Chapter 8

"Is this... a forest?"

"It's a forest. There are lots of trees."

In response to my mutter, Al answered. Looking around, I saw trees growing without a break. Perhaps because there was foot traffic, some trees had been cut down, and a path had been made for people to walk through. For now, I decided to check my status. I muttered the word "status" softly.

============================

Name: Kyōhei Shinjo

Race: Half-Vampire

Level 1

HP 100/100

MP 50/50

STR: 60

DEF: 60

INT: 35

AGL: 45

DEX: 45

Skills

Swordsmanship Level 1 Proficiency 15/50

Taming Level 1 Proficiency 0/30

Appraisal Level 3 Proficiency 0/150

Stealth Level 4 Proficiency 0/200

Scouting Level 3 Proficiency 0/100

Fire Magic Level 4 Proficiency 0/300

Spirit Magic Level 1 Proficiency 0/50

Resistance to Mental Abnormalities Level 2 Proficiency 0/100

Intuition Level 7 Proficiency ---------

Bloodsucking Level 1 Proficiency --------

Equipment

None

Item Box

Companions

Artemis (Contracted)

=============================

The content is slightly different from what I decided during character creation. The presence of swordsmanship is probably due to my time in the kendo club during middle school. It's sad that three years of practice only got me to level 1. Who said I had talent? The resistance to mental abnormalities is probably a racial trait. The level 7 intuition must be something the gods fixed. I want to believe that the conversation had some meaning. For my mental health, I'll just assume it did.

"Kyōhei, what are you doing?"

"Checking my status."

"Show me!"

Al peered at the status screen. Isn't it supposed to be invisible to others?

"Kyōhei, I can't see it. Can you do something about it?"

"Like this..."

There was an options menu at the edge of the screen, so I tapped it and gave Al permission to view my status.

"What do you think of this?"

I wanted to know if this skill selection was a success or a failure, and I wanted his judgment on what to do next. I felt like a criminal waiting for the judge's verdict, waiting for Al's words.

"I don't know! You must be strong, right? I don't know though."

This response was unexpected.

It was a casual answer.

The phrase "I don't know" was repeated twice.

I couldn't help but feel deflated. I was trying to be serious.

"You're the god's sidekick, right? Why don't you know?"

"It's not in my jurisdiction."

"You're just a bureaucrat!"

Thinking about it, the god was all about fairness. He wouldn't do anything to harm that.

"Then, what do you know about this world?"

"Alhazar? The god managed it, right? He seemed to like it a lot. He was quite proud of it."

I got some useless information.

"Ha... Next question. The god said that accompanying me is a punishment. What did I do?"

"Well, um... I broke a cup that the god valued."

"Wow..."

Just breaking a cup, and I'm sent to another world? That's a bit harsh.

"Also, I broke an expensive vase and some dishes that the god valued. And I mistakenly disposed of important documents a few times. And I talked badly about the god with my colleagues. We got quite excited. Maybe he heard it. And I slacked off too much and did my own selfish research. What do you think, Kyōhei?"

"If I were the god, I'd strangle you."

"Ah!"

Considering the god values these things, they must be quite valuable. To have them broken... The god seemed to be quite lenient. I had to revise my opinion of him.

"By the way, can I see Al's status?"

I tapped the part of the status screen that showed Al's information.

============================

Name: Artemis

Race: Fairy

Level 1

HP 10/10

MP 5/5

STR: 5

DEF: 5

INT: 4

AGL: 4

DEX: 4

Skills

None

Equipment

None

============================

"Useless, aren't you!"

I couldn't help but comment on the extremely low stats.

"Rude! I can still be useful, you know."

Al puffed out her nonexistent chest and said proudly.

"Then, what can you do?"

"Well, um... I can be Kyōhei's friend!"

At first, Al stuttered, but then she said it with enthusiasm.

I sighed and grabbed Al's head, gradually applying more pressure.

"It hurts, Kyōhei."

"Let's hear it again. What can you do?"

"Well, um... I can be a friend to Kyōhei, who has no friends! I'll definitely be your friend! I'm good at acting, you know!"

"You don't seem to value your life. Al, it was fun while it lasted. I'll never forget the days I spent with you."

I said it with a bright smile.

Is my smile good, Al?

"Wait, it's a joke. A joke. I'll be squished like a tomato!"

I sighed and released the pressure.

"By the way, what happens if Al dies?"

"After you tried to squish me, you ask that? That's really scary. Can I plead the fifth?"

"No, I was just thinking. Your stats are so low, you might die easily if caught in the wrong situation."

"That's scary too. Well, this body is temporary, so even if I die, it's okay. I won't come back immediately, but my body will disappear, and my soul will enter Kyōhei's body. After some time, I'll be revived. That's how it's set up, yeah."

Al tapped her head as if trying to remember something and explained to me.

"Entering the body, that's creepy. Like a pathogen."

"Rude! It's a contract with the god. It's a feature."

Indeed, the contract is written in the status.

"Well, since you can't die, I'll use you as fishing bait when there's no food."

"What a terrifying thing to say so casually! No way!"

"Can't you be used as bait? Aren't fairies good for that?"

"That's not what I meant! It's a matter of ethics!"

"It's an emergency. You'll have to allow it."

Al protested, but I ignored her.

I was just teasing.

It's no good. I end up making jokes with Al. Maybe we're compatible. I feel like we've been friends for years, even though we just met today.

Al must have felt the same way, as she smiled when our eyes met.

I couldn't help but smile too.

"Hehe... Let's go then."

"Aye-aye, sir."

We'll stop the joking and check the items. I looked at the item box from the window. I could see the items in the item box, but I couldn't take them out.

I needed a different method to take them out.

"Item box."

A black vortex appeared in front of me.

It's not necessary to say "item box" for it to appear, but I said it because it was the first time.

"Wow!"

I felt a bit embarrassed by Al's pure surprise, but I decided to take out all the items.

By focusing my mind and putting my hand into the black vortex, I could take out the items.

I started with weapons and armor. Someone important once said that weapons and armor are useless unless equipped.

I took out an iron sword, a cloth shirt, and leather pants. Then I realized that I was still wearing my school trip clothes. This is another world. Wearing these clothes would make me stand out. I needed to change quickly.

"Ah, you're being assaulted!"

I ignored Al, who seemed to have misunderstood, and took off my clothes, putting on the cloth shirt and leather pants.

"Oh, you're changing? You look so ragged now."

"Yeah. There's a cultural difference. Earth clothes would make me stand out."

"I see."

Next, I opened the travel set, which contained food, water, a coat, bags, a lamp, a blanket, and other camping items.

I put on the coat. It was thick but easy to move in.

"Next, money."

I opened the small set of foreign world money. It contained 10 iron coins, 5 copper coins, and 3 silver coins. This should last me a week. I estimated the prices and put the coins into a bag.

That was the end of the items.

I checked my status again.

============================

Name: Kyōhei Shinjo

Race: Half-Vampire

Level 1

HP 100/100

MP 50/50

STR: 60

DEF: 60

INT: 35

AGL: 45

DEX: 45

Skills

Swordsmanship Level 1 Proficiency 15/50

Taming Level 1 Proficiency 0/30

Appraisal Level 3 Proficiency 0/150

Stealth Level 4 Proficiency 0/200

Scouting Level 3 Proficiency 0/100

Fire Magic Level 4 Proficiency 0/300

Spirit Magic Level 1 Proficiency 0/50

Resistance to Mental Abnormalities Level 2 Proficiency 0/100

Intuition Level 7 Proficiency ---------

Bloodsucking Level 1 Proficiency --------

Equipment

Iron Sword

Cloth Shirt

Leather Pants

Item Box

Companions

Artemis (Contracted)

=============================

The equipment section has been updated. The coat doesn't seem to be an equipment item, so it's not displayed. I don't know if this is a feature, but I'll accept it as the mystery of fantasy.

The afterword and banter will disappear from chapter 2 onwards.