I logged back in. After taking a quick trip to the restroom, hydrating, and enjoying an early lunch, I returned to the game.
“I’m back… Hold on, am I the last one?”
“Shurururu (Welcome back)!”
“Pururun (Welcome back)!”
The girls in the party greeted me with cheerful voices. However, Genjuro and Jigoro, who were already present, remained silent. There was only one reason for their silence—they were engrossed in watching the live broadcast of the tournament.
“You two are back. Would everyone like to depart now?”
“Gyagyah (Wait a moment)!”
“Kachikachichi (We’re at a crucial moment)!”
“…Until this match is over, then.”
They both said similar things. But since they didn’t seem willing to budge, it was fine to let them finish watching the ongoing match. Honestly, there was no need to watch it now since it was already being recorded.
After a while, the two of them sighed in exasperation and stood up. Something must have disappointed their expectations.
“It seems like the two of you have a rather low energy. Let’s get going,”
“Shuru (Alright),” Iris said.
“Pururu (Okay),” Ruby said.
“Gegyaa (Alrighty)!” Jigoro said.
“Kachikachikachi (Got it),” Genjuto added.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
We descended the gentle slope, and for a while, everything seemed calm. Yet, the infrequent encounters we had faced thus far, from the moment we entered the underground entrance until now, felt deceivingly placid
However, amidst this apparent calmness, it appeared that there was something, or rather, someone, present. There was a faint sense of movement in the distance. Everyone seemed to notice it, and we proceeded cautiously, remaining vigilant.
And then, right before our eyes, appeared a familiar creature. However, it was the first time that each of us had encountered this particular monster as an enemy. Here are the [Appraisal] results:
――――――――――
Race: Skeleton Warrior Lv12
Job: Apprentice Warrior LV12
Skills:
- [Sword Mastery]
- [Enhanced Strength]
- [Enhanced Defense]
- [Night Vision]
- [Status Immunity]
- [Light Weakness]
- [Blunt Attack Weakness]
――――――――――
I….belonged to the same species. This was it. It looked familiar, but when seen as an enemy, it was quite terrifying. What a horror like scene.
“Gyagyaggya… (A stray skeleton, huh?)”
“Gachigachi… (It’s quite eerie, isn’t it?)”
There were many things I wanted to say, but let’s get it over with for now. After all, the opponent was one of my own kind. Everyone, not just me, knew exactly what would be the most effective move to be done to our kind.
“Shururu… (Light Ball)!”
“Oooo…!”
With Iris’s unleashed [light magic], the skeleton monster was brought down in a single blow. As the dazzling sphere of light made contact, the joints that were connected by some mysterious force fell apart, scattering onto the ground. The anticlimactic ending left everyone speechless.
But it was just one strike. Iris, who wasn’t specialized in magic, delivered a single blow to the monster, and the creature of the same level as me got brought down in one strike. Seriously, were undead beings weak to light elemental magic to such an extent?
“Guggya… (So weak.)” Jigoro said.
“Don’t say that, it’s depressing.”
“Purupuru… (That was…)”
“Shururyu shushu… (Even though my skill level isn’t high)…”
“Katchikachi… (I understand.)”
Even though three of them still lacked proficiency in the [Linguistics] skill, it seemed like everyone understood what Jigoro was murmuring. In other words, they were thinking along similar lines.
H-Hey, I’m not that weak! I’ve mitigated the [Light Weakness] by several levels, and thanks to the [Abyss Dweller] effect, I also have resistance to light element attacks. I won’t be taken down that easily!
Now That I think about it, when I rescued Jigoro, it was quite a brilliant play on my part to eliminate the mage first. If I hadn’t done that, despite putting up a front, I would have been easily purified. I would have just become a pitiful being.
“Instead of that, the corpses disappeared like mist… Can’t we strip the corpse of its drop items?”
“Shushushuru… (I don’t know.)”
“Perhaps if we finish them off with [Light Magic], there won’t be any drops. Let’s try defeating them normally next time.”
And that opportunity presented itself before long. A new skeleton warrior emerged from the shadows. This time, it was Jigoro who would confront the enemy.
“Gyaa (Bring it on)!”
The Skeleton Warrior attempted to block Jigoro’s fist with its shield, but it couldn’t keep up with Jigoro’s speed and had its skull shattered. It was indeed weak.
This time, the corpse—or rather, the skeleton remains, since it was originally a corpse—were scattered on the ground. Now, let’s strip it of its drops.
――――――――――
Monster Bone – Quality: Inferior Rarity: C (Common)
Bones infused with magic power. Used for various purposes.
――――――――――
So, this was a monster bone. It looked like a human femur bone. The books mentioned that it could be used for [Alchemy], [Pharmacology], and even as fertilizer for the fields.
However, it held a much greater significance for me. This, you see, was a crucial ingredient for the creatures made by [Necromancy]. By gathering these materials, I could create not just mere controlled minions with temporary bodies like the summoned beasts but true servants with real bodies. It made my heart dance with anticipation.
I explained the situation to everyone and made a request. If they happened to come across any skeleton creatures, I asked them to defeat them without relying on [Light Magic]. Everyone kindly agreed without hesitation, understanding the importance of my plea. And so, the hunt for skeletons continued on for a while.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
――――――――――
Race level increased. Gained 1 SP.
Job level increased. Gained 1 SP.
The level of [Staff Mastery] skill has increased.
The level of [Magic Control] skill has increased.
The level of [Summoning Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Enchantment] skill has increased.
The level of [Magic Circle] skill has increased.
The level of [Necromancy] skill has increased.
The level of [Curse] skill has increased.
The level of [Spirit Channeling] skill has increased.
The level of [Witchcraft] skill has increased.
The level of [Appraisal] skill has increased.
Newly learned “Paralyze” and “Sleep” spell attacks.
――――――――――
Well, it was a feeding frenzy! It appeared that this place was a nest for skeleton creatures. Not only did I encounter the Skeleton Warrior, which I encountered earlier, but also the next race down, the skeleton, and one of my evolutionary options, the Skeleton Mage. As for the variations, I even encountered an animal-like skeleton called the Bone Beast and its evolved form, the Skeleton Beast.
They sometimes appeared in groups, but when that happened, we swiftly reduced their numbers by relying on Iris’s [Light Magic], so we hardly suffered any damage. Thanks to that, we acquired an abundance of monster bones. For a while, I could afford to experiment and not worry about failures.
Speaking of which, it was fortunate that I quickly noticed the pattern when the monster bones dropped. At first, Jigoro or Ruby would promptly crush the skeletons’ heads or sever their necks. However, Iris suggested, “Let’s try defeating them while leaving the head intact,” and it turned out to be a success. As a result, we also obtained the monster bone of the skull as a drop.
After conducting various tests, I discovered that the dropped monster bones were concentrated in the parts that hadn’t been destroyed when the creature’s health was depleted. Thanks to this, although they all had the same name as monster bones as “items”, I managed to secure them from various parts. Now, I could indulge in my fantasies of creating all sorts of undead creatures!
Furthermore, thanks to prioritizing support and utilizing spells, the levels of magic skills that were initially difficult to raise have improved. In particular, I made progress in the [Curse] skill and learned new spells. These spells could induce “paralysis” and “sleep”, which were both status ailments. The effects were self-explanatory, so there was no need for further explanation.
“We did it!”
“Wow, I feel so light!”
However, what stood out even more was that the other three’s [Linguistics] levels had grown enough to engage in interspecies communication, and they had even evolved upon reaching Race Lv10. Iris became a “Lesser Roper Worker” and Ruby evolved into a “Silent Slime”. As for Genjuro, he became a “Lesser Insect Beetle”.
Iris, as a Lesser Roper Worker, belonged to a race skilled in production skills. She gained bonuses to the quality of her produced items, and she was delighted to learn that she could further increase her Race Level through production activities.
Ruby’s Silent Slime race could be roughly described as a slime specialized in assassination. This evolution was unlocked by her achieving Level 10 in the Thief job’s skills: [Stealth], [Sneak], and [Ambush], allowing her to acquire the skill called [Assassination].
Her color was almost entirely colorless and transparent, with the ability to manipulate shades to some extent. Her speed increased, and with the near absence of sound during movement, one could say her assassin-like qualities were honed to perfection.
As for Genjuro, he achieved the feat of completing a full metamorphosis without going through the pupal stage, becoming a Lesser Insect Beetle. To sum up his new look, he appeared as a bipedal rhinoceros beetle. To be more precise, he was a compact male figure adorned in armor inspired by the rhinoceros beetle and standing with four arms. However, the armor was an exoskeleton, a part of his distinct physical structure.
Upon taking on this form, Genjuro was finally able to equip the sword that was his starting equipment. Though it may be late, he had taken on the role of an Apprentice Warrior, a job that truly showcased his abilities when wielding a weapon. He had now become a warrior of a higher rank. Interestingly, he could still produce threads just as before, expanding the range of things he could accomplish.
“Hahaha! Old man, you’re not bad!”
“Hahaha, the same goes for you!”
Without delay, Jigoro and Genjuro engaged in a sparring match to test their physical abilities. Genjuro seemed to possess advanced real life combat techniques that allowed him to spar evenly with Jigoro. This guy is another real-life cheater, huh!?
What’s going on here? Among the five of them, three were real-life cheaters… Could it be that Ruby also possesses some hidden power? N-No, I’m probably just overthinking things.
“Enough of that. Shall we move forward? This place isn’t a safe zone, after all.”
“Got it, Isam. We’ll spar again later, old man.”
“Yes, I’ll give you some practice.”
It seems their camaraderie deepened as they exchanged blows. It’s good that they get along well.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
“Wait a moment! Something’s off about this wall!”
While we continued to defeat the skeleton monsters, Ruby, who was clinging to the wall, noticed something wrong. She extended a part of her slimy body and tapped on a suspicious spot. The four of us gathered around to observe closely, and indeed, we could faintly see what appeared to be seams. Could there be something behind it?
“Ruby, do you think this is some kind of hidden door?”
“N-no, it’s different. It seems like they used magic to create a wall and block the passage. Maybe my job level is too low to see through it, though.”
Hmm, it’s not a hidden door then. However, there must be something that someone wants to keep hidden beyond this. This… piqued my curiosity.
“Jigoro, can you handle it?”
“Of course… Here I go!”
Jigoro forcefully struck the wall with his fist, and his arm sank into it. It was incredible how much stronger he had become after evolving.
“…Ruby, you’ve hit the mark. My arm went through. There’s a hollow space beyond.”
“Great, let’s just break it down like this. Go for it.”
I commanded my summoned creatures to demolish the earthen wall. Such tiresome and straightforward tasks were best left to my minions.
My minions diligently carried out the task, completely demolishing the wall. Ahead, there continued a passage wide enough for two people to walk side by side. This gives off the scent of treasure… or so it feels.
“Ruby at the front, followed by Genjuro, Iris in the middle, and I’ll be right behind you three. Jigoro, I’ll rely on you to bring up the rear. Everyone, let’s proceed with caution.”
The four of them nodded silently. Now, the exploration of the side path begins. If this were a continuation of a story within the game, there must surely be something significant within this cryptic passageway. Hopefully, it would be a valuable treasure that would prove useful for us.
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