Chapter 11

＜Infinite Dendrogram＞ranked 87th in the daily rankings and 2nd in the "SF" genre.

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□ Capital Altea 【Paladin】Ray Sterling

"Alright, I'll part ways with you here, kuma."

"Hey, Brother Bear, aren't you going to help me level up?"

"Yesterday, I helped you with quests, but I originally planned to part ways after the welcome, equipment gathering, and job decision, kuma."

"Why?"

"Power-leveling creates a gap in stats and player skills, kuma. Dendro values player skill and ingenuity, so solo travel helps you hone those skills, kuma."

"But I'm here, so it's a duo journey, not a solo one."

Power-leveling means getting a stronger player to help you level up easily.

For example, having a strong player take the hits from a strong monster while you deal the final blows to level up quickly.

Indeed, doing that might level you up well, but you won't improve your player skills.

"Besides, Dendro has the ＜Embryo＞ system, kuma. Relying too much on others can hinder the proper growth of your ＜Embryo＞, kuma."

"Is that so?"

"It's possible."

Given that my current Nemesis is the result of my playstyle from the beginning, it's plausible.

"So, I'll say goodbye here, kuma. But if you're really in trouble, contact me, kuma."

"Only if I'm really in trouble."

"Yeah, but try to handle things on your own first, kuma."

"Got it. Thanks for everything since yesterday."

"No problem. Oh, and..."

Brother Bear leaned in with his mascot head and said,

"If anything happens with a high-ranked player, contact me immediately."

"Brother?"

His tone was a bit serious again.

"Well, yesterday was an exception, but don't worry and enjoy Dendro, kuma."

With that, Brother Bear left.

At the same time, the announcement "Party disbanded" appeared, and Brother's simple status, which had been displayed all along, disappeared.

With Brother gone, it was just me and Nemesis.

"Well, Master. Now that we're on our own, do you have a destination in mind?"

"Brother gave me a few low-level hunting grounds, so I'll check them out."

"Leveling up sounds fun. I'm hungry for blood tonight."

"It's still daytime."

◇

The first hunting ground Nemesis and I visited was the ＜Easter Plain＞ just outside the eastern gate of Altea.

The view was excellent, and I could see monsters hopping around and players battling them.

Come to think of it, this is the first time I've seen other players in action.

"Alright, let's get started."

"Agreed."

Nemesis responded, transforming into a large black sword.

I swung the sword, which was more like it was wrapped around my shoulder, up and down.

"It's not as heavy as it looks."

With my STR, I can handle it normally.

It's about as heavy as a souvenir katana I bought on a school trip, or maybe a metal pipe.

"Isn't it rude to comment on a lady's weight, kuma?"

"But this is definitely lighter than when you're in human form, right?"

What about the law of conservation of mass?

"...In a place with magic and a different flow of time, worrying about the law of conservation of mass is pointless, kuma."

That's true.

"Besides, it's probably not that light for others. It's just light because it's attached to you, kuma."

"Is that so?"

"That's how it is."

If that's the case, then it's fine. We won't level up by just talking.

"Let's start leveling up."

"My arm is itching, kuma."

Two hours later.

My level had increased by 3, and I hadn't taken any damage.

"...Why am I not taking any damage even when I get hit?"

Since coming to this hunting ground, I've been fighting monsters like ＜Little Goblins＞ and ＜Pashirabbits＞, which are clearly early-game trash mobs.

However, no matter how many times I get hit by them, the damage is 0.

"Of course, it's not surprising, kuma. You have good equipment for this level, and you have the ＜Damage Reduction＞ skill, right? With that, any damage below 10 is reduced to 0, kuma."

The monsters in this hunting ground can't deal more than 10 damage to me with my equipped gear.

Thinking about it, my initial HP at level 1 was around 100.

Considering this is a beginner-friendly hunting ground with initial equipment and stats, the monsters are probably designed not to kill you easily.

By the way, my HP at level 4 is over 700.

About 200 of that is from skill adjustments, but even without that, it's increased by over 400.

Liliana, a ＜Paladin＞ at level 60 and a total level of 210, had around 5000 HP, but at this rate, I'll have over 6000 HP when I reach ＜Paladin＞ level 60.

"That's impressive."

"High-tier jobs have good stat growth, kuma. Also, me. My stat adjustments, especially HP, are the highest, kuma."

My HP adjustment was supposed to be D.

The significant HP growth seems to be the result of combining ＜Paladin＞ and ＜Embryo＞ adjustments. The ＜Embryo＞ adjustments are quite substantial, I realize.

Of course, other stats have also increased, though not as noticeably as HP.

Additionally, I learned a healing magic skill called ＜First Heal＞, which allows me to recover to some extent on my own.

"Hmm, should we change hunting grounds?"

At this rate, we can handle a bit stronger enemies.

"Agreed, kuma. I was feeling a bit unsatisfied too."

Yeah, I've been cutting Goblins and Rabbits in half with one hit, which was a bit scary.

The monsters don't leave corpses, which is good, but otherwise, it would have been quite gory.

"Next, we should head to the ＜Noz Forest＞ north of the city."

"Then let's return to the capital first. It's about time for sweets, kuma."

Sweets time...

"I can afford the tea, at least."

What about dinner last night?

I'd like to save the remaining money from selling the full plate armor for the next level of equipment...

◇

I kept Nemesis in her large sword form as we headed back to the capital.

On the way, I watched other players hunting.

Many were wearing the initial equipment from the catalog, so they were probably beginners like me.

However, each had something unique that other players didn't have.

One had a chain sickle.

I thought it would automatically extend and attack monsters when thrown, but the sickle burrowed into the ground and attacked from below.

Another had a baby carriage.

It carried an egg-like object, and the player was holding the handle with one hand while desperately swinging a sword with the other to fight monsters.

Another had a stone hut.

There was a hole in one wall, and the player was attacking monsters with a slingshot from inside. Monsters that bit the hut were paralyzed.

Another had a red glowing barrier.

Monsters that stepped into the barrier exploded like they had stepped on a landmine. The player was also blown away.

All of these were ＜Embryos＞ like my Nemesis.

"...There are so many types."

"The chain sickle is an Arms, the hut is a Castle, and the landmine field is a Territory. The baby carriage is... something. A tool Arms or a Chariot, maybe..."

＜Embryos＞ in the basic categories other than Maiden.

They look fun to use.

"Cheating?! You're thinking about cheating while holding me in your right hand?!"

...Does holding count as cheating?

"Not at all. I just thought it was interesting how each ＜Embryo＞ has unique and mysterious abilities. It's very fantastical."

Brother Bear's was obviously heavy weapons or military equipment, which was a different level of fantasy.

"Each ＜Embryo＞ being unique is the basic concept, kuma."

"Also, Nemesis is pretty bulky for a first form, isn't she?"

"Bulky?!"

Yeah, the large sword mode.

As I walked, I saw another player fighting monsters.

Unlike before, there were two figures.

One was a player a bit younger than me, probably a middle or high school student, wearing initial equipment.

Despite being dirty from mud and blood from battle, he still looked cool and cute.

His initial equipment was similar to mine but with a coat instead of a jacket.

The other was distinctive, a little devil girl with a tail and bat wings, looking like a typical demon.

"Haah!"

"Hey!"

They were fighting hard but were surrounded by four ＜Little Goblins＞, so things didn't look good.

I wanted to help, but it felt intrusive.

"＜First Heal＞"

I used the healing magic I learned to heal their HP, a so-called "street heal."

Since we weren't in a party, I couldn't see their stats, but their wounds visibly healed.

"Ah! Thanks!"

"Thanks a lot!"

They regained their composure and continued the battle.

◇

Five minutes later, they had defeated all the ＜Little Goblins＞.

"Good job. ＜First Heal＞"

I used the healing magic again on the two after the battle.

"Thanks for the healing! We really needed it."

"Thanks a lot!"

"Don't worry about it. I just wanted to test out the healing magic."

Actually, being thanked makes me a bit embarrassed.

"Yesterday, I've been thanked a lot, kuma."

Suddenly, the weight of Nemesis in my right hand disappeared.

At the same time, human-form Nemesis was standing next to me.

"Eh, eh!?"

"Huh? You're..."

The two looked surprised, but Nemesis ignored them and stared at the little devil girl.

"Hmm, not a fellow, but a Gardener. However, a Gardener this human-like is rare, kuma."

"Hey, Nemesis, stop staring. It's rude."

"Sorry, sorry. I was just curious, kuma."

I understand what she's curious about, though.

"My ＜Embryo＞ is sorry."

"Don't worry about it. Still, I didn't know ＜Embryos＞ could transform!"

"Yes, I'm ＜Embryo＞ TYPE: Maiden with Arms, Nemesis!"

Nemesis introduced herself with a dramatic flair.

I'm the one who's embarrassed.

"By the way, I'm Ray Sterling. I just started ＜Infinite Dendrogram＞ yesterday."

"Ah, I'm Luke. I also just started yesterday."

"I'm Babylon! ＜Embryo＞ TYPE: Gardener!"

Luke and Babylon, huh.

"But isn't a Gardener supposed to be a monster type?"

Babylon looks almost human except for the tail and wings. The tail and wings could be added with a costume, so there's no real difference.

If asked whether she looks more like a monster or a human, I'd say human.

"I'm an Incubus! Sexy, cute, and irresistible!"

Incubus.

A succubus?

"Hey, Babylon, don't be so open about it in public!"

"But I'm proud of being an Incubus, so I'm not embarrassed, kuma?"

"I'm embarrassed!"

"...Luke, are you embarrassed, Babylon?"

Babylon made a teary-eyed, pleading face.

It's a powerful look. Luke was flustered.

"Um, it's not that I'm embarrassed, but... it's embarrassing to have my thoughts probed, you know..."

I feel a sense of déjà vu.

I think I can get along with Luke.

"Hey, Babylon, don't cause your Master too much trouble."

"You're one to talk."

◇

Luke and Babylon were planning to finish hunting there, so we returned to the capital together.

Then, since we were there, I invited Luke and Babylon to join us for sweets.

There, we found...

"It's peach season, kuma."

Nemesis, who was eating a peach tart for the first time, claimed to know it was peach season and was already on her 17th plate,

"Sweets are best with this, kuma."

Babylon, who was pouring "chili sauce" on a strawberry parfait.

"...No, there's no chili sauce."

"I agree... But Nemesis's eating speed is also... "

"I understand that too..."

It's strange.

Nemesis and Babylon are only one day old, yet they have enough knowledge to care about the season and preferred condiments.

Yesterday, she said she wasn't human even in human form, but...

"To be honest, we ＜Embryos＞ use our ＜Master＞'s memory before birth, kuma. We learn about the world from the world's system and about the world from our ＜Master＞, kuma."

Ah, so that's how she knows about the peach season.

"Basically, ＜Embryos＞ know everything about their ＜Master＞, kuma."

"What's my type?"

"Frankly, it's me!"

"Incorrect."

"Why!?"

Well, not everything, but general knowledge.

"Still, why does Babylon eat in such a sacrilegious way...?"

"Isn't it because of the name, Babylon, kuma?"

The Great Harlot of Babylon.

A woman in the Book of Revelation who rides a seven-headed beast, spreading corruption and fornication, and is considered the enemy of martyrs.

While it's unclear if Babylon is named after her, our Nemesis has skills named after Greek goddesses of revenge or divine punishment.

It seems ＜Embryos＞' names reflect their abilities.

"By the way, Babylon, as a succubus, what are some irresistible 'sexy appeals' for men, kuma?"

Hey, what are you asking, Nemesis?

"Plenty, kuma."

Plenty, huh.

Ah, Luke is choking next to me.

"Hmm, I'd like to hear more, kuma."

"Shoulder rub, foot massage, and the best is a knee pillow and ear cleaning set! Isn't that sexy?"

"..."

Sexy?

Isn't that just a massage? No erotic connotations.

"Actually, I meant something more... like a typical succubus story, kuma."

"What kind?"

"I, I don't know..."

If you're flustered by the question, don't ask, Nemesis.

"Um, I'm a minor, so Babylon is adjusting to that, kuma."

Luke, who had recovered from choking, explained, and I understood.

"Ah, age restrictions."

Like alcohol and tobacco.

For minors, the seductiveness of succubi is toned down to a level similar to a cute girl giving a massage to her father.

Later, I learned that a difficult dungeon, the ＜Succubus Palace＞, has drastically different difficulty levels depending on whether the player is a minor or not.

For adults, beautiful succubi seduce you, and while you're flustered, they drain all your HP, MP, and SP, killing you.

For minors, they attack without the sexy appeal.

＜Infinite Dendrogram＞ is a game that's hard to judge as either perverted or wholesome.

To be continued

The next post will be at 9:00 AM tomorrow.

＜Embryos＞' hatching and evolution patterns are infinite and vary by individual, so some may end up with unusual ones.

Also, an unimportant setting is that "＜Embryos＞ with human-like forms have peculiar eating habits." It's unimportant, so you don't need to worry about it.