The speech.

An Old man wearing a cloak is sitting on a chair at the end of the hallway.

How did he get there? nobody knows or dares to ask.

From under his hood, you can catch a glimpse of his golden eyes glittering in the dark.

Resting a hand on his old walking stick, he speaks.

"Can't you replay, Kid?"

"Don't be harsh on him Oji-san, I'm sure he didn't mean it in a bad way!" Alice said cheerfully walking toward him, her guards in tow.

The others are terrified except Connor.

He understood that he wasn't here to pick a fight. Otherwise, they should have been dead long ago, Slowly but steadily he walked to face the old man.

Alva rushed to grab a chair for both Connor and Alice.

Mary and the others are shivering but Kinryuu assured them that he is not here for trouble.

[Appraisal] on this old man Kinryuu.

{[Appraisal] Failed, the target's data is too large, the reading failed.}

Shit! What does it mean by 'data is too large?

The important part is that I can't know his strength.

Kinryuu started laughing.

"Trying to appraise me, weren't you? Kid!"

"You knew! sorry just got curious to see how strong a great wyrm like you is. but the appraisal skill told me that the data is too large."

Kinryuu took a more serious look on his face as he looked directly into Connors's eyes.

"The Skill told you? Are you saying that a skill spoke to you?"

"Y...yeah. is that weird" Connor replied?

Kinryuu started laughing.

"You're the hero after all! so that was where the first of them was hiding!"

"what are you talking about? I can't follow." Connor asked in confusion.

"You don't have to worry about it, you just need to know that your appraisal is unique if it is still considered a skill to begin with."

"Is it a bad thing?" Connor asked.

"The reverse, it's a good thing. did you experience any other abnormality?".

"I don't know, since I don't have that much common sense!" Connor replied.

"The way his magic flows is weird, how do I say it? I feel as if there is a delay in the cast time." Alice Add.

"His skills level up too fast, in a terrifying way! Also, the way that he chains his magic while fighting is just not something you can do with one head." Lydia commented.

"Even though I knew he is the hero, and that he is the master of Alice-sama which makes him my master too when he crept at me when I was sleeping my danger reaction fired off. it shouldn't have happened." Alva adds up.

Kinryuu gave Connor a weird look, you went after Alva?

"It was a misunderstanding!!" Connor cried.

"So it's a hard-working one, you should focus on leveling her up as much as you can!"

Connor was getting interested in what Kinryuu is talking about, but kinryuu told him that he would hear it from the appraisal skill when the time comes.

Kinryuu suggested that he keep the skill active all the time and appraise whatever he can as much as he can.

"So why are you here?" Connor asked Kinryuu.

Kinryuu started telling his story.

I was doing my work flying around and then I felt that something is happening to Alice, she is scared, is she in danger?.

She is too far away and I can't reach her in time.

I have no choice.

[Hoard door]

I opened a magical door to my hoard and took a teleportation scroll from it. it's not something money can buy.

I used said scroll to teleport close to Alice since I can't pinpoint my destination.

When I looked around I saw Alice's carriage being attacked by goblins. I was about to rush in but I saw a young man rushing in so I stopped to see the development.

In the end, that young man managed to save them.

I thought it was all good since I didn't have to interfere and I felt sad for wasting a teleportation scroll, but I was wrong.

The goblins that managed to escape returned to their nest, gathered the rest, and started preparing for another attack on the carriage.

They gathered around forty goblins and prepared a squad of stone-throwers.

No matter how strong Lydia and Alva they can't repel a huge number while protecting Alice.

Thank god I'm here, otherwise, they would end all dead.

Thank god the teleportation scroll didn't go to waste. I could sell that for over 100 royal coins.

I then massacred all the goblin in that nest. then turned my attention toward the carriage.

I want to know who this young man is. but missed my chance to show up.

So I kept following you all the way here.

"So what do you want now?" Connor asked Kinryuu.

Kinryuu smiled as he replied.

"Business."

Kinryuu gestured to Mary to leave them alone.

Mary and the others entered deeper into the church leaving Kinryuu with Connor and Alice alongside her guards.

Now that they are alone Connor initiated the conversation.

"So what do you mean business?"

"To put it simply, I want the right to put your name on my product aka maps and weather forecasts, saying it is approved by the hero!"

Kinryuu wants to use Connor as a marketing tool and use the hero name to add credibility to his maps.

"And what do I get from it? You can't expect to make a deal without offering anything."

"What do you want? I can probably find you a suitable price in my hoard."

Connor thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Give me at least one of three, Power, knowledge, or protection."

Kinryuu posed for a second and smiled.

"It has been a long time since I saw someone who doesn't want pure wealth, I'm the only one here who has the right to touch my gold. Good, I will give you what you want all three of them if you make a promise that I'm the only one who can sell maps with your name on them."

"You have a deal!" Connor and Kinryuu shook hands.

"Now you said you want protection, why is that?" Kinryuu asked.

"I'm still weak now and after I heard what you can do, I suspect I will be able to fend off something as strong as you!" Connor replied in a sad voice.

"A reasonable reason, dragons are considered the strongest living being in this mortal plan after all. you can have that."

Kinryuu extended his hand toward Connor and a faint light shun from it.

"We dragon's mark our properties with our magic, now that you have my mark any strong monster will recognize the 'scent of a dragon' on you and won't attack recklessly, metallic dragons also will be more probable to help you to gain favor with me especially gold's ones.

weak monsters won't recognize it though"

"Thanks, with this I won't have to worry about meeting an unbeatable monster for now."

"You seek knowledge, why is that?" Kinryuu asked.

"I still lack common sense about how this world really works and I can die for a careless mistake!" Connor replied.

"Fair enough, I will tell you this 'Only people who believe in a god will respect you, which means the other won't nearly trust you, druids who worship nature are an example, dragons too since we don't have a god, the god of destruction and chaos doesn't exist. Your appraisal skill is your most prised skill and you should care for her, and lastly, no human has reached the level 100 mark in a few thousand years so make that your goal and you will have a surprise' that's all I can say"

"Ok got that, my next goal is to reach level 100 and level up appraisal skill. thanks for the advice." Connor replied.

"If you want to level up your appraisal why don't you just keep it active 24/7?"Kinryuu suggested.

"That's a great idea, I will do that!" Connor approved.

[Appraisal] Activate, don't warn me until it is dangerous.

Connor activated his skill.

"Lastly you want power, why do you want that?" Kinryuu asked.

"I'm weak and I need strength to protect those around me."

"I can grant you that."

Kinryuu conjured a small grail in his hand and filled it with his fresh blood.

"The fresh blood of a willing dragon, drink it and you will get a part of my power as long as you have a place to add the skills, and since you are the hero you don't have to worry about that."

Connor hesitated for a moment, Joey did eat a duck fetus and now I'm drinking dragon blood.

He then gulped the blood in one go.

He felt a surge of heat passing through his body.

{Absorption Completed}

Name: Connor ,Level: 02

Social status: The master of the Von Eric family.

Class: Hero

Titles: Toxic gamer, Another world traveler, Tamer, Partner of the gold dragon Kinryuu.

Health: 120/120

Mana: 372/372

Stamina: 131/131

Strength: 21 ,Dexterity: 25 ,Speed: 28 , Magic: 27 ,Luck: 16

Constitution: 26 ,Wisdom: 23 ,Intelligence: 31 ,Charisma: 25 ,Will: 29

Skills:

[Martial arts: Level 4],[Mace Arts: Level 1], [Throwing: Level 1] [Fire Magic: Level 2], [Water Magic: Level 2], [Wind Magic: Level 2], [Earth Magic: Level 5], [Lightning Magic: Level 8], [Healing Magic: Level 2], [Light Magic: Level 2], [Dark Magic: Level 2], [Pure Magic: Level 1], [Enchanting Magic: Level 9], [Sound Magic: Level 2],[Magic Control: Level 6].

[Appraisal: Level 9], [Taming: Level 2], [Shapeshift: Level 1], [Draconic physic: Level 1], [Draconic senses: Level 1], [Draconic stomach: Level 1]

Blessings from the god of creation:

[Plot armor: Level 1], [Destruction: Level 6], [HeAw%=DeLoAw%: Level Unknown].

{Skill [HeAw%=DeLoAw%: Level Unknown] has leveled up, still unable to appraise}

"How do you feel?" Kinryuu asked Connor.

"Good, it looks like I Got new skills. Also, my base stats increased like crazy! I was about to appraise my new skill." Connor responded while looking at his hand.

"Go ahead." Kinryuu gave his approval.

[Appraisal] on [Draconic physic]

{[Draconic physic] Greatly increase the base stats as the dragon blood flow through the vain of the skill holder}

[Appraisal] on [Draconic senses]

{[Draconic senses] Give the skill wilder sharpened senses and instinct, all five senses alongside gut feeling become more sharp and refined.}

[Appraisal] on [Draconic stomach]

{[Draconic stomach] The digestive system of the holder becomes stronger allowing to digest monster meat and dirt, the higher the skill level the more stuff you can digest and get nutrition from.}

So I can eat almost anything now! I think this will be useful in survival.

"Thanks, with this our deal is sealed, feel free to use my name as you wish," Connor said.

They both shook hands.

"By the way how old are you? I'm curious!" Connor asked.

"Hmmm… I don't really remember, I stopped counting after I reached 5000 years old." Kinryuu answered as he was stroking his long beard.

"Wow, That is definitely older than some kingdoms!"

Kinryuu laughed a little before adding up.

"Even so, I'm not the older of the dragons, the oldest one is who we call 'Inferno', he is a red dragon, a one who breathes fire, I breathe lightning."

Kinryuu started talking about Inferno.

Inferno is the oldest dragon alive and also the strongest.

Some dragons can rule an army or a country, or gather rare overpowered magical items so they can add to their strength, something like my teleportation scroll.

Inferno does not have any of that.

No country, no military, no overpowered magical items.

He doesn't like to come out and most people don't even know he exists.

But what he has is pure unfiltered raw power.

He rarely comes out, like one In a hundred years to hunt.

He resides in the active volcano of the western continent.

"Other than that I don't know much about him." Kinryuu finished.

He pondered for a moment before declaring.

"I shall be going now, I didn't work the last days since I was tailing you so I need to get back to work."

"Take care Kinryuu-Oji-san."Said Alice with a slight bow.

Kinryuu showed a sad face, his wrinkled face got even more wrinkled and a slight tear showed on the side of his eye.

"You… sniff… Drooped...sniff the -sama." Kinryuu is about to cry.

Connor, Alva, and Lydia tried calming Kinryuu down.

"Don't cry, I'm sure she still respects you," Alva said.

"That's right, Alice, say something!!!" Connor exclamation.

"Sorry, Oji-san but he -sama now is reserved for the hero. I'm the holy maiden after all!" Alice responded.

"Alice just called him as you used to before, he clearly broke this old man's heart!" Connor add.

"Fine, Sorry Kinryuu-Oji-sama." Alice apologized.

It looks as if kinryuu was treating Alice as his own granddaughter and her changing how she called him suddenly hit him hard.

They took a few minutes to calm him down.

And after saying goodbye he took off.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The speech started.

Alice needs to get as many followers for Connor as she can.

On the temporary stage built inside the church Alice is standing on her right is Alva and on her left is Lydia, several feet behind is Connor sitting menacingly on his seat.

Alice started.

"Dear follower of Avandor, may the light of life guide you.

I...Alice Von Eric stands here before you to announce to you that the hero prophecy came true and that a hero has appeared.

His graceful name is Connor. And he has chosen me as his servant and holy maiden.

This kingdom, no! The entire world has been thirsty for salvation, longing for a destined hero who can rival fate to heal its wound.

The increase is natural disasters, the restlessness of monsters.

You suffered a lot and lost more.

Fear not, The hero has come to our aid. and he shall bring you salvation.

But he still needs your support.

Your corporation and prayer are all the hero asks.

Would you help us?"

The crowd is silent.

Did I make a mistake, or was my speech that bad?

"We need something certified first, Dolrig the dwarf who made a contract with a devil and you saved him, he was creating cursed weapons. So what is the hero's reason for saving him?" one of the crowd stepped up.

Alice is confused not knowing Connor's true intention and she can't respond.

She turned toward Connor who stood up and walked to her.

"I will answer them now, you rest," Connor said to Alice and she bowed in agreement as she backed down.

"To answer that question, let's start with this, is there a builder between you?" Connor said.

"Yes, I'm here!" Another man answered.

"I guess you know how to build a house, right?" Connor asked.

"Yes, that's my job."

"Then how do you destroy a house?" Connor asked.

"Well, that will be cutting the central pillar!"He replied.

"Then I want you all to think of curses and cursed weapons as houses, and that you need someone who knows how to make them be able to destroy or dispel them!"

"But there is the magic that can do that!?"

Connor didn't expect this, but he still managed to bullshit something on the spot.

"For normal curses, but for specific or extremely potent ones we need an expert to study them first, And I need Dolrig help in that."

They gave Connor a look of doubt before, saying yeah we understand.

As Connor was about to return to his seat he spotted a man leaving the crowd first, but he didn't think much of it.

Alice added as Connor was returning to his seat.

"That is why we need the hero, nobody of us could think of something like that. We need him to change fate as he did yesterday and he is the only one who can do it."

"A little by little, his action will change our future into salvation!"

"So are you with us as the gods intended?"

The crowd screamed in agreement.

{Notice: A great number of people have approved of you as the hero.

The title [Hero seed] is now evolving into [Hero].

Evolving finished successfully.

Warning if the number of people dropped to less than 100 the title will devolve.

Skill [HeAw%=DeLoAw%: Level Unknown] level increased.}

Wow, let's see my stats now.

Name: Connor . Level: 02

Class: Hero.

Social status: The master of the Von Eric family.

Titles: Toxic gamer, Another world traveler, Tamer, Partner of the gold dragon Kinryuu.

Health: 120/120

Mana: 372/372

Stamina: 131/131

Strength: 21 ,Dexterity: 25 ,Speed: 28 , Magic: 27 ,Luck: 16

Constitution: 26 ,Wisdom: 23 ,Intelligence: 31 ,Charisma: 25 ,Will: 29

Skills:

[Martial arts: Level 4],[Mace Arts: Level 1], [Throwing: Level 1] [Fire Magic: Level 2], [Water Magic: Level 2], [Wind Magic: Level 2], [Earth Magic: Level 5], [Lightning Magic: Level 8], [Healing Magic: Level 2], [Light Magic: Level 2], [Dark Magic: Level 2], [Pure Magic: Level 1], [Enchanting Magic: Level 9], [Sound Magic: Level 2],[Magic Control: Level 6].

[Appraisal: Level 9], [Taming: Level 2], [Shapeshift: Level 1], [Draconic physic: Level 1], [Draconic senses: Level 1], [Draconic stomach: Level 1]

Blessings from the god of creation:

[Plot armor: Level 1], [Destruction: Level 6], [HeAw%=DeLoAw%: Level Unknown].

Now I'm officially the hero.

I think that I needed the support of people to become a real hero.

After the people who attended the speech left the church, Connor and his party headed toward The chamber where the dwarf is resting.

As they got closer they heard a man scream, Connor recognized it to be Dolrig the dwarf in question, the scream was clearly a scream of fear so Connor and his party rushed to the rescue.

Alva to the charge speeding in the hallway.

Unlike the heavy movement of Lydia, Alva's movements were fast, graceful, and precise.

As she reached the door and without stopping she delivered two thrusts with her rapier to the door hinges kicking the door down in one swoop and as she jumped in the room she saw Dolrig in the far left corner of the room crying his face is sweaty and his eyes are filled with tears, and his body is trembling.

Without a second hesitation and without even looking Alva delivered multiple thrusts with her rapier in the direction Dolrig was looking.

A loud clicking noise rang through the church.

This entire exchange from her kicking the door didn't even take a second, that how fast she was.

When Connor and the rest reached the room they found that mess.

Dolrig is crying.

Alva is confused and looking around.

And lastly, a three branches chandelier that got destroyed.

"What happened here?" Connor asked.

"I don't exactly know either, he was afraid of something but the only things that were in the direction he was looking at were the table and the chandelier,"Alva responded.

Connor approached the shaking Dolrig.

"What happened?"

…

Dolrig isn't responding.

Connor put his hand on Dolrig's shoulders shaking him a little.

"Answer me, it's alright we are here to help you!"

....

Dolrig is still not responding, maybe he is too scared to talk now.

How do I know what happened?

Yeah, Appraisal can tell me conditions.

[Appraisal] on Dolrig.

Name: Dolrig brownbeard . Level: 01

Social status: Foreigner.

Class: Blacksmith.

Titles: Cursewilder, Dreadsmith, devil contractor.

Health: 31/46

Mana: 45/45

Stamina: 37/56

Strength: 28 ,Dexterity: 12 ,Speed: 14 , Magic: 22 ,Luck: 3

Constitution: 28 ,Wisdom: 15 ,Intelligence: 17 ,Charisma: 18 ,Will: 29

Skills:

[Smithing level: 24], [Curse manipulation: Level 7"

Conditions:

Scared of fire 'Chronic', burned, Confused.

Ohh I get it now.

"Alva put out any fire in this room." Connor issued an order.

Alva with the help of Alice and Lydia put out the rest of the candles in the room.

[Light Magic: persisting orb of light]

The orb of light stuck to the ceiling.

[Healing magic]

Connor healed Dolrig and then asked him.

"Are you alright now? there isn't any fire in the room anymore."

"Ahh...I need to… rest for a bit,...my heart is still racing!"

"Got it, this light should last a full day, I will come to talk to you tonight is that alright.

"Yeah, thanks" Dolrig thanked Connor.

Connor and his party got out of the room and called for Mary to bring someone to fix the door.

Alice asked Connor if he knew Dolrig's problem? and he responded that he thought it's a PTSD of fire since he got burned alive and the candle's flame scared him.

"I will speak about it with him when he calms down, what are we doing now?"

"We should go to the town lord since we haven't met him yet!"

I hope nothing bad happens.

They walked out of the church, Connor pondering about what to do about Dolrig.

He wants the man up and hammering iron as fast as he can.

The long sword he has is good as starter equipment but he really wishes to have a high leveled sword and armor.

Lydia said that magic weapons are dangerous if you aren't proficient with the weapon type you're using but he still can't get it out of his mind.

As they were sitting in the carriage on their way to the in to retrieve Connor's Clothes. Connor asked Alice if there is any magic that grants courage or heals mental illness.

She replied bitterly that she never heard of magic that can fix mental issues, but there is rare magic that grants courage for a short amount of time.

She suggested he ask an expert in restoration magic, like the archbishop in the capital, that man might have answers.

I'm not a psychiatrist, I don't even know if you can treat PTSD, but I heard of people getting over it so there is still hope for Dolrig.

I might need to rely on this world knowledge to find a solution.

I've been isekaied at least I want access to my previous world knowledge.

{Notice: Tapping into your previous memory is possible at a higher level.}

What was that? Appraisal?

{Notice: Yes.}

You can answer questions now?

{Notice: Yes.}

You sound like Alexa. Connor smiled a little.

"Connor-sama, is there a problem?" Alice asked Connor.

"Nothing just remembered something."

"Is that so?" Alice is doubtful.

{Notice: Change my name into Alexa?}

I can name you now? from when Is that possible?

{Notice: Yes.

Notice: From when I reached level 10.}

Then I will give you the name Ariel.

{Notice: Changing name from Appraisal into Ariel.

Notice: Skill [Appraisal] has been named [Ariel].}

Well then, Ariel, you said that tapping into my memory is possible at a higher level, can you explain that?

{Notice: that is possible at skill level 40 when the skill [Ariel] gets the upgrade [Perfect Recollection].}

What is a skill upgrade?

{Notice: each ten levels the skill [Ariel] will get an upgrade.

At level 10 [Sentient]

At level 20 [Analyse]

At level 30 [Core]

At level 40 [Perfect Recollection]

At level 50 [Will]

Those are the only visible upgrades for now.

Skill [Ariel] is now level 12.}

Oh… So you level up since I left you active.

But aren't my skill leveling too fast?

{Notice: Since you have a high intelligence, magic, and wisdom, skills that rely on those abilities will level faster at lower levels.}

So what [Perfect Recollection] does.

{Notice: [Perfect Recollection] stores your memories into the skill [Ariel] allowing you to access them at will, this also includes forgotten memories.}

That's cool, so if I get it I can remember anything I've seen before.

{Notice: Yes.}

The carriage stopped, they reached the inn.

Connor went to grab his clothes and returned after a few minutes.

After that, they headed to war in the town lord mansion.

Alice was quite irritated as to why the Town lord didn't show up to greet the hero.

After a few minutes, they are in front of the lord mansion gates.