Chapter 90

"Hey, how did you get the [Art of the Bedchamber]♪"

Galahad asked with a lecherous grin, clearly enjoying himself.

"Something like a thousand women, huh?" he added.

"No, I just ate a peach I got from Dull's field. I haven't done anything suspicious," Homura replied, maintaining his innocence.

"Oh, Homura, could it be that you...?"

Camilla looked at him with a teasing smile.

"No, no, if a guy gets something like that, he's going to try it, right?"

"What, no matter how you answer, it's a lose-lose situation!?"

Eagle watched the exchange with a smile, calmly drinking his alcohol, showing no intention of joining the interrogation or helping out. You, you think this is none of your business!

"[Attack Seize - Life][Attack Restore - Magic][Sturdy Shield of Earth][Physical - Effect][Magic Nullification], hmm, I'm torn," he said, pretending to be uninvolved as he considered the skills.

"Hehe"

"What kind of effect does it have, I wonder?"

Camilla, please stop tracing my chest with your fingertips while pressing her chest against my arm! Galahad is also egging me on with a lecherous grin.

"You're so cute~"

"Want to take you to a brothel later? Practical experience is the best, you know," Galahad said.

You.

"Alright, I get it," Homura replied.

"Huh?"

A moment later, I averted my eyes from the three who had collapsed and called out to White, escaping into a state of reality avoidance.

"What did you do, my friend?"

"I accidentally fell for the drunk's provocation."

"Engaging multiple opponents is not a good idea."

"Just a kiss, just a kiss, I swear!"

"Yet, you ended up in a rather suspicious state, didn't you?"

This skill seems to depend on mental and dexterity attributes. While strength and endurance are important, with the Master Ring, I surpass the three. If they can resist, let them try! It was a momentary lapse.

I thought it wouldn't be fair to only "practice" with Camilla, so I did it equally, in a rush. I never expected a single kiss to lead to such a mess. This feels like a light novel. I'll exercise my right to remain silent regarding the details of the mess.

"I acted on impulse, and now I'm reflecting on it."

Calmly, I thought about at least laying the three who had collapsed on the floor on futons. After setting up the Kikuhime-made Concealment Array futons, I looked at the scene objectively and couldn't bear it, so I called out to White. I'm currently petting her.

"Petting White calms me down."

"I'd prefer to be called for combat."

"By the way, isn't White, Hasfaan? You're quite famous, you know."

"Is that so?"

"Well, to me, you're just White."

"Most people expect combat power."

"Is it okay that I know your name?"

"Hmph, the [True Name] is different from its pronunciation in this world. No matter how closely someone tries to approximate the name they've heard, it will be distorted in the Astral Plane."

It seems that unless you hear it directly from the true entity, you can't pronounce it correctly in the world that affects the soul.

"Unless you read it from the Book of True Names, of course. But you won't be able to read the characters this time."

"Speaking of combat power, I've decided to keep Bahamut. Do you think we can get along?"

"Keep... What are you going to keep?"

"Bahamut."

"So, what name did you give Bahamut? You've seen his dragon, right? If it's similar, it will be a troublemaker."

"No, I didn't name it. It's Bahamut, the dragon companion of the beast that was sealed by Vers, and White knows it too."

They glared at each other.

"Are you an idiot! There's no way anyone can control that troublemaker!"

"Well, it's true, but I've already prepared a place for it."

He looked at the blue gem resting on his chest.

"......!!?!"

White, who seemed to have confirmed what the gem was, widened her eyes and bristled her back and tail fur. The fluffy tail felt good to touch.

"Did you really bring it when asked... I thought it would be resealed by Vers."

As White sighed, Eagle seemed to return to reality a bit.

"Ughh!! Enough!!"

"I, I'm surprised."

Next, Galahad woke up with a shout, full of energy.

"Sorry! So, can we please not do that again?"

Galahad, more energetic than usual.

"I got a bit carried away, sorry."

Camilla, who had apparently recovered, looked at him with a slightly flushed face and fidgeted.

"I don't want to be dragged into this."

Eagle sighed.

It seems they fully realized the fear of giving in to the moment.

The feeling of cutting through the flesh to reach the bone is intense, but this should calm things down.

"Well, I wasn't very mature either."

"Let's consider this an accident and forget about it. Homura, can you cast the [Holy Magic] 'Refresh' on us?"

"Huh? Sure, but..."

"Probably, it will help us calm down."

'Refresh' is a magic I learned along with the healing magic I sealed. I thought it was a spell to refresh the mind and body when tired.

It seems there are other uses.

Oh no, Eagle seems to know more about the effects of magic and my skills. I need to read up on them seriously later.

"Oh, this clears the hangover too."

"Strong stuff," Camilla said, shaking her head.

"You guys also had a rough time."

White said. What kind of rough time, what kind of rough time?

"Huh?"

"Aww, cute."

"Is this Homura's summon? It's white, just like its name."

"Huh? Can you see it?"

Maybe it's because the name is in my status?

"It's not hiding, so people can see it. It doesn't like people, but it has to compromise to participate in battles. Right now, it's clearly your summon."

"It's my healing fur ball."

White got kicked in the hind legs.

We sat on the futons and started discussing the skills over a cup of Berry tea.

"Skills with a god's name, like the powerful [Sturdy Shield of Earth], can't be used without the corresponding god's [Blessing]. Also, the level is limited to what Homura can use, and the effect is slightly reduced, right?"

"I have Fal's [Blessing], so I'll use [Holy Magic]. [Physical - Effect] is tempting, but I'll go for the safe option."

"Then, I'll go with [Physical - Effect]."

"[Magic - Effect] or [No Incantation]... No, I'll take [Action Incantation] because I'm giving you the [Bow]. Fortunately, I have [Shortened Incantation], and the reduced effect of [No Incantation] seems to end up being [Shortened Incantation] anyway."

This means we should focus on leveling up the chosen skills.

After all three of us made our choices, an announcement was made.

[The [Involved] have chosen their skills. By granting permission to use your skills, the [Involved] can use one of your skills, and your status values will increase by 5% per user. However, if a skill user breaks ties with you and stops using the skill, or if they die while in a party with you, your status values will decrease by 10% per user.]

[Do you grant permission to use your skills?]

Ah, a numerical bond.

"Let's have a long and pleasant relationship."

I granted permission and bowed slightly to the three, asking for their cooperation.

[You have obtained the title [Bearer of Bonds]]

Gah!

What an embarrassing title.

"Oh, your title has changed."

"Maybe because we chose skills?"

"From [Involved] to [Willing to Form Bonds], what a funny title to an embarrassing one."

It seems the titles of Galahad and the others also changed from passive to active, but the effects remain the same.

The effect of [Bearer of Bonds] is what was mentioned when granting permission to use the skills.

"Well, let's have a good relationship from now on."

"Same here."

"Let's have a good relationship."

"White, too."

"Hmph. Well, as your summon, I'll always be with you."

She disappeared after saying that, blushing as I petted her head.

"Let's follow White's lead and go to sleep."

It seems I'm not the only one feeling embarrassed, as Galahad suggested, and everyone agreed.

"By the way, you also had a Concealment Array...?"

"The shape is different from the one I know."

"I also bought a thin one."

Think about it, if you're used to a bed, can you really sleep on the floor, let alone the ground with just a blanket? After meeting Tasha and Val on the Trial Cliff, I woke up in the morning, wondering if it was a temple, but at that time, I hadn't performed [Pain Release], so it wasn't comfortable, but it wasn't uncomfortable either.

But now, with just a blanket on the ground, I start feeling pain all over in less than an hour. Kikuhime's specially made futon is comfortable when two are layered.

Kikuhime must have felt the same way, which is why she made the futon. I even muttered about a mattress, but I don't know if it's within the scope of [Sewing].

Maybe you can buy a mattress and use the Concealment Array as a sheet.

...I got sidetracked.

"Every time I strategize with Homura, my senses get messed up, especially with the cooking."

"While it's good to rest both body and mind, if we get used to this, we might only be able to go on adventures with Homura."

"Cooking aside, I think I can imitate this. But, Homura, it's a good idea to get used to camping outside when you have the chance. You can feel the presence of approaching monsters through the ground when you sleep on the ground."

"Right, it sharpens your senses. You can feel footsteps and vibrations, which can be helpful. It's good to get used to camping and be able to switch to a normal routine."

"Understood."

But, sleeping is almost the same as logging out. Still, for the sake of the adventure atmosphere, I'll try. Maybe I'll get new skills.

"It doesn't matter in a safe zone, but let's sleep together."

Again, Camilla's chest.

It's very soft, but wasn't it supposed to be firm?

We ended up with two people per futon, with the upper body on the futon and the lower body on the regular Concealment Array.

Camilla is next to me.

What if I wake up in a compromising position?

Today's battle was more about my skills and title than the dungeon boss. Vers even appeared.

...It's not Vers herself, but did I meet the conditions to summon her?

In the list of gods for skill descriptions, only Vers's name is white while the others are gray.

Eh, is the first god I summon going to be her? I have some resistance.

It seems the most intimate (?) in this context, which is really uncomfortable.

"Still, the God of Light is generally seen as a strict god, along with Asha, who identifies and tests the 'Hero.'"

Galahad spoke as if reading my thoughts about Vers.

"Even as a hidden god, unlike the God of Darkness, there are many stories about the 'Hero' legend."

I suspect it's because Verna is reserved, and Vers is more aggressive, so she couldn't hide completely.

"Was she giving tests and identifying heroes in that manner?"

Eagle's complex murmur ended the conversation.

Good night.

□ □ □ □ □

・Increase・

Title

[Bearer of Bonds]

□ □ □ □ □

Homura Lv.35

Rank C

Clan Zodiac

Occupation Magic Swordsman Alchemist (Assassin)

HP 1219

MP 1570

STR 64

VIT 34

INT 123

MID 43

DEX 40

AGI 70

LUK 58

NPCP [Galahad][－]

Title

■General

[Communicator][Circulating Power][Mystery Solver]

[Economic Pioneer][Lone Adventurer][Nine Lives]

[Sage][Elegant One][World Soarer]

[Pain Release Practitioner][Overcoming Labyrinth Slayer]

[Prepared Defense][Feeder][Environment Changer]

[Fire Suppressor][Bearer of Bonds]

■Blessings of the Gods

[Asha's Favor][Val's Favor]

[Dull's Favor][Rusha's Favor]

[Fal's Favor][Tasha's Favor]

[Verna's Favor][Vers' Favor]

■Titles from the Gods

[Asha's Brief Guide]

[Dull's Fruit][Dull's Earth][Dull's Fingertips]

[Rusha's Gem][Rusha's Eye][Rusha's Preparation]

[Fal's Water Lily]

[Tasha's Host Tree][Tasha's Disciple][Tasha's Magic]

[Val's Feather]

[Vers' Eye]

[Mark of the Gods]

[Time of the Gods]

■Slayer Series

[Lizard Slayer][Bug Slayer]

[Beast Slayer][Gel Slayer]

[Bird Slayer][Demon Slayer]

[Dragon Slayer]

■Master Ring

[Sword King][Wise King]

Skills (3SP)

■Magic and Sorcery

[Wood Magic Lv.30][Fire Magic Lv.30][Earth Magic Lv.28]

[Gold Magic Lv.27][Water Magic Lv.27][☆Wind Magic Lv.30]

[☆Light Magic Lv.28][☆Dark Magic Lv.30]

[☆Lightning Magic Lv.29][Scorching Magic Lv.15][☆Ice Magic Lv.25]

[☆Heavy Magic Lv.25][☆Air Magic Lv.25][☆Time Magic Lv.28]

[Druid Magic Lv.28][☆Alchemy Magic Lv.17]

■Healing and Holy Magic

[Holy Magic Lv.29]

[Illusion Lv.1]

■Other Magic

[Magic Shield][Stacking]

[☆Area Magic Lv.29]

[☆Magic - Effect Lv.24]

[☆Action Incantation][☆No Incantation]

[☆Magic Charge Lv.19]

■Swordsmanship

[Swordsmanship Lv.31][Slash]

[Sword Lv.32][☆Flash Lv.25]

[☆Phantom Blade Lv.19]

[☆Sword of Judgment]

■Throwing Weapons

[Thread Lv.35]

■Other Physical Skills

[Throwing Lv.6]

[☆Observation Lv.28]

[Physical - Effect Lv.17]

■Defense

[☆Sturdy Shield of Earth]

■Other Combat Skills

[☆Magic Nullification][☆Weapon Hold Lv.25]

[☆Attack Seize - Life Lv.7][☆Attack Restore - Magic Lv.25]

[☆Skill Return Lv.1]

■Summoning

[White Lv.14]

[☆Summon] 'Vers'

■Spirit Magic

Water Spirit [Rufa Lv.23]

Dark Spirit [Black Jade Lv.31]

■Talent Skills

[Body Techniques][Evasion][Way of the Sword]

[Code Deciphering][☆Mind Eye]

■Movement and Actions

[☆Carry][Jump][☆Hover][☆Sky Soar]

[☆Aerial Movement][☆Aerial Action]

[☆Water Movement][☆Underwater Action]

■Production

[Alchemy Lv.28][Advanced Alchemy Lv.35]

[Cooking Lv.33][Jewelry Lv.22]

■Other Production Skills

[☆Rusha's Fingertips][☆Manifestation]

[☆Plant Growth][☆Green Earth]

■Gathering

[Harvesting][Mining]

■Appraisal and Concealment

[Appraisal Lv.40][Insight]

[Aura Perception Lv.41][Aura Dilution Lv.39][Concealment Lv.40]

■Removal and Prevention

[☆Seal Removal Lv.1][Trap Removal]

[Lockpicking][Unlock][Theft Prevention Lv.24]

■Enhancement

[Strength Enhancement Lv.7][Intelligence Enhancement Lv.11][Spirit Enhancement Lv.9]

[Dexterity Enhancement Lv.8][Agility Enhancement Lv.10]

[Swordsmanship Enhancement Lv.8][