Chapter 243: Aro's Second Evolution

243 – Aro’s Second Evolution

Aro looks quite tired, so I’ll take a break nearby. In her last evolution, she went from a [Wight] to a [Skull Lowmage]. To be honest, my impression all that happened was that she went from being a skeleton to being a skeleton that’s good at magic.

It would be great if she could become closer to a human though… If she were to become a [Skull Mage] and then a [Skull Highmage], it would be all too sad. If only I knew something to help… As I’m wondering, an idea springs to mind. [Laplace Interference Authority]. That mysterious title skill.

When that skill was arbitrarily forced on me, I was presented with a choice of a fork in the future. To be honest, I don’t want to rely on it. I know God’s Voice is a bitch, so there’s got some sort of downside. Besides, I’ve got no way to know how credible its prediction really is. That idiot hero had the same skill as me, and it didn’t look like he thought he had even the slightest chance of losing. Overall, I haven’t once obeyed its predictions.

…But, however, I could really do with the information. I know it’d be coming from a dubious source. I know that but… I can’t help but ask. Hey, God’s Voice, Can Aro return to being human?

As soon as I ask a buzzing noise reverberates in my head. It sounds like something from my past life, an artificial sound. Accompanying it, I feel extreme discomfort and a slight dizziness.

“Gaa?”

My partner turns her eyes towards the staggering me. I pull myself together, pretending nothing’s wrong.

【Due to a lack of access to necessary private data, a highly credible calculation was impossible. 】

Inside my head, a formal voice reverberates. A lack of access? Data? What? What’s it on about? Am I being treated differently because there’s something private I don’t have access to?

【In addition, because you are not recognised as possessing the necessary authority, disclosure is impossible. 】

After the second message from God’s Voice finishes reverberating in my head, it cuts off… Is it just going to act all important, but not tell me anything useful? I guess my [Laplace Interference Authority] is only level 2. At a higher level it might tell me more.

I shake my head, clearing away the remaining discomfort. How stupid. Enough, I’ll leave it here. Rather than helping me, I get the feeling it would only sabotage me anyway.

While I’m looking at Aro, my partner starts moving her head excitedly.

“Gaah! Gaah!”

It seems she wants to cook and eat the pig. Just as I’m getting up to blow on it with [Scorching Breath], I hear the sound of bones clattering. It seems Aro got up at the exact same time.

My partner silently stares at her. Aro seems to understand her and sits back down as if nothing had happened.

“Gaah! Gaah!”

Having confirmed that Aro sat back down, she goes back to harrying me. For the time being, I’ll have her eat a headbut.

“Agah!”

Can’t you wait just a minute for your food? You made Aro get overly considerate of you. Her evolution should be what comes first…

I shift my line of sight from my sulking partner to Aro. She’s sitting back down, unmoving. She really does look as if she’d said “ah~ I’m exhausted~”, with her arms and legs sprayed out like that… Probably, this isn’t going to end until my partner has had her food. Really, what are you going to do for making Aro worry like that?

I look back at my partner. She indicates the pig with her chin. Th-this girl… Show some remorse, seriously.

Same as last time, [Soul AppendmentFake Life] was indispensable for getting Aro up to the evolution boundary. I can’t afford to displease her that much. Giving up, I approach the black pig.

Reducing back the size and power, I breath out a [Scorching Breath]. The pig, as well as the grass around it heat up. The grass blackens and crumbles to ash. Vapour rises off the pig. The smell of cooked meat enters my nostrils, and I involuntarily start sniffing.

Hey, partner. Would you be okay with letting me have a tiny bit?

She bites its belly, picking it up then drops it into her mouth. I hear the sound of her chewing, then she spits out a piece of its skull.

As she’s removing some of the meat that got stuck between her teeth, she looks at me and tilts her head as if to ask『did you say something?』. Th-this girl… Well, this should have improved her mood, at least.

Having made sure that the meal had finished, Aro slowly stands up. Knowing what I want her to do, my partner stretches her head out.

“Gaah”

With her cry, black light envelops Aro. She used [Soul AppendmentFake Life] straight away. With this, Aro can evolve.

There’s a sound of sizzling, like something is burning. I-is this okay? Shouldn’t I do something to help her?

“…a”

I thought I heard a hoarse voice coming from inside the light. Aro’s all bone, so she shouldn’t be able to produce a voice. Along with my partner, I carefully observe the black light.

When the light fades away, inside there’s something that looks like a human. Her height’s about the same, and she’s wearing the worn out Lithovar clothes, so I know it’s Aro right away.

Her loose hair is covering her eyes. Her hair’s dry, looking like it has no moisture at all. The bit of her face I can see peeking out is almost the exact same colour as the earth around her, as are her arms and legs. Her skin looks like it could collapse at the slightest touch.

She’s not just bone, but also flesh. Rather than dead flesh, it’s got a feeling of being closer to earth.

She touches her hair, then holds her hands out in front of her face. She becomes certain as she stares at her hands. For a human, it would be a bit of a shock to have that body. But she’s definitely closer to being a human all the same.

She opens and closes her mouth. She can’t quite get her voice to work it seems. I’ll check her status.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Name: Aro

Species: Revaana Mage

Condition: Cursed

Lv: 1/30

HP: 50/50

MP: 3/48

Attack: 15

Defence: 12

Magic: 20

Speed: 11

Rank: D

Characteristic Skills:

[Grisha Language: Lv1] [Undead: Lv-] [Dark Attribute: Lv-] [Flesh Transformation: Lv4]

Resistance Skills:

[Status Condition Nullification: Lv-] [Physical Resistance: Lv3] [Magic Resistance: Lv2]

Normal Skills:

[Gale: Lv4] [Death Curse: Lv3] [Life Drain: Lv2] [Clay: Lv5] [Self-Regeneration: Lv1] [Clay Doll: LV3]

Title Skills:

[Servant of the Evil Dragon: Lv-]

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Her skill levels have gone up a lot. What’s new is… One more characteristic skill and two more normal skills. I can guess what [Self-Regeneration] does, but [Clay Doll] and [Flesh Transformation]… sound awfully disturbing.

I’ll take a look at her species too.

【[Revaana Mage]: D-rank monster】

【Among the [Revaana], it is the most capable of wielding magic. 】

【As it has the ability to increase its allies, it is imperative to kill on sight without letting it escape. 】

K-kill on sight, huh. She’s already dead though. I definitely can’t let her be seen by humans though. That’s always been the case, but now if there’s an eyewitness report, they won’t stop until they find her dead body.

I’m curious what a [Revaana] is. I’ll take a look at it too.

【[Revaana]: D-rank monster】

【An undead monster which uses magic to shape earth into its flesh. 】

【It is easy for individuals that strongly admire the bodies of the living to evolve into it. 】

I see. I thought it looked like earth, but that’s because it was.

…But strongly admire the bodies of the living? I’ve done something cruel, haven’t I?

No, it’s a bit late for that. I knew so from the start. I hate myself for having my partner use [Soul AppendmentFake Life] just to see what would happen with such casual feelings.

That’s exactly why I want to attone by helping Aro return to being human. I know all too well the feelings of hopelessness that come with being transformed into a monster before you know what’s happening. Saying it like that, I know it’s just my own self-conceit.

Although it’s a step closer to being a human, this evolution is also troublesome in a sense. If we mess up, she could end up in conflict with the Lithovar tribe.

Noticing my reaction, Aro tilts her head nervously. A bit of earth falls from her head.

It’ll be okay, Aro. I’ll protect you for sure.