――――――――――
Race level increased. Gained 1 SP.
Job level increased. Gained 1 SP.
The level of [Tail Strike] skill has increased.
Newly learned the martial techniques “Bite Tail” and “Slash Tail” of [Tail Strike].
The level of [Staff Mastery] skill has increased.
The level of [Scythe Mastery] skill has increased.
Newly learned the martial technique “Grain Harvest” of [Scythe Mastery].
The level of [Intelligence Enhancement] skill has increased.
The level of [Spirit Enhancement] skill has increased.
The level of [Advanced Magic Control] skill has increased.
The level of [Witchcraft] skill has increased.
Newly learned “True Death” spell.
The level of [Linguistics] skill has increased.
The race level of your familiar has increased.
The job level of your familiar has increased.
――――――――――
Over the span of several days, we had been exploring the area around the riverbank. We engaged in various battles, catching fish, hunting down crabs and shrimp that appeared along the riverbed, and pursuing beasts in the grasslands beyond the banks.
The lowest level among them was an astonishing 70. It seemed that on this continent, creatures of level 70 were considered mere fodder. It was truly a Shura-like continent.
However, due to the high levels of our enemies, our own levels soared as well. I was surprised that Karl’s level had increased, let alone mine. Knowing from experience that Karl, being a dragon, required a vast amount of experience points to level up, it became clear that this was an excellent hunting ground for everyone.
That said, it wasn’t as if the monsters here were weak. Among them were the Elderwise Fish and the physically aggressive Elder Warfish, which inhabited various parts of the river. The Great Rock Crab on the riverbank and the Crystal Armor Shrimp which specialized in defense took an excessive amount of time to defeat.
The grasslands presented a different kind of trouble. The main creatures there were the Sprinter Flight Rabbits which are known for their terrifying speed and ability to escape, and the Airblade Weasels, characterized by their long, blade-like tails, which targeted the rabbits. More often than not, just when we thought we had them cornered, they would slip away.
In addition to the various drop items we obtained from battles, we also collected herbs that could be used as potion ingredients and ores whose purposes were yet unclear. Iris and Shiitake were the ones tasked with experimenting and refining these materials to create quality items.
And as my skill levels increased, so did my arsenal of martial techniques and magic spells. The “Bite Tail” and “Slash Tail” of [Tail Strike] involved transforming the tail to either bite or slash at opponents. The latter could be learned without any change in the tail’s shape, but the “Bite Tail” seemed to require a transformation of the tail to be mastered. Let’s continue pushing the boundaries of my imagination to modify and improve these skills.
The “Grain Harvest” of [Scythe Mastery] was an area-of-effect attack that swept through a 120-degree arc in front of me. Although its range was narrower than the previously learned Spinning Slash, its shorter cooldown and higher power made it extremely practical. Surprisingly, it also allowed for the collection of plants over a wide area without degrading their quality. This was akin to the original use of a scythe…. perhaps, if we established a base, we might even consider starting a farm.
The “True Death” spell of [Witchcraft] was a powerful instant-death spell. Although it consumed a huge amount of magic power, it seemed the chance of failure had been greatly reduced. However, given that most creatures on this continent were of a higher caliber, it wasn’t very successful.
“Is anyone there?”
When I logged in, I entered the Shiratsuki Lounge as usual. My first action was to check if anyone was there. If so, I would head out with them; if not, Karl and I would venture out together.
“Oh, Isam-sama, welcome.”
“Hmm, the master has arrived?”
In the lounge were Mikelo and Nenashi. The two have been together for a long time and were good friends. Unless there was a particular reason, they basically acted together.
“I’ve said this multiple times, but please don’t address me with honorifics. We’re all players here.”
“No, no, it’s only natural to show respect by using honorifics for someone I admire.”
“Lord is correct, Master.”
However, talking with these two sometimes wore me out, primarily because of the way they addressed me. Mikelo insisted on calling me “Isam-sama” and Nenashi, perhaps joining in on the act, had started referring to me as “Master” a few days ago. What was this, some kind of role-play? Please, spare me.
Despite their peculiar way of addressing me, they were otherwise quite decent, which made it all the more frustrating. The only person truly bothered by this was me, while others, like Jigoro even joined in the teasing by adopting the honorifics. I guess I have no choice but to give up…
“Phew, let’s set this conversation aside for now… If you two are free, how about we go together?”
“Of course, we’ll go.”
“I shall accompany you as well~deguza…”
“Mikelo, are you there!?”
Just as the three of us and Karl were about to set out for an exploration, Usaji rushed into the lounge. She who usually maintained her cool appeared unusually frantic. It seemed like an emergency situation might have arisen.
“Are you here? What’s happened?”
“Isam is here too. That’s a relief. I’ll explain the situation later, but for now, please come quickly.”
Mikelo, Nenashi, and I exchanged glances and nodded to each other in confirmation before we hurriedly followed Usaji. It looked like our plans for the day were set.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
Usaji led us to a small sandbank floating in the middle of a great river. Despite the river’s deep waters, there were surprisingly shallow areas that allowed for crossing to the sandbank. Well, it didn’t really matter to us since we could fly.
“Hey, what happened to you, Eiji! You’re all beat up!”
“Haha… I’m ashamed…”
There we found Eiji who had lost everything beyond his left shoulder. For some reason, Alvy was clinging to his feet and crying, while Seventh Armor and Shitake were standing by their sides with worried looks on their faces. What in the world had happened?
Shiitake always had potions on hand, so Eiji’s health had already recovered. However, the marker indicated a troublesome status abnormality: a missing limb. This couldn’t be healed by normal recovery methods and required specialized magic or potions for healing. If you don’t have a way to do that, you’ll have no choice but to respawn.
“That’s why you were looking for me. In that case… Restore.”
This was precisely why Usaji had been searching for Mikelo. His [Healing Magic] and [Magic Eye of Regeneration] could treat a missing limb. A warm light gathered around Eiji’s shoulder, and slowly but surely, his sturdy arm began to regenerate. As expected, he was an expert in healing.
“What exactly happened to lead to this situation? Can you explain?”
“It was… It was Alvy’s fault!”
When I inquired about the circumstances, Alvy, who had been crying until now, lifted her face and explained. Because she was young, I had a hard time understanding her, but apparently as a result of protecting her, his arm was eaten by a fish monster.
The monster had already been killed, and they had successfully completed the task of carving it up. However, leaving Eiji, who had taken on the role of the shield, in such a condition and returning home was a concern. Thus, Usaji had rushed back alone to call for Mikelo.
“I see… You did well to protect her, Eiji.”
“Hahaha, I guess it’s what you’d call a wound of honor.”
Unlike NPCs, who would basically be gone once they die, we players can respawn as many times as necessary. Thus, protecting Alvy was certainly a fine play.
While we were talking about this, Eiji’s left arm had completely regenerated. However, the armor that had been torn off along with his left arm did not return. It seemed likely that it would need to be remade. As it happened, we had just gathered new materials, which presented an opportunity to showcase Iris’s skills.
“Big brother, are you alright?”
“I’m fine! Look, just like this!”
In an effort to cheer up Alvy who looked up at him with concern, Eiji stood up and with his newly grown left arm effortlessly lifted her and placed her on his shoulder. Given Eiji’s large stature, his shoulder provided more than enough seating for Alvy’s small frame.
Alvy seemed surprised to be lifted so suddenly, but she delighted in the unusually high perspective she couldn’t normally experience. Good; she seemed to be cheering up. It would have been troubling if she had continued to cry without knowing how to console her.
“Eiji and the others, what will you guys do? Head back?”
“After we ensure Alvy is safe, that’s the plan.”
“I’ll stick with you until then. Can I join you afterward?”
“I’ll be doing the same.”
“Hmm, then Shiitake-san will be up in the workshop. We’ve collected enough items, after all~~.”
Everyone decided to return to Shiratsuki, after which Eiji and Shiitake would stay behind while the rest continued their exploration. When Usaji first arrived, I thought something terrible had happened, but it could now be said that things had settled down.
“Big brother, where are we going?”
“Hm? You must be tired from all that’s happened, Alvy. Let’s go home for today.”
“…I don’t want you to hate me because of this.”
“That’s not going to happen. I’m totally fine with this!”
…Yeah, soothing a little girl is beyond me. For now, it’s best to consider Eiji as being in charge of Alvy. In case of combat, the remaining five of us and one beast should be enough to handle any enemy.
After several encounters with monsters, we returned to Shiratsuki. To our surprise, a large group of people had gathered in front of Shiratsuki. However, their attire was not entirely unfamiliar to us.
“Big sister! It’s my big sister~!”
The distinctive wool garments they all wore, along with their face paint and the color of their hair and skin matched Alvy’s. Among them was a beautiful girl with a face similar to Alvy’s and long, silky hair that swayed in the wind. She must surely be Alvy’s sister.
The way they looked at Shiratsuki varied from person to person. Some gazed in wonder, while others, clearly on guard, brandished their weapons. Given the presence of an unfamiliar metal ship anchored nearby, their wary response was understandable.
When Alvy called out, those who had been engrossed in observing Shiratsuki turned toward us in unison. At that moment, their faces were painted with fear. However, Alvy’s sister, despite her pale face, glared at Eiji as if she was about to shoot him down.
“…That’s a normal reaction, isn’t it?”
“It seems so. It’s our first time showing ourselves in front of ordinary people.”
Their hostility was probably because Eiji was carrying Alvy on his shoulder. To ordinary people, we must have looked like a group of various monsters, armed and banding together.
Even though I was human-shaped, I wore a suspicious three-eyed skeleton mask, and there were others like Eiji with a fierce look and Mikelo with an air of evil. To top it off, there was Karl, a dragon who seemed to be the embodiment of violence. If they weren’t afraid, it would mean that they either lacked reason or were boss-level strong.
While I have a certain admiration for the villainous atmosphere, I have no intention of antagonizing the natives at this point. It would be a waste of time, and I anticipate that interacting with them will definitely be beneficial in the long run. Therefore, the first step should be to alleviate their fears and start with negotiations.
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