Chapter 7

It has been two weeks since I came to this world.

The physical training of the three heroes has progressed considerably.

First, Ryuto seems to be well-suited to the sword, and he has been practicing swordsmanship non-stop. The Valkyrie soldiers can no longer keep up with him, and the captain is now his sparring partner. Even when sparring with the captain, he can hold his own for a few minutes. He is indeed a hero, but the captain is just too strong. The captain is not only skilled with the sword. If the rules allowed the use of anything other than the sword, Ryuto would probably be killed instantly.

Suzu is learning staff techniques. As a mage, she holds a staff to assist in casting spells, but it is difficult to wield a sword while holding a staff. So, she might as well use the staff (physically). I can't tell if Suzu is a brainiac or just smart. There are no Valkyrie soldiers who have mastered staff techniques, and after learning the basics, she seems to be receiving guidance from a priest who uses staff techniques.

Aoi is learning archery. Since archers are vulnerable when firing, a shield bearer is necessary, but as a barrier caster, it doesn't matter for her.

Ryuto, who specializes in close combat, Suzu, who can handle close combat as well as long-range firepower, and Aoi, who can defend while being agile in long-range combat. I think it's a well-balanced party.

I finally moved from strength training to serious physical training three days ago. However, I am still continuing strength training. By the way, I am not learning swordsmanship but rather short sword techniques, throwing techniques, stealth techniques, and occasionally trap removal. They seem to be grooming me to be a scout. Well, it wouldn't make much sense to have me, who can do a little swordsmanship, next to Ryuto, who is so good at it. It would be a perfect role to make use of my "Detection" ability.

According to the captain, I am somewhat dexterous, so she seems to be letting me try everything.

By the way, being hit by the captain during training and falling asleep has become a daily routine.

"Please wake up, Inori-sama."

I was woken up by the second princess, who is my teacher, while I was sleeping comfortably. This class time has become my sleep time.

To be honest, if I use my photographic memory to remember the notes she writes on the large stone tablet during class, there is no need to attend the class.

I have no intention of getting along with the teacher. The teacher only wakes me up and doesn't scold me. She is indeed a doll princess.

"... Knowledge is important for living, isn't it? If you sleep, you won't gain anything."

"Yeah, that's true."

Oh, this is rare. The teacher is lecturing me.

"You are learning short sword and stealth techniques in physical training."

"Are you watching me again?"

That's right. Since the first princess came to watch my training, the teacher has been watching my physical training every day. Even if she tries to hide, I can see through it with my "Detection."

"Unfortunately, it seems you don't have a talent for magic, but you do have a talent for these things, right?"

"Well, as a human, I guess. I can't even compare to the feet of Ryuto and the other heroes."

It seems I can hardly use the magic of this world. Even ordinary people can use simple magic, and it is rare to be unable to use magic in this world.

"The captain is very busy. The fact that she is taking time out for you must mean she sees value in you, doesn't it?"

"It's just a side job for the heroes."

I casually brush off the teacher's question.

This is the first time I've talked to the teacher so much.

"What are you trying to say?"

"... You can become stronger, so you shouldn't be sleeping. You should work harder. Since you have the potential, you should make the most of it. Even if you can't use magic, you can still deal with it if you have the knowledge. Effort is never wasted."

Ah, that makes sense.

I see, magic countermeasures. Just looking at the magic books, there are things you can't understand without actually using the magic.

I decided to try to take the class more seriously.

But I fell asleep again.

I can't resist the urge to sleep.

I hold a knife in one hand and throw it at the tree trunk from a relaxed position.

Until now, it has been spinning and sticking, but this time the knife hit the center of the trunk straight.

This feeling is skill acquisition. When I check my status, it says "Throwing Skill Lv.2."

This is the usual grassland where I always train. I try to acquire and grow skills every day.

In addition to "Throwing Skill Lv.2," I have also acquired "Swordsmanship Lv.5," "Stealth Lv.3," "Short Sword Skill Lv.1," and "Flying Kick Lv.1."

"Swordsmanship Lv.5" is about the same level as Ryuto or a little stronger. Well, I'm far from the captain, but considering I'm practicing without any guidance, I think I'm doing pretty well. I pat myself on the back.

"Stealth" is a very useful skill, so I am focusing on improving it. On the other hand, I don't practice "Short Sword Skill" much because I already have "Swordsmanship." I haven't even acquired the skill of trap removal because there are no traps to practice with, but I want to get it because it is practical.

"Throwing Skill" is mainly about throwing daggers. On Earth, knife throwing is more of a performance (it is said to have originated as a soldier's game) and is not suitable for serious combat, but it seems to be different in this world. It is a traditional skill, and especially for scouts, it is a skill that is definitely learned.

I approach the tree I used as a target and pull out the wooden practice knife. Even though I "control" it, the fact that a wooden knife can stick to a tree is not to be underestimated.

Recently, I have been focusing more on "Throwing Skill" than "Swordsmanship." The reason is that it works very well with my "Dark Magic."

I throw the knife in my hand in a wrong direction.

The knife, thrown into empty space without a target, suddenly changes direction, defying the laws of physics, and slices through the air in a zigzag pattern, finally sticking to the target on the tree trunk.

I remotely controlled the knife I "controlled." Just moving the knife wouldn't make it stick to the tree trunk. However, I changed the direction of the thrown knife.

In other words, I bent the original vector of the knife's movement using "control." The kinetic energy I used to throw the knife is preserved, so the knife sticks to the target. This would allow me to hit the knife through the enemy's defense.

By the way, I can't use these general skills much during the day, and I can't even acquire them. "Sun God's Dislike" is really annoying. I wonder if I will be demoted from the baron rank when I level up.

Well, I think I've done enough skill training for today, and I'm going to level up. I have been focusing on skill training for the past few days, so my level is still 1. I'm going to get stronger from today.

I check a certain tool I have stored in my shadow and use the "Array Magic Eye" to transfer to a forest infested with monsters.

I enter the shadow of the tree trunk with "Shadow Transfer" and wait for my prey while holding my breath with "Stealth."

The shadow space is narrow because the tree has no magic power, but I can't be picky.

After a few minutes, my "Detection" reacts. This presence is probably that "Ketchou."

Ketchou doesn't notice my presence hidden in the shadow and pecks at the fruit on the tree carelessly.

The moment Ketchou, moving unsteadily, approaches the shadow where I am hiding, I take out a tool from my shadow and throw it at Ketchou from within the shadow.

I remotely control and fine-tune it with "control," and it beautifully envelops Ketchou.

"GeEEEEEEEE!"

Ketchou's dirty cry echoes. This cry might attract other monsters. It's a race against time.

I look at Ketchou, who is writhing and can't move, and activate the "Array Magic Eye" that has been overwritten.

The yellow magic circle drawn in front of Ketchou's eyes without any time lag exerts a mental interference effect.

In an instant, Ketchou becomes limp and stops moving.

It's not dead. It's just under a powerful hypnotic spell. It won't wake up no matter what happens for a day.

I carry the deeply sleeping Ketchou and start running. The "Detection" has picked up on the monsters that reacted to Ketchou's cry.

I move to avoid the monsters that react to my "Detection" and enter a nearby shadow when there is nothing around.

Finally, I can relax. I bite into Ketchou's long neck and start "Bloodsucking."

My strategy is very simple.

"Capture the monster with a net and hypnotize it when it can't move."

Then I just let it suck my blood in a safe place. If I suck enough to kill it, I can level up, and I can also expect a status boost from "Bloodsucking."

By the way, the net I used this time is my custom-made one.

Black Thread Net (Author: Takafuji Inori)

Quality: A

Price: 15,000 Del

Ability: Dark Hardening

A net made of black threads. It is as strong as wire and cannot be torn by any force. It has the lightness and flexibility of threads.

By the way, this is the raw material.

Black Thread (Author: Takafuji Inori)

Quality: A

Price: 5,000 Del

Ability: Dark Hardening

A thread made by imbuing silk threads with dark magic power. It is strong and cannot be torn by any force. It is very thin and has the flexibility and lightness of silk threads.

Both were made with "Weapon Refinement." Well, the net might be a decent weapon. I didn't expect the thread to be a weapon.

After all, using thread as a weapon is fantasy. Oh, it is fantasy.

Of course, this thread won't tear human flesh to shreds. Well, it's just a thread.

This net and thread can be remotely controlled. It seems useful to remotely control the thread. I need to practice.

By the way, as usual, Nara brought this to me. I hypnotized her because I was too lazy to think of a reason, but I don't care about the details.

Well, I have sucked all the blood from Ketchou. It had a gamey taste, but maybe because it was my first time or because I hadn't sucked blood for a long time, I found it quite delicious.

Let's check my status.

Takafuji Inori

Demon Race, Vampire (Baron Rank)

Level 2

HP: 923/923 (+100 +8)

MP: 5208/9067 (+1000 +0)

STR: 1064 (+100 +8)

VIT: 96