Worthless Skill Escape (WN)

Chapter 253

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TL: ALT

Chapter 253 – Yuto Speaks

Magic broadcasting is not so much a system that broadcasts physical images as it is a system that broadcasts mental images.

I explained that the human mind can be used as both a receiver and a transmitter.

However, accuracy is essential in this case.

We will use filming equipment created with this world’s pure science and technology to capture images and transmit them using a magic broadcasting device operated by Shaina.

With the current specifications of the device, however, magic broadcasting is only possible within a radius of about 5 to 10 kilometers, which makes nationwide broadcasting impossible.

This Escape crystal, a universal wish-fulfilling device, will supplement that part.

After researching the structure of the skill Globalization (Extreme), I discovered a system function that applies a specific effect to all targets that meet certain conditions.

Skills are standardized forms of pure techniques and magic implemented in the world system using an unknown programming language consisting of databases and functions.

When you hear “programming language,” you might think of a language that is more precise and has clearer rules than natural languages. However, this “world’s” programming language is not like that.

In fact, it is more ambiguous and redundant than natural languages, with grammatical rules far more complex than any language on Earth.

The research analysis team interprets the “magic language” that I and Honoka-chan possess as the foundation for spaghetti code scribbled down by an otherworldly entity that can only be described as “God,” following the flow of its ideas.

We’d like to figure it out eventually but now’s not the time.

In any case, after intuitively reverse-compiling Globalization (Extreme), I expanded the “effect” of the magic broadcast transmission device to cover the entire country—the area defined by the world system as “Japan” (where mana coins can be exchanged for yen).

Had this not been possible, I would have needed to use a large amount of the resources stored in the Escape crystal to generate a powerful magic wave for broadcasting. In that case, the required resources would have been equivalent to halving the size of the crystal just to generate a magic wave with enough output to reach the entire country. The fact that I was able to save resources by obtaining Globalization (Extreme) is proof of that.

I nodded to Shaina, who was sitting at the transmission device console, and to Yamato, who was standing arrogantly with his arms crossed at the edge of the stage. Then, I began the broadcast.

“To all residents of Japan: I apologize for addressing you in this manner. I am an explorer known as the ‘Black Tengu’ or ‘Summoner.’ I am not affiliated with the government, but I am protecting people from another world who have been enslaved.”

Haruka-san once told me that explorers should act with dignity.

Shaina also gave me similar advice, saying that a king should always act with dignity.

I suppose that means I usually come across as very timid.

In any case, I am now this country’s deterrent force, capable of shooting down nuclear missiles.

If I appear too submissive now, they won’t listen to me later.

Some people can naturally act superior.

They’re probably disliked by those close to them, but they’re the ones who shine in situations like this.

When I look at politicians, businesspeople, and entertainers, most of them seem fine from a distance, but I imagine it’s difficult to get close to them.

I’m not that type of person, so this kind of acting makes me uncomfortable.

“First of all, this video is being sent directly to your minds through magic. You may be worried, but we have confirmed that this magic broadcast has no adverse effects on the human body. If you are currently driving a car or doing dangerous work, please ensure your safety first. I know many of you are probably working. I apologize for interrupting, but what I’m about to say is important for the future of this country. Please listen carefully.”

If I don’t issue this warning, someone might claim that the magic broadcast caused a traffic accident. Who’s going to take responsibility for that?”

Incidentally, it seems that sending images to people’s minds without their permission is a gray area, legally speaking.

“Let me be blunt. Currently, a large portion of the population is under a special, abnormal condition called Strategy.” This condition cannot be detected through normal status checks. To confirm this, you need a skill called Detailed Appraisal, which is an advanced version of Appraisal. Since Appraisal itself is not widely available, it’s likely that only a few people possess Detailed Appraisal. It’s even possible that I’m the only one. I am deeply concerned about this situation.”

One of the large displays in the Crystal Room showed the scene in the city.

The footage appeared to be of the Shibuya Hachiko Crossing.

People walking on the sidewalk gathered and half-closed or closed their eyes, focusing on the “images” appearing directly in their minds.

“W-what is this?” “I don’t know, but it’s scary!” I heard the voices of young women.

“That’s why I’ve decided to grant the skill Detailed Appraisal to all citizens. Look at this crystal.”

I gestured toward the Escape crystal behind me.

“Granting skills is easy with the Skill Grant skill. It’s a rare skill, so few people may know about it. However, it comes with the condition that you must pay half the SP required to acquire the skill. I’ve accumulated enough SP in this crystal to grant the Detailed Appraisal skill to all citizens using Skill Grant. I’ll release it now and grant Detailed Appraisal to everyone.”

The Skill Grant skill is obtained by fulfilling certain conditions during Asylum activities.

Previously, there was a skill called Skill Bestowal that could grant skills to items, but there was no skill that could grant skills to others.

When you grant a skill, it naturally disappears from your status. However, I can simply pay SP to reacquire it immediately.

Then, I can repeat the process of reacquiring the skill and granting it again.

“To be precise, ‘every citizen’ isn’t entirely accurate. Technically, it includes all humanoid races residing in this country, including humans, elves, dwarves, beastmen, and others from other worlds. Due to the need to specify an area, foreign nationals living in this country are also included.” Unfortunately, those currently outside Japan are excluded from this grant. I understand this is a problematic measure, but please understand that an emergency of this magnitude has occurred.”

I turned back to the crystal.

I held out both arms and connected my mind to it.

This allowed me to access the crystal’s vast resources as if they were my own, like an extra fuel tank for a fighter jet.

“Globalization (Extreme)—Skill Grant—Detailed Appraisal.”

The skills I had granted away could be regained using a macro.

I had acquired the Skill Macro skill that Kiriko Kandori had obtained in preparation for today’s situation.

My MP and SP were rapidly depleting.

At the same time, the resources stored in the crystal began to flow in.

These resources were automatically divided into MP and SP as needed and used for the activation, transfer, and reacquisition of skills.

The Escape crystal was shrinking rapidly.

The Asylum staff watched the scene with slightly sad looks on their faces.

That crystal was a symbol of the Asylum.

They probably thought that when it disappeared, the Asylum would cease to exist.

In fact, I never intended for the Asylum to be anything more than a temporary refuge.

The display showed changes in various locations.

At Hachiko Crossing, people who had heard the Voice of Heaven announce a new skill let out cries of surprise. Some immediately opened their stat screens to check, while others used Detailed Appraisal on themselves.

At this rate, they will soon realize the existence of the strategy imposed by Tozaki.

Cameras near the West Exit of Shinjuku Station, close to Ekichika, showed young people and office workers who were suddenly surprised by the powerful skills that came down from the sky. This caused commotion in various places.

Even after the traffic lights changed, few people crossed the crosswalk. Instead, they gathered near the station and building walls or stopped in the middle of the sidewalk to assess their newly obtained skills.

Due to the many cars trying to pull over, horns blared in various places.

Cameras inside the Explorers’ Association showed its members rushing about in confusion.

Some explorers pressed the staff for information, but they could only respond with confusion.

Explorers that I recognized from the guild hurried into their guild rooms with serious expressions.

Cameras at other key locations confirmed that the Detailed Appraisal skill had been successfully granted.

“With this skill, it will be easy to find out what is happening in this country right now. However, this alone will not be enough to undo the ‘strategy’ carried out by Prime Minister Seiji Tozaki. Therefore, I will grant you one more skill.”

I turned back to the crystal and said,

“Globalization (Extreme)—Skill Grant—Forced Release.”

Forced Release allows you to cancel any effect displayed in your status.

It can be considered a type of status abnormality recovery magic. Unlike normal status abnormality recovery magic, though, it can cancel any effect displayed in your status. You can use it to recover from status abnormalities or remove buffs from your enemies’ status.

“Strategy” does not necessarily bring only disadvantages. Rather, it is more of a buff. Change of Strategy was originally designed to grant powerful combat-enhancing effects in exchange for secondary effects on the mind.

Therefore, skills or items that remove negative status effects—even universal remedies or elixirs—cannot cancel it.

The second skill was granted to all citizens—more precisely, to all humans and humanoids currently recognized by the Voice of Heaven—within Japan’s borders.

The Escape crystal shrank to the size of a fist.

According to the original plan, this was supposed to be the end.

But before I knew it, I had poured out my heart.

“Let me make one thing clear. Some might say, ‘Since we were following Seiji Tozaki’s Change of Strategy, our previous actions weren’t our true intentions, and we’re not at fault.’ But the ‘strategy’ was merely an extreme version of an existing tendency. To put it bluntly, it’s just superficial brainwashing—no, it’s not even brainwashing; it’s manipulation. There are plenty of people who have resisted that manipulation and stood their ground. I want you to think about why you couldn’t do the same.”

Yamato scribbles something on his sketchbook and shows it to me.

It says, ‘It’s better not to criticize the people right now!’

But I can’t stop myself from speaking up.

“It’s true that Tozaki has dragged out the dark side of the people of this country, which had been locked away in their hearts. In a sense, the current state of affairs may reflect the true feelings of the people of this country. Through his ‘strategy,’ Tozaki has brought out feelings that cannot be expressed openly. If you say that this is the true ‘will of the people’ of this country, it’s difficult to deny.”

I paused and took a deep breath.

“But if people can’t say it openly, doesn’t that mean they feel guilty inside? Everyone wants to gain something for themselves. At the same time, though, humans also have compassion for others. Taking away other people’s freedom, oppressing them, and making them work like slaves for your own gain without feeling any shame—the people of this country can’t be that corrupt! Most people work hard in their own fields to create a society where everyone can live happily. Am I wrong?”

Hearing this, Yamato lowered the sketchbook he had been holding.

A smile, neither wry nor genuine, appeared at the corners of his mouth.

Shaina, the operator of the magic device, stared straight at me and shed tears of joy.

“That’s all from me. I’ve prepared the tools necessary to ensure that democracy functions properly in this country. The rest is up to each and every one of you. I expect your wise judgment.”

I said this and ended the magic broadcast.

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