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 35

Episode 35: “Excellence”

Seneca and Maior traveled back and forth between two households, accepting requests around Lusitania.

Thanks to a letter prepared in advance by Thullia for the Lusitania branch, no trouble occurred. However, when Seneca saw Maior muttering, “Preparation is everything…” under her breath, she felt a little uneasy.

There weren’t many monsters around Lusitania, but that didn’t mean there were none. With mountains and rivers nearby and the sea visible a little southeast, the area offered requests that couldn’t be undertaken in Baetica, which intrigued Seneca and her companions.

The first task they accepted was to subjugate Soldier Crabs living in the river. This was a request for bronze-ranked adventurers.
Soldier Crabs were a type of freshwater crab that could appear near any body of water. They often gathered in groups, making it troublesome if surrounded.

However, with Maior’s skill for detection and the pair’s coordinated attacks, the crabs were easily defeated.
Both had significantly enhanced physical abilities thanks to their level-ups, so ordinary monsters were no match for them.

Their next request involved escorting a scholar who wanted to collect mushrooms.
This required venturing deep into the mountains and camping overnight, making it a low-paying job. They accepted it for the experience.

The scholar was a taciturn man interested only in mushrooms. Though his demeanor left them puzzled at times, he wasn’t a bad person, and they managed to complete the job.
Incidentally, the mushroom soup he made was so delicious that even Maior, who wasn’t fond of mushrooms, was deeply moved.

Other tasks included searching for seagull nests by the sea and subjugating monsters in a mine.
In combat, they encountered little difficulty. Most challenges arose from vague task descriptions or issues in communication with clients—areas they hadn’t paid much attention to before.

Luckily, Maior was socially adept, and with both of them being attractive young women, they rarely suffered any real disadvantages.

Eventually, the two decided to return to Baetica.

At Maior’s father’s insistence, they returned using a luxurious carriage provided by the Merida Trading Company. It was a two-person carriage, just for Seneca and Maior.

Grateful for the comfort, they decided to relax and reflect on their recent experiences while discussing future plans.

“Seneca, no matter how many times I review it, your Level 3 ability is truly extraordinary,” Maior remarked.

After the fight with the Cyclops, Seneca informed Kito and Maior that she had leveled up.
The two were astonished, then proceeded to surround Seneca like interrogators, questioning her thoroughly.
They concluded that Seneca’s level-up to Level 3 was likely the fastest in recorded history.

Seneca’s skills at Level 3

• • Core Skill Development:
    Seneca’s “interference power,” believed to influence the control and strength of her [Sewing] skill, had significantly improved.
    She could now manipulate needles from a distance to perform embroidery. Though slower than hand-sewing, it marked remarkable progress.
    The durability of her [Magic Needles] also increased, enabling her to thread even stone. Recently, she had pierced the tough shell of a rock turtle monster.

• • [Pins] Skill:
    This ability wasn’t just useful in combat, it also came in handy for practical tasks like bleeding and butchering monsters by suspending parts in midair.
    It might even be possible to hinder enemy movements by pinning them directly.
    Currently, she could control up to five pins simultaneously and shoot them in unison. With further practice, she hoped to extend their range or pierce intangible targets.

• • [Sewing Non-Material Objects]:
    This skill, the centerpiece of Seneca’s power, appeared to have no limitations on its targets so far. However, attempting to sew something significant required vast amounts of magical energy, effectively limiting its use.
    Air, gaps in consciousness, even the spaces between people—Seneca had been experimenting with various applications. Though only a few were combat-ready, all were exceptionally potent.

Despite Seneca’s abundant magical reserves, the skill was incredibly inefficient.
Kito suggested that the key might lie in how Seneca focused her intent and encouraged her to explore this further.

Lately, Seneca had been researching by sticking needles into the ground every day. Maior decided to let her be, knowing it was pointless to nitpick everything Seneca did, though she resolved to inquire when the time seemed right to avoid future stress.

While Seneca and Maior discussed her abilities, Kito, who had been reflecting on their conversations, seemed to have deepened her understanding. However, she refrained from saying much, acknowledging that her ideas were speculative.
Kito’s opinion was that Seneca’s abilities were so overwhelming that it would take time for her to master them fully. She advised Seneca to take her time and let the abilities settle naturally.

Maior’s Path Forward

The conversation eventually shifted to Maior’s skills.

After her promotion to bronze rank, Maior reconsidered her path. She decided to train in both archery and swordsmanship, even if it meant being a jack-of-all-trades.

Originally intending to choose one, she ultimately chose both.

Her reasoning was multifaceted, but the main factor was that this approach best utilized her skills. She envisioned herself as a mid-range combatant capable of adapting effectively to both close and mid-range scenarios, utilizing her broad field of vision.

Even if this path turned out to be less than ideal, Maior didn’t mind. She was confident that it wouldn’t go to waste.
With plans to attend an adventurer academy, Maior looked forward to interacting with a diverse range of people and refining her path through new experiences.

Using Detection for Combat, Maior Steps Off the Beaten Path

When Maior decided to base her combat style on her skill, 【Detection】, she diverged from the traditional path. Now, she walks a narrow trail, relying solely on her instincts to determine the right direction.

And yet, strangely enough, she felt no anxiety. It was because she stood at the forefront of this trail, with the undisputed ruler of this untamed path standing beside her.

As their conversation grew deeper, Seneca and Maior fell asleep without realizing it.
Their dreams were grand and far-reaching, but whether they were merely dreams or glimpses of reality was a question no one could answer.

Time Passed

The day of departure for the royal capital arrived for Seneca and her companions.

The orphanage residents came in droves to see Seneca off. Most had cheerful expressions, though a few wore faces marked by sadness and resolve.

Sister Claire behaved unexpectedly stoic, while the director simply embraced Seneca quietly. To Kito, the scene felt almost sacred.

Nort, Pike, and Mitz, the ones with resolute faces, stepped forward and handed Seneca something. Practical as always, Seneca appreciated tangible gifts—something everyone had noticed over time.

However, the three weren’t their usual playful selves. Their faces betrayed no frivolity, as if they had resolved to stand on their own, even if they hadn’t entirely let go of Seneca.

Maior’s send-off, meanwhile, was a lively affair, with many adventurers attending. Given her sociable nature and extensive network, the turnout was unsurprising. Even the couple who owned the local tavern came by to bid her farewell.

She had already exchanged proper farewells with her family during her recent visit to Lusitania, so the atmosphere was bright and buoyant.

Kito’s send-off was more subdued. Her parents, Yulia, and a few close friends came to see her off.
What surprised Kito was that both her parents and Yulia shed tears.

Kito had expected a more indifferent farewell.

Her parents had always shown interest in her but had been neither proactive nor dismissive about her decision. They’d simply said, “If it’s what you want to do, then do it,” or, “Follow the path you believe in.”

They weren’t the kind of parents who cheered her on vocally. Instead, they were the type to silently acknowledge her efforts with, “We know you’re doing your best.”

Kito’s understanding had always been that, while they loved her, they weren’t particularly sentimental. But realizing they might have been watching over her with heavy hearts for her growth made her chest ache.

Similarly, Yulia, though kind and strict, had often seemed aloof. While her demeanor hadn’t entirely contradicted this, it turned out she harbored more affection for Kito than she’d shown.

Yulia promised to visit the royal capital when the opportunity arose, and they agreed to tour the apothecaries together.

The Journey

Once again, a carriage from the Merida Trading Company ensured a smooth trip to the royal capital. With ample time built into their itinerary, the group planned to acclimate themselves upon arrival.

Kito spent the journey alternating between studying and chatting with Seneca and Maior.

Initially, their discussions were serious, delving into skills and leveling up. Kito informed them that, as per her estimates, she was only a few steps away from reaching Level 2.

As their serious conversations dwindled, they began indulging in trivial topics. Though the unchanging scenery provided little stimulation, they laughed until tears streamed down their faces over things that, in hindsight, weren’t all that funny.

Kito considered it a cherished memory.

Eventually, the group fell silent, each lost in their thoughts.

In truth, Seneca spent much of her time napping, and Maior gazed blankly ahead while occasionally using her skills. It was Kito who remained deep in contemplation.

Kito’s Thoughts

Kito’s thoughts revolved around her dreams.

For instance, Seneca and Lucius both sought strength—to protect their loved ones and ensure their survival no matter the circumstances. They devoted their days to training for this purpose.

Maior, on the other hand, dreamed of slaying dragons and etching her name into legend, like a tale from myth. Her ambitions were surprisingly bold.

Surrounded by friends with such clear aspirations, Kito couldn’t help but feel lost.

She had once thought it might be enough to support her friends’ dreams. But was it right for her life to revolve solely around supporting others?

Her friends mattered deeply, but so did her own life.

Could she match Seneca’s ingenuity?
Did she possess Lucius’s refined talents?
Could she establish a will as resolute as Maior’s?

Each felt out of reach.

Perhaps she should wholeheartedly pursue peace, Kito mused. After all, peace was paramount.
Yet, like a moth to a flame, she gravitated toward people like Seneca and Maior—those who shone brilliantly.

If she were to support them, it couldn’t be as an ordinary person. That realization struck her like lightning.

Kito’s Resolve

The girl Kito wanted to help was the fastest adventurer in recorded history to reach Level 3.
Another aimed to slay a dragon without hesitation, a prodigy of a different sort.
The last was a gifted swordsman who had mastered holy magic. (Lucius)

To aid such extraordinary individuals, Kito could not afford to remain ordinary.

A chuckle escaped her lips.

In the end, Kito knew she, too, had to rise above. While it wouldn’t be easy, she stood beside people who aimed even higher. She didn’t want to lose to them.

Her goal became clear—she would strive for “excellence.”

If she could excel so much that her ambitions no longer seemed audacious, she could even embrace her arrogance.

With Renewed Determination

Thinking such grand thoughts amused Kito, but they felt natural. The resolve settled in her heart, kindling a quiet fire.

“There’s no need to hold back in my heart,” she told herself.

And with that thought, Kito began carefully crafting her strategy to reach Level 3.