Chapter 76

A few days after receiving the necklace from Estelle.

It is now dusk, the time when night begins to fall.

"Hey, come out! Hey!"

I shouted in my house, pounding on the door of the room added by the House Extension.

"...What is it, Heishachiro... You're so noisy... Is it already night?"

"Finally woke up, huh?"

After calling for quite some time, the door finally opened. Luna walked out of the pitch-black room, swaying unsteadily.

Ah, this room... Was it always this dark? It's so dark I can't see anything.

"So, why did you call me so loudly?"

"I thought we could go hunting together."

"Rejected. I'm going back to sleep."

Luna, who had just come out, rubbed her eyes, looking very sleepy, and glared at me with her red eyes, seemingly annoyed at being woken up.

She was wearing a black pajama set with a pointed nightcap, which wasn't scary at all.

Actually, when did she prepare such a dedicated sleeping outfit?

When I told her the reason I called her, she immediately refused and started to turn back to go back into the room.

"Wait a moment. You haven't gone hunting or even outside once, right? Don't you want to go out soon?"

"No, not at all."

I tried to stop her by grabbing her shoulder and persuade her, but she immediately answered and shook off my hand.

This is hopeless... The one who looks the youngest, Luna, is the coldest. I didn't expect her to be such a little girl.

This makes it hard to talk... Not as bad as Sisaha, but can't we talk as friendly as Noll?

"Please, just this once. I'm asking you."

"Mmm, you're so persistent. Why do you want to take me outside?"

"I'm worried about keeping you cooped up all the time. Also, I need to know how you fight in case of an emergency."

"Hmm..."

It's been about 10 days since I summoned Luna and the holidays began.

Since the first day, she hasn't left the house, and in the past few days, she hasn't even come out of her room, apparently sleeping all the time.

Thinking this can't go on, I decided to invite Luna out.

It's almost the day of our promise with Grin, and things might start happening again, so I want to check her abilities now.

I thought she would refuse, but when I said it was for combat, Luna, who was about to go back, stopped and crossed her arms, thinking.

"...Fine. I don't want to be bothered every day, and Noll and the others were going to say something soon anyway."

"Great, then let's go... I was thinking, should we call Noll and the others too?"

She chose to resolve it now rather than be disturbed in her sleep later.

It seems the atmosphere suggested that Noll and the others would say something soon, so she gave up.

Since I invited Luna without telling Noll and the others beforehand, I asked if it would be better to call everyone.

"I just want to check my strength, right? If that's the case—"

"Yay! Did you call me? You called me just now, right?"

"It's your mistake. Go away, go away quickly."

Just as Luna was about to say something, Sisaha, who had a lively voice, suddenly appeared.

Where did she come from?

Luna, who saw Sisaha, frowned and made a clearly displeased face, shooing her away with her hand.

"Don't say that! Please let me join Luna's first hunting experience!"

"Hey, why are you clinging to me!? Let go!"

"No way! I won't let go until you agree to let me join!"

Sisaha, who was told to go away, burst into tears and, for some reason, wrapped her arms around my legs.

Is she targeting me because she thinks I'm easier to persuade than Luna?

The slight softness touching me is a bit... I want her to stop...

"Oh, it's rare to see Luna here."

"What are you doing, Ohtsuka-sama... Is Sisaha causing trouble again?"

Estelle and Noll, carrying some items, entered the corridor extended by the House Extension from outside.

They seemed to understand the situation when they saw Luna standing there in her pajamas and me struggling with Sisaha clinging to my legs.

It's great that they understand so well.

"I was about to go hunting with Luna, but then Sisaha jumped on me."

"That's not fair, Ohtsuka-san! I want to go with Luna too!"

"She's really noisy, isn't she? Is she always like this?"

"No, she's more normal when Luna isn't around."

Even Noll was exasperated, looking at Sisaha, who was clinging to my legs.

No one would have thought she would turn out to be such a disappointment when she was summoned.

Is this what the people on the bulletin board were talking about?

I'm starting to get curious about Sisaha's personal episode in GC...

Estelle seemed to have noticed something from the beginning, which was quite impressive.

"So, Ohtsuka-sama, are you really going hunting now?"

"Yeah, I have a promise with Grin, so I thought we should go before that. It's just a light check, but do you and the others want to come?"

"I want to go! As a melee fighter, I'm interested in how Luna fights!"

"Right. She said she gets better at night, so it would be good to see her in action."

It seems Noll and the others were also interested in Luna, and when I suggested going together, Noll got excited.

Estelle also seemed enthusiastic, so it looks like we'll all go.

"Mmm... More people. It's your fault."

"That's not true... I didn't do anything..."

Luna, with her arms crossed, looked down at Sisaha, who was still sitting on the floor.

She is indeed noisy and doesn't know her limits... but she seems a bit pitiful like this.

---

"So, we're here... It's still light, but it will get dark soon."

"That's true. We haven't hunted at night before... It might be a bit dangerous."

We arrived at the hunting ground when the sunset was at its peak, to avoid it getting completely dark, which would make it hard for us to confirm things.

We don't plan to fight too many and drag it out, just a quick check.

"Is it really okay for your first battle, Luna? Are you sure you can handle that lizard?"

"I'm fine. I won't be outdone by a mere lizard."

"Oh, you're so confident."

Our opponent this time is a Lizardman from Mount Remli.

My level has also increased, so even though Luna was just summoned, her level is quite high.

So, she should be able to handle Lizardmen without any problem.

Still, I asked if she was okay, and Luna answered confidently with her arms crossed.

Her eyes seemed to glow even more red than usual. Is this her boosted state?

"By the way, Heishachiro, you really wear strange outfits. You look suspicious."

"Ugh... I can't help it. This is the best equipment I have."

"Really, you're wearing that hat on top of your helm...?"

Luna looked at me with a sidelong glance as I wore my usual combat gear.

I put on the Petasos I got from the gacha... but maybe it doesn't suit me?

Anyway, before that, let's check Luna's status.

The last time I checked was during the day, so I need to check her status at night too.

---

● Luna Varad

Level: 55

HP: 3550 (4500)

MP: 900 (1300)

Attack: 960 (1200)

Defense: 650 (750)

Agility: 120 (150)

Magic Resistance: 30 (40)

Cost: 22

Unique Ability

【Dweller in the Dark】

During night battles, her stats increase.

Skill

【Kazikul】

One-time attack with 4x total attack power. Ignores defense and magic resistance. Cooldown: 5 minutes

B: 64 W: 47 H: 61 Estimated: A-cup

---

"Wow, your stats really do increase."

"Of course. Even during the day, slaughtering such low-level monsters is no problem."

Her stats are amazing... Even though her level is nearly 10 lower than mine, they are overwhelmingly high.

She might even surpass Noll before her second stage.

More importantly, Luna's skill is noteworthy.

It's a one-time attack, but it has high power and a short cooldown. This means she can use it regularly in battles, making her a valuable asset.

There might be some side effects like with Noll and Estelle, so I'm a bit hesitant to let her use it...

But if she can ignore defense and magic resistance, she will be very useful against tough opponents in the future.

---

● Bloodstained Black Cloak

HP +500

Defense +500

Damage Absorption

HP Auto Recovery

---

I also checked the equipment Luna summoned.

Hmm, the Bloodstained Black Cloak is the mantle from the other day... but "bloodstained" sounds a bit ominous, doesn't it!?

The Bloodstained Black Cloak has lower attack power than my Excalibur, but with auto-recovery and auto-follow, it can be used as a throwing weapon, right?

It also has HP absorption, and the cloak has damage absorption and auto-recovery.

With these abilities, she shouldn't lose HP even when fighting alone. Maybe the equipment is designed with the concept of being undead, since she's a vampire?

"Wow, Luna looks so cool! I want to do that swish with the cloak!"

"Do you want to try with mine?"

"...I'll pass."

Luna, who seemed eager to start, slightly injured her fingertip to draw blood, and a spear and black cloak appeared from a magic circle.

Is this some kind of storage magic? I've never seen Estelle use it, so maybe it's something only Luna can do?

She put on the cloak with a swish and carried the spear, ready for battle.

Noll, watching her, excitedly waved her hands up and down.

She said she wanted to try it too, so I asked if I should take off the holy shroud and give it to her, but after staring at it, she decided to pass.

...What, this is UR equipment too... Isn't that a bit harsh?

"Then, Luna, I'll cast a support spell on you."

"Hmm, this is a support spell. It's quite good, thank you."

Everything was ready, so Estelle cast a support spell on Luna.

Luna checked the spell on her body by making a fist and then opening it, and then started to move her spear lightly.

She swung the spear horizontally with one hand, then moved it behind her back, skillfully avoiding the ground.

I was skeptical about her handling such a large spear with her small body, but she was much better at it than I am.

...If I could do that, it would be cool. I want to try, but I'd probably fly off somewhere on the first spin.

"Luna! I want to cast a support spell on you too—"

"I don't need it. Heishachiro, I'm going."

"Hey, be careful. They multiply when you attack one."

Sisaha, who had been silent, tried to cast a support spell on Luna, but she immediately refused and ran towards the Lizardmen.

Luna's durability is quite high, so Sisaha's defensive support spell isn't really necessary, but...

"Ugh... Why, why am I treated like this..."

"Cheer up. One day, you and Luna will understand each other."

"Really!?"

"...Probably."

"Why are you looking away!?"

While watching Luna run, Sisaha collapsed on the ground, her hands and knees touching the ground, crying.

Noll comforted her by rubbing her back.

Sisaha looked up at Noll with a hopeful expression, but Noll, who was being stared at, scratched her cheek and looked away, answering uncertainly.

Leaving the silly Sisaha aside, I need to focus on watching Luna's battle.

Luna ran towards a Lizardman, her black cloak billowing in the wind.

Her speed was faster than mine, though not as fast as Noll's.

The Lizardman, noticing Luna's approach, opened its mouth to call for its comrades.

Before it could make a sound, Luna kicked off the ground, jumped, and threw her spear, spinning it in the air.

The spear, glowing red, left a long trail of light as it shot forward, almost like a laser.

The thrown spear's speed was so fast that it pierced the Lizardman's neck before it could make a sound.

The spear didn't fly off into the distance; instead, it glowed brighter and then disappeared.

Looking at Luna, I saw she had somehow grabbed the spear and stabbed it vertically into the head of the Lizardman at her landing point.

"Wow... What was that..."

"Indeed. With that, she can take down other Lizardmen before they can call for help."

"I don't think I could withstand that..."

"I'm glad Luna wasn't seriously angry. Maybe you should be a bit more careful from now on."

"Ugh... I'll try."

I warned her, but I didn't expect her to take down the Lizardman before it could call for help.

I knew she was a vampire, but her movements were incredible. She didn't seem to use her skill since the Lizardman didn't fall in one hit.

I want to be able to defeat monsters as coolly as that someday.

But with my weapon, I have to repeatedly stab, so it's impossible to look cool.

Despite her strength, she only bit Sisaha.

If she really wanted to, she could overpower Sisaha, but not doing so suggests she doesn't hate her that much?

"Heishachiro, are you satisfied? If you want more, I can hunt a few more."

"O-oh, that's enough."

After that, Luna took down several more Lizardmen with the same method, eliminating them before they could call for reinforcements.

After hunting a certain number, she walked back to us.

There's no point in hunting more, and it's getting dark. She seemed more battle-hardened than me, even though it was her first battle... It's reassuring to have her as a teammate.

"Luna's spear is so cool! I want to throw my Regi Elitra and use it as a ranged attack..."

"If you do that, I won't be responsible if you go missing."

"...I'll pass."

Seeing Luna use a ranged attack, Noll seemed to want to try it too.

Throwing a sword without auto-recovery is a bad idea.

If Noll throws it with full force, it might fly off into the distance.

"Can I go back to sleep now?"

"You're so strong, yet you want to sleep... Actually, you sleep too much."

"Heishachiro, I want to indulge in as much sleep as possible. If you let me sleep as much as I want, I'll tell you I love you."

Luna grinned and told me this with a smug look.

I think being honest is great, but being too honest isn't good.

It's not nice to be told you don't want to work with such a smug face. Even if you give me permission and say you love me, it's not at all joyful.

She seemed normal when summoned, but now she seems like the one who will be the most trouble.