Sousetsuka

294 Recklessness Against Violence

"Uwoo! Man, I can't remember ever seeing a lake this big! Just wow."

The lake is almost a sea on its own. I couldn't hide my joy at this.
I mean after so much forest and more forest on our way here, this change is a welcome surprise.

"Oy oy, who coulda foreseen we'd hit this unbelievable roadblock after coming this far..."
"I do not see how we can proceed further without proper preparations."
"How are we even supposed to go around the bank when it's this big!? Like for real!?"
"Yeah we gotta turn back here. There's no other way."
"Bringing back this information alone should suffice for this expedition. Let's take another break here and return..."

Something flashily showed out of the water surface before Firuna could finish.

"KISHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Letting out that weird noise while breaching the water surface was a, sea serpent, I guess? It looked like a giant snake.

(This thing looks exactly like Salamander Snake.)

I was getting excited alone inwardly, while White Fang members turned dead pale.
Naturally. A gigantic snake has just come out of the water body 30 meters away from us, even the body that's above water is around ten meter long.
The body's diameter seems to be around two meter thick. That alone makes it clear that this is out of ordinary.

"The heck this monster's sprung out from!?"
"Guys, ready to fall back?"
"Hey!? That monster is going to shoot out magic!? I can sense it collecting mana!?"
"Oy! Mary, barrier! Quickly! Snap outta it!"
"Calm down guys! We're retreating once we stave off this attack!"

The serpent opened its mouth wide and produced a water sphere inside. The sphere is gradually getting bigger to match the serpent's gigantic size.

"O slumbering mother earth. Embrace and protect us in your bosom. 『Embracing Great Wall』!"

A bulky earth wall rose up in front of White Fang party.

"Get behind me quick! I've made the wall slanted so it should do well enough against impact from that thing! Figured a direct hit wouldn't last but how about this!?"

Mary's thinking is logical in a way. But only if the 'Water Sphere' is on the same level of her 'Barrier'.
I'm guessing the wall won't be able to endure the brunt of the incoming impact. How so, you ask?
Because the water sphere is obviously much bigger.

"Hey you!? Hide behind the wall too, quick!"
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
Mary was worried about me which I brushed off.
There's something I'd like to test out as I attempt to slice that thing.

"There's no way for our attacks to reach that! Give it up! How long are you planning to stay there!?"

Kidd spoke too, but our fate was sealed the moment that serpent showed up. Defeating it is our only way out of this crisis.
Thus I replied.

"This whole place is gonna get blown up if that thing shoots that out. None of you would survive. Then what other choice do we have than to demolish it?"

I got into Acceleration afterward.

＝＝＝　　＝＝＝　　＝＝＝

(Now then, the serpent's stopped moving cause I entered Accelerated state just before it could shoot...)

I stare at the water surface, from the shoreline to the snake.

(Now to see if I can run on the water surface in this state.)

Yep, this is a perfect chance to test that out.

(At worst, I'd sink on the first step, just mean I gotta swim the rest of the way.)

I never would have imagined that I'd now get to test the dumb idea of taking another step before your foot would fully sink in and see if it'd work.

(Let's see how will physics and law of nature rear their heads here...)

Regardless of success or failure, this is a good chance to test the limit of this 'power'.
I get away from the shoreline to prepare a running start just in case it works though.

(Imagine running like Ara*e from Dr. Slump. Guess I gotta assume I'd submerge if I stop?)

I calmly take a start inside my mind. A first step for mankind.

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293 Enemy Immediate Kill

Afterward, every enemy we ran into immediately found itself dead. Search and destroy.
Ten goblins, eight orcs, five Purple Eaters, three elephant-like monsters, and two Archaeopteryx-like monsters. All got cut in two in a quick succession.
Eh? Battle scenes? There's none of that. I'd instantaneously got close and cut one every time Melgis gave his warning. That's all.
Well, the Archaeopteryx-like monsters came dive bombing from the sky so I had to counter attack those two. But it was no biggie, a single stroke of my blade and that was it. Almost to the point of me going to mutter, "I cut another banal object..."
We've been smoothly advancing through floor three from our last camp site. They've got a mark on where the stairway is, so we're heading straight to it without any detour. I'm in perfect form thanks to the beauty sleep.
Despite having covered quite a distance, we still can't find anything else besides the ever sprawling vast forest.

"Mary, have you caught anything with mana search?"
"No~thing~ at all~. The entire area's chock-full of monsters. And yet I just don't sense anything else."
"We have suffered zero damage despite such a high encounter rate... Bringing him along was truly the correct choice."
"That's good and all, but sure we gonna keep going? Shouldn't we go back for the time being and sort out all the info we've got?"
"Indeed, returning to the surface might be wise if we still don't find anything after a bit. This floor is too vast. We are ill prepared to continue this expedition."

This floor three is about as big as Hokkaido, a fact that still eludes us all including me presently.
That kind of size easily outstrips what a single human could imagine. However, we couldn't afford to figure that out at this point of time.
First of all, all the tree branches limit our views.
Using Mary's special technique, spreading her mana over an area is like trying to scoop a spoonful of water from a lake.
And the frequent monster encounters also hinders our ability to size up this floor.

By the way, the reason why no monster came to our camp site was due to it being in the zone that belonged to the wolf monsters we came across to early on, neither me nor 'White Fang' were aware of that.

An ogre showed up next. Only one too. Like it's been waiting for us.
Apparently, 'Ogre' is akin to 'Oni' in this world.

"Dammit! Are you for real, an ogre!? We're retreating Danku! Hey you too!"

Kidd said that just as I entered Accelerated state.
Conquering this dungeon asap has fully occupied my mind.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
This ogre looks exactly like the oni depicted in Japan. It's about two and a half meter tall.
There's nothing especially of note about it. To me, it looks all too familiar.

(It's just a big sized human at the end of the day. A single slash takes care of it.)

I swung my sword at the ogre and went back to 'White Fang'. Undoing Acceleration after I got back to my previous spot.
The reason why I didn't undo it in front of the ogre is simply for appearance's sake, so they feel like we're all conquering this dungeon together.
No matter even if that intention falls flat.

'Not again...', someone muttered that as they all had dead fish eyes when they witnessed the ogre got split in two and fell down.
I bet 'White Fang' party would be a master of putting no expression by the end of of this expedition.
At this rate, me looking for the stairway myself would be faster than letting Melgis lead the way, but just as that thought crossed my mind, the scenery ahead suddenly opened up.

There, a lake so huge you couldn't even make out the opposite shoreline came into sight.

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292 Resting is Important

I swiftly started making preparations for meal. Produced a tent, a table, chairs, pre-seasoned ingredients into the pot on a portable stove.
I also took some pre-made food and heated it up

I had this all cooked in the kitchen at the inn I stayed in the capital while White Fang was busy having their meeting yesterday.

"Ah, gotta take out the portable toilet too."

Apparently there are stores that specialize in selling necessities for adventurers, and some of White Fang luggage from such stores is inside my magic bag.
I was surprised to find portable toilet among those tools.

(Must be another handiwork of god. I'm just happy it's handy for once.)

Didn't think I'd come across god-related stuff here of all place, but I gotta thank this one for convenience's sake.

I took care of preparing everything and our campground was set up in no time.

"Hey guys? We're inside a dungeon, aren't we?"
"I can attest that we didn't come here to have a picnic at least."
"Um no, you don't see food this fancy even in an ordinary picnic..."
"Anything goes with you huh? Cooking in a dangerous zone like this... Can't deny they look good tho'..."
"You had the food prepared to be cooked right away before putting it into the magic bag... How did I never think that."

Can't tell if they're praising or dissing me. Weird.

Thus I finished making simple soup, bread, salad as well as magic beast steak.

"What a luxurious meal..."
"Having this inside a dungeon..."
"It looks so good, I can't..."
"No comment from me..."
"Such rich flavor... You can't find this outside famous restaurants..."

Mary's fervor diminished once we had the good meal.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
(Humans can't fight on an empty stomach after all. Guess their irritation and anxiety abated a bit now?)

It's not like I'm chaperoning White Fang. I simply did it for my sake, so I could have a quality rest after this.
My inner clock is telling me to sleep.
Time to tell them straight.

"Sorry, I'll leave nightwatch to you guys. I'm going to bed now. You guys decide on departure time. G'night."

I took two personal tents out my bag. One for me alone, and the other for 'White Fang'.
It's a big tent so they can take it easy inside, also by lending them one, I can avoid having to stand watch.

I lay down and fell into slumber right away.

Morning after, or so I guess? There's no night inside a dungeon so the brightness here never changes.

"Morning... fua~. So sleepy..."

I greeted Kidd. It's not like I dislike this 'White Fang' party.

"Ah, managed to get a good rest? The rest of us should be up in a bit. That'll be our cue to depart."

Hearing that, I started preparing breakfast.
I'd put quite a lot of foodstuff inside my magic bag. I served a huge platter-ful of stir fried vegetables enough for us all.
Kidd looked like he couldn't believe it. Weird.

They all woke up by the time breakfast was ready.
And stopped moving once they saw the vegetable platter on the table.

"Breakfast too huh..."
"How can you be so relaxed..."
"We got to eat good food in a dungeon. You won't hear me complaining."
"I have a feeling everything will be fine, come what may."

Seems Melgis has accepted this reality. Firuna is looking long term.

We finished breakfast without a word. I handed out water and cloths for wiping to all of them meanwhile.

"What's with all this...? How are you so thoughtful... Oh, forget it..."

I disregarded Mary who seemed like she'd given up.
Afterward, I brushed my teeth, did my business and wiped my body into a refreshing me.

"Come on, let's do this! I'm so done with this crap, let's crush this dungeon today! Yup, I'm gonna tear a new one!"

They all looked at the pepped up me with a, 'Oy, was he that kind of character?' look in their eyes. Weird.

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Celebration Party, Formed Party

The stampede combat is over.
The guild's staff members are in charge of cleaning up the monsters' bodies and collecting materials, rewards will be distributed after confirming Kill Logs later.
People who have defeated magic beasts carrying powerful equipment can take them with them right away. Some people got into scuffles over who defeated which monsters but in most cases, the ones delivering the killing blows had the right of ownership so disputes didn't last long.
Can't believe they still had energy to fight after all that. Some lively bunch for sure.

I went straight to the guild office before I got dragged into the post-battle mess.
Then I returned the rental items and went back to my inn.
There's going to be a celebration party sponsored by the guild tonight. I'm not going, I mean I technically didn't participate in the battle.
I could join as a 'Soarer', but I can just imagine getting swarmed with questions, so no thank you.
Have got guildmast's permission and all already anyway, I'd rather eat and go to bed.
I went in the kitchen to prepare for dinner and sat down to catch my breath.


"Aah, I'm beat..."

"Good work, Hikaru."

"Nuoou!? O-oh it's you Alma, when'd you get so close?"


It's a bit scary how this girl occasionally creeps on me without me realizing.
She doesn't have any ill intent, but man does it feel like a jump scare.


"Sorry for startling you. I went back ahead of time knowing you'd have gone back by now."

"Ah, really... I'm just glad we both made it out alive. Good work, Alma."

"Un."


I sure don't want to join another battle of that scale ever again.
Then there's Alma's parents who proactively jump in such battles all the time, they must be superhuman.


"Alma, aren't you going to the celebration party?"

"I'm not. After the battle, many people came to me asking about magic swords or inviting me to join their party, it was more tiring than the fight. I honestly don't want to be there anymore."

"O-Oh yeah... You got invited? And your response?"

"I declined them all. They kept mentioning my magic swords, or me being mom and dad's daughter, they didn't even look at me. Most were the people who kicked me out of their party when they found out I was an Apprentice Paladin back then too."


...Is she angry?
Her face remains expressionless but her words sound kinda prickly.


"Then when they started getting pushy saying it would be a waste and I'd hit a limit if I stayed alone, Fifraila got mad and shooed them away."

"Fifraila? That name kinda sounds familiar... Ah, eh? Was it the red haired girl from that three girl party?"


I seem to recall that was her name when I peeked at adventurers' statuses.
Eh, that girl covered Alma?


"Fifraila also asked me to join them after she did that."

"So she shooed those people because she wanted to monopolize you."

"But she was the only person who kept inviting me back then unlike other. I think she's not like them. She can be a bit of a bully, but she's actually really kind."


Ah, a tsundere huh.


"So, what's up? Did you join their party?"

"I didn't."

"Eh, why?"

"...."

"...Alma?"


She quietly murmured after falling silent.


"...I, I... Want to form a party with you, Hikaru."


E, eeeh?


"Fifraila's party is woman-only, so Hikaru can't join. That's not good."

"...Eh? Y-you couldn't get in a party because of me?"

"That's not it!"


She suddenly raised her voice, unusually for her.
She looks at me with a serious expression and a reddened face.


"I didn't have much fun before I met Hikaru. I couldn't get anything done. People kept saying my Job was a failed Job, it made me feel inferior. I kept trying my hardest to no avail, so I, I ended up thinking I was a failure."


She continued while looking downcast.


"But every day has become fun ever since I met Hikaru. Meals taste good. Learning doesn't feel suffocating. It's fun even, I get so much into it."

"R-really?"

"Hikaru, will you, form a party, with me...?"


She asked with teary eyes.
Oof, that's some destructive power.


"Please, Hikaru you've given me so much I can't even begin to give back. I want to repay you as much as I could from now on... Or, am I a bother?"

"Not at all. In fact, I'm the one getting helped all the time. I'm not sure if I'd only drag you down too."

"That's absolutely not true... Then it's fine, right?"

"Y-yeah... I know it's late and all, Alma, wanna form a party with me?"

"U-un!"


She looked at me with a blossoming smile she never showed before.
Guhaa! W-what power! Oh crap, she's seriously cute.
Dunno if I could keep my conscience... but I might end up like that goblin and Werewolf if I don't keep it together. Gotta throw away evil thoughts.


"Err, well then, let's get along from now on too, Alma."

"Likewise, thank you."


Umu, to be frank, I didn't expect her to depend on me this much.
Trying my hardest to no avail was something people often told me on earth.
Well, I worked to my bone due to that and managed to secure my place, but I was someone whose existence made no difference whatsoever.
Yet Alma thinks that I need to be around huh.
...Oh crap, that's the first time anyone told me that. I dunno what to feel, like a mix of happiness and anxiety.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >

Guuu~...


A stomach rumbling resounded in the room as my mind descended into chaos.
Destroying the atmosphere.


"...I'm sorry, of all time."

"...Fufu..."


Ah, she laughed again.
Thinking back, today might be the first time I ever saw Alma's smile.
She's usually expressionless after all. Yet she still looks cute, kinda unfair.


"Now then, let's go with extravagant Katsudon for dinner!"

"Katsu-don?"

"You fry meat like with karaage then put it on top of arorice. The name sounds like katsu (win), and you're supposed to eat one before a match, so it's the other way around this time."

"Then it would be katta(won)-don?"

"No no, it's still katsudon. Doesn't matter if you eat it before or after a match. The results don't change the name."


Never heard kattadon before. Sure sounds like something the mascot of a rhythm game would say.
Now then, time to make meals for two-


BAM!


"ALMACHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!"
"MY DAUGHTER ARE YOU WELLLLLLLL!!"


Correction. Meals for four.

Alma's parent could be heard shouting out loud after a loud sound of the door getting flung open.
No no, didn't you two play important roles this time. You should be in the party, hey.


"...Hikaru, do you have enough?"

"Well, I'll manage..."


"Ah! I knew you'd be in the kitchen! I sensed your presence here!"

"Oh! Hikaru-kun, glad to see you're safe too!"


They went straight to the kitchen. Wait, they could tell through presence?! Scary!
And forget a wound, their clothes look barely disordered. Must have been an easy victory as expected.
...Wish at least one of them could stay behind and deal with the mob...


"Good work, you both."

"Good work out there. Err, is it fine for you two to not attend the celebration party?"

"Our celebration party is wherever Alma-chan is."

"I don't dislike some good ol' get together with other adventurers. But not today. We've left all the bothersome stuff to guildmaster, no worries."


I see nothing but worries!
I'm gonna pray for guildmast's gastrointestinal health.


"Err, I'm about to make dinner now, would you like-."

""Yes! Make ours too!""

"O-okay."


They're super enthusiastic. Well, they ate up the karaage back then, so they should like this one too.
Now then, time to start cooking.
Ah, it finally feels like I'm back to my daily life.

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291 Glared At

"Let's take a break. Quite some time has passed since we entered this dungeon. We need to catch our breath."

Our sense of time has gone haywire since this floor is bright even though we first stepped inside the dungeon in the evening.
Kidd took a pocket watch-like thing from his bosom pocket and checked on it.
Mary who had been snarling at me quieted down after Firuna gave this suggestion.
Understandable. You can tell she was emphasizing on 'calm down' in her serene and sonorous voice.

"Yeah it's way past dinner time. So, should we set up camp here? Or should we make do with rations and go back outside for now?"

Kidd asked. Melgis responded.

"Best to retreat for now. We've got a new intel about this floor. Should fetch a good price. Should be plenty of chance to resume this expedition in the future."

Looks like Melgis is the type who prioritizes safety first. No wonder he's tasked with sensing danger.
However, Firuna is against that.

"We ought to map at least 60% of this floor first. Otherwise the intel can't possibly worth much. Like what we have now."

"Yeah. There's the thing about floor two too. We've got to keep going."

Danku agreed with Firuna. Kidd followed up.

"Yeah, we've only come across one type of monster that spawns on this floor. Not to mention we know absolutely nothing about their attack patterns or their traits. Even if we had fought and got the intel on all that, it'd still be too early to go back."

Once it was clear that we were gonna camp out, Mary spoke out.

"I've got lots of stuff I wanna ask you! Tell me! Just what is that magic you've been using!? I just have to know no matter what!"
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
A passionate love call directed at me. Pertaining 'magic' at that.

(I haven't shown them my black hair and eyes after all. This woman seems like an avid researcher of magic, she surely knows about 'Manaless' and 'Blessless' stuff.)

Naturally I don't have mana. No mana, no magic.
Once in the past, I tried producing a flame on the tip of my finger like my mother showed me once.
The result was 'impossible'. I simply don't have the disposition to cast magic.
No matter how strongly I made the image in my mind, or how straining I groaned, I just wasn't capable of casting the simplest form of magic, 'Fire'. I found out the hard way.

That fact would likely come as an unnecessary shock to her if I told her now.
They've also agreed not to inquire. I don't need to respond here.

"Make me think you're 'worthy of trust' first if you want me talk about myself."

"Mary, restrain yourself. We're inside a dungeon remember? Your flippant behavior will only bring us danger. Get a grip."

Firuna glared hard at Mary. Mary immediately quieted down.
Not only Mary, even Kidd, Melgis and Danku flinched a bit.
Firuna must be pretty scary when angered.
I spoke out my mind here in order to shift the mood.

"Now then, what are you guys gonna do? Set up camp, go back, or keep going? Or maybe you're going to quit investigating this floor? I'm personally just about done with all this crap, I'm gonna head straight to this dungeon master and take it out after taking a break."

At this, all members of 'White Fang' glared at me with a bitter look on their face.

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Stampede (4) ~End of Fight~

The Werewolf is trembling while crouching and holding the kicked part.
Um well, I suppose everybody can empathize with that pain. Or more like cries of pain?
I mean, when did she even get behind the Werewolf anyway.

BOOSH, Alma's sword was clad in a blue flame along with that sound.
She swung it down at the Werewolf's head who perceived the crisis and barely dodged it by rolling away.
Managing to move in that state huh... This guy's got some guts himself.


"Aren't you that Apprentice Paladin... What is that sword!?"


Rasfin looked surprised as she stared at Alma's Burner Blade.


"I'm no longer an Apprentice. More importantly, we need to defeat that."

"Y-yeah... What's your level?"

"I leveled up once to 11 after defeating a few magic beasts earlier."


Come to think of it, I seem to recall several Bladewings crashing down after eating the Spark Wolf Horn's blinding light, maybe Alma beat them?
She must have gained exp from those and then killed a few more mob to level up and refill her MP.


"That's not quite enough to go up against that thing... Let me handle this, you get back, guh...!?"


Rasfin fell on her knee before she could finish.
Looks like she's starting to lose motor functions due to running dangerously low on MP and SP.


"You can't possibly fight in that state. I will defeat that."

"B-but..."


I felt the Werewolf converging mana in its mouth while the two were talking.
That's a sign of 'Berserk Howling' activation huh.
Looking again, the surrounding magic beasts have had their Berserk state undone.
Either it had a time limit or that ball kick earlier prompted their sanity back...


"I won't let you."

『Uuou..!?』

"W-what's up with that speed!?"


Flame disappeared from Alma's blade, then right afterward she closed in and slashed at the Werewolf at tremendous speed just as it was about to howl.
Fast!? What the heck is that, her speed rivals my maximum flying speed!
...Hm? I can feel some sort of mana flow on Alma's blade. Is that the source?


<<Magic Sword Lv2 Ability 'Tempest Blade':  Enshrouds sword in wind element as well as grants half of INT to AGI and increases ATK and INT by 10%. 『Addendum: By controlling mana directly, one can consume MP to further increases speed and power.』≫


Another magic sword huh.
I can't really tell the difference in appearance because it's wind element, it's clear that it's enabled her to move at a much faster speed than ordinary however.
She can deal with the Werewolf's speed if it's with that.

Also since Berserk Howling got interrupted, the rest of magic beasts remained in their normal states.
It's the time to clean them all up!


"Those magic beasts are no longer under Berserk state! Now's our chance to get rid of them once and for all!"


I shouted at the adventurers below.
No telling when that wolf's gonna howl out again, no better time than now.

That seemed to had an effect as the tide is gradually turning on adventurers' side.
The number of magic beasts is decreasing over time.
We just gotta take care of the Werewolf now.


『GURUAAAAAA!!』

"Fuh! Haaa!"


That Werewolf in question is currently exchanging blows with Alma.
Despite the huge gulf in levels, they're having an equal match.

But time is not in Alma's favor.
Alma's MP is decreasing fast from her usage of magic swords.
Even though she's got the speed, her strength remains the same thus she's unable to deal the finishing blow.
I should help her, but how, my stats can't...


(I can at least act as her shield!)


Almost felt like Bared's word resounded in my head.
A shield, huh.

Can't be helped, I'll show my guts too!


FWOSH, I flew at high speed and wedged myself between Alma and the Werewolf.


『Gugaau!?』

"Hi-Hika-"
"It's Soarer."


I corrected Alma as she was about to say my name. That was close.


『Gyaguwuaaaaa!!』


The Werewolf looked surprised for a moment before immediately swinging its claws with both its arms at me.

*Grab, grab* I caught and held down those arms.


『Guruaaaaaa!?』


I've wrapped my arms in mana cushion so I'm getting zero damage.
Who knew the failed product of mana blade practice would prove useful here.

<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
『Gururu....!! Gwu...!?』


When the Werewolf noticed its claws couldn't reach me, it shifted into trying to shove me away with brute strength, but it's useless.
It would have easily done that if I relied on my strength alone however, by controlling the mana I wrapped around my arm, my strength has been reinforced like it's some sort of powered suit you see in SF.
I don't have much MP left to lift this wolf off ground and drop it down, but stopping it on its track for a bit is no problem.
Now then, you can't move like this, can you?


"Now, go!"

"! ...HAAA!"


She activated Burner Blade once again, a blue, nay, a white flame powered up by mana control jetted out of her sword.
She thrust that white blade through the Werewolf's still body.


『GUUUUUGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!』


Bubbling blood dripped down the wound.
Reddened tears and drools also seeped out of its eyes and mouth. It's pretty gruesome looking at them up close like this. Blech.
I can tell its strength gradually loosening up from my grip. Yet it kept glaring hard at me. Ah, yup, you did your best.
But it's time to rest. Die.


『Gu...gafu...kwuuu...』


And as Werewolf's displayed status turned from blue to red, its body fell down listlessly, it's dead.


"D-did you kill it...!?"


Rasfin murmured anxiously.
Ah stop that, you're gonna set up a flag. It is dead though.


"Yeah, it's down for good."

"...Sorry, you're lifesavers. I shudder to think what'd happen without you two."

"That is our line. There would have been more victims if not for you and that spearsman holding this Werewolf back."

"You said it. Ah, Bared's fine, he's alive. He came to after I got him drink a potion, guy was even raring to rush back here. I stopped him though, wasn't healed yet."

"I see... Thank you."

"Now then, time to take care of the mob."


I felt my MP fully restored after defeating the Werewolf.
Another level up huh. Guess I got some exp from healing Bared and pining down the Werewolf.
As I was thinking that, Menu display suddenly showed up in front of my eyes. Please stop doing this, it's bad for my heart.
Hm?


<<Level has reached a certain point confirmed. Starting Menu Function Update.>>


Wha? What's going on?


<<Update complete. [Item Screen] function has been added.>>

<<[Item Screen]: Unlocked upon reaching Base Level 10, a function to freely put away and take out one's property. Store-able items are limited to inorganic materials Kajikawa Hikaru can lift. Stored items are unaffected by passage of time. There is almost no limit to quantity of store-able items.>>


Eh, ah, what?
Item Screen? Unlimited quantity?
It's all so sudden I'm still processing it all, but in short it's kinda like Item Box or Inventory, and I can use it now?


<<Affirmative.>>


....
Wish I had this function sooner.
Could have stored random roadside stones and rocks, and carpet bombed the heck outta those beasts, this stampede would've been a cinch.
Well, I'm just glad it seems super handy. But, you know.
Well whatever. I'll make good use of this in the future.


Ah, right. Might as well check my status out.
Would love to see how much my attributes increased.
Status Open.



Kajikawa Hikaru

Lv10

Age: 25

Race: Man

Job: ERROR (Appraisal not possible)

State: Normal


【Attributes】
HP: 100/100
MP: 69/69
SP: 0/30

STR: 56
ATK: 56 (+30)
DEF: 56 (+5) (+20) (+15)
AGI: 55 (+30)
INT: 57
DEX: 58
PER: 64
RES: 54
LUK: 54

【Skill】

※Acquisition Not Possible※


EXP: 2078
NEXT: 2500


Equipment

Iron Sword
ＡＴＫ+３０

Mask of Bewitchment
ＤＥＦ+５

Arrow Ward Overcoat
ＤＥＦ+２０

Gale Boots
ＤＥＦ+１５　ＡＧＩ+３０



Uwoo, lots went up lots.
Even then the initial numbers were so low, going up lots just means I'm now about equal a goblin stat-wise.

Fumu, looking at the increases of RES and LUC attributes which I haven't trained at all, it does appear that my attributes increase by the same amount as my level.
The sum total of 1-10 is 55, since my stats were 0 at Lv1, you get 54 subtracting that by 1. It's definitely that.
Dunno if I'm just imagining things, my body kinda feels lighter than before the eve of battle. Might just be my mind playing trick.

Welp, done with checking my stats, time to get rid of the remaining mob.


The throwaway match continued for a few dozens more minutes before all the magic beasts were decimated.

There were several people who got gravely injured by the Werewolf but thanks to the plentiful stock of recovery potions, they were all promptly healed resulting in zero casualty. A miraculous end game.
Neia-san, your effort of appraising herbs with blood and tears has borne fruit here. Please keep at it from now on.
Ah, felt like I heard Neia-san's scream just now, must be just me.

Almost at the same time we cleared up the mob, the dark cloud hanging above magic beast forest dispersed away.
Looks like they've taken care of the boss over there as well.
So we got over Stampede safely and got lots of bonuses. Uhahaha. I can't stop laughing.
We're gonna party hard tonight... Ah, I'm too tired for a drinking party, guess not.

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290 Gap

We've run into wolves. They have around five to six thorns growing out their backs.

"Here they come... eight ahead, two behind... oh crap. We're surrounded..."

Melgis whispered the situation. Seems like these wolf thingies had been targeting us since awhile ago.
They're gradually closing in on us in an encirclement. These monsters are better than us at scouting it seems.

"We gotta take care of the rear ones first... No, we don't have enough men. Don't look like they're gonna let us go either..."

Kidd gave his opinion, half given up. Firuna replied.

"We cannot avoid getting injured as it stands. I would have liked to preserve my mana for healing...."

I wonder why? I really don't get it.

"I'll ward off the ones coming frontally. Melgis, take care of the escapees."

"Got it. I can handle stopping them at least."

The two are getting heated up on their own. Not to forget the most dangerous person here.

"You guys buy me time, I'll erase them with my magic~. Never seen these monsters before, but my magic's still gonna blow 'em all away no problem!"

Mary held out what looked like a cane to set up her magic.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
(Why do these guys always forget about me? Is my power so unreliable in their eyes?)

That wasn't the reason which I only found out later. Everybody possesses mana no matter how little and during battle you can sense it or something. Apparently it's an indispensable technique all adventurers have to learn.
And I don't have mana. Thus, the moment they switch to high gear, they lose sight of my existence.
As I was still not aware of such thing at this point of time, I thought I was being shunned or something.

But that wasn't it. Thanks to that, I'm also late at reacting to the situation.
Firuna was the one who noticed it first. She calmly realized my presence and asked for my help.

"I beg my pardon. Is it possible for you to get us all out of this trouble?"

After hearing her, I drew my katana.
The other members finally noticed me as well and turned their sight here, yet they looked doubtful when they saw me just standing still.

"How are you so relaxed?"
"Ah hey! Are you going to steal my spotlight again!?"
"Can we leave this to you?"
"Ha~, why the hell did I forget you... I'm sure this is nothing for someone who demolished those orcs..."

Mary was being competitive for spotlight for some reason. While Melgis sounded tired.
Kidd looked so stiff I wondered if he could even fight like that. Well guy must be anxious, Mary did mention they never saw this monster before and all.
Danku had his shield up while looking at me with a complicated expression.

I remained silent. Rather than using words, showing them that these monsters are no threat is faster.

I got into Accelerated state. Sliding my katana on each and every wolves.
These things are dungeon monsters, no chance of grotesque scenes getting produced. Hence I'm cutting them worry free.

(I ain't gonna hold back using this 'power' in this dungeon thanks to that fact...)

And once I eliminated the eight wolves ahead and two behind us, I undid Acceleration.
And then, 'Chin!', I made sure to make the katana sheathing sound. Yep, the only reason I keep doing this is simply because it's cool.

(My chuni-ness... is surfacing after getting this katana...)

White Fang turned around toward that sound.
The wolves had been cut in two and vanished into blue particles of light by then.

All members of 'White Fang' stared in wonder while remaining silent. Mary alone started to quiver before suddenly yelling out loud.

"Hey you! Give it a rest already! Just how did you kill all those monsters from so far away instantly like that!? And all at once!? Tell me! The principle behind that magic!? No! What kind of magic is that even!?"

Looks like this Mary woman is a 'Magic Nerd' as befitting of her ridiculous personality.

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