Chapter 119: Chloe’s SSS-Rank Skill
The library table fell into silence. A silence... different from before.
Chloe held the book in her hands, but her eyes weren’t on the pages.
They were on Max. On his expression. On that concern he hadn’t even tried to hide.
She frowned.
"Okay... what’s going on?"
Pause.
"Why that face?"
Max hesitated for a second. He exhaled.
"...you have an SSS-rank passive skill that complicates things."
Chloe blinked.
"...rank what?"
"SSS."
"And that’s not... good?"
Max made a face.
"It’s the highest rank that exists in this world."
He crossed his arms.
"A skill like that is... extremely rare."
He looked at her.
"You could say yours is unique."
Chloe tilted her head.
"That sounds pretty good, at least for me."
Pause.
"So... what’s the problem?"
Max rested his elbows on the table.
"...that external effects don’t affect you."
Chloe frowned deeper.
"How?"
"Spells can’t be used on you."
He counted on his fingers.
"Consumable items don’t work. Not even the effects of equippable items."
Pause.
"...or anything that gives you effects."
Chloe stared at him.
"I don’t really get it..."
Max continued:
"But in exchange..."
He pointed at her.
"You double the stats you get from any items you use or equip."
Chloe blinked.
"...I understood half of that. And we’re speaking the same language."
Max let out a small laugh.
"In short..."
He pointed at the book.
"You’re going to have to learn the language by reading. And practicing."
Chloe lowered her gaze to the tome.
"...and how am I supposed to do that...?"
She lifted the book slightly.
"If this is in a language that doesn’t exist in my world, and I don’t even know it."
Max fell silent for a moment, thinking.
"...I’ve got an idea."
Pause.
"Not sure if it’ll work."
He turned his head.
"Arwen."
The elf looked up.
"Do you have any translation items?"
"Of course."
She approached without hesitation. She pulled out a small vial. Thin glass. Dark liquid inside.
She handed it over.
Max took it and examined it.
[Translator Ink Vial][Allows texts to be converted into a language known by the user.]
His eyes lit up slightly.
’...right...’
A memory crossed his mind. Hours in the game, using that same item. Unlocking hidden lore in writings, back when no one knew how to unlock certain languages.
He smiled.
"Alright."
He looked at Chloe.
"Don’t worry."
He lifted the vial.
"I’ve got this."
Chloe raised an eyebrow.
"...okay..."
Pause.
"I guess thanks."
Arwen raised a finger.
"Careful, please."
She pointed at the book.
"It’s the only copy left."
Max waved a hand.
"Yeah, yeah. Relax."
He smiled.
"I know what I’m doing."
He opened the book and, without hesitation, poured the ink over the pages. The black liquid spread quickly. Too quickly.
Then, a blue window appeared before his eyes.
[Skill activated][Item effect enhanced]
Max blinked.
"Alright..."
Another window appeared in front of him.
Languages. Dozens. Hundreds. He had to choose one to translate the book into.
"...shit..."
His eyes moved quickly, searching.
Until he found it...
[Human Language: English]
"Alright, here it is."
He selected it, and the book reacted. It glowed. The pages darkened, turning completely black, as if the ink had covered them entirely.
And suddenly—
CLACK.
The book snapped shut on its own.
Max pulled his hand back quickly.
"—hey!"
Chloe leaned forward.
"...what was that?"
The book vibrated slightly. Then it opened on its own on the table. The black pages slowly began filling with white words. Crystal clear.
Chloe’s eyes widened.
"...wow..."
Moon immediately moved closer.
"That was awesome!"
She leaned on the table, watching in fascination.
Elanor leaned in as well, observing what, to her, looked like scribbles.
"...I don’t understand anything."
She frowned.
"They’re strange symbols."
Arwen, on the other hand... smiled.
"...that tome is now useless to anyone but him."
Max waved a hand.
"I’ll fix it later. Don’t worry."
The process finished.
Max picked up the book and handed it to Chloe.
"If you want to communicate in this world..."
He looked her in the eyes.
"...you’re going to have to put in the effort."
He placed it in her hands.
"Read it. And if you have any questions..."
He gave a slight smile.
"I’ll help you."
Chloe held it. She looked at the pages and sighed.
"...this definitely wasn’t part of my plans..."
She blinked a few times.
"...reading a fantasy language book."
She looked at him.
"...but thanks."
She smiled.
Elanor looked away. In silence.
Moon, on the other hand, broke the moment.
"Arwen!"
She turned toward her.
"Do you have adventurer books?"
Her eyes sparkled.
"I want to read those!"
Arwen laughed softly.
"Of course."
She gestured to her.
"Come with me, little Moonlight."
Moon jumped off the chair.
"Yes!"
And she almost ran off with her, disappearing between the shelves.
Silence settled over the table again. But this time... it was calmer.
Chloe looked at the book for a moment longer. Then she closed it gently and exhaled.
"...okay."
She ran a hand through her hair.
"I need to process all of this."
She took a deep breath.
"That was too much information for one day."
She looked up at Max.
"That SSS-rank skill thing..."
She shook her head slightly.
"I don’t really understand what it implies."
She stretched a little in her chair.
"Before I start reading... I think I want to sleep for a bit."
She shrugged.
"A good nap. Wake up relaxed... and then start training."
Max nodded, understanding.
"Yeah... that makes sense."
He turned his head toward Elanor.
"Do you know if they prepared a room for her?"
Elanor hesitated slightly.
"...my father had another idea."
She smiled.
"He planned for her to sleep in his room."
Max blinked.
"...right."
A slight grimace crossed his face.
’...the king is a bit of a pervert...’
He cleared his throat.
"Well..."
He looked at Elanor.
"Can she use a guest room?"
Elanor nodded immediately.
"Of course."
Her tone was kind. But there was something else. A faint edge.
"Don’t worry."
She tucked her hair behind her ear.
"I’ll ask Don to escort her."
She forced another smile.
"No need for you to trouble yourself any further."
Max looked at her for a second, noticing the hint of jealousy in her tone.
"...alright."
He shrugged.
"If you say so."
He turned to Chloe.
"The butler, the faun, will escort you to a room."
He pointed at the book.
"It’ll be temporary."
He smiled.
"See you at dinner, in a few hours."
Chloe lifted the book.
"Alright."
Pause.
"It’s going to be weird going with someone I can’t talk to."
She shrugged.
"But I trust you."
She looked at him.
"If you say it’s fine... it’s fine."
Elanor stepped forward.
"Don."
Her voice was firm.
The faun appeared shortly after, approaching with an elegant stride... though clearly a bit uncomfortable because of the situation they had found him in earlier.
"...your highness?"
Elanor pointed at Chloe.
"Escort my father’s pet to an available guest room."
Don bowed his head.
"Of course."
He avoided looking directly at Max. Or Elanor. Or anyone else.
Elanor smiled faintly.
"...and don’t worry."
Don tensed slightly.
"About earlier. We won’t say anything."
Her smile remained. Subtle, but clear.
Don cleared his throat.
"...I appreciate your discretion, Princess."
He turned to Chloe and made a polite gesture with his hand, indicating for her to follow.
Chloe looked at Max one last time. Then she nodded and began walking with the faun.
Disappearing into the castle corridors.