Chapter 57

Logging in, the weather outside was clear.

Tomorrow is the day of the tournament, isn't it?

Thinking about it, time sure flies.

《You have a message from a friend.》

《There is an announcement from the management. Would you like to check it?》

There are various things again.

The message was from Saki.

And there's also an announcement from the management, but I'll check it later.

"I saw the item. Both the waist belt and shoulder belt can be used. I'm in Regias in the early morning."

Hmm.

A belt.

From the way it's written, it seems to be separate from the armor.

To put it in perspective, it's like a construction worker wearing a belt with various tools hanging from it.

Well, it won't be that extreme, I guess.

Next, I look at the subject of the management announcement.

《Announcement of the Tournament: The tournament will be held as scheduled tomorrow. The opening ceremony will start at 8:00 AM at the new training ground!》

I checked the content, but it was just a map.

What to do about the opening ceremony.

My first match is scheduled to start at 9:30 AM, and the location is the new training ground, area G.

There's a bit of a gap.

It might be a good time to do some light hunting in the morning.

If possible, I'd like to watch some matches.

Hopefully, it won't be too crowded.

I guess I'll have to go early in the morning.

I prepare and head to the village of Regias.

I summoned only Crescent and Jean.

I have a plan to go deep into the forest and explore the dungeon today.

I check the performance of the tonfa.

The suitable monster for this would be the Evil Ants, but unfortunately, they don't come out during the day.

The next best option would be Skeletons.

It's good that they attack with various weapons.

This will help improve my combat skills and observational abilities.

I can also train the Oni.

It would be nice if the defensive skills improve as well.

The village of Regias was as usual.

Mio's stall and Feina's stand were operating in the same spots as yesterday.

I brought breakfast bought from Mio to the back of the stall and started eating.

As I finished, Saki and Reina came to the same table.

"Good morning."

"Good morning!"

"Good morning, Keith. I'm sorry I wasn't here yesterday."

"That's fine. If you were working at the workshop, it couldn't be helped."

"I'm relieved to hear that."

Saki sat down, but Reina remained standing.

"About the belt I mentioned in the message, I think Reina's equipment will be a good reference."

"I see."

That's why she was standing.

Showing a sample in person is an effective method.

Speaking of which, the first thing that caught my eye was Mio's leather armor.

"Reina's is designed to carry a bow and quiver on the back."

"It's not specifically for a certain type of equipment, so it's fine!"

"Even with a rod like Keith's, you can carry two of them on your back without any problem."

"What would it look like?"

"I think it would be a bit wider than Reina's. Keith has a better build."

"Even a single piece could carry a greatsword!"

"No, that's not the case."

"Who knows? It could be a long-lasting item."

"Would it interfere with the belt I'm using now?"

"The material is good, so it shouldn't be a problem. You can hang two weapons from the Item Box without any issues."

"What about the shoulder belt?"

"Of course."

Hmm.

In my case, I don't carry much equipment, but if it's long-lasting, I can order it.

"Then, I'll leave it to you."

"Understood. I think I can deliver it with the leather armor."

"Thanks."

After confirming the order, Reina and Feina seemed to switch shifts at the stall.

They arranged items they wanted to sell, mainly from last night's hunt.

"Did you get all this in one night?"

"Pretty much."

"The needles and carapaces of the Evil Ants. The prices are about to drop, you know."

There aren't that many, right?

From her expression, it seems half of it is a joke.

I settled the payment, but it didn't amount to much.

Well, I've made a decent profit from yesterday, so it's not a big deal.

It's good to be light on my feet.

"So, you're going to train for tomorrow's tournament?"

"Pretty much."

"Good luck. I think we'll all come to watch the finals."

"I might not be able to stay."

Well, it's just a social nicety.

We both ended up with a wry smile.

I decided to leave the scene.

I just gave a nod to Mio, who looked very busy.

I headed deep into the forest.

I dismissed Crescent and summoned the Oni instead.

"Gehe."

No, you don't have to make that sound.

The forest is generally a good place for bow users to fight.

It's perfect for hunters.

I managed to land a preemptive strike on a few wild silver chickens (females) without them noticing.

With Jean's coordinated attacks, we finished them off without taking any damage.

There was no need for close combat.

Oh, time to move.

I headed towards the entrance of the forest dungeon.

I summoned Jericho there.

The Oni changed equipment to a scythe and a shield.

This lineup should be good.

As I moved further in, I saw a few parties already there.

I passed by them as they were hunting mushrooms and headed for the White Square (tentative name).

On the way to the central room, I encountered some mushrooms.

Two Rush Fungi.

Basically, I let Jericho hold them off while the Oni attacked.

I was peeling the caps and tearing them vertically.

Seeing this, the Oni also split the Rush Fungi vertically with the scythe.

It then jammed the shield into the split and used its feet to split it in half.

Impressive.

No, that's not the point.

If I had seen this from the side, it would have looked like this.

What did Adel and Irena think?

They must have been impressed.

There are many things you don't notice until you see them with your own eyes.

I passed through the central square and engaged in a battle with a Branch Golem on the way.

There was some damage, but it was manageable.

Still, the scythe is great.

Or maybe it's just effective against wooden golems.

I entered the cave and proceeded to the cave.

There were no other players here.

If there were, it would be a straight path, so it's unlikely they wouldn't notice me.

I put away the Kayah Rod and took out the tonfa.

Here's how the tonfa performs.

[Weapon Item: Staff, Blunt] Kayah Tonfa Quality C Rarity 3

AP+2 M·AP+2 Damage 2 Weight 0+ Durability 80

A weapon that can both strike and cast magic. It can also be used for blunt techniques.

It has moderate elasticity and is easy to handle due to its non-slip grip.

※【Defense】Skill +1 judgment

What does "staff, blunt" mean?

Looking closely, it seems to depend on both the 【Staff】 and 【Blunt】 skills.

It also has a note that growth will be divided between the two.

So, it's that kind of weapon.

What's more, the plus judgment on 【Defense】 is a pleasant surprise.

I'll try it out right away.

I held a tonfa in each hand.

The basic grip is to hold it so that the rod guards from the fist to the elbow.

The spinning action you often see doesn't have much meaning.

It's not a weapon to strike with by spinning.

Rather, there's a grip that treats the handle part like a sickle blade.

It's often used to hook, but it has other uses as well.

I'll try them out one by one.

I fought against a group of skeletons.

The combat style was entirely close-range melee.

Punching, kicking.

Dodging, blocking.

It's a repetitive process.

I didn't use joint locks or throws, just accumulated damage with strikes and kicks.

I pried open the skull and chest cavity to scatter the soul.

I also tried techniques that could be used in player battles.

I punched the face.

The target for the tip of the tonfa is the eye.

Since skeletons don't have eyeballs, I just pried in the tip.

Then, I pushed the tip into the top of the skull and pulled the arm towards the body.

The lever principle works in the eye socket.

It's a devastating technique against humans.

It would certainly cause blindness and damage to the skull, and if it's done well, it could damage the brain.

Oh.

If done poorly, it could damage the brain.

That's a mistake.

Aiming for it is out of the question.

It could be a one-hit kill.

But these are skeletons.

They don't have brains, and they're light.

So, it doesn't deal as much damage as I expected, and the HP bar doesn't drop much.

But it's easier to break the skull or ribs than with bare hands.

An elbow strike that used to just knock a skeleton back now causes fractures.

It's quite usable.

Defense is even more beneficial.

It's more reliable than using a baton to block, and because you step in to block, you can counterattack more quickly.

On the other hand, the distance gets even closer, but it's still easier to fight when you take that into account.

And then, magic is added to this.

It's a combination that's impossible in reality but possible here.

As a staff, it's practical enough.

Actually, I always cast Physical Enchantment: Earth on Jericho, the Wood Golem, and Physical Enchantment: Fire on Jean, the Bat.

I could feel the effects were sufficient.

《Your defense skill has leveled up with this battle victory!》

《You have learned the staff-based defense technique: Spin Block!》

Finally, my long-awaited defense skill has leveled up.

I'll skip the spin block since I use it regularly.

Today's goal was achieved so easily.

What should I do now?

It's not yet 10:00 AM.

I have some time, so I'll push forward.

I continued to fight against skeletons.

When the number decreased, I tried out a new spell I had learned.

Here, something unexpected happened.

The paralysis spell didn't work on the skeletons.

The delay spell from ice magic wasn't very effective either.

On the other hand, the electricity spell and freeze touch from ice magic did work.

It seems that skeletons have resistance to status effects.

No, that's not it.

They don't have flesh and blood to be affected.

I proceeded further.

With the Night Vision active, the skeleton attacks seemed less frequent.

In the end, I only encountered groups of skeletons four times while passing through the cave.

I emerged from the cave into the forest.

It's a nice day here too.

It's a little past 11:00 AM.

I haven't explored this area yet.

"Guhe."

The Oni looked around as if dazzled.

It also seemed to be sniffing the forest air.

It didn't seem to like this environment very much.

I'll head back.

Since I'm here, I might as well go to the southern cave where goblins appear.

It will be a different kind of battle from the skeletons.

On the way back, I encountered groups of skeletons five times.

They weren't large groups because I wiped them out before they could call for reinforcements.

I didn't pick up any magic stones.

For some reason, fighting skeletons doesn't get boring.

Each skeleton has a different weapon, so you need to adapt your fighting style.

However, there's nothing to gain.

The weapons they carry are of low quality and not worth reusing.

Without picking up magic stones, the expenses won't balance out.

I couldn't pick up any magic stones.

Is it bad luck today?

Is it because I haven't paid enough respects to my ancestors?

Is it because of my bad behavior?

I should probably change my hunting grounds.

I continued hunting in the forest dungeon with the Kayah Rod, putting away the tonfa.

I defeated five mushrooms and four Branch Golems on the way and broke through the Red Square (tentative name).

This is the cave where goblins appear.

"Guhe."

Something was off with the Oni.

It looked clearly excited.

And it showed in the way it fought.

Bows and arrows are very effective against goblins.

At first, I had it attack with bows and arrows, but it looked clearly uninterested.

So, I had it switch to a scythe and shield as a front-line fighter, and it went crazy.

It became a mad warrior, trampling over everything without caring about taking damage.

I don't know what makes the Oni act like this.

But it's getting results and follows my orders, so I'll let it be.

I'll let it earn its keep, even if it's at the expense of the goblins.

I also fought the goblins with the tonfa.

The attacks hit easily.

The goblins can withstand my attacks to some extent, so I can try out various techniques.

I crushed them by striking the ends of the tonfas together.

I thrust the opposite side of the tonfa like an elbow strike.

I hit horizontally with the tonfa while holding it.

I uppercut with the tonfa from under the jaw.

I pressed the tonfa against the throat and threw the goblin, using my weight to crush the throat.

I also tried the technique I used on the skeleton, thrusting the tip of the tonfa into the eye socket and shattering the back of the eye. It was an instant kill.

I also tried capture techniques.

I held the tonfa like a sickle.

I hooked the back of the knee to trip the goblin.

I hooked the back of the neck and headbutted it, followed by a knee kick.

I hooked the weapon-holding arm with one tonfa and struck the joint with the other.

I hooked the weapon itself and kicked the wrist to make the goblin drop it.

Yeah, that's about it.

The number of goblins in a group is less than the skeletons.

I spent a lot of time confirming how effective the techniques were.

Before I knew it, it was past noon.

I must have been too engrossed.

Still, what's going on?

I defeated a considerable number of goblins, but the only items I got were pebbles.

I took a short break in the cave and ate some portable food with water.

I'll keep going.

I had fun disposing of the next seven goblins when I noticed something.

Light.

It seems the exit is near.

I had been taking all the shortcuts in this cave, but it was a surprisingly straightforward route.

When I went outside, the scenery was breathtaking.

It's a wasteland.

I can see mountains, but their slopes are not green but rather reddish-brown and rough.

It's a volcanic area.

No, there's a dense green forest visible on the western slope of the mountain.

It's not all volcanoes.

What should I do?

I won't push it.

I'll go back to the cave and get used to handling the tonfa against goblins.

The tournament is tomorrow, and there's not enough time to explore.

I'll continue hunting and go back.

I defeated group after group of goblins.

I only got pebbles, but I won't complain.

I had some MP to spare, so I also tried out status effect spells.

Goblins are so vulnerable to status effects.

They get hit easily.

The paralysis spell is so effective it's almost boring.

The sight of them getting caught in the Root Snare is hilarious.

It's sad that they end up being crushed by Jericho right after.

I'll have the Oni take the back line.

Fighting with me in the front line with spells is too easy.

But it actually made things easier.

Maybe "easier" is an overstatement.

The roles became more specialized, which improved hunting efficiency.

I and Jericho built the front line.

The Oni supported from the back by breaking into the goblin group.

Jean disrupted the goblin coordination with surprise attacks.

This style feels efficient, partly due to the narrowness of the cave.

I continued hunting, confirming the coordination with the summoned monsters.

I had the Oni alternate between the front and back lines.

I had collected a few pieces of limestone, though not many.

Before I knew it, it was almost 3:00 PM.

I think I've got a good feel for using the tonfa in combat.

No, I've just gone through the motions.

It's not something you can master so easily.

《Your dual-wielding skill has leveled up with this battle victory!》

My dual-wielding skill leveled up during the goblin hunt.

It feels like it happened faster than expected.

Maybe I should call it a day here.

I put away the tonfa and went back to the forest dungeon to hunt mushrooms and Branch Golems.

I'll also practice close combat with hidden claws.

Picking up logs is heavy, but with my increased racial level, I have some room in the Item Box.

I can still collect a variety of mushrooms.

Paralysis and delay spells work moderately well on mushrooms.

For Branch Golems, they are completely ineffective.

Root Snare is extremely effective and makes them fall easily.

Even if there are many, it's easier to fight if you can make one fall.

It's not as effective as Pyrokinesis, but it's quite useful.

I was so engrossed in tearing mushrooms and throwing Branch Golems that it was almost 7:00 PM.

I hadn't checked the clock.

My MP bar was also below half.

I moved to a monster-free area and ate portable food to stave off hunger.

I really wanted a good meal.

I set an alarm for 9:00 PM and continued hunting.

The alarm went off while I was fighting Branch Golems.

Alright.

Let's make these the last ones.

After wiping out the Branch Golems, I received an announcement.

《Your throwing skill has leveled up with this battle victory!》

《You have learned the throwing technique: Hip Throw!》

Good timing, my throwing skill has