Shirou: "I'll try my best to level up starting tomorrow."
*The incident with Lilith was insignificant to Shirou. He had completely forgotten about the succubus he had left lying in the hallway and was now concentrating his thoughts on his plans for the future.*
Shirou: "(I've gotten used to dealing with physical enemies like goblins and orcs, but opponents who use magic are troublesome. I especially need a way to attack from a distance...)"
*Thinking this, I remembered a certain person. The elderly magician staying at this inn. I recall he was skilled in wind magic. When I passed him in the middle of the night when he got up to go to the toilet, my 'Divine Eye' had picked up that information.*
Shirou: "I think I'll take wind magic today..."
*Shirou quietly slipped out of bed and left the room without making a sound. Lilith was no longer in the hallway; she had gone somewhere. He went to the door of his destination room and gently pressed his ear against the wall. He could hear snoring coming from inside, confirming that the person inside was fast asleep.*
*Shirou touched the wall with one hand and concentrated his consciousness. He sensed the magic of the magician inside the room through the wall and activated his 'Divine Eye'.*
---
[Divine Eye Appraisal Results]
- Name: Gale
- Level: 19
- Occupation: Wind Mage
- Rank: D
- HP: 350/350
- MP: 780/780
- Skills:
- Wind Magic Lv4: Manipulates wind and uses it for attack, defense, and support.
- Magic Manipulation Lv3: Efficiently controls the flow of magical energy.
- Cast Time Reduction Lv2: Reduces the casting time of spells.
- Status: Sleep
---
Shirou: "(Wind magic level 4... That's enough.)"
[The "Divine Eye" has been activated. Initiating the duplication of "Wind Magic Lv4" from Gale... Completed.]
*A vast amount of information—how to manipulate wind, the formulas for magic, how to channel magical energy—flows into your brain. The concept of "magic," which you've never used before, becomes familiar to you as if you've known it all along.*
[You have acquired the skill 'Wind Magic Lv4'.]
[You have acquired more than 10 skills, so you have learned the unique skill "Skill Organization."]
Satisfied with his new skill, Shirou quietly returned to his room. He now possessed a means of long-range attack and the foundation for a new power. He slipped into bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep. Recovering his strength was his top priority now, in preparation for leveling up tomorrow.
*Shirou went back to bed for a moment, but then quickly changed his mind.*
Shirou: "(Magic manipulation is convenient, and I still have some MP left, so I'll take it.)"
*Now that I've mastered 'Wind Magic,' the 'Mana Manipulation' skill is essential to use that magic more efficiently and powerfully. It will improve the energy efficiency of my magic, allowing me to cast powerful spells with less MP. This will be a significant advantage in future battles.*
*Shirou slipped out of bed again and returned silently to the front of the magician's room. He still had plenty of MP. There was no reason to hesitate here. He touched the wall as before and concentrated his mind.*
[The "Divine Eye" has been activated. Initiating the duplication of "Magic Manipulation Lv3" from Gale... Completed.]
*New information raced through my brain. The magical energy within me felt incredibly smooth and effortless, unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. It was a kind of exhilarating feeling, as if blocked blood vessels had opened up and blood was now circulating throughout my entire body.*
You have acquired the skill 'Magic Manipulation Lv3'.]
A smile spread across Shirou's face as he acquired two useful skills in quick succession.
Shirou: "(Now everything is ready.)"
*This time he was truly satisfied and returned to his room, crawling into bed. He was looking forward to tomorrow's hunt all the more.*
---
[next morning]
*Shirou woke up early in the morning, got ready, and immediately headed to the guild. The guild was already bustling with adventurers looking for quests early in the morning.*
He went straight to the bulletin board and picked up the request form he had spotted yesterday.
[Extermination Request: Eliminate Hobgoblin Scouts]
Client: Astera Knights
Objective: Defeat 5 hobgoblin scouts that appear around the eastern forest.
Recommended rank: F
Reward: 5 silver coins
Note: Be aware that they may act in groups of multiple individuals.
*For Shirou right now, this request wouldn't even be a warm-up. However, it would be perfect for building up his record as an "F-rank" operative. He tore off the request form and took it to Minya at the reception counter.*
Minya: "Good morning, Shirou! You're up early! Is today's a monster hunting request?"
*In response to Minya's cheerful greeting, Shirou nodded slightly and handed her the request form.*
Shirou: "I'll take this."
*When Shirou handed over the request form to exterminate the hobgoblins, Minya accepted it with a smile.*
Minya: "Yes, understood! You're tasked with eliminating the hobgoblin scouts. As proof of your success, please bring back five of the 'Stone Earrings' they're carrying. I'm sure you'll be fine, Shirou, but please be careful!"
*Minya efficiently completed the procedures and urged him to sign the request form. When Shirou signed with a false name, Minya cheerfully sent him off with a "Have a good trip!"*
*Leaving the guild, Shirou headed straight for the eastern forest. This area was closer to the town than where he had previously encountered the orcs. He figured he was less likely to encounter powerful monsters around here.*
*After walking through the forest for a while, I soon spotted a humanoid figure wandering among the trees. It had green skin, wore crude leather armor, and carried a club. It was a hobgoblin. Like a scout, it was keeping watch on its surroundings.*
Divine Eye Appraisal Results]
- Name: Hobgoblin Scout
- Level: 7
- Occupation: Scout
- Rank: F
- HP: 150/150
- MP: 20/20
- Skills:
- Club Fighting Lv2: Proficient in handling clubs.
- Alert Level 1: Easily detects danger in the surroundings.
- Status: Alert
---
Shirou: "(Level 7... As expected, he's just a weakling.)"
*Shirou didn't reach for the kris knife at his waist, but instead took a tree branch from his pocket. He had picked it up in the forest yesterday.*
Shirou: "(First, let's try out the new skill I've acquired.)"
*Shirou distanced himself from the hobgoblin and extended his right hand forward. He gathered the magical energy within his body and recalled the knowledge of 'wind magic' that had flowed into his mind.*
Shirou: "[Wind Cutter]"
With a short incantation, a compressed blade of wind was unleashed from Shirou's palm. It glided silently through the air, precisely slicing through the neck of the unsuspecting hobgoblin.
With a *splat!* sound, blood gushed from the hobgoblin's neck. He collapsed to the ground without screaming, unable to comprehend what had happened.
*Satisfied with her first successful use of magic, she approached the defeated hobgoblin and tore the stone earring from its ear.*
Shirou: "This is a pain... I guess I'll just defeat it with dots..."
Defeating them one by one with magic or swords is certainly inefficient. Shirou came up with the idea of making full use of the 'bleeding' effect of his Kris Knife. He could wear down enemies with Dot (Damage over Time), that is, continuous damage, and kill them. That was the quickest way.
*Shirou concealed his presence and began moving through the forest. Soon, he spotted three hobgoblin scouts gathered together, talking about something. They were all level 7 or 8. Perfect targets.*
Shirou: "(Should I take them all down at once?)"
*Shirou boosted his physical abilities with his 'Agility' skill and sprinted past them like the wind. The moment the hobgoblins noticed his presence, he was already close by.*
*Swish, swish, swish!*
The Chris knife sliced through the thighs of the three hobgoblins one after another, as if cutting through butter. The wounds were shallow, far from fatal. But that was enough.
Hobgoblin A: "Gah!? Wh, what is it!?"
Hobgoblin B: "Enemy attack! Where?!"
The hobgoblins were in a panic, raising their weapons and looking around, but Shirou was nowhere to be seen. He had hidden in the shadows of the trees, quietly observing the scene.
*Blood was gushing from the slashed legs of the hobgoblins. The Kris Knife's special effect, "Bleeding," had been activated. They were too pained and confused to move properly, and could only continue to bleed.*
*After a few minutes, the three hobgoblins collapsed one after another, powerless. They had bled to death.*
*Shirou calmly approaches them and collects the stone earrings. That makes a total of four. Only one more remains.*
Shirou: "This is easy."
*He muttered this to himself and then ventured further into the forest in search of his last prey.*
*Shirou easily located the last hobgoblin scout and killed it with the same bleeding effect. With this, he had collected all five stone earrings, the proof of his kills. The quest was complete.*
*But they didn't leave the forest right away.*
Shirou: "(Since I'm here, I might as well earn a little more.)"
He continued deeper into the forest. His destination was a goblin settlement he had hunted before. They were weaker than hobgoblins, but there were many of them. And the large number of them was actually advantageous to his fighting style.
Soon, a goblin settlement surrounded by a flimsy fence came into view. More than ten goblins were gathered around a campfire, some keeping watch.
*Shirou once again sprinted like the wind. He ran through the settlement with ease, inflicting shallow wounds on the legs and arms of the goblins he passed, one after another, with his kris knife.*
Goblins: "Gigi!?" "Gah!"
*Unable to comprehend what was happening, the goblins were thrown into utter chaos. The enemy was nowhere to be seen. But blood began to flow from all over their bodies, and their strength drained away. Terrified as their comrades fell one after another, the remaining goblins screamed and fled in panic. But no matter where they ran, they could not escape the bleeding curse.*
*Shirou sat on a tree branch a short distance away, quietly gazing at the hellish scene. His expression was as detached as that of a farmer exterminating pests in his field.*
*Shirou sat on a tree branch, watching the goblins fall one after another below him, and checked his own status.*
A semi-transparent window, invisible only to him, opens before his eyes.*
```
[status]
Name: Shirou Nishiki
Level 25 (displayed as Level 8)
HP 480/480
MP 230/240 (Slightly reduced by using Wind Magic and Divine Eye)
Occupation: None
Title: None (displayed)
Money held: 6 gold coins, 3 silver coins, 6 copper coins, 1 iron coin
Equipment
- Weapon: Kris Knife (Rank D) - Special Effect: Bleeding (Minor)
- Head: Griffin feather ornament
- Skills: (Hidden setting)
- Divine Eye Lv.1: Appraises the target's information. Leveling up enables "Skill Steal/Duplicate".
- Skill Organization Lv.1: Automatically organizes and integrates acquired skills.
- Swordsmanship Lv.7: Improves handling of swords and polearms.
- Agility Lv.2: Improves speed and reflexes.
- Wind Magic Lv.4: Allows the use of beginner to intermediate wind-attribute magic.
- Magic Manipulation Lv.3: Improves the efficiency and control of magic consumption.
```
Shirou: "(Six skills, huh... Thanks to 'Skill Organization,' it's much easier to see. Swordsmanship and Dagger Technique have been combined into 'Swordsmanship.' I see, that's convenient.)"
He nodded with satisfaction, reaffirming his own growth. Once he confirmed the goblins were wiped out, he nimbly leaped down from the tree. He began collecting the magic stones one by one from the pile of corpses. It was a mundane task, but it was an important source of income.
*After collecting all the magic stones, Shirou decided to return to the guild. To report the completion of the quest and to cash in the rewards.*
*When I returned to the guild, Minya was still there at the counter. Seeing Shirou, she greeted me with a smile.*
Minya: "Oh, Shirou! Welcome back! You're back early! Are you already finished?"
Shirou: "Yeah, no problem."
*Shiro said this and placed the bag containing five hobgoblin earrings on the counter.*
Shirou: "Yes."
*Shirou didn't utter a word, and placed the bag on the counter with a thud. Inside were only five hobgoblin earrings. He didn't even hint at having destroyed the goblin settlement. It was his personal earnings, and there was no need to report it to the guild.*
Minya: "Wow! Thank you! Let me check... one, two, three, four, five... Yes, there are definitely five! Great job!"
*Minya efficiently checked the earrings and, with a beaming smile, handed Shirou his reward: Five silver coins. A reasonable amount for an F-rank request.*
Minya: "Shirou, that's amazing! Finishing an F-rank request so quickly! Maybe you'll be able to take the E-rank promotion exam soon?"
*To the sincere words of praise, Shirou simply replied, "I wonder." Considering his actual level, he could probably handle not just E-rank monsters, but even C-rank and B-rank monsters. However, now is not the time to draw attention to himself.*
Shirou: "(While you're at it, please do this too.)"
*Saying this, he placed another bag containing the large quantity of magic stones he had collected earlier from the goblin settlement onto the counter.*
*When Minya saw the quantity, her eyes widened slightly.*
Minya: "Wow, that's a huge amount! Did you get all of this from the eastern forest too? Shirou, you're such a hard worker!"
*She was impressed, but immediately began the assessment.*
*Minya skillfully assessed the magic stones. While the goblin magic stones were cheap individually, the sheer number of them added up to a considerable sum.*
Minya: "Sorry to keep you waiting! That's 7 silver coins and 5 copper coins in total! Wow, Shirou, you're amazing! You're good at gathering herbs and you're quick at defeating monsters... Maybe you're incredibly talented...?"
*Minya's eyes lit up with pure curiosity as she gazed at Shirou. At her words, the other adventurers around them glanced at Shirou. Despite being an F-rank adventurer, Shirou had been steadily completing requests and earning a stable income, and was slowly but surely beginning to stand out within the guild.*
Shirou: "(Did I stand out a little too much...?)"
Though I inwardly clicked my tongue, I accepted the reward without showing it on my face. I now had 6 gold coins and 15 silver coins, which is more than 7 gold and 5 silver. Whether I search for poisoned weapons or buy new armor, this is more than enough money.*
*He tried to leave the guild as quickly as possible to shake off Minya's pursuit. Just then, the guild's entrance door burst open, and several adventurers rushed in, their faces pale with fear.*
Adventurer A: "It's terrible! An ogre has appeared on the western road!"
Adventurer B: "It looks like a caravan has been wiped out! All the guards were taken out too!"
*That statement caused an immediate uproar within the guild. Ogres are powerful monsters around level 20, opponents that even C-rank parties struggle against. And now, one of them had appeared on the road near the town.*
*Shirou stopped walking as he heard the report.*
Shirou: "(An ogre... huh. At level 25, I can definitely hunt it. Plus, since it's on the road, I won't have to go through the trouble of searching in the forest. This is...)"
A perfect opportunity to level up had fallen into his lap. A faint smile formed on Shirou's lips.
*While the guild was thrown into a panic by the news of the ogre's appearance, Shiro watched with a detached gaze as veteran B-rank and C-rank adventurers began to move, shouting, "We'll go!" and "Let's form a party!"*
Shirou: "(Let's leave it to the veteran senior.)"
*Ogres are certainly tasty prey, but achieving success amongst many adventurers would undoubtedly draw attention. That wasn't what he wanted. For now, he was still in the stage of secretly accumulating his strength.*
*He slipped away from the commotion at the guild and headed straight for the weapons shop. He wanted to get what he needed before the town became chaotic because of the ogre incident.*
*When he opened the door to the weapons shop, the dwarf shopkeeper was, as usual, tending to the weapons behind the counter. Upon seeing Shirou, he smirked.*
Dwarf shopkeeper: "Hey, young man. How's your Kris knife doing? Has it gotten used to the taste of blood yet?"
Shirou: "Ah, thanks. But more importantly, I came here today to look for something else."
*Shirou approached the counter and got down to business.*
Shirou: "Do you have any weapons that have a poison effect? Daggers would be ideal, if possible."
*At those words, the shop owner narrowed his eyes in interest and said, "Oh."*
Dwarf shopkeeper: "Poison, huh? Not content with just bleeding, now you're trying to poison him? You're a pretty ruthless fighter, huh?"
*He laughed heartily and disappeared into the back of the shop. After a while, he returned with something long and slender wrapped in black cloth in his hand.*
Dwarf shopkeeper: "I have something special for you. However, it's a bit pricey."
*Saying this, he opened the cloth, revealing a dagger lying there, emitting an eerie, greenish light.*
Shirou: "H-how much?"
*The dwarf shopkeeper, seeing Shirou's slightly strained expression, smirked even more, his lips curving upwards with amusement. Seeing customers surprised and troubled by the prices of the goods was probably the best way for him to enjoy his drink.*
Dwarf shopkeeper: "Given your financial situation, this might be a bit tough. This is a 'Poison Dagger.' It's a masterpiece crafted from a basilisk's fang. Just a slash will release a paralyzing poison that slows down the opponent's movements. If it hits a vital spot, even an ogre would be immobilized in a few minutes."
He boasted about the dagger's capabilities. Its green-glowing blade clearly indicated the presence of a powerful poison.
Dwarf shopkeeper: "So, the price is... 10 gold coins. What do you say? With your earnings, you probably can't afford it right now, can you?"
*A provocative gaze. Ten gold coins. Shirou's current possessions, even including the money he earned from selling magic stones, amount to about seven gold coins and five silver coins. Indeed, he couldn't afford it in his current state.*
*Shirou stared at the price tag, his mind racing with thoughts.*
Shirou: "(Ten gold coins... That's expensive. But its performance is worth it. Paralysis poison... If I combine it with bleeding, I can expect a considerable synergy. But how will I get the rest of the money...?)"
*Participating in the Ogre Emergency Hunt Quest might provide enough rewards. However, that would be too conspicuous. Perhaps other options... for example, looking for a high-paying quest at the guild? Or finding something valuable somewhere else...*
*Shirou, without taking his eyes off the dagger, asked the dwarf shopkeeper.*
Shirou: "Can you wait a few days?"
*The dwarf shopkeeper looked surprised at those words, but quickly grinned. It seemed he was impressed by Shirou's determination to find a way to raise money rather than simply give up.*
Dwarf shopkeeper: "Oh, you're quite spirited, young man. I like you. Alright, three days. I'll give you three days. Make sure you have exactly ten gold coins by then. If you can't... well, then I'll just sell them to another customer."
*With that, he carefully wrapped the poison darts back in the black cloth and put them away in the back of the shop.*
Dwarf shopkeeper: "However, you'll have to leave a deposit of one gold coin. I can't hold it for free."
Shirou: "I understand."
*Shirou nodded and took one gold coin from his pocket and placed it on the counter. Now he had 6 gold coins, 5 silver coins, and 5 copper coins. To get the Poison Dagger, he needed about 3 more gold coins and 5 more silver coins.*
Shirou: "(Three days... what should I do? Other adventurers have probably already headed for the ogre. In that case, I need another way to make money...)"
*Shirou left the weapons shop and fell into thought again. Should he go back to the guild and look for another high-paying quest? But he didn't think there would be anything that convenient among the quests that an F-rank questier could accept.*
Shirou: "(...I have no choice. I'll take a small risk.)"