Chapter 11

Well, well... I rack my brain, wondering what this means. It’s not at all unusual to learn multiple skills. Even NPCs in the game era had multiple skills.

Unable to bear seeing me so puzzled, Cocoa offered an explanation.

"Um... usually, the same skill levels up to max. After that, you learn other skills..."

"Generally, you learn your first skill around level 6."

"I see...?"

I close my eyes, trying to sort out what this means. If what Cocoa and Kent say is true, it means you can’t choose which skills to learn. Could there be such an inconvenience...?

But, of course... we used the <Adventurer's Bracelet> to acquire skills, but others don’t have that, so they automatically get skills...!

Probably, the skill points cap at 5, and after that, they are automatically allocated. I never thought that not making the <Adventurer's Bracelet> would have such a downside...!! I’m glad we made it at the beginning.

I wipe the sweat from my forehead in relief.

"Well, if you level up, you’ll learn new skills, so the result isn’t much different."

"I can only use <Fireball> right now, but I’ll soon be able to use the next elemental skill!"

Even though they say it’s a big deal, they don’t seem too concerned. I’m grateful they didn’t press me for an explanation.

—The <Adventurer's Bracelet> seems to have become very meaningful in this world that has become reality. Since the information I have is from the game era, it might be a good idea to gather and compare information from this world.

"Cocoa, Sharon, there’s <Herb> over there!"

"Really!? Wait, Kent, this is... <Poison Herb>."

"Eh!?"

With the Wolf hunt over, we are searching for the <Herb> for the collection quest. Kent seems to have trouble distinguishing between <Herb> and <Poison Herb> and is struggling.

"Is this <Poison Herb>? Not <Herb>?"

"Kent has always focused on sword practice and never picked wild vegetables or collected anything... <Herb> has rounded leaves, while <Poison Herb> has jagged edges and a slightly darker underside."

Cocoa scolds Kent while teaching him the difference.

Honestly, I didn’t know the detailed characteristics either, so I’m relieved. I’ve seen them as game items, but this is my first time touching them. It’s kind of fun.

Still...

"You two get along well."

"Kent and I are childhood friends."

"Really?"

From what I hear, they are from the <Village of the Ranch>, which is three villages below the <Holy City Tsire>. I passed through it when I came to this country. It has a lot of animals, and I wanted to visit again.

"I’m 15, and Cocoa is 14. I left the village to become an adventurer, and she followed me."

"Hey, I thought you’d never make it alone! And even now, you can’t even collect <Herb>!"

"You two are close."

"‘‘No, we’re not!’’"

"Wow, you’re in sync."

I clap, and they both turn red, saying in unison, "‘‘That’s not true!’’"

I laugh at the two of them, who are showing more of their true selves than they did at first. I love these little interactions during our adventures.

"Ahaha"

"Sharon... Ah, I found <Herb>!"

"Damn, me too—wait, it’s a <Wolf>!"

A double of <Herb> and <Wolf>. But for us, who have become accustomed to teamwork, <Wolf> is no longer an enemy.

"Alright, let’s go! <Body Reinforcement>!"

"Fire, lend me your power! <Fireball>!"

"I’ll show you my sword skills!!"

We cheerfully complete the <Wolf Hunt> and <Herb Collection> quests. For a first party, I think we did pretty well.

My level has reached 12.

***

When we walk back to town, there’s a commotion at the gate. It’s usually crowded, but it’s not often that something causes a stir.

As we exchange glances, wondering what’s going on, we hear people talking.

"Apparently, the Hero Party is here."

"Wait, I heard it’s the prince from the neighboring country."

"Which piece of information is correct!?"

—Eh.

The prince from the neighboring country... Could it be the one who told me, "A boring woman who doesn’t even smile should pray for world peace"? I wish he wouldn’t ruin my fun time. My mood plummets.

Besides, isn’t this an enemy country for Prince Ignatia!? What’s he doing here? Ah, my head hurts...

"Sharon, what’s wrong?"

"Ah, um. We should go report the quest."

"Okay!"

I pretend not to have heard about my ex-fiancé and head to the Adventurer’s Guild with Cocoa and Kent, who are worried about me.