Chapter 64

"Alright, let's get started then."

"Y-Yes..."

Having joined up with Fumito and the others, and having made our preparations, we stepped back into the forest once again. In addition to the usual three of us, our party now included Shepherd, his tamed monster, a MagiCat named Mea, and a fairy named Sylph. As can be seen from our formation, Shepherd and his companions were clearly in the rear guard. Well, we already had enough front-line fighters, and the only addition would have been a bear. In fact, we didn't really need a tank, and since it would also save us the trouble of healing, this setup was more convenient for us. I grinned and spoke to the tense-looking Shepherd.

"You just need to use your 'Curse Song' from the back. Let the cat handle the healing."

"Yes, I understand, but..."

The 'Curse Song' skill is a bit special. It involves playing a song with special effects, which then exerts its influence within the range of the sound. The effect can be triggered by either playing an instrument or singing, and the effect is even stronger if both are done simultaneously. However, the singing doesn't involve lyrics; it's just humming.

When the skill is activated, sheet music appears in front of you, and you can trigger the effect by playing or singing according to the music. At this point, you can choose between automatic or manual performance. If you choose manual and play well, the effect is said to be even stronger. In Shepherd's case, he uses manual performance and even adds singing, so he can achieve a fairly high effect.

However, there is a limit to the number of songs that can be played. When you first acquire the 'Curse Song' skill, you know one song, and you can learn one more song each time the skill level reaches a multiple of five. Shepherd's 'Curse Song' skill level is 16, so he currently knows four songs. However, the most recent song he learned is still under practice, so he can only fully utilize the effects of three songs. The ones I've already heard are the healing effect of 'Healing Sound' and the AGI enhancement effect of 'March.' The remaining song, which I haven't heard yet, is the key to our strategy today.

"...I will continue to use 'Ballad.' During this time, the enemies' movements will slow down, but I won't be able to use any other skills. Please consider that I won't be able to provide any magical support for myself."

"No, that's fine. Just slowing down their movements is enough."

Another 'Curse Song' that Shepherd has mastered is 'Ballad.' Its effect is to weaken the AGI of hostile entities, thereby slowing down their movements. While it's not a huge effect, even a noticeable slowdown is sufficient. This should help us deal with the enemies more effectively.

"Try a light skirmish to get a feel for it. Once you get into the rhythm, let's go all out."

The presence of the enemies is drawing near. As planned, it seems the monkeys are starting to form a group again. They are perfect practice targets. With a smile, I drew my sword. Immediately after, monkeys appeared between the trees, and at that moment, Luminia fired a light projectile. The flash of light cut through the dim forest, quickly heading straight for a monkey and piercing its shoulder. Despite focusing more on swordsmanship, her magical abilities as a spirit are still quite high. The monkey, heavily damaged by the single strike, let out its usual cry.

"Keeeeeaaaaaah!!"

"Alright... Shepherd, get ready."

"Understood."

Nodding, Shepherd positioned his harp. At the same time, several monkeys appeared from deeper in the forest and rushed towards us. The fact that we weren't being attacked from all directions was a small mercy. If that were the case, it would be difficult for Shepherd to cover us. However, since they aren't coming from all directions, we can use this to our advantage. As the monkeys approached, Shepherd's music began to resonate.

"Curse Song—Ballad"

The melody was slow and somewhat melancholic. The humming that accompanied the music added a calm and soothing tone to the battlefield. As the melody filled the air, the movements of the approaching monkeys began to change.

"Kee...?"

The monkeys, who had been charging forward, began to stagger. Perhaps distracted by the sound, they seemed to lack focus and moved more slowly. I thought they would just move more slowly, but this effect is interesting. In any case—

"This makes things much easier."

"Yes."

"Hmm..."

I closed in on the unfocused monkey and swiftly decapitated it. Hitting a stationary target is easy. While it's a bit unsatisfying for me, it might be a good practice target for Luminia. However, the increased efficiency is undeniable. I cut down another monkey with a reverse slash and dove into the group. Normally, I would avoid being surrounded, but in this situation, I can handle it.

"Even if their movements are slowed, they haven't lost their fighting spirit—"

Combat style—Flowing.

I deflected a monkey's attack and used the momentum to throw it, causing it to collide with another monkey. I crushed the two entangled monkeys with my heel and decapitated another with a horizontal slash. Without using any skills, this is already a mess. With their movements slowed, they are even more unsatisfying opponents. I surveyed the surroundings while looking for my next target. Fumito had just finished off one and was moving on to the next, and Luminia was about to finish off another. Clearly, our efficiency has improved. While it's a bit unsatisfying, the results are excellent.

"Hmm... It doesn't seem like we need any support."

Until now, there were still some uncertainties with Luminia. However, she can handle the current opponents well. This is a good situation for her to learn one-on-one combat. While her offensive power is still lacking, she is observing her opponents carefully, reading their movements, and attacking steadily without losing her footing. This is a solid and reliable combat style. She isn't trying to use magic unnecessarily, which is a good sign. Magic is a tool to be used, not to be used by. Many people don't understand this until they are in middle school, but Luminia is following Fumito's instructions well.

(She really is a sincere and excellent student... I was worried about what would happen if her curiosity from her fairy days remained.)

Well, the current practice situation is ideal. To prevent Luminia from facing too many opponents, I should take care of them. I avoided the monkeys' attacks and cut down the one that was about to attack Luminia. I then aimed to cut down another monkey next to it—when a gust of wind flew in from the side, leaving several cuts on the monkey's body. A quick glance in the direction it came from revealed a small fairy flying beside Shepherd. It seems Sylph used wind magic to provide support. While a level 1 fairy couldn't deal much damage, it was enough to draw attention.

The wind blades, like a sudden gust, dealt minor damage to the monkeys in their path. As a result, the monkeys that were focused on Luminia were now distracted and turned their attention to Shepherd and the others. Of course, I didn't just let them go. I stood in their path, and their hostility quickly shifted to me.

"Five of them... Come on, I'll take you on."

Understanding the provocation, the monkeys bared their teeth and charged at me. I cut down the one that lunged at me with a diagonal slash, then stepped forward and slipped under the second one's belly. I grabbed the leg of a monkey that had leaped over me and slammed it to the ground. I then left it and charged at a monkey that had stopped moving, losing sight of me.

Combat technique—Hard Form, Piercing Fang.

The thrust I launched pierced the monkey's heart. Using the dead body as a shield, I advanced, pulled out my sword, and kicked the corpse away. The flying corpse collided with the monkeys behind, stopping their movement. I confirmed this, shook the blood off my sword, and cut down the monkey that was approaching from the side. I then leaped back and kicked the monkey that had just gotten up, sending it flying.

"They really are moving more slowly. Maybe weakening them too much is a problem."

I crushed the head of the monkey that had fallen to the ground and faced forward. The monkey that had been pinned under the corpse I kicked away was just crawling out. I didn't just stand there; I immediately closed in and decapitated it. I then surveyed the surroundings and sighed. It seems the only ones left are the two Fumito is handling and the one Luminia is fighting. The battle will likely end without me needing to intervene. I sighed again, but kept my attention on the surroundings as I watched the two of them.

They quickly finished off their opponents, and the information reached my ears.

"Death Point Strike skill level increased."

"Tame skill level increased."

"Learned the Tamer's Eye technique."

"Life Force Manipulation skill level increased."

"Tamed Monster Luminia's level increased."

"Hmm? Tamer's Eye?"

"Hey, Quon, did your Tame skill reach level 10?"

"Hmm... Yes, it seems so."

Checking my status, it was indeed as Shepherd said; my Tame skill had reached level 10, and I had learned this technique. What is this?

"Ah, I remember. Mr. Quon's magic sword skills don't have techniques. Is this your first technique?"

"What? But there are magic combat skills, right?"

"Mr. Quon's magic skill is 'Enhancement Magic'... Well, Mr. Quon, learning a technique is like learning a new spell when your magic skill level increases."

"Hmm. So there are skills that can learn techniques."

"It depends on the skill. Not all skills have techniques."

Indeed, I've never seen techniques appear with skills like 'Life Sword.' Most of my other skills are passive, so I haven't had many opportunities to learn techniques.

"So, what does this technique do?"

"To put it simply, it's a technique to identify tamable monsters. I use it quite often."

Hmm, it does seem like a skill Shepherd would use frequently. However, I don't really plan to increase my tamed monsters, so it's not particularly useful for me. I might use it if the opportunity arises.

"Alright, let's take a break for now. We'll continue once Shepherd's MP has recovered. Fumito, you can practice with Luminia until then."

"Understood."

"Hehe... It looks like Sylph's level will keep rising, too."

I shrugged at the tense-looking Shepherd and started observing Fumito and the others. The battle went better than expected. If we keep this up, we might be able to fight the group we fled from before. I smiled and began formulating a strategy in my mind.

■Avatar Name: Quon

■Gender: Male

■Race: Human

■Level: 23

■Status (Remaining Status Points: 0)

STR: 22

VIT: 17

INT: 22

MND: 17

AGI: 13

DEX: 13

■Skills

Weapon Skill: Sword (Lv.23)

Magic Skill: Enhancement Magic (Lv.15)

Set Skill: Death Point Strike (Lv.16)

MP Auto Recovery (Lv.12)

Plundering Sword (Lv.13)

Identification (Lv.14)

Life Sword (Lv.14)

Demon Slaying Sword (Lv.5)

Tame (Lv.10)

HP Auto Recovery (Lv.9)

Life Force Manipulation (Lv.5)

Sub Skill: Mining (Lv.1)

Title Skill: Fairy's Blessing

■Current SP: 22

■Avatar Name: Fumito

■Gender: Female

■Race: Human

■Level: 24

■Status (Remaining Status Points: 0)

STR: 24

VIT: 15

INT: 21

MND: 17

AGI: 15

DEX: 14

■Skills

Weapon Skill: Sword (Lv.24)

Magic Skill: Fire Magic (Lv.19)

Set Skill: Aura (Lv.16)

Spell Charge (Lv.13)

Fire Attribute Enhancement (Lv.14)

Healing Aptitude (Lv.8)

Identification (Lv.14)

Death Point Strike (Lv.14)

Combat (Lv.15)

Combat Skills (Lv.14)

Traverse (Lv.14)

Sub Skill: Gathering (Lv.7)

Mining (Lv.4)

Title Skill: Crimson Sword Maiden

■Current SP: 24

■Monster Name: Luminia

■Gender: Female

■Race: Sprite

■Level: 12

■Status (Remaining Status Points: 0)

STR: 19

VIT: 13

INT: 29

MND: 19

AGI: 17

DEX: 16

■Skills

Weapon Skill: Sword

Magic Skill: Light Magic

Skill: Light Attribute Enhancement

Flight

High Magic Resistance

Low Physical Resistance

MP Auto Recovery (Large)

Wind Magic

Title Skill: Spirit King's Follower