Chapter 16

Logging in again.

"Good morning"

"Is it morning at three in the morning?"

"Since I woke up, it must be morning."

"Good morning"

While it's fine in terms of game progression, I feel my condition is off after only three hours of sleep.

While eating breakfast, which might be a late-night snack, at the inn, we discussed whether to update our equipment.

We decided to continue as we were, with just two levels left to go.

Today's breakfast consists of bread with nuts, grilled tomatoes, mashed potatoes, thick-cut bacon, salad, oranges, and milk. I can cook these dishes, and if the evaluation is above 4, they should taste even better.

However, the food provided by the inn seems 30% better!

Currently, we are battling a field boss.

A boar, the King of Chototsu, with a bright red body, four tusks, and a height of over three meters, appeared unexpectedly while we were hunting at night in the forest where the black wolves are. This boss patrols the entire field of Fast City. I wish I had updated my equipment other than my shield!

"Let's do our best with the inn bonus"

While encouraging us to endure with the desire for items, Ochazuke's HP is gradually recovering. Since Leo's healing recovery is still low and I am soft, Ochazuke has to focus on recovery, and there are occasional area attacks.

Since Shin only raised fire magic, he is currently the damage dealer, but this boar seems to have some resistance to fire, though not as much as a slime!

Petro has raised his stats evenly, so he can use various skills, but their power is low.

The thief has many skills that increase damage when attacking from behind or support skills, but Kikuhime, who is considering returning to a front-line role, has not taken any skills that increase damage from behind.

Indeed, our firepower is lacking! Ochazuke can't join the attack, and even if she does, she has to switch to recovery before the combo can continue.

The King of Chototsu raises both front legs and slams them into the ground, a stamp attack that affects everyone.

"Ah, I need a group recovery!"

Leo is working hard to distribute healing.

If we take two area attacks, everyone except Kikuhime, who is a former swordsman with high HP and VIT, might fall, so Leo continues to cast healing spells, and Ochazuke recovers me, who is also taking other attacks.

If we run out of MP recovery potions, we're in trouble.

"I wish the recovery was more!"

Since one cast doesn't fully recover, we have to rely on the number of casts. However, it seems to consume less MP.

"‘Iron Ball’! The recovery effect depends on MID, which is tough for a former thief."

"Recovery—this, even if you max out your stats, the starting point for a healer or a monk is different."

"I still have more MP than HP, partly because I haven't allocated VIT! Tsk!!"

While talking, I deflect the King of Chototsu's tusks.

"Enough already!!!!"

Kikuhime lands a critical hit in anger, and the King of Chototsu finally falls.

*You have obtained 4 pieces of King of Chototsu meat.*

*You have obtained 2 King of Chototsu tusks.*

*You have obtained 4 pieces of King of Chototsu hide.*

*You have obtained a King of Chototsu magic stone.*

*You have obtained a Ring of Strength.*

"It's over."

"I'm going back to being a monk!"

"Ring of Magic"

"I got a Ring of Strength"

"We're dropping our equipment, I have a Ring of Spirit!"

"We have a Ring of Agility."

"I also have a Ring of Strength. Bosses drop equipment."

"I have a Ring of Intelligence."

"It seems the ring that matches your job is appearing."

We discussed whether to exchange rings, but it's good to compensate for low stats, and we decided to keep them as a memento of our first boss defeat.

I asked Kikuhime, who is currently level 23, about her HP, and she answered 817 with STR and VIT stats about the same. However, she said it's not much due to her race, elf. She mentioned that around level 20, it was less than 700.

"To the temple"

"Let's move"

As the sun rises and the morning light shines, we return to the city.

First, we go to the guild to organize our items. The forest at night is full of black wolves, so it seems to be efficient for leveling up to around level 20. I cleared a request I thought would take 1000 times, and my rank has risen to D.

"I'm going to sleep after changing jobs~"

"Okay!"

When my sword skill reached level 5, the job of magic swordsman appeared, so I chose it without hesitation when I met the level 20 requirement and became a magic swordsman.

After level 20, you can change jobs every 5 levels, but the points required to learn combat skills are 5 SP for any job outside the first two or one job line.

If you were a healer before level 20, you can learn [Poison Healing] for 1 SP, but if you become a healer after level 20, it costs 5 SP. When strong skills appear, it might cost 20 SP, but for now, it's 5 SP.

Me → Magic Swordsman

Ochazuke → Holy Mage

Kikuhime → Warrior

Shin → Magic Fist

Petro → Spy

Leo → Spy

I thought Ochazuke would become a monk, but he said he only plays as a monk occasionally and will focus on a healing role. He hopes a skill like Chakra, which recovers HP and MP, will appear among monk skills. Holy Mage is a job that uses healing magic and is not closely related to the temple, but a priest job was available.

Petro said he would be a spy, and if there were a ninja, he would probably go that route.

Leo said he is fast, but I doubt it's because he can become a ninja. If there is a ninja job, he would probably be the fastest, so he will likely become a ninja in the end.

Both seem to have forgotten their initial job preferences.

"Maybe I'll take some monk skills"

"Being a ninja, body techniques might look cool"

I respond to Petro's troubled voice.

"From now on, we'll run out of skill points!"

"Ah, I might take some magic"

"Ochazuke is quite versatile"

"It seems the game encourages versatility"

"Stats and the first job you take are less important in the middle of the game. Even with the same job, each person can have different characteristics"

"Then I might take something"

I waver at Ochazuke and Petro's words.

"Specialization is good, but being versatile is more fun"

"Specialization is strong, but solo play is tough"

"Combining skills is tough, but it's also tough to level up skills"

"Well, I'm going to the inn!"

"Me too~"

"Okay! Good work. I'll go to the temple courtyard to solve a puzzle and then sleep."

"Good night"

"Since I'm tired from the battle, I'll take it easy and do some production"

Ochazuke, who says he'll take it easy, always focuses on efficiency in production.

"I'll look for the thief guild"

"Go ahead, good luck"

What should I do? If I'm looking for something, I need to find the old man in the open air.

Was it near the east gate? There were no shops that looked like it in the crafts district, so it's probably south of the main east-west road.

I leave Shin at the temple and part ways with Ochazuke and Petro, walking along the east-west road. I won't ride in a carriage!

While looking at the menu to summon White, I see that cheese, smoked eggs, and two dried items are ready. I take them out and start the next batch. I learned [Smoking], [Drying], and I wonder if [Brewing] is also a fermentation skill.

I think I'll introduce White after he calms down a bit; if I make too much noise, he might return to the temple.

"White, why are you in battle mode?"

Was it that bad?!

"Rather, why aren't you in battle mode!"

White looks around and relaxes from his battle stance.

*You spoke to me without thinking. Did you think I was in battle mode?*

I extend my hand, and he climbs up my arm to my shoulder. I can barely feel his weight, and he can float.

*I can only be summoned for a limited time, and it's more efficient to summon me during battles!*

White grumbles.

*You can't take your time during battles.*

*No one summons me to take their time.*

I walk while bantering with White. My MP gradually decreases, but it's not a big deal if I'm not in battle.

When we reach the target area, I find a small park behind a building facing the main street and take a break on a bench. I pour tea for myself and White. It's really convenient not to have to worry about cleaning up after eating or drinking.

While watching White with his face in the cup, I think I should make an MP potion with alchemy. Summoning time is longer in the city than in battle, but MP still decreases. It's better if it's cheap.

When the wine is ready, I'll try to make brandy for the tea.

*White, is there anywhere you want to go?*

*What, are you walking without a purpose?*

I lightly pet White, who raises his face from the cup.

*No, I came to look for an old bookshop, but there's no rush. It's been a while since you've been outside the temple, so if there's somewhere you want to go, I'll take you within range.*

*There was no city when I was outside, so a walk around the city is fine. However, too many people are annoying, so this area is just right.*

It seems he will accompany me in my search for the old bookshop.

*Thank you, let's walk around while looking.*

After confirming that White has finished drinking, he climbs back up to my shoulder. His tail is on my right chest, his head on my left shoulder, and he feels like a scarf with an excellent touch.

I talk about the wooden and iron signs hanging from the houses while walking with White.

*You're interested in strange things*

To me, they are like the old streets and signs of Europe, but in this world, they are just normal streets and signs. It's like talking about the design of a convenience store sign, which is indeed a bit awkward.

I enter alleys not shown on the map and make the map more detailed. Most of this area is residential, with occasional shops selling cloth and thread, tobacco, non-potion medicines, shovels, hoes, pruning shears, and general goods that residents use for their daily lives. The shops and houses are much narrower than those in the square, and they are squeezed together, extending upwards, typical of houses within the city walls.

*We need to buy a brush for White*

By the way, I still haven't bought nightwear, and I need to buy it soon.

I found a good brush at a general store and asked White for his preference.

*No need! I've never used a brush.*

So I chose a good one and bought it.

I also bought a white, soft cloth robe for nightwear and a few hand towels for handkerchiefs.

*We need some sandals for the inn*

*It's about time*

*Oh, then see you later*

*Farewell*

When White disappears, my neck feels lonely.

I wonder if Shin solved the puzzle. If he knows there's a puzzle, he should easily realize that the order of circling the altar is the puzzle from the holy verses in the hall. What happens after that?

After a while, I find a small, old bookshop, which is only as wide as the door. There's no sign, but the door is open for ventilation, and I notice it by peeking inside.

"Excuse me"

I call out and enter. The display shelf right inside is empty, but the bookshelves on the left, right, and center, about a meter from the entrance, are filled to the ceiling with books.

The titles of the books on the shelves are readable, which is very strange. If I say the title in Japanese, the residents here should hear it in their language.

Well, in this fantasy world, if a book is written in Japanese, like "Encouragement of Agriculture," it would indeed be awkward.

"You're here"

"Yes"

The old man I met at the market is at the counter, smoking a pipe.

"Can I read the books here?"

"Sure, but if you dirty them, you'll have to buy them."

"Understood"

Let's see what's available.

"... There are many books on magic and skills here."

"Yes, there are many."

I show him the book I want to buy, and he takes it with a doubtful look, checking the price on the back.

"200 silver"

I pay and receive "How to Identify Edible Fruits and Wild Herbs." There are items I can't identify as collection points, so I want to learn about them. When I buy the book, new edible fruits and wild herbs are added to my plant food guide.

The new items in the guide can be "remembered" from my knowledge without looking at them. It's a very convenient feature. If I can collect historical books