"So you are... Elena?"
A young woman around his age appeared in Souma's field of vision. She had long blonde hair and cute, round eyes. She wore a heavy white robe adorned with gold decorations. Underneath, she had a sleeveless shirt and a miniskirt. She wore white long boots and held a long staff with both hands. She was a priest straight out of a painting, the likes of which you would never see on Earth.
"Yes, you are Souma Kamishiro, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Even as he said it, Souma thought.
(In this world, my name is "Souma Kamishiro.")
On Earth, his name was Kamishiro Souma. Since the reading didn't change, he didn't mind.
"Thank you for joining my party. I look forward to working with you!"
Elena bowed deeply.
"Likewise, thank you. This is my first party, and I'm a beginner, so go easy on me."
Elena smiled and said, "Of course!"
◇
Immediately, Souma and Elena moved to their destination. They arrived at a forest called "Eve's Forest," which had low-level monsters. It was about a ten-minute walk from Grandelle.
(Should I say something?)
While walking through the forest in silence, Souma glanced at Elena's profile. She was happily humming a tune. She seemed completely at ease, not at all like someone in a monster's habitat.
(But what should I talk about...)
As Souma was worrying, Elena bowed her head apologetically.
"I'm sorry for being so quiet even though I'm the leader. I have experience working in parties, but this is my first time being the leader, so I'm not used to it..."
"No, no, I'm the one who should apologize. I should have started a conversation, but I couldn't think of anything..."
"I'm sorry for making you feel like you had to be considerate, even though this is your first party. But Souma-san, you're a kind person, aren't you?"
"R-really? I'm just ordinary," Souma said with a grin. Elena's appearance was exactly his type.
"Souma-san, why did you choose the swordsman job?"
"Well..."
Souma tried to answer honestly, but hesitated at the last moment. It was a common reason on Earth, but he was afraid it might seem strange in another world.
"Oh, if it's hard to say, you don't have to force yourself."
"It's not that it's hard to say, but I thought it might sound odd."
After that preface, Souma told the truth.
"The reason I became a swordsman is because it's the cheapest. All you need is a sword."
Jobs that use magic, like priests and wizards, cost money. Learning a single spell requires an expensive grimoire, and wizard weapons are far more expensive than swords. Literally orders of magnitude higher, or even two-digit levels higher.
"I understand that feeling. It doesn't sound odd at all."
Elena accepted it readily.
(So in this world too, the swordsman is a cheap job.)
As Souma thought this, Elena smiled at him.
"I've heard your story, so it's my turn now, right!"
"Will you tell me why you became a priest?"
"If you ask me to!"
Elena was clearly appealing for him to ask.
"Then, Elena, why did you..."
"Gushaaaaa!"
Just as Souma was about to ask, a monster appeared. It was a Leafman, a humanoid monster with leaf-like scales all over its body.
"So this is a Leafman!"
"Yes!"
Elena held her staff with both hands, readying herself.
"I'm counting on you for support!"
With that, Souma charged at the Leafman.
"Gushaa!"
The Leafman fired the scales from its body to intercept. The leaf-shaped scales struck Souma at an unavoidable speed.
"Guh...!"
Souma's HP gauge was cut in half in a single blow. Also, a pain like being hit with a blunt object ran through his body.
(When I was hit by the slime's attack, I didn't feel anything, but it seems taking heavy damage hurts quite a bit.)
Still, it wasn't enough to make him writhe on the ground.
"Just keep pushing forward! The Leafman can't do anything until its scales regenerate!"
From behind, Elena activated her healing magic. Souma's lost HP gauge recovered quickly.
"Okay! Thanks, Elena!"
Souma closed the distance and slashed at the Leafman.
"Gushaa..."
The Leafman was split in two without resistance. One strike.
"Defeated a Leafman."
"Gained 291 experience points."
"Gained 480 Gold."
Logs scrolled in the corner of his vision.
(As expected of a level 5 monster, the experience is great. Nearly 30 times that of a slime. And the quest reward will be added on top. By the time this quest ends, I'll probably go up several levels.)
Souma grinned with his back to Elena.
"Nice one! Souma-san!"
Elena ran up to him.
"I was surprised by how agile you were! You're strong, Souma-san!"
"I took the enemy's attack head-on, so not really. It's thanks to your healing magic."
"Then let's say we both did great!"
Elena raised her staff. Souma touched the tip of the staff with the side of his sword.
"Yeah! This victory is thanks to our teamwork!"
◇
After that, the two continued hunting Leafmen. The battles proceeded without danger, taking them down one by one. However, a problem arose when they were walking through an area full of vines.
"Kyaa!"
From behind Souma, he heard Elena scream. She had been ambushed by a Vine Lass, a tentacle monster that mimics vines. All the vines on the ground around them were Vine Lasses.
There were over twenty enemies. They were cowardly level 1 small fry, but troublesome for a small party. Because...
"Elena!"
When Souma turned around, he witnessed something outrageous.
"Help me! Souma-san!"
Elena was tied up. Several Vine Lasses were wrapped around her, fixing her to a nearby large tree.
"This is...!"
Souma swallowed hard. A large number of Vine Lasses were coiled around Elena's entire body. Having shed their camouflage, they looked like disgusting purple tentacles.
But to Souma, it was arousing. The writhing, snake-like Vine Lasses were prying open Elena's clothes. Her skirt was flipped up, revealing her pure white underwear. Furthermore, they were squirming inside her underwear.
"Souma-san! What are you doing! Cut the enemies down quickly!"
"Are you sure I should cut them? Are you really sure? Wouldn't it be a problem if I do?"
Souma stared at Elena with heavy breathing. One Vine Lass passed through her clothes and poked its head out from her collar.
"What do you mean, 'a problem'? It wouldn't be a problem at all! Hurry up!"
Elena got angry.
(Dammit! This is as far as I can go!)
Souma gave up and slaughtered all the Vine Lasses. He gained a large amount of worthless experience, not much different from slimes.
"Geez! I almost died!"
Elena glared at Souma. Her cheeks were puffed out like a chipmunk storing food.
"I couldn't help it. I'm a man after all."
"I don't understand what you mean!"
For the next several minutes, Souma was not spoken to.