Chapter 38

"Alright, what should we do? Keep leveling up skills?"

"No, I can't relax like this."

"It's just your imagination."

"No way."

We are currently taking a break on a path between a forest and a wheat field. I've laid out a concealment array in place of a picnic sheet and set up a table and chairs purchased from the Circle. We're eating steamed chicken—salad with steamed Dodo, consommé soup with onions and bacon, a hamburger with cheese, grilled tomatoes, small boiled potatoes, green beans, and ruby berry sorbet, washed down with beer and tea.

"It's a loss if you worry about it."

"The gazes of players who come from the road to watch us are painful."

"Well, it would be hard to eat a hamburger without a table, right? Should we just have skewers?"

"I'll try not to mind."

Peter easily retracted his previous statement, looking refreshingly clear.

For now, if there's an iron table for sale, I'll buy it, even if it's just a little more suitable for the outdoors. A delicate cat-footed table and upholstered chairs next to a wheat field are too conspicuous. It would be fine if it were daytime, though.

I have a lantern for outdoor use that I bought with the concealment array, but players with night vision or those concerned about silhouettes come over and are startled before leaving.

The dining table is softly lit by magical light. It was too dark to call it moody, so I added more light sources with 'Light.'

"So? What should we do? Are there any quests in progress or places you want to go?"

I spoke to Peter, who was eating a hamburger.

"Hmm, I want some deer leather for equipment. I can handle a deer one-on-one, but I'm still weak against multiple enemies, even wolves. How about Homura?"

Is it specialized in assassination, or is it just assassination-focused?

Peter says he has too many detailed skills and hasn't fully leveled them up, but I can't help but suspect his usual behavior.

"I think we can handle it with two people, since I can manage around the Circle with the 'Boots of Gale' and 'Gloves of Dexterity.' I'm not wearing the 'Circle Moss Chestplate.'"

It's fine if Peter and Kikuhime, or Ochazuke, find out, but I'm worried that Leo and Shin might accidentally let it slip to others. Why is he so careful in the real world but so careless in this one?

I don't wear the 'Circle Moss Chestplate' in front of others because it looks a bit strange!

"Can I ask for deer leather?"

"Sure, sure."

That's how it was decided.

"Did you get the 'Shadow Run' skill?"

Judging by the way he asked, Peter must have gotten it.

"It's a mystery, but my movement speed has increased. Should we try it?"

"Sure."

"The blue ones look like a swarm of fireflies."

"You're completely an assassin."

Our comments on each other's effects.

Peter said he got a title while using the 'Shadow Run' skill. It's called 'The One Who Lurks in the Shadows,' and a black, shadowy mist wraps around his body like flames. He could choose the color, but it was basically black, with a slight red or green tint. He chose a blue-black to match his hair.

The 'Shadow Run' itself is like a ninja, moving from tree to tree and shadow to shadow.

We aimed for lone deer, but due to the night, we mostly saw herds. We hunted a group of three deer, but the battle was surprisingly easy.

"You're strong, and you're faster than me, so I have no ground to stand on."

"It's just the equipment. I want to level up my skill levels and real-world skills. Peter, you have a specialized kind of strength, though I won't say in which area."

Both Peter and I take a lot of damage when hit, but our attack power is fine, like cutting through flesh to the bone. It's really good that I have the alchemy skill! This is a battle where HP drops drastically.

What about healing magic?

I'm using it, you know?

The goal is to kill before taking damage, so after the battle.

My mental state, even with the 1.5x effect of Master Ring, is still... and the 'Healing' skill level is low. It's better than Leo's healing magic before, though.

No, it's just that there's no time to use it because we aim to kill before being killed!

On the way, the place where we met Ochazuke's 'Lulu' had become a mining point.

We got a 'Water Spirit Stone.' Spirit stones are popular gems often attached to staves during production, especially among those specialized in attributes. Attribute-based effects are strong, but they weaken attributes that are incompatible. Since I use all attributes, they are useless to me. Spirit stones are easier to obtain from places where spirits appear, unlike magic stones from monsters. It seems that befriending blessed spirits can sometimes yield spirit stones, but unfortunately, I haven't received any yet.

"Shadow Blade!"

"Shadow Claw"

I learned an attack spell when my 'Dark Magic' reached level 20. Several black aura crows appear and charge at the target. It's powerful at level 20, and the casting time is just a slight lag.

Meanwhile, Peter is using a technique where he emerges from a deer's shadow and slashes upward. He slowly sinks into his own shadow and quickly appears from the target's shadow to slash upward.

It's quite cool.

"That's a cool move."

"Isn't it? It's an assassination skill. I feel like the power has increased a bit."

He looks happy when praised.

"Does assassination skill power increase with dark attributes?"

"Yes."

"Maybe it's because I have the blessing of the god of darkness, which affects the party."

"Ah! It's the one we encountered in this forest!"

"Right. It has an effect of increasing item drops."

"Ah, I wish I had left Shin and Leo behind when they called me."

Ah, so Shin and Leo and Shin and Leo were attracting enemies like deer and bears, right?

"By the way, I received the blessing of the god of wind and the blessing of the god of water."

"Are there blessings and favors, or just blessings?"

"Rather, are there favors? The blessing is a lower-tier effect you get after solving a mystery. I accidentally saw it on the bulletin board and had to take it."

"The bulletin board is dangerous! The blessing of the god of wind makes it easier to level up skills. What about water?"

"Hmm? Is it just improving attribute compatibility?"

"When a resident with a high appraisal level checked it, they said it had that effect. It seems that a low appraisal level doesn't show all the details."

"Does Homura have the blessing of the god of wind?"

"Yes."

"Alright, I understand. Let's level up skills."

While saying that, Peter confidently headed towards the next deer. I wonder if that's why the 'Steal' skill, which was hard to level up, is now increasing so much. Where can I get the blessing of the god of water?

When Peter disappears, the target becomes me. Of course, since there are only two of us.

I deflect with my sword, and thanks to 'Insight,' the damage I should take is completely nullified. Well, with level 6 and the 'Gloves of Dexterity,' I sometimes take damage, but the 'Activation Potion' is a good thing to have.

Peter lures and attacks enemies quickly, so there's no time to summon 'Black Luster.' I don't have the luxury to use 'Slow' either, as I need to defeat the enemy quickly. Peter is serious about leveling up.

It's faster to deflect with a sword than to summon 'Black Luster.' Incidentally, using 'Lure' attracted more monsters.

I'm deflecting with my sword, but since Peter is here, I want to level up my lower-level magic. I can defeat a deer with one of Peter's hits and my magic. My INT is doubled, so even though the levels are low, it's thanks to Master Ring!

Due to weapon equipment restrictions, it's not as overpowered, but it's more than strong enough.

For two or more, I use 'Dark Magic' or 'Lightning.' By the way, 'Red Lightning' sometimes paralyzes enemies, making it easy to steal, though if you fail, you can only take two items before the enemy has nothing left. However, the experience points differ significantly between success and failure, which Peter enjoys.

My level has increased.

Thanks to the favor, my AGI increase is abnormal!! I was stunned!

While repeatedly deflecting with my sword and using 'Equipment Change' to cast magic, an announcement came.

"By defeating 1,000 enemies above your appropriate level in a row, the skill 'Equipment Change' has evolved into the advanced skill 'Weapon Hold.'"

Why is the advanced skill of 'Change' 'Hold'? And it has a level?!

"I learned a skill."

"Me too."

It seems Peter also learned something.

"Is 1,000 enemies the benchmark for parties?"

If it's a party, it means Peter also learned something solo.

"Maybe. It was a waste to take so many breaks and gather materials when we first came here. What did you learn?"

"I can use 'Ambush' while 'Shadow Creep.'"

"That sounds strong."

"My 'Shadow Creep' level has increased, so I can move faster. I might be strong one-on-one, but if I can't finish the enemy in one hit and get counterattacked, I have to defend. With multiple enemies, I'm noticed before I can creep, so it's over. What about you?"

"I got 'Weapon Hold,' the advanced form of 'Equipment Change.' It seems I can use two weapons at once? I'm not quite sure."

"Try it out?"

A staff is floating within reach of my hand.

It seems I can cast magic while swinging my sword. When I grip the floating staff with my dominant hand, it has full power, but if I don't touch it, it's about a quarter of the power. The level suggests the power might increase.

When I release the sword to grip the staff, it floats around me. It seems I can use skills without touching it.

"Hmm, so there are double skills in this form."

"Does Peter's double skill have a level?"

Come to think of it, Peter used something similar. I asked.

"No. Using two doesn't reduce the power, but using 'Shadow Creep' or 'Shadow' cancels the state, so the skill I just got is useful. Does yours have a level?"

"Definitely."

"Looking forward to it."

"Magic is one thing, but it's strange that physical skills can be used without swinging a sword. The tip is still pointed at the target, though."

"My 'Double Skill' requires holding the weapon, so it's strange that it comes from a floating sword. It's great that skills can be directly obtained from experience, but I don't have enough skill points."

"The title 'Sage' has an effect of reducing skill points for magic skills by 1. It can't go to 0, but it's useful. Maybe there are similar effects for physical skills?"

"That would be nice. ...I've taken magic, thief, and assassin skills evenly."

"Still aiming for a tricky combat style?"

"It's fun. Ah, I'm in trouble. I got so caught up in leveling up that I didn't consider the time to return to town."

It's about time for a break. In the real world, it's noon, and it's Peter's work time.

"Ah, leave it to me."

It's the first time I'm showing the return spell.

Without 'Area Magic,' would I return alone?

"Seriously?"

The first words upon seeing the teleportation gate were, "Seriously?"

"I thought there would be return or teleport spells, but can you teleport without light?"

Peter is managing skill points and hasn't taken 'Earth Magic' yet, focusing on 'Dark Magic' first. I hope he can get 10 types of magic soon, but I can't say that because it might prevent him from getting them.

Yeah, even I, a professional, don't have enough skill points.

"Homura has already taken light, but I'll keep it a secret. Some assassin skills require not taking light, so I'll continue not taking it."

"I see, living in the dark, huh? You can probably get 'Air Magic' for returning without light. Maybe there are other skills that can replace double skills?"

"Let's hope so."

"Also, if you have a 'Neutral Stone,' you can probably make a return item. Probably."

"Neutral? I've never seen one."

"Me neither. Let's look for it patiently."

"No, please find it quickly."

Peter said he would bring a 'Neutral Stone' if he found one and ran off to the inn.

It seems he's in a hurry in the real world.

I start walking through the night streets to the inn.

The small inn I usually stay at, introduced by Ruba, is off the main street. It's not for adventurers, so the owner is probably already asleep. Guests can come and go freely at night, so I can enter at this hour.

When I first heard about it, I wondered about security, but the magical key ensures that if it doesn't return after the reservation period, the door won't open. One key opens both the front door and the room door, and returning it at check-out refunds part of the cost. The innkeeper's cooking is quite good, and it's a shame I can't have it today.

I take a bath in the room and slip into bed.

The best part is that each room has its own bath, though the room is small and almost entirely taken up by the bed.

So, what should I do when I wake up?

To equip the 'Nether Boundary Stone' Tasha made, I need to make it an accessory. I should list 'Crafting' before I accumulate skill points. There are dwarf blacksmiths and crafters in the capital, so it might be better to learn there. Magic stone processing is also in the capital. I need to go to the capital.

While thinking about production skills, I turn off the lamp on the side table.

□ □ □ □ □

・Increase・

Skill

【Weapon Hold】

□ □ □ □ □

Homura Lv.32

Rank D

Occupation Magic Swordsman Alchemist (Assassin)

HP 1057

MP 1335

STR 44

VIT 24

INT 71（＋1）

MID 20

DEX 26

AGI 45

LUK 25

NPCP 【Galahad】【－】

Titles

■General

【Communicator】【Circulating Power】【Mystery Solver】

【Economic Leader】【Lone Adventurer】【Nine Lives】

【Sage】【Elegant One】

■Blessings of the Gods

【Tasha's Blessing】【Val's Favor】

【Verna's Blessing】

■Titles from the Gods

【Tasha's Disciple】【Time of the Gods】

■Slayer Series

【Lizard Slayer】【Bug Slayer】

【Beast Slayer】【Gel Slayer】

【Bird Slayer】

【Dragon Slayer】

■Master Ring

【Sword King】【Sage King】

Skills (3SP)

■Magic and Spells

【Wood Magic Lv.7】 【Fire Magic Lv.7】【Earth Magic Lv.7】

【Metal Magic Lv.7】 【Water Magic Lv.7】【☆Wind Magic Lv.8】

【☆Lightning Magic Lv.12】【Light Magic Lv.16】【☆Dark Magic Lv.21】

【☆Air Magic Lv.10】【Time Magic Lv.2】【Druid Magic Lv.1】

■Healing and Holy Magic

【Healing Lv.6】

■Other Magic

【Magic Shield】【Stacking】

【☆Area Magic Lv.2】【☆Action Casting】

【☆Casting Shortening Lv.4】

■Swordsmanship

【Swordsmanship Lv.20】【Slash】

【Saber Lv.19】【☆Flash Lv.6】

【☆Phantom Blade Lv.7】【☆Insight Lv.6】

■Summoning

【White Lv.1】

■Spirit Magic

Water Spirit【Rufa Lv.3】

Dark Spirit【Black Luster Lv.4】

■Talent

【Body Techniques】【Evasion】

■Movement and Actions

【☆Carry】【Jump】【☆Hover】【☆Sky Glide】

■Production

【Alchemy Lv.11】【Alchemy Synthesis Lv.2】【Cooking Lv.8】

■Gathering

【Gathering】【Mining】

■Appraisal and Concealment

【Tool and Medicine Appraisal Lv.6】【Plant and Food Appraisal Lv.6】

【Animal and Monster Appraisal Lv.6】【Skill Appraisal Lv.5】

【Weapon and Armor Appraisal Lv.5】【Insight】

【Presence Detection Lv.19】【Presence Dilution Lv.14】【Concealment Lv.