Chapter 9

Usually, this would be the time for gathering herbs, but from today onward, I am hunting goblins.

I have a longsword and leather armor and boots that I took from Hage.

The equipment in this world is convenient, and the armor has a spell cast on it that adjusts the size to fit the wearer to some extent.

Hunting goblins means simply killing them from a distance with stones.

Occasionally, I use my sword when I encounter them up close, but with the skill 'Swordsmanship LV1,' I can kill them without any problems. I collect the fragments of the magic orb from the goblins I have defeated.

These fragments, called magic orbs, were something Hage had collected before. Using these fragments allows one to use magical items, which are powered by magic, similar to electricity or gasoline.

Ah, a complete magic orb!

One of the goblins I just defeated dropped a beautiful pearl-like magic orb.

Naturally, this is more valuable. As for the goblin's ears, since I can't take quests, I completely ignore them.

While I'm at it, I'll practice some magic.

"Fireball"

"Kyaa!?"

When I cast the spell with magic power, a fist-sized ball of fire flies toward the goblin.

The goblin, hit in the face, falls to the ground and rolls around.

The killing power is low. Does the power increase with more magic?

"Heal"

I cast a healing spell on the fallen goblin. The burns gradually disappear, but before it fully recovers, I behead it.

Once I've seen it, I can cast spells without any problems.

This time, I try casting the spell in my head. Just like before, a fireball is launched.

Hmm, it worked without any problems... The casting time doesn't change, but it's more effective against intelligent monsters or humans since they won't know what spell I'm using.

Next, I try using combat skills while casting magic.

"Kii!"

I don't dodge the goblin's club attack but block it with my sword and try to cast a spell during the exchange, but it doesn't work. I think the reason is that I can't concentrate and infuse enough magic power.

I try a few times, but it doesn't work, so I behead the goblin.

"Kyaa!"

This is quite difficult...

"Why are you so strong?"

"!?"

I was startled by the sudden voice. It was Nina.

"Hey, why are you so strong? You were using magic and you handled the sword well."

She was about three meters away. Even in the mountains, you never know when you might encounter a goblin, so I was always on guard. I was surprised that I hadn't noticed her at all.

You were this close? I remember you have the 'Stealth' skill, so you must have been following me using that. And why are you calling me by my first name!

I approach Nina without hiding my discomfort.

"You... How long have you been here? And did you forget what I said yesterday?"

"Um, I've been watching for about an hour? And, I'm sorry about yesterday, I misunderstood Stella..."

I didn't notice you for an hour!?

"And I apologized to Stella and she forgave me."

"You saw Stella? Even if Stella forgave you, I haven't."

"Um, but I've decided to be friends with you, so I won't give up."

"Friends... with me? Ha..."

Yu glares at Nina with dark, murky eyes. He has always used these eyes to gauge the reactions of others. Some looked down on him, some pitied him, some were intimidating, and there were various reactions. Except for Stella...

Stella always treated Yu with the same eyes.

This was one of the reasons Yu opened up to Stella.

"What... the... you...!?"

Yu can only manage a hoarse voice.

Nina, despite being glared at by Yu, smiles.

Before he realizes it, Yu has fled the scene.

Weirdo! Weirdo!! Weirdo!!!

"Stella was right. He ran away..."

Nina recalls her conversation with Stella.

After confirming that Yu had left the house, she went to apologize to Stella—

"Well, well, Yu has such a cute friend now."

"Th... That's not it. I... ugh..."

Nina, with tears in her eyes, stammers. Stella waits for her to calm down.

Nina apologizes for saying bad things about Stella and making her angry, based on her interactions with Yu and her own assumptions.

"That's what happened."

Stella smiles warmly. Her kind face makes Nina feel embarrassed about her misunderstanding.

"Yu isn't very open. If you want to be friends with Yu, you can't give up. I'll give you some advice."

As Stella said, Yu looked into her eyes. If you maintain eye contact and smile, Yu will be flustered and run away. But don't give up. Stella added:

"Yu is shy and doesn't trust anyone. But once he opens up, he becomes very sweet. Good luck, Nina!"

(Sweet? I don't understand that part...)

But Nina vows not to give up this time.

That day, Yu tried to ask Stella about Nina but couldn't. Stella had bought the tools he had asked for, so he could start building the bath, but he spent the night in frustration.

He didn't realize that from that day on, a game of hide-and-seek with Nina would begin.

Nina followed Yu the next day as well, and of course, Yu tried to escape, but when he realized it, she was there again. This went on for about two weeks, and one day, when Yu checked Nina's status:

Name: Nina Leva

Race: Human

Job: Thief

Level: 12

HP: 76

MP: 21

Strength: 21

Agility: 53

Stamina: 21

Intelligence: 16

Magic: 11

Luck: 22

Passive Skills:

Detection LV1

Trap Detection LV1

Dagger Mastery LV1

Stealth LV1

Active Skills:

Steal LV1

Stealth LV1

Trap Disarm LV1

Invisibility LV1

Unique Skills:

None

She has more skills! No wonder I keep missing her.

Nina had the 'Stealth LV1' and 'Invisibility LV1' skills, and her agility had slightly increased.

By this time, there were days when I barely noticed her following me.

Of course, being followed every day like this makes it impossible to practice 'sword skills,' 'magic,' and 'combat skills.' Especially 'theft,' which I absolutely can't be caught doing.

"Hey... Can you cut it out?"

"Do you want to be friends with me?"

After stalking me so much, this comment irritates Yu, but he holds back.

"Is there any benefit for me to be friends with you?"

"There is. First, you can't take quests at the guild, right? You're killing goblins every day, but you can earn a lot of money from those quests. And with me, a thief, we can go to the caves in the mountains.

If you're killing goblins to level up and earn money, the caves offer more experience and money."

This girl... I thought she was just a cow, but she's surprisingly smart. It would be helpful to take quests and get rewards, and there are fewer skill-holding monsters around here... In the caves, I might be able to steal new skills.

"Fine. I'll form a party with you. But I don't trust you at all, so if you do anything strange, you know what will happen."

"It's not a party. It's friends... And I want you to take responsibility for what you did to me before I got married."

"Hmph!"

"Mean!?"