(TL : EATSCBPHWLU) Sudden Crisis! Wyvern Attack! (Patreon)

--AN) Translated novel: Novel Name: Even a Trash Skill Can Be Pretty Handy When Leveled Up!. This is a ML and human editing, so there might be some mistakes.--

That day, as I was walking outside the town, I noticed some commotion ahead.

Usually, I don't bother with things that don't concern me, so I kept walking without paying much attention...

But as I reached the town square, I understood what the fuss was all about. I wished I hadn't.

"Hey, look at that! Isn't that a wyvern?"

"Seriously?"

"Dang, that really is a wyvern!"

"Hey! Run!"

"Anywhere is fine, just hide in a building!"

Voices of genuine panic filled the air...

Wyverns, monstrous creatures that prey on humans and livestock, sometimes attack towns in groups. I heard that if they find a flimsy straw-roofed house, they'll tear it apart to get to the people inside. The only option when wyverns attack is to hide in sturdy buildings and wait for them to leave.

Startled by the shouts, I looked up to see...

A massive crowd running towards me. Everyone was running desperately, not bothering about anyone else.

I stood frozen in place, only to be pushed aside and end up sitting on the ground. Being just a little kid, I wish they would have been a bit more considerate...

"Ouch..."

Rubbing the spot where I hit the ground, I worried about getting a bruise on my precious bottom.

"GYIIEEE"

As I tearfully rubbed my sore spot, an ear-piercing roar filled the air. Looking up, I saw a giant creature flying towards us. It was like a lizard with bat wings, magnified several times.

"Huh, so that's a wyvern..."

My fear was replaced by denial. The sight of its gaping maw heading straight for me made me feel inconsequential, like I'd be swallowed whole in one gulp.

Maybe it'll overlook me. A scrawny kid like me can't possibly make a satisfying meal, right? I hoped so, but unfortunately, everyone had already run off...

Leaving me and another guy, who stood frozen, as the wyvern's only potential prey.

Please, let it not come this way. I prayed silently. But then...

Our eyes met, or so I felt, and the wyvern charged directly at me, its jaws wide open. Oh dear.

This is the end.

That's what I thought as the wyvern loomed over me, having given up on escaping. And just when the wyvern was upon me...

I experienced a sensation I'd never felt before. The wyvern's movements seemed to stutter unnaturally for a moment, and then, without thinking, my body dodged the wyvern's attempt to swallow me whole. Just in time...

And then, on its own, my body moved... The rusty knife I had for cutting grass lightly tapped the wyvern's neck as it passed by me.

The wyvern, having missed its target, crashed to the ground. A moment later, blood spurted from its neck. I was shocked.

I couldn't believe a rusty knife could injure such a massive wyvern.

The wyvern lay twitching on the ground for a while but soon stopped moving altogether.

"Is it dead?"

Muttering to no one in particular, I approached the wyvern. I hoped it wasn't pretending to be dead. That would be terrible.

I poked it cautiously, but the wyvern didn't move. It seemed truly dead.

At that moment, I had a hunch and mentally wished, "Load." To my surprise, the wyvern vanished before my eyes without a sound.

At that time, I thought to myself, "Lucky."

I decided to leave the area. If people found out a small girl like me had killed a wyvern, it would cause a huge commotion. Wyverns are considered calamities, after all.

I resumed my original plan to head outside the town.

As I was about to leave the square, the guy who had been standing around suddenly spoke to me.

"Hey, what was that huge monster just now? Do such monsters roam around here often?"

"I dunno? It's my first time seeing one too. People running away called it a wyvern, so maybe that's what it was. Not sure if they're common around here, but it was a first for me."

"A wyvern, huh... Amazing. This must be another world... There are no such creatures as wyverns on Earth. I've come to another world."

Hearing my response, the guy started muttering to himself, deep in thought. Well, if he has nothing else to say, I better get going. Just as I thought that, he suddenly shouted.

"Status Open!"

"Don't yell right into my ear! That hurts."

But, is this guy okay? Shouting nonsensical words all of a sudden. Maybe the fear of the wyvern attack scrambled his brain.

"Huh, weird, nothing's showing up..."

Now he's mumbling to himself again. I wanted to point out that the weird one was him, but I decided it was best not to engage with someone who's lost their mind.

I really need to hurry on my way. I can't waste any more time here.

"Just a sec, wait. I still have things I want to ask."

He grabbed my arm, stopping me.

"There's not much a kid like me would know. If you want to talk, why don't you ask one of the adults around?"

Really, what does this guy expect from a kid like me? I'm just an eight-year-old, after all.

"All the townspeople ran away at the sight of the wyvern. No one's outside now. Come on, just for a little bit."

"Fine, but I really need to go find tonight's dinner. If you must talk, it'll have to be while walking."

"Alright, that's fine with me. First off, how do you check your status?"

This guy, asking the weirdest questions...

"Status? Never heard of it."

"Seriously? Man, it's not like those light novels or games, huh? Then, does this world not have levels?"

"Do you have a level? That's amazing. As far as I know, almost everyone in this town, including me, is level zero. You're the first person I've met with a level."

"I don't even know if I have one. I was trying to check."

"Well, you just think hard about wanting to see your abilities. Then, they kinda float up in your mind."

After hearing my answer, the guy stopped, closed his eyes, and stood still, probably trying to see his abilities. Then, he suddenly opened his eyes wide and shouted again. He's really loud.

"I see it! I can see my status! It's like a game! ...But, what's with this retro game-style status? Level, attack power, defense, speed, intelligence, that's it? And they're all zero..."

He seemed excited at first, but after seeing his pathetic stats, he deflated. It's normal to be level zero in this town, I don't get why he's so disappointed.

"Hey, don't be down just because you're level zero. Like I said, almost no one in this town has a level. Maybe only those who make a living hunting monsters. Besides, levels don't really matter for living."

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"I mean, what do you use attack power or defense for? Do you really need them to live? And speed. Well, maybe it's important for someone who hunts monsters for a living."

"Kid, you're pretty cynical for your age. If there are levels, don't you want to level up? And there's intelligence too. Wouldn't it be useful to raise that?"

"Even if intelligence goes up, you might just remember things a bit better or do math faster. And you know, even if your intelligence is zero, it doesn't mean you're forgetful or bad at math. My dead dad used to say, it's normal for people to be level zero and have zero ability points. If there's a number greater than one, it's just a positive correction."

But why does this guy ask things even a small kid like me knows? He's really strange.

"Oh, right. Maybe you don't know this either?"

"What?"

"Well, my dad told me. Actually, everyone's taught this when they're little. If you ask strangers about their level outside, you can't complain even if you get killed. You should never mention 'level' out loud. I was really surprised when you suddenly started talking about levels. Well, I really have to go now. Bye."

I can't keep dealing with someone whose head isn't right. If I dally too much, it'll be night before I secure tonight's dinner.