Shirou: "(An orc...! Level 15. It's no match for a hobgoblin. And it has 800 HP...)"
*The bleeding damage from the Kris knife alone won't be enough to take it down; it will take a considerable amount of time. If you try to attack it carelessly, it might close the distance with its charge attack and turn you into mincemeat with a single blow from that giant axe.*
*I held my breath and tried to retreat. My current fighting style was a bad match for this opponent.*
*but--.*
Orc: "Bugoooo!"
The orc's nose twitched. It had picked up the scent of the goblins' blood it had hunted so far. The orc began to walk slowly in the direction of the blood smell—towards the bushes where I was hiding.
*The orc before me is on a completely different level than any I've faced before. If I waste MP trying to steal its skills, I could be killed in that moment. Calm judgment is my lifeline.*
*However, the orcs had already noticed our presence and were closing the distance. We had no choice but to run. But simply running away would go against our principles.*
Shirou: "(...I'll add a dot and escape.)"
*Even if I can't defeat him, I'll strike back. And if the bleeding effect of the Chris knife proves more effective than expected, then perhaps—*
*The moment the orc was just a few meters away from the bushes, he leaped out as if propelled by a spring. The orc was startled for a moment by the sudden appearance of the human, but then a ferocious grin spread across his face, and he raised his massive battle axe.*
Orc: "Bumoooo!"
The axe, swung down, slashed through the air and slammed into the ground with a deafening roar. But there was no sign of it. It had made full use of its Agility Lv.2, narrowly dodging the axe's trajectory.
*Then, he plunges the Kris knife deep into the orc's unprotected flank!*
*Zag!!*
The orc is now bleeding (minor).
*My objective was achieved. I immediately drew my knife, turned my back without a trace of hesitation, and ran into the depths of the forest.*
Orc: "Booooooooaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
*From behind, the furious screams of an orc echoed. The pain of being wounded and the rage of letting its prey escape had completely destroyed the orc's reason.*
*The orc, undeterred by its injuries, began a ferocious charge, pursuing its prey. The massive mass of flesh approached, knocking down trees and shaking the ground. Its speed was far beyond that of the hobgoblin.*
Shirou: "You're fast...! But I'm... better!"
Shirou, using his agility, skillfully uses the trees as obstacles, zigzagging through the forest. The orc, only capable of charging in a straight line, repeatedly crashes into trees, slowing down each time. Yet, it still relentlessly pursues him.*
*I continued to run for a while. Suddenly, an idea came to mind.*
Shirou: "(This guy... he keeps chasing me. He's lost all self-control because of the smell of blood and his anger towards me... Could this possibly mean...)"
*Running through the forest, the [Divine Eye] detected a new reaction. It was a powerful magical energy, different from that of the orcs. A gigantic shadow was crouching in a slightly open rocky area.*
*Griffin. A proud E-rank magical beast with the upper body of an eagle and the lower body of a lion. Its level is 18. Its sharp beak and claws are said to be able to easily tear through even iron armor.*
---
[Divine Eye Appraisal Results]
- Name: Griffin
- Level: 18
- Rank: E
- HP: 750/750
- MP: 120/120
- Skills:
- Flight: Can fly freely in the sky.
- Claw Attack Lv.4: A powerful attack using sharp claws.
- Wind Magic Lv.2: Can use basic wind magic (such as Wind Cutter).
- Status: On break
---
Shirou: "Oh, I found it."
*A mischievous smile played on his lips.* Normally, encountering another formidable enemy while fleeing from orcs would be a desperate situation. But this was an unparalleled opportunity.
He slightly altered his course and headed straight for the rocky area where the griffon was resting. Behind him, the roar of orcs felling trees loomed.
*The moment he reached the rocky area, he unleashed his full agility, leaping over the griffon's head with incredible jumping power.*
Shirou: "I'll leave the rest to you."
*Muttering this as if leaving a parting gift, he ran off to the other side of the forest.*
*The orc, who had been chasing after the beast and charged into the rocky area, suddenly noticed the gigantic monster that had appeared before him and slammed on the brakes.*
Orc: "Bugoh!?"
*Meanwhile, the griffon, whose territory had been invaded and whose peaceful sleep disturbed, spread its wings in furious rage and rose to its feet.*
Griffon: "Kishaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
The roar of a proud beast echoed through the forest. Its hostility was clearly directed at the ugly pig before it—the orc.*
*The unintelligent orcs, unable to comprehend the situation, let out threatening cries at the new enemy before them.*
Orc: "Bmooooo!!"
*The rival predators of the forest glared at each other, each vying for territory and pride. This spark ignited an inevitable battle.*
He observed the scene from the distant bushes and smirked.
Shirou: "(Let them destroy each other. And both of you will become experience points for me.)"
He waited quietly in a safe place, hoping to reap the benefits of the situation.
The battle turned out to be far more brutal than imagined.
*The griffin soars through the air, slashing at the orcs with its sharp claws and blades of wind. The orcs, though weakened by bleeding, fight back with overwhelming power, seizing every opportunity when the griffin lands on the ground to grapple with its massive body.*
However, it was numbers that ultimately determined the outcome of the battle.
*Perhaps drawn by the orc's roar, more orcs began to gather from the surrounding area. One by one, their numbers increased, until eventually five orcs surrounded the griffon.*
*Even the proudest griffin was no match for the overwhelming numbers. Its wings were eventually wounded, and it was thrown to the ground, where it was mercilessly ravaged by the orcs' axes and clubs. A death cry echoed through the forest, and soon it fell still.*
*But the orcs' victory was short-lived.*
*The orc who inflicted the first wound finally collapsed to the ground, exhausted, immediately after defeating the griffon. He bled to death. The remaining orcs were also severely wounded in their fight with the griffon.*
*Shirou did not miss that opportunity.*
*One by one, carefully. Sneak up to the wounded orc, carve a new wound with your kris knife, and quickly retreat. The wounded beasts can no longer keep up with your agility and fall one after another under the bleeding curse.*
*And then, one hour later...*
*On the rocky ground lay the carcass of a griffin and the corpses of five orcs. The forest had become silent once again, and only the overwhelming smell of blood hung in the air.*
You gained 1200 experience points.
You gained 300 experience points.
You gained 300 experience points.
Your level has increased to 9.
Your level has increased to 10.
Your Swordsmanship Level has increased from Level 5 to Level 6.
Your level has increased to 11.
...
Your level has increased to 15.
*A tremendous amount of experience points flowed in, and my level jumped to 15 in an instant. That's a level comparable to an E-rank adventurer. Furthermore, the [Swordsmanship] skill I'd been using also leveled up.*
He emerged from the bushes. He looked down at the gruesome scene of corpses lying around and let out a laugh.
Shirou: "LOL, that's a total cheat."
*My actions were far from conventional. But the power I gained as a result was the absolute truth for surviving in this world.*
```
Status display
- Name: Shirou Nishiki
- Level: 15
- HP: 480/480
- MP: 240/240
- Skills: Divine Eye Lv.1 (Hidden), Swordsmanship Lv.6, Agility Lv.2
- Title: Appraiser (hidden)
- Money held: 4 gold coins, 3 silver coins, 6 copper coins, 1 iron coin
- Equipment: Kris Knife
- Item: None
```
Shirou: "I'll hide the level and skills."
*Shirou used the power of his [Divine Eye] to manipulate his own status display. He rewrote the public information displayed on his Adventurer's Guild registration card and other documents with false information. His level was set to "1," the same as when he first registered. The skills section was set to "none."*
*This power is far too extraordinary. If it were to become known to others, there's a high probability that I would be made a research subject or targeted for assassination. To protect myself, I had to thoroughly conceal my abilities and continue to play the role of just a "lucky F-rank adventurer."*
*Having finished his work, Shirou glanced at the remnants of the battle—the corpses of orcs and griffins. These materials would fetch a considerable sum if sold. Griffin feathers and claws, and orc fangs and hides in particular, would command high prices as materials for weapons and armor.*
Shirou: "(It's impossible to take all of this home... It's too conspicuous, and it's not a quantity I can dismantle and carry by myself.)"
*He wanted the money, but the risks were great. After much deliberation, Shirou decided to strip only the most valuable and easily transportable parts.*
*Using a Kris knife, I'll take a few of the griffin's beautiful flight feathers and one of its sharpest claws. From the orc, I'll take two of the largest one's fangs. I'll wrap them in cloth and put them in my pocket. Even this alone should bring in a considerable amount of money.*
*His objective was achieved. Leaving behind a multitude of corpses, he quietly departed the forest. By the time he returned to town, the sun was high in the sky, and it was just past noon. His level had reached 15. However, his adventurer rank remained F. No one noticed the extraordinary growth he had achieved in just half a day.*
Shirou: "(Now, how do I turn this material into money...? Bringing it to the guild would be too conspicuous.)"
*I pictured the stubborn dwarf's face at the weapons shop again. That shopkeeper might be able to accurately assess the value of the materials and buy them without asking any unnecessary questions.*
Shirou: "If we take these materials here, it'll cause a commotion. Let's burn them. It's a waste, though."
*He prioritized his own safety and secrecy over monetary gain. His judgment was always calm and rational. Orc fangs and griffin claws would certainly fetch a high price. However, it would be highly suspicious for an F-rank adventurer to acquire them on their own. The risk of being subjected to troublesome interrogation or wrongly suspected was far greater than the immediate financial gain.*
Shirou: "(...But I suppose I can have this token of victory.)"
*From the materials he had stripped away, he picked up a single, exceptionally beautiful griffin feather. A large, supple feather that shone with a silvery sheen. He tucked it into his hair, like an accessory. This much, he could probably get away with saying he "accidentally found it in the forest."*
*Then, he piled the remaining materials, along with the corpses of the orcs and griffins, on top of the fallen leaves and branches he had gathered from the surrounding area. Then he took out a flint and lit it.*
*The flames crackle and burn. It's certainly a waste to see such valuable materials turn to ash. But this will completely destroy the evidence. The flames will burn away the smell of blood emanating from the corpse, and eventually the beasts of the forest will take care of the rest.*
He gazed at the blazing flames for a while. Finally, he turned his back on them and truly left the forest. The silver feathers fluttering in his black hair quietly spoke of his overwhelming victory today.
*I returned to town. I had lunch at an inn and took a breather. My physical abilities have improved due to leveling up, but my mental fatigue is great.*
*My current fighting style—the "bleeding" damage-over-time strategy—is very powerful. However, it won't work against opponents that don't bleed, like the undead or golems. To broaden my tactical options, I really needed another means of attack, something like magic.*
Shirou: "(Magic, huh... It would be great if there was a magic skill that consumed little MP, like the [Agility] skill I stole from the thief, or a passive magic skill...)"
The bleeding effect of the Kris knife was tremendous. Similarly, a weapon enchanted with "poison," which inflicts continuous damage, would further increase hunting efficiency. Stacking bleeding and poison, two types of damage over time, might allow you to take down even high-health opponents like orcs in less time.
*Thinking such thoughts, he quickly picked healing herbs near the entrance to the forest and filled his bag. No matter how strong he became, maintaining the camouflage of being a "low-rank adventurer who came to collect medicinal herbs" was important. Before heading to the guild, he made sure to complete his "job" to create a proper alibi.*
*As he opened the guild doors, he was greeted by the midday hustle and bustle. At the counter, Minya was busy attending to adventurers. As he stood in line, Minya noticed him and exclaimed, "Ah!"*
Minya: "Shirou! Welcome back! ...Huh? What happened to those wings? They're so beautiful...!"
*Minya's eyes sparkled as she pointed to the griffin feather in her hair. The other adventurers around her also noticed the beautiful feather and glanced at it.*
Shirou: "Oh, this? I found it by chance in the forest. It was pretty, so I just couldn't resist."
*They deliver the prepared answer as if it were the truth.*
Minya: "Wow! Really? That's great, it suits you so well! It looks like an ornament for a wind spirit!"
*Feeling a little embarrassed by Minya's genuine compliments, I placed the bag of herbs on the counter.*
Minya: "Yes, that's right! 200 healing herbs! Thank you as always! Your reward will be 8 silver coins!"
*Having received my reward, I had completed today's quota. Just as I was about to leave the guild, I noticed a new request posted on the bulletin board in the corner of the guild. It was a little different from the other requests, with an ostentatious design written on parchment.*
[Urgent Request: Escort Wanted]
Client: Slave trader Garai
Job Description: Escorting goods (slaves) during transport. From Astera to the western mining town of Gorgon.
Duration: Approximately 5 days
Recruitment: Open to all ranks. A few skilled individuals.
Reward: 5 gold coins. Additional bonus upon success.
Note: This is a dangerous activity. We await applications from those who believe they are up to the challenge.
Shirou: "(Slave trader...)"
*The twisted system that exists in this world.* At those words, I felt a simultaneous surge of disgust and a different, dark curiosity. And the reward of "five gold coins" was an exorbitant amount for an F-rank adventurer.*
I averted my gaze from the slave trader's request, consciously pushing it out of my mind. Slavery. I knew I might make money if I got involved, but I had a feeling it would lead to something far more troublesome. Right now, all I wanted was to become strong quietly and efficiently.
Shirou: "(Maybe I'll try taking on a monster hunting quest tomorrow...)"
*Today's encounter with the orc showed me that my strength is effective even against E-rank monsters. Taking on formal monster hunting quests from the guild is more lucrative and helps me build my experience as an adventurer than painstakingly hunting goblins and slimes. It will also speed up my promotion from F-rank.*
*Thinking this, Shirou looked at the guild's bulletin board again and saw several requests posted that were no longer a challenge for him, such as "Goblin extermination (recommended rank G)" and "Hobgoblin scout extermination (recommended rank F)."*
Shirou: "(I'll start by taking some of these and gradually work my way up the ranks.)"
He nodded with satisfaction, imagining himself steadily climbing the ranks. He completely forgot about the slave trader's request and left the guild, planning his actions for tomorrow.
*On my way back to the inn, I suddenly stopped when I heard a voice coming from an alleyway.*
???: "Please...! I have no more money...! Please, just spare my daughter...!"
???: "Shut up! This is collateral for the debt you incurred! We'll turn this kid into a proper 'product,' so be grateful!"
???: "Nooooo! Mom! Help me!"
*A man's angry shouts, a woman's screams, and a child's cries. Clearly, something serious is happening.*
*When Shirou quietly peered into the alley, he saw a group of rough-looking men surrounding a mother and daughter. The men had snake tattoos on their arms, indicating they were members of a slave trader's guild. It seemed they were trying to forcibly take the daughter as collateral for a debt.*
The mother desperately resisted, but was mercilessly pushed away. One of the men roughly grabbed the arm of the terrified, crying girl. That was the moment an "illegal slave," not based on law, was created.
*I have the power to stop them now. But if I intervene here, I might end up in conflict with troublesome slave traders.*
Shirou: "Poor thing, but it's none of my business."
*Shirou quietly turned his back on the scene in the alley. The girl's cries and the mother's heart-wrenching screams pierced his back, but he didn't stop. A sense of justice and compassion could be deadly in this world. Getting involved in trouble would go against his principles. His goal was simple: to become stronger. To achieve that, he had to cut off all unnecessary obstacles.*
He returned to his lodgings. He ate dinner as if nothing had happened and went back to his room. The events in the alley were already out of his mind. He was focused only on his own status and his plans for the future.
*I lie down on the bed and stare at the ceiling.*
Shirou: "(Tomorrow I'll take on a quest to hunt hobgoblins. I should be able to complete it quickly by hunting just a few. Maybe I'll buy some new armor with the reward...? No, I should look for a poison weapon first.)"
As I was lost in thought, there was a gentle knock on the door of my room.
*Who could that be at this hour? Could it be someone from the inn?*
Shirou: "Yes?"
*As Shirou replied with a puzzled expression, a woman's voice, faint but tinged with sensuality, came from beyond the door.*
???: "...Good evening. I apologize for bothering you so late. May I speak with you for a moment...?"
*That voice was unfamiliar. Approaching the door cautiously, I slowly opened it.*
*The person standing there was someone who defied all expectations.*
*She had lustrous black hair that reached her waist and eyes as red as blood. Her skin was so pale it seemed to glow even in the darkness of night, and she wore a daring dress that clearly accentuated the lines of her body. And from her back, small, bat-like wings sprouted.*
— Succubus — A type of demon that seduces humans and demi-humans and feeds on their life force.
---
[Divine Eye Appraisal Results]
- Name: Lilith
- Level: 25
- Occupation: Incubus
- Rank: C
- HP: 600/600
- MP: 1200/1200
- Skills:
- Lv.5: Strongly attracts the opposite sex and can manipulate them at will.魅了charm
- Mental Magic Lv.4: Interferes with the opponent's mind, causing hallucinations or manipulating memories.
- Life Drain Lv.5: Drains life force and magical power from others.
- Dagger Skill Lv.3: Proficient in handling daggers.
- Status: Interest
---
*I gasped when I saw the appraisal results. Level 25. Her skill set wasn't focused on physical combat, but rather on mental control. And the alluring smile she wore was clearly directed at me.*