Chapter 66

"Could it be that this is the first time you're cultivating a skill, Sora?"

"Yes, I finally accumulated two thousand points!"

"Seriously...? All of Tōru's group are at the Red Iron level... You've come this far with just the first stage of a lower branch?"

"Hehe... I was just like an extra."

"Hey, hey, don't say that. The attack from the red water's evil spirit earlier, you were the one who stopped it, right? Since we're always at the front, we really feel it. A party can only function properly when there's someone to help out at crucial moments."

"That's right, Sora. I can't take down monsters in a flashy way, but I've never forgotten the pride of protecting everyone with this shield."

"Come on, Sora, stand up straight. You might not be as big as Yuriru, but you're still pretty good."

Sora looked up in surprise at the men who were encouraging her in unison.

Turning her gaze to Tōru, he scratched under his chin and spoke.

"I just said this, didn't I? I really appreciate having you around. Not just in battles, but for making delicious meals too. Yeah, the soup you made yesterday was really tasty, Sora."

"T-Tōru... Uuuu, Tōru!"

Hiding her tears of joy, the girl threw herself into Tōru's chest and buried her face there.

She rubbed her forehead against him and her shoulders shook repeatedly.

Seeing this, Mū, who had been playing with stones by the river, ran over with a worried face.

"What's wrong, Sora-nee? Does your tummy hurt?"

"No, it's not my tummy, it's my chest a little."

"Should Mū make it tingle?"

"Thank you, Mū. I love your kindness. And I'm sorry I couldn't protect you earlier."

Sora, who had stepped away from Tōru, bent down and hugged Mū.

The child, tilting his head in curiosity, wrapped his hands around Sora's head and hugged her back happily.

After a while, the girl stood up with a determined look on her face.

"Okay, I'm fine now. Thank you, Mū."

"Really? Your pain is gone?"

"Yep, I'm completely back to normal. Thanks to you, Mū."

Holding hands with the child, the girl gripped her adventurer card more firmly.

The branch knot that serves as the basis for branch skills is not always something you are born with.

Sometimes, it can appear as a result of growing other branches.

Especially for middle branch skills and above, almost all of them require this condition, and some even require multiple branch skills to be fully grown before the knot appears.

For upper branch skills, the conditions become even more difficult, and the required skill points are enormous, making it impossible to try casually.

Therefore, the growth combination of upper branches is a secret among high-ranking priests and nobles, and many skills have their acquisition methods undisclosed.

There is also individual variation in the upper limit of branch skills, and some cannot be cultivated to the maximum level 9.

While this is rare for lower branch skills, it is not uncommon for middle branch skills and above to reach their limits early, and many adventurers have to give up on their intended cultivation methods.

Incidentally, Tōru's <Restoration> having a limit of level 10, according to the old priest, is because it is a skill with special power.

The skill she is raising now is only to level 2 of a lower branch, but for Sora, it was a very important first step.

Thinking of Tōru, Mū, and Yuriru, she slowly poured the points accumulated in her water bottle into the <Reversal> branch.

—Wishing to protect her important family even more.

The branch, empowered, bent for a moment and then stretched with a sudden force.

The girl, somehow gaining a sense of certainty from this feeling, turned and held out her hand to Tōru.

"How about it, Tōru?"

Tōru nodded and took her hand, checking her skill tree.

A small knot had grown next to the <Reversal> branch, which had not been there before.

"Wow, a new one has grown. Congratulations, Sora."

"Really?!"

"Great job! Sora."

"Nice one, Sora."

"Congratulations, Sora. ...By the way, how did Tōru know that?"

Dialgo's reasonable question was directed at Tōru, who had casually revealed a fact that could only be known with a soul meter.

The middle-aged adventurer shrugged, not answering, and gently placed his index finger to his lips.

"Should we try allocating it there?"

"Sure, please."

"Huh, allocate? What are you talking about, Tōru?"

Without answering the confused Dialgo, Tōru silently reduced Sora's <Reversal> to level 1.

The girl, closing her eyes, poured the returned skill points into the branch knot next to <Reversal>.

When she opened her eyes again, a new lower branch skill had appeared on Sora's skill tree.

<Fixation>—Fixes the target's attack or effect.

Level 1 / Usable times: 5 times per hour / Activation: Instant / Duration: 5 seconds / Range: Recognized

"Wow, it looks like it could be useful! Tōru."

"Yeah, it seems more defensive than <Reversal>. It would be helpful to have a way to stop monsters."

"Sure, leave it to me. This will help me protect everyone even more."

"Right, I'm looking forward to it. By the way, it's a bit like the old man's <Stagnation>."

Tōru's unexpected words made Sora feel as if her grandfather had lent her his strength, and she tightened her eyes to hold back the tears.

Then, she lifted her nose and smiled proudly.

"Well, I was a cute grandchild. Blood is thicker than water, right?"

"You were always boasting about yourself whenever you got the chance, old man."

"Hey, Tōru, are we done talking?"

"What's up, Mū?"

The child, who had a slightly pouting face, held out a leather pouch filled with magic stone fragments.

Tōru, remembering the promise, nodded and immediately restored it.

"Is this okay?"

"Tōru, I love you! And, is this okay too?"

The child, who had hugged him, took something round out of his pocket and handed it to Tōru.

It was a spherical object, split neatly in half, with a clear blue surface as smooth as crystal.

"Ah, that's a magic crystal, isn't it?"

"The little one must have picked it up. No wonder we couldn't find it."

A magic crystal is a higher form of a magic stone, formed when the spirit core of a spirit-type monster changes upon its destruction.

The main difference from a magic stone is that it has an attribute, which can amplify or enhance specific magic techniques.

Depending on the attribute, it is called a fire crystal, storm crystal, etc.

Furthermore, it can also cause natural phenomena using the magic inside, though this is limited to a certain number of times, making it a highly valuable material.

"Is this okay?"

"Thank you!"

"...I won't say anything more. Well, it's a relief that it's gone."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, magic crystal fragments still have magic power. If they were left, the red water's evil spirits would have appeared again soon."

The three brothers, relieved, smiled weakly.

"Well, whatever, this is a good place to stop."

"Sora seems to have grown a new skill, so it's all good."

"Let's have a party!"

The twins, standing a little away, silently watched the enthusiastic men.

In their hands, they held a blue crystal fragment just like the one Mū had brought.