Chapter 7

After the break, we resumed the battle.

With three of us now having the skill to detect presence, including myself, we find the enemies quickly. Mainly, it’s Leo who shouts, "Found one!" and runs off, so I follow him, but I feel like the speed of battle efficiency hasn’t really changed. Actually, Leo doesn’t seem to check if the others are following or if there are other enemies around.

During the break, I bought five MP potions from Shin at the price he bought them. Why did I, a martial artist, buy them?

After the battle, everyone apparently got the skill of natural HP recovery, and Shin was in agony.

"Used up my SP! Damn it!"

"Hahaha, me too! Just now!"

"Me too!"

"Huh? I already had it, why?"

"Maybe the skill list updates after the battle?"

Petro confirmed the skill list on the window.

"Seems like it. Probably because we took a break, that’s why it appeared. Homura, didn’t you take a break before getting the skill? You didn’t do anything different, right? If it appeared based on the number of battles, it would have appeared for us and Homura at the same time."

"Yeah, I did take a break."

"Mystery solved, that’s a relief."

Actually, I lay down and lazed around. The tutorial grassland was wonderful!

As we approached the forest, among the only enemies being the Rampaging Chickens, we started to encounter Rampaging Dodos, which are large turkey-like birds about waist-high. Their kicks are especially vicious, and they use skills. Unlike the Rampaging Chickens, they are active enemies, but since they only appear one or two at a time, we can hunt them without much trouble.

As long as Kikuhime’s defense and Ochazuke’s healing are balanced, we can steadily defeat enemies even if they change. As long as Leo doesn’t cause an accident, that is. He ran up to an enemy without noticing it was active, and by the time we caught up, he was being kicked around by two Dodos and was almost dead. I saw him being kicked even while drinking an HP potion. Watching this, I thought, "For now, soloing is probably only up to chickens."

"Are you a thief and don’t have the skill to dilute presence?"

"I have it, but I’m not using it!"

"Use it, or your level won’t go up."

Petro gave Leo a lesson with a smile.

The skill to dilute presence makes it harder for active enemies to notice you. Even if you are noticed, you can run to Kikuhime and be safe before being attacked. However, Leo usually rushes ahead too much, so there’s a distance.

Well, it’s business as usual.

Since we’ve gotten quite used to battles, we decided to head to the forest.

Let’s go with the pig guide.

Leo, who was leading, was blown away. An enemy came rushing in from outside the range of my presence detection, and there was no time to warn him. My presence detection range is still narrow because my level is low. No, wait, Leo, don’t get hit by presence detection users!

"Ughhh!"

"Jewelry shop~?"

"Key shop~"

Without thinking, I shouted the usual lines when I saw him fly, and Shin joined in.

Kikuhime activated a skill to draw the target.

Since Leo didn’t attack, the Chototsu easily switched its target to Kikuhime. Its attack power is high, and it reduced Kikuhime’s HP more in one hit than two Dodos did. Leo’s HP, which was full, dropped to less than a third.

However, once Kikuhime drew the target, the procedure didn’t change. Ochazuke healed Kikuhime, and we attacked. We ignored Leo’s HP until the Chototsu was defeated.

"Iron Ball!"

I cast the spell I learned when my gold magic reached level 2. It was a bit larger than a tennis ball, made of iron. Fire magic is probably Fireball.

"Back Attack!"

"Back Attack! Hahaha"

The two thieves used a skill that increases attack power when attacking from behind. Since their weapons are daggers, it’s more accurate to say they slash rather than stab.

We learned from the chickens that magic and slashes can hit allies, so Kikuhime is in front of the Chototsu, the two thieves are behind, Shin is on the right, and I’m a bit to the left. Ochazuke is a bit to the right and behind Kikuhime, in a position where she can see Kikuhime, Shin, and Leo clearly.

Incidentally, I aimed my magic at Kikuhime. My magic did more damage than the chickens pecking her. I need to reflect on that.

"Tiger 'Thrust'! Dragon 'Thrust'! Heaven 'Kick'!"

While this was happening, Shin’s combo shattered the Chototsu.

It seems that martial artists can increase their attack power by linking techniques in a specific order. However, he only knows three techniques for now. He has the skill to appraise, apparently.

He’s also shouting about EP. If the combo is too fast, the EP doesn’t recover in time, and the continuous attack is interrupted.

While individual techniques are less powerful than Kikuhime’s or my attacks, as the HP of enemies like bosses decreases, the combo’s power might become more reliable.

We obtained the Chototsu’s meat and skin. This much meat means there’s a cooking skill!

We encountered Chototsu (pigs) a few more times, but as long as we avoided or took the initial charge, we could defeat them without problems. This is because Leo was in front, and Petro and I were watching the sides. Until our presence detection levels improve, soloing is still difficult.

In between, Kikuhime, Shin, Leo, and Petro were munching on something.

As a magic user, I and Ochazuke can manage with three meals a day, but we drink MP potions instead. I’d prefer to eat, though. Presence detection needs to be checked frequently, but the EP consumption isn’t high. While using presence dilution, the EP decreases a bit faster, but it’s manageable with three meals and snacks.

I started using Fire Needle after imagining a roasted Chototsu, but that’s a secret. Water magic should be more compatible, but gold and fire magic reached level 2 first.

There are berries growing in the forest, and even without the gathering skill, you can gather them, though the amount differs. The EP recovery is minimal, but it’s a relief from hunger.

The taste is sweet and sour, and I want to make jam. In other words, it’s sour. After eating a few, I got used to the taste and it felt sweet, which is impressive how the sensation is reproduced.

By the way, when I had lunch, I got a skewer from Petro, who bought it from a stall, and orange juice from Kikuhime. I was teased a lot for forgetting to buy, but I didn’t have the time! The sad effort to save EP by not using presence detection in the grassland.

The tutorial took longer because of me, sorry. Lying down in the grassland was very comfortable.

I couldn’t give money, but I think the skewer, even if it’s just a skewer, is a big help for the initial wallet situation, so I’ll return the favor soon.

There were also 'Magic Berries' in the forest, which can only be gathered. Are they ingredients for MP potions? I stuffed the item pouch with berries and magic berries.

The item pouch can hold 30 items, each with 99 slots, separate from the equipment. However, if the item pouch is full, you can’t take off your equipment.

Current inventory:

Flying Rabbit Skin ×2

Flying Rabbit Meat ×1

Rampaging Chicken Egg ×11

Rampaging Chicken Meat ×35

Rampaging Chicken Feather ×44

Rampaging Dodo Egg ×10

Rampaging Dodo Meat ×20

Rampaging Dodo Feather ×16

Chototsu Skin ×6

Chototsu Meat ×6

Chototsu Fang ×3

Horned Rabbit Skin ×26

Horned Rabbit Meat ×25

Horned Rabbit Horn ×8

Herb ×23

Magic Berry ×22

Berry ×82

Enemies drop about three items, and one of them is rare. The berries are the only ones that stand out, but that’s because everyone picked them, not just me. The time spent picking berries is why they stand out. Incidentally, if a player without the gathering skill picks something, a player with the skill can gather more at once. I marked the berry spots on the map and will come back to gather more.

Is there an expansion for the item pouch? I’m worried because in every game, I struggled with adjusting the number of items in the inventory and storage.

The Horned Rabbits are white and have twisted horns, making them more aggressive. They attack in groups of 2-4.

Hunting Chototsu and Horned Rabbits, we reached level 3 and got 2 skill points. Were the 5 points a first-time bonus? A bit disappointing. I’ll think about what to take with the 2 skill points later. For stats, I put 2 points into intelligence.

The physical attack group took the natural HP recovery skill.

When we entered the forest, we encountered a wolf.

"Here it is~!!"

Kikuhime’s one hit reduced the wolf’s HP by almost half.

"Too hard, [Heal]!"

After casting heal, the wolf immediately switched its target to Ochazuke.

"Hold it!"

Petro’s skill made the wolf stiff.

"Let’s run while we can. It’s too hard."

We ran away and calmly returned to hunting Chototsu and Horned Rabbits.

We haven’t hunted many Chototsu because they come one at a time, but we overhunted Horned Rabbits.

When we reached level 5, it was getting dark, so we decided to head back to town, hunting enemies along the way. We were supposed to head back to town, but we ended up aiming for the river because Leo wanted to fish. Everyone was in a good mood after the first battle went well, and we moved while chatting. Fortunately, the river is near the town.

We managed to hunt a flying rabbit, and all three quests were completed.

The group of six Rampaging Chickens we avoided earlier was easy to clear on the way back.

"I’m hungry."

"Let’s grill the catch!"

"Don’t be ridiculous, we don’t have a fire starter!"

"How about using fire magic?"

"Let’s just fish today and be done with it."

While Leo was fishing, we chatted and gathered herbs and mined rocks by the river. Kikuhime and I had the gathering skill, while Ochazuke and Petro had the mining skill. Shin doesn’t have any collection skills and was considering taking [Fishing] while watching Leo. Leo looked very happy, so I understand why he wants to take the same skill.

While popping herbs, I asked everyone what production skills they took. Ochazuke, Shin, Leo, and Petro took [Blacksmith], Kikuhime took [Tailor], and I took [Alchemist]. The blacksmith rate is overwhelming, but there are branches in production, so we might end up in different directions eventually.

I noticed a light blue flower, the Lulu grass, which I saw on the guild board for an E-rank quest. I didn’t expect to find it here, as I thought it only grew in areas with goblins. Lulu grass blooms at night, and although it was still a bit light, it was getting dark.

"It’s getting dark, let’s head back to town."

Just as Shin said this, Leo got a bite.

"Hahaha, safe!"

As Leo reeled in a fish, a slime appeared, bouncing like a water balloon.

We were gathered to see Leo’s catch, so Kikuhime attacked and successfully drew the target.

"Dragon 'Thrust'!"

"Iron Ball!"

"Back Attack!"

"Back Attack!"

The damage wasn’t very effective.

"Fireball!"

The magic worked, and the target switched to me. It seems gold magic is treated as physical.

"Hold it!"

"Taunt!"

Petro’s hold skill and Kikuhime’s taunt helped me regain the target, and I felt relieved. I got taunted every third Fireball to avoid drawing the target. The EP consumption was scary, but the battle was stable.

The physical attacks only dealt 1-4 damage, which was troublesome, but the Water Slime’s attack power was about the same as a Dodo.

Just as I thought that, Kikuhime was covered in slime and got a status effect, and the target switched to me again. The initial damage was like hitting my foot against a door, but it was better than a little finger’s worth of damage.

"Ah, I can’t use skills~"

"Fireball!"

I gave up on getting Kikuhime to draw the target and continued attacking.

Water Needle felt like it would heal rather than damage, so I didn’t use it. My water magic isn’t improving!

Kikuhime’s damage was about the same as a Dodo, but it hurt a lot when I took it! This is the difference in defense!

Ochazuke healed me when my HP gauge was cut in half. It was tougher than the Chototsu?

"Can someone heal my MP? Drinking it feels like I’m about to die!"

Petro threw an MP potion to Ochazuke, who passed it to me. It made a sound like breaking thin glass and a red effect appeared, restoring my MP.

"Is Homura okay?"

"I’m fine, I recovered while waiting for the fish! Fireball!"

Taking [MP Natural Recovery] was a good choice, but it doesn’t work during battles.

I also got hit by slime, and the battle became quite long.

《Obtained Water Slime Meat》

《Obtained Water Slime Core》

《Reached Level 6》

《Fire Magic Reached Level 3》

《Skills [Slime Resistance], [Night Vision], [Impact Resistance] Added to Skill List》

It was quite tough!

By the time it was over, it was pitch dark, and we fled back to town with minimal recovery.

Once our eyes adjusted, we could see silhouettes of our companions in the moonlight, but it was still dark.

The Fastbrim where the flying rabbits were during the day was now taken over by snakes, and our MP and EP were low, so we followed Petro, who had [Night Vision] and [Presence Detection], to avoid enemies.

I learned that [Presence Detection] only shows a vague direction of enemies at night, so I used 2 skill points to get [Night Vision] during the move.

□ □ □ □ □ □

・Increase・

Lv +4

Skills

[Night Vision]

□ □ □ □ □ □

Homura Lv.6

Rank F

Occupation: Mage, Alchemist

HP: 144

MP: 226

STR: 10

VIT: 10 (+1)

INT: 29 (+7)

MID: 13

DEX: 9

AGI: 10

LUK: 10

NPCP: [Galahad] [—]

Title: [Communicator]

Skills (6SP)

■Magic

[Fire Magic Lv.3] [Gold Magic Lv.2] [Water Magic Lv.1]

■Production

[Alchemy Lv.1] [Alchemy Synthesis Lv.1]

■Collection

[Gathering]

■Appraisal & Concealment

[Item Appraisal Lv.1] [Plant Food Appraisal Lv.2]

[Animal Monster Appraisal Lv.2]

[Presence Detection Lv.1]

■Enhancement

[Int