Entropy's Servant

Chapter 28 - Unique skills

Hello everyone, Astaroth here.
Even in this other world, 'talent' still tends to be a determining factor, just like on earth.
For some people, though, it's even more of a factor than usual, in the form of unique skills--skills you're born with, rather than that you gain, which only one person in the world can have at any given time. It's incredibly lucky to be born with one, let alone multiple.
Well, even the greatest amount of talent can be overcome by a lucky encounter like mine with Lady Entropy.

I let out a sigh in my heart.

"Rest assured for now", I said to the children, "I do not have the hobby of eating or ravaging children. At worst, you'll be servants." Even I had a hard time identifying the emotions on the children's faces.

"Oh my? I'd have expected you'd bully them a little more, Milord", Charlotte said, a sly smile on her face.

"I do not have the hobby of bullying children, either, Charlotte", I responded.

I noticed the Imp timidly raise its hand.

"Speak", I said, turning my attention to it.

"Uh... May I... Lord Astaroth, I have delivered your sacrifices, so may I leave now?", it asked.

I chuckled and pointed at one of the Ghost Maids in the room. "You. Reward it with a magic tool from the treasury of normal-grade and show it to the door", I said. The maid bowed and left, the Imp in tow. "And you", I said, addressing another of the Ghost Maids. "Get us some tea."

"Then", I said, leaning back into one of the couches in the drawing room and pointing at the girl, "you're Asami, and", I shifted as I pointed at the boy, "you're Nexu. Correct?"

Both children nodded in response to my question.

"And in summary", I proceeded as I sipped my tea, "your village figured I was going to go on a rampage in the area directly around the demon country, and sent you two as sacrifices so I wouldn't destroy your village in the process."

Both children nodded again.

"Then, let me confirm something", I said as I put down my tea. "This village of yours--Dusthill, was it?--which Goddess does it worship?"

Asami tilted her head in what I took as puzzled silence while Nexu timidly raised his hand.

"Speak", I said.

"There's... no real rule, but most people worship either Lady Salamander or Lady Sylph. There's a few people who worship Lady Entropy, too."

"In that case, there is absolutely no reason for me to destroy your village."

The shock-filled look of both children was quite a sight to behold.

"My only enemy is Lady Luciel--the puppetmaster who controls the Heroes."

"Then, does that mean...?", Nexu asked, his eyes filled with hope, and I almost felt kind of bad.

"No", I said regardless, "a gift is a gift. Besides, if what the letter says is true, you'll be very useful."

Although Nexu looked downhearted, I thought I saw a glimmer of happiness in Asami's lifeless eyes.

Ignoring the hypothetical feelings, I used [Appraisal] on both of them, one by one.

[Name: Asami.
Sex: Female.
Race: Beast-person (Sheep-Ram hybrid).
Class: Sacrifice.
Skills:

[Sacrifice]-skills
[Sacrifice] [Non-dangerous Presence]
[Sacrifice]: If you have a pure desire to offer yourself to a being more powerful than yourself, unless this being has a strong mental resistance, they will subconsciously increase their evaluation of you. Additionally, it is easier to perform tasks you feel are necessary for the sake of this being and tasks the being requests of you.
[Non-dangerous Presence]: On a journey to a powerful being, as long as your aim is purely to please this powerful being, others will be unlikely to consider you a threat or obstruct your journey.