Shirou: "Understood. Where will it appear?"
*When Shirou made his decision immediately, Minya happily spread out the map and pointed to the plains at the end of the road leading from the western gate.*
Minya: "This is it! It's called the 'Rossa Plain,' and it's about a half-day's carriage ride from the town. Giant boars usually stay deep in the forest, but recently there have been a lot of sightings in this plain. I think they're probably out looking for food."
*She added with a slightly worried expression.*
Minya: "However, Shirou, there's one thing I want to warn you about. Recently, there have been several reports of adventurers going missing near the Rossa Plains. There are rumors that it's not goblins or monsters of that level, but something else entirely... I don't think defeating the giant boar itself will be difficult, but please be very careful of your surroundings."
*Missing. At those words, Shirou's eyebrows twitched slightly. This might not end as a simple promotion test. Rather, that was what he wanted. The possibility of an unexpected target lurking wasn't just a danger to him, but a golden opportunity to gain new strength and experience.*
Shirou: "Okay, I'll be careful."
He answered briefly and then received the request for the promotion exam from Minya.
Minya: "Yes! Well then, take care! I'm sure Shirou will be fine! I'm rooting for you!"
With her pure encouragement behind him, Shirou left the guild. His destination: the western Rossa Plains. To hunt for the fangs of the giant boar, and whatever else might be lurking there.
He left the city through the west gate and continued walking along the road. A distance that would take half a day by carriage was covered in just a few hours thanks to his [Leg Strength Enhancement] skill. Spread out before him was the Rossa Plain. A vast, unobstructed grassland stretched to the horizon. The wind rustled the grass, creating a soft, rustling sound.
He stopped and looked around. The view was good, but that also meant he was easily spotted by the enemy.
Shirou: "(Speaking of wild boars, they charge headfirst...)"
*It's easy to imagine how a giant boar fights. Its overwhelming mass and speed make for a devastating charge. Even with the [Increased Durability] skill, taking a direct hit would likely be fatal. The standard strategy is to dodge and counter.*
*However, searching aimlessly across the vast plains would be inefficient. Shirou quietly closed his eyes and concentrated.*
Shirou: "('Divine Eye')"
*His search range suddenly expanded to cover the entire plain. The life signs of tiny insects and animals lurking in the grass appeared as points of light in his consciousness. Among them, he could see several beings that were particularly large and emitted a fierce magical power.*
Shirou: "(There they are... Giant Boars. There are three of them. They're all spread out. That's convenient.)"
*As he sharpened his senses further, he noticed another reaction. It was the reaction of a group of monsters, clearly of a different nature than the giant boars. And... one more thing. Near the edge of the plain, close to the boundary with the forest, he could see several faint but fluctuating signs of life that appeared to be human.*
Shirou: "(Is that the missing person everyone's been talking about...? Or is it 'something' that caused it...?)"
A cold smile played on Shirou's lips. This simple promotion test was proving to be more interesting than he'd anticipated. He silently walked towards the nearby Giant Boar to gauge its reaction. This was just a test run.
Shirou: "(I guess I'll hunt a boa for now.)"
*Having reached that conclusion in his gray thoughts, Shirou's body had already begun to move. Using his [Leg Strength Enhancement] and [Agility] skills, he glided across the grassland. His figure blended into the shadows of the grass swaying in the wind, making almost no sound.*
*The first prey that "Divine Eye" caught sight of was a giant boa grazing on the grass. It was over 3 meters long, a colossal creature like a small tank. Noticing Shirou's approach, it let out a loud roar and glared at him.*
*But Shirou was faster.*
*As they passed each other, the Chris knife in his left hand tore through the boa's tough fur, leaving a deep cut in its side. —Bleeding.*
*Boa roared in pain and rage, trying to force its massive body to turn, but its movements were already sluggish. Shirou turned around and approached again from the opposite side. The poison dart in his right hand was thrust into Boa's other flank. —Paralyzing poison.*
*"Bumooooooh!?"*
*The giant boar cried out in confusion at the unfamiliar sensation. In addition to the continuous damage from bleeding, the paralyzing poison coursing through its body robbed it of its freedom. Its legs became tangled, and before it could unleash its boasted charging power, it toppled precariously to the ground.*
*Shirou kept his distance and observed the scene coldly. The battle was already decided. All that remained was to watch the prey suffer and die. He quietly simulated his next move, keeping his attention on the reactions of the remaining two boas and "something" near the forest.*
*After confirming that the first giant boa was completely immobilized by bleeding and poison, Shirou left it there and immediately moved on to his next prey. Using the same method, he efficiently dealt with the remaining two. His battle was no longer a "fight," but a detached "task." The combination of bleeding and paralyzing poison proved absolutely effective against the giant boa, which could only move in a monotonous manner.*
Having easily acquired the three gigantic fangs, Shirou quickly achieved his objective in the promotion exam. However, his true interest lay in "something" swaying at the edge of the plain.
He made full use of his skills in stealth and concealing his presence, silently approaching the edge of the forest. Using the tall grass as a shield, he crouched low and advanced cautiously. Soon, the strange sight came into his view.
*There were several people there. Men and women in ragged clothes were locked in a cage like livestock. And around the cage stood several men who were clearly bandits, clad in crude armor.*
Shirou: "(...I see. So the missing adventurer was kidnapped by these guys. Just bandits...but something seems off about them.)"
Near the bandits was another cage. Inside lay two lizard-like, bipedal creatures, not humans. They were kobolds. What did the bandits intend to do with these creatures?
*Shirou frowned again, targeted the strongest-looking man among the bandits, the one who seemed to be the leader, and quietly activated his "Divine Eye."*
```
[status]
Name: Borg
Lv.15
Occupation: Monster Tamer
HP: 280/280
MP: 120/120
skill:
Club Jutsu Lv.4
Summoning Lv.3
Training Lv.2
Rope Jutsu Lv.3
```
Shirou: "(A monster tamer...? A bandit with the skill to control monsters? I see, that's troublesome. Are they planning to sell the captured adventurer and monster somewhere... a slave trader, or perhaps some kind of nobleman?)"
The situation had become more complicated and, more "delicious" than Shirou had anticipated. Bandits, captured people, and monster tamers. A cold, calculated mind began to run through him.
The moment Shirou learned that the bandit leader was a "monster tamer," his thoughts took a leap to new possibilities. These weren't just ordinary combat skills; they were special skills like "serving" and "training." If he could acquire these, his tactical options would expand immeasurably. Not just hunting monsters, but subjugating them and using them as his own fighting force. That would be a huge step towards becoming a "strong one" in this world.
Shirou: "(I wonder if I can copy a Tamer?)"
*Curiosity and greed dominated his mind. He remained hidden in the bushes, concentrating his thoughts once again. His target was the leader, Borg. He needed to access the very core of his being and replicate his skills. It was a task he had performed many times before. However, he had a feeling that something was different this time.*
Shirou: "('Divine Eye'...!)"
*Shirou's eyes lit up faintly, and his gaze fixed on Borg. As usual, he attempted to read the target's skill information and replicate it as his own. But—*
[—Warning. The skills [Serving] and [Taming] are unique skills tied to the [Monster Tamer] profession.]
[--Skill duplication failed.]
[Due to your low level of [Divine Eye], you cannot duplicate or steal job-specific skills.]
*What echoed in my mind wasn't a notification of success, but a cold warning message.*
Shirou: "(...What? Can't duplicate it? Job-specific skill...? Low level of 'Divine Eye'...?)"
*His first failure. It was a slight shock to Shirou. He was confronted with the fact that even his "Divine Eye," which he had thought was all-powerful, had its limits. Unlike general skills that anyone can learn, such as swordsmanship or magic, tamer skills seem to be special powers that only those in that "profession" can wield.*
Shirou: "(I guess duplication is impossible. Oh well.)"
*His gray thoughts, before any disappointment could even begin, had already decided on his next course of action. If he couldn't have it, he would destroy it. Anything that got in his way would simply be eliminated. The frustration at the wavering of the omnipotence of his "Divine Eye" manifested as ruthlessness towards the prey before him.*
*Shirou once again sank into the bushes. He maximized the effects of [Stealth] and [Presence Concealment], completely erasing his presence. He became like the wind, like a shadow, weaving through the bandits' blind spots and silently circling behind their leader, Borg. The other bandits were engrossed in guarding the cages and chatting, completely unaware that the Grim Reaper was closing in right behind them.*
*The action is instantaneous. Faster than sound.*
*Shirou leaped out from a low stance, flashing the Kris knife in his left hand. The undulating blade precisely and deeply severed Borg's unprotected Achilles tendon.*
Borg: "Gah!?"
*A sudden, intense pain shot through his leg, and the feeling that he could no longer stand caused Borg to let out a silly shriek. But the sound never fully came out. Before his body could collapse forward, Shirou grabbed Borg by the neck from behind, pulled him closer, and mercilessly plunged the poison dagger in his right hand into his throat.*
*With a muffled "gurgle..." sound, a powerful paralyzing poison is injected into Borg's body. His vocal cords are destroyed, and he can barely breathe. Bleeding from his Achilles tendon and paralysis rapidly spreads throughout his body. Borg can't even resist; he can only stare wide and convulse.*
Bandit A: "W-what's going on?! Mr. Borg?!"
Bandit B: "Who the hell are you!"
*The other bandits finally noticed something was wrong when they saw one of their comrades collapse without a sound. But it was already too late. Their leader had been neutralized without even being given a chance to fight back. Shirou used Borg's falling body as a shield and glared coldly at the remaining bandits. His eyes were those of a hunter sizing up his next prey.*
*Shirou kicked Borg away and moved on to his next move. The bandits raised their weapons in surprise and anger, but Shirou was already gone.*
Shirou: "Oh, so there were allies here."
The voice came from just behind one of the bandits.
Bandit C: "What!?"
*The bandit turned around and saw the tip of a dagger glowing green. The poison dart made a shallow cut in his side.*
*Shirou attacks one person and then quickly leaves the scene. His movements, a combination of [Enhanced Leg Strength] and [Agility], far surpassed the bandits' ability to see.*
Bandit D: "Y-yes, over here!"
Bandit E: "Surround them! Surround them and kill them!"
The bandits roared and swung their weapons haphazardly. But each time their swords and axes swung through the air, Shirou appeared elsewhere, inflicting wound after wound on someone's body as he passed by. Some suffered uncontrollable bleeding from his Kris knife. Others were paralyzed, their bodies rendered immobile, by his Poison Dagger.
The vast plains were the perfect stage for Shirou. The lack of cover only highlighted his overwhelming speed. The bandits were unable to coordinate, and one by one, they lost their combat ability due to slip damage and status ailments. It was no longer a battle, but a one-sided annihilation.
*Eventually, not a single bandit remained standing. Some lay fallen from excessive bleeding, others writhing on the ground paralyzed. Shirou slowly stopped walking and coldly looked down at the people imprisoned in cages and the bandits who were still alive in the silent battlefield.*
*Shirou approached the still-breathing bandits and began searching each one's pockets. He took anything of value and threw away anything worthless. His cold, efficient movements left the people in the cage trembling with fear.*
*When Shirou searched the pockets of Borg, the leader he had neutralized first, his hand touched a hard metal plate. When he took it out, it was a familiar adventurer's guild card.*
Shirou: "Wow, so even thieves have guild cards?"