Chapter 18
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【Necromancy】 level increased.
【Dark Arts】 level increased.
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I actively use 【Necromancy】 and 【Dark Arts】 as I make my way toward Jigoro's icon on the map. Against lower-level opponents, they make me practically unstoppable. I show them illusions with 【Dark Arts】, have the dead summoned by 【Necromancy】 charge them while they're distracted, and then use instant death on opponents who can no longer move. My success rate is still low, but making an opponent fall without even knowing what's happening is rather villainous.
Iris isn't with me, either. She's engrossed in production, which has finally become possible, and I'm in a hurry right now. You can probably tell from the way I put it, but the Lesser Roper Race is incredibly slow. It combines a hard outer shell and countless tentacles for a wealth of attacks with high defense, but its extreme sluggishness is unquestionably its greatest weakness.
Even at a full sprint, her speed is inferior to a mage's walking pace. Yesterday, even with Speed Boost stacked twice on her, we nearly failed to make it back before sunrise. Needless to say, she looked terribly apologetic afterward.
"Hey! Over here!"
That's Jigoro's voice up ahead. I don't think he should be shouting so loudly, but whatever. Worrying about little things like that just isn't his style.
"Oh, did you evolve? A third eye? That's pretty damn cool!"
"You too. You're awfully well-built for a Goblin. The tattoos look great, too."
Jigoro had evolved just like I had. His height wasn't much different from before, but the muscles covering his body were incredibly thick. Had his weight more than doubled?
On top of that, golden tattoos covered his entire body. They seemed to depict a tiger, and looked just like war paint passed down by some tribe. I thought I'd become a pretty rare Race, but he had become one as well.
"Heh heh heh! Anyone who can appreciate this is someone I could share a drink with, Izam!"
"That may be true, but I can't physically drink alcohol. Now, let's put the mutual praise of our Races aside and get to the point. Where's the pair in question?"
"Sure thing. Follow me."
I followed Jigoro's lead and soon reached an entirely ordinary tree.
"There's nothing here."
"Don't rush me. Here we go!"
"...A lid?"
At the base of the tree was a hole that continued deep underground, its entrance blocked by a lid made of dirt and branches. It looked like a hidden room, but there was no information prompt, so that probably wasn't it. It was almost certainly a hiding place made by either the larva or the slime Jigoro had told me about.
"They were holed up together back here. They must've thought I'd come to eat them, because they attacked me out of nowhere."
"I see. Well, they're clearly not ordinary monsters. You can't blame them for being afraid."
"So, what do we do? Recruit them like you did with Iris and me?"
"Let's try inviting them to join us. They have nothing to lose, either."
"Then let's go."
Jigoro and I entered the hole leading underground. It was wide enough for one human to walk through normally. Since I was thinner than a human and Jigoro was smaller, we had plenty of room.
It was pitch-black, but almost all monsters had Night Vision, so there was no problem at all. After walking for a while, we spotted the two in question.
They looked exactly as Jigoro's message had described them: a huge larva about the size of a large dog, with a faintly blue slime perched on its head and trembling. It was a bizarre combination.
"Squish squish (Whoa!)!"
"Click clack (This is bad)."
Both of them seemed to be on guard as they looked at us. Just when they thought the obviously dangerous Goblin had left, he came back with an even more obviously dangerous creature wearing a black robe and a skeletal mask with a third eye. If someone couldn't even sense the threat of death, their imagination would be so deficient that their brain could serve as a specimen for neuroscience.
"Click clack clack (I shall stake my life here)..."
"Wait. We have no intention of fighting you."
"Click (What)?"
"Squish (Huh?!)"
Good. It seemed they hadn't given in to despair. Now it was time for negotiations. This was our chance to gain more monster companions. I had to be careful with every word.
"First, I would like to apologize for suddenly forcing my way into your hiding place. I am truly sorry. However, I wanted to speak with you—players who chose to be monsters, just like us."
As I spoke, I removed my mask and revealed my face. Ah, maybe that was a mistake. They look absolutely terrified. If I took off a skeleton mask with three eyes only to reveal another face in a different color underneath, I'd be frightened too!
I felt as though I had just shown them a particularly tasteless matryoshka doll. Their bodies had gone rigid. But it was too late to worry about that now. I would try to persuade them as things stood.
"As for the language, there's no problem. I possess the Skill 【Linguistics】, so I can understand what you two are saying."
"Clack, click-click (Good heavens, is that true)?"
"Yes, it's true. My name is Izam. May I ask your names?"
"Click clack clack (I am Genjuro)."
"Squish squish squish (I'm Ruby)."
"I see. Genjuro-san and Ruby-san. To get straight to the point, would you two like to come to our base? It should be much safer than this place."
By using their proper names, I apparently convinced them that I really could understand what they were saying. I was aware that my suspicious appearance was enough to make them doubt me.
Perhaps my proposal had surprised them, because Genjuro and Ruby seemed to be looking at each other. They remained that way for a while. They were probably discussing things through friend messages or party chat. In the end, they answered at the same time.
"Click clack clack (I think we shall accept)."
"Squish squish (Please do)!"
Oh, I didn't even need to persuade them. Of course they would jump at the chance to go somewhere safe.
"Then I'll send you party invitations. Please join the party."
"Click (Very well)."
"Squish squish (Okay)!"
That settles it.
"Then let's depart. Until we arrive, we'll be passing through some extremely suspicious places, so be prepared."
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"Click, clack clack click (Ho ho, what a clever contraption)."
"Squish squish (Amazing)..."
They both seemed surprised by the mechanisms in the laboratory. Thank you for the reaction I was hoping for.
We talked about ourselves along the way and I asked about them as well. First was Genjuro. His Race was apparently 'Insector Larva,' and when he evolved, he would look like an insect-human hybrid with two legs and four arms, though more insect than human.
Apparently, he hadn't been told during character creation that he would start as a larva. When he first set foot in the world of the game, he found himself underground. ...How did he not give up?
As for Ruby, there was no doubt she was a 'Slime.' She apparently loved so-called success stories and had been determined to rise to the top as a Slime, a Race treated as the weakest in most stories.
However, when she heard that Genjuro was in trouble, she couldn't sit still. She secretly went to help him from her starting location, and the two of them joined up. But joining up didn't mean there was anything they could actually do, so they were forced to hole up together.
As you can tell from the phrase 'when she heard he was in trouble,' these two knew each other in real life—or rather, they were family. They were grandfather and granddaughter. They must be close.
"Oh, welcome back."
"We're back. Let me introduce you. This is Genjuro, an 'Insector Larva,' and Ruby, a 'Slime.' You two, this is Iris, the 'Lesser Roper' I mentioned earlier. I hope you all get along."
"Rustle rustle (It's nice to meet you)!"
"Click clack (A pleasure to meet you)."
"Squish squish (Nice to meet you)!"
I stopped using -san for the same reason I had with Jigoro and the others. Their first contact seemed to have gone well. At this rate, they would soon become comfortable with one another. I had also told them we would help with hunting when necessary, so this should be fine.
"You may use anything here, as long as you don't break it. I'm going hunting for a while. Send me a message if anything happens."
"Understood! Have a good hunt!"
"Hey, Izam. Mind if I come along too? Having a duo is more convenient in all sorts of ways, right?"
"That's true, but I plan to continue filling in the sewer map today. Is that all right with you?"
"Sure. Even better if some tough guys show up."
Hmm. In that case, we should head south. With both of us evolved, we should be able to handle multiple Ratmen without trouble. Let's go!
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Your Race level increased. You acquired 1 SP.
Your Job level increased. You acquired 1 SP.
【Staff】 level increased.
【Mana Control】 level increased.
【Curse Arts】 level increased.
【Necromancy】 level increased.
【Dark Arts】 level increased.
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This really was easy. Jigoro was handling even two Ratmen with room to spare. Three or more seemed to be too much for him, but I could kill them while he kept them occupied, which amounted to the same thing. We steadily made progress through the southern area.
"Come to think of it, what did you evolve into, Jigoro? By the way, I'm an Abyss Skeleton Mage."
"Apparently I'm a Beast Berserk Goblin. Seems to be some kind of superior version of a Berserk Goblin, whatever that is."
Apparently, the Beast Berserk Goblin gained increased Health, Strength, and Agility, but had difficulty acquiring weapon-based and magic-based Skills in exchange. We were exact opposites. Would splitting the difference make us just right? No, it would probably just make us jacks of all trades and masters of none.
"I see. I'm also a higher species of Skeleton Mage."
"Really? What a coincidence!"
"No, I don't think it's a coincidence. We must have fulfilled some sort of condition."
That's right. There was no way it was a coincidence. In my case, I had acquired all the Abyssal magic. Jigoro must have fulfilled a similar condition.
"A condition, huh? You mean that 'Trial of the Azure Moon' thing? I can't think of anything else."
"The 'Trial of the Azure Moon'? You cleared it too?"
"You too? Then you did it as well, Izam! That thing was tough, wasn't it?"
Jigoro nodded as he reminisced. If I could do it, then it was only natural that Jigoro could do it too. I made a point of checking the official forums from time to time, and people there had been analyzing and theorizing about the conditions.
"It was tough. The reward was excellent, but I never want to fight it again."
"I'd definitely like to fight it one more time."
What a battle maniac. But if Jigoro had cleared the trial as well, that meant he had received a reward, didn't it? I didn't see any equipment that looked like it could be from the trial, though...
"What was your reward? You don't have to tell me if you'd rather not."
"I don't mind. It was this waistcloth, the tattoos, and some weird jewel. I don't have 【Appraisal】, so I don't know what the jewel does. Since we're on the subject, why don't you take a look, Izam?"
"Sure. Let's see..."
I used 【Appraisal】 on Jigoro's rewards as requested. The result was as follows.
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Moon Tiger Waistcloth Quality: Divine Rarity: G (Divine Class)
A waistcloth made from the hide of the 'Moon's Fierce Tiger.' Indestructible. Bound to its owner.
Its true power will be unlocked as its owner grows.
Initial Effects: 【Strength Boost】 Lv2, 【Physical Defense Up】 Lv2
【Blessing of the Fierce Tiger】
Divine Beast Insignia Quality: Divine Rarity: G (Divine Class)
Proof that a powerful divine beast has been defeated. Bound to its owner.
Its true power will be unlocked as its owner grows.
Initial Effects: 【Divine Beast Transformation】, 【Magic Resistance】 Lv2
【Speed Boost】 Lv2
Divine Beast Soul Orb (Tiger) Quality: Divine Rarity: G (Divine Class)
A jewel containing the soul of a divine beast. Indestructible. Bound to its owner.
Gain the divine beast's factor by swallowing it.
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Its performance was every bit as impressive as my own reward. It also suited Jigoro's fighting style just as well. The rewards from the trial really were lavish. I told him the results of the Appraisal.
"Huh, you're supposed to eat this jewel? Well, bottoms up!"
Gulp!
Without the slightest hesitation, Jigoro tossed the 'Divine Beast Soul Orb (Tiger)' into his mouth and swallowed it whole. He was far too quick to act.
"Did anything change?"
"Uh, the only info that came up was that I'd absorbed the Divine Beast Soul Orb (Tiger). No Skills or anything like that."
"I see... Then this must have had some kind of condition too. It says you'll obtain the factor, after all."
"Huh. I see. Whatever. Let's go."
"...Yes. Let's go."
He really didn't seem to care at all. No matter how far he went, he seemed interested only in enjoying battle. I would have wasted at least an hour on testing and theorizing. That might be one of my flaws.
And so we continued farther and farther south. I was really looking forward to seeing how far grinding experience and filling in the map would take us!