Chapter 78

A bit late, but it's still within the hundred days, so it's safe!

And here's the character design for the book version to change the subject!

For Rex's character design, we considered various variations, but since everyone's image of Rex would be different and there would inevitably be misinterpretations, we decided to go with "the most distinctive one!" and it ended up like this.

And for Veteran, the editor gave an unusual "hold on" with, "Wait, isn't this Veteran a bit too cool?" and the hairline was slightly moved back.

How cruel...

This time, it's a rare gathering of everyone (excluding Veteran), so please read while comparing them!

"---Fire Enchant! Melt!"

The young mage, Nuke, declared the start of the battle with these words.

The quiet corridor immediately turned into a battlefield, and the situation began to unfold rapidly.

"---Ohhhhhhh!"

First to charge was Rad.

With a battle cry, he dashed down the corridor, raising his beloved sword, Brave Sword.

"---<Crimson Overstrike>!"

A strike enveloped in flames caught the bandage-covered monster, Greater Mummy.

I couldn't help but relax my lips, thinking, "He's really getting better."

Regarding manual arts, even I, who can be somewhat picky, found his sword flash to be flawless.

Rad's arts were initially somewhat awkward, but after the treasure hunter's trial, they suddenly improved, and now he can consistently deliver strikes that make even me nod in approval.

"Still not over!"

And the current Rad doesn't stop there.

After stunning the Mummy with his arts, he dashed past it, and then his mouth shouted,

"---<Over Arts: Flame Slash>!!"

A signal for an even more intense attack.

Rad, who had positioned himself in the Mummy's blind spot, delivered an additional strike with increased attack power due to <Double Arts>, slamming it into the bandaged monster.

A perfect, flawless hit.

The searing strike, which is the monster's weakness, burned its bandages and made the emotionless, painless creature stagger.

...But.

"Rad!"

Nuke's sharp warning.

The monster, staggering, raised its hand.

The burning bandages wrapped around it stretched out toward Rad.

"Uwah!"

In a completely different, panicked manner from his previous expert movements, Rad barely managed to avoid the stretching bandages.

However, the situation had completely reversed.

Despite receiving a powerful attack from Rad, the Mummy turned back to face him with a movement that showed no sign of damage.

...But, that's to be expected.

The monster we were facing, the Greater Mummy, is a level forty-two undead monster.

For Rad and the others, who are still in the early thirties, it's overwhelmingly strong.

It's not the kind of opponent that can be easily defeated with a few well-placed strikes.

"---Rad is still thoughtless"

However, even in such a dire situation, a familiar cold voice changed the atmosphere.

The elf archer, Prana.

She nocked an arrow to her bow and whispered,

"---<Mirage>"

At that moment, her figure blurred into three.

Then,

"...Huff!"

With a burst of energy, the arrow was released from the drawn bow at lightning speed.

There were three of them.

The arrows, all following the same trajectory, pierced the bandages about to attack Rad and pinned the monster's body to the ground.

"Thanks, Prana!"

"Next time, I'll shoot them all at once."

Prana, who responded to Rad's grateful shout with a sharp remark, glanced sideways.

"Leave the rest to me."

"Yes!"

Stepping forward was a small girl in a nun's habit.

However, her body was glowing white with overflowing magic power.

Aiming her staff at the monster, still restrained, Mana declared,

"---I'll finish it! <Holy Pillar>!!"

Instantly, a blinding light flooded the narrow space.

A pillar of light rose from the center of the monster's body, burning it and our eyes.

"Ugh!"

And when the light finally subsided, the bandaged monster was nowhere to be seen.

...The battle was over.

"Alright! Another one down!"

While Rad, who was cheerfully celebrating, was looked at with exasperation, Nuke sighed in relief and lowered his staff.

"Ultimately, I didn't get to participate."

Nuke, who looked half relieved and half unsatisfied, let his shoulders droop, but that wasn't the case.

"No. The battle went so smoothly because Nuke cast the first spell. You should be confident."

"R-really?"

Surprised to be directly praised by me, Nuke blushed and cleared his throat.

I used <Pierce> to analyze Nuke.

If we remove the bonuses from Nuke's stat-boosting equipment, his stats are....

---Nuke

LV 34

HP 512

MP 445

Strength 104 (D+)

Vitality 207 (C+)

Magic 396 (A-)

Spirit 214 (C+)

Agility 223 (C+)

Focus 257 (B-)

---

(He's leveled up again. Now, he's completely surpassed me in everything except strength.)

About ten days have passed since the commotion with Lily.

The turbulent year that caused numerous disturbances has passed, and the new year has arrived in this world.

While I was struggling with guild jobs, the members of Brave Blade, including Rad, didn't stop working hard and have become stronger.

Among them, Nuke has probably tried the most new things.

The once hothouse mage chose to ground himself and build his foundation.

As a result, he chose to become a <Sorcerer>, a user of debuff and support magic.

He looked back on his one-sided focus on attack magic and deliberately learned support magic, which could be considered a side path.

In this party, where everyone tends to rush forward, he is a truly sensible and good person.

And so,

"Indeed. He's much better than someone who rushes in and self-destructs."

As I was talking to Nuke, Prana, who had appeared out of nowhere, smiled wryly.

---Prana

LV 34

HP 430

MP 197

Strength 280 (B)

Vitality 166 (C)

Magic 148 (C)

Spirit 136 (C-)

Agility 284 (B)

Focus 440 (A-)

---

She, too, is one of those who deliberately took a side path to become stronger.

Her current class, <Trickster>, is a unique class like <Treasure Hunter>, obtained by meeting certain conditions, and its class line is a thief class that excels in close combat and guerrilla tactics, not a bow.

The <Mirage> skill Prana used in the battle is a signature technique of the <Trickster>.

This skill creates two clones of the user at the cost of a large amount of MP.

Although the cost is high, the clones have almost the same stats as the user and perform the same actions to confuse the enemy.

While it might seem like a powerful skill that triples the number of attacks, unfortunately, it is only for deception and not suitable for attacking.

The clones have only one HP and disappear instantly upon taking damage from any collision.

As a result, even if the user attacks, the clone's weapon will disappear upon contact with the enemy, making the attack ineffective.

However, this is not a problem for a ranged class that does not directly touch the enemy.

This skill can triple the number of attacks when used by someone who wields a bow or thrown weapons, which are designed for ranged combat.

(That said, it's not usually adopted because the skill effects don't apply...)

The clones only mimic the user's actions, not the effects of magic or attack skills.

While manual arts are an exception and work normally, for example, if an attack skill is used with a bow, the clone's attack will not trigger the skill effect and will be a normal attack.

Therefore, unless the user has a special combat style that involves casting buffs and preparing a large number of special effect arrows to use normal attacks, it is not often adopted...

"What?"

Noticing my gaze, Prana turned around.

"No, I was just thinking your timing for support was impressive."

"...Not really. It's just something I do all the time."

She replied indifferently, half to change the subject and half in earnest.

She turned away, still holding the attribute arrows I had infused with magic, and showed no sign of turning back.

I don't think she hates me, but we just don't seem to click.

As I was at a loss,

"Prana-chan is probably happy to be praised by Rex-san."

Mana, Prana's best friend and the healer, stepped forward to mediate.

In this <Brave Blade>, she is a girl who appears "normal" in both good and bad ways.

But I know she is not just that.

---Mana

LV 34

HP 464

MP 391

Strength 108 (C-)

Vitality 183 (C+)

Magic 342 (B+)

Spirit 464 (A)

Agility 169 (C)

Focus 255 (B-)

---

(As always, she's incredible.)

While Nuke and Prana have broadened their options, Mana has moved straight toward her strengths.

She is so suited to prayer that she even has a nickname like <Prayer Maiden>.

Her specialized spirit value is the only one in the party to reach an A rating, and the power of the light magic she casts is overwhelming.

Not only is her spirit value high, but she probably has a high aptitude for light magic.

In battles against undead, Mana is the main firepower of the party.

And of course,

"Old man, I leveled up again! Fighting higher-level enemies really speeds up growth!"

The cheerful boy, Rad, who ran up, must not be forgotten.

---Rad

LV 34

HP 772

MP 166

Strength 326 (B)

Vitality 337 (B+)

Magic 117 (C-)

Spirit 255 (B-)

Agility 242 (B-)

Focus 211 (C+)

---

While he may not be as specialized as the other members, his overall strength and stability are the best in the party.

Most importantly, during the treasure hunter's trial, he seemed to grasp the "tricks" of not just using manual arts but also positioning and strategy.

(...They really are scary.)

Despite training them myself, I can't help but think this.

And...

"Brother, what's next?"

The most monstrous of them all, my back was called by her.

---Recilia

LV 34

HP 694

MP 203

Strength 418 (A-)

Vitality 298 (B)

Magic 154 (C)

Spirit 278 (B)

Agility 585 (A+)

Focus 233 (B-)

---

A level of killing intent that makes me dizzy.

Her agility, which has increased even more since becoming a ninja, now surpasses even Mana's specialized spirit.

(They're all...)

If it were the old me, I might have been bitter.

...However.

It's not just Rad and the others who have grown.

My reflection appeared in the mirror in the corridor.

---The Lone Adventurer, Rex Toren.

A character who was said to have traded growth potential for a favorable starting level.

A man who, with his mediocre stats of all 200, was often used as a toy on the internet.

But, three months in this incomprehensible world.

Through various experiences, I have clearly grown.

I took off the stat-boosting ring and faced my reflection in the mirror.

Then, I activated my skill, looking at the unsmiling black-clad figure.

"---<Pierce>"

Can you see, Rex?

This is the culmination of three months of life-and-death struggle.

This is my current strength!!

---Rex

LV 50

HP 530

MP 265

Strength 201 (C+)

Vitality 200 (C+)

Magic 200 (C+)

Spirit 200 (C+)

Agility 200 (C+)

Focus 200 (C+)

---

A clear and undeniable growth!!

The next update is tomorrow!