I Will Be Unrivaled With The Skill [Sewing]! They Said It Was A Bad Skill, But With Effort, I will Make It A Hit~ - Chapter 31

Episode 31: The Winning Skill

When Maior shared the news with Yulia, it quickly spread to Naeus and eventually reached almost every adventurer in the guild.

By the time Seneca arrived at the forest clearing, a large crowd had already gathered, some even whistling and cheering.

Nort was already there, giving Seneca a reproachful look, though Seneca had no recollection of why and didn’t react. What puzzled her more was Maior’s apologetic expression, which she couldn’t quite understand.

The unexpected audience didn’t faze Seneca. Being a striking beauty who occasionally displayed eccentric behavior, she was accustomed to being the center of attention. On the other hand, Nort wasn’t used to such situations, but today was a significant battle for him, and he was determined to give it his all.

Nort stepped forward, drew his practice sword, and said, “Seneca, I want you to give it your all today! I don’t care how humiliated I get. I need to know the gap between us!”

“Got it,” Seneca replied.

Many in the crowd admired Nort’s words. Facing such a spectacle without pretense was admirable. Even those unfamiliar with Nort began to hold him in higher regard.

“Seneca, do you remember when we first received our skills?” Nort asked.

Seneca tilted her head, unsure of what he meant.

“I called your skill a ‘miss’,” he admitted.

Hearing this, Seneca’s eyes sharpened, and tension filled the air.

“I thought my ‘Swordsmanship’ was a hit. Yet, while I’ve just barely become an iron-ranked adventurer, you’ve already reached bronze.”

Seneca listened silently, an enigmatic intensity about her.

“Maybe there’s a gap between us now, but I’m not taking back my words. My ‘hit’ will catch up to your ‘miss’!”

Nort assumed a ready stance, his sword raised. Observers could see he was well-trained for his age.

Seneca relaxed slightly, hearing Nort’s words. “That’s one thing I don’t dislike about you. You say things that make it impossible for me to hold back,” she said with a knowing smile.

“Hahaha!” Nort laughed.

“Aha!” Seneca joined in.

Their sudden laughter puzzled the surrounding adventurers.

“Nort, I’ll tell you now,” Seneca began, carefully watching his every move.

“You’ve become really strong,” she acknowledged.

Nort braced himself, anticipating something.

He watched her intently, not even blinking.

Or so he thought.

Before he knew it, Seneca had vanished from his sight.

The next moment, he was struck from behind and knocked out cold.

“So, what exactly did you do back there?” Maior asked Seneca on their way back.

To Maior’s eyes, it seemed like Seneca had simply moved behind Nort and hit him with her sword. While it was incredibly fast, it didn’t seem like something Nort, a promising young adventurer, wouldn’t be able to react to. There was a clear distinction between being unable to react and being unable to avoid.

“I exploited the gaps in Nort’s consciousness,” Seneca explained.

“Huh?”

“Even though it seems like our consciousness is continuous, it’s actually fragmented. Especially when deeply focused, one’s field of vision narrows, creating gaps. I aimed for those gaps. Since I’m familiar with Nort, I thought I could do it.”

“And after trying it, you nearly exhausted your magic power,” Maior noted.

“Seems like it,” Seneca giggled, her smile as cute as ever, though her actions were anything but. Maior couldn’t help but think this could make Seneca invincible if perfected and asked her about it.

“Wouldn’t this make you unstoppable if you trained it?”

“Well, there are people whose gaps are undetectable or who aren’t fazed even when caught off guard. But it might work well against less intelligent monsters,” Seneca replied.

“What kind of information is that?”

“My dad mentioned it a long time ago,” Seneca said with a deeply somber expression.

Though Seneca herself seemed unaware, whenever she spoke of her parents or Lucius, a profound sadness threatened to overwhelm her.

Maior did her best to change the subject.

Nort was awakened by Naeus shortly after Seneca had left the scene.

Seneca, knowing there were skilled healers among the spectators, attacked with considerable force. This was her way of responding to Nort’s request to “come at me with full strength.”

In the end, it was Julia who healed Nort.

Julia only heals those she likes. Exceptions are made for severe injuries or during shared missions, but healing indiscriminately during peacetime is unsustainable. To preserve her precious magic, she has to draw a line somewhere. This is Julia’s pride.

Julia would heal Seneca and Maior without hesitation—not just because they are beloved juniors, but out of respect for their attitudes. Their promotion to Bronze-level adventurers was recognized by many peers, stemming from their relentless efforts and sincere actions.

Julia didn’t dislike Nort. She knew he was serious and diligent. Though he could be somewhat arrogant at times, that was common among adventurers and didn’t bother her.

He was talented but unremarkable. That was Julia’s impression of Nort. However, seeing Nort confront Seneca changed her mind.

Seneca’s talent was overwhelming, even from Julia’s perspective—almost to the point of envy.

“The Oak Branch” was an excellent party, expected to soon become Silver-level adventurers. Yet, they had been surpassed by various talents. It was a world where there was always someone better.

The arrival of “The Verdant Prayer” was also a shock. Ania, a prodigy who became a Bronze-level adventurer at a young age, quickly formed one of the leading parties in Baetica.

Even compared to Ania, Seneca was extraordinary. Maior’s dedication to follow her own path alongside Seneca was also exceptional. Although it didn’t feel that way when together, reflecting on it brought an awakening.

Even Julia felt this. How must Nort, who had witnessed such talent up close, have felt?

Nort was quite capable. If it weren’t for Seneca and Maior, he could have claimed to be the best young adventurer in the town. If he continued to grow steadily, he might become a Silver-level adventurer in the future, just like Julia once did.

But what if Seneca had been beside Julia when she was still a child?

The thought pained her. In the face of overwhelming talent, even moderate skill could pale in comparison. She might have run away or been crushed under the weight.

Perhaps that’s why.

Nort’s determination to face Seneca head-on, even at the cost of humiliation, deeply moved her. When Nort collapsed, she was the first to rush to his side.

Many other adventurers felt the same. After the treatment was finished, Nort found himself surrounded by various adventurers, including the men from “The Oak Branch.” All were experienced adventurers. The younger adventurers were ridiculing Nort as miserable and foolish.

Those people were chased away by Naeus with a glare.

When Nort awoke, he found himself surrounded by senior adventurers.

Looking around and seeing Naeus, who had woken him, Nort realized he had lost.

Nort’s memory was clear, but he had no idea what had happened. Fighting Seneca always resulted in him losing before he knew it. This time was no different.

Unlike the simple strength and speed of Lucius, Seneca possessed a different kind of strength—something Nort understood well.

Seeing Pique and Mitz nearby, both smiling wryly, reminded him that they had strategized together against Seneca, but it had been futile.

Strategies rarely worked against Seneca or Lucius, but they were effective against most others. The three of them had grown rapidly in order to contend with those two. This experience, too, would be valuable. Nort was certain of that.

And so, he quietly muttered.

“Next time, I’ll put up a good fight.”

It was a small voice, but a few heard it. Naeus, being the closest, heard it clearly and responded with a very pleased expression.

“Nort, you’re good. Come to us next time, and I’ll help you with your sword.”

Being invited by his admired Naeus, Nort beamed.