Among Monsters (Tensura)

Chapter 32: The Voice of the World and Ecological Harmony

Seconds after the circle's activation, James heard a familiar voice in his head.

[Acknowledged individual, James Tanaka acquired the Unique Skill: Arcane Architect, and the Common Skill: Ecological Harmony.]

It was the cold, robotic, female-ish voice of the "Voice of the World."

'What?' James was both startled and confused.

'That was definitely the voice of the world... it's just like the first time I arrived in this world,' he thought.

'Wait, what did it say?' He tried to process. "It definitely said unique skill and common skill," he mused.

'Okay, let's think this through... it said Unique Skill: Arcane Architect... what could that mean?' He thought for a moment, his mind piecing it together.

"With 'arcane' meaning it's magic-related, and 'architect' meaning—ah, I get it! It's a unique skill related to my custom magic circles!" he said aloud.

The Skilled White Magician, who had been by his side during the creation of the giant magic circle, looked at him, clearly confused.

'Now I know that that skill is related to my circles… now it said Common Skill: Ecological Harmony... Based on its name, it's a skill related to ecosystems, and 'harmony' would mean keeping it in balance... that makes a lot of sense. I acquired the unique skill due to my magic circle creations, and the ecosystem one is due to the ecosystem I created in my Sovereign's Sanctuary,' he realized.

James, after processing the information about his new skills, turned to the Skilled White Magician and briefly explained the situation before heading to "Drasil," the lizardmen village. When he had been at the village earlier, the lizardmen had asked him to name the village, and he had chosen "Drasil."

As he exited the amphitheater, he noticed the road cutting through the forest. His eyes caught sight of creatures—both normal and magical—and a smile crept across his face.

'I've got to get used to seeing animals in the forest… can't believe I created an ecosystem... twice, one normal and one magical,' he thought, walking through the forest toward Drasil.

He observed the creatures around him and released his magicules so that some of the predators wouldn't attack him. As he walked, he noticed that when he saw an animal, he instinctively knew what it was.

'Is it because of that new Common Skill... is that its ability?' James observed, paying attention to both the animals and his magicules. He realized that he was somehow passively maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.

'That is soooo cool!' he thought, excitement bubbling up inside him.

Walking further, James tested and confirmed the workings of his new Common Skill.

'It works passively,' he thought, still marveling at the new skill. Although he didn't fully understand its scope just yet, when he observed the creatures or environment, he instinctively knew what they were.

'I'll have to get used to information getting into my head... it's kinda like when you learn something, forget it because it's not that important, but then something triggers your memory, and you remember it. It kind of feels like that,' he noticed.

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Common Skill: Ecological Harmony

Effect: Allows the user to passively sense and maintain balance within an ecosystem. This skill provides basic insights into the health of the environment, including detecting overpopulation, resource shortages, or other imbalances.

Application:

Grants an intuitive understanding of environmental conditions and creature behavior within a small area.

Slightly improves natural harmony among flora and fauna in the user's domain.

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James reached Drasil at the forest's exit and went to check on the lizardmen and the three dwarves. They were confused about the animals that had now appeared in the Sovereign's Sanctuary. James explained and taught them about all the creatures. Thanks to his new Common Skill, it was incredibly easy for him to provide detailed explanations about the ecosystem.

Later, James arrived at the blacksmith's shop in Dwargon. The dwarven blacksmith had finished turning his ten magic ores into magisteel as he had requested. The blacksmith handed them over and asked James what he planned to do with them. James told him to make them into spherical-shaped orbs.

Now, with the ten orbs in his hands, he was ready to start his next plan: to create monster cores.

End of chap.