Chapter 47

The demon spirit Abinion used its omnipotent power to transmit the image.

Being able to observe a place where I am not present is indeed quite mysterious, and thus, the scenes that will be described from now on do not include me.

However, they will be narrated from my perspective.

◆

It seemed to be the arena in the capital of Rurum, as usual.

A great battle was already underway. This appeared to be the main exam that official candidates (adventurers with skills) could take.

The remaining candidates... probably all had skills, but they were being scattered without regard for that by the A-rank adventurers who claimed to be examiners.

A large man, a beautiful girl, and a middle-aged leader. Three out of the four A-rank adventurers who appeared first were wreaking havoc, sending the candidates flying left and right. The scene was nothing short of a massacre.

What are they doing? I could only tilt my head in confusion as I received the image.

"It seems to be a simple screening process," Abinion explained.

"Only those who can withstand their fierce attacks and show potential can advance to the next stage. It seems they plan to reduce the number of candidates to about one-tenth at this stage."

They're cutting down a lot in the first stage.

Isn't it a bit too rough?

And while we, the ones without skills, are struggling with the preliminary exam for dungeon escape, they're advancing way too fast, aren't they?

"It seems they have no intention of waiting for the master at all," Abinion continued.

Sure enough! All of us without skills are expected to run out of strength inside the dungeon, damn it!

That's why they can ignore us and push through the main exam!

"Well, the master can definitely return, so there's no need to worry. The problem is that girl."

That girl?

"Noem."

Right, I asked Abinion to send the image because I was worried about Noem!

How is Noem doing? Is she safe!?

Searching through the images I received... there she was!

Noem was there!

But she's in a big pinch!?

There's an active A-rank adventurer right in front of her!?

"Hmm? The next prey is cute, huh?"

Moreover, their gazes were completely locked. She was clearly targeted.

She was the only girl among the four examiners who stood in a row at the beginning. She had a cat-like aura.

"Well, that's a problem. She's so cute that I want to take my time with her. But today is the exam, and I'm told to proceed quickly."

"..."

"I can't help but want to toy with my prey due to the influence of my skill. It's stressful to go against my instincts."

Even through Abinion's image, I could see her parameters.

---------------------------------

【Name】Sigeal

【Type】Human

【Gender】Female

【Age】19

【Lv】39

【Skills】Beast Transformation (Leopard)

* Skill Description: Grants the user the abilities and characteristics of a beast. Increases strength, agility, and senses, but decreases intelligence. The deeper the transformation, the stronger the enhancements, but the lower the cognitive abilities.

【Affinity】Nyaa

---------------------------------

"My skill is Beast Transformation! By transforming my body into a beast, I gain the power of a beast! I'll increase the transformation depth for you, little girl!"

Sigeal's body began to transform...!?

Golden fur sprouted from her limbs, and her claws sharpened. Her expression turned fierce, and her eyes changed to an amber color reminiscent of a feline. Even a tail grew.

"Nya nya nya nya...! At 50% transformation depth, you have no chance against me, little girl. But don't worry. If you struggle well, I might let you pass as a promising candidate..."

"I have no problem. I will crush you."

"Nya?"

The sudden declaration made the cat-human's tail wag.

"You are the worst. You only judge people by whether they have skills and don't look at their character. Ryouya is much stronger than any of you, yet you treat him so poorly."

"What are you saying? I don't understand at all. Is it because my transformation depth is high and my thinking is dull?"

"That's why I will crush you and prove that you are not as great as you think. I am much weaker than Ryouya, but I can still defeat you."

"Hmm, I see! You're challenging me, aren't you? That's quite the nerve to challenge an A-rank!"

She raised her sharp claws and lunged. But before she could, Noem was already holding a vial of medicine.

A transparent glass container with a suspiciously colored liquid inside.

"Idiot! Don't get too close!"

"Nya nya nya!?"

The cat stopped abruptly at the voice from outside.

A sharp voice.

"That girl has the <Alchemist King> skill, as mentioned in the records! Her skill rank is far higher than your <Beast Transformation>! Don't underestimate her!"

The one speaking was another active A-rank adventurer, who was dispersing candidates in another area. It was Soaides, the leader.

The way he scolded the cat girl was like a beast tamer.

"Ku!"

Noem opened the vial and sprinkled its contents.

"Nya nya nya nya!"

Alerted, the cat girl retreated with agile movements, avoiding the medicine. As expected, with the abilities of a beast, she was quick and had no trouble dodging.

"Ngiaaaah!? What is this!? It smells so bad!?"

"It smells!? No, it hurts! It feels like it's piercing the back of my nose! That medicine is so pungent!"

"Your transformation increases your senses, including sight, hearing, and smell, to the level of a beast. That's why you react so strongly to a drug that wouldn't affect a normal human."

Noem, attacking with smelly things again?

Didn't she do this a lot recently?

"Felines mark their territory with urine containing special components. For you, with the characteristics of a feline, this demon repellent, which contains a large amount of those components, is extremely effective. What would happen if I applied it directly to your body?"

"What a devilish idea!? Stop it!?"

But Noem had more than just a couple of vials of demon repellent hidden in her clothes. She threw six bottles at once, removing the caps and scattering the contents.

"Ngiaaaah!? It stinks! It stinks so much!? The smell is getting stronger!?"

"Deactivate your <Beast Transformation>, Sigeal! If you lose your beast's sense of smell, the smell won't bother you!"

The cat girl, writhing on the ground, couldn't hear the advice of her comrades. Her thinking was dulled by the transformation, so she couldn't come up with the obvious countermeasure.

But she was still a beast, and even while writhing, she dodged the smelly medicine Noem threw. She knew that if it touched her body, the smell would be unbearable.

"You're fast. How about this then?"

Noem threw more vials. But did anyone notice that the contents of the new vials were slightly different in color?

"Hehehe! No matter how many times you throw them, it's useless! I'll dodge them with my beast's agility!"

The cat, driven by instinct, was now completely focused on the avoidance game. Because she was trying to dodge, she was paying close attention to the thrown objects. Just as she was fully focused, the vial with a clear intent... exploded.

"Ngianiaaaah!?"

And it released a blinding flash.

This was not an explosion designed to blow the enemy away or cause burns. It was meant to blind the enemy with a light brighter than the sun.

"It's a flash potion I created through alchemy. If you're <Beast Transformed>, your vision is also heightened, right? It worked perfectly."

The poor cat girl, clutching her eyes, writhed on the ground. In that state, she couldn't avoid the demon repellent Noem poured over her.

"Ngiaaaah!? It stinks! It's so bright! My eyes are burning! My nose is on fire!"

In that state, no matter how much beast power she had, she was helpless. With her senses overwhelmed by the smell and the light, Noem's final move was... a club.

"Is that club... made with alchemy?"

Noem dutifully answered the fearful question from those around her.

"I am an alchemist, so I can't imitate a blacksmith. This is a ready-made club I bought from a store."

"Oh, that's... that's a relief..."

But to think that would be a relief is strange.

A store-bought club is still a blunt weapon.

"After buying it, I applied an alchemical enchantment to it."

"Eh?"

"As a result, during the moment of impact, it becomes ten times harder and three hundred times heavier. Here I go."

She swung it back.

Thud!