Status Window Chapter 1 : Skill Bestowal (Patreon)

1. Skill Bestowal

"Rio's skill is... 'Window'."

...Huh? By window, you mean like the frame of a screen, right?

"Um, High Priest. What kind of skill is that, exactly?"

"Is it an ability for merchants... or something like that?"

My father and mother, who were waiting behind me, asked anxiously. However, the priest furrowed his brows and gave a small shake of his head.

"...I am terribly sorry. This is the first time I have seen this skill. There is nothing similar in our records either."

At those words, my parents exchanged glances. They couldn't hide their bewilderment and worry.

"Um... in that case, what should we do?"

When my mother asked fearfully, the priest thought for a moment before wearing a gentle smile.

"Nothing God bestows is meaningless. Surely, 'Window' exists for a mission that only Rio can fulfill."

His soft voice slightly eased the tension in the air.

"If you ever face difficulties, please come to the temple anytime. We shall think together and find guidance."

"...Thank you very much."

"Yes, we appreciate it."

My parents bowed, looking relieved. As for me, I was still standing there, dumbfounded. But then—

"Rio, come on, you bow too!"

"Whoa, h-hey! Ouch!"

My mother shoved my head down, forcing me to bow. The moment she did, the spot where I hit my head yesterday throbbed with pain.

"I just barely remembered everything clearly yesterday, so be gentle!"

"There goes this child again! Saying nonsense!"

...That's right, I remembered. The shock of smashing my head spectacularly yesterday brought back my past life's memories—I was a reincarnated person.

***

"See! It's because you went and bashed your head right before the important ten-year-old ceremony that you got granted a weird skill! I told you to stay quiet and behave!"

"Ouch!"

My mother, Mirei, scolded me as she smacked the back of my head.

"Honestly... it's common sense to behave yourself and stay out of trouble on such an important day!"

"Owwwww! Why a second time!?"

After being hurt twice, even I couldn't take it anymore. I held my head and glared at my mother.

"Geez! There's no way God would grant a weird skill just because I bumped my head!"

"No, that's definitely it! You kept saying you wanted to be an adventurer, then a guild employee, then a cook... You were so all over the place that God probably got confused! So He just tossed you a random skill!"

"There's no way God listens to that stuff! Your logic is the weird one, Mom!"

As we walked down the street, Mom and I kept our faces close, continuing our argument. As we glared at each other, growling, my father, Haruto, tapped us on the shoulders with a wry smile.

"Both of you, calm down. Whatever the skill, it is a gift from the gods. I'm sure it will be of use to Rio."

"Dear... you say that, but even the High Priest didn't know what it was. Will it really be okay?"

"It'll work out. That's how our family has always been, right?"

"Geez... You're too sweet on Rio. That's why Rio gets so carried away."

Mom sighed, but her anger had drained away compared to earlier. Thanks to Dad, the atmosphere had managed to soften.

"So, Rio. Do you have any idea what it might be?"

"Hmm... I feel like I kinda understand what kind of skill it is."

"Oh? What's it like?"

"A square frame appears. I think that's the Window."

"A square frame...? Like a box? Can you load luggage into it?"

Mom tilted her head. I didn't fully understand it yet either. Just then, our house came into view.

"I'll verify it carefully once we get home. We're back!"

I opened the shop door and went inside—

"Yo, welcome back!"

My older brother, Leon, who was tending the store, welcomed us cheerfully.

"Rio, what skill were you granted?"

"My skill is 'Window'."

"...What's that? As expected, since Rio is a weirdo, I figured you'd get a weird skill."

"Geez! Stop calling people weirdos!"

I couldn't help but raise my voice at my brother laughing at me. Good grief, both Mom and my brother treat me like a weirdo. I just talked about or acted on my past life's memories a little bit.

Well, since my memories only returned clearly yesterday, it hurts that everyone around me just perceives me as a kid who says strange things. It's a mystery why my past life memories didn't come back clearly from the moment I was born.

"Well then, since today is Rio's tenth birthday, let's go out to eat."

" "Yay!" "

"You two can do what you want until it's time."

" "Okaaay!" "

Yes! It's been a while since we ate out! Leon and I high-fived and moved into the living quarters at the back of the shop.

"I'm gonna go play for a bit, what about you Rio?"

"I want to verify my skill, so I'll go back to my room."

"Knowing weirdo Rio, it's gotta be a weird skill, right?"

"Geez! Stop saying weird!"

I raised my hand to hit Leon for teasing me, but he fled the scene like a rabbit.

"Good grief... It's definitely going to be a good skill."

Suppressing my anger, I went up to the second floor and entered my room. I sat on the bed and finally managed to calm down.

Now I can check the Window skill. With anticipation in my chest, I took a deep breath to steady my heart—

"Window!"

When I chanted the skill name, a window appeared before my eyes.