Reborn to be a Hermit

The skills

The skill Rina chose was a simple skill, but of ‘SSS’ rating. 

Not that they know that at this point. 

After all, ratings are a new world thing, still ten years away. 

However, Rina knew that the skill orbs with black edge, encasing orange glow are all superb skills. 

She crumbled the skill expectantly. 

[ Inch Blade ] 

[ a blade the size of an inch that could cut through anything. ] 

The skill explanation said. 

No more. 

Nothing other than that. 

What the ?! 

Isn’t this an SSS skill ? 

What in the world is she supposed to do with a blade the size of an inch ? 

Rina was in tatters inside, but she did not show it outside. After all, this is an SSS level skill. This is still far more than what she would get when she attends the royal academy. 

“ Thanks, Sir. “ She said, and moved aside. 

Edam came up. 

He looked at her as he selected the skills. 

His hand moved to ‘otherworld search ‘. 

Rina frowned. 

He moved forward. 

His hands moved to the other skill that’s glowing slightly orange. Rina smiled in approval. 

Edam picked it up. 

The principal has given up on them by now, as well as his yearly bonus. 

After all, there are no bonuses to be had for someone who lost skills. 

At this time, something unexpected happened. 

Another student stood up to accept the skill. 

Rina looked at her in surprise. 

Hedle is not the sort of girl who goes against the authorities. 

The principal wanted to say something, but this is not something he could change. If he denies the girl who clearly says she wants a skill, then not just losing bonus, he will lose grants as well. 

So, he let her choose a skill too. 

Hedle has chosen the only skill on the board with no light. 

Rina had no idea what the skills with no light represented, as not even the royal archives have any information on them. 

She planned to ask Hedle later. 

“ Any more, who wants to activate zero level skills ? “ the principal dejectedly asked the class dejectedly, at the same time, looking like he would devour the student who dared to stand. 

No one did. 

So, the class ended there. 

In seven days, they have to return to the school to submit their forms of acceptance or rejection of the royal academy. 

Almost all students accept the offer.

In the commotion to submit their forms, Rina held Edam’s hand and dragged him away. 

“ We will submit it on the last day, with almost no time to delay. “ She told him. 

If they were to submit early, then she is sure some sort of mage will come out from the royal entourage to check both of them for the curse, then completely abolish their magic. Ofcourse, all of this is off the record. 

However, if they submit at the very last moment, then chances are the mages of capital will not make any allowances just to harm them. 

Ofcourse, the opposite is also possible, but Rina wanted to bet on them getting away with this. 

If nothing else, she knows the attitude of mages from the capital. More importantly, she knows the cost of travel from her village to the capital. 

The moment they gather all the students who agreed, they would have to set off. 

The arrangements would be made for as many students as the school reported, that is, if they could be called arrangements. 

The students suffer, while the travel guards are safe and secure. 

That’s the first lesson they will learn in this life. 

Their status will not change just because they got some magic. 

If it really does, it’s going to be an exception rather than norm. 

Rina rushed home with Edam. just before they parted ways, she asked what his skill is. 

Edam flashed the skill description slip at her. 

[ Power Settings ] 

[ You can increase or decrease the amount of power you use, the area it applies to, time period to apply the magic for, the spell that power is being applied to, etc. This skill is most useful to craftsmen, yet, it could also be used for combat, as long as you have the correct combination of mana, spell and control. ] 

This is actually very practical for someone like Edam. 

In last life, she did not know what his skill was, and why he was given over to the eleventh prince. 

In this life, they could find it.

She went home. 

As expected, her father went ballistic at her. 

“ It was three skills with skill augmentation. Why would you change it for a single skill ? Are you an idiot ? “ he asked her. 

Rina was pissed off. 

If there’s any idiot at home, it would be him. 

He made almost all the wrong decisions dealing with people, he almost always took short cuts for easy money, and all the repercussions are always born by their mother and siblings. 

It stayed the same when they went to the capital. 

Rina was only the first of their siblings to the capital. 

Her father always wanted to pretend in the neighborhood about his children being mages. 

But it was the capital. 

It would be strange a random rock you thow did not hit a mage. 

He offended her boss, her sister's boss, her brother’s tutor and their landlord within five minutes of his arrival into the capital. 

On top of that, he had the audacity to tell them they would get cheated out of their entire lives of labor if not for him. 

The next day, he got involved in a feud between nobles, and Rina had to solve it by sacrificing her career to stay in the archives. 

If nothing else, it gave her respite from her annoying father. 

After that, the only one who visited her was the youngest brother, who was a student at the royal academy. 

Rina just handed her paycheck to him every other month, to be done as they wished. 

It would be quite possible her brother was doing drugs with that cash, but she did not care at this point. 

They will do what they please. 

The world was doomed anyhow. 

However, this time, she was reborn like this, she would change what she could. 

In last life, she lived for the words of others, in this life, she would live for none other than herself, no matter how hard it gets. Atleast, she would die for her own mistakes rather than cleaning up after thousands of others. 

Then came the words as she expected. 

“ If you could not listen to my wisdom, then get out of this house. We do not feed rebellious idlers here. “ Her father scolded. 

Rina wondered if he knew how much work she does around here. 

She looks after her siblings, helps her mother and does half the tasks men handle in other homes. 

Rina decided to walk out. 

In her last life, everyone in her family has taken her efforts for granted. 

Ofcourse, all the while hating her for not finding a rich husband in the capital as soon as she landed. 

Perhaps early awakening will help them figure out things better. 

Rina walked out, with nothing in her hands. 

With her soldier training, she could more than live in the jungle. 

Despite looking scary, and being part of a demon tide three years after, the forest has no strong predators in it. 

Thus, she simply walked out. 

After all, the wild is not too different from their leaky hut. 

However, it’s only three in the afternoon. 

Thus, she wanted to go hunting in the jungle. After all, she has skill now, she had to determine how to use it. 

Before she left for the jungle, she went to find Edam. 

He was home, seated in their stinking yard in a meditation pose. 

“ Edam “ She called out. 

He opened his eyes readily. 

“ Are you trying to find your magic core as the exercises described ? “ She asked. 

All mana exercises say you close your eyes, and try to feel for mana to find your mana core. However, demons do not have mana cores as their magic use is instinctive. 

Even if Edam had a mana core, there’s no need for him to sit and find one. He could just try to use magic straight away, then he would be able to find it naturally. 

“ Don’t worry about the mana core. Come with me. “ Rina said. 

Their village is located on a mountain plateau. 

Edam’s shack is on the lowest rung of the buildings, right in front of a swamp, where the sewage of the village accumulates. 

Ofcouse, when the rain comes, the little swamp becomes a pond, and then it overflows downwards, joining a river. However, that means Edam’s house is stinking awfully, while being damp for a good part of the year. 

However, this is the only place the village is willing to give an unwed girl who became pregnant. 

Had Edam been strong, he could have hunted to add the income, but he was not. He is far weaker physically. So much so, Rina wondered if his father was an entirely spirit being as some demons tend to be. 

They arrived at the pond. 

Edam frowned, looking at Rina in question. 

“ Look at the pond, and release all of your power, commanding it to decompose.” Rina told him.