《Level Eater》


 Chapter : The Day of Beginning

    Chapter : The Day of Beginning


    Hello JonathanTitan here!


    Due to the feedback from a fan of this story, I have decided to upload Chapter 0-Chapter 59, that I previously linked to the old translation website.


    My real translations begins with Chapter 60. Chapter 0-59 is purely re-edited copies gotten from the old translation website.


    Thanks for the usual co-operation.


    As the asphalt roads are slowly dyed with the colour of sunset, Hasami Tatsuro and Yashiki Ai are walking home hand in hand, like they always do.


    On one side was a black-haired boy of 170 cm stature, with a slightly rugged face on him. On the other, stood a girl with a slightly childish face and chestnut-colored eyes to match. 160 cm tall, her short-cut hair complemented her other features nicely.


    The two started off as seatmates back in their primary school days. That paved the way for them to get closer due to their daily interactions. In their first year of middle school, Tatsuro finally managed to confess, and the two started going out.


    Ever since then, they started to exude a warm atmosphere whenever they were together, making them the target of envy for those around them. If things remained the same, they would graduate high school, move on to college, get a job, and eventually get married. Anyone would have given their all to turn that future into reality. Even the couple themselves thought so too.


    That is, up until today.


    Something that should have been impossible happened.


    *Rumble, rumble*


    As a low-frequency sound that could make one''s stomach churn resounded loudly, the ground started to shake violently.


    "Wha!?" (Tatsuro)


    "Kya!" (Ai)


    In an instant, Tatsuro pulled Ai closer to him. They both curled their bodies in an attempt to withstand the unnatural phenomenon.


    "E,e,e,e,e, earthquake?!" (Ai)


    "Looks like it." (Tatsuro)


    Reflected in their eyes was a fissure that split open, projecting the void within it.


    "Hold on tight! We''ll get separated if we don''t!" (Tatsuro)


    Receiving a bad omen from the fissure, Tatsuro held tightly onto Ai''s arm. They started to move back to distance themselves from the godforsaken thing'' floating in the sky but it was all for naught.


    The thing'' didn''t just stay in one place. It started devouring the sky and soon, there will no longer be a place that isn''t under it''.


    "Just what is that thing?" (Ai)


    "Tatsuro" (Ai)


    Trembling, Ai tugged on Tatsuro''s sleeve. In response, Tatsuro gently put his arms around her, giving her peace of mind. After doing so, they started considering whether they should move to another place or not.


    With a previously unseen event happening right before their eyes, they could not decide on their next course of action. The clock, however, ticks on.


    As if reminding them, the fissure started to rapidly expand in size.


    And then, right at that moment, something'' happened.


    With a loud screech that sounded like a metal being torn apart, a rip in space appeared right beside the girl.


    "Ai!!!" (Tatsuro)


    Similar to the fissure, the rip also started to expand rapidly. Before she had a chance to react, the rip had already started to engulf Ai.


    "IYAAAAA!" (Ai)


    "URGHHH" (Tatsuro)


    Seeing that, Tatsuro grabbed onto her arm and frantically tried to pull her out. However, his efforts were in vain. As though grateful for another meal, the rip started to devour Tatsuro as well.


    And just like that, the two of them fell into the void, sucked in by the unrelenting force of the rip. For a split second, the two felt like they were in zero gravity. Then, they, along with their screams, disappeared into the gap in space.


    From here on, the two will be taking a path that greatly differs from what they had initially thought. As for which path it will beonly time will tell.

 Chapter 1: What is this supposed to be?

    Chapter 1: What is this supposed to be?


    Inside the rip was nothing but darkness, completely deprived of any form of light.


    However, the two could still feel a pulling sensation, similar to what you would feel falling. And so, inside the seemingly endless void, Tatsuro held Ai in his arms, waiting for it to end.


    How long has it been?


    After an eternity of waiting, they could finally see a ray of light, shining from the bottom of the abyss. If they were to look at it closely, they would notice that it was exactly like the rip that brought them here in the first place.


    "Is that the exit?" (Ai)


    "It could be but" (Tatsuro)


    Just when Ai was about to resign to the fact that they might be stuck here forever, the ray of light washed her fear away. However, it did not cross her mind that in a place where reality was warped, such a simple exit could not possibly exist.


    "We''re going out!" (Tatsuro)


    "Un!" (Ai)


    That is what they thought but, in a situation like this, what you expect to happen would always be replaced by something far more bizarre.


    Surrendering themselves to the void, the two got pulled continuously towards the light until they finally exited the rip.


    Falling sideways to the ground, the pair screamed at the sudden change. As they entered the rip feet first, they assumed that they would land feet first as well. However, as said, their expectation would always be replaced with something else.


    On the other side, was a scenery that greatly differs from the one they were in before. Upon realizing this, the two yelped in surprise.


    What appeared in their sight was enough to cause flash blindness; right in front of them was a bright gravel path; to the left, a dense forest; to the right, a clear river and beyond that, the same dense forest.


    No matter how one looked at it, it wasn''t the city that they were in before.


    And then, there''s another catch.


    Right now, they are floating, or more accurately, moving in mid-air.


    The rip from which they exited was located on the ground. But with that said, they were violently thrown out of it and are now flying in a parabolic trajectory, with them closing in on the peak of the arc.


    Though the chances of them dying seemed pretty low, landing on the gravel path with their current speed would hurt like hell. It wouldn''t be the most pleasant experience.


    "Throw your bag down!" (Tatsuro)


    "? Understood!" (Ai)


    Tatsuro started moving.


    First, he told Ai to throw her backpack down while skilfully removing his own mid-air before throwing it away. Despite the lack of words, Ai understood him completely and removed her shoulder bag before promptly throwing it away.


    Next, he held her in his arms in what is commonly known as the princess carry while staring at the ground. The moment his feet touched the ground, he kicked up with all his might to shift their trajectory to the right.


    But, one kick wasn''t enough. While still in mid-air in what seemed like a long jump, Tatsuro kicked off the ground again to further propel them forward. In the end, he managed to change their landing spot to where he intended it to be that is, the river that they saw earlier.


    Splash!


    With a fierce backlash from the surface tension, they successfully landed in the neither too deep nor too shallow river.


    "Buuhaa!" (Ai)


    "Puuhaa!!" (Tatsuro)


    Rising above the water at the same time, they both wiped the water out of their eyes.


    "You alright?" (Tatsuro)


    "I''m fine. What about you, does your leg hurt?" (Ai)


    After Ai reminded him, Tatsuro tried moving his feet as he stood on the riverbed.


    "Hmm Doesn''t hurt, so it looks like it''s fine. Let''s just get out of the river first." (Tatsuro)


    "Alright." (Ai)


    Saying that, the two went up onto the riverbank, and then onto the gravel track, searching for the bags that they threw away earlier.


    "No matter how I look at it, it seems like we''re in the middle of a forest, huh?" (Tatsuro)


    "Ahh, it''s THE FOREST, isn''t it?" (Ai)


    "Why?" (Tatsuro)


    "I have no idea." (Ai)


    "Right" (Tatsuro)


    While exchanging a few jokes between them, the two once again stopped near the riverbank to take a look around. To their right side, they could only see rows upon rows of trees. To their left was the river, and further down that direction was another endless collection of trees.


    Taking a good hard look at their surroundings, the two sighed and started walking again.


    "Just where is this place?" (Ai)


    "Where''s your phone?" (Tatsuro)


    "In my bag, what about yours?" (Ai)


    "I put it in the shoulder pocket of the bag so it won''t get wet." (Tatsuro)


    "At that time I should have done that too" (Ai)


    As a sudden realization hit her, Ai subconsciously stopped in her tracks.


    "Is this the thing they call warping''?" (Ai)


    "Maybe. I wouldn''t want people calling us crazy when we get back home Are our houses even ok?" (Tatsuro)


    "Now that you mention it, that was a pretty big earthquake. It makes me feel anxious whenever I think about it." (Ai)


    "Well, let''s confirm our current location first. The sooner we can contact someone and get back home, the better." (Tatsuro)


    "Right Achoo Uuu, it''s getting a bit chilly." (Ai)


    "Yeah, let''s hurry and get our bags back." (Tatsuro)


    |Sentient life form with the minimum required intelligence confirmed.|


    |System installation will begin soon.|


    The pair let out a surprised voice.


    They both heard the same mechanical voice at the back of their head and so, they started looking around for the source, but there was no one else besides them. Still, they looked at each other.


    Ki: 750


    Mana: 1


    Strength: 150


    Durability: 150


    Agility: 100


    Magic: 1


    Magic Resistance: 1


    Mana Control: 1


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Valkyrie]


    Skill Points: 3


    |Titles|


    None


    "Why does my stats have to be that of a musclehead''s?" (Ai)


    After checking their own stats, they exchanged each other''s information as they couldn''t view the other''s stats.


    "I just remembered, there''s a help button on the first screen, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Was there?" (Ai)


    "There is! this airhead Aaand how do we get back. Uhh, is this the right button? Alright, we''re back." (Tatsuro)


    "How? Ahh, it''s this one, right?" (Ai)


    Selecting the small back arrow on the lower right corner of the screen brought them back to the first initial screen.


    When they touched the Help'' button on their screens, something resembling a handprint framed in black borders appeared right in front of them.


    "So, do I place my hand here?" (Tatsuro)


    "Let''s try it!" (Ai)


    Placing their right hands on their respective panels, in contrast to their expectations, nothing happened.


    "Hmm, did we do something wrong? Ah, do we just think about what we want to know while we put our hands Huh? (Ai)


    "What happened?" (Tatsuro)


    "No, I didn''t know how we''re supposed to use this thing but as soon as I thought that, the answer just came to me. To be honest, it felt kind of refreshing." (Ai)


    "Heee Looks like it has that function too. It feels a bit hard to get used to." (Tatsuro)


    Like Ai said, the Help function of the system works by placing your hand on the panel while thinking about the question that you want answered. Upon doing so, the relevant information will flow into one''s head.


    "Alright, then. What about other''s Sta.. That was fast. Well, it''s natural considering that we think faster than we can speak" (Tatsuro)


    "N?? Oh, I see." (Ai)


    While fooling around with the Help function, the two were able to learn the basic controls of navigating the menu.


    "Hmm hmm On the system''s home screen, there''s a party button. In there, we can check our current party, apply to one, and accept or reject applications. So if we create a party, we just have to touch the open to party members'' button and then!" (Ai)


    "I''m gonna make my status open to party members now. Can you see it? Wai Ai, isn''t your stats basically a cheat?" (Tatsuro)


    "Uhh, from my point of view, isn''t yours just too weak?" (Ai)


    "Nah, it''s probably yours that are too weird. Mine looks about right for a Lv 1, I think." (Tatsuro)


    "And how do you know what''s the average for a Lv 1? Now that you mention it, what are these skills? (Ai)


    "Mine shows [Valkyrie] while you have [Level Eater]. Don''t they feel a bit too flashy?" (Tatsuro)


    "That? If you don''t know, then Help-sensei is here to help! To see more details, uhh It looks like we just need to touch the skill name on the stats screen." (Ai)


    "That sounds easy enough. If it''s just that, then we would have found it out by ourselves after a few tries. Aaand, there we go." (Tatsuro)


    Skill: Level Eater


    Grade: Unique


    Type: Active


    Description: Devour another''s level to increase one''s own.


    "Nice. Tatsuro, you got a cheat skill, didn''t you!!" (Ai)


    "Mine''s a weird one for sure. It''s gonna be a terrible one if I can''t control when to use it. And what about your [Valkyrie]?" (Tatsuro)


    Skill: Valkyrie


    Grade: Unique


    Type: Passive


    Description: Reach the peak of martial arts in exchange for losing all magic capacity.


    Greatly increased talent in martial arts allows the user to acquire martial arts-related skills faster. As a trade-off, magic skills acquisition becomes nearly impossible.


    "A forced sacrifice of magic in exchange for strength. Looks like the law of equivalent exchange applies here too. To be fair, looking at your cheat stats, I think it''s a pretty good skill." (Tatsuro)


    "But I always go for magic-related classes in games It would have been great if it was the other way around" (Ai)


    "" And, what''s this supposed to be?""


    After the initial curiosity about the new "system," reality finally struck the two.

 Chapter 2: System-san, I want a map!

    Chapter 2: System-san, I want a map!


    "It''s because of that rip that we''re in this game-like world right now that''s a good one but where''s the punchline?" (Ai)


    "The punch line is I still can''t believe it." (Tatsuro)


    "Really? Then how else would you explain our situation? There''s VR but I don''t think technology has advanced enough for it to be this realistic yet." (Ai)


    Saying that, Ai started tapping the system panel with the back of her hand.


    Unable to refute her words, Tatsuro let out a groan.


    "Not even Sonar from PlayStation 4?" (Ai)


    "Nope. Be it Sonar or Hall of Endurance, both are impossible at the present." (Tatsuro)


    "Right" (Ai)


    While exchanging words that made little sense, they both continued fiddling around with the system and discovered the show/hide function for the system panel.


    Believe it or not, all it took for them was to think about closing or opening the window. After learning about that, the two could easily guess that this wasn''t any available technology from Earth anymore. It was something much more advanced.


    At that moment, one sudden thought came to mind.


    "What if we used Help?" (Tatsuro)


    "Would it still work if it''s not related to the system? Still, we have nothing to lose so why not just try it out?" (Ai)


    "On it!" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro quickly brought up the Help screen and pressed his hand on it.


    (Where is this place? Ahh that''s pointless to ask as we don''t have a map. Then, how do we get a mini-map function on the system? [Skill required] We need to acquire some kind of skill for it.) He thought


    "So what does it say?" (Ai)


    "There''s a skill that gives a map function, it seems." (Tatsuro)


    "Eh, really?!! We don''t need a GPS anymore, then!" (Ai)


    "Probably Skill Skill There" (Tatsuro)


    When he touched the Skill button on the home screen, various buttons appeared as follows: Martial Arts, Magic, Life Skills, Special Skills, System Upgrade, and Others.


    While his eyes were drawn in by the others category, he held his curiosity back and selected the System Upgrades button. There, amid the many skill names, he located a skill named [Map].


    "Ah, I found it! Alright, learn! Eh?" (Tatsuro)


    "What?" (Ai)Visjt  for new updates


    "It says not enough skill points." (Tatsuro)


    "How many do you need?" (Ai)


    "9." (Tatsuro)


    "How many do you have now?" (Ai)


    "3." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s a no-go, then." (Ai)


    "Right, no-go it is. Help-san, what do we do now? Apart from some special methods of acquisition, we get skill points for leveling up. Looks like it''s 3 skill points per Lv." (Tatsuro)


    "Alright, then. We just need to Lv up twice." (Ai)


    "Yeah." (Tatsuro)


    "Then what are we waiting for?! Let''s start the grind! Slime, I choose you!" (Ai)


    |Skill [Unarmed Combat] acquired.|


    |Skill [Unarmed Combat] has leveled up to Lv 3.|


    "Level up again! Come on, you try it too, Tatsuro!" (Ai)


    "Mm." (Tatsuro)


    Seeing Ai in high spirits, Tatsuro picked up a random branch off the floor, found an open area, and started swinging it around.


    "Whatcha doing?" (Ai)


    "Experimenting. Can you try doing what I just did?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm? Well, I can, but Ehh, here goes nothing." (Ai)


    |Skill [Staff Art] acquired.|


    "Eh, I just learned [Staff Art] You too?" (Ai)


    "Nope, nothing at all. For you to learn skills so fast, it looks like it''s because of your [Valkyrie] skill." (Tatsuro)


    As he said that, Ai clasped her hands and replied


    "Ah My skill description said that too. Then, what will you do? To level up, you need to fight, right? Wouldn''t it be great if you had a self-defense skill right now?" (Ai)


    "True Well, since we already have you as our big and strong vanguard, I''d like to try using magic." (Tatsuro)


    "Not fair! If there''s magic, I''d like to be a magician too!" (Ai)


    "Not fair, you say Didn''t your skill already state that you can''t use magic? In exchange for that, you get to be a cheat martial artist so isn''t that fine already?" (Tatsuro)


    "Uu" (Ai)


    Stroking the head of the sulking Ai to comfort her, Tatsuro used his other hand to navigate towards the skills shop panel.


    Upon reaching the page, he filtered it to only show magic skills. In an instant, only magic classes and attributes were left displayed on his screen.


    "Let''s see here Fire, Water, Air, Earth These are the basic ones. And then there''s Nature, Lightning, Ice" (Tatsuro)


    "What about the others???" (Ai)


    Ai''s eyes were sparkling as she said that. In response to the enthusiasm, Tatsuro hurriedly continued scrolling through the screen.


    "Life, Curse, Information I don''t really understand what these are. I''ll just ask Help-sensei after. Next is Light and Darkness, which includes Gravity and Space-time It has this thing too?" (Tatsuro)


    "I don''t really understand the previous ones much but, I wanted to use Light and Darkness magic. If you learn them, don''t forget to show me, ok!" (Ai)


    "If I learn them, sure. Ah, but those two cost a lot more than the other attributes. The others only require 1 skill point to learn the Lv 1 skill, but Light and Darkness start at 11 points. Eh, Gravity Control costs 500 and Space-time costs 1000 Doesn''t it feel impossible to get even one of them already?" (Tatsuro)


    After taking a brief look at the standard magic attributes, Tatsuro shifted his focus towards the Life, Curse, and Information magic.


    The life attribute has healing and restorative magic; the Curse attribute contains all the buffs and debuffs; and the Information attribute contains magic used for gathering information, including detection and analysis.


    "The ones that look the most useful right now are Life, Fire, and Water, huh?" (Tatsuro)


    "Right, in a forest like this, getting injured is scary, fire will be convenient for us too, and drinking water is You have 3 points so why not take Lv 1 for all three? By the way, my magic list says learning magic will need 999 points for me. Does that mean I still have a chance?" (Ai)


    "Really? [Valkyrie] isn''t kidding, huh? Alright, let''s try this out, then!" (Tatsuro)


    "O" (Ai)


    "Giii-Giii"


    ""Giii?"" They chorused


    There should have been only the two of them here and yet, they heard the voice of another. Similar to a horror film, they were greeted by the source of the voice when they turned around to look behind them.


    It was a caterpillar.


    In a forest, it would be quite normal to see a caterpillar crawling around. That is if one deemed that a 50 cm long caterpillar is within what people call normal''.

 Chapter 3: Giant Caterpillar Raid!

    Chapter 3: Giant Caterpillar Raid!


    "HUGE! That thing is way too big for a caterpillar!" (Tatsuro)


    "Why does it look like it''s coming this way?! Gross, ewwww!!" (Ai)


    The one who intruded into their conversation was a 50 cm-long caterpillar. With black spots all around its white body, two wriggling T-shaped antennae were also attached to its head.


    Frightened by yet another thing that shouldn''t exist in this world, the pair froze up as the caterpillar started making its way towards them.


    "Ai, punch it! Punching it might make you level up!!" (Tatsuro)


    "NOOO WAY! THERE''S NO WAY I''M TOUCHING THAT THING!!" (Ai)


    "Yeah, I knew you''d say that Alright, let''s run!" (Tatsuro)


    "Agree-eeek!" (Ai)


    """""GiiGiiiGiiii"""""


    As they turned around to escape, 5 more caterpillar-sans greeted them. Upon seeing that, Ai lost her cool and grasped tightly onto the hem of Tatsuro''s shirt. Feeling the grip on his shirt, Tatsuro frantically thought of a way to deal with the situation while his gaze landed on a pebble right by his feet.


    "AI, THE PEBBLES! If it''s with your stats, throwing pebbles at them should be enough!" (Tatsuro)


    "-! I see If that''s the case, then Ha!" (Ai)


    For Ai, it''s fine just as long as she doesn''t have to touch the caterpillars directly. In addition, they might even level up. Once her train of thought started moving, she immediately crouched down to pick up a few stones and threw them at the caterpillar with all her might.


    |You have Acquired the [Throwing] skill.|


    BANG!! An explosive sound rang out.


    A power that you would not expect from a girl with frail arms resounded from the stone. It was strong enough to demolish anything that it hit that is if it hit anything.


    The stone that Ai threw made a sharp sound of cutting through the air but It was wide by 3 meters and flew peacefully over the caterpillars.


    With that said, though her physical strength was greatly increased by the status correction to the point where she has far surpassed what normal people could reach with exercise alone, her motor skills were completely left unaffected.


    In fact, during her middle school years, a friend had invited her to the handball team to help cure this quirk'' of hers. However, she had never once joined in on an actual match and for those 3 years, settled for being the bench warmer and nothing else.Visjt  for new updates


    Therefore, her stone-throwing ability, without the skill correction, would naturally hit nothing. Tatsuro knew that, but he had never expected her to be this bad.


    "CAPTAIN. THAT''S. A. WILD. PITCH!!!" (Tatsuro)


    "SHUT UP! This time, it''ll hit-Heya!" (Ai)


    Level: 5


    Skill(s): [Body Slam Lv 2], [Thread Weaving Lv 3], [Bite Lv 3]


    (N? Why do I even get the skill info? Well, that''s fine too.)


    Putting that question aside, he focused solely on the caterpillar''s Lv.


    "Haaa" (Tatsuro)


    Black fumes started to rise from the caterpillar. Opening his mouth once more, the black fumes started fusing together to form the shape of a ball while traveling toward Tatsuro''s mouth.


    Looking at the scene unfolding before him, Tatsuro raised his eyebrows. In the meantime, the fumes had already fused to form a perfect sphere.


    Level: 1


    Skill(s): [Body Slam Lv 2], [Thread Weaving Lv 3], [Bite Lv 3]


    Tatsuro took a glimpse at the caterpillar''s stats again before completely devouring the black sphere. After eating it, he felt a warm sensation on his chest.


    The enemy''s level being a nutrient for his own growthis what he understood from the skill.


    Draining the caterpillar''s levels to the limit, it fell back down to Lv 1.


    (Hmm? I thought I took all of its experience, but my Lv didn''t even increase by 1? Is the conversion efficiency bad, or is it just that I need more experience to Lv up as compared to the caterpillar? Which one is it?)


    Looking at his status screen, only questions popped up even though his progress up till now has been smooth sailing.


    However, something else came to mind.


    If his opponent''s level went down, then that means that it will also lose the additional stats gained from level-ups, essentially making it weaker. But that doesn''t mean that they''re dead. Even now, it''s still persistently shouting its "Gii-Gii" love call towards Tatsuro. It even bared its sharp fangs toward him while ever so slowly, crawling its way closer.


    You could say that it''s only Lv 1, but the same applies to Tatsuro. It isn''t easy to face such an enemy empty-handed.


    Well, then. This is a big problem.


    "Now, how do I fight this thing?"

 Chapter 4: The Way of the Level Eater

    Chapter 4: The Way of the Level Eater


    With Ai fighting right behind him, Tatsuro could still hear the deafening sounds of stones exploding.


    Considering his next move, the caterpillar in front of him had already shortened the gap to 2 meters. Realising that he was in a bad situation, Tatsuro wanted to increase the distance between him and his enemy when all of a sudden, the caterpillar came to a complete halt.


    " What now?" (Tatsuro)


    Puzzled by the sudden change in behavior, Tatsuro was left dumbfounded. The caterpillar, however, did not wait for him. Facing Tatsuro, it raised its head, tilting it slightly backward while opening its mouth.


    "This is bad" (Tatsuro)


    Feeling the chills on his spine, Tatsuro quickly jumped aside to avoid the attack''s trajectory.


    "So that''s [Thread Weaving]!" (Tatsuro)


    It was fortunate that he could learn his enemy''s methods of attack from [Level Eater]. If he didn''t, he wasn''t sure whether he could have dodged that attack or not.


    "GIGIGIGIIII"


    Angry about its thread being evaded, the caterpillar started scattering more around the area.


    "There, there, and there! Your skill activation sequence is too big and predictable." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro evaded the threads by a wide margin.


    In contrast to Ai, he had good reflexes and motor skills. Having seen it once already, Tatsuro was confident that he could dodge its thread without the stats correction once he saw the wind-up action for [Thread Weaving].


    "GIII"


    Realizing that its thread attacks were ineffective, the caterpillar stopped using it and went back to closing the distance between them.


    (This time, it''ll use either [Body Slam] or [Bite]) He thought.


    From the names alone, predicting the skills'' effect is as easy as reading a nursery rhyme. As such, Tatsuro focused on and scrutinized every single move that the caterpillar made. Drawing an imaginary circle with the caterpillar in the center, Tatsuro tried to discern the attack range of the insect.


    However, the caterpillar halted its movement once again.


    "Another thread?" (Tatsuro).


    Though the caterpillar tilted its head backward again, it also curled its body to a shape resembling a shrimp. Quickly accelerating forward with its curled body, it violently shot toward Tatsuro like a spring.


    "Haa That was fast." (Tatsuro)


    This attack, too, was easily dodged by Tatsuro. Seeing the preceding sequence of moves, he was able to accurately predict that it would use [Body Slam].


    (It''s there! Alright, let''s try the threads) He thought


    Concentrating on that particular skill, black smoke rose from the caterpillar''s body and gathered inside Tatsuro''s mouth once more.


    Level: 1


    Skill(s): [Body Slam Lv 2], [Thread Weaving Lv 0], [Bite Lv 3]


    (Alright, [Thread Weaving] is now Lv 0. Now, Mom has always told me to never leave leftovers!) He thought


    Once the black fumes stopped gathering, there should be nothing more left to devour. Even so, Tatsuro wanted to be sure as he checked the enemy''s status again.


    Level: 1


    Skill(s): [Body Slam Lv 0], [Thread Weaving Lv 0], [Bite Lv 0]


    "Nice!" (Tatsuro)


    After confirming that the enemy''s skills had disappeared, Tatsuro cut off their connection and devoured the black sphere in his mouth.


    Next is If I attacked this guy with another stick Huh?" (Tatsuro)


    After finishing his preparation, Tatsuro was deciding his next move when the caterpillar suddenly wobbled and fell to the ground. There, it twitched once and never moved again.


    |You have leveled up to Lv 3.|


    "Level up Well, I did defeat that thing so Fuuu" (Tatsuro)


    It was a tricky situation. As soon as Tatsuro let go of the tension from the fight, he found himself sitting on the ground. Soon after, Ai''s voice sounded out.


    "Is it over?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, somehow. What about you?" (Tatsuro)


    "I got [Throwing] up to Lv 6!" (Ai)


    As Ai threw a peace sign out with her hand, Tatsuro loosened his mouth and let out a sigh of relief. Standing up, he patted his pants to remove the dirt and headed towards Ai.

 Chapter 5: This Place is…

    Chapter 5: This Place is...


    "Good work" (Ai)


    "You too." (Tatsuro)


    After finishing the after-work SOP, they opened their system to check this time''s spoils of war (which is mostly just experience).


    Name: Ai Yashiki


    Class: Martial ArtistVisjt  for new updates


    Level: 5


    Ki: 1220


    Mana: 3


    Strength: 240


    Durability: 240


    Agility: 190


    Magic: 1


    Magic Resistance: 1


    Mana Control: 1


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Valkyrie], [Unarmed Combat Lv.3], [Staff Art Lv.1]


    [Throwing Lv.6]


    Skill Points: 15


    |Titles|


    None


    "Everything went up significantly except the magic-related ones, huh. This isn''t the stats screen of a Lv 5 anymore!" (Tatsuro)


    "Really? What about yours, then?" (Ai)


    "Mine? Mine is normal. N-o-r-m-a-l." (Tatsuro)


    Name: Tatsuro Hasami


    Class:


    Level: 3


    Ki: 60


    Mana: 60


    Strength: 20


    Durability: 20


    Agility: 15


    Magic: 20


    Magic Resistance: 20


    Mana Control: 15


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Level Eater]


    "Third option, please!!" (Tatsuro)


    "Wai, eh? N-n-n-now?" (Ai)


    "That''s lovely," whispered Tatsuro while holding the flustered Ai in his arms, as if preventing her escape.


    "Ehh No, not here but if you''d like it here, then maybe no, I want our first to be somewhere with a better ambiance" Her mumbles went softer and softer until it was barely audible.


    "Uhh Sorry for making you think that far but that was a joke. No sane person would want to do that in the middle of scattered caterpillar corpses." (Tatsuro)


    "T-t-t-that''s true. O-of course I knew that. H-how w-was my a-acting skill?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, yeah. It was an act, alright." (Tatsuro)


    "Muu I already told you, yes is just one word" (Ai)


    "Yes, ma''am." (Tatsuro)


    After a minute of cuddling, the two finally let go and discussed their next course of action.


    "Then, first things first. With your current skill points, you could grab the map skill, right?" (Ai)


    "Yeah. I want to say something first, though. I have an infinite number of skill points, so I want you to save yours for later. Is that okay?" (Tatsuro)


    "But the map skill looks convenient I want one too" (Ai)


    "Fair enough. Still, how accurate would the map be, and when can we use it We won''t know until we try." (Tatsuro)


    "If you say that, then" (Ai)


    "Ah, what if we can share it with the party too, like our stats panel? If we find skills like that, I''ll prioritize learning those first." (Tatsuro)


    "Uuu I''ll be in your care, then old man!" (Ai)


    "Just leave it to me, who''s the old man?!" (Tatsuro)


    As their situation eased, the two continued their casual exchange.


    "Then, I''ll be learning [Map]." (Tatsuro)


    "Whoop," said Ai while clapping, as if she were a parent encouraging him to take his first steps.


    Ignoring her, Tatsuro opened his system and went towards the skills section to learn his first acquired skill. After learning [Map], a new selection appeared on the system''s home screen.


    Status


    Gold:


    Party


    Skill


    Map


    Help


    Though Tatsuro wanted to check the map out as soon as possible, he concluded that knowing the name of the forest that they were currently in would help him out later. As such, he opened up the Help function.


    (Where are we? [The Great Forest of Amneri, Heldamud] Where is that?! Then, how far are we from home? [Does not exist] How about Japan? [There''s the country of Japonercion] Isn''t that completely different? Then, are we on Earth? [Does not exist] Earth isn''t even in your vocabulary, huh?) He pondered.


    Learning more about their current situation, he hid the system and faced Ai.


    Looking at Tatsuro''s expression, Ai felt the gravity of the situation and quickly straightened her posture.


    "Uhh I just learned some unfortunate news." (Tatsuro)


    "" (Ai)


    "Japan doesn''t exist in this place. Actually, I''m not even sure if we''re still on Earth." (Tatsuro)


    "I thought so" (Ai)


    "-Looks like we got isekai''d." (Tatsuro)

 Chapter 6: The Way Back Home

    Chapter 6: The Way Back Home


    "Yeah With the system and those HUGE caterpillars, I''d be surprised if someone said we''re still on Earth." (Ai)


    "So, you''re still the same as ever, huh. We don''t know if we can ever go back home, you know?" (Tatsuro)


    "I do. But still, we''re already here so there''s nothing much we can do about it. It''s still sad that I can''t see Mom and Dad anymore but I''m not alone, right?!" (Ai)


    Saying that, Ai hugged Tatsuro''s arm. Tatsuro smiled softly at her and replied, "You got that right."


    If one of them was thrown into this world alone, he or she might not be able to even make it this far.


    "Still, that doesn''t mean that we should lose all hope! Remember, we have magic here. We could still get home with a simple Abra Kadabra for all we know." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s the spirit! But even if we''re stuck here forever, I think I can live on if it''s with you. (Ai)


    "That''s why you can''t leave me, okay? N-E-V-E-R." (Tatsuro)


    "I''m the one who should be saying that." (Ai)


    Whispering sweet words to each other, the two stared at each other while closing the distance between their lips until they finally touched. Though it only lasted for a moment, that was all it needed for them to convey each other''s feelings.


    "By the way, won''t Help know if there is magic that can bring us back home?" (Ai)


    "I don''t expect it to. Help-san doesn''t know Earth, let alone Japan. If, against all odds, it did know how to get us home, I''ll start calling it Help-sama!" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm, if you say that, then what are we waiting for? Let''s go ask it!" (Ai)


    "Ah, I''ll do it!" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro opened the system that he was now familiar with and quickly navigated to the Help section.


    "Now, tell us. How do we get back to Earth? It doesn''t know what "Earth" is. Told ya!" (Tatsuro)


    "No, no You just asked it too roughly! In the first place, would the natives here even call our world "Earth?" Try asking it more gently." (Ai)


    "Gently? How about this Does magic that can teleport people to other worlds exist? Seems so." (Tatsuro)


    "See!" (Ai)


    "Wait." (Tatsuro)


    Saying that to the delightedly clapping Ai, Tatsuro fired off his next question.


    "Where do we find that? If we get the space-time attribute magic, then, theoretically, we can travel to a different world using the transfer magic in it." (Tatsuro)


    "Space-time Doesn''t that cost 1000-point?" (Ai)


    "What do you mean by theoretically? A few conditions must be met to activate it. First, we must be able to have a clear thought about the place we want to go to. Next, we must have visited there once. So if one isn''t limited by the second condition, then theoretically, one can go to other worlds too." (Tatsuro)


    Also, because of the extremely high cost of the space-time attribute, no human has ever learned it. Even Help hasn''t seen anyone do it."


    "Huh? Doesn''t that mean we can go home as soon as we get the skill?" (Ai)


    "Yep!" (Tatsuro)


    With a "Yay!" and a high five, the two hugged each other and had a small celebration.


    With Tatsuro''s skill, even if he doesn''t level up, as long as there is sufficient "food," the only limit to him earning skill points is time alone.


    "Even so, 1000 points sounds a bit too high Aren''t there some kind of tips and tricks to speed it up?" (Tatsuro)


    "Shouldn''t you ask Help-sama for that?" (Ai)


    "It really turned out to be Help-sama, huh?" (Tatsuro)


    "Of course. Help-sama is benevolent. I''m sure Help-sama can bestow knowledge upon us." (Ai)


    The pattern continues, where the last attribute will take [12n] points to reach [Lv n]. (12, 24, 36, 48)


    As such, it will take a huge number of points for Tatsuro to master all 12 attributes.


    Not forgetting the Light and Darkness attributes;


    To raise their level to [Lv n], it would take a total of [n+10] skill points.


    However, if he were to max them out last, then they would take [12(n+10)] points to get to [Lv n].


    "Is how it is?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm, whenever you learn a new attribute, the SP cost gets multiplied, so it''s harder for you to master a new one." (Ai)


    "SP? Ah, skill points That''s true, though?" (Tatsuro)


    "Then, how much would it take to learn space-time magic?" (Ai)


    "Eh Help, will you please!" (Tatsuro)


    "You already dropped the sama" (Ai)


    Ai couldn''t help but sigh at how quickly Tatsuro changed his way of addressing Help. After acquiring the information he needed from Help, Tatsuro faced Ai once again.


    "Well, if I take Light and Darkness first, then I''ll need 8,490 points]." (Tatsuro)


    "It''s expensive" (Ai)


    "By the way, if we relied only on the skill points we get from Lv up, then we''ll need to reach Lv 2,830 to master all the attributes." (Tatsuro)


    "Then that means nobody can do it, huh?" (Ai)


    "Really, if someone didn''t have a skill similar to mine, then it''s impossible, isn''t it? Hmm If I can gather 100 SP in a day, then it''s gonna take 85 days. If it''s 50 SP/day, then it''ll take 170 days" (Tatsuro)


    "We already know how to get home so don''t worry about how fast you can gather them. There''s no need to push yourself, just go for the slow and steady route. It''s not like I don''t want to go home sooner, but it''s not something worth sacrificing your health for, okay?" (Ai)


    And just when the conversation looked like it was getting stale, Ai suddenly had a flash of inspiration as she clasped her hands and started talking.


    "Ah That''s it! I can raise my skill levels as easily as raising my hands so, can''t you just take my skill levels using [Level Eater], let me raise them again, and then rinse and repeat? If we can do that, then we can go home soon, right?" (Ai)


    If that''s possible, then they can skip all the troublesome processes and get straight into the rewards section. However, in contrast to the high-spirited Ai and her sparkling eyes, Tatsuro just turned his head to the side.


    "Actually, it''s not like I didn''t think about that. It''s just I won''t do it." (Tatsuro)


    "Eh? Why? But it''s the simplest method we have" (Ai)


    "It''s just Think about it for a bit. This system or the skills or whatever. What are they, even?" (Tatsuro)


    "Even if you ask me that, I don''t have anything to say" (Ai)


    "That''s exactly it. We don''t have a complete grasp of how everything works. [Level Eater] might not have any noticeable effect on monsters, but it might be lethal to people for all we know. And even if it''s non-lethal to normal people, what about us? We''re not exactly what you''d call normal people'' here as we came from Earth. We have no idea if it''ll hurt otherworlders when used on one, and even more than that, what if there''s a limitation when using this skill on people dear to the user? What we know is limited to what we can learn from Help. With only information from a thing from this world, how could I use [Level Eater] on the most important person in my life?" (Tatsuro)


    " T-that''s fair. Now that you mention it, I think I''d do the same if I were in your position. B-because To me too, Uhh You''re the most important person in my life." (Ai)


    Being told those words while she was face-to-face with Tatsuro, Ai''s face turned beet red as she replied to him.


    Once the embarrassment became too much for her to handle, she quickly turned her bright red face away from him. Tatsuro, too, realized the meaning of the words he just said and cast his eyes down as his cheeks started to turn red as well.


    "W-well That''s how it is so Ah, let''s just get going!" (Tatsuro)


    "Mhmm!" (Ai)


    To distract themselves from the embarrassment, the two shouted out loud.


    For the time being, they found a goal that they could strive for.

 Chapter 7: From Here On Out

    Chapter 7: From Here On Out


    The two had already decided on their goal for the near future. However, there was a slight problem right in front of them.


    "For the time being, we need to prioritize food, shelter, and maybe money." (Tatsuro)


    "Food, huh? I still have a few sweets with me here, but" (Ai)


    Checking her shoulder bag while saying that, Ai found some candy, chocolates, a small bag of potato chips, and some other cheap sweets. There''s also a 500ml PET bottle with water mixed in the bag.


    "I knew you always had snacks in your bag but why do you even have this much?!" (Tatsuro)


    "So I can eat it when I get hungry, or whenever I feel like it!" (Ai)


    "Y-yeah I bought a convenience store lunch box, two rice balls, and a bottle of tea for a midnight snack." (Tatsuro)


    Saying that he took out a plastic bag from his backpack.


    On a side note, Tatsuro''s parents usually come home late two to three days a week. As such, they usually purchase something to eat on the way home, leaving Tatsuro to his own devices for dinner.


    "Ah, now that you mention it, I remember you buying something in the store when we were walking home Uuu, if I knew this would happen, I''d have bought a lot" (Ai)


    "Ifs and buts won''t make things any better. Let''s just make do with what we have now." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. But for shelter The system says we don''t have any money In the first place, how do we even get out of this forest?" (Ai)


    "If that''s what you''re thinking, I already asked Help, but" (Tatsuro)


    Waving his hand in Ai''s direction, Tatsuro managed to grab her attention once more.


    "As I was saying, it looks like we''ll get to see a path leading to the town of Obsul if we continue downstream." (Tatsuro)


    "Really? By the way, how far is this Obsul?" (Ai)


    "Ah If we''re talking about how long it''ll take us to walk there, it''ll take us about 3 days." (Tatsuro)


    "T-T-T-THREE DAYS?!" (Ai)


    "Yeah, a 2 days walk by the riverside, then 1 day down the path to Obsul" (Tatsuro)


    ""Haaaaa""Visjt  for new updates


    Losing their spirits, the two cast their eyes downward. For kids like them, born and raised in the modern world, just the thought of a 3 day walk with such little food supply was enough to dishearten them.


    However, Tatsuro still tried to salvage the situation.


    "Alright, if we continue like this, then we won''t get anywhere so let''s change the topic." (Tatsuro)


    "What is it, then?" (Ai)


    "I want to learn magic." (Tatsuro)


    "MAGIC!!!" (Ai)


    As Ai''s eyes sparkled like a little child''s, Tatsuro quickly opened up his system.


    "Uhh Right now, I have 62 SP, so Light, Dark, Fire, Water, Life, and Earth. That should be enough to get all of them to Lv 1." (Tatsuro)


    "So you can learn 6 at once, huh? But will it be fine if they''re all only at Lv 1?" (Ai)


    "That''s gonna be a bit of a problem, but For now, I just want to test them out, find which is the easiest to use, and then focus on that, I think." (Tatsuro)


    |System skills|


    [Map]


    Skill Points: 11


    |Titles|


    None


    "Nice, they''re all there. Ah, my class changed to [Light Magician] while my stats adapted to it too. Was it because of that thing?" (Tatsuro)


    "What thing?" (Ai)


    "Uhh It''s kind of hard to explain but You''ve been a Martial Artist since the beginning so you probably didn''t get to experience it" (Tatsuro)


    "I don''t get it but that means everything''s okay, right?" (Ai)


    "Yup, everything''s fine!" (Tatsuro)


    "Then what are you waiting for?" (Ai)


    "Yes, ma''am!" (Tatsuro)


    After that exchange, Tatsuro moved a little further away from Ai.


    Tatsuro, not wanting to betray her expectations, used Help to learn how to handle his magic properly.


    It seems that for someone who is using their skill for the first time, it''s better to use it at full strength without holding anything back. Feeling the mana circulating in his body, Tatsuro learned how to control, release, and shape it into magic. As time passed, he slowly inched close to the magic that he had envisioned.


    Focusing on [Light Magic] first, he immediately felt something well up inside him. Like a computer system booting up, Tatsuro felt his body start the magic activation process all on its own.


    Facing his right palm towards the sky, he felt the flow of mana within him and gathered them towards his right hand. As he released it, it slowly took the shape of a sphere the size of an apple.


    "It''s here! Amazing! So this is magic" (Ai)


    Reveling at the moment, Tatsuro did not reply to the high-spirited Ai.


    The ball of light was something he made from his mana.


    The feeling of mana circulating in his veins, the feeling of releasing the mana from his body, and the process of refining it into a sphere of light. All of them were new to him, and he felt speechless.


    It was like seeing the light for the first time as a blind person.


    After basking in that feeling for a short moment, he didn''t want to forget the sensation and left the activation to his body as he continued to use the other 5 attributes. However, using his skills like that, all he did was form spheres of various elements in the palm of his hand.


    While it might be fun for him, Ai quickly lost interest as all she saw was a ball changing colors. It didn''t feel too different from an RGB light which could do the same.


    "Hey, Tatsuro Isn''t there anything else?" (Ai)


    "Hmm? Anything else? Ah! I felt like I was about to learn something! Wait a bit for me, okay?" (Tatsuro)


    "Mmm If you say that, then I can wait but If we don''t start moving soon, we''re never getting out of this sea of trees, you know?" (Ai)


    "Wha?! Ah, I almost forgot about that." (Tatsuro)


    Finally remembering their current predicament, Tatsuro ended his magic practice.


    Before long, the two-faced the river and started heading downstream.

 Chapter 8: The ‘Blech’

    Chapter 8: The ¡®Blech¡¯


    On a white gravel path by a brook, one could hear the footsteps of two people.


    Even though they had been walking for two hours straight, all they saw was the endless scenery of a forest untouched by human civilization. During their walk, they had expected to receive reception from strange life forms similar to the giant caterpillars before but none came. Because of such idleness, the two gradually lost their vigilance and soon found themselves sleepy.


    "Haaaaaaa I''m sleepy-." (Ai)


    "Haaa Me too" (Tatsuro)


    Seeing Ai yawn, Tatsuro gave one in reply. Whipping out his phone, Tatsuro checked the current time. On his screen, the time displayed corresponded to that of night-time but the sun was in disagreement. It was still in the process of rising, declaring that noon was yet to come.


    "Guess another world means a huge time difference, huh?" (Tatsuro)


    "It was so dark when we first came here so I thought it was already after sunset but who would have thought that it was still daybreak?" (Ai)


    At that moment, both of them yawned again.


    "I want to sleep but if we sleep at this time, we''re gonna have to walk at night." (Tatsuro)


    "Mhmm. And we don''t even know when the caterpy will attack us so camping outside could be dangerous." (Ai)


    "Caterpy??? Ah! Those caterpillars?" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s hard to recognize them by name so I gave them a nickname." (Ai)


    Ai said that while sticking out her chest, face beaming with confidence.


    "Nick name?" (Tatsuro)


    Not wanting to ruin her mood, Tatsuro paid her no mind and started practicing his magic while walking.


    Now, even without the help of the skill, he was able to produce a decent sphere out of his mana. To master the attributes, he tried mixing them together while also practicing how to release the magic.


    "That looks fun." (Ai)


    "Ah, a bit more and I''ll be able to use a new magic." (Tatsuro)


    "New magic??" (Ai)


    "Yeah, something called [Compound Magic], using different attributes at the same time." (Tatsuro)


    "Sounds interesting. I''ll be expecting it, okay!" (Ai)


    "Leave it to me!" (Tatsuro)


    Incidentally, the only reason why Tatsuro knew about [Compound Magic] was because of No, it might be better to say that it''s thanks to Light and Dark Magic.


    At first, due to how expensive they were, Tatsuro thought that Light and Dark attribute magic would possess a high damage potential. However, as light and darkness are non-material in nature, they didn''t pack the punch that he thought they would.


    Upon learning that, he asked Help about the usage of the two attributes and was replied with [Compound Magic].


    By mixing them with the magic of other attributes, the resulting magic would be stronger than the original due to the change in nature. One could even say that by acquiring both Light and Darkness attributes, a whole new diversity of magic was born.


    Tatsuro, with his knowledge about a certain useless goblin, immediately started practicing [Compound Magic] to prevent the two attributes from becoming a waste and that brings us to where he is now.Visjt  for new updates


    Thirty minutes passed. The two continued walking while exchanging a light-hearted conversation. In the midst of that, Tatsuro kept practicing and finally felt like he had a grasp on what creating [Compound Magic] should feel like.


    About 10 meters away from his current position, Tatsuro saw something that got his attention.


    "What''s that?" (Tatsuro)


    "Eh, what Blech" (Ai)


    "Girls shouldn''t be saying things like blech''." (Tatsuro)


    That "blech" was something that could be seen sprouting magnificently in a certain space between the trees.


    That something was a budding flower about 2 meters wide. Even though it was emitting a bioluminescent shocking pink color, it had a patched pattern of yellow and blue on its body while its leaves and stem had a tinge of dark red.


    The one thing, or maybe it''s better to call them things, that made it most blech'' to Ai were the yellow tentacles with green pointed tips stemming from inside the petals, twisting and turning all around the plant.


    "Yeah, we''re gonna call it a blech from now on" (Ai)


    "Well, that''s not much of a name but it''s somehow a great fit." (Tatsuro)


    "Isn''t it? But why does it look like you''re not too happy about it?" (Ai)


    ([Thread Weaving Lv1]? That thing can weave!? [Digging Lv 3] too, looks a bit off on a plant butWhat''s with the [Stronger Acids Lv 3] and [Bite Lv 5]? Is this thing really a plant? And it even has [Camouflage] at Lv 5 too! If you have that, then make your petals look more beautiful! Alright, I give up Thanks for everything, then) He thought


    Level: 1


    Skill(s): [Camouflage Lv 0], [Compressed Muscles Lv 0], [Stronger Acids Lv 0]


    [Digging Lv 0], [Thread Weaving Lv 0], [Bite Lv 0]


    (Finally It''s harder and much more time-consuming if I''m too far from the target. I should take note of how long it actually takes to absorb everything next time.) He thought.


    Tatsuro felt more tired than when he was fighting the caterpillars. While swallowing the black sphere, he was thinking about how he would use [Level Eater] in the future.


    After draining it of its level and skills, the blech''s petals opened up and fell flat on the ground, revealing its disgusting tentacles which continued swinging around.


    "Ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew!!!" (Ai)


    "" (Tatsuro)


    Ai, disgusted by the wretched sight in front of her, was rubbing her arms in hopes of coping with the goosebumps she got. Tatsuro, on the other hand, was fatigued from his earlier stunt and slumped onto the ground, wordlessly.


    "Tatsuro, you okay?" (Ai)


    "I''m fine. Just a bit tired can''t stand" (Tatsuro)


    "OK! Just rest there for a bit! I''ll make sure this blech is erased from this world using my Frisbees!" (Ai)


    Positioning herself to throw the Frisbees, Ai took a deep breath, held it for a while, and let go, alongside the Frisbee.


    With the sound of cutting through the air, the Frisbee sliced through several tentacles and hit the blech. Releasing a high-pitched scream, purple liquid started spurting out from the cut made by the Frisbee.


    "EEEEEEEEE!"


    As the plant cried out, Ai threw another one. This time she aimed it lower as if to cut the plant down from the base. The Frisbee cut gracefully through the air and the root of the tentacles, truly a beautiful throw.


    "HIT!!!" (Ai)


    Was what she thought as the event unfolded? What were supposed to be joints with detached limbs suddenly started swelling up.


    ROAAARRRR


    With its angry voice reverberating all around, the belch suddenly rose up into what one would describe as a dark red spider that''s about 3m tall.


    "Ueee" (Ai)


    "Is this thing for real?" (Tatsuro)


    On the spider''s back was a collection of purple petals which spurted out purple liquid before so they both naturally assumed that this was the real body of Blech.


    Looking around with an intimidating glance, it wasn''t long before the spider caught a glimpse of the two.


    Tatsuro knew that they were spotted, but he was still too tired to move. He gazed at Ai with a worried face and Ai, seeing that, grabbed a Frisbee on each hand and stood in front of him.


    "RUN!!!" is what Tatsuro tried to say but his feeble voice was drowned out by the screams of Ai and the spider. (TL.Notes: Run??? Tatsuro is really in love with Ai. Unlike the single loner reading/translating this novel. (~_~) )


    "EAT THIS! HYAAAA" (Ai)


    In response to Ai''s scream, the spider shouted back with its weird shriek.


    Releasing the Frisbee from her left hand like how one would throw a bowling ball, it proceeded towards the spider''s left legs and cut through two of them in its path.


    The spider, unable to cope with the pain of losing its legs, collapsed towards the side with its missing ones.


    Seeing that, Ai ran forward. She was still wary of it as the spider continued to stare at them in anger despite losing two of its legs. When it finally adjusted itself and tried to stand up, Ai was already on a trajectory toward the top of its head.


    "HAAAAA" (Ai)


    The spider, unable to comprehend the flow of events, stopped moving momentarily. That window of opportunity was all Ai needed. She landed on top of the spider''s head and started to pound away with the other Frisbee in her hand.


    Despite releasing another earth-shattering shriek, the spider''s head was slowly being ripped apart.

 Chapter 9: Manaless

    Chapter 9: Manaless


    |Skill [Throwing] has leveled up to Lv 7.|


    Once she heard those words, Ai, drenched in spider fluids, stood up and jumped down from the top of the spider''s head.


    "GYAAAA" (Ai)


    And then, while shrieking loudly, she went back to Tatsuro''s side at light speed.


    "Ah, let''s wash in the river for a bit" (Tatsuro)


    "Hn." (Ai)


    With teary eyes, she immediately removed her jersey, shoes, and socks. With only her underwear and a PE shirt on, she started splashing her clothes in the river, trying to wash off the spider''s body fluids off her clothes.


    "EWEWEW" (Ai)


    "Give me half of them. I''ll help." (Tatsuro)


    "Thanks!" (Ai)


    Tatsuro, who forced his exhausted body to move, took the shoes, socks, and the top of the jersey while sitting down next to Ai.


    "That''s what I should be saying. Thanks for saving me earlier." (Tatsuro)


    "E-eh, I told you it''s fine already! And it''s only because of those special luxury edition Frisbees that you made so don''t mind it." (Ai)


    "That''s one thing but standing in front of that monster is on a completely different level. That''s why, just accept my thanks." (Tatsuro)


    "Is that so?" (Ai)


    "That''s so." (Tatsuro)


    Basking in the pleasant mood created by them, the two stayed like that for a bit. Before long, Ai broke the tranquillity by muttering.


    "You know, that''s why I love you." (Ai)


    "Me too. I love that side of you too." (Tatsuro)


    "Really?" (Ai)


    "Really." (Tatsuro)


    Taken in by the atmosphere created by their conversation, the two stared at each other and closed the distance, finally breaking into a kiss. After the tender moment, their cheeks were burning red and they could only smile at each other.


    "Aren''t you cold wearing only that?" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s fine for now, I guess?" (Ai)


    After washing her clothes, they once again sat down next to each other, facing the stream, and opened the convenience store lunchbox to share the food.


    "Even though it''s a store lunch it''s good, isn''t it?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, it did change quite a lot recently." (Ai)


    They exchanged a few empty conversations until they finally finished their food. When they did, Tatsuro brought the empty lunchboxes to the river and washed them.


    "Why are you even washing them?" (Ai)


    "We don''t know anything about this world so it might come in handy." (Tatsuro)


    "Eh, can we even use that?" (Ai)


    "Well, if we can''t, then we could just throw it away so no harm in taking it along." (Tatsuro)


    As he was wiping it dry, he suddenly thought about using [Water Magic]. Upon activating so, all the moisture in the lunchbox gathered in one place and fell onto the ground. What was left in his hand was a perfectly dry empty lunchbox.


    "Ooh, that''s nice." (Tatsuro)


    "So you can do that kind of thing too, huh?" (Ai)


    "Seems so, I just did what I thought of at that moment but it''s kind of convenient." (Tatsuro)


    "And so Can you dry my clothes too?" (Ai)


    "What nonsenseOh, it''s true." (Tatsuro)


    "EROROU!" (Ai)


    "No need to compliment me, ma''am." (Tatsuro)


    "THAT''S NOT A COMPLIMENT!" (Ai)


    After he finished drying this, he returned it to Ai with a bit of regret. She quickly snatched it away, not different from earlier when she received that.


    "I''ll be changing now so look away." (Ai)


    "I know. I''m seriously considering whether to look here or there right now." (Tatsuro)


    "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT!?" (Ai)


    "No need to mind me." (Tatsuro)


    "LIKE HELL I WOULD! EROROU! IDIOT! I''m fine already so just start drying my other clothes!" (Ai)


    "Can''t be helped then Haaaa." (Tatsuro)


    "What''s with the haaa? Shouldn''t I be the one saying that!?" (Ai)


    And so, while Ai was changing her clothes, Tatsuro continued drying the jersey and footwear.


    |Skill [Mana Purification] acquired.|


    Without anything eventful happening after that, Ai finished changing back into the jersey she previously wore. Meanwhile Tatsuro, upon drying the last piece of clothing, learned a skill without using the system for the first time.


    "Oh, so this is what it feels like to learn a skill, huh?" (Tatsuro)


    "Eh, did you learn one? I know! It''s [Clothes Dryer Lv 1], right?!" (Ai)


    "There''s no way that we have that kind of washing machine skill!" (Tatsuro)


    "Heeh, but I want it too" (Ai)


    "Really? But that''s not the point! Looks like I got [Mana Purification] somehow." (Tatsuro)


    "And what about the effects?" (Ai)


    "Don''t make it sound like a hot spring Uhh, the mana in my body gets to have higher purity, so I consume less mana to use magic, I guess?" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s something that any magician class would want to have." (Ai)


    "Yeah. It''s not really needed if you''re manaless, but it''s part of the foundation for magicians." (Tatsuro)


    "It''s a bit hard to build up the foundations, but it''s harder to say that doing so is fruitless." (Ai)


    After conversing with Ai, Tatsuro opened up his system to gather information about his new skill.


    "Hmm hmm To reduce mana consumption, I just have to think about it while using magic. Seems like that''s how you use this skill." (Tatsuro)


    "From Help? (Ai)


    "Yes. From Help." (Tatsuro)


    "Well, no matter what we get, if we''re getting it on our own, then it helps." (Ai)


    "True Fuuu Shall we get going?" (Tatsuro)


    "Can you move properly now?" (Ai)


    "I think I can if I support myself with [Life Magic]." (Tatsuro)


    "[Life Magic]? The one that has wounds and healing in its description?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, but it seems like it can also do other things like stamina recovery, blood circulation, healing a stiff neck and even back pain!" (Tatsuro)


    Hearing that, Ai''s eyes went round with admiration.


    "If you say it like that, then magicians will start to sound like the best multi-tools, you know?" (Ai)


    "But you''re still a manaless, you know?" (Tatsuro)

 Chapter 10: Practice and Meditation

    Chapter 10: Practice and Meditation


    Tatsuro tried casting fatigue recovery from [Life Magic] immediately.


    At first, he tried the same thing as when he was drying the clothes. Circulating his mana around his own body, he pictured a tug of war within him. However, in contrast to when he was using [Water Magic], nothing happened. Without a concrete idea of what fatigue is, he was unable to activate [Life Magic].


    Hence, taking reference from his science lessons back on Earth, Tatsuro pinpointed the exhausted parts of his body, including the muscles and internal organs, and massaged them using the mana in his body to let the blood flow faster.


    Continuing that for 5 minutes, he felt his body gradually getting lighter.


    "Fuuuu." (Tatsuro)


    |Skill [Focus] acquired.|


    Dropping his shoulders after the recovery session, he heard the announcement.


    "Huh?" (Tatsuro)


    "Did it fail?" (Ai)


    "No I had no problems on that part. I can walk without too much difficulty now." (Tatsuro)


    "Then what?" (Ai)


    Trying to find the right words to explain to Ai, who tilted her head at him, Tatsuro checked the skill description.


    "I just learned a skill named [Focus]. Seems like it helps me in times when I need to concentrate on something." (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm, I think I can learn that too. Do you think it''s covered by [Valkyrie]?" (Ai)


    "I can''t tell if it''s a skill that''s a part of Martial Arts. Isn''t it better to assume that it isn''t?" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s true. If we''re talking about concentration, I would have already learned it if it''s a part of Martial Arts as I was super concentrated back in the fight against the blech. Tsk." (Ai)


    Ai pouted her lips.


    Seeing that, Tatsuro brushed her head and said "Shall we?"


    With that, the two continued on their path downstream.


    An hour passed by after they started walking.


    "Ughh." (Tatsuro)


    "Did something happen?" (Ai)


    Hearing Tatsuro suddenly groan, Ai replied back in a somewhat carefree manner.


    "Nah It''s just that I have a surplus of SP, so I don''t know where to use them" (Tatsuro)


    "Wouldn''t it be reasonable if you learn the other attributes or just level up the ones you have now?" (Ai)


    "Fair enough, considering that I''m basically cannon fodder right now. Even I want to have an attack skill that helps in battles." (Tatsuro)


    Right now, the thing that Tatsuro feared most was becoming an all-around handyman.


    While Ai doesn''t mind if Tatsuro leaves every battle to her, it isn''t something that he himself desires, especially for dangerous ones.


    "If you''re looking for offensive magic, then fire seems like a good choice. Right now, when you can only make your mana take the form of an attribute, fire looks like it will be the most effective." (Ai)


    "True, I have that on my list too. There''s also lightning that can paralyze enemies to buy time for [Level Eater] and then Ahh, it''s too much for my head! I''m getting [Fire Magic] to Lv 5!" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, isn''t that the one I recommended?" (Ai)


    "Well, if we''re to think logically, maxing out the fire first is expected since it has the lowest SP cost." (Tatsuro)


    "I see. You took it third so it''s cheaper to max it out, huh?" (Ai)


    "Yep. Then, I''ll finish it in a bit" (Tatsuro)


    Using 6 SP to raise Fire Magic to Lv 2, Tatsuro burned a total of 42 SP for [Fire Magic Lv 5], leaving him with 18 SP to spare.


    With Ai efficiently gathering stones and Tatsuro sticking them together as though he was just gluing them, the two finished the project quickly. The makeshift wall was at a height where once they lay down, they wouldn''t be spotted by anyone from the outside.


    "Is this height alright?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, I think so." (Ai)


    "Then, that''s that but That''s really huge!" (Tatsuro)


    It was already night yet it''s still so bright. Finished with their wall, the two looked up in search of the source of this night-time light. What they were greeted by was the moon, six times larger when compared to the one on Earth, floating in the night sky.


    "Really Even the craters are visible from here. The scene is beautiful but It feels a little frightening. Like it could come crashing down any minute." (Tatsuro)


    "Ah, but this isn''t something you can see on Earth so it''s still kinda tugging at my heart." (Ai)


    "Yeah If I think of it as just appreciating the beauty of another world, then it might not sound too bad." (Tatsuro)


    From then, the two linked hands while entranced by the otherworldly scene and continued staring up amidst the moonlit night.


    After a brief moment, they removed their eyes from the moon to organize the night watch.


    "Who sleeps first?" (Ai)


    "It''s fine if you go first. Today was a hard one for you so you should sleep first." (Tatsuro)


    "Haaaa alright. If I do the first watch, I''m not sure if I could stay up for the whole shift But don''t force yourself too much and wake me up when the time comes, okay?" (Ai)


    "I know" (Tatsuro)


    "Haaaa N Then good, night Tatsuro" (Ai)


    "Good night." (Tatsuro)


    Tired from the day''s activities, Ai fell asleep within a minute using her bag as a pillow. She slept soundly with even breathing, which Tatsuro felt was cute.


    Once he was sure Ai was asleep, Tatsuro stretched out his hand towards her head and used Life Magic. What he applied was magic to deepen her sleep, allowing her to have a better rest throughout.


    Even though it was only a lowly Lv 1 skill, it was better than not using it all, as it had already started to show its effect.


    After the usage of Life Magic, Ai''s expression became one that anyone, even if that person was heartless, would feel moved by the sight.


    Satisfied by the result, he once again activated Life Magic to help reduce his drowsiness and keep himself awake.


    The next thing he did was to look for the skill that caught his eye in the skills shop, [Mana Regeneration].


    Not knowing whether it was a skill that he could acquire on his own, he asked Help on how to learn it and received an answer which stated that his heart must be in a calm state and that he must fall into a state of meditation.


    A state where he was devoid of any thoughts.


    Maintaining such a state would manifest its effects, according to Help.


    And so, Tatsuro sat cross-legged, facing forward, and started to empty his mind. His consciousness gradually expanded to encompass his surroundings enabling him to feel all the movements around him.


    The sound of water flowing (probably), insects calling (maybe), and birds chirping; he was able to hear everything around him clearly. Staying in that state unimpeded for more than one hour, the announcer''s voice finally reverberated in his head.


    |Skill [Focus] has leveled up to Lv 2.|


    |Skill [Mana Regeneration] acquired.|


    (Oh, I got two this time. Lucky!) He thought.


    Not wanting to interrupt Ai''s sleep, he celebrated without letting out a sound. Meditating for such a long time, he was able to recover a large part of his mana pool. Once again, he entered his meditation state to make full use of the time left on his shift.


    Passing the time like that, his night watch ended.


    TL.Notes: The next update for the old translations will be on 16/01/24


    Please bear with me, I have to update the latest chapters from chapter 110 for those reading advanced chapters.


    Thank you.

 Chapter 11: Ki Training

    Chapter 11: Ki Training


    After his shift was up, Tatsuro once again activated [Life Magic]. This time, he used it to slowly wake Ai up to not ruin her good sleep.


    "Hmm N Tatsuro? Is it time to switch?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, I''ll leave the rest to you." (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm Ah, I feel so much better. It''s somehow different from just taking a nap, huh?" (Ai)


    Ai climbed into a sitting position while stretching her body. Rotating her shoulders in a circular motion, she was surprised that she wasn''t as tired as she thought she''d be. Though she never said it, she was certain that Tatsuro used some kind of magic.


    "What did you do earlier?" (Ai)


    "I was staring at my cute girlfriend''s face while she was sleeping." (Tatsuro)


    "Why would you even do that" (Ai)


    Ai''s face turned red while she made sure that she didn''t drool while sleeping. Tatsuro looked at her with a warm smile before telling her what really happened.


    "That was a joke. I went into a meditation-ish state while I was on night watch." (Tatsuro)


    "Meditation-ish???" (Ai)


    He summarized his activities over the past two hours, including the fact that he got two skills at once.


    Hearing that, Ai responded with "Then, I think I''ll try doing that too."


    Before he slept, Tatsuro cast [Life Magic] on Ai to help keep her awake.


    "Goodnight! Don''t forget to wake me up in two hours, okay!" (Tatsuro)


    "Right!" (Ai)


    With that, Ai''s shift has officially begun.


    (Calm your heart and just focus on the sounds around me, he says)


    Remembering Tatsuro''s words earlier, she started focusing on the sounds reaching her ears.


    (I didn''t get this from the way he explained but, the sounds here sure are diverse, huh?)


    Although it was gradually dropping, Ai managed to retain her(Ai) focus while sitting cross-legged. And when she did this for long enough:


    |Skill [Ki Regeneration] acquired.|


    "Wha?" (Ai)


    (Somehow, I got a different skill from what Tatsuro said Wait, don''t lose focus. FOCUS!)


    And just like that, more time passed.


    (Mhmm. This somehow feels right. I should try increasing the output next.)


    This time, she increased the connection between the layers of Ki wrapped around her with the lump of Ki in her.


    |Skill [Body Reinforcement] has leveled up to Lv 2.|


    |Skill [Body Reinforcement] has leveled up to Lv 3.|


    |Skill [Body Reinforcement] has leveled up to Lv 4.|


    |Skill [Body Reinforcement] has leveled up to Lv 5.|


    |Skill [Body Reinforcement] has leveled up to Lv 6.|


    (Oops Let''s stop here for now)


    Hearing the ceaseless announcements in her head, she decided to stop increasing the output of Ki.


    (Now, now It''s time for the long-awaited Ki release! I don''t have a sword yet so let''s just go with the fist for now.)


    Using her focus, she reallocated a percentage of the Ki covering her body to her right hand.


    The Ki wrapping her fist grew thicker and once Ai felt that she had placed enough Ki onto her fist, she threw a punch upwards.


    (Figures It didn''t fly out How should making it fly out even feel like?)


    Repeating the same Ki punch over and over again, she managed to hit [Unarmed Combat Lv 5] as time passed. However, despite all that practice, she wasn''t able to release her Ki outwards.


    Despite that, it doesn''t mean that what Ai did was a waste of time. The basic foundation of Ki release was to surround a part of your body with Ki before releasing it. Ai, who had already learned how to shroud her entire body with Ki and redirect it to one part of her body, was already ahead of the simple focus and release technique of Ki.


    (Tsk If I did it, I could have shown Tatsuro too Let''s keep this a secret for now.)


    "Tatsuro, Tatsuro, Wakey-wakey!" (Ai)


    "Hmm hmm..? Haaa Is it time to switch now?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah." (Ai)


    "Did something happen when I was asleep?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hn hnn. Nothing at all!" (Ai)


    "I see. Ah, I just remembered, did you learn the [Focus] skill too?" (Tatsuro)


    " I forgot about that." (Ai)


    -


    (T/N: sorry for the late post)

 Chapter 12: Monster Pack

    Chapter 12: Monster Pack


    "Good night, Tatsuro." (Ai)


    "Night." (Tatsuro)


    Exchanging their good nights, Ai finally went to bed. It took her a few minutes of rolling around before she could finally sleep.


    After ensuring that she was fully asleep, Tatsuro once again used [Life Magic] on her. As he did so, he caught the scent of Ai''s sweat lingering in the air, sending him into a fluster. In an attempt to drive away the shameful thoughts building up in his mind, Tatsuro sat down cross-legged and tried to fall into meditation.


    An hour passed by.


    As though waiting for the right timing, his [Mana Regeneration] skill leveled up. A few minutes later, so did his [Focus] skill. Joyful about this achievement, he snapped out of his meditation and wanted to try out some new techniques but at that exact moment, he heard a rustling sound from the bushes.


    (Hmm? Is something in there?)


    Laying his body down, he hid behind the cover of the wall. From a peephole in the said wall, he looked out to get a grasp of the situation. What entered his eyes were 6 four-legged beasts, visible under the moonlit night.


    (Those are, wolves Well, it seems like wolves with cat-like heads. From the ones I saw, the biggest should be around 150 cm tall, I think.)


    As Tatsuro continued to observe their movements, the wolves moved towards the river. When the pack was about 6 meters away from the boulder the two were resting at, they started looking around restlessly before drinking from the river.


    (They came here for a drink? If that''s all, then I wish they''d leave soon but If they find us, it''s gonna be a big trouble for us. Let''s just take their levels for now.)


    Tatsuro activated [Level Eater].


    To camouflage the sound of him blowing the sphere away from his mouth, Tatsuro waited until the first wolf, which seemed to be the leader, started drinking, after which, the others started cleaning themselves, waiting for it to finish.


    Level: 12


    Skill(s): [Bite Lv 5], [Enhanced Olfactory Perception Lv 5], [Sprint Lv 5]


    [Leadership Lv 3], [Sonic Wave Lv 3], [Scratch Lv 4]


    (Wow The levels are high. As expected of the leader.)


    Level: 1


    Skill(s): [Bite Lv 0], [Enhanced Olfactory Perception Lv 0], [Sprint Lv 0]


    [Leadership Lv 0], [Sonic Wave Lv 0], [Scratch Lv 0]


    After the levels were absorbed into the sphere, Tatsuro quickly gulped it down and used [Level Eater] again on the second-largest wolf.


    Level: 8


    Skill(s): [Bite Lv 4], [Enhanced Olfactory Perception Lv 3], [Sprint Lv 3]


    [Leadership Lv 1], [Sonic Wave Lv 1], [Scratch Lv 4]


    (The first one was a bit more generous, but beggars can''t be choosers. Thank you for the meal!)


    Level: 1


    Skill(s): [Bite Lv 0], [Enhanced Olfactory Perception Lv 0], [Sprint Lv 0]


    [Leadership Lv 0], [Sonic Wave Lv 0], [Scratch Lv 0]


    Name: Tatsuro Hasami


    Class: Light Magician


    Level: 14


    Ki: 21


    Mana: 222


    Strength: 32


    Durability: 32


    Agility: 27


    Magic: 130


    Magic Resistance: 128


    Mana Control: 130


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Level Eater], [Light Magic Lv 1], [Dark Magic Lv 1]


    [Fire Magic Lv 5], [Water Magic Lv 1], [Life Magic Lv 1]


    [Earth Magic Lv 1], [Mana Purification Lv 1] [Mana Regeneration Lv 2]


    [Focus Lv 3]


    |System skills|


    [Map]


    Skill Points: 183


    |Titles|


    None


    (Mana control increased the most, huh? Does the stat increase every time I use magic? Next, I gathered a lot of SP from those wolf-like things. I really should think about what I want to do with the points.)


    Afterward, he thought about his next step in magic and tomorrow''s plans before idly passing the time. Then came the time for the two to switch duties once again.


    "Goad mohning, Tatsuro." (Ai)


    "Good morning. It''s time to switch, is it alright?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, I''m up, I''m up. Hmm N? Why does it smell like something''s burning?" (Ai)


    "Oh, while I was on watch, I fried a few wild monster-like animals." (Tatsuro)


    "Did you eat them?" (Ai)


    "Don''t even speak about it It''s just, I don''t want the more violent bunch to come here so I tried to finish the fight as soon as I can." (Tatsuro)


    "Haaaa I knew it. The creepy crawlies always come out in the middle of the night." (Ai)


    "Well, we''re in a giant forest after all so it''s natural to expect there''d be a bunch of animals and insects here." (Tatsuro)


    While saying that, Tatsuro spreads his arms out while looking at the forest, as if telling it to do its best and that he can take it all on.


    "I want to sleep in a proper bed soon" (Ai)


    "Same" (Tatsuro)

 Chapter 13: Information Magic

    Chapter 13: Information Magic


    After the battle against the wolves, nothing eventful happened throughout the night. The two swapped their resting time until they were finally greeted by daybreak.


    "HAAAAAA Do we have to walk today too?" (Tatsuro)


    "We can stop if you''d like, but then we''d be stuck in this forest forever. I want to get out of here ASAP so let''s just go." (Ai)


    "HWAAAA." (Tatsuro)


    "Hey. Eyes on the prize!" (Ai)


    "Oh Sorry for sl0wiNg DowN." (Tatsuro)


    To help cope with the boredom of walking endlessly, the pair exchanged all kinds of useless conversations while walking by the riverside. Amid their journey, Tatsuro grabbed a rice ball from his backpack, split it in half, and shared it with Ai.


    "Is this Okaka?" (Ai)


    (T/N: https://yjc.tokyo/japanesefood-recipe-onigiri-rice-balls-bonito-flakes for more information on this)


    "Yeah. When I was picking which ones to buy, I eventually took this." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s fine. If you didn''t, I''d be thinking that you got replaced by an impostor." (Ai)


    "Are you like that because of the Okaka or something else?" (Tatsuro)


    Putting Tatsuro in an uncomfortable spot, Ai gave him a sidelong glance and slowly took bite after bite of the rice ball.


    "Tatsuro, we need water on table 5, please! Tatsuro?" (Ai)


    "Eh? Ah, water. Right, coming up!" (Tatsuro)


    Pulled out of his thoughts by Ai''s voice, he used [Water Magic] to create a ball of water above his palm and presented it to Ai. Ai, in response, said her thanks and drank from the ball of water suspended in mid-air.


    "This somehow makes me feel like an Astronaut drinking water in a spaceship." (Ai)T/his chapter is updated by


    "I don''t really get what you''re saying" (Tatsuro)


    Making another one for himself, he drank to his heart''s content before throwing the rest into the river.


    "Can you make hot water too?" (Ai)


    "Ah, if I compound fire and water magic then yes. Would hot water be better?" (Tatsuro)


    "If only we had cup noodles too. We could eat them anywhere then" (Ai)


    "Yeah, if we had them then we''ll have more supplies that can last us until we find proper food. Sheesh, if you''re going to isekai us, then give us a warning so that we can prepare!!" (Tatsuro)


    Complaining to no one in particular, Tatsuro started eating his rice ball too.


    Now, the remaining food supplies they had left were a rice ball and an assortment of cheap sweets. While they technically have an inexhaustible supply of water, they still kept that one bottle of tea with them, just in case. That, however, did not ease their lack of rations.


    If they were able to slip into the forest, they could probably find various types of fruit. However, with no idea of what creatures lurk within and whether the various types of fruit are safe for them to consume, they decided against it. For that same reason, they also refrained from catching the fish in the river.


    In the end, they have no choice but to rely on what they have brought with them.


    "If it''s like this, then I think we should hurry to the village even if we have to force ourselves a little." (Tatsuro)


    "But if we get caught up in something when we do so, we''re gonna be in a lot of trouble so no. We have no idea what''s next in this world." (Ai)


    "Then, should we keep this pace?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah Uh." (Ai)


    Their conversation dropped their morale even further.


    Suddenly, Tatsuro remembered about the SP he gained yesterday which caused him a lot of headaches.


    "By the way, I got a lot of SP yesterday, but" (Tatsuro)


    "So, you mean that learning a skill just for the sake of it is enough to make us stronger?" (Ai)


    "That''s it." (Tatsuro)


    After making sure that he acquired the new skills, Ai closed her system while Tatsuro fired up Help to learn how to use his newly acquired Dispel magic.


    "First will be Dispel attribute''s search magic." (Tatsuro)


    "Search magic, huh. I wonder how that works" (Ai)


    Leaving the control of his body to the skill once again, Tatsuro only took back control when he felt that he could do it on his own. Closing his eyes to reduce the information flow into his brain, he dissipated his mana as a fog-like substance through his palm.


    (The mist will spread, invisible to the naked eye. Control it, turn it into a dome shape with you in the center.)


    Following Help''s instructions, Tatsuro succeeded in forming a dome of about 6 meters in diameter.


    "Ack" (Tatsuro)


    Without total control over the mist, Tatsuro''s mind was overloaded by the amount of information it was trying to receive. He immediately cut his connection with the information traffic. Then, he restricted the flow of information to only those considered as living and reconnected himself to the vortex of information. Now, he was able to feel the nearby Ai within the dome.


    "Tatsuro? Your face looks pale. Are you alright?" (Ai)


    "I bit off more than I can chew at first, but it''s fine now. By the way, can you raise one of your hands? I should be able to tell which one it is without opening my eyes." (Tatsuro)


    "Really? Then, here it is, right hand!!!" (Ai)


    Ai did not raise any of her hands.


    "That was a bluff. Both of them are down." (Tatsuro)


    "Correct! You got me. Again, here goes! I raised my right hand now!" (Ai)


    Ai lifted her right leg.


    "That''s not really a hand, is it?" (Tatsuro)


    "Correct again Then here goes the right hand for real this time!" (Ai)


    This time, she turned around without making a single sound and raised her left hand.


    "You turned around 180 degrees so that should be your left hand. How''s that?" (Tatsuro)


    "Perfect score! If you have this, then even if you return to Japan right now, you''d be like some kind of superhuman and wouldn''t have any problems making a living! Congratulations!" (Ai)


    "What kind of compliment is that? Well, superhuman or not, I don''t think there''ll be any problems with going home" (Tatsuro)


    After saying those words, Tatsuro finally opened his eyes. To learn more about Dispel magic, he thought about doing various experiments in the future. From today''s performance, he also wasn''t able to accurately measure the mana expenditure and scope of the magic. Once he gets the hang of using it, there''s bound to be a lot of improvement.


    The two soon resumed their march.


    "Hey, is it alright for you even if you don''t practice the other attributes?" (Ai)


    "Ah, the others were still at Lv 1 when I last tried them. It should be fine as long as I can increase their output, I think. Besides" (Tatsuro)


    "Besides?" (Ai)


    "The search magic I used earlier burned a lot of mana so I think I should preserve my current mana just in case." (Tatsuro)


    "Isn''t that search magic way too much of a mana glutton, then?" (Ai)


    "That was the basic form of Dispel magic based on the instructions from Help alone. It felt a lot like manual labor in my case. I do plan on refining it to suit my style better though." (Tatsuro)


    "In games, it''ll be over with just the press of a button, but here, it''s hard to use magic without thinking how to use it, huh?" (Ai)


    "It''s more interesting that way for me." (Tatsuro)


    "I''d say it''s more of the troublesome type, I guess it''s fine since I''m not the magician in our team" (Ai)


    Saying those words, she ended her sentence with a shout along with a fist towards the sky. Seeing her perfect form as she punched in the air, Tatsuro was reminded of the expert martial artists back on Earth and felt nothing but admiration.

 Chapter 14: Life in this World, and Local Sourcing

    Chapter 14: Life in this World, and Local Sourcing


    "Tatsuro! Look over there!" (Ai)


    The two have been walking for three hours after the Dispel magic test.


    While trying to hide the excitement in her voice, Ai started pulling on Tatsuro''s sleeves. In response, the boy looked towards where she was pointing at with curiosity plastered on his face. What he saw was a squirrel-like animal atop a branch of a giant tree, scratching and nibbling at a fruit in its hands.


    "So there''s those kinds of animals in this forest too That''s a bit of a surprise." (Tatsuro)


    "Right? I feel like I''m being healed just by watching it. Do you think we can hold it for a bit?" (Ai)


    "We don''t have that much of a leeway in regards to both time and energy. Please get back." (Tatsuro)


    "I haven''t even touched it yet. But that''s true too We don''t even know if our food can last until tomorrow. Too bad, li''l squirrel." (Ai)


    "That thing survived in this world where the weak are food for the strong. You should learn a bit from it." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s true It might think we''re threatening it too. Let''s just leave it alone." (Ai)


    "Agreed." (Tatsuro)


    Without wasting any more time, they left the squirrel and were about to continue their journey when a black bird, about 50 cm in wingspan, suddenly swooped in on the squirrel.


    "Ah" (Tatsuro)


    "Look out!" (Ai)


    Surprised at the scene, they could only let out a shout. In their eyes, the squirrel was a sitting duck for the bird. Just as the bird was about to catch the squirrel, a snake suddenly charged out of the other side of the branch and bit into the bird. Struggling to no avail, the bird could do nothing but watch as the snake took its life.


    As if oblivious to the entire event, the squirrel continued munching on its fruit. After finishing its fruit, it jumped onto the snake like a mount and went back into the forest.


    """"


    The two watched on dumbfounded.


    "W-what just h-happened?" (Ai)


    "I-isn''t it a symbiotic relationship? The squirrel acts as a bait for the snake to lure in its prey. In exchange, the snake protects the squirrel from the actual danger?" (Tatsuro)


    "Plus an emergency food," is what he thought but, as it might be a pure symbiosis for all he knows, Tatsuro stopped his words right there.


    "A-ah Symbiosis. There are animals like that on Earth too, right? Like with the fish and the sea anemone?" (Ai)


    "Is it the anemonefish?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, that! The bear-san." (Ai)


    "Calling it a bear is" (Tatsuro)


    For a brief moment, Tatsuro imagined a bear and an anemonefish in a comedy show but he quickly chased them out of his mind.


    "Squirly''s gone so we should get going too." (Ai)


    "Squirly? That squirrel-like thing?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, calling it a squirrel-like thing all the time sounds too bad." (Ai)


    "I see." (Tatsuro)


    Squirly with that, Ai''s naming sense was firmly etched in his mind. If they ever had kids in the future, he would be the one to name them.


    Tatsuro vowed with all of his heart.Discover new chapters at


    Four more hours passed. The sun was blazing right in the middle of the sky and yet, the two were still walking.


    "We''re halfway through the forest, right?" (Ai)


    "Wait a bit, I''m gonna check Yeah, we''re halfway through." (Tatsuro)


    "Good to hear." (Ai)


    "Wow we have a lot of stuff with us now." (Ai)


    "Not really They''re just low-class imitations. For example, with this stone chopping board, I feel like a knife made of the same material will break pretty quickly." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh Then, will you be chopping too?" (Ai)


    "Ah, yeah. I''ll do that too. I know when it''ll break so I can use just enough strength to make sure it doesn''t." (Tatsuro)


    "Y-yeah" (Ai)


    Tatsuro drained the water out from the basin. Grabbing one fish, he placed it onto the chopping board. Carefully inserting the knife under the gills, he put in just enough force to not break the tip of the blade. However, when it came to cutting the fish bones, he miscalculated his force and chipped part of the tip.


    After a quick repair, he continued to cut it from the base of the neck down to the stomach. As if he was tracing a pattern, he continued the cut to the tail. He split the fish wide open and threw away its organs and other parts of the stomach. Once that''s done, he peeled off the scales before placing the fish back on the tray.


    He did the same to the second fish. Although the cut was a bit sloppy this time, he placed it together with the other fish on the tray.


    "Tatsuro Do you have experience with this kind of thing?" (Ai)


    "Nope. I did this for the first time today." (Tatsuro)


    "You didn''t even flinch at the sight of the fishes'' internal organs so I thought you might be used to it" (Ai)


    "No When I was grossed out, I just thought of nothing and continued what I''m doing. I think the [Focus] skill helped me out this time as well." (Tatsuro)


    "Eh? I knew it. I should start practicing the [Focus] skill too." (Ai)


    "Well, it might come when you need it most for all we know." (Tatsuro)


    After saying that, Tatsuro created a sphere of water and threw a few cuts of the fish inside it.


    "What are you doing?" (Ai)


    "I thought I''d clean them before we cook them." (Tatsuro)


    "And that''s supposed to make them clean?" (Ai)


    "Hmm Just watch me." (Tatsuro)


    With a daring smile, Tatsuro made the water sphere spin gently. To not break the shape of the cuts, he cleaned them with utmost delicacy. Once it was over, he placed them all on the grill.


    "Next, I will be cooking the dish." (Tatsuro)


    "It''s time for Fire Magic, isn''t it?" (Ai)


    "Yeah!" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro placed his hand below the tripod. While paying attention to the amount of mana he used, he ignited a fire. Cooking the fish carefully, Ai used her stone chopsticks to flip them over once the side facing down was cooked. When the other side of the fish was fully cooked as well, the two lined up while holding onto their chopsticks.


    "I''ll say this now but, we didn''t have any seasonings so I think it''ll taste bland." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s fine. As long as we can eat them, then it doesn''t matter if it tastes a little bad. Then" (Ai)


    ""Thank you for the meal.""


    Clasping their hands together and saying the words, they reached out for the fish with their chopsticks and took a bite.


    "Hmm It''s a bit bland like you said but it doesn''t taste bad at all." (Ai)


    "Yeah. If it''s like this, then it''s fine." (Tatsuro)


    Finishing that exchange, they continued to finish their food as well.


    "Fuuu It''s good that we found a way to replenish our food stocks" (Ai)


    "Yeah. Even if it''s such a simple thing, it still keeps the fire lit inside. With this, the next day looks like it wouldn''t be a problem." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, let''s keep up the good work on the last day of the march too!" (Ai)


    "Roger that!" (Tatsuro)

 Chapter 15: Assault

    Chapter 15: Assault


    Though the food was not enough to fill their stomach, they were oddly satisfied for now. Finishing their meal, they were looking at the cooking utensils and net.


    "It feels like it would be a waste if we just left these things here." (Tatsuro)


    "It''d be a bit too bulky of luggage if we took them with AHH, what about an [Item Box]?" (Ai)


    "[Item Box]? Is that a skill from the system?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, that should let us carry items up to a certain volume!" (Ai)


    "Hmm You sure know a lot about it, huh?" (Tatsuro)


    "Of course! There was a time when I wanted it so bad, so I took the time to search for it." (Ai)


    "Is that so? But you do seem like the better choice to grab that skill, Ai." (Tatsuro)


    "Right?"


    Ai could learn any martial arts pretty easily. There are various ways to prove it, but they also require the appropriate tools to do so. A sword, a spear, a bow; all of them are possible. Anything that can be carried around, depending on the situation and Ai''s mastery of it, could be a weapon in her hands. Reaching that conclusion, Tatsuro easily agreed to the decision.


    "How much SP do you need?" (Tatsuro)


    "Nine, same as [Map]." (Ai)


    "I see. You level up pretty quickly so nine shouldn''t be a problem." (Tatsuro)


    "Yep. So, I''m taking it now!" (Ai)


    Already used to the system by now, Ai immediately navigated towards the skills section and grabbed the [Item Box] skill. Doing so added a new section to her system''s home screen.


    Status


    Gold: 0


    Party


    Skill


    Item Box Used: 0%


    Help


    "Looks fine. Then, how do we use this?" (Ai)


    Using Help to learn how to utilize the [Item Box], Ai closed the system and raised her head.


    "Is it possible?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. This thing might be a lot more convenient than we thought." (Ai)


    Holding the Tatsuro-brand products up high, they turned into luminescent particles before being absorbed into her hand.


    "Oh, that''s amazing! Can you take them out that quickly too?" (Tatsuro)


    "Of course!" (Ai)


    Ai held out her hand once more. Luminescent particles flew out of her hand and quickly took shape. The stone basin that they used earlier appeared.


    "Did it tire you out or give you some other side effects?" (Tatsuro)


    Ai quickly pulled the spear out of the boar''s skull but was only returned with a shaft and a broken spearhead. Flustered by the sight of it, Tatsuro repaired the spearhead as fast as he could.


    "They''re here!" (Tatsuro)


    "VICTORY COMES TO THOSE WHO STRIKE FIRST!" (Ai)


    Shouting out to increase their morale, Ai threw another kunai towards the shrubbery where she predicted that the thing would come from.


    PING


    The sound of metal striking metal resonated through the air.


    GROOOOWL!


    Three bear-like monsters appeared alongside the thundering growl.


    "Hey Those things" (Tatsuro)


    "Bears. But they''re too huge. Something''s on their backs too!" (Ai)


    Exchanging a few more words, the two used the boar''s corpse as a shield while observing the enemy in this deadly capture-the-flag game. Their opponents were three gigantic bears with brown fur and a hard crystalline substance covering everything from their back up to the palm of their paws like an upgraded turtle''s shell.


    It was this part of the bear that played the clear high note when Ai threw the kunai.


    The biggest of the three stood at five meters tall with a golden shell on its back as opposed to the other two which had blue shells on them.


    Upon seeing the boar''s corpse, the bear-like monsters approached it. In response, Tatsuro used [Level Eater] and blew the black sphere towards the gold bear. As soon as Tatsuro activated his skill, the bears were alerted of their presence and stopped moving, staring down at the two of them.


    "Growl," as if threatening the two of them, the blue bears continuously released these low-pitched sounds.


    The black sphere was still ever so slowly advancing on its path.


    The first one to make a move was one of the blue bears. Despite the distance between them, it raised its right paw and tried to scratch them, swiping its claw downwards in their direction.


    "Watch out!" (Ai)


    Sensing the danger they were in, Ai carried Tatsuro in her arms and dodged sideways. The place where they were once standing was now etched with a giant claw mark and the boar corpse had long turned into mincemeat.


    "Ack." (Ai)


    Ai, with Tatsuro still in her arms, retreated about 3 meters from the bears. As she let Tatsuro down from her arms, she stared straight into the bear''s eyes.


    "Tatsuro that attack just now used Ki. These guys must be a lot stronger than what came out of the forest up until now." (Ai)


    "Looks like it" (Tatsuro)


    Right as he heard Ai''s words, the black sphere finally got in contact with the golden bear.


    Tatsuro wasted no time and quickly looked at its status.


    Level: 51


    Skill(s): [Leadership Lv 8], [Bite Lv 8], [Scratch Lv 8]


    [Enhanced Olfactory Perception Lv 2], [Claw Attack Lv 9]


    [Boulder Blast Lv 9], [Charge Lv 7], [Golden Crystal Armor Lv 10]


    "This guy is a monster!" (Tatsuro)

 Chapter 16: Divide and Conquer

    Chapter 16: Divide and Conquer


    "Do you think we can still run away now?" (Ai)


    "Probably not. Doesn''t look like we can run away even if the boar was still there." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah" (Ai)


    Seeing the situation they were in, Tatsuro tried to activate [Level Eater] quicker, prioritizing the skill levels. Even if he could only take away the boss'' skills, the tide of the battle would change greatly in their favor.


    He also recalled what happened when he took away the wolf leader''s [Leadership] skill. The other wolf underlings attacked it as if they were strangers. If he was able to replicate that here too, then he would be the one who would reap the most benefits.


    Watching the humans dodge the flying claw made the bears vigilant. They proceeded to surround them while having a face full of displeasure. Tatsuro, seeing how the situation was becoming far too dangerous, quickly harvested the black sphere which contained the most dangerous-looking skills of the golden bear, and devoured it.


    Level: 51


    Skill(s): [Leadership Lv 0], [Bite Lv 5], [Scratch Lv 5]


    [Enhanced Olfactory Perception Lv 2], [Claw Attack Lv 0]


    [Boulder Blast Lv 0], [Charge Lv 5], [Golden Crystal Armor Lv 0]


    (The shiny Goldie lost its [Leadership] skill. Now what are you gonna do?)


    In contrast to his expectations, the blue bears continued to take orders from the gold one. Tatsuro could only grind his teeth in frustration as he explained their current situation to Ai.Discover new chapters at


    "Ai, that Goldie lost most of its attack skills. It only has Bite, Scratch, and Charge left. I should have disabled all of its ranged attacks." (Tatsuro)


    "Does that mean I only have to worry about the blue ones if I don''t get close?" (Ai)


    "Yeah." (Tatsuro)


    "Then, that can probably" (Ai)


    Ai fell into contemplation. Then, with a confident voice, she sounded like she found a solution.


    "work?" (Ai)


    "Did something happen?" (Tatsuro)


    "Tatsuro." (Ai)


    "What?" (Tatsuro)


    "Can you take care of one of the blues?" (Ai)


    That sudden question made Tatsuro pause for a moment.


    "If it''s just one, then I think I can, but Don''t tell me" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. I''ll hold down the two of them, so I want you to take the other one out while I''m at it." (Ai)


    "That''s too dangerous! If that''s what we''re doing then" (Tatsuro)


    "If it''s you, then you''re gonna die for sure. But if it''s me just buying time, then I have my ways. Trust me, I''m the better choice for this job." (Ai)


    Hearing her line of reasoning, Tatsuro was not able to find anything wrong. However, intentionally sending Ai into a dangerous situation was something that he just couldn''t accept.


    Clueless to the sequence of events, the bear could only watch on as Tatsuro fired the black sphere at its point-blank.


    Level: 32


    Skill(s): [Leadership Lv 2], [Bite Lv 6], [Scratch Lv 7]


    [Enhanced Olfactory Perception Lv 1], [Claw Attack Lv 6]


    [Boulder Blast Lv 4], [Charge Lv 5], [Blue Crystal Armor Lv 6]


    "I accept your sacrifice!" (Tatsuro)


    Level: 32


    Skill(s): [Leadership Lv 2], [Bite Lv 0], [Scratch Lv 0]


    [Enhanced Olfactory Perception Lv 1], [Claw Attack Lv 6]


    [Boulder Blast Lv 0], [Charge Lv 0], [Blue Crystal Armor Lv 6]


    To minimize the time needed, Tatsuro only took the skills that he deemed would be a hindrance before devouring the black sphere. In the meantime, the bear tried to dig itself out of the ground but Tatsuro interfered by shooting another laser again.


    "Next is" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro had been gathering his mana up till now. Compounding fire and light magic again, he compressed it till its volume was reduced to that of a golf ball. With this, he was one step closer to his goal.


    Meanwhile, the bear grew more vigilant of Tatsuro''s actions. Releasing a low growl, it raised its paw in the air, attempting to release another flying claw attack. As its paw reached the apex, it stopped. It could no longer gather any Ki onto his paw.


    Tatsuro would not let such an opening go unpunished. Kicking the ground with all his might, he closed the distance between them with one step and released the fireball into the bear''s mouth. Attaching a thread of mana onto the fireball, he used it to control the fireball''s trajectory.


    First, he burned the bear''s throat and then headed for its esophagus. After that, he directed the fireball deep into its abdominal area.


    Amidst the process, the bear started foaming at its mouth but the nightmare did not end.


    "HAAAAAA!" (Tatsuro)


    With a shout, Tatsuro made the fireball explode. The same fireball that was compressed to its limit by Tatsuro.


    Though the bear''s exterior was sturdy, the same could not be said for its insides. The explosion took the bear''s internal organs with it, but it was not powerful enough to make its body explode outwards. It was, however, enough to make the bear suffer severe wounds and lacerations all around its body.


    " " (Tatsuro)


    |You have leveled up to Lv 21.|


    Enough, to reap the life of the bear-like monster.


    "Now" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro rushed over to the other battlefield where Ai was located. Setting his eye on the place, a gruesome scene awaited him.


    One which made Tatsuro stop in his tracks


    "No way" (Tatsuro)

 Chapter 17: Despair

    Chapter 17: Despair


    "Commence Operation!" (Ai)


    As she announced that, Ai broke into a run.


    (Sorry, Tatsuro)


    She felt a sense of guilt when she said those words high-handedly. However, she tucked that guilt away and activated her [Body Strengthening] skill to increase the flow of Ki inside her.


    |Skill [Body Strengthening] has leveled up to Lv 7.|


    |Skill [Body Strengthening] has leveled up to Lv 8.|


    (Looks like I hit the limit.)


    Feeling the flow of Ki within her, she felt that she had reached a bottleneck. Her Ki would not increase any further. With that said Ai''s movement and senses were still sharper than ever, making her feel as though she was on top of the world. Taking out the stone spear from her [Item Box], Ai threw it right at the golden bear.


    The spear flew at a speed almost invisible to the naked eye but the bear perceived it and rolled itself up like an armadillo.


    BOOM


    Like two trucks crashing into each other, a thunderous sound rang out as the spear made contact. Hitting the shell on the back of the bear, the spear shattered into thousands of pieces.


    "Fu" (Ai)


    Ai took a deep breath and suppressed her [Body Strengthening] skill down to Lv 6. This time, she held the kunai knives in her hands and got into a stance while facing the blue bear.


    "That''s it. Come here!" (Ai)


    The bear charged forward. In one fluid motion, she threw a kunai towards the bear while its weight was on its front paws. Standing firm on her spot, Ai took out another kunai and stared the bear down.


    "HAAAAAA!" (Ai)


    GROOOWL!


    Both parties shouted their war cries. The bear lowered its head in preparation for the kunai. It wanted the kunai to hit its shell or so it planned.


    In that small lapse of attention, Ai instantly closed the distance and delivered a kick to its exposed jaw. Experiencing a sudden blow below its head, the bear was sent flying up, exposing its abdomen.


    "TERYAAAA!" (Ai)


    Ai jumped up to deliver another kick, this time towards its neck. Stabbing both its eyes with her kunai knives, Ai gave it another kick at its jaw as a parting gift.


    |Skill [Sword Arts] acquired.|


    After landing, she delivered yet another kick a roundhouse kick, this time to the bear.


    Suffering a barrage of attacks, the bear could not even let out a scream. It wavered where it stood, looking like it would fall over at any moment.Updated chapters on


    But just as Ai was going in for the kill, something else asserted its presence.


    GROOOWL!


    Ai lowered her body to evade the golden bear''s right paw swipe. Before the left paw''s combo attack could touch her, she dodged diagonally to the right with her body low enough to graze the ground. Doing so allowed her to successfully get past the golden bear. With that, she instantly kicked off the ground and closed in on the blue bear, delivering a massive kick to its wide-open chest.


    The bears did not have a reply to Ai''s sudden burst of speed. They had no idea where Ai was or what was going on at all.


    The blue bear was the first to notice, but only after it was sent flying in the air. It saw a lone female standing right at the place it was going to fall the female that its leader was supposed to stall in place.


    Everything was already a mess and the blue bear ceased thinking about the situation.


    Standing right below the blue bear that she launched into the air, Ai fell in thought for a moment.


    (I can''t afford to let this perfect chance go. But this thing wouldn''t die even when I kicked as hard as I could. Maybe it''ll go down once I give it enough damage, but the other one would not stand by seeing that happen so I want to finish this in one attack. Don''t I have anything more powerful in stock?)


    Following her line of thought, she was reminded of the bears'' [Claw Attack].


    (Can''t I do that thing too? If I used the Ki surrounding my hands only But I haven''t done that before I don''t think I can put that much power on the first try Hmm? If I need to release Ki, can''t I just use all the Ki surrounding my body? If I gather them on my fist, then I just punch, won''t that be enough?!)


    That slight moment was enough for the golden bear to start towering in their direction.


    However, being the muscle-head that she is, Ai can no longer stop herself.


    "HAAAAAAAAA!" (Ai)


    With a war cry, she gathered every bit of Ki that was spread around her body into her right fist.


    When the blue bear finally fell into her attack range, she released her attack.


    "SORYAAAAAA!" (Ai)


    BOOM


    Ai''s fist, which was basically a massive lump of Ki, completely penetrated through the bear''s stomach, breaking a few ribs and greatly damaging its internal organs.


    Along with a squelch, Ai was showered by a rain of dark red blood.


    |You have leveled up to Lv 20.|


    |Skill [Unarmed Combat] has leveled up to Lv 6.|


    "You''re next." (Ai)


    Drenched in bear blood, Ai glared at the golden bear.


    Ai thought that it would immediately chase her to exact revenge but contrary to her expectations, the golden bear could not muster the strength to do so.


    GRRR


    For one that has always been treated as a king within its species, it looked down on every other crystal-shelled bear, killing all that dared challenge its rule. With nothing in its way, it felt like it was on top of the world, doing whatever it wanted.


    That''s why, right at this very moment, It learnt a new feeling


    DESPAIR

 Chapter 18: Two Against One

Chapter 18: Two Against One


    This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! T/his chapter is updated by

 Chapter 19: Perfect Partners

    Chapter 19: Perfect Partners


    "Who''s stopping us from doing that!?" (Ai)


    To turn that possibility into reality, Tatsuro had to first gather information.


    "Ai, that punch earlier, how exactly did you do that?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm I covered my body with Ki then I gathered that in my hand and I just punched and then BAM Something like that? Actually, it was supposed to make my Ki fly out like what those bears did with their paws, but I couldn''t do that so I had to hit them directly." (Ai)


    "That was supposed to be a ranged attack? Hadouken might not be impossible anymore but that''s not the point! It''s basically an attack that uses Ki, right?" (Tatsuro)


    (T/N: Hadouken: The author named it like that in the raws, but I think you get the idea behind it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadouken)


    "Bingo!" (Ai)


    "So it was really Ki, huh?" Mumbling that, Tatsuro continued stringing his ideas together.


    "If I strengthened your Ki with my magic, then it should be enough to deal with that guy." (Tatsuro)


    "Making my Ki stronger with magic Is that even possible?" (Ai)


    "No one ever said that it''s impossible!" Brimming with confidence, Tatsuro replied to her.


    The hypothesis that Tatsuro came up with, the possibility of combining Ki and magic, existed in this world. It was called Maki, short for Mana-reinforced Ki.


    Tatsuro, with his skill, was the type that would ultimately get stronger no matter which path he took while Ai was the type that would be strong from the start. That''s exactly why, in what was considered the early game'', Ai will always outshine him in combat.


    Therefore, to help even the gap between them, he fumbled around with Help in search of anything that would make him stronger. During his search, Tatsuro found out that since Ai had too much Ki in her body, there wasn''t enough space for mana to enter, hence leading to the discovery of Maki.Discover new chapters at aki, however, was a technique that was usually only used by the thief or spy-class people. Without a large amount of both mana and Ki, Maki served as a trump card for them during their critical moments.


    If a magician or a martial artist were to use it, the technique would take up too much of their mental capacity, resulting in a minuscule increase in power.


    It was because of this that Tatsuro chose to only specialize in magic, sealing away his other thoughts of trying to master both magic and Ki. Reinforcing someone else''s Ki with mana, though, was a completely different case.


    As mana and Ki are made up of pure energy that is essentially part of the self'', for two different beings to share them, they must have the utmost level of trust in each other. In addition, their minds had to be in perfect unison, something easier said than done.


    If the requirements are not met, the resultant Maki will just disperse, wasting all the effort.


    This technique could be said to be one of the hardest to put into practice, especially with two individuals unifying their selves''.


    If anyone were to attempt it, the world''s top-level experts would just laugh at the idiot''s foolish efforts. However, not being a denizen of this world, Tatsuro wholeheartedly believed that he would be able to succeed with Ai.


    "I''m gonna start soon!" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s fine but what do I do?" (Ai)


    "Hug me from behind and hold on tight!" (Tatsuro)


    "U,e,e, eh? Why!?" (Ai)


    "I feel like we''ll get a better chance of success when we''re closer, physically." (Tatsuro)


    "Is that so?" (Ai)


    "If we don''t start soon, that guy is gonna start moving again." (Tatsuro)


    The golden bear, with its leg amputated, definitely took more damage than what they could see. Though there was no way that it would be able to move again in this small amount of time, the two weren''t willing to stick around long enough to find out.


    As if saying "I can still fight, you bastards!" The bear, using its shoulder muscles to slowly stand up with its legs trembling and stared at them with all intentions to leave this place alive.


    Its bravado gave Ai and Tatsuro the feeling that it would resume its attack at any time, forcing them to not make any hasty moves.


    "Okay Is this fine?" (Ai)


    "A bit tighter. To the point where we could feel our heartbeats." (Tatsuro)


    "N Like this?" (Ai)


    The two raised their voices at the sudden announcements but feeling tired from the earlier battle, they chose to catch a break first.


    By the way, up till now, Ai was still clinging onto Tatsuro from behind.


    "Ah I''m tired." (Tatsuro)


    Using this chance, Tatsuro stretched his body leaning back, enjoying the soft sensation he felt on his back. Ai, being all Ai-like, was relieved from the earlier tension as well, turning this into a win-win situation for the both of them.


    "Tatsuro, you''re heavy!" (Ai)


    Once the two were done with their cuddle time, the sun had already long since sunk beneath the horizon.


    "Ah, in the end, we''re still homeless for tonight." (Tatsuro)


    "If that Piggy-maru over there ran the other way, then we wouldn''t have to fight the golden teddy bear''s team." (Ai)


    "The teddy bear is fine, but Piggy-maru? What''s with the maru?" (Tatsuro)


    (T/N: maru: a Japanese word for round or circular)


    "I got a lot of SP from these guys so I''ll learn [Item Box] too. They put us in a tough spot so it won''t be enough compensation if the shells don''t help us in the future. We can take the shells of the blue teddies too!" (Tatsuro)


    "Aren''t-you-get-ting-too-gree-dy?" (Ai)


    "Say what you want. Seeing that big fat zero gold on my system screen makes me feel like a beggar." (Tatsuro)


    "Ah." (Ai)


    Ai knew what that felt like as well.


    Tatsuro did not waste any more time and learned [Item Box] from the skills shop along with the +1 upgrade too. The upgrade increased the volume that the item box can store and a preservation function that slowed the time of all things inside it.


    Looking back at the shop where the upgrade was, another upgrade for the item box was available. In the description, it stated that the item box will get another increase in volume along with an item disassembly and item list functions. Tatsuro, upon learning its effects, immediately took it.


    After the +2 upgrade, it was now showing the possibility of a +3 upgrade, an increase in volume, and an item combination function. This time, however, Tatsuro chose to ignore it.


    "Now, then, time to pack our stuff!" (Tatsuro)


    "Let''s go!" (Ai)


    With everything scattered under the moonlight, the first thing they did was to place the shell with fur stuck to it inside Tatsuro''s item box. The purpose was to try out how the item disassembly function works out.


    Asking Help, it seems that the user has to focus on the item to disassemble and how they want it to be disassembled. The system will then use everything within limitations to realize the process.


    Using that as a guide, Tatsuro pictured the fur separating from the shell, and lo and behold, the two were pulled apart exactly as how he thought them to be.


    Just to confirm the effects, Tatsuro took the shell out of his item box. What appeared in his hands was a beautiful golden crystal shell that looked like a precious stone, reflecting and refracting the moonlight with its fairy-tale-like appearance.


    "Beautiful! I think we could use this to make a ring." (Ai)


    "Good idea! A ring made with ingredients from another world is something you can''t easily find on Earth!" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s not about that kind of stuff! Well, that''s what makes you Tatsuro, I guess" (Ai)


    "No, no. I could say that because I think it''s beautiful. Ah, how about this? I''ll make a few things out of this so you can keep some too." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, yeah." (Ai)


    Finishing the conversation, he placed the shell back into his item box. Then, they salvage the parts they wanted from blue teddy A, which had its stomach split open, and blue teddy B, which was half-buried in the ground and crushed flat.


    "Alright. Shall we start searching for our camping spot?" (Ai)


    "Wait a minute. Shouldn''t we do something about this first?" (Tatsuro)


    They looked themselves over. On one side was a boy covered in gravel and dirt while on the other stood a girl drenched in dried monster blood.


    Before searching for a place to sleep, the two decided that cleaning themselves came first.

 Chapter 20: Titles

    Chapter 20: Titles


    Tatsuro first gathered stones using earth magic. With those, he created a roofless rectangular-shaped structure that was large enough to fit a person inside. While he was at it, he took the liberty to make some sort of partition screen before filling the inside with hot water using fire and water magic.


    "I made us a simple bath!" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, great job!" (Ai)


    Seeing Ai''s delightedly shining eyes as he''d expected, Tatsuro had a suspicious-looking smile plastered on his face.


    "You can go in first." (Tatsuro)


    "Eh? But you made it and I''m all dirty" (Ai)


    "I can just change the water if it gets dirty so don''t mind that. That must feel uncomfortable, right?" (Tatsuro)


    Looking at Ai''s current state, Tatsuro told that to her. With dried monster blood covering her, not only does Ai smell horrible but it must be disgusting on her skin too. Despite that, Ai still felt that it was rude to enter the bath before its creator.


    "Still" (Ai)


    "Then, want to go in together?" (Tatsuro)


    Thinking that it couldn''t be helped with Ai like that, Tatsuro held her hand and was about to enter the bath.


    "Eh? It''s too early for!" (Ai)DiisCoover updated novels on


    "See, if you think like that, then just go in first. If I go first, then the blood''s gonna become unbearable soon." (Tatsuro)


    "Mu Aren''t you being a bit too forceful? I''ll just take your word for it, then." (Ai)


    "Ah, just leave the dirty clothes over here. I''ll start washing them too." (Tatsuro)


    "Uuu You doing everything somehow makes me feel bad," is what Ai said but


    Everything was done as a distraction for Tatsuro to conceal his master plan, and since it was going so smoothly, there was no need for any reservation.


    A plan that would not have been possible if they did not have that fight earlier.


    "You took the most dangerous role in the fight, so just think of this as an award for your military merit." (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm Okay. But if you need me to help out somewhere, don''t hesitate to say it, okay!" (Ai)


    Hearing that one sentence, a flash of lightning struck Tatsuro''s mind.


    " Did you say anything!?" (Tatsuro)


    "B-Besides that kind of stuff that you''re thinking about!" (Ai)


    "Oh It''s fine, then." (Tatsuro)


    "Don''t you have anything else?" (Ai)


    Sighing at Tatsuro''s request, she turned around and entered the partition. There, she took off her clothes and handed her jersey and PE uniform to Tatsuro outside before entering the bath.


    Tatsuro, feeling the spirit of a gent (gentleman), reluctantly looked away from the scene and headed towards the other side of the partition to stand guard. While hearing the splashes of water inside, he gathered up Ai''s clothes and placed them all inside his item box. Using the disassembly function, he removed all the dirt that adhered to the garments and took the clean clothes out of his item box.


    Next, he separated the monster''s blood from the dirt, stored it, and threw the dirt away.


    (Monster blood is always an ingredient in games but does that apply to this world too?)


    While lost in thought, Tatsuro used this chance to sort out the things in his storage. He did that for a while until he heard Ai''s voice, whom he handed over the now clean clothing.


    "Wow You put your all into cleaning these. Did you just use [Item Box] for this?" (Ai)


    "Yeah. That skill does have all sorts of functions." (Tatsuro)


    "If I had a lot of extra SP, I''d have upgraded mine too" (Ai)


    "Why not do it?" (Tatsuro)


    "Umm" (Ai)


    Now, it was Tatsuro''s turn to enter the bath. He performed the same process as before to remove the grime from his clothes and after feeling refreshed from his shower, stood up from the makeshift bathtub to put on his clothes. He then went outside the partition screen to meet up with Ai.


    "I''m done! and you''re still staring at it" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. With the lighting from the moon making it shine like this, it''s just too beautiful" Ai murmured as she stared at the golden crystal.


    It was true that the crystal possessed a mystical beauty as it could even captivate Tatsuro, one who had no interest in such precious stones.


    (Isn''t it a bit too perfect? It''s creeping me out)


    With that thought in mind, Tatsuro scrutinized the stone closely but could not find anything strange about it. It might just be the shell''s nature for all he knows.


    (Yeah I''m gonna make a ring with this in the future.)


    [Fire Magic Lv 10], [Water Magic Lv 1], [Life Magic Lv 1]


    [Earth Magic Lv 5], [Information Magic Lv 3], [Mana Purification Lv 1]


    [Mana Regeneration Lv 2], [Focus Lv 3]


    |System skills|


    [Map], [Item box +2]


    Skill Points: 101


    |Titles|


    [Master of Light], [Master of Fire], [Destroyer]


    [Perfect Harmony]


    (Huh? I know I leveled up, but isn''t this too much of a growth?)


    Thinking that, Tatsuro started searching for the culprit which he found without too much trouble.


    (So it''s because of this I thought titles were just nicknames.)


    Title: Master of Light


    Rarity: 10


    Description: Mana, Magic, Magic Resist, and Mana Control increased by 100.


    Increased affinity with light magic.


    Title: Master of Fire


    Rarity: 10


    Description: Mana, Magic, Magic Resist, and Mana Control increased by 100.


    Increased affinity with fire magic.


    Title: Destroyer


    Rarity: 8


    Description: All stats increased by 30.


    Title: Perfect Harmony


    Rarity: 12


    Description: "Partner" refers to the other soul this one has earned this title with.


    Allows the use of telepathic communication with the partner.


    When in physical contact with the partner, dramatically increases Ki and mana recovery.


    When in physical contact with the partner, dramatically increase all stats.


    (All of them sound grand, huh? Even the plain-sounding [Destroyer] is doing a good job. Still, [Perfect Harmony] Isn''t it too much of a cheat if we use this? Telepathic communication means talking without words, right? And all my stats get stronger with physical contact No harm in trying, I guess.)


    Tatsuro stretched out his hand and gently brushed Ai''s head. When he did so, he was instantly enlightened by the words he read earlier.


    Without warning, the mana within him started to flow much faster. Taking in mana from the environment at a much faster rate, he could feel the strength entering his body.


    (Woah This is If I use the simplest spells like this, I''ll get the mana back in no time. I wonder if Ai will let me hold her hand when I''m practicing magic)


    With that thought circulating in his head, Tatsuro started the first watch of the night.


    T/N: The next updates for the old chapters will come up in the first week of February. I will be translating a new series [Dungeon Farm], raw language is Korean. Updates on that will begin next week.


    Thanks for the co-operation

 Chapter 21: This is Another World After All

    Chapter 21: This is Another World After All


    When it was time to switch the night watch, Ai was gently woken up by Tatsuro. During the short time frame when they were both awake, Tatsuro told Ai about the effects of titles, making her grow curious about her own.


    Name: Ai Yashiki


    Class: Martial Artist


    Level: 27


    Ki: 3780


    Mana: 35Ge?tt the latest novels at


    Strength: 735


    Durability: 717


    Agility: 717


    Magic: 32


    Magic Resistance: 32


    Mana Control: 32


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Valkyrie], [Unarmed Combat Lv.6], [Staff Art Lv.1]


    [Throwing Lv.7], [Spear Art Lv.1], [Sword Arts Lv.1]


    [Ki Regeneration Lv.5], [Body Strengthening Lv.9]


    |System skills|


    [Item box]


    Skill Points: 28


    |Titles|


    [Destroyer], [Perfect Harmony]


    "My Ki really went up a lot" (Ai)


    ( No, that''s not it. Titles There!)


    She checked the effects of her titles before going back to the stats screen.


    (Eh? So if I didn''t have the [Destroyer] title, my magic stat would be just 2 points? [Valkyrie] really wants to cut me off from magic completely, huh? Well, Tatsuro is here so I guess it''s fine Next is [Perfect Harmony]''s telepathic communication. I''m glad I can at least talk to Tatsuro anytime I want)


    Looking at the title the two of them got together, and Ai''s lips curled upwards into a foolish smile. That is until she heard the sound of water splashing coming from the river.


    (What was that?)


    With his heart still beating rapidly, Tatsuro could only smile as the words came out of his mouth.


    "Hmm?" (Tatsuro)


    While he was still basking in the scene earlier, a weak, high-pitched sound similar to a bird''s chirping entered Tatsuro''s ears. The sound gradually got louder and along with it came the sound of wings flapping or rather several wings flapping.


    (What is it now?)


    Tatsuro activated his Dispel magic. Changing its shape from a dome to a cone, he pointed it in the direction of the sounds. However, it was slightly too late as the creatures had already flown out of the woods.


    (Bats?) (Tatsuro)


    Looking exactly like a bat, each creature had an average wingspan of about 30cm.


    The first few pass by over their camp, heading into the forest on the other side of the river. Then a whole bunch of bats followed right after. Unfortunately, the two were spotted by one of them, then two, and suddenly, the whole flock headed towards them.


    (It would have been great if you guys just continued like that.) (Tatsuro)


    With that thought in his mind, Tatsuro grasped tightly onto Ai''s hand.


    Allowing [Perfect Harmony] to take effect, Tatsuro instantly created about a hundred tiny red spheres of light around them.


    And then, he attacked.


    Lasers started firing mercilessly at the bats from each tiny red sphere. It sounded like a requiem dedicated to the bats caught in its way. For those lucky few who managed to pass by the smaller lasers, Tatsuro took care of them by shooting larger lasers at them with his hands.


    After thirty short seconds, the sky was once again clear of disturbances, leaving only the glistening moon and stars behind.


    (I should search for survivors with Dispel magic.)


    It was time for the magic to redeem itself. Reverting back to its usual dome-like shape, Tatsuro searched to see if there were still any bats alive.


    Locating three bats that were on their final breaths, Tatsuro used [Level Eater] on them without any hesitation.


    What he got was:


    Level: 4


    Skill(s): [Flight Lv 1], [Bite Lv 2], [Bloodsucking Lv 2]


    Level: 8


    Skill(s): [Flight Lv 2], [Bite Lv 4], [Bloodsucking Lv 3]


    Level: 5


    Skill(s): [Flight Lv 1], [Bite Lv 3], [Bloodsucking Lv 1]


    Which he devoured without batting an eyelid.

 Chapter 22: Bizarre Plants, and Telepathy

    Chapter 22: Bizarre Plants, and Telepathy


    T/N: {} will be used to show any communication in telepathy.


    Time passed since the dragon''s waltz and the battle with the bats. Tatsuro, who just finished his watch, was already asleep peacefully within the walls he built.


    Meanwhile, Ai sat cross-legged atop the stone bed, practicing using [Body Strengthening] on only one part of her body at a time. Occasionally, in between her training, she would sneak a glance at the moon.


    "Haah It still doesn''t work" (Ai)


    Grumbling, Ai stopped her practice and placed her hands behind her back, staring blankly into the sky.


    (I want to see the dragon too I wonder if it''ll come back later) (Ai)


    During her second watch of the night, nothing too special happened like when Tatsuro saw a dragon. Learning about the existence of dragons made Ai want to see one too.


    However, they are still not creatures that one can see every day. In the end, Ai just vacantly stared at the sky, unable to find what she was looking for.


    "HAAAAAA.." (Ai)


    Now doubting Tatsuro''s words, Ai released a sigh before resuming her Ki technique practice. She was in the midst of honing her technique when all of a sudden, she heard a rustle coming from the other side of the river. Turning her attention towards it, Ai saw multiple creatures with long, thin bodies hopping in and out of the river, creating splashes of water in the river.


    (That''s A sunflower No, it doesn''t look like one what is that thing?) (Ai)


    The creatures were no more than two meters long. They had a sunflower-like appearance at the top with their long bodies looking like an extra thick stem. Tentacle-like limbs with leaves attached at the ends acted as their hands. For its legs, their roots were split into two, which they are using to hop around now.


    During her observation, Ai found one colored differently from the rest that, although it looked like it was forcing itself to, still promptly swam to the middle of the river. Regarding that specific one as an oddball, she continued watching the rest of the creatures.


    Soon, a total of seven creatures were in the middle of the river, after which, they started to line up. After lining up, they immediately stopped moving with their tentacles parallel to the ground.


    Then, the atmosphere around them changed


    (What are they doing?) (Ai)


    Ai gulped once and continued to watch the spectacle unfold. The unmoving creatures then started wiggling their arms at the same time and not long after, their legs and soon, the whole body followed.DiisCoover updated novels on


    They continued for a while as if they were showing the whole world the tribal dance of their race.


    (What. Is This?) (Ai)


    While they were wiggling around in the river, Ai wanted to be the tsukkomi in this Manzai comedy show. Disregarding Ai''s opinions, the sunflowers continued to dance, their moves getting more reckless and violent by the second.


    Every now and then, the sunflowers changed their formation: from a line to a square; from a rhombus to a triangle. Surely they must have practiced all of this before. They also spun their whole body around, sometimes jumping with their feet perpendicular to the ground like a ballerina.


    It was as if the dance also served another purpose, making it more interesting for Ai to watch,


    Leaning her entire body forward, Ai''s eyes were full of joy and curiosity. She was itching to give them a standing ovation after their routine was done.


    (Amazing! Oh, it looks like it''s synchronized swimming this time!) (Ai)


    Their faces protruded out of the water''s surface as they swam freestyle, passing each other by without any collisions. Their legs bent at a 90 angle, then stuck out of the water''s surface and finally, they made a vertical jump, coming straight out of the water.


    Ai continued to watch over their performance which looked like it was approaching its climax.


    As all of them raised their heads out of the water and gathered into a circle, one of them, supposedly the leader, proceeded toward the center of the formation. And then, as if all the elegance earlier was nothing but a lie, they started to move roughly and violently, splashing water all around. They flailed around with all their might as if pouring all their memories of hardships and joys of life within.


    For Ai, it was definitely something worth talking about in a future conversation.


    "Ai, did you get the [Perfect Harmony] title too?" (Tatsuro)


    "Of course! We got it together, right?" (Ai)


    Brimming with joy, Ai smiled as she looked towards Tatsuro. Succumbing to her cuteness, Tatsuro proceeded to pat her head without thinking and got to the main topic.


    "It said that we can use telepathic communication, but Want to try it out?" (Tatsuro)


    "Sounds great! A direct phone line just for the two of us. It gives off a special feel, right!" (Ai)


    "That''s because it is special" (Tatsuro)


    "Huh, what was that? My, my Oh my god! Can you wepeat that fow me, pwetty prease!?" replied Ai as she snuggled closer to Tatsuro.


    Feeling embarrassed by what he just said, Tatsuro proceeded to test out their new skill to shake off the heat.


    {Ahhh. Ahhh. Mike test. Can you hear me?} (Tatsuro)


    "Hiiiii!?" (Ai)


    {It''s hi, not hiii.} (Tatsuro)


    "No, I was just surprised. So like this?" {Tatsuro, Tatsuro, can you hear me?} (Ai)


    {Yeah, if it came suddenly like this, I''d be surprised too.} (Tatsuro)


    {See? It has that much power.} (Ai)


    Tatsuro was stunned at the process before he recalled this particular familiar sensation.


    {If I have to describe it, it''s something like a ticklish feeling on the back of my head, not too little to ignore, but also not too strong to be a big nuisance, right?} (Tatsuro)


    {That''s it, Detective Kudos!} (Ai)


    "That''s not how you use that Hmm, you don''t feel tired right after using it, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yep, no problems on my side!" (Ai)


    To show that she was fine, Ai placed her hands on her waist with a puff. Tatsuro also felt nothing wrong with his body and smiled with satisfaction, knowing that they had gained such a convenient tool at their disposal.


    "We still don''t know the range of the skill, but I guess that''s alright for now. Let''s try that out once we get to the town and you somehow get lost" (Tatsuro)


    "Never. Gonna. Happen. By the way, this skill You think we can still use it after we get back to Japan?" (Ai)


    ".. Probably no? Is what I''d like to say but we don''t even know how it works, so I can''t really give you a good answer?" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s fair. But talking about Japan after just three days is starting to make me feel nostalgic." (Ai)


    "Yeah. It hasn''t even been that long but we''ve already been through a lot." (Tatsuro)


    The conversation reminded them of what happened during the past two days. How many experiences they have gone through in this short period but beyond that, how everything feel like it had been thrust upon them by fate?


    "It feels like we''ve been here for months, yeah?" (Tatsuro)


    "Right. Well, it''s not like there''s someone else out there that experienced this before, so let''s just enjoy the tour while we can." (Ai)


    "Yeah." (Tatsuro)


    Giving a nod to each other, the two continued with their journey, hand in hand, towards the town of Obsul.

 Chapter 23: Otherworlder

    Chapter 23: Otherworlder


    Opening his map, Tatsuro checked their current location. If the map was accurate, they would be able to see the path to town anytime soon.


    "If we walk a bit more, there should be a path on our right that''ll lead us to the town. Don''t let it escape our sight!" (Tatsuro)


    "Right side? Roger that!" (Ai)


    The two walked swiftly along the gravel path.


    While counting how long it''ll take for the path to become visible, Ai spotted something leaning on a tree far ahead. From her point of view, she could only describe it as a gathering of monsters.


    "Tatsuro, look at that." (Ai)


    "Eh? Where Ah, that one? I can''t see it clearly at this distance. Let''s try getting a bit closer." (Tatsuro)


    "Alright." (Ai)


    Walking closer and closer, the two tried to muffle their footsteps as much as they could. Gradually, they were able to get a glimpse of that thing.


    "" (Ai)


    {Wait Those monsters, are they gathering around a person!?} (Tatsuro)


    To avoid garnering the monsters'' attention, Tatsuro started talking to Ai telepathically, to which she replied in the same way.


    {!? It''s a person?!! This is bad, he''s already bleeding a lot!} (Ai)


    {If it''s that much, then it''s already no, let''s help him.} (Tatsuro)


    {Alright, what do we do?} (Ai)


    {We do a pre-emptive attack. You throw some kunai and I''ll go with the lasers. Is that alright?} (Tatsuro)


    {Yeah. But don''t forget, we only hit the monsters, okay?} (Ai)


    {It''s not like I''ll aim for the guy on purpose!} (Tatsuro)


    Saying those words allowed Ai to ease the tension before the attack. The two then steeled their resolve, linked their hands, and started the rescue operation with a fierce, multi-target attack.


    "HAAAAA" (Tatsuro)


    "TEEEEEI!" (Ai)


    Giving out a war cry, Tatsuro sent out two huge laser beams from both his hands while summoning multiple spheres. The summoned spheres then shot out smaller lasers which automatically target the enemies. Meanwhile, Ai took out a kunai with each hand from the item box and similarly started her own set of attacks.


    Upon hearing the pair''s war cries, the monster turned their attention towards them albeit a little bit too late. The projectiles that Tatsuro and Ai sent flying their way were already unavoidable, resulting in some broken skulls for the monsters.


    The number of enemies was immediately reduced to a meager three. The survivors, who managed to escape the attack, released a low growl as they stared at the two.


    "What the hell are these guys?" (Tatsuro)


    "Eww, gross" (Ai)Visjt  for new updates


    Getting a clearer view of the monsters, the pair could only describe them as some really strange creatures.


    They had ash-coloured fur which almost completely covered their blackish skin. Their faces were, weirdly enough, shaped similar to a ball glued to a harmonica. They had muddy white eyes in their sockets, large noses that pointed upwards, and teeth which are similar to that of a shark''s. Their bodies also looked thin, as though they couldn''t support their huge limbs.


    These creatures are not monsters, but rather, abominations.


    """GHrAarRRr!"""


    With a growl that sounded like a broken low-quality car engine, the three monsters started moving towards the two. Dragged back to reality, Ai and Tatsuro let go of each other''s hands and prepared to receive the enemy''s charge.


    Tatsuro was the first to make a move. Spreading a thin layer of fire atop the gravel path, he burnt the soles of the monsters'' feet, slowing their advance.


    "TEIYAAA!"


    Ai followed up by throwing her two kunai knives. One of them hit the shoulder of the panicking creature while the other hit the head of another, after which, it promptly stopped its movements.


    "Ah, I missed one." (Ai)


    "Don''t let it get to you." (Tatsuro)


    While literally walking on fire, the last uninjured monster gritted its teeth to endure the pain and continued its approach. However, it died right after a few of Tatsuro''s lasers found their mark on it. At the same time, the other wounded monster also took its final breath as Ai threw another kunai at it.


    "Alright." (Ai)


    Lacking information on this world''s currency, Tatsuro decided to skip it for now and placed the coin back into the folded paper. Up next were the two smaller folded sheets of paper. Taking the one closest to him, Tatsuro slowly opened it.


    "Something''s written, but I can''t read it" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm I haven''t seen these characters before" (Ai)


    Seeing the indecipherable letter before them, they could only crease their brows.


    "This is We really have to learn it, huh?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. It won''t be good for us to go to the town if we can''t even understand their words." (Ai)


    "Alright, I''ll learn it now. How about you?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. Not understanding a word of what the people around me are speaking It''s a bit scary just thinking about it." (Ai)


    Folding the paper up, the two opened their system and looked for the skill they needed in the [Life Skills] section before acquiring it.


    "[Universal Language Comprehension], huh? Sounds great." (Tatsuro)


    "5 SP. It''s at a lower price compared to system skills." (Ai)


    "This means that we won''t have any problems conversing anymore, right?" (Tatsuro)


    [Universal Language Comprehension] allowed them to comprehend a whole language just by seeing five letters. It also works if they were to read or hear at least four words of the given language, even if they do not understand what the words mean at the moment.


    From the moment they decided to travel to the village, they searched for and found this particular skill. Ever since then, they always had their eye out for it.


    "We should be able to read it now. Uhh Let''s see" (Tatsuro)


    With the newly acquired skill, Tatsuro instantly completed the five-letter threshold and could now understand the content of the letter.


    Translated, it read as:


    To the person who found this letter and the knife,


    First of all, I apologize for showing you such an unsightly display of my corpse.


    The reason I came to this forest was to observe it as an inspector of some kind. While I was doing so, I suddenly had an encounter with a Togul and got stabbed in the leg.


    I wanted to go back to the village but my legs were already on the verge of collapsing. Hence, with my still movable hands, I chose to write this message with the time I had left.


    I know this is too sudden, but I have a favor to ask.


    Inside the package, I placed all of my remaining money worth 119,324 Shis which I will be giving to you. However, for the knife and the other letter, I ask you to return them to my family.


    This knife is an heirloom passed from generation to generation within my family, and it is of utmost importance to us. If possible, I would like you to hand it to my son.


    If you state my name to the Obsul Adventurers Guild, they should be able to lead you to the right person.


    May you grant the final wish of this dying soul.


    Elren Deicard


    From the handwriting, Tatsuro could see that it was written in a hurry and that it contained the desperate will of a person who knew that they would never make it back home.


    He tried prying on the other letter, but from the first few words, it looked like a private message to this person''s family so he chose to stop.


    "We''ll be reaching Obsul in a few hours, what will you do?" (Tatsuro)


    " Yeah, this person''s soul deserves a peaceful departure. Besides, when the first otherworlder you met asked for such a favor, your heart tells you to just do it, doesn''t it?" (Ai)


    Hearing her words, Tatsuro felt warmth in his heart. They''ve decided on what they should do.


    "That''s how it should be, right? Let''s go and help our first otherworlder." (Tatsuro)


    "Un." (Ai)


    Now, the two had a newfound goal waiting in the town of Obsul.

 Chapter 24: What Kind of Culture do the Otherworlders Have?

    Chapter 24: What Kind of Culture do the Otherworlders Have?


    Having decided on their next course of action, the two wanted to depart immediately. However, a thought crept its way into Tatsuro''s mind.


    "If we''re going there anyway, shouldn''t we bring his body back with us?" (Tatsuro)


    Ai''s eyes popped wide open at the sudden question.


    "H-H-H-How do we do tha Are you planning on carrying him on our shoulders?" (Ai)


    "Not that! The corpse isn''t alive anymore so we''ll put it in the item box." (Tatsuro)


    "Item box Will that even work?" (Ai)


    Though they had no idea what would happen in the item box, they did put a lot of their personal belongings in there. That was precisely why Ai was strongly opposed to storing a dead body inside. Tatsuro, feeling the same way, then proposed another idea.


    "I feel you. That''s why I''ll make a coffin for him first. We''ll put him in there before storing it in the item box." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s reasonable. If we''re gonna give him back to his family, doing it this way will be better too." (Ai)


    "Then here I go!" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro immediately grabbed onto Ai''s hand for a power boost. Shifting the soil around him, Tatsuro made Elren''s corpse face upwards with both of his hands at the sides. He then focused on the ground beneath Elren, compressing it into something more solid, creating a box large enough to contain Elren''s body. Lastly, Tatsuro used the soil from another area to create the lid of the coffin.


    "I think this should be good enough to place in the item box." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah." (Ai)


    Tatsuro raised his hand. The particles of light from his hand made contact with the coffin and took it away with them. Now, he turned his attention to the coin.


    "Alright, I think it''s safe to say that this is ours now. We never know when we''ll need it, even before making it to the adventurer''s guild. We should also try to find out how to make money in this world." (Tatsuro)


    "Ah, we still don''t know exactly how to use that coin, right?" (Ai)


    "There''s the deposit thing earlier, should we try that?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, that seems fair." (Ai)


    Touching the coin, the screen he saw before appeared once more.


    |119,324 Shis confirmed in the user''s possession. Deposit into the system?|


    Yes/No


    This time, however, Tatsuro pressed the Yes button. Immediately, the coin turned into particles that disappeared without a trace.


    "Hey, uh it''s gone!" (Ai)


    "No worries. It should be in the system now." (Tatsuro)


    Saying so, Tatsuro booted up his own system to confirm it.


    Status


    Currency: 119,324 Shis


    Party


    Skills


    "Hmm I asked Help, but it said that this is just your regular cobblestone road. Maybe science didn''t progress too much here." (Tatsuro)


    "So Does that mean no microwaves and fridges?" (Ai)


    "There''s still magic, you know? Even if there is no electricity, it wouldn''t be strange if they had something else in place." (Tatsuro)


    "I see," replied Ai as she started to imagine what this world has to offer that could potentially replace the modern world appliances.


    The first thing that appeared in her thoughts was a certain robotic cat that always had those strange tools in its pocket that could do virtually anything.


    "Yeah It might be more convenient here than back on Earth for all we know. I''m getting my hopes up for that. But this road is a lot easier on my feet." (Ai)


    "Right? It looks like a lot of people use it too. And looking at how long the path is, it''s amazing how much effort they spent on it." (Tatsuro)


    Confused at what he just said, Ai moved next to Tatsuro and looked straight ahead of the path.


    "Wow This is incredible! You think they placed every stone here by hand?" (Ai)


    "Uhh Wouldn''t they use magic for this kind of stuff?" (Tatsuro)


    "Right. Magic here is a lot more all-purpose than what people on Earth made it to be I guess." (Ai)


    "Magic here is based on the user''s imagination so if the situation allows it, even spells thought on the fly would get activated and that''s not something we should be surprised about for now. We should try to get to the town before it gets dark." (Tatsuro)


    "What are we waiting for!?" (Ai)


    On their way, the two met another one of those caterpillars and a new kind of insect, both burned by Tatsuro''s magic as soon as they made contact.


    Prioritizing speed, the two proceeded down the path without any major obstacles. As time passed, they eventually reached a crossroad marked by an extra path extending to the right at what seemed like a perpendicular angle.


    "We just go straight, right?" (Ai)


    "Lemme check Ah, yep. It''s just straight ahead" (Tatsuro)


    "Roger!" (Ai)


    At that moment, the sound of animal footsteps and wheels coming from the other branch of the road entered the ears of the two.


    ""A carriage!?""


    The two Japanese youths, surprised by the sight of something they had never seen before, suddenly raised their voices.


    "Wooow This is the first time I''m actually seeing one. Wait Does that mean they still use those in this world?" (Tatsuro)


    "Uhh Maybe this is one of those areas where they still try to." (Ai)


    "Ah, it''s coming this way!" (Tatsuro)


    Hearing the increasing loudness, Tatsuro narrowed his eyes and looked far into the other path to check.


    "I guess you''re right. It''d be great if they weren''t a criminal or something but" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. Should we make a plan for it?" (Ai)


    "We should try going for the friendly route, but don''t let your guard down. We might need to act differently based on the situation here. We share anything we notice with telepathy. Is that alright?" (Tatsuro)


    "Roger that!" (Ai)


    With their hands trembling, the two started to assess the other party. In response, the carriage also stopped in its tracks.


    Not knowing whether it was done with good or bad intentions, the two felt the tension rise as they headed for the carriage.

 Chapter 25: Zendo

    Chapter 25: Zendo


    Darting their eyes all around the carriage, the two wanted to ascertain the identity of the people inside before talking in telepathy.


    {Do we even need to be this cautious?} (Ai)


    {Well, it''s not that. What we don''t know is how the people of this world would react when they see otherworlders. That''s the biggest thing I''m worried about.} (Tatsuro)


    {Why?} (Ai)Visjt  for new updates


    {Like they might even try to kill outsiders, not to mention otherworlders, on sight.} (Tatsuro)


    {That does sound scary} (Ai)


    Ai''s face twisted as she replied. The same thing happened to Tatsuro.


    {Well, that''s the worst-case scenario. They might be friendly for all we know.} (Tatsuro)


    {So, we just hide the fact that we''re otherworlders while trying to find out how the people here act, right} (Ai)


    {For now, yes. We have too little info and it''s just gonna mess up our decisions if we try to conclude anything from that. Still, our first contingency plan when things get bad is to fight. Plan B is to run for our lives.} (Tatsuro)


    {Yes, sir! They''ll be here soon.} (Ai)


    {Ah, right. First, let''s try going with the goody-two-shoes act.} (Tatsuro)


    {Since when did you come up with that weird-sounding plan!?} (Ai)


    As they approached closer, the two finally got a glimpse of what the other party looked like.


    The coachman was like your typical old guy in the novels. An old man with white hair that failed to cover the very top of his head. His appearance was that of a strict and stubborn grandpa, but not one that would instill fear in those who looked at him.


    The carriage or it might be more accurate to call it a cargo cart, was pulled by two horses tied to it. Loaded in its bay were big earthen pots, easily visible due to the lack of roofing on the cart.


    In the end, other than the elder driving the cart, there was no other person.


    " ?"


    ""Eh?""


    Once they were close enough to hear each other, the old man spoke to the two of them.


    However, as they had not heard this language in the past, they could not understand a single word he said. All they knew was that the old man spoke in a rough, casual tone.


    "What? You kids already have bad hearing at your age?"


    "Ah, sorry. We were a bit absentminded." (Tatsuro)


    "We''re really sorry, grandpa." (Ai)


    "Hmm? Well, that''s that but If you kids are thinking about going into the forest practically naked, then don''t even think about it."


    ""Huh?""


    "What, you kids still high?"


    Then, they finally figured out what the old man meant by his words. Looking at how the two did not have a single thing with them, the old man concluded that they could not have come from the forest but were about to go there.


    Understanding this, Tatsuro lowered his guard a bit.


    "Ah, you might have misunderstood. We came from the forest and were just about to enter the town." (Tatsuro)


    "THE FOREST!?"


    Confused about the old man''s reaction, the two could only look at each other in a daze, not knowing if Tatsuro said something weird or not.


    "No, no, I can''t Walking in the forest in that getup is basically suicide, you know?"


    "That''s fair, I guess. If we''re ever going back there, we''d prepare for it before doing that." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, we should at least pack food for the next trip" (Ai)


    "Food Does that mean you two traveled through the forest with no-nothing?"


    "Not through it. We just followed the river." (Tatsuro)


    As the carriage traveled along at a high speed, Ai shouted out in high spirits as the wind brushed across her face. While Tatsuro''s heart grew calm at the sight of that, Zendo popped him a question that had been on his mind for a while now.


    "Hey, kids. What are you two going to do after you get into town?" (Zendo)


    "That. I guess we''re going to the adventurer''s guild? At least, we want to check the place out." (Tatsuro)


    "We''re going to town right now, right?" (Ai)


    "Ah, yeah. Hmm Adventurers, huh? You did survive in that forest so that means you have a few tricks. Being an adventurer might be your ticket to getting rich quick." (Zendo)


    Although they were only doing this to deliver Elren''s body and the letter, the two could not let those words go unscathed.


    "Hmm If we do become adventurers, can we earn money from there?" (Ai)


    "Huh? Well, that''s as long as you don''t cause too much trouble or commit a big crime, you''ll be qualified for it. If you do those things, it won''t matter who you are or where you''re from You guys are alright on that part right?" (Zendo)


    (Don''t tell me they killed someone after they ran away from home?) The thought of that got Zendo worried for a bit, but after hearing the two reply "Yep. No problems there.", he calmed his rising heartbeat.


    "Then, then, can we get those qualifications if we visit the guild?" (Tatsuro)


    "Should be Heh? Didn''t you want to go there to become adventurers?" (Zendo)


    "Uh Someone asked for a favor in the middle of the road and then" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro was at a loss on how to explain their situation to the old man but Zendo, who had read too much into it, concluded on his own that they had some kind of special circumstances going on.


    "Alright. People have their own shit to deal with. All I can say is good luck with that favor." (Zendo)


    "Eh? Uh Thanks, grandpa." (Tatsuro)


    (Why do I feel this "I''m rooting for you two!" aura from this old man?) (Tatsuro)


    Puzzled by the sudden change in mood, Tatsuro could only send his gratitude with a bow.


    "Hey, gramps. Once we get there, what kind of jobs do adventurers do to get paid?" (Tatsuro)


    "Huh? Do you kids have no idea what adventurers are?"


    Hearing Zendo''s surprise, Tatsuro deciphered that being an adventurer should be one of the biggest professions in this world. Flustered, he chose his next words carefully.


    "Uhm Sorry about that. We came from somewhere that''s a bit secluded from the outside" (Tatsuro)


    "So that''s why" (Zendo)


    Hearing Tatsuro''s explanation, Zendo viewed it as the two being children from nobility who were quickly trying to adapt to the outside world. This made him worried that the two might get scammed by other people down the road.


    Meanwhile, to the pair, it only seemed that Zendo was someone who could proficiently read the mood


    "Heeey, grandpa?" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh My bad. This time, I was the one who was absent-minded." (Zendo)


    "You alright?" (Tatsuro)


    "If you have time to worry about me, then worry about yourselves. If it''s just you kids, you''re gonna face a lot of trouble from now on. So Adventurers are well, it''s the most common job out there. They are people who set foot in both the unexplored lands and high-level dungeons. They fight dangerous monsters, and even gather the rarest materials, but" (Zendo)


    ""But what?""


    Hearing acts that the average human would definitely not do, the two held their breaths.


    "See, adventurers stay in places near monsters of the same level as them so that they can hunt. They also gather herbs and sell those to the adventurers'' guild to earn their pay. Basically, it''s just a glorified hunter." (Zendo)


    "Ah, if it''s just that, then that should be no problem." (Ai)


    "You kids look like you have something in you, and even children sometimes make extra pocket money by doing those things. It shouldn''t be too dangerous unless something absurd happens," the old man said with a shrug.


    "Isn''t that great!? Hey, Tatsuro Let''s just be adventurers too!" (Ai)


    "Yep, alright." (Tatsuro)


    Finding out that they can earn both SP and money at the same time, it was as though they found their ticket back home.


    From then on, the two decided that once they reached the town of Obsul, they would become Adventurers.

 Chapter 26: Bears, Once Again

    Chapter 26: Bears, Once Again


    On the cobblestone road that stretched out to what seemed like an infinite horizon, a horse-drawn wagon was moving along at a consistently high speed. Above that said wagon sat two kids who had decided to be adventurers on the way.


    Thinking that they could somehow make do with the profession took a burden off Zendo''s shoulders.


    "If you don''t have too many connections, then being an adventurer might be a good choice, so why not try it? If it doesn''t work then I might not look like it, but I can give you jobs at my place." (Zendo)


    "Now that you mention it, what do you do for a living, Zendo-san?" (Ai)


    "Me? I''m a salt merchant!" (Zendo)


    ""Salt merchant?""


    Zendo plastered a proud of myself'' smile as he gave a thumbs up to the two, who were still shocked by what they heard.


    As their faces reminded him that they were severely lacking in common sense, he started to explain how the salt trade works in Obsul.


    "From now on, you kids will be entering the town we call Obsul. It''s a town famous enough to have its name spread far and wide." (Zendo)


    ""Really?""


    "You know why?" (Zendo)


    " Salt, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "You got it!" (Zendo)


    Tatsuro was able to get the answer from the old man''s words earlier. While he was touching one of the pots that contained salt, Zendo nodded at him in satisfaction.


    "But how is it famous from just that?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm First, this place is the best in the whole kingdom in just the sheer output of pure salt. The same goes for the quality of the salt, it tops every other town. Next is, there''s nothing more to it than that AHAHAHAHAHA." (Zendo)


    "I see." (Tatsuro)


    "So it''s like that." (Ai)


    Seeing the two in full admiration, Zendo''s speech grew a bit more relaxed.


    "You remember the junction earlier, right? On the other path, there''s a lake at the end of it that''s basically a gold mine, but with salt instead of gold! Then, the job of us salt traders is to harvest that salt and refine it into one that is purer and higher in quality. That salt then gets transported and sold all across the country, including the nobles and even the royal family! It''s not an exaggeration to say that this town is powered just by the money earned from the salt trade!" (Zendo)


    "Then, in this town of Obsul, this job where you refine salt, isn''t that the most common one here?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hou You sure know your stuff don''t you, Tatsuro?" (Zendo)


    "Ehhh Are you saying that I''m an idiot!?" (Ai)


    "GAHAHAHA. Don''t sulk too much, missy. I''m just saying that your hubby here guessed correctly." (Zendo)


    " Hubby, eh" (Ai)


    Seeing Ai''s face turn red and her lips curving upwards with just a few sentences made Tatsuro feel embarrassed as well. Zendo, who perceived the innocence of these two lovebirds, once again opened his mouth in a hearty laugh.


    "But a salt lake, huh I want to see it too, okay, Tatsuro?" (Ai)


    "Ah, yeah Zendo-san, we can go to that lake, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Of course! As long as you kids don''t pollute it or something, it''s all free for sightseeing!" (Zendo)


    "So Tatsuro" (Ai)


    "Ah, once we get our free time, let''s go together, okay?" (Tatsuro)


    "Mhmm." (Ai)


    Hearing that the two will visit the lake that the town, and he himself as well, takes pride in, Zendo''s mood made a turn for the better. Apart from those who frequent the place, not many people know of its existence.


    "Actually, between us salt traders, there''s this thing about that lake The Four Faces." (Zendo)


    "Then I''m going right." (Tatsuro)


    Hearing the two speak so lightly about this matter, Zendo grabbed ahold of himself and raised his voice to call them back.


    "KIDS, RUN AWAY. I''ll distract them so you can just leave me here! Rather than this old man, it''d be better if the two of you survive!" (Zendo)


    When the two heard that, they apologized internally for all the doubt they had when they first met Zendo.


    And this was exactly why they decided that they''d never let this grandpa die here.


    "That''s terrible advice coming from you, gramps." (Ai)


    "We can''t just let a nice person like you be a decoy, you know?" (Tatsuro)


    "But you" (Zendo)


    "LET''S GO!" (Tatsuro)


    "Roger that!" (Ai)


    Interrupting Zendo mid-speech, the two moved out towards their own targets.


    Ai pulled out a kunai from her item box and threw it at the bear, wanting to test how tough their shells were. At the same time, Tatsuro summoned his signature eight spheres of light and shot their beams toward his own opponent.


    The bear on the right took the kunai straight on with the shell on its head while the other curled up into a defensive position to protect itself from the barrage of lasers.


    CRACK


    The shattering sound that echoed out momentarily stunned the two.


    GROOOOOOWL!!!


    "What?" (Tatsuro)


    "Eh?" (Ai)


    Seeing the shell, which the enemy took pride in for its hardness, break so easily left the two mouths open in shock.


    Meanwhile, the bears trembled in rage.


    Recovering his composure, Tatsuro immediately gathered his spheres together to form a giant laser, aiming for both the foreleg and hind leg of his opponent. Ai, on the other hand, started advancing toward her target while throwing another two kunai knives toward her enemy''s head.


    What happened next was what you would expect.


    Tatsuro''s laser beam hit true and vaporized both of the bear''s legs, causing it to fall flat onto the ground while Ai''s kunai knives both found their mark. The first kunai struck the bear''s head, cracking its skull open. The second one hit the exact same spot, pushing through the crack deep into the bear''s head, killing it instantly.


    Looking at how quickly Ai finished her opponent made Tatsuro aware of his weakness once again. Not wanting to be left in the dust by Ai, Tatsuro activated [Level Eater] on his enemy who was on the verge of death.


    Level: 17


    Skill(s): [Bite Lv 4], [Enhanced Olfactory Perception Lv 1], [Scratch Lv 3], [Charge Lv 2]


    (I know it''s pretty low-leveled, but isn''t this a bit too few skills and levels? They look similar but other than that, it''s hard to call these the lower evolutions of the Goldie.)


    Level: 1


    Skill(s): [Bite Lv 0], [Enhanced Olfactory Perception Lv 0], [Scratch Lv 0], [Charge Lv 0]


    With that, Tatsuro gratefully devoured the bear''s levels. He then gathered his spheres together again for one giant laser and shot it at the bear''s head.


    The bear''s fate was promptly sealed by the light''s judgment.

 Chapter 27: Welcome to the town of Obsul!

    Chapter 27: Welcome to the town of Obsul!


    "Good work!" (Ai)


    "How is it good work? Shouldn''t it be no pain, no gain?" (Tatsuro)


    All it took was about three to four minutes of their time to finish up the bears. Though they do feel a bit of fatigue from using their skills, it was not anything to be alarmed about.


    "This If we leave them here, they''re gonna block the road." (Ai)


    "Ah Yeah. Can''t be helped, item box + 3 has an extra capacity, so I''m gonna be taking these too." (Tatsuro)


    "Thanks." (Ai)


    For some extra information, every time the item box''s level increases, its capacity is expanded to twice its current capacity, and so on. Hence, when Tatsuro acquired the third upgrade, the 96% Free Space in his system turned into 98%.


    After upgrading his item box, Tatsuro retrieved the bears'' corpses. Then, he promptly repaired the broken sections of the cobblestone path using Earth Magic.


    "Whooo. Those guys looked exactly like the blue ones, but finding out that they were a lot weaker really surprised me. Oh, are the horses alright, by the way?" (Ai)


    "A Ahh, yeah, they''re all good and w wait, DID YOU JUST SAY BLUE?" (Zendo)


    "Yeah, the ones before had blue shells, not white." (Tatsuro)


    "W-W-Wait a minute! Those ones you just said d-did you fight them? Blue-shelled Defurstal" (Zendo)


    "So they''re called Defurstal, huh? Uhh Look at these spoils of war." (Tatsuro)


    To prove their story, Tatsuro took out a few pieces of crystal and showed them to Zendo. Upon taking a look at the crystals, Zendo''s heart started to pound rapidly, fast enough to make him feel like falling flat at any moment. Looking at how beautiful its gleam was, he could attest that the two stories were real.


    However, not knowing Zendo''s current state of mind, Ai took that out from her item box and proudly displayed it for everyone to see.


    "We have a gold one too!" (Ai)


    "-" (Zendo)


    That was the final straw for Zendo.


    He fainted, falling backward onto the ground.


    "IYAAAA GRAMPS IS DEAD!!!" (Ai)


    "He''s not dead! Don''t say things that might invite bad luck! Grandpa just fainted." (Tatsuro)


    "To suddenly faint like that You think he has a chronic disease even though he looks fine on the outside?" (Ai)


    "No It''s probably not that." (Tatsuro)


    While Ai was looking at Zendo with a face full of worry, Tatsuro stated his conjecture as he stared at the shell in Ai''s hand.


    If he was already lightheaded upon seeing the blue crystals, then I think seeing the gold one was enough to make him faint, was what Tatsuro thought.


    "In the meantime, let''s try not to show the gold crystal to any random person. So put it back for now, please." (Tatsuro)


    "And here I was so happy to show it to gramps" (Ai)


    "That attitude might just be the cause of someone''s death. Get a hold of yourself." (Tatsuro)


    In response, Ai just tilted her head along with a "Huh?"


    You still don''t get it? Sighing internally, Tatsuro did not even bother to explain himself to Ai.


    After storing the blue crystals and agreeing to not talk about this in front of others, Tatsuro used his Life Magic to wake Zendo up.


    "Hm Huh? What am I doi!? That''s right! I saw a golden crys-" (Zendo)


    "You alright Zendo-san? We were worried since you fainted when the white-shelled Defurstals or something came." (Tatsuro)Ge?tt the latest novels at


    "Ah Really? Is that it? So I was dreaming. HAHA, of course, I am So, what happened to the Defurstals?" Zendo said as he looked around, failing to even find one of them.


    To help Zendo to settle down, Ai hurriedly continued Tatsuro''s story.


    "Ah, those. We just did a few things, and boom, they ran away. It''s fine now. They aren''t here anymore, so" (Ai)


    "You chased them away? Then what''s that pool of blood over there?" (Zendo)


    "A-AHHHH, that''s That! When we did this, the bears wet themselves and ran away, y-you see." (Ai)


    "HUH? Hmm I don''t understand but if they''re gone then all''s well, right?" (Zendo)


    "Y-Yeah. The horse-san over there is fine now too, right?" (Ai)


    Placing his focus toward where Ai pointed, Zendo saw that both of his horses, which were tied to the wagon, had calmed down. Staring at them for a good while, Zendo finally convinced himself that he had really fainted after seeing the white-shelled Defurstals.


    "AHHH PATHETIC! Sleeping like a baby in front of two kids while they do all the work I''m such a great grandpa aren''t I? Really, this is what age does to the" (Zendo)


    Seeing the two''s expressions, Zendo recalled that they had run away from their parents'' homes with nothing but the clothes that they were wearing. In that case, it''s natural that they wouldn''t have any identification with them.


    In addition, looking at Ai''s face who looked like she was about to cry, Zendo felt like it was his own grandchild getting bullied and flared up in anger.


    "DaMNEd BAsTaRD! DO YOU NOT HAVE A SHRED OF HUMANITY IN YOU!?" (Zendo)


    With a fist containing his full body weight, Zendo threw a punch straight at the guard''s face.


    "W-W-Why would you do that? Even if you say you''re the Zendo of town, doing this will"


    "Come here, kid." (Zendo)


    Cutting off the young guard''s speech, Zendo grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and entered the guard post.


    The two earthlings were left dumbfounded as they stared at the scene unfold right before their eyes.


    After Zendo got into the post, he finally released the young guard and forcibly sat him down on a stool.


    "What is the meaning of this?! Such violence will never be tolerated!"


    "What''s that, but listen to my story first, kid. You see, those two" (Zendo)


    Finally, the story of the two lovebirds that Zendo made up in his head, a dramatic play with a plot that would make anyone cry, found its debut.


    "Hick To think that those two experienced such a thing Hick And they were so youuuuuung. Hick"


    "Hup. Ahhhh, so would you let them in for me? If the two were to ever cause trouble around here then I''ll even offer my head as compensation!" (Zendo)


    "Zendo-san, such kindness!"


    With only a few words from Zendo, the two got their temporary IDs without going through any more trouble.


    This all happened without the two ever knowing about it.


    "Zendo-san, did you ask them to let us in?" (Ai)


    "Ah, yeah But I did hit that guard so they might take me to jail" (Zendo)


    It''s all our fault As the two worriedly thought so, they were finally allowed to leave the guard post with their eyes still teary red.


    "You two will be allowed to enter Obsul! Here are your temporary IDs. If you will be registering to the adventurer''s guild, then they will be your guarantor by then. However, if these IDs were to expire before that, please come back here to renew their duration."


    As the guard was carving the seals onto the metal slates which were supposedly their IDs, he explained the important details to the two of them.


    "Then, once we get the IDs, we will be able to go in, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes. But please keep in mind that if you two were to get into trouble while you''re still holding these, Zendo-san will be punished by the law as well. That''s why, please do not, in any case, and get into shenanigans that might ruin his reputation. Well, if it''s you two, then I believe you will be alright."


    (Why does the guard look like he''s trying to make an impossibly bright smile?) (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro could not even utter a simple yes in reply.


    Ai had it worse with tears in her eyes as she instantly let go of all the worries she had earlier. The amount of pressure she felt when they were denied entry into town was more than what she could handle.


    "Grandpa, it''s all thanks to you!" (Ai)


    "Don''t mind it. Think of it as payment for saving me from the Defurstals earlier."


    Zendo himself, also broke down, as if crying out all the tears he had for the rest of his life. The young guard, upon seeing the scene, also broke down into a sobbing mess, creating a spectacle in front of the town gates.


    "Eh? What? Why?" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro, the only one disconnected from the chaos, could only stand there confused until the three stopped crying.


    Once they were done, the two were formally allowed to enter town. Zendo made the horses drag his cart through the gate and the two followed them from behind.


    "Welcome, kids, to the Salt Town, Obsul!" (Zendo)


    Zendo looked back from his cart and gave the two a warm welcome.


    The two faces full of smiles, looked back at him before their eyes explored the civilization which lay before them.


    "So this is the town of Obsul!" (Tatsuro)


    "We are in! We are finally here!" (Ai)


    At last, after a long and arduous journey, our protagonists have finally found their way to the town of Obsul.


    -


    And now ends the first volume of the story.


    May we all enjoy the story together in future chapters!


    Akake Chiyo: Autho

 Chapter 28: Lodging and Meals

    Chapter 28: Lodging and Meals


    Once they passed through the gate, they found themselves in a town made of stone. There were so many white buildings that they could see them even after dark, and in front of us, there was a road that split in three directions in an inverted T shape.


    "It''s all white, the people of this town love white." (Tatsuro)


    "Maybe they''d like it if we gave them some of our white crystals." (Ai)


    As the two of us were discussing our impressions of the town, Zendo came over to us with his cart parked in the corner.


    "Oh, what do you think? This town." (Zendo)


    "Yes, it''s very nice. Ah, could it be that the building is made of salt?" (Ai)


    Ai asked Zendo with the eyes of a child playing a prank.


    "Hahahaha, you are so perceptive. Yes, it''s made of salt!" (Zendo)


    "Hahaha, that''s great." (Ai)


    "Hahahaha, it''s so cool." (Zendo)Visjt  for new updates


    "You two are so close." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro smiled at the sight of the two of them laughing at each other''s foolishness, like a grandfather and granddaughter.


    "Well, kids. What are you going to do today? The sun has already set, so it''s better to leave the adventurer''s guild for tomorrow." (Zendo)


    "Ah, what should we do?" (Ai)


    Truthfully, they left the body in the [item box] and wanted to do something about it as soon as possible, but it might take some time to explain the situation and whatnot, so it might be better for them to give up today.


    When Tatsuro inquired about this intention, Ai seemed to agree with him and decided to prioritize securing food and a place to stay.


    "We will go to the adventurer''s guild tomorrow." (Tatsuro)


    "Zendo-san, where is this guild located?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, it''s just down the road on the right, there''s a sign that says Adventurer''s Guild." (Zendo)


    "Indeed, it''s right there at the entrance." (Tatsuro)


    "They are not going to let adventurers wander around town with their bloody prey. Most of the guilds are built close to the entrance." (Zendo)


    "I see. That''s very helpful." (Tatsuro)


    When Tatsuro said that, Zendo shyly said, "That''s good" and this time he offered to show us where they would be staying and where they would be eating.


    The two of them were grateful for the offer, so they nodded without hesitation.


    As soon as that was decided, Zendo told them to get on the wagon again, and after making sure that Tatsuro and Ai were on board, he led the horses to the left road.


    "There''s a cheap inn I know a little ways from here, the rooms are good for the price and I recommend it. But it''s basically a bare-bones place, so you should eat at the restaurant next to the inn. The price and taste are very good." (Zendo)


    "How much does it cost?"


    "Hmm. Well, 2,700 Shis per room per night and 1,000 meals per person should fill you up, but don''t you have enough?" (Zendo)


    Currently, the two of them have 59,662 Shis in their systems. That''s enough to keep them occupied for a while without having to do anything.


    "Then that''s okay." (Zendo)


    "Haha, that''s good." (Ai)


    "Yes, I can finally relax now. Thank you, Grandpa!" (Tatsuro)


    "If you want to thank me, just tell me when your life is stable. It may be hard now, but if you have any problems, come to me. Most of the people in this town know where I live." (Zendo)


    "Thank you for everything." (Tatsuro)


    "You''re just a kid. Don''t be afraid to ask for favors." (Zendo)


    Although he had a lot on his mind, Tatsuro took the key. Then Zendo, who had been watching over them, spoke to them.


    "Well, I guess it''s time to eat." (Tatsuro)


    "Finally, food." (Ai)


    "Well, I guess I''ll be going out to eat." (Zendo)


    "Yes, take care of yourself. You too, Zendo-san." (Ai)


    "Yes." (Zendo)


    After greeting him, they left the inn and went to the restaurant next door.


    "Hey, hey, Grandpa. What kind of food do they have in the cafeteria?" (Ai)


    "Hmm? Oh, they often have non-human customers there. They have a lot of different kinds of food to suit them. Well, but I recommend the stew. It''s simple, but it''s delicious." (Zendo)


    "He heeeeI''m looking forward to it. Hey, Tatsuro. {How many races are there other than the human race!?}" (Ai)


    "Yeah, I think I''ll order some of that today. {I don''t know! But no matter how mysterious they look, we should be careful not to stare at them.}" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, I guess so." (Ai)


    After the telepathy discussion, they ducked through the door of the cafeteria, with Zendo following.


    "Hello, Zendo-san. Are you going to eat here today?"


    "Yes, I''m here to eat with my two friends." (Zendo)


    "Well, you have a lovely guest. Why don''t you take a seat at that table over there?"


    "Oh? What''s the matter, kids? This way."


    ""Y-Yes""


    Hiding the shock of seeing a woman in her forties with animal ears, they replied as best they could and walked to the table, glancing at the other people around them.


    Zendo also noticed that for some reason their behavior had stiffened and they were glancing around, but he took the liberty of assuming that if they had been in a nobleman''s box, they must have found different races unusual.


    Then, in such a state of shock, they ordered from Zendo''s recommended menu, and three identical dishes were lined up on the table.


    When they got there, the delicious smell of the food in front of them made them forget about the different races.


    "Delicious" (Tatsuro)


    "Tasty" (Ai)


    "Right" (Zendo)


    The stew and the bread that came with it were very tasty, though it was also the effect of hunger. The stew was cut into large pieces, and the bread was served with it.


    The stew was first of all very hearty, filled with large cuts of vegetables and some kind of meat. And when they were tossed with a lot of white sauce, it created the best flavor.


    The bread was hard on the outside and fluffy on the inside, almost like French bread. Of course, it was delicious when dipped in the stew, but it was also good enough to eat by itself.


    And so the three of us ate it up without opening our mouths except for the first word.


    ""Thanks for the food.""


    "I thought Ai would leave some behind because she was so thin, but she managed to eat it all." (Zendo)


    "Yes, I did. Yeah, I was starving and it was delicious." (Ai)


    "Yes, Zendo-san. Thank you very much for introducing us to this place." (Tatsuro)


    "You know, there are many other good places to eat, so I''ll take you there when I get a chance." (Zendo)


    ""Yes.""


    Then they paid the first beast-eared woman 750 Shis each and left the store.

 Chapter 29: A scene at the inn

    Chapter 29: A scene at the inn


    When the three of them left the cafeteria, the sun had already set and the moon was shining brightly on the ground.


    "Well, I guess that''s it then." (Zendo)


    "Thank you, Grandpa." (Tatsuro)


    "Thank you very much Zendo-san." (Ai)


    "Yeah, I want to thank you for your help with Defurstal and for being my partner. Well, I''m off. I''m sure Gillik will be annoyed if I leave the wagon there forever. Gahahaha" (Zendo)


    And with a hearty laugh to the end, Zendo left. The two of them watched him walk away until he was out of sight.


    Zendo was thinking as he steered the wagon. He thought about Defurstal, who had appeared at that place. At the time, he had easily believed Tatsuro and the others, partly because they had been so forceful and partly because he had been so confused. However, now that he thought about it, he began to believe that it was not a dream.


    A full-fledged adventurer would have been able to defeat the White Crystal Defurstal. But it''s not something that can be defeated in a snap, like the two in my dream. Only a high-level adventurer would be able to do such a thing.


    If that was really the case and not a dream, then Zendo''s body trembled at the thought. Not out of fear, but out of excitement.


    And even if it had been a dream, Zendo couldn''t help but feel that there was something special about those two.


    "I''m sure they''re going to do great things in the future. It''s such a thrill to be able to guide such people in my short old age! Hahahahaha!" (Zendo)


    And with that, Zendo led the two frowning horses home, his heart pounding.


    "He is gone. I''m a little sad." (Ai)


    "Yeah, but he''s from this town, so you can always see him if you want to." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, rightwell, we should go, too." (Ai)


    "Let''s do it." (Tatsuro)


    They started walking and entered the inn. Then Gillik greeted them from the reception counter with a, "Welcome back," to which they replied and went up the stairs to the second floor.


    When they reached the top, there were several small rooms in a row, and as Gillick had said, they were designed for one person.


    Tatsuro then took out the key he had received to check the room number.


    "It says 2-3, so that''s it, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm, yes. Definitely." (Ai)


    After unlocking the door with the same number on it, Tatsuro put his hand on the doorknob and went inside. Ai followed him and locked the door again, just in case.


    "Yeah, it''s small, but it''s not too big to sleep two people, so that''s okay, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, I like that it''s not a stone bed!" (Ai)


    "Yeah, they don''t usually have stone beds." (Tatsuro)


    A single-sized bed was placed against the wall in the left corner, and the rest of the room was empty, with just enough space for one person to sit and relax.


    However, the bed was neatly made and every corner of the room had been cleaned, so it didn''t look uncomfortable.


    There was no chair, so they sat down on the bed and fell back. The bed was softer than the hard bed they had slept on in the forest.


    ""-HA!?""


    "Watch out, we were about to fall asleep." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s not so bad, but I''d rather clean myself up first." (Ai)


    "There''s no bath, so I''m just going to wipe myself off with the hot water from the stone trays you used to catch fish." (Tatsuro)


    "Haa.Well, that''s all I can do. Well, I''ll bring out the tub, can you fill it with hot water?" (Ai)


    "Hyaho!" (Tatsuro)


    "Erosuro" (Ai)


    With that, she stripped down to wipe everything but her back, and wiped her body. When she was done, she put on her underwear and left her top on, covering her breasts with her arms.


    "Well, Tatsuro. Please." (Ai)


    "O-ou." (Tatsuro)


    When he took off the blindfold, Ai was sitting with her back to him.


    "Now, if you''ll excuse me" (Tatsuro)


    "U-un." (Ai)


    He moistened a towel with hot water and approached Ai. The line from the nape of her neck to her back and waist was clearly visible, and his heart skipped a beat. Not wanting to be noticed, Tatsuro calmly pressed the towel against her back.


    When he did, Ai wiggled, and it was so vivid that his head almost boiled. As he shifted his gaze slightly, trying to keep his composure, he caught a glimpse of Ai''s chest.


    Her breasts, which he had noticed when he had dried her bra, were much larger than they usually looked, but they had been pressed tightly against her arms and were changing shape as if she was nervous. It was more of a danger zone than her back, and in a comic book, he would have blown a nose.


    In a daze, he wiped her beautiful white back again and again, his head whirling with such stupid thoughts.


    "Mou, Isn''t that enough?" (Ai)


    "" (Tatsuro)


    "Tatsuro?" (Ai)


    "Ha, I''m sorry. I was in a daze." (Tatsuro)


    "Uun, it''s okay. It would be more of a problem if you just kept it plain and you didn''t think anything of it." (Ai)


    "R-Right." (Tatsuro)


    "Why the Kansai dialect? Tatsuro wants to do something like that too, right?" (Ai)


    "Yes, I do. I can''t say I don''t want to." (Tatsuro)


    "I see. But I''m sorry about today. I have an early day tomorrow, and I''m tired, and I''d like to get cleaned up better, and there are other things" (Ai)


    He felt very much in love with Ai as she said these words to him, and Tatsuro hugged her from behind.


    "T-Tatsuro? Uhm, today." (Ai)


    "I know. I''ll never do it unless Ai wants me to. But can you please allow me to do this?" (Tatsuro)


    Ai''s body, which had been frozen stiff, gradually relaxed. Then he muttered in embarrassment.


    "Well, if this is it, I think I like it ." (Ai)


    "Yeah." (Tatsuro)


    They shared the warmth of each other''s naked bodies for a while, and then, after changing back into their new clothes, Tatsuro wiped his entire body with Ai turning around.


    "Let''s go to bed then." (Ai)


    "Let''s do that." (Tatsuro)


    The two of them got into the single bed and fell asleep, hugging each other again.


    By the way, on a side note, Tatsuro was so excited that he couldn''t seem to sleep, so he was forced to use life magic to sleep.


    (T/N: Well, we understand you Tatsuro ^_^)

 Chapter 30: To the Adventure Guild

    Chapter 30: To the Adventure Guild


    When Tatsuro woke up in the morning, he found a drooling goddess sleeping peacefully in front of him.


    Tatsuro took a good look at the goddess and stroked her head while using life magic to wake her up.


    "Tatsuro." (Ai)


    "What?" (Tatsuro)


    "Good morning" (Ai)


    "Good mooooorning" (Tatsuro)


    The sleepy Ai greeted him for waking up and hugged Tatsuro, burying her face in his chest. Tatsuro hugged her back and used more life magic to wake her up from her sleep.


    And finally.


    "Good morning. Tatsuro!" (Ai)


    "Yeah, I think I said that before, but good morning." (Tatsuro)


    The goddess of Tatsuro also woke up, and the morning of the other world began again.


    The two of them first put on their school uniforms, and blazers, instead of the potato jerseys they had been wearing lately. Then they put all their personal belongings in their respective "item boxes" and left the room.


    "Good morning.


    ""Good morning.""


    Gillick greeted them over the counter, and they both answered him, returned the key, and left the inn.


    Then they went to the dining room.


    "Welcome. Oya, you''ve come again. Please take the table over there."


    "I understand." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes" (Ai)


    When they stepped into the crowded cafeteria, the beast-man woman who had served them yesterday was serving them again. The two of them looked at the beast''s ears for a moment and then quickly sat down at their table and opened the menu.


    "I wonder what we''ll have today. What do you want today, Tatsuro?" (Ai)


    "I''ll have the same as yesterday. I can''t forget the taste." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s true, but I think I''ll try this." (Ai)


    After ordering from the beast woman, the food arrived.


    "T-That looks good." (Ai)


    "That one looks good, too." (Tatsuro)


    In front of them was a dish called miguil dock, a soft bread with grilled fish in it, and the same stew and bread as yesterday.


    As Ai chewed on the miguil dock, the flavor of the fish and the right amount of salt combined with the slight sweetness of the bread created an exquisite taste. Tatsuro also got a bite of the stew and bread as a gift and left the cafeteria satisfied again.


    "The fish was delicious, but I wonder what kind of fish it is." (Ai)


    "It could be a really gross fish." (Tatsuro)


    "Don''t say things that will make it taste bad!" (Ai)


    As they made their way to the adventurer''s guild, they talked about the bright streets that were different from yesterday and looked at the people of different races walking around.


    {However, there are quite a few different types of people here. I think that''s what the other world is all about.} (Tatsuro)


    {I was surprised at first, but I''ve gotten used to it.} (Ai)


    "Were you there, Ai?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes." (Ai)


    "Right, it would be great if you could come with us." (Tatsuro)


    Then they were taken behind the counter to an empty room.


    The room looked like a reception room, with two sets of sofas flanking a desk.


    She then made three cups of tea and placed them in front of each of them.


    "So, can you tell us more about the situation?"


    "Well, it was yesterday" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro gave Leela as much detail as he could about what had happened.


    Ai added to Tatsuro''s missing stories and added her own perspective. At that time, Leela told Ai that it was fine for her to stop using honorifics as if she was having a hard time talking, so she quickly returned to her normal tone.


    "No way, I didn''t expect Togul to show up"


    "Is this Togul really that unusual?" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s not unusual. The problem is the location."


    "Location?" (Tatsuro)


    Leela''s expression softened a little as the two of them tilted their heads in unison.


    "Yes. Elren-san had undertaken to survey the forest around the town and the area around the entrance to the Amneri Great Forest, a rather shallow area, but Togul was not supposed to appear in such a shallow area. Originally, this monster dig holes under a tree called Tarim, which is located in the middle of the Amneri Forest, to make its home, and it has a habit of hunting only in that area."


    "Do they ever live anywhere else but in trees?" (Ai)


    "I think so. If they were twisted, they might decide to live somewhere else." (Tatsuro)


    Leela shook her head at Tatsuro''s comment that such a thing was possible since they were not robots.


    "No, they don''t.


    This monster called Togul takes into its body an ingredient that is found only in the roots of Tarim and turns it into a poison that it uses for hunting. If they don''t take this regularly, the poisonous needles of the Togul will become non-toxic."


    "it can''t make the poison on its own, so it couldn''t leave the place where Tarim was." (Ai)


    "That''s how it works."


    At this point, they were finally able to recognize the anomaly that had caused Togul to appear in the shallow layer. Then, as if remembering, Ai started talking about yesterday.


    "I''ll tell you what. Yesterday, when we were on our way here on Grandpa''s wagon, we saw a white crystal, right?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, I''m pretty sure it''s the White Water Crystal Defurstal." (Tatsuro)


    "When they came out, didn''t Grandpa say something like, "How did it get here?"" (Ai)


    "That''s right, he did."


    When he turned his attention to Leela, she was listening to them with wide eyes.


    "The White Water Crystal Defurstal has appeared in the vicinity of this town?!"


    "Yeah, yesterday. Well, at the place of the lake and town split junction, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes." (Ai)


    "Two of them attacked us around there, a little further towards the town." (Tatsuro)


    " Two Defurstal that close?"


    Leela muttered, her face turning pale as she considered the impossibility of Tatsuro''s words.

 Chapter 31: Becoming an Adventurer

    Chapter 31: Becoming an Adventurer


    White crystal deflusters. Sure, it looked scary. However, compared to the blue and golden crystals, it was only a hairs breadth away from the beasts that could be kicked around in the forest.


    Thats why Leelas reaction to hearing that it had appeared to the two of them was so excessive.


    Well, is it really that bad if the white crystal deflusters appear?


    Thats not good! Our guild regularly sends out requests to destroy the demons that feed on them so that large demons wont appear in that area. If they do, there is a possibility that the demons that are in the deeper layers of the Amneri Great Forest will appear in the shallower layers, and the demons that were in the shallower layers will be driven out by them and come to the vicinity of this town.


    If the demons that were not there before expand their distribution as if they were being pushed out, this town facing the nearby area will not be able to get out of the town. That was certainly not a good idea, Tatsuro and Ai realized.


    But if there is a result, there must be a cause for it. Tatsuro, who had no idea what was going on, decided to ask Leela directly.


    If those people were driven out, why did the things in the depths come out?


    That, of course, is the earthquake that happened about four days ago!


    The word earthquake made both of their shoulders shake.


    Wait, there was an earthquake here too?


    Eh? Yes. It didnt shake so much here, but I heard that the Amneri Forest was shaken a lot.


    Tatsuro and Ai couldnt say anything when they heard the nuance.


    They knew that there had been an earthquake. It was because of this that they had come here.


    But they didnt know that there had been an earthquake in their world at the same time.


    There was no reason for Leela to lie, and there was no doubt that there had been an earthquake here, too. If it was at the same time, it would be tempting to assume that the earthquake was caused by something that happened here.


    As such a possibility was passing through their minds, Leela, worried about their silence, spoke to them.


    Um is something wrong?


    We were both in the Amneri Forest at the time, but we didnt know that this town had been shaken, so we were surprised.


    They quickly made their excuses, looked at each other, and concentrated on the task at hand.


    If the accident was caused by something on their part, they cant pretend it didnt happen if they knew about it beforehand or after the fact.


    In the Great Amneri Forest!? Did you find anything unusual?


    Well, neither of us is familiar with that forest, so we cant tell whats abnormal.


    Right. Yeah, but the golden crystal thing that isnt a white crystal is probably abnormal, right?


    Theyre the only ones that were really strong.


    Ha?


    Leela heard Ais words about the golden crystal, but she couldnt understand them in her head.


    Um, so the golden crystal thing is crazy, right? I mean


    The golden crystal is that how you said you got into battle?Re?a? latest chapters on


    Yes.


    How did you manage to escape?


    Eh? I defeated it. It wasnt a situation where I could escape.


    DEFEAT!?


    Leela forgot even to speak respectfully and screamed, her eyes so wide that he thought her eyeballs would spill out.


    W-Wait a minute!


    Are you saying that the two of you alone defeated the Golden Crystal Deflstal?


    Yes, here it is.


    Ai took out the largest golden crystal from the item box just as she had shown it to Zendo.


    -This


    The beauty that shattered all the confusion of the past left Leela speechless and mesmerized for about three seconds. Then, recovering herself, she looked at them again.


    Are you guys adventurers?


    This is the first time he has ever written a proper letter in this world, so his hand stopped.


    He filled in his name, age, and specialties, skipped over the non-essential information such as his hometown, and filled in only the parts that looked good.


    When he was done, he handed the document to Leela.


    After giving it a quick read and checking it over, she pulled out a transparent board about the size of a smartphone from her pocket.


    As the two of them looked at each other, wondering what she was going to do with it, Leela first held it up to the document Tatsuro had written.


    The board flashed like a camera flash for a moment, and then Leela quickly slid her index finger across the surface of the board.


    Immediately, Leela slid her forefinger across the surface of the plate, and a thin translucent plate, glowing blue like a coin, appeared at the tip of her finger.


    She then placed it on the desk and did the same with Ais paperwork, resulting in two thin translucent sheets of pale blue light.


    You can take this one, then.


    Yes. Un.


    Both of them took the boards as they were offered. Then, a system appeared before their eyes.


    -


    The Adventurers Guild membership card has been confirmed. Would you like to join?


    Yes / No


    -


    The two of them were momentarily taken aback, but they quickly selected Yes, as if they had become immune to such things.


    Then the board turned into particles and was sucked into them. Then it switched to the system startup screen and a new item was added.


    Status


    Possession: 55,462 Sith


    Party


    Skills


    Map


    Item Box +3 Usage Rate: 59


    Adventurers Guild


    Help


    It seemed that he had successfully joined, so he turned off the system screen for now.


    Were you able to join?


    Yes. Yes.


    Then, I look forward to working with you in the future.


    Please take care of us too.


    After saying this, the two of them and one of them shook hands.


    A little while later, there was a knock on the door and another staff member came in, bringing a letter and some papers, which he handed to Leela.


    Leela said a few words to Tatsuro and Ai and went on looking through the documents. Eventually, when she finished looking at them, she looked up and told us the results of her analysis.


    The letter was definitely written by the person himself, and the body had been attacked by another demon after dying from Togarus poison, causing damage to the abdomen.


    By the way, based on the scars and the testimonies of the two of you, it seems that you have determined that the demon was Bazz.


    Bazz?


    Yes. Its a creepy demon that shows no interest in anything else, but is abnormally obsessed with dead flesh.


    Uwaa Ueeeh


    They both frowned, wondering not only what it looked like, but also if the demon was such a creepy person.


    chapter 32

 Chapter 32: First time request

    Chapter 32: First time request


    This was just as the Adventurers Guild was about to vouch for Erlen Decards letter and cause of death.


    So, what do you two want to do?


    What do you mean?


    Tatsuro asked the question on his behalf, which he didnt quite understand.


    There was no incident this time, and since it was in the middle of a request from the guild, you may leave the delivery of the belongings and letters to us. After that, what would you like to do?


    Well right?


    When Tatsuro looked at Ai there to confirm, Ai nodded, as if she felt the same way.


    We are going to fulfill Erlen-sans wish with our own responsibility until the end.


    Mou, Weve already received the money.


    They answered without hesitation, and Leela nodded to them with a soft smile. Then, her face tightened, and she pulled out from her b****t pocket two shiny, light-red boards that looked like the membership cards from earlier and held them out to us.


    I have accepted this as an official request from Erlen Decard.


    This is the request form. Please accept it.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    Yes. Yes.


    When he received it, the request was displayed in front of him.


    -


    Client: Erlen Decard


    Request: To deliver Erlen Decards letter and his momento knife to the bereaved family.


    Reward: 119,324 Sis.


    Accept / Reject


    -


    The two of them pressed the Accept button at the same time. The board then turned into particles and was sucked into Tatsuro and Ai.


    You can view your requests and accomplishments in the Adventurers Guild system, so please use it when you receive requests in the future.


    I understand. Okay!


    Also, here is the map from here to Decards house. Please take it.


    Leela handed Tatsuro an A4 sized paper folded in half. Tatsuro opened it and used the map function to identify the location, then handed it to Ai.


    I wish you all the best for your first request.


    After saying goodbye to Leela, who bowed respectfully, they left the adventurers guild.


    He then followed the map and found the house he was looking for without much trouble.


    Is that it?


    Yeah, its the first, second, and third house from the left on this street. Yes, no doubt. Thats the house.


    They walked toward the house on the other side of the street and stood in front of a one-story house.


    As Tatsuro was wondering what he should say, Ai opened her mouth first.


    We weighed Erlends feelings against the money, and it leaned towards Erlends side. Thats all.


    So even if that knife was 100 million or 1 billion, I think we would have come to deliver it to you.


    The woman fell silent at Ais words. At the sight of her, Ai said she had said what she wanted to say and stepped back.


    Im sorry, but well leave you here. The body of the deceased is kept at the adventurers guild, so please go pick it up when youve settled down.


    Well, goodbye. Erlen-sans wife.


    As they bowed and were about to leave, they turned around to leave.


    Thank you-very much


    With a single tear streaming down her face, the woman bowed her head once in thanks and walked into the house without looking back.


    Tatsuro. She said thank you


    Yeah, I heard that too.


    They left the house without looking back.


    Marion, Erlends wife, sat down in her chair, clutching the letter and the knife. Her son came from the back and asked.


    Mom, are you okay? Are you in pain? Or did the man who just came in do something to you?


    No, he was a strange boy, but he was a good man.


    Then why is mother crying?


    Thats because


    Elwin, Elrens son, learns that his father died here.


    He also inherited the knife, and later became a renowned knife-wielding adventurer.


    Along the way, Tatsuro recalled Ais words from earlier.


    Certainly, the scales tipped in favor of Erlens thoughts this time. However, if the opposite side was not money but Ai, he would have sold the knife without hesitation. But so far, so good.


    Was this a heavy sum of money to be acquired with a gloomy feeling?


    Or maybe they get a light little money that they can spend comfortably.


    That was the only choice he had to make.


    But if he had to kill someone in this world to save Ai, what would he do? What would he do if such a situation arose?


    The first person he spoke to in this world was Zendo and he was a very nice person. Hes much more good-natured than himself.


    But not everyone in this world is like that.


    Besides, their abilities are probably abnormal even for the people of this world. There are probably more than a few people in this world who dislike such things.


    Thats why they should be prepared to kill in order to protect themselves, even though nothing has happened yet.


    With this thought in his mind, Tatsuro headed for the adventurers guild.


    Chapter 33

 Chapter 33: Good to have bear material.

    Chapter 33: Good to have bear material.


    When we returned to the Adventurers Guild, Leela, who had spotted them, stood at the reception desk.


    How did the request go?


    Yes, it went well.


    At the sight of their smiling faces, Leela fell out of phase and relaxed her shoulders.


    Can you please submit the request form as proof of accomplishment?


    This should be done by submitting a request from the Adventurers Guild in the system.


    If the request has been completed, it will be converted to green, and if it has not been completed, it will be converted to the same red color as at the beginning.


    I understand. Yes.


    The two of them operated the system as instructed, and the request form was converted. Then, a green board appeared, just like that of the coin.


    Tatsuro and Ai presented it to Leela together. Leela took the green board and stacked Tatsuros and Ais things on top of each other to make a single piece, then turned it into a particle and put it inside herself, then made a motion to play with the system before turning to face us.


    I have confirmed that the request has been fulfilled. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.


    Congratulations on the successful completion of your first request.


    Thank very much you. Thank you!


    After the two of them expressed their gratitude for the congratulatory words, Leela smiled and spoke to Tatsuro and Ai again.


    By the way, do you have time for us after this?


    Yes, its all right, right?


    Yes, theres no rush to do anything.


    If so, could you give us some more time?


    Sure Okay.


    Right this way, then.


    They agreed with two replies and were led to the same room where they had first been shown. Prompted by the same sofa again, Leela, who had prepared tea for the three people in the room, sat down on the opposite sofa.


    So, whats the story?


    Yes. The first is that in ten days time, a number of adventuring parties are scheduled to survey the area from the forest near the town to the entrance of the Amneri Forest and defeat demons.


    I was wondering if you two would be interested in participating in that.


    Erlens corpse flashed through their minds at her words. The two of them felt a bit of a stink about this, although it seemed that there were few requests for adventurers that were completely risk-free.


    It sounds dangerous, right?


    Yes, we cant guarantee safety. However, if the disturbed biodistribution starts to return to normal in ten days, I dont think there is much danger.


    However, if it hasnt returned to normal yet, there is a risk of encountering strong demons.


    So, if possible, I would like you to go to the people who can at least defeat the Green Crystal Deflstal.


    Tatsuro tried to remember the strength of the green crystal as he thought about the strength ranking of the Deflstal series by color.


    I think it was green, which is the third strongest from the bottom, below blue.


    Thats right. Some of the dangerous demons that have arrived due to the disturbance of the biodistribution are probably not where they are supposed to be, so they may not be able to show their full potential.


    In addition, there is a high probability that the individuals that would form a pack are acting in small numbers or in unison.


    So our guild decided that people of that level could handle it if they were careful not to be taken by surprise and if an emergency arose, they could just run away.


    Hmm, what do you think, Ai?


    I dont know.


    There was no need for the two of them to go out of their way to risk it. But still, a strong demon should have plenty of skills. If they do, they will be able to return home sooner.


    As they pondered this, Leela gave them a not unreasonable look and decided to offer them some time to decide whether or not they would take the job, as she had thought from the beginning.


    It would be fine if you decide the day before, nine days from now.


    If you are willing to do it, please let us know at our guild.


    As soon as she had finished looking at all of them, she spoke to Tatsuro and Ai who were sitting close together behind her, chatting.


    The assessment is finishedbut


    But?


    This fur will not go rotten if it is properly processed by a nearby blacksmith, and if you make armor with it, it will be quite good. Doyou really want to sell it?


    In particular, this golden crystal Deflstal pelt is something that even a seasoned adventurer would love to have, you know?


    Oh thats right


    The two of them looked impressed and amazed at the value of the fur.


    At this, Leela muttered in a voice so quiet that no one could hear her, I knew they didnt know


    Can this blue crystal fur be used for armor too?


    Yes, its also very sturdy and light, and one of the most popular materials.


    What do we do now, Taturo?


    Ill keep all the furs for now. If there is a excess, I will come back to sell them.


    Also, can you tell me where that blacksmith shop is?


    Yes, I dont mind.


    Tatsuro thought about their current situation and came to this conclusion.


    After all, they would have to face demons in order to earn SP in the future. And yet, their current combat attire is a set of potato jerseys designated by the school. Its not just bears, but even a medium-sized dog-sized demon charging at them will damage them, and paper armor is no better.


    While Tatsuro was thinking about this, Leela finished drawing a simple map to the blacksmiths shop on a spare piece of paper at hand and handed it to Tatsuro, who then handed over another piece of paper.


    I think things will go more smoothly if you show this to the people at the forge along with it.


    Whats this?


    Its just a letter of introduction. The material is rare and the two of you are young, so they might get the wrong idea.


    Oh, Thats what this is about?


    What do you mean?


    Well thats -


    If a child brought a valuable fur, he might be suspected of stealing it from somewhere else, but with the guild firmly behind him, things would go more efficiently. The guild will be able to do things efficiently by having a solid backing.


    Ai agreed and thanked Leela, while Tatsuro put the letter of introduction and the map in the item box for now.


    So, are you sure you want to sell the rest of your things?


    Yes. Yes.


    Here is the estimated amount


    The two of them accepted the paper that was presented to them and looked at it face to face to confirm the contents.


    The paper contained a detailed breakdown of each item, and if the item was the same but cheaper, there was a note explaining why, making it very easy to understand.


    It was very easy to understand, and if the price was lower for the same item, there was a note explaining why.


    Uhm, are any of these prices in the wrong digits


    We have done our due diligence and it is the Guilds responsibility to make sure that the valuation list you received is correct. We will pay the price exactly as it is.


    On the contrary, it is a document that carries that much responsibility, so our staff is assessing it with the utmost care. So dont worry.


    Leela, who spoke with the expression of a woman who could do her job, made me realize that this was not wrong.


    Also, Leela is Leela, and she has been surprised a lot so far, so their reaction to this is quite pleasant.


    Fourhundred fifty million sixhundred ninety seven fifty two huh


    They read out the number with a wry smile: 450,697,052 sis.


    Since the monetary values of the Sis and the Yen are roughly the same, a wealthy person who can call himself a wealthy bear was now born here.


    Chapter 34

 Chapter 34: A Thousand Pieces of Gold

    Chapter 34: A Thousand Pieces of Gold


    Once there was a poor man.


    He used to hunt demons every day to make a little money to buy medicine and food for his sickly wife.


    Then one day, when the man went to hunt demons as usual, he found a weak demon wandering around. The man took advantage of the situation and killed the demon.


    As he was dismantling the necessary parts to turn the monster into money, he found a lump of golden crystal in the monsters stomach.


    The man immediately converted it into money and earned a fortune. He and his wife lived happily together for a long time.


    Why do you suddenly start talking about that?


    This is a famous story about a golden crystal that actually happened about a hundred years ago.


    Heeh


    Leela told them that it was quite a famous story, but that they might not have known about it as they rolled their eyes at the valuation.


    There are several other such get-rich-quick stories about this golden crystal. Thats how precious and expensive it is, that crystal.


    Leela then turned her gaze to the small golden crystal.


    However, Tatsuro and Ai still had a lot of those crystals in their item box. It didnt make sense to them that such things were being talked about as if they were gold or diamonds from the original world.


    But you can get quite a lot of golden crystals just by hunting a single Deflstal.


    I cant imagine it would be worth that much.


    I still have a lot of them, actually.


    So you still have it.


    Rather, the two of you have misunderstood the basic premise in the first place.


    Misunderstood?


    As the two of them tilted their heads in unison, Leela wanted to ask them what kind of life they had lived to grow up to be so naive, but she decided to start by correcting their perceptions.


    First of all, the Golden Crystal Defragment rarely appears in public.


    The reason for this is that they usually live in places where you have to be prepared to die just to enter.


    The deepest part of the Amneri Forest is just like that.


    Tatsuro and Ai felt a chill run down their spines as they realized now that they had been in such a deep place.


    If we ever go there again, lets make sure we dont go into the back.


    Yeah, it was such a bad place


    Thats wise, because even the strongest person would have to be prepared to die there.


    When there was a silence, Leela cleared her throat and proceeded to talk.


    So, you see. If you have the ability to enter such a magical world, the Deflstals in your original territory live in groups.


    So, if you want to get the golden crystal from the main body, you will have to deal with a large number of other Deflstals, making this method impossible.


    Thats why the ones that are currently on the market are almost always the ones that were brought by other demons and acquired by chance, as in the story I told you earlier, and there has only been one known case since the beginning of history where a demon like you two happened to be in the midst of a small group and were able to defeat it.


    Thats why they are rarely seen.


    One case in the history of the world, thats amazing.


    Yeah, that story explains the price.


    Its not every day that a small number of people just happen to appear in a place with enough power to defeat them.


    Owner: Tatsuro Hasami, Ai Yashiki


    Borrower: Adventurers Guild


    Remaining amount: 445,697,052 Sis


    -


    IOU?


    IOU?


    Yes. The amount of money we cant pay is owed by the Adventurers Guild, so as long as you have it, you can claim it from any Adventurers Guild in the country.


    However, since we have started collecting the money here, it would be great if we could repay you here as much as possible.


    I understand. Yes.


    Thats all I have to say. Is there anything else you two need?


    As soon as he was asked if there was anything else, Tatsuro decided to ask her about one thing he was curious about.


    Um, what do I have to do to get a normal request?


    Oh, come to think of it, I dont know. Our first request was something like a proposal.


    -Thats right. You guys were beginners, I forgot.


    The usual request is to enter from the entrance on the left side and on the right side just after going upstairs, there are some white plates attached to the wall, so display the adventurers guild registration card from the system and hold it over there If you do, you will be able to confirm the request you can receive at that time from the Adventurers Guild on the system screen.


    {It looks like medieval Europe, but its got all this high-tech stuff.}


    {Right. Whether its more advanced than our world or not, I dont know.}


    Leela, who hadnt heard their telekinetic conversation, began to continue without concern.


    After that, you select the request you want to accept, convert it into a request form, and submit it to the counter.


    If the request is accepted there, you have accepted the request.


    By the way, if you cancel a request once youve accepted it, you will be charged a penalty fee, and if this happens too often, your guild registration may be revoked, so please think carefully before accepting a request.


    Yes. Yees.


    Is there anything else, then?


    Anything else?


    Tatsuro was able to ask what he wanted to ask, so he turned the conversation to Ai. She growled a little at that, and then said, No, there isnt, so they called it a night.


    The two of them were then taken by Leela back to the room with the entrance, just as they had been when they arrived.


    As they did so, Tatsuro and Ai held their guild cards up to the white plaque on the wall next to the entrance, and the system showed them the requests they could accept.


    However, since they were not going to take any more requests today, they just checked and closed the system immediately, and stepped out of the Adventurers Guild.


    Leela followed them out to see them off.


    I would like to thank you for being with me today.


    Thank you, too. Thats it for today.


    Bye bye


    Leela thought, as she waved back, that they were an interesting pair, as Tatsuro bowed and Ai waved with a big smile on her face.


    Chapter 35

 Chapter 35: blacksmith

    Chapter 35: blacksmith


    When they left the guild, the sun was already directly overhead. Feeling hungry, they decided to get a meal somewhere.


    Ai, here, take this.


    What?


    Tatsuro converted half of the 5 million Sis that he had just deposited and gave it to Ai.


    Oh, youve become a rich man at once!


    In a few days, itll be several times that.


    If I can go home now, and if I can get back and forth to this place, wouldnt it be better to live here?


    Ai said this as she looked at the amount of money in the system. Tatsuro nodded thoughtfully, Thats true. In this world, if you regularly pour out the golden crystal, you can live a life of luxury until you die. Besides, there is also a convenient magic that can give form to an image. If you ask him if he has the energy to work hard and work as a normal person in that world, to be honest, it would be a bit difficult.


    But at this point, its like a dog without a tail.


    Well, I guess youll have to think about it after were able to go home first.


    The two of them put their current idea on the shelf. But the future option was firmly etched in their minds. It was a bit dangerous, but it was an exciting world to live in.


    Then, as they wandered around the town, they smelled something really delicious that tickled their nostrils.


    They swallowed their saliva and almost unconsciously turned their feet in that direction.


    Then, one street over, they came to a square. And the source of the smell.


    Is this the stall?


    Whatever, just give me something to eat.


    Tatsuro grabbed the hungry wolfs hand to keep him from jumping out of the way, and walked into the nearest stall with the word meat written on it, out of the many large boxes on wheels that lined the square, which were very different in shape from Japanese stalls.


    Meat, please!


    Whoa, young lady, youre going out on a limb here.


    The bearded, middle-aged owner and a few customers rolled their eyes at the novelty of his order for meat.


    The owner, a middle-aged man with a beard, and several customers rolled their eyes.


    Sorry to startle you, may I order?


    Oh? yes, what do you want?


    Uhm, Ill take the owners recommendation for two.


    Okay.


    After watching the owner start to cook, they sat down in the small seating area.


    Not long after that, a plate of food was placed in front of them.


    It was a mixture of meat, vegetables and black sauce sandwiched between two flatbreads, something like a burger or a sandwich.


    As soon as they smelled the delicious smell, they said Itadakimasu and ate it in one gulp.DiisCoover updated novels on


    Thank you for the food.


    Youre eating so well, it makes me happy too.


    It was delicious!


    Oh?I see? No, thank you though.


    The owner of the restaurant was pleased to hear Ais genuine smile, which showed no signs of deceit, and he lowered his eyes as if he were being praised by his daughter.


    How much are they?


    Yeah, and can you make it into armor or something?


    Ah? I cant


    You cant?


    I wonder why Leela-san introduced us to this place.


    Tatsuro nodded that Ais question was plausible, but the old man who was told in front of them grinned with his chest, saying that even that was nothing.


    You know, theres only one reason Leela introduced me to you.


    Whats that one thing?


    Its obvious. Because Im the best blacksmith in town!


    The two of them looked at the old man with a scandalous look on their faces as he pointed at himself with his thumb and smirked.


    If thats the case, then theres only one blacksmith in town, isnt there?


    Hahaha, of course not-


    Guu, how did you know


    Are you for real! See!


    When he tried to make fun of the kid, the old man suddenly got to the point and his face twisted in frustration.


    From the look on his face, Tatsuro began to think that Ai was right and that this was the only blacksmith shop in town, but he concluded that it would be impossible for a single old man to run the blacksmithing business for this entire town.


    No, but one man cant run it all by himself.


    Well, yeah, but theres the merchants guild.


    If there is a merchant guild, does it mean there is no need for a blacksmith?


    Oi oi, Youre a very naive girl.


    What the hell!


    So the old man scratched his head with his right hand and began to explain in a troublesome manner.


    You see, in this day and age, ordinary blacksmiths make what they want at places set up by the merchant guilds. This way, the blacksmith can get paid regularly. And the customers could get mass-produced or processed goods made there at a lower price than they could get from individuals. What do you think would happen then?


    Uhm, what would happen?


    Ai, who had always asked Tatsuro about anything she didnt understand, turned the question around as usual.


    The blacksmith becomes an employee of the Merchants Guild and does not have his own store ?


    Yes. It seems that they will raise your wages as your skills improve, and your life will be secure. Nowadays, you cant make a living as a blacksmith unless youre a master craftsman.


    When the old man spoke in such a sincere manner, Ai expressed her doubts without an ounce of reservation.


    Huh? So how come an old man who isnt a master craftsman is able to run a store?


    Bufuu. Oi oi, little girl! You know I might be a master craftsman? See, the way I hold this tool, I look like an expert, dont I?


    As if to say, Im a man who can do it, he grabbed the tools around him and tried to mend them, but Ai saw through him, gave him a pitying look, and stroked the fur that Tatsuro had just taken out.


    If he had been a master craftsman, these furs could have been used as armor.


    Guu, I cant say anything back.


    You could at least talk back to me a little.


    Here was a picture that was hard to describe: an old man sticking his hand on the floor in front of a girl who was proud of her victory, and a boy staring at the old man with half-lidded eyes.


    Chapter 36

 Chapter 36: Shopping tour

    Chapter 36: Shopping tour


    As Ai got the better of him, the old man sat back down in his chair with a resigned attitude and began to talk about why he was running the blacksmith shop with a sigh.


    Im only able to do this because of my fathers legacy and customers like you.


    Customers like us?


    They could understand their fathers legacy, but they couldnt understand how customers like them could support the old mans lifestyle.


    Yeah, if you take this kind of top quality material to a store affiliated with the merchant guild, the whole country will immediately know about it. If you do that, all sorts of people are going to start taking some kind of action against you.


    Ah, so thats why Leela took the trouble to tell me about this place.


    Thanks to Leela!


    Well, this ones more expensive for it.


    Oh, they looked at each other, but then shrugged their shoulders together.


    Ill accept that as a necessary expense. Then just do the tanning of the fur.


    Okay


    How long will it take you to do it?


    For this amount, I need about ten days.


    All right. Ill come back for it.


    Good luck


    Okay~


    The two of them were worried about the old man who waved his hand without motivation, but they decided to trust Leela who introduced them, not the old man.


    As they left the blacksmith shop, they discussed what they should do next.


    First of all, I need something to wear and a set of equipment, right?


    Yeah, and I also want to learn some common sense in this world, so lets go to the bookstore, and if there are any books on magic, even better.


    Oh, by the way, we still have SP left over.


    I need to think about how Im going to use it, and then Ill see what I can find.


    Nnn~


    While we were both groaning and thinking about what we should do, we came up with another thing that we should do.


    A place! A place to stay!


    So the order is to buy clothes and equipment, find a bookstore, get lodgings and call it a day, is that right?


    Yes. Now that we have enough money, lets stay in a bigger place today.


    It would be a shame if we couldnt sleep together, though.


    When Tatsuro jokingly said that, Ais face turned red and she said idiot and went ahead of him. When Tatsuro hurriedly caught up with her, he pulled her by the arm and said in her ear, When you sleep, why dont we sleep together? It was Tatsuros turn to blush.


    They didnt realize until the very end that passersby were looking at them as if they were dazzling, smiling or resentful, as they joked around the town.


    As they explored the area, using the map function to find something that looked like a store, they came across a large building.


    The color was pure white to match the surrounding buildings, but even though it was made of stone, it had a boxy shape like a building, and the site itself was reasonably large.


    In such a building, people dressed like adventurers and residents of the town were coming and going.


    When the two of them looked at the large sign, they saw that it read Department Store in Japanese.


    Department store means you can find everything there, right?


    Y-yeah. Even so, I didnt know such a building existed. Even without the development of science, magic allows us to ignore materials and technology and create something similar


    While Tatsuro was once again admiring the versatility of magic, Ai, who was itching to get in, couldnt resist and pulled Tatsuros hand and led him into the store.


    Wait, I can walk by myself!


    Amazing, its like a library.


    Ill buy a book, if theres a skill-related book that might be relevant to me.


    Yeah, I guess so. But first, lets start with books that will help me acquire common sense.


    Un


    He went into a variety of bookstores and bought encyclopedias, modern glossaries, demon dictionaries, and a few books on current events.


    On the way, Ai also bought some books on how to learn skills that might be useful.


    After purchasing the books, they put them all away in the item box and went into a bookstore where there were many books related to magic.


    Inside, the books were divided by attribute, and Tatsuro looked around and picked up several books from the shelves that described each attribute in detail. As he was holding them and looking through the other books, a middle-aged man who seemed to be the owner of the store spoke to him.


    Customer, are you going to buy them all?


    Yes, Ill buy them. Is that a problem?


    No, no, no. Id rather appreciate it. Its not every day that someone buys a book on magic with all the attributes, so I thought Id ask just in case.


    Ah, Ive been wanting to do some research on various kinds of magic, so


    Ah~, I didnt know that. Im impressed by your enthusiasm for research for such a young man.


    No.


    He accepted the blatant social call lightly and waited for the man to leave, but for some reason he kept staring at me.


    Is there anything else?


    Oh, no, youre interested in magic of any kind, right?


    Yes, I am.


    Theres a book Id like you to look at, if you dont mind.


    Sure, just take a look.


    Okay, Ill bring it to you now, please wait there.


    Without even listening to Tatsuro, the man quickly disappeared behind the door behind the payment counter. Ai, who had been watching from a short distance away, came over to us.


    What was that about?


    No, he said he had a book he wanted to show me and went away.


    What is it?


    I dont know, but it doesnt seem to be harmful, so Ill wait a bit.


    All right. Im going to look for a magic book that might be interesting for you to use.


    Yeah, take it easy.


    Then, with a swoosh, Ai went off to another bookshelf. In the meantime, he saw a man coming out of the door. In his hand, he was holding a book with a black and white circle on the cover.


    (Is that the book he wanted to show me?)


    After observing the man for a while, he eventually came in front of Tatsuro.


    This is the book, and handed it to Tatsuro with the cover facing upward, looking at him with some expectation in his eyes.


    This is


    On the cover of the book was written this.


    Anyone can do it! Mixing light and dark magic! Its so easy


    And.


    T-thats fishy.


    The man who brought the book to Tatsuros words was also laughing bitterly as he said.


    Chapter 37

 Chapter 37: Shopping tour 2

    Chapter 37: Shopping tour 2


    The joking title of the book filled Tatsuro with a desire to take the man back right now. However, the phrase mixed magic of light and dark was very interesting to him.


    In the first place, both attributes are considered useless on their own, which is why they are mixed with other attributes.


    However, it doesnt make sense that they would dare to combine two useless attributes together.


    Besides, light and dark have the property of canceling each other out. In the first place, it was doubtful that a mixture of light and dark magic was even possible.


    It says here that its a mixture of light and dark magic, but is it really possible?


    Well, thats not really what is about. Im not a magician.


    Why are you even working here?!


    Ehehe The middle-aged mans laugh was not cute at all, and Tatsuro felt like slapping him, but he managed to hold back.


    However, it is possible for a man who is ignorant of magic to sell books on magic? But if so, he asked the man another question.


    Can I read inside, just for a moment?


    Eh!?


    The man looked surprised, as if to say that he was interested in this kind of thing, but he immediately put on his best sales smile and looked at Tatsuro.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    The man had this thought in his head. Ill definitely get him to buy it! he thought.


    Tatsuro, on the other hand, felt his face tense up at the smile that showed his business spirit.


    Hey, customer. Are you curious about it?


    Yes, yes, just a little bit


    The man didnt miss the momentary stammer.


    His instincts told him that this guy was very curious.


    And Tatsuro felt as embarrassed as if he were about to buy an erotic book. He didnt want people to think he was trying to buy a book with such a stinking title.


    Well, even if you say its only for a little while. We basically dont do that kind of thing.


    Then its okay for people over there to browse normally?


    Hmm!? That stupid b*****d. Ill deal with it later!


    Is that okay?


    No, Im talking to a customer right now. Customer service is important!


    If customer service is so important to him, he should learn a little bit about magic! I wanted to say something, but I could tell from his unmoving sales smile that there was no point in saying anything to this man right now.


    Cant you, by all means?


    Its not good. But if you buy it now, Ill give you a discount.


    Discount you say.


    For Tatsuro and Ai, money was not a big issue right now.


    But if he bought a book with such an unrealistic title and it turned out to be a bogus book full of bullshit, he would be an idiot.


    Whether he knew it or not, the man pushed him even harder.


    Youre a good customer, too. The price was originally 10,000 cis, but today only! How about 500 cis!


    The original price is so high! Furthermore, 95% discount, youre trying to sell it even if its just one more sis!?


    Say what you want, but were having trouble throwing it away!


    Youre out of your mind!


    Then there was the slightest of eye contact with the man, and Tatsuro was the one who lost the battle. Curiosity was no match for him after all.


    Ill buy it then.


    I see, I see. Well, then, payment should be made along with your things, please.


    Yes.


    Ill take that.


    This magic liquid is the source of energy when using devices that operate on magic power, and the more you use the magic liquid in such devices, the more it diminishes, so when it runs out, you need to pour it back in.


    Heee


    When they heard that, they understood that it was like a battery in the original world. Then, just for the heck of it, they asked her to show them how to put it in this watch.


    In the case of this pocket watch


    She then pulled the top part of the pocket watch upward and opened the lid so that I could see the time.


    Then, she turned the glass part of the watch 45 degrees to the right and opened it one more time to reveal a small hole about an inch wide.


    Please refill this hole when the liquid runs out.


    Okay, thank you.


    No problem.


    So they bought the magic liquid together and presented each other with the watches they had chosen, observing each others watches as much as possible while paying the bill.


    Oh, thats a cool design. I like it.


    Its a little too mature for me, but the flower engraving is beautiful!


    Each of them seemed to like it, so they quickly put the chain on it to keep it from falling off and put it in their pocket.


    Then, finally, they reached the fifth floor, the top floor.


    The clientele on the fifth floor had changed drastically, and there were many adventurers looking for equipment.


    Is this where they sell equipment?


    Looks like it.


    Without giving it much thought, they approached the store to check out their own equipment.


    The first thing they did was to go into the closest store that had all the swords, and there were many different types of swords on display. Ai looked around and picked up a huge iron sword with a barrel of one meter and a width of 20 centimeters. She held it in her hand, checking its weight and how it felt to hold.


    This one feels pretty good to me.


    Its good that it fits well, but its amazing that you can carry such a thing so lightly with your thin arms.


    Hmmm. Its true that its normal to be able to carry one nowadays, but when you think about it, its amazing.


    While saying this, she made up her mind to buy it and went to the checkout counter, holding it in one hand. The clerk rolled his eyes at the imbalance and accepted the money.


    Next, she went into a spear store and bought an iron spear with a large spiral groove in it.


    Continuing at the same pace, she bought a large bow, a tower shield, several knives for throwing, and iron armor for kicking and punching, as well as armor for her feet and hands.


    Finally, to keep her range of motion in check, Ai bought some light armor made of iron and a cloak that would repel a bit of magic, and that was the end of her shopping.


    On the other hand, Tatsuro bought a long black coat of armor made of demon cloth, light armor made of demon skin to wear inside it, and long boots.


    Finally, the two of them walked into a store where wands were sold.


    Whats the point of a wand?


    From what I glanced at in the bookstore earlier, its supposed to reduce the load on your magic when you use it.


    Maybe it will also reduce the amount of magic power consumed?


    Lets get you some good stuff, then.


    Id like to, but it seems that the department stores here only sell mass-produced goods, and if you want something really good, you have to special order it.


    Anyway, lets just buy one in time and go home today.


    Hooo!


    Just as they were about to take a look, a voice called out to them from behind.


    One in time for now? Does that mean the kid is a wizard in his own right?


    Eh?


    Suddenly, they heard an old mans voice and turned around to see


    There is.no one?


    chapter 38

 Chapter 38: Wand

    Chapter 38: Wand


    He should have heard the old mans voice, but when he turned around, there was no one there. It was a horror story.


    As they looked at each other, wondering what the hell had happened to them, the voice came again, more irritated than before.Updated chapters on


    Down here, you idiot!


    Wa! Hii!


    As told, they looked down and saw an elderly man of about eighty centimeters standing there indignantly.


    The moment they saw him, they were quite surprised and shouted, but when they realized that it was a person, they were relieved and spoke to him.


    Uhm, can I help you?


    Dont talk to me if you dont need me.


    Well, what do you want?


    The old man then took another look at Tatsuros face and mood.


    Tatsuro stood there looking uncomfortable, while Ai kept her mouth shut, not wanting to get involved with the troublesome minimalist old man, unless he was in the mood to talk to her.


    Fumu, you seem to be a pretty high level wizard for such a young man, right?


    Well, maybe a little higher than most people.


    Then we can talk quickly. Boy, youre looking for a wand, arent you?


    Yes, thats why Im here. And?


    There is currently only one custom-made cane in the store, would you like to buy it?


    Tatsuros eyebrows raised in alarm at those words.


    If it was a special order item, then there must have been a customer who ordered it. However, it is suspicious that they are trying to sell it to Tatsuro.


    Hoho, there is no need to be so cautious.


    At any rate, I build it, and when it was ready, he said he didnt want it and left for his own town.


    Why dont you just force him to give it to him and get paid for it since you built it even if he doesnt want it?


    If I could do that, I wouldnt have any trouble.


    He shrugged his shoulders in disgust at Ais unbearable comment, or rather at the person who had ordered it.


    Then the pieces started to fall into place in Tatsuros mind.


    He cant do that, is he some kind of authority?


    Yes, he is the idiot son of the Lord of Lyadus.


    Lyadus?


    The region that includes Ovsul and four other towns is Lyadus territory.


    Oh I see Heeeh


    He explained the situation to them, even though they had no idea what he was talking about.


    So basically, as the son of the lord of Lydus, he couldnt ask you to pay for it, and now that you have a customer who might use it, you want to sell it to him?


    Thats a very unpleasant way of putting it, but youre generally right.


    But its a good wand for the son of a lord to have, so good that it makes the mass-produced ones look like garbage.


    Is that true?


    I wouldnt lie!


    He flared up at Ai and threatened her with his eyes, saying that she was out of her mind, and then he said, Look at me first! and withdrew to the back.


    What do we do now? Tatsuro.


    Im curious to see what kind of wand it is, so Ill have a look.


    Hmm, but I wonder if a wand that people say they dont want is that good.


    After a few minutes of waiting, an old man arrived with a long, thin wooden box about 50 centimeters long.


    Its too bulky, Tatsuro thought, but when he touched it, he found that it was made of the finest, chewy, soft material.


    -What is this?!


    Whats wrong?


    Hey, Ai, you should touch this.


    Eh? I dont mind, but whats this, it feels so good and chewy!


    The two of them had experienced the hardness of the rock in that forest. But they decided to buy it immediately, thinking that they would have had a good nights sleep with it.


    Next was a box-shaped tent for two people. It was made of a strange material that was like a hard plastic, but it could be bent without breaking.


    At the entrance, there was a thin stone that was magically created to stick together like a special magnet, and when another pair was attached to it like a lid, it became completely waterproof, and even if it sank in water, it would be safe for a while. They thought this would come in handy if they got caught in the rain outside of town, so they bought one.


    They paid the bill and left the store, thinking that they had enough for today.


    Now we have everything we might need, dont we?


    I think so. Well come back here later if we need anything else.


    Yeah.


    After they finished shopping, they walked down the stairs and out of the department store, it was already getting dark.


    Its getting dark and we need to get a place to stay.


    Right. Weve bought a lot of stuff, so I need to save money.


    I knew that dress was


    Thats okay.


    While stroking the head of Ai, who was puffing out her cheeks and sulking, Tatsuro decided it was no use and looked at the map to find a building that looked like an inn.


    After wandering around for about thirty minutes, he finally found a place labeled inn.


    The inn was a three-story building, also white. The inn was neither old nor new, and there was nothing to write home about.


    Mou, I thought this place was fine.


    Well, it doesnt look like a very expensive inn.


    As they walked through the door of the inn, they saw a couple in their early thirties and the man gave them a sales smile as he spoke to Tatsuro and Ai.


    Welcome. Are you staying at our inn?


    Yes, do you have a room for two?


    Yes, we do.


    Well how much is it?


    10,000 Sis with dinner, 8,500 Sis without.


    The dinner he was talking about here was 1,500 Sis for two people, which was quite reasonable. As for the accommodation itself, Tatsuro thought it was a reasonable price since it seemed to be large enough for two people to sleep in.


    What do you want to do?


    We cant go out to eat now, so well eat here.


    Then, please include dinner.


    Tatsuro converted 10,000 Sis and gave it to the man at the inn. The man checked the price in the system and then told his wife to get the key for him.


    As soon as he did, his wife took the key and handed it to Tatsuro, and they thanked him and went upstairs.


    Dinner would be served in about twenty minutes, so they decided to stay in their room for a while, and after checking their room number, they went inside.


    Wow, this place feels bigger than the first one!


    Yes, it does! We were paralyzed by the forest, but the previous one was indeed too small.


    The room had simple furniture such as a closet and two beds near the wall, large enough for one person to sleep comfortably.


    As soon as they sat down on their respective beds, they exhaled and began to talk about the days events.


    Chapter 39

 Chapter 39: Time for the two of us

    Chapter 39: Time for the two of us


    The time passed quickly as the two of them talked, so they went downstairs to the cafeteria to have dinner.


    The taste of the food was just average, and they went back to their rooms without any further comments.


    It was still too early to go to bed, so they spent the rest of the time looking for the spoils of the day. At that time, Ai suddenly showed a sign of thinking about something.


    Hmm


    Whats the matter?


    No, I feel like theres one more thing I should have done, but I cant remember.


    Something you have to do? Hmm~.youve finished everything today oh!


    Tatsuro didnt think there was anything in particular he could think of, but just to be sure, he thought back on his past actions and remembered now that there was definitely something he should have done earlier.


    What?


    A permit to enter town!


    Thats it!


    They had completely forgotten that they were now entering the town with a temporary permit.


    They both reflected on the fact that if they had just forgotten about it, they might have caused trouble for Zendo.


    Lets go update it first thing in the morning.


    Yes, absolutely! He has been good to us, but we cant bother him.


    They nodded at each other and filled in their schedules.


    If were going to the gate anyway, why dont we go to the guild tomorrow and take care of some simple requests?


    Yeah, I guess so. The payment from the guild is due in five days.


    Until then, I have to make do with only the money I have, but todays expenses were unexpectedly large.DiisCoover updated novels on


    I should earn some money so that I can live comfortably.


    I cant believe this is all the money we had.


    Youre spending too much, Ai.


    I need everything!


    But I dont have anything special to buy with this, so Im going to keep it low for a while.


    Tatsuro wondered if it was true, and although he had some doubts, he decided to believe it if the lady herself said so.


    Well, lets spend a few more days taking requests, and in the meantime, well think about the request that Leela-san mentioned.


    Ah, there was such a thing heh.


    Ai narrowed her eyes with a subtle expression as she said this.


    Dont you want to take it, Ai?


    At the moment, Id rather do both.


    Id like to take a few requests and see what its like.


    I guess so. Well, if it looks good enough, I might as well take it to reassure the people of this town.


    If I dont, Zendo-san will be worried.


    Thats true.


    Do you feel hot?


    No, not at all. Tatsuro is so warm I think Ill fall asleep soon.


    Then Ai clung to Tatsuro like a koala. However, when Tatsuro does so, he finds it difficult to sleep.


    However, when he saw Ais happy face, he couldnt say the same, and he realized that he would need to take advantage of life magic again today.


    As the sun rose, Tatsuro and Ai renewed the number of days they had stayed in the other world. One of them, who had been sleeping close to each other, woke up.


    He picked up his pocket watch on his pillow and looked at the time, the hands were pointing to a little past six oclock.


    I think Ill get up. I dont want to sleep now.)


    He decided to get up, but in order to do so, he would have to pull the healthy child who was sleeping happily in his arms, who went to bed earlier than him and woke up later than him, out of his body.


    Thinking about what to do, he couldnt come up with a good idea, so he tried kissing the forehead that was right in front of him.


    Thats right, look, raise your arms.


    There are fairy tales about waking up with a kiss, but the princess in front of him would not wake up whether he kissed her on the forehead or on the mouth.


    Then the sleepiness came back, and he had no choice but to let it take over.


    When the morning sun had completely risen, one of them, who was sleeping close to each other, woke up.


    He picked up the pocket watch on his pillow and looked at the time, the hands were pointing at half past eight.


    (I should get up soon, huh)


    Happy that he was the first one to wake up today, he decided to wake up the person sleeping next to him. However, just waking her up was not enough of a trick.


    So, what was he thinking? He kissed her on the other cheek to see if she was awake. Then he kissed her forehead, neck, eyelids, chin, and everywhere else to see if she woke up, but there was no sign of her waking up.


    Still sleeping? Sleepyhead)


    Murmuring that in his mind, he kissed her on the lips for the last time.


    Nnn..nn?


    When she woke up, she saw that her lips were covered by something.


    It was soft and felt like something she had tasted before.


    When she opened her eyes, they parted, and she saw him smiling in front of her, filling her vision.


    It was then that she finally remembered what it was that she had just felt.


    Good morning, Tatsuro.


    Good morning, Ai.


    And so, this time, they kissed of their own volition.


    In the midst of this, Tatsuro was secretly thinking about something like this.


    (I didnt think I was supposed to be the princess.)


    Haha!


    Eh!? What?! Whats wrong?


    Imagining himself dressed as a princess, Tatsuro couldnt help but blow up.


    Ai was worried about his sudden behavior, but Tatsuro said, Its nothing, and covered it up.


    This is how they started their day together.


    chapter 40

 Chapter 40: Escort quest

    Chapter 40: Escort quest


    After waking up and changing into their proper clothes for adventuring, they put all their personal belongings back in the Item Box and went downstairs to return the key.


    Then they were asked if they wanted to eat, and since they were too lazy to go out and look for something, they paid the fee and ate there.


    When they finally left the inn, they found that the residents were up and about and were going about their business.


    Well, lets start with the license, shall we?


    Yes.


    The two of them then walked towards the gate they had passed when they first entered the town.


    After a while, a large gate appeared. They walked closer and closer to the gate and stepped out of it.


    The young guard, who had spotted them from his post near the outer gate, greeted Tatsuro and Ai with a smile.


    Good morning, you two.


    Good morning.


    When they both replied happily, he looked even happier at their friendliness and cut to the chase.


    Youve come here, which means youve successfully become an adventurer, right?


    Yes, thanks to you. Actually, I had finished registering yesterday, but I was so busy that I didnt get around to it until today.


    yes yes, its not that I forgot!


    When Ai glanced sideways at him in protest as she added an unnecessary phrase to her excuse, he winked back, I told you to follow up!


    The guards, who were unconcerned by the fact that they came here with nothing but their clothes on, probably had some business to attend to on their first day.


    So, can I see your registration card for the Adventurers Guild?


    Yes. Yes.


    He activated the system and selected the registration card from the Adventurers Guild section so that the guards could see it.


    When the guard sees this, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a silver plate the size of a smartphone, like the one Leela was using.


    Then a thin, shiny silver plate appeared. The guard handed it to Ai, and Tatsuro followed the same procedure to receive the same item. As soon as they received the plate, it turned into particles and entered them.


    Looking at the registration card of the Adventurers Guild, he saw a silver seal with the word Obsul stamped on it in the lower right corner.


    As they looked at it curiously, a man from the guards added the necessary information.


    It will be gone in a month, so if you plan to stay in town longer than that, come back five days before the expiration date to renew it.


    If you stay in town after the expiration date, you may be fined or detained, so be careful.


    I understand. Yes.


    They replied, but thought that they might not be here for a month. The forest was noisy, and there might be better places to earn SP. Above all, both of them wanted to explore more of the other world.


    So they returned their temporary permits and headed for the Adventurers Guild.


    When they entered the Adventurers Guild, they noticed that the number of adventurers inside was much smaller than when they had come before.


    As they tilted their heads to see if everyone was out working, a familiar face appeared in front of them.


    Hey, its Tatsuro and Ai!


    Zendo-san!


    The two of them called out his name together, and Zendo spoke to them smilingly as a group of burly men looked at him, wondering what he was talking about.


    It seems youve become an adventurer.


    Yes, thanks to you. Yes, its perfect!


    I see, I see.


    When Zendo saw the two of them in their current attire, he realized at a glance that they had become adventurers and was as pleased as he was.


    No matter how close she is to the person she is working with, she never takes it personally.


    The job of an adventurer is a life-threatening one. Whats more, shes beautiful.


    W-well, if Leela says it, it must be true.


    Thats right.


    Yes, yes, yes!


    Hey, why did you only say Leelas name, you guys?


    Thats .


    You little bastards! Get back in there!


    Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaa


    While Zendo and the others were engaged in some kind of noisy contrivance, Tatsuro, Ai and Leela were beginning to finalize the details of the request.


    If possible, Id like you to take the job until the danger zone certification is lifted, but for now, could you take the job today, and if you think its good enough, take the job tomorrow and after?


    Right.


    I havent been to the salt lake yet, and Ill decide after I try it once.


    So, Ai, do you mind?


    Its okay!


    Leela felt relieved when Ai responded with a thumbs-up, and immediately started to prepare the request form for today.


    Then, from the perspective of Tatsuro and Ai, Leela, who had been flicking her fingers toward the void, looked up and presented them with the same two glowing red boards from the previous request.


    This is the request form. Please check.


    Yes. Yes.


    The two of them immediately took it and were sucked into each of them as particles of light, and the screen appeared again.


    -


    Client: Zendo Baulin


    Requisition: Escort the salt artisans all the way to Lenthetius Salt Lake and back


    Reward: 200,000 sis.


    Accept / Reject


    -


    200,000 Sith in one day?


    Thats right. Is this the going rate for escort missions?


    The reward was higher than they were expecting, so they asked Leela while rolling their eyes. And then Leela shook her head.


    Normally its less than half that amount, but since were in this situation now, its like a danger pay.


    Besides, the salt makers are making a lot of money, so it should be fine.


    Thats right! Dont worry about the money!


    Leelas smile and Zendos vivacious laugh encouraged the two who had been put off by the high price.


    Okay. Shall we accept, Ai?


    Yes!


    And with that, the two of them pressed the accept button at the same time.


    chapter 41

 Chapter 41: Begin escort

    Chapter 41: Begin escort


    Soon after receiving the request, they hurriedly prepared themselves and were immediately assigned to escort the group.


    However, Tatsuro and Ai were taken aback by the number of people who would be escorting the carriage this time.


    A total of fifty-six people, most of them driving horse-drawn carriages, were crowded in front of the gate, creating a sense of oppression.


    Its spectacular.


    No, no, theres no time for that.


    How are we supposed to protect all these people with just the two of us?


    Love, courage and energy-


    This is not a level that can be managed with such things.


    Zendo spoke to Tatsuro, who sighed at the carefree Ai and began to think about how to get there.


    Ouu. Are you two ready?


    Were ready!


    I see, I see. Then why is Tatsuro looking so dark?


    As Ais smile lowered his eyes, Zendo asked Tatsuro with an air of seriousness that said he didnt understand why.


    Tatsuro replied, somewhat resentfully.


    Because there are people than I thought


    Oh? Ive gathered only the best craftsmen, though. Is that too much?


    No, well try, but we cant guarantee it if the demons attack from many sides at once.


    Can you handle a few monsters?


    It also depends on the case, but


    Then Tatsuro suggested the method that he thought would cause the least damage.


    The first thing to do is to have the carriages go in formation, with Ai at the head of the line, who has a great ability to act on the spur of the moment, and Tatsuro at the back, who has a lot of moves and can apply them.


    In the center of the room, there are people who can fight a little, and if a monster comes to the side while they are fighting in front and behind, they can defend themselves for a little while.


    Ai and Zendo, who had no particular objection to the idea, accepted it, and the others started to move forward in a regular formation.


    Ai rode in Zendos cart at the front of the line, while Tatsuro rode in the cart of a rather stout man from the adventurers guild called Gaz.


    {Tatsuro, how are you doing over there?}


    {No problem, looks like youre not busy either.}


    {Yeah, I dont want you to come out, but there is nothing to do, Im bored.}


    {Right.}


    It seems that telekinesis can be understood even from a distance, and the two of them were checking each others situation while keeping an eye on their surroundings.


    After a while, Gaz, who was driving the wagon on Tatsuros side, spoke to him.


    Tatsura. Theres a bunch of Tew in the sky, can you get rid of them?


    Tew?


    Yeah, right over there.


    When he looked in the direction of the trees off the path pointed out to him, he saw a flock of black bird-like demons in the sky in the distance, watching him.


    Huh, right. Ill give it a try.


    {Ai, Im going to use magic on the bird on the upper right now.}


    { -Hey, do you want me to do something?}


    I didnt know they were so common.


    I mean, do you know what theyre called anyway?


    Oh, their name.


    Something with shu, shuga, shuge..Sorry, I dont remember


    I-its okay, its okay. I dont care if they are called Imomu or not.


    She managed to quiet a depressed Zendo, who thought that his theory of being a geezer was finally gaining traction, and Ai contacted Tatsuro while remaining vigilant.


    {Tatsuro, do you know what the real name of Imomu is?}


    {Imomoos name? I dont know, but what does it matter?}


    {Well, I asked grandpa and he forgot about it halfway through, so its kind of bothering him.}


    {Oh, I see. Ill ask Gaz about it.}


    Please!


    Tatsuro stopped his telepathy talk and asked Gaz as casually as he could.


    Speaking of which, theres a big caterpillar-shaped demon, you know, green with black and white dots.


    Oh, you mean that thing?


    Yeah, that thingeh what?


    And when he looked in the direction of Gazs words, he saw Imomu about to emerge from a gap in the trees.


    He immediately took out his staff from the item box and used the lowest level laser to kill it quickly.


    It seems that the Imomu is not a particular threat to Gaz, and when he saw Tatsuro move, he cut his gaze to the Imomu and tried to remember its name.


    I believe his name is-. thats tight. His name is Schbergfangus!


    What kind of tough name is that? Its just a big caterpillar!?


    He seemed to understand what Tatsuro was saying, and Gaz also told him why after prefacing it with, I suppose so.


    When I was still young, he was a demon called Dede.


    Dede is good, it looks like a Dede. Why did they change it?


    Well, a few years ago they found out that Dede was a juvenile form of a demon called Schbergfangus.


    Then they discussed whether to call it Dede or Schbergfangus, and they decided on the latter.


    Well, Tatsuro thought about the mindset of the people who made the decision, saying that they must have been afraid to name a strong person after a weak person.


    However, that makes him wonder what the things growth form is like.


    So, what kind of demon is this Schbergfangus?


    Well, Ive never seen one before, but according to the demon biologists, its a terrifying insect dragon.


    That guy has a piece of work.


    The only thing that came to his mind was a dumb image of Imomu in its original form, with wings and an extended length.


    Well, it seems that the chrysalis period is about a hundred years, and during that time most Dede, or rather Schbergfangus, are eaten by other demons and die.


    Ah, so thats why people didnt notice that it was the Schbergfangas.


    Thats what Im saying


    After hearing the sad reality of the situation, Tatsuro felt that he could be more gentle the next time he met Imomu.


    Of course, if they were enemies, he will defeat them.


    When he told Ai the result, she said, It doesnt suit them, so it will be Imomu from now on, and the harsh name that Tatsuro and the others learned was no longer used among them.


    chapter 42

 Chapter 42: Arrival at the salt lake

    Chapter 42: Arrival at the salt lake


    Without any crises along the way, they crossed the fork where they first met Zendo, and proceeded smoothly.


    However, due to the late departure time, it was only a few hours into the evening when the destination finally came into view.


    Besides, the lake could not be seen clearly from their current location, as a large building shaped like a stone factory was blocking their view.


    Ai. There is nothing but the workshop and the lake from here on out, so why dont you stay here and watch the people coming from behind?


    All right. If anything happens at the lake, just holler and Ill be right there.


    Ou, Thanks a lot.


    As soon as Ai got out of Zendos wagon, she looked around to see if there were any demons that could harm the people who were heading to the workshop one after another.


    Fortunately, nothing happened after that, and Ai met up with Tatsuro at the end of the line.


    Yo, good work.


    Good work.


    Ai and Tatsuro walked side by side in the same direction that everyone else had gone after making sure that Gaz was heading towards the lake.


    Soon, they reached the place where the people they had come with were.


    There were five large buildings arranged side by side, which they could see from the other side, and people with wagons in front of them were beginning to come and go in a hurry.


    It looks like Zendo and the others have already started their work.


    I guess so. On the way here, he said, We dont have much time today, so we must hurry up and get to work.


    Guild had him stranded there.


    When Ai said this while politely showing off her Zendo imitation, which did not resemble him, Tatsuro could not say anything and replied in a safe manner.


    All right, then. I dont want to disturb you, but since were here, lets go see the lake.


    Sansei! So now youre going to see the first face.


    Yeah.


    Remembering the story of the four faces that had been told to them when they had gone to the town with Zendo, they walked around the right side of the building to get to the back side of the building.


    As they went past the building, they saw a huge lake spread out in front of them.


    This is Uwaa


    It was such a beautiful sight that it took their breath away.


    The lake was shallow, no more than 50 centimeters deep at its deepest point, and the white ground beneath could be seen through it.


    The sun was shining down on the lake, and the salt reflected the light, making the bottom of the lake shine brightly.


    As the two of them were being moved and fascinated by this scene, they saw several salt makers walking towards them with some large box-shaped tools on their rear car.


    Ororo? What are they doing?


    Well, I think theyre doing something with that boxy thing on the pillion.


    As we both stared at it, the salt workers took their tools from the rear car and brought them down to the edge of the lake.


    As they watched with interest, the salt makers finished arranging the tools of ten rear cars neatly along the edge of the lake, and then the salt makers stood in front of them and did something.


    Then, the box-shaped tools started to move by themselves and went into the lake in an orderly fashion.


    After a certain amount of swimming, the tools came back and were reloaded into the rear car.


    When they took something boxy into the lake toward the building, they would pass it, and people with boxy tools on new rear cars would go to the lake and repeat the process.


    Maybe thats how they get the salt out of the lake.


    Is that so?


    Ill have to ask Zendo or Gaz on the way back, since I can only speculate.


    Its the quickest way. Then well go further back and look at the lake.


    Well do that.


    They walked deeper into the lake, tracing its edge so as not to disturb it.


    When they reached a place where they could not see the work of the craftsmen, they opened the doorway of the box-shaped tent that they had taken out of Tatsuros item box and went inside to have a late lunch while continuing to admire the spectacular view in front of them.


    Its like a picnic.


    How to practice mixing light and dark magic without letting them disappear into each other.


    How to practice incorporating the factors of the attribute magic that you want the magical creature to use into the mixed magic power.


    How to create a magical organism with a single attribute, and how to add more attributes to it.


    In terms of the law.


    Since the source of the magic is the magic power of the user, the magic power can be supplied by the magic body creature.


    Light magic and dark magic must be adjusted at the same level of strength to be viable.


    The higher the mix of light and dark magic, the better the creature can be.


    Magical creatures created by mixing light and dark magic at Lv. 10 or higher will have a high level of intelligence, and their systems will be installed according to the laws of the world.


    As far as Tatsuro had read, there was not a single part that seemed to be horseshit. And it was explained in such a detailed manner that it would not be impossible if he put it into practice as written.


    (If I could handle this at will, would I be able to control a very powerful demon?


    In addition, if the need arises, the magic power can be replenished .)


    Tatsuro suppressed his impulsive feeling that he should give top priority to the project, even if he had to spend all of his current SP.


    (Yes, this is powerful, but its no good if you cant do it after you take it.


    First, lets try how to practice mixing this light and dark magic without annihilating each other.)


    Then Tatsuro immediately puts the book he had in his hand on his knee, adjusts the light magic and dark magic so that they are Lv.1, and puts the magic power of dark magic in his right hand and the magic power of light magic in his left hand. Generate and create an attribute sphere.


    What are you doing?


    Im just exploring new possibilities.


    Okay, can I watch?


    Yeah, sure.


    Ai noticed that he had started to use magic on the way and began to peek at him, hugging his back and sticking his face over his shoulder.


    While enjoying the feel of his back, Tatsuro concentrated on the task at hand.


    First, create a thread of magical power that is less than a millimeter from both attribute spheres, and when it is made from a sphere, stretch it to connect light and darkness.


    However, it would cause annihilation from the point of touch.


    Gosh, its hard to adjust.


    Good luck, Tatsuro.


    Nodding to Ais cheers, he tried again to get into the spirit of the challenge.


    In order to do this in earnest, he would have to create a hundred strings at the same time and join them together in an instant.


    So if he struggled with just one string, he would never be able to do it.


    Fuu.


    Ai watched over him so as not to disturb his concentration, and on the ninth try, he managed to connect the thin threads together.


    Alright


    Oh, did it work?


    Yeah, its just the first step.


    Before he forgot the feeling of success, Tatsuro hurriedly repeated the process, and by the time evening came, he had succeeded seven times out of ten.


    Then what in the world can you do with it?


    Well be able to create new creatures to help us.


    What, thats amazing, did you become a god?!


    Really? No, when I say creatures, I dont mean things that eat and drink like us, I mean magic that creates magic with form and intent.


    Thats awesome and all but


    As she said this in a somewhat dumbfounded tone of voice, Ai once again recognized the extent of the chaos of magic in this world.


    chapter 43

 Chapter 43: On the Way Home

    Chapter 43: On the Way Home


    Tatsuro was feeling a bit bewildered that he had gained new possibilities thanks to the book he had read, but it actually proved that the mixing of light and dark was not imaginary.


    While he was satisfied with this, he was also afraid to acquire dark magic uncontrollably while he hadnt even completed it at Lv. 1 yet, so he decided to devote his SP to the other magic he wanted to try.


    Even though it seems to be a useful magic, its at such a low level, so I think Ill take as much wind magic as I can get first.


    Wind magic, what are you going to do with it?


    Hmm, I think it would be more interesting to see it in action first.


    Well, you can show me then. So, I have no objection to it!


    As Ais smile pushed him, Tatsuro acquired as much wind magic as he could with the SP (141) he had at the moment. (120), he acquired a new skill, Wind Magic Lv. 5.


    Ive got it now. , its already evening!


    Eh!? I was so focused in the tent that I didnt notice.


    If we dont hurry, it will be time to go home.


    I have to take a look at the lake while I can.


    Yeah!


    He crawled out of the tent and took a good look at the salt lake bathed in the setting sun.


    So cool Its glowing red .


    The place was even redder than the setting sun, and the transparent salt bottom glowed like it was twinkling in the wind as the water surface swayed, and there was a fantastic red starry sky.


    Is that the salt of the lake itself glowing?


    Yes. If not, I dont think it would have that brightness and color.


    And so, the two of them again look at the mysterious salt lake in silence.


    They held hands without thinking of each other and were mesmerized by the sight for a long time until Zendo came to call them.


    Then they joined the artisans, who were all ready to go home, and with bowed heads, they started on their way back, taking up positions in the front and the back as they had done when they hurried in.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    How was the lake?


    It was amazing, so nice!


    Hahaha, I see I see.


    On top of Zendos wagon, Ai was talking about how impressed she was with the two faces of the lake she had seen today.


    Zendo listened smilingly to her, as if he was a good old man dealing with his granddaughter.


    After about an hour of this, Ai suddenly felt something enter her field of vision.


    Grandpa, stop for a moment!


    I understand! Oi, stop!


    Zendo immediately went to the back, urging them to stop with words and gestures.


    The other salt workers, all of whom work together every day, showed great coordination, and soon all the carriages came to a halt.


    {Ai, whats wrong?}


    The chase went well, and the Phalur was finally driven out of the trees and onto the cobblestones by a beam of light.


    It had an organ at the end of one hand that resembled a human face, now pierced with Ais kunai, and the other hand had a sharp claw with a return.


    The body was shaped like a rugby ball, about the size of an adult man, with a single large compound eye in the upper half, and a round mouth the same size as the upper half, drooling as it flicked its teeth, and supported by four thin arthropods underneath.


    ZTOP ET!


    It looks creepy too , ya aha!


    Ai caught the claw that was released as she reached the front of the phalur with her left greatsword and stabbed the spear with the spiral grooves in her right hand into the compound eye while half-turning it.


    Skill: Swordsmanship Lv.2 acquired.


    Skill: Spear Technique Lv. 2.


    Ztoppp eetttttttttt


    Hey, stop, youre gross!


    She lifted the spear she had stuck in the ground with her right hand and slammed it into the ground.


    Ztoppp


    It died with its lower half crushed, staining the cobblestones with its green bodily fluids.


    Skill: Spear Technique Lv.3


    Ueee


    While feeling nauseous from the devastation in front of her and the strange smell, she immediately pulled back the spear and shook it up and down to blow off the bodily fluids, cleaning it up as much as possible before storing it with the large sword in the Item Box.


    Next, Ai gave detailed instructions to Tatsuro about the position of the light ball and had him burn it out with a laser, while trying not to look at the crushed farrule in front of her.


    {Tatsuro, its safe now. }


    {Ai, you dont look okay.}


    {Because hes gross, he drooled all over me!}


    {Oh, thats tough. Well wash it together when we get home.}


    {Yeah. thank you }


    With that, she finished her reminder and went to join Zendo.


    When she explained the situation to him, he gave her a subtle look of sympathy and said, Ah.


    Well, Im glad youre okay, anyway!


    Right..


    Then, were good to go?


    Yeah, no problem.


    O-ou


    Not knowing what to do with Ai, who was in a rare state of downer, Zendo instructed the others to proceed with the wagon, and the rest of the journey to Obsul was trouble-free.


    chapter 44

 Chapter 44: Return to the inn

    Chapter 44: Return to the inn


    As the sun went down, Tatsuro and Ai went through the gates and were thanked by Zendo and the others before parting ways, and came to the Adventurers Guild to report on the accomplishment of their request.


    Good evening, Tatsuro-san, Ai-san.


    Good evening, Leela-san.


    The two were greeted with smiles as they entered, and they responded before submitting their requests.


    When Leela finished checking it, she said, Certainly, and handed them half of the request reward.


    At that time, he mentioned Ai who was not in good spirits, so he explained to her what had happened so far.


    Well, that was another disaster.


    Yeah. Ahby the way, is there any inn in this town that has a bath?


    A bath? Well, when it comes to baths, you can only find them in the most expensive inns in this town.


    So you do have one?


    Yes.


    Ai jumped for joy at those words. However, Leelas next words made her depressed again.


    However, I believe you can only stay there if you make a reservation the day before.


    No way.


    After being given hope that today would be the day, Ais mental capacity gauge was on the verge of death after being dropped.


    Well, what cant be done, cant be done. Lets go to the inn we stayed at yesterday for now.


    Yeah, .


    By the way, where is that inn located with the bath?


    Uhmm that inn


    Just in case, he asked Leela where it was, so that he could go there anytime he wanted.


    Then Leela asked them if they would take another request tomorrow, and they decided that it was a ship they were boarding and that they would continue to escort Zendo and the others tomorrow.


    In that case, youll be leaving at 6 a.m. tomorrow, so please be careful not to oversleep.


    Eh


    As for Leela, she thought she had just said the obvious, but she could feel the cold sweat breaking out on her face at their reaction.


    Um, its okay, right?


    Well do our best. I wonder if I can get up.


    Im very worried .


    Leela gave them a worried look and handed them a red board with a request form.


    The two received it, checked the contents, and then pressed the button for approval.


    Well, good luck tomorrow.


    The day after tomorrow, skilled adventurers who are currently out on a different matter will be arriving, so I think we can leave it to them.


    I see, so all I have to do is work hard for one day tomorrow!


    Thats right, all we have to do is wake up early for once! We can do it, Ai-san!


    Thats right. I have a feeling you can do it!


    I can do it! I can do it! I can do it! I can do it!


    Leela is doing her best to encourage Ai to wake up, but in the end Tatsuro is going to wake her up, so whats the point? Tatsuro secretly thought to himself.


    They then went straight to the inn where they had stayed yesterday, and after getting a room and dinner, they finally felt comfortable.


    Now, Ai had changed back into the clothes she had bought for everyday use, and she and Tatsuro were washing the clothes they had worn today in a tub.


    He went rigid, but he was so focused on the feeling against his chest that he couldnt think of anything else.


    I love you, Tatsuro.


    I love you too.


    Do you just like them?


    No, I love you more than anything in the world.


    Well said.


    Then Ais lips covered Tatsuros, and for a while they kissed each other over and over again without ever getting tired of it.


    After a while, they kissed each other over and over again without ever getting tired of it. When Ai was satisfied with the skinship, she told him to meditate again and finished changing into her nightgown.


    He felt relieved and a little disappointed because he was almost pushed over the edge, but after calming his feelings with some Life magic and wiping his whole body, he got into bed with Ai.


    Tomorrow we have to get up early. We should probably go to bed.


    Im not really sleepy, but I guess I should force myself to be.


    Right


    She moved a bit, and as usual, used Tatsuro as a pillow.


    The routines really starting to grow on me.


    Did you find it hard to sleep with this?


    No, Im fine.


    As if to reassure Ai, who suddenly looked uneasy, Tatsuro gently hugged her back. Then Ais face broke into a smile as she said, I see, I see.


    Gazing at her pretty face, Tatsuro stroked Ais head and encouraged her to fall asleep easily with his life magic.


    Why do I feel all warm and fuzzy?


    Could this be the raw magic you were talking about today, the one that relaxes you?


    Ah yeah. Are you feeling sleepy?


    Yes, this will help me sleep.


    Then Ai closed her eyes and let the warmth wash over her.


    Tomorrow I have to wake up early right .


    Right


    After saying that last thing, Ai began to breathe in and out in her sleep.


    Tatsuro then stroked Ais head one more time while he used the same magic on himself to induce sleepiness.


    After a few more minutes of this, Tatsuro too sank into a dream.


    When the morning sun appeared on the horizon, Tatsuro woke up firmly.


    He checked the time and found that it was 5:02 a.m. He was relieved to know that he would be able to make it in time if he started his preparations now, and he immediately started to get ready.


    The first thing he had to do was, of course, to wake up Ai with his magic.


    Hurry up and wake up, will you?


    Muttering something like that, he woke up Ai and the two of them got ready.


    Okay, are you ready?


    Perfectly!


    Lets go.


    Yes!


    And so the two of them cheerfully walked towards the still dimly lit streets.


    chapter 45

 Chapter 45: Flag creation

    Chapter 45: Flag creation


    Merry Christmas


    They were able to meet up with Zendo and the others safely and on time, and were now proceeding smoothly to the Lententius Salt Lake in the same formation as yesterday.


    Hey, Grandpa, can I have a quick tour of your workshop today?


    Oh? Well, I dont mind as long as you dont bother me. Its not like were doing anything big, so Im sure youll get bored really fast.


    Thats fine! I was just curious to see what you were doing.


    I see. Well, its probably better to see a lot of things while youre young.


    Zendo smiled again, and Ai was given permission to observe the salt making process.


    After some more time passed, they reached the lake quite easily.


    All right, Im going to go on my own again from here, so when you meet up with Tatsuro later, come to the workshop thats the farthest from the lake. Ill be there.


    Okay. The farthest one.


    Then Ai got off the wagon and waited for Tatsuro to arrive while keeping an eye on the rest. As soon as they finished meeting up, she immediately told Tatsuro about her visit.


    Heeh, Id like to see the place where Zendo-san works. Id like to see it.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    Ive got permission and Ive been told where it is, so we can go right away.


    All right. Lets go there right away!


    Yeah.


    The two of them then entered a large building located at the farthest point from the lake and closest to the road leading to the town, just as Zendo had told Ai.


    Inside the workshop, there were people working on the workbenches, moving large tools, stirring something, and so on, all in a hurry.


    Tatsuro searched for Zendo, trying not to get in his way, and eventually found him working at the largest desk at the far end.


    When he saw him approaching, he motioned with his hand for them to come over.


    Ou, youre here!


    Yes. Yes.


    Well, Ill go about my business as usual, but you can ask me questions if youre curious.


    Are we interrupting anything?


    Tatsuro was worried that talking to him while he was working would interrupt his concentration, but Zendo laughed it off.


    You know how many years Ive been doing this? I can do it while talking.


    Youre very skilled, Grandpa!


    A bit, hahahahah


    The laughter echoing through the workshop was enough to get the other craftsmen used to it, and they went about their work in silence.


    In the midst of this, Zendo immediately resumes his work.


    First, Zendo took out a white stone-like object in a container.


    What is that stone?


    Its a product of extracting only the salt from the water in the lake, and then processing it with a special magic tool.


    Special magic tools?


    Yeah, a special magic tool.


    Its a trade secret, so I cant share it with you guys.


    All right, Ill try not to ask about that!


    Ou.


    Tatsuro and Ai saw a craftsman at work, answering their questions without a hint of displeasure, but with his hands still moving.


    Whoa, I got it.


    Hmm? Did you get it perfected already?


    No, that was going well too, but now the Magic Quality Increase skill has leveled up.


    That means youre at Lv.2?


    Yeah, it seems that practicing this mixture of light and dark magic was also a good way to practice that, since the adjustment of the amount of magic power is very severe.


    The unexpected harvest made Tatsuro feel that this practice was even more meaningful. Seeing her partner like this, Ai asked a question that she had wanted to ask but had refrained from asking because it would interfere.


    So you can have it both ways. So, is the day of reckoning almost here?


    Im almost there. I might be able to create a magical creature at Lv.1 by the end of today or tomorrow.


    I really want a cute one.


    Its not really a pet, but , Ill keep that in mind.


    Yeah, Im looking forward to it!


    When Tatsuro stroked her back, she seemed to be happy and strengthened her arms as she accepted Ais hug.


    Seeing her like this, the idiot boyfriend said, I knew my girlfriend was the best! They enjoyed the warmth of each others body without practicing.


    Because of this short detour, Tatsuros mixing magic still didnt succeed when it was time to go home,, but there was no word of regret from the two of them.


    I dont want to be late again today, so lets get ready to go home early.


    Yeah, its bad enough that I have to call you when youre tired.


    As soon as he said that, he quickly put his personal belongings and tent into the item box and walked towards the workshop building.


    They were relieved to see that the craftsmen were already preparing to leave and that they would not be bothering Zendo today.


    Oh, youre here!


    Are you ready to go home?


    Yes, all we have to do is load up the goods for sale and go home. We should be ready to go in less than ten minutes.


    All right. Ill go to Gazs. See you later, Ai. Zendo, see you later.


    See you later Ouu Ill take care of her!


    He waved lightly to Ai and Zendo, and as they split up, he spotted Gaz at the end of the line, already loaded and seated in the drivers seat.


    Tatsuro greeted him lightly and got into the carriage, and a few minutes later, just as Zendo had said, the column began to move.


    Nothing came on the way there, so maybe things will be calmer on the way back.


    Ah.right


    Gazs words gave a bad feeling in his mind that it sounded like a flag, but he told himself that it was just his imagination and replied appropriately.


    But as it turned out, the premonition came true.


    When Tatsuro and Ai had left the lake and were halfway to the town, it happened.


    Gee gee gee


    Hmm? Imomu.


    Before Tatsuros wagon could pass by, an Imomu jumped out of the trees. But with yesterdays pitiful circumstances and Imomus legs, he couldnt catch up with the carriage even if he let it go, so he tried to ignore it and let it pass him by just then, the head of another demon popped out from behind it and swallowed Imomu whole into its mouth.


    -That thing


    It was a big gray lizard that was two meters tall with a tail.


    The eyes of Tatsuro and the giant lizard crossed each other.


    SYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


    The ferocious scream made Tatsuro instinctively understand that a battle was inevitable.


    chapter 46

 Chapter 46: Slime

    Chapter 46: Slime


    The gray lizard is approaching them with footsteps that are small compared to its size.


    Tatsuro calmly analyzed the situation and began to think about what he should do, thinking that it was probably because of this that he hadnt noticed that it were so close to him.


    But first, there was something he had to do.


    Shaaaaaaaaaaaa!


    Gaz-san! Please keep the carriage running!


    O-okay!


    {Ai, tell Zendo to increase the speed of the carriage!}


    {All right.}


    Gaz did as he was told, quieting the horse and letting it run onward.


    Then, understanding Tatsuros impatient tone, and without asking why, Ai told Zendo to increase the speed of everyones carriage.


    As a result, the troop of carriages increased their speed.


    However, the big lizard was even faster than that and came running towards Tatsuros carriage.


    While looking behind him, Tatsuro took out his wand from the item box, activated the level eater and blew a black ball straight at the lizard.


    The lizard didnt notice it and rammed itself into the black ball.


    Level: 21


    Skills: Bite Lv.5 Strike Lv.3 Rush Lv. 3


    Self Regeneration Lv. 3


    Ahaa


    While keeping the information about the opponent in mind, he starts to absorb the level.


    In the meantime, in order to avoid being overtaken, he creates a gust of wind with the wind magic he just learned yesterday, and mixes it with the fire attribute to create a hot wind.


    Shaaaaahhh!


    Despite the fact that he was suffering from the sizzling surface, he slowed down only a little and tried to catch up with Tatsuro.


    But thats where Tatsuros Level Eater finished the job.


    Level: 1


    Skills: Bite Lv.0 Hit Lv.0 Rush Lv. 0]


    Self Regeneration Lv. 0


    (Okay, now all I have to do is)


    After swallowing the black ball in his mouth and receiving the level, Tatsuro manipulated his current magic to switch from hot air to flame wind.


    The lizard, which had no level or skill level, had no way to protect itself from it and fell to the ground, charred whole.


    At the sight of that, he skipped the reminder to tell Ai that it was over.


    {Ai, this one is finished}


    {Theres another demon over here! Im going to stop the carriage. Are you okay?}


    The slime was crushed to death with a thumping sound.


    But the ones she crushed halfway absorbed the other dead ones and returned to normal, so it was only a matter of time before she could kill two of them with one attack.


    I guess magic is more effective in situations like this!


    Skill: Shield Art Lv.4 has been acquired.


    Unable to defeat them all, she used her shield to collect all the slimes that came near her and sweep them away into the distance.


    By doing so, she was gradually reducing their numbers. If she maintained her current state, she would eventually be able to annihilate them. Ai had judged so.


    However, that state of affairs was about to collapse.


    What?


    The slimes in front of her stopped coming towards her and started gathering in one place.


    Then they began to vibrate finely, and step by step, a high-pitched sound like scratching a blackboard echoed through the air.


    Guu?! Aahhh-


    OI, whats going on?!


    Zendo, who had been watching anxiously in the distance, shouted out to Ai, who was kneeling before the sudden, deafening sound.


    However, Ai had no time to respond to his voice.


    She couldnt stand up properly because she was struggling to hold her head with her left hand while using the tower shield in her other hand to block the attack.


    This is crazy


    For the moment she seemed to be holding on, but by all accounts she was nearing her limit.


    There was no time for hesitation, so she lifted a heavy jar full of the finest salt from the back of the truck.


    One of these bottles was worth enough to play with and live on for a while, but Zendo started running without hesitation.


    You, what are you doing!


    He came to Ais side who threw a bottle at the slimes that were making a deafening noise in groups.


    It hit an individual in the front row, and as that individual swayed backwards from the impact, the sound stopped.


    Ah ha ha ha ha, t-thank you, grandpa .


    That can wait! Were withdrawing for now!


    Yeah.


    While lending a shoulder to Ai, who was in no condition to fight, Zendo aimed for the rear. However, the slimes were not going to let that happen.


    The slimes began to make that noise again, and the other slimes began to gather around Ai as she fell to her knees in agony.


    Zendo was not as bad as Ai, but the sound was too much for him at such close range, and he bit his teeth as he dragged Ai towards the cart.


    But at the end of the day, theyre surrounded.


    God damn it!


    With that, Zendo tried to stand his ground to protect Ai.


    He was planning to attract one of them here and buy some time until Tatsuro would come.


    But Ai grabbed his sleeve and stopped him.


    What the hell, thought Zendo, but Ai smiled at the situation and pointed to the sky.


    ( In times like these, you definitely come around. Tatsuro)


    When Zendo turned his eyes in the direction she was pointing, a laser fell from the sky and burned all the slime that surrounded them.


    chapter 47

 Chapter 47: rescue

    Chapter 47: rescue


    It was when Tatsuro had finished rescuing the least powerful part of the team.


    {Tatsuro}


    {Ai? Theres-}


    {Tasu..ro}


    {!}


    Her usual innocent, sunny voice turned into a weak one, calling out to her for help.


    Under such circumstances, there was no way that Tatsuro Hasami would not move.


    But there were still some slimes on the road. But it didnt matter.


    Let it lose.


    At the same time as that small voice, several balls of light were released, and one after another were knocked down and disappeared.


    However, without even looking at the results, Tatsuro mixed earth magic with dark magic and let the magic permeate the cobblestones.


    The cobblestones instantly liquefied, and then quickly took on the desired shape.


    It was a board that looked like a surfboard made thinner and wider.


    When he put his feet on it as if he was surfing, the wind magic created a gust of wind that went from directly below to above, and Tatsuro flew through the air with his board.


    As soon as he reached a height of ten meters above the ground, he used wind magic to manipulate the airflow and slid his board through the air.


    Found you. AI!


    The first thing he did was to shoot out a very thick laser from the tip of his wand at the slime that surrounded them.


    Next, the board was plunged into the sound source that was probably the cause of Ais weakness.


    SHUT UP!


    With that, Tatsuro took off in the direction of Ai and the others and vigorously slammed the board into the slimes, which continued to vibrate strangely.


    The slimes were cut in half by the board, which was thinner but harder than it looked.


    The board was shattered by the impact of hitting the ground, but he thought it was a trivial matter and ran up to Ai.


    Ai!


    Ta-tsuro, .


    As soon as he embraced Ai, who was smiling weakly when she saw Tatsuro, he immediately used magic to find the cause. Then he realized that it was the sound that was causing the problem.


    It is a unique magic used by the slimes, and no matter how much the title adds to it, Ais extremely low magic resistance has been affected by it.


    He wanted to punch himself in the face for not taking any action against it, for underestimating it as just a slime and letting Ai alone deal with it, but this was not the time, so Tatsuro used his life magic to get Ai in shape.


    Thank you. I feel much better now.


    -Im so glad


    Then Tatsuro hugged Ai tightly again. Ai shed a single tear as she realized how much Tatsuro cared about her. Thanks, she said.


    Oh, you two?


    Since you are still alive. Can you wait until after youre done with that stuff?


    Ah!


    Zendo, who was looking at the slimes that were coming back to life completely behind him, felt bad, but he had to tell them.


    Tatsuro and Ai shook their heads, saying they should not, shaked their head and turned their attention to reality. Just then, the slime began to make that vibration again.


    But not to let that happen, Tatsuro moved one step faster.


    First, he used wind magic to separate the individuals and stop the vibrations.


    Then, he imagined additional magic. A magic that will make every living thing in front of him disappear without leaving a single piece.


    You b*****d, dont think you can die so easily


    Tatsuro, thats more of a villains line.


    Im sorry to bother you, but can you tell me more about it?


    Yes Sure


    So they explained in as much detail as they could about the demons they had encountered on their way home today.


    Its probably Murugar and Bedslime. Murugar is still seen once every few years, so its not crazy. But the problem is the Bedslime. If its a large number of them, then the distribution around this town has definitely gone wrong.


    Thats right.


    Of course, if something like that were to happen frequently, there would be no way to make salt. Tatsuro thought, but listened to the rest of Leelas story.


    Yes. Bedslimes themselves are demons that migrate in swarms at regular intervals and devour everything in their path, but the cycle hasnt come yet, and the migration is supposed to go through the Amneri Forest, and its never been confirmed that the area around this town has been used as a passage point.


    Thats why it is strange isnt it?


    Yes, thats right. But how could two people be able to protect that many people?


    Hmm but we had some injuries, so its not like we were able to protect all of them.


    When Ai looked a little pouting, Leela quickly followed up.


    No, no. In fact, its a great achievement when youre only injured and there are no serious injuries or deaths. The premise that the two of you could have defended against that was wrong in the first place. Normally, there would have been deaths for sure.


    I wonder if thats true.


    Yeah. I think you should be proud of yourself.


    Thats right, everyone said thank you right? If you look like that, youre not doing the person who thanked you any favors.


    I see, , youre right!


    Leela and Tatsuro smiled at Ai, who had returned to her usual smile again.


    Then Tatsuro got his reward and the two left the adventurers guild, saying that they could wake up slowly tomorrow because another adventurer had received a request for the next day.


    Leela, who was staring at the backs of the two, sighed as she had more and more questions after todays incident.


    Really, who are those two people


    Before asking them about todays events, the staff had interviewed people who were at the scene in order to investigate the distribution of demons.


    In that information, the heroic deeds of the two were always mentioned.


    Although she could pass it off as no problem in itself, , the content was not very good and could not be passed off.


    They said, in addition to fire magic, he used wind, earth, light, and life magic.


    They said that she used swords, spears, shields, and throwing tools.


    They said that he could manipulate a ball of light that emitted strange rays of light from a distance to defeat demons with precision.


    They said that he was flying in the sky.


    If it were just one or two people who said this, Leela would have dismissed it as a lie.


    In all likelihood, they were no ordinary race of people. Leela had no other explanation but to conclude that.


    Some people say that she eloped with some nobleman, but Leela thinks that this is spurious.


    If that were the case, the adventurers guild could have been asked to search for them, but no one had asked for a search that matched their characteristics.


    (It would have been better for my mental health if that were the case)


    However, there was no malice on their part, and the two were sincere enough to complete the job without running away from the large number of demons, and their character were perfect.


    So in the end, Leela had no choice but to shelve the two of them.


    (Even so, the large discrepancy in the large movement of the BedSlime this is also worrisome. Its been a few days since the earthquake, and maybe theres still something unusual going on in the Amneri Forest that we dont know about. )


    The only other thing Leela could think of was a natural disaster on such a large scale. But if that were the case, she should know.


    But what if its something beyond what she can imagine-


    (Im thinking too much. Lets go home and go to bed.)


    Leela also went back to her house, breaking through the indescribable bad feeling that had momentarily overwhelmed her.


    However, no one knew that the abnormality was currently occurring in the Amneri Great Forest, and that it would later befall this town .


    chapter 48

 Chapter 48: Magical Organism

    Chapter 48: Magical Organism


    They had no idea that their presence was bothering Leela, and now they were once again huddled in that inn.


    Tatsuro was sitting cross-legged on the floor, while Ai was sitting on the bed, shuffling her feet, completely in relaxation mode.


    Youve become a resident of this inn, huh?


    Well, yeah. I dont want to look for another place to stay now, and the one I want to stay at is by reservation only.


    Reservation only, huh? Since we dont have any plans tomorrow, lets go make a reservation.


    I guess so. Well probably be at the lake the first night of the month, so well have to wait until then.


    Right.


    Ai laid down on the bed, looking unmotivated.


    Besides, Tatsuro would be tired today, so he decided to leave him alone and redoubled his efforts to create a magical body creature by the end of the day.


    The reason why he wanted to do it today was to avoid repeating his mistake of today, and also because today was the day of the solution.


    In addition to that, he came up with the idea of using a magical organism to assist Ai with her low magic resistance.


    In addition, although solving magic has its limitations, it can be applied to analyze magic and weaken or cancel it, Tatsuro found out on the carriage ride home, using books and help.


    So he is planning to incorporate this factor into a magical body organism and have it used.


    And on the day of the solution, it will be a little easier to use the solution magic.


    So he thought that if he could incorporate the factor in that state, he could incorporate it more easily than on other days.


    (The first step would be to completely mix light and dark. )


    Using his concentration skills as well, Tatsuro sharpened his nerves even more and created an attribute sphere of darkness and light, each the size of an apple, in his right and left hands.


    He used all of them to re-generate a total of one hundred strings in each of his right and left hands.


    Once that was done, he started on the first barrier.


    First of all, while avoiding contact with them, he made sure that each one of them was as close to each other as possible.


    Then Tatsuro took a deep breath and calmed his nerves.


    When his heart was beating calmly, he held his breath and connected all of the magic power in the form of the 100 strings on the right and the 100 strings on the left at the same time.


    There was a clacking sound and Ai turned to look at him, but Tatsuro didnt care and concentrated on what was in front of him in order to maintain it.


    Thanks to that, the connection was successfully made, and he moved on to the next step.


    First, he twisted the connected cord-like magic power into a single rope, and then he imagined it to become the original spherical shape.


    And so a sphere with the volume of two apples, speckled with black and white, was formed in Tatsuros hand.


    (The next step is to incorporate the factors of the dissolve attribute)


    He injects the magic power of the dissolving attribute into the sphere, which is a mixture of light and dark, in as pristine a way as possible without creating any image.


    Too much and the sphere would break, too little and the factor would not be incorporated, like crossing on thin ice.


    Eventually, he reached his limit, and sensing that the sphere would collapse if he continued, he turned off the magic and focused his attention on stabilizing the sphere so that it would not break.


    As soon as it was stable, he sent an image of what kind of magical creature he wanted the sphere to become.


    (I want it to fly wherever she is, and protect her from all kinds of magic that could harm Ai.)


    As a matter of fact, a lvl 1 magical body creature cant do anything that powerful.


    However, it was not a bad thing to imagine a higher existence.


    As if it had received Tatsuros thoughts, the sphere in his hand gradually changed its shape.


    Ai also continued to stare at it, trying not to get in the way.


    And then.


    Pii pii


    A palm-sized being with a white head and a black body, resembling a baby bird of prey, appeared.


    Tatsuro was taken aback by the different tone of the conversation, but he tried not to interrupt the flow of conversation, thinking that it must have some meaning.


    Yes. The day I saw it, I couldnt sleep alone, even though I used to be able to.


    It must be especially scary when youre a kid, that kind of thing.


    Tatsuro nodded as he remembered his childhood. Although he no longer felt scared when he saw them, he too had been scared when he was little.


    Then my grandmother came and gave me a stuffed dolphin, saying that she would protect the house and that I would be safe from now on. I asked her what her name was. She told me her name was Cardina.


    So you borrowed the name from that stuffed animal?


    Thats right. When Tatsurou said it would protect me, the name of the child suddenly came to my mind.


    Tatsuro, who was now convinced that this was the case, suddenly remembered that there was a stuffed dolphin in Ais room, and asked her what had happened to the dolphin, Cardina.


    Then, with a sullen look on her face, she began to talk about it.


    Aah, I had it until I was in the fifth grade, but it had become very unraveled, so I told my mom to fix it, and it was in such disrepair uuuggg


    Ah,


    It wasnt a dolphin anymore, it was a monster


    Ai opened the lid of her distant memory and stared into the void.


    As Tatsuro watched her, he was reminded of her mother, Misuzu.


    Ai herself was aware that she was not very handy, but Misuzu was even more clumsy.


    Tatsuro couldnt help but feel pity and compassion for the little girl, Ai, for asking someone who struggled even to thread a needle to repair a stuffed animal.


    However, he almost choked on the idea of naming a stuffed animal that had met its demise, but he couldnt think of a better name, and Ai seemed to have a special attachment to it, so he decided to accept it.


    Well leaving aside the stuffed animal, can we call it Cardina?


    Yes, lets go with that.


    She held the baby bird or Cardina, as she called it that was happily sitting on top of her head in her hands, and spoke to her to remind her of her name.


    Your name is Cardina, Cardina II~.


    Pippi?


    Ah, the second generation.


    Cardina didnt seem to understand, tilted her head and started to move again as she pleased.


    But after repeated reminders, she began to look at me when he called her Cardina.


    All right. Now that we have a name, its time to let Cardina rest.


    Rest? You want her to sleep here?


    No, no, no, thats not it.


    Materializing will consume a small amount of magic power, once she is back inside me.


    Ai couldnt hide the uneasy look on her face at those words.


    Does that mean youre turning it back into magic? Is that safe to do?


    Yeah. Rather than turning it back into magic, its more like converting it into a magical form and sleeping in my magic. So if I call her, she should come out immediately, so dont worry.


    I see. Then Ill say goodbye for now, good night Cardina II~.


    Ai stroked Cardinas head with her index finger and then held it out to Tatsuro in the palm of her hand.


    Tatsuro responded and took the Cardina, imagining that he was absorbing it into his body and tucking it inside.


    Then, he could feel the presence of an individual with a will within his magic power.


    Fuu. This is good.


    Hmm~ Then wed better get ready for bed, too.


    Ai stood up while stretching and said, Right, to which Tatsuro replied, I guess so. The two of them wiped each other down as usual, changed into their nightgowns, and lay down on the same bed side by side.


    chapter 49

 Chapter 49: First Polar Night

    Chapter 49: First Polar Night


    That day was different from usual.


    When the clock struck nine in the morning, Tatsuro finally woke up.


    However, the sun, which should have been up by now, was nowhere to be seen, and there was a large moon in the sky.


    (Is this what you call a polar night )


    As the consciousness finally became clearer, he remembered that today was the weekend light day.


    And since he knows that this is a normal day in this world and not an abnormal one, he wakes up Ai with his life magic without any fuss.


    ..hhmmmm? Its still night. gguu


    Dont guu on me. Wake up, Ai, today is the day the sun doesnt rise.


    Eh~that cant be true.


    So she finally remembered the otherworldly situation and slowly raised her body.


    Good morning, Tatsuro


    Good morning, Ai.


    So, with a wake-up call and a light kiss, they began their activities.


    First of all, we have to make a reservation at the expensive inn, right?


    Yes. Then well do some shopping and go to the lake.


    Are we going to the lake on foot? Or are you going in that flying thing?


    When Ai looked up at him with a somewhat expectant gaze, Tatsuro smiled and said it was easy to understand.


    Were going to do that from the middle point on.


    From the middle? Why cant we start from the beginning?


    Its not that we cant, its just that our first priority is to secure the SP.


    Lately, I have not been able to use the Level Eater because we have been under the scrutiny of people on escort missions, and I want to earn some money along the way.


    That being said, SP earning has been a bit sluggish lately. If we fly, we might not run into any demons, so lets do at the middle.


    Ai seemed to be convinced, so when Tatsuro was about to get out his clothes for the day, Ai asked him to wait.


    Instead of that, wear those expensive clothes I picked out for you.


    Eh? Why so sudden?


    Were not staying here today, but were going to a fancy inn.


    It would be unpleasant if you dressed like an ordinary adventurer and were not taken seriously.


    Oh. I wonder if that ever happens.


    Even if they dont, theres no harm in wearing it.


    Tatsuro thought, but she had a point. He picked up an expensive outfit that looked like something a young aristocrat would wear, not something he had worn recently, and changed into it.


    Ai also wore a gorgeous embroidered one-piece dress, as she had declared, and she could have been described as a young lady of some kind.


    How do I look, Tatsuro?


    No, How to say its beautiful.


    I-Is that so? Fufu -Tatsuros cool too!


    Thanks a lot.


    Thanks to the fact that both of them had a good appearance, they were able to wear any kind of clothes, but this one was an unusual fit.


    To the casual observer, they could have been mistaken for noblemen or similarly high-ranking individuals.


    Im done getting dressed and packing. Lets go.


    Lets go!


    So they went downstairs in their clothes, had breakfast while the innkeeper and his wife rolled their eyes as they returned the key, and went out into the moonlit town in high spirits.


    Its strange that its morning and the moon is out.


    Thats right. Its a phenomenon that would never happen in Japan.


    Then, they stepped into a secluded area on the opposite side of the main gate, which they had never been to before.


    Tatsuro could see that the houses lined up one after another and the people passing by were dressed in a higher grade of clothing.


    {Theres a lot of mansions around here.}


    {I guess its a high-end residential area.}


    {If I could travel back and forth between Japan and this world, Id like to sell off some more of my golden crystals and build a mansion somewhere and live in comfort.}


    {That sounds like fun too.}


    {Right?}


    It was not the kind of place to talk aloud, so the two of them turned right at the end of the road, talking in telepathy and envisioning a comfortable life together.


    At the end of the road, three high-class lodgings appeared in an area as large as the mansions they had seen so far.


    First of all, Tatsuro took out his wand and used a mixture of wind and fire magic to create three two-meter high tornadoes of flames that hit the Martians and scorched them.


    In the meantime, Ai held her greatsword and spear to the right and left in preparation for close combat.


    IIEE IEE IEEE


    They are m*******t?


    What an uneducational demon! Do not listen to Ai.


    EEEH!? How old am I in Tatsuros mind?


    It sounded like it wanted to be scorched by a tornado of fire, and Tatsuro shuddered to think that some demons had that kind of taste but needless to say, it was just that kind of cry.


    In any case, if we defeat that thing, we can accomplish one request. Lets keep our eyes open.


    Un I can smell some kind of squid. I wonder if I can eat them.


    If you eat them, you will get hurt, so dont.


    Am I a little girl!


    In spite of her complaints, Ai approached the charred Martian (temporary), then instantly clothed her greatsword with energy and cleaved it in a horizontal line.


    Skill: Swordsmanship Lv. 3 has been acquired


    IIIEEEE!


    The two creatures fell down with their heads cut off from their legs, screaming with delight.


    That was all well and good, but the problem came after that.


    The moment the demons were defeated, the greatsword in Ais hand was cracked in a mesh-like pattern and fell to pieces.


    Aah Wha


    The Martian (temporary) tried to attack Ai while she was surprised by it. However, they were immediately pierced by the spear in Ais left hand and killed at the same time.


    Skill: Spear Technique Lv.4.


    When Tatsuro saw the two spears piercing the ground at the same time, he knew that he would be wiped out before he could use the Level Eater, so he began to focus on the enemy in front of him.


    Ai, please step back for a moment.


    Yes.


    Once she was back, he manipulated three tornadoes of flame to surround the remaining two.


    If they tried to escape through the gap, he would move the tornadoes to block them, and succeeded in sewing them in place.


    Next, Tatsuro activates his Level Eater and hits one of the captured creatures with the black ball.


    Level: 13


    Skills: Swallow Lv.3, Increase Tentacle Strength Lv.1, Slime Lv. 4


    ( Slime is the highest level. )


    He realized that he was a demon that liked to play in a special way, and although he didnt want to use it as his food, he told himself that he was taking it to go home.


    Level: 1


    SkillsSwallow Lv.0Increase Tentacle Strength Lv. 0Slime Lv. 0


    Okay, next monster.)


    Level: 15


    SkillsSwallow Lv.1Increase Tentacle Strength Lv.1Slime Lv. 6


    (So why is Slime the highest?!


    Moreover, this guy has only one more Lv. 1 than the other, why are you so high level!


    Are you stupid, hey are you stupid!?)


    Level: 1


    SkillsSwallow Lv.0Increase Tentacle Strength Lv.0Slime Lv. 0


    Im tired


    After enduring the mental attack in this way, Tatsuro gained SP (40) here.


    chapter 50

 Chapter 50: The third look of the salt lake

    Chapter 50: The third look of the salt lake


    After rooting out the level of the mucus-loving tentacle aliens, Tatsuro pointed his wand at them and used a laser to put a wind hole in their heads, killing them instantly.


    I hope I never have to see these guys again.


    I dont know why demons are always so creepy.


    As Tatsuro nodded back, his eyes fell on the handle-only large sword in Ais right hand.


    Come to think of it, how did that sword end up like that? Those guys themselves didnt have those skills, though.


    Oh, thats probably because its just an iron sword.


    When Tatsuro had a question mark floating aobve his head as to whether or not an iron sword would normally crumble, Ai immediately realized that she hadnt said enough and began to elaborate.


    Well, uhm. Iron weapons have a low rank here, you know.


    Ah, thats true, if you ask me. They can be mass produced.


    Yeah. One reason is that theyre easy to get, but the main reason is that the amount of Ki they can hold is very low.


    The amount of Ki that can hold is low , which means that you just clothed your sword with ki and used it, and it couldnt withstand Ais amount ofKki and fell apart, or something like that?


    Thats right. I thought Id be okay at that amount, but it was worse than I expected.


    As she gathered up the crumbling remains of the large sword, Ai regretfully put it away in her item box. Apparently, it was one of her favorite weapons.


    Ill have to get a weapon that can withstand Ais full power somewhere else. It wouldnt be funny if it broke during the fight.DiisCoover updated novels on


    Right. It would be a pity if they are disposable.


    As he patted Ais head to comfort her, Tatsuro looked at the wand in his other hand.


    ( If it could happen with ki, maybe the same thing can happen with magic power. Perhaps it was not fortuitous that I was able to get my hands on this one early.)


    Thinking about this, Tatsuro sent his gratitude to the old man who sold him the staff and the foolish son of the lord who left him with nothing but money.


    After that, when Ais mood started to return, Tatsuro decided to use his current SP to raise the level of his skills.


    What are you going to raise this time?


    Hmm~ I have 114 SP, so Im thinking of taking Dark Magic Lv.4 and Earth Magic Lv.6 which leaves me at 0 SP


    Dark Magic is the same enhancement as Light Magic, right? Wont they have the same effect?


    Im not so sure about that. According to the book I bought the other day, both can be used to strengthen other attributes, but light magic is good at strengthening and not good at transformation. Dark magic is not good at strengthening, but is good at transformation. So there is a difference.


    Hmm? What does transformation do in the first place?


    Ai, who could not use magic, could not understand what Tatsuro meant by transformation. So, Tatsuro decided to show her an easy to understand example.


    Transformation is the process of changing the inherent properties of something, for example, if you transform fire, it can do this.


    With that, Tatsuro mixed fire magic with dark magic and imagined what he wanted to do. Then the liquidized flame flowed down from his palm and disappeared, leaving a burn mark on the ground.


    The fire was like water now. This is what you mean by transformation.


    Yeah, and what Im trying to do this time is to make the board lighweight with dark magic that I use to fly.


    Making it lightweight is possible?


    Yeah, when I first made the board, I used dark magic to transform the original weight and make it lighter. That way, when I use wind magic, I can save magic power and extend my flight time.


    So thats how it is.


    So, when Ai understood what his intentions were, Tatsuro quickly raised the level of his skills.


    Name: Tatsuro Hasami


    Class: Light Magician


    Level: 28


    Energy: 65


    However, both of them were surprised only at first, and their eyes lit up at the scene that unfolded before them.


    Amaaaaaaaaaaaaazing!


    Ai, I can see the Obsuru over there!


    Its true!


    In the direction Tatsuro was pointing, he could see the beautiful white exterior walls lit up by the moonlight, as well as the city itself.


    He then spun around and grabbed the feeling of a two-seater and pointed the board in the direction of the lake.


    Okay, this will take us right to the lake. Are you ready?


    Leeeeeeetttttttsssssss go, Tatsurooooo!


    Roger!


    While holding back his laughter at the tension of Ai, Tatsuro accelerated the board on the air current created by the wind magic and slid through the sky at several times the speed of walking.


    By flying over the trees and across the out of the way areas, they could get there in no time.


    What the hell is that?!


    Is that the lake?


    The lake, even from a distance, created a completely different landscape.


    Its like a mirror reflecting light, the entire surface of the lake was glowing pale white.


    Looking down from above, only the area around the lake seemed to stand out brightly.


    Amazing even from here its so bright.


    Yeah. Okay, lets try to get closer.


    Yes.


    As Ai admired the scene, she gently put her weight on Tatsuro, who was standing behind while hugging her. Tatsuro responded by hugging it tightly for a moment, and then slid the board all the way down to near the top of the lake.


    Its even more beautiful when you see it up close.


    When I saw it in the evening, it looked like the salt under the lake was glowing, but here the lake itself is glowing. I dont know how that makes sense.


    Finally, they came to the top of the lake, where they made a large, slow turn and looked down. When they finished looking at the scene from the sky, they slowly descended to the ground.


    After landing with a whoosh, Tatsuro put the iron board in the item box and the two of them walked side by side to the edge of the lake in front of them.


    When they came to a position where they could touch it directly, they both crouched down and scooped up the glistening water with their hands.


    Huh? It doesnt glow when you scoop it up?


    Looks like it.


    Then, when he returned the water to the lake, it mixed with the surrounding water and regained its light. Ai, perhaps amused by this phenomenon, played with the water, scooping it up and putting it back again and again.


    Tatsuro, meanwhile, dug his hand into the lake to see if there were any secrets at the bottom, and dug up a bit of the bottom to scoop it up, but he found nothing unusual, just sand, gravel and hardened salt.


    Its really a strange place.


    Heey.


    Ai stopped scooping up the water and intertwined her fingers with Tatsuros wet hand.


    Come on, wipe your hands before you intertwine my hands.


    Hehehe.


    She smiled and leaned on Tatsuros shoulder without any ill will. He couldnt say anything about the innocent look on her face, so he put a little of his weight on her and they leaned against each other as they continued to watch the mysterious glowing lake together.


    Should we go and collect some Sassafras?


    Yes, we should.


    The two of them spent some time relaxing together, and then decided to start working on another request.


    TL: With this finished I want to announce that I will be handing this serie back to Nocturnal translation. Thats all. I enjoyed translating this novel but couldnt release more then 1 ch per week. Im sorry about that. With that said I hope you enjoyed my translation and have a great day!

 Chapter 51: A Blacksmith’s Raison d’être

    Chapter 51: A Blacksmith¡¯s Raison d¡¯e?tre


    While holding a picture of the sasara grass[1] in one hand, the two started searching for it and eventually found it a short walk away from the lake.


    Checking whether the system marked the quest as completed allowed them to track how much more grass they needed to gather.


    As the sasara grass was growing in abundance, the two finished their task without much problems.


    Alright, system says were good to go. Do you wanna look at the lake while we fly again? Tatsurou asked.


    I want to see it from the ground this time though, Ai replied.


    Alright.


    With their hands linked together, the pair walked back to the lakeside. There, with their arms intertwined, they spent a few more moments taking in the captivating beauty of the lake before heading back to the skies.


    I still cant get used to the feeling of taking off, Ai said.


    But climbing any slower than this would take up too much mana. That speed was the most mana efficient.


    Ai wanted their ascent to be much slower, similar to that of being pulled by a UFOs tractor beam but life is never easy.[2]


    However, upon hearing the word mana, a question popped out in her head.


    Then how about flying itself? Doesnt it use mana too?


    If I went flying alone, Id say Ill only have a few minutes at best, Tatsurou answered while hugging her tight.


    Then, it hit her.


    So that s why we could fly longer even though theres the two of us.


    I see. We dont have any problems with flight because we have [Perfect Harmony] huh


    Yep, he answered, but even with that bonus regen, my mana is still getting drained bit by bit so its not like we could fly forever.


    Oh Is that so now she mumbled, burying herself deeper in his embrace.


    Controlling his Wind Magic, Tatsurou started circling around the lake. Satisfied after three laps, he finally left the area and headed back to town.


    Touchdown! Ai exclaimed once they made contact with the ground.


    Tatsurou, however, let out a sigh after landing. Tired due to the prolonged flight, he took this moment to catch a breather.


    While making sure to not let go of Ai to maintain the titles regeneration effect, Tatsurou stored the fly board into his item box.


    You okay now? asked Ai.


    Yep. Ive recovered most of my mana now thanks to you, replied Tatsurou.


    I see, I see she muttered while happily dragging Tatsurou by the arm as they walked back to town.


    Tatsurou, who was busy focusing his attention on the soft texture hitting his arm, did not resist and followed her lead until they reached their destination.


    We should deliver these things to the adventurers guild first, Tatsurou said.


    Uh-huh.


    Without further ado, the pair entered the guild building and turned their quest in with the clerk, who handed over the quest rewards without any complications.


    Seeing that Rella wasnt around, the two promptly exited the premise, not having anyone else to chat with.[3]


    Its hard to tell because its dark all day but it should be about time for the sun to set now, said Tatsurou. Wanna grab a meal before we go back to the inn?


    Shall we?


    Walking towards the plaza, they eyed each and every stall before entering one which looked promising.


    Once they entered the shop, their stomachs growled simultaneously as they inhaled the waft of food being prepared.


    Welcome! What will you be having? the shopkeeper asked.


    Chefs choice! [Omakase]


    Tatsurou thought back to the time when he made the iron fly board.


    Using magic, he was able to finish the product quickly and even made it lighter than the conventional iron.


    If he really wanted to mass-produce it, he would have no problems doing so. However, the fact that no one is doing it means that it doesnt work at all.


    As his thought process continued, a question popped up in his mind.


    Then do magic wands have to be made by a blacksmith too? he asked.


    To which Ai replied, I dont really know. Do they, Mr. Blacksmith?


    Something like that. But well, there shouldnt be any problem if you made it with your own magic from start to finish. Still, if you were to compare it to something made by a professional, you can easily see the difference.


    Blacksmiths are that amazing huh? Tatsurou muttered.


    Well, thats what you get in a world full of magic. Theres all kinds of jobs out there, kid.


    Getting a grasp on what kind of a existence blacksmiths are in this world, the two finally understood how important it was to leave the job to the professionals.


    So yeah At any rate, whether you use mana or ki, equipment made by smiths are your best bet. Thats why kids, Im telling you, the best smiths are those who can make items that can handle an insane amount of energy!


    You dont look the part, though, Ai stabbed, with words sharper than any knife.


    Ack.


    As everyone was done with their meal, they paid their dues and took the conversation outside.


    About that better-than-iron weapon you were talking about earlier, I have some at my house. You gonna buy one? the smith asked.


    We want to, yes.


    Ill get them ready then. Will you be coming over tomorrow?


    Yep. We got nothing to do tomorrow so if youll have us then Tatsurou replied first.


    Were going!


    Good to know.


    Ending their conversation there, they went their separate ways, with the pair heading back to the inn where they stayed at.


    Its been another peaceful day for us, isnt it? Ai muttered.


    It has. There were those weird monsters but no, lets forget about those guys.


    Not wanting to talk about those tentacled monsters, Tatsurou shoved them away to the deepest parts of his memory.


    A few moments later, he muttered a name under his breath.


    Cardina.


    As soon as he called, a grain of mana separated itself from his body and took the form of a birdling.


    Over here, Cardina-chan! Ai called to which it responded by chirping and hopping over to her hands. Good boy![4]


    Leaving the two of them to play, Tatsurou took out his light-darkness mixing book and searched for a way to make Cardina grow.


    While the fact that it came into existence was already a feat to celebrate, it was still, in the end, a chick and bringing it into battle would only serve as a hindrance instead. At the very least, he wanted to give it the power to soar the skies with its own wings.


    (There!)


    Locating the information he needed with ease, he immediately started hammering each and every word of it into his head.


    TL Notes:


    [1] has a corresponding kokuji in jisho meaning bamboo whisk, but the author specifically wrote so I think it is another type of plant that is similar to, but not exactly bamboo, as putting that phrase in a dictionary or an MTL yields no useful results.


    [2] This is what I got from a 30-minute search. [Full explanation here]


    [3] Translated by the previous translator as Leela. This name is much closer to the correct pronunciation.


    [4] Gender wasnt specified, but I felt like it would be weird to translate it as good birdie!

 Chapter 52: Growth

    Chapter 52: Growth


    From the book, Tatsurou learnt how to nurture his creations to a higher level and even the method on how to create those higher-level existences without the need to make them grow from a lower stage. Equipped with the knowledge, he called out to the other two in the room.


    Ai, can I have Cardina for a moment?


    Sure! Ai replied, holding the birdling up to her face. A moment later, she passed the chick over to Tatsurou with outstretched hands.


    The little birdling, as if it was a puppet in the hands of a ventriloquist, tilted its head and chirped as the events unfolded.


    Seeing the interaction between them, Tatsurou cracked a smile.


    What are you gonna do? Ai asked.


    Im gonna let it fly.


    Oh, right! It can fly.


    Well, not while its still like this


    They both turned their gazes towards Cardina. The birdling, on the other hand, simply followed the order it was given and leapt onto Tatsurous hand.


    While it was true that it was not able to fly with its wings now, Cardina closely resembles the hawks and eagles back on Earth so saying that it should not be able to fly would be a lie.


    Realising that, Tatsurou concluded that the main reason why it couldnt fly was because his Dark Magic was at Lvl 1 when he brought it into existence.


    So, I wanted to try it now, but


    But?


    I dont know if itll work if I do it like before, so Will you help me?


    So you want to dope using the title?


    Nodding his head, Tatsurou continued on, This magic needs precise control over mana. Thats why Id like to do it while my mana control stat is at its highest.


    You got it! Fusion!


    With Tatsurou sitting cross-legged on the floor, Ai sat right behind him, placing him between her legs as she leaned her body on his.[1]


    Feeling her weight on his back, Tatsurou could easily imagine what was touching him. Calming his heartbeats down with Life magic, he then started to work on Cardinas growth program.


    According to the book, the way to do so was something close to removing the soul from the old body and transferring it to a new one.


    Hence, the first thing on his to-do list was to create a new vessel for Cardina.


    With him being Ai-doped this time, he instantly began to gather Light and Darkness magic at Lv 4 and mixed them together. Next, he followed the same procedures which he did before.


    Done!


    Its a lot faster than yesterday, isnt it?


    Yeah.


    It was exactly as Tatsurou thought weaving the threads of light and dark-attributed mana together was much easier as when his magic was only at level one. This time, the sphere of magic that he made was also much larger.


    If only I didnt try to show off and did this from the start


    While feeling a slight bit of regret, Tatsurou carried on with the process.


    Cardina, now, Ill be taking you to your new body, he said.


    As if it understood the meaning behind his words, the birdling released a loud tweet, jumping towards the sphere of mana in his hands.


    Surprised, Ai raised her voice for a moment but calmed down after hearing Tatsurou say, Dont worry.


    Feeling Cardinas soul imprinted all over the Lvl 1 vessel, Tatsurou carefully pulled it out of its current body and transferred it over to the sphere of magic. Once it was in place, the soul started to spread throughout the entire sphere.


    Not long after, he confirmed that Cardinas soul had successfully been transferred.


    From here on, Tatsurou wanted to replace the Information Magic embedded within it. Erasing the trace of his previous work, he implanted Information Magic Lvl 3 in. Seeing that the sphere was on the verge of collapsing due to the different mana mixed into it, he ordered Cardina to take form and end the process.


    In response, the sphere gradually took the shape of a bird and which let out a high-pitched shriek.


    Whoa! Looking mightier now, arent we? Ai, who was peeking over Tatsurous shoulders, said as she saw Cardinas new form.


    Tatsurou thought the same too. The once-little birdling has now grown to about 30 centimetres tall with part of its head colored white, contrasting its pure black body. As it absentmindedly made a small flap of its wings, anyone would agreed that it was now a magnificent bird of prey. However, the one characteristic that did not change were its round adorable eyes.


    Cardina, can you try flying now? Tatsurou asked, to which the bird cocked its head to the side in response.


    Doesnt look like it can understand you, does it? Ai commented.


    Hmm Has its intelligence not reached that level yet?


    So its okay against monsters?


    Yep. They dont really have much intelligence, so theyre limited to using their skills. So, if I memorise the wavelengths of their magic, we should be able to make countermeasures.


    Right


    In her mind, Ai simply categorized it like this: using it against humans would be hard; using it against monsters is possible if theyve already fought it once.


    So you plan on making Cardina-chan do the analysis?


    Yep. That and itll be our eyes in the sky using search magic. That way, we can focus on fighting. Good plan, right?


    It is! But I wonder if its this good in theory, why doesnt everyone just learn light and darkness magic to make their own familiars?


    Thats because its difficult? It takes a large amount of SP and normal people will huh?


    What?


    Tatsurous face stiffened as he realised something that he should have ages ago. Then the guy who wrote this book was able to do it too, right?


    Oh Ai also took note.


    There was no room for ambiguities in the book.


    Everything was explained clearly.


    It was written after numerous experiments, stating the most efficient actions.


    It even had details for each and every attribute.


    Youre telling me that theres someone else like me in this world, with an ability to earn SP in a different way? Tatsurou threw the question out.


    Looks like it. It doesnt look like its widespread and it doesnt seem like just anyone could do it so you dont have to worry that much.


    Well, no, its not just that.


    Eh?


    Opening the book, Tatsurou showed her the foreword.


    To you, who are reading this right now.


    To you, who perhaps have been played by fate, I offer my aid through this book.


    May it help you turn your life around.


    How you use this power is up to you.


    Use it however you deem fit.


    Still confused at the situation, Ai tilted her head.


    Seeing her do so, Tatsurou told her about the possibility in his mind. Whoever wrote this said you, who perhaps have been played by fate. Just from these words alone, you could imply that the author also had a similar experience, right?


    Hmm? So?


    What if this person is the same as us? What if theyre from another world as well?


    Are they? Thats quite a bold assumption, you know?


    Eh? Ah But then Well, I guess so. Now that you say it, I might have been a bit too jumpy.


    See?


    It might have just been him jumping to conclusions after reading it through colored lenses.


    However, the seed has already been planted in his heart, never to be forgotten.


    The seed that the books author could possibly be someone like them.


    ED Notes:


    [A] Player versus Player combat


    TL Notes:


    [1] Something like this: [Link]


    [2] Oh no Oh no Oh no no no no no


    [3] Wood, which I previously translated as Nature. Also, a reminder that this world has 12 days per week.Updated chapters on

 Chapter 53: Weapons Procurement

    Chapter 53: Weapons Procurement


    After that, Tatsurou hid his suspicions away somewhere in his heart.


    The two changed to their nightwear and prepared to sleep.


    However, as it was still too early for them, they passed the time by having silly but sometimes interesting conversations as they cuddled together on top of the bed.[1]


    Soon enough, they fell asleep, marking the end of their first polar night in this world.


    It was about 10 in the morning when Tatsurou finally opened his eyes.


    Though they went to bed early, they ended up having a lengthy conversation which kept them way past their usual sleep time.


    Its not like we got anything important to do today, he thought as he squinted his eyes, finally seeing the sun again after more than a day.


    Later, after watching Ais sleeping face for some time, he gave her a light peck on the cheek before waking her up with Life magic.T/his chapter is updated by


    Once she was awake, the two changed their clothes and left the inn after some flirting.


    Were going to the lake again tonight, right? Ai asked.


    Yeah. Its the last face, Tatsurou replied. Its beautiful by itself, but theres also that time when the bottom of the lake reflected the moonlight and just yesterday, the lake itself was glowing. I wonder what were gonna see next.


    Me too. But when you think that there is only one face left, it feels kinda sad, doesnt it?


    Well, thats that.


    Finishing their conversation, the pair decided to grab their breakfast not from the inn but from one of the food carts in the plaza.


    Once theyve reached the plaza, they discussed on where to eat.


    Should we go to the same place as yesterday?


    In the end, they decided against it and chose to enter a new store with Fresh Meat written on the signboard.


    When they walked in, the shopkeeper greeted the two as if they were the shops regulars and took their order in delight.


    The store stayed true to its sign as the pair had their fill of its menu, leaving it with satisfied smiles.


    We might have just found our go-to food stall, said Ai.


    Maybe. They serve a lot for cheap and it even tastes good to boot! If this was in Japan, Id have gone there every day.


    Fufu. So you say.


    As they talked about their breakfast, the two headed towards the smithy.


    You here old man? Tatsurou asked loudly.


    This place aint the plaza, kid.


    Hes awake? Wow


    He really is awake!


    The first impression they had of him was still deeply ingrained in their minds, making them think he was a sleepyhead through and through.


    Seeing them surprised at what should have been an ordinary sight, the blacksmith sighed. You two, do you think I just lay around somewhere snoring all day?


    Kinda. Yes.


    Didnt even need to think huh? I always do things that I got to do you fools!


    Really?


    Yeah. What dyou think? Im great, arent I?


    Sure


    Hey! Wheres your respect and appreciation! Even though Im this old, my heart made of glass could still easily break you know!


    You say


    Can I cry outside for a minute?


    Nope.


    You two youre that close, huh?


    An old mans heart is a delicate thing he grumbled.


    However the two didnt come here to act out a comedy skit with him.


    Without wasting a single second more, Ai dived right into the  topic.


    So wheres the goods?


    Placing them all on top of the table, he let out an exhausted sigh before finally looking at the two again.


    What do you mean by that? Is this some kind of bad apple?


    You could call it that but thats mostly because of the price. That and the sword is a real deal even if you compare it to what any other smith in town could offer.


    Price? How much are we talking about?


    Hundred mil, twenty grand. Nothing less.


    What? Wow


    Tatsurou and Ai were stunned.


    Never had they expected it to be that expensive. They thought that itd be in the ten-thousands at best.


    Thats pretty much the only reason it wouldnt sell. But I tell you, this thing is made of pure holy verde. Nothings better than that when it comes to handling Ki, the smith explained. Doesnt matter how much of a Ki monster you are lil girl, this thing wont crack!


    Sounds great. Can I try using Ki on it then?


    Go ahead but please, dont dump in all of your Ki at once! That thing is the most expensive one out of my old mans legacy so treat it like a princess.


    Nodding at his words, Ai began to gather the Ki in her body. While she did so, Tatsurou asked the blacksmith, So did your father make that one?


    My father is one of them, to be exact, he replied.


    When the blacksmith said that, Ai was already done with gathering her Ki and was directing it into the sword. The sword shined from green to blue, blue to purple, then to red, to silver,  white and finally, an ever-changing color.


    Wow Beautiful


    Oi oi Are you for real? I havent heard of this sword being able to do that multi-color thing The blacksmith muttered. No wonder your iron sword turned into scrap.


    As they all expressed their personal thoughts, Ai started to slowly withdraw her Ki from the sword. Losing its energy, the sword reverted back to the previous colors one by one until it was finally green again.


    So, yeah, looks like I can go all out if its with this, she remarked.


    Alright. Its a bit expensive but lets take it anyway, Tatsurou agreed.


    Take it can you even pay that much?


    If you can keep it here by tomorrow, we can somehow pay for it then.


    The smith was wide-mouthed in shock.


    After recovering from his daze, he openly frolicked like a child.


    REALLY? YOU BUYING THAT THING?! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!


    Wow We really broke him this time huh?


    Well, even though its an inheritance, he just exchanged something thats basically rotting in his storeroom into a large amount of money. Its kinda gross but let him have  it for now.


    I guess so. Lets take a look at the other stuff in the meantime.


    Leaving the smith behind, they started to view the other weapons he took out from the store.


    Sadly, none of them had the same impact as the gemstone sword, being the equivalent of dirt in comparison.


    As Ai scoured through the pile of equipment, she found something that caught her eye.


    Is this a whip? she asked.


    Looks like it, but it feels like it isnt


    The object of interest Ai held in her hands was a black grip attached to one meter of pure white wire, thick enough to securely tie the hands of a macho man.[3]


    As they were observing it, the blacksmith finally returned to reality and explained, Oh, thats a whip with a thrown weapon attached on the tip. You need both skills to be able to perfectly use that thing. Im not even sure how to make that thing work. He then continued with, dont even know why my old man made that so dont ask me.


    Hmm Isnt it a bit too short for a thrown weapon?


    I know right. If the enemy was just a meter away, punching and short blades would be a much faster option.


    Seeing them dubious of his words, the smith told them about the weapons special trait.


    If you put Ki into that thing, itll get thinner and longer. Ill let you handle it for a bit, so why not try it out?


    Okay!


    Ais eyes gleamed as she answered without a second thought.


    TL Notes:


    [1] Remember that a day here is 26 hours. My body clocks gonna be broken if I was here. (as if it isnt already)


    [2] I read online that job +ster used to be a job title for females back in the days, so, yep


    [3] So a rope?

 Chapter 54: Preparations

    Chapter 54: Preparations


    TL Note: From now on, Ill translate all weapon skills as [Weapon + Art] so no one gets confused with them. This way, theyll be in a more similar format to the raws. It would also prevent any awkward skill names that would arise from following what youre probably used to reading (e.g. swordsmanship works for the sword, but the format just doesnt work for shields or whips).


    Pushing the table to a corner, the smith prepared a wooden target dummy. While he did so, Ai went somewhere a bit more spacious and swung the whip around, taking care not to hit anything around her. As such, she was able to achieve [Whip Art] Lvl 3.


    When the blacksmith was done, he took a step back, standing right beside Tatsurou.


    Less than five meters.


    That was the distance between Ai and her opponent.


    It was a distance that could not be covered by the whip as it was.


    Hence, Ai focused on accumulating her Ki.


    Circling it through her body, she flowed Ki through the whip and coated it from the base to the tip.


    Holding it in her right hand, she raised the whip as high as her left shoulder and swung it down parallel to the ground.


    Following her action, the whip flew out.


    Due to Ais Ki, the width of the whip thinned out while its length significantly increased in exchange.


    The weapon reached its mark, boring a hole through the dummy.


    [Skill [Throwing] has levelled up to Lv.8]


    [Skill [Whip Art] has levelled up to Lv. 4]


    Great job! Tatsurou cheered.


    At the same time, the blacksmith muttered to himself, You sure youre a swordster?


    Seeing Ai, who he thought was a swordster, use the whip proficiently put the blacksmith at a loss.


    Theres more where that came from!


    Seizing the moment, Ai threw a second attack in.


    It wasnt one single motion. As the whip cut through the air, Ai pulled her hand downwards, making it land right on top of the dummys head.


    And after a loud cracking sound, the wooden training dummy was cleanly cut into half.


    [Skill [Whip Art] has levelled up to Lv. 5]


    Hey, this things kinda convenient!


    Yeah, somehow


    Seeing Ai flail the whip around, chopping the dummy into finer and finer pieces, Tatsurou thought that she might awaken to a weird fetish, sending chills up his spine.


    Shortly after, her [Whip Art] turned Lv 7.


    Finally done with her masterpiece, Ai returned to Tatsurous side while looking proud of her work.


    Youre okay, right? Tatsurou asked anxiously when she decided to buy the whip herself.


    Going through the rest of the weapons, their final shopping cost came to a total of 133 million Sys.


    When the conversation switched towards money, the blacksmith surfaced a crude smile on his face.


    Alright, well take these guys tomorrow when we get the money okay!


    So dont sell them to others while were at it old man!


    With those final words, the two started to trudge home, leaving the old man behind with his nasty smile.


    However, the old man caught Tatsurous shoulder.


    Wait! Take them now! You can just pay tomorrow!


    HA?


    Surprised as to why the blacksmith didnt want to wait till tomorrow when they had the money, the pair tilted their heads in confusion.


    Dont give me that look! Were friends, arent we? he continued. I trust that you two will pay so Im giving them to you now! Great, right?


    And why would you do that?


    Come on! Itll be bad if you suddenly change your mind tomorrow! I already have my retirement plans you know!


    And what if we just take it and run?


    As if it was fully intent on not letting them pass through this place, the monster did not move even an inch from its stealth after five minutes.


    Haah wanna try baiting it out? said Tatsurou.


    Bait it out?


    Yeah. Get your throwing knives ready and throw it the moment it comes out, he drew up a quick plan. As for Cardina, .


    The bird shrieked.


    Seeing it ready, Tatsurou gathered his mana and created a sphere of light.


    He then shaped it into a caterpy, placed it on the ground, and had it crawl to the top of a stone.


    Finally understanding what he meant, Ai took a knife out and prepared to throw it.


    Once the caterpy reached the mark, the hand once again flew out from the shrubs and tried to catch it. However, as the caterpy was made of light, the hand harmlessly passed through it.


    To pull it further out of its hideout, Tatsurou made the bait move in a direction opposite from where the hand retreated to.


    Not intending to let its prey go, it jumped out of the bushes and landed on top of the stone earlier.


    HUT! Ai grunted.


    GHRAAA?


    As it was fully focused on catching its prey, the monster failed to notice Ais attack and was pierced by two knives, one on its left arm and the other on its flank.


    Now alerted by their presence, it turned their gaze towards the team.


    Did it not feel a thing?


    Right in front of their eyes was a humanoid creature that was at most two meters tall with a frame so thin that it looked like a skeleton. It had a long blue nose, akin to that of a stereotypical witches, and huge ears.


    Although it had two knives sticking out of its body, it did not show any particular reaction except staring at them in a temporary trance.


    I have a bad feeling about this Ai muttered.


    Me too. Lets just kill it as soon as we can, Tatsurou replied. He activated Level Eater instantly and blew the black sphere from his mouth.


    Moving the fake caterpy towards the spheres trajectory, the monster chased after it and voluntarily absorbed the black sphere into its body.


    Level:  17


    Skill(s): [Scratch Lv 5], [Bite Lv 4], [Unarmed Combat Lv 2]


    [Pain Tolerance Lv 3]


    (Unarmed Combat? It can learn the skills of humans even though its a monster?


    And Pain tolerance Sounds a bit eerie.)


    Level:  17


    Skill(s): [Scratch Lv 0], [Bite Lv 0], [Unarmed Combat Lv 0]


    [Pain Tolerance Lv 0]


    GHRAAAAAAA!!


    With its [Pain Tolerance] skill dropping to zero, the monster now felt the pain of having two knives pierce its body.


    After confirming the level of its skill once again, Tatsurou spoke in a cold voice, Ai, it doesnt have any skills left. Time to turn it into EXP. .


    On it!


    To make it easier for her, Tatsurou also assaulted it with his red laser beams.


    And when it was on its death throes, Ai lifted her spear and swiftly thrust it towards the unmoving monsters head.


    TL Notes:


    [1] Raw had a phrase people say so that the misfortune wouldnt hit them. This is the best I can do for now.


    [2] Raw translates to a side dish corner.

 Chapter 55: First Aerial Combat

    Chapter 55: First Aerial Combat


    [Skill [Spear Art] has levelled up to Lv 5.]


    Seeing her skill level up, Ai jumped backwards, using the momentum to pull her spear out. Body fluids started to gush out of the monsters wound but as Ai was already a considerable distance away, not a single drop of it touched her.


    After she retrieved her knives, they burned the corpse which Tatsurou took into his Item Box later.


    Hmm, still no level up Ai mumbled.


    Well, it was a low level monster so  Lets be patient with it.


    Good point.


    Cardina, too, chirped in what seemed like an expression of agreement. For that, Ai petted its head.


    Taking the fly board out from his Item Box, Tatsurou prepared to take flight.


    Were done with the subjugation so lets take a shortcut to the lake, shall we?


    Lets go!


    Cardina chirped a second time.


    The pair stepped onto the board and took off immediately with Cardina following right behind them.


    After waiting for a bit for Cardina to catch up, they made a beeline for their destination.


    Wont Cardina get tired? asked Ai.


    Nope. Creatures made of mana dont have muscles that will tire out.[1] It does consume a lot of mana when flying but its fine as long as I make sure its mana doesnt dry out.


    Oh


    Yep. They dont need sleep as well so I want to try leaving the night watch to Cardina later.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    Tatsurou was its creator and was also knowledgeable in magic. As such, he was confident that Cardina was able to do the things he said. Ai, however, viewed Cardina as a normal bird and could not help but worry about it.


    Are you okay, Cardina?


    While it did not understand her meaning behind those words, Ais feelings of anxiety went through, to which it shrieked to show her that it was fine.


    Okay! Looks like we can leave everything to it!


    Yep. We have our tent, our sleeping bags and our trusty night watch! Its way better than when we were just wandering around in the forest.


    You bet!


    In the middle of their conversation, Cardina suddenly shrieked and went into an uproar.


    Seeing that, Tatsurou synchronised his information magic together with it and found out what was going on.


    Right in front of them were a flock of tews, a black and bird-like monsters which were dyed orange by the setting sun.


    Tsk Ai, were on a collision course with a flock of tews!


    Huh? The one with black polka dots?


    Yep. Cardina spotted them. Itll be bad if they chase us to the lake and I got my hands tied using wind magic so I cant use any big spells right now.


    That means its my turn then! Ill leave the piloting to you.


    Ill do my best.


    As they were currently flying over a sea of trees, landing immediately might result in them fighting a different monster which may pose a greater risk. Hence, the two used this opportunity to experience their first airborne battle.


    Cardina, with a fighting spirit higher than the clouds, cawed at the flock, trying to intimidate them. Meanwhile, Ai held a spear on her right hand and a protective glove on her left. With that, their preparations were complete.


    Lets do this!


    Roger that!


    Using wind magic, Tatsurou increased their speed and formed a spearhead-shaped barrier in front of them. And as if it was what the tews wanted, the flock wasted no time, spreading out to encircle them while pointing their sharp talons at them. However, just before they collided, Tatsurou pitched their ride upwards, steeply rising in altitude. As they rose up, Ai thrusted her spear to the side, causing several casualties among the enemys ranks.


    Following that, Cardina clawed on those who were lightly wounded, causing them to fall from the sky. Seeing the spectacle before them, the tews started to fly in a straight line instead.


    Tatsurou turned his board around and flew it towards the enemys flank. Once they were close enough, Ai thrusted her spear at the flock again, causing even more damage to the tews.


    Looks like were doing alright, arent we?


    [Throwing Lv 7], [Spear Arts Lv 6], [Sword Arts Lv 3],


    [Shield Arts Lv 4], [Whip Arts Lv 4], [Ki Regeneration Lv 5],


    [Body Strengthening Lv 9], [Universal Language Comprehension]


    System Skills


    [Item Box]


    Unused skill point: 31


    Titles


    [Destroyer], [Perfect Harmony]


    As always, your stats grow as fast as bamboo, huh.[2]


    Bamboo is a bit but no, it fits all too well considering that I might reach 4000 Ki before even reaching level 30.


    While they were viewing her stats, something suddenly caught Tatsurous attention.


    By the way, youll be getting new weapons tomorrow but do you have enough space in your item box?


    Now that you mention it, its almost full now!


    Why not level it up then?


    Hmm I guess so. Its a bit expensive but Ill at least upgrade it to get the decomposition function. As she said that, Ai pressed the upgrade button, consuming 18 SP to upgrade her item box to +2.


    Its down to 32% capacity now so I should be able to put the new ones in there.


    It looks more like a weapon box than an item box for you, doesnt it?


    Well, I did get it for that. What about you? Arent you gonna use the SP you got earlier?


    Should I Tatsurou muttered as he checked the amount of SP he had.


    With a total of 48 available SP in his status box, Tatsurou was conflicted on whether he should allocate them to Information, Darkness or Wind Magic. However, after a moment of consideration, he decided to allocate them into Information Magic and informed Ai, who smiled in agreement, of his decision.


    The reason for it was Cardina. With its current body, he was positive that he would be able to handle [Information Magic Lv 4].


    After upgrading Information Magic, his available SP dropped to 20.


    Done! Then, Ai, can you help me again? he asked before calling Cardina.


    Alright, lets get on with it!


    She then proceeded to hug him from behind again.


    Cardina! Tatsurou called.


    The bird, hearing its name, left its post above the tent and went inside.


    Ill be upgrading your [Information Magic] to Lv 4 too so .


    It cawed once in reply and moved towards him.


    Focusing his attention on Cardina, Tatsurou sifted through the sea of information until he found the previous installation of Information Magic to which he promptly removed. Once done, he replaced it with the higher-level Information Magic he currently possessed. He made sure that the magic had safely settled inside the sea of information before releasing his control of Cardina.


    Its done. How is it? , he said to the bird, receiving a short caw in return. Looks like its fine.


    Allowing the pair to pet it for a few minutes, Cardina then returned to the top of the tent to perform its duties.


    Inside the tent, the pair stared at the bottom of the lake as it glimmered in the sunset. A few moments later, the sun started to sink below the horizon and their surroundings slowly turned darker.


    What is that?


    firefly?


    Tiny specks of blue light rose from the lake, floating in the air as they danced above the waters surface.


    TL Notes:


    [1] Raw: Kanji literally means body power/energy.


    [2] Bamboo is a grass, and it grows really fast, for reference.


    [Extra] I tried changing the color palette for system screens. What are your thoughts? Should I keep it or do I remove it? Yall read in dark mode, right?

 Chapter 56: The Fourth Face of the Salt Lake

    Chapter 56: The Fourth Face of the Salt Lake


    As they stared at the dancing particles of light, they realised that the darker their surroundings got, the more the particles of light appeared.DiiSco?ver new stories on


    Thinking that they might be in danger, Tatsurou had Cardina use Search Magic to analyse them. Hence, he found out that they were actually lumps of mana clustered together and were as harmless as a fly.


    Amazing, isnt it


    Yeah


    As they exchanged their impressions, the tiny sphere of light continued to increase to the point where the entire lake was completely filled with them.


    Covering the lake fully, the particles of light began to ascend, reaching a height of about 10 meters before finally vanishing.


    However, as the wave of light disappeared, new particles of light took their place, creating a scene similar to a garden full of fireflies.


    Its so bright even without the moon, isnt it? Ai muttered.


    Hey, wanna see what it looks like from the sky?


    Do you even have to ask!


    Tatsurou took the board out and floated up into the skies while Cardina stayed back to take care of their tent.


    Wow


    From above, they could see every single grain of light rising from the lakes surface and were mesmerised by it.


    Seeing such a scene before him, Tatsurou felt a sudden urge. Wrapping his arms around Ai, he made sure to hold onto her tight before


    Tatsurou?


    Hoo


    Who?


    WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!


    DID YOU EAT SOMETHING WROOONG!!![1]


    Tatsurou shouted as he directed them down towards the source of the light spheres.


    They nosedived towards the lake like a thrill ride in an amusement park, free falling in the middle of the tiny specks of light. Once they were about four meters from the surface, Tatsurou altered their trajectory into a helical shape akin to a roller coasters bank, slowing their fall while still keeping them above the lake.


    YAHAAAAAA!


    HES GONE MAD NOOOOOW!!!!


    This boy was once addicted to thrill rides.


    He was holding back since Ai was with him but it seems like he had finally snapped, diving into the midst of tiny stars.


    Ai wasnt bad with this kind of things but having to go through it every single date made her tired of it. Though she liked this childish side to him, she felt that Tatsurou goes over the top when he gets to it. She had thought about admonishing him but seeing the Tatsurou was well-behaved in their recent dates, she decided against it.


    And so, she chose to enjoy the fun.


    After all, its not like you can find an amusement park that offers high-speed flight through magic light particles just anywhere.


    Once they were close to the lakeshore, Tatsurou flew them up and did another nosedive.


    And through the pretty lights they go.


    And again, another roller coaster ride.


    The boy screamed at the top of his lungs and the girl followed suit, all while trying to grab the grains of light in their way.


    Sweeping through the particles of light, they glimmered brightly while clustering close to her arm.


    Once they had their fill of fun, the two headed back into the tent along with the memories of the beautiful scenery.


    Haah, that was satisfying


    The moment they touched down, Tatsurou immediately laid face down on his sleeping bag. As he had used too much mana and was also exhausted from controlling it, he was dead tired.


    Tatsurou, next time youre gonna do that, make sure tell me first okay!


    Ah, I thought about using Earth and Darkness to make a lightweight one that we can carry around.


    Thats great for when we need to travel, isnt it?


    I just thought of this now too, but we might need to buy another tent to put the bath in. Itll be like the bathroom curtains.


    Sounds great!


    With his new task in line, Tatsurou proceeded to manufacture the new bath tub.


    Due to the intense session they had earlier, Tatsurous mana was now filled to the brim. With their hands linked together, he immediately began to mold the iron.


    The bath tub was big enough to fit a single person with their knees bent and had a rounded rim about a centimeter in thickness, getting thinner as it got closer to the base, which was only half a centimeter in thickness.


    Looks a bit thin. You sure it wont break? asked Ai.


    Ill check it with Information Magic just in case, but it should be as solid as the fly board.


    That sounds reassuring.


    And its a lot lighter than it looks, he said as he put his hands on the tub. Raising it up, he showed her that he could easily lift it up while wearing a satisfied look on his face.


    Placing it back down, Tatsurou used Information Magic to check each and every part of the tub. Once he confirmed that there were no cracks anywhere, he added the hot water in.


    Tatsurou, you go first today.


    Me? It doesnt really matter that much to me, but are you okay with this?


    Yep. I still feel like the one who made it should go first.


    It didnt really take that much of an effort if you ask Tatsurou, but if itll make her feel better, then thats a different story.


    Okay, then.


    Take your time. Ill be in the tent. Call me if something happens.


    Yes, maam!


    With their turns decided, they enjoyed the open-air bath experience beside the never-ending parade of the tiny spheres of light.


    But, just before their eyes closed, their stomachs began to grumble.


    We totally forgot about dinner, didnt we?


    We did eat something else right after buying it she said, touching her lips as her cheeks blushed slightly.


    Seeing her, Tatsurous expression turned serious.


    Ai.


    Hmm? What is it?


    What you said earlier. Dont you think you sounded like the old man?


    WHAT ARE YOU!


    While exchanging such conversations, they finished their meal and gazed at the lake for the last time, searing the scene deep into their memories.


    In the tent, the two laid their sleeping bags flat, turning it into a makeshift futon and closed their eyes in each others embrace.


    TL Notes


    [1] Raw: Did your weird switch get flipped? Makes perfect sense! /s


    [2] Raw: This Fake Kansai Dialect person


    [3] Again, jokes and a lot of non-formal stuff dont translate well. Raw:


    [4] Reference to this: and I dont know who that is

 Chapter 57: Adventurers

    Chapter 57: Adventurers


    Their surroundings started to brighten as the new day began.


    As the sun peeked over the horizon, the number of light particles rising from the lake dwindled, making it look more like a regular dawn.


    A few hours later, Tatsurou opened his eyes to see Ai stretching her arms in her sleep.


    Wakey wakey!


    Waking Ai up, the two of them prepared for the day and exited the tent to find Cardina waiting for them.


    It seemed like it wanted its mana replenished and as a token of gratitude to it for staying true to its duties, Tatsurou spared no effort in refilling it.


    After a minute of play with Cardina, they cleaned the camp up, stored their equipment and started to head home.


    Or so they thought. Suddenly detecting an unknown group coming in their direction, Tatsurou made Cardina patrol the path between them.


    Looks like theyre really heading our way, doesnt it? asked Ai.


    Yeah. They seem like adventurers, judging from their equipment replied Tatsurou. Oh, maybe theyre the ones escorting Zendo-san today.


    Oh, right! Its about time for gramps to come to the lake, huh?


    Its still just a possibility. We shouldnt let our guard down.


    Got it!


    As such, they waited for the other party to reach them.


    After a few moments, they finally made eye contact. The other party was a group of five males and three females, all seemingly adventurers in their getups.


    What are you two doing here? The tallest man asked. Its dangerous round here with the monsters going crazy and all.


    The man looked to be in his early thirties. He had dark brown hair, ears which pointed upwards and a refined look on his face.


    We came here to see the lake on a new moon, Tatsurou replied.


    New moon So its that, huh? the man muttered. You dont seem like from around here but it looks like you know a little too much about the lake, dont you think so?


    Zendo-san told us! Perceiving it as curiosity, Ai responded without delay.


    Hearing that, the man fell into thought for a second before saying, Zendo-san so its you guys?! The ones who annihilated that army of bedslimes?[1]


    Oh so thats them? While the man was still in shock, his companions began to chatter as well.


    Feeling uncomfortable from all the fuss, Tatsurou tried to end the interaction here. So We were just on our way home so well appreciate it if you let us pass now.


    Oh sorry. But do you think you can wait? The tall man intercepted them.


    Wait? Do you have some kind of business with us? Not feeling any ill intent from him, Ai asked in her usual tone.


    Hearing that, the man shook his head but still spoke, You guys heard about it from Rella-san didnt you? The monster subjugation request thats gonna start in four days.


    Yes. But as we were still having second thoughts, we refrained from giving an immediate answer, said Tatsurou.


    Safety first, as they say, said Ai.


    True that. As an adventurer, it is only right to think so, the man replied. But in town, the only parties willing to take that request are ours and one other. And even if we were to include those who havent decided yet, its just the three of us.


    Though Tatsurou was surprised at the current situation, he understood what he was getting at.


    Basically, he wanted them to join the subjugation request.


    Sensing that Tatsurou knew what his aim was, the man hung an awkward look on his face.


    It seems like you already know what Im trying to say but let me put it into words. Im personally asking you to join the subjugation.


    Uhh, before we decide, Id like to ask something from you first. Have you been in this trade for a long time now?


    Huh? Oh Yeah, thats right. I might not be the best out there, but I pride myself as a mid-rank adventurer.


    Then, you definitely realise how much risk this assignment has, right?


    Hearing that, the man rubbed his chin as he fell into thought. Shortly after, he gave an answer based on his teams assessment.


    Youre right. As it stands, if we also consider the fact that we may encounter monsters from the deeper parts of Amunelli, it might be better to think of it as having the same risk level as a level 7 dungeon.


    As though it was common sense for adventurers, the man compared the danger level to that of a dungeon.


    Hes a kid so I was just checking if he knows what hes doing!


    Think about what youve done! Hearing him spout excuses one after another, Carn gave him a second knuckle sandwich.


    Ow!


    Meanwhile, the rest of the party stared at him with slight disdain.


    Ill have to apologize the next time we meet Haah, why did you have to do that? Carn muttered.


    But if what Abi said was true, then he got to be a really skilled magician. This guy is great at pinpointing and breaking through an enemys weakness, strangely enough, Hannah said.


    Everyone apart from the one mentioned nodded.


    While they were glad to have someone reliable on board, they still felt a mixture of admiration and anxiety of someone they couldnt fully assess.


    Right, that girl, Ai was it? She was using both a spear and a sword right? That means she has the skills of a martial artist. How do you think they got that bird then? If Im not mistaken, taming monsters should only be possible at [Tamer Lv 6] and higher right? Its not a skill from either Magic or Martial Arts so how in the world did they tame it? said Greta.


    Your guess is as good as mine. How about you try asking them next time,? Carn told her.


    I shouldnt


    Thats true. You cant just ask adventurers their secrets, Aive rebuked him.


    I know. I was joking.


    With the mention of her name, the image of Ai came to his mind.


    (Theyre all saying that Tatsurous great and all, but that kid is on a different level too)


    It might be due to his job, but Carn always had this bad habit of looking for the gaps in peoples defences.


    However, even with all his past experiences and knowledge, he wasnt able to find any gaps in her stance, giving him the impression that he would lose the moment they crossed blades.


    (I guess, Im still not)


    Alright, you nuggets! We still got a lot of time before we head home! Training starts now!!


    WHAAAAT?! the whole party lamented in sync.


    And right by the lakeside, a man full of spirit and seven others full of complaints started their training session.


    At the same time, in a place well-hidden from observers, Tatsurous party took flight and headed straight back to Obsul.


    I thought adventurers would be more of a wild west kind of people. I didnt expect them to be that nice, exclaimed Ai.


    Oh, really


    Why do you sound like you have something else to say?


    Tatsurou would have immediately agreed if they were just talking about Carn, but if he included the rest of the party, especially the young man named Abi who, for some reason, used magic against them with no warning, then he disagreed.


    He was able to notice it as Cardina was still keeping watch but if it had just been him alone, he would not have been able to detect it.


    Upon hearing that, Ai burst in anger.


    HE DID WHAT?! I cant believe him!


    I know. Even if it wasnt some kind of offensive magic, it was still tactless. Id say we can only trust other adventurers at most 60% of the time.


    Yeah, but I wont ever trust that Abby guy! Even though I dont remember who he is!


    You should at least do


    Apart from Tatsurou, Ai wasnt really interested in knowing other guys.


    As such, shell usually forget their faces after a few hours. Thats why, apart from Carn and the women, she could only remember the vague silhouettes of the other party members.


    While he was a little worried for her future, Tatsurou brushed it off as one of the quirks of his adorable and sometimes-airhead girlfriend.


    Tatsurou held her tight in his arms in an attempt to pacify her raging anger as they made their way through the skies.


    TL Notes:


    [1] Might change to Vedslime or another name if it turns out they arent related to beds in any way.


    [2]

 Chapter 58: Weapon Acquisition

    Chapter 58: Weapon Acquisition


    Having been spoiled by Tatsurou during the way home, Ais mood was back to the skies once they reached the town.


    Calling the eye-catching Cardina back, the two walked towards the guild with their hands intertwined. Inside, they immediately found the person they were looking for.


    Good morning, Rella-san.


    Good morning!


    Good morning, you two. Will it be the usual?


    As she was still in the dark about their conversation with Carn, Rella probably thought that they were here to withdraw part of their holdings.


    For now, they decided to deal with their current request.


    Yes. And well turn in yesterdays request as well. After that, can we talk about the request you told us before?


    Ah, that. I understand. Could you come with me to the private room then?


    Understood. Coming!


    After a short walk, they entered one of the private rooms within the guild.


    There, Rella gave one of the two coins she had to Tatsurou.


    So First, this is the reward for yesterdays commission.


    Thank you.


    Next, manifesting the systems promissory note out, Rella inserted the other coin in and designated it as payment.


    Once she was done, Tatsurou opened his menu and checked his account.


    On the screen titled Promissory Note, a message with the subject Payment was attached.


    After checking the value (445, 697, 052 Sys) carefully, Tatsurou confirmed the transaction and the coin disappeared along with the entire tab.


    With this, the guild has paid all of its due, said Rella.


    We have received the payment, replied Tatsurou.


    Looking at his screen, Tatsurou saw the digits 446, 303, 952 Sys in the Currency bracket. When he informed Ai about it, she shot him a wide smile while giving him a big thumbs up.


    After watching their little interaction, Rella clapped once to return their focus to the main topic.


    You told me that you wanted to talk about the other request but would it be fine if I assume that the two of you are willing to accept it? she asked.


    Yes. We spoke with an adventurer named Carn and after some thought, decided to accept the request, answered Tatsurou.


    I see.


    Rella was much more delighted than they thought. It was understandable though, as there was a severe lack of manpower before they decided to join. Will it be alright if I hand you the request form right now?


    Yes.


    Then, please wait for a moment.


    The instant she saw them nod their heads, Rella fired up her own system and began to process the request.DiiSco?ver new stories on


    Taking a clear, transparent screen-like object out from her breast pocket, she fiddled with its display and created two request forms which she handed over to the two of them.


    Job Information


    Client: Lord Lladus, Obsul Town Chief, Adventurers Guild


    Job Description: Investigate and exterminate the monsters from the forests surrounding Obsul to the outer edge of Amunelli.


    Reward: 2,000,000 Sys


    Accept | Decline


    If this request pays two million, then shouldnt there be more people gunning for it? asked Ai while accepting the request.


    Its not that. As the guild is still unsure of how dangerous this task is, we did not publicly announce it and instead only asked the people we deem suitable, replied Rella. And it only rewards one million per person, so the two million is because there are two of you.


    Oh Doesnt matter. Since we took it, well naturally do our best! Right, Tatsurou!


    Even if he was fueled by greed no, he was really fueled by greed, the fact that he had the skill still remains.


    If only he always had this attitude, then his shop would have a different future


    As they both thought that, Ai took a look at the weapons to ensure that everything was there before they paid.


    The old man was uneasy watching Ai check the weapons that he kept his eyes constantly on Tatsurou without blinking.


    After Ai was done, the pair took a step back, to which the smith took a step forward, maintaining the distance between them.


    I know, I know. Well pay for it, so turn back to normal for a bit, said Tatsurou.


    Im CoMpLEtEly fINe, yUo KnOw? the smith replied.


    I dont see it said Ai after hearing the smiths tone change from nervous to a childs speech.


    While Ai accidently let her thoughts slip, Tatsurou exchanged a portion of their payment into a coin with the value of exactly 133,000,000 Sys.


    Care to check? he said, handing the coin over.


    The smith swallowed his saliva and replied, O,of course, before taking the coin with his trembling hands.


    Booting his system up, the smith counted the money, pointing each digit with his finger to make sure that he didnt miss a single one.


    One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand hundred mil


    So, is that enough? asked Tatsurou.


    Yeah no problem


    Then, well take them now, okay? asked Ai.


    Yeah no problem


    Seeing him fall into a timeless trance, answering both questions with the same reply, the two thought that he was already done for and gave up on talking to him, taking the weapons into their item box.


    Though they wanted to bid the smith farewell, they left quietly when they heard the same no problem reply.


    As soon as they closed the door on their way out, they heard the blacksmiths jubilant screams. The other pedestrians immediately took notice and looked their way but the two took a stance of we dont know him and hurriedly left the place.


    Hes a lost cause, isnt he? said Ai.


    Yeah. I kinda dont want to see him again, but we still have that thing with the pelt


    Yeah, I feel you


    Still anxious about the blacksmith, the two began walking towards the high-class inn.


    Once they arrived, the two entered the building and received a key with the number 2 on it before heading back to the gate.


    Do you have your key with you?


    Yes. Its this one, right?


    Yes, maam. Key number two is for the red residence in the middle. Then, please enjoy your stay.


    Upon being shown the key, the gatekeeper gave them a respectful bow and opened the gates for them.


    After thanking him, the two entered the now unlocked residence.


    Wow.


    Amazed by the extravagant interior, the two quickly closed their mouths upon seeing three other people a man wearing a butlers outfit and two women wearing maid outfits all with their heads lowered.


    And as if the butler had eyes on the back of his head, he raised his face at the perfect timing and said, We have been waiting for you, Hasami-sama, Yashiki-sama. My name is Joey Hackman, and they are


    Janice Reynolds at your service.


    Doris Rouxam at your service.


    We will be serving you during your stay at the inn. Please give us the order when you need us.


    Y,yes.


    To the two who were of common birth, it was the only word they could say when they experienced such a refined display of manners and speech directed towards them for the first time.


    [TL Comment] So worrying about Zendo isnt weird though they pretty much just met him too? [End]

 Chapter 59: Of the Same Heart

    Chapter 59: Of the Same Heart


    Seeing that the two were struggling to find their words, Joey, the butler, started the conversation by explaining the basics of the inn.


    He explained that during their stay, they were free to use the housings facilities however they pleased. Thats why, instead of an inn, it was more accurate to call it an apartment catered towards short-term residents one that also provides them with servants.


    He also told them where the rooms were located and some other general information about the residence.


    Once that was done, they were led to their living room.


    Here, we have the living room. If you have any concerns, please ring the bell on that table over there. And finally, please enjoy your stay.


    Thanks.


    Well then, well stop taking more of your precious time. Please call us whenever you require our assistance, said Joey.


    You dont have to do that much the two replied meekly.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    Joey and the maids bowed towards them one last time before returning back to their lounge.


    Taking a look around the room they were in, it was much larger than all the previous rooms they had stayed in, living up to the name of a high-class inn.


    On the ceiling hung a chandelier that was designed with such majestic grandeur that one had to see it to believe it. Underneath it, a set of wood-carved chairs and table were placed with a basket of never-seen-before fruit placed on the table.


    The floor was also covered with a carpet, one with a texture that rivalled that of Persian carpets, with many other expensive-looking furniture decorating the top of it.


    This is more than I thought.


    It might be a bit too much


    Was what the two said at first but as soon as they consumed the lunch served to them and sat on the comfy couch, they fell in love with the lifestyle.


    Tatsurou started reading a book while Ai lazed right beside him.


    And time passed on this slow-paced day.


    At night, they called the maids once again and ordered another lavish meal.


    As the clock continued to tick on, the night sky appeared in the outside world.


    Hey, dont you think its about time we take a bath? asked Ai.


    Huh? Oh, its already this late huh So, the bath is


    While he was trying to remember where Joey told them the bath was, Tatsurou felt Ai grab the hem of his clothes.


    Thinking that something might have happened, he turned towards her and saw her blushing to her ears.


    She drew closer to him and whispered, You know we can do that today if you want.


    Uh, thats are you thinking what Im thinking?


    It was not something that he could take as a joke nor was it something he could just pretend not to know.


    Hence, he asked her in all seriousness.


    Ai returned his gaze, looking him straight in the eyes and gave a nod.


    I see. Thank you, he said as he pulled her into an embrace.


    Hm.


    Leaving the living room, they started to search for the bath. Not long after, they managed to locate the bath and entered it, revealing a spacious changing room. Walking in further, a large circular bath of around six meters in diameter was installed in the center of the room.


    So this is the bath


    Wouldnt this qualify as a public bath


    Looking at the pool-sized tub, they wondered how they should fill it with water as they could not see any taps.


    Fumbling around, they eventually found four tanks about thirty centimetres tall installed in a square formation around the circumference of the tub, each with a tube extending underneath.


    On top of every tank were two buttons a blue one on the left and a red one on the right.


    You think this is the water source? asked Tatsurou.


    Though he was relieved that she was still awake, his heart continued to thump louder by the second. Still, he put on a calm front as he sat by her side.


    As he sat, Ai suddenly pulled the coverlet off of herself, revealing her figure dressed in the one piece that she bought the previous day, her cheeks turning one shade redder.


    Ehehe. Surprised?


    Beautiful.


    Y,you think so?


    What he said was without a doubt. It was what he simply felt the moment he saw her.


    Being complimented in such a straightforward manner, Ai couldnt help but smile.


    Suddenly, a thought flashed in his mind. Ai took the effort to dress herself up and yet, he was only in his pajamas.


    I should have worn something to match that dress, huh?


    Fufu. It feels like were mismatched, arent we?


    Ill go change in a sec.


    I dont really mind it, though?


    But youre already like that. At least let me try to match it, Tatsurou said as he stood up.


    In response, Ai shrugged her shoulders before saying, It feels a bit all over the place


    Just like us? he chuckled.


    Whats with that she giggled as well.


    With that short conversation, they found themselves a little less nervous.


    Tatsurou then promptly left to change his clothes.


    Shortly after, Ai heard three knocks on the door.


    Come in, she said.


    The door opened, revealing Tatsurou, now clad in his suit, standing outside with his ramrod straight.


    Putting an act, he entered the room and once he was close enough, held his right hand out to her.


    Though she was surprised at the act, Ai still extended her left hand to meet his.


    With their hands intertwined, they walked closer to the bed, step by step. And when they reached the side of the bed


    Ai, I love you. More than anything else in this world.


    I love you too, Tatsurou. More than anything.


    Staring deeply into each others eyes, they exchanged their oaths.


    Tatsurou pulled her closer and sealed her lips with his.


    Ai


    Tatsurou


    Their words ran still, but the night was still young.


    [TL] And then they


    Okay, knowing JP authors, I didnt really expect this to happen (I expected a clich that would interrupt them), but it did!


    Though the sequence of events felt somewhat too fast since were only a few weeks into the story (plot-wise), but they have their pre-story relationship set up, so thats that. Still, its hard for me to understand how they actually feel since idk how they got to this point (no backstory, sadly), so I couldnt quite hit the spot when translating their interactions.


    Aaaaanyway, we still have 11 chapters left in this arc! Im curious to see how this event will affect their relationship dynamics in the long run!


    Also: anyone has a better name idea for the title? Raw: Comment down below!


    [End]

 Chapter 60: Deepening Love

    Chapter 60: Deepening Love


    TL Note: I will start my own translations from this chapter.


    The update frequency will be 2 chapters per week.


    Please comment below if you find any typographical error. Thank you


    Enjoy~~~


    _______________


    The sun was fully up and it was around noon on the hour. Tatsuro woke up on a soft bed.


    Looking next to me, I saw Ai lying naked and sleeping, breathing regularly.


    This brought back vivid memories of yesterday''s events. Tatsuro stared at Ai''s sleeping face, thinking that he had drowned out the lust that had welled up yesterday after all that he had done.


    We tied the knot yesterday" (Tatsuro)


    When I said this, it became even more real to me, and I could not help but love the girl in front of me more than ever.


    "Ai (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro gently held Ai close to him and gently and tenderly stroked her head.


    After about ten minutes of such blissful moments, Ai eventually woke up in Tatsuro''s arms.


    "Tatsuro." (Ai)


    What is it?" (Tatsuro)


    I love it." (Ai)


    I love you too." (Tatsuro)


    Therefore, they hugged each other tightly and kissed deeply and deeply, which they must have done many times but never got tired of it.


    Speaking of which are you okay?" (Tatsuro)


    Hmm? Well, maybe it''s a little uncomfortable? But it''s not unbearable. (Ai)


    Well that''s fine then. Let''s just relax for the rest of the day." (Tatsuro)


    Yes, but Tatsuro seems to be fine huh? Even though you did it that much yesterday." (Ai)


    Ai laughed with mischievous eyes at Object X, which was violently asserting itself against her stomach.


    That''s because, well, I''m still young. (Tatsuro)


    Would you ever want to do it again?" (Ai)


    Of course!" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, no, you don''t have to be so desperate Don''t be so desperate" (Ai)


    When Ai said this and smiled bitterly, Tatsuro felt a touch of uneasiness. He wondered if he had been a terrible liar.


    Tatsuro was afraid, but he could not help but ask for clarification, so he asked for something important.


    Ai don''t you want to do it no more?" (Tatsuro)


    What? If Tatsuro wants to, we can do it now, okay?" (Ai)


    I don''t want to do it. Not because I want to, but because I want to hear from Ai herself." (Tatsuro)


    "Is it me? As for me, I''d like to that uhwant to desu" (Ai)


    Tatsuro let out a breath of relief because, according to his appraisal of Ai''s first-grade facial expression test, she was not even saying it out of concern.


    But soon after, Ai added more words.


    But next time we do it, I''d appreciate it if you''d be a little gentler." (Ai)


    Gah, sorry (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro, thinking back again to himself, bowed his head, saying that his behavior may indeed have been violent when he had skipped a couple of times to reason.


    Ai laughed at such a Tatsuro. He is a cute person, she thought.


    It was the first time for Tatsuro to do it. It was Tatsuro''s first time, too, and I could tell that he was serious about making love to me. (Ai)


    Ai then kissed Tatsuro on the cheek and laughed.


    His smile made Tatsuro remember that he would be kinder next time.


    After the two changed their clothes, they put the sheets, and other soiled items away in the [item box] after removing the dirt by disassembling them, they put it back together.


    They would have left it as it was and cleaned it up without saying a word, but they were indeed embarrassed.


    When that work was finished, they went downstairs to the living room and called the maids by the bell to prepare lunch.


    They told the maids that they would be taking a bath about an hour later, and asked them to make the necessary arrangements as well.


    Oh, that''s just perfect." (Ai)


    "I guess. Although I''m a little afraid I''m going to be a bad person." (Tatsuro)


    You''re right. (Ai)


    They finished eating while talking about this, and after a short break, they both headed for the bath together.


    Durability: 785


    Agility: 553


    Magic: 32


    Magic resistance: 32


    Magic control: 32


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Valkyrie], [Unarmed Combat Lv.7], [Staff Art Lv.1]


    [Throwing Lv.8], [Spear Arts Lv.7], [Sword Arts Lv.7]


    [Shield Arts Lv.6], [Whip Arts Lv.8], [Ki Regeneration Lv.7]


    [Body Strengthening Lv.9] [Focus Lv.1], [Air Walk Lv.2]


    [Universal Language Comprehension].


    |System skills|


    [Item box +2]


    Skill points: 16


    |Titles|


    [Destroyer], [Perfect Harmony]


    I think your stats got enhanced a little, and there is now [Mana Perception Lv.3]. Nice job" (Ai)


    I feel like I can use those attributes without the help of skills now. I wonder what kind of magic I can use when they level up higher; Ai has raised the skill level of her main power, right?" (Tatsuro)


    Yeah. And Airwalk!" (Ai)


    Yeah, I was surprised when I first saw that one." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro remembered just the other day when Ai, who was playing chase with Cardina outside of town, suddenly jumped two steps in the air.


    Ai seems to have activated it unconsciously, but later on, it seems to be a special derived skill released from [Unarmed Combat Lv.7], according to my research.


    It is not even listed in the list of things that can be obtained from the system shop, but can only be obtained by personal efforts, and the difficulty level is quite high.


    Therefore, even though Ai had the [Valkyrie] skill, [Air Walk] was still at Lv.2.


    Incidentally, the number of Ki footholds that can be created in one leap is equal to the level, so Ai can currently jump twice in the air.


    I did it before I realized I was doing it, so it didn''t surprise me, but had I been able to do it consciously, I''m sure I would have been impressed the first time around." (Ai)


    "I guess. That was quite a shocking image." (Tatsuro)


    He then patted Ai''s disappointed head and called out Cardina, who was even bigger than before.


    Cardina-chan, you''ve also improved your body level and you''re looking quite respectable." (Tatsuro)


    Yeah, that''s cool, Cardina." (Ai)


    "Peek!" (Cardina)


    Ouch. Hey, why are you mad at me? I gave you a compliment, remember?" (Tatsuro)


    When Tatsuro said it was cool, Cardina kicked him lightly with her foot. Ai let out a sigh of relief when Tatsuro was upset that he had no idea why she was doing this.


    No, Tatsuro. Cardina is a girl, and I have to tell you that you are beautiful. Hey." (Ai)


    Pewee (Cardina)


    What? There was such a thing as gender? And how the hell does Ai know that!" (Tatsuro)


    You''d know that if spent time with her. (Ai)


    "Peewee." (Cardina)


    In the first place, Tatsuro, who had never thought about the gender of magical creatures, could not possibly understand such a thing.


    Nevertheless, if Cardina is a female, then Ai''s behavior at that time made sense.


    That action was when she purchased the pink choker that Ai is wearing on Cardina right now.


    Realizing that Cardina''s existence was similar to that of a demon, Tatsuro decided to mark it with an easily recognizable marker.


    Therefore, when Tatsuro and Ai went to the store to buy it, they disagreed.


    Tatsuro wanted to wrap a good-looking scarf around Cardina.


    However, Ai did not listen, saying she would rather have the cute choker she has now.


    In the end, Tatsuro broke down and went with that one, but I honestly thought Cardina would not like it.


    However, Cardina showed it to him, and he liked it so much that he began to beg her to put it on every time she came out in public.


    (Okay, so , it was a girl.)


    After all this time, Tatsuro''s small suspicions were cleared he apologized to Cardina and finally started walking toward the meeting place.

 Chapter 61: Start of the Request for investigation.

    Chapter 61: Start of the Request for investigation.


    TL Notes: This is the second Chapter for this week.


    Enjoy~~~


    ____________


    At 8:00 a.m., we would meet at the gate outside of town. That was the information I had heard from Leela.


    They had left the inn early so as not to be late for it, and it was now twenty minutes before the meeting time.


    When they got there, there was an old party of about Zendos age, Carneys party, and an all-female party there.


    This is the same number as the four parties, including ourselves, and those under consideration that Carney had told us about, which means that all the members of the search team are present.


    As Tatsuro ponders this, he notices that everyone else''s eyes are on him.


    {We are kind of getting a lot of attention, aren''t we?} (Ai)


    {Well, it looks like we have a lot of kids here, including Cardina so this will happen} (Tatsuro)


    As they were conversing through telepathy, they heard a pattering sound from the town as Leela and another adventurers'' guild official came trotting toward us.


    When all of them eventually passed through the gate, only Leela came toward Tatsuro and the others.


    Sorry to keep you waiting."(Leela)


    There''s still time, so don''t worry about it." (Tatsuro)


    That''s right." (Ai)


    I appreciate you saying that." (Leela)


    Although a little surprised to see Cardina beside Tatsuro and the others, Leela talked with them, pretending to be normal. At that moment, she saw Carneys party walking closer towards them.


    Besides, Tatsuro, Ai, and Cardina were wary of the situation while keeping it as normal as possible. Sensitive to this atmosphere, Leela seemed to be calmly committed to watching over the situation.


    Good morning. Gentlemen." (Leela)


    Good morning.


    The three of them exchanged greetings, though they did not indicate it. However, upon hearing this, Carney noticed that the gazes of the three were hard. They were obviously on their guard.


    With a troubled look on his face at that, Carney called Abby to stand next to him, and the whole party bowed their heads.


    Sorry about the other day!"


    Excuse me!"


    Carney and Abby offered their apologies, and the other members of the group posed for a bow without looking up.


    Carney and the others suddenly began apologizing, and everyone around them looked at them to see what was going on.


    Is that an apology to Abby there for trying to use magic on me?" (Tatsuro)


    Yeah, that''s right. (Carney)


    The people who had been watching the series of events were taken aback by these words and turned their stern stares at Carney and the others.


    As for Tatsuro, since it was an attempt, he did not intend to make things so much worse, but it seems that using magic against people without permission is not a very praiseworthy act after all.


    Even that gentle Leila''s eyebrows were slightly lifted.


    What were you trying to do then?" (Tatsuro)


    He was trying to check your status by using information magic." (Carney)


    "My Status huh" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro''s words made him break out in a cold sweat. He wondered if the "Level Eater" might have been about to be exposed. So he gave Cardina a grateful glance.


    Whose instructions are those?" (Tatsuro)


    That''s what I (Carney)


    No, it''s not true! I used it without thinking. Carney and the others did not know, that is the truth! Forgive me." (Abby)


    Abby got down on his knees and put his head on the ground right there.


    Kneeling on the ground is the highest level of apology, and it seems to be the same here, but Tatsuro thought it was too uncomfortable as the receiving side of it.


    At the same time, however, I felt a sense of falsehood in the theatricality of the scene.


    I feel sorry for Carney, but this Abby person is too over the top.


    Well, I look forward to working with you today." (Tatsuro)


    Please do." (Ai)


    Yes, thank you (Leela)


    Thus, Leila temporarily joined the search members.


    Then all of us, including Leela, went to our destination at a quick pace. The purpose was to find out as much information as possible in the limited time available.


    Along the way, they realized they knew nothing about Leila and asked her what kind of things she was good at.


    I am good at what I do. I fight mainly with ice magic. (Leela)


    "Ice attribute that''s why they called me the Ice Queen." (Ai)


    Yes. I was working as an adventurer driven by curiosity, and before I knew it, that''s what they started calling me. (Leela)


    They called you the queen, so you must be pretty awesome." (Tatsuro)


    "Hmmm, I guess you''ll just have to see it for yourself." (Leela)


    The two felt very confident in the fearless smile that came not from a flimsy confidence, but from the ability that had been built up and honed over many years.


    So after an hour on the road, we finally decided to plunge into the forest.


    Tatsuro and Leela took a staff, and Ai took a whip and a jeweled sword from their "item boxes.


    Then they both rolled their eyes at Leela''s staff and Leela at Ai''s jeweled sword.


    A fine staff you have there." (Tatsuro)


    It is even more gorgeous than Tatsuro''s." (Ai)


    They were looking at a stone with a sapphire-like shine set into the top part, and the staff underneath was covered with what looked like ice scales.


    Tatsuro-san''s staff is pretty good, but that jeweled sword of yours, Ai-san''s , that''s all made of Holy Verde, isn''t it?" (Leela)


    Um, I think I remember you saying something like that. Hey, Tatsuro." (Ai)


    Yeah, I think so. (Tatsuro)


    I knew it. Moreover, the person who built it must have been very skilled. How did you find such a thing? (Leela)


    He sold it to me at my dad''s blacksmith shop." (Ai)


    Leela gave a nod of approval sign at these words.


    And from Tatsuro''s part, he did not think the old man was lying, that the price was the right price. A third party in the form of Leela assured him that there was no mistake in buying it.


    Therefore, with the fair over, the three of them stepped into the forest, with Cardina in the lead, to be followed by the others.


    Upon entering the forest, the place was strangely quiet.


    They wondered why they had heard so many voices of some creature when they were in the Amneri Great Forest.


    But that seemed to be the same for Leila, who was warned that some strong individuals might be lurking in the area.


    It was then that Cardina suddenly began to scream in one direction. Tatsuro and the others, sensing that this was a signal that something was coming, immediately turned their attention in that direction.


    Then we heard multiple footsteps of something, so they all held still and hid behind a tree to wait for the enemy.


    As he did so, six hairless gorilla-like monsters the size of adult men and covered in red, hard-looking skin appeared.


    In response, Ai sent the tip of her whip between the eyebrows of the gorilla at the very front.


    "Ugh?"


    ugo?


    First one. (Ai)


    It smashed the demon''s forehead and it fell under the blow. The other individuals, who still did not understand what had happened to it, stopped and looked at their fallen comrade.


    In the meantime, Tatsuro and Leela also started to move. Tatsuro used his maximum firepower laser, while Leela sent out several icicles in midair and rained them down on the monsters.


    One of the five remaining animals was pierced in the chest by Tatsuro''s laser, and another was lying on the ground with several icicles in its face.


    ""ugooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo""


    When their numbers are reduced to half, they finally realize the presence of the enemy and shout angrily, but it is too late.


    Three of them acted the same way as before, creating three additional corpses on the spot.

 Chapter 62: Battle Against Monsters

    Chapter 62: Battle Against Monsters


    Extra Chapter for the week


    Enjoy~~


    As soon as the battle was over, Tatsuro asked Cardina, who had been taking measures against surprise attacks, to check to see if there were any other enemies.


    Cardina nodded in agreement and screeched in reply.


    Then the three of them went to dispose of the corpse. If they left the corpses behind, the monsters that feed on them would be attracted.


    This is an Asmolgas. This monster should not originally have come out of the depths of Amneri Great Forest (Leela)


    Do you think it was caused by the earthquake? (Ai)


    No, perhaps these came after." (Leela)


    Why do you think that?" (Ai)


    In response to the question, Leela pointed to the abdomen of one of the monsters lying on its back.


    These monsters still look healthy." (Leela)


    "Healthy?"


    Yes. Had they been wandering in this area for nearly thirteen days, you should be skinnier. Unlike the Amneri Great Forest, there is not enough food here for large monsters to survive on for long periods." (Leela)


    The reality is that these monsters have a body shape that proves that they are well nourished, not thin at all.


    When the two were satisfied with that, Leila muttered to herself. After all, something must still be in the forest."


    Leela-san. What should I do about this monster?" (Ai)


    "Huh? Oh, even though they are cheap, you can sell an asmolgass hide and meat in the market, so if you have extra space in your [item box], I will advise you to take it (Leela)


    Ais sudden question was enough to make Leela snap out of her daze.


    Tatsuro was thankful for the advice from Leela, her words were enough to help him make quick decisions at a time like this, and he put all the asmolgas in his [item box], which still had a lot of space.


    After watching him do so, Leela looked further into the forest.


    Shall we go then?" (Leela)


    The rest of the party agreed to the decision with a confirmation in unison.


    Therefore, they returned to exploring the forest again.


    Tatsuro and his team decided to make a large circle around the area they were in charge of and entered deeper into the forest.


    In the meantime, Cardina was using her exploration magic to search the surrounding area, so rather than being taken by surprise, they were able to take them by surprise and exterminate the monsters with ease.


    However, each time Leela discovered more and more monsters as they went deeper, her brow wrinkled.


    It''s still not right. (Leela)


    Is it that strange?" (Tatsuro)


    Halfway down the road, Leela impulsively spoke up with a serious look on her face.


    If the earthquake were the only cause, the situation would be under control, but instead it continues to worsen." (Leela)


    So you''re telling me that something is still happening in the Great Amneri Forest?" (Ai)


    I think we should look at it that way." (Leela)


    However, since they have no clue at the moment, they have no choice but to cull down the herd, so that the number of monsters does not increase.


    So Tatsuro changed his mind, and as he proceeded further, Cardina stopped and turned to him.


    When Tatsuro approached to see what it was, Cardina turned its beak further into the forest.


    Is that a rat?" (Tatsuro)


    A rat? No way. (Leela)


    Having a bad feeling about Tatsuro''s frank impression, Leela hurriedly turned her eyes in the direction indicated by Cardina.


    Then, there was a swarm of brown rat-like creatures about 30 centimeters in size, trying to build something like a nest.


    Palumines and that many of them (Leela)


    Leela looked as if she were looking at something terrible, and Ai decided to look as well.


    "Hmmm, there are a lot of them, but they look weak, you know?" (Ai)


    "Thats right. Is that thing that bad?" (Tatsuro)


    Yeah, it does not have good taste. Though, as Ai-san said, it is weak even in numerous numbers." (Leela)


    After they finished their respective meals, they continued with their investigation.


    And don''t you feel like there has been a decrease in the monsters coming out? (Ai)


    I guess so I think they were all there for the Palumines. (Tatsuro)


    Thats the most likely possibility; they may have been the cause of the situation getting worse. (Leela)


    Leela said this with a somewhat relieved look on her face, and the pair felt at ease as they went about their exploration.


    After hunting down a few insignificant monsters along the way, I was thinking it was time to start heading back to the town when it appeared.


    That''s a togul (Leela)


    A Togul?!"


    That name belongs to the monster that had sent Elren Deicard to the afterlife, it was mentioned in the letter he left.


    What kind of monster was it?


    Togul was about 40cm in size and looked like a weasel, but it had a sharp needle on the end of its tail.


    The monster was currently cowering in the hole it dug under the tree, unaware of Tatsuro and the others.


    He doesn''t seem to notice, so let''s get this over with." (Tatsuro)


    Yeah. Agreed


    Since neither of them seemed to have any objections, Tatsuro let Cardina keep an eye on the area while he held Ai''s hand.


    Leela looked at it curiously again but pretended not to notice and pointed the tip of her staff at the Togul.


    After confirming that it was still unaware, Tatsuro gathered his magic at once and launched a laser at it.


    kki!"


    It dodged it


    Togul noticed the flash of light as the laser fired and ducked with a brilliant body movement.


    Ai, seeing this, immediately threw a "projectile" with the tip of her whip, which it easily avoided, and ran toward them at blinding speed.


    Leela tried to hold it back by sending out icicles and showering it with them, but she could not keep up with Togul''s speed and the icicles did not even graze it


    Then the togul leaned forward in front of Tatsuro''s eyes and stuck the needle at the tip of its tail toward his head.


    I wont let you! (Ai)


    Squeak!"


    However, Ai, who was the only one who caught the speed, played it by thrusting her energy through the jeweled sword between Tatsuro and the needle.


    Tatsuro then noticed it and immediately fired a laser, but it was also avoided, Ai''s second swing of her sword finally cut off the Toguls tail.


    Giiiiiiiiiiii."


    Isnt this guy too fast?!" (Tatsuro)


    That''s why it''s so dangerous!" (Leela)


    While Tatsuro was conversing with Leela about that, the togul tried to keep its distance by kicking a tree, bleeding from where its tail used to be.


    However, Ai, who was also unbeatable in speed, was able to catch up.


    Ha!" (Ai)


    "Squeak!


    Ai uses the [Air walk] to create a foothold, just like how the togul was moving around three-dimensionally using trees, to chase after it in the same manner.


    Eventually, with its blood bleeding out and the strength to move around diminishing, Tatsuro instructed Ai.


    Ai, jump!" (Tatsuro)


    Okay!" (Ai)


    Without questioning Tatsuro''s words, Ai jumped lightly on the spot.


    At the same time, the Togul put its feet on the ground.


    Kiki!?


    At that moment, the ground clung to Togul''s legs like mud, temporarily stopping its movement.


    Ai does not miss the chance.


    In the middle of the jump, she uses [Air Walk] to jump sideways and change her trajectory to pass directly over the Togul.


    Then, in that instant, she passed over the togul, she swung the jeweled sword in half, cleaving it in half horizontally, ending the monsters life.

 Chapter 63: The Great Disturbance

    Chapter 63: The Great Disturbance


    When Tatsuro examined the carcass of the togul, he found no poison in the stinger of its tail.


    Moreover, if one looked closely at its body, it was emaciated and one could guess that it had been here for some days.


    When he told the members of the group of the results, everyone thought of one single probability.


    "Could it be that this was the guy who killed Elren-san?" (Ai)


    "I guess from the state of things, I can''t deny it, and I also can''t rule it out either."


    Even if they were able to identify the scars caused by a single race of monsters on the level of each monster using some kind of magic, the important thing was that the bodies had already been burned and buried properly.


    Therefore, it was practically impossible to prove it.


    "I don''t mean to sound cold, but there''s nothing we can probably do about this." (Leela)


    "Yeah" (Ai)


    "Yes that''s right" (Tatsuro)


    Although the mood was a bit down, they decided to change their mind after hearing Leela''s words.


    They continued to hunt the monsters that came out while having Cardina do the searching, and eventually, they returned to the cobblestone road.


    "I hope we can use this next time." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s a lot of walking." (Ai)


    When Tatsuro looked at the system''s map and rechecked the path he had taken, he could see most of it without missing a thing.


    "It''s almost the time we concluded on, so let''s call it a day." (Leela)


    "Okay." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes." (Ai)


    As soon, as the three of them began to prepare to go home while following the cobblestone road, Cardina turned in the direction of the Amneri Great Forest and squealed impatiently.


    "What is going on" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro immediately synchronized with Cardina''s probing magic to search for information and found that a large number of monsters were rushing toward them and, by extension, toward the town''s direction.


    "Both of you should get ready for battle at once; a lot of monsters are coming this way!" (Tatsuro)


    "Eh?" (Ai)


    Although flustered, she realized by the look on Tatsuro''s face that he was not joking and immediately began preparing for battle.


    "Tatsuro. How many of them are coming?" (Ai)


    "Too many to give an exact number, but I''d say an estimate of fifty monsters." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s a lot of work!" (Ai)


    "Fifty!?" (Leela)


    Tatsuro almost laughed at the differences in their replies, but he pulled a face and said, "This is no time for that." At that moment, Leela proposed to the two of them.


    "Would you mind if I take the first shot at them?" (Leela)


    "Sure, but what are you aiming at" (Tatsuro)


    "I''d like to use a big spell, but it drains a lot of magic power, so I''d like you two to take care of the monsters that might still be standing." (Leela)


    "I understand." (Tatsuro)


    "Got it!" (Ai)


    Then, concluding the strategy meeting, in which the details were quickly briefed out, the lead of the large monster army, finally came into view.


    They were a group of beast-type, insect-type, and other types with no form of uniformity, but all of them were moving together in the same direction. It was as if they were running away from something.


    If they did not hold them here, it was easy to imagine all of them assaulting the outer walls of the town.


    With no sight of any reinforcements nearby, they had no choice but to break out of this situation with the few members present.


    "Please stay out of my way!" (Leela)


    "Yes" (Ai)Ge?tt the latest novels at


    "Okay" (Tatsuro)


    It then released a flamethrower, which Ai also avoided by kicking it in the air, and then continued to move around in all directions to disturb them.


    Incidentally, Ai has been using the [Air Walk] skill many times in a row since earlier.


    This is essential because only several leaps can be used per level.


    Strictly speaking, however, if both feet touch something you have landed, so if you kick in the air with your feet still on the board, the number of kicks will reset the limit automatically.


    Therefore, as long as she had the energy (Ki), she could kick indefinitely.


    Tatsuro, who had entrusted Ai with evasion in such a backhanded way, used magic, being careful not to let either of them fall, and used [Level Eater] to reduce the creature''s level. Because he was doing this at close range, his efficiency was good.


    Then, visibly, the movement of the bullhead monster became slower and slower, and the brilliance of the technique was as if it had disappeared, while Ai''s leeway increased proportionally.


    And,


    Level: 37


    Skills: [Flame Wrapping Lv.0] [Flame throwing Lv.0] [Axe Arts Lv.0]


    [Shield Arts Lv.0] [Spear Arts Lv.0] [Frenzy Lv.0]


    [Parry Lv.0] [Body Strengthening Lv.0]


    Just as Tatsuro was sucking up all of that, the bullhead suddenly threw all the axes, shields, and spears in their hands at them.


    The feeling of suddenly being unable to use its skills and losing muscle strength instinctively terrified it.


    However, to the two people who did not know this, it looked like an odd behavior, and Ai, amused, kicked the sky and dodged the weapons thrown at them


    In the meantime, however, the bull-headed ran away as fast as it could toward Leela.


    "Oh, no" "Ah"


    The distance between Tatsuro and the bullhead became so great that it became hard to keep the [level eater] connected, and Tatsuro gave up on sucking out the rest of the level and swallowed the black ball for sustenance.


    "We are going after it" (Tatsuro)


    "Okay" (Ai)


    They rapidly closed the gap, moving faster than the creature.


    The bullhead noticed this and, perhaps realizing that it could not escape, turned back towards them and attacked head-on with all six of its arms.


    However, such amateur punching is no match for Ai.


    "Tatsuro put me down." (Ai)


    "Okay." (Tatsuro)


    Immediately slowing the board down and lowering it towards the ground, Ai jumped down one meter above the ground.


    She channeled a lot of Ki energy into the jeweled sword, changing its color to an extremely colorful hue.


    "Dieeee!" (Ai)


    "Haaa!"


    They clashed head-on.


    Ai using [Body strengthening] swung her sword with blinding speed, cutting off all the arms.


    "Bumooooooo!"


    Confused by this, it turns around and tries to run away again at this stage, but.


    "Hey, come here." (Tatsuro)


    "Bumooooooo!"


    Almost unnoticed, Tatsuro was standing behind the bull''s head, and with a mixed magical attack of wind and earth, he created a large tornado filled with sharp stone fragments and directed it at the creature.


    The magic of the tornado had pierced its entire body with stones, and yet it managed to jump out of the tornado in a near-death state, only to find Ai there with her jeweled sword raised like an executioner on a decapitation table.


    "Too bad!" (Ai)


    "Bu"


    With a single flash of her sword, she cut off the base of all three necks at once.

 Chapter 64: Living Disaster

    Chapter 64: Living Disaster


    2nd Chapter for the week


    Enjoy~~~


    |You have Levelled up to Lv 30|


    Three lumps rolled with a thud.


    Meanwhile, Ai retreated cautiously, paying no heed to the level-up announcement, ensuring she stayed clear of the blood.


    Suddenly, a gush of blood erupted, splattering the surroundings in crimson.


    Observing this, Tatsuro swiftly cast detection magic to check for any remaining mobile monsters. He found one, frozen but still alive, and promptly dispatched it.


    |You have Levelled up to Lv 30|


    At that moment, the levels absorbed from the Bullhead Creature by the Level Eater were finally converted, raising Tatsuro''s level as well.


    While confirming the defeat of all the monsters and reuniting with Ai, Leela arrived with her escort, carrying Cardina with her.


    "This is a Trofrogaros A creature from the middle to deep layers of the Amneri Great Forest You managed to defeat it quite easily." (Leela)


    Leela, upon seeing the two standing unscathed beside the creature lying lifeless with three heads and six arms missing, remarked as her first words, "Quite an impression you''ve made."


    However, it was thanks to the weakening effect of the Level Eater that it was not a formidable foe, as it would have been quite troublesome otherwise.


    "It wasn''t as easy as all that, though." (Ai)


    "Despite being monsters, they had oddly human-like movements. Are creatures like that common?" (Tatsuro)


    "Monsters with humanoid shapes often use skills similar to humans." (Leela)


    It seems that monsters having skills like martial arts are not very rare. Tatsuro realized this and adjusted his assessment of their danger accordingly.


    While they were discussing, Ai, who had disappeared unnoticed, returned with all the equipment from the Bullhead Creature known as Trofrogaros.


    The sight of her stacking and carrying items larger than herself, using a large shield as a makeshift tray, was quite remarkable.


    "I brought them because they seemed useful." (Ai)


    "It doesn''t appear to be iron, but is it a material that can withstand the flow of energy?" (Tatsuro)


    "It should be fine; the monster was also channeling its energy through this." (Ai)


    While magical energy had become visible, Tatsuro, an outsider to Ki manipulation, could not help but be impressed by the versatile Trofrogaros. He became curious about how monsters acquired their weapons.


    It was at that moment that Leela conveniently explained Trofrogaros''s weapons.


    "It seems that these weapons are made from the same components as Trofrogaros''s bones. Weapons held by monsters are, in fact, a part of the monsters'' organs and may not be separated from their bodies until a certain point in their development. There''s a theory that suggests this, and the weapons also improve in quality as the monster''s strength increases." (Leela)


    "So, does that mean it''s a part of its body? Hearing that, I''m not very keen on using it." (Ai)


    "It''s not a bad idea. The weapon itself seems usable." (Tatsuro)


    Indeed, it is not a pleasant thought, but having more options can also enhance their safety. Therefore, Tatsuro persuaded Ai to keep it.


    "Are there any other places we should set aside items?" (Ai)


    "Well" (Leela)


    They inquired about items that seemed to fetch a high price, materials suitable for weapons and armor. Additionally, they collected from the numerous monsters around and shared these with Leela.


    "Is this enough?" (Tatsuro)


    "Today, we made quite a fortune!" (Ai)


    After disposing of unnecessary parts, while discussing this, Leela was contemplating something else.


    "That place it landed, it right by the salt lake, isn''t it?" (Ai)


    "Yes, that''s correct. The lake there spews out not only a large amount of salt but also magic energy, which probably attracted it." (Leela)


    "But in that case, what about Zendo-san and the others?" (Tatsuro)


    "They probably can''t produce salt there, and there''s a possibility that the town of Obsul itself might have to be abandoned." (Leela)


    "What?" (Tatsuro)


    "No way" (Ai)


    Overwhelmed by the magnitude of the situation, both of them were left speechless. Leela, after calmly acknowledging the gravity of the situation, spoke up.


    "For now, it seems like the magical dragon isn''t showing any signs of moving. Let''s return to the town for the time being." (Leela)


    "Indeed. Ai, let''s head back for now." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah" (Ai)


    With that, the three humans and their companion quickly made their way back to town. By the time they arrived, it had grown dark, and a crowd of people had gathered at the gate.


    "What''s going on?" (Ai)


    "Maybe news about the dragon from earlier has already spread to everyone?" (Tatsuro)


    "And now people are trying to get out of town in a hurry, pushing to be the first through the gate. Not surprising at all. Let''s make our way to the Adventurer''s Guild quickly." (Leela)


    Nodding in agreement to Leela''s cool-headed words, Tatsuro put Cardina away, and the three of them maneuvered through the crowd.


    Once inside the town, they found a scene of chaos with people shouting and angry.


    Ignoring the commotion, the three quickly entered the Adventurer''s Guild, where the exploration team had gathered.


    "Everyone, glad to see you''re all safe." (Leela)


    "Yeah, you took your sweet time coming back. I thought you''d bitten the dust." (Aggra Ba''it)


    "I plan to outlive you by a long shot, so no need to worry." (Leela)


    "Haha, no doubt about that." (Aggra Ba''it)


    After this brief exchange with Aggra Ba''it, a seasoned adventurer, and Leela, they shared the information they had gathered. According to the reports, while not as intense as Tatsuro and his team, every party had fought a considerable number of monsters. Furthermore, the number of monsters in the entire region was still increasing.


    In particular, a veteran party that had been exploring near the Amneri Forest reported strange behavior among the monsters. They seemed to be fleeing from the forest. The monsters they had failed to defeat had ended up coming toward Tatsuro and his group.


    "With this, we''ve identified the cause of the irregular monster distribution this time." (Leela)


    "We initially attributed the cause to an earthquake, but what if the earthquake itself was the work of that magical dragon?" (Carney)


    As Carney, the leader of a party consisting of only women, summarized this thought, it seemed that everyone had arrived at the same conclusion, as there was no dissenting opinion.


    "So, what do we do now?" (Ai)


    "There''s not much we can do It is not as if we alone can change the situation. While that magical dragon is quiet, we should escape from this town for the time being." (Aggra Ba''it)


    "I see." (Ai)


    When Ai, with a hint of hope, suggested if there was anything they could do, Aggra Ba''it advised her in a calming tone, causing her to look a bit disheartened as she retreated.


    It was frustrating to just back down without trying anything, but none of them here were willing to risk their lives for a small town. Moreover, if they escaped now, there would be no loss of lives.


    The best course of action was to leave it to experienced adventurers who had experience in subduing magical dragons.


    Tatsuro and Ai had resigned themselves to this line of thought when suddenly, a cry rang out.


    "Something''s wrong!"


    With that voice, a male adventurer unrelated to the exploration team burst into the room, looking visibly distraught.

 Chapter 65: A Promise

    Chapter 65: A Promise


    In response to the man who had burst in, Leela calmly prompted him.


    "What''s the matter? Why are you so frantic?" (Leela)


    "Well the thing is, there are still salt workers in the location where that magical dragon is!"


    "What?! Wait a moment, today, there weren''t any adventurers assigned to guard them, were there? We were supposed to escort them, but No, I see. Your party took on that responsibility?" (Aggra Ba''it)


    "Yeah, that''s right. They say the composition of the salt changes slightly every day, so they need to collect some of it every day, even if it is just a small amount. They offered a substantial reward for it. Therefore, I thought it might be okay if it is just for today Please, help us! My comrades are still there!"


    As the desperate man pleaded for help, everyone in the room fell silent. Adventurers were not necessarily champions of justice. They could not afford to engage in reckless battles with uncertain outcomes for the sake of others.


    However, Tatsuro and his group felt that there were questions they needed to ask.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    "You mentioned salt workers, but how many people went, and who were they?" (Tatsuro)


    "Huh? Well, it was Zendo-san, Gaz, and a few others. We didn''t have a lot of people today because we were planning to finish quickly and return."


    "So, are those people still safe?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, they should be. We saw it coming, so everyone else should be hiding in the workshop. I figured I would be harder to spot alone, so I ran here to seek help."


    "I see" (Tatsuro)


    "Hey, Aggra Ba''it-san. If it''s your party, maybe you could defeat the magical dragon, right? Please, I''m begging you! I''ll pay as much as you want later!"


    Tatsuro and Ai did not seem to be considered by the man as part of their fighting force from the beginning, and he answered their questions half-heartedly before urgently seeking help from the experienced parties.


    "Don''t be unreasonable. Even in our prime, we wouldn''t have been able to fight a dragon with this number of people." (Aggra Ba''it)


    "Please, don''t say that!"


    Despite being bluntly refused and desperately clinging to hope, the man was brushed off not only by Tatsuro and his group but also by the other members present. He left the Adventurer''s Guild with drooping shoulders.


    Once they had witnessed this, Leela went behind the counter and then returned after a while with four coins in hand.


    "Everyone, please submit your quest forms. I''ll provide the rewards immediately."


    In her composed voice, Leela said this, and everyone promptly handed in their quest forms.


    "Here are your rewards." (Leela)


    "Yes."


    Tatsuro confirmed that the correct amount was provided and made the deposit. Then, Leela spoke again.


    "Thank you for today. Regrettably, it ended this way, but I think both of you should leave this town soon." (Leela)


    "What about you, Leela?" (Tatsuro)


    "This guild will probably be frozen until that magical dragon is eventually defeated. Therefore, I''ll likely move to another branch. If you happen to meet me somewhere else, please feel free to say hello." (Leela)


    "Alright, we''ll do that. Goodbye, Tatsuro." (Ai)


    "Yeah. Leela, thank you for accompanying us today." (Tatsuro)


    "Thank you." (Leela)


    With renewed thanks and a bow, the two of them left. Leela nodded respectfully in response.


    "No problem. Honestly, even without me, you two would have managed somehow. Thank you for this valuable experience. Both of you thank you." (Leela)


    Afterward, they exchanged brief greetings with other adventurer parties, and then the two of them left the place.


    "Well, let''s go." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah" (Ai)


    As they walked out, accompanied by Leela''s farewell, Tatsuro sent a telepathic message to Ai and headed straight for the blacksmith''s shop.


    {Are we leaving this town, as in, for good, after what happened earlier? Or} (Tatsuro)


    {Of course, to help Mr. Zendo.} (Ai)


    {To be honest, I think we have repaid our debt. Are you sure about this?} (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro asked this somewhat mean-spirited question, knowing what Ai would say.


    Tatsuro questioned the true intentions of the eccentric old man, believing that he would not do something without a reason.


    "So, why did you give me this?" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, that guy has mediocre skills but a wide network. Have him introduce you to a first-rate craftsman," the old man replied.


    "An introduction letter to an introduction letter? Quite convoluted," (Tatsuro)


    "Well, use it when you can''t find a trustworthy craftsman. My master doesn''t blabber about his clients, so you can trust that part," the old man explained.


    Realizing that it might come in handy in the future both of them thanked him and accepted the letter.


    "He should be in Holmuz, a place beyond the Lyadus territory, often called the blacksmith''s town," the old man said.


    "Holmuz got it. I''ll remember that," (Tatsuro)


    "Alright, this is farewell then," the old man said.


    "Yeah, don''t squander your money and end up bankrupt!" (Tatsuro)


    "You got it," the old man agreed.


    As they were about to part with those words, Tatsuro remembered something he had forgotten to ask.


    "You gave me this introduction letter, but come to think of it, I don''t know your name. It is somewhat strange to be introduced by someone whose name you don''t even know. Please, tell me your name before we part." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, right, we never exchanged names, did we? My name is Yamate Goresum."


    "I''m Tatsuro Hasami." (Tatsuro)


    "I''m Ai Yashiki." (Ai)


    "It''s a bit odd to introduce ourselves when we might never see each other again," (Tatsuro)


    The old man scratched his head, shouldered his belongings nearby, and, along with the three of them, left the blacksmith''s shop. He closed the door with a key.


    "Well then, see you around." (Tatsuro)


    "Goodbye." (Ai)


    As they bid farewell to the old man''s departing figure, they heard him say, "Take care," as he glanced back at them from the doorway. The two of them moved to the outskirts of the deserted town.


    As they reached a place far from the town''s commotion and where nobody was in sight, Tatsuro prepared his board for flight. Placing it on the ground, he turned to Ai to convey something important.


    "Ai." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah?" (Ai)


    "Where we''re about to go, it''s really dangerous," (Tatsuro)


    "It seems that way," Ai, responded nonchalantly, which, oddly enough, made Tatsuro feel even more uneasy.


    "So, just make one promise for me." (Tatsuro)


    "A promise?" (Ai)


    "Yeah. I''m willing to sacrifice anything for you, Ai. So, in case something happens, even if it means leaving Zendo-san and the others behind, promise me that you''ll escape without fail." (Tatsuro)


    "Tatsuro" (Ai)


    There should not be a "what if." Ai closed her eyes for a moment, thinking about how nice it would be if she could say that. However, she firmly internalized Tatsuro''s words in her heart.


    Then, she spoke the words that came to her mind.


    "Well, I''m the same. No one in this world or the original world could replace you, Tatsuro. Therefore, I do not want to do anything that might put you in danger or make you sad. So, I promise. If I ever feel our lives are in danger, let''s escape together." (Ai)


    "You and me?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, because what I said earlier didn''t include Tatsuro himself. If Tatsuro were gone, I wouldn''t have any intention of staying alive either." (Ai)


    The gaze she directed straight at him held no lies or deceit. Therefore, Tatsuro, too, faced it with sincerity.


    "I promise too. If I ever feel our lives are in danger, let''s escape together." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes!" (Ai)


    And so, the two of them locked eyes and exchanged a kiss, sealing their solemn promise.

 Chapter 66: Taking The Initiative

    Chapter 66: Taking The Initiative


    After exchanging their vows on the deserted street corner, the two immediately began their meeting.


    "First and foremost, we should make it clear that our objective is not to defeat that dangerous creature called the Magic Dragon," (Tatsuro)


    "If we can help without fighting, it''s better that way," (Ai)


    "Exactly. And second, we need to be cautious about that voice," (Tatsuro)


    "That voice" (Ai)


    Ai recalled the bitter memory of when she had been affected by it. It invoked a primal fear etched into her at the genetic level. Ideally, she never wanted to experience it again.


    "Magic from creatures that use sound as a medium may have low power, but they have broad effects and are hard to dodge. We should think of something to counter this consistently in the future, but since we''re short on time this time, let''s rely on Cardina." (Tatsuro)


    "Cardina-chan?" (Ai)


    "Yes. We''ve already analyzed the magic behind that voice, so if Cardina sets up a barrier around you the moment that attack comes, it should be possible to counter it." (Tatsuro)


    "Cardina is undoubtedly strong, but can she handle that magic on her own?" (Ai)


    Ai felt concerned about whether Cardina, who was only a large bird in terms of size, could handle the attacks emitted by that massive figure. However, Tatsuro nodded confidently.


    "We haven''t tried it yet, so I won''t say it''s definite, but there''s a pretty high chance it''ll work." (Tatsuro)


    "I see. If Tatsuro says so, I believe it." (Ai)


    "Yeah, you can trust me." (Tatsuro)


    After discussing several other matters, Tatsuro made one final proposal.


    "If it comes to a fight, how about we start by using the thing we got from defeating that golden bear?" (Tatsuro)


    "If we managed to defeat that monster, we should at least be able to inflict some damage," (Ai)


    "Yeah, no need to engage in a head-on, all-out battle." (Tatsuro)


    Having discussed the necessary details, Tatsuro decided to maximize his abilities using the SP he got from the Bullhead and Level-Up. He focused on wind magic since the creature they were about to face could fly. By increasing his wind magic proficiency, he aimed to improve his maneuverability in aerial combat and enhance his control over [Wind Magic].


    Currently, with 138 SP available, he spent 120 SP to raise "Wind Magic Level 8."


    "Alright, now for the final check. Let''s look at our stats," (Tatsuro)


    "I agree" (Ai)


    With that, they both opened their systems to confirm there were no issues and that they had not overlooked anything.


    Name: Tatsuro Hasami


    Class: Light Mage


    Level: 30


    Ki: 67


    Mana: 687


    Strength: 94


    Durability: 94


    Agility: 89


    Magic: 534


    Magic resistance: 518


    Magic control: 542


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Level Eater], [Light Magic Lv.10], [Dark Magic Lv.5]


    [Fire Magic Lv.10], [Water Magic Lv.2], [Life Magic Lv.1]


    [Earth Magic Lv.7], [Information Magic Lv.4], [Wind Magic Lv.8]


    [Mana Purification Lv.3], [Mana Regeneration Lv.3], [Mana Perception Lv.3]


    [Focus Lv.3] [Universal Language Comprehension].


    |System skills|


    [Map], [Item box +3]


    Skill points: 18


    |Titles|Visjt  for new updates


    Therefore, he believed that a surprise attack from above was the safest and most reliable way to inflict damage. Moreover, even if he were to fall to the ground, Ai had [Air Walk] and Tatsuro could make an emergency landing with [Wind Magic]. That is why it was worth doing.


    "Alright, here we go," (Tatsuro)


    "Well, in that case, it''s do or die! Let''s go all out!" (Ai)


    With Ai''s preparations complete, Tatsuro stored away his board and stopped using wind magic, allowing gravity to take control as they began to free-fall. During the descent, they held hands and gazed downward like skydivers.


    {Ai, transfer some of your energy to me} (Tatsuro)


    {Got it!} (Tatsuro)


    Due to the wind pressure during the fall, they found it difficult to speak, so they communicated their thoughts through telepathy. Ai channeled her increased energy into Tatsuro, who felt the surge.


    "Ugh." (Tatsuro)


    "Are you okay, Tatsuro?" (Ai)


    "The energy I''m feeling is all from you, Ai. I''m perfectly fine." (Tatsuro)


    "That way of saying it sounds a bit suggestive." (Ai)


    Too focused to notice Ai''s playful remark, Tatsuro smoothly fused her energy with his magic, despite the increased difficulty caused by the higher levels of both magic and energy than before.


    They accomplished it quickly.


    "Let''s do this!" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah!" (Ai)


    They extended their hands forward, unleashing fists enveloped in white flames even larger than before, measuring three meters in length.


    The altitude continued to drop rapidly, with only seconds left until impact. However, there was no doubt or hesitation in their hearts.


    They fixed their aim on the head of the Magic Dragon, which they could see now.


    With a resounding cry, they launched fists filled with immense energy toward the head of the Magic Dragon.


    Their powerful attack roared through the air, hurtling straight for the Magic Dragon''s head.


    The Magic Dragon tried to react by spewing ice from its mouth to intercept their attack, but their fists shattered the ice and continued onward. Their fists were sucked into the Magic Dragon''s wide-open mouth, and they obliterated its head from within.


    "Alright!" "We did it!"


    With its head obliterated, the Magic Dragon''s shortened neck spewed blood as it collapsed into the lake, dyeing the water red.


    Observing the scene, Tatsuro quickly summoned his board and, with Ai, landed near the fallen Magic Dragon.


    "Tatsuro, let''s reassure Zendo and the others quickly!" (Ai)


    "Yeah, you''re right but" (Tatsuro)


    Despite the Magic Dragon appearing unquestionably dead, even the analysis from his Dispel Magic skill confirming its death, something still nagged at Tatsuro.


    However, prioritizing saving lives, Tatsuro turned away from the body. Just then, Cardina let out a high-pitched cry.


    "What''s going on?" Both of them turned back, only to find the Magic Dragon staring at them as if nothing had happened.


    "Jaaaaaaaahhhh!"


    "Puyyyyyyyyyyy!" (Cardina)


    In their astonishment, they both turned to the source of the voice. Cardina had faithfully maintained the anti-magic barrier around Ai, neutralizing the voice''s magic attack with her Dispel Magic.


    Upon witnessing this, they quickly regrouped and decided to distance themselves from the Magic Dragon. Ai carried Tatsuro and flew backward, while Tatsuro activated Level Eater before hitting it at direct range with a black orb.


    "Why did it return to normal?" (Ai)


    "Is it this?" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro looked at its'' Skills with annoyance as he considered the skill that was responsible for the strange occurrence.


    Level: 86


    Skill: [Total regeneration] [Bite Lv.10] [Dragon flight Lv.6]


    [Dragon Tail Flash Lv.9], [Ice Breath Lv.11], [Ice Blade Lv.12]


    [Fear Lv.3]


    [Total Regeneration]


    This was the reason why it overcame even death and even twisted the laws of the world to regenerate.


    Now Tatsuro realized that the strange feeling he had felt earlier was that he had not heard the announcement of the level up.


    2nd Chapter for the week.

 Chapter 67: The Strength Of the Dragon

    Chapter 67: The Strength Of the Dragon


    Tatsuro and Ai, with the help of Cardina, had their [Fear] dispelled. They quickly retreated to the spot where they had previously set up their tent to ensure the workshop behind them remained unharmed.


    Seeing their escape, the Magic dragon swung its tail angrily and lashed out towards the space above.


    "Ai!" (Tatsuro)


    "I got it!" (Ai)


    Ai immediately grabbed Tatsuro and kicked the ground once and the air twice, executing an emergency evasion along the straight line of the tail. Cardina followed suit. A blinding flash, in the shape of the tail and filled with visible energy, swept across the ground vertically for several tens of meters, cutting deep into the earth.


    "Tatsuro, that was close!" (Ai)


    "Yeah, I''ll neutralize it with [Level Eater] right away. Get ready to fly!" (Tatsuro)


    "Got it!" (Ai)


    Whoosh!


    Tatsuro and Ai, observing the scar-like line on the ground, hopped onto their boards and approached the Magic dragon to efficiently nullify its power.


    "Raaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"


    Whoosh!


    They smoothly bypassed another [Fear] attack and closed the distance for the optimal use of [Level Eater]. However, as they got closer, the enemy''s tactics multiplied.


    The Magic Dragon switched to [Breath of Ice] and released it in their direction.


    "It''s cold!" (Tatsuro)


    "Tatsuro!" (Ai)


    "No worries, I''m fine." (Tatsuro)


    Despite successfully evading the [Breath of Ice], Tatsuro''s back was frozen by its aftermath. However, he had discreetly wrapped bear fur under his clothes, which only gave him a chilly sensation. Nevertheless, without it, he might have suffered frostbite. As Ai watched with concern, he quickly used a combination of fire and light magic to thaw it out and escape the danger.


    However, realizing that they could not keep doing this every time, Tatsuro gave Cardina an order.


    "Cardina! If it comes at us with that attack again, I need you to analyze it!" (Tatsuro)


    "Pyu" (Cardina)


    The opposite wavelength of ice magic was earth magic. Based on this theory, even if they could not completely neutralize it, they could at least dissipate the aftermath, and it worked. They endured the aftermath of the second [Breath of Ice] while analyzing it and successfully canceled out the aftermath of the third attack.


    At this point, the Magic Dragon realized its attacks were ineffective. It summoned twelve enormous scythes made of ice around itself, spinning them towards Tatsuro and his companions.


    "I''ve got this!" (Ai)


    "Thank you!" (Tatsuro)


    Ai retrieved a gem sword from her [Item Box] poured energy into it until it became vibrant and colorful, and then sliced through the scythes in mid-air. Each time a scythe was shattered, the Magic dragon attempted to replace it with a new one, but as Tatsuro''s skill level with [Level Eater] decreased the more he used it, the number of scythes gradually dwindled from twelve to ten, then five, until it couldn''t summon any more ice scythes.


    "Raaaah!"


    Unable to do what it could previously, the Magic dragon let out an uncomfortable cry and attempted to unleash another [Breath of Ice], which also failed.


    Moreover, by that time, the extraction with [Level Eater] had made significant progress.


    Ge?tt the latest novels at


    Level: 86


    "Let''s try the next one!" (Ai)


    "Yeah." (Tatsuro)


    The embedded clump of earth was expelled as it swelled, and new flesh closed the hole. Ai then launched her attack.


    "I''ll show you my improved skills!" (Ai)


    "Go for it!" (Tatsuro)


    With these words, Ai raised her gem sword and infused it with even more energy, swinging the multi-colored blade toward the void. The blade emitted a burst of energy that struck the cheek of the Magic dragon, which persistently continued to [Bite]


    "Raaaah!"


    "Isn''t the power a bit weak!?" (Tatsuro)


    "I''m still practicing!" (Ai)


    The Magic Dragon, having received only a minor shock, remained unscathed and grew even angrier. But Ai had finally succeeded in releasing her energy and wore a triumphant expression.


    Since this attack was only hitting the creature with a small amount of energy that had been partially detached, it did not deliver a slashing blow; it was just a blunt strike. However, considering the high durability of the Magic dragon, even this level of power was capable of easily shattering the bones of a low-level ordinary person. Fueled by confidence, she rapidly swung her sword, striking the Magic dragon dozens of times.


    "Raaaah!"


    "We''re just making it angrier" (Tatsuro)


    The dragon''s anger had made its attacks predictable, which was not a disadvantage. However, if they continued this way, the battle would never end. It seemed the Magic dragon had similar thoughts, as it struggled in anger but also attempted to use different skills.


    During this brief opportunity, Tatsuro continued to strike the heated clumps of earth, forcing the use of the [Total Regeneration] skill repeatedly.


    At that moment, as the Magic dragon seemed about to use its futile [Breath of Ice] again, Tatsuro observed it using [Mana Perception] and noticed that magic was visibly gathering.


    "Quick! Cardina! Activate [Anti-Magic] for [Breath of Ice]!"


    "What? What''s going on!?" (Ai)


    "Pyu" (Cardina)


    Ai, who did not understand what was happening, questioned Tatsuro in her sudden panic. However, Tatsuro could not afford to explain at the moment. He immediately activated [Anti-Magic] with Cardina, creating a double barrier.


    "Raaaah!"


    Whoosh!


    "Why can it still attack!?" (Ai)


    The power of the suddenly released [Breath of Ice] was significantly weakened. However, the first barrier was destroyed upon direct impact, and they managed to escape from the ice beam while being protected by Tatsuro''s second barrier.


    "You removed the skill earlier, right?" (Ai)


    "Yeah. It should have been converted to my SP. But why can it? Could it be that [Total Regeneration] can reverse it too?" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s so unfair!" (Ai)


    While the Magic Dragon might want to complain about unfairness, it lacked the intelligence to do so. Instead, it unleashed the newly available [Breath of Ice] once more.


    Tatsuro and the others found themselves in another predicament, so they took to the air to avoid the attack completely.


    By the way, the reason the Magic dragon regained its skill had nothing to do with the [Total Regeneration] skill. It was because this creature belonged to a species known as dragons or dragonoids. Dragons, just by being dragons, received preferential treatment in every aspect. This included the speed at which they acquired skills. While not as fast as Ai''s [Valkyrie] skill, the dragon regained the lost levels through its efforts.


    However, unaware of this, Tatsuro and Ai continued to believe that even skill levels could be regenerated. As a result, the battle continued.

 Chapter 68: Signs of Counterattack

    Chapter 68: Signs of Counterattack


    The Magic Dragon, feeling good about regaining its skills, now decided to use [Dragon flight] flapping its massive wings and creating waves on the lake''s surface. Tatsuro and Ai quickly circled it, getting closer while Tatsuro fired lasers and Ai used her gem sword to cut and obstruct its wings.


    The Magic dragon endured the pain, ignoring it as it knew it would regenerate, and continued flapping its wings. At the same time, it also regained the [Ice Blade] skill.


    "Ai!" (Tatsuro)


    "I got it!" (Ai)


    While Ai shattered the approaching ice giant scythe with her gem sword, the Magic dragon unleashed its [Breath of Ice], Tatsuro and Cardina created an anti-magic barrier with a mixture of fire and earth magic to withstand the attack and then moved away to increase the distance.


    Now, it had also regained [Dragon flight] floating up into the sky.


    "Darn it, its skills are coming back one by one." (Tatsuro)


    "This is the most troublesome one so far" (Ai)


    Despite the bitter expressions on their faces, they charged toward the approaching Magic dragon with determination.


    The Magic dragon, flapping its wings, simultaneously activated [Ice Breath] and [Ice Blade]. They managed to evade these attacks using the same methods as before. Then, the dragon raised its tail.


    "Watch out for its tail!" (Tatsuro)


    "One thing after another" (Ai)


    Tatsuro immediately created an updraft and ascended. As they moved away, a weakened [Dragon Tail Flash] passed below them.


    Realizing that allowing it to do as it pleased would render the use of [Level Eater] meaningless, Tatsuro and Ai got closer to the Magic Dragon, and Tatsuro began to drop heavy clumps of earth, created by a mixture of earth and darkness magic, like rain.


    "Raaaaaaah!"


    "Hmm?" (Tatsuro)


    "What''s wrong, Tatsuro?" (Ai)


    "Did you notice anything strange with it just now?" (Tatsuro)


    "Something strange?" (Ai)


    To confirm the feeling of unease, Tatsuro dropped another clump of earth using the same magic. This time, the Magic dragon twisted itself to dodge when it was about to hit a certain part of its back.


    "Ai, can you cut the spot where I''m about to shoot the laser?" (Tatsuro)


    "Huh? Sure thing." (Ai)


    Assuming he had an idea, Ai readily agreed and readied her gem sword. With her confirmation, Tatsuro descended toward the indicated spot on the dragon''s back.


    "Ha!"


    "There, right?" (Tatsuro)


    With a determined shout, Tatsuro targeted the area near the base of the left wing with his laser. The Magic dragon reacted excessively, becoming even more enraged. Tatsuro was now convinced that something was there.


    As they approached the range where Ai''s sword could reach, she sliced through it with all her might. When the area was cut open, they found a gem-like stone shining in red. They both thought this might be the dragon''s weak point and prepared to attack simultaneously.


    However, at that moment, the Magic dragon rotated in mid-air and bumped its belly against them, regenerating instantly. The dragon then directed [Dragon Tail Flash], [Breath of Ice] and [Ice Blade] simultaneously towards Tatsuro and Ai, prepared to eliminate them.


    Tatsuro and Ai used anti-magic with Cardina and employed swordsmanship with the gem sword to narrowly evade the attacks, escaping the deadly area on the dragon''s belly.


    "That was close." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, but finding that thing earlier was a big deal." (Ai)


    As they spoke, they glanced back at the Magic Dragon, which was now staring at them. Tatsuro noticed through his [Magic Perception] that the dragon was about to use [Fear] attack skill with a cry.


    So they quickly had Cardina deal with it, and once again, the two of them charged towards the Magic dragon. The dragon tried to distract them with its [Breath of Ice] while preparing to cut them with the main attack, [Ice Blade] However, Tatsuro and Ai managed to handle this situation skillfully.


    As they approached the area near the base of the left wing, which they had targeted earlier, Ai confidently sliced through it to reveal the inside. However, to their surprise, the gem was not there; they only saw blood and bones.


    "It''s not here!?" (Ai)


    "Did it move!?" (Tatsuro)


    They narrowly avoided the [Dragon Tail Flash] that was about to hit them again after ascending. The shock of their progress toward defeating the Magic dragon being pushed back again was evident.


    Meanwhile, Zendo, one of the few who had resisted the [Fear] attack became curious about the battle sounds echoing outside and peeked through a small window in the workshop. There, he saw the Magic dragon still perched arrogantly and someone engaged in aerial combat.


    As he squinted to get a better look, he recognized the figure someone he knew well.


    "So, it wasn''t just a dream" (Zendo)


    "Zendo-san, please step away! You''ll get spotted."


    One of the adventurers who had come as his escort whispered, trying to pull Zendo back.


    Ignoring the advice, Zendo continued to watch the scene outside.


    "I knew it, you guys are capable of incredible things." (Zendo)


    The special feeling he had experienced back then was no illusion. Watching the boy and girl fighting against the dragon, filled Zendo''s heart with warmth, like something out of a fairy tale.


    "You won''t lose to a monster like that. Go ahead and knock it out for me." (Zendo)


    With that, Zendo muttered a prayer.


    To make their tasks clear, they first handed off the [Fear] attack to Cardina. Then, Tatsuro took charge of dodging the [Ice Breath] while Ai handled the [Ice Blade] and together they shared the responsibility of evading the [Dragon Tail Flash]


    With their assigned roles firmly in hand, the two of them, along with the dragon, continued to handle their responsibilities meticulously, successfully bringing themselves close to the dragon''s neck.


    The Magic dragon lunged, attempting to bite at them fiercely, but the two of them deliberately evaded it at the last moment, positioning themselves right by the dragon''s neck.


    "Raaaah!"


    First, it was Ai. With lightning-fast swordsmanship, she swung her blade twice, making a cross-shaped incision in the middle of the long neck.


    "Ha!"


    At that moment, Tatsuro poured all his magical power into the attack. It was a mixed magic spell combining wind, light, fire, earth, and darkness. He enhanced the tornado with wind magic, added flames with fire magic, and mixed darkness magic into earth magic, creating a densely compressed blade made of earth with unexpected mass and hardness. He compressed it to the limit, fitting it into a basketball-sized sphere.


    This small bomb entered the dragon''s neck before the incision could heal and destroyed it from the inside.


    First, the decompressed, shining tornado rampaged inside, attempting to tear the neck apart. Then, the flames swirling within burned the flesh, while the earthen blade acted like a blender, shattering the bones.


    "Jaaaaaaaahhhh!"


    The dragon could not even scream in response as its upper neck was torn upward and away.


    At that moment, the dragon was declared dead, and its wings stopped moving as it began to fall toward the lake.


    Tatsuro chased after it, infusing his magic into Ai.


    "Huh You endured this kind of thing, Tatsuro" (Ai)


    "Yeah. But it''s because I''m me. So, it''s okay." (Tatsuro)


    He whispered into her ear, embracing Ai tightly, echoing words she had once said to him.


    Ai, recalling that moment, concentrated, and they began to merge as one. She could feel her determination and Tatsuro''s magic blending. With this newfound power that was neither her own nor solely magic, she channeled it all into her gem sword.


    It transformed into a massive, brilliantly colored sword.


    The blade alone is 30 meters long, and Ai used the jeweled sword as a nucleus to establish it.


    And while falling and hitting the body on the bottom of the lake, the neck begins to regenerate.


    However, she does not intend to make it regenerate completely.


    "Cut it open, cut it open, cut it open, cut it open!"


    With their shouts, a 30-meter blade sliced the dragon in half with a single stroke.


    Then it split in two like a watermelon, and one half turned into a lump of flesh, while the other half slowly began to regenerate its flesh.


    Over there!


    The two of them rushed toward the side that was still alive and cast search magic inside to find the object they were looking for.


    The moment Tatsuro found it, he fired his most powerful laser at it.

 Chapter 69: The End of the Magic Dragon

    Chapter 69: The End of the Magic Dragon


    Tatsuro''s laser struck the regenerating flesh, pushing through and successfully hitting the red gem. However, the gem proved to be much tougher than expected, and the laser alone could not shatter it. So, Tatsuro retrieved an iron ingot from his [Item Box] and stretched it out into a thin wire-like form.


    Then, he fired the laser again to create a hole and manipulated the wire to wrap around the stone inside the dragon''s body.


    "Raaaah!"


    Once it was securely wound, Tatsuro used various spells and magic to pull the wire towards him as if he were fishing. When it was within reach, Ai stood ready with her gem sword to cut it.


    However, despite Ai''s strength, the wire made a loud "clang" and bounced back when she attempted to cut it.


    "What?!?" (Ai)


    "Ai, step back for a moment!" (Tatsuro)


    "Wha?" (Ai)


    Tatsuro''s words were accompanied by the realization that the dragon had fully regenerated its head. It turned toward Ai, baring its fangs. With no time to dodge, Ai met the attack with her gem sword.


    "Raaaah!"


    She did not try to cut but used the flat side of her sword to push up the dragon''s jaw. After that, she leaped back to Tatsuro''s side.


    However, during that time, the dragon''s massive body had fully regenerated.


    "Could it be we have to start over?" (Ai)Follow the latest novels on


    "No, at the very least, we''ve made progress." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro chuckled at this dire situation while showing Ai the wire in his hand.


    Ai was surprised to see that the wire''s end continued inside the dragon''s body.


    "The wire didn''t break." (Ai)


    "Yeah, I made it quite sturdy." (Tatsuro)


    While Tatsuro spoke, the object attached to the wire''s end could be seen moving around inside the dragon''s body. Ai and Tatsuro waited for it to stop while dealing with the dragon on the ground alongside Cardina. However, the wire''s end kept moving, like a fish on a hook, never stopping.


    "It just won''t stop." (Ai)


    "Do you think it knows what we''re aiming for?" (Tatsuro)


    They had planned to immobilize it and then use Tatsuro''s magic, with him as the central axis, to blow it away. However, this technique did not allow for precise course corrections after firing. Additionally, Ai''s mixed magic had too wide a range, making it difficult to target a moving object accurately.


    So, what to do? Tatsuro was pondering, but Ai came up with a brilliantly simple solution.


    "Hey, Tatsuro, you know what? When you''re in trouble, just punch it directly!" (Ai)


    As Ai said this, she took Tatsuro''s hand in a lovers'' clasp.


    Tatsuro raised an eyebrow at her balled-up fist.


    "Punch it directly, huh? Surprisingly, that might just work." (Tatsuro)


    "I know, right?" (Ai)


    Ai was delighted that Tatsuro shared her sentiment and began swinging their joined hands.


    With a smile, Tatsuro readied himself for their final move.


    "Let''s do it!" (Tatsuro)


    "Alright!" (Ai)


    First, no matter what they decided to do next, they needed to stop the dragon''s movements and create an opening. So, once again, the two of them took to the sky.


    Zendo understood their feelings and laughed heartily in response. In turn, they smiled, thinking that this easygoing relationship with Zendo was just right for them.


    As the three of them talked, Leela approached them. They expressed their gratitude for the assistance with magic, and Leela also thanked them. After a brief conversation, the topic gradually shifted to their future.


    "What do you two plan to do next?" (Leela)


    "We''re thinking of leaving Obsul and heading to Holmuz, known as the blacksmith''s town." (Ai)


    "We want to make armor using that material." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes, to use that, we''ll need to rely on a skilled blacksmith." (Ai)


    Leela thought of the golden crystal fur while saying this and offered a word of caution to the two.


    "Indeed, aiming for Holmuz to commission equipment is a good idea, but you might want to be cautious of the individual currently in charge of the merchant guild over there. It''s still just rumors, but I''ve heard a lot of unpleasant stories," (Leela)


    "Which means, aside from regular shopping, it seems wise to avoid places and people associated with the merchant guild," (Tatsuro)


    "That sounds like a prudent choice. For armor crafting requests, it''s best to rely on trustworthy individuals," (Ai)


    As they nodded to this discussion, they felt grateful for the letter of introduction given to them by the old man, which seemed like it might come in handy here. Tatsuro then tended to the people in the workshop who were still under the influence of [Fear] and they discussed heading back together.


    Zendo suddenly looked out at the lake and noticed something resembling a black mist floating above it.


    "Hey, Tatsuro. What do you think that is?" (Zendo)


    "Huh?" (Tatsuro)


    "What is it?" (Ai)


    With a puzzled tone, Zendo pointed ahead. Both Tatsuro and Ai followed his gaze, and it was clear that something unusual was floating over the lake, gradually expanding in size.


    "Is that a spiritual apparition? Tatsuro-san, use light ma" (Leela)


    Leela, who had seen something like it before, immediately recognized its nature and was about to ask Tatsuro to use light magic, the most effective countermeasure. However, it was already too late.


    The mist completely covered the lake, and then sank into the water as if dissolving. The once beautiful lake turned pitch black, and the water became muddy and viscous like sludge.


    "Wait what''s going on here" (Tatsuro).


    Zendo, who had spent more time with this lake than anyone else here, could not contain his shock as he picked up the changed water with his hands, his voice trembling.


    "Zendo-san, don''t touch it!" (Leela)


    Silently, Zendo allowed Leela to pull him away from the lake. The other salt workers who had come with Zendo were also standing there in astonishment at the sight.


    Seeing the distressing sight, the two of them approached Leela, who seemed to know something about the cause and urgently asked her for information.


    "Leela-san, what is this?" (Tatsuro)


    "How can we undo this?" (Ai)


    "Please tell us; we need to know." (Tatsuro)


    First, Leela calmed them down and made sure they were in a state where they could listen attentively. Then she began to explain what had just happened.


    "The entities that appeared earlier are called spiritual apparitions.'' If you leave a corpse unattended for too long, occasionally it will transform and scatter curses like this." (Leela)


    "So, you mean" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes, most likely, it''s the final struggle of the Magic Dragon." (Leela)


    "Is that so" (Ai)


    They stared at the lake in shock, realizing that even in death, the Magic Dragon continued to wreak havoc with its persistence.

 Chapter 70: Farewell

    Chapter 70: Farewell


    "Typically, it''s impossible for corpses to transform into spiritual apparitions unless left unattended for several decades. However, in this case, likely, the combination of the lake''s magic and the Magic Dragon''s abundant blood acted as a catalyst for this phenomenon," (Leela)


    Listening to Leela''s analytical explanation, Tatsuro''s mind started to clear up as well. He recalled the earlier situation.


    "Could it be a form of magic?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes, it appears to be. I can''t say for sure without a more detailed analysis, but it seems to be a curse-type magic." (Leela)


    "So, can it be undone with magic?" (Tatsuro)


    "If we use a mixture of dispelling magic and water magic, it should be possible." (Leela)


    "Water magic" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro used dispelling magic to analyze the lake and gather precise information about the situation. It became clear that the magic was formed from a mixture of curse and dark magic. However, the level of this magic seemed high, making it difficult to discern the wavelength of its magical energy.


    Tatsuro then decided to increase the level of his [Information Magic] through the system. After increasing it to Level 7, he finally succeeded in reading the wavelength. According to his analysis, to construct a counter-magic for this spell, they would need [Water Magic Lv.8] or higher and [Light Magic Lv.4] or higher.


    Tatsuro immediately checked if he had enough SP to raise his [Information Magic] to Level 7, which would require 91 SP. Even with the expenditure, he still had 231 SP left, including the SP from the Bullhead, Magic Dragon, and level-ups, which was more than enough to achieve it.


    "Ai, we might be able to do something." (Tatsuro)


    "Really!?" (Ai)


    "Yes. It seems like our responsibility, so let''s give it a try." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes, please!" (Ai)


    The two of them were determined to use their magic to try to undo the curse.


    Worried that they might celebrate prematurely if they could not undo the curse, Tatsuro discreetly informed Ai of their plan. Then, they took action.


    First, they aimed to acquire the [Water Magic Lv.10] to obtain the associated title.


    |Acquired the title Master of Water|


    (As expected, it seems like reaching Level 10 is the requirement for the Master'' series titles.) He thought.


    With the conditions for acquiring the title clarified, Tatsuro discreetly called Ai and Cardina closer, away from prying eyes. They held hands with Ai, boosted their abilities, and prepared extensively with Cardina''s magical assistance.


    Then, they gathered magic power at the tip of their staff and prepared to dispel the curse magic cast on the lake using a combination of dispelling, water, and light magic.


    "Tatsuro, you can do it!" (Ai)


    "Yeah, I''ll give it my all!" (Tatsuro)


    Ai gripped their hand tightly, her face displaying unwavering confidence that she did not doubt Tatsuro''s abilities.


    In response, Tatsuro squeezed her hand back and gave a determined smile, ready to meet her expectations.


    With the image of erasing the sludge in their minds, along with Cardina''s support, they completed the magic construct.


    "I''m sick of dealing with you. I''ll erase every trace." (Tatsuro)


    The finished magic took the form of sixteen glowing blue orbs, which they evenly distributed across the lake. After placing all of them in their designated locations, Tatsuro struck the ground with their staff, signaling the start.


    In response, all the orbs vibrated and created ripples. The ripples generated from sixteen points gradually overlapped, covering the entire lake. As a result, the black color of the lake began to fade, and it eventually returned to its original beautiful state.


    "It should be truly over now." (Tatsuro)


    "That was one persistent stalker, even in its stubbornness." (Ai)


    The two of them peered into the lake and even touched the water just to be sure. However, the water was once again crystal clear, with no signs of the previous curse. They also used [Information Magic] to analyze it, but there was no longer any saltwater blockage due to the curse; the water flowed freely.


    As they confirmed this, the others around them began to notice and shouted in astonishment.


    "Shall we slip away quietly?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah," (Ai)


    Amidst the commotion, they made their way back quietly. When they made eye contact with Leela and gestured to keep it a secret by placing their index fingers to their lips and saying "shh," Leela understood their intention and nodded in response. It seemed that a high-level mage like her had figured it out as well.


    They both smiled, briefly bowed their heads in acknowledgment, and then squinted their eyes at the sunlight reflecting on the lake.


    "The sun is rising." (Ai)


    "We pulled an all-nighter." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, I''m physically fine, but I want to rest properly." (Ai)


    "Once we get back to town, we can take it easy. There''s no rush to set out again." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro agreed and pulled Ai closer, embracing her. They admired the lake, illuminated by the emerging sunlight, which would likely be their last glimpse of it.


    As they enjoyed their leisurely time, the salt workers, who had initially rejoiced at the lake''s return to normal, regained their composure. They started preparing for their journey back.


    After witnessing this, Leela explained the status of their ranks. Their adventurer''s guild cards displayed their ranks, with their individual ranks set at 6 and their party rank at 8. However, if they made a grand announcement about defeating the Magic Dragon as a party, they could claim individual ranks of 8 and party ranks of 10. Politely, they declined the offer.


    As they continued to talk, they learned that the highest current rank issued was 11 for individuals and 12 for parties, with only one party worldwide holding this rank. The offered individual rank of 8 and party rank of 10, which they accepted, currently belonged to only three parties. Joining this exclusive group would surely attract attention they did not necessarily want.


    With their ranks upgraded, they moved on to discussing the materials they had collected. They sold 150 Dragon scales, each fetching an average of 30,000 Shis, for approximately 4.5 million Shis in immediate cash.


    While they initially considered selling materials from other creatures, they discovered that Dragon species'' corpses remained preserved for over a millennium without decay. Combined with their [Item Box] time dilation, this meant they could carry a considerable amount of fresh meat as an ideal travel food source. This was a game-changer for them, ensuring a steady supply of fresh meat during their travels.


    "Starting tomorrow, we''ll likely be busy dealing with the monsters that have appeared due to the influence of that Magic Dragon. But you two will be leaving this town, right?" (Leela)


    "Yes, although we enjoyed our time here, we have things we want to do," (Tatsuro)


    "And even if we''re not here, it won''t be a problem, right?" (Ai)


    "That''s correct. Thanks to the recent events, information has spread everywhere. Adventurers from other places will come here to earn money," (Leela)


    Feeling reassured, they left the Guild Master sitting on the couch and discreetly exited through the staff entrance.


    "Well, this is goodbye. Thanks to both of you, this town has been saved. Thank you," (Leela)


    "No, we just did what we wanted to do, the way we wanted to do it," (Tatsuro)


    "Exactly. In addition, our adventurer rank has gone up, and we have obtained a substantial amount of long-lasting preserved food. We couldn''t ask for more," (Ai)


    "Is that so?" (Leela)


    Leela could not help but be curious about them until the end. Even among the intellectually curious elves, her curiosity was particularly strong. She had initially thought about getting closer to them and finding out their secrets, but after witnessing their abilities during the battle with the Magic Dragon, she realized she should not follow them.


    "It might be a good idea to return to being an adventurer," she thought. Having traveled the world and satisfied her intellectual curiosity, she felt it was time to return to her adventurous roots. However, she would never forget the exhilarating feeling of those days. That is why she decided to become a guild employee in a guild where many adventurers came. She hoped to find something that would remind her of those exciting times.


    With that feeling in her heart, she had become a guild employee and had been doing the job for several years now. For Leela, quitting was not a regrettable decision.


    "Now, I should join Mr. Agra bite''s party and take some time for rehabilitation. If I can become stronger than I am now and meet the two of them again, then" (Leela)


    Leela headed towards the Guild Master to return to her life as an adventurer.


    After parting ways with Leela, Tatsuro, and Ai went shopping first and purchased items that would serve as ample provisions for their journey. Then, they returned to their luxurious inn, took a long bath, and fell into a deep sleep.


    When they woke up, it was just about sunset. They spent the rest of the day leisurely, cuddling together and enjoying each other''s company.


    Finally, they reached the morning of the 16th day since arriving in the other world. They woke up unusually early, had breakfast, and set out to find Zendo''s house.


    "This should be it," (Tatsuro).


    "Yeah, no doubt about it," (Ai)


    Making sure, they had the right place, Tatsuro knocked on the door early in the morning. A woman who appeared to be of a similar age as Zendo''s answered the door.


    "Yes, who might you be?" she asked.


    "Well, I''m Tatsuro. Is Zendo-san here?" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, a friend of our husband? Just a moment!" she called out before disappearing inside.


    "What is it? Who''soh, it is you guys. Does this mean you''re leaving?" Zendo asked with a slightly saddened expression.


    Tatsuro and Ai felt tears welling up in their eyes. Zendo was the first person they had spoken to in this world, the first to be kind to them, and the one who taught them about this world. If they were about to embark on their journey, they might never return here, which meant they might never see him again. That thought filled them with a profound sense of loneliness.


    However, they did not want to cry and trouble him, so they held back their emotions and exchanged a few words with a smile for their final farewell.


    "Thank you for everything. Please take care." (Ai)


    "You''re getting up there in age, so don''t push yourself too hard." (Tatsuro)


    "Hmph, I''m still in my prime. I will not lose to you younger people! Hahaha. Well then, see you later, Tatsuro, Ai." (Zendo)


    "Yes, see you!" (Tatsuro)


    "Goodbye!" (Ai)


    With those words and an uncertain "goodbye," they parted ways with smiles. The three of them waved to each other, even though there was no certainty of when they might meet again.


    The elderly woman, who had been watching them from a distance, turned to Zendo after Tatsuro and Ai disappeared from view.


    "You had such young acquaintances. They are well-dressed and seem nice. Who are they?"


    Zendo responded with a mischievous smile and said, "They''re just my buddies, lifesavers, and the saviors of this town."


    "Huh?" The elderly woman raised an eyebrow in surprise at his unexpected answer.


    Zendo simply laughed heartily, leaving the woman with a baffled expression as he said, "Hahaha!"


    This concludes the second Arc. Thanks for reading so far.


    The update frequency may change, depending on how fast I can translate chapters per day.


    The Third Arc starts in the .

 Chapter 71: Lets Create a Carriage

    Chapter 71: Let''s Create a Carriage


    The two of them went to the dining hall, where they had their first meal of the day, ate stew to fill their stomachs, and headed outside town. They turned to look at Obsul''s white gate and the outer wall again.


    "Well, shall we go?" (Tatsuro)


    "Let''s go!" (Ai)


    Having rested well, they were fully determined to continue towards the next town. When they reached a less crowded area, they paused for a moment.


    "Are we going to fly from here?"


    "Nah, that would draw too much attention Besides, I need to concentrate constantly, so I thought of a more comfortable and moderately fast means of transportation. Here we go!" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro jumped into the air with outstretched arms, and Ai clung to him. While boosting their stats, Ai enjoyed being close to him and asked Cardina to watch over their surroundings. Then, he lined up several iron ingots he had bought in bulk from his Item Box and began shaping them with a combination of earth and darkness magic, imagining lightweight yet sturdy iron.


    First, he started by constructing the parts resembling wheels. There were a total of four wheels connected by a single rod to form two pairs. Once the two pairs were ready, he attached four suspensions to each to cushion the impact of the tires. Then, he placed and attached boards on top of them to form the floor.


    "Let''s take it for a test ride." (Tatsuro)


    "Leave it to me!" (Ai)


    Ai quickly moved away from Tatsuro and, in an instant, jumped onto the board. Tatsuro had intended to get on slowly for safety, so he was surprised when he saw that the suspension was working well, cushioning the impact of Ai''s jump, and he could support her firmly.


    Tatsuro also jumped on board, and together they jumped to test its durability. After a thorough test, they started working on other parts.


    They placed a box-like compartment on the board, big enough for them to relax. They created seating in the front like a driver''s seat, a sliding door connecting it to the compartment, small windows on all sides, and an opening on top. They also prepared something like a birdcage for Cardina to be placed on top of the outer surface.


    They attached a board at the back that stretched out widely like a sail. Finally, they custom-made the fittings to attach horses to it, completing the construction.


    "It looks like a carriage, but what are you going to do about it" (Ai)


    "I plan to create a new magical life form to take on that role" (Tatsuro)


    "You''re going to create a new child?" (Ai)


    With that, Tatsuro had Ai cling to his back. He adjusted the power of light and darkness to level 5 each and then synthesized them, incorporating the wind magic factor that he had decided on since he thought of it. He poured his thoughts into the sphere before him, envisioning the being he wanted it to become.


    (We want a reliable companion to accompany us on our journey.) he thought.


    The sphere gradually began to change shape, eventually becoming a four-legged creature.


    "Hey, Tatsuro." (Ai)


    "What is it, Ai?" (Tatsuro)


    "This creature looks unmistakably like a rhinoceros." (Ai)


    "Yeah, it does look like a fine rhinoceros Wait, why!? I intended to imagine a horse," (Tatsuro)


    In front of them was a magnificent rhinoceros, about two meters tall, with black skin and a pure white horn. It was affectionately rubbing its head against Tatsuro''s body, displaying a friendly demeanor that contrasted with its imposing appearance. Touched by this endearing contradiction, the two began to stroke and play with the rhinoceros.


    "What should we name this little one? Super Rhino-chan or something strong like that?" (Ai)


    "Nah, even though it looks strong, that''s not it Also, does giving it a -chan'' suffix mean it''s a girl?" (Tatsuro)


    "Isn''t it? She feels like a girl" (Ai)


    "Th-that''s true Alright, it''s a girl then!" (Tatsuro)


    However, when he was about to say that, the rhinoceros looked at him sadly. Tatsuro quickly appealed to its feminine side, petting and fussing over her. In response, the rhinoceros happily closed her eyes, and Tatsuro sighed in relief.


    To prevent Ai from coming up with a strange name in her enthusiasm, Tatsuro offered his opinions and steered the naming process.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    "She''s a girl, but how about a name that sounds dignified or brave?" (Tatsuro)


    After suggesting and rejecting several candidates'' names that Tatsuro proposed.


    "Hmm, how about Jeanne? If we want a girl''s name that sounds brave, there''s nothing better than Jeanne d''Arc." (Ai)


    "Ah, Jeanne d''Arc. That is a great idea. How about just Jeanne'' for her name?" (Tatsuro)


    The rhinoceros snorted and nodded in response, apparently liking the name. They set their sights on the next town with their new companion, Jeanne.


    They modified the fittings made for horses to fit Jeanne. They conducted various tests to ensure her comfort and safety. Tatsuro and Ai made themselves comfortable in the driver''s seat, using soft sleeping bags as cushions to protect themselves from the hard seats.


    "All right, Jeanne, could you use wind magic to push the vehicle forward while also avoiding headwinds?" (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    "Is that a horse!?" (Ai)


    With a voice that sounded like a horse''s neigh, Jeanne used wind magic to push against the broadened rear section while gradually increasing the speed. Since they were also using wind magic to avoid the headwind, they could maintain a comfortable pace even though they ran at nearly 50 kilometers per hour with the top open.


    "It''s much more comfortable now compared to the beginning" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, it''s like we''re going at regular car speed. By the way, where are we heading to now?" (Ai)


    "Ah, with this speed, we can skip the nearest town and head to the one beyond that. It''s not too far away, and we might have to camp once before reaching either one anyway" (Tatsuro)


    "With our preparations this time, we should have a pleasant journey," (Ai)


    Tatsuro nodded firmly in agreement.


    They no longer had to carry much, and they were well prepared. They had acquired the power to deal with monsters and had food and tools. Most importantly, they had two reliable companions.


    |Titles|


    [Destroyer], [Perfect Harmony +1], [Dragon Slayer]


    "Wait a minute Tatsuro, there are some strange additions next to your class and level," (Ai)


    "Maybe there are conditions for leveling up beyond 50" (Tatsuro)


    "Conditions?" (Ai)


    Tatsuro began to explain the doubts he had felt when he defeated the Magic Dragon. The first thing he noticed was when he used [Level Eater] to absorb levels from the Magic Dragon, and it took significantly longer than when defeating regular monsters. Although the Magic Dragon was at a high level, it felt different, as if there was more to it.


    This was evident when Ai, who had just leveled up, jumped from level 30 to 31 by defeating a simple level 1 Magic Dragon. That had never happened when they defeated normal monsters. This made Tatsuro question why he had only gained 19 levels despite absorbing all 86 levels from the Magic Dragon.


    Moreover, the addition of mysterious symbols to his stats reinforced his suspicions.


    "Should we ask for help again?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, but let''s check the titles first," (Ai)


    Therefore, they began to examine the new titles they had acquired. They started with the [Master of Water] title, whose effects were generally understood.


    Title Name: Master of Water


    Rarity: 10


    Effects: Increases stats: Magic Power, Magical Power, Magic Resistance, and Magic Control by +100.


    Enhances control abilities in Water Magic.


    "Well, this is within our expectations," (Tatsuro)


    "Even with this much difference, it makes sense" (Ai)


    Title Name: Dragon Slayer


    Rarity: 8


    Effects: Slight increase in stats for each piece of equipment made from dragon materials.


    "This one is a bit underwhelming for its rarity" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, especially considering how much effort we put into it. Besides, we don''t even have any equipment made from dragon materials," (Ai)


    "Well, we can always have something made with materials from that Magic Dragon, but the increase rate is rather poor. Anyway, that is fine. Let''s move on to the last one," (Tatsuro)


    Title Name: Perfect Harmony +1


    Rarity: 14


    Effects: Allows telepathic communication with individuals who also possess this title.


    Can transmit mental impressions to the same individuals.


    While in contact with the same individuals, fatigue recovery speed increases.


    While in contact with the same individuals, energy and magic power recovery rates greatly increase.


    While in contact with the same individuals, all stats significantly increase.


    "There are some that increase or change, but what does transmit mental impressions'' mean?" (Ai)


    "Transmitting mental mental images? Like mental imagery, perhaps? Let''s give it a try," (Tatsuro)


    Using the same sensation as when they communicated telepathically, Tatsuro imagined his room back at home. Ai immediately reacted with surprise.


    "Wow, Tatsuro, I could see the image of your room in my mind!" (Ai)


    "So, transmit mental impressions'' means we can send images or scenes we imagine. Combining this with telepathy makes it a more powerful information-sharing tool than a phone," (Tatsuro)


    And so, like children with a new toy, they began experimenting inside the rhinoceros carriage, exploring the possibilities of their newfound abilities.


    The update frequency will now be 1 chapter per week.


    This is due to the fact that I have less time to translate, school just resumed for a new semester and i have a lot of running around to do.


    it may change back in the coming months. Thank you for your consideration.


    *T.N: I will use {}'' to represent information transmitted through Mental Impressions from this chapter on.

 Chapter 72: Lets Eat Dragon Meat

    Chapter 72: Let''s Eat Dragon Meat


    This week chapter has been unlock for free. Enjoy


    They had developed a technique that combined mental imagery transmission and telepathy, allowing them to share their perspectives and communicate even when apart. After finishing their experiments, they turned their attention to another aspect.


    "The fatigue recovery'' attribute seems pretty straightforward. It does what it says" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s incredible how even beyond our stats, we''re gaining recovery abilities" (Ai)


    "It''s great that something like this is enhancing the recovery rate for both energy (Ki) and magic power, just by being close to each other" (Tatsuro)


    "Sticking together is the best part of this title, isn''t it?" (Ai)


    Tatsuro could not help but nod in agreement. While they could choose to be close physically, it was entirely different when they had a reason to be, and it felt special.


    After thoroughly enjoying the sensation of being close in their rhinoceros carriage, they decided to address the issue of level limits. They activated the help function, which had been a while since they last used it.


    "What does that symbol next to the stats mean? Is the experience required for level 50 already met? If it has been met, why isn''t the level increasing? To reach level 50, do I need to overcome some personal barrier?" (Tatsuro)


    "Personal barrier'' is quite a vague way to put it" (Ai)


    "Yeah, I need more specifics. It varies depending on the situation, location, and the person isn''t very helpful" (Tatsuro)


    "Although it''s blunt, it seems like there''s no concrete answer. Maybe the help function can''t provide an answer either" (Ai)


    They complained to the help function and asked questions from various angles, but no clear information was available on the topic.


    "Hmm This is on hold," (Tatsuro)


    "There''s no other way, so let''s search slowly" (Ai)


    "Yeah." (Tatsuro)


    As they continued, thinking it was about time to check the outside, the carriage speed gradually decreased and eventually stopped.


    They hurriedly returned to the driver''s seat to see what was happening. They found Jeanne had run out of magical power and was slumped over.


    "I''m sorry!" (Tatsuro)


    "What happened!?" (Ai)


    Before Ai could grasp the situation, Tatsuro quickly replenished her magic power, and Jeanne immediately regained her strength.


    "Sorry about that. I was thinking with my sense of time." (Tatsuro)


    "Come to think of it, during Tatsuro''s time, and I was usually right by his side. But, Cardina-chan is also using magic constantly. Is she okay?" (Ai)


    Tatsuro called Cardina, who had been using detection magic for them, to check. She was fine on that front.


    However, Tatsuro ensured Cardina was in top shape and replenished her magical power. Then he turned to Ai.


    "Detection magic for breaking spells requires a lot of concentration. However, once you get used to it, you can significantly reduce magical consumption. But wind magic constantly releases magical power, so it has poor fuel efficiency. I forgot because I was used to the title effect as a given" (Tatsuro)


    While saying this, Tatsuro gently petted Jeanne again and decided to take a break.


    After asking Cardina to monitor the surroundings, they spread sleeping bags inside the carriage and had lunch side by side. Then, before Jeanne got too tired, Tatsuro convinced her it was okay to stop here for a while, and both of them got back into the driver''s seat to continue their journey.


    As they smoothly advanced on the cobblestone road, the people they passed by for the umpteenth time widened their eyes in surprise at the sight of Jeanne.


    Even though they had chosen the land route to avoid drawing attention, Tatsuro could not bring himself to complain about Jeanne, who was working so hard to transport them. He concluded that it does not matter.


    Gradually, the number of trees on the roadside decreased, and the landscape began to change into a grassy plain.


    "You know, there haven''t been any monsters coming out at all," (Ai)


    "Yeah, maybe the Obsul area was just unusual" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro then gathered the surrounding water into a massive sphere, trapping the invisible lizards. To prevent their escape, he created a swirling current inside, akin to a washing machine, effectively suffocating them.


    After about thirty seconds of washing, the trapped creatures began to convulse, indicating they were still alive. Tatsuro released the sphere and used water magic to bring the water closer to him. Worried that they might regain consciousness suddenly, he used earth magic to restrain their limbs and activated [Level Eater]


    Level: 7


    Skills: [Bite Lv.2], [Invisibility Lv.3]


    ("Weak!? It should be strong with these unusual skills Well, I guess it would not be good if powerful monsters appeared on the roads between towns.") Tatsuro thought


    Level: 1


    Skills: [Bite Lv.0], [Invisibility Lv.0]


    Tatsuro also continued to absorb levels from the other lizard, extracting (13) SP and levels from both creatures. After performing the cremation process, he turned to Ai, who had already won her battle and thoroughly burned her opponent.


    "Is this it? But if the monsters we finally meet are at this level, it''s not very efficient for SP farming" (Tatsuro)


    "Various things were happening around that forest. I hope it doesn''t become something else" (Ai)


    Despite their slight apprehension, they returned to the carriage and asked Jeanne to head towards their next destination. They made several stops for magical power replenishment, and eventually, as the sun began to set, they decided to camp by the side of the road since they planned to spend the night outdoors.


    Jeanne rested inside Tatsuro for a while, and Cardina replenished her magical power and went on alert duty in the vicinity. (TN: the case of Jeanne resting inside Tatsuro is the same as how summoners can make their monsters disappear to save their MP, so don''t get confused!)


    Then, it was time for their first-ever dragon meat cooking session.


    "It''s finally time to eat that," (Ai)


    "Yeah, according to Lela-san, it''s even okay to eat it raw" (Tatsuro)


    However, despite the assurance, they still resisted eating meat they had never tried. So, they took out a barbecue set they had bought in Obsul, separated the meat from the skin, and cut it into bite-sized pieces with a knife.


    They placed the slices on the grill, trying to make it resemble yakiniku, and since they had not bought any fuel for the fire, they used Tatsuro''s fire magic to sear it. In the meantime, Ai seasoned it with salt.


    "It looks quite delicious," (Ai)


    "The smell and everything it''s just like yakiniku" (Tatsuro)


    Mouths watering from the delicious aroma, they eagerly awaited when the meat was fully cooked. Finally, both sides were nicely seared.


    "Itadakimasu!" they exclaimed in unison.


    They picked up the meat with their specially made lightweight stone chopsticks and took a bite.


    "So good!" (Ai)


    "It''s delicious!" (Tatsuro)


    Their voices leaked out as the meat melted in their mouths. Despite being seasoned with only salt, it was the most delicious meat they had ever tasted.


    Savoring the unimaginable flavor, they chewed slowly and then swallowed simultaneously.


    ||You have acquired the title Dragon Eater.''||


    "Huh? What?" Ai and Tatsuro exchanged surprised glances as they heard this announcement, having only eaten the meat.


    For people who bought the chapter in advance; Thank you very much it goes a long way to keep me runningGe?tt the latest novels at

 Chapter 73: Attackers of the Dark Night

    Chapter 73: Attackers of the Dark Night


    Free Extra Chapter Released for this week.


    Enjoy~


    The moment they acquired the title after swallowing their first bite, Ai and Tatsuro had expressions akin to a dove being hit by a peashooter. However, they quickly regained their composure and activated their status from the system to confirm.


    Title: Dragon Eater


    Rarity: 8


    Effect: Gain Dragon Power by consuming dragons.


    Note: No effect on dragons of lower levels than those previously consumed.


    "So, this is Dragon Power." (Tatsuro)


    "It seems like something has been added." (Ai)


    On the system''s status screen, right below where their Ki (energy) and Mana (MP) were displayed, a new stat had quietly appeared:


    Dragon Power: 100


    However, unlike Ki and Mana, which both Ai and Tatsuro were familiar with, Dragon Power was entirely new to them. They needed to learn how to use it or what purpose it served.


    "Well, for now, let''s eat the meat," (Tatsuro)


    "I agree!" (Ai)


    However, their current priority was satisfying their hunger. Trying to hold back their appetites would be impossible.


    They indulged in the dragon meat while fantasizing about having some white rice.


    After filling their stomachs, they took a break and prepared for a bath. First, they took out a tent they had bought for privacy and an iron ingot.


    Tatsuro held Ai''s hand as they entered the tent and gently stretched the iron over the floor for the floor cover.


    Once they had finished laying out the iron sheets and designed a slope to allow drainage through a hole in the tent, they created a space to fit the wooden bath barrel they had made earlier. With that, they had a makeshift bathhouse.


    "At this point, I kind of wish we had a shower" (Ai)


    "It''s not impossible to make one with magic, but at this stage, it might be nice to build something proper" (Tatsuro)


    While Tatsuro pondered if there was a way to create a shower that did not require his constant presence, he took Ai''s suggestion and went to take a bath first. Although he wished they could bathe together, they both refrained from doing so as they needed to be prepared for potential emergencies.


    Afterward, Ai also took her turn in the bath, and they spent a comfortable night of camping, vastly different from their earlier experiences. They laid out sleeping mats made of the same material as the sleeping bags they had bought in Obsul, and then they lay down together, embracing each other.


    "Are you okay with just Cardina standing guard?" (Ai)Ge?tt the latest novels at


    "Yeah, sleep is important. Besides, we''re not completely defenseless, unlike in the bath." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro glanced at the equipment placed beside him. Ai agreed with Tatsuro''s judgment, and they entrusted the night watch to Cardina, who was on top of the carriage, before falling asleep.


    Several hours passed, and the surroundings became dark and silent as both slept.


    At that moment, Cardina, perched on top of the carriage''s roof, started making a clattering noise by tapping her beak against the ceiling.


    Skill Points: ???


    |Titles|


    [Kin Slayer]


    ("Reading someone''s status is quite challenging; I couldn''t investigate fully. Still, Kin Slayer'' there is even a title like that. This must be just as I suspected.") Tatsuro thought.


    With determination, Tatsuro channeled mana through his staff.


    {I will create a firewall now, so don''t be surprised.} (Tatsuro)


    {Got it!} (Ai)


    To prevent Ai from mistaking it for an enemy attack, Tatsuro used mental impressions to roughly communicate what he was about to do before the enemies could move. Then, he activated the magic.


    First, he created a large wall of fire that encircled the carriage. The magic momentarily took aback the humans, but they quickly rushed towards them. Not fleeing and facing them head-on made Tatsuro conclude that these were likely thieves.


    He added more fire magic to the wall. From the firewall that Tatsuro had created, dozens of snakes, each about 30 centimeters long, emerged and scattered towards the thieves. There were over a hundred of them. The thieves, surprised by the number of snakes, attacked without considering their small size, wielding axes, spears, swords, and more.


    However, these were just snake-shaped flames; merely hitting them with weapons would not extinguish them. The flames clung to the weapons crawled onto the thieves, and as they struggled, the flames burned their hands, arms, and shoulders. While some screamed in pain, the snakes continued to inflict burns all over their bodies.


    Those who had suffered the full brunt of the flames fled, retreating to a safe distance where Tatsuro released them. However, some of the thieves resisted by using magic or enveloping themselves in their own Ki to fend off the fiery serpents. However, as their numbers dwindled and Tatsuro continued producing more snakes, the thieves were overwhelmed. Eventually, they suffered the same fate as those who had fled.


    "Retreat!" yelled the axe-wielding leader that Tatsuro examined his status with [Information Magic]. Following his orders, the remaining thieves immediately ceased their resistance and fled in all directions.


    Tatsuro, believing that having inflicted such pain would deter them from returning, decided not to pursue them further. Instead, he and Cardina thoroughly searched the area to ensure no stragglers.


    "Cardina, come here. Thanks for letting me know," Tatsuro said, petting the creature. It was not a reward, but Cardina seemed delighted and let out a happy chirp.


    Smiling at the creature''s response, Tatsuro replenished her magic to the fullest before heading back into the carriage.


    "I''m home," (Tatsuro)


    "Welcome back." (Ai)


    As Tatsuro returned to the carriage, he was enveloped in Ai''s embrace. Only then did he realize he had been gripping his hands so tightly that they were bleeding? Despite having steeled himself, causing harm to others was a mentally taxing experience for a boy who had once been just a student.


    Sensing his turmoil, Ai held him even tighter, stroking his back gently until all the tension drained from his body.


    Having finally regained his composure, Tatsuro wrapped his arms around Ai, kissing her before expressing his gratitude. He then sat down on the mat that served as their makeshift bedding and used telepathy to share the information about the men they had encountered earlier with Ai.


    "It seems there are people like that here too" (Ai)


    "Yeah. Criminals will show up anywhere as long as there are humans. And compared to Japan, the security here seems to be quite poor" (Tatsuro)


    Both of them realized that it would be safer to stay in town where there was some level of security when it came to sleeping. They heightened their awareness of the dangers in this world.


    Waking up the next day, they held hands and chatted about inconsequential things as they drifted back to sleep.


    To their surprise, neither thieves nor monsters appeared after encountering the thieves. As the sun rose and bathed the area in light, Tatsuro woke up. He roused Ai, greeted her with a kiss, and got ready for the day.


    "All right, let''s do our best today!" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah!" (Ai)


    To put the previous day''s events behind them, the two of them stepped out of the carriage with renewed energy and optimism.


    Thanks for reading so far.

 Chapter 74: The Unpleasant Town

    Chapter 74: The Unpleasant Town


    Enjoy~


    In the morning, they again set up the barbecue set, sprinkled salt on dragon meat, and grilled it for breakfast. Despite consecutively having the same menu, they strangely did not get tired of it. However, they decided it would not be interesting to keep doing that. So, they started discussing other ways to prepare their food and promptly set off in the carriage.


    "Today, we''re going to reach the town, right?" (Ai)


    "Yeah. We plan to bypass the town called Mimiris on the way and head straight for Tofas. It won''t take Jeanne''s legs more than half a day to reach both of them." (Tatsuro)


    "And finally, the biggest town, what was it called again?" (Ai)


    "Lyadas. Obsul, Mimiris, Tofas, and Lyadas those four make up the Lyadas territory. Since it''s a town directly ruled by the lord, it seems to be the most prosperous around here." (Tatsuro)


    Impressed by Tatsuro''s trivia, Ai nodded, looking forward to the prosperous town. She imagined there would be worthwhile shopping there.


    Without realizing what was on Ai''s mind, Tatsuro soon had Jeanne stop at a fork in the road. He used the map function to confirm which path would be closer to Tofas.


    "If we turn right, we''ll go straight to Mimiris, and it''ll be a bit of a detour to get to Tofas. So, let''s recharge Jeanne''s magic and have her take the straight path to Tofas." (Tatsuro)


    After taking breaks for lunch and replenishing their magic power, they arrived near Tofas before evening. From there, they put Jeanne and the conspicuous carriage into their [Item Box] and proceeded on foot. Eventually, when they reached Tofas, a hunched-backed man emerged from what seemed to be an outpost-like building on the outskirts of town.


    "Are you entering this town?"


    "Yes," (Ai)


    {He seems like a rude person.} (Ai)


    {Really. Let''s get in quickly.} (Tatsuro)


    "In that case, may I see your identification?" Unlike the young man who had assisted them in Obsul, this person demanded their identification rather arrogantly. Although they felt uncomfortable, they decided to show their identification to avoid trouble with individuals like those they had encountered yesterday.


    "What, just adventurersRank 6?! And your party rank is 8!?"


    "Yes, is there a problem?" (Tatsuro)


    "No, no problem at all."


    {His attitude changed suddenly.} (Tatsuro)


    {I guess adventurer rank is quite important.} (Ai)


    While exchanging thoughts telepathically, the man fidgeted with something at his side and then handed them an entry permit. When they accepted it, it turned into particles and absorbed them, causing the Obsul emblem to disappear and the Tofas emblem to appear in its place. Afterward, they received an explanation like a standard message, stating that the emblem would expire in one month, so they needed to renew it before then.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    As they casually responded to the explanation, and the man''s attitude had improved, they decided to mention the thieves they encountered yesterday.


    "Thieves? We have not heard anything like that around here. I''ll pass the word up just in case."


    "Thank you." (Tatsuro)


    They had expected a response but were left with a rather lukewarm reaction. However, wanting to make a small deal out of it, they passed through the gate.


    Unlike Obsul, there were no white buildings; instead, there were ordinary stone buildings with regular colors. They had built the town''s roads haphazardly, as there were no well-maintained roads like in Obsul.


    The cluttered pathways twisted around, and to avoid getting lost, the two of them held hands and searched for lodging and dinner for the night. They stumbled upon a place with fewer stalls than they had seen before, but still, a few food stalls gathered together. They decided to eat there and asked the stall owner for good accommodations.


    They received a recommendation for a nearby inn where they could stay and were given directions. Following the stall owner''s directions, they found a slightly run-down three-story inn. Without hesitation, they entered and paid 15,000 Shis to receive their room key.


    "Hmm This town seems to lack liveliness altogether." (Ai)


    "Ai, you noticed that too?" (Tatsuro)


    In Obsul, the stall owners were all friendly, and the streets were bustling with people. However, people worked mechanically in this town, and pedestrians hurried along with downcast expressions. Their mood had also dampened as a result.


    With a somewhat dissatisfied response, Tatsuro extended his legs under the table, intertwining them with Ai''s legs, sitting across from him. Ai responded immediately, playfully intertwining her legs with his. They secretly teased each other under the table while unnoticed by others, and then their dishes were brought to them.


    They both had a good appetite, so they happily received their dishes. However, the man who had arrived earlier suddenly got angry.


    "Hey! Why did you serve that brat''s dish before mine?"


    "I apologize, but this customer placed an order before you did."


    "I don''t care about that!"


    The man kicked the table over, approached the waitress who had been serving, and raised his arm threateningly.


    Then he tried to swing his hand awaybut suddenly, flames appeared before him, and while the man was taken aback, Ai quickly moved the waitress behind her.


    "What the hell are you doing!?"


    "What the hell am I doing? Are you crazy? Raising your hand to a waitress just because your food didn''t come out first is ridiculous." (Ai)


    "Oh? You bastard, I am a town guard here! I''ll throw you in jail!"


    "If the enforcers in this town are like you, this place is doomed." (Ai)


    "What did you say, you damn amateur!"


    With an expression that belittled the man, Ai''s face, the man who claimed to be a guard, drew his sword at her. However, his speed was laughably slow for Ai. Even while yawning, she managed to dodge his attack.


    However, Tatsuro could not stand idly by while a lethal weapon was directed at Ai. He instantly created flames and melted the sword from its hilt. The molten metal splashed onto the man''s legs, causing him to scream in agony.


    "Ahhhh!"


    Unable to endure the pain, he rolled around at their feet, screeching. When the searing pain had cooled and solidified, his screams finally ceased.


    Then, the man, drenched in cold sweat, panted heavily and glared at them while on his knees.


    "You guys don''t think you''ll get away with this!"


    "If it''s not for free, do you have any money to give us?" (Tatsuro)


    "I don''t want this guy''s money." (Ai)


    "Ughhh"


    Instead of being shaken, the two of them ridiculed the man without a care, causing him to grind his teeth in frustration. He then dragged his injured legs and left the restaurant.


    "Um Thank you for helping me. But you should probably get out of here quickly!"


    "Even if you tell us to leave, we haven''t finished eating yet." (Ai)


    "But staying here might cause trouble Oh, is it okay if I take the plate with me? I''ll pay for it." (Tatsuro)


    "No, it''s fine. You don''t need to pay."


    With those words, they were handed the plates and pushed out of the restaurant. They reluctantly put the plates in their [Item Box] and left the restaurant.


    "So, what should we do now?" (Ai)


    "Well, originally, we planned to stay here for the night and leave early in the morning. But now, should we leave today?" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s become quite troublesome, hasn''t it?" (Ai)


    This happened when they intended to reduce their nights spent camping. Reluctantly, they headed toward the town gate.

 Chapter 75: Unrepentant Folks

    Chapter 75: Unrepentant Folks


    Hello!


    Jonathan Titan here. This is the free chapter available for this week.


    Enjoy~~


    At first, they felt downhearted due to the foolish guards, but thanks to that, they ended up leaving town earlier than planned. However, they had a change of heart, thinking that they should not stay in a place where such people were responsible for maintaining the town''s security. Therefore, they switched my mindset and left through the town''s gate.


    Tatsuro hesitated to release Jeanne right at the gate, so they decided to walk until it was out of sight. As we walked side by side down the road extending to the front right, Tatsuro discreetly transformed Cardina into a tiny bird in the palm of his hand, entrusting her with monitoring the surroundings.


    Soon after releasing her, Cardina poked his palm, urging him to be cautious. Surprised by the guard''s speed, Tatsuro cast a detection spell to investigate, and he recognized three familiar responses.


    "Ai, listen without reacting." (Jeanne)


    "Understood." (Ai)


    Sensing the seriousness in Tatsuro''s voice, Ai also composed herself. Tatsuro proceeded to explain while breaking down the information he had gathered.


    "It seems like the thieves who attacked us before are tailing us." (Tatsuro)


    "They must have been waiting for us as soon as we left. Outside the town, perhaps?" (Ai)


    "That''s a possibility, but even though we didn''t notice being followed afterward, how did they know we''d be here?" (Tatsuro)


    "Maybe the town guards are involved." (Ai)


    While Tatsuro wanted to deny it, considering they had not seen their face, it was clear that someone was purposefully tracking them. The guards'' initial attitude and the brutality of the guard in the restaurant, coupled with these observations, made it difficult to rule out such a possibility.


    The situation in the town of Tofas might be even worse than I had thought, and an uneasy feeling weighed on Tatsuro''s chest.


    "We can''t afford to deal with them, but being followed is troublesome." (Ai)


    "Even though they lost so one-sidedly, they are persistent" (Tatsuro)


    Then, three human responses, which had not been there then, approached confidently.DiiSco?ver new stories on


    In response, the two of them pretended not to notice and walked, ready to take any action that might occur. They were on high alert.


    As the unfamiliar figure got close enough that they could easily see if they turned around, the person called out in a cheerful tone, seemingly devoid of malicious intent.


    "Hey, you two over there!"


    They were hailed with a voice that did not carry any ill intentions, and the two of them raised their eyebrows in suspicion.


    Perhaps thinking they had not been heard, the stranger called out again.


    "Hey!"


    "What is it?" (Tatsuro)


    Approaching within ten meters, the men, dressed in a way that suggested they were adventurers, trotted towards them with friendly smiles.


    Internally, the two of them were on high alert, but they maintained neutral expressions and waited for them to catch up.


    Among them, the second tallest and the skinniest of the group, still smiling, extended something toward them and spoke.


    "Isn''t this something you dropped?"


    "I don''t recognize it" (Tatsuro)


    "Me neither," (Ai)


    The man showed them a pouch-like bag that neither remembered, and they shook their heads.


    "If you don''t talk, we''ll just hit you with flames again. Is that okay with you?" (Tatsuro)


    "Fine."


    While Tatsuro was prepared to follow through with his threat if necessary, he did not want to do it and was relieved to see the fear on their faces.


    "If you''re okay with it" (Tatsuro)


    "Okay! We''ll talk; get rid of that!"


    "Yeah, me too!"


    As the heat from the flames got closer, one of them broke and began speaking, and the other followed suit.


    "You guys, you''re our comrades attacked that night, right? We have our roots in this area, so we can''t afford to be exposed."


    "If Lord of Lyadas hears about this, there might be a large-scale purge."


    "So, how did you know we were here? Our faces weren''t visible." (Tatsuro)


    "Well"


    "Well?" (Tatsuro)


    They hesitated, and Tatsuro threatened them again with the flames, making them start talking with bitter expressions.


    "We have connections with the guards of Tofas. We heard about the thieves and took turns watching for you."


    "I see." (Tatsuro)


    {Ai was right.} (Tatsuro)


    {I was saying it in a random way (Ai)


    "Fine, we''re leaving now, but if you chase us again, we won''t show any mercy. From now on, think carefully before you act." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah."


    "Got it. We won''t chase after you anymore."


    They had no real certainty and no intention of trusting them. However, since Lyadas seemed to be in a normal state, they decided to flee before their comrades arrived rather than deal with these individuals any further.


    Deciding it was the best course of action, the two bound the three men with wire, ripped their clothing, and gagged them with inconspicuous gags. Except for the one still unconscious, the men seemed to understand that if they behaved, nothing more would happen.


    Having conveyed their message, Tatsuro and Ai left the men behind and ran until they were out of sight. Using detection magic to confirm that no one was in the visible area, they summoned Jeanne and returned Cardina to her original form.


    "They''ve both grown bigger again." (Ai)


    "Yeah. I wonder how big they''ll eventually get." (Tatsuro)


    Jeanne now stood at two and a half meters in size, with muscles that had grown even more, making her look powerful enough to carry a carriage without magical assistance. On the other hand, Cardina had a stature resembling a super-sized eagle, with any excess muscle trimmed away, radiating an artistic elegance.


    Of course, both of them had increased their mana capacity and magic levels, so their growth on the inside matched their external appearances, making them even more reliable.


    Smiling contentedly at their forms, the two quickly attached Jeanne to the carriage and provided Cardina with her custom-made seat on top of the carriage.


    "All right, preparations are complete." (Tatsuro)


    "Great, shall we get going?" (Ai)


    "It''s a race to escape." (Tatsuro)


    With that, the two of them boarded the cart pulled by Jeanne and sped off at full throttle, heading towards Lyadas.

 Chapter 76: Conversation with a Merchant

    Chapter 76: Conversation with a Merchant


    Considering the speed of travel on Jeanne, when Ai roughly calculated the arrival time to Lyadas using the map function, it took about four days, including today.Visjt  for new updates


    "Four days, huh? It is like the prefectural capital in our province, right? I really want to get there quickly," (Ai)


    "Well, the territory seems quite extensive, so let''s save the excitement for later and enjoy the journey for two for now" (Tatsuro)


    Sitting in the coach seat, he leaned in and embraced Ai''s shoulder, making their closeness even more intimate. Then, they bumped their heads together.


    This simple act made Ai''s spirits soar, and she thought traveling with him was not such a bad idea. They rubbed their heads together affectionately, unaware that Jeanne was watching them with envy. They continued to push each other playfully.


    After much teasing, they stopped to eat the lunch they had missed on the carriage and then paused to replenish Cardina and Jeanne''s magic power. The two creatures approached them, looking lonely.


    "Was it because we didn''t pay attention to them? They must have felt lonely" (Tatsuro)


    "Wow, they''re such attention-seekers," (Ai)


    Even though they had grown into impressive-looking creatures, the two showered them affectionately as they cooed over them with all their might. They continued to do so even after finishing replenishing their magic power until the two creatures were satisfied.


    This caused them to stop longer than planned, but they wanted to do something for the two who always worked hard.


    After playing with the two creatures and feeling more settled, they headed toward Lyadas again. However, the road from Obsul to Tofas was mainly straight, with no steep slopes despite some bends. In contrast, the road from Tofas to Lyadas was much more challenging, with sudden turns, winding paths, and steep uphill and downhill sections. It was so complex that they could not help but wonder why it was not more efficiently paved.


    "Another uphill climb, huh? Jeanne, I''ll assist with wind magic again, so do your best." (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh." (Jeanne)


    "You still have that donkey-like voice, Jeanne. Anyway" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah." (Ai)


    Around the point where the road ceased to be straight, the beautiful grassy landscape gave way to a rugged terrain with exposed rocks and earth. Here and there, a few trees stood alone, all covered in moss and vibrant green. The sun shone brightly, but the dense scenery and the troublesome road were becoming tiresome.


    Then, it happened at such a time. Without any appearance of monsters, Cardina, who was relaxing on the carriage while using detection magic, let out a loud cry, warning Tatsuro that something was approaching.


    "What is it?" (Ai)


    "It seems like someone is coming from the front." (Tatsuro)


    "More thieves?" (Ai)


    "It doesn''t seem to be the same ones who attacked us before, but let''s see what happens." (Tatsuro)


    About twenty meters ahead of Cardina, who had ascended the hill with the help of her wind magic, a man who appeared to be a merchant was leisurely driving a sizeable horse-drawn carriage accompanied by a single guard.


    Ignoring the guard for the time being, the merchant was plump and needed to appear more capable of fighting. Therefore, although they remained cautious, they intended to pass by without incident. However, out of the ten horses pulling the large carriage, one seemed timid and became startled when it saw Jeanne coming up the hill, causing it to panic.


    To calm it down, the carriage came to a halt. While sighing at the inconvenience, Tatsuro thought that it would calm down once Jeanne was out of sight, so he decided to nod politely as they passed by.


    However, before that could happen, the guard-like man who had disembarked from the carriage raised his hand and stepped onto their path, waving it vigorously. They reluctantly slowed down since continuing forward could potentially lead to a collision.


    {Like always, Ai, stay vigilant."} (Tatsuro)


    {I understand.} (Ai)


    They communicated their intentions through mental impressions, preparing to act at any moment. As the carriage stopped, a plump man who appeared to be a merchant approached with a friendly smile.


    However, Tatsuro and the others had no obligation to linger with him. Therefore, they were thinking of leaving it to his discretion and walking away when the man suddenly stood up and looked directly into Tatsuro''s eyes.


    "I''ll try to believe the words you''ve said." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "It''s up to you, but I think it''s unwise to trust a stranger you just met." (Tatsuro)


    "No, even though I''m inexperienced, I''m a merchant. I pride myself on being able to tell who can be trusted and who cannot be trusted. So, here''s my proposition: we plan to return to Lyadas for now." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Well, we don''t recommend heading to Tofas just like that." (Tatsuro)


    While indirectly suggesting that he could do as he pleased, the man still seemed interested.


    "My father is a well-known merchant in Lyadas and has close ties with the lord. If we ask for help from there, news about the bandits should spread quickly. So, would you consider coming with us to meet my father?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "We are planning to go to Lyadas anyway, but we still don''t trust you." (Tatsuro)


    "I see. If the guards are in cahoots, someone posing as a merchant could also be possible. In that case, you can go to Lyadas, and we''ll follow seven days later on April 17th, according to the calendar, Earth Day. So, let''s meet up again there to confirm my identity. Afterward, the two of you can inform my father about the bandits. How does that sound?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "What''s the benefit for us in doing that?" (Tatsuro)


    "Of course, I will offer a substantial sum of money, and if the information can be verified, I believe there will also be a reward from the lord. And, wouldn''t it be better for the two of you if the bandits were gone?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    That would be a significant benefit if this man could eliminate the bandits who had been tailing them with just a single conversation. Minimizing potential future threats was a good idea.


    Tatsuro asked this question after considering the situation. If the man only offered money, they would not have been willing to go along with it, even if he was an innocent merchant. However, this man had shown himself to be more than just a daddy''s boy; he had his own thoughts, which made Tatsuro more willing to trust him.


    "Are we okay with this?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, I''m in favor too." (Ai)


    "Then, if we confirm your identity in Lyadas, we''ll cooperate." (Tatsuro)


    "Thank you. Well then, consider this an upfront payment for now." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    The man handed over a pouch of coins, and when Tatsuro accepted it, he saw that it contained three million Shis.


    "You''re offering this rather easily. Just saying, but what if you were to run away with it?" (Tatsuro)


    "If that happens, I''ll chalk it up to my own poor judgment." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    For the first time, the man displayed a genuine smile rather than a sales smile, and Tatsuro finally smiled back.


    "Understood. Well, I will not hesitate to take this then. How about we meet up seven days from now at noon at the Adventurer''s Guild in Lyadas?" (Tatsuro)


    "Seven days from now, noon at the Adventurer''s Guild in Lyadas, is it?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Yes, that''s right. See you then." (Tatsuro)


    "Sure, bye-bye." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    With that promise made, Tatsuro instructed Jeanne and had her pull the cart again. The two of them waved lightly and increased the distance between them and the merchant.


    "I hope everything works out smoothly." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, me too." (Ai)


    With the carriage clattering along, the two of them continued on their way to Lyadas.

 Chapter 77: Attack from an Unalerted Place

    Chapter 77: Attack from an Unalerted Place


    Free Chapter of the week coming a day early~


    Enjoy~


    Separated from the merchant, a night had passed. After finishing breakfast, the two of them sat in the coachman''s seat, holding hands, and used Help function'' to investigate the dragon power they had forgotten until now.


    They discovered that by obtaining dragon power, they could use skills that dragons could use.


    "The explanation about skills dragons can use is still quite vague." (Tatsuro)


    "So, does that mean I can use that ice breath skill too?" (Ai)


    "Hmm. It seems that for humans, it''s impossible unless they have magic-related stats above a certain threshold and the skill for ice magic in the first place." (Tatsuro)


    "In other words, without the right conditions, you can''t acquire that skill" (Ai)


    "Well, it seems that way." (Ai)


    For Ai, who could not use any magic at all, it was a dream to be able to breathe ice, but she knew it was something she could not achieve, and her shoulders slumped.


    As for Tatsuro, he had his own expectations, even if it was just for a moment, that he might be able to use a physical attack like [Dragon Tail Flash], so he was somewhat disappointed.


    After feeling down for a while like that, the two of them started to change their mindset.


    "But on the other hand, if we can clear those conditions, it might be possible to obtain skills exclusive to dragons, which could be interesting." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s true. When you think about it that way, I might want to give it a try." (Ai)


    "Yeah, but for now, our dragon power is only at a hundred, and it doesn''t seem to apply to the status boost from Perfect Harmony,'' so it doesn''t seem like we can do much with it yet." (Tatsuro)


    As they said this and looked at how to increase their dragon power, it was displayed that they needed to eat dragons of a higher level than the dragon meat they had previously consumed. However, this condition was advantageous for Tatsuro compared to other people. With [Level Eater], he could easily adjust and improve it. The only problem was how many opportunities there would be to fight dragons from now on.


    After that, they continued discussing dragon power while the carriage continued to move forward. However, Cardina suddenly raised her voice in a panicked manner. Tatsuro immediately tried to intervene with Cardina''s magic, but before he could, something like a thirty-centimeter ball emerged from the ground to collide with Jeanne on the left side.


    With her robust physique, Jeanne did not sustain much damage, but then several mysterious objects began attacking from all directions.


    "Jeanne! Halt!" (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    "Ai!" (Tatsuro)


    "Got it!" (Ai)


    Without any doubt, in response to Tatsuro''s command, Jeanne obediently began to slow down. While this made them an easy target, Tatsuro realized that it would be unwise to continue at this speed so close to the right turn. He quickly drew his staff and activated a mixed magic of water, earth, and darkness when the speed had decreased slightly.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    It created a water wall with a one-meter thickness, inside of which were numerous sharp earth fragments reinforced with dark magic. The mysterious objects seemed undeterred and continued their special attacks. However, as the water slowed them down, they were impaled by the earth fragments, resulting in instant death or swimming towards them with blood while showing determination.


    Even if they managed to reach their position, their injured bodies prevented them from moving swiftly. They were struck forcefully by Ai''s whip, and in the end, they met the same fate as those who had died inside the water wall.


    After defeating nearly fifteen of them using this method, they finally realized that suicide attacks would not work. They dug holes in the ground and burrowed away.


    Remaining vigilant about what would come next, they were approached from inside the water wall.


    "Well, it had to come to this." (Tatsuro)


    "Given their appearance, it''s not surprising." (Ai)


    The two of them calmly dealt with the creatures, which had a mole-like appearance. First, Tatsuro reinforced the ground inside the wall with a combination of earth and darkness magic, increasing its hardness to the limit to prevent them from coming inside any further.


    Then, the magically reinforced ground proved too hard to dig through, and the creatures stopped coming from the ground. During this time, Ai swung her whip energetically, taking them down one after another. Additionally, Jeanne, with the assistance of Cardina, supported Tatsuro''s group.


    While the skill names were not technically wrong, Ai could not help but smile wryly at the somewhat unpleasant connotations. With that said, they decided to deal with the carcasses. When they approached the mole-like creatures, they noticed that these creatures had rather impressive claw-like appendages that resembled shovels.


    Driven by curiosity, Tatsuro placed the mole''s corpse into his [Item Box] and separated the claws to discard them outside. Upon closer inspection, the claws had a sturdy, sharp, shovel-like structure.


    Thinking they might have some utility, Tatsuro, fueled by a sense of not wanting to waste, collected the claws from all the carcasses.


    "If it''s digging holes, magic would be faster, right? Do we even need these?" (Ai)


    "Well, they might come in handy for something, just in case." (Tatsuro)


    As they discussed this, they gathered everything in one place using Jeanne''s wind magic and Tatsuro''s earth magic. Then, they proceeded to burn all the unnecessary parts.


    Amidst a faint scent of burning, when Tatsuro looked at the carriage, what was once a pristine vehicle was now covered in scratches and dirt and had several five-centimeter-wide dents all over.


    "Really?" (Tatsuro)


    "It collided with various things along the way. It''s no surprise it ended up like this. But, it''s just minor dents, and there are no holes. So, we''ve proven its durability, right?" (Ai)


    "That''s true, but it was a brand new carriage. Well, there''s no helping it. Let''s clean it up." (Tatsuro)


    "With magic?" (Ai)


    Tatsuro nodded, and Ai looked relieved. Cleaning a vehicle of this size manually would be quite taxing.


    Understanding Ai''s feelings from her expression, Tatsuro placed his hand on her head and gently stroked it. As he used a mixture of earth and darkness magic to repair the dents and scratches on the carriage, he also enhanced its durability and made it lighter.


    "Wow, magic is really fast!" (Ai)


    "Well, yeah." (Tatsuro)


    After two minutes of work, Tatsuro repaired the vehicle''s dents and scratches. Then, he used water and wind magic to blow water vigorously from the tip of his staff.


    As Tatsuro continued to circulate around and clean the carriage, it returned to its original pristine iron color, gleaming dully. However, when she looked at it objectively once more, Ai wore a slightly dissatisfied expression.


    "Hmm It is nice that it''s clean now, but an all-iron look doesn''t quite suit me as a girl. Let''s give it a cuter color" (Ai)


    "Color, huh? If we had colored minerals, we could mix them with iron to add some color. What color would you like, Ai?" (Tatsuro)


    "Well, it''s got to be all gold for that nouveau riche style!" (Ai)


    "That''s not cute, though, is it!?" (Tatsuro)


    Ai, who Tatsuro teased, burst into laughter and revealed that she was joking. She clarified that she did not want that nouveau riche style.


    Tatsuro was surprised by Ai''s response because he had thought she might say something like that. However, Ai needed to be made aware of the expectations placed on her response.


    "But color, huh? I don''t really have any preferences, so it''s fine as it is. But now that you''ve mentioned it, it does feel a bit lonely." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, personally, I think it would be cool if it had a dynamic, racing car-style look with a lot of movement." (Ai)


    "That could be cool. But I have some unfortunate news." (Tatsuro)


    "What is it, Tatsuro-kun?" (Ai)


    For some reason, Ai asked like a particular company president, and Tatsuro was about to deliver a dose of reality.


    "We don''t have that kind of design sense." (Tatsuro)


    "Oof." (Ai)


    With a voice like a boxer taking a punch to the body, Ai knelt on the ground and pondered the harsh reality.

 Chapter 78: Underground Exploration Magic

    Chapter 78: Underground Exploration Magic


    Despite the harsh reality they faced, the two of them had recovered and, with Jeanne now beautifully restored, set off once more in their rhinoceros carriage.


    During this time, Tatsuro had contemplated a method to use exploration magic deep within the ground. Even with just dispelling magic, it was possible to force magic power through the ground with sheer effort. However, unlike the atmosphere, using exploration magic continuously in places with a high density, like underground, would deplete a significant amount of magic power. No matter how much their physical abilities had improved, having Cardina sustain such a task for an extended period was challenging.


    This meant they could not rely on her to do it while they slept either. However, magic was a product of imagination, and it would not be surprising if there were some loopholes. With this in mind, Tatsuro held Ai''s hand and conducted various experiments, trying to use dispelling magic efficiently.


    "Hmm If I reduce the density of dispelling magic, it will not spread far enough, but if it is too concentrated, it devours magic power How can I perform energy-efficient exploration?" (Tatsuro)


    "Exploring deep into the ground, huh? That sounds tricky. It would be great if there were [Earth Magic] to handle that kind of thing." (Ai)


    "You''re right. [Earth Magic] can easily generate magic power that spreads through the ground without resistance. But like dispelling magic, it can''t tell us what objects are down there." (Tatsuro)


    As Tatsuro said that, he realized something.


    "Oh? What if we combine dispelling and earth magic?" (Tatsuro)


    "Mix them together to get the best of both of the magic?" (Ai)


    "That''s a possibility. Let''s give it a try." (Tatsuro)


    Immediately, they attempted this idea. First, they created a blend of dispelling and earth magic, releasing it into the ground at a density of magic power that dispelling magic alone could not achieve. Surprisingly, it smoothly penetrated underground, spreading magical power at a level close to that in the atmosphere.


    (Although it has less information than single dispelling magic, if there are any creatures, we should be able to detect them quickly. The fuel consumption is also okay, so it will be useful.) Tatsuro thought


    "Tatsuro, what do you think?" (Ai)


    "This could be practical. With this, we might be able to do various things like water exploration with dispelling + water. Thanks to Ai." (Tatsuro)


    "Hehe, can I take that as a compliment?" (Ai)


    "Ai, you''re amazing." (Tatsuro)


    Saying this, Tatsuro leaned in closer to Ai, tightly embracing her and gently stroking her head. In response, Ai also put more strength into her arms and pressed closer together.


    In the comforting scent of soap mixed with Ai''s scent, Tatsuro felt soothed. They deviated from their initial purpose, playfully teasing each other while still clinging together.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    "But, doesn''t Cardina lack earth magic?" (Ai)


    "That''s right. So, I''m thinking of trying something during the next break." (Tatsuro)


    "What?" (Ai)


    "Combining factors of multiple elemental magic." (Tatsuro)


    With a mischievous smile, Tatsuro said this to Ai.


    Tatsuro reviewed a book on mixed light and dark magic for a while. Eventually, they found a peaceful flat area and decided to stop there.


    Ideally, they would have liked to proceed immediately, but considering it was well past noon, they decided to have lunch first. This time, in addition to salt, they sprinkled some spices they had bought without really knowing what they were for, trying to change the flavor.


    While saying this, Ai watched Cardina, who seemed to have grown tired of earth magic and was playing with Jeanne.


    After allowing Cardina to have her fun for a while, Tatsuro began to instruct her on the practical aspects of underground exploration. Cardina quickly grasped the technique and demonstrated it.


    "How''s that? Are you doing it properly?" (Tatsuro)


    *Cardina responds playfully.*


    "Good girl!" (Ai)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    "You are a Good girl too" (Ai)


    As Ai began to praise Cardina, Jeanne neighed, making a sound similar to when a horse''s lips quiver. Tatsuro then petted Jeanne. Afterward, Ai leaned forward, and Tatsuro also used his other hand to pet her.


    After their break, which served as both relaxation and concentration for the tired Tatsuro, they returned to the carriage. Jeanne was tethered to the carriage with harnesses. At the same time, Cardina relaxed on the carriage, skillfully switching between dispelling magic and earth magic to employ exploration magic on both the surface and underground.


    The consumption of magic power had increased compared to before, but it was still enough to last through the night, so Tatsuro saw no issues with it.


    "Jeanne, let''s move on." (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    With wind magic pushing the carriage and Jeanne herself pulling it, they smoothly began moving without the initial jerks.


    They continued down the road, boredom creeping in as no monsters or bandits appeared. As time passed and night fell, they decided to conclude their journey for the day. They parked the carriage in a secluded spot off the road. Only Jeanne returned to Tatsuro''s magic for the night, while Cardina received a magic power recharge. They had a late dinner, took turns bathing, and then went to sleep. Of course, they filled Cardina with as much magic power as possible before letting go of their consciousness while embracing each other.


    Their vision remained dark despite waking up at what could be considered morning. Tatsuro then remembered that today was an attribute day for light magic.


    (So, it is going to be dark all day today. Since we are traveling at night, I think I will ask Jeanne to run a little slower than usual) He thought.


    "Love, wake up." (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm? It''s still dark outside" (Ai)


    "In this world, didn''t we have a day like this every 12 days?" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh. Yeah, we did." (Ai)


    Ai finally recalled the polar night with a groggy mind and became clear-headed thanks to Tatsuro''s magic. After exchanging morning greetings, they engaged in their usual morning routine, sharing several good morning kisses. They had breakfast under the moonlight, finished their preparations, and asked Jeanne to join them.


    "Let''s rely on you today too." (Tatsuro)


    "Please do!" (Ai)


    *Jeanne snorted enthusiastically.*


    While patting the spirited Jeanne, they secured the carriage and positioned Cardina in her usual spot. With everything ready, they climbed into the driver''s seat and began moving down the dark morning road slightly slower than expected.

 Chapter 79: Unusual Guests

    Chapter 79: Unusual Guests


    Sorry for the late release.


    2 chapters are being released today!


    The next free chapter will be in 2 weeks time. advance chapters will also continue by then.


    Thanks for the co-operation!


    While experiencing their second polar night since arriving in this world, they continued their journey towards Lyadas. There were not many monsters in this area, as they did not encounter them frequently, unlike when they were in the Amneri Great Forest.


    Both were initially excited during their first experience of moving through the darkness illuminated only by moonlight, but now


    "It''s quite boring, isn''t it?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, really boring." (Tatsuro)


    Without any stimulation, Ai spent hours gazing at the carriage''s dark scenery. Currently, she had her head resting on Tatsuro''s lap. On the other hand, Tatsuro was having fun poking, stretching, and petting Ai''s cheek as she lay there.


    They changed positions, with Ai sitting on Tatsuro''s lap, facing each other, and engaging in playful gestures. It was as if they were enjoying the idle time so much that you might think, "Are you guys really that bored?" Just as they were engrossed in their activities, Cardina alerted them to be cautious.


    {Ai.} (Tatsuro)


    {Yeah.} (Ai)


    With just the mention of her name, Tatsuro established a telepathic connection. He removed his staff and intervened in Cardina''s detection magic to assess the situation. On the other hand, Ai got up from Tatsuro''s lap, wielding a whip and a jewel-encrusted sword that gleamed with vivid colors.


    "Is someone being chased by others? This could be troublesome." (Ai)


    "Jeanne! Move off the road and stop at a distance!" (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    Following Tatsuro''s command, Jeanne veered to the left and stopped at a location nearly a hundred meters away from the road. Along the way, Tatsuro set up traps and used dark magic to conceal the carriage and Jeanne, making them practically invisible from a casual glance on the road.


    "This time, it might not be monsters, right?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, it looks like someone is being chased. If it''s troublesome, I''d rather not get involved." (Tatsuro)


    "Okay." (Ai)


    Speaking in hushed tones, they also instructed Cardina and Jeanne to stay quiet. They waited for about a minute until the individuals in question appeared.


    First, they saw a man and two women dressed like adventurers. Following them were about twenty rough-looking, armed individuals who appeared to be pursuing them.


    "Judging by their expressions, it doesn''t seem like they''re chasing criminals or anything." (Ai)


    The ones fleeing had desperate expressions, while those giving chase wore lewd smiles. From what they could see, it was a clear situation of victims and aggressors.


    "So, we don''t want to get on the bad side of these thieves again, but what do you think, Ai?" (Tatsuro)


    "I don''t want to imagine what will happen to those women if they get caught" (Ai)


    "That''s true. We''ve already earned their ire once; a second or third time won''t make much difference." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, let''s help them!" (Ai)


    Tatsuro triggered the prepared devices, using detection magic to pinpoint their positions accurately. He activated them at the right moment, releasing compressed fireballs buried in the earth through earth magic at the heart of the group of thieves behind the adventurers. Large fireballs began to appear in the vicinity.


    "That''s true" (Tatsuro)


    With just the three of them traveling, they might encounter the group that had attacked them earlier if they headed to Lyadas, and there was a high chance that the thieves'' comrades were waiting if they went toward the direction from which they had come. Leaving them alone at this point seemed like looking the other way.


    However, even though the possibility was low, Tatsuro could not rule out the chance that this was all part of the thieves'' act and these three might be their accomplices.


    The issue now was how to handle the situation.


    "Is it not possible?"


    "Let me think about it a bit more." (Tatsuro)


    "Okay!"


    The woman responded energetically, realizing that it was not a complete rejection.


    "Should we help them?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, we don''t have to be best buddies, but if we keep a reasonable distance, it should be fine." (Ai)


    "That''s true, but if we decide to take the three of them with us, it''s either we load them onto our cart, or we all walk to Lyadas. Is that okay?" (Tatsuro)


    "I really don''t want to walk, but fitting five people into that cart" (Tatsuro)


    They could use the individual compartments, but those were essentially private rooms for the two of them. They preferred not to have others inside. That left the coachman''s seat, but entrusting it entirely to someone else made them uneasy. Additionally, Jeanne only followed Tatsuro''s instructions, or those given by Ai, when Tatsuro fully trusted her. Therefore, that option was also ruled out.


    Walking was not preferable, and seating them in the existing compartments could have been better. With no other choice, there was only one option left.


    "Shall we create seats on the roof?" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s where Cardina''s special seat used to be, right?" (Ai)


    "Well, we can have them sit on our laps there." (Tatsuro)


    "Jeanne might get jealous." (Ai)


    "We''ll spoil her later." (Tatsuro)


    "Sounds good." (Ai)


    With the decision made, the next step was to modify the rhino cart. They began by bringing out additional iron ingots and attaching a ladder to access the roof. They installed seats for the three newcomers and added railings around the roof to prevent any accidents.


    Next, while checking the ladder''s strength as they climbed, they detached Cardina''s seat and put it into their [Item Box]. They then connected it to the opening in the roof that led to the private compartments, ensuring it would not open during the journey.


    "Is this all right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Just to be safe, it might be a good idea to have a bar to hold onto while sitting, don''t you think?" (Ai)


    "Good idea, let''s do that." (Tatsuro)


    Incorporating Ai''s suggestion, they added a long bar horizontally to the railing, which passengers could grasp while sitting.


    "It''s perfect." (Tatsuro)


    "It sure is." (Ai)


    After completing the modifications and ensuring there were no issues using dispel magic to analyze the altered areas, they re-summoned Jeanne and connected her to the cart. Finally, they decided it was time to speak with the three waiting individuals.

 Chapter 80: Feelings of the Three

    Chapter 80: Feelings of the Three


    With preparations complete, they decided to inform the three that they could accompany them immediately.


    "I understand. If we can get directions along the way, we''re fine with accompanying you." (Tatsuro)


    "Really?" "Is that true!?"


    "Yes." (Tatsuro)


    Saying so, Tatsuro removed the dark magic that had obstructed their view and revealed himself to the three. Then, their faces were visible in the moonlight.


    Firstly, the man and another woman had brown hair, with animal-like ears and tails. The remaining woman had no animal features and had blackish-gold hair. What they all had in common was that they looked similar in age to Tatsuro and the others, maybe even younger, and had appearances more fitting for boys and girls.


    On the other hand, the people who had scattered nearly twenty bandits from a distance were clearly skilled adventurers. They were surprised by the two, who looked no different from themselves.


    "What are your names?" (Tatsuro)


    "Um yes. I''m Jema Miliat." (Jema)


    "I''m Salva Miliat. Jema and I are siblings, and I''m the older brother." (Salva)


    "I''m Catherine Semprin. We have been childhood friends with the two of them. So, what about you?" (Catherine)


    Since they would be indebted to them one-sidedly, Catherine timidly asked, wondering whether it was okay to ask for their names.


    Thinking that it was acceptable to share names, they introduced themselves as well.


    "I''m Tatsuro Hasami." (Tatsuro)


    "I''m Ai Yashiki. Nice to meet you." (Ai)


    "Nice to meet you." "Nice to meet you too."


    "Well then, we''re heading to Lyadas, so until then, you''ll be riding on this." (Tatsuro)


    "Is that a carriage?" (Jema)


    Jema looked up at the rhino cart and asked such a question. Firstly, the fact that horses were not pulling it meant it was already not a typical carriage. It had been modified to accommodate three additional passengers, resulting in an appearance resembling a camping van.


    Whether it was an unfamiliar form in this world or not, the three stared at the vehicle in astonishment.


    "Well, it''s something like that. You guys can climb up that ladder and take a seat over there" (Tatsuro)


    "Do we not have to do anything?" one asked.


    "Yeah, if you really don''t like just sitting there, you can help out. It seems like someone there can use scouting magic" (Tatsuro)


    "Understood," Catherine, who seemed to be the user of dispelling magic, eagerly nodded. They did not know her level, but scouting magic was considered basic, so they decided to trust her with that.DiiSco?ver new stories on


    Afterward, the three were invited to climb onto the rhino cart. Tatsuro and Ai sat in the driver''s seats, and Cardina lay down on their laps.


    Jeanne watched them with envy, but Cardina pretended not to notice and snuggled up to the two.


    "I''ll let Jeanne have her turn to snuggle during the next break, so hang in there" (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh!" Jeanne happily neighed at Tatsuro''s words, and with the added weight of the three, the cart was pulled by the power of wind magic.


    The initial movement was rough due to the added weight of over a hundred kilograms from the accustomed load, causing a momentary strong shake. However, it adapted once it got going, and the journey proceeded smoothly.


    "How much longer until we reach Lyadas?" one of them asked.


    "It was supposed to be around tomorrow evening, but that was an estimate for the fastest route without getting into trouble. So, it looks like we''ll be a bit delayed, maybe until the day after tomorrow, around noon" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, and the fact that we took quite a bit of time just for this round didn''t help," (Ai)


    However, despite their efforts, there was nothing significant to report, and it was soon time for Jeanne to restock and for a slightly delayed lunch.


    Since they started slowing down without prior notice, the three on top became anxious and called out to them.


    "Did something happen!?" (Catherine)


    "Nothing! We''re just stopping to have lunch!" (Tatsuro)


    "Got it!" (Catherine)


    Having been absorbed in their own world, Tatsuro had forgotten they were carrying passengers. He said that and stopped the carriage, quickly resupplying Jeanne and then preparing lunch.


    Meanwhile, the people on top also descended using the ladder. With just a glance, Tatsuro continued grilling meat at his own pace.


    Soon, sounds of hunger emanated from everyone except Tatsuro and Ai.


    "Hey, big brother!" (Jema)


    "It can''t be helped. It''s a bodily function!" (Salva)


    His sister gave him light taps while she seemed to be doing something.


    Seeing this, Catherine told him not to worry about it, so Tatsuro returned his attention to the meat sizzling on the grill.


    After seasoning the meat with some spices and a pinch of salt and finishing two servings, they were about to start eating when they heard Salva and the others'' stomachs growling, loudly voicing their hunger.


    "If you''re hungry, why don''t you eat something?" (Tatsuro)


    "We had to discard as much luggage as possible while escaping, so we only have one meal each left." (Salva)


    "Didn''t you have an [Item Box] skill?" (Tatsuro)


    "Rookies like us don''t have that kind of skill. If we had the luxury, we''d use it elsewhere." (Catherine)


    Tatsuro realized he had become more relaxed than he should have, even though he should have noticed this first. Therefore, he made a not entirely unjustified excuse.


    However, as it turned out, eating meat in front of those without food was exceptionally cruel. They still had enough supplies, and even though it was only for three days, they understood the anxiety of living with limited rations. Therefore, they silently communicated and decided to share.


    "We still have plenty of food here, so if you''re okay with just meat, we can share some." (Tatsuro)


    "No way, after you''ve done this much for us, we can''t just take your food away." (Jema)


    "But even we can''t eat so openly when there are hungry people nearby. If you''re going to say that, you should have hidden it better." (Ai)


    "Uh, sorry." (Jema)


    All three of them wore embarrassed expressions and lowered their heads. They should have stayed on top of the cart if they genuinely felt that way.


    "So, go ahead and eat. We won''t say it''ll fill you up, but it won''t be a significant loss if you eat about as much as we do." (Tatsuro)


    "We''re sorry. We''ll repay this favor someday." (Salva)


    "You don''t have to worry about that. We are not helping you in exchange for gratitude. But if you really want to repay the favor, make it back to town safely, become respectable adventurers or something, and help someone in need like we are now." (Tatsuro)


    "Got it. Even if it''s not right away, I''ll become an adventurer who can help someone like you guys." (Salva)


    "Me too!" "Count me in!"


    Determined expressions filled the formerly disheartened eyes of the three. If they could make it back to town safely, they had planned to seek a less risky profession than becoming adventurers, as they had initially set out with rather frivolous intentions.


    However, they had a change of heart, thinking that if they could grow and help someone in need, they could at least face their companions who had bought them time.


    While they could not fully understand the deeper reasons, Tatsuro sensed something had changed in the three. Without saying a word, he continued grilling the meat for them all.

 Chapter 81: Changing hands, Changing tastes

    Chapter 81: Changing hands, Changing tastes


    The smell of cooking meat wafted through the air once more, causing the hungry trio to gaze at the meat as if they were about to drool. In fact, Salva was already drooling.


    Worried about how long he had gone without eating while observing his eager reaction, Tatsuro handed Salva the first piece of cooked meat.


    "No, I''ll have it last. Give it to Jema first." (Salva)


    "You don''t have to act all cool after drooling so much, big brother." (Jema)


    "Yeah, it''s the opposite. It''s pretty uncool, actually." (Catherine)


    "Ugh." (Salva)


    Salva desperately tried to maintain a big brother-like demeanour, but due to his lack of convincing power, he was at a disadvantage.


    "That''s right. Go ahead and eat first. The others'' portions will be ready soon." (Tatsuro)


    "I-I''m sorry." (Salva)


    Tatsuro finished cooking the remaining two portions of meat, placed them on plates, and then approached Salva, who seemed to be making a fuss about something.


    "Is something wrong?" (Tatsuro)


    "Well big brother started raving about how delicious it is as soon as he took a bite" (Jema)


    "Oh, I see. Well, it seems like the seasoning this time was a success, so even without that, it should taste better than usual on an empty stomach." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah." (Ai)


    This time, the seasoning was simple, with just a bit of spice and the right amount of salt, but the unique flavour of the spice added a nice touch. Ai was still enjoying the meat with relish.DiiSco?ver new stories on


    While watching her eat, Tatsuro also handed some meat to Jema and Catherine. The aroma captivated their senses when they held it in their hands, and their gazes were fixed on the meat. After giving a word of thanks to me, they took a bite.


    "It''s delicious." (Jema)


    "Mmm" (Catherine)


    Catherine unconsciously let out a sound of delight at the deliciousness of the meat. Jema, on the other hand, seemed particularly fond of it as she leaned back for a moment before eagerly devouring the meat.


    After a short while, Salva and the others quickly finished eating, and Jema asked Tatsuro a question.


    "Um, I''ve never had such delicious meat before! What kind of meat is this?" (Jema)


    "Huh? What kind of meat? It''s dragon meat. Didn''t you earn the title |Dragon Eater| or something like that?" (Tatsuro)


    """Dragon!?"""


    Their eyes widened so much that it seemed like their eyeballs might fall out. Tatsuro stepped back as he felt their gaze bearing down on him.


    Finally realizing how they must have looked at him, they all took a deep breath to calm themselves down.


    "Dragon meat Is it really okay to casually feed us such a high-quality delicacy? No wonder it''s so delicious." (Salva)


    "Yeah, if it were us, we could have had something cheaper." (Catherine)


    "Don''t worry about it. There''s still plenty left." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, besides, we don''t have any decent food supplies other than this." (Ai)


    With Tatsuro and Ai''s words, they realized that they were dealing with individuals who were far removed from them. A large quantity of dragon meat meant a high likelihood of defeating a dragon. Furthermore, Tatsuro had mentioned the title |Dragon Eater|. They were now confident that Tatsuro held this title.


    {Did they suddenly start looking at us with sparkling eyes?} (Tatsuro)


    {Yeah, they did. I wonder what''s going on.} (Ai)


    Tatsuro and Ai were confused as they conversed using telepathy; how the three people viewed them had clearly changed.


    For adventurers, being a Dragon Slayer was a prestigious status and a dream title for anyone aspiring to become an adventurer. Salva and the others were deeply moved by the fact that such an individual was right before them.


    However, the two who didn''t know about this continued with their chores, unaware until the end. They felt uncomfortable under the envious gaze and began tidying up.


    "So, does that mean they found us?" (Ai)


    "I''m not sure about us, but they might have found the three outside. Well, if we were on the road, we would probably be spotted eventually, so I''m thankful they took action like this. It means we can be prepared if anything happens." (Tatsuro)


    They wanted to avoid direct confrontation as much as possible, but this road was the most comfortable route to Lyadas. They didn''t want to rush through rough, uncharted territory, so they preferred to break through it, even if it required some force. Knowing in advance that something might be waiting for them made it easier to be cautious.


    "Well, it looks like they''ve gone quite far away now. Let''s investigate a bit." (Tatsuro)


    "What are you going to investigate?" (Ai)


    "They stopped in various places and walked around unnaturally. They might have set traps." (Tatsuro)


    "But if they do that, won''t it endanger everyone passing through here? If they set traps, it could become clear that it was their doing, and the existence of thieves might be exposed before we can do anything." (Ai)


    "Well, we don''t know for sure if there are traps yet. And even if there are, it might mean they can''t afford to stay and wait over there" (Tatsuro)


    As they talked, Tatsuro dispelled the dark magic and, along with Cardina, used detection magic to meticulously check for any traps or dangerous objects in the area.


    Within a radius of 100 meters alone, they discovered eighteen traps.


    Once they identified the locations, Tatsuro descended from the carriage. The three who had been sleeping nearby seemed to have sensed something and were already awake. They made eye contact, then gestured for them to stay where they were before walking over to the area with traps.


    "It''s here." (Tatsuro)


    "They really did set traps. What kind of traps are they?" (Ai)


    "They seem to be spring-loaded traps. And there''s a faint magical presence in one of them, but it seems to be purely mechanical." (Tatsuro)


    Saying this, Tatsuro handed Ai a chunk of earth, adjusted to weigh around 40 kilograms using earth magic.


    "What should I do with this?" (Ai)


    "Throw it lightly to the spot I indicate." (Tatsuro)


    "Sure thing." (Ai)


    Tatsuro used light magic to create a ring of light to mark the range of the traps. Once that was done, Ai tossed the chunk of earth toward the marked area.


    The chunk of earth fell right into the centre of the ring of light, making a dull sound upon impact. Then, thirty-centimetre-long spikes shot up from the ground, piercing through the chunk of earth. The spikes were covered in a clear, viscous liquid.


    Tatsuro suspected it might be poison and immediately used dispelling magic to examine the viscous liquid. It turned out to be a powerful adhesive, not poison. Moreover, it had already solidified on the spikes, firmly attaching itself to the chunk of earth.


    "It seems that when a certain weight is applied, the spikes shoot up. Once they pierce something, the adhesive makes it stick firmly in place, making it hard to remove." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s pretty intense." (Ai)


    "Even if you can heal the wounds with [Life Magic], it''s likely to leave a trauma." (Tatsuro)


    Saying that Tatsuro approached one of the traps that had a faint magical reaction out of the eighteen.


    Next, he took out an iron ingot and used a combination of earth and dark magic to create a large wall. Then, he used water magic at the trap''s location to create a thick layer of water, resembling a water tank, and covered it.


    After that, he created another chunk of earth and handed it to Ai, then used mental transmission to indicate the location within the water. Ai threw the chunk of earth over the iron wall, making it fall into the water below like a gentle slope.


    The chunk landed with a splash in the thick layer of water.


    Once he confirmed this, Tatsuro used magic to create a flow of water inside the water tank and pushed the chunk of earth out of the water using earth magic.


    A conical object emerged from the ground one second later and opened up like an unfolding diagram. Suddenly, wind was generated within the water, and sharp fragments scattered.


    Ultimately, the fragments didn''t reach where Tatsuro and Ai were; they only flew out a few pieces from the thick layer of water before dissipating.


    "It seems that after a certain weight is applied, this conical object pops out, activating wind magic powered by a magical liquid inside it, which scatters these pieces we placed inside." (Tatsuro)


    "The power itself doesn''t seem to be that significant, but it would hurt if it hit an unprotected area." (Ai)


    "Yeah, if it hit your eyes, it could potentially cause blindness." (Tatsuro)


    After finishing the investigation, including practical experiments to better understand the traps, Tatsuro used earth magic to remove all traces of the traps from the ground. Then, he disarmed them and stored the traps in his [Item Box] for future trap research.

 Chapter 82: The Worst Trap

    Chapter 82: The Worst Trap


    After eliminating the nearby traps that had been set, the two of them were quite sleepy, so they informed the other three that they would discuss details tomorrow and dedicated the remaining time to sleep.


    A few hours later, when Tatsuro woke up, it was already eleven o''clock. As expected, they had overslept. After waking up Ai, getting ready, and going outside, the other three were already waiting for them.


    If their relationship had been more casual, they might have complained about being late, but it seemed like they could not wake them up because the two who had woken up in the middle of the night had been doing something, and they didn''t seem to have been of any help.


    After roasting some meat and eating together, they informed the others that someone had set traps yesterday.


    "Could it be the work of thieves, after all?" (Salva)


    "It seems unlikely that it''s anything else." (Tatsuro)


    "Ugh, those cowardly bastards setting traps!" (Salva)


    "Well, calm down. We know the location of the traps." (Ai)


    Ai calmed down the agitated Salva, and finally, they set off. Unlike yesterday, the journey was bright, so they wanted to go faster, but they had to advance while eliminating traps, so it was impossible.


    Moving at about 20 kilometres per hour, they relied on Cardina to pinpoint their location. Tatsuro used earth magic to crush the traps in the ground, rendering them powerless as they advanced.


    Ai held Tatsuro''s hand beside him, so he hardly consumed any magical power, but he was becoming mentally exhausted from the repetitive work.


    During one of their breaks, Cardina was the first to notice something placed in the middle of a three-way intersection around noon.


    Upon investigation, it turned out to be three lifeless humanoid figures. As soon as they understood what it was, Tatsuro made a bitter face and stopped the carriage within view.


    "What''s wrong?" (Ai)


    "There are three bodies placed in the middle of the road. Furthermore, if you approach those bodies, numerous traps will be triggered." (Tatsuro)


    "" (Ai)


    Unable to find the right words to say, Ai held her breath. Tatsuro, deeming this a reasonable response, stroked Ai''s head and tried to go outside alone. However, Ai grabbed his arm and shook her head.


    "I''m coming too. Tatsuro, I do not want to leave you alone when you''re going through something difficult. I might not be able to do much, but at least I can be there by your side." (Ai)


    "I see. Then come with me." (Tatsuro)Ge?tt the latest novels at


    "Okay." (Ai)


    With that, the two of them disembarked from the carriage. The three above hurriedly descended and approached them.


    "Wait. Those bodies over there are probably probably our comrades," (Catherine)


    "You had other comrades?" Tatsuro reacted with a mix of surprise and acceptance upon hearing the words "Catherine''s comrades."


    At the same time, he couldn''t make a calm judgment when confronted with the sight of their comrades'' bodies, which were rigged with traps that could kill anyone who approached.


    As he thought about who might have set up those traps, anger welled up against the thieves who seemed to care nothing for human lives and feelings.


    "Those are traps, right?" (Jema)


    "Yeah, from this distance, we should be able to discern if it''s a trap or not using Dispel Magic, right?" Tatsuro responded to Jemma''s question and then looked at Catherine, the Dispel Magic user.


    However, it seemed Catherine could not bear to use Dispel Magic to gather information about their comrades'' bodies, and she couldn''t use it. Seeing the pained expression on her face, both of them understood, and they turned to Salva, who had a disgruntled look on his face, to confirm what they were going to do next.


    "I plan to disable the traps over there and then proceed to cremate the bodies. Is that okay?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. Please. But, big bro, can I stay close and watch?" (Salva)


    Usually, Salva responded, but this time, it was his sister, Jemma. Regretting that he should not have brought Salva with them, Tatsuro asked Jeanne to set off.


    Before long, even though they had no appetite, they stopped on the side of the road to have lunch because they did not know when an emergency might occur. The three above seemed to be in no condition to eat, so they declined the offer. Tatsuro and Ai were currently grilling meat for two.


    Having seen a real splatter scene, Tatsuro and Ai did not particularly want to eat meat, but they had no choice, so they endured and ate it. Strangely, forcing themselves to eat once seemed to boost their mood and restore their energy.


    Considering whether they should also make the three people on the rhinoceros beetle eat by force, they consulted with Ai and decided against it. They felt that it would be different for them, who had seen the bodies of people they did not know and people they were close to.


    With their energy restored, Tatsuro and Ai refrained from coddling themselves and instead provided magical energy to Jeanne and Cardina before setting off again.


    "We''re running later than I thought." (Tatsuro)


    "Is that so?" (Ai)


    Tatsuro sighed as he checked their current location on the map, crushing the scattered traps as if recalling something.


    "Yeah, the main reason we''re running late is because we''ve been slowing down to crush the traps." (Tatsuro)


    "We can''t afford to leave them. If we don''t deal with them, that merchant from before might get caught, and it''s not something we can ignore, especially when we''ve decided to take the three people to the town." (Ai)


    While they could fly if it were just the two of them, they had committed to take the three people to the town, and they could not ignore the potential harm to people unrelated to their situation.


    "I hope some weak monsters would come so we could earn SP." (Tatsuro)


    "But we haven''t heard anything from that front." (Ai)


    "Oh, I haven''t used the SP I earned from the moles the other day." (Tatsuro)


    "Are you going to get [Dark Magic] again?" (Ai)


    "I''ve relied on [Light Magic] and [Life Magic] quite a bit, and it''s appealing to be able to fix things quickly in unforeseen situations like today Yeah, I think I''ll go for [Dark Magic]." (Tatsuro)


    "Rather than thinking about getting injured, it''s more like us to prevent getting injured." (Ai)


    Tatsuro, holding Ai, raised his Dark Magic to Level 7 from his current SP (40) using 34 SP.


    After upgrading dark magic, he considered raising Cardina and Jeanne to higher levels. However, there was a possibility of the three above observing them if they did that. Even though he had already demonstrated the four-element walls in front of Salva and was currently using earth magic to destroy traps, he felt there was no need to worry; he still felt that magic-based life forms might be considered peculiar.


    Time passed, and the sun started to set, casting a reddish glow on the rhinoceros beetle. They were supposed to have entered Lyadas by this time according to their original plan, so Tatsuro wondered how things had gone wrong. He designated a location about a hundred meters off the road and had the carriage park there.


    "We''ve parked quite far off the road." (Ai)


    "Yeah, it''s Dark Day tonight. It is also the New Moon Day. It''s perfect for a nighttime ambush, don''t you think?" (Tatsuro)


    "Dark magic allows us to hide, so it''s perfect" (Ai)


    "We can hide and pass through unnoticed, and if it comes to combat, we can easily subdue them with Cardina''s dispel magic and my dark magic. So, I thought maintaining some distance would be a good idea." (Tatsuro)


    "Being close to the road would make it easy to spot us, even with just a bit of light. You''re right; it might be difficult to find us at this distance unless they use detection or light magic to illuminate the area." (Ai)


    With this in mind, the two of them set about preparing for their nighttime ordeal. By that time, except for Salva, the two had calmed down, and they asked to join in for the meal. Salva, who had a sturdy physique and had already eaten breakfast, could skip two meals without any problem. They all shared a meal together.


    Tatsuro and Ai then told the two about the likelihood of an attack tonight and recommended that they sleep on top of the carriage. They were considering a possible forced breakthrough with the rhinoceros beetle if necessary, so it would be more convenient for the three to already be on board. The two agreed and returned to the top of the rhinoceros beetle.


    "Well, let''s see what tonight brings." (Tatsuro)


    "We''d like it to be peaceful, but" (Ai)


    Tatsuro and Ai, who didn''t believe for a moment that those treacherous thieves had finished with just those traps, left the vigilance to Cardina and took a brief nap in preparation for the night ahead.

 Chapter 83: A New Discovery

    Chapter 83: A New Discovery


    The sun had set entirely, and a moonless night had descended. Usually, thanks to the illumination of a massive moon, one could see at least a little in the night, but tonight was different. In this place without streetlights, it was pitch dark.


    Despite the late hour, Tatsuro and Ai had awakened some time ago. They had been conducting research and preparing for a potential confrontation outside. Hours passed quickly in this manner, and then it happened.


    As they finished their preparations and stood ready, Cardina''s detection magic picked up the same human presence as the previous night. Tatsuro, who was already awake, was informed of this, and Cardina received a reassuring pat on the head.


    "Our preparations are complete. If they come, let them come." (Tatsuro)


    "If they don''t come, that''s fine too." (Ai)


    With a confident expression, they both put their strength into the equipment they held.


    This time, it was not just a few people; about thirty individuals had formed a group, holding torches as they searched for the escaped prey.


    "Given their movement speed, we should be able to find them soon. Hey, haven''t you found them yet?"


    "They''re probably long dead, right? The trap was triggered, wasn''t it?"


    "Yeah, but the message from the scouts our reinforcements sent said there was nothing at the trap location. There were no signs of an explosion, and all the traps we set were completely destroyed. They are definitely alive. Come on, if you understand, start searching already, you idiots."


    "Alright, I get it. Wait?"


    "Things are getting noisy up ahead. What''s going on?"


    The most pompous of the group, a man wearing armour like a knight despite being a thief, with a thorny cudgel on his back, walked toward his agitated subordinates. As he approached, he noticed the figure writhing in their trap.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    "What are you all doing? The trap location was clearly marked on the map, and you can''t even read that? Are you all that stupid?"


    "It''s not true; the trap''s location has been changed!"


    "What? You should not be able to use it once it is activated So, you''re telling me they dug it out skillfully before activation and moved it. These kids they should not have skimped on trap quality. Hey, put someone who can use dispel magic up front and have them locate the traps."


    "Yes, right away."


    The surprisingly well-organized thieves quickly adjusted their approach and resumed the hunt for their prey. Frustration began to show in the man as they struggled to find the traps, making it difficult for him to focus on the detection magic for people.


    (Damn it. This is getting troublesome. If I say, I couldn''t do anything,'' when I report to the boss, my life will be in danger.)


    "You still haven''t found them?"


    "It seems they''ve buried dummies that look just like the real traps, so it''s quite a challenge."


    "Dummies? Can''t your detection magic tell them apart?"


    "The problem is that they''ve made the dummies so closely resembling the real traps that no one with dispel magic skills can distinguish them in our group."


    "Damn it, maybe these kids are even better at dispelling magic. We might need to catch them and make them our pets."


    As he said that, the man in full armour suddenly felt something was amiss and turned around. To his surprise, the number of people who had been behind him had decreased.


    "Hey, where did those guys behind us go?" he asked


    "Huh? Where did they Oh, it looks like quite a few have disappeared."


    When the man''s entourage asked where the others had gone, they said they had vanished without notice. The man in full armour relayed this information, and one of his entourage was punched.


    "You idiot! That''s no damn excuse! Are you kidding me?"


    "Please don''t hit me. Talk to them directly!"


    "Oh? You moron! Listen up, you guys, We didn''t notice'' won''t cut it!"


    "Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!"


    As the underlings nervously and profusely apologized, the man in full armour continued to hit all of them and instructed the others to search for the missing members.


    Then, when the man in full armour turned his attention to join his subordinates who were searching for traps at the front, he noticed that the numbers on that side had also decreased.


    Finally, he realized that an abnormal situation was occurring.


    "What''s happening?"


    "Huh? The people who were up front seem to have disappeared, too. They''re pretty audacious to slack off like this."


    "You morons! It is not a casual situation like that! We''re under attack!"


    "What?!"


    Even if they had been focusing on the traps, the users of dispel magic among them should have noticed if someone got close. However, without anyone noticing, their numbers were being reduced, and the arrogant man''s expression lost its composure.


    It was a skill that could be called a product of coincidence, even if it was a technique.


    "Illuminate with fire magic!"


    "Yes! Huh?"


    "There''s no one here!"


    "Wha?"


    The place they had illuminated had nothing in it, and the man using detection magic had been hit.


    However, there had indeed been a response, but it was merely a mass of mixed magic composed of dispel and dark magic, recognized as a person when detection magic was applied.


    "It seems they rely too much on detection magic and easily fall for this. I should inform Catherine not to spread this around too much." (Tatsuro)


    "What will we do now?" (Ai)


    "Since they know something''s there, and their numbers are low, let''s switch to a different approach." (Tatsuro)


    While the thieves were in disarray, trying to figure out the false information, Tatsuro, with a staff in his right hand and holding Ai''s hand with his left, cast a spell before the thieves could locate them with fire magic.


    "What the!?"


    The thieves, who had attempted to illuminate the area with fire magic, found themselves in even darker surroundings. The light from the torches they held had disappeared, and they began to panic.


    Tatsuro had only used dark magic to conceal the thieves who had gathered in one place, but they were engulfed in true darkness magic, which was now at level 7, effectively concealing their surroundings. The thieves needed light magic to regain visibility, but none of them was skilled in it, and leaving the area was not an option as Tatsuro controlled the boundaries.


    While the thieves were in disarray, Tatsuro used telepathy to send detailed information about the enemies to Ai and have her incapacitate them with her whip. Despite the decreasing number of thieves, they managed to cut the group to less than one-third.


    In this case, it did not matter if the voices of the incapacitated thieves were heard, so they were targeted with more force, resulting in a chorus of pain as one by one they fell. Panic continued to engulf the darkness.


    "Get a hold of yourselves!"


    The leader in full-body armour shouted in an attempt to restore order, but his voice went unheard, and he, too, was struck down. Only the leader remained, dodging attacks with skill in the darkness.


    "It''s just this guy who''s skillfully avoiding fatal injuries in the darkness. It would be nice if he''d just pass out." (Ai)


    "Whether he''s sharp or it''s a skill All right, let''s investigate." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro became interested in the man who continued to evade fatal injuries despite not striking with full force, so he decided to use dispel magic to sneak a peek at his status.


    Name: ???


    Class: Baton User


    Level: 32


    Ki: 382


    Mana: ???


    Strength: ????


    Durability: 287


    Agility: 257


    Magic: ????


    Magic resistance: ????


    Magic Control: 47


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Baton Mastery Lv. 6], [Unarmed Combat Lv.2], [Body Strengthening Lv.3]


    [???? Lv. 3], [Crisis Detection Lv. 2]


    |System skills|


    Remaining Skill Points:????


    |Titles|


    [????]


    (His Level is surprisingly strong for a thief. Moreover, with [Crisis Detection], it can respond to threats even when invisible. I''ll use an attack that can''t be dodged.)


    Tatsuro rallied himself for one final move.

 Chapter 84: Temporary Conclusion

    Chapter 84: Temporary Conclusion


    It was the moment when Tatsuro tried to use magic to defeat the one person who remained. Thanks to multiple uses of "Crisis Detection" and the heightened skill level just before that due to an extreme state of focus, he could intuitively understand the direction of the person triggering a crisis for him.


    "Are you going to let me do that?" (Tatsuro)


    "Let''s go, Tatsuro!" (Ai)


    The man in full-body armour picked up the staff he was carrying, thrust it into the ground, breaking the cobblestones, and then swung it upwards, showering Tatsuro with stone fragments.


    Tatsuro knew that someone was coming through his detection magic, but he did not know what the man would do when he thrust the staff into the ground, so his reaction momentarily delayed. Ai stood in between and intercepted with a shield she took from her [Item Box]


    "I''m glad you''re okay." (Ai)


    "It''s fine!" (Tatsuro)


    However, the man in full-body armour took advantage of that momentary opening and escaped out of the range of dark magic. Even though it was still a moonless late night, he realized that it was a disadvantage for him without any light. So he quickly moved from his previous location to avoid being located.


    However, the man in full-body armour was aware of that as well, so he reached into a bag hanging from his waist before he vanished into the darkness again. He took out the intended item and let a small amount of his own mana flow, then slammed it into the ground.


    "What''s that!?" (Tatsuro)


    "The ground is on fire!" (Ai)


    "Right there!"


    The man dropped something on the ground and shattered it. Enormous flames lit up the area like a campfire, revealing the unnaturally dark spot. Of course, that was where Tatsuro and the others were. The man approached, swinging a spiked staff.


    With a level exceeding thirty, the man was quite fast, but he could not match Ai''s speed. Before the man could reach them, Ai manipulated her whip and sent its tip towards his face.


    "Ahhhh!" he cried in pain


    "It bounced off!" (Ai)


    "Yeah, but it''s already over." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro controlled the fire created by his fire magic, heating the man''s high thermal conductivity iron armour. Although it made him pause for a moment, the man charged forward with the flaming armour still on.


    "Uoooooh! Both of you!"


    "If you have that much determination, lead an honest life!" (Tatsuro)


    "This is not the time to say things like that!" (Ai)


    Because he had become a light source, the man could now quickly locate Tatsuro and the others as long as he endured the pain of the burns. However, the man realized that continuing this for an extended period was impossible, so he decided to bet on a single strike.


    He gathered his energy into the staff and swung it in their direction. The concentrated energy from the staff miraculously hit the area covered in darkness.


    "Alright!" he said


    "Missed!" (Ai)


    "Gah!" he cried in pain


    In the moment of joy, Ai, who had somehow moved behind the man, struck him on the back of the head with the whip handle, with enough force to dent the armour.


    Finally, the man completely collapsed on the ground.


    "Why?" he asked


    "Is it clearer this way?" (Tatsuro)Follow the latest novels on


    "Ah"


    As if providing an answer, Tatsuro scattered fireballs around, illuminating the ground. He explained why Ai had been behind the man.


    Seeing this, Tatsuro realized that there were no particularly positive emotions for these three, so he quickly tied the cart to the back to divert their attention.


    During the process, Salva, who had been standing still with a blank expression, suddenly approached and stood in front of the entrance of the box containing the thieves, with grappling hooks attached to both hands.


    "What are you planning?" (Tatsuro)


    "I''m going to kill these guys." (Salva)


    "Didn''t you hear? We are handing them over to the guards. Killing them might not prove they were real thieves." (Tatsuro)


    "But, it doesn''t have to be all of them! I can''t stand it unless at least the one who led them is killed!" (Salva)


    "Big brother" (Jema)


    "Salva" (Catherine)


    Tears streaming down his face, Salva shouted at Tatsuro, expressing his frustration with the ones who had killed his comrades. The girls understood the anguish of their fallen friends and Salva''s feelings but could not move despite knowing they should have stopped him.


    "The one who was leading them is the most important. That is why we captured them alive. I don''t plan to kill the others either, as we don''t know what kind of information they might have." (Tatsuro)


    "You haven''t had your comrades killed, so you can''t understand. Imagine having your friends killed; you wouldn''t forgive, right?" (Salva)


    "That''s right. I don''t plan to forgive, and I''ll hunt them down and kill them no matter where they hide." (Tatsuro)


    "In that case" (Salva)


    "But we''re the ones who captured all of them. We will decide what to do with them now. We will not stop you once our mission is done. However, handle it with your own power. We have tried our best to help you. Isn''t it too much to take just the cream of the crop and leave us behind? Please don''t involve us in your vendetta." (Tatsuro)


    "Ugh" (Salva)


    Certainly, Tatsuro was prepared to protect Ai from individuals who would harm her. However, aiding someone in a murder they committed just two days after meeting them would imply something was seriously wrong with that person, no matter how heinous the crime.


    "What if I decide to take action here, no matter what?" (Salva)


    "In that case, we''ll stop you, even if we have to use force. And then what?" (Tatsuro)


    "Big brother" (Jema)


    Salva felt his sister Jema''s worried gaze piercing through him. And that gaze broke Salva''s spirit.


    "I understand. I''ll give up" (Salva)


    "That''s a relief. It might not be much consolation, but you can try to bring these scums to justice. Whether you appeal to the authorities or take matters into your own hands, consequences will await them. It would be a waste for you to dirty your hands for the likes of them. As a token of gratitude to us, how about using your power to help people in need with clean hands?" (Tatsuro)


    "Big brother Ah, I understand. I''m sure that one day, I''ll become a greater adventurer than you, and I''ll protect my friends and the weak." (Salva)


    "That''s the spirit! We haven''t known each other for long, but I think that suits you more than seeking revenge." (Tatsuro)


    With that, the two men shook hands firmly. Of course, Salva was not entirely over it after this exchange, but he swallowed that too and solidified his determination to become a greater presence, to never experience misery again.


    "I guess I''ve calmed down for now." (Jema)


    "That''s right. We cannot digest everything just yet, but in Lyadas'' territory, the fate that awaits thieves who have killed people is death. Considering that, it''s the right thing to leave it to the laws of this territory for a public trial." (Salva)


    "I''m sure this feeling of helplessness will continue for a while, but if my big brother says he''ll carry that burden and become stronger, I''ll show him I can be even stronger." (Jema)


    "That''s the spirit." (Catherine)


    With those words, Jema, who had her head stroked by her two older siblings, had a single tear roll down her eye and fall, witnessed by the other two.


    Last Free chapter of the year.


    As a bonus, I will release 2 chapters today.


    Hope you take note of the first chapte

 Chapter 85: Arrival In Lyadas

    Chapter 85: Arrival In Lyadas


    The two of them, who had only taken a short nap, continued without sleeping, relying on Tatsuro''s [Life Magic] as they were shaken in the carriage with their eyes open.


    Behind them, a cylindrical box that accommodated about thirty people was being pulled, and although it was not apparent from the outside, it was rotating sideways using the headwind.


    The thieves, who had already awakened from their unconsciousness, were placed on the turntable in a cramped state, screaming without understanding the reason. However, Tatsuro did not have time to pay attention to such things. This was because Jeanne alone exceeded the weight limit, so Tatsuro used wind magic to assist.


    Since he was the only one suffering, he quietly teased them by increasing the rotation speed.


    While doing such things, they pushed forward as fast as possible to make up for lost time on the way.Follow the latest novels on


    Were the thieves pursuing them all among the ones behind or on the way? There was no reaction from the thieves, and there was only one reaction from a monster, but it would take time to stop and deal with it, so they had to ignore it and continue running.


    "Oh what a waste." (Ai)


    "Right now, we need to deliver the thieves as quickly as possible, so be patient." (Tatsuro)


    If they spent a long time in such a terrible environment, it seemed like there might be casualties without exaggeration. Therefore, they decided to keep moving without stopping, except for rest breaks that also served as mana replenishment along the way.


    While that was going on, by evening, even the thieves behind had lost the energy to scream, and they quietly drove the carriage, and finally, the place they had been waiting for came into view.


    "It''s finally coming into view." (Tatsuro)


    "Where is it Oh, there it is." (Ai)


    In front of their eyes, there was a black outer wall in stark contrast to Obsul. The width of the wall extended into the distance as far as the eye could see, and it seemed to indicate the town''s size.


    "Among the towns we''ve been to, this is the most urban one." (Ai)


    "That''s right. Even just in terms of size, according to the map, it''s several times larger than the town of Obsul." (Tatsuro)


    "Wow!" (Ai)


    Having spent most of the past few days in the carriage, they eagerly looked forward to reaching the town. Their drowsiness had dissipated, and they continued towards it with high spirits.


    As they drew closer, they could see a large gate with five wide openings. In front of the gate, there were well-organized inspection stations, and aside from the two left gates, several groups of people were lining up at other locations.


    If it were just the two of them, Jeanne and the cart could have been stored to avoid drawing attention, but now, with their heavy luggage, they gave up and joined a suitable line.


    Jeanne, in particular, stood out due to her appearance, attracting various gazes. Moreover, groans could be heard from within the objects tied to the pulling cart, and quite a few people looked at it suspiciously.


    Gathering attention from those around them, the guards who had been waiting at the inspection stations rushed over in a hurry.


    "You there, with the strange-looking animals! Yes, you two! We''ll conduct the inspection first, so come to the station here."


    "Understood." (Tatsuro)


    Although it might inconvenience the people in line, they took advantage of the offer to speed up their processing, and, guided by a guard in his fifties with white hair, and they made their way to the leftmost gate among the five.


    "First, may we see your identification?" the guard asked.


    "Yes." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes" (Ai)


    As they got off the rhinoceros cart, the two of them obediently complied with the request from the white-haired guard.


    "Hmm!? Cough High-ranked adventurers, I see. Are those over there also?"


    "Those over there are adventurers who were attacked by thieves on the way and rescued by us." (Tatsuro)


    "Thieves? Wanderers, I suppose?" the guard asked.


    "It seems not. In fact" (Tatsuro)


    As the guards this time seemed genuinely reliable, they began explaining the events in detail, unlike their previous encounters with the guards in Tofas. Unlike the guards in Tofas, he listened earnestly to their story, his expression growing more serious.


    To top it off, they removed the containment box they had been towing, detached only the inner box, explained its contents, and dropped it with a thud before the white-haired guard.


    "May I have a look inside?" the guard asked.


    "Yes, we made sure that none of them could move, but please be cautious, just in case."


    "So, does that mean most cities are like this in urban areas?" (Ai)


    "Main cities belonging to the Heldamed Kingdom, including Lyadas here, are known for utilizing the latest building materials and infrastructure technologies. So, I think it''s generally like this. However, there''s a concern that prioritizing this place too much has created significant disparities with other towns." (Catherine)


    "Really?" (Ai)


    Catherine answered Ai''s question this time, and with the information they gathered, they understood that Lyadas was not the only unique place. They also inquired with the three people who had been operating in this town about the location of inns, shops, and the Adventurer''s Guild, cross-referencing the information with their map feature.


    "Something like this, maybe. Thanks, now we don''t need to wander around the town looking for things" (Tatsuro)


    "Compared to the favor we received, this is far from sufficient" (Jema)


    "That''s right. Besides, you can use notice boards set up in various places to get directions to the shops and facilities, so it''s not much of a help" (Catherine)


    "Already, the information from those notice boards has been helpful to us. Thanks, Jema," Ai said, adopting a somewhat older sisterly tone as she patted Jema''s head.


    Jema squinted his eyes and smiled while Salva and Catherine looked on, amused.


    After gazing at this for a few seconds, Salva, with a serious expression, turned toward Tatsuro and spoke.


    "Big brother!" (Salva)


    "What is it?" (Tatsuro)


    "Could you add me to your party?" (Salva)


    "What''s gotten into you all of a sudden, Salva?" (Ai)


    Ai, who had been petting Jema, removed her hand and turned her attention to Salva.


    "I''ve seen my own weakness plenty during this journey. I want to become stronger, but alone, it''s not enough. That''s why I want to join you two" (Salva)


    "I refuse." (Tatsuro)


    "Why!?" (Salva)


    "Why? Well, there is a lot on our plate as it is. We have a ton of things we need to do. In addition, there is another thing. I understand your desire to get stronger, but the way for you to become stronger is probably different from ours. You should find a mentor who suits your style." (Tatsuro)


    "But" (Salva)


    "Also, Salva, you said you want to get stronger by yourself, but don''t forget that you already have two companions right here. If you keep thinking that way, you''ll never be able to protect anyone." (Tatsuro)


    As Tatsuro and Ai advised Salva, he looked at his sister and childhood friend. They nodded in agreement with Ai''s words.


    "Big brother is in a team with us, you know. What''s the use of getting stronger alone?" (Jema)


    "That''s right. Besides, we would not be of any help to you in the first place, and in the end, we would just rely on you. Even if you get stronger in that state, we''ll never catch up to you." (Catherine)


    "You guys I see catch up, huh?" (Salva)


    Somewhere in his heart, Salva might have been trying to take an easier path to becoming strong. However, causing trouble for others and becoming slightly stronger was not worth it. To protect important friends and help people in need, you must become strong enough to protect others from any situation. At the very least, he wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with Tatsuro or Ai within their team.


    "Big brother, I''m sorry for saying something strange. I''ll think about how to get stronger with my companions." (Salva)


    "That''s fine. If you''re going to think about it, go ahead and overtake us instead of saying you''ll catch up." (Tatsuro)


    "And in the future, become a hero who defeats the strong and helps the weak!" (Ai)


    "Defeat the strong and help the weak Big sister, those are good words." (Salva)


    Therefore, Salva took a liking to a phrase he had heard from Ai somewhere and etched it into his mind.


    "Oh, and I''ll give you this. Decide what to do with it on your own." (Tatsuro)


    "Is this ashes?" (Salva)


    "Rather than ashes, it''s more like cremated remains." (Tatsuro)


    Saying this, he handed an earth-colored urn from his [Item Box] to Catherine, the one nearby. It was what remained from collecting and burning the remains when the explosion happened. He had stored it just in case. If they could not receive it by the time they parted ways, he intended to scatter it in a suitable place.


    However, it was no longer necessary. The three received it and expressed their thanks. Finally, they exchanged firm handshakes with each of the two and three, and the impromptu party was disbanded.

 Chapter 86: Rest

    Chapter 86: Rest


    By the time Salva and the others parted ways with Tatsuro and Ai, the sun had already set. While in Obsul, the streets had become quite dark around this time; thanks to evenly spaced, faint orange-colored streetlights about three meters high and the light escaping from the buildings lining the streets, Lyadas had become considerably brighter. Tatsuro and his group rode in their carriage towards the red road leading to their inn, which they had learned about.


    As it had turned to night and the number of pedestrians had decreased, Tatsuro swiftly stashed Jeanne and the carriage away during a moment when no one was watching. Walking through the town was more practical, and, given the moving sidewalks, just standing would get them to their destination. Riding through the streets on Jeanne wasn''t a feasible option.


    "But this is quite convenient, isn''t it?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, I wish Japan had roads like these." (Ai)


    "Although it might cause more people to become sedentary." (Tatsuro)


    "True, it could weaken our legs. However, if these paths were spread throughout the entire town, it would likely require a significant amount of power" (Ai)


    In Tatsuro''s world, attempting to implement something similar would likely demand an enormous amount of energy. They arrived at the inn after switching sidewalks a few times, all while pondering over the advanced world''s technology that allowed them to carry it out so quickly.


    "It''s near the Adventurer''s Guild, and Jema said it''s an inn with a bath" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s more like a hotel than an inn." (Ai)


    Before them stood a towering, beige, smooth-surfaced structure that, when you looked up, felt like it would hurt your neck; it was a long rectangular building. The plot of land itself was pretty spacious, and the surrounding area seemed well maintained, suggesting good hygiene and facilities for the inn.


    "Shall we go in, then?" (Tatsuro)


    "Sounds good. Jema-chan mentioned that it was reasonably priced, but I wonder how much it is for one night." (Ai)


    Lately, they had earned some decent money, so they didn''t mind the cost too much. However, being raised as common folks, they couldn''t help but be concerned about it.


    As they entered, gazing at the front desk visible through the glass door, three men and women at the reception nodded in acknowledgment. After briefly returning the gesture, they walked toward the reception, and it seemed that the woman on the right would assist them.


    "Welcome. Are you staying with us today?" she asked


    "Yes. Can we book for one night, for now?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes, there are currently vacancies in all room categories."


    "Room categories? Could you explain each of them, please?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes, there are four categories in total"Ge?tt the latest novels at


    And so, the receptionist explained. There were four categories from fourth to first, and as the category went up, the price naturally increased, but the room facilities improved as well. Up to the third category, there were no private baths, but guests could use the communal bath on the first floor. From the second category and above, each room had its own private bath. Tatsuro and his companion wanted a room with a private bath, so they opted for the second category and above.


    The second category was 85,000 Sis, and the first category was 150,000 Sis, according to the receptionist. After weighing the two options, and since there didn''t appear to be a reservation system in place, they decided to try the first category for a night.


    "We''ll take the first category." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes, please." (Ai)


    Then, as they wanted to have a relaxed day tomorrow, they paid for a two-night stay and received the key. When they took a closer look at the key, they noticed that its tip didn''t have the usual notches but had a shape resembling a minus screwdriver. They doubted whether this was really safe, but they accepted that some unfamiliar technology was probably being used. After receiving a brief explanation about their room, they headed to their accommodations.


    "It looks like there''s no elevator after all." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, now it''s all about the taste. Let''s dig in right away." (Tatsuro)


    After Ai had finished serving the meal on the table, she ignored the provided fork and knife, taking out her own chopsticks to begin eating.


    "Delicious!" (Tatsuro)


    "Having all three meals here is just fine." (Ai)


    They had ordered a vegetable salad, a fish dish, bread, and soup this time. After spending several days eating only grilled meat, they ordered things they had been craving, and every dish had exceptional seasoning.


    Once they had enjoyed the dishes that exceeded their expectations, they immediately checked out the bath. The layout had a dressing room that was quite spacious, and upon entering the bathroom, they found a wooden rectangular bathtub, about 1.5 tatami mats in size.


    "It really feels like a bath." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, this is nice too." (Ai)


    In the corner, there were two tools resembling water spouts, almost identical in color and shape to what they had seen in the previous high-end inn. They started filling the tub with hot water while adjusting the temperature.


    "What are we doing today?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm. Since we have the chance, how about we take a bath together?" (Ai)


    "Sure." (Tatsuro)


    "Why are you blushing? You''ve seen me naked plenty of times, haven''t you?" (Ai)


    "I haven''t seen you that much, and even Ai, who says that, has a bright red face." (Tatsuro)


    "Liar!" (Ai)


    Ai used both hands to hide her bright red cheeks and realized she was blushing even more.


    Her innocent gesture and expression were endearing, and Tatsuro pulled her closer, stealing her lips forcefully. At first, she was surprised, but Ai quickly pressed her lips back against his.


    "I''m sure I''ll never get tired of Ai, no matter how long." (Tatsuro)


    "Really, you think so?" (Ai)


    "My bad, I misspoke. I meant definitely." (Tatsuro)


    "Haha, I know, Tatsuro." (Ai)


    Therefore, they lost track of time, seeking each other with passion.


    T.N: This chapter makes me question why I don''t have a girlfriend yet.


    *Sob~*


    Thanks for reading

 Chapter 87: How to Use Dragon Power

    Chapter 87: How to Use Dragon Power


    Tatsuro, who had spent a long night since then, woke up, and it was already around noon. Realizing this as he looked at his pocket watch, Tatsuro felt relieved that he had prepaid for two nights'' worth of accommodation fees. He placed the pocket watch down and turned to the girl sleeping next to him.


    "As cute as ever," he murmured.


    With drool dribbling from the corner of his mouth, Tatsuro gazed fondly at the girl sleeping peacefully, looking like a healthy elementary school student. He gently embraced her and used a bit of [Life Magic] to wake her up.


    "Good morning, Ai." (Tatsuro)


    "Mmm" (Ai)


    While wiping her mouth with a damp handkerchief using [Water Magic], Tatsuro exchanged a belated morning greeting.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    Since it was past breakfast time, he had already ordered lunch using the same method as the previous day. Today''s dish was different, but it featured fish and vegetables as the main components.


    After changing into his everyday clothes, Tatsuro relaxed on the sofa while waiting for the food to arrive.


    "Sigh, I worked hard until yesterday, so it''s okay to be lazy today, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, no matter how young we are, staying up all night is tough." (Tatsuro)


    As they lazed about, they heard a knock on the door.


    Yesterday, Ai had gone to get the food, so today, Tatsuro held her back as she tried to leave, and he went to pick up the meal himself.


    Placing it on the table in front of the sofa, the delicious aroma made their stomachs growl.


    "Let''s eat." (Tatsuro)


    "Thank you for the food." (Ai)


    They clasped their hands together and started eating with their own chopsticks.


    "It''s a buffet today. Nom nom." (Ai)


    "I know today''s meal is delicious, but please don''t talk with food in your mouth." (Tatsuro)


    "Mufa, you''re treating me like a kid." (Ai)


    "Well, that''s because you act like one" (Tatsuro)


    When they were alone like this, it was fine, but in front of others, he wished she would be more proper. As her boyfriend, he felt the need to address it.


    After enjoying their meal with these small remarks, they returned the dishes to a box near the entrance of the floor.


    Then, for about an hour, they did absolutely nothing but laze around on the sofa, recovering from the mental fatigue they had accumulated during their tumultuous days.


    "Phew. I feel like I can give it my all from tomorrow." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, me too." (Ai)


    With that, they slowly set off on foot along the moving road. They retraced their steps, and when they were just 200 meters from the town''s gate, they spotted their destination and left the moving road.


    Having seen it on their way to the current inn yesterday, they were already aware that the Adventurer''s Guild was one of the few stone buildings in the town.


    "You know, no matter where you go, it has that unmistakable Adventurer''s Guild feel." (Tatsuro)


    "Indeed. But being in the city, it''s pretty massive." (Ai)


    Looking up, it seemed like they had taken what they saw in Obsul and simply made it larger.


    They paused momentarily to take in the sight, but when they saw people behind them, they hurriedly entered to avoid obstructing traffic.


    Inside, the interior closely resembled the one in Obsul, and Tatsuro, feeling a sense of nostalgia, approached the stout woman at the closest reception desk.


    "Um, we have this, but has anyone come to inquire about it?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm?"


    As he presented his identification, the woman examined it closely. Up close, she was huge, easily surpassing two meters in height.


    Tatsuro, slightly surprised by her size, stepped back slightly, keeping his identification where it was. He immediately thought it was not polite to do so and moved his body forward, but the woman didn''t seem to notice. She continued to scrutinize the identification and compared it to some documents she retrieved from beneath the reception counter.


    "Mr. Tatsuro Hasami, I see. So, that means the lady with you is Ms. Ai Yashiki?"


    "That''s right. Here''s the identification." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes, indeed. So, the person who came to inquire about you is currently in the reception room."


    "It''s quite a coincidence that they''re here. Were they waiting for us?" (Tatsuro)


    "No, it appears they''ve been in a meeting with the guild master on a different matter since you discussed your situation."


    Tatsuro had briefly suspected that they had been under surveillance, but it didn''t seem like that was the case, so he felt relieved for now.


    "Even though they''re in a meeting, do you know what they want from us?" (Tatsuro)


    "I cannot say, but if there is any need while I''m here, please feel free to come by," she said.


    "And may I ask who they are?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes, it''s Mr. Joel Wickham, who is the mayor of this town."


    The fact that he was the mayor of this town meant he held a position just below the lord of Lyadas, effectively making him the second most important figure in this territory after the lord''s family.


    "This is quite a significant figure" (Tatsuro)


    "I hope we don''t get dragged into something troublesome" (Ai)


    Shocked by the fact that such an influential person had personally traveled to meet them, they were guided by a woman who introduced herself as Katezina Rysak into the room where the mayor was waiting.

 Chapter 88: The Mayors Request

    Chapter 88: The Mayor''s Request


    They ascended to the second floor and were led deeper and deeper into the room indicated by a sign that read "Guild Master''s Chamber." While they were both paying attention to this, Katezina knocked on the door.


    "I am Katezina Rysak. Mr. Joel Wickham said that the two of you were coming to visit, so I have brought you in. May we enter?" she asked.


    "Ah, sure, come in," came the reply, not from the elderly guild master, Obsul, but from a voice with a clear and weighty tone.


    Upon hearing this, Katezina immediately opened the door and ushered the two inside.


    "Oh, you''re the adventurers who caught those thieves! I am Joel Wickham, the one responsible for managing this town. So, may I hear your names again?" he asked.


    "I''m Tatsuro Hasami."


    "I''m Ai Yashiki."


    "I see, I see. Well, enough of the standing around have a seat here," said a considerably overweight man, in stark contrast to the stern voice from earlier. He had two guards in armor standing behind him. He had an air of sophistication, making him appear as the guild master, and he gestured for them to sit in the empty chairs.


    It seemed that this man was the mayor.


    Despite feeling overwhelmed by the mayor''s unusually high energy, Tatsuro and Ai sat down in front of Joel and the guild master as requested.


    After Katezina made some tea and left, Tatsuro inquired, "So, Mayor, it seems you have something to discuss with us. May we hear what it is?"


    "Oh, yes, indeed. You must be busy as well, so let''s get right to the point. Is that alright, Zan?"


    "Oh, I have no issue with that," replied guild master.


    The two had a history together as he casually interacted with the mayor''s friendly demeanor.


    "First and foremost, as the mayor, I must express my gratitude. I never expected such a group to be near our town. Neglecting my surroundings due to my busy schedule is truly regrettable. The adventurer guild has a reward waiting, so be sure to collect it later," the mayor said.


    "A reward, you say? Well then, we''ll gratefully accept it" (Tatsuro).


    They accepted it without hesitation, understanding it was not a form of charity.


    Perhaps this will cover our lodging expenses,'' Tatsuro thought. I''m not sure how expensive it is to stay in a blacksmith town, and having some cash on hand here will be quite useful.''


    While contemplating their financial situation, they nodded satisfactorily at the mayor''s words.


    Tatsuro had been curious about the mayor''s earlier preamble when he mentioned the reward.


    "Now, moving on, according to your account, there are other bandits within the territory of Lyadas. Is that correct?" the mayor asked.The? source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n))


    "It seems so. We encountered them not only between Obsul and Tofas but we also had two separate skirmishes near Lyadas. Furthermore, they seem to have some connection with Tofas'' guards so that it might be a rather large operation" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm I have heard similar reports from my subordinates, but it''s hard to believe all of a sudden. I can''t imagine the mayor of Tofas would turn a blind eye to this," the mayor remarked.


    "We have no concrete evidence. We merely relayed what the bandits told us, so we can''t be certain if it''s true or not" (Tatsuro)


    "I see. We are currently interrogating on that matter so that we will find out eventually. Now," the mayor continued, shifting his tone, his face growing more serious.


    Tatsuro felt that this was where the real issue would be discussed, and he sat up straight in anticipation. Meanwhile, Ai, looking bored, played with his hand beneath the table.


    "Currently, we are considering mobilizing troops to deal with the bandits. Among those you captured, some individuals were formerly part of the military. It seems that one of them was in command, and we expect the enemy''s strength to be quite formidable," the mayor explained.


    "So, you want us to join in?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm? No, no, while your help would be reassuring, this is the responsibility of my soldiers and I, who have been entrusted to manage this town. I hate to put it this way, but you are an outsiders. I don''t intend to involve you in this matter," the mayor replied.


    Tatsuro was initially worried about being coerced into aiding in killing people, but it seemed his concerns were unfounded. However, he was now uncertain about what the mayor wanted them to do.


    Perhaps sensing this uncertainty, the mayor looked at Tatsuro and continued, "I would like to make a request of you as adventurers. Of course, it''s a job befitting adventurers."


    "And what might that be?" (Tatsuro)


    "There have been some complications due to the mobilization of troops to deal with the bandits. Um, where was it? Zan, could you please provide the details?" the mayor said.


    "All right, it''s done," the guild master said.


    ""We got it. Thank you"" Tatsuro and Ai replied.


    -


    Client: Lyadas Mayor


    Request: Elimination of Depris and their nests in the Bupron Wetlands


    Reward: 5,000,000 SIS


    Approved / Declined


    -


    {That is quite a generous sum, five million Sis} Tatsuro remarked.


    {I do not know the going rate, but it''s probably high} Ai added.


    They quickly reviewed the contents, and, despite their surprise at the value, they approved the request. The request was accepted, and it disappeared as if absorbed by Tatsuro and Ai.


    "That''s all from me. Do you have any questions?" the mayor asked.


    "Well, for now, should we stay in this town until the interrogation you mentioned is completed?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm, yes, that might be a good idea. It could be useful to have you around if new information comes up. Don''t worry, we won''t keep you for long," the mayor replied.


    "Understood. That''s all from our end" (Tatsuro)


    After receiving detailed explanations about the request and getting directions to the wetlands from the guild master, they left the room.


    The two remaining in the room silently watched the door, confirming when the footsteps had faded away before resuming their conversation.


    "I heard they were young adventurers, and I expected them to be more like outlaws. But it seems they''ve received a proper education," the mayor remarked.


    "That''s true. High-ranked adventurers must not only possess high levels and strength but also a trustworthy character," the guild master remarked.


    "I see. I didn''t know much about adventurers, so perhaps I had some biases," the mayor admitted.


    "I don''t particularly mind. At least one of your worries has been alleviated. I hope your food intake decreases as well," the guild master said, patting the mayor''s protruding belly.


    In response, the mayor let out a huff.


    "That''s not the only thing. I have plenty of concerns. The problems keep increasing day by day," the mayor said.


    "Isn''t the mayoral election coming up soon? If it''s becoming so challenging that it affects your physique, perhaps you should consider stepping down as mayor. Or maybe you should work on changing your stress-eating habit," the guild master suggested.


    "Well, this bad habit won''t change until I''m six feet under. Besides, I won''t give up the mayoral seat. I''ve climbed this far, and I won''t let it go," the mayor declared.


    "I see. Strange rumors are going around, but as a fellow citizen, I''ll support you," the guild master responded.


    With that, the guild master finished the last of his tea.


    Meanwhile, Tatsuro and Ai, after receiving the bounty for capturing the bandits at the reception desk, left the guild and headed back in the direction of their lodgings.


    "If we continue like this, it seems like our conversation with the merchant we met on the road might be in vain" (Tatsuro)


    "If the mayor is taking action, the lord will likely know about it too" (Ai)


    "Indeed, if it turns out to be futile, we might consider returning the money we received. The reward was more than expected" (Tatsuro)


    "Wasn''t it also five million? And speaking of the merchant, given the current situation, just making an appointment with them might turn into a significant financial gain" (Ai)


    The day for their appointment with the merchant was the day after tomorrow. To ensure they were fully prepared to exterminate the Depris quickly, they hurried back to their lodgings to make necessary preparations for the following day.

 Chapter 89: Additional Mission

    Chapter 89: Additional Mission


    After finishing his late-night meal and finally settling down, Tatsuro summoned Cardina and Jeanne in their child forms to the corner of the spacious room, asking them to wait there. With Ai''s assistance, he began the process of creating new bodies for the two magical beings.


    First, he mixed his own dragon power with Mana to create a fusion of dragon energy and Mana. Besides the increased strain compared to his previous efforts, it was the usual process of using magic to cast a mixed light and dark spell.


    "Tatsuro, do your best," (Ai)


    "Yeah, I''ll give it a try" (Tatsuro)


    Just hearing those words of encouragement from his beloved already lifted his spirits. Tatsuro proceeded with determination to the next step.


    After an hour''s work, he finally completed Cardina''s new form.


    "Wow, seriously? It took so much time just to create one body" (Tatsuro)


    "But you did complete it, right?" (Ai)


    "That should be the case. Well then, Cardina, do you feel anything strange about this new body?" (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee pewee!" (Cardina)


    Cardina responded by vigorously shaking her head, indicating that she not only felt nothing strange but was eager for the transformation to be completed.


    "She seems fine, then Cardina" (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee!" (Cardina)


    Cardina eagerly jumped into the cluster of magic power. The subsequent steps required even more focus than before, and it took longer than usual, but eventually, they succeeded.


    So, right away, when he tried to unveil the new Cardina, she returned to Tatsuro''s body before fully taking on her new form.


    "Cardina?" (Tatsuro)


    "What''s wrong?" (Ai)


    Tatsuro was anxious, thinking something had gone wrong due to her unusual behavior, and he called out to Cardina, who he could sense within his own magical energy. This time, he could sense her curiosity about her new body, as if she wanted to get to know it better. When he asked if there were any problems, she conveyed a reassuring feeling that everything was fine.


    "She just wants to take her time to check out her new body" (Tatsuro)


    "So, everything''s okay?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, no need to worry," (Tatsuro)


    With Jeanne watching the whole process, appearing restless and eager for her turn, Tatsuro knew he could not show favoritism. Despite feeling burdened by the thought of doing Jeanne''s transformation as well, he could not let one of them be left out. Therefore, Tatsuro reinvigorated himself and took his time to create Jeanne''s new form.


    After completing Jeanne''s transformation successfully, she, like Cardina, wanted to explore her new body before taking on her new form. While Tatsuro was eager to see the growth of both beings, he decided to embrace the anticipation as part of the enjoyment of the process. That evening, he rested his tired mind and received comfort from Ai as they waited for the two beings to fully develop.


    When the sun had fully risen, and it was around 9 o''clock, Tatsuro woke up. As usual, he admired Ai''s peaceful sleeping face next to him and gently woke her up. He then ordered breakfast, including lunch portions, before changing. While waiting for the food to arrive, he finished getting ready. Due to the #generous portion, there was still no sign of the food''s arrival even after he finished getting ready. It was only when Tatsuro was combing Ai''s hair that the door was finally knocked on.


    Taking the food, Tatsuro and Ai discussed their plans for the day while having breakfast.


    "Are Cardina and Jeanne ready to come out now?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, when I checked earlier, they seemed good to go" (Tatsuro)


    "I see, that''s reassuring then," (Ai)


    "Indeed. So, today, I''ll have Jeanne take us to the marshland, and afterward, with Cardina using reconnaissance magic, we''ll be cautious and find the nest to burn it down" (Tatsuro)


    "What''s the matter all of a sudden?" (Tatsuro)


    It seemed that she didn''t hear Tatsuro''s voice, as Ai was intensely focused on retrieving what appeared to be some sort of encyclopedia and finding the relevant entry.


    "Tatsuro, this, this! It''s from the Edible Monsters Encyclopedia'' on this page!" (Ai)


    "Edible Monsters Encyclopedia? Wait, are you thinking about making pickled bee larvae or something? I''m not really into that kind of," Tatsuro began, but Ai interrupted.


    "I''m not into it either! That is not what I meant. Look here," (Ai)


    "Uh, okay Let me see," (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro said, reading the entry as Ai guided him. It described Depris'' honey, stating that there were honey-filled rooms within Depris'' nests, which had a unique and deep flavor. There were even bee farms specifically raising them for this honey.


    "You want to try this?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah!" (Ai)


    "Well, you can try, but if it turns out to be too much trouble, don''t push yourself" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s fine!" (Ai)


    Tatsuro was interested in trying it as well, but for safety and efficiency, incinerating the honey along with the Depris would be quicker. If Ai hadn''t expressed such a strong desire, that would have been their course of action, even though he was curious. Now, he was thinking about defeating the Depris while preserving the honey.


    First, he used reconnaissance magic to identify the locations of the honey within the nests. It appeared that there was no uniformity, as the positions varied from nest to nest. However, it was clear that these locations could be identified.


    "Alright, shall we get started?" (Tatsuro)


    "Okay!" (Ai)


    Therefore, a new mission to collect honey was added to their tasks. First, they used water and earth magic to firm up the ground, and they aimed for the nest that was farthest from the others while being closest to their current location. Given Jeanne''s large size, she remained within Tatsuro''s body.


    With Cardina in charge of monitoring their surroundings, they moved cautiously and got within a few meters of the target nest. The nest was built on the ground, a brown, irregular, circular structure with holes in it. As they observed it carefully, one of the Depris noticed them and brought several others with it.


    However, this was all anticipated. Without panic, they efficiently used Tatsuro [Fire Magic] and Ai''s whip to take out the approaching Depris.


    As they continued their march forward, the Depris realized they couldn''t compete and sent dozens more to attack. Half of them engaged Tatsuro and Ai, while the other half gathered beneath the nest''s lower section, presumably to lift it off the ground.


    "They''ll take it away!" (Ai)


    "It''s okay! Jeanne!" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro called for Jeanne and immediately gave her instructions.


    Jeanne used wind magic to disrupt the flight of the approaching Depris, making them unable to fly properly. In the confusion, Ai took the opportunity to eliminate them. Meanwhile, Tatsuro continuously fired lasers from his staff, targeting the Depris. He tried to lift the nest from the ground and the nests away from the honey section, causing destruction and annihilation.


    At this point, it turned into an all-out battle. Tatsuro used a gust of wind he created to sweep up and gather the Depris that were approaching him, then ignited them all at once, reducing them to ashes.


    "That should be the end of these ones" (Tatsuro)


    "I''ve finished over here too," (Ai)


    With everything taken care of, Tatsuro carefully dismantled the nests, being cautious not to damage the honey-filled rooms. They eliminated any remaining Depris inside.


    "First one''s done" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah! I''m looking forward to this," (Ai)


    With joyful expressions, Tatsuro and Ai moved on to collect the honey from the Depris'' nests.

 Chapter 90: Queen Bee Bipris

    Chapter 90: Queen Bee Bipris


    Tatsuro carefully cast a detection spell to ensure there were no unexpected surprises, confirming nothing was present. He then partially destroyed the nest and stored it in his [Item Box]. Afterward, he dismantled it further, extracting only the honey and completely incinerating the unnecessary nest.


    "Hmm, it''s a bit more chaotic than I thought. Makes it hard to use [Level Eater]" (Tatsuro)


    "We have plenty of them, so why not try it when we''re down to the last one? There should be one there too" (Ai)


    "Ah, that''s right. I really want to get some SP from that one" (Tatsuro)


    The "one" they were referring to was Bipris, a monster that belonged to the higher species of Depris and served as the Queen Bee in their territory. If the territory expanded, the Queen Bee would increase in number and manage the Depris in different sections. However, within this particular range, there should only be one. It was undoubtedly the largest nest in this area, and Tatsuro''s detection magic indicated that a significantly larger creature was present there.


    Therefore, leaving that nest for last, they proceeded to attack the others one by one. Due to the low intelligence of the monsters, they easily emerged from their nests when provoked, making honey collection relatively straightforward. At present, they were left with only the nest containing Queen Bee Bipris.


    After causing such a commotion, Tatsuro expected some response and observed from behind tall plants. However, it appeared that they hadn''t raised any alarms, likely because they had quickly exterminated the surrounding nests before any reinforcements could arrive.


    "I thought it might turn into a chaotic battle at some point, but I didn''t expect they still haven''t noticed us after collecting honey" (Tatsuro)


    "I guess they don''t really care about the worker bees, fundamentally" (Ai)


    "What a terrible company" (Tatsuro)


    With that bittersweet observation in mind, they focused on the final nest. First, they prepared an iron box to accommodate one of the Depris they had created in advance to absorb SP.


    Afterward, Tatsuro subtly manipulated the airflow with wind magic to draw the Depris flying around closer to them. He used Ai''s whip to capture one of them at a distance and placed it inside the box, making sure to keep it from making any noise by burying it in the ground using earth magic. He continued capturing other Depris, putting them in the box and burying them in the ground.


    As they were doing this, one Depris from the nest poked its head out, noticing that there were none around. It called a few others, and they began to search the area. Realizing that they would eventually be discovered if they stayed put, Tatsuro decided to take the initiative.


    "For now, we have enough Depris. Let''s get started," (Tatsuro)


    "Sounds good. Then it''s my turn!" (Ai)


    Ai controlled her whip and took down three of them. Meanwhile, Tatsuro called Jeanne to disrupt the airflow in the vicinity with wind magic. He also fired lasers to provoke the creatures inside the nest, encouraging as many Depris as possible to come out.


    "Wow, they''re coming out like crazy," (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, it''s one thing when there are just a few, but with this many, it''s kind of gross" (Ai)


    Until now, there had been no more than a hundred Depris at once, but now around a thousand of them had quickly found Tatsuro''s group and attacked. However, due to the disrupted airflow in the area, they were struggling to fly in a coordinated manner.


    "Well, there''s no helping the numbers," (Tatsuro)


    "That''s right!" (Ai)


    Ai switched to her jewel sword and unleashed a technique to shoot her magical power. Although she could only send out a small amount, and it didn''t have the slashing attribute, its power was still overwhelming for lower-tier monsters.


    She bombarded them with clumps of magical energy, hitting all of them and knocking them down one by one. Tatsuro wasn''t about to be outdone, so he created a large fireball and directed it at the Depris, using Jeanne''s wind magic to propel it.


    They tried to escape from the approaching mass of flames, but their wings couldn''t catch the wind properly, and the flames quickly consumed them. Even though they had already reduced the numbers to less than half, there were still nearly five hundred bee-sized Depris flying around, presenting a formidable sight.


    "Just a little more, let''s keep it up" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. By the way, do you think the Queen Bee will show up soon?" (Ai)


    "There''s a reaction from inside, but no sign of movement yet" (Tatsuro)


    "She''s quite carefree" (Ai).


    Despite their bewilderment at the seemingly immobile Queen Bee, they focused on the immediate threat in front of them. They continued to reduce their numbers in a manner similar to before, and the count entered the single digits.


    At that moment, Cardina sensed the Queen Bee, who had been holed up in the nest, beginning to move.


    As a result, the wall of Depris, composed of flesh, opened up for a moment. Ai did not miss the opportunity and grabbed Tatsuro, jumping into the hole.


    "Waaaah!"


    "Ai, knock it down!" (Tatsuro)


    With a nod in response to his words, Ai struck the nest with a heel drop before it could be taken away. Tatsuro''s laser hit the nest that was already emerging, creating a huge hole. Even so, it attempted to escape with the broken nest. The Queen Bee, which had previously only shown its rear end, could not resist coming out.


    The Queen Bee had a red body and was much larger than the Depris. Its lower body was unusually large, making it nearly incapable of moving, let alone flying.


    As Tatsuro observed this, he used detection magic to predict the emerging position and had already activated [Level Eater] with precise timing. The Queen Bee did not realize it and leaped into the air in a fit of rage.


    Level: 31


    Skills: [Egg-laying], [Slave Egg-laying Lv. 6], [Flight Lv. 3], [Airflow Manipulation Lv. 5]


    ([Airflow Manipulation]! So this was causing the interference! My top priority is to take care of this.) he thought


    Unaware that her skills were being detected and her levels drained, the Queen Bee attempted to use all the Depris, her slaves, to eliminate Tatsuro and his companions. However, Tatsuro retreated, absorbing levels while using a combination of wind and fire magic to burn the entire area extensively.


    The Queen Bee attempted to halt the damage with her [Airflow Manipulation] skill, but it was already rendered ineffective. Helplessly, the flames consumed her slaves.


    "She''s really, really angry now." (Ai)


    "Yeah, but there''s nothing she can do anymore." (Tatsuro)


    Level: 31


    Skills: [Egg-laying], [Slave Egg-laying Lv. 0], [Flight Lv. 0], [Airflow Manipulation Lv. 0]


    Since Tatsuro was currently unable to level up, he saved the regular levels for Ai and swallowed the black sphere. The Queen Bee, having lost all her skills, attempted to fly, but her massive body was initially designed to rely on her skills for flight. She could barely hover a millimeter above the ground.


    Unable to fly and without her skills, she crawled away in a desperate escape attempt.


    Not intending to let her get away, Tatsuro gave chase, but the remaining Depris made a last-ditch effort to defend their Queen.


    "They''re in the way!" (Ai)


    "Ai, I''ll deal with the small fry. Finish off the Queen Bee!" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh? I got it! Here we go" (Ai)


    Ai said as she readied her jewel sword, which had been swinging to defeat the remaining Depris. She then rushed forward, keeping her gaze fixed on the Queen Bee.


    While she advanced, Tatsuro cleared away all the stray embers.


    "With this, it''s over!" (Ai)


    She swung her sword down from above, and Queen Bee Bipris was cut in half, taking her last breath.


    We have almost reached the 100th chapter!

 Chapter 91: Ominous Signs

    Chapter 91: Ominous Signs


    Depris, who had lost the Queen Bee, still attempted to fulfill their final orders, which were to eliminate the enemy and stall them. However, when they lost their ability to counter wind magic, they were completely at the mercy of Jeanne''s magic and were ultimately defeated by Tatsuro''s fire magic.


    Once it was over, they planned to regroup with Ai and inspect their partially destroyed nest. Something strange that emitted magical energy had been discovered. The reaction came from the area where the honey was located. Tatsuro collected everything in his [Item Box] discarded what they didn''t need, and extracted only that something.


    "What is this?" (Tatsuro)


    "It looks like a crystal ball though" (Ai)


    In the palm of Tatsuro''s hand lay an orange crystal ball about the size of a clenched fist. Even when examined with [Dispel Magic], they couldn''t discern much about it except for the small amount of magical energy it contained.


    "Well, let''s keep it as a war trophy" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, when we return to town, we can investigate it; maybe we''ll find out something" (Ai)


    So, Tatsuro stored it in the [Item Box] once more and used [Earth Magic] to unearth the Depris that had been left buried in the ground. He then opened a hole in the ground with the dimensions of a box and, from there, safely used [Level Eater] to absorb their skill levels. Tatsuro absorbed the skill levels and, after transferring them to Ai, she used a gemstone sword to cut them open, finally putting an end to them.


    Level: 16


    Skills: [Poison Needle Lv.3], [Flight Lv.3], [Honey Generation Lv.3]


    While they could only obtain roughly the same amount of SP from each individual, they managed to acquire a total of 184 SP, 42 from the Queen Bee Bipris, and 142 from the eight Depris.


    Both of them were overjoyed by this.


    "What a bountiful harvest after so long. We haven''t had over a hundred since our battle with the Magic Dragon" (Tatsuro)


    "This should bring us a step closer to finding our way back, right?" (Ai)


    "It''s still a long road ahead, but we''re steadily getting closer" (Tatsuro)


    After giving each other a high-five and celebrating, Ai remembered another change that had occurred.


    "By the way, my level increased by two, and I gained two new skills during all this commotion" (Ai)


    "Two levels? That''s impressive. But with all the enemies we''ve defeated, it''s not that surprising" (Tatsuro)


    As they looked at the countless giant bee corpses piled on the ground, Tatsuro, who was burning them with his fire magic, sighed. "Ah, my magic is running low. Ai, come here."


    "Woo-hoo!" (Ai)


    Amidst the blazing monster corpses, they hugged and kissed each other under the pretense of healing, enjoying their time together. While Cardina and Jeanne seemed eager to join in, they kept a watchful eye to ensure that nothing disturbed their masters'' happy moments.


    Tatsuro''s mana and Ai''s Ki were almost fully restored, and they were ready for another battle with the Depris army. After thanking the two loyal beings who had vigilantly guarded the area, they replenished their magical energy through affectionate moments.


    "Now, before we check Ai''s stats, let''s make use of the SP we obtained" (Tatsuro)


    "Alright, I''ve been waiting!" (Ai)


    "Where do you think you are doing? A comedy show? Well, never mind. This time, I''m thinking of raising [Dark Magic] to level 10 and acquiring the title while also raising [Dispel Magic] to 8. Then, with the remaining 19 SP, I''ll get [Life Magic] to 2 and try out a new skill, [Curse Magic]." (Tatsuro)


    (TL Notes: I have been referring to [Dispel magic] as [Information magic] when I translate it in Tatsuro status. I will be going with dispel magic because it gives more meaning in most scenes than information magic. Just keep it in mind that Dispel magic is also used to check other people''s status.)


    "[Curse Magic], that''s the one that made that lake cursed, right? It sounds kind of devilish." (Ai)


    Ai frowned, as her initial impression of [Curse Magic] was quite negative. Tatsuro had a similar opinion initially, but during their idle time in their carriage, he had read books about Curse Magic and found them to be quite handy, which changed his view on it.


    "It seems like you''re thinking of [Curse Magic] as cursing magic,'' but the word curse'' doesn''t mean to curse'' in the first place" (Tatsuro)


    "You mean like a charm or spell?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, to put it in simpler terms, think of it as a buff and debuff specialist in a game" (Tatsuro)


    "So, it''s about temporarily raising or lowering stats and such?" (Ai)


    "That''s part of it, but roughly speaking, you could consider it that way. It''s not just about negative effects; it can also provide positive effects" (Tatsuro)


    "Interesting, like support magic. If used skillfully, it could be quite useful, so why not!" Ai''s perception had changed, and as Tatsuro had planned, he immediately increased the skill levels.


    |You have acquired the title Master of Darkness|


    The notification read.


    "Alright, that''s perfect" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, now let''s take a look at your stats first" (Ai)


    They both activated their respective systems.


    Magic: 33


    Magic Resistance: 33


    Magic Control: 33


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Valkyrie], [Unarmed Combat Lv.7], [Staff Art Lv.1]


    [Throwing Lv.8], [Spear Arts Lv.7], [Sword Arts Lv.9]


    [Shield Arts Lv.6], [Whip Arts Lv.9], [Ki Regeneration Lv.7]


    [Body Strengthening Lv.9], [Focus Lv.1], [Air Walk Lv.2]


    [Universal Language Comprehension].


    |System skills|


    [Item box +2]


    Skill Points: 28


    |Titles|


    [Destroyer], [Perfect Harmony +1], [Dragon Slayer]


    [Dragon Eater]


    "It''s inevitable with the level difference, but it looks like Tatsuro has surpassed me in his expertise" (Ai)


    "Well, I might surpass you again in a few more levels. Your Ki is over four times my mana. Oh, your sword and whip Arts levels went up" (Tatsuro)


    "Sword Arts leveled up a little while ago reaching level 8, so I am at level 9 now" (Ai)


    After enjoying watching each other''s growth, it was time to head back home. It was currently around midday, and if they hurried, they could return to town before it got dark. They quickly checked for any forgotten items and cleaned up the marshland as much as they could. Tatsuro then hitched the carriage to Jeanne.


    "Alright, let''s go" (Tatsuro)


    "Pyuii!" (Cardina)


    But before they could give the departure signal, Cardina''s Dispel magic detected a concerning presence and alerted them with a cry.


    "This is" (Tatsuro)


    "What''s going on?" (Ai)


    "We seem to be surrounded. It feels like this," he mentally conveyed to Ai, picturing a red dot drawn on a map at the location where they detected people. This was done to keep Cardina''s magical sensing within a range where the encircling group wouldn''t be noticed too soon.


    They had been closing in a circular formation, like they were gradually closing in for a catch, avoiding Cardina''s magical sensing. It appeared to be impossible unless the encircling group had someone with superior Dispel Magic skills, or they knew in advance where exactly they were.


    "It''s unlikely that someone with better Dispel Magic skills than us would slip past Cardina''s vigilance, which has been on high alert for that magic. So, either they knew beforehand that we''d be at the Depris nest in this swamp today, or how could this happen?" Tatsuro speculated.


    "Tatsuro, I know you''re deep in thought, but what should we do now? Should we catch them?" (Ai)


    " Let''s catch them. Their actions are suspicious, and we need to find out how they figured out our whereabouts" (Tatsuro)


    His decision was based on several reasons. First, he felt confident that they could handle bandits unless the bandits had an extraordinary advantage. They were strong themselves, and Cardina and Jeanne were powerful enough that they could easily defeat low-level bandits without even using magic. Moreover, if necessary, they could always escape by flying. With all these conditions met, they were much safer compared to when they faced the Magic Dragon.


    That''s why Tatsuro believed that getting detailed information about this unclear situation would be beneficial for their future activities and reduce potential threats.


    "Going to fight people again" (Ai)


    "We may have become accustomed to fighting monsters, but it seems we can''t avoid this" (Tatsuro)


    "That is right" (Ai)


    This time, they still had the advantage of daylight, so they couldn''t hide during the night. As they considered their options, they noticed that the enemy''s pace had quickened. It appeared that the enemy had realized they were noticed and was now pressing on.


    However, there was still some distance between them, so they took this opportunity to analyze the individuals with strong reactions to gather information.


    "That one" Tatsuro pointed out. "I remember him. He''s the guy in the full-body armor who resisted until the end during our night attack."


    "Really? Wasn''t he supposed to be interrogated by Lyadas now?" (Ai)


    "He might have escaped on his own, or perhaps someone within Lyadas is helping him. If our information leaked from there, it would all make sense" (Tatsuro)


    Even Lyadas, whom they had considered trustworthy, might be involved. With a growing sense of unease about where they could find safety, they prepared to confront the oncoming bandits.

 Chapter 92: Leader of the Thieves

    Chapter 92: Leader of the Thieves


    Hello, Jonathan Titan here!


    Please make sure you read this chapter carefully. There were a lot of confusing words, but I did my best to translate it without changing the tones.


    I also had to modify a lot of sentences to make them have enough meaning. Though there were some sentences, which I could not change.


    For the readers who are reading the advanced chapters. The update will be in four days.


    Thanks for your cooperation!


    As the thieves approached them, with just a little distance left until contact, Tatsuro held Ai''s hand and, with Cardina''s assistance, transformed their [Dispel Magic] with [Dark Magic]. Then he wrapped it around themselves, making the opponent''s detection magic mistake it for empty air.


    To avoid looking too suspicious if their presence suddenly vanished, He adjusted the dispelling magic''s magical power to assume a humanoid shape in a place where there was nothing, and then, using earth magic, dug a tunnel underground to hide.


    The thieves'' dispelling magic users had been misled into believing that Tatsuro and the others were lurking in a place about ten meters away from where they really were, hidden in an area overgrown with tall plants.


    Naturally, around that point, nearly fifty thieves formed a circle to prevent any escape and to be prepared to respond no matter when they were jumped. They approached cautiously while remaining on high alert.


    Meanwhile, Tatsuro and Ai continued digging sideways with earth magic, and managed to escape to a position outside the enemy''s circular formation.


    "For now, we''ve managed to avoid being surrounded." (Tatsuro)


    "We''ll need to overpower them when they get closer." (Ai)


    "Yeah, don''t let your guard down." (Tatsuro)


    "I understand." (Ai)


    Unaware that Tatsuro and Ai had already moved to their rear and were no longer inside their encirclement, the man in his early thirties, wearing a crimson mantle and a thick red suit of armor from top to bottom, called out to the area overgrown with tall plants as if he were the only knight worth mentioning among the thieves.


    "You have nowhere to run now! If you come out quietly, we won''t kill you! But if you resist, everyone here will trample you!"


    "Speaking so boldly to an empty place, it''s starting to make me feel embarrassed." (Tatsuro)


    "They probably think we''re still here, so they''re not embarrassed. But it would be interesting to see what kind of face they make if we just run away, leaving them saying, Nobody''s here!''" (Ai)


    "I''d really like to see that. And why is he approaching us so unguarded like that when we already took down one of their guys? Doesn''t he expect magic to come his way? Well, it looks like they''re all within range now. Those who jump out, let''s inform their positions via telepathy, so I''m counting on that." (Tatsuro)


    "Alright, alright." (Ai)


    "If there''s no response, we will consider it as a sign of resistance!" the Thief declared.


    Despite the words being spoken, Tatsuro and Ai were no longer paying much attention. Tatsuro had previously prepared an underground circular tunnel that enclosed the thieves in advance. They used fire magic to send flames through a connection, like the map symbol of an orchard.


    Once the underground tunnel was filled with fire, Tatsuro increased his output and pushed the ground upward.


    "What the?"


    "Fire''s spouting out from the ground!"


    "We''re surrounded!"


    While the thieves were expressing their surprise with various remarks, Tatsuro and Ai created a path extending upward and jumped out to the surface with Cardina.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    The sight before them was a ring of flames erupting from underground, enclosing the area where the thieves were densely gathered, creating a fiery prison.


    Tatsuro, holding Ai''s hand, now took his turn to speak while maintaining the prison.


    "You''re surrounded. Don''t resist in vain; drop your weapons into the flames and surrender!" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s like negotiating with a barricaded criminal for the police." (Ai)


    """""" ghjkkllfdddggg"""""


    "What are they saying? I can''t make any of it out." (Tatsuro)


    Almost fifty people responded to Tatsuro''s voice all at once, and the cacophony made it impossible to discern individual voices.


    (However, it seemed like there was a lot of cursing) he thought.


    On the thieves'' side, the man clad in crimson armor, who oversaw all the thieves in the Lyadas territory, was the only one who remained calm and observed his surroundings. He approached his subordinate, the most skilled dispelling magic user among his men, and asked.


    "Hey, why are they behind us? Weren''t they supposed to be in that thick underbrush?" he asked


    Tatsuro immediately channeled a fiery breath attack, transformed into a thick, lava-like substance through dark magic, from the tip of his staff towards the three of them. The intention was for the flames to cling to their armor and use heat conduction to inflict damage. However, the flames adhered to their armor, but they seemed completely unaffected by the heat, and not a single scorch mark appeared on the crimson armor or the mantles.


    "You fool. Did you really think we could just stand here without taking any precautions, knowing there''s a high-level fire magic user on your side?" the man in armor boasted.


    {They explained it pretty casually} (Ai)


    {Well, I had a rough idea of what to expect from that, but it''s still appreciated} (Tatsuro)


    Sending a condescending look towards the man in full-body armor who had kindly explained their situation, Tatsuro and Ai conversed telepathically.


    "Orville, you shouldn''t speak anymore." The leader said


    "Uh Ugh"


    Under the frigid gaze that seemed to freeze their very hearts, the man in full-body armor remained frozen in place, and the dispelling magic user behind him was also visibly shaken.


    Once he had confirmed his subordinates'' silence, the man in the crimson armor turned back to Tatsuro and Ai.


    "As Orville mentioned earlier, we came here with the intent to kill you." He said


    ""


    "However, you proved to be even more exceptional than I expected. I didn''t anticipate that you would so easily turn the tide of the battle despite coming fully prepared. That''s why I''m thinking, rather than killing you here, I want to recruit you."


    "" (Tatsuro)


    "" (Ai)


    "Hehe, that''s fine. I''ll keep that guy as a slave, and I''ll take the woman as my own. I couldn''t see her properly in the darkness before, but she''s quite a fine woman." The man in armor said (TL.Note: this was the man they had beaten before)


    "Huh? What did you just say, you guy in the armor?" (Tatsuro)


    "Creepy." (Ai)


    Tatsuro felt anger like he had never felt before, to the extent that he wished he could obliterate this swamp along with everything in it, wondering if he had ever looked at Ai with such eyes.


    Ai, on the other hand, felt a chill of disgust, but she couldn''t help but be pleased, even if it was inappropriate, by Tatsuro''s unprecedented display of anger.


    However, the two''s emotions were quickly dampened.


    "Hey, Orville. I told you to be quiet, didn''t I? You''ve given them a bad impression of us. Just to make it clear, I intend to accept those two as high-ranking members, more so than you." The leader cautioned


    "Higher than me? What kind of joke is this?"


    "Joke? Well, have I ever told you a joke?"


    "Don''t mess with me. How dare you"


    "Shut up. You''re becoming annoying."


    At that moment, the man in crimson armor swung his axe at a speed beyond Tatsuro''s motion perception, and Orville''s head soared through the air before falling a little in front of the two.


    ""


    "Now, there''s nothing to offend you anymore. As I said before, if you join us, I pledge to treat you better than this man." The leader invited


    "Wasn''t he your ally?" (Tatsuro)


    "He was, but what of it? In front of us, there are two individuals more valuable than him by tenfold. There''s no room for doubt."


    The man in the crimson armor showed no change in expression as he sliced one person''s head as if cutting through butter with a knife. This display of his sent shivers down the spines of the two for the first time, as they felt true fear for this man.


    "Now, come with me. If you do, I''ll even let you have control over a town."


    "A town? You, a mere thief, have no such authority." (Tatsuro)


    "For now, yes. But eventually, the Lyadas Territory will belong to us." He claimed


    "Your dreams are quite grand. I bet you used to say you wanted to be a bullet train when you were a kid." (Tatsuro)


    "A bullet train? I don''t know what that is, but this is by no means a fairy tale. The reason is that the son of the Lyadas Lord and the mayor of Lyadas Town are also involved in this story. Even though we replaced the mayor of Tofas with one of our comrades, the Lord of the territory still hasn''t noticed." The thief boasted.


    As the man casually began discussing significant matters, Tatsuro and Ai widened their eyes. However, they understood that now that they had heard this story, they had no intention of letting them go, no matter what form it took. So they started thinking about how to overcome this situation.

 Chapter 93: The Lords Family Circumstances

    Chapter 93: The Lord''s Family Circumstances


    The mayor of the town of Lyadas was known to be a jolly, overweight man when Tatsuro first met him. However, it''s certain that with his influence, he could easily arrange the escape of the individual whose head is currently lying low before them. Tatsuro also recalls hearing him mention when he would be leaving while conversing with the guild leader.


    So, it seemed possible to time it right, with Tatsuro and the others taking care of a large group of bee-like magical creatures called Depris, and then directing the bandits toward them while they were fatigued. Tatsuro estimated that this plan had about a 60% chance of being true.


    However, the son of Lord Lyadas based on information Tatsuro overheard from a little old man when he was buying the staff he currently possesses was described as a foolish son who abused his parent''s authority. Would this foolish son actually take actions that undermine his parent''s power? That was the most significant question.


    "I''ve heard that Lord Lyadas'' son has been misusing his parent''s power to do as he pleases. I find it hard to believe that someone like that would go as far as plotting to take over the Lyadas territory, even if it means crossing a dangerous bridge." (Tatsuro)


    "A profligate son living off his parent''s reputation. I can understand the skepticism if that''s the only information available. After all, if his parent were to fall from grace, he''d lose his meal ticket. But right now, that profligate son is about to have his meal ticket pulled away from him." (Bandit Leader)


    "So, you''re saying his parent has finally had enough?" (Tatsuro)


    "In a nutshell, yes. Originally" (Bandit Leader)


    And with that, the man in crimson armor began to explain the details of the situation. According to him, the current Lord Brendan had initially intended to pass on the family headship to his son, Bertram. However, it seems that recently, he changed his mind and announced his intention to pass it on to his third daughter, Laurence.


    The reason behind this is that Brendan, the current Lord, had doted on his youngest son, who was the long-awaited male heir. He spoiled him excessively, which resulted in the squandering of the family''s wealth. While Brendan initially accepted this as his own failing, it was recently discovered that his son had been embezzling public funds without authorization.


    If this were to come to light, it would tarnish the reputation of the Lyadas-Bruitt family, who have ruled this land for centuries and would undoubtedly lead to condemnation from the people. This is where the third daughter, Laurence, came into play.


    As the third daughter, she was originally only considered for a good marriage. However, she was exceptionally clever and resourceful, leveraging her status as the Lord''s daughter. She actively engaged in activities such as establishing orphanages, expanding schools, and improving infrastructure, earning widespread support from the people as a dedicated female politician.


    On the other hand, Bertram''s foolish behavior was well-known throughout the domain, and his incompetence was widely recognized. Given the choice between him and Laurence, who had the people''s best interests at heart, the next Lord should be Laurence was what everyone in Lyadas thought, though they did not say it openly.


    So, Lord Brendan tried to cover up the embezzlement, sent his son away to a remote location, and made the courageous decision to establish a system where anyone, regardless of their background, could rise to the top, hoping to leave a legacy that would redeem his name as a wise Lord. This way, he aimed to pave the way for the first female Lord, Laurence, and secure the Lyadas-Bruitt legacy.


    Furthermore, the town mayor was also under suspicion of involvement in the embezzlement. Several points that were impossible without collusion had been discovered, and the rumors were slowly spreading among the people. No matter how hard the Lord tried to conceal the embezzlement, there were always those with loose lips.


    These rumors were having a significant impact on the upcoming mayoral election scheduled in six months, with some saying that the current mayor''s re-election was impossible. In response, Laurence nominated a fairy-tribe woman named Marikka Shurjaniemi as the next mayoral candidate.


    Female voters were entirely swayed towards her, and many male citizens who had previously supported the current mayor were also switching their allegiance. It seemed like the next mayoral election was practically decided.


    This brings us to the current takeover plan.


    First, among the four towns, Tofas is the smallest and least noticeable, making it less likely for the Lord to keep a close eye on it. So, it serves as a foothold for slowly taking over the underground. In fact, Tofas has already fallen, and the mayor, who refused to cooperate, was killed. A substitute has been put in place, and it appears that it also serves as a base for the bandits.


    Mimiris, on the other hand, seems to be in a compromised state, with the mayor''s daughter kidnapped, effectively making the town subservient. Obsul, which is a bit farther away, hasn''t been targeted yet. The plan is to ignore it for now and invade after taking over Lyadas. The foolish son will become the Lord in name only, leaving the administration of the territory to the current mayor, with the man in crimson armor governing Lyadas. Each town will hire the bandits as guards and allow them a certain degree of freedom.


    After hearing this, the group breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Obsul was still peaceful, and Zendo and Leela remained safe. However, if they believed this man''s story, it meant that Obsul might face turmoil in the near future.


    Despite having worked to resolve the dragon crisis, this situation could render their efforts meaningless. Tatsuro questioned the reliability of the information.


    "While that story could be true, it could also be a lie. Do you have any evidence?" (Tatsuro)


    "You''re quite skeptical for your age, and I respect that. But, evidence Salman, do we have anything?" (Bandit Leader)


    "Me? Um, um, um, yes it''s me, right? I mean, there''s no one else here."


    As the mage Salman spoke, he briefly glanced at the headless corpse. He then tried to come up with something useful to prove himself to the man. Suddenly, there was a red glint in the eyes of mage Salman.Upstodatee from


    "Oh, um, these the Vermilion Armor, the Annihilating Flame Mantle, and, um, the Flaming Axe of destruction. These could be evidence, right?" he asked


    "Yeah, that''s right. Well done. These items are, without a doubt, passed down through the generations of the Lyadas-Bruitt family as heirlooms." The bandit leader confirmed


    "What do you mean?" (Tatsuro)


    "Well, this armor, mantle, and especially this axe are said to be treasured heirlooms of the Lyadas-Bruitt family. This time, we''re up against a troublesome mage who specializes in fire magic. Bertram gave me these items, saying that his ancestor used them to defeat a fire dragon that once roamed the Lyadas territory. I don''t know if it''s true, but the performance of this equipment is unmatched, and it seems to nullify flames entirely for the wearer. Plus, this reddish-brown armor lying here belonged to a knight who followed in those days. It, too, has an incredibly high resistance to fire." The bandit leader claimed


    "Oh, a whip this time Sword and whip, dark and fire, it''s like a surprise box." (Bandit Leader)


    "Ow! My head!" Another thief screamed in pain


    "In comparison, this is rather embarrassing." (Bandit Leader)


    While Ai was slicing through the energy blades with her sword in her right hand and attacking with her whip in her left, she was effortlessly dodged by the man. Meanwhile, the underlings fell victim to the combination of Cardina and Jeanne''s teamwork and lay defeated on the ground.


    Watching this scene, the man in crimson armor sighed and continued to evade Ai''s attacks while not forgetting to strike with his axe.


    However, Ai managed to handle it all, successfully defending herself until Tatsuro completed his magic.


    "Take this" (Tatsuro)


    "What?" (Bandit Leader)


    Tatsuro instantly dispelled the flames that were still attacking recklessly, and the next spell he cast was a combination of water and darkness magic. He scattered high-viscosity water over a wide area and entangled the man just like birdlime.


    The bandit leader, just like the rest, was covered in sticky water, rendering him immobile, and his eyes widened in astonishment.


    "Now you can''t move." (Tatsuro)


    "You''re boasting quite a lot, but you didn''t achieve much." (Bandit Leader)


    While their fire magic defenses had been impeccable, they hadn''t prepared for the water magic that Tatsuro had never used in front of the bandits. They were helplessly stuck to the ground and groaning.


    Faced with the situation, Tatsuro and Ai took a step forward to neutralize the man in crimson armor and capture him. But just at that moment


    "Aargh!" (Bandit Leader)


    "This can''t be real!" (Tatsuro)


    "No way!" (Ai)


    The bandit leader gathered strength in his legs and stood up, then forcefully drove his axe into the ground beneath him. This action created a massive crater in the ground, and the shockwave of energy created in the process blew away the sticky water. He was free again.


    "Fire magic, darkness magic, and even water magic. Plus, the power to summon strange creatures. There seems to be more. Show me more." (Bandit Leader)


    "You''re on a completely different level compared to the others. You could have secured a decent position without resorting to banditry, couldn''t you?" (Tatsuro)


    "If I were allowed to kill people that would have been fine But I have a personality that wants to kill those I don''t like on the spot. I can''t lead a normal life." (Bandit Leader)


    "He''s insane" (Tatsuro)


    "Creepy" (Ai)


    "Heh, quite a speech you''re giving." (Bandit Leader)


    From where he stood alone, he struck the ground with his axe again, blowing away the sticky water and clearing a path.


    "So, what''s your next move?" (Bandit Leader)


    "What will you do, Tatsuro? Are we going to run away?" (Ai)


    "I''d like to gather more evidence, but it might be a good time for that Run?" (Tatsuro)


    As the thought of escaping crossed her mind, the man in crimson armor sensed it and released an intimidating aura that would make most people freeze in fear. However, Ai and Tatsuro remained unfazed and, with raised voices, prepared themselves to harm him more. They were willing to hurt others and had started to accept that they needed to be less lenient.

 Chapter 94: All the way

    Chapter 94: All the way


    The Bandit Leader retrieved another ordinary-sized silver axe from his [Item Box] and held it in his left hand. He then attacked with the two axes in hand. First, he used the smaller axe for precise slashes, followed by incorporating heavy strikes with the larger one, sending them toward the two of them.


    Since there was no reason to engage these attacks head-on, Ai skillfully dodged them while carrying Tatsuro using [Air Walk].


    During this time, Tatsuro left all the dodging to Ai and focused on creating a new spell, even though he was uncertain about his ability to perform unfamiliar magic. Somehow, he managed to complete it.


    "What!. Gah!?" (Bandit Leader)


    It was a combination of water and light magic, similar to something like a highly compressed water release, akin to a "Water Cutter." Tatsuro created five of them simultaneously and directed them towards the man in front of him.


    With extraordinary physical abilities, the man managed to evade three of them, but the remaining two pierced through his right forearm and left calf, leaving small holes.


    "Is this water magic? You can do that too?" (Bandit Leader)


    "Just surrender already. I still have several means at my disposal, and you can''t win against me." (Tatsuro)


    "Can you be so sure about that? Ah!" (Bandit Leader)


    "What''s going on?!" (Tatsuro)


    "What!?" (Ai)


    Suddenly, the man bent his body into a k'' shape and yelled towards the ground. Ai and Tatsuro watched in disbelief as the blood flowing from his right forearm and left calf stopped, and the wounds began to heal.


    When the man raised his head, two fangs had extended both upward and downward from his mouth, and a single white horn had grown from his forehead.


    "Weren''t you a human?" (Ai)


    "Well, to be precise, I''m a half-breed, a mix of human and demon." (Bandit Leader)


    "So, you mean there are demons" (Ai)


    "Well, yeah, there are. It might be rare in these parts, though." (Bandit Leader)


    In response to Ai''s words, the man''s arm muscles bulged as he swung both axes down.


    "Ryaaaah! Still not enough? Are you two really just regular humans?" (Bandit Leader)


    "Well, who knows? We might be an extraordinary kind." (Ai)


    "Good, that makes it more interesting!" (Bandit Leader)


    "He seems like a battle maniac, doesn''t he?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah." (Ai)


    Recognizing that Ai''s barrier was impenetrable to long-range Energy slash attacks, the man, who had temporarily boosted his physical abilities through partial demon transformation, tried to handle the situation with his speed. However, Tatsuro''s magic interfered with his plan.


    Tatsuro released a large volume of water around the man and manipulated it to submerge him.


    Despite the decreased speed due to the water''s resistance, the man managed to strike the ground with both axes, creating a shockwave to propel himself out of the water. But in that instant, he encountered the tip of Ai''s whip, with a weight shaped like a triangular cone, which struck and snapped the horn.


    "Gaaahhhhh!" (Bandit Leader)


    "I guess it really wasn''t a good idea to break that thing." (Tatsuro)


    "Why would you increase your own vulnerabilities? Seriously." (Ai)


    While they bantered about, the two of them had heightened their physical abilities to the point where avoiding the broken horn should have been a simple matter. It was just the peculiarity of their teamwork that made it seem strange.


    Unaware of this fact, Tatsuro and Ai gazed at the man, who was groaning in pain on the ground.


    "Hah, haa haa I never expected to be humiliated like this" (Bandit Leader)


    "That''s what we''ve been saying. It''s futile no matter what you try." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, if you just behave, it won''t hurt any more than this." (Ai)Follow the latest novels on


    "Hah, you guys are naive." (Bandit Leader)


    (N-No, there are skills without levels. It can''t be helped. If it wasn''t for these, He might not have had a chance.) He thought.


    Tatsuro started by reducing the level of [Axe Arts]. The man''s movements visibly slowed down, and he could no longer release energy slashes that he had mixed with regular attacks.


    Confirming the effects had significantly weakened the man, Tatsuro continued to lower the levels of the other skills as well.


    Level: 67


    Skills: [Human-Demon Transformation], [Demon-Human Transformation]


    [Axe Arts Lv.0], [Unarmed Combat Lv.0], [Focus Lv.5], [Frenzy Lv.0]


    [Body Strengthening Lv.7], [Ki Regeneration Lv.5].


    In this way, not knowing how it would affect a human opponent, Tatsuro extracted only the essential aspects and swallowed the black sphere.


    "Gah? What is this? What have you done to me?" (Bandit Leader)


    When [Frenzy] wore off, and his calm judgment returned, the man noticed the abnormality in his body. He deactivated [Demon-Human Transformation] and his body shrank like a deflating balloon.


    "What is this? We may not fully understand, but you''re back to your original state. Does this mean you''re giving up?" (Tatsuro)


    "Give up? What are you talking about? Even if you manage to capture me here, it''s futile. The town mayor will pull some strings, and I''ll be out again." (Bandit Leader)


    "To prevent that from happening. Why don''t we take you somewhere else and let others know that neither the town mayor nor the lord''s son are good people?" (Tatsuro)


    "You guys have the wrong assumption from the beginning. In that town, it''s impossible to meet the feudal lord without the town mayor knowing about it. Even if you were to show me to someone other than the lord, the mayor''s connections would ultimately prevail. If you claim there''s a direct way to meet the lord, that''s a different story." (Bandit Leader)


    Tatsuro and Ai thought that''s why the man was so confident, convinced that such a direct route didn''t exist.


    "Don''t worry, we do have a way." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh? What kind of way? I hope it''s not that merchant you ran into on the way to Lyadas, Gillian Mac Dermott." (Bandit Leader)


    "!" (Tatsuro)


    "!"(Ai)


    "Well, well, I seem to be on the mark. Too bad for you. We met that merchant on the route you guys took, and we negotiated a bit. Right now, he''s staying at our place." (Bandit Leader)


    "By your words, it doesn''t sound like you intend to kill him. Are you trying to stop us using a hostage?" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro answered with determination, prepared to cut their losses if necessary. However, the man''s disgusting smile persisted.


    "No, I didn''t think of that. But without him, do you think you can meet the lord?" (Bandit Leader)


    "Through Lyadas'' Adventurers Guild" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, that''s right. The head of that Adventurers Guild is an old friend of the town mayor, isn''t he? Will you be able to establish a connection with the lord?" (Bandit Leader)


    Certainly, they remembered him conversing amiably with the town mayor. It was not an entirely impossible scenario.


    "If not there, then we can try other towns" (Ai)


    "Go ahead and try." (Bandit Leader)


    They hoped that Tofas and Mimiris were hopeless cases, but in Obsul, they had Leela. She might be able to help, and they were hopeful. However, the man''s confident laughter made them wonder if there was more to it than met the eye.


    "What should we do?" (Ai)


    "I''m not sure" (Ai)


    The easiest and safest path right now would be to completely disregard everything and focus on Tatsuro and Ai returning to Japan. However, that would bring more misfortune upon Obsul. They wanted to avoid that if possible.


    So, what could they do?


    At that moment, the worst possible choice crossed their minds.

 Chapter 95: Together for Life

    Chapter 95: Together for Life


    Hello, Jonathan Titan here!


    I have been referring to the leader of the thieves as bandit leader, I will continue to do so in this chapter as well.


    Since the thieves here have captured a town, I don''t think thieves is a normal word to describe them, which is the reason why I am referring to them as bandits.


    Thanks for reading. This is the second chapter I am releasing for free to make up for the delays in uploads this week.


    While the two of them appeared pensive, the bandit leader was laughing.


    "Just by looking at your faces, I can tell you want to help someone, don''t you? Hehe, well, that can be arranged quickly. Join our group and help us. I''ll grant you that much authority okay?" (Bandit Leader)


    "How many times do I have to say it? I have no intention of becoming that kind of person." (Tatsuro)


    "You''re persistent!" (Ai)


    "Yeah, I mentioned hostages earlier right? But if you two run away, it might be interesting to find some of your close friends and, well, take care of them too." (Bandit Leader)The? source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n))


    While considering the best course of action, he blurted out something outrageous.


    As the two looked at him in shock, the man continued in a more casual tone.


    "Or perhaps we could pretend the town''s people are you and indiscriminately start killing. I think their names were Tatsuro and Ai, right? We could even name it Tatsuro and Ai Killing Game'' and hold it as a grand event" (Bandit Leader)


    "Shut up." (Tatsuro)


    "Silence." (Ai)


    "Even if I''m silent, nothing will change." (Bandit Leader)


    "If I make sure you can never open your mouth again, things will change." (Tatsuro)


    The name of the previous game bothered Tatsuro too much, and he half-seriously pointed the tip of his staff at the man.


    However, the man remained unfazed.


    "I have an acquaintance who''s an excellent life mage. No matter what condition you''re in, they''ll heal you as long as you''re alive." (Bandit Leader)


    "So, what if I said I''ll kill you?" (Tatsuro)


    "Tatsuro!?" (Ai)


    Even Ai was surprised to the point where she couldn''t tell if Tatsuro was serious or not.


    "Can you do it? Become a murderer, huh? Hehehe." (Bandit Leader)


    "Haa!" (Bandit Leader)


    "Goo!" (Bandit Leader)


    "Don''t you realize how annoying your voice is?" (Ai)


    In an attempt to silence him, Ai struck the man''s abdomen with the hilt of her sword. However, the man didn''t quiet down. He was accustomed to pain, and most importantly, he didn''t believe for a moment that these two would kill him.


    "Haa, haa I have a wide network in the underworld, you know. Even if you leave Lyadas territory, you won''t be safe. As long as I''m alive, someone will be targeting you like a daily nuisance. You might be walking through a crowded city, and suddenly, a knife stabs you. They might break into your room while you''re asleep. Will you be able to sleep peacefully at night?" (Bandit Leader)


    "Shut up" (Tatsuro)


    He attempted to use magic to silence the man, but it was interrupted by Cardina''s cry. It turned out to be reinforcements of nearly a hundred more bandits.


    "Judging by your expression, it looks like my comrades have come for me. It was a good call to have them come if I didn''t send word by the predetermined time. So, what will you do? Will you kindly capture all of them too?" (Bandit Leader)


    It was definitely too many of them. Escaping was the quickest and safest option. However, leaving this man unchecked could result in him carrying out his earlier threats.


    Moreover, the most frightening part was that even if they used [Dispel magic], it would be challenging to identify threats within a crowded place. Avoiding it was difficult, and even if Cardina kept watch while they slept, frequent attacks would take a toll on them mentally. So, what should they do? What could they do? Those thoughts swirled in Tatsuro''s head, and his thinking grew sluggish.


    "Tatsuro, are you okay?" (Ai)


    "Yeah. I''m fine." (Tatsuro)


    Ai became even more worried by the lackluster response. And sensing her anxiety, the man said as if delivering the final blow,


    "If you won''t join our group by any means, I''ll kill your woman using any method. Even if I get caught, and this plan falls apart, I''ll carry out that part. If you don''t like it" (Bandit Leader)


    During this time, the man desperately tried to crawl outside the dome, but the squishy, bubbling ground, like molten lava, impeded his progress. His limbs were ensnared, and his consciousness drifted away.


    (Even though he was so adamantly against killing me, why now!?) The bandit leader thought


    The man had never trusted or loved anyone. That''s why he had no idea just how important Ai was to Tatsuro and how much his hurtful remarks could wound his heart. And until his consciousness faded, the man never reached that answer.


    "Is it over?"


    After some time had passed, Tatsuro cast [Dispel Magic] around him to confirm that there were no living beings left, and then he began to slowly stop the magic. Finally, in the newly opened field of view, the red-hot ground still stretched out, with no signs of life except for the bandit leader who lay fallen.


    "Ai, I''m sorry. Did it get too suffocating for you?" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro finally realized that even after removing all the magic, he had kept Ai''s face pressed against his chest. However, Ai shook her head while still hugging him tightly, not loosening her grip from his arm but rather hugging him back with her arms.


    Tatsuro adjusted the grip of his arms, and despite the urgency of the situation, they embraced each other for a brief moment before separating.


    Then, with a somewhat surreal and detached feeling, Tatsuro approached the lifeless body of the man as evidence. Suddenly, the body twitched and started coughing.


    "No way He was dead, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Actually, he was dead, wasn''t he?" (Ai)


    Tatsuro prepared himself for another potential battle, but the man did not attempt to get up. Suspicious, Tatsuro quickly used [Dispel magic] to analyze the situation. It appeared that the Demon''s blood had sensed a life-threatening situation and forced him into a temporary state of pseudo-death. When oxygen returned, his lungs reacted by causing him to cough.


    Currently, the man was in a state of unconsciousness and would need several hours for his body to recover. This meant that if left undisturbed, he would inevitably wake up.


    Tatsuro was about to approach the sleeping man to finish him off for good when Ai tugged at his sleeve, stopping him.


    "Ai, I appreciate your concern, but if we don''t kill this guy right here and now, we don''t know what he might do later." (Tatsuro)


    "I do have concerns for Tatsuro, but this time, I''ll do it." (Ai)


    "Wait, what?" (Tatsuro)


    "I won''t wait." (Ai)


    Ignoring Tatsuro''s attempts to stop her, Ai walked boldly towards the man. Tatsuro quickly reached out and grabbed her arm.


    "Wait a moment. To be honest, using magic makes me feel like I haven''t killed anyone. So, I''d prefer to handle that part myself, and Ai, you can" (Tatsuro)


    "Listen, Tatsuro. I appreciate your concern, but do you think I don''t know how much you''re suffering right now? Maybe you haven''t realized it, but I can tell. Regardless of the method, Tatsuro, you should know that it''s still taking someone''s life. So this time, it''s my turn." (Ai)


    "Even so" (Tatsuro)


    "I''m not the kind of woman who''d let the person she loves bear all the burden and just laugh it off. If it means carrying the same weight that Tatsuro carries, I''ll do it and let you bear it. Otherwise, I won''t be able to smile by your side ever again."


    Ai''s gaze showed her unwavering determination, and Tatsuro finally realized that there was no use arguing with her.


    "I can''t have you not smiling by my side" (Tatsuro)


    "Right. Not being able to see such a cute smile is a lifetime''s worth of misfortune." (Ai)


    "Indeed. A life where Ai doesn''t smile has no value." (Tatsuro)


    At this point, Tatsuro knew that Ai wouldn''t back down. However, he couldn''t help but feel that there was a difference between doing it directly or indirectly. So, he recalled Ai''s words about carrying the same weight and proposed.


    "Then, let''s do it together." (Tatsuro)


    "Together?" (Ai)


    "Yes, that''s my compromise. Will you carry it with me for a lifetime?" (Tatsuro)


    "If it''s with you, gladly." (Ai)


    With that, the two of them approached the man and held the gem sword to his throat. Tatsuro took the left side, and Ai took the right.


    "On three, let''s do it." (Tatsuro)


    "Okay." (Ai)


    "One, two, three!" (Tatsuro)


    *Swish*


    With a swift, quiet sound, the blade effortlessly cut through the neck''s bones, piercing the man''s throat.


    |Your level has increased to 50|

 Chapter 96: Destination Ahead

    Chapter 96: Destination Ahead


    |Your level has increased to 50|


    |Your class changed from Light Magician to Composite Magician.|


    |You have acquired the skill [Composite Magic Skill Transformation]|


    (To reach level 50, I think I had to overcome some kind of barrier I''m pretty sure it was a barrier, but I wish it were a different kind.) Tatsuro thought


    Despite having mixed feelings about unexpectedly leveling up, Tatsuro confirmed that the bandit leader had breathed his last. He used earth magic to create a container and placed the corpse inside, storing it in his [Item Box].


    After that, while holding Ai''s hand, Tatsuro recovered his magical energy, reorganized the area with earth magic, and made the scene as presentable as possible to a level where it might be bearable.


    Shortly thereafter, the following group of bandits arrived, so Tatsuro hurriedly created an underground passage with earth magic to escape. During this escape, he discreetly retrieved the key figure he had dragged into the underground, the man referred to as Salman by the bandit leader, who was a dispelling magic user.


    Seeming timid and lacking direct means of attack, as a dispelling magic user, this man should not possess offensive capabilities. Tatsuro planned to capture this man, extract information about the whereabouts of the merchant Gillian Mac Dermott, rescue him, and arrange a meeting with the lord.


    With the unconscious man securely tied to an improvised cart created using magic and pulled along with wires, Tatsuro used earth magic to dig a hole, evading the encirclement of the bandits. From there, they continued their mole-like activities for a while.


    After distancing themselves considerably from the location where they had fought the bandits, they emerged above ground. By that time, night had fallen, and the moonlight shone brightly.


    In a normal situation, they would have been resting comfortably at an inn by now, but the circumstances were the exact opposite, making Tatsuro and Ai frustrated.


    As Tatsuro and Ai asked Cardina to scout the current location of the thieves'' reinforcements, it seemed they were still searching for Tatsuro and his group in a distant area.


    "For now, it''s a relief, but we should hurry to rescue Mr. Gillian" (Tatsuro)


    "Agreed. We need to save him as soon as possible; we don''t know what might happen next" (Ai)


    They decided on their next course of action without dwelling on their current situation.


    "In that case Hey, you''re already awake, aren''t you? Tell us the whereabouts of the merchant Gillian Mac Dermott!" (Tatsuro)


    Silence followed.


    "Is he just pretending to be asleep?" (Ai)


    "Oh. He''s been awake for at least the past half an hour, eavesdropping on our conversation and probably realizing he''s useless now," Tatsuro explained. "Right, Salman?"


    More silence.


    Tatsuro had been using dispelling magic to monitor when Salman would wake up, so he knew for certain that Salman was awake. Despite this, he sighed at the sight of the man with closed eyes, sweating profusely.DiiSco?ver new stories on


    "Hey, why did you get involved with bandits? It''s tough with that kind of temperament, not to mention you''re a capable dispelling magic user if they kept you around. There must have been other options" (Tatsuro)


    Salman stammered nervously, seemingly unable to find his words. "I-I didn''t have a choice. I had to join them; there was no other o-option. I-I''m not as strong as you guys."


    Tatsuro''s tone didn''t convey hostility or aggression, which appeared to ease Salman''s tension. He hesitated and began to explain why he ended up as a bandit.


    According to Salman, he had been a guard in Tofas. At that time, he was known as an exceptionally skilled dispelling magic user for his age, and he had even been praised as a promising rookie in the analysis division.


    However, after the mayor of Tofas was killed, normal guards were either killed or forced into submission. Not wanting to die, Salman joined the bandits. It was during that time that the man in the crimson armor, known as Iyaruki, took an interest in him. He was compelled to level up forcibly and endured terrible experiences but persevered out of a strong desire to survive.


    "Uh Yeah, I understand. I was a bandit, after all, even if it was to survive. I get it; I''ll do as you say," Salman replied, sounding quite disheartened.


    With Salman''s reluctant consent, they decided to create a comfortable underground chamber in this secluded location, far from the main road. They didn''t want to reveal the construction site, so they used dark magic to conceal it from Salman''s sight. With Cardina''s assistance using earth magic, they built the underground chamber.


    The room included chairs, a table, a space to lie down, a bed with a covered, pull-out toilet, and a storage pantry for three days'' worth of food. To avoid complete sealing, they provided several air holes leading to inconspicuous places on the surface.


    What they put the most effort into was the floor, ceiling, and walls. Even if that mole-like magical creature came, it wouldn''t be able to dig through, as they had added iron and used dark magic to make it the hardest possible material. It was a remarkable masterpiece of craftsmanship.


    With this arrangement, it would be nearly impossible for Salman to break out from the inside, and the defense against intrusion by creatures was also quite robust. To open this space smoothly, it would require a combination of earth and dark magic equal to or exceeding Tatsuro''s level, so there shouldn''t be any issues.


    "Alright, I''ve stored three days'' worth of food in there. It''s dragon meat, so it won''t spoil, and you can even eat it raw" (Tatsuro)


    "Dragon meat!?" Salman exclaimed.


    "Yeah, it''s surprising, huh?" (Tatsuro)


    "Y-y-yes, it is. I mean, try selling dragon meat in the market. No matter how high the price, there''ll be buyers. To think you''d give such a precious thing to me!" Salman said while stammering


    Tatsuro and Ai had a considerable amount of dragon meat in their possession, likely more than they could consume until they found a way back to their original world. In their minds, it was of lower value than beef, more like a delicious preserved food.


    However, Salman was deeply moved by the fact that they were giving him something so valuable. He hadn''t experienced kindness from anyone for several years as a bandit, living in constant fear of being killed. Even if it was inexpensive meat from a local store, he would have been overjoyed.


    While Salman was overwhelmed with emotion, he didn''t realize that Tatsuro and Ai were rather disgusted with the situation.


    "Well, if you like it, that''s great," (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, right. Well, we''re going now. We''ll do our best to return as soon as possible" (Ai)


    "Uh, yeah. If you can''t come back, then I''ll be with you in spirit! Do your best!" Salman said.


    ""Okay."" Tatsuro and Ai said in response.


    Once outside, Tatsuro sealed the entrance completely, making it impossible to open. Then, as they took out a flying board from the [Item Box], Tatsuro suddenly paused.


    "What''s wrong?" (Ai)


    "Oh, I just remembered I leveled up" (Tatsuro)


    "Really? Is it because of what happened back then?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, it was from that." (Tatsuro)


    They had tried to avoid thinking about it as much as possible on their journey, but Tatsuro realized that his stats had changed significantly, so he couldn''t avoid sharing this information. As they revisited the memory, the sensations from that time returned vividly, and a formless sense of anxiety and fear pressed upon his heart, dark and heavy.


    Both of them knew each other''s thoughts all too well, and they held hands, looking into each other''s eyes to confirm that they shared this feeling.


    Tatsuro couldn''t help but wonder if he would have eventually broken if he had carried this burden alone. Tears welled up as he thought about it.


    Ai, realizing that she hadn''t burdened Tatsuro with such feelings, shed tears of gratitude.


    They held each other, kissed, and held each other again.


    The tears stopped flowing at that moment.

 Chapter 97: Hostage Rescue Operation

    Chapter 97: Hostage Rescue Operation


    They managed to calm their emotions and, now watching the rising sun, glided through the sky on their boards. They had initially wanted to take their time to check their statuses on the ground, but it took longer than expected to come to terms with their feelings. As a result, they decided to check their statuses while on the move.


    "So, it seems Tatsuro broke through the level 49 barrier. What exactly happened?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, for now, I''ve only heard the announcement, so let''s check it out together. Cardina, I leave the perimeter watch to you." (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    With a swoosh, Cardina spun around in place and focused on Dispelling magic in front of Tatsuro and the others. They had chosen the aerial route, so they just needed to move straight ahead. Feeling safe, the two of them proceeded to confirm Tatsuro''s status.


    Name: Tatsuro Hasami


    Class: Composite Magician


    Level: 50


    Ki: 40


    Mana: 1,270


    Dragon Power: 100


    Strength: 100


    Durability: 100


    Agility: 80


    Magic: 1,080


    Magic Resistance: 1,030


    Magic Control: 1,108


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Level Eater], [Composite Magic Skill Enhancement], [Light Magic Lv. 10]


    [Dark Magic Lv. 10], [Fire Magic Lv. 10], [Water Magic Lv. 10]


    [Life Magic Lv. 2], [Earth Magic Lv. 7], [Dispel Magic Lv. 8]


    [Wind Magic Lv. 8], [Curse Magic Lv. 1], [Mana Purification Lv.3]


    [Mana Regeneration Lv.3], [Mana Perception Lv.3], [Focus Lv.3]


    [Universal Language Comprehension].


    |System skills|


    [Map], [Item box +4]


    Skill Points: 243


    |Titles|


    [Master of Light], [Master of Darkness], [Master of Fire]


    [Master of Water], [Avatar of Destruction], [Perfect Harmony +1]


    [Dragon Slayer], [Dragon Eater]Upstodatee from


    "Whoa, there are so many things I want to say, but the SP is (243)!? I mean, it should have gone up from (1) to (4) with a level-up, so does that mean you got (239) SP from [Level Eater] in just one shot? The calculations seem different from when you took SP from the Dragon" (Ai)


    "Dragons, like other magical creatures, don''t have the system installed, right? Could there be some difference there?" (Tatsuro)


    While doing this, they continued gliding on their boards and had a simple lunch in the sky. Finally, they could see Tofas in the distance.


    "How are we going to reach the town mayor''s residence?" (Ai)


    "Well, we can go there from the sky like a mobile unit." (Tatsuro)


    "You seem to like doing that." (Ai)


    "Do you dislike it, Ai?" (Tatsuro)


    "I love it!" (Ai)


    After exchanging such a like-minded couple''s appeal, Tatsuro and Ai passed above Tofas''s city walls, entering discreetly to avoid detection, and started searching for their target residence.


    "Is it around here?" (Tatsuro)


    While checking their current location on the map, Tatsuro used water and dark mixed magic. He first created a tube of darkness, and then prepared three convex lenses made of water, placing two in front and one at the end of the tube. He adjusted the thickness of each lens accordingly.


    Gradually, the focus became clearer, and although somewhat blurry, the distant view appeared upside down.


    "What''s that?" (Ai)


    "It''s like a telescope. I made something like this for a summer vacation project when I was in elementary school using a magnifying glass. I thought about trying to replicate it with magic. Even with vague memories, it somehow worked." (Tatsuro)


    "Wow, really? But does it only show things upside down?" (Ai)


    "I''ve never made one that doesn''t, so I don''t know." (Tatsuro)


    Whether it was upside down or not didn''t matter since they only needed a rough idea of the location of the residence. With their makeshift telescope, they identified their landing point.


    Once that was done, they covered themselves in magic that made them appear as an entity similar to air using mixed magic of light and dark to counter the opponent''s detection magic.


    "Alright, if we land here, it should be right at the target location." (Tatsuro)


    "Then, let''s begin our operation." (Ai)


    "Yeah, let''s communicate using telepathy from here on." (Tatsuro)


    "Understood." (Ai)


    With that, the two of them launched their hostage rescue operation. First, they levitated their boards like balloons using wind magic, attached iron wires to them, and quietly descended. They reached the rooftop and gently dropped the boards, with Ai catching Tatsuro''s board.


    "All good, it seems we haven''t been detected." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, so where is the hostage?" (Ai)


    "He is there. It seems like he is being held in what looks like an underground wine cellar. He doesn''t seem to be dead, so there''s no immediate danger." (Tatsuro)


    "I see. So, all we need to do now is get him and escape." (Ai)


    The two nodded to each other and used Ai''s [Air walk] skill, combined with Tatsuro and Cardina''s detection magic, which also included dark magic, to advance while choosing quiet and deserted areas.


    At the right corner of the garden of the mansion closest to the underground room, they used earth magic to dig a hole and create an underground passage leading to the wine cellar. During this process, they cleverly camouflaged the entrance using the surrounding turf to ensure it wouldn''t be easily spotted.


    With Tatsuro''s current map function, he couldn''t access the layout of an individual''s residence, so they relied on detection magic to confirm their location as they progressed. Eventually, they arrived directly beneath their target, the underground room.


    "This is the right place" (Tatsuro)


    "Any guards?" (Ai)


    "There are two readings besides our targets. We''re not sure if they''re other hostages or guards, but they don''t seem to be particularly strong based on their readings." (Tatsuro)


    "How about we rush out and take them down before they can raise an alarm?" (Ai)


    "Well, that might be the quickest way. I''ll assist you, so can I count on you to subdue them?" (Tatsuro)


    "You got it!" (Ai)


    And so, the two of them were ready to infiltrate the mansion at last.

 Chapter 98: The Pursuers

    Chapter 98: The Pursuers


    In a dim wine cellar, one man stood in front of a thick door, while another man, with Gillian Mac Dermott, the merchant whom Tatsuro and Ai were currently trying to rescue, glanced to the side. The former opened an expensive-looking bottle of wine and reclined on a chair.


    "Hey, drinking like this is a bad idea, you know?"


    "Hah, it doesn''t matter. He won''t be back for several days, and we still have five hours until the shift changes. Do you expect me to keep staring at this guy''s face sober the whole time? Besides, a couple of magic users are constantly watching with surveillance magic, and that scary, scary Ennio is lurking in the backyard. How on earth will anyone manage to get this far?"


    "I guess you''re right. Give me a drink too!"


    "All right, with this, you''re an accomplice too!"


    And so, the two of them casually began their drinking session. Gillian, from his slightly skewed perspective, couldn''t help but watch them secretly, thinking it was a waste of fine wine on these individuals who didn''t appreciate its value.


    (Drinking that exquisite wine like it''s some cheap booze Unbelievable! Oh, you should savor the aroma more What am I even escaping from in reality? Well, I don''t have anything else to do, but I feel bad for those two from that time. I broke the promise I made to them.) He thought.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    The merchant unilaterally broke the promise he had initiated himself. Though there were reasons behind it, those two didn''t know. Therefore, if they thought poorly of him, he couldn''t blame them.


    Gillian had tried to live his life as an honest merchant, much like his respected father. Being thought of as anything but that was scarier to him than death.


    (What day is it today Ah, what will become of me from now on?) He sighed, a mixture of resignation in his breath, as he faced an uncertain tomorrow.


    While Gillian had these thoughts, Tatsuro and his companions were eavesdropping right below them, having used earth magic to avoid a portion of the stone foundation under the floor, leaving only the wooden floorboards above.


    "No matter how you look at it, they''re letting their guard down too much" (Tatsuro)


    "Well, it''s easier for us now, but" (Ai)


    "If we quietly take Gillian-san away like this, won''t they notice right away?" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro was tempted to say such things as the two guards continued to drink heavily.


    "Hmm. At this point, it might be better to knock them out at the moment they both pass out. What do you think? I''ll drop the floor, and could you knock them out?" (Tatsuro)


    "Okay." (Ai)


    Tatsuro proceeded to create a cushion-like mat using a mixture of water and darkness magic where the drunk men were sitting. He did this at the spot where the floor would drop, ensuring that it wouldn''t produce any loud impact noise.


    He then used darkness magic to darken the space below and controlled small red orbs to slowly burn the floorboards in a circular pattern with laser-like precision. He also employed wind magic to prevent the smell of burning from rising above.


    As the groove deepened significantly, just one step away from breaking due to weight, Tatsuro summoned thirty small red orbs and set them in the gap. Sending a signal to Ai with telepathy, he directed the small orbs to fire extremely tiny lasers simultaneously, creating holes.


    ""?!""


    Suddenly, the intoxicated men couldn''t react in time, and they fell in front of Ai without any resistance.


    "Ouch!"


    "Grrr!"


    |You have acquired [Stick Art Lv. 3]|


    At that moment, Ai struck them unconscious with a simple iron bar made by Tatsuro. To be sure they were indeed unconscious, Tatsuro cast a spell to confirm it. He then tore pieces of fabric from the thieves'' clothing, stuffed one into each of their mouths, and tightly tied a twisted cloth behind their necks to secure it. He used wire to bind their limbs to the back, rendering them completely immobile. After that, he left them by the hole and stuck his head out.


    "Why are you guys!?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    ""Shh""


    Suddenly, the guards disappeared below the floor and the two who he had been thinking about earlier appeared in front of Gillian. He gasped, his eyes darting around. However, he was quietly urged to be silent, and he covered his mouth with his hand and nodded, feeling embarrassed about his outburst.


    Tatsuro then explained the situation in a hushed voice.


    "In exchange for helping you, you will come with us to Lyadas." (Tatsuro)


    "I couldn''t wish for anything better." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "In that case, let''s get out of here quickly. There seems to be a dangerous person around here." (Tatsuro)


    "Huff huff I can''t keep going." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "No, not just Gillian-san, even if I were to run as fast as I could, I wouldn''t make it in time." (Tatsuro)


    "Ah, if you say that, I''m relieved huff" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    In reality, the other person''s abnormal speed meant that even if Tatsuro ran at his full speed, they would be caught before reaching the exit. In this situation, there was no other option.


    As Tatsuro considered their next move, he suddenly realized something odd about the current situation. Despite the presence of many people in the mansion, only one person was actively searching for them. The others weren''t helping, and there was no one else drawing attention to themselves.


    (If they''re acting alone, it doesn''t make sense Everyone could easily find us if they searched together. Well, never mind. If it''s just one person, there are plenty of ways to deal with it.) (Tatsuro)


    With that in mind, Tatsuro once again held hands with Ai and created a passage to allow the person on the other side to enter if they wished. He further compacted the earth in the area, creating a spacious underground room.


    "Are they coming here?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, it seems like they''re acting alone without seeking assistance. They can rest here for now." (Tatsuro)


    Upon opening the exit, it seemed likely that the opponent would quickly cross the passage Tatsuro had created, without suspecting it might be a trap.


    "Ai, prepare for combat. Gillian, I''ve created a small room over there, so hide there." (Tatsuro)


    "Got it!" (Ai)


    "Understood!" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    Ai drew her gemstone sword, while Gillian, struggling to identify the room''s entrance, which was not very noticeable, opted to simply remove the cover and slip inside. He closed it again and remained silent.


    In less than a minute, their opponent''s figure came into view. It was a beast man, standing nearly two meters tall, covered in bright orange fur with black tiger-like stripes all over his body. His face resembled a tiger more than a human. Based on these features, they concluded that it was indeed Ennio.


    Ennio, with his sharp claws, made a slashing motion toward them.


    "Haah!"


    Seeing it was clearly a physical attack, Ai shattered it with her gemstone sword. Meanwhile, he entered the underground chamber at a speed too fast to follow and roared with a volume that reverberated through the room like a fierce tiger.


    "Guraaaaaaawwwwwww!" (Ennio)


    "." (Tatsuro)


    "." (Ai)


    If they were newcomers to this world, the forceful roar alone might have been enough to send shivers down their spine, but after facing the roars of a Gold Bear and a Magic Dragon, it seemed less intimidating.


    They casually covered their ears and raised their eyebrows in mild annoyance.


    Ennio appeared surprised by their lack of fear, and his imposing presence waned as he tilted his head.


    "Why you no scared of Ennio? Ennio, scary!" (Ennio)


    "Is that so? It''s not scary; you''re just big and cool." (Ai)


    "Cool? Ennio, cool?" (Ennio)


    "Yeah, you''re cool, not scary." (Tatsuro)


    "Cool? First time hearing that." (Ennio)


    "First time hearing? It must be a new word." (Ai)


    "Salman said Ennio has the brain of a five or six-year-old, but he looks even younger." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, it''s like talking to a kindergarten kid." (Ai)


    Despite being a hulking tiger man clad in his own fur, he insisted on his error and acted just like a mischievous toddler.


    Tatsuro wondered if there was a way to resolve the situation peacefully and without harming him.

 Chapter 99: Conversation with Ennio

    Chapter 99: Conversation with Ennio


    Ennio.


    This man had developed a severe hereditary condition. Among the beast men, it''s an extremely rare condition, often referred to as one in a million.


    When it manifests, deep-seated genetic information interferes with normal genes, resulting in a more primitive, beast-like appearance. It''s said that as the severity increases, strength may grow, sensory organs become more sensitive, and intelligence levels decrease.


    However, most cases are mild, causing increased hairiness or irritability. Still, Ennio''s condition was exceptionally severe, unlike any in the past few centuries. Consequently, he lacked self-control and, when throwing tantrums, continued to rampage until exhaustion overcame him.


    Hence, the bandits here treated him cautiously, avoiding getting too close, as if handling a ticking time bomb. The reason why Tatsuro''s group was noticed this time was largely due to his sharp sense of smell.


    But one of those who had barely kept Ennio company was dead, and the other, currently engaged in undercover work with the son of the local lord in Lyadas. The anti-magic users had absolute faith in their magic, so even though Ennio was running around everywhere, they didn''t suspect intruders. Furthermore, he was currently confined to the mansion''s grounds while having a tantrum.


    So if Tatsuro''s group were careful with their detection spells and they could do something with Ennio, they could roam the gardens without being discovered.


    In this situation, Tatsuro''s group engaged in conversation with Ennio.


    "What are you guys doing here?" (Ennio)


    "Oh, right. We''re making a secret base under the mansion at Iyaruki''s request" (Tatsuro)


    "A secret base?" (Ennio)


    "Yeah, a se-cr-et base" (Tatsuro)


    "I know what you mean, a secret base, right?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, yeah that''s it. Hehe," Ennio chuckled.


    Avoiding excessive corrections to prevent him from throwing a tantrum, Tatsuro sent a glance to Ai to signal her to stop correcting him. Tatsuro then explained the concept of a secret base again, simplifying his explanation.


    "Um, well, a secret base is like a special place that only your friends know about, you know?" (Tatsuro)


    "???" (Ennio)


    "I don''t think he gets it" (Ai)


    "Yeah, I tried to make it easy for kids to understand, but it seems that''s not working." (Tatsuro)


    "Uh, I think we''re going to have a lot more friends in the future." (Ai)


    "More friends? Why?" (Ennio)


    "Oh, Ennio and his gang are strong, so they''re going to ask us to be their friends. It means Ennio will have more followers." (Tatsuro)


    "Followers! I know that! That''s someone with lots of followers, right?" Ennio enthusiastically replied.


    Although Tatsuro internally thought that having many Iyaruki would be troublesome, he interpreted Ennio''s statement as if Iyaruki had many followers. He decided to go with that angle.


    "Yeah, those followers. Ennio, do you want more followers?" (Tatsuro)


    "I want them!" (Ennio)


    "Exactly! But if you have too many followers, your room will get cramped, right? Ennio wouldn''t like that, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "I don''t like cramped spaces!" (Ennio)


    "Right. So, Iyaruki asked us to build a new home for you so that even if you have more followers, it won''t get cramped." (Tatsuro)


    "Iyaruki did it for me?" (Ennio)


    "Yeah, that''s right. It''s for Ennio." (Tatsuro)


    Ennio seemed to like the idea very much, as he smiled and jumped around with excitement. Seeing his reaction, Tatsuro started to feel a twinge of guilt for deceiving him, even mentioning the name of the deceased.


    However, for now, I prioritize returning as soon as possible and tell myself to endure it.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    "Huh? But I didn''t hear anything like that? Are you really feeling that way? What? Oh, I said it, I said it. Mm, it''s suspicious! At times like these, bring out the evidence!" (Ennio)


    "Evidence? Oh, right I know some really difficult words!" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s right! Ennio is amazing!" (Ennio)


    "Oh, that''s incredible!" (Tatsuro)


    "So, where''s the evidence?" (Ennio)


    "Ennio is a good I understand. I''ll be a good boy and wait! But will I never see you again?" (Ennio)


    "I don''t know. We''re traveling, so we''ll be far away from here soon." (Tatsuro)


    "I see In that case, should I make you guys Ennio''s top henchmen?" (Ennio)


    "Henchmen? Spare me from that." (Ai)


    "Yeah, that wouldn''t be equal, right? If you want to enjoy conversations, we need to be on the same level." (Tatsuro)


    Just when he thought he had said something good, Ennio''s expression suddenly twisted, and he became grumpy.


    Realizing that this was a bad situation, Tatsuro impulsively blurted out "Friends!"


    "Grrooo? Friends?" (Ennio)


    "Yes, friends. How about that?" (Tatsuro)


    "What are friends?" (Ennio)


    "It''s the term for someone with whom you can have fun conversations and play together like we did earlier." (Tatsuro)


    "Conversations playing friends! That''s it! That''s good! I want to be friends!!" (Ennio)


    Ennio''s grumpy face disappeared, and he happily bounced around. However, they couldn''t quite manage to smile because they were more concerned about the fact that he didn''t even know the meaning of the word "friends."


    Perhaps for this reason, Tatsuro decided to create a small iron sphere from a piece of iron ingot he took from his [item box] and infused it with a mixture of magic, both elemental and life magic.


    "Ennio, as a token of our new friendship, I''ll give you a present." (Tatsuro)


    "A present? What is it? Smell it, smell it! It''s my first present! Is it something to eat?" (Ennio)


    As Ennio received the small iron sphere with a diameter of about one centimeter, he rolled it on his hand, brought it close to his nose to smell it, and moved around busily, bringing smiles to Tatsuro and Ai.


    "No, it''s not that. It''s a mysterious sphere with a special enchantment to help Ennio be an even better kid." (Tatsuro)


    "Mysterious? Is it amazing?" (Ennio)


    "Yes, it''s amazing. Because you''re our friend, it''s special, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Special It sounds nice!" (Ennio)


    "What is it actually for?" (Ai)


    "In reality, when it senses Ennio''s anger, the magic I infused into it provides a calming effect to the owner until my mana runs out." (Tatsuro)


    "So, you used [Curse Magic] for it, right?" (Ai)


    To this comment from Ai, Tatsuro nodded silently. In response, Ai also nodded back, and her perception of Curse Magic changed a bit to the positive side.


    "So, it''s really time to go" (Tatsuro)


    "Ugh, I got it! When we meet again, we''ll play a lot!" (Ennio)


    "Yeah, let''s play a lot!" (Tatsuro)


    "Definitely!" (Ai)


    With that, Ennio waved to the two of them. It seemed fresh to him, and he happily waved his hands as he left.


    "He was an interesting kid, don''t you think?" (Ai)


    "Yeah probably. If it were us, even if Ennio were to misbehave, we could probably handle it. And if we had met in a different place, we might have truly become friends." (Tatsuro)


    "Huh? What are you talking about, Tatsuro?" (Ai)


    "Hmm? What do you mean?" (Tatsuro)


    "I became real friends with that kid. What about you, Tatsuro?" (Ai)


    Faced with the genuinely pure eyes of Ai, Tatsuro couldn''t help but break into a smile.


    "Haha, you''re right. I definitely did!" (Tatsuro)


    And so, as promised, Tatsuro quickly built a room for Ennio underground and then promptly headed back to the surface with the merchant Gillian.

 Chapter 100: Return to Lyadas

    Chapter 100: Return to Lyadas


    Hello, Jonathan Titan here!


    This is the 100th Chapter of this story. And the 40th chapter that I have translated from Japanese to English so far.


    My skills sure must have increased from when I started.


    Thanks for the support and co-operation you have shown to me so far.


    Please continue to take care of me!


    Enjoy!


    -


    After that, Tatsuro and his companions remained in the mansion''s garden, circulating the air with wind magic. They continued to dig a long tunnel leading outside the town.


    When they reached a deserted location, they filled in the hole, brought out a board, connected one end of a reinforced wire to it, and attached the other end to an improvised iron chair they had made. They had Gillian, the merchant, sit in the chair and secured it with another wire to prevent him from falling.


    "What exactly are you planning to do now?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Well, we want to get to our destination a bit faster" (Tatsuro)


    "That doesn''t answer my question Oh well, merchants have courage!" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "That''s the spirit!" (Tatsuro)


    Gillian was uncertain about what was going to happen, but at this point, he was prepared for anything. Tatsuro and Ai boarded the board as usual, instructed Gillian to keep his mouth closed to avoid biting his tongue, and then swiftly jumped into the air.


    "Buhotasarijaiehrjapuhrjh." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Oh, too-" (Tatsuro)


    "Keep it up, Tatsuro!" (Ai)


    Without any prior explanation, Gillian had no idea what was happening. He felt the sensation of being rapidly pulled upward and was already on the verge of fainting.


    Tatsuro, on the other hand, struggled desperately to control the wind magic due to the unexpected weight, which was gradually eroding his magical power. To alleviate the strain, he retrieved iron ingots from his [Item Box] and expanded the board''s surface to create a shape resembling a giant manta ray, thus increasing buoyancy enough to barely endure.


    (TL.NOTES: Check the explanation on Giant manta rays here at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_oceanic_manta_ray)


    With a little breathing room, Tatsuro borrowed Cardina''s detection magic and examined Gillian''s condition who was sitting in the chair connected by the wire.


    "Bukubukubuku" (Gillian Mac Dermott)Follow the latest novels on


    "Oh, he''s foaming at the mouth." (Tatsuro)


    "Is he okay?" (Ai)


    "It seems like there''s no immediate danger, so he should be fine. It''s safer this way rather than being conscious." (Tatsuro)


    Rushing ahead, they made sure to keep an eye on Gillian to prevent him from choking on the foam. However, unable to endure the rapid consumption of magical power, they had to make several emergency landings along the way to take breaks while heading towards Salman''s hidden location.


    The morning had come, and the sunlight spilled through the partly cloudy sky. Last night, they had used the effects of their titles for fatigue recovery and their own [Life Magic] to move without rest, repeatedly taking breaks. They landed near the underground room where Salman was being held.


    After a night of hard labor, Tatsuro removed the wire that had secured Gillian and laid him on the grass. Tatsuro also leaned against Ai''s knee and rested while waiting for Gillian to wake up.


    "Hmm Where am I?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Oh, you''re awake?" (Tatsuro)


    "I must say, it feels like you two are always glued together." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "We''re good friends." (Ai)


    "It''s quite passionate." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    Gillian, seemingly in a good mood after waking up in a safe place, calmly exchanged words with the two. Then, they explained the current situation and the events that led to rescuing Gillian, including the killing of Iyaruki.


    "Well, this is a rather dire situation, isn''t it?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "That''s why we want to talk to the lord as soon as possible." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes, with the head of the bandits taken down, they might take extreme actions. And you still have that family heirloom, right?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Yes. I stored it in my [Item Box] as soon as possible, without touching the body." (Tatsuro)


    On the cart''s platform, Tatsuro removed Cardina''s seat to make space for passengers. He set up a ladder and connected it to Jeanne, waiting for the two who had been out of sight.


    "Alright, please get on board." (Tatsuro)


    "Is this creature pulling the cart different from the one before?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "No, it''s the same one." (Ai)


    "It has quite a menacing appearance" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Isn''t it cute?" (Ai)


    Salman silently climbed up, and Gillian, realizing that further questions were pointless, reluctantly took hold of the ladder on the carriage and got on board.


    After ensuring they were seated securely, Tatsuro signaled Jeanne, who had been flying vigilantly in the sky, to come down. He placed the two on the passengers'' laps and gave the signal to Jeanne.


    The carriage started moving, and with careful navigation using Cardina and Tatsuro''s detection magic, they chose unpaved, secluded paths even if it meant taking detours. As a result of traveling such routes, they had used almost a full day to cover a distance they could have reached in half a day. By the early afternoon of the next day, they finally arrived near Lyadas.


    When they got close, they found a spot that seemed inconspicuous and stopped the carriage there.


    "We''ll be heading underground from here, so please disembark." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes" (Salman)


    "Okay." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Finally, we''ve arrived at the enemy''s headquarters." (Ai)


    "The main base is currently in Tofas, and this place only houses the root of all evil." (Tatsuro)


    While exchanging these words, Tatsuro used his staff imbued with magic to create a tunnel wide enough for them to pass through with his free hand that was not holding Ai''s hand. They allowed Salman and Gillian to enter the tunnel first, stored Jeanne and the carriage in the meantime, and then followed behind.


    "Is this the right way?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes, my family''s house is in an area where relatively affluent people gather, so it should be in that direction." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "As expected of a merchant with a special connection to the lord!" (Ai)


    "It''s not me; it''s all thanks to my father and grandfather." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    They cross-checked their current location meticulously using the map function and information from Gillian. Tatsuro advanced with periodic ventilation using wind magic along the way. He likely arrived at a location believed to be under the garden of Gillian''s family estate, the Mac Dermott Mansion.


    "By the way, if we can easily bypass the guards and enter our estate like this, it might be a good idea to be more cautious in the future." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Do you really need to?" (Salman)


    "Why do you say that?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "The people around here wouldn''t last a second; they can''t handle the magic power. Even if a user of earth magic, wants to dig a hole through, they would run out of magic power along the way and get stuck. Besides, someone not skilled enough might cause a collapse. You might not understand because you''re a merchant, but even these walls are built with reinforced structures." (Salman)


    "That is indeed extraordinary." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Y-yeah, you''re right. With this level of power, there''s no need to bother digging holes or anything like that. They wouldn''t even be doing these things if it weren''t for us." (Salman)


    As Salman and Gillian chatted in hushed voices, Tatsuro had created a path leading to the Mac Dermott Mansion''s garden.


    "Hey, come on, hurry up! We''ll leave you behind!" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, you''ve come all the way here for us. Let''s get our job done." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Yeah, you''re right." (Salman)


    They ascended a deliberately uneven slope to prevent slipping and, with Gillian''s consent, cleared the grass that had served as a lid. Natural light pierced through, not from magic but from the sun.


    With squinting eyes, they emerged from the garden one by one: Gillian, Salman, Tatsuro, and Ai. Alongside the sound of commotion from inside the mansion, five armored soldiers rushed in.


    "Who goes there!? Wait, young master!?"


    """" Young master?""""


    "Well I''ve been asking you to stop calling me that for a while, Neville." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "What are you talking about? To me, you''ll always be the young master. So, young master, who are these people?"


    Gillian, with a bright red face, briefly explained the situation to Neville, an elderly knight overseeing the mansion''s security, and requested an audience with his father, Reginald Mac Dermott.

 Chapter 101: Cardinas Growth

    Chapter 101: Cardina''s Growth


    After finishing the rough explanation, the elderly knight Neville wore a bitter expression and revealed that Gillian''s father, Reginald, whom they were relying on, was currently not in the Lyadas territory but engaged in negotiations in the town of Telgeni, belonging to the neighboring territory of Ryusiten.


    "Did my father personally go to Telgeni for negotiations? Even though we have an uncle there, why would he go all the way to Telgeni?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "It seems he was secretly requested by the lord for a favor. I don''t have the right to inquire further, so I cannot provide more details." (Neville)


    "What terrible timing I''m sorry, Tatsuro-san, Ai-san." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    If this story was true, even if they were able to meet Gillian as promised, there was a possibility that they might not be able to meet his father. Feeling embarrassed for not fulfilling even the previously agreed-upon things, Gillian deeply bowed his head.


    But what''s needed now is not an apology but action. Therefore, Tatsuro immediately asked him to raise his head.


    "Apologies can come later. We need to move things forward as quickly as possible; otherwise, the situation will only worsen. Considering they might already be on the move." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s true. Neville, use the fastest messenger bird available to urgently contact my father." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Understood, young master." (Neville)


    Gillian immediately ordered the dispatch of a messenger bird, and Neville, who nodded in response, instructed his subordinate nearby to expedite the preparations.


    Telgeni was closer than Tofas, and it would take about two days on the way even by carriage. If the messenger bird arrived safely, Gillian could expect his father to return within five days at the latest.


    "Five days later the timing is delicately subtle. They probably already know about us escaping with Gillian, and they might reach Lyadas before us." (Tatsuro)


    "In that case, we''ll never know what measures they might take." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Indeed. With Iyaruki''s right-hand man, Gregory, who is practically the vice leader of the thieves, the town mayor Joel Wickham, and, by the way, the foolish son of the local lord, I forgot his name, those guys may be collaborating from within. Allowing thieves to infiltrate, killing his father and sister, and forcibly inheriting the position because there''s no one else such a worst-case scenario is also possible." (Tatsuro)


    "We must avoid that at all costs." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    Even though it''s a five-day wait, there''s a higher possibility of arriving sooner. However, it''s essential to anticipate the worst-case scenario. I want to take action right away, but it''s also possible to inadvertently provoke by making bold moves before meeting the lord.


    In that case, a hiding place would become necessary.


    "In five days, what should we do, including Salman and me? We can''t wander outside. Besides, Gillian can''t go outside either, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s right. There are likely guards from the mayor''s faction, and if they see us, we''ll be killed. So, I think everyone should barricade themselves here until my father returns. The people here can be trusted." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "However, when they realize you''re gone, the first place they''ll investigate is here. Are you sure about this?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes, the security here is much stricter than the surrounding houses, and Neville''s unit is not a soft force that would lose to bandits" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    Although Tatsuro initially thought the security might be lax, considering the change in soil type from when they entered the mansion''s underground, making it difficult for magic to penetrate as they ascend, and without a means like Tatsuro''s constant massive magic recovery, magical excavation into the ground is challenging.


    Moreover, assuming there''s an anti-magic user in Neville''s unit surpassing Salman''s dispelling magic, their immediate response upon our arrival on the surface is undeniable.


    Considering all this, even if the location is identified, this place, difficult to probe and invade, might have one of the highest levels of safety in the town.


    "I think staying here temporarily is a good idea?" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s right. I agree. For now, the people we can trust seem to be the ones here." (Ai)


    So, the two decided to barricade themselves here, and Salman, as an accomplice, also stayed in the same place.


    "Alright, I''ll arrange rooms immediately. Salman will have a separate room, and the two of you will also be allocated a separate" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Together." (Tatsuro)


    "Together." (Ai)


    "Haha, still, your close relationship is enviable. In contrast, I''m every day occupied with work, not to mention a wife, not even a girlfriend" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    Gillian, who was observing the affectionate scene of the two, seemed to be muttering something while staring at a point on the ground.


    Seeing that, Salman began to pat his shoulder in a comforting manner, and they seemed to bond over shared sentiments.


    "Um, where should we stay then?" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s right, that''s right! Salman understands, right!" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Y-Yes, I understand, Gillian! W-We''re not unpopular! It''s just that our circumstances were unfortunate!" (Salman)


    "This is hopeless." (Tatsuro)


    Witnessing this scene, Tatsuro recalled a friend from their original world who used to tease him about his relationship with Ai, insisting that it was due to being busy with extracurricular activities that made him not to have a partner.


    "My current SP is (243), so I''ll go for Life to Level 3, Dispel and Wind to Level 9, and Curse to Level 4, consuming a total of (231) SP." (Tatsuro)


    "So, that means 1 level for Life, Dispel, and Wind magic, and 3 levels for Curse magic. Are you planning to raise them evenly?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, that''s the plan. I thought about maxing out Dispel or Wind only to Level 10, but I''d rather take them to Level 10 simultaneously." (Tatsuro)


    "Should I prioritize the older sister Cardina first, or Jeanne the younger sister? It''s true, ranking them doesn''t feel right for siblings." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah." (Ai)


    With the education strategy aligned, Tatsuro proceeded to consume SP and raised the skill levels as planned, leaving him with (12) SP. The time had come for the much-anticipated Cardina and Jeanne to enter the stage of system installation.


    First, having Ai embrace him from behind and activate the title, Tatsuro generated dragon magic and invoked mixed magic of light and darkness skillfully named by the system as "Yin-Yang Orb."


    "Amazing Thanks to Composite Magic Skill Enhancement activation, the system almost does everything automatically just by providing mana" (Tatsuro)


    "Really? It usually takes you quite some time, but is it because the spheres of light and darkness are already there" (Ai)


    "It''s not only time-saving but also feels frustratingly cleaner than when I''m manually controlling everything" (Tatsuro)


    "I can''t tell the difference, though" (Ai)


    Since it was a sensory thing and the appearance changed only in size, Ai tilted her head in confusion. Tatsuro, considering it might not be apparent from an objective viewpoint, concluded the rough explanation and promptly called Cardina.


    As Cardina had experienced this multiple times already, she flew towards the enormous sphere at Tatsuro''s fingertips. Upgrading to Level 10, she incorporated the factors of [Dispel Magic Lv. 9] and [Earth Magic Lv. 7] undergoing her version upgrade.


    "By the way, are you not giving Jeanne a new attribute?" (Ai)


    "I''m still thinking about it. While you can erase it once you''ve added it, the penalty for having multiple attributes remains, so I need to choose wisely" (Tatsuro)


    "I see. And what about Cardina-chan?" (Ai)


    "Cardina is still in sphere form." (Tatsuro)


    As the two watched, her appearance gradually transformed.


    "Wait a minute." (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee." (Cardina)


    What appeared was something different from the Cardina they were used to seeing.


    First, the color transformed into a beautiful shade of blue, and the size changed to an imposing two and a half meters, even with its wings not fully spread.


    The body''s surface was covered with scales resembling those of a dragon, and the large wings had feathers so rigid they seemed like steel, capable of cutting through upon contact.


    Additionally, the previously small forelegs were now equipped with sharp claws that could tear through anything, firmly gripping the ground. The hind legs transformed into thick limbs resembling those of a large feline rather than a bird, allowing for four-legged movement.


    "It looks quite different now" (Ai)


    "I had some extra room this time, so I poured all the dragon power into it" (Tatsuro)


    "I wonder I feel like I''ve seen creatures with this form in a game" (Ai)


    "Probably a griffin. The form is almost identical, even though the dragon-like scales and sturdy wings are a bit different. It''s essentially the same" (Tatsuro)


    "Ah, that makes sense." (Ai)


    Resembling a creature from a fantasy world, the majestic form overflowed with dignity. As Tatsuro and Ai admired the spectacle, Cardina let out a roar. They turned their attention to her, and she stepped back before starting to transform again.


    "Oh, now it''s a form with just magical power." (Ai)


    "This one looks neat. Maybe she should stay like this normally." (Tatsuro)


    Nodding in agreement, Tatsuro observed a sleek and slender-bodied eagle-shaped Cardina, roughly one meter in size. Although the size wasn''t significantly different from her Level 5 form, the overflowing strength and exquisite beauty suggested a form pursuing functional aesthetics.


    Her intelligent eyes seemed to be questioning Tatsuro and Ai about their thoughts.


    "You look beautiful, Cardina." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, it''s amazing!" (Ai)


    "Pewee!" (Cardina)


    Like a child praised by a parent, Cardina joyfully flew around the room, showcasing her newfound form.

 Chapter 102: Jeannes Growth and the System

    Chapter 102: Jeanne''s Growth and the System


    Once Cardina was in a calm state, they worked on rebuilding Jeanne''s new body with her nearby. Activating the skill of "Yin-Yang Orb" with dragon magic, they quickly completed it''s generation and prompted Jeanne to change her appearance.


    Without hesitation, Jeanne entered the massive sphere, acquiring a new body and the power of [Wind Magic Lv.9].


    "Jeanne, if possible, come out in a smaller form, not an evolved one." (Tatsuro)


    "Jeanne-chan must be way bigger than Cardina-chan. It wouldn''t be good to showcase her indoors" (Ai)


    "The ceiling here was barely high enough for Cardina''s dragon form. We could accidentally wreck someone else''s house" (Tatsuro)


    Having no need to use Transmission'' anymore, Jeanne, who understood their request well, transformed into the assumed form based on the expectation of a magic level 1 body.


    "Cute!" (Ai)


    "Indeed!" (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh." (Jeanne)


    What appeared was a black rhino child measuring about sixty centimeters in length. Despite this, it already possessed a certain level of intelligence, understanding the praise with narrowed eyes in joy.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    Although curious about its original form, the two were captivated by the gap between its usual majestic demeanor and the adorable sitting figure.


    However, Cardina, the older sister who witnessed this scene, grabbed Tatsuro and Ai''s collars with her beak, passionately appealing.


    "Cardina-chan is beautiful!" (Ai)


    "Yeah, you do give off a proper big sister vibe." (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee!" (Cardina)


    While properly attending to them and indulging the still-dependent duo, the two finally delved into the main topicthe system of the two entities.


    "Cardina, Jeanne, would you like to send us a party request? The procedure is in the system''s" (Tatsuro)


    Recalling memories of forming a party with Ai, Tatsuro gave detailed instructions. As they did, party requests to Tatsuro and Ai''s system arrived.


    "Oh, here it is."


    "Oh, It''s here" (Tatsuro)


    "it''s here!" (Ai)


    "Pewee!" (Cardina)


    "Neigh." (Jeanne)


    Responding with a decisive "yes" to the long-awaited request, Tatsuro, Ai, Cardina, and Jeanne''s names were now firmly listed in the party section.


    "With the four of us lined up, it truly feels like a party!" (Ai)


    "It''s nice to see our names side by side, but this is good too." (Tatsuro)


    With a fresh feeling, they began by checking Cardina''s status.


    Name: Cardina


    Class:


    Level: 1


    Dragon Power: 122


    Strength: 16


    Durability: 16


    Agility: 11


    Magic: 32


    Magic Resistance: 32


    Magic Control: 27


    |Acquired Skills|


    [True Form], [Adult Form], [Child Form]


    [Dragon Flight Lv.5], [Dragon Wing Blade Lv.1], [Dispel Magic Lv.9]


    [Earth Magic Lv.7]


    Durability: 17


    Agility: 12


    Magic: 26


    Magic Resistance: 26


    Magic Control: 21


    |Acquired Skills|


    [True Form], [Adult Form], [Child Form]


    [Dragon Horn Spear Blade Lv.6], [Dragon Flight Lv.1], [Wind Magic Lv.9]


    Skill Points: 3


    |Titles|


    None


    "" [Dragon Flight''!?]"" They chorused


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    Surprised by this unexpected skill, the two widened their eyes. As if saying, "I''m amazing too!" Jeanne, who had been sitting with her buttocks flat on the ground, stood up sharply.


    "No, no, not Neigh! Flying without wings" (Tatsuro)


    "Hey, Tatsuro. Doesn''t Jeanne''s [Dragon Flight] display seem thicker compared to the others?" (Ai)


    "Hmm? Oh, right. Maybe she can''t do it with [Child Form] can''t do it, but with [True Form] wings will sprout, and she can fly?" (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    "Looks like a hit." (Ai)


    "Yeah. Now I really want to see her true form." (Tatsuro)


    "But, well, it''s impossible here Jeanne-chan, please show us when we find a spacious place, okay?" (Ai)


    Upon Ai''s request, Jeanne nodded enthusiastically.


    With Jeanne currently in the form of a child-sized rhino, her appearance was incredibly cute, and Ai hugged her tightly as if cherishing a doll.


    Observing this, Cardina, who had been staring at Tatsuro, took the clue and affectionately patted his head.


    After wrapping up the bonding time with the animals, they decided to investigate another intriguing skill.


    "[Dragon Horn Spear Blade Lv.6] involves doing something with that horn on her nose, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Probably. Oh, definitely. Gathering Ki at the tip of that horn, releasing it creates a slash-attribute Ki, and if you hit something directly, it becomes a thrust-attribute attack." (Ai)


    "Sounds quite powerful. Hmm? In that case, isn''t Jeanne the first to have a proper Ki release?" (Tatsuro)


    "Huh!?" (Ai)


    "Pewee!?" (Cardina)


    Shocked by what they had been arguing about earlier, Ai and Cardina bowed before Jeanne, who raised a triumphant shout.


    While Ai and Cardina tasted the bitterness of mysterious defeat, Tatsuro, considering that if the system was installed, Jeanne might be able to acquire skills, suggested that she check for it.


    "Alright. Everyone, attention." (Tatsuro)


    "What?" (Ai)


    "Pewee?" (Cardina)


    "?" (Jeanne)


    After confirming that Ai, Cardina, and Jeanne were all focused on him, Tatsuro revealed something he had wanted to try since the system was installed.


    "From now on, Cardina and Jeanne will meditate." (Tatsuro)


    "Meditate if I recall correctly Oh, it''s the one that increases Ki recovery speed!" (Ai)


    "Exactly. Probably, with their current state, Cardina and Jeanne should be able to acquire [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Increase]. If that happens, they can recover on their own, significantly extending their active time." (Tatsuro)


    "I see." (Ai)


    And so, under Tatsuro''s guidance, Cardina and Jeanne began their meditation.

 Chapter 103: To the Lords Residence

    Chapter 103: To the Lord''s Residence


    In summary, Both Cardina and Jeanne successfully acquired the skill [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Increase], Due to their innate talent as Dragon species (Dragon kin), they quickly reached level 5 in [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Increase] in a short period. During this time, the two, unaware of the special nature of being Dragon kin, did not refrain from expressing their pride in their children''s potential genius.


    As they observed the growth of Cardina and Jeanne over the past few days, the couple prepared for unforeseen circumstances. It was during their dinner on the day after tomorrow that they received news of the return of the owner of the mansion, Reginald Mac Dermott.


    While expressing gratitude to the maid who brought the news, the couple hurriedly followed her to the location where Gillian and others were waiting.


    "Quite fast, isn''t it? It''s only been about two days since they released that messenger bird, right? I remember them saying it would take two days one way." (Ai)


    "They mentioned a carriage, so maybe they have other means of transportation. Ah, here it is." (Tatsuro)


    Chasing after the maid to a place they had no memory of in the past two days, they arrived at a particularly large door befitting the room of the head of the household residing in this mansion.


    Beside the door stood Neville, the chief of security, an elderly knight, and a woman wearing a robe who seemed to be his deputy.


    "We''ve been waiting for you. Lord Reginald is already inside. Please go in." (Neville)


    "Yes." (Ai)


    "Sure." (Tatsuro)


    Upon saying this to Tatsuro and Ai, Neville personally opened the door and let them through. Beyond the open door sat a man with an exceptionally muscular physique and a chin beard, comfortably seated in a chair behind a large and splendid desk.


    {Huh? Could it be that this bodybuilder-like old man is Gillian''s father?} (Ai)


    {That Gillian''s father is quite a mismatch, so please stop that} (Tatsuro)


    As they communicated through telepathy, Gillian''s father, Reginald Mac Dermott, stood up, approached them, and extended his hand.


    "I am Reginald Mac Dermott, the head of this household." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "I''m Tatsuro Hasami." (Tatsuro)


    "Ai Yashiki." (Ai)


    Alternating handshakes, Tatsuro and Ai greeted him, and he responded with a refreshing smile that didn''t match his physique.


    "This time, my son has been in your care, so I want to express my gratitude." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "No need to worry about it. We did what we did because it benefited us as well." (Tatsuro)


    "I see. Well, let''s set aside that discussion for now and get straight to the main topic." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Yes." (Tatsuro)


    With a serious expression replacing the earlier cheerful smile, Reginald, along with Gillian and Salman in the room''s corner, began to provide a detailed explanation of the current situation.


    When the topic of Iyaruki came up, Tatsuro took out a box containing the body of the thief leader who wore the heirloom of the Lord of Lyadas.


    "In here is the body of the thief leader adorned with the heirloom of the Lyadas Lord''s family." (Tatsuro)Follow the latest novels on


    "Yes. We cannot verify the authenticity of the equipment, but this man certainly played a central role in the recent turmoil." (Ai)


    "I see. Well, let me take a look at it right away. I''ve been involved in the maintenance of such equipment, so I can definitively determine its authenticity." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    Saying this, Reginald lifted the lid of the box made of compacted soil with his thick arms, as if flipping through pages of a book. He carefully examined the state of the armor and scrutinized the pattern and color of the cloak for a while.


    After about five minutes of such examination, Reginald finally raised his face.


    "There''s no mistake. This is undoubtedly the heirloom of the Lyadas-Bruitt family. You probably already know, but someone infiltrated the Lord''s residence treasure vault and stole this entire set of armor." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "So, it''s not something their son stole?" (Tatsuro)


    "When did?" (Tatsuro)


    "A merchant should never act without foreseeing the future, Tatsuro-kun." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    With Tatsuro, Ai, Reginald, Gillian, Salman, Neville, and the robed woman, the group headed towards the lord''s residence. Of course, the two were Reginald and Gillian''s escorts, so Tatsuro and the others were primarily responsible for their own vigilance. In fact, if there was room for it, they were even told to seek help.


    With an increase in the number of people, the journey would attract attention, and disrupting the coordination with Ai halfway would be more troublesome. So, it was preferable to proceed as desired.


    After Tatsuro stored the corpse in his [Item Box], they all exited the room simultaneously.


    "By the way, Reginald-san." (Ai)


    "What is it, Ai-kun?" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "How did you manage to return here so quickly?" (Ai)


    "Oh, about that? Do you know a girl named Marikka Shurjaniemi?" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Sounds familiar Tatsuro?" (Ai)


    After a second of contemplation, she gave up and sought help from Tatsuro. Although Tatsuro was not sure, he salvaged the memory of a person with that name from his mind.


    "I think she''s a candidate for the next town mayor. Laurence was supporting her or something." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, right. That guy was blabbering about that." (Ai)


    "Yeah, that seems almost certain too. So, since Marikka was there, I asked her to bring me here." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Huh? How?" (Ai)


    "Hmm? Isn''t that person quite famous? Do you know her name but not the person? She''s also a Tamer like the Gregory guy rumored to be in that gang of thieves/bandits. And she has a sub-dragon, so she flew here riding on its back. Well, being a Tamer is truly a good class. Every time I see that girl''s magical creatures, I can''t help but wish I had skills related to that." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "I see." (Ai)


    While Reginald''s class was unknown, indeed, being able to command magical creatures would be advantageous in terms of transportation.


    Though Tatsuro and the others didn''t know what a sub-dragon was, the convenience of having a creature that could carry someone on its back was incomparable.


    While discussing this, the seven of them walked towards the mansion''s garden.


    "By the way, how do we get to the lord''s residence?" (Tatsuro)


    "Well, you''ll understand when you get to the garden. With this number of people, it should be fine." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    With puzzled expressions, the two followed along, quickly grasping the answer.


    "Is that the sub-dragon?" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, you catch on quickly, Tatsuro-kun." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    In the spacious garden stood Marikka Shurjaniemi, a young fairy race girl who was about 150 centimeters tall, with light green hair, slightly pointed ears, and small cute feathers at her back. And her partner, a small winged creature that resembled an 8-meter-long large snake, a sub-dragon named Yorn.


    "Are you ready, Reginald-san?"


    "Yeah, with about seven people, is it okay?" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Our Yorn is very strong, so that''s a piece of cake."


    "If that''s the case, that''s great." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    The six, excluding Reginald and Marikka present here, all turned their gaze simultaneously towards the sub-dragon Yorn, wondering if they would be riding on it.

 Chapter 104: On the Way

    Chapter 104: On the Way


    Salman, Ai, and Tatsuro who were unfamiliar with the next mayoral candidate for Lyadas, lightly introduced themselves to Marikka Shurjaniemi.


    "Tatsuro-kun, Ai-chan, and the monkey! I have memorized your names perfectly! Nice to meet you!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Y-y-you don''t remember at all!" (Salman)


    "Nice to meet you!" (Ai)


    "You guys, don''t just stand there!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    Ignoring the noisy monkey, the attention of Tatsuro and others turned to Marikka''s partner, Yorn.


    Upon doing so, they were met with an aggressive gaze and found it strangely refreshing compared to the affectionate aura they usually received from Cardina and Jeanne.


    "Hey, Yorn! You can''t look at them like that!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Shhhh."


    Ignoring the green sub-dragon Yorn turning away as if saying he didn''t care, Marikka puffed her cheeks and angrily moved her wings on her back.


    In the midst of this, urged by Neville, Marikka blushed and her wings drooped in embarrassment.


    "I''m sorry. We should go to the Lord''s place as soon as possible. Well then, please take turns riding Yorn." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Where will Marikka-san ride?" (Ai)


    Despite Yorn being controlled only by Marikka at the moment, Ai was curious and asked why Marikka wasn''t getting on first.


    "I have my wings, so I''ll fly with them. No matter how strong, carrying this many people is tough." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Then, then, can I ride in the front?" (Ai)


    "Hehe, sure." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Yay!" (Ai)


    "Congratulations, Ai." (Tatsuro)


    With Ai happily in the lead, followed by Tatsuro, Neville, Reginald, Gillian, Salman, and the woman in a robe, they each straddled Yorn''s back in order, securely winding the rope extending from Yorn''s collar-mounted device around their bodies.


    "So, hold on tight so you don''t fall." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)Follow the latest novels on


    "Yes!" (Ai)


    "Hehe, a good answer! Yorn, please!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Shaaa!"


    Seeing Yorn respond matter-of-factly to Marikka despite his indifferent attitude, Tatsuro, and the others thought, "He''s a tsundere sub-dragon." Meanwhile, Yorn slowly ascended, fluttering his small wings for his size.


    It was a rather strange sensation compared to the usual roller coaster descent from the start.


    As the Sub-dragon soared into the sky and gained a moderate altitude, he turned his head in the direction of the Lord, and then slowly began to move.


    Although they could fly at a leisurely pace, it only consumed extra magic power, so while enjoying the unfamiliar floating sensation, Ai spoke to Marikka, who was flying beside her, flapping her wings.


    "Hey, Marikka-san. Yorn here is a sub-dragon, right?" (Ai)


    "That''s right, Ai-chan. This child is a magical creature called Shuracel, among the sub-dragons." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Is a sub-dragon different from a regular dragon?" (Tatsuro)


    As the topic they were curious about came up, Tatsuro also joined the conversation.


    "A sub-dragon is not a dragon species, but it''s a race very close to it. To put it more simply, they are not as superior as creatures to dragon species, but they can learn skills exclusive to dragon species, albeit at a low level. Some people don''t like to say it this way, but they might call them degraded dragon species." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Shaaa!"


    "I''ve never thought of it that way. Yorn." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Wait a minute. You''re going to jump from here without wings!?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Of course." (Ai)


    "Ah!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    Without a chance for Marikka to stop them, the two slid down from Yorn''s back, exposing themselves to gravity.


    Then, Tatsuro requested Cardina.


    "Cardina, release the larval form! Go in full form!"


    "Peep!!" (Cardina)


    Upon hearing Tatsuro''s words, Cardina, in free fall from Tatsuro''s hand, transformed into her true form.


    Her appearance was that of a griffin with reptilian features covered in dragon scales. The two jumped onto her back, soaring through the air.


    "Amazing! You really can ride her now!" (Ai)


    "I thought it might work once she grew this big, and as expectedhere he comes!" (Tatsuro)


    Ennio, who had unbelievably leaped up in a single bound, sent a claw slash towards them. Cardina dodged it herself.


    Then, as Ennio had no choice but to fall, Ai restrained him with a whip in her hand, and Tatsuro used magic to pacify and stun him, trying to close in at once.


    However, Ennio, who thought he had no choice but to fall, kicked the empty air and propelled himself even closer.


    "[Air Walk]]!? Is Ennio skilled in body techniques? Ai!" (Tatsuro)


    "I got it!" (Ai)


    Cardina, facing Ennio who approached by kicking through the air, immediately switched to ascent.


    With Cardina dedicated to movement, Ai broke the second claw slash with her gem sword.


    "Gruaaaaa!" (Ennio)


    "He''s losing it. Once it goes this far, the toy I gave him won''t work." (Tatsuro)


    "Well, let''s make him behave for now!" (Ai)


    "Agreed. Cardina, be cautious of attacks and get closer." (Tatsuro)


    Upon those words, Cardina roared in agreement and infused dragon power into both wings, utilizing the ability of [Dragon Flight] to fly around Ennio. Ai, from atop, attempted to entangle and restrain him with a whip.


    However, Ennio, whether by wild instinct or skill, adeptly dodged Ai''s whip attacks while descending through the air. As he touched the ground and rebounded with another leap, he approached them again.


    "Oh, he''s so nimble! If he keeps moving like that, I might end up attacking!" (Ai)


    "Calm down. Let''s create some distance first." (Tatsuro)


    "Huh? Are we running away?" (Ai)


    "No, no. I want to use magic, so I want to create some distance." (Tatsuro)


    Saying that, while asking Cardina to ascend a bit, Tatsuro held a staff in his right hand and Ai''s waist in his left hand, casting a spell.


    The magic was a combination of water, life, and curse, imbued with the calming effects of life and curse magic in water. It was an attack-free pacification magic.


    With a sound like pouring rain, raindrops filled with calming magic rained down on Ennio, seeping into his body one by one.


    "Gruuuuaaa ah?" (Ennio)


    "It seems he''s calmed down." (Ai)


    "But he''s still glaring at us." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. Well, let''s try talking. Cardina, please land on the roof of the building where Ennio is standing, but stay cautious."


    As per his words, Cardina, gracefully dodging the claw slashes sent their way, landed exactly five meters away from Ennio on the roof of a building.

 Chapter 105: Persuasion

    Chapter 105: Persuasion


    Internally and externally, Ennio, who had been literally showered with cold water, seemed bewildered by the unprecedented rapid calming effect.


    But every time the two approached, anger would flare up again, and each time, Tatsuro would forcefully calm him down by splashing him with the calming water.


    "Don''t splash that weird water on me! Buu!" (Ennio)


    "Well, don''t get angry over little things." (Tatsuro)


    "I''m not angry! Bububu!" (Ennio)


    "You''re definitely angry." (Ai)


    While anyone would be likely to get angry when soaked every time they spoke, the three of them were not conscious of that fact.


    "You lied! I hate you guys!" (Ennio)


    "A lie, huh? Specifically, what lie do you think I told? I did make a room, didn''t I?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah! That was really great! When Ennio said he was going to live here, everyone was happy!" (Ennio)


    "I see, I see. Then there''s no problem, right?" (Tatsuro)


    Misinterpreting Ennio''s reaction, who, despite wanting to be in the same space as the thieves as little as possible, was happy for his own sake, Tatsuro spoke, and Ennio made a puzzled face.


    "Huh? Is there a problem?" (Tatsuro)


    "No, no, no." (Ennio)


    "Huh? Hmm?" (Tatsuro)


    Feeling that something was different but unable to recall what, as if saying he couldn''t remember what was different, question marks fluttered above his head. Suddenly, he looked up and realized Yorn, who was slowly moving away from this place.


    "It''s different. You guys are... bad, I hate you, kill you." (Ennio)


    "Why do you think it''s us? And why do you think Iyaruki is dead?" (Tatsuro)


    We collected the bodies, and all the thieves there are no longer in this world. Therefore, it''s too early to conclude that they''re dead if they''re missing.


    "Iyaruki said he was going to a place where the color was different, so Iyaruki''s scent was on you guys! You guys, smell of death!" (Ennio)


    "Just because of that, you think we did it?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah! A lot, a lot, a lot, smell of death! It''s definitely you, you''re dead! Buu!" (Ennio)


    "Well, calm down." (Tatsuro)


    Since his blood vessels seemed about to burst again, I splashed him with the calming water. Then Ennio''s mind also gradually calmed down.


    "When you guys came, you had a killing intent. So, what I said at that time, it''s all a lie! So, Ennio, you guys die. I hate liars!" (Ennio)


    At that moment, Ennio swiftly launched a series of slashing attacks with his eight-clawed nails while plunging toward them. Only Ai saw through it all, knocked it down with her jewel sword, effortlessly took the direct nail attacks with her sword, grabbed Ennio''s arm with her free left hand, skillfully executed a back throw, and slammed him onto the roof.


    "Gaaah!" (Ennio)


    "Too naive!" (Ai)


    Despite being slammed, Ennio showed no sign of yielding, sprung up like a spring, and tried to bite Ai''s neck. However, she easily evaded and countered with a kick, sending him rolling over the roof.


    Tatsuro then set up a high-viscosity water with a mixture of water and darkness magic where Ennio rolled, causing it to cling to him.


    "Guaaaah!" (Ennio)


    "Hey, Ennio. Listen to me." (Tatsuro)


    "Gaaaah©¤©¤©¤Aaah..." (Ennio)


    As the level increased and the class changed, adhesive and durable water, even more so than in the Iyaruki battle, was attached to Ennio''s entire body, keeping him fixed on the roof.


    Despite being in a state where he could hardly move, Ennio continued to show aggression without losing his attacking stance. Tatsuro directly placed his hand and enhanced the power of life magic to its maximum with light magic, calming down the anger at once.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    This not only forcibly eliminated Ennio''s anger but also left him in a state of excessive relaxation, making him feel light-headed. It seemed that Ennio, while not as resistant as Ai, had quite low magic resistance. Tatsuro regretted going overboard. At that moment, he noticed a strange reaction that seemed to interfere with the use of life magic.


    "Do you know why those people you said were bullying you actually targeted you guys?" (Tatsuro)


    "I don''t know. Iyaruki and Gregory are smart. So what they say is never wrong. That''s why Ennio just do what they tell me. (Ennio)


    "This is severe." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, there''s a limit to thought abandonment." (Ai)


    While the nature of hating to think for himself still had a significant impact, it seemed that he was indeed controlled and influenced by the contract to some extent.


    "Ennio, let me be clear. Iyaruki and Gregory are bad guys. That''s why you''ve been bullied by various people. Do you think it makes sense for someone who hasn''t done anything to be bullied so many times by strangers? Think back on what you''ve done so far. Was there anything that seemed even a little off?" (Tatsuro)


    When Ennio looked back on himself and did as Tatsuro told him. He remembered the many times he was told to kill someone who was too weak. Even though they didn''t put up any resistance, he killed them and took their possessions, claiming they were loot.


    "That... but... Iyaruki." (Ennio)


    "Ennio, think for yourself!" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. Ennio, start by deciding things for yourself." (Ai)


    "Decide by myself?" (Ennio)


    Up until now, he believed Gregory''s words to be correct and never doubted. However, now that the contract was gone, he couldn''t blindly believe it and found himself listening to the words of the two.


    For the first time, someone was seriously considering his thoughts, looking into his eyes, and having a proper conversation with him, making Tatsuro and Ai the first humans he felt that way about.


    "I don''t know. Until now, the two decided everything for me." (Ennio)


    "If you don''t know, ask us. We can at least offer advice even if we can''t provide answers." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. We''re friends who enjoy chatting, right?" (Ai)


    "Chatting... I like chatting. Sorry, I remembered..." (Ennio)


    Ennio recalled the first time he met the two and spoke with them in that underground place. He remembered the joy of having his words responded to and felt it as if it happened yesterday.


    "Hey. What should Ennio do? I don''t want to kill you guys anymore. But I don''t know what''s right." (Ennio)


    "If that''s the case, let''s first go talk to Gregory. After that, we can decide who is right, us or Gregory''s group." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. It''s not good to decide based on just one side''s words." (Ai)


    "Is that... right? Yeah, okay. I''ll listen to Gregory''s story too." (Ennio)


    Since Gregory was likely to be with the lord''s son, there was a high chance he would be in the residential area of the lord. If he could expose in broad daylight the kind of people he was with, Ennio might be able to decide for himself which side was better.


    Thinking that way, Tatsuro hastily made an improvised iron chain necklace, enhanced the calming effect of life magic with light magic, and hung it around Ennio''s neck.


    Excited by the new gift, Tatsuro and Ai decided to buy a real present for Ennio this time. The new item was significantly more powerful than the previous one, with its magical effect lasting until the depletion of enchantment magic. This eliminated the need for Tatsuro to stay by Ennio''s side continuously applying magic.


    "Ai, I am releasing him now, but just in case, stay on guard" (Tatsuro)


    "I understand. Dealing with Ennio''s sudden attacks seems to be my job for now" (Ai)


    With Ai on alert, they removed the adhesive slime of water, unbound the wires, and put away the coiled whip. Ennio stood calmly without any signs of resistance.


    "Alright, let''s go" (Tatsuro)


    "To Gregory''s place?" (Ennio)


    "Yeah, but let us handle our matters first" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm? Hmm?" (Ennio)


    "It means, just wait for a bit." (Tatsuro)


    "Got it. I''m feeling good now, so I can wait a bit." (Ennio)


    Tatsuro and Ai boarded Cardina, and Ennio was connected to Cardina with wires, hanging beneath them. Initially, they thought about making a board for both of them and placing Ennio on Cardina''s back, but Cardina resisted carrying anyone else. Despite concerns about Ennio''s situation, since he was now in a calm state and willing to listen, they asked him, and he found it amusing.


    With their sights set on Yorn, the large serpent still within visual range, the trio and the serpent headed toward their destination.

 Chapter 106: Meeting with the Lord

    Chapter 106: Meeting with the Lord


    Tatsuro and Ai mounted on Cardina''s back and caught up with Yorn, As Yorn continued to leisurely soar through the sky,


    "Hey! Who is that child anyway!?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Marikka, my dear. But before that, wouldn''t it be better to ask what happened first?" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Huh? Oh, right, but" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    Marikka, who circled around, staring at Cardina as if to shoot her with her eyes, was curious about creatures she had neither seen nor heard of due to her Tamer class. Despite her own interest, Reginald, the head of the major merchant family, restrained her.


    Marikka, being a Tamer, was eager to ask about creatures she had never seen or heard of but reluctantly adopted a posture to listen quietly.


    "The beast folk below are called Ennio." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s okay, Tatsuro. I heard about it from Salman and our Gillian, so you can skip that part." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    Since the details about Ennio seemed to have already been explained, Tatsuro gratefully focused only on the main topic.


    "Well, contracting with someone who''s an ancestor reincarnated. That''s the worst, that Gregory person." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    (TL.NOTES: People with Ennio''s conditions are called ancestors reincarnated'' it occurs mostly in beast men or beast folk)


    "However, isn''t it dangerous for a Tamer''s contract to be so heavily influenced by ancestor reincarnation, even if it''s incomplete? We''re heading to the place where the lord resides, after all." (Neville)


    "I''ll make sure to keep Ennio in check, and the child''s goal is not the lord but Gregory, the mastermind, so he won''t harm the lord probably." (Tatsuro)


    "Probably won''t? That''s not reassuring!" (Neville)


    While being persistently warned about safety by Neville and reluctantly acknowledging Salman''s words, who had actually been almost killed several times, they finally got approval.


    With that obtained approval, Cardina, whose dragon power was running low, appealed to Tatsuro with her eyes.


    I have enough magical power myself, but [Dragon Flight] is a skill dependent on dragon power. At Level 1, my dragon power is still insufficient for long flights with two passengers.


    "Marikka, can we switch to Yorn? And also, Ennio too. This child seems tired." (Tatsuro)


    "Eh, really? She looks low on stamina for her appearance." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "My child is going to grow from now on. Right, Cardina?" (Tatsuro)


    "Pew!" (Cardina)


    As if saying, "That''s right!" Cardina nodded vigorously. Impressed by the clear understanding of words, Marikka placed the two on Yorn and tied the wire connected to Ennio to Yorn.


    Then, Cardina transformed into a chick using [Child Form], attempting to perch on Tatsuro''s head, but Ai lifted her onto her own head.


    "What''s with this child? She can become so small. Oh, she was hiding like that!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Well, something like that." (Tatsuro)


    "So, what kind of creature is she? I told you about Yorn, so you should tell me about her, right?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    Since she had been interrogated extensively about Yorn earlier, it would be awkward not to share this information. Tatsuro struggled with his thoughts, but a good answer didn''t come to him immediately.


    "Huh? Oh, right. But I''m not very knowledgeable about magical creatures, so I''m not sure about the species" (Tatsuro)Upstodatee from


    "Huh? Since she''s so fond of you, it''s pitiful not to tell her properly. Oh, but even though I''m quite knowledgeable about living beings and magical creatures, I feel like I''ve never seen a creature like her in a book. Where on earth did you meet her?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Um, in the Amneri Great Forest?" (Tatsuro)


    "Why the questioning tone?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    After answering numerous questions vaguely and casually, it seemed that Marikka picked up on the fact that Tatsuro didn''t really understand well, prompting her to sigh.


    "Okay, fine. I''ll look into it myself next time. But seriously, why did you go to such a dangerous place like the Amneri Great Forest?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Well, it''s more like we ended up going there unintentionally." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s still vague. It''s really dangerous there, so you mustn''t go near it." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Yes" (Tatsuro)


    "Understood." (Ai)


    "Peep" (Cardina)


    "That''s true. And who might that be?" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "These individuals here, Father." (Laurence)


    Laurence gestured towards Tatsuro''s group, and the two of them stepped forward.


    At that moment, the lord stared at their faces and mumbled, "Still quite young." The two then straightened their backs, preparing to explain.


    "Well then, I''m not sure how many times I''ve heard this, but please explain what you told Reginald." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Yes. First" (Tatsuro)


    Thus, Tatsuro went on to narrate everything that had happened so far. Meanwhile, the lord attentively listened, cross-referencing the information with the documents at his disposal.


    "Now, finally, show me our family''s heirloom." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Even if it includes a corpse, is that alright?" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s fine. It''s evidence, including that." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    Nodding at the lord''s words, Tatsuro presented Iyaruki''s corpse. At the back, Ennio twitched but showed no further signs of movement.


    "Even for Reginald, is this the real deal?" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Yes, without a doubt. And we have also investigated the identity of the corpse." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "You work fast indeed. Let me see." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    Taking the documents from Reginald, the lord read through them, closed his eyes as if giving up on something, and then exhaled slowly.


    "It''s confirmed now. Laurence, what you''ve been investigating on your end and the information I gathered from these boys seem to align. Did you notice anything strange?" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "No, not at all. Rather, they''ve filled in the gaps that were present before." (Laurence)


    "I see. Understood. Joaquin. You can be rough if necessary, but capture both Bertram and Gregory according to plan." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Yes!"


    Joaquin, one of the two who stood behind Lord Brendan like shadows, a beast man with distinctive slanted eyes swiftly left the room.


    "Will they surrender peacefully?" (Tatsuro)


    "I''ve told Joaquin that it''s fine to use force if necessary. We''re constantly monitoring their whereabouts. There shouldn''t be a problem. And you adventurers, I must express my gratitude. Considering your profession, it would have been faster to turn a blind eye and leave." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Huh? Oh, no. Some acquaintances of ours are here in this territory, so we wanted to do what we could." (Tatsuro)


    "I see You''re still young but quite responsible. Later, as a reward, wait a bit. You might be curious about the details of the situation as well." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Very well, we''ll wait" (Tatsuro)


    While the idea of a reward intrigued them, their primary concern was witnessing the moment when this matter would be properly resolved. Therefore, without objections, they decided to wait here.


    {I feel like Laurence-san was secretly investigating a lot even without us doing anything.} (Ai)


    {Yeah, it''s way too prompt. Maybe passing through Lyadas without doing anything wouldn''t have been a problem.} (Tatsuro)


    {But it probably served as the final push. It may have reduced the number of people suffering from the damage a bit, so it''s not entirely pointless.} (Ai)


    {True.} (Tatsuro)


    Having such telepathic conversations, they returned to Ennio''s side and waited. About ten minutes later, something unexpected happened.


    A loud, thunderous sound echoed through the castle, making the room tremble slightly.


    Tatsuro immediately touched Ennio, keeping his heightened emotions in check.


    "What''s happening!? What''s going on!?" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "It seems like this isn''t over yet." (Tatsuro)


    "Sigh Despite being so confident earlier, what''s the lord doing now?" (Ai)


    Amidst the shouts of Lord Brendan and others, Tatsuro and Ai realized that they would be involved a little more in this matter. They exchanged glances and sighed.

 Chapter 107: Activation

    Chapter 107: Activation


    To fulfill the lord''s command, Joaquin, the vice-commander of the Lyadas Knights with a foxlike beast man appearance and eyes slightly squinted, briskly walked forward. Entrusting all matters related to the lord''s security to the commander, he left the reception room, immediately calling his subordinates and hurrying to the location where Bertram and his secretary, claiming to be Gregory, were.


    "Finally, the time has come to punch that idiot''s face!"


    "Vice-commander!? Be careful! Please say that in a softer voice!"


    "Hahaha, I won''t say not to hit him."


    "Well... we''ve been through a lot, too."


    As they spoke, glancing at the subordinates behind him, all of them wore similar expressions. Yes, Bertram, the idiot, had been subjected to countless insults questioning his competence, being called a barbarian who only valued strength and a fool for proposing him as the future lord. However, thanks to the revelations by the third daughter, Laurence, and the evidence provided by the adventurers outside linking him to the criminals, his true nature had been exposed.


    "I''d like to treat those adventurers to a drink sometime!"


    "Isn''t it too early for that? Just by glimpsing into the office, it looked like they were quite young."


    "Hah, you trust only what you see with your own eyes. My nose can sense strong ones. They''re not at a level you''d expect from teenagers."


    "Eh? Is that so!?"


    While having such a slightly off-topic conversation, they reached the front of the tower where Bertram usually stayed when he wasn''t in the main castle. Placing the soldiers he brought with him around the tower, Joaquin formally delivered his message.


    "Bertram Lyadas Bruitt and his secretary, Gregory Callahan. Both are under capture orders in the name of Lord Brendan Lyadas Bruitt! Surrender quietly!!"


    "........................There''s no response at all."


    "This was anticipated. Most likely, they are trembling inside. If there''s no response in another five minutes, as he said, we''ll resort to more brutal methods. Make sure to inform the others."


    "Yes, sir!"


    The messengers relayed the information to the knights stationed at various locations around the castle to coordinate their actions. On the other hand, in the basement of the tower, a young man with chestnut hair and a well-featured face was anxiously talking to a man in his late forties wearing round glasses and a neatly trimmed beard.


    "Gregory! What do you intend to do, getting caught so quickly! The outside is already surrounded!" (Bertram)


    "Please rest assured, Lord Bertram. I anticipated this situation from the moment Iyaruki was killed, so I''ve already made all the necessary preparations. Honestly, the mayor outside who couldn''t even stop a single adventurer was quite incompetent. Once this is over, would you consider placing me in that position instead?" (Gregory)


    "Do it! Do it, and do something about this! If I get caught like this, I''ll be confined to some remote border for the rest of my life, and you''ll be killed!" (Bertram)


    "Haha, I would prefer not to be killed. In that case, could you please sign this contract? If you ascend to lordship, consider appointing me as your proxy instead of the incompetent current mayor." (Gregory)


    "Signing now of all times!? What a leisurely¡ªfine, give it here!" (Bertram)


    The familiar foolish son of the lord, Bertram Lyadas Bruitt, was in a state of panic, signing a contract at such a critical moment.


    As Gregory Callahan, the leader of the thieves who had infiltrated the territory, triumphantly danced away with the contract from Gregory Callahan''s hand, he rudely grabbed the pen from the nearby desk and signed it.


    "Is this good enough?" he said, crumpling the contract and tossing it towards Gregory.


    In response, Gregory''s eyebrows twitched, but he picked it up with a smile, carefully unfolded it, and confirmed the signature.


    "Indeed. The contract has been sealed. Well then, shall we move on to show time?" (Gregory)


    "Yeah, whatever! Just hurry up and kill my sister and father! Especially my sister, she always gets in my way!!" (Bertram)


    "As you wish." (Gregory)


    Saying that Gregory, who had been acquainted with Bertram for only a few years, revealed the most insane smile, one that even Bertram, who had spent a considerable amount of time with him, had never seen.


    Unconsciously taking a step back from that smile, Bertram, five monkey-like demons appeared, bowing their heads to Gregory as if in exchange.


    "My tools, take this to the top of the highest of the five towers." (Gregory)


    """""Kikiiii!"""""


    Faithfully obeying the orders sent with Gregory''s contract, the monkeys, taking advantage of the soldiers'' distraction, quietly slipped outside, holding something round in their hands.


    Watching this, Gregory squatted near a large rectangular wooden box with countless small holes in the corner of the room. He inserted a syringe filled with red liquid into it and injected something inside.


    "With so many Depris, it''s hard to pinpoint. They''re the same type of monster, despite the size difference, and their reactions are quite similar." (Tatsuro)


    "Ugh..." (Ai)


    Just when the end seemed to be in sight, the situation was overturned. They had come this far after much effort, and they wanted a certain victory.


    So, Tatsuro proposed to Ai.


    "Hey. We¡ª" (Tatsuro)


    "We''re going too, right?" (Ai)


    "It seems you''ve seen through it." (Tatsuro)


    I''m Tatsuro''s girlfriend, after all!" (Ai)


    After nodding at each other, they stepped forward again to address the lord.


    "Um..." (Tatsuro)


    "What¡ªNo, sorry. I understand you''re concerned about rewards, but now isn''t the time for that." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "No, it''s different. We want to help with defeating the Depris, searching for Bipris, and eliminating the large monster. Can we do all of that?" (Tatsuro)


    "What? You two are taking on all three tasks? Don''t make such big claims. How can just two¡ª" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "We can''t do everything. We haven''t seen the large monster yet, so we can''t say for sure, but we think we can manage the other two." (Tatsuro)


    At that point, it seemed the lord had no intention of listening further. Though young by Japanese standards, Tatsuro and Ai appeared even younger in this world, and their words seemed childlike.


    However, Gillian, who had been silent until now, stepped forward.


    "My lord, I regret to inform you. These individuals here are the ones who slew the infamous man-eating ogre Iyaruki, and they did so with a considerable number of subordinates." (Gillian)


    "If I recall correctly, you''re Gillian, right? Hmmm... What do you think, Reginald?" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Yes. My son may have a foolish side, but he has had an eye for people since he was little." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    Listening to these words, the lord closed his eyes as if lost in thought and then opened them again.


    "...I see. Even if you can''t handle everything, considering the increase in powerful forces, indeed... Very well. Move within your capabilities. If you achieve significant results, I promise additional rewards." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Thank you." (Tatsuro)


    As Tatsuro said this and bowed, a telepathic message came from Ai.


    {It feels weird to say thank you when we''re the ones doing the work.} (Ai)


    {Well, he''s an important person, and it''s safer to respond with humility. It helps avoid unnecessary trouble.} (Tatsuro)


    {Yeah, I guess.} (Ai)


    Ai, with a somewhat dissatisfied expression, quickly shifted her focus despite her feelings.


    Then, Marikka stepped forward.


    "I''ll help too, along with Yorn!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Marikka, you''re someone who will carry the future of the town of Lyadas. Try not to get into too much danger..." (Laurence)


    "It''s okay. Um... It''s okay, Lord... It''s okay, Laurence-sama. Dealing with Depris is nothing for my Yorn." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Your eyes don''t seem to listen no matter what I say... Father." (Laurence)


    "Oh well, I permit it. Besides, if you help with clearing the town of monsters, your reputation will only rise."


    With a somewhat indifferent and tired expression, the lord gave his permission.


    So, Marikka decided to join the Depris extermination, and Tatsuro and the others, along with Ennio, headed outside.

 Chapter 108: Mysterious Smile

    Chapter 108: Mysterious Smile


    Tatsuro, Ai, Ennio, and Marikka were heading towards the landing spot where Yorn awaited.


    "What are you guys going to do from here?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Ai, Ennio, and I will first go to Gregory''s place." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh? What about Depris?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "I''ll have Cardina head there." (Tatsuro)


    Saying so, Tatsuro lifted Cardina, who was leisurely resting on Ai''s head and switched her to [Adult Form] mode.


    Although Marikka was surprised at the transformation, she suppressed her curiosity as it was not the time for that.


    In the meantime, Tatsuro told Cardina that if necessary, she could switch to a robust physical [True Form].


    By the way, Cardina was switched to [Adult Form] because, in this state, she could use the skill [Flight] instead of [Dragon Flight] eliminating the need for draconic power to fly. This allowed her to keep flying until her magic ran out.


    Cardina, realizing she would be acting separately, seemed lonely, but when Tatsuro promised to indulge her plenty later, she became motivated.


    "Then, I''ll keep an eye on her. With Yorn and her as a team, they won''t lose to something like bees." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "That sounds good. Cardina, can you team up with Yorn?" (Tatsuro)


    "Pew!" (Cardina)


    "It seems fine. So let''s all do our best, Cardina-chan!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    While Marikka and Cardina exchanged touches in this way, everyone arrived at Yorn''s waiting place. There, Depris, a bee-like magical creature, had already gathered, and an annoying green serpent swung its large tail, cutting through them.


    "Wow, this place is bad too... Yorn, you can use your skills!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Sssss."


    In response to Marikka''s words, Yorn stopped swinging his tail and released the magic of his affiliated tree. Grass and plants spread from the surface of Yorn''s body, entwining and strangling countless Depris wherever they touched.


    "Amazing. Is that some kind of tree magic?" (Ai)


    "That''s right. Yorn was born in the forest of the fairyland, just like me. He''s a magical creature born with the power of the tree." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "I can''t lose either. Cardina, use your detection magic to find and defeat Queen Bipris." (Ai)


    "Peww!" (Cardina)


    "You can use detection magic!? With that form and this form... the mysteries just deepen." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    Saying so, by using Cardina as an assistant to Marikka''s team, Tatsuro and AI decided to head towards the larger magical creature.


    "Alright, let me borrow Cardina-chan for a bit. We''ll finish it quickly, so do your best over there!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Good luck." (Tatsuro)


    "Do your best, Marikka-san!" (Ai)


    "I don''t really get it, but do your best!" (Ennio)


    Ennio, who didn''t quite understand the situation, sent half-hearted cheers. Marikka rushed towards Yorn, who had cleared the plants and jumped on him.


    With the agility he gained this time, Yorn, who had regained his usual speed after a loud roar, flew into the sky as Depris swarmed. Cardina also, after glancing at Tatsuro and Ai, flew away, tearing through the incoming Depris with her sharp claws, following Yorn.


    "Well then, let''s go too. Ennio, we''re going to Gregory''s place now, but don''t take his words at face value. Think for yourself and decide whether it''s good or bad." (Tatsuro)


    "Y-yeah, got it." (Ennio)


    "Well, before that, we might need to deal with a big magical creature." (Ai)


    "In that case, I''ll bring out my other trump card, so it should be fine." (Tatsuro)


    "To your trump card... ah." (Ai)


    "???" (Ennio)


    (Where is this much magic coming from!? Damn, I should have believed more in the "Empathy" of those tools... Well, it doesn''t matter. If I think of it as new experimental material, there''s a sense of accomplishment.)


    "Gregory. Hey, are you okay!?" (Bertram)


    "Yes. No problems. I just found it bothersome to deal with them seriously, so this alone will suffice." (Gregory)


    Saying that Gregory smiled, kicking lightly the magical creature they were riding on.


    In response to his relaxed actions, Bartram''s malicious smile returned, eagerly anticipating the moment when he would kill his father and sister.


    However, despite expressing it on his face, Gregory himself did not think he would get off easily.


    If it were just the knights in front of him, there was a plan with just this mammoth, a magical creature called Paralaceus, alone.


    However, miscalculations occurred here.


    Using the skill "Empathy," which links to the five senses of his own servant, and seeing the moment of Iyaruki''s death through the controlled magical creature, Gregory should have understood how dangerous the two were.


    However, mastering that skill was difficult.


    As a pure tamer, Gregory, who was mediocre, had not yet fully mastered it. Moreover, due to the distance, details were unclear because of the noise.


    However, the fear felt by the magical creature he had been monitoring at that time had been conveyed.


    But he believed that it was just his own magical creature''s cowardice that had exaggeratedly conveyed the fear. He had underestimated the danger the two posed and the time they spent rejecting murder, thinking it was just the time lost in failing to kill Iyaruki.


    However, even if he realized it now, there was no choice but to proceed.


    Gregory, unsure how long he could continue to use such large-scale magic, focused on that and assumed they had the advantage, giving orders to the magical creature carrying him.


    "Oh, my tool, Paralaceus! Open those closed eyes!" (Gregory)


    "Pwooooaahhh!"


    The mammoth-type magical creature, Paralaceus, opened the three closed eyes in a horizontal row on its forehead. Yellow eyes appeared behind those eyelids, emitting lightning around them.


    "Something came out of its eyes! It''s like a special effects movie!" (Ai)


    "Damn, the envy of thunder. I''ve been holding back, you know." (Tatsuro)


    "You were holding back?" (Ai)


    "Well, when it comes to thunder attacks, it''s so popular that it''s in the top three of the attacks boys want to try (Note: Tatsuro''s personal opinion)." (Tatsuro)


    "It''s okay to take it, you know. It''s kind of cool." (Ai)


    "It is cool. But there are too many things with higher priority. (Tatsuro)"


    While casually discussing this in the air, half of the knights below were paralyzed by the electric shock and unable to move.


    Just paralysis was enough to deal with what would lead to instant death for ordinary people, indicating their high level of refinement.


    Knowing that they were not dead, they were talking about such things, but it was about time they seriously challenged them as well.


    However, the knights, who were oddly motivated, were becoming a hindrance.


    "Ah, damn it. I didn''t get rid of the Depris for those people." (Ai)


    "It might take a while for the change©¤©¤©¤Ah, Ennio has arrived." (Tatsuro)


    "True. Hey, Ennio!" (Ai)


    "!? Flying is cheating! If I could fly, I would have caught up sooner!" (Ennio)


    As they finally arrived, they opened the barrier and invited him in. While saying such things, the eyes of Gregory, who noticed it, were mixed with joy.


    (Is that Ennio!? When I heard that he recklessly ran off somewhere, I wondered what to do... Hahaha, with this, victory is now certain.) (Gregory)


    And so, while staring at Ennio, who was chatting amicably with Tatsuro and the others, Gregory secretly wore a faint, sinister smile.

 Chapter 109: Gregorys True Nature

    Chapter 109: Gregory''s True Nature


    Elite warriors who had managed to endure the lightning attacks from the mammoth-type monster Paralaceus were repeatedly launching magical and physical assaults while evacuating their fallen comrades. However, they found themselves unable to penetrate Paralaceus''s robust skin and could only watch helplessly.


    Tatsuro looking at the situation below, while being cautious not to let Ennio interfere, was studying the Paralaceus.


    "It seems quite tough, but if those guys managed to leave a scratch on it, Ai''s attacks should work" (Tatsuro)


    "Maybe, but that lightning attack, if it hits me, it won''t be pleasant" (Ai)


    "Yeah, it won''t. Well, if push comes to shove, I can deal with that. But there might be something else going on" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, I thought the same thing!" (Ai)


    As they observed Paralaceus, it appeared to Tatsuro and Ai that they were somewhat holding back while engaging the knights. This observation was possible from their aerial viewpoint, and the creature''s movements seemed constrained from their analysis.


    Though Tatsuro wanted to clarify this aspect, he noticed Ennio becoming restless, and the magical energy on the necklace crafted by him was running low. Left unattended, Ennio might act on his own.


    Therefore, Tatsuro decided to have the knights focus on dealing with the ongoing mass emergence of the wasp-type magical creatures, Depris, outside.


    Anticipating resistance, especially from the loyal and fervent beast man, Tatsuro lightly adjusted the wind magic barrier he had created to prevent Depris intrusion and started pulling the knights outward.


    "What are you doing?! We are allies!" protested one of the knights.


    "Sorry! I can''t concentrate with the commotion outside, so I''ll leave that to you!" (Tatsuro)


    "What!?"


    From above, the knights grumbled with dissatisfaction as they were forced outside. However, the beast man''s vice-captain resisted to the end, planting his spear into the ground to resist being pulled away.


    Raising the wind power further risked becoming an attack, and it left him extremely vulnerable from Paralaceus''s perspective.


    "Oh well, can''t be helped." (Tatsuro)


    "He''s quite stubborn." (Ai)


    Tatsuro then stopped the wind and returned it to its original barrier. The beast-man vice-captain, panting heavily, looked up at them with triumphant eyes.


    In this way, the scene now featured Tatsuro, Ai, Ennio, the beast-man vice-captain Joaquin, Gregory the foolish¡ª, the lord''s son Bertram, and Paralaceus.


    "That smug look annoys me." (Ai)


    "Well, that''s probably all he wanted. So, now that we have a spacious area, shall we get started?" (Tatsuro)


    "Been waiting for this." (Ai)


    Saying that Tatsuro and the others landed next to Ennio. After stowing the board in the item box, Tatsuro turned to Gregory.


    "The one on top of that big thing is definitely Gregory, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, that''s right. Don''t know about the one behind, though!" (Ennio)


    "I see. Well then, first things first, we need him to come down. Jeanne, start by [Adult Form] and come out!" (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    Appearing there was a giant black rhinoceros that seemed to be at least six meters tall. With its body enlargement, the pure white horn at the tip of its nose had also proportionally grown, now sharp enough to impale several people at once. When everyone had captured its appearance, the colossal creature demonstrated unimaginable speed, charging straight at Paralaceus.


    When Paralaceus reacted, it was already too late. Its right front leg was pierced through by the pure white horn, and with that momentum, it was effortlessly ripped off. Despite attempting to regain balance after losing a leg, Jeanne, now attacking from a different angle, took away its right hind leg as well.


    "Roooooar!"


    "What kind of creature is that!?" (Gregory)


    "Aaaah!" (Bertram)


    Unable to maintain stability with only one leg on each side, Paralaceus, in a rather anticlimactic manner, lost its balance and collapsed, pressing its right cheek against the ground.


    "Yeah, do you understand the current situation? There''s no ally here to protect you" (Ai)


    "Tch, you can use life magic too. How many types of magic can you use? You''re not really a human, are you? What race are you, tell me!" (Gregory)


    "You don''t listen to my side of the story but keep babbling about what you want to hear." (Tatsuro)


    While not as angry as Ennio, both Tatsuro and Ai were equally disturbed by Gregory''s behavior. The reliable magical creature was injured, and the external Depris were likely a result of Gregory''s actions, but even with that, the situation didn''t call for such boldness. And in the background, Bertram, shaking with a pale face, had no combat capability.


    In this situation, why was he so confidently confronting them? That aspect unnerved Tatsuro.


    "Well, you can thoroughly research everything after it''s all over. I''m looking forward to examining what''s inside you." (Gregory)


    "So why are you so overconfident? I might just blast you away." (Ai)


    "Hahaha, a feisty woman. Why am I so confident... well, that''s obvious. There''s no future where we lose, after all!" (Gregory)


    "Huh!?"


    While Tatsuro and Gregory conversed, Joaquin, who had been slowly approaching from behind, was suddenly hindered by numerous needles erupting from the ground. The needles, emerging from the ground, gradually revealed their forms¡ªa dog-like creature with fur of earthy color and needles on its back.


    It was slightly less than two meters in size, with needles erect, attacking Joaquin.


    However, with each step he took closer to Gregory, more needle dogs were added, and now Joaquin found himself facing a total of twelve at once, his feet pinned to the ground.


    "Was he overconfident because of that thing? No... That''s not it." (Tatsuro)


    "Is that so? It seems troublesome with their numbers, though." (Ai)


    "But with just that many, Ennio alone should be able to handle them somehow, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Maybe if they don''t pull anything unexpected." (Ai)


    Torn between whether to act against Gregory, whose intentions were unclear, the opponent took the initiative.


    "Paralaceus! Get used to that body quickly, you piece of trash!" (Gregory)


    "Roooooaaarrr!"


    "What the hell!?" (Tatsuro)


    "What!?" (Ai)


    As Gregory kicked once again and issued commands under the contract, Paralaceus''s body began to tremble, and all of its eyes widened. Although Tatsuro quickly erected a wall of earth in anticipation of a lightning attack, there was no impact.


    Feeling dubious, Tatsuro probed with dispel magic. Paralaceus''s body, squirming like clay, was changing its shape.


    "That''s it! That''s good!" (Gregory)


    "Fwoooosh. Rooooaaar!"


    Besides a satisfied smiling Gregory, the barely alive monster from before was gone. In its place stood a humanoid figure, about ten meters tall, with a face resembling the previous mammoth-type creature¡ªan odd creature.


    Tatsuro dispelled the earth wall to secure visibility.


    "It transformed, huh." (Tatsuro)


    "Also, its wounds are healed. Whether it''s a regenerative ability or a one-time benefit from transformation is the question." (Ai)


    "Indeed, I hope it''s not like that magical dragon''s regeneration." (Tatsuro)


    "I agree." (Ai)


    Thus, Tatsuro and the others confronted the mammoth giant, staring back at its fierce gaze.

 Chapter 110: Gregorys Battle Style

    Chapter 110: Gregory''s Battle Style


    The giant with the face of a mammoth-type monster seems eager to engage in a deadly battle with Tatsuro and the others, but they have no intention of confronting it directly. So, once again, they ask Jeanne for help and decide to have her finish it off.


    "Jeanne, can you handle this?" (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh." (Jeanne)


    "Looks like you''re fully charged with determination." (Jeanne)


    Jeanne, who has spent more time observing than Tatsuro, seemed eager to showcase her skills as if it were an opportunity. However, the opponent was equally determined, and due to being forcibly induced into a manic state, its temperament had become quite aggressive.


    The gazes of the two creatures intersected. Jeanne, being quicker, made the first move. Utilizing her impressive speed, she launched a straightforward but powerful attack, aiming to pierce with her prized horns.


    If it were the same as before, the creature would have been taken down with its two-legged stance on the ground, but Paralaceus had undeniably evolved.


    "Pooooo!"


    "!? ©¤©¤Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    This time, it kept up with Jeanne''s speed, dodging to the side and delivering a kick the moment she evaded. Although surprised that Jeanne was also able to dodge, her skillful footwork allowed her to narrowly avoid the attack.


    Attempting a counterattack, Jeanne was about to strike, but electrical shocks emanated from the three eyes on the creature''s forehead, forcing her to retreat to maintain distance.


    "It''s gotten faster. A bit slower than Jeanne now, I suppose." (Tatsuro)


    "Enhancements through transformation are a given. But, Jeanne-chan is stronger for sure." (Ai)


    "Indeed. So, let''s leave that opponent to Jeanne and focus on taking down the main stronghold." (Tatsuro)


    "Understood." (Ai)


    Leaving Ennio, who remained absentminded, on the side was risky. Thus, Tatsuro cast a mix of curses and life magic on his necklace before slowly bringing Ennio back to sanity.


    Ennio''s focus gradually returned, and he could move again.


    "How do you feel?" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh? Somehow, my head feels clear, and I''m feeling good..." (Ennio)


    "Can you move right away?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah............ Oh, Gregory! You..." (Ennio)


    "Once again, before you get too angry, Ennio! Calm down. There''s no need to concern ourselves with that creature. We''re here, right?" (Tatsuro)


    Although it seemed like Ennio might erupt with anger again, Tatsuro hastily used healing magic and spoke to him.Ge?tt the latest novels at


    "Ennio! I understand it''s frustrating, but calm down for now. There''s no need to worry about that thing. We''re here, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Grrr... But..." (Ennio)


    "Hey, maybe you''re just feeling irritable because you''re hungry. Here, eat this and calm down. It''s proper food." (Tatsuro)


    Ennio grumbled, "Mmm, what''s that! It''s dragon meat! So raw!" while chewing on the offered meat. Tatsuro thought it might be because he hadn''t been given decent food until now, but there was more to it.


    Beast men naturally had a preference for meat, and the stronger the meat, the more appealing it seemed to them. Therefore, the flesh of a dragon, the strongest species, appeared more enticing to them than to other races.


    And with the momentum as if Ennio was about to bite into Tatsuro''s arm, Tatsuro handed him a chunk of meat without saying anything. Tatsuro thought it might be better to at least grill and season it, but it seemed unnecessary, so he watched Ennio eagerly devour the remaining meat, which was only enough for two or three bites.


    "How is it? Are you feeling calmer?" (Tatsuro)


    "I''ve calmed down..." (Ennio)


    Ennio, still in ecstasy over the delicious dragon meat, had no time to spare. Tatsuro briefly explained what would happen next.


    "So, Ennio, we''re going to capture Gregory now. Is that okay with you?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, it''s fine. Gregory wasn''t a good guy. ...Looks like I was in the wrong too." (Ennio)


    "In Ennio''s case, I think it can''t be helped. But even so, if you still feel it''s wrong, think about it with us after this is over. If we handle everything smoothly, maybe the lord of this place will do something for us." (Tatsuro)


    "Well, never mind. Let''s go for the second round. Pagis! " (Gregory)


    "Are you singling me out? I''d prefer to take you on directly!"


    Pagis, the creature referred to as such, similar to the needle dogs from before, appeared in their thirties from the ground. They all simultaneously attacked Joaquin.


    This time, the man was going to face another obstacle.


    Tatsuro, uncertain about when he might be hit by electricity again, improved the drainage of the ground with water magic.


    In the meantime, Ai, with even more momentum than before, extended the tip of her whip towards Gregory''s head.


    In response, a slime appeared to protect Gregory, nullifying the second whip attack.


    "Even with this much power, it''s useless, huh?" (Ai)


    "Maybe we should take care of the slime first." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro then emitted a thick laser from the tip of his staff, incinerating the slime. Seizing the opportunity, Ai swung her whip.


    "Hmm, you can use that kind of magic too?" (Ai)


    "Another new slime appeared!?" (Tatsuro)


    The slime that was incinerated by Tatsuro, and an identical one, protected Gregory. Without expressing any gratitude and with a curious gaze, Gregory observed Tatsuro''s magic.


    "Oh well, this is a pain." (Ai)


    Annoyed, Ai swung her whip vigorously, attempting to attack Gregory from every angle. However, the single slime that existed multiplied instantly, piling up around Gregory, nullifying all the attacks with its soft body.


    Moreover, it stored and amplified the impact, sending shockwaves towards them.


    "This guy has a counter, too." (Tatsuro)


    To counter the shockwaves, Tatsuro reinforced the thick wall of the earth with earth magic enhanced by light magic, blocking the waves instantly.


    Once defended, perhaps due to Gregory''s personality or perhaps because he only possessed a counter skill, there was no further pursuit.


    So, they took the opportunity to discuss their strategy.


    "A creature that can reflect both fire magic and physical attacks." (Ai)


    "Yeah. And even if you defeat one, they instantly reproduce. It seems like physical attacks won''t work literally. So, Ai" (Tatsuro)


    "What?" (Ai)


    "Could you lend me that whip for a moment?" (Tatsuro)


    "Now? Well, sure, but why?" (Ai)


    Tatsuro received the heavy whip from Ai, who tilted her head. Naturally, Tatsuro couldn''t handle the whip himself. The reason for receiving it was the curse magic.


    If he could enchant life magic onto the necklace, hastily made for Ennio, then he should be able to enchant it onto the weapon handled by Ai. So, using a mix of curse and wind magic, Tatsuro enchanted wind magic onto Ai''s whip.


    Due to the current low level of curse magic, Tatsuro couldn''t unleash the same power as the wind magic he typically used. However, he believed that it would still be effective against a slime like that.


    Once the enchantment was complete, Tatsuro confirmed that the whip wielded by Ai now held the magical power of the wind. All that remained was for the user to focus on their intent, and the embedded magical power would do its job.


    When Tatsuro explained this to Ai, she suddenly hugged him and kissed him.


    "Mmm, phew, Ai, we can save that for later¡ª" (Tatsuro)


    "Amazing, amazing! I can finally do something magical too! Thank you so much!" (Ai)


    "Oh, is that how it is?" (Tatsuro)


    Ai seemed to have more enthusiasm for the use of magic than Tatsuro had anticipated. Even Tatsuro couldn''t deny that he hadn''t envisioned a scene where he would protect Ai with a weapon in hand.


    Watching Ai''s excited expression, Tatsuro found himself wanting to see her even more joyful. As a result, he decided to prioritize leveling up the curse magic.

 Chapter 111: Ominous Magical Beasts

    Chapter 111: Ominous Magical Beasts


    After successfully enchanting their weapons and Ai gathered her composure, Tatsuro cleared away the earth wall. Gregory, on the other hand, was avidly observing a battle that could be described as a giant Paralaceus with a mammoth''s face versus Jeanne, resembling something out of a special effects show.


    He seemed more engrossed in that fight than his own, completely unaware that Tatsuro and the others were watching the collapsed wall. Meanwhile, the lord''s son, Bertram, cowered behind Gregory, trembling.


    "No need to bother with pleasantries. Just go for it!" (Ai)


    "Wind¡ªSlash!" (Tatsuro)


    With these words, Tatsuro swung a whip imbued with wind magic towards Gregory. The slime instinctively moved to shield him, but upon contact, a small tornado erupted from the whip. Part of the slime''s body was blown away upon touching it, and the whip''s tip struck Gregory''s abdomen, sucking it in as if vacuumed.


    "Guboo!? ...Don''t get cocky, and that won''t happen!" (Gregory)


    It seemed a broken rib had punctured his internal organs, as Gregory spat blood and glared at the scattered slime, annoyed.


    "All of you... are nothing but useless. Damn it, I didn''t want to resort to this, but... Sitomen, come out." (Gregory)


    "What?" (Tatsuro)


    "What?" (Ai)


    From behind Gregory, a pair of gray wings emerged, and something shaped like a human crawled out, landing on the ground with a thud. Resembling a newborn foal, it struggled to stand, then wobbled forward to show its face to the two.


    "Is that... a magical beast?" (Ai)


    "Invisible to humans, though..." (Tatsuro)


    The face resembled a goat with impressive horns, while the body was human-like, sporting large gray wings on its back. As they stared in astonishment at the grotesque figure, it turned its head unnaturally towards Gregory, emitted an eerie "Meeeh," and healed his wounds.


    "Is that magical healing?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, and its neck is twisted in a weird direction. Creepy, creepy." (Ai)


    As they exchanged these impressions, Sitomen, the creature, turned its head again to face Tatsuro and the others. Flapping its wings, it flew up and released a black magical energy mass, roughly the size of a soccer ball, towards them. Sensing the danger, the two hastily moved away from the impact point. Upon landing, the energy created a crater with a three-meter diameter, seemingly gouging out the ground.


    "So, that''s Gregory''s trump card, huh?" (Ai)


    "Yeah, definitely stronger than that elephant over there." (Tatsuro)


    "Meh-meh-meh-meeeh!"


    While Tatsuro and the others prepared for the impending battle, Sitomen, the goat-faced creature, smirked unpleasantly, laughing like a human.


    "We can defeat that thing. Let''s go all out." (Ai)


    "Yeah." (Tatsuro)


    Ai switched the whip to her left hand and held a gem sword in her right. Confirming this, Tatsuro fired several lasers. Sitomen, with its limbs dangling, skillfully dodged while flapping its wings, creating several black magical energy projectiles that scattered in the surroundings.


    "Gaah!?" (Gregory)


    "What?" (Bertram)


    "Eeh!?"


    The projectile range included the area where Gregory and Paralaceus were located. The latter managed to dodge by contorting its body, but Gregory, not being a combatant like Paralaceus, couldn''t avoid it completely and had his right leg grazed, nearly torn apart.


    Bertram seemed to be lucky, as he was just outside the attack range and remained unharmed. Witnessing Gregory''s nearly severed leg, he gasped heavily.


    Tatsuro and Ai, utilizing magic and agility, successfully dodged the attack and remained unscathed. However, they couldn''t help but be surprised that even the lord got caught in the crossfire.


    "If we leave him alone, he might self-destruct." (Tatsuro)


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    (Despite being level 37, the skills are quite impressive... This should be more than enough to contend with stronger opponents. What caught my attention is "Astral Body." It''s not a typical magical creature; perhaps it''s closer to a ghost?) He thought.


    With these thoughts, Tatsuro absorbed all the skill levels, considering the threat to be low once the skills were nullified. He left his level for Ai''s leveling.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    Level: 37


    Skills: [Astral Body], [Levitation Lv.0], [Healing Magic Lv.0]


    [Dark Sphere Lv.0], [Life Drain Lv.0]


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    "Love, I need you to stop. It can''t use healing magic anymore!" (Tatsuro)


    "Alright!" (Ai)


    Ai charged her gem sword with energy, creating a sparkling residue as she slashed. However, the divided Sitomen escaped while trying to reach Gregory. It attached itself to the slime that protected Gregory, attempting to use the "Life Drain" to replenish the cut parts.


    However, the skill was currently unusable at level 0.


    "Meeeh?"


    "What''s wrong, Sitomen? Recover quickly! Stop, what are you doing! Stop it!" (Gregory)


    "Meeeee... Meeehhh."


    Failing to attach to the slime or replenish itself, Sitomen was forcibly detached using the power of the contract.


    Blocked from sight, Gregory noticed that only one person was left in his line of sight. Panicking, he quickly searched the area but couldn''t find Ai, who had always been by Tatsuro''s side.


    Sensing Tatsuro''s attempt to conceal Ai''s location, Tatsuro urgently used his wind magic to save energy, creating a dust cloud to obscure the surroundings.


    "Damn it! Protect me, all of you!" (Gregory)


    "Meeeh..."


    With the view obstructed, Gregory gave up finding Ai, and all his subordinates, including the slime, entered a defensive stance. However, Sitomen, ignoring the command, tried to move away.


    (As expected, that goat man seems uncontrollable.)


    Ai was observing Sitomen''s futile attempts, the moment it lost its connection with Gregory due to its attachment failure, she used [Body Strengthening] to the maximum and jumped into the air. Holding a giant axe in her hand, she gathered energy.


    What she envisioned was the area-of-effect technique that Iyaruki had used, creating a massive crater. She had repeatedly observed it during her free time, recalling and practicing the image.


    And now, her efforts were bearing fruit.


    (I think it was a compressed feeling, then a booming sensation... like this!)


    Ai, using [Air walk] to catch up to Sitomen, descended rapidly on her second step towards it. With her current durability, this speed posed no problem. She then compressed her energy to the limit at the central point of the axe''s blade and intentionally triggered an explosion just before making contact with Sitomen.


    With a thunderous sound, Sitomen was engulfed in the explosion caused by Ai''s axe, leaving no fragments behind. It vanished from this world.


    |Acquired Skill: Axe Mastery Lv.1|


    |Level has increased to 34.|

 Chapter 112: Struggle of Two Entities

    Chapter 112: Struggle of Two Entities


    A bit of time had passed since the defeat of the creature known as the Goat Man, a demon with a human form and a sheep''s face, as described by Ai. Currently, Cardina was desperately using reconnaissance magic to search for the creature Bipris, the queen bee-like entity believed to be the cause of the Depris, a bee-type magical creature outbreak.


    "How is it going? Any signs?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Pewwww..." (Cardina)


    In response to the words of Marikka, a fairy with the Tamer class, Cardina weakly shook her head. She had hoped to finish the search quickly and receive praise from Tatsuro and Ai, but the abundance of Depris hindered the progress of exploration and analysis. The creature Bipris, which was presumed to be the cause, remained elusive.


    Having observed various animals and magical creatures over the years, Marikka accurately sensed Cardina''s emotions. With a wry smile, she encouraged Cardina.


    "Don''t worry about it. Cheer up! Once this is over, I''ll make sure to tell those two how hard you''ve been working." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Pewi!" (Cardina)


    Cardina, who couldn''t speak, felt uncertain whether her efforts would truly be conveyed to Tatsuro and Ai. However, relieved that one concern had been alleviated, she refocused on her reconnaissance magic.


    Having witnessed Cardina''s determination, Marikka, riding on her companion Yorn, also rallied herself.


    "Alright, I''ll leave that part to you! In return, I won''t let the small fry interfere! Yorn, do your thing!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Shyaaah!"


    With Yorn''s voice, a green light enveloped both of them. As Marikka signaled the activation, something extraordinary happened.


    Suddenly, thick green vines began to wrap around Marikka and Yorn, gradually taking shape. A massive snake served as the core, surrounded by thick limbs formed by vines, wings made of leaves and stems, and plants covering their heads like helmets.


    The form resembled that of a dragon.


    "Charge!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Shaaaaa!"


    Inside the cockpit-like space behind the dragon''s head, where Marikka was positioned, she shouted. The dragon-like Yorn, now increased in size due to the voluminous plant-based additions, swung its large body, sweeping away the Depris forces approaching.


    Furthermore, Marikka, who shouldn''t have been able to use tree magic, manipulated the plant tentacles extending from all directions to eradicate the Depris, preventing them from getting close to Cardina.


    The reason for this capability was the title effect known as [Harmony of Coexistence], a skill that only skilled Tamers could master. If two trusted partners truly believed in each other, they could temporarily share and amplify each other''s skills.


    Using this ability to unleash power beyond their usual limits, they fought with great force. It was an achievement only true Tamers could reach, beyond what Gregory could achieve.


    Grateful for the lone struggle of the duo, Cardina focused all her concentration on reconnaissance magic, searching for the parent creature that continued to produce Depris.


    And then, Cardina realized.


    Even without directly finding the source, identifying the locations where Depris was multiplying might lead to a quicker solution.


    Thinking this, Cardina decided not to conduct a detailed reconnaissance analysis. Instead, she spread the magical power of her reconnaissance magic as widely and thinly as possible, sacrificing information for a broader scope.


    Immediately, the answer was found. However, the result seemed peculiar.


    Surprisingly, there were a total of five points where Depris was multiplying.


    Wondering what this could mean, Cardina decided to visit the nearest point first.


    With a roar, she conveyed her intention to move to those who were protecting her. She then flew to the closest point.


    That location happened to be a particularly high place within the castle grounds. A nest made of dirt was already being constructed at the pinnacle of a pointed roof. From the shadow beneath it, a Bipris could be seen sticking out only its rear, continuously giving birth to offspring outside.


    "That''s undoubtedly a Depris nest! Yorn, go!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Shaaaah!"


    The dragon-like Yorn plunged into the under-construction nest, relentlessly attacking the oncoming Depris. Without hesitation, it swatted them away, caught them with its vine-covered hands, and crushed the queen bee Bipris along with them.


    However, Cardina''s reconnaissance magic still detected reactions from four other locations where Depris was continuing to multiply. So, she immediately informed Marikka and the others by calling out to them, signaling the need to move to the next location.


    "Well, one creature alone can''t fill this many. How many more are there?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Pii, pii, pii, pii." (Cardina)


    However, it was too late even though it had understood. The giant horn pierced its right thigh, breaking the bone and turning the flesh into a mess.


    Yet, Jeanne''s assault continued. The moment the horn penetrated, she conjured a tornado on the tip using wind magic, creating a large hole at the point of penetration. As the hole opened, Jeanne executed a back step, then charged again, tearing the nearly severed right leg completely.


    "Poaaaahhh!"


    In pain, Paralaceus sprayed blood and clutched its leg, leaning forward. However, this exposed its back to Jeanne. She did not miss the opportunity.


    Using wind magic, she created a powerful tailwind between herself and Paralaceus. With a forceful push of her prepared leg, she collided with its bareback at a speed that seemed to roar from the air resistance alone.


    And that was a resounding success.


    Breaking through Paralaceus''s back, Jeanne leaped out from its chest.


    "Uuuunn..."


    "Neigh!!!!" (Jeanne)


    And with that, Jeanne let out her most triumphant roar of the day.


    However, it wasn''t over yet.


    Paralaceus''s body began to squirm like clay, transforming into a new form. This was Paralaceus''s unique skill, [Extreme Evolution]. When suffering near-fatal injuries or severe illness, it could evolve its body up to three times, saving its life.


    And now, the second evolution had been triggered.


    Jeanne noticed the creation of the new form and stared at it with a naked sense of vigilance. By that time, the evolution had already concluded.


    This time, the transformation was quite extravagant. The creature''s height was about half of the previous form, standing at around five meters. It had humanoid arms and legs, but additional spider-like limbs protruded from both sides of its prone body, each equipped with four joints resembling elbows and knees, elongated for increased reach.


    To enhance durability, its body, maintaining a human shape, was covered in dense, rigid fur. The face, however, stubbornly retained the mammoth features.


    The new Paralaceus utilized its increased six limbs skillfully, advancing towards Jeanne faster than before. Using its unused front two arms, it attempted to grab Jeanne''s body.


    Swiftly moving against the wind it generated, Jeanne evaded by stepping backward. At the same time, Paralaceus opened its three eyes on its forehead and unleashed a lightning strike towards the descending Jeanne.


    In response, Jeanne conjured a makeshift sandbag by lifting the ground with the wind, creating a momentary defense against the lightning. However, Paralaceus advanced further, thrusting its front two arms into the sandbag, tearing it apart. Once again, it directed a lightning strike towards Jeanne.


    Trying to dodge by leaping sideways, Jeanne was grazed by the lightning on her right shoulder.


    "Poooon."


    "Brrruu." (Jeanne)


    Feeling the pain from her first direct hit, Jeanne gritted her teeth. Paralaceus, seemingly satisfied with Jeanne''s expression of frustration, grinned.


    However, this provocation turned out to be a fatal mistake, as Paralaceus would soon learn when it faced its impending demise.


    At the moment when Jeanne''s anger reached its peak, she cast aside the pretext of testing her body and immediately activated the skill [True Form]


    As a result, the confident expression disappeared from Paralaceus''s face.


    Standing before it was a creature emitting an overwhelming aura that bore little resemblance to the opponent it had underestimated just moments ago. Twelve meters in size, covered in thick, large dragon scales with a red-black hue, and a tail identical to a dragon''s extending from its body.


    With two powerful legs firmly planted on the ground, its hands had large pure-white claws and an extension of the skin membrane from the side of the little finger to the waist, forming massive wings when spread wide.


    The face had become more streamlined than during its boar form, with teeth that were no longer flat but shaped like knives for cutting through flesh. Moreover, the nose horn had transformed into a giant silver-colored blade, capable of stabbing and slicing.


    Jeanne, relishing the liberating feeling in her body for a moment, waved her right hand lightly in front of the enemy.


    Attempting to flee backward, Paralaceus found itself blocked by Jeanne''s tail, which looped around it and tossed it high into the air.


    Jeanne caught it with her right hand and slammed it down towards the ground.


    With a squashing sound, Paralaceus met its second demise. The third and final evolution began, completely unaware that Jeanne had prepared her "Dragon Horn Spear Blade," channeling dragon power into the horn on her nose.


    Blissfully ignorant, the creature concluded its third evolution, sprouting mammoth tusks like thorns all over its body to prevent a repeat of being crushed. However, when it finally looked up for a rematch with Jeanne, it was too late. The dragon-powered slashing attack had already been unleashed from the horn on Jeanne''s nose.


    Effortlessly, the strike vertically bisected Paralaceus, scattering its life.

 Chapter 113: Roar of the Beast

    Chapter 113: Roar of the Beast


    As Ai gained a level and gracefully returned to Tatsuro''s side with a giant axe in hand, the battle between Jeanne and the mammoth-type monster Paralaceus had just concluded.


    Tatsuro, catching a glimpse of her heroic figure, waved his hand to the now towering Jeanne. She noticed it, wagged her tail, and turned back to wave at him.


    "Neigh!!!" (Jeanne)


    "Ah, even in that form, it still sounds like a horse neighing." (Tatsuro)


    Although Jeanne had undergone considerable changes, that aspect remained the same, and Tatsuro found it somewhat heartwarming. However, he suddenly noticed a significant change in the number of wasp-type monsters, Depris, buzzing around.


    Realizing that Cardina must have done this, he felt proud of her as if it were his accomplishment. She had lifted the large wind magic barrier.


    Just as if they had timed it perfectly, Cardina, Marikka of the fairy race, and her giant green serpent companion, Yorn, returned from the distant sky.


    "Pew!" (Cardina)


    "Hey! We''re done over here!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    Marikka, riding on Cardina and Yorn''s backs, landed in front of Tatsuro''s group, announcing their success. Furthermore,


    "We''re finished here too."


    Saying this, Joaquin, the beast-man vice-captain with his armor stained in blood, joined them. Ennio, despite seeming idle and scratching his head, maintained vigilance, keeping a distance from Gregory.


    With Jeanne completing her transformation and standing beside Tatsuro, their group was now fully assembled.


    Meanwhile, Gregory, with a mask-like expression, stared at the half-split corpse of Paralaceus. Notably, Lord''s son Bertram, who seemed to be wondering if pushing further was futile, kept glancing at Gregory.


    "Now then, Gregory, your troublesome monster is gone, and only you and those around you remain. Is there anything else?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "...To be utterly defeated like this. Paralaceus was a monster that boasted glory in ancient times and was said to be superior to dragons in the demon race. Unbelievable..." (Gregory)


    "In reality, it''s happening, so maybe it''s time to face the truth?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)Fiind updated novels at novelhall.com


    "Hahaha, to be told to face reality by a little girl who seems to have flowers blooming in her head like you..." (Gregory)


    "What did you say!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    Gregory, with a suddenly aged face, scanned his surroundings as if looking for something and then fixed his gaze on Ennio.


    "Ennio! You''re my comrade, right? Please, help me! I only said those mean things earlier because I was just messing around with those guys! Right? We''re friends, aren''t we?" (Gregory)


    "Gregory, you know? Right now, you look really uncool. I don''t want someone pathetic like you as my friend." (Ennio)


    "Darn it, repay the favor for all the trouble I''ve gone through for you! You piece of trash! Who do you think kept you alive with just your useless power?!" (Gregory)


    "It''s strange. Until a moment ago, I was really scared of you, but now, I don''t feel the slightest bit threatened by you." (Ennio)


    Ennio didn''t realize the pity in his eyes, but Gregory keenly sensed his intent. Finally giving up, Gregory kneeled on the ground.


    "Hey, Gregory! W-why are you sitting there! Hurry up and make me the lord!" (Bertram)


    "It''s already over, Lord Bertram." (Gregory)


    Relieved that Ennio seemed fine, Tatsuro while communicating the recent events to Ai through telepathy, suddenly noticed something.


    "Huh?" (Ennio)


    "What''s wrong, Ennio?" (Tatsuro)


    "My chest is pounding, kind of..." (Ennio)


    Hearing those words, both of them looked at Gregory simultaneously. Gregory was smiling.


    "Gregory! What did you do to Ennio!!" (Tatsuro)


    "Hahaha. What did I do? Well, I have no idea. Spare me baseless accusations. More importantly, isn''t your precious Ennio in pain?" (Gregory)


    Although resentful at those words, Tatsuro immediately looked at Ennio, who was now lying on the ground clutching his chest. Tatsuro rushed to Ennio, analyzing his current condition with dispel magic.


    The result showed an abnormally high pulse rate, but there was no physical abnormality.


    "It can''t be like this!" (Tatsuro)


    Yelling without addressing anyone in particular, Tatsuro used life magic to imagine and cast a spell to stabilize Ennio''s condition. It seemed to work, as the pulse returned to normal. However, when he checked Ennio''s body, he noticed that Ennio had grown larger.


    "En...nio?" (Tatsuro)


    "©¤©¤!? Stay away, Tatsuro!" (Ai)


    Grabbed by Ai around the neck, Tatsuro was pulled backward. A massive arm of a giant cat-like creature passed through in front of him. Bewildered, he looked ahead, only to find nothing there.


    When he realized what had happened, a man''s scream came from the vicinity of Gregory behind him. Turning to look, a dead body, previously restraining Gregory, was now lying on the ground. Gregory himself stood there with a satisfied expression, commanding a creature beside him to break the handcuffs.


    "Is that... Ennio?" (Ai)


    "............ It seems so." (Tatsuro)


    Reluctant to admit it, Tatsuro answered Ai''s question honestly.


    "All personnel, keep your distance!"


    "Ennio, bring Lord Bertram here." (Gregory)


    "Grrr."


    "Gyaaah!"


    The creature next to Gregory, with a massive body resembling a tiger, had a pair of long sabre-like fangs and unnaturally sharp claws on its four legs. It tore apart a knight trying to escape, seized the intended target, Lord Bertram, in its jaws, and returned to its original position.


    It was a gigantic, red tiger-like creature with a six-meter body, far from resembling a human. Furthermore, Ennio''s already weak rationality, now diluted due to ancestral regression, had completely vanished.


    "Gruooooooowwwww!"


    In the face of that wild beast-like roar, the two could only stand there in stunned silence.

 Chapter 114: Family Obsession

    Chapter 114: Family Obsession


    In the face of the enormous Crimson Tiger, most individuals were overwhelmed. However, two figures, who had transformed into their "true forms" to protect Tatsuro and Ai, and the duo of Marikka and Yorn, were vigilant, not missing a single move.


    Amidst this, Marikka recognized the monster before her.


    "That is... the Blood Mist Tiger, Iarouris?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Hmm, you know about it. As expected of someone like you." (Gregory)


    "Don''t lump me in with the likes of you." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    Marikka spat out these words, glaring at Gregory. Finally, Tatsuro and the others snapped back to reality, questioning the meaning behind Marikka''s earlier words.


    "Marikka, do you know about that monster?" (Tatsuro)


    "...If that man said it''s Iarouris, then I know a bit. But..." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "But?" (Tatsuro)


    "Iarouris, the monster he mentioned, was a creature that fought against dragonkind and was annihilated tens of thousands of years ago. It can''t exist in the present." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "But wait, before you talk about this Iaro-whatever, that kid is Ennio!" (Ai)


    "Yes, I saw the transformation myself, so I''m sure about that, but..." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    Marikka spoke reluctantly, and Gregory looked down at her with a smug expression, as if saying, "You won''t understand, simpleton." Moreover, there was a look on his face that seemed eager to share something with someone.


    Therefore, Tatsuro, holding onto a glimmer of hope, decided to ask boldly.


    "You manipulate it so skillfully, yet you don''t make baseless accusations, Gregory!" (Tatsuro)


    "Hahaha, exactly. I was a bit anxious earlier, thinking someone might disturb Ennio''s modification before it was complete, but it turned out quite well." (Gregory)


    While saying this, Gregory confidently patted the beast standing beside him. He had been hitting it quite forcefully, but the Crimson Tiger remained calm and unfazed.


    "Modification...? What do you mean?" (Tatsuro)


    "Just as it sounds. Using the material called Ennio, I craft a powerful monster!" (Gregory)


    With a sense of superiority, Gregory began to elaborate, speaking grandiosely, as if this were his moment to make an announcement.


    The story begins with Gregory''s great-grandfather, who, after taming creatures with skills, felt that he couldn''t become stronger as a tamer with just creatures and animals that could be tamed using skills. His great-grandfather initially tried to evolve the creatures he tamed into more powerful beings, but the research proved difficult, progressing slowly. Eventually, the responsibility was passed on to his son, who, unable to achieve evolution, gave up and started searching for a way to enable even more powerful taming.


    Finally, by binding a contract using his blood, from the smallest drop to the essence, he succeeded in making creatures taller than himself obedient. However, this process required a significant amount of blood injection into the target, making it impractical for creatures taller than the user. The researcher, along with a substantial amount of his own blood, eventually passed away, leaving the research to his child.


    The child, inheriting the research, focused on regression rather than evolution. In a world with various races, some individuals could trace their lineage back to powerful creatures. The child intentionally induced ancestral reversion in these individuals, using the opportunity to gradually perform both physical modification and blood contracts.


    After many years, in different places and with different people, Gregory finally succeeded. The result was the child of Sitomen''s base material.


    The child of the Paralaceus base material.


    Success in creating three children, including the child of the Iarouris base material.


    Overwhelming ancestral reversion often led to neglect or resentment, making it easy for them to be taken in by sympathetic parents.


    While caring for them, efforts were made to create a favorable environment for contracting. This involved stimulating the genes revealed by ancestral reversion, injecting a small amount of blood to enable powerful contracts, and providing stimuli to induce further ancestral reversion, ultimately regressing to the appearance of ancestors. This process involved administering various drugs over many years for physical modification and only recently achieving a state where it could be done at any time.


    By the way, Sitomen''s base material was not responsive to contracts with a normal body.


    To the most crucial question for Tatsuro and the others ¡ª whether Ennio could be returned to his original state ¡ª the answer was that once ancestral reversion occurred, the original genes were completely overwritten, making it impossible to revert.


    In other words, Ennio could no longer return to being human.


    {With [Level Eater] it should be invisible, so it should be fine. However, with other attacks, there''s a chance he might shield Gregory at the last moment, so I''d rather not risk it.} (Tatsuro)


    Recalling how he protected himself with his own monsters while she was dealing with Sitomen, Ai understood that Gregory would definitely put himself in harm''s way if there was a threat.


    {Alright, then I''ll leave Ennio to you for a while.} (Tatsuro)


    {Got it!} (Ai)


    "Cardina, I''m counting on you to protect Ai. Jeanne, guard me and also support Ai. Can you do it?" (Tatsuro)


    "Pyuii!" (Cardina)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    With the overflow of power from the [True Form] and the increase in level from the recent battle, both of them nodded confidently with expressions filled with assurance.


    "I''ll also help." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "As for me... I couldn''t see through the last attack, so I''ll stay in the rear. I don''t want to lose any more subordinates..."


    While saying that, Tatsuro grimaced as he looked at several subordinates who were easily torn apart like tofu.


    He realized that if he intervened now, he would only be a hindrance, as he painfully understood from the previous attack.


    Thus, Tatsuro began preparing to use [Level Eater].


    Gregory himself, however, moved around Ennio as if he were in perfect sync. The black ball, which moved in a straight line and at a slow speed, wouldn''t hit him.


    Therefore, a plan was needed to approach Gregory without being noticed.


    With that, the battle commenced. First, Ennio made the initial move.


    Misting his crimson body, he appeared again in front of Tatsuro, raising the two sword-like fangs towards his head.


    "Oh! Why is it attacking Tatsuro first?!" (Ai)


    "Isn''t it because I have the least durability among us, and my magic is troublesome?" (Tatsuro)


    Having effortlessly caught a serious surprise attack using skills for the first time, Ai naturally evaded the intended target. Gregory expected Ai to be out of reach, and by hitting Tatsuro first, he aimed to overturn the situation. Furthermore, by killing Tatsuro, he anticipated that Ai, the two monsters, and even Marikka would be disturbed to some extent.


    Tatsuro had roughly expected this, but having giant fangs thrust toward him repeatedly was mentally distressing.


    However, trusting Ai, Cardina, and Jeanne completely, he focused on his task.


    In the meantime, the only one who could challenge Ennio in a speed contest, Ai, engaged in a super-close-range battle with Ennio.


    In her left hand was a gem sword, and in her right hand was the massive axe she had obtained as a trophy from the three-headed ox she fought in Obsul.


    While moving in mist form, it seemed ineffective at the moment, but attacks with charged vigor seemed to inflict some damage. Taking advantage of the moment when the body was about to return to normal, she weakened the movement speed while using the gem sword to loosen his legs. When Ennio had to return to his original body during attacks, she seized the opportunity and struck him with a less powerful version of the axe''s crushing attack, temporarily staggering him.


    Meanwhile, Cardina remained vigilant against magical skills that could pose a danger, explored unknown monsters and traps, and supported Ai by generating magical earth clumps and throwing them at Ennio whenever he staggered from Ai''s attacks. She kept her attention on providing support, demonstrating her multi-faceted abilities.


    During this time, Marikka and Yorn activated the [Harmony of Coexistence] title effect for the second time today, sharing and amplifying skills. They spread plants on the ground, ensuring that they could attack Ennio from any angle, supporting Ai alongside Cardina, and considering capturing or killing Gregory.


    Joaquin, who had completely shifted to rear support, used his spear to shoot vigor imbued with the piercing attribute like arrows. He commanded the two snakes and slime monsters that Gregory had stationed around him to prevent any incoming attacks.


    Finally, there was Jeanne. She stood in a [True Form] state before Tatsuro, resembling a guardian statue, forming the last line of defense. Despite being a newly formed team, their shared determination to defeat Gregory enabled them to coordinate effectively.


    Protected by these reliable allies, Tatsuro began to move, preparing for his next move in the battle against Gregory.

 Chapter 115: Anger of Ai

    Chapter 115: Anger of Ai


    Ai faced a roaring beast right in front of her, Ennio, who had transformed into a crimson giant tiger known as Iarouris due to Gregory''s inexplicable experiment. She fought him while gazing at him with a sense of loneliness.


    Despite his frightening appearance, Ennio was not only capable of anger but also, when spoken to properly, could even laugh; he was a genuine human turned into a beast by Gregory''s mysterious experiment. If it weren''t for Gregory, Ennio would have been born normally, loved by his parents, and lived a happy life without experiencing this transformation.


    In that case, Ai might never have met Ennio, a thought that made her feel lonely. However, if it meant avoiding this kind of transformation, perhaps a life where they never met would have been happier for both of them.


    That''s why Ai couldn''t forgive a man who played with people''s lives and destinies. She was determined to not let that man have his way.


    With this resolve in her heart, Ai increased the amount of energy covering her entire body and further enhanced her physical abilities. She had become accustomed to controlling the high-level body strengthening used during the battle with the Azure and Gold Bear, called Defurstal.


    With this adjustment, her already abnormal stats reached an even more extraordinary level.


    |Acquired Skill: Body Strengthening Lv.10|


    |Acquired Title: ¡®The Strong One.''|


    "Ennio, I''m sorry. This might hurt a bit." (Ai)


    Ennio, unable to comprehend Ai''s words, simply roared, focusing solely on advancing towards Dragon like Gregory''s puppet.


    Ai''s fighting spirit quietly flared up at the sight, and she poured her energy into the gem sword in her left hand.


    Due to the powerful combination of Ai and Dragon''s mixed aura, the sword, originally made from the Green Holy Stone, had transformed into a material called Rainbow Holy Stone, effortlessly absorbing and manifesting the wielder''s intentions.


    A blade of vibrant, multicolored energy extended from the one-meter-long sword, turning it into a sword reminiscent of a giant''s short sword, with a width of one meter and a height of two meters.


    Ai swung the sword towards the misty form of Ennio.


    Ordinarily, attacking with energy in this mist-like state would be somewhat unpleasant, but it would cause little damage. However, what pierced Ennio''s body this time was a lump of abnormal energy. Instead of discomfort, intense pain surged through his misty form, as if he had been struck by a lightning bolt. His skill unraveled, and he returned to his physical form.


    "W-What the hell!?" (Gregory)


    "I''ve got him! Ai-chan!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Understood!" (Ai)


    Taking advantage of this opportunity, Marikka and Yorn bound Ennio with plant magic, preventing him from moving even as he writhed in pain.


    Meanwhile, Ai, while restraining him, infused an incredible amount of energy into her right-hand axe, extending a blade of energy from its edge.


    "Ha!" (Ai)


    "Gah!?" (Ennio)


    |Acquired Skill: Axe Technique Lv.2.|


    The axe''s blade deftly sliced off two of the sword-like fangs extending from the upper jaw. With this, the threat of the Fang attacks was virtually nullified.


    However, a cracking sound echoed as the large axe in her right hand literally shattered.


    "Ah! I really liked this one, and now it''s broken!" (Ai)


    "What''s with that absurd amount of energy!? If you put that much in, most weapons are bound to end up like that!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Oh no..." (Ai)


    Due to using energy in the same manner as the gem sword, the axe taken from the monster couldn''t withstand Ai''s energy and shattered into pieces.


    Amid her shock, Ennio considered transforming back into mist to escape. However, Ai, noticing this, threatened him with her gem sword, causing him to flinch and abandon the idea.


    The previous attack with the gem sword seemed to have left a significant, shocking pain.


    Nevertheless, Gregory disregarded this and issued a command.


    "Why are you scared as a mere tool? Hurry up and get out of that plant!" (Gregory)


    "What!?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm?" (Gregory)


    Tatsuro couldn''t help bursting into laughter at the sudden and shocking sight, causing Gregory, who felt like he heard something, to turn around. However, Tatsuro quickly closed the peephole, narrowly avoiding being noticed.


    (Why is the lord''s son''s head bald like a Kappa!? An almost handsome guy crying while squatting, what kind of situation is this!?)


    While reflecting on almost getting caught, Tatsuro, who hadn''t seen Ai''s energy blade attack because he was underground, was surprised by the unexpected scene he suddenly witnessed.


    Although he had occasionally observed the situation on the surface through telepathic messages from Ai, he couldn''t see well as he was squatting, and since he was not concerned about it in terms of combat power, he hadn''t paid much attention.


    While questioning how such a bald jarhead situation had occurred, he opened a small hole again to send a glance toward Gregory.


    From his side, he knew that Gregory had lost one leg, so he was aware of it. Riding on a slime, Gregory continued to maneuver himself as a shield, making himself a blind spot for Ai while simultaneously watching over Ennio.


    Being moved like this was troublesome, but it was better than being moved by his own legs.


    {Ai, I''ve reached behind Gregory. Can you lure him to stand in a specific place?} (Tatsuro)


    {Yeah? Oh, got it. I''ll give it a try.} (Ai)


    Through telepathy, Tatsuro informed Ai where he wanted Gregory to stand, and Ai began manipulating Ennio while continuing the fight.


    On the first attempt, Tatsuro''s black sphere, released with precise timing, passed about thirty centimeters to the side of Gregory, missing the target.


    The second attempt yielded similar results.


    Hitting a constantly moving target was undoubtedly challenging. Nevertheless, Tatsuro wanted to continue hitting even if it meant doing it multiple times, as using magic to call Ennio would reset everything.


    So, on the sixth attempt, he hit the target. However, it wasn''t Gregory but rather one of the snake monsters accompanying him.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    Level: 21


    Skills: [Bite Lv.5], [Fire Consumption Lv.5], [Flame Emission Lv.3]


    [Molting Regeneration Lv.2]


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    I''d like to say "Not you!" but being kept as a pet, it has decent skills. Might as well absorb them.)


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    Level: 1


    Skills: [Bite Lv.0], [Fire Consumption Lv.0], [Flame Emission Lv.0]


    [Molting Regeneration Lv.0]


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    (Alright, now for the real thing!)


    Absorbing the skills of the snake and swallowing the black sphere in his mouth, Tatsuro once again aimed at Gregory, activating [Level Eater].


    With this unexpected turn of events, on the sixth attempt, Tatsuro successfully hit Gregory with perfect timing as he approached the black sphere.


    (Alright!)


    In his mind, Tatsuro celebrated his success and began examining Gregory''s acquired skills.

 Chapter 116: Unleashed Beast

    Chapter 116: Unleashed Beast


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    Level: 50


    Skills: [Contract Assistance], [Multiple Obedience], [Empathy]


    [Tame Contract Lv.11: Upper Limit Release], [Concentration Lv.5],


    [Magic Power Quality Rise Lv.4]


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    (Seems like most of the SP [Skill Points] are invested in "Tame Contract." If this runs out, it could cause trouble. If exposed, I''ll have to escape far away. Well, no choice.)


    Tatsuro, somewhat recklessly, continues to absorb Gregory''s levels.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    Level: 1


    Skills: [Contract Assistance], [Multiple Obedience], [Tame Contract Lv.0]


    [Concentration Lv.0], [Magic Power Quality Rise Lv.0]


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    (Huh, [Empathy] seems to have disappeared. Oh well.)


    As Tatsuro swallows the black sphere, changes occur on the surface.


    "What are you doing!?" (Gregory)


    "Oh?" (Ai)


    {Ai, Gregory''s levels are all absorbed. How about over there?} (Tatsuro)


    {Well, for now, Ennio seems confused, looking around his body. The monsters around Gregory are fleeing. By the way, the slime Gregory was riding is also trying to shake him off and go somewhere else.} (Ai)


    {I see. Well then, I''ll retrieve the Bald (Hairless) teapot and come back there. Since Gregory has skills that cannot be absorbed, let''s catch him after making sure to join forces.} (Tatsuro)


    {Bald teapot? Well, whatever. Okay okay.} (Ai)


    Ai, unaware that she has also shaved the head of the heir Bertram, interprets it as an insult to Bertram and lets it slide.


    Meanwhile, Ai watches intently as Ennio, unsure when he will act, and Gregory, who is desperately trying to stop the escaping monsters, continue their actions.


    Ignoring the noisy spectacle of Gregory struggling above, Tatsuro connects the tunnel directly below the Bald (hairless) teapot, opens a hole, and drops it down.


    The hairless teapot groans with a terrible sound.


    "Agh, ugh~ it hurts! What''s going on!? It''s pitch dark! What the hell!?" (Bertram)


    "Shut up, Bald (hairless) teapot." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro, annoyed, punches him in the face to silence him, then uses earth magic to bury everything except the nostrils in the soil, making him unable to move or make a sound.


    Though he seems to be saying something, Tatsuro ignores him, magically assisting while dragging Bertram back along the path he came.


    They climb the stairs leading to the hole behind Jeanne while quietly inflicting minor damage on Bertram.


    "Yo!" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh. Wait, is that Bertram?"


    "Yes, it is. I''ll give it to you as a souvenir." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, that''s very polite¡ªwait, no, it''s not."


    While Tatsuro marvels at the splendid retort, Vice Commander Joaquin approaches him, leaving the souvenir behind, and asks.


    "I knew you dug a hole and went over there. When you did that, the enemy''s camp fell apart. What did you do?"


    "It''s a secret. Besides, there''s still something I have to do at the end." (Tatsuro)


    "Understood. Let''s do something about Ennio-kun as soon as possible then." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Yes." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro responds firmly and communicates the same information telepathically to Ai. Confirming the details of the plan:


    {So, you understand, right?} (Tatsuro)


    {Yeah. Put Ennio to sleep once, and during that time, make Marikka the new contract holder. Is that correct?} (Ai)


    {Yeah, you got it. Now, it''s an all-out battle. Ennio''s attacks will mostly be directed at you, but are you okay with that?} (Tatsuro)


    {Yeah. Cardina-chan is assisting at a good time, so I think we can handle it.} (Ai)


    {Okay then, let''s get started.} (Tatsuro)


    {Got it!} (Ai)


    And now, Tatsuro officially joins the battle. First, if he can use life magic directly on Ennio, he should be able to knock off his consciousness. Therefore, that should be the focus of his actions.


    To do that, he needs to somehow deal with that troublesome speed. So, Tatsuro transforms the ground into a muddy swamp with a mix of earth and water magic.


    Ennio notices it and tries to change into mist to escape. However, Ai''s jewel sword, infused with all her energy, attacks.


    "Haah!" (Ai)


    "©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤Guaah!" (Ennio)


    At that moment, Ennio returns to his flesh-and-blood form, manipulates the blood stored in the depths of his wounds, turns it into a bullet-like projectile, and shoots it into Ai.


    "Ugh!?" (Ai)


    She''s surprised by a bullet made of blood, not energy. However, Ai stops and deflects it calmly.


    Meanwhile, Ennio has moved away. But, it''s within the mud swamp created by Tatsuro. Ennio gets his legs trapped and can''t kick the ground effectively.


    If Ennio transforms into mist, he might be able to escape, but in that form, he can only be attacked unilaterally and can''t counterattack. Ennio realizes he can''t easily step into that trap.


    At that moment, Tatsuro attempts to fly towards Ennio with wind magic. Ennio raises a roar and manipulates his blood, spreading it like a spider''s web. He jumps onto it, escaping and smoothly ascending along the blood web.


    The height is about ten meters from the ground. Ennio looks down from above and showers blood bullets.


    However, there is a reliable ally in the sky.


    "Pewee!" (Cardina)


    "Guaa!?" (Ennio)


    Ennio, who was only looking down, notices a sudden descent from even higher up a split second too late.


    Cardina, with wings as hard as steel due to [True Form] imbues dragon power into them and activates [Dragon Wing Blade] as she passes by Ennio.


    She successfully cuts Ennio''s left shoulder, tearing through the blood armor and inflicting a wound.


    Just cutting the wound is not a significant blow, as Ennio can manipulate blood to prevent it from escaping. However, things don''t stop there.


    Cardina''s anger turns toward Ennio, and without paying attention to anything else, she follows the direction of her attack. This makes her oblivious to the fact that another force is descending.


    Her name is Jeanne. A twelve-meter giant soaring into the sky, and now she''s free-falling towards Ennio.


    The descent speed of that colossal body is not inferior to Cardina''s rapid descent. Guided by gravity, Jeanne lands a kick on Ennio, sending him crashing to the ground from the blood web.


    Having witnessed this, Jeanne, with dragon power wrapped around her arms and wings, gently lands on the ground.


    "I knew Jeanne could fly, but it''s quite a spectacle with that giant body in the sky." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. Once she lands, I''d like to ride on Jeanne too." (Ai)


    "Yeah. Let''s finish this quickly for that too." (Tatsuro)


    "Agreed!" (Ai)


    While Ennio is in chaos above, the two who had stealthily joined the fray run towards the mud swamp where Ennio was thrown. Their goal is to give the final push to Ennio, who is now stuck in the mire.

 Chapter 117: Resolution with Ennio

    Chapter 117: Resolution with Ennio


    As soon as Tatsuro confirmed Ennio''s body was completely submerged in the mud, he used water magic to extract only the moisture and then solidified it further with a mixture of earth and darkness magic.


    This would prevent Ennio from turning into mist and make blood manipulation challenging.


    After solidifying the area around Ennio within about two meters, Tatsuro pushed it out onto the surface using earth magic. The plan was to approach when Ennio was on the brink of suffocation and use life magic.


    However, as soon as the clump of earth containing Ennio surfaced, an eerie drilling sound reminiscent of a dentist''s drill echoed.


    By the time it emerged on the surface, the earth clump was already full of cracks, and it was on the verge of collapse.


    "Uh-oh!" (Tatsuro)


    "Leave it to me!" (Ai)


    Ennio, using the hardened earth around him, solidified blood from his wounds and formed a spear with a spiral groove like a drill. He rapidly rotated it, reaching the point of internal destruction. With the spinning spear, Ennio charged at Tatsuro at a speed impossible for him to react to.


    As Ennio approached, Ai deftly intercepted the attack with a tower shield made of iron and a large shield from a three-headed bull, layered one on top of the other. The iron shield couldn''t withstand the force and was pierced through, but Ai, pouring her energy into the second shield derived from a magical creature, managed to withstand the charge for a moment.


    At the moment when Ai completely halted Ennio''s charge, the large shield shattered into tiny pieces as if completing its duty. However, this unexpected opportunity arose.


    The fact that the interception took place right in front of Ennio''s face worked in their favor. Small fragments of the shattered shield lodged into Ennio''s eyes.


    "Guaaah!?" (Ennio)


    "I was aiming for this!" (Ai)


    "Liar!" (Tatsuro)


    Quickly switching to a gem sword, Ai poured all her energy into it and swiftly cut off the still-rotating horn. As it dropped, it turned back into a red liquid, staining the ground.


    Meanwhile, Tatsuro attempted to use [Level Eater], but as soon as the blood spear was cut, it flew off diagonally, and the black sphere floated harmlessly through space.


    "It seems it didn''t work." (Tatsuro)


    "What happened?" (Ai)


    "I used [Level Eater] but I couldn''t hit him." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, he''s been moving around a lot; it''s challenging." (Ai)


    While discussing this, Ennio had completely recovered. This time, he used blood to create a thick armor.


    As if to obstruct this, thick trees generated by Marikka and Yorn''s tree magic protruded from the ground, lifting Ennio into the air. Cardina approached with [Dragon Wing Blade] but Ennio dodged by using [Air Walk]


    Even the [Dragon Horn Spear Blades] released by Jeanne on the ground were evaded by zigzagging through the air six times.


    "He''s leveled up his skills since the time he was a beast man." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, back then, even if he could do it, it was only a few times. Now it''s seven or eight. Is this his limit?" (Ai)


    "Or maybe he''s getting stronger as time passes?" (Tatsuro)


    "He seems to be getting more accustomed to that body over time. Oh, he''s coming this way again!" (Ai)


    As Ai predicted, Ennio, dodging Marikka and Yorn''s tree magic attacks, covered his entire body with a thick armor of blood and charged directly at them. Following this, Cardina dropped clumps of earth from the sky like carpet bombing, but the blood armor easily protected Ennio from everything.


    Despite Jeanne''s fast pace, Ennio, with superior speed, caught up with them.


    Jeanne, despite her massive size, struggled to keep up with Ennio''s incredible speed.


    "Haaaah!" (Ai)


    "Guaaah!" (Ennio)


    Tatsuro had intended to use life magic to gently induce sleep, but before he could do so, Ai forcefully put Ennio to sleep, causing Tatsuro to stop in his tracks. However, seeing Marikka also heading towards Ennio, he quickly ran over.


    Using life magic, they provided first aid and deepened Ennio''s slumber, finally creating a calm environment.


    "Let''s start by analyzing the situation in detail to increase the success rate." (Tatsuro)


    "Understood." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Go for it, Tatsuro!" (Ai)


    "Yeah." (Tatsuro)


    Encouraged by Ai, who held a free hand, Tatsuro''s motivation soared. Together with Cardina, they began unraveling the blood contract, a research result of Gregory.


    It proved to be quite complex, and regular dispelling magic seemed insufficient. They incorporated light magic boosts midway, trying to tackle it all at once.


    Gradually, they started understanding how Ennio had been bound. Initially, they extracted the magical power of the contract, liquefied it using their blood as a medium, and mixed it into the target''s bloodstream. This process applies the contract at the cellular level, binding and tying it throughout the entire body.


    Of course, during the process, they attempted to investigate whether there was a chance to revert Ennio to his original form, risking their last hope. However, after a thorough examination, it became clear that no matter where they looked, Ennio had transformed into a different entity, making it impossible.


    Feeling disheartened but managing to pull through, they meticulously examined the overview and every internal part of the body where the contract was applied. Then, they prepared for a magical exchange therapy, swapping Gregory''s magic with Marikka''s, akin to blood transfusion therapy.


    "Now, Marikka-san, please channel your magic according to my instructions." (Tatsuro)


    "Sure. I got it." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    Tatsuro gradually diminished Gregory''s magic with dispelling magic and had Marikka pour her magic into specified locations to fill the gaps.


    The exhausting process continued for several hours. They intermittently applied sleep magic to Ennio and finally completed the procedure. Afterward, they meticulously used dispelling magic to confirm that all the contract points were now activated by Marikka''s magic, ensuring there were no flaws.


    "I think we probably succeeded." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, I feel the same way. So, can we wake him up now?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Yes. But just to be safe, Marikka-san, please stay at a distance." (Tatsuro)


    "What about Tatsuro-kun?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Tatsuro is fine; I''m with him!" (Ai)


    "I see, I see." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    Encouraged by Ai, who had demonstrated her prowess in the recent battle, Marikka stepped back.


    Observing this, Tatsuro sent a signal with his eyes to Ai, then proceeded to awaken Ennio using life magic.


    "Ngh... Gaaah~" (Ennio)


    Ennio, as if waking up from a good sleep, let out a big yawn. Midway through, his eyes met with Tatsuro''s.


    Both of them tensed up, expecting an attack, but Ennio simply lay peacefully on the ground.


    "Yeah, it seems like the contract is properly in place." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Even now, isn''t it a bit late to wonder why Marikka-san didn''t just make a contract normally?" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s impossible. There''s a limit to the amount a Tamer can control unless they make a contract like Gregory''s. Of course, the more powerful the controlled creature, the faster that capacity gets filled. So, I''m full to the brim with Yorn." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "I see." (Tatsuro)


    While Ai nodded with admiration, Ennio yawned again.


    There were mixed feelings about whether everything was okay, but seeing that Yorn was treated well and leaving him in Marikka''s hands would not make the situation worse. With such thoughts in mind, Tatsuro tightly squeezed the hand he held with /JonathanTitan

 Chapter 118: Resolutions form Each of them

    Chapter 118: Resolutions form Each of them


    Marikka and Ennio''s contract concluded smoothly without a hitch. As the aftermath began to unfold, Tatsuro finally noticed that he had left Gregory unattended for quite a few hours.


    In a bit of a panic, he looked around and found Joaquin, the deputy commander of the beast men, and other soldiers securely holding Gregory. Although captured, Gregory seemed bewildered and disheartened, as if his life''s purpose¡ªtampering with the Tamer''s art¡ªhad somehow failed him, rendering him unable to stand on his own. Ryutaro left him as is, assuming it would be fine.


    "Guess it''s karma." (Tatsuro)


    "Serve him right." (Ai)


    As they grumbled together, Joaquin, accompanied by soldiers restraining Gregory and the lord''s son, Bertram, approached them.


    "We appreciate your cooperation. Thanks to you, the cleanup of Depris is nearly complete. The town''s damage is minimal, considering the magnitude of the event. Expect something from the lord later; he might have plans for you."


    "Everything is finally over." (Tatsuro)


    "You guys did a lot. We''re dealing with the arrest of Mayor Joel Wickham, hunting down the remnants of thieves, and normalizing Tofas. What about you? Want to become our bosses?"Vissit  for updates


    ""We''ll pass."" They chorused


    "Haha, figured as much. Well..."


    Joaquin sighed, realizing the busy days ahead, and his subordinates, watching him, chuckled. But they had come this far, even if Tatsuro and his companions wanted to get back on track with their original goals, they had no complaints.


    Tatsuro, looked up at the slightly cloudy sky in the early afternoon while his stomach growled.


    Gregory wondered how he ended up like this and what could have been done differently.


    His passion, time, and skills¡ªall in vain.


    No anger, just regret crushing his chest.


    Then, the voice of a boy reached him. At that moment, regret transformed into anger. Since that person appeared, everything went awry.


    If only that person weren''t there, Gregory believed he would have everything¡ªposition, honor, and wealth.


    If only that person weren''t there, again and again, his thoughts circled. Gradually, the obsession seized him: if only Tatsuro weren''t there, everything would return to normal.


    With a seemingly vacant expression, Gregory, while feigning disinterest, secretly directed his gloomy gaze towards Tatsuro.


    Inside the castle grounds, the situation was chaotic, especially where Tatsuro and the others were. Considering the damage, Tatsuro pondered how he would repair it and began surveying the area.


    As Marikka suggested returning to the lord''s place, and the others agreed, a few soldiers armed approached Joaquin in a hurry.


    "What happened?"


    "Yes, Joel Wickham gathered the remnants of the thieves and caused a riot in the town!"


    "What!?! How reckless. It''s too late to do anything now!"


    Joaquin, wearing a resentful expression, inquired for details. According to the report, after ravaging the town, they took over the guild-operated department store and barricaded themselves there. Everyone present listened intently, their attention focused on the messenger, except for one person¡ªGregory, who was silently observing Tatsuro.


    Unnoticed by anyone in the scene, Gregory''s gaze was fixed on Ryutaro.


    Gregory carefully confirmed it, moving his mouth as if chewing, then, with a small box-like tool tucked into his left back molar, he cautiously took it out while ensuring it didn''t activate in his mouth. He held it between his lips.


    Covering the button for firing, he aimed the side with the lid towards his own throat, sliding it off with his tongue. All that remained was to aim and, by pressing the small button with his tongue, a needle with a potent poison would be shot out, causing the target to die within seconds.


    The distance to Tatsuro was just under five meters. It was at the limit of the range but still within reach. Furthermore, at the moment, no one was standing in a straight line distance.


    Gregory saw this as his last opportunity and carefully aimed. After all, the needle he had prepared was a single one, and if removed, he would have no means left.


    (If it weren''t for you... I... still!)


    Ennio, without showing any particular displeasure, snorted once, closed his eyes, and fell to the ground after exhaling strongly.


    Meanwhile, the mayor, who had been holed up in place, learned about Gregory and Bertram''s capture through a messenger bird from a spy among the thieves hidden inside the castle. Despite understanding that it was hopeless, he couldn''t help but act. He incited the thieves he had hidden, leading to such a reckless act.


    "Darn it, I shouldn''t have trusted those thief-like guys..."


    Now alone on the top floor of a ten-story department store, he looked down at the soldiers surrounding the building.


    If he had the time to do such things, he might have had other options if he had quietly escaped. However, when he tried to do that, the town gates were already closed, the elite knights of the knight order were patrolling secret escape routes, and it was no longer a situation where he could easily leave the town.


    So, as a last resort, he decided to take the department store customers hostage and attempt to leave the town. His followers had already escaped somewhere, and now, the only allies he could rely on were the untrustworthy thieves. He had given money to one of them to deliver a statement about releasing hostages in exchange for securing an escape route, but it seemed that the person had taken the money and fled.


    "Haha. Even though I''ve lived for this town for so many years, to be swayed by a little money, what foolish guys."


    "That''s excessive pride, Joel."


    "©¤©¤What!? Zan, how did you get here!?"


    Thinking there was only one person, the mayor found the familiar Adventurers'' Guild leader of Lyadas Town standing behind him.


    "Our staff is excellent. The safety of the hostages has already been ensured. As for the thieves, anyone who didn''t surrender quietly has been killed. You''re the only one left."


    "Even you turned against me."


    "If it were the old Joel Wickham, I would have undoubtedly helped. But I can''t lend a hand to you now. So at least, let me capture you myself."


    "If I get caught, I''ll be sentenced to death, you know? Is that still friendship?"


    "How many adventurers who supported you were killed by the thieves you were backing? ...You must face the consequences."


    He had always been a stubborn and justice-minded person. Such a person would never retract what he had said so clearly.


    "I had no interest in climbing the ranks, but I, who kept reaching for the top, am now being put to an end by you. Irony, isn''t it?"


    "You brought it upon yourself, Joel, with your misdeeds."


    "I see. Then go ahead and catch me. Even though I''m old, there''s no way you can beat me still in action."


    "That''s right."


    And so, Zan approached to capture Joel. Just as if he had anticipated it, Joel dropped a bottle he had hidden up his sleeve.


    "What!?"


    "You''re naive. I knew you had something hidden there."


    The bottle fell and broke on the ground. Zan rushed over in an instant, caught it with his foot, and while preventing further resistance, he punched Joel''s abdomen, rendering him unconscious.


    In just a few hours, the incident, later to be spoken of in history as the mayor''s madness, was settled surprisingly easily.


    Tatsuro and his companions learned of this news about an hour later.


    Some things needed to be dealt with beforehand. In a room where a luxurious meal was served, Tatsuro, Ai, Marikka, and Ennio of the Crimson Tigers were waiting. Joaquin, an acquaintance, came personally to inform them.


    Finally, the prolonged commotion had come to an end, and the burden on their shoulders was lifted for the two of them.


    ¡ª¨C


    T/N: I feel sorry for Ennio that he won''t be able to reverse to his normal self again but i feel satisfied that he was the one who killed /JonathanTitan

 Chapter 119: Back to the Usual Daily Life

    Chapter 119: Back to the Usual Daily Life


    Finally relieved that all the unpleasant matters were over, Brendan, the lord, and his daughter, Laurence, arrived with their escorts in front of the two. Following them were Reginald, the muscular head of the Mac Dermott family and a merchant, his chubby son Gillian, the elderly knight and security chief of the Mac Dermott family, Neville, Neville''s subordinate and a female magic user, the former thief Salman, and the members who were present when the two arrived here.


    "Truly, it seems you managed to accomplish what you said. I don''t even know how to express my gratitude" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "No, as a result, all our troubles have been resolved as well" (Tatsuro)


    "I see. Well, when it comes to that, it''s time for the reward... but what should I do? I do intend to provide money, but I feel like that alone might not be enough. Is there anything you desire?" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Something we desire..." Tatsuro and Ai''s most desired item at the moment was SP (Skill Points), but it was not something they could ask for. Since money was assumed to be given, it would be preferable to seek something difficult to obtain without the lord''s influence. However, Tatsuro couldn''t think of anything right away. So, he sent a glance to Ai, wondering if she had any ideas. She placed her hand on her chin, pondered for a moment, and then sent a telepathic message.


    {Come to think of it, I lost some of my equipment, so is there anything I could use?} (Ai)


    {Ah, indeed. Since this is from a lord, there might be something that can withstand Ai''s full power, like a gem sword.} (Tatsuro)


    {Yes, exactly. In case of emergency, I tend to forget to hold back, and normal items end up breaking.} (Ai)


    With that settled, it was time to consult with the lord. Tatsuro turned his gaze back to the lord and spoke.


    "Um, could we have some weapons?" (Tatsuro)


    "Weapons, Hmm? Well, specifically, what kind of weapon do you want?" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "I don''t have a particular preference, but I would prefer something made of a material that won''t break even if a large amount of energy is poured into it." (Ai)


    "No specific preference, huh? Hmm." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    While the lord was contemplating if there was anything suitable, Laurence, who was following behind, joined the conversation.


    "How about the family heirloom axe? That should withstand a large amount of energy, right?" (Laurence)


    "Hmm? Ah, that''s true, but... It''s not something I can do. Even if it was used by thieves and got a bad reputation, it''s still a symbol of our house." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Keeping something unusable just for the sake of tradition seems disrespectful to the weapon. If that''s the case, what about that one?" (Laurence)


    "That one...? Yeah, the one my grandfather bought when I was still little. He bought it just because it was rare, even though he couldn''t use it." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "That one... That one... Ah! That might work well." (Laurence)


    With the conversation progressing rapidly, the lord issued a command to one of his guards, who then instructed another unfamiliar man. After waiting for about ten minutes, the man who had left the room earlier returned with another person, both carrying a massive bow together.


    It was nearly three meters in size, with a thickness of thirty centimeters. In the center of the part that became thinner, similar to the handle, a thin blue sphere was embedded. A wire-like string of the same thickness as the handle was stretched across it.


    Even though it was called a bow, it was too large, and the string was too thick. At first glance, it didn''t seem usable as a bow. Tatsuro began to doubt whether they were trying to impose something unnecessary on him.


    However, Reginald who was watching from behind, exclaimed in surprise.


    "Is that celestial armour" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "That right. This would be a worthy reward of this meritorious service" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Is that okay...? It won''t be surprising if some other celestial armor is designated as national treasures due to their power" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "You are right. No one who has ever obtained it has been able to draw out its true power, my father bought it as an artifact at an unbelievable price, and my father is no longer with us. Therefore, if these people can draw out that power it would be better to give it to them" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Ha" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    Reginald, who was confident that he could sell it for a high price, looked a bit conflicted, but knowing that it was not worth twisting the owner''s words, he held his peace.


    The atmosphere had somehow turned weird and Tatsuro and the others who had been ignored were wondering what was really happening between the two men.


    "Um, can I ask what that celestial armor is?" (Tatsuro)


    "What? You don''t know about celestial armor? Well, celestial armor is¡ª" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    According to his words, celestial armor was a weapon that absorbed energy and manifested special abilities. It was an item that caused events impossible to reproduce even with the combined technology of all humanity.


    As for where to obtain such a thing, it seemed it could be acquired very rarely in dungeons. Monsters defeated in dungeons might transform into celestial armor, or it could appear from treasure chests.


    Moreover, this phenomenon could occur in any low-level dungeon, so acquiring it depended entirely on luck. It seemed that elements beyond one''s strength were necessary, and that''s why it was called celestial armor.


    Its name came from being a piece of equipment bestowed by the heavens. A straightforward name established by adventurers, apparently.


    "Like an RPG drop item, huh?" (Ai)


    "Indeed, it''s becoming more and more like a game world," (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm. Why did you decide to hire Salman again? Honestly, from the perspective of someone who doesn''t know the details, it doesn''t look good to be employing someone like that." ((Tatsuro)


    "Yes. However, I became friends with Salman. Besides, even without that, he''s excellent. From now on, if he works hard, people''s opinions will change over time. I believe in that" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    Gillian said, firmly grabbing Salman''s shoulder and smiling slyly. Salman, seeming pleased to be praised for his excellence, smiled somewhat bashfully.


    After leaving them, they visited Reginald and Neville.


    "Come visit our house again. When you do, let''s properly thank you for saving our son." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Yes, if there''s a chance." (Tatsuro)


    "Haha, not greedy even though you''re young. Well, how about this? While gold doesn''t seem to interest you much, it seems you''re interested in equipment. We have some special items in our house, so how about providing them to you at a discount?" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Hey, aren''t you giving them to us for free?" (Ai)


    With a mischievous and slightly malicious look, Ai teased Reginald. He responded with a confident smile.


    "It''s quite difficult for someone in my profession to provide goods for free. However, I''ll study harder than usual to give you a discount." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "I''m looking forward to it." (Ai)


    "Do you have equipment for mages as well?" (Tatsuro)


    "Of course." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    Reginald, with the demeanor befitting someone managing a large business, displayed an air of prestige. After some casual conversation, they were called by the lord again. There, after receiving the reward money, the lord began to talk about something unimaginable.


    "What do you think? My daughter doesn''t seem to be thinking about marriage, but I would like her to have a child. So, would you be willing to provide your seed to our house?" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    ""Eh?""


    The sudden proposal shocked both Tatsuro and Ai. The lord, seemingly unbothered, continued with his proposition.


    "I know you two love each other. So, I''m not asking for marriage or anything, nor am I trying to tie you to our territory for the sake of a child. I just want you to mate with her a few times until she conceives. We simply desire the blood of a talented individual for our family''s prosperity." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "That''s..." (Tatsuro)


    "Ugh." (Ai)


    Feeling the atmosphere of refusal from Tatsuro and seeing Ai pouting beside him, the lord persisted with a strong push.


    "My daughter is beautiful, even if I say so myself. Just think of it as a light-hearted affair for a few nights. I might even offer additional rewards if a child is born." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    The situation made Tatsuro, already bewildered by this family, muster his resolve.


    "I''m sorry, but we can''t accept that offer." (Tatsuro)


    "Why not? Is my daughter unsatisfactory?" (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "No, she''s certainly beautiful. However, if I''m going to conceive a child with someone, I have already decided on the one person in the world." (Tatsuro)


    Saying this, Tatsuro looked the lord directly in the eyes and firmly held Ai''s hand, intertwining their fingers to show the connection. Ai blushed intensely at this bold confession. Laurence, slightly jealous, smiled with a hint of envy, and the lord looked solemn.


    "Hahaha! I see, I see. Well, I guess it can''t be helped. I apologize for suggesting something unreasonable. Forget everything I just said." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Yes, I''ve already forgotten." (Tatsuro)


    "Good. Then, let''s consider my proposition done. If anything happens in the future, feel free to rely on our house. At that time, I''ll do my best to help with whatever little power I have." (Brendan Lyadas Bruitt)


    "Yes, thank you." (Tatsuro)


    With that unexpected and strange connection established, Tatsuro and his companion Ai spent one more night in the lord''s castle before parting ways. On the way back to their base...


    "Do you regret anything about Laurence?" (Ai)


    "Do I seem like it?" (Tatsuro)


    "Not at all" (Ai)


    "Well, that''s good then." (Tatsuro)


    Arm in arm, the couple, their faces redder than usual, frequently stopped to exchange kisses, oblivious to the disapproving glances from people passing by. They remained blissfully unaware of the attention they attracted until the very /JonathanTitan

 Chapter 120: Status Check

    Chapter 120: Status Check


    It was a day of rain.


    By the time they left the lord''s castle, the usual sun was absent, hidden behind overcast skies. As they reached the inn at their base, the rain gradually intensified. At present, it was mid-morning, and outside was a torrential downpour.


    Amidst the rain sounds, the two lounged on the sofa, savoring the moment.


    "Yeah. It may not be our home, but it feels good to be back" (Tatsuro)


    "True. The castle we stayed in yesterday wasn''t bad, but it was a bit too big for comfort" (Ai)


    As they spoke, Ai wrapped her arm around Tatsuro''s neck, planting a kiss on his cheek. Tatsuro, reciprocating, lifted Ai''s waist, their lips meeting.


    After a refreshing bath, they returned to the sofa, shoulders leaning against each other.


    "When do we leave here?" (Ai)


    "Hmm. Even though tomorrow is the polar night, I''d like to do some shopping. However, due to the hostage situation, the convenient department store will be closed for three days. After that, maybe" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, the store was apparently a mess, but reopening in three days is impressive" (Ai)


    "True." (Tatsuro)


    After a pleasant exhaustion, they enjoyed a late lunch. Then, it was time for the neglected SP consumption and status check.


    This time, besides Tatsuro and Ai, Cardina and Jeanne''s levels had also increased, so they wanted to check those as well. The two creatures, summoned in [Child Form] appeared.


    "Alright, let''s use some SP. I''ve been thinking about it in my free time. With the current SP at 511, I''ll go all out with [Life Magic Lv.5], [Earth Magic Lv.10], [Dispel Magic Lv.10], [Wind Magic Lv.10], [Curse Magic Lv.6], [Thunder Magic Lv.2] and [Wood Magic Lv.1]" (Tatsuro)


    "Earth, Dispel, and Wind to 10, and Life 5, Curse 6... And adding Thunder and Wood. That sets the order for all the magic, but is that okay?" (Ai)


    "Yeah. We''ll have to decide at some point, and I want to try Thunder. Wood Magic might come in handy for gathering vegetables on the way" (Tatsuro)


    "Your reason for Thunder is pretty casual... Well, it''s fine" (Ai)


    "...No objections, then. Let''s do it." (Tatsuro)


    As announced, Tatsuro paid 497 SP to acquire the skills, leaving him with 14 SP.


    |You have acquired the title ¡®Master of Earth''| a message popped up.


    |You have acquired the title ¡®Master of Dispel.''|


    |You have acquired the title ¡®Master of Wind.''|


    "Alright, with the titles secured, let''s level up Cardina and the others'' magic to 10, and then display our statuses" (Tatsuro)


    "Sure." (Ai)


    "Beep." (Cardina)


    "Neigh." (Jeanne)


    Tatsuro swiftly increased the levels of the two creatures'' magic, then proceeded to reveal his own stats.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    Name: Tatsuro Hasami


    Class: Composite Magician


    Level: 50


    Ki: 40


    Mana: 1,592


    Dragon Power: 100


    Strength: 100Re?a? latest cha/p/ters on


    Durability: 100


    Agility: 80


    Magic: 1,401


    Magic Resistance: 1,351


    Magic Control: 1,429


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Level Eater], [Composite Magic Skill Enhancement], [Yin-Yang Orb]


    [Flame Wind], [Earth Pointed Wind], [Adhesive Water]


    [Light Magic Lv. 10], [Dark Magic Lv. 10], [Fire Magic Lv. 10]


    [Water Magic Lv. 10], [Life Magic Lv. 5], [Earth Magic Lv. 10]


    [Dispel Magic Lv. 10], [Wind Magic Lv. 10], [Curse Magic Lv. 6]


    [Thunder Magic Lv.2], [Wood Magic Lv.1], [Mana Purification Lv.4]


    [Mana Regeneration Lv.3], [Mana Perception Lv.4], [Focus Lv.4]


    [Universal Language Comprehension].


    |System skills|


    [Map], [Item box +4]


    Skill Points: 14


    Magic Control: 171


    |Acquired Skills|


    [True Form], [Adult Form], [Child Form]


    [Dragon Flight Lv.6], [Dragon Wing Blade Lv.2], [Dispel Magic Lv.10]


    [Earth Magic Lv.8], [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Rise Lv.5]


    Skill Points: 27


    |Titles|


    [Master of Dispel]


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    "Oh, you''ve got the ¡®Master'' series too. Honestly, since it feels like I''m transplanting my magic, I was a bit worried" (Tatsuro)


    "With attribute magic skills at level 10, it''s guaranteed to learn" (Ai)


    "Beep beep" (Cardina)


    "Good for you, Cardina" (Tatsuro)


    Cardina happily bounced around on top of the mini-sized Jeanne.


    While enjoying the heartwarming scene, they finally checked Jeanne''s status.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    Name: Jeanne


    Class: ¨C


    Level: 8


    Dragon Power: 293


    Strength: 53


    Durability: 53


    Agility: 48


    Magic: 162


    Magic Resistance: 162


    Magic Control: 162


    |Acquired Skills|


    [True Form], [Adult Form], [Child Form]


    [Dragon Horn Spear Blade Lv.6], [Dragon Flight Lv.2], [Wind Magic Lv.10]


    [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Rise Lv.5]


    Skill Points: 24


    |Titles|


    [Master of Wind]


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    "Hmm. Just as I thought" (Tatsuro)


    "What do you mean?" (Ai)


    As Ai, Cardina, and Jeanne all tilted their heads in confusion at Tatsuro''s reaction to Jeanne''s status, he smiled and began to explain his speculation.


    "Well, you see, Jeanne defeated that somewhat strong monster called Paralaceus, and according to Marikka-san''s story, Cardina hunted quite a few during the Depris extermination." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, both of them did great!" (Ai)


    "Beep beep" (Cardina)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    With prideful expressions from Ai and joyful nods from the two creatures, Tatsuro, feeling the same way, patted their heads.


    "Yeah, that''s right. But considering that, their levels are still quite low" (Tatsuro)


    "Ah, now that you mention it, both are still in single digits" (Ai)


    "That''s why I think it has something to do with the dragon race. Judging from how their levels increased when they defeated the Magic Dragon, it seems like dragon-type creatures need more experience points than regular races like us." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, that sounds a bit tough." (Ai)


    "But in return, their basic stats seem outstanding, unrelated to their level. Remember how powerful that level 1 Magic Dragon was?" (Tatsuro)


    "In that case, the system might be balancing things out." (Ai)


    "It''s a possibility." (Tatsuro)


    While the two discussed the unique characteristics of dragon-type creatures, Cardina secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    She had been worried because she heard that Jeanne had defeated a strong monster, thinking that maybe her younger sister had surpassed her in level. It wasn''t that it would be a problem, but she still wanted to maintain a bit of big sister authority. Unaware of her sister''s feelings, Jeanne, feeling bored, lay down and rolled /JonathanTitan

 Chapter 121: Reginalds Skill

    Chapter 121: Reginald''s Skill


    From the rainy day until the next day of the Light Affiliation, it was a polar night, meaning a day that continued throughout the night.


    As the shop was still closed, the two, who hadn''t taken a break for two days, spent the day in idleness to heal their tired minds and bodies from the recent disturbance. They welcomed the morning that didn''t come the next day, still wrapped in laziness.


    Several hours later, Tatsuro woke up and used his enhanced life magic to wake up the girl who was still sleeping naked beside him.Ne/w novel chapters are p/u/blished at novelhall.com


    "Oh... Good morning, Tatsuro." (Ai)


    "Good morning, Ai." (Tatsuro)


    As if it had become a habit, they exchanged their usual morning kiss, both took a bath, changed clothes, and had a late breakfast.


    "Today plan is to visit Mr. Reginald and Gillian''s house, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, they mentioned it. Since the department store is expected to reopen tomorrow, it''s best to go today when there''s nothing else to do." (Ai)


    "That''s right. Oh, if we''re not going outside the town anyway, I want to wear those clothes." (Tatsuro)


    "The expensive ones? Around there, it''s mostly affluent, so it might be better not to stand out in that direction." (Ai)


    So, the Tatsuro changed into more expensive clothes, and with Ai, who had also dressed up a bit, they locked the room and left the inn, holding hands.


    The Mac Dermott mansion was a gathering place for the wealthy, a bit away from the castle grounds, so they leisurely walked on the moving road leading deeper into the town.


    Walking on the moving road allowed them to advance at a slightly faster pace, and they quickly found the mansion they were looking for without taking much time.


    This time, in order to enter properly through the gate, they were directed by the security guard standing at the entrance and passed through without any problems.


    After being escorted onto the premises, they were led straight to Reginald''s office, where Reginald and Gillian were waiting.


    The Mac Dermott family, who seemed momentarily surprised by the difference in atmosphere from before, as if they were dressed like nobles, quickly returned to their usual selves, perhaps befitting merchants, and greeted them.


    "Hey, it seems you''ve come properly. I''m glad." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Yeah, we heard good things about getting something nice for cheap." (Ai)


    "Even so, did you receive a considerable amount from the lord?" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Well, it''s not bad." (Tatsuro)


    After some small talk, they headed towards the warehouse where the items prepared for Tatsuro and the others were placed.


    Upon arriving, they found that the warehouse, despite being called a warehouse, was as large as the gymnasium of the school Tatsuro and Ai used to attend.


    "What''s here are items that can''t be displayed in an ordinary store. It''s a warehouse that is only opened when there''s a request from a regular customer." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Well, that''s amazing! Even I rarely get to enter here!" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    ""Yeah.""


    While slightly taken aback by Gillian, who was unusually excited, the two looked around the spacious warehouse once again.


    There were no items packed tightly; instead, each metal box with a tag was neatly arranged.


    "What I want to show you this time is this..." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    As soon as they entered the warehouse, Reginald, who had approached some boxes placed nearby, used his muscular strength to open the heavy lid and showed them what was inside.


    "Is this armor for women?" (Ai)


    Unable to contain her excitement, Gillian, who had been waiting, started enthusiastically talking about how splendid it was. While Tatsuro reluctantly dealt with her, Ai, curious about the armor prepared for her, asked Reginald a question.


    "Hey, what about mine?" (Ai)


    "You can try it on too. It''s easy to put on compared to its appearance." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Really? Well then, excuse me." (Ai)


    Ai took the armor from the box. Comparatively lighter than Tatsuro''s coat, when she held it, it made a clattering sound, and the back part opened with a click. Placing it against her chest and pushing herself into it, it closed tightly, securing itself without any noticeable seams. The shoulder, arm, and hand parts also locked in place easily, and the leg equipment was worn in an instant. With some practice, it seemed like it could be done in less than ten seconds.


    "What is this? So easy!" (Ai)


    "Haha, Mr. Traugott was particular about ease of wear. But ease of wear is like a bonus; it''s not the main selling point of this equipment. How about you channel some magic into it?" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Understood!" (Ai)


    Excited about what would happen next, Ai channeled her energy (Ki) into the black armor. Like a sponge, it absorbed Ai''s energy rapidly, and after a significant amount, black mist-like particles emerged from the armor.


    "Hmm? What''s this?" (Ai)


    "That''s the main feature of this armor. Imagine it as a shield made of those black particles." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "I see. It feels mysterious." (Ai)


    Ai intuitively understood what would happen, and she condensed the particles into her palm creating a shape. Then a black hexagonal shield floating in the air appeared in front of her. Just by adding more energy the number of black particles increased and ten shields were created around her.


    "Can it only create shields? ...Reginald?" (Ai)


    "©¤©¤Oh, sorry. I spaced out for a moment." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    Reginald was spaced out from the large amount of energy Ai produced, but once he managed to regain his sense of self. He listened again to her question and explained it to her.


    "Yeah, that''s right. It''s almost the same as magic, so just like how you can''t shape energy into the blade of an axe with a staff, you can''t shape it into something completely different. But compared to normal energy, it''s a bit more flexible, so you can shape it into any form related to defense." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "It''s completely specialized in defense. But since you don''t need to hold each one separately, that''s a plus." (Ai)


    "Yeah, exactly. It''s the perfect piece of equipment." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    Ai was giving more interest to it.


    Tatsuro also watched it while listening to Gillian''s story, and he agreed that the two pieces of equipment were very useful in terms of strengthening their defense.


    With almost 90% of the decision to purchase made, Reginald opened the lid of another product. Inside were several bracelets neatly organized.


    "What are these?" (Tatsuro)


    "These are items that simply assist with magic. In other words, wristlet (bracelet) versions of staffs. They are worn when taming magical beasts, for example, when you can''t carry a staff. You probably have some with Tatsuro, right?" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Yeah. But the size..." (Tatsuro)


    "Don''t worry. They stretch to fit the wearer, so they''re designed to fit even magical beasts that change size. They''re quite convenient." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Oh, that''s useful." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. It''s the perfect equipment." (Ai)


    Tatsuro, observing all this while partially ignoring Gillian''s story, genuinely admired the merchant who had thoroughly researched not only their needs but also other potential /JonathanTitan

 Chapter 122: A Promise of What If

    Chapter 122: A Promise of What If


    (T/N: This week free chapter coming a day faster than normal!!!)


    In the warehouse of the McDermott merchant family''s mansion, Tatsuro and his companion Ai were currently engaged in negotiations other than equipment.


    The reason for this diversion was Tatsuro''s desire to make the interior of that rhino carriage more comfortable. Since they were already at it, Tatsuro thought it would be a good idea to discuss anything else that might contribute to a more comfortable journey.


    "When it comes to that, then maybe©¤"(Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, in that case©¤"(Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Well then©¤"(Ai)


    ".................." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    Except for Gillian, who had little interest in mere furniture negotiations, the others were discussing what could make their journey more comfortable. After spending some time like that, the conversation eventually took a different turn.


    "By the way, how''s the bow Lord gave you the other day?" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Even if you ask, I''ve been taking a break since then, so I haven''t tried it yet." (Ai)


    "Is that so? I thought you might have unleashed its true power already." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    ".................." (Ai)


    "What do you mean, Father!" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    While Gillian seemed genuinely surprised, Tatsuro, having been told by Ai that there was still something more to it, didn''t react to the revelation itself. However, it surprised both him and Ai that Reginald had also noticed it, just like Ai.


    "I noticed when Ai briefly tilted her head at that time. I thought there might be something, and judging by her expression, I hit the mark." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Mu. It''s unfair to spring it on me out of nowhere!" (Ai)


    "Haha, sorry, sorry." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    Tatsuro also nodded in agreement with Ai''s words. They had smoothly inserted those words into the casual flow of conversation. Against formidable opponents like the Mac Dermott''s, who had lived for only a little over a decade, dodging such things was not an easy task.


    "But, knowing that, what do you plan to do? We won''t sell it" (Ai)


    "Or do you intend to say, ¡®No, I can''t give it away'' to the Lord?" (Tatsuro)


    "No, no, I have no intention of that. Besides, Lord probably already knew." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Then why didn''t you say that at the time?" (Ai)


    "Well, once something is revealed, I had no intention of retracting it. Also, if it had been proven there that the bow was exceptional, the subordinates around might have started to make comments." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    Understanding the Lord''s feelings in such a situation, Tatsuro accepted it. If Ai was satisfied, Reginald thought it was okay to proceed with the conversation.


    "Well, it''s just at the level of ¡®there might be something,'' and we don''t know what will happen. I was thinking of trying it outside the town." (Ai)


    "Hmm, if that''s the reason, how about trying it here? This place is sturdy inside and out, and there''s plenty of space. If you do it away from the goods, it should be fine. Besides, here, only my son and I will know." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    {Because, Tatsuro, what should we do?} (Ai)


    {Well, it''s better to clarify it sooner rather than later, so let''s take advantage of his offer. Besides, if we show it here, he might be more generous in lowering the price of the Armor we''re buying.} (Tatsuro)


    Since they had already agreed to purchase, it was only about negotiating the price. If they could show something unusual here, they could present themselves even more boldly. So, the two decided to go along with it.


    With that settled, it was time to act. First, they moved to a place away from the metal boxes of the goods, and Ai took out the bow. Tatsuro, Reginald, and Gillian observed from a little distance.


    {Alright, let''s begin.} (Ai)


    {Yeah. If it gets dangerous, stop immediately, okay?} (Tatsuro)


    {I know.} (Ai)


    Sending a telepathic signal to Tatsuro, who was a bit away, Ai aimed the bow and poured a large amount of Ki (Energy) into it, just like before. As a result, a Ki (Energy) arrow was created, just like last time. This time, however, the goal was not to shoot it. Ai wanted to see the deep power within the bow.


    Therefore, she focused a massive amount of Ki (Energy) only into the thin blue sphere in the center of the handle.


    (©¤©¤©¤Hmm. This is a bit tough.)


    About eighty percent of Ai''s entire Ki (Energy) was absorbed in an instant, causing a momentary strain. However, with the help of her skills, she quickly recovered. Having regained her composure, Ai, with the bow still glowing blue, aimed it at the floor and shot the spiritual power arrow.


    "Yeah..." (Tatsuro)


    Certainly, if they received something more than the favor they gave, they didn''t seem like the kind to easily forget it. Understanding that, Reginald continued.


    "True, if someday you have the opportunity to sell it elsewhere, it''s worth trying. Besides, you two seem like the type who won''t easily forget obligations." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Indeed. If we ever think of selling it somewhere, we''ll likely come here." (Tatsuro)


    Seeing through their personalities so accurately, it seemed he wasn''t just a muscle head. Yet, that''s precisely why Tatsuro believed he was sincere in his business dealings. He must be paying careful attention to each customer.


    "Is that all you need?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, but it would be helpful if you could write a contract. We don''t know how many years from now and when Gillian''s child will receive it, but at that time it will be better to have it in a more understandable format right?" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "True. But I can''t say for sure that we will sell it" (Tatsuro)


    "That Okay" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    Then the dialogue which can hardly be called a business negotiation was brought to an end. Tatsuro and Ai both read and signed the document.


    "Ha..." (Ai)


    "Hmm, what happened?" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "We have not received the reward for defeating Depris from the Adventurer guild" (Ai)


    "Ah... I have completely forgotten about it since then, but wasn''t the client the previous mayor? I wonder if we will still be able to get our reward if we go now" (Tatsuro)


    "That okay, once a request is issued through the Adventurer guild, no matter what happens to the client, the guild will pay for it" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "I am relieved to know that" (Ai)


    "That is reassuring" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro expressed his gratitude for filling in the small doubts, and Reginald, still dissatisfied with selling it for 80 million Sis, instructed Gillian, who looked displeased, to bring the items they had bought for their rhino carriage life. Once Gillian left, he sighed.


    "My son is pitiful, holding on to things for so long..." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Well, for Gillian, these goods seem to be important, so we don''t mind." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, he doesn''t seem to be angry at us either." (Ai)


    While saying this, Ai sent a meaningful glance to Reginald. Reginald, smiling wryly, changed the subject.


    "Now that you''ve bought new equipment, it might be a good idea to get used to it in a nearby dungeon." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Aren''t there three around this area?" (Tatsuro)


    Recalling the researched locations of the dungeons, Tatsuro said, and Reginald nodded in agreement.


    "Yeah, two level 1 dungeons and one level 3. It should be just a warm-up for you guys." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Well, we were planning to go someday." (Ai)


    "Oh? So, have you two never entered a dungeon before?" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "No, we haven''t." (Tatsuro)


    Acknowledging that they hadn''t, Reginald nodded thoughtfully and took out a book from his [Item Box].


    "There you go." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "¡®First Dungeon Experience''...?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. It''s a book for those who have never entered a dungeon before. It''s kind of like a children''s book, but it''s packed with the necessary knowledge. It''s good to read. Feel free to take it" (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Thank you" (Ai)


    "Thanks for the favor" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro and Ai accepted Reginald''s words with a small smile and thus obtained information about the /JonathanTitan

 Chapter 123: Lyadas Department Store

    Chapter 123: Lyadas Department Store


    Having received a book as a bonus, Tatsuro thought about the dungeon outside the town while putting it away. Suddenly, a curiosity that had been on his mind arose.


    "It''s unrelated to the dungeon, but why is the road from Tofas to Lyadas so inconvenient? Don''t they think about improving it?" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, that. The moss growing there is crucial. It''s a rare thing that only grows in a few places worldwide. There''s a possibility that if you mess with it, it won''t grow anymore. So, they''ve left it as it is as part of nature conservation, at least that''s the official reason." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Is there a hidden reason?" (Tatsuro)


    "Well, just between us. We were secretly researching if we could create artificial magic stones using that moss, and then generate magic fluid from it. That''s why, for now, it''s being preserved as a natural breeding ground, waiting for the establishment of cultivation methods and regular harvesting purposes. If we figure out the cultivation method, we''ll probably start development without hesitation." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    According to the encyclopedia Tatsuro read before, magic stones are masses of magical power that only dungeon monsters have in their bodies. Magic fluid is then produced from them and widely used as various fuels. According to the current conversation, if they can artificially create what can only be obtained from dungeon monsters, towns without dungeons nearby can secure an energy source.


    "Why the need for secrecy?" (Tatsuro)


    "We want to prevent interference from other organizations, misappropriation of achievements, or the total destruction of the moss due to reckless harvesting by greedy individuals." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Is that so, Tatsuro-kun?" (Ai)


    "Well, generally speaking, that''s true." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "In other words, was it okay for us to know about this?" (Tatsuro)


    "We believe you won''t misuse the information. It''s a sign of trust." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    Unaware that they were receiving such a weighty token of trust, the warehouse door opened, and Gillian entered. Although his face still seemed discontented, it was slightly better than before.


    "Father! Everything is ready." (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Ah, good work. Let''s go outside then." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Yes" (Ai)


    "Yes." (Tatsuro)


    Following Reginald, they entered a spacious room. There, the items requested by Tatsuro and the others were stacked. After expressing gratitude for these, when Tatsuro tried to put everything into the [Item Box], he noticed that the usage limit was close to full.


    "Ai, it seems the Item Box is getting full again, so I''m going to expand it." (Tatsuro)


    "Really? Well, dragon meat does take up space." (Ai)


    "Yeah. I''ll take care of that." (Tatsuro)


    So, Tatsuro''s SP became (5), and he upgraded to [Item Box +5]. At that moment, when he was storing the dragon meat, he hadn''t paid attention, but now, he checked the additional functions of the Item Box, combining +4 and +5. +4 allowed optional acceleration of internal time, while +5 enabled individual settings for time progression.


    (Combining individual settings with delay and acceleration might be useful.)


    Thinking about such things, he stored everything in the considerably expanded Item Box. Since they had made good purchases this time, when Tatsuro conveyed this to Reginald, he seemed pleased. By then, Gillian had returned to his usual self towards Tatsuro and expressed his gratitude again for rescuing him from the thieves.


    When the two were being watched by the father and son, they were led by a maid and left the mansion. When they were completely out of sight, Gillian, who couldn''t say certain things in front of Tatsuro and the others, confided in his father.


    "Father, it''s absurd to sell it at that price based on uncertain promises alone. Even considering he''s my benefactor, isn''t it going too far?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Haha, true. As a merchant, one should accurately assess the value of goods and offer them at a price that reflects that value." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Then why!" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Well, Traugott asked me. He knew my father, your grandfather in your case, and he requested a favor." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "A favor?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    Surprised that his grandfather knew the famous blacksmith, Gillian was curious about the favor.


    "Yeah, that''s right. First, sell the Armor and coat together. Second, sell them to a young man and woman. Third, they should be capable individuals. Those were the conditions. I was told that if someone meeting these conditions came, I should hand them over for free. So strictly speaking, those items weren''t our merchandise; they were just borrowed space in the warehouse." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    "Why would he ask for such a thing?" (Gillian Mac Dermott)


    "Who knows? That''s something only the late Traugott could answer." (Reginald Mac Dermott)


    Tatsuro, or rather, Ero-lo, couldn''t refuse, and after making a quick purchase, Ai dragged him away with a swift pace.


    "Well, I said it, but... please be gentle." (Ai)


    "It''s okay. It''s nothing dangerous." (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm. Tatsuro, you looked lewd just now." (Ai)


    "Men all have one or two or a hundred or a thousand big dreams." (Tatsuro)


    "A thousand dreams!? Isn''t that too much!? I only agreed to one this time!" (Ai)


    "I know. One for tonight. The second dream next time. The third dream the time after that. If we take it slow, all dreams will come true eventually." (Tatsuro)


    Although Tatsuro confidently spoke as if he''d said something profound, the content of those dreams was just a man''s various desires.


    Sighing at his so-called wise words, Ai mumbled


    "Ero-lo..." (Ai)


    "I am Ero-lo, indeed. What''s up?" (Tatsuro)


    "Don''t get too carried away!" (Ai)


    While bewildered by his shameless attitude, Ai still found joy in his affectionate requests. Holding Tatsuro''s hand tightly, she embraced the complexity of her maiden''s heart.


    Witnessed by everyone present, this scene became the talk of the town, starting rumors about the silly couple is another story. After finishing their accessory shopping and putting on their new items, they continued searching for something genuinely useful for their journey. However, since Reginald had readily prepared anything noteworthy, they found nothing of interest.


    Since their scale had grown, they looked at the weapons and armor with high expectations, but even though there was some slightly better equipment than ordinary iron, they were all mass-produced items and there was nothing that caught their attention.


    "Oh now that I think about it, I forgot to replenish my iron supply" (Tatsuro)


    "Since it is easy to get, and it is durable, so it is easy to use" (Ai)


    While saying this, they were shopping around for iron ingots, and as they walked around looking for other rare items, they saw a sample of metal ingots that was more expensive than iron.


    In the product name: Phoebus steel was written there. It was a metal with an unknown name.


    Since they did not know the difference between it and ordinary iron, they questioned the female clerk about it.


    "Excuse me. it''s this metal. Could you tell me the differences from iron" (Tatsuro)


    "Huh, Ah yes. This is Phoebus steel"


    "Yes, it looks similar to iron, but how is it different from iron" (Tatsuro)


    "Well Phoebus steel is harder and heavier than iron, but it weakens when bending and it is a difficult metal to work with, is there anything else you would like to ask me?"


    "Ah, it''s okay now" (Tatsuro)


    The female clerk bowed her head and returned to her work after replying to them.


    While remembering the characteristics of each type of metal from earlier. Tatsuro looked at the other shelves and found ingots labeled as Light Silver and Copper.


    "Oh, there is copper" (Tatsuro)


    "Copper? Really? The next one to it... Keigin? I wonder, is it silver" (Ai)


    "Well, it looks more like aluminum than silver. See, the weight is like that too" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s true, it''s light" (Ai)


    With that, Tatsuro bought a small amount of Phoebus steel, copper, and light silver and left the story


    After exploring various stores on each floor and finding shops catering to specific races not present in the town of Obsul, that seemed irrelevant to them, they decided to conclude their department store /JonathanTitan

 Chapter 124: Meeting a Friend

    Chapter 124: Meeting a Friend


    The next morning after a full day of walking around the department store, the two woke up unusually early, rubbing their sleepy eyes, despite the fact that they had been up until quite late the previous day, and headed first to the Adventurers'' Guild.


    ¡°That former mayor said: "I''ll pay you an express fee when you receive the request¡± but that''s all gone now.¡± (Ai)


    ¡°If I remember correctly, I don''t think he meant it in such a big way. ...... Well, I guess deep down he wanted the bandits to kill us, so I guess there''s no such thing." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°I see. I see... thinking about it, they were already after us from that moment on. It''s disgusting when I think about it! It means they were manipulating us for their own good, right?¡± (Ai)


    ¡°I guess if we had just ignored the request and gone to the next town, a lot of things would have been different for us." (Tatsuro)


    With this conversation between them, they arrived at the Adventurers'' Guild and immediately took out the accomplished request form and handed it to the receptionist.


    And when I received the five million cis as originally planned, the receptionist handed me another coin.


    ¡°What''s this?" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°It is an Additional reward. I received this from the guild leader and was told to give it to you when the two of you arrived.¡±


    ¡°The head of the guild to us?¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Yes. And I have a message for you. ¡®I''m sorry¡¯."


    Tatsuro had heard that the guild leader was the one who captured Joel Wickham, the former mayor of the town, during his stay at the castle.


    The guild leader seemed to be completely innocent, and the two of them accepted the coin with a fleeting thought of the ¡®what-if possibility¡¯ that just telling the guild leader here instead of listening to Iyaruki at that moment might have changed the story.


    ¡°Well, that''s all I have to say. Would you like to take on another request?"


    ¡°No, that''s okay. Well, we''ll take it then." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Yes. Well, good-bye."


    ¡°¡±Goodbye."¡± They chorused


    Tatsuro thought that some extra procedure or conversation might be required because of the mayor''s arrest or something like that, but they walked out easily without being asked anything else.


    So this time, instead of heading in the direction of the inn, they went to the road that accompanied the outer wall to the main destination of the day.


    After following the outer wall for a while, the road changed several times, and then switched to an artificially organized nature-rich section.


    After passing a park full of greenery along the way and switching to a road that goes to the right, it finally came into view.


    In a garden the size of a school playground, there was green field surrounded by a fence, a large house made of light brown metal like wood with dozens of long, vertical bars that stuck out in places like branches, and a green serpent lying down and staring at them just outside the gate to the grounds.


    ¡°Yorn''s presence here seems to indicate that this is the place to be." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°It''s not every day that a kid stands out like that. Hey, Yorn-kun!" (Ai)


    Ai waved her hand at Yorn, who glared at her, sniffed, turned away, and then crawled sluggishly toward the house, knocking the door with the tip of his tail.


    Then again, Yorn lay down on the ground and began to breathe heavily in his sleep.


    As Tatsuro and his friends stood in front of the gate staring at such a scene, the door of the house was knocked on from inside.


    It seemed that Yorn was being mean and blocking the door from opening with the tip of his tail.


    Ah, I''m glad this boy is so honest. As the two of us were thinking about it, a huge red tiger jumped down from a large window above us.


    ¡°Ennio." (Ai)


    ¡°Yeah, it''s Ennio." (Tatsuro)


    As if he was feeling desolate at the sight of this perfect beast, Ennio brushed off Yorn''s tail with a paw that had its claws retracted.


    Then the door opened and Marikka, a fairy tribe whose identity is almost certain to be the next town mayor, was angry with Yorn, puffing out her cheeks. And Yorn ignored him, continuing his blatant pretense of sleep.


    Marikka''s cheeks were puffing up even more, but Ennio came up to her as if to say "Come on, give me a compliment!¡± she smiled and hugged him and stroked him all over.


    Ennio looked happy about it and tried his best to put on a composed face, but it seemed he could not hide his tail spinning like a helicopter.


    Tatsuro and Ai were choked up at the sight of such a happy Ennio, and with Marikka''s permission, Tatsuro tried to open the unlocked gate, but it did not even jerk open.


    Apparently it was not locked, but made of a terribly heavy material, and Tatsuro asked Ai to open the gate and enter the premises.


    ¡°Good morning. Marikka-san" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Well, I''m glad he is that happy.¡± (Ai)


    As the three of them watched him eat without saying anything as he gnawed on it like an innocent child, I suddenly noticed Yorn lying down, seemingly uninterested.


    ¡°Yorn-kun, don''t you want some dragon meat?¡± (Ai)


    ¡°Yorn? Yeah, he looks like that, but he''s a herbivore, he''s not interested in meat." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Vegetarian Snake ...¡± (Ai)


    Ennio, who had finished eating the meat, looked happy and squealed with satisfaction.


    ¡°Looks like you''re done eating." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°I guess so. Well then, let''s play with Ai-chan till you are satisfied!" (Ai)


    ¡°Gahwah!" (Ennio)


    ¡°Don''t get too excited and break things!" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°I know! (Ai)


    Saying this, Ai ran toward Ennio and began to play chase with him in the garden.


    Seeing that, Yorn, his brow wrinkled in annoyance, crawled to the corner and fell asleep again.


    ¡°Yorn-kun is usually like that." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°I''m in a duller mode than usual because I worked so hard the other day.¡± (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°I see." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "........................" (Tatsuro)


    After that, there was no particular topic of conversation, and as Tatsuro stared at Ennio playing with Ai, Marikka spoke to him as if muttering.


    ¡°You shouldn''t worry about it too much." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°Huh? What?" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°¡¯What if I hadn''t taken him there¡¯ ....... you looked like you were thinking of it." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    "Such a face ......" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro couldn¡¯t even say that he hadn''t. Certainly somewhere in the back of his mind, he still regretted the fact that Ennio had turned into a complete beast.


    ¡®If only I had noticed it earlier, if only I had moved more carefully, if only I hadn''t taken him to that place¡¯ Tatsuro suddenly thought about that.


    ¡°I don''t mean to put it all in one word, but the original cause was Gregory. It was unimaginable that he would try to alter such a person without thinking of him as a human being, and since Tatsuro and the Ai are not gods, it is arrogant to say that everything is your fault because you did not do this.¡± (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°...arrogant?" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°No matter how good you are, there are always things that can''t be helped in this world. But that doesn''t mean you can''t move forward if you keep feeling sorry for what he have become. I will make Ennio happy. I will love Ennio so much that you will think it was a blessing that he was born. If you feel too sorry for him, I will feel sorry for him. (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°I see..." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Yes. See, he''s having such a good time now." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    When I turned my downcast gaze upward to see Ai jumping around on a stick that resembled a tree branch sticking out from the house, enjoying chasing Ennio in all directions.


    Just as Tatsuro''s mouth naturally relaxed at such a sight, one of the sticks Ai stepped on snapped.


    ¡°¡±Ah!"¡±


    ¡°Aaaaahhhhhh! I broke it!!!!" (Ai)


    The somber air had flown far into the sky, and Marikka had seized them and lectured them for three hours, while Ennio slept in the garden with an air of ignorance, and Yorn curled up with an absentminded smile.


    ¡ª-


    T/N: I don¡¯t know when we may have the opportunity to meet Ennio in the upcoming chapters but I really wish him well, his whole life has been distorted by the dead Gregory, so he deserves a happy /JonathanTitan

 Chapter 125: What You Need for the Dungeon

    Chapter 125: What You Need for the Dungeon


    They had successfully passed through the lecture time from Marikka, and were now being treated to lunch indoors.


    Once that was done, Tatsuro used earth magic to repair what Ai broke, and Marikka''s mood seemed to have been completely restored.


    ¡°What are you two going to do now?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°We plan to use this town as a temporary base while we visit nearby dungeons to test out our new equipment.¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Have you ever been to any of the dungeons around here?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°No. we have not¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°I see. Then you going there at least once might be a good idea, I''m sure the two of you will be fine. But don''t be too overconfident.¡± (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°Yes¡± (Ai)


    ¡°Yes¡± (Tatsuro)


    "That¡¯s good." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    After they finished their conversation with Marikka, Ennio came over to them with his footsteps thudding.


    ¡°Well then, Ennio. Bye-bye." (Ai)


    ¡°Gau.¡± (Ennio)


    "Hey, Ennio. You can''t both go home then." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    As soon as Ai waved goodbye, Ennio stood in front of the gate and block their pass.


    Marikka sighed and tried to persuade him, but he turned away and would not listen to her.


    Marikka did not want to use this, but just as Marikka was beginning to wonder if she would have to make him do what she said with the contract, they walked up to Ennio.


    ¡°I''m sorry, Ennio. We have things to do. We''re going to be around town for a few days, so we''ll come back and see you." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Garr......." (Ennio)


    ¡°We''ll play again then!" (Ai)


    ¡°Then don''t destroy my house again." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°Ha, ha. Sorry...." (Ai)


    "Gfafafa." (Ennio)


    Perhaps it was funny to see Ai apologizing to Marikka while being freaked out, but Ennio laughed just like he did when he laughed in front of them the last time they were together.


    Their eyes were burning at the sight of such a face, but they endured it and said goodbye with a big smile as they gazed into the future.


    ¡°See you later, Ennio! See you later, Ennio!" (Ai)


    ¡°I''ll definitely be back! I''ll definitely be back!" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Gaaaah!" (Ennio)


    He were supposed to be completely in beast form, unable to speak or understand, but to the two of them it sounded like a laughing "Come again!¡± They waved their hands and left Marikka''s house.


    They made their way home at a leisurely pace, and by the time they arrived at the inn, it was late in the evening.


    I was relaxing in my room with a book in my hand that Reginald had given me, trying to prepare for tomorrow and what I might need for the dungeon.


    As Reginald said, the book was indeed a book for children with large characters, but it was not a foolproof book, and it was very easy to understand what to pay attention to, what things were needed, what kind of members to go with, etc. It was very easy to understand. And so, as you skim through to the end, you''ll find...


    ¡°What''s this? ...Coupon?" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Coupons?¡± (Ai)


    Ai, who had been playing with Cardina the baby bird and Jeanne the little rhinoceros, came to Tatsuro with two of them in tow, responding to a word she had heard in their former world.


    As he looked at it sideways, Tatsuro saw a discount coupon for a product that the Mac Dermott family probably distributes to department stores, with a cutout line around the end of the book. The products are all exactly what the book you are holding in your hand right now says you need...


    And finally, in the last item, which I flipped to the end of the page: By Reginald Mac Dermott was written.


    ¡°He wrote this!¡± (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro tossed the book upward with a shove, and Ai caught it with one hand, checking the author''s name column.


    ¡°I''m sure. It''s true. Reginald''s name is on it. I didn''t know he even did this." (Ai)


    ¡°He''s so thoughtful, that uncle. No wonder he gave it to me for free.¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°But this doesn''t say anything false, does it?" (Ai)


    ¡°I can''t complain, because all of them are really useful. But I can''t help feeling like I''m being rolled around on his hands.¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Well, well, well. You got the detailed information about the dungeon, didn''t you? Then, that''s good.¡± (Ai)


    Tatsuro wondered if it would be a good idea to think too deeply about Ai''s words, and he began to think about what to do next. It is about the members needed for the dungeon.


    For safe dungeon exploration, there are proximity, defense, exploration, attack magic, defense magic, and logistical support. It is said that the survival rate of a party in which all of these are present is the highest. A party that excels in one thing is strong, but in a dungeon, it is better to have people who can handle all situations.


    ¡°I''m not sure. But can''t I, Tatsuro, Cardina and her sister Jeanne take care of all that?" (Ai)


    ¡°I see. I mean, we feel like we are overpowered for a level 3 dungeon or so." (Tatsuro)


    But even if it could be done, dividing it all up among a small group of people might put too much burden on one person in some situations. It might be nice to have an auxiliary person in case that happens.


    Thinking this, Tatsuro immediately told Ai about it.


    ¡°What exactly do you mean by "auxiliary personnel? When you say "auxiliaries," what exactly do you mean?" (Ai)


    ¡°I thought that if we had a magical body creature that could use [Curse Magic], it could play an all-round role.¡± (Tatsuro)


    "So when you claim ¡®you''re all-mighty with [Curse Magic], do you mean, ''I''m going to help people who seem to be having a hard time by upping their status depending on the situation?''" (Ai)


    (T/N: buffing up people in the party stats is what Ai-chan is talking about)


    ¡°Yeah. The children of the house are strong even in their bare state. So if we do that, everyone¡¯s burden will be reduced to some extent¡± (Tatsuro)


    "Beep!" (Cardina)


    ¡°Neigh!¡± (Jeanne)


    Tatsuro gently stroked the two bodies, and they rubbed up against each other happily.


    Ai, not to be outdone, also came in close contact with Tatsuro, creating a messy picture that was hard to understand.


    Then, when they have settled down, they start to generate new magical body organisms.


    First, while having Ai attached to his back, he activates the skill [Yin-Yang Orb] with the generated dragon power.


    Then, a sphere that would become the source of the body appeared, and after incorporating [Curse magic] and a factor of [Life Magic] that would be useful as an auxiliary, He put his thoughts into it and imagined what kind of existence he wanted it to become.


    (It will assist us. I want such a kind presence)


    The sphere gradually took shape, and as the two gazed excitedly at it, wondering what kind of animal would come this time, and what kind of sister would come this time, it took shape.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. Father, Mother."


    ¡°"...eh?"¡±


    There appeared a pretty, white-skinned, early elementary school-aged girl with long black hair that almost touched the ground, bangs in a bun, and wearing a black Japanese-style kimono, bowing beautifully and greeting the others in a slightly lisping tone of voice.


    The two were so surprised that they were not able to immediately return the compliment, as they were expecting a new addition to the Hasami animal family, but the two were surrounded by their new sister with joy.


    ¡°Nice to meet you too, ladies.¡±


    ¡°Beep¡± (Cardina)


    ¡°Neigh¡± (Jeanne)


    The girl responded cheerfully to this and hugged them both tightly.


    So they finally came to their senses and greeted us again as well.


    ¡°Well, it''s nice to meet you. I guess I can assume that you are, you know, like Cardina and the others." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Yes, I know. No problem. My father."


    ¡°What can I say, I can do more than just animals." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Yes. There is no particular shape, but it is more like the image that my father want me to be.¡±


    "Tatsuro is a Lolicon..." (Ai)


    ¡°I am not! But when you say it''s my imagination ...Ah" (Tatsuro)


    When Tatsuro saw the girl, his first impression was that she looked like a doll. He remembered that his first impression of the girl was that she looked like a doll, and he came to the conclusion that he may have subconsciously had the composition of spell magic = Japanese doll in his mind.


    And as he looked further, he found another point of interest.


    ¡°What''s that? What''s up with your ...... transparency?" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Oh, I beg your pardon. I''m a bit of a slacker when I''m not paying attention. ......"


    ¡°No, I don''t have that personality." (Ai)


    When I shoved the shy, fidgety girl together, her white skin flushed red with even more embarrassment.


    The two of them are strange children who don''t even know what they are embarrassed about in the first place. As I looked at them, I felt that it had some resemblance to Ai.


    And Ai felt that she looked somewhat like Tatsuro.


    ¡°Hey.¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Hey.¡± (Ai)


    ¡°You can start, Ai." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°I''m not sure. You know, the bridge of your nose and the shape of her ears, don''t they look like yours?" (Ai)


    ¡°I''m not sure. If anything, I think her eyes look just like Ai''s." (Tatsuro)


    Then we both confirmed the said place and the other''s part by sending mental images of the place and the other''s part, and they were indeed similar.


    As Tatsuro was looking for other similarities like that, the girl who noticed it had some idea what it was, so she mentioned it.


    ¡°Did something happen shortly before I was born or something that made you two aware of your childishness?"


    "Another archaic term... I''ve heard it said that way." (Ai)


    ¡°But that was days ago, remember?" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°I think it means that it was still very strong in your mind. We seem to be influenced by the subtlety of your feelings at any given time.¡± (Ai)


    ¡°I didn''t realize that''s how it worked. If I have another opportunity in the future, I''ll be careful." (Tatsuro)


    Then Tatsuro nodded his head with a look of some acquiescence, but then something came to Ai''s mind.


    "Hey, does it mean that Tatsuro secretly has a desire for a harem? Does the fact that only girls are born mean that Tatsuro secretly has a desire for a harem?" (Ai)


    ¡°No, what¡¯s going on?¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°I don''t think so.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?" (Ai)


    The girl denied it as if she was covering Tatsuro''s words, and Ai was thrown off the track and had a scowl on her face.


    ¡°The reason why my sisters and I are females or women is because he is a mister.¡±


    ¡°''Mister?¡¯... Oh, you mean a man." (Ai)


    ¡°The way you put it, if I''m a man, does that mean that only women can be born from magical body creatures?" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°You are right, my father. The magic that is created by combining opposing attributes is also designed to create something that is opposite to the creator. In other words, if it is a man, it is a woman, and if it is a woman, it is a man.¡±


    Hearing this story, Ai was relieved to learn that she was not being able to fulfill Tatsuro''s needs.


    ¡°So Tatsuro doesn''t have any desire for a harem?¡± (Ai)


    ¡°No. On the contrary, he is so in love with you that the love for you has been transferred to us!¡±


    ¡°Well!" (Ai)


    ¡°Hey! How dare you say everything out so casually!?¡± (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro turns bright red like a tomato when the girl that can be called his own child reveal the extent of his love for Ai, while Ai held her cheeks with both hands and asked her red-faced boyfriend to kiss her while making her mouth look slack.

 Chapter 126: New party member

    Chapter 126: New party member


    After that, Tatsuro and Ai were on the verge of doing something radical that they wouldn''t want to show to a child, but they stopped short when they noticed six people looking at them with interest.


    "Hey, desu." (Ai)


    "I''m not saying, hey." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes. Father."


    (T/N: Should I refer to father as Otto-sama or leave it as father?)


    "Hmm. She''s an honest and good girl." (Tatsuro)


    After saying that, Tatsuro hugged the girl. He was surprised at how light she was.


    No matter how small it is, if she is this size it should be several tens of kilos. However, right now, Tatsuro doesn''t feel any weight at all, only the weight that could be expressed in grams.


    "Light!? What''s going on? Cardina and the others were as heavy as they looked." (Tatsuro)


    "Huh? Which one is it? She is so light! It''s like holding a piece of paper! Hahaha." (Ai)


    "Hey, mom, please don''t throw the pompoms at me."


    "Oops, sorry." (Ai)


    Ai apologized and tried to lower the girl to the floor. However, before that, the girl floated up to the surface and slowly, as if gliding, returned to the place where she had been a while ago.


    "Rather than being a living being, I''m more like a ghost in your world. In this world, it''s called an astral body. Therefore, I have almost no weight."


    "Ah, is there such a thing?" (Ai)


    "So, so. By the way, aren''t you going to give me a name?"


    Ah, that too. Ai immediately thought of a name, and it was spilling out of her mouth in less than a second.


    "Um, Death Snow¨D¨D" (Ai)


    "Hey, don''t use spinal reflexes to name your names. Then it''ll be like a notebook where if you write your name, you''ll mess up." (Tatsuro)


    "Me too, that''s..."


    The girl also looked at Ai apologetically. So Ai brought the girl closer to her again, and while holding her, looked into her face and thought.


    In response, the girl surrendered herself to Ai and leaned against Ai as if to be pampered.


    "Hmm. Because she can use curse magic...Shu...slow...magic...!? Majina-chan!" (Ai)


    "Whoa, what a sparkling name! No, are you serious? Or rather, she already looks like a Japanese person, so wouldn''t it be fine to have a name like ours? " (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm, I see. So what should I do?" (Ai)


    "I''m kind of worried..."


    Since her lifelong name was to be decided, the little girl waited for the moment while being held in Ai''s chest, wondering why her father didn''t want to give her a name.


    Then, after a few unusual names appeared in the world, that name appeared.


    "Oh, what about Nana?" (Ai)


    "......Isn''t that the same name as Ai''s friend?" (Tatsuro)


    "Buh, that''s not true! That''s just what I usually call you, but my real name is Nanako." (Ai)


    "It''s almost a complete copy, isn''t it!?" (Tatsuro)


    Ai pouted her lips as Tatsuro couldn''t help but butt in.


    "Eh, but Nanako said that the character N has the meaning of a fruit tree used during rituals..." (Ai)


    "Which one?" (Tatsuro)


    "Then, there is. Shinto rituals are like spells, right?" (Ai)


    "If so, it''s not perfect. Besides, it seems easy for someone from this world to call Nana." (Tatsuro)


    "Well then....Hmm, I see." (Ai)


    As Ai desperately tried to make excuses, Tatsuro was convinced that it meant something like that, so he took the opportunity to ask her about it as well.


    "What about you? Do you hate the name Nana?" (Ai)


    "Nana...what kind of characters do you write?"


    "©¤©¤©¤That''s how it says, na-na, nana." (Tatsuro)


    "Now Nana." (Ai)


    Ai took out the paper and pen she had for notes from the [item box] and wrote it in front of her.


    The girl seemed to like it too, tracing the kanji with her finger over and over again and saying the name.


    "It seems like a routine." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, it''s decided." (Ai)


    Then, Nana joined the new team.


    Once they decided to do so, the two immediately asked Nana to apply for a party, and when she accepted, they confirmed her status.


    ----------------------------------


    Name: Nana


    Class:-


    Level: 1


    Dragon Power: 118


    Strength: 17


    Durability: 17


    Agility: 12


    Magic: 28


    Magic resistance: 28


    Magic control: 23


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Astral Form], [True Form], [Adult Form]


    [Floating Lv.5], [Dragon Drain Lv.3], [Dragon Flight Lv.4]


    [Curse Magic Lv.6], [Life Magic Lv.5]


    Skill points: 3


    |Titles|


    None


    ----------------------------------


    "Hmm, Nana doesn''t have [Child Form]." (Ai)


    "If it gets any smaller, it will turn out to be a child." (Tatsuro)


    "But instead of having [Child Form], she has [Astral Form]" (Ai)


    "You call it a substitute, but I think it''s just part of her constitution." (Tatsuro)


    Is that so? Satisfied with this, Tatsuro asked her which body she was in now, and the answer came back that it was an [Adult Form], just as the two of them had expected.


    So, when he asked her to show him [True Form] as a test, she said, "I don''t really want to show it now...'''' while looking exactly like Ai, and Tatsuro couldn''t resist and moved on to the next topic.


    "Then, what I''m curious about is [Dragon Drain] and [Dragon Flight]." (Ai)


    "I''m sure the monster Ai defeated before had an astral body, but that one was a [Life Drain].'''' (Tatsuro)


    "I wonder if it could use something like that." (Ai)


    "It looks like you defeated it before you could use it. What kind of skill is it exactly?" (Tatsuro)


    "[Life Drain] has the effect of stealing the life of those it touches, for recovering their own magical power, and healing wounds. And my [Dragon Drain] seems to be able to absorb the energy of any living thing within its range without touching it, recovering my dragon power and wounds.'''' (Nana)


    "Again, that''s a tough skill. What''s the range of effect?" (Tatsuro)


    "It seems like the range increases by 1 meter for each level. So it''s currently 3 meters. However, it seems that [Dragon Drain] can only be used when in [Adult Form].'''' (Nana)


    It''s the same thing with Cardina and the others, so there''s no need to be surprised now, so it''s fine. This [Dragon Drain] isn''t a powerful attack skill possessed like the other two, but it''s a skill that goes well with Nana who uses Curse magic: Tatsuro deducted


    And finally [Dragon Flight], in this child''s case as well, looking at the faded display like Jeanne''s, it seemed to be a skill limited to [True Form].


    That said, although it can''t achieve the same speed as [Flight], she will still be able to perform well even under non-normal conditions since she has [Float] skill.


    After checking the status, Tatsuro immediately asked Nana to do something.


    "Okay, Nana. I want you to do something like your sisters." (Tatsuro)


    "What is it? Father" (Nana)


    "I will ask you to meditate now to learn [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Rise]." (Tatsuro)


    "I hope you are right" (Nana)


    "Yeah, yeah, I''m glad you''re doing well." (Tatsuro)


    And so, Nana spent the rest of the day in a body that didn''t need to sleep, meditating with her two older sisters, and learning the [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Rise].


    The next day. All night''s efforts paid off, Nana had reached [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Rise Lv.4], and Cardina and Jeanne had reached [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Rise Lv.6].


    After Tatsuro and Ai confirmed this, they ate their meals while praising and pampering all three of them, and left the inn with the leftovers of the large breakfast they had ordered stored in their [Item Box.]


    So now, the two of them left the town of Lyadas and walked to a deserted place.


    "Okay, everyone come out now." (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    "Desu-o" (Nana)


    They firmly answered Tatsuro''s long-awaited call and appeared with three different sounds/words.


    Their appearances are all [Adult Form] versions. It seems like there are quite a few people near the dungeon they are approaching now, so if they go there with [True Form] there''s a good chance it will attract a lot of attention.


    When the three of them appeared, Tatsuro took out the rhinoceros carriage (rhino-cart) from the [Item Box] and placed it on the ground.


    "I''d like to say, let''s leave now! But I think I''ll make some modifications." (Tatsuro)


    "We''ve bought a lot of things." (Ai)


    "Yeah. I''ll try my best as long as it doesn''t put too much of a burden on Jeanne." (Tatsuro)


    With that said, Tatsuro first added a new iron ingot to extend the rhino cart about a meter upwards, and then for the exterior, he took out an ingot of Phoebus steel that he had previously purchased, which is heavier but harder than iron. While using dark magic to strengthen and lighten it in the best possible balance, he spread it thinly and coated the rhino cart.


    Once that was done, he coated the seat dedicated to Cardina in the ceiling in the same way to make it a little more durable.


    Once that work was completed, the next step was the interior. It currently has a small room with only a cushion mat, which is also used as a bed, on the floor, and instead of a mat, Tatsuro put a long fur carpet on the floor, and he set up some light and small furniture, such as a chair and a desk.


    Once the installation was complete, he fixed them firmly with earth magic so that they wouldn''t fall over even if the rhino cart stopped suddenly.


    Now, there was no longer a place for the two of them to sleep, but since the rhinoceros carriage itself was extended upwards, there was a new space.


    Tatsuro made it into a loft-like shape, built a low ceiling above it, and glued and reinforced it quite strongly to prevent the partition that separated the top and bottom from falling down.


    Once that was done, Tatsuro prepared a simple ladder to get to the loft above and climbed up it.


    The space had just the right height and space for just sleeping, and Tatsuro said with a satisfied look on his face as he laid down on the slightly more expensive mattress he had purchased from Reginald. He wrapped it up and it seemed to be quite comfortable to sleep on as the soft mat covered his body.


    It is possible to also go to the ceiling from there, so you can immediately see what''s going on outside.


    This made him feel like he would be able to spend a lot of time comfortably on the way.


    "Okay, it''s finished. Would you like to try towing it? If it''s too heavy, I''ll have to reduce it or modify it.'''' (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    After remaking the metal fittings to fit the six-meter-long giant body, he attached them to Jeanne, and he asked her to proceed a little further with no one on board.


    Then, she pulled out the rhino cart, which had increased in weight, without any resistance.


    "It''s an amazing power." (Ai)


    "I see. Jeanne, that''s hardly using wind magic, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    "Of course, there are status corrections, but it means that your muscle strength has also increased considerably." (Tatsuro)


    "Ah, I''m very proud of her" (Ai)


    The two of them, Cardina, and Nana caught up with Jeanne who had gone a little ahead of them while they were talking, Tatsuro was trying to replenish her magic power, and Ai gently stroked the tip of Jeanne''s nose just because she wanted to.


    At that, Jeanne let out a deep breath and pleasantly narrowed her eyes.


    "Hmm, Sister Cardina is for exploration, Sister Jeanne is for travel.... What on earth should I do...That''s right! Father, mother." (Nana)


    "What? Nana" (Tatsuro)


    "During the journey, I will ride on Sister Jeanne''s back and support her with curse magic and Life magic. I weigh almost nothing, so I shouldn''t get in the way of Sister Jeanne!" (Nana)


    "Hmm, it''s true that in case of an emergency, you can strengthen Jeanne and Cardina with curse magic, and life magic also can be used for recovery, which is good..." (Tatsuro)


    "You don''t have to force yourself to find something to do, okay? Nana-chan has a solid role to play." (Ai)


    "Still, I also want to be of help to you." (Nana)


    Seeing her serious eyes, the two of them felt it was unwise to say anything more, so they decided to ask her to try supporting Jeanne.


    When Tatsuro and Ai were about to sit in the driver''s seat, Nana told them that they could go inside and rest, and they were almost forced into the private room of the car.


    As expected, it was uncomfortable to accept everything said to them out rightly, but in the end, they accepted Nana''s proposal.


    "Well then, first go straight down this road and keep going until you reach a four-way intersection." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes!" (Nana)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    "Hmm. Are you sure you''re okay?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes!" (Nana)


    After being told that clearly, they couldn''t say anything more, the two of them entered the rhino cart as it moved along the way, feeling as if they were letting their child go on an errand for the first time.

 Chapter 127: Entering the first dungeon

    Despite their concerns, Jeanne and Nana were firmly on the right path without making any mistakes.


    Tatsuro checked it out for a while using the map function, but decided it was safe to leave it to them, and now he and Ai were sitting in a chair indoors, discussing the dungeon together.


    "What exactly does a dungeon look like?" (Ai)


    "Well, some of my knowledge is just from books, so it''s a little hazy, so don''t take my word for it, okay?" (Tatsuro)


    "I get it." (Ai)


    "Let''s see, first of all, we''re heading to a level 1 dungeon right now." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro then told Ai what he knew for now.


    He says. The main reason why people in this world challenge dungeons is to wander through the field, which is also known as a different space, to obtain magic stones that only dungeon monsters have, to find treasures while sneaking through traps, and to defeat the boss of that dungeon.


    The entrance is like a large, circular, glowing white lake, and it is said that by jumping into the lake, one is transported to the dungeon.


    At the destination, finding the lake of white light, which is the same as the entrance, and jumping into it, will result in you will be sent to the next field.


    By the way, level 1 dungeons are randomly selected from 3rd floor to 8th floor. Level 2 dungeons are randomly selected from 6th floor to 12th floor. Level 3 dungeons are randomly selected from 9th to 15th floor. If you are lucky, you can find the door to challenge the boss at the 3rd floor in the level 1 dungeon, but if you are unlucky, you cannot find the door until the 8th floor.


    Also, note that if more than one person is attempting the same dungeon, they will be sent to different locations if they are not registered as a party.


    Finally, as for the method of returning, it seemed that when one found a lake in the field to which one had been sent, which was the point to the next level, one could either jump into it, while wishing to return, or jump into the lake of white light that appeared after defeating that dungeon boss, which would lead to a room with an exit.


    "Hey, hey. If you''re going to talk about that, then you can go home halfway, right? I understand that collecting magic stones and hunting for treasure can make money, but is there any point in defeating bosses by putting yourself in danger? Is there any point in trying to earn experience points or test your skills? What?" (Ai)


    "Ah, that''s it. Actually, if you can find and defeat the boss, it seems that you will be given SP equal to the level of that dungeon." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, you mean you can get it other than by leveling up?" (Ai)


    "That''s how it works. However, it is only valid once per person in the same dungeon. But it works on everyone in the party, so maybe it''s a pretty big deal." (Tatsuro)


    In other words, if you form a party and defeat a level 1 dungeon boss, SP (1) will be added to your status.


    Therefore, in example (1) it seems that adventurers, soldiers, and others who might find themselves in dangerous places tend to actively search for bosses to obtain valuable SP rather than treasure and magic stones.


    "If so, that means that as long as we beat the bosses, Cardina-chan and I can get SP other than by leveling up. That certainly sounds appealing." (Ai)


    "Right, and I also want to get as much (1) as possible, so let''s conquer the three dungeons around here and make sure to get extra SP (5)." (Tatsuro)


    "Oooh!" (Ai)


    And so time passed as Tatsuro talked to Ai about other detailed precautions and discussed what to do after entering the dungeon.


    "Dad, mom. We''ll soon reach a four-way intersection." (Nana)


    "Oh, thank you. Well then, please stop somewhere off the road." (Ai)


    "Yes, ma''am. Jeanne onee-sama." (Nana)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    Jeanne, who had been listening to their conversation so closely, chirped a single sound as if she knew what she was talking about, and stopped the rhino cart without danger at a place a little off the road.


    After making sure the rhino cart had stopped, they came outside and Nana, who had been in front of them for some time, jumped in.


    Tatsuro caught her, replenishing her magical power while holding her, beckoned Cardina, who was resting on the rhino cart, to come over as well, and removed Jeanne''s metal fittings as well.


    "Okay, then let''s take a break. Thank you for making me feel very comfortable." (Tatsuro)


    "Thanks." (Ai)


    While saying that, Cardina and the others were having fun replenishing their magic power.


    During that magical replenishment, Tatsuro noticed that the amount of replenished magic was less for the three of us combined than it had been for Jeanne alone.


    Here again, Tatsuro was impressed by the benefits of status.


    Then, since the weather was so nice, Ai and Tatsuro took out the food they had put in their [Item Box] for lunch outside and started their lunch time together.


    "Speaking of which, it looks like you passed another passerby a couple of times, how did that go?" (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh?" (Jeanne)


    "What do you mean?" (Nana)


    Jeanne and Nana tilted their heads, unable to fully understand Tatsuro''s intentions. Besides, Tatsuro explained again when he realized that his words were insufficient.


    "No. Even when Jeanne was smaller, there were many people who were surprised, so I was suddenly curious about how they reacted to Jeanne, who was even bigger now." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, that''s right. Certainly, people who saw Jeanne made funny faces, but when I waved my hand, some of them looked at me with a scowling face, and some even waved back." (Nana)


    "Ah. If you see a cute little girl riding it gracefully, maybe you''ll soon realize that it''s not a creature to be scared of." (Tatsuro)


    "Well, it might give a better image than just moving around." (Ai)


    They patted Nana on the head, who had been active in unexpected places besides assisting Jeanne, and took the rest of their lunch to their mouths.


    As the road became more complicated from here, Tatsuro and Ai sat on the driver''s seat and gave directions to Jeanne, and before dusk they reached the area where the dungeon was located.


    Tatsuro pulled the rhino cart back before the crowds began to gather in earnest, had Cardina and Jeanne go into [Child Form] and wore the armor they had purchased at Reginald''s place, and had all three of them wear bracelet-type magical aids on their arms, legs, and tails, as he had bought all kinds of them.


    When they were ready, they all walked together to the dungeon, except for Cardina, the baby bird on Jeanne''s head.


    When they reached the dungeon entrance area, many people were engaged in their own activities.


    As they walked along, looking at the people passing by, they saw some simple inns and a few stalls, and they also saw many children.


    "Since it''s called a dungeon, I thought it would be a much dreary place, but it has a pretty bright atmosphere." (Ai)


    "Well, Level 1 seems to be a place where even normal kids can try to earn some pocket money if they just explore, so it might be treated like a bit of a theme park." (Tatsuro)


    With these impressions in mind, Tatsuro and the others arrived right in front of the entrance.


    It''s more like a reservoir than a shining white lake with a diameter of 10 meters, and it seems that you can enter the dungeon by jumping into it.


    If you look, there were several people, both children and adults, going in and coming out of there.


    "Is that the entrance? When I first heard the word dungeon, I had the image of a cave, but it''s a fantastic and beautiful entrance." (Tatsuro)


    "I see. I just want to take a picture." (Ai)


    "Now that I say that, I also wanted to take a picture of Lake Obsul." (Tatsuro)


    He squatted down in front of the entrance, which appeared to be nothing more than a giant white-lighted pool of liquid, and tried to scoop up some water, but he could not even touch anything, just like when he tried to grab a hologram.


    But it is strange because the parts touched by those who jump in and those who come out are wavy.


    As he was waiting in front of the entrance like that, he was unexpectedly approached from behind.


    "Hey, Ni-chan. If you don''t want to come in, could you please leave?"


    "Huh? Oh, sorry. It''s unusual, so I just stopped." (Tatsuro)


    The entrance is wide, so why don''t you just go in from somewhere else? But it was true that they had stopped, so they apologized and turned around to see eight little kids standing there, wearing the heaviest-looking gear they could muster and striking poses that they probably thought were cool.(T/N: My chunni heart is stirring up... we all have that one memory we want to forget!!)


    Tatsuro shifted to the side to get out of the way for now, thinking that when they grew up, they would be so embarrassed to be seen like this.


    "Oh, thank you. But, how rare, are you guys new to dungeons?"


    "......, you cheeky little brats." (Tatsuro)


    "Shhhh. They''re at that age, so it''s mature to give them a warm reception." (Ai)


    "Is that so? Then, I will follow your example and watch over you warmly." (Tatsuro)


    The children who tried hard to talk to Tatsuro as if they were seasoned veterans are annoying, but Ai taught them adult manners, and Nana tried her best to learn while looking at Ai with warm and innocent eyes.


    Unaware that Nana was trying to acquire such unnecessary skills, Tatsuro was working with the children who were cutely stretching themselves.


    "That''s right, I couldn''t come because I was busy with other things." (Tatsuro)


    "I see. Then you have to be careful. If someone who isn''t used to it challenges it lightly, you''ll get hurt... That''s what a dungeon is."


    The sight of a boy building meaningless hoards and searching for coolness brought back memories of when Tatsuro was younger than he is now, and his back felt itchy.


    "Do you guys come here often?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. We come here twice a week. Our parents work here. And it looks like our party''s earnings will reach 10,000 Shis soon? That''s amazing!"


    "Oh. That''s amazing!" (Tatsuro)


    "...Aren''t you sad?" (Ai)


    "Shh. You can''t deny the efforts of those children. Besides, 10,000 is a lot of money for a child. It was also a lot of money for me when I was in our original world." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s how it works, isn''t it?" (Ai)


    Tatsuro couldn''t help but smile at the big-nosed little kids who said they were amazing, so he complimented them on how amazing they were even when they were boasting about things they hadn''t even heard.


    Then, satisfied with the whole conversation, the little kids made like a long jump and jumped into the dungeon.


    "Oto-sama. That story about that little boy wasn''t amazing at all. Why did you praise him like that?" (Nana)


    "It''s nice to be innocent. Besides, those kids seem to be exploring the relatively shallow layers around the entrance, but they''ve been in here a lot, and the information about the dungeon here was mixed in with their bragging, so it wasn''t like it was a totally worthless time." (Tatsuro)


    "Ah. That''s what it means." (Nana)


    "Well then, let''s go too! We can just jump in here, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah." (Ai)


    "All right, everyone, let''s go for the first shot. Ready, go!" (Tatsuro)


    And so, all at once, Tatsuro and the others jumped into the white-light lake.


    Then, for a moment, Tatsuro felt as if his entire body had been touched by liquid, and a vast grassland spread out in front of him.


    "So this is the dungeon. ...... Awesome, there''s even a sun in the sky." (Tatsuro)


    "It''s true. And there''s wind, too. It''s as if we''ve just been thrown onto a meadow." (Ai)


    "Yeah, but it''s almost evening, and the sun is in that position just before noon. It''s obviously not right." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s right. But it looks pretty good as a walking course." (Ai)


    Ai took a deep breath right then and there, and the fresh air entered her lungs, making her feel refreshed.


    As Tatsuro looked at them, he thought that the area was indeed perfect for a walk, surrounded by just the right amount of nature.


    However, everyone here is new to dungeons. So, in order to proceed without being careless, they tightened the loose air.


    "Okay, first of all, our objective is to defeat the boss. There must be an entrance to the next floor somewhere on this floor, so let''s find it. Cardina, I ask you to "morph" and guard the surrounding area, Jeanne. In case the monsters come at any time, we''ll ask for [Adult Form], Nana will support everyone behind us.'''' (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    "Yes." (Nana)


    Thus began Tatsuro and his team''s first dungeon exploration.


    There were no paved roads, and the map function could only map where we walked, so we literally had no choice but to grope my way along.


    However, their enthusiasm reached its limit within the first three minutes.


    This was because young adventurers who seemed to be beginners and little children were everywhere, and they were making noise not because of the dungeon, but because they were scared of Tatsuro and the others - more precisely, Jeanne.


    Apparently, the first floor of this dungeon is the same for everyone, and you''ll find yourself in this vast grassland.


    What was more: the SPs they were expecting it... and also the monsters, ran away as soon as they saw Jeanne.


    "Ah, what is it? Is this an excursion spot?" (Ai)


    "Hey, from what those little guys said, it seems like there aren''t any traps in the shallow layer, so it''s just a walk." (Tatsuro)


    "I''m out of luck..." (Nana)


    "Pewee..." (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    Perhaps feeling the same way as Nana, Cardina and Jeanne were also dissatisfied.


    "We can''t help it. Let''s lower the alert level and hurry to find the entrance to the next layer." (Tatsuro)


    "I agree." (Ai)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    "Desu-o" (Nana)


    After they started walking with an emphasis on speed and continuing straight ahead through the meadow, the entrance to the destination finally came into view.


    "Is that?" (Ai)


    "Yeah." (Tatsuro)


    They found a glowing reservoir that looked exactly like the one they entered the dungeon in, and they all dashed to it and jumped in again at once.


    Then, I arrived at a new field, feeling as if my whole body was soaked with liquid.


    The atmosphere was a little different from the previous place, and they came to a place lined with trees, more like a forest than a meadow.


    "Is this a forest? It feels nostalgic." (Ai)


    "I don''t have very good memories though..." (Tatsuro)


    And so the exploration of the forest began for the first time in a long time.

 Chapter 125: What You Need for the Dungeon

    Chapter 125: What You Need for the Dungeon


    They had successfully passed through the lecture time from Marikka, and were now being treated to lunch indoors.


    Once that was done, Tatsuro used earth magic to repair what Ai broke, and Marikka''s mood seemed to have been completely restored.


    ¡°What are you two going to do now?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°We plan to use this town as a temporary base while we visit nearby dungeons to test out our new equipment.¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Have you ever been to any of the dungeons around here?" (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°No. we have not¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°I see. Then you going there at least once might be a good idea, I''m sure the two of you will be fine. But don''t be too overconfident.¡± (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°Yes¡± (Ai)


    ¡°Yes¡± (Tatsuro)


    "That¡¯s good." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    After they finished their conversation with Marikka, Ennio came over to them with his footsteps thudding.


    ¡°Well then, Ennio. Bye-bye." (Ai)


    ¡°Gau.¡± (Ennio)


    "Hey, Ennio. You can''t both go home then." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    As soon as Ai waved goodbye, Ennio stood in front of the gate and block their pass.


    Marikka sighed and tried to persuade him, but he turned away and would not listen to her.


    Marikka did not want to use this, but just as Marikka was beginning to wonder if she would have to make him do what she said with the contract, they walked up to Ennio.


    ¡°I''m sorry, Ennio. We have things to do. We''re going to be around town for a few days, so we''ll come back and see you." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Garr......." (Ennio)


    ¡°We''ll play again then!" (Ai)


    ¡°Then don''t destroy my house again." (Marikka Shurjaniemi)


    ¡°Ha, ha. Sorry...." (Ai)


    "Gfafafa." (Ennio)


    Perhaps it was funny to see Ai apologizing to Marikka while being freaked out, but Ennio laughed just like he did when he laughed in front of them the last time they were together.


    Their eyes were burning at the sight of such a face, but they endured it and said goodbye with a big smile as they gazed into the future.


    ¡°See you later, Ennio! See you later, Ennio!" (Ai)


    ¡°I''ll definitely be back! I''ll definitely be back!" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Gaaaah!" (Ennio)


    He were supposed to be completely in beast form, unable to speak or understand, but to the two of them it sounded like a laughing "Come again!¡± They waved their hands and left Marikka''s house.


    They made their way home at a leisurely pace, and by the time they arrived at the inn, it was late in the evening.


    I was relaxing in my room with a book in my hand that Reginald had given me, trying to prepare for tomorrow and what I might need for the dungeon.


    As Reginald said, the book was indeed a book for children with large characters, but it was not a foolproof book, and it was very easy to understand what to pay attention to, what things were needed, what kind of members to go with, etc. It was very easy to understand. And so, as you skim through to the end, you''ll find...


    ¡°What''s this? ...Coupon?" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Coupons?¡± (Ai)


    Ai, who had been playing with Cardina the baby bird and Jeanne the little rhinoceros, came to Tatsuro with two of them in tow, responding to a word she had heard in their former world.


    As he looked at it sideways, Tatsuro saw a discount coupon for a product that the Mac Dermott family probably distributes to department stores, with a cutout line around the end of the book. The products are all exactly what the book you are holding in your hand right now says you need...


    And finally, in the last item, which I flipped to the end of the page: By Reginald Mac Dermott was written.


    ¡°He wrote this!¡± (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro tossed the book upward with a shove, and Ai caught it with one hand, checking the author''s name column.


    ¡°I''m sure. It''s true. Reginald''s name is on it. I didn''t know he even did this." (Ai)


    ¡°He''s so thoughtful, that uncle. No wonder he gave it to me for free.¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°But this doesn''t say anything false, does it?" (Ai)


    ¡°I can''t complain, because all of them are really useful. But I can''t help feeling like I''m being rolled around on his hands.¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Well, well, well. You got the detailed information about the dungeon, didn''t you? Then, that''s good.¡± (Ai)


    Tatsuro wondered if it would be a good idea to think too deeply about Ai''s words, and he began to think about what to do next. It is about the members needed for the dungeon.


    For safe dungeon exploration, there are proximity, defense, exploration, attack magic, defense magic, and logistical support. It is said that the survival rate of a party in which all of these are present is the highest. A party that excels in one thing is strong, but in a dungeon, it is better to have people who can handle all situations.


    ¡°I''m not sure. But can''t I, Tatsuro, Cardina and her sister Jeanne take care of all that?" (Ai)


    ¡°I see. I mean, we feel like we are overpowered for a level 3 dungeon or so." (Tatsuro)


    But even if it could be done, dividing it all up among a small group of people might put too much burden on one person in some situations. It might be nice to have an auxiliary person in case that happens.


    Thinking this, Tatsuro immediately told Ai about it.


    ¡°What exactly do you mean by "auxiliary personnel? When you say "auxiliaries," what exactly do you mean?" (Ai)


    ¡°I thought that if we had a magical body creature that could use [Curse Magic], it could play an all-round role.¡± (Tatsuro)


    "So when you claim ¡®you''re all-mighty with [Curse Magic], do you mean, ''I''m going to help people who seem to be having a hard time by upping their status depending on the situation?''" (Ai)


    (T/N: buffing up people in the party stats is what Ai-chan is talking about)


    ¡°Yeah. The children of the house are strong even in their bare state. So if we do that, everyone¡¯s burden will be reduced to some extent¡± (Tatsuro)


    "Beep!" (Cardina)


    ¡°Neigh!¡± (Jeanne)


    Tatsuro gently stroked the two bodies, and they rubbed up against each other happily.


    Ai, not to be outdone, also came in close contact with Tatsuro, creating a messy picture that was hard to understand.


    Then, when they have settled down, they start to generate new magical body organisms.


    First, while having Ai attached to his back, he activates the skill [Yin-Yang Orb] with the generated dragon power.


    Then, a sphere that would become the source of the body appeared, and after incorporating [Curse magic] and a factor of [Life Magic] that would be useful as an auxiliary, He put his thoughts into it and imagined what kind of existence he wanted it to become.


    (It will assist us. I want such a kind presence)


    The sphere gradually took shape, and as the two gazed excitedly at it, wondering what kind of animal would come this time, and what kind of sister would come this time, it took shape.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. Father, Mother."


    ¡°"...eh?"¡±


    There appeared a pretty, white-skinned, early elementary school-aged girl with long black hair that almost touched the ground, bangs in a bun, and wearing a black Japanese-style kimono, bowing beautifully and greeting the others in a slightly lisping tone of voice.


    The two were so surprised that they were not able to immediately return the compliment, as they were expecting a new addition to the Hasami animal family, but the two were surrounded by their new sister with joy.


    ¡°Nice to meet you too, ladies.¡±


    ¡°Beep¡± (Cardina)


    ¡°Neigh¡± (Jeanne)


    The girl responded cheerfully to this and hugged them both tightly.


    So they finally came to their senses and greeted us again as well.


    ¡°Well, it''s nice to meet you. I guess I can assume that you are, you know, like Cardina and the others." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Yes, I know. No problem. My father."


    ¡°What can I say, I can do more than just animals." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Yes. There is no particular shape, but it is more like the image that my father want me to be.¡±


    "Tatsuro is a Lolicon..." (Ai)


    ¡°I am not! But when you say it''s my imagination ...Ah" (Tatsuro)


    When Tatsuro saw the girl, his first impression was that she looked like a doll. He remembered that his first impression of the girl was that she looked like a doll, and he came to the conclusion that he may have subconsciously had the composition of spell magic = Japanese doll in his mind.


    And as he looked further, he found another point of interest.


    ¡°What''s that? What''s up with your ...... transparency?" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Oh, I beg your pardon. I''m a bit of a slacker when I''m not paying attention. ......"


    ¡°No, I don''t have that personality." (Ai)


    When I shoved the shy, fidgety girl together, her white skin flushed red with even more embarrassment.


    The two of them are strange children who don''t even know what they are embarrassed about in the first place. As I looked at them, I felt that it had some resemblance to Ai.


    And Ai felt that she looked somewhat like Tatsuro.


    ¡°Hey.¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°Hey.¡± (Ai)


    ¡°You can start, Ai." (Tatsuro)


    ¡°I''m not sure. You know, the bridge of your nose and the shape of her ears, don''t they look like yours?" (Ai)


    ¡°I''m not sure. If anything, I think her eyes look just like Ai''s." (Tatsuro)


    Then we both confirmed the said place and the other''s part by sending mental images of the place and the other''s part, and they were indeed similar.


    As Tatsuro was looking for other similarities like that, the girl who noticed it had some idea what it was, so she mentioned it.


    ¡°Did something happen shortly before I was born or something that made you two aware of your childishness?"


    "Another archaic term... I''ve heard it said that way." (Ai)


    ¡°But that was days ago, remember?" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°I think it means that it was still very strong in your mind. We seem to be influenced by the subtlety of your feelings at any given time.¡± (Ai)


    ¡°I didn''t realize that''s how it worked. If I have another opportunity in the future, I''ll be careful." (Tatsuro)


    Then Tatsuro nodded his head with a look of some acquiescence, but then something came to Ai''s mind.


    "Hey, does it mean that Tatsuro secretly has a desire for a harem? Does the fact that only girls are born mean that Tatsuro secretly has a desire for a harem?" (Ai)


    ¡°No, what¡¯s going on?¡± (Tatsuro)


    ¡°I don''t think so.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?" (Ai)


    The girl denied it as if she was covering Tatsuro''s words, and Ai was thrown off the track and had a scowl on her face.


    ¡°The reason why my sisters and I are females or women is because he is a mister.¡±


    ¡°''Mister?¡¯... Oh, you mean a man." (Ai)


    ¡°The way you put it, if I''m a man, does that mean that only women can be born from magical body creatures?" (Tatsuro)


    ¡°You are right, my father. The magic that is created by combining opposing attributes is also designed to create something that is opposite to the creator. In other words, if it is a man, it is a woman, and if it is a woman, it is a man.¡±


    Hearing this story, Ai was relieved to learn that she was not being able to fulfill Tatsuro''s needs.


    ¡°So Tatsuro doesn''t have any desire for a harem?¡± (Ai)


    ¡°No. On the contrary, he is so in love with you that the love for you has been transferred to us!¡±


    ¡°Well!" (Ai)


    ¡°Hey! How dare you say everything out so casually!?¡± (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro turns bright red like a tomato when the girl that can be called his own child reveal the extent of his love for Ai, while Ai held her cheeks with both hands and asked her red-faced boyfriend to kiss her while making her mouth look slack.

 Chapter 126: New party member

    Chapter 126: New party member


    After that, Tatsuro and Ai were on the verge of doing something radical that they wouldn''t want to show to a child, but they stopped short when they noticed six people looking at them with interest.


    "Hey, desu." (Ai)


    "I''m not saying, hey." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes. Father."


    (T/N: Should I refer to father as Otto-sama or leave it as father?)


    "Hmm. She''s an honest and good girl." (Tatsuro)


    After saying that, Tatsuro hugged the girl. He was surprised at how light she was.


    No matter how small it is, if she is this size it should be several tens of kilos. However, right now, Tatsuro doesn''t feel any weight at all, only the weight that could be expressed in grams.


    "Light!? What''s going on? Cardina and the others were as heavy as they looked." (Tatsuro)


    "Huh? Which one is it? She is so light! It''s like holding a piece of paper! Hahaha." (Ai)


    "Hey, mom, please don''t throw the pompoms at me."


    "Oops, sorry." (Ai)


    Ai apologized and tried to lower the girl to the floor. However, before that, the girl floated up to the surface and slowly, as if gliding, returned to the place where she had been a while ago.


    "Rather than being a living being, I''m more like a ghost in your world. In this world, it''s called an astral body. Therefore, I have almost no weight."


    "Ah, is there such a thing?" (Ai)


    "So, so. By the way, aren''t you going to give me a name?"


    Ah, that too. Ai immediately thought of a name, and it was spilling out of her mouth in less than a second.


    "Um, Death Snow¨D¨D" (Ai)


    "Hey, don''t use spinal reflexes to name your names. Then it''ll be like a notebook where if you write your name, you''ll mess up." (Tatsuro)


    "Me too, that''s..."


    The girl also looked at Ai apologetically. So Ai brought the girl closer to her again, and while holding her, looked into her face and thought.


    In response, the girl surrendered herself to Ai and leaned against Ai as if to be pampered.


    "Hmm. Because she can use curse magic...Shu...slow...magic...!? Majina-chan!" (Ai)


    "Whoa, what a sparkling name! No, are you serious? Or rather, she already looks like a Japanese person, so wouldn''t it be fine to have a name like ours? " (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm, I see. So what should I do?" (Ai)


    "I''m kind of worried..."


    Since her lifelong name was to be decided, the little girl waited for the moment while being held in Ai''s chest, wondering why her father didn''t want to give her a name.


    Then, after a few unusual names appeared in the world, that name appeared.


    "Oh, what about Nana?" (Ai)


    "......Isn''t that the same name as Ai''s friend?" (Tatsuro)


    "Buh, that''s not true! That''s just what I usually call you, but my real name is Nanako." (Ai)


    "It''s almost a complete copy, isn''t it!?" (Tatsuro)


    Ai pouted her lips as Tatsuro couldn''t help but butt in.


    "Eh, but Nanako said that the character N has the meaning of a fruit tree used during rituals..." (Ai)


    "Which one?" (Tatsuro)


    "Then, there is. Shinto rituals are like spells, right?" (Ai)


    "If so, it''s not perfect. Besides, it seems easy for someone from this world to call Nana." (Tatsuro)


    "Well then....Hmm, I see." (Ai)


    As Ai desperately tried to make excuses, Tatsuro was convinced that it meant something like that, so he took the opportunity to ask her about it as well.


    "What about you? Do you hate the name Nana?" (Ai)


    "Nana...what kind of characters do you write?"


    "©¤©¤©¤That''s how it says, na-na, nana." (Tatsuro)


    "Now Nana." (Ai)


    Ai took out the paper and pen she had for notes from the [item box] and wrote it in front of her.


    The girl seemed to like it too, tracing the kanji with her finger over and over again and saying the name.


    "It seems like a routine." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah, it''s decided." (Ai)


    Then, Nana joined the new team.


    Once they decided to do so, the two immediately asked Nana to apply for a party, and when she accepted, they confirmed her status.


    ----------------------------------


    Name: Nana


    Class:-


    Level: 1


    Dragon Power: 118


    Strength: 17


    Durability: 17


    Agility: 12


    Magic: 28


    Magic resistance: 28


    Magic control: 23


    |Acquired Skills|


    [Astral Form], [True Form], [Adult Form]


    [Floating Lv.5], [Dragon Drain Lv.3], [Dragon Flight Lv.4]


    [Curse Magic Lv.6], [Life Magic Lv.5]


    Skill points: 3


    |Titles|


    None


    ----------------------------------


    "Hmm, Nana doesn''t have [Child Form]." (Ai)


    "If it gets any smaller, it will turn out to be a child." (Tatsuro)


    "But instead of having [Child Form], she has [Astral Form]" (Ai)


    "You call it a substitute, but I think it''s just part of her constitution." (Tatsuro)


    Is that so? Satisfied with this, Tatsuro asked her which body she was in now, and the answer came back that it was an [Adult Form], just as the two of them had expected.


    So, when he asked her to show him [True Form] as a test, she said, "I don''t really want to show it now...'''' while looking exactly like Ai, and Tatsuro couldn''t resist and moved on to the next topic.


    "Then, what I''m curious about is [Dragon Drain] and [Dragon Flight]." (Ai)


    "I''m sure the monster Ai defeated before had an astral body, but that one was a [Life Drain].'''' (Tatsuro)


    "I wonder if it could use something like that." (Ai)


    "It looks like you defeated it before you could use it. What kind of skill is it exactly?" (Tatsuro)


    "[Life Drain] has the effect of stealing the life of those it touches, for recovering their own magical power, and healing wounds. And my [Dragon Drain] seems to be able to absorb the energy of any living thing within its range without touching it, recovering my dragon power and wounds.'''' (Nana)


    "Again, that''s a tough skill. What''s the range of effect?" (Tatsuro)


    "It seems like the range increases by 1 meter for each level. So it''s currently 3 meters. However, it seems that [Dragon Drain] can only be used when in [Adult Form].'''' (Nana)


    It''s the same thing with Cardina and the others, so there''s no need to be surprised now, so it''s fine. This [Dragon Drain] isn''t a powerful attack skill possessed like the other two, but it''s a skill that goes well with Nana who uses Curse magic: Tatsuro deducted


    And finally [Dragon Flight], in this child''s case as well, looking at the faded display like Jeanne''s, it seemed to be a skill limited to [True Form].


    That said, although it can''t achieve the same speed as [Flight], she will still be able to perform well even under non-normal conditions since she has [Float] skill.


    After checking the status, Tatsuro immediately asked Nana to do something.


    "Okay, Nana. I want you to do something like your sisters." (Tatsuro)


    "What is it? Father" (Nana)


    "I will ask you to meditate now to learn [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Rise]." (Tatsuro)


    "I hope you are right" (Nana)


    "Yeah, yeah, I''m glad you''re doing well." (Tatsuro)


    And so, Nana spent the rest of the day in a body that didn''t need to sleep, meditating with her two older sisters, and learning the [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Rise].


    The next day. All night''s efforts paid off, Nana had reached [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Rise Lv.4], and Cardina and Jeanne had reached [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Rise Lv.6].


    After Tatsuro and Ai confirmed this, they ate their meals while praising and pampering all three of them, and left the inn with the leftovers of the large breakfast they had ordered stored in their [Item Box.]


    So now, the two of them left the town of Lyadas and walked to a deserted place.


    "Okay, everyone come out now." (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    "Desu-o" (Nana)


    They firmly answered Tatsuro''s long-awaited call and appeared with three different sounds/words.


    Their appearances are all [Adult Form] versions. It seems like there are quite a few people near the dungeon they are approaching now, so if they go there with [True Form] there''s a good chance it will attract a lot of attention.


    When the three of them appeared, Tatsuro took out the rhinoceros carriage (rhino-cart) from the [Item Box] and placed it on the ground.


    "I''d like to say, let''s leave now! But I think I''ll make some modifications." (Tatsuro)


    "We''ve bought a lot of things." (Ai)


    "Yeah. I''ll try my best as long as it doesn''t put too much of a burden on Jeanne." (Tatsuro)


    With that said, Tatsuro first added a new iron ingot to extend the rhino cart about a meter upwards, and then for the exterior, he took out an ingot of Phoebus steel that he had previously purchased, which is heavier but harder than iron. While using dark magic to strengthen and lighten it in the best possible balance, he spread it thinly and coated the rhino cart.


    Once that was done, he coated the seat dedicated to Cardina in the ceiling in the same way to make it a little more durable.


    Once that work was completed, the next step was the interior. It currently has a small room with only a cushion mat, which is also used as a bed, on the floor, and instead of a mat, Tatsuro put a long fur carpet on the floor, and he set up some light and small furniture, such as a chair and a desk.


    Once the installation was complete, he fixed them firmly with earth magic so that they wouldn''t fall over even if the rhino cart stopped suddenly.


    Now, there was no longer a place for the two of them to sleep, but since the rhinoceros carriage itself was extended upwards, there was a new space.


    Tatsuro made it into a loft-like shape, built a low ceiling above it, and glued and reinforced it quite strongly to prevent the partition that separated the top and bottom from falling down.


    Once that was done, Tatsuro prepared a simple ladder to get to the loft above and climbed up it.


    The space had just the right height and space for just sleeping, and Tatsuro said with a satisfied look on his face as he laid down on the slightly more expensive mattress he had purchased from Reginald. He wrapped it up and it seemed to be quite comfortable to sleep on as the soft mat covered his body.


    It is possible to also go to the ceiling from there, so you can immediately see what''s going on outside.


    This made him feel like he would be able to spend a lot of time comfortably on the way.


    "Okay, it''s finished. Would you like to try towing it? If it''s too heavy, I''ll have to reduce it or modify it.'''' (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    After remaking the metal fittings to fit the six-meter-long giant body, he attached them to Jeanne, and he asked her to proceed a little further with no one on board.


    Then, she pulled out the rhino cart, which had increased in weight, without any resistance.


    "It''s an amazing power." (Ai)


    "I see. Jeanne, that''s hardly using wind magic, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    "Of course, there are status corrections, but it means that your muscle strength has also increased considerably." (Tatsuro)


    "Ah, I''m very proud of her" (Ai)


    The two of them, Cardina, and Nana caught up with Jeanne who had gone a little ahead of them while they were talking, Tatsuro was trying to replenish her magic power, and Ai gently stroked the tip of Jeanne''s nose just because she wanted to.


    At that, Jeanne let out a deep breath and pleasantly narrowed her eyes.


    "Hmm, Sister Cardina is for exploration, Sister Jeanne is for travel.... What on earth should I do...That''s right! Father, mother." (Nana)


    "What? Nana" (Tatsuro)


    "During the journey, I will ride on Sister Jeanne''s back and support her with curse magic and Life magic. I weigh almost nothing, so I shouldn''t get in the way of Sister Jeanne!" (Nana)


    "Hmm, it''s true that in case of an emergency, you can strengthen Jeanne and Cardina with curse magic, and life magic also can be used for recovery, which is good..." (Tatsuro)


    "You don''t have to force yourself to find something to do, okay? Nana-chan has a solid role to play." (Ai)


    "Still, I also want to be of help to you." (Nana)


    Seeing her serious eyes, the two of them felt it was unwise to say anything more, so they decided to ask her to try supporting Jeanne.


    When Tatsuro and Ai were about to sit in the driver''s seat, Nana told them that they could go inside and rest, and they were almost forced into the private room of the car.


    As expected, it was uncomfortable to accept everything said to them out rightly, but in the end, they accepted Nana''s proposal.


    "Well then, first go straight down this road and keep going until you reach a four-way intersection." (Tatsuro)


    "Yes!" (Nana)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    "Hmm. Are you sure you''re okay?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes!" (Nana)


    After being told that clearly, they couldn''t say anything more, the two of them entered the rhino cart as it moved along the way, feeling as if they were letting their child go on an errand for the first time.

 Chapter 127: Entering the first dungeon

    Despite their concerns, Jeanne and Nana were firmly on the right path without making any mistakes.


    Tatsuro checked it out for a while using the map function, but decided it was safe to leave it to them, and now he and Ai were sitting in a chair indoors, discussing the dungeon together.


    "What exactly does a dungeon look like?" (Ai)


    "Well, some of my knowledge is just from books, so it''s a little hazy, so don''t take my word for it, okay?" (Tatsuro)


    "I get it." (Ai)


    "Let''s see, first of all, we''re heading to a level 1 dungeon right now." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro then told Ai what he knew for now.


    He says. The main reason why people in this world challenge dungeons is to wander through the field, which is also known as a different space, to obtain magic stones that only dungeon monsters have, to find treasures while sneaking through traps, and to defeat the boss of that dungeon.


    The entrance is like a large, circular, glowing white lake, and it is said that by jumping into the lake, one is transported to the dungeon.


    At the destination, finding the lake of white light, which is the same as the entrance, and jumping into it, will result in you will be sent to the next field.


    By the way, level 1 dungeons are randomly selected from 3rd floor to 8th floor. Level 2 dungeons are randomly selected from 6th floor to 12th floor. Level 3 dungeons are randomly selected from 9th to 15th floor. If you are lucky, you can find the door to challenge the boss at the 3rd floor in the level 1 dungeon, but if you are unlucky, you cannot find the door until the 8th floor.


    Also, note that if more than one person is attempting the same dungeon, they will be sent to different locations if they are not registered as a party.


    Finally, as for the method of returning, it seemed that when one found a lake in the field to which one had been sent, which was the point to the next level, one could either jump into it, while wishing to return, or jump into the lake of white light that appeared after defeating that dungeon boss, which would lead to a room with an exit.


    "Hey, hey. If you''re going to talk about that, then you can go home halfway, right? I understand that collecting magic stones and hunting for treasure can make money, but is there any point in defeating bosses by putting yourself in danger? Is there any point in trying to earn experience points or test your skills? What?" (Ai)


    "Ah, that''s it. Actually, if you can find and defeat the boss, it seems that you will be given SP equal to the level of that dungeon." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, you mean you can get it other than by leveling up?" (Ai)


    "That''s how it works. However, it is only valid once per person in the same dungeon. But it works on everyone in the party, so maybe it''s a pretty big deal." (Tatsuro)


    In other words, if you form a party and defeat a level 1 dungeon boss, SP (1) will be added to your status.


    Therefore, in example (1) it seems that adventurers, soldiers, and others who might find themselves in dangerous places tend to actively search for bosses to obtain valuable SP rather than treasure and magic stones.


    "If so, that means that as long as we beat the bosses, Cardina-chan and I can get SP other than by leveling up. That certainly sounds appealing." (Ai)


    "Right, and I also want to get as much (1) as possible, so let''s conquer the three dungeons around here and make sure to get extra SP (5)." (Tatsuro)


    "Oooh!" (Ai)


    And so time passed as Tatsuro talked to Ai about other detailed precautions and discussed what to do after entering the dungeon.


    "Dad, mom. We''ll soon reach a four-way intersection." (Nana)


    "Oh, thank you. Well then, please stop somewhere off the road." (Ai)


    "Yes, ma''am. Jeanne onee-sama." (Nana)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    Jeanne, who had been listening to their conversation so closely, chirped a single sound as if she knew what she was talking about, and stopped the rhino cart without danger at a place a little off the road.


    After making sure the rhino cart had stopped, they came outside and Nana, who had been in front of them for some time, jumped in.


    Tatsuro caught her, replenishing her magical power while holding her, beckoned Cardina, who was resting on the rhino cart, to come over as well, and removed Jeanne''s metal fittings as well.


    "Okay, then let''s take a break. Thank you for making me feel very comfortable." (Tatsuro)


    "Thanks." (Ai)


    While saying that, Cardina and the others were having fun replenishing their magic power.


    During that magical replenishment, Tatsuro noticed that the amount of replenished magic was less for the three of us combined than it had been for Jeanne alone.


    Here again, Tatsuro was impressed by the benefits of status.


    Then, since the weather was so nice, Ai and Tatsuro took out the food they had put in their [Item Box] for lunch outside and started their lunch time together.


    "Speaking of which, it looks like you passed another passerby a couple of times, how did that go?" (Tatsuro)


    "Neigh?" (Jeanne)


    "What do you mean?" (Nana)


    Jeanne and Nana tilted their heads, unable to fully understand Tatsuro''s intentions. Besides, Tatsuro explained again when he realized that his words were insufficient.


    "No. Even when Jeanne was smaller, there were many people who were surprised, so I was suddenly curious about how they reacted to Jeanne, who was even bigger now." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, that''s right. Certainly, people who saw Jeanne made funny faces, but when I waved my hand, some of them looked at me with a scowling face, and some even waved back." (Nana)


    "Ah. If you see a cute little girl riding it gracefully, maybe you''ll soon realize that it''s not a creature to be scared of." (Tatsuro)


    "Well, it might give a better image than just moving around." (Ai)


    They patted Nana on the head, who had been active in unexpected places besides assisting Jeanne, and took the rest of their lunch to their mouths.


    As the road became more complicated from here, Tatsuro and Ai sat on the driver''s seat and gave directions to Jeanne, and before dusk they reached the area where the dungeon was located.


    Tatsuro pulled the rhino cart back before the crowds began to gather in earnest, had Cardina and Jeanne go into [Child Form] and wore the armor they had purchased at Reginald''s place, and had all three of them wear bracelet-type magical aids on their arms, legs, and tails, as he had bought all kinds of them.


    When they were ready, they all walked together to the dungeon, except for Cardina, the baby bird on Jeanne''s head.


    When they reached the dungeon entrance area, many people were engaged in their own activities.


    As they walked along, looking at the people passing by, they saw some simple inns and a few stalls, and they also saw many children.


    "Since it''s called a dungeon, I thought it would be a much dreary place, but it has a pretty bright atmosphere." (Ai)


    "Well, Level 1 seems to be a place where even normal kids can try to earn some pocket money if they just explore, so it might be treated like a bit of a theme park." (Tatsuro)


    With these impressions in mind, Tatsuro and the others arrived right in front of the entrance.


    It''s more like a reservoir than a shining white lake with a diameter of 10 meters, and it seems that you can enter the dungeon by jumping into it.


    If you look, there were several people, both children and adults, going in and coming out of there.


    "Is that the entrance? When I first heard the word dungeon, I had the image of a cave, but it''s a fantastic and beautiful entrance." (Tatsuro)


    "I see. I just want to take a picture." (Ai)


    "Now that I say that, I also wanted to take a picture of Lake Obsul." (Tatsuro)


    He squatted down in front of the entrance, which appeared to be nothing more than a giant white-lighted pool of liquid, and tried to scoop up some water, but he could not even touch anything, just like when he tried to grab a hologram.


    But it is strange because the parts touched by those who jump in and those who come out are wavy.


    As he was waiting in front of the entrance like that, he was unexpectedly approached from behind.


    "Hey, Ni-chan. If you don''t want to come in, could you please leave?"


    "Huh? Oh, sorry. It''s unusual, so I just stopped." (Tatsuro)


    The entrance is wide, so why don''t you just go in from somewhere else? But it was true that they had stopped, so they apologized and turned around to see eight little kids standing there, wearing the heaviest-looking gear they could muster and striking poses that they probably thought were cool.(T/N: My chunni heart is stirring up... we all have that one memory we want to forget!!)


    Tatsuro shifted to the side to get out of the way for now, thinking that when they grew up, they would be so embarrassed to be seen like this.


    "Oh, thank you. But, how rare, are you guys new to dungeons?"


    "......, you cheeky little brats." (Tatsuro)


    "Shhhh. They''re at that age, so it''s mature to give them a warm reception." (Ai)


    "Is that so? Then, I will follow your example and watch over you warmly." (Tatsuro)


    The children who tried hard to talk to Tatsuro as if they were seasoned veterans are annoying, but Ai taught them adult manners, and Nana tried her best to learn while looking at Ai with warm and innocent eyes.


    Unaware that Nana was trying to acquire such unnecessary skills, Tatsuro was working with the children who were cutely stretching themselves.


    "That''s right, I couldn''t come because I was busy with other things." (Tatsuro)


    "I see. Then you have to be careful. If someone who isn''t used to it challenges it lightly, you''ll get hurt... That''s what a dungeon is."


    The sight of a boy building meaningless hoards and searching for coolness brought back memories of when Tatsuro was younger than he is now, and his back felt itchy.


    "Do you guys come here often?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah. We come here twice a week. Our parents work here. And it looks like our party''s earnings will reach 10,000 Shis soon? That''s amazing!"


    "Oh. That''s amazing!" (Tatsuro)


    "...Aren''t you sad?" (Ai)


    "Shh. You can''t deny the efforts of those children. Besides, 10,000 is a lot of money for a child. It was also a lot of money for me when I was in our original world." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s how it works, isn''t it?" (Ai)


    Tatsuro couldn''t help but smile at the big-nosed little kids who said they were amazing, so he complimented them on how amazing they were even when they were boasting about things they hadn''t even heard.


    Then, satisfied with the whole conversation, the little kids made like a long jump and jumped into the dungeon.


    "Oto-sama. That story about that little boy wasn''t amazing at all. Why did you praise him like that?" (Nana)


    "It''s nice to be innocent. Besides, those kids seem to be exploring the relatively shallow layers around the entrance, but they''ve been in here a lot, and the information about the dungeon here was mixed in with their bragging, so it wasn''t like it was a totally worthless time." (Tatsuro)


    "Ah. That''s what it means." (Nana)


    "Well then, let''s go too! We can just jump in here, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah." (Ai)


    "All right, everyone, let''s go for the first shot. Ready, go!" (Tatsuro)


    And so, all at once, Tatsuro and the others jumped into the white-light lake.


    Then, for a moment, Tatsuro felt as if his entire body had been touched by liquid, and a vast grassland spread out in front of him.


    "So this is the dungeon. ...... Awesome, there''s even a sun in the sky." (Tatsuro)


    "It''s true. And there''s wind, too. It''s as if we''ve just been thrown onto a meadow." (Ai)


    "Yeah, but it''s almost evening, and the sun is in that position just before noon. It''s obviously not right." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s right. But it looks pretty good as a walking course." (Ai)


    Ai took a deep breath right then and there, and the fresh air entered her lungs, making her feel refreshed.


    As Tatsuro looked at them, he thought that the area was indeed perfect for a walk, surrounded by just the right amount of nature.


    However, everyone here is new to dungeons. So, in order to proceed without being careless, they tightened the loose air.


    "Okay, first of all, our objective is to defeat the boss. There must be an entrance to the next floor somewhere on this floor, so let''s find it. Cardina, I ask you to "morph" and guard the surrounding area, Jeanne. In case the monsters come at any time, we''ll ask for [Adult Form], Nana will support everyone behind us.'''' (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    "Yes." (Nana)


    Thus began Tatsuro and his team''s first dungeon exploration.


    There were no paved roads, and the map function could only map where we walked, so we literally had no choice but to grope my way along.


    However, their enthusiasm reached its limit within the first three minutes.


    This was because young adventurers who seemed to be beginners and little children were everywhere, and they were making noise not because of the dungeon, but because they were scared of Tatsuro and the others - more precisely, Jeanne.


    Apparently, the first floor of this dungeon is the same for everyone, and you''ll find yourself in this vast grassland.


    What was more: the SPs they were expecting it... and also the monsters, ran away as soon as they saw Jeanne.


    "Ah, what is it? Is this an excursion spot?" (Ai)


    "Hey, from what those little guys said, it seems like there aren''t any traps in the shallow layer, so it''s just a walk." (Tatsuro)


    "I''m out of luck..." (Nana)


    "Pewee..." (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    Perhaps feeling the same way as Nana, Cardina and Jeanne were also dissatisfied.


    "We can''t help it. Let''s lower the alert level and hurry to find the entrance to the next layer." (Tatsuro)


    "I agree." (Ai)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    "Desu-o" (Nana)


    After they started walking with an emphasis on speed and continuing straight ahead through the meadow, the entrance to the destination finally came into view.


    "Is that?" (Ai)


    "Yeah." (Tatsuro)


    They found a glowing reservoir that looked exactly like the one they entered the dungeon in, and they all dashed to it and jumped in again at once.


    Then, I arrived at a new field, feeling as if my whole body was soaked with liquid.


    The atmosphere was a little different from the previous place, and they came to a place lined with trees, more like a forest than a meadow.


    "Is this a forest? It feels nostalgic." (Ai)


    "I don''t have very good memories though..." (Tatsuro)


    And so the exploration of the forest began for the first time in a long time.

 Chapter 128: Things I dont understand well

    It was brighter than the Amneri Great Forest, and Tatsuro and his team were moving forward, cutting down trees with Jeanne in the lead, through a forest with as many trees as the area around the town they had visited together with Leela.


    Along the way, monsters appeared several times between the trees, and there were simple traps that were easy to figure out, but they were crushed by Jeanne and destroyed before they could be activated, so they weren''t an obstacle at all.


    At first, Tatsuro was trying hard to secure SP without killing anyone, but the monsters that appeared in this level 1 dungeon had no skills.


    In other words, only small fry weaker than Imomu are produced.


    However, it is possible to extract magic stones from corpses using such small items, but they are only about 1 or 2 centimeters long, and occasionally a magic stone of about 3 centimeters will come out, so this is too cost-effective. So, they decided to ignore them and let them continue on their way.


    "But how can there be monsters with no skills at all?" (Tatsuro)


    "As expected, it''s a dungeon that even children can roam around in." (Ai)


    "The traps are nothing but childish tricks. I haven''t seen a pitfall in a long time." (Tatsuro)


    There wasn''t a trap that could kill someone instantly, and Tatsuro stepped over the hole.


    "Those jerks seemed to be talking way too much." (Tatsuro)


    "Don''t say that, but for a small child, this place is also a big adventure." (Ai)


    "Certainly, from the perspective of those kids, even this pit might look like a gigantic hole physically?" (Tatsuro)


    It seemed like they were having a lot of fun talking about it, and the image of a dangerous dungeon that Tatsuro and his friends had at the beginning disappeared, and they proceeded to the third and fourth floors while enjoying a short walk.


    Then, when they entered the fifth floor and were walking through the forest with Jeanne in the lead as before, Cardina, who was using Dispel magic, alerted them.


    As soon as Tatsuro wondered what was going on, he synchronized with Cardina''s magic and investigated, and about ten Imomu were reacting there.


    If that was all there was, there was no need to be particularly wary, but for some reason, the children who had entered in front of Tatsuro and his friends seemed to be surrounded by them.


    "First of all...maybe? But if it''s about Imomu... No, I''ll go take a look anyway." (Tatsuro)


    "What''s wrong?" (Ai)


    "It looks like the kids we were talking about earlier are fighting, surrounded by ten Imomus." (Tatsuro)


    "Is that something urgent?" (Ai)


    "No, they are losing a little, but Imomu seems to be weaker than the one we fought the first time, and it doesn''t seem like the situation is that dangerous. So, let''s take a quick look, and if it looks okay, let''s just pass by." (Tatsuro)


    And so, Tatsuro and his team headed towards them while hiding, so as not to get in the way of the children.


    Since Jeanne stands out, Tatsuro has her transformed into [Child Form] and as they all watch the children from behind a tree, they see a heated battle unfolding there.


    "Penelope, you''re coming too far forward! Aaron, protect me with your shield and let me back down!"


    "I-I understand! Penelope, this way!"


    "Yeah"


    """Geeeeeeee"""


    The boy who had been talking to Tatsuro seemed to be the leader, and although he seemed to have a little leeway, he was firmly in command and had the larger boy go to help the beastman girl who had lunged out in front of him.


    "Barry, I''m gonna take them down over here, cover me with the bow! Haaaaah!"


    """Giiiiii"""


    The boy, the leader, had his friends cover him with their bows while he poked them one by one with the spear in his hand to ensure that he inflicted damage.


    Just when they were weakened, another girl from before, who was standing behind them, used lightning magic to shoot out a small bolt of lightning, defeating the three of them all at once.


    "It looks like it''s okay. It''s even more amazing than I expected." (Tatsuro)


    "Right. There are only seven more. Fighting!!!" (Ai) (T/N: I added fighting!!! As a way of showing Ai''s admiration)


    As the two watched and cheered with admiration, another wizard boy finally burned the last one away with fire magic, and the little party was able to overcome it by themselves.


    The boys and girls looked excited and were all praising each other for their good fight.


    "Well then, shall we hurry up?" (Ai)


    "Right. If they knew we were watching from here, they''d be so uncool." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro and his team left there holding their breath, thinking that there would be a difference in mood between fighting under the watchful eye of an elder and fighting alone.


    "Anyway, I read in the book that it is possible to run into other parties even when you are not in a common location, but I never expected to run into someone we knew." (Tatsuro)


    "Is it that rare?" (Ai)


    "Hmm, but at level 1 there aren''t that many fields in the first place, and in low-level dungeons there may be quite a few." (Tatsuro)


    While talking about this, they left the place without the children noticing, and after a while, Cardina discovered something again.


    Besides, Tatsuro synchronized with the Dispel magic again to find out if something had happened to the children and found that it wasn''t the case and a strange reaction that looked like a monster but was not a monster was found on Tatsuro''s path.


    "What the hell?" (Tatsuro)


    "What else happened?" (Ai)


    "I''d say there is... or rather... there''s something ahead of us that I don''t quite understand." (Tatsuro)


    """???"""


    "Pewee." (Cardina)


    Cardina was the only one who sympathized with Tatsuro''s strange sensation and nodded, but everyone else tilted their heads.


    "Well, it doesn''t seem to be moving, so let''s go take a look. Then we''ll probably figure something out." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s right, I''m also curious about something you don''t understand." (Ai)


    Then, as they continued walking toward something they didn''t understand, they saw a small black vortex floating in the air.


    "Is that what you don''t understand?" (Ai)


    "Ah, there''s no doubt that it''s something I don''t understand very well...Even if I actually look at it, I don''t really understand it." (Tatsuro)


    "But I feel like there''s something strange about it. Something... it seems like it''s close to us..." (Ai)


    "Close to Nana and us...? ©¤©¤Hmm?" (Tatsuro)


    As they all stared at it, not knowing what it was, the black vortex began to emit a small light.


    As they watched closely to see what was going to happen, Imomu suddenly jumped out of there.


    "Wow, it''s Imomu." (Ai)


    "Judging from the reaction of the Dispel magic, it doesn''t seem like it''s some kind of illusion, so it might be something that creates monsters." (Tatsuro)


    Even as they watched, Imomu continued to be produced relentlessly.


    "...No, isn''t there anything else?" (Ai)


    "I don''t need Imomu without skills." (Tatsuro)


    They tried waiting to see if some kind of strong-looking monster would appear, but no matter how long it took, it was still boring.


    It makes them want to complain, demanding that they should get back the time they have been waiting for.


    "Isn''t it better to call it the Imomu Generator?" (Tatsuro)


    "I agree" (Ai)


    "Desu-o" (Nana)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    "It was passed with a majority vote. Congratulations, you are now an Imomu Generator!" (Tatsuro)


    "........................"


    The black vortex, which didn''t seem to have any will, didn''t react in any particular way and just mechanically released Imomu.


    "Well, I guess so." (Tatsuro)


    "It is worthless." (Ai)


    While Ai was complaining, Tatsuro suddenly thought that [Level Eater] could be used on that, so he tried hitting it with a black ball.


    ----------------------------------


    Level: 1


    Skill: [Monster Creation Num-3689.031]


    ----------------------------------


    (??? What is this? Num-3689.031? It''s not like it''s 3689.031 level)


    Tatsuro tries to see if he can get some level, but he doesn''t get anything, so he deactivates [Level Eater].


    "It seems like it can only create monsters, but I''ll try defeating them for now." (Tatsuro)


    "Can you defeat it?" (Ai)


    "Ah, maybe? It had a level, so I don''t think it''s impossible to defeat. And it is at level 1." (Tatsuro)


    "Now, if that''s the case, how should I do it, but I''m reluctant to touch it directly." (Ai)


    So Tatsuro tried firing a laser at it, but it was sucked into the vortex and, as if in return, about 20 Imomoos were released at once.


    "It''s disgusting!" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro used fire magic to wipe out the Imomu that came swarming around.


    "Did the energy just get absorbed? There was no such skill." (Tatsuro)


    "Then I guess I''ll try it next." (Ai)


    While saying that, Ai took out the celestial Bow from the [Item Box].


    Immediately, she poured her energy into making an arrow and fired it into the Imomu generator.


    However, that too was sucked into the vortex, and a large amount of Imomu was produced again.


    "Is that the type of guy you can''t defeat?" (Tatsuro)


    "Hehehe, sweet Tatsuro. There''s a theory for defeating absorption-type enemies like this." (Ai)


    "Absorption type? Ah, you mean something like making it eat more than he can absorb/chew?" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s right. I''m going to do that thing that will make it go ''bang''." (Ai)


    While saying that, Ai held up her bow and fired a flurry of energy arrows.


    Then, the moment Ai''s arrow hits the black whirlpool, Imomu pops out one after another.


    Tatsuro continues to annihilate them with magic while working with Jeanne.


    They continued doing this for about five minutes, but there was no sign that anything like that would happen.


    "Ai, that''s enough." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, wait a minute, my archery skill will be 8 in just a little while." (Ai)


    "You''ve changed your purpose, haven''t you?" (Tatsuro)


    "Alright, now it''s here. And I said I will just increase the number of Imomu, but this..." (Ai)


    The area around Tatsuro and his friends was already filled with the corpses of thousands of Imomu.


    The noise was no longer disgusting.


    "While Ai was doing it, I was analyzing it with Cardina, but it seems like he''s just converting it rather than absorbing it." (Tatsuro)


    "Transformation? Does that mean that the moment my arrow hits it, it transforms into Imomu?" (Ai)


    "Ah, I guess that''s why I''ve never incorporated it into myself. Therefore, the "bang" strategy you were talking about earlier doesn''t seem to make sense." (Tatsuro)


    "Seriously...?" (Ai)


    The two of them started to argue, and just as Tatsuro was about to suggest that they ignore it, Nana raised her hand.


    "What''s wrong, Nana?" (Tatsuro)


    "No, do you mind if I try it last?" (Nana)


    "Huh? Ah, well, that''s fine. But Nana didn''t have any attack skills, right?" (Ai)


    "Yes. However, if the other party converts the power, what if I absorb it without giving anything to it?" (Nana)


    "Ah, [Dragon Drain]!"


    With "Drain", it is possible to inflict damage on the opponent without giving away the power that can be converted.


    It was definitely a blind spot. So, Tatsuro accepted the suggestion, saying that if there was a way to defeat it, he should know it for the future.


    And so, Nana decided to challenge the black vortex.

 Chapter 129: Dropped Item

    Tatsuro agreed to Nana using the [Dragon Drain] skill, but there was one thing that bothered him.


    That is, in the case of [Life Drain], it is necessary to touch it directly.


    He can''t let his precious friends be the first to touch something so suspicious.


    What''s more, Cardina and the others are magical creatures. He doesn''t know what will happen if they touch something that converts magical power or energy.


    When Tatsuro said that, it seemed like Nana was thinking about it too.


    "Therefore, although there is some resistance, I am thinking of using the [Dragon Drain], which does need me to be transformed into my [True Form], without touching it." (Nana)


    "But you don''t want to show it too much, right? There''s no reason to defeat it even if I force you to do it." (Tatsuro)


    "However, I''m sure I''ll have to show it to you someday, and just because I''m reluctant, it doesn''t mean I absolutely hate it. I''d rather be of help to you." (Nana)


    "I see. Then please, Nana-chan. Please shoot our enemy!" (Ai)


    "Yes, Mom!" (Nana)


    When Ai hugged her tightly, Nana''s face fell with joy.


    As they looked at this scene with envy, Tatsuro hugged Cardina and Jeanne tightly.


    "Okay, let''s go." (Nana)


    After enjoying Ai''s embrace for a while, Nana approaches the black vortex, also known as Imomu Generator, until it is within three meters of her range.


    Jeanne used wind magic to catch and exterminate the Imomu that appeared during that time. It seemed as if she was setting the stage for her younger sister''s future, and Tatsuro patted her on the head.


    When Nana walked within the range of the Dragon Drain at her current level, she stopped there and activated her skill [True Form].


    Then, a change occurred in Nana''s shape, and it quickly took shape.


    Her appearance was that of a beautiful adult woman with beautiful brown skin.


    The black kimono she wore when she became an adult has turned white, and two thick black horns like a cow''s grown from her head, and large white wings shaped like a bat''s on her back.


    It also has sharp, black-stained nails on its hands, and long, pointed white canine teeth peeking out from its mouth.


    In addition, the color of the eyes has changed from black to white, and a thin arrow-shaped black tail can be glimpsed from under the kimono, giving off a mysterious atmosphere, as if someone was trying to force a demon to look like an angel.


    (T/N: No wonder she was trying to hide it. I kind of want to see a picture of her true form. Maybe I should use AI to generate a picture of it. Though I won''t be posting it!!)


    Having undergone such a change, Nana activated [Dragon Drain] without looking back.


    Then, the two black cow horns began to vibrate finely, giving Nana a strange sensation as if something new had been added to her senses, wrapping up the Imomu Generator as if an invisible hand was reaching out.


    Then, the spirit is absorbed all at once. Since it doesn''t look like a living thing, you might think it has no energy, but it does have the power of life, and it absorbs it to its roots.


    Then, changes appeared in the Imomu generator, which gradually became smaller and eventually disappeared completely.


    |You have leveled up to Level 3|


    The moment that announcement reached Nana''s ears, a green regular hexagonal plate fell to the ground from where the Imomu generator was.


    Nana picked it up, and while still holding it in her hand, used the [Dragon Drain] to transform the last remaining Imomu into a mummy as she walked towards Tatsuro and the others.


    Although they were surprised to see how much different she looked from her previous appearance, she looked intimidating and aggressive, but the two of them didn''t let that change their perspective on her and continued to interact with her with their usual smiles.


    "Welcome back, Nana." (Tatsuro)


    "I''m back now." (Nana)


    Nana was a little worried that he might be drawn back, but she realized that her fears were unfounded, and she smiled and greeted him in a calm, adult voice, then handed Tatsuro the board she had picked up earlier.


    "Is this the one that was dropped by the Imomu generator earlier? I wonder what it is... Cardina, I''d like you to analyze it with me." (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Is this the so-called drop item?" (Nana)


    "But I don''t know what it can be used for." (Tatsuro)


    Then, Tatsuro and Cardina learned about it by using Dispel magic, but they could not understand it well at this point.


    For some reason, even though they haven''t felt a single ounce of magical power since then, the monster... or rather, Imomu''s reaction is faint.


    Without understanding why, Tatsuro stared at it for a long time, trying to see the various reactions, and tried to put a little bit of his magic into it.


    Then, something squirted out and stuck to Tatsuro''s face.


    "W-What''s this?" (Tatsuro)


    "Tatsuro!" (Ai)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    "Father!" (Nana)


    "...Hmm? What is this really?" (Tatsuro)


    "Are you okay?" (Ai)


    "Ah, it''s a little sticky, but it doesn''t seem like it''s impossible to remove." (Tatsuro)


    While saying that, Tatsuro peeled something sticky from his face.


    Then, his field of vision opened up, and when he looked at the object he had peeled off earlier, he saw that it was a bundle of thick white sticky thread.


    "Doesn''t this look like Imomu''s thread?" (Tatsuro)


    "Ah, that''s what I was thinking too. Is this the board where you can use Imomu''s Thread Spit?" (Ai)


    "Try it one more time." (Ai)


    "Ah, that''s right. Well, let''s do the opposite this time." (Tatsuro)


    Not wanting to let it hit his face anymore, Tatsuro turned the board over and, just like before, he put a small amount of magical power into it again, staring intently to see the reaction from behind.


    Then, just like before, a white thread spewed out. ©¤©¤On Tatsuro''s face.


    "Why the hell!?" (Tatsuro)


    "Ahahahahaha. What are you doing, Tatsuro? Ahahaha." (Ai)


    "Oh, mother, he will be so sad if you laugh too much. Bufufu." (Nana)


    "Nana is laughing too!? Even if I can''t see it, I can hear it!" (Tatsuro)


    With that, Tatsuro pulled the thread from his face while holding back his embarrassment.


    At that time, Tatsuro thought about smashing this board into pieces, but there was no way poor Tatsuro would be able to do that, and above all, Nana had picked it up, so he gently loosened his grip.


    "Why is it coming out this way even though I turned it the other way around earlier? Does it also have a facial recognition system?" (Tatsuro)


    "What does that mean?" (Nana)


    "Well? ...Ah, maybe." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro came up with a hypothesis, and this time, instead of facing his own face, he turned towards a direction where no one was around and then tried applying his magic power.


    Then, the thread was released in the direction Tatsuro intended.


    To further confirm his hypothesis, Tatsuro placed both hands on the side of the board, held it between them, and turned the flat side towards the sky and the ground, then poured his magic into it, and threads came out from both sides.


    "Is that so?" (Tatsuro)


    "What do you mean?" (Ai)


    "This is a mechanism that spits out the thread in the opposite direction from where the magical power is poured. When it hit my face earlier, I placed it on the palm of my hand and poured the magical power from there, so it spewed out in the direction of my face opposite to the palm. That means it happened." (Tatsuro)


    "So, what should we do with that? Maybe we should sell it?" (Ai)


    "Ah, well, I might be able to use it for something, so I''ll keep it. It looks like the more magic power I put into it, the more threads it spits out, and I think I can restrain weak monsters with just this. Is that okay with you, Nana?" (Tatsuro)


    When Tatsuro asked Nana, who had returned to her original small girl form before he knew it, there was no problem with that. So he put it away in the [Item Box] for now.


    Although they were stuck like that, no particularly rare monsters appeared after that, and when they stepped into the sixth floor, the atmosphere of the dungeon changed.


    It wasn''t an open space like before, but a maze-like place blocked by walls of purple thorns.


    "Also, the atmosphere has changed quite a bit." (Tatsuro)


    "Ah, it''s starting to look like a dungeon." (Ai)


    "Can''t this wall be destroyed?" (Tatsuro)


    "Would you like to try it?" (Ai)


    It''s good to break the horizontal paper all of a sudden, but there''s no reason to stay in a 1st level dungeon with little payoff for too long.


    If you want to enjoy dungeons to the fullest, there are still level 3 dungeons.


    Thinking so, Tatsuro used a combined technique between Jeanne and himself to unleash a tornado of flames using mixed magic of wind and fire and hit the wall of thorns.


    Then, the wall of thorns burned and blown away without any resistance, but the burned end did not regrow and form a path, and the result was only a smoky smell.


    "The theory seems to be that you can''t break down the walls in places like this." (Tatsuro)


    "Is that so?" (Ai)


    "Yeah. There were dungeons in the games in our world, but you couldn''t usually break down the walls to advance." (Tatsuro)


    "That''s right. Well then, let''s pull ourselves together and move on." (Ai)


    "Yes" (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    "Desu-o!" (Nana)


    Jeanne was in the front, Cardina was above her, Tatsuro and Ai were in the middle, and Nana was walking side by side when Cardina spotted four monsters hiding in the gaps between the thorns a few meters away.


    "Hmm, they seem stronger than the ones before. Let''s capture one alive and see if it has any skills." (Tatsuro)


    Everyone nods at Tatsuro''s words and slowly approaches the point where the monster is hiding while remaining cautious.


    Then, just as Tatsuro and his friends were about to pass right next to them, four whips with thorns thinner than the thorns on the wall came flying at them.


    However, it was blocked by the black energy shield created by Ai''s newly equipped armor, and the attack did not reach them.


    While Ai was blocking the attack, Tatsuro quickly took out an iron wire from the [Item Box] and threw it at Cardina in the sky.


    Then, Cardina caught it with one foot, knotted the wire like a bundle of monster thorn whips, and flew up into the sky again, catching all four of them at the same time.


    "I guess you could call this a thorn man." (Tatsuro)


    "The Japanese name is Ibaranchu. It has been decided." (Ai)


    "Okinawa?" (Tatsuro)


    The monster, named Ibaranchu by Ai, was purple in color and had become humanoid with intertwined spines that were thinner than a wall. It was such a monster.


    Ibaranchu was hooked by Cardina with a wire and was flailing around, but it immediately produced another thorny whip from its body and fired it at Cardina.


    However, it was stopped by the pressure of the wind magic created by Jeanne, and it drooped towards the ground without reaching it.


    In the meantime, Nana used curse magic to slightly reduce Ibaranchu''s overall status and slow its movement, and Ai brought out two automatic weapon spears from the celestial bow in her hand. Which she used to cut it down to a compact size.


    "Hmm. It might be quite difficult to move the spear attached to this bow." (Ai)


    "Looks like they''re both completely dead." (Tatsuro)


    "Sorry. Tatsuro." (Ai)


    "It''s fine. It doesn''t seem like it''s going to be a big deal if you have the skills, and this time we''re going to test out how to use the new equipment, so we need to get used to it with weak monsters like this." (Tatsuro)


    While saying that, Tatsuro found two dark blue pebbles and magic stones about three centimeters on the ground.


    Then he activated [Level Eater] and hit one of the two living creatures with a black ball.


    ----------------------------------


    Level: 3


    Skill: [Whip Arts Lv.1]


    ----------------------------------


    "It''s no good. I have some skills, but I only have [Whip Arts Lv.1]." (Tatsuro)


    "Well, then it can only be SP (1)." (Ai)


    "It''s really a dungeon for beginners. Even with this, it would be tough for the little kids to have four of them at the same time, so it''s the perfect strength for training for beginners." (Tatsuro)


    While saying that, Tatsuro received (1) SP from each of the two monsters, and let Nana, who had the lowest level, with [Dragon Drain] to add up her experience points.


    At that time, [Nana''s Dragon Drain] rose to level 4.


    From there, as they continued through the maze of thorns along the right side, they were attacked by Ibaranchu several times, each time defeating them and receiving SP as they headed deeper and deeper.


    After spending about 30 minutes like that, Tatsuro and his team were starting to get bored, when a huge door came into view.


    In the middle of a circular open space in the labyrinth of thorns, there was only a huge door that looked like an exhibit, and neither the front nor the back looked like it was connected to any room.


    However, Tatsuro understood from the book Reginald had given him that if he entered this door, he would have to fight the boss of this dungeon.


    "Finally, we''ve arrived at the boss room." (Tatsuro)


    "Eh, it''s almost over. I didn''t really feel like I was diving into a dungeon." (Ai)


    "According to the book Reginald-san gave me, the level 1 dungeon changes randomly every time you enter from the 3rd floor to the 8th floor. This time it''s the 6th floor, so I guess you''ve been through it quite a bit." (Tatsuro)


    "If this is the case, it would have been better if it ended on the third floor." (Nana)


    Nana grumbled, and Ai agreed.


    "Well... But, it''s finally the boss battle! I wonder what kind of monsters there will be." (Ai)


    "Ah, I''m sorry you have high expectations, but I don''t think there are any big monsters." (Tatsuro)


    "Hmm. Well then, let''s just defeat him and leave this place." (Ai)


    "Ah, but don''t let your guard down. It would be no laughing matter if we, who are supposed to be high-rank adventurers, got injured in a level 1 dungeon." (Tatsuro)


    At Tatsuro''s words, everyone regained their composure, and Jeanne pushed the door open with her nose.

 Chapter 130: The boss is...

    Jeanne opens the door with her nose, and the other members follow suit and enter the room.


    Once inside, the door was closed, and the floor of the spacious room was covered with plants that looked artificial and resembled a thicket of grass, and the walls were covered with ivy and moss that looked as if they had been made by hand.


    The ceiling of the room was painted with a pattern of the sky, and for some reason, natural light was illuminating the room from there.


    "We are in a strange place again." (Ai)


    "It all looks Artificial, but the wind and light feel natural. What''s this?" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s true, but...is the boss here?" (Ai)


    "Ah, now that you mention it, that was the purpose, right?" (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro was so distracted by the strange atmosphere in the room that he forgot about the boss for a moment.


    However, even after using Dispel magic, Tatsuro couldn''t find anything, and when he was wondering what was going on, he noticed a black vortex in the room that looked exactly like the Imomu generator that Nana destroyed on the fifth floor but was much bigger than that. Suddenly appeared in the center.


    "Does that mean the boss will come out from there?" (Ai)


    "Looks like it. I wonder what kind of stuff will come out." (Tatsuro)


    As the two of them were saying this, the black vortex itself changed shape and took on the appearance of a monster.


    And then it appeared.


    "Ah, what is that!?" (Ai)


    "Big......" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s not possible." (Nana)


    That''s right, a two-meter-long shining golden Imomu had made its grand entrance there.


    "So, you idiot! Why is it an Imomu after all!?" (Ai)


    "After all, that was definitely the Imomu generator. As expected of that." (Tatsuro)


    "Even though it''s so extravagant, it doesn''t feel like it has any strength at all, which is actually amazing!" (Ai)


    For some reason, Golden Imomu was in a good mood and was doing the Uneune dance despite being told so many things. (T/N: The dungeon boss is dancing???)


    Tatsuro, wondering if he was being teased by this appearance, fired a laser that he had moderated its power, but for some reason, the power was weaker than he had expected, and the area it hit was only slightly scorched.


    The burnt spots gradually faded and the skin returned to its original golden color.


    Sensing something strange, Tatsuro immediately fires lasers of the same power multiple times at Golden Imomu, which is dancing the Uneune dance, but all of them are fired in a weakened state.


    "Why have you been bullying the Imomu for a while now?" (Ai)


    "I''m not bullying it. For some reason, when I shoot my magic at it, it becomes weaker. That''s why I was experimenting." (Tatsuro)


    "Maybe it''s because of that creepy cute dance." (Ai)


    "Is...Cute?" (Tatsuro)


    "Is it...cute?" (Nana)


    Thinking that he and Nana had something to talk to Ai about next time about aesthetics, Tatsuro walked over to close the distance to use [Level Eater] on the Golden Imomu, who was undulating without getting bored and showed no sign of performing other actions.


    Then, it stopped dancing, opened its mouth, and spit out a golden thread towards Tatsuro.


    Tatsuro had already learned this behavior in the Amneri Great Forest, so he easily avoided it by shifting to the side, and since he had gone through the trouble, Tatsuro used wind magic to wind it up and retrieve the golden threads.


    If he had just arrived here, he probably wouldn''t have had this much leeway, but now, even though it was big, he didn''t have any fear towards the Imomu.


    When it stopped moving, the magic had not weakened, so this time Tatsuro collected the golden thread without even trying to dodge it.


    When Tatsuro got close, he used Level Eater.


    ----------------------------------


    Level: 8


    Skills: [Golden Body], [Body Attack Lv.1], [Golden Thread Spitting Lv.3]


    [Bite Lv.2], [Self-Regeneration Lv.3], [Reduction Area Lv.2]


    ----------------------------------


    ([Golden Body] ......The fact that the system is calling it a color means it is not real gold. So, [Reduction Area]? The fact that it is not limited to magical power or energy means that overall It probably means that power will decrease. This time, there was no problem because a weak monster was using it alone, but if there is one in the back row that can use it and a powerful monster in the front row, it could be quite troublesome.)


    ----------------------------------


    Level: 8


    Skills: [Golden Body], [Body Attack Lv.0], [Golden Thread Spitting Lv.0]


    [Bite Lv.0], [Self-Regeneration Lv.0], [Reduction Area Lv.0]


    ----------------------------------


    Tatsuro kept the levels to pass on to others and only got all the skill levels.


    When he tried to return to where Ai and the others were, Imomu was about to attack him with no skill correction.


    Tatsuro became annoyed by this, so he took out the hexagonal board that spits out the thread that Nana had picked up from the [Item Box], filled it with a lot of magical power, and fired it at the Golden Imomu.


    Then a large amount of thread was released from the board, and using Tatsuro''s wind magic in combination, it was made into a bamboo wrapper, and when it was stuck, it was rolled around with the threads and brought in front of Ai and the others.


    "You brought it here in great condition." (Ai)


    "I don''t care how much you call it Imomu, it looks dangerous even if it''s this big when it''s pressed up against you. However, a demon this size can be easily packed, and this threading tool might be more useful than I thought." (Tatsuro)


    "A threading tool? That''s not a cute way to put it. Well, even if that''s fine for now, what are you going to do with it? Are you going to get it because it''s a rare color?"


    "No, I don''t need it. Because it looks like the only color is gold." (Tatsuro)


    "I know, right?" (Ai)


    "I''m starting to feel sorry for that monster..." (Nana)


    Nana couldn''t help but feel pity for the pitiful monster, who was trapped, mistreated, and moving around.


    However, it is ironic that Nana is also at the lowest level, so she had no hesitation in putting a stop to the treatment.


    |||||Skill point (1) has been granted. |||||


    The moment they defeated Golden Imomu with [Dragon Drain] Tatsuro, Ai, Cardina, and Jeanne, who were in a party with Nana, were also given (1) SP. Furthermore, Nana has risen to level 4.


    Then, in the middle of the room, where the Golden Immomu first appeared, a glowing reservoir appeared across the floors.


    "If we go in there, we should be able to go to the exit room." (Tatsuro)


    "It was kind of a bummer." (Ai)


    "Better than dangerous." (Tatsuro)


    He wanted to go to the exit as soon as possible, but to get the boss''s loot, Tatsuro took the golden Imomu carcass out of the threads and analyzed it, and found that it had nothing to do with the precious metal gold, only with its golden surface.


    So he burned the body and recovered only a dark blue magic stone, about 10 centimeters in size.


    Tatsuro also examined the gold thread that he had recovered earlier, just to be sure, but unfortunately, he found out that it was no different from normal Imomu thread, except that it was gold in color.


    So, while Tatsuro was fiddling with it while wondering whether or not to throw it away, the thread came into contact with the thread tool that he had kept under his arm instead of putting it away in the Item Box, and the thread was sucked into it.


    "Huh? The golden thread went somewhere." (Tatsuro)


    "Ah...it looks like it''s inside the tool." (Ai)


    "Now that it''s in, will I be able to get it out?" (Tatsuro)


    Based on Ai''s simple and clear theory, Tatsuro thought that was the case, and put magical power into the thread tool, and the amount of gold thread that far exceeded the amount that had been sucked out earlier came out.


    Everyone was surprised by this, and Tatsuro poured more magic power into it, stopping when the room was covered in gold thread.


    "It seems like it can now produce golden threads." (Tatsuro)


    "If that happens, what kind of effect will it have?" (Ai)


    ".........it does make it look flashy?" (Tatsuro)


    ""Ah......""


    "Let''s go home..." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah" (Ai)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    "Desu-o" (Nana)


    There was a strange atmosphere in the air, so Tatsuro immediately put it away in his [Item Box] and walked briskly toward the exit of the floor.


    The other members followed suit, and they all jumped into the glowing pool.


    Then, this time, they found themselves in a simple space with no grass or trees, just a wall made of some kind of white metal.


    There was a staircase leading upwards, and when Tatsuro looked up, he saw a film of glowing water that made it impossible to see what was ahead.


    However, Tatsuro had learned in advance that this was the exit, so he had Jeanne and Cardina transform into [ Child Form], and then they all climbed the stairs and went out to the top as if breaking a membrane of water.


    Although it was as bright as daytime inside the dungeon, night had already fallen outside, and the surrounding area was illuminated only by moonlight and a small amount of artificial light.


    "Hmmm. we made it back safely to where we came from." (Ai)


    "Ah, but even though the journey was easy, I am tired because I had to walk all the way." (Tatsuro)


    "What are we going to do? There seems to be a simple inn nearby, should we stay there and then leave?" (Ai)


    "Ah... But that place was really too simple, and the room was like a bunch of random people sleeping together, right? If that was the case, it would be more comfortable to camp out in the open, so let''s just eat something at the stall and leave. " (Tatsuro)


    "I see. Indeed, you can''t sleep peacefully with strangers nearby. Besides..." (Ai)


    Ai paused, and with a big smile on her face, she squeezed Tatsuro''s hand.


    "This will help relieve your fatigue, right?" (Ai)


    "Ah, that''s right." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro had planned to recover his strength at once with Life magic, but that idea was quickly dispelled as he grabbed Ai''s hand and walked toward a stall that was still open for business, even though it was late at night.


    Cardina the baby bird, Jeanne the little rhinoceros, and Nana the little girl in a kimono all followed behind them, looking at their friendly relationship with a mixture of envy and joy.


    Then they filled my stomach with something they were not familiar with, something subtle like a kind of yakisoba noodles with a lot of water, which they did not understand, and asked Jeanne to take them to my next destination.


    The closest dungeon from here is the level 3 dungeon, so they would have liked to go there, but since it is the main spot for this dungeon tour, they head for another level 1 dungeon, although it is a bit of a detour.


    On the way, Nana spoke for Caldina and Jeanne and told Tatsuro and Ai that they would stay asleep as they would handle the night.


    "We''re not in such a hurry, so we can stop somewhere and get some sleep, okay? Even Nana and the others are constantly on the move, aren''t they?" (Ai)


    "We don''t get tired like you do. So as long as you fill up our magical power beforehand, we''ll be fine." (Nana)


    "Hmm, it would certainly be nice to be able to move around while you''re sleeping, saving you time...What should we do, Tatsuro?" (Ai)


    "......Okay, I understand. For now, I''ll ask you to try it. If the time comes that I have to force my way forward, I''ll have no choice but to ask, and I have plenty of time to see what it will be like. It might be a good idea to try it once in a while. So, can I ask you to do it?" (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    "Desu-o" (Nana)


    Impressed by how Cardina and the others were able to clearly express their intentions with the addition of Nana, who was able to convey words accurately, Tatsuro replenished the three bodies'' magical powers to their full capacity.


    Even if Tatsuro and Ai were going to sleep, they still wanted to take a bath, so they sat in the driver''s seats until they reached a deserted place, prepared for the bath, and left the guard to Cardina and others. The two quickly entered and changed into their nightgowns and went into the private room of the rhinoceros carriage.


    Then they heard Jeanne''s cry with Nana on board, and she started moving while gradually increasing her speed.


    "Hmm, are you okay?" (Ai)


    "I gave them a map on paper, and they''re all quick-witted kids, so I''ll trust them. And even if we wake up and find ourselves in a completely different place, that''s okay." (Tatsuro)


    "I see...that''s right!" (Ai)


    The two of them had such a conversation while lying on a mat that was spread out in the loft that had been built into their private room, and after kissing each other goodnight, they held hands and went to bed.


    They were mentally exhausted, probably because they had done something they were not used to doing, and they soon began to sleep soundly and slept soundly until morning. When they check their current location using the map function, they find out that they are quite close to their next destination


    So Tatsuro asked them to go to a place where they could stop once to replenish their magic power and take a rest including breakfast, and after praising and petting the three kids, they set out again and arrived at their destination before noon.


    The place was not much different from the previous dungeon, with similar stalls and simple lodgings, and at the dungeon entrance, there was a place to buy and sell looted items.


    Tatsuro and his team bought a few skewers of meat and vegetables that could be eaten while walking at a store and then jumped into the level 1 dungeon feeling like they were having a picnic.


    There, a desert area spread out.


    ""Ah""


    As these words escaped Tatsuro and Ai''s mouths, the temperature was so high that sweat began to seep out from their bodies covered in armor and coats.


    However, magical creatures seem to be resistant to cold and heat, and despite Cardina''s feathers, Jeanne''s thick skin, and Nana''s tight-fitting kimono, they stood calmly next to them without shedding a single sweat.


    "I never thought it would be this hot..." (Tatsuro)


    "Yeah...I wish the dungeon wouldn''t have carefully recreated this part..." (Ai)


    Even though they were inside a dungeon, the sun was shining directly above them, scorching the earth without making a slight movement.


    Feeling disgusted by such a dazzling presence, Tatsuro used wind magic to cool himself down, even if only for a little while, and used water magic to hydrate Ai and himself.


    It was no laughing matter that they were about to collapse from dehydration and not monsters.


    "Okay. There''s no point in standing still in a place like this. Let''s conquer it quickly." (Tatsuro)


    "It''s a bit too hot for us normal humans. Can I take off my armor?" (Ai)


    "I think you should wear some clothes, just in case." (Tatsuro)


    "Well, you should also wear a coat too so that you won''t get hurt no matter what happens." (Nana)


    "Uh. Yes..." (Ai)


    After being admonished by Tatsuro and Nana, Ai reluctantly lowered the hand that was trying to remove the armor, and they all started walking slowly on the sandy ground.

 Chapter 131: Desert Dungeon

    Tatsuro and Ai were sweating as they walked through the desert, making sure to stay hydrated.


    It was worth it, and the two of them finally found a glowing pool that looked like an oasis leading to the lower floor, and the two of them jumped in immediately.


    ""Chilly""


    Then, the next place they came out was in a desert in the middle of the night, illuminated by moonlight.


    The temperature difference is completely different from before, and the sweat is cooled and takes away the body heat.


    Tatsuro hurriedly uses fire magic to start a fire to keep Ai and himself warm.


    By the way, Cardina and the others don''t seem to be feeling the cold at all, as they are operating normally without being exposed to the fire.


    While looking at them with envy, the two of them made sure that their sweat had dried before walking off in search of the next floor.


    "I have fire magic, so cold is still better than hot." (Tatsuro)


    "Um, but it''s too much." (Ai)


    "Then, I''ll increase the firepower a little more." (Tatsuro)


    "It''s not easy to have a normal body." (Ai)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Neigh" (Jeanne)


    Nana and the others, who did not understand the sensation, looked on in wonder as Tatsuro and Ai worked hard to keep themselves warm.


    Perhaps because Tatsuro and his team were walking around with fire floating around them, or maybe because they were afraid of the giant Jeanne, the monsters reacted a little more than usual, but they ran away before they could get close, and there was no battle.


    While spending such a lukewarm time in everything but the environment, they finally found the entrance to the next floor.


    Ai pulled Tatsuro along to get him there, and Cardina and the others jumped in there a little later.


    And next came a maze of flowing sand.


    The sand on the walls and the ground were constantly flowing, and if they stood still, they would be pushed back little by little, creating a structured field that would eventually be buried in the ground.


    "We can''t stand still for long at this one. However, given the atmosphere, we might have been able to pull a hit on the third floor." (Tatsuro)


    "So, does this mean this is the floor where the door to the boss room is?" (Ai)


    "Ah. Last time, when the door to the boss room was in the room, it suddenly turned into a maze, right?" (Tatsuro)


    "If you ask me, it certainly was." (Ai)


    "That means if we can get through this point, we''re done. Let''s go for it!" (Tatsuro)


    Ai stroked the tip of Jeanne''s nose and started walking next to Jeanne as if to spare her both the hot and cold feelings.


    Tatsuro and Nana followed suit and started walking, while Cardina flew through the air to keep them alert.


    They then walked along the right side of the maze, and when they came to the fourth bend/turn, the monster was caught in Cardina''s security net.


    "...This thing is in the sand. It looks like a humanoid, but is it a Togenchu? Or should I assume it''s something similar?" (Tatsuro)


    "It''s Ibaranchu, Oto-sama. However, I''m a little concerned that there''s only one." (Nana)


    "I see. During the encounter with Ibaranchu, they formed a gang and attacked, so dungeons of the same level aren''t that different in difficulty, right?" (Ai)


    "Ah, it won''t change. If that''s the case, you should think that one and several Ibaranchu are about the same strength. Everyone should be careful, so that whatever happens, Please make sure you don''t pull out too much." (Tatsuro)


    After making sure that everyone nodded in response to his words, Tatsuro proceeded along the path with everyone.


    Then Tatsuro felt the magic of a third party other than Cardina and him being transmitted to the sand on the ground.


    While Tatsuro was alerted that something was going to happen, he began preparing his magic.


    While doing so, the other party''s magic was completed.


    It was a sand doll, about a meter in size. Ten such objects came sliding towards them using the force of the flow of sand.


    Jeanne destroys the approaching sand doll with wind magic, but the materials for the doll are overflowing everywhere in this dungeon, so much so that it can be said to be inexhaustible, and it quickly revives.


    So, they have no choice but to either defeat the main body that uses this magic, which is several tens of meters away from them or wait for it to run out of magic/mana.


    However, the latter is not what the Tatsuro camp wants, so they will just have to go through with it.


    First of all, the sand doll itself isn''t that much of a threat, so Jeanne, with Nana on her back, charges at it and knocks it away, creating a path.


    After that, Tatsuro uses Nana''s curse magic to increase his speed and manages to pass through the sand doll before it can repair itself, while the others use their own physical abilities to get ahead of him.


    Tatsuro used mental image transmission to give Ai detailed instructions about the location of the monster in question, and Ai received the instructions accurately and swung her fist toward a place slightly off the ground where it was hiding and lurking.


    Then, sand rose up, creating a crater all over the area, and the monster finally appeared.


    If you look at it from behind, it looks like a human about 120 centimeters tall wearing a tattered robe, but if you look at it from the front, you''ll see huge round eyes with hair sprouting from its face. And no matter how they looked at it, it wasn''t a person.


    If this One-Eyed monster was left alone like this, it would likely hide in the sand again, so Ai quickly took out her whip, caught the monster, and tossed it upwards.


    Cardina, who was waiting for it in the sky, caught it and swooped down with it to the front of Tatsuro.


    Then Tatsuro blew the black ball already in his mouth at that monster.


    ----------------------------------


    Level: 6


    Skill: [Sand doll making Lv.3]


    ----------------------------------


    (It''s a monster worth SP (6), so it is better than the previous dungeon.)


    ----------------------------------


    Level: 6


    Skill: [Sand doll making Lv.0]


    ----------------------------------


    Finally, Nana, a user of curse magic whose level is difficult to raise, put an end to it with [Dragon Drain], and silence returned to the place.


    Tatsuro burned the monster and took out a three-centimeter magic stone, put it in his [item box], and started walking together with everyone again.


    "I guess. After all, this isn''t a place to get used to our new equipment." (Ai)


    "Ah. There''s no use for this coat at the moment." (Tatsuro)


    With that said, Tatsuro flapped the hem of the new coat he was currently wearing, causing Cardina and the others to snort heavily.


    "No matter where you go, we will not let any attack reach you!" (Nana)


    "Pewee!" (Cardina)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    "I''m not going to let it reach you either." (Ai)


    "That''s true. I''m also careful not to let any attacks fall on Ai and you guys." (Tatsuro)


    Even as they talked about things like that, they kept moving forward, fighting the One-Eyed monster several times along the way, and even though they only earned a small amount of SP, they were able to earn more than before.


    After passing through several turns, they finally found the door to the boss room they were looking for.


    As usual, only the huge door sat in the middle of the wide, round passageway, without touching anything, and not being swept away by the flowing sand.


    Jeanne took the lead and walked through the door, feeling a little overwhelmed by such a sight.


    There, they found a large room with sand flowing in a circle, and a strange interior where half of the room was daytime and the other half was night.


    The sky pattern of the sun and moon was painted on the ceiling, and the only thing that looked like the real thing was the light that radiated from it.


    Because of the interior design, the temperature is clearly divided depending on where you are, and Tatsuro and Ai decided to settle on the night side, which is illuminated by the moonlight, as it is better than under the sunlight.


    And so, as they endured the cold with fire magic, a large black vortex appeared in the center of the room, gradually changing its shape.


    As everyone watched to see what kind of boss demon would appear this time, a Haniwa (clay figurine) about 50 centimeters long appeared.


    "Is that the boss this time?" (Tatsuro)


    "I think so...but it seems kind of weak." (Ai)


    "I agree with you, Mother." (Nana)


    "......"


    Although they said it looks weak, it doesn''t move in the slightest, with its mouth hanging open like a Haniwa. Tatsuro wondered if it''s okay for Ai to just bash it open like that. It wasn''t until he started thinking about this that it turned its entire body around on the spot and turned to face them.


    As they watched to see what it would do, it suddenly started spinning like a drill and charged at them like a rocket.


    The movement was so unexpected that Ai stepped forward half-reflexively, rotated her body, and tried to hit back with a back fist with the back of her armor.


    Instead of hitting back, it turned into rubble with a crashing sound, and from within it, a magic stone about eight centimeters in size hit the tip of Ai''s armored foot.


    |||||Skill point (1) has been granted.|||||


    "...Eh, is this the end?" (Ai)


    "I guess that''s what it means to have SP..." (Tatsuro)


    "It came all of a sudden, so I hit it with a fair amount of force. I''m sorry, Tatsuro. You couldn''t use Level Eater." (Ai)


    "Okay, don''t worry about it. I made a lot of money from the monsters along the way, and this one didn''t make much either. Let''s switch gears and move on to the real thing." (Tatsuro) (T/N: YEAH, it money written in the raws. But I know it should be (SP))


    "That''s right, mother!" (Nana)


    "Yeah...that''s right. Let''s go next." (Ai)


    Ai regained her composure with everyone''s encouragement, picked up the magic stone that was lying at her feet, and handed it to Tatsuro.


    Around that time, a glowing reservoir leading to the exit room had also appeared, and they all jumped into it without feeling any sentimentality.


    After that, they came into the same plain white room as before and walked up the staircase extending upward.


    This time, they were lucky enough to take the shortest possible route, which was three levels plus a boss, so they did not exit at night, and it was still early evening.


    "Okay, there''s only one thing left. Let''s get some dinner somewhere and leave right away." (Tatsuro)


    "Don''t we have to exchange the magic stones for cash?" (Ai)


    "I think it would be easier if we conquered the next one and then put it all together." (Tatsuro)


    "I see. Well, yesterday was a miss, so let''s try something tastier today." (Ai)


    "Yeah, I don''t want to eat that anymore..." (Tatsuro)


    They casually bought something similar to yesterday''s yakisoba noodles as recommended by the staff, but they were disappointed as it didn''t suit their tastes at all.


    So today, they made up their minds to choose delicious food of their own volition and walked toward the line of stalls.


    So, this time, they bought a few strange foods that looked like large-sized grills and contained something that could be used as a sandwich ingredient instead of bean paste.


    When they ate it, it was so delicious that they left the dungeon feeling satisfied.


    Two days after defeating the Haniwa boss, Tatsuro and his team were now near the level 3 dungeon, as they had returned to Lyadas once to resupply and to see Ennio.


    As Cardina was in the form of a baby bird on top of Ai''s head, and Jeanne was in the form of a small rhinoceros as they walked next to Nana, they soon saw a wall that had not been seen in the level 1 dungeon.


    With curious looks on their faces, the group headed toward what looked like a gate where people entered and exited, and it seemed like only those entering were being checked individually.


    To be honest, they didn''t understand what the check meant, since they didn''t show their ID and the person sitting in front of the gate just glanced at them.


    So when Tatsuro and his team tried to pass through without paying attention, they were approached by an old man who appeared to be the gatekeeper, sitting comfortably in a wooden chair and checking on the passersby.


    "Could you please stop for a moment?"


    "? Is it us?" (Tatsuro)


    "That''s right. I''d like to ask you something, is that young child a member of your party?"


    The white-haired old man said this in a relaxed tone while looking at Nana. In response, Tatsuro pulled Nana closer to him and put his hand on her head.


    "If you''re talking about this kid, then yes. She''s an official member of our team." (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, well, then it''s all right. I''m sorry for holding you back. For this level of dungeon, half-breeds will die, so we have a rule to tell them to turn back."


    "Ah, that''s right. Then, can we go now?" (Tatsuro)


    "Oh, oh. That''s right. Be careful."


    "Yes. Thank you. See you then." (Tatsuro)


    With a slight nod, Tatsuro said goodbye to the old man and went inside the wall.


    Some stores were opening there: as there were several well-established stores, and there were many stores selling equipment and doing maintenance.


    The atmosphere of the people passing by had changed, and although there were no children, they seemed to be the children of the shopkeepers, none of them wanted to challenge the dungeon, while the faces of the adults looked much more stern than before.


    Although they were a bit bemused by the sight of what looked like an even smaller version of a small town, they continued walking in the direction of where the dungeon was supposed to be.


    Then they discovered a glowing reservoir that was the entrance to a dungeon surrounded by a fence.


    The entrance to the dungeon this time was different from the previous ones, as the entry point seemed to be roughly determined, and those who were about to take on the challenge jumped in along the path separated by a fence.


    Tatsuro and his team followed suit, walking along the fence from the least populated area, and finally stepped into the level 3 dungeon.

 Chapter 132: Dungeon Level 3 Strategy Start

    Dungeon level 3. At this level, the number of deaths among challengers increases.


    However, most of those who died were due to dungeon traps due to lack of caution, so if one is careful enough, an adventurer with a reasonable level of experience can overcome the dungeon.


    Therefore, dungeons at this level are called the gateway to success for beginners in the adventurer community, and it is only when one can clear this level that one is recognized as a full-fledged adventurer.


    This time, Tatsuro and his team, who had experienced dungeons in grasslands, forests, and deserts, were now standing alone on a very high rocky hill.


    Perhaps due to the high altitude, it was difficult to breathe, and although the temperature wasn''t below freezing, it was cold enough that they couldn''t wear short sleeves.


    When Tatsuro looked around, he saw that there was no way to go down, and they were surrounded by steep cliffs, and from there downward there were chains extending from stakes stuck deep into the rocky mountains. It seemed like the only way to get down the mountain was to climb down.


    When Tatsuro peered down from the cliff to see how high the mountain was, he found that the bottom of the valley was too far away to see anything.


    "This is another amazing place. You can''t see the bottom at all." (Tatsuro)


    "Eh? Which one... hmm, hmm?" (Ai)


    |Skill Far Sight Lv.1 acquired.|


    "Oh, I can now see a little further ahead! ...But I don''t think I can see all the way to the bottom." (Ai)


    "What do you mean you can now see what''s ahead?" (Tatsuro)


    "It seems like I''ve acquired a new skill called Far Sight." (Ai)


    As the name suggests, it''s a skill that makes it easier to see far away, but I still can''t see down.


    "How far do we have to go down?" (Ai)


    "Well, we''re not going to use chains to get down, so that''s good." (Tatsuro)


    As he said this, Tatsuro picked up a chain hanging down from near him and made a jingling sound.


    As he was doing so, Cardina started to chirp and tried to let Tatsuro know what was going on.


    Before Tatsuro could try to synchronize with Cardina''s Dispel magic to see what it was, Nana firmly incorporated her intentions and told them.


    "It seems like every few chains are missing." (Nana)


    "Does it come off? By the way, what happens if it comes off?" (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee!" (Cardina)


    "She said the chain would break while they were descending and they would fall headlong.'''' (Nana)


    "It''s another nasty trap. From now on, I''ll investigate everything in the dungeon before using it." (Tatsuro)


    When Tatsuro also explored the trap for his own learning, he found that not only the chains but also the stakes were not deeply stuck and cracked, so it was clear that the trap was dangerous unless he examined not only the chains but also the trap as a whole.


    Also, the atmosphere was different from the previous lukewarm dungeons, which made him feel even better.


    "There is no other way, so going down is probably the right thing to do, but how do you want to go down, Ai?" (Tatsuro)


    "Me? Well then, I''d like to take the opportunity to ride on Jeanne-chan''s back!" (Ai)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    "Leave it to me. She says." (Nana)


    "That''s right. We talked about that a little bit before, and she seems very motivated, so I''ll let her do it." (Tatsuro)


    "Yay!" (Ai)


    Ai hugged Jeanne, expressing her joy, and Jeanne was happy to receive it.


    Immediately, Jeanne enthusiastically transformed into her [True Form] and laid down with her belly flat on the ground so that Tatsuro and the others could ride on her back.


    First, Ai climbed onto her back first, and Tatsuro climbed up while being pulled up from the front, while Nana floated up and sat behind Tatsuro and the others.


    Nana told them that Cardina, being a bird type, would use her own wings to alert them, and after a word of thanks, Tatsuro immediately signaled Jeanne to depart.


    Jeanne then stretched her arms out to the side to spread the skin membrane of her arms.


    As the dragon power is put into her large wings, the huge body floats in the air, and with Tatsuro and the others on board, she flies over the rocky cliff and glides slowly downwards, circling the rocky hill.


    Thanks to the wind magic that softened the air resistance, there was almost no turbulence, and Tatsuro and his team were trying to pretend that the flight was comfortable, but it was not to be.


    About twenty meters down, Cardina chirped to warn them of the danger.


    In response, Jeanne understood exactly what Cardina meant and increased her glide speed before Tatsuro could give her instructions.


    At that stage, Tatsuro finally understood the situation.


    "That''s it!" (Tatsuro)


    "Which one!" (Ai)


    Even while Ai was responding appropriately with her spinal reflexes, it was attacking.


    In a word, the monster was a sea turtle with wings for arms and legs.


    Four of them seemed to be swimming in the sky, spitting out stone gravel from their mouths and showering them like bullets.


    Leaving the aerial movement to Jeanne, Ai takes out her celestial bow on her broad back and counters with arrows of energy.


    Then, Tatsuro spread his skill [Sticky Water] around them like a film to prevent the stones from hitting them, blocking the attacks that were flying toward them.


    "That''s right!" (Tatsuro)


    "Aaaaaaah" (Ai)


    "First one! Then the second one!" (Tatsuro)


    At the moment when Tatsuro punches a hole in the [Sticky Water] membrane at the right time, Ai knocks down one, then two, flying sea turtles.


    While he was distracted by the attack, Cardina sneaked up behind the remaining two creatures, instantly transformed into her true form, and cut off the head of one of them with her wings. While she grabbed the remaining one by the throat and brought it in front of Tatsuro, making it impossible for it to shoot stone gravel.


    "Thank you. Cardina." (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee!" (Cardina)


    Tatsuro used [Level Eater] on the dying sea turtle, who was on the verge of death after experiencing strangling with exquisite force.


    ----------------------------------


    Level: 12


    Skills: [Flight Lv.1], [Gravel spitting Lv.3]


    ----------------------------------


    (Since the level of [Flight] is low, it seems that it is not that good at flying itself. the turtle''s own level is much higher than in the level 1 dungeon, even though it is still on the 1st floor.)


    ----------------------------------


    Level: 12


    Skills: [Flight Lv.0], [Gravel spitting Lv.0]


    ----------------------------------


    "Okay. I got the skill level, so you can put an end to it." (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee!" (Cardina)


    Cardina heard Tatsuro''s words and held out the turtle to Nana.


    "Are you sure you don''t mind if I take it again?" (Nana)


    "Pewee!" (Cardina)


    "I understand that it hurts to have to be stopped so many times, but Nana isn''t the type to come forward and fight, so it would be better to earn experience points when you can earn it like this. That''s what you are saying, right, Cardina?" (Tatsuro)


    Nana seemed to be wondering if it was really okay or not, so Tatsuro followed up, and Cardina also gave a big nod.


    Seeing this, Nana finally reached out her hand to the turtle and ended it with her [Dragon Drain] skill.


    Nana then made a slight gesture as if she was thinking, and then spoke to Ai.


    "Mother. Don''t you have any weapons that I can use?" (Nana)


    "Nana-chan? Hmm, I wonder if something happened. Hey, Tatsuro." (Ai)


    "If it''s a weapon. It looks like the species is a dragon, so if it''s a half-baked weapon, it would probably break easily...I guess it''s a dragon. Then maybe..." (Tatsuro)


    "Father?" (Nana)


    This time, Tatsuro had a thoughtful look on his face and was doing some sort of tampering with the system on Jeanne''s back, who was still gliding, and soon after, he took something out of his [Item Box.]


    "Huh? Isn''t that the magic dragon''s tooth? What are you going to do with it?" (Ai)


    "This looks like something she could use. It''s sturdy, it''s made of dragon material, so it would go well with Nana, who is also a dragon, and it would be easy to carry." (Tatsuro)


    Tatsuro selected a pair of teeth that were large enough to be easily held in a child''s hand and took them out of the [Item Box] and handed them to Nana.


    Nana held one in her right hand and one in her left hand, moved a little distance from Tatsuro and the others, and swung it around as if it were a dagger.


    Even though she had the body of a small child, she had a high level of physical ability, and her body movements were quite impressive.


    "With this, if you can get close to it or it gets close to you, you can attack." (Tatsuro)


    "For a makeshift weapon, it looks pretty good." (Ai)


    "Yeah, it looks like a piercing weapon, so it might be cool." (Nana)


    After that, Nana thought about how to carry it around, and after talking with Tatsuro and the others, she acquired an [Item Box] and stored the Magic Dragon''s Teeth in it.


    After about an hour of gliding down the rocky mountain, while dealing with Patakame (named by Ai), a sea turtle-shaped monster with wings and legs that appeared every now and then, the ground finally came into view.


    They were getting tired of just descending and defeating demons, so Tatsuro asked Jeanne to slow down the glide for landing with the feeling that they were finally going to make it.


    Just a few dozen seconds before landing, Cardina alerted them to the situation.


    At that moment, Jeanne stopped in the air and asked Tatsuro for his judgment.


    "...Is this a trap?" (Tatsuro)


    "A trap? Where do you find something like that?" (Ai)


    "The whole perimeter of this rock hill seems to have a mechanism where if one puts your foot on it, a big guillotine-like blade pops out from underneath you from all over the ground. Finally, after reassuring us that we''re on the ground, you''ve got to get serious, Mr. Dungeon, with the instant death traps." (Tatsuro)


    "It''s another bad-natured trap. So what are you going to do about it?" (Ai)


    "It seems like there''s nothing ten meters away from the rocky hill. Then Jeanne, I want you to land a little further down the road from here. Cardina, you''re in charge of the details." (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee!" (Cardina)


    "Neigh!" (Jeanne)


    So they landed far from the rocky hill and everyone managed to descend unscathed.


    Then, standing on the surface of the ground that they had seen from the sky, they looked around again and saw a wilderness.


    "Um... maybe this means we have to go on and on and on from here again?" (Ai)


    "No, I don''t think so. To us, it looks like an endless wilderness, but in reality, it comes to a dead end at 500 meters ahead. Hey, Cardina." (Tatsuro)


    "Pewee" (Cardina)


    "Ah, that''s right. But if that''s the case, I guess we can see the point to the next floor from the sky." (Tatsuro)


    "Maybe there''s some kind of trick." (Ai)


    "Yeah, I think so too." (Tatsuro)


    They had spiraled down the rocky hill in a circle and were looking 360 degrees from the sky. But it was hard to believe that they would miss such a conspicuous shining reservoir.


    In that case, even before landing, Tatsuro had thought that it would be better to assume that there was something that couldn''t be seen from above.


    If so, what kind of mechanism is it? Unfortunately, they don''t know much about it, so they have no choice but to walk around and look for it.


    "Ah, that''s what happens after all." (Ai)


    "Well, it''s not like we''ll be walking dozens of kilometers, so it''ll be fine." (Tatsuro)


    And so, the search for the entrance to the next floor began.


    First, Tatsuro asked Jeanne to transform to [Adult Form] and follow after her, which was already in a fixed position. Ai, Tatsuro, and Nana were behind, and Cardina was always on guard from above.


    After walking like that for a while, Ai discovered something.


    "Hmm? Tatsuro, what is that?" (Ai)


    "Which one is that?" (Tatsuro)


    "Look, there it is." (Ai)


    Tatsuro looked in the direction Ai was pointing, but he couldn''t see anything that interested him. So, as they all walked in the direction where it seemed like there was something, Tatsuro started to see it too.


    It was a small, round button that was cleverly hidden in the same color as the surroundings, so you couldn''t see it unless one looked at it closely, and it seemed like something would happen if one pressed it.


    "If we press this, will the entrance to the next floor appear?" (Ai)


    "Well, we don''t have any other options, so I guess I''ll just have to try. Well then, I''ll be on guard with Cardina to make sure nothing happens, so Ai can press the button with Nana.'''' (Tatsuro)


    "Okay." (Nana)


    "I understand." (Ai)


    Tatsuro talked with Cardina eye to eye, and together they began to use Dispel magic to thoroughly investigate a wide area, including the underground.


    Meanwhile, while holding hands with Nana, Ai reached for the button and pressed it without hesitation.


    "... Nothing is happening." (Tatsuro)


    "Hey, Tatsuro. Nothing is happening?" (Ai)


    "No, you''re awake." (Tatsuro)


    ""Huh?""


    When Tatsuro pointed to the sky and asked the two of them to look, something huge was falling from above.


    That one gigantic creature seemed to be a monster, and as Tatsuro and his team hurriedly distanced themselves from it, it fell to the ground with a loud roar.


    "What is this? A meteorite?" (Ai)


    "No. It''s a giant turtle." (Tatsuro)


    "Turtle?" (Nana)


    "Turtle?" (Ai)


    As if in response to Tatsuro''s voice, a head suddenly sprouted from what looked like a huge rock, and thick limbs also jumped out and stood up.


    "AAAAAAAAAA............"


    "Tatsuro! Look at his stomach!" (Ai)


    "Is that...the entrance to the next floor?" (Tatsuro)


    "Yes It''s so!" (Ai)


    Ai was the first to notice that every time the center of the turtle''s belly moved, the glowing pool across the floors that she had seen several times before rippled, asserting its presence.