Suppressing the excitement surging in his chest, Sakeer shifted his focus to the ability panel in front of him:
[Ability Panel]
Innate Talent: [Player]
Overall Level: Lv. 1
Experience Bar: 0 / 100
Class:
Basic Class: Genius Lv. 1
Skill Points: 3
Passive Skill: Item Box
Active Skills: None
With the Genius class now active, his level had risen from 0 to 1. In doing so, he gained 3 skill points.
The realization struck him like lightning.
Just as he had suspected, his "Player" identity—this innate ability—differed even from the elite players of YGGDRASIL.
In the game, leveling up typically granted three skills from one's chosen class trees. A player reaching level 100 would have, on average, 300 skills.
Of course, outliers like the Overlord—who had amassed 718 skills—were rare exceptions. His unique ability, Dark Wisdom, allowed him to learn magic endlessly.
But…
"No skill list?" Sakeer frowned slightly, keeping his expression composed. "That's… not good."
Without a predefined list to choose from, leveling up alone wouldn't grant him new abilities. He would have to discover alternative ways to learn or unlock skills.
And just like that, his thoughts began to take shape—sharpening with clarity.
Crunch!
The sound of his teeth biting into a dense chunk of rye bread broke the silence. He devoured the hardened loaf in under half a minute.
Cough!
His throat tightened—it was easy to choke when scarfing down something that dry.
Picking up the black leather waterskin Nfirea had just handed him, Sakeer took a long gulp. A breath of relief escaped his lips as a satisfied expression crossed his face.
Had it been anyone else, he wouldn't have accepted the drink.
Rising to his feet, he fastened the waterskin to his belt, stepped into the flow of the bustling street, and began heading toward the capital's center, moving with the crowd. With so many eyes around, storing the flask in his Item Box was no longer a viable option.
"Since I'm already here, I might as well watch this legendary duel."
A flicker of anticipation lit up Sakeer's face.
Although the arrival of the Great Tomb was still over four years away, there was little time to waste. Still, he couldn't afford to charge ahead blindly. Sharpening the axe doesn't delay the work of chopping wood.
Though neither combatant had yet reached their peak, their current strength—likely both above level 20—already stood at the summit of human capability in this world. Observing their techniques could yield valuable insights.
Before acquiring the Genius class, Sakeer had been uncertain about his path. But now, he was beginning to see a clearer direction for his long-term development.
The duel between the Warrior Captain and the Blademaster would later be remembered as a historic clash—one that the kingdom's top warriors would speak of for generations.
Even now, both Gazef and Brain were famed prodigies in their own right.
If Sakeer remembered correctly, Brain also possessed the "Fighter (Genius)" talent.
All around him, people buzzed with excitement, engaged in lively debates over who would claim victory.
Sakeer's eyes gleamed.
While the crowd could only guess, he already knew the outcome.
With the capital in such a frenzy, there was bound to be some form of gambling. If he bet on Gazef—despite the low odds—he could still walk away with a decent profit.
Right now, he was nearly broke. Every meal and night of lodging chipped away at his limited funds.
With that thought, he approached a young man clad in light leather armor—clearly an adventurer.
"Excuse me. Do you know where I can find the nearest gambling venue?" Sakeer asked calmly.
From experience, he knew that in lively settings like this, getting straight to the point worked best. Excessive politeness only led to impatience.
The adventurer blinked at the question, then turned toward him with a surprised expression. After giving Sakeer a once-over, his gaze narrowed with a trace of disdain.
"A foreigner?"
Sakeer, dressed in dark-gray travel wear with a short sword at his hip and the waterskin at his side, might have passed for a local—if not for his distinct facial features and short black hair.
"Yes, I arrived just yesterday," he replied, unbothered by the tone.
"Hmph, figured as much." The young man scoffed. "There's no gambling here."
"No gambling?" Sakeer echoed, visibly surprised.
An event this massive, drawing crowds from across the kingdom, seemed like the perfect opportunity for bookmakers—especially given the greed of the nobility.
"That's thanks to Princess Renner's foresight."
Noticing Sakeer's confusion, the young man's tone shifted—his voice now tinged with reverence.
"Even if you're a foreigner, surely you've heard of Princess Renner? She's the Jewel of the Kingdom—her brilliance shines like a gemstone!"
"At the start of the Imperial Trials, she proposed a ban on gambling during events representing the kingdom's dignity. Said it was an insult to the nation's honor and disrespectful to the warriors."
"Some nobles pushed back, but the king accepted her proposal in the end."
"Princess Renner's foresight and compassion are unparalleled..."
As the young man gushed with admiration, Sakeer took a silent step back, face unreadable, before quietly slipping back into the crowd.
Now, he understood the situation more clearly.
Princess Renner...
Recalling the adventurer's near-fanatical praise, Sakeer felt an odd mix of amusement and irony. The Golden Princess's public image was clearly spotless.
But banning gambling?
Sakeer doubted it would stop entirely. The proposal may have curbed public venues, but behind closed doors, the nobility would undoubtedly keep the games going. Unfortunately, someone like him wouldn't have access to those underground circles.
So much for a quick profit.
"Kind and gentle? Using those words to describe her is..." Sakeer trailed off with a slight shake of his head.
To the public, Princess Renner appeared the epitome of virtue—pure-hearted, selfless, and devoted to her nation and its people. A golden symbol of nobility.
In truth, she was a monster whose mind operated far beyond the bounds of normal human reasoning.
Even Albedo once called her a "psychological deviant."
The Bloody Emperor himself considered her the most detestable woman in the world.
Even the ancient Queen of the Dragon Kingdom—who'd lived for centuries and took amusement in posing as a loli—only ranked second in his eyes.
(End of Chapter)