on its surface had somehow healed.

โ€œI have a request for you humans.โ€œ

โ€œAh, I havenโ€™t introduced myself yet. Iโ€™m Isto. And this is Filoรฉ.โ€

โ€œIsto and Filoรฉ. Thank you for being so kind to someone like me. I know itโ€™s a lot to ask, butโ€ฆ could I come with you two?โ€œ

โ€œAre you asking to join us?โ€

โ€œI know itโ€™s absurd for something like me to even ask, but I feel a strong attraction to you both.โ€œ

Filoรฉ tilted her head.

โ€œNot just to Isto-san, but to me too?โ€

โ€œI can sense a powerful talent in both of you. Just being near you fills me with energy.โ€œ

Filoรฉ and I exchanged glances.

Could it be that Redelia had the ability to detect gifted skills?

โ€œPlease, even if you treat me like nothing more than a trash can, I would be honored to accompany you. I beg you.โ€œ


Former Guild Employee Opens an Orphanage

Former Guild Employee Opens an Orphanage

Former Guild Employee Opens an Orphanage. Students' Talent Blooms With The Skill [Awakening Appraisal], And While You're At It, You Level Up!?, ๅ…ƒใ‚ฎใƒซใƒ‰่ทๅ“กใ€ๅญคๅ…้™ขใ‚’้–‹ใใ€€ใ‚นใ‚ญใƒซใ€่ฆš้†’้‘‘ๅฎšใ€‘ใง็”Ÿๅพ’ใŸใกใฎๆ‰่ƒฝ้–‹่Šฑใ€ใคใ„ใงใซ่‡ชๅˆ†ใ‚‚ใƒฌใƒ™ใƒซใ‚ขใƒƒใƒ—๏ผ๏ผŸ
Score 9.9
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: , Artist: , Released: 2020 Native Language: Japanese
โ€œShut up, shut up! Youโ€™re out, thatโ€™s what have been decided!โ€ former staff Isto was expelled from the guild for being too low-level. Although his high administrative skills and discerning eye were indispensable for guild management, they were never been appreciated. The world is on the midst of unprecedented battle boom. While high levels and strong battle skills were on high demand, there was nowhere to hire Isto. At loss, Isto tries to work at an orphanage where he was once taken care of and encounters a girl who is about to be killed by a monster. The level difference between Isto and the enemy is more than four times. Moreover, the monster is a super-rare monster. Isto, however, tactfully defeats the monster and saves the girl. Thenโ€ฆ The Gifted Skill [Awakening Appraisal] is released. By risking his life to defeat the monster, Istoโ€™s natural talent blossomed. This [Awakening Appraisal] was an extraordinary ability that allowed him to release the hidden skills of others including copying and using their skills. The girl whom Isto saved was also found to have special combat skills through the [Awakening Appraisal]. By copying her skills, Isto was on his way to becoming an all-around strongman, which he had never imagined. Meanwhile, the guild that fired Isto has stopped its paperwork while on the state of collapse. Isto flatly refuses the request to โ€œcome back.โ€ This is the story of a man who was banished for no good reason, who is loved by the genius girls who protected him, and who eventually (unwillingly) becomes a legendary adventurer through the power of [Awakening Appraisal].

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