CH 104

We’re currently waiting for Nishino-kun to contact us, but I’ll be using my time effectively. For now, let’s distribute the points I got from the last level up. My current level is 19.



Including last time’s remainder, I have 24 JP and 20 SP.



First, I raise both “Ninja” and “Hunter” up to level 7. Next, using SP, let’s level up “Active Physique” to level 6… no, let’s make that 7. Nothing bad would come of increasing my base might.



There are 7 points remaining. What else should I invest in?



“Shadow Master” is currently at level 5, so I might use them to level up “Shadow Manipulation” to level 5. The high the level of the skill, the more SP I’ll be saving when the skill level increases due to the occupation level.



“…”



Suddenly, my eyes land on the skill at the bottom of the skill list.



“Mental Distress Resistance LV 4.”



It is an advanced skill that was derived from “Stress Resistance” when it reached level 10.



Because it integrated “Fear Resistance” and “Aberration Resistance”, it might be a skill than can allow its user to withstand any type of mental damage.



(Maybe this is also effective against “Enchantment” and “Brainwashing…) If so, this skill could be a powerful card against the Student Council President or other enemies that we might come across in the future.



(Since its level is low, let’s distribute the remaining points in this…) Just as I am about to raise its level,



“Wan!”



“Hmm? What’s the issue, Momo?”



“Wan! Wafuu.”



When I turn around to look, Momo starts twirling around me while manipulating the shadows.



“Wan!”



After she finishes her appeal, she sits down and looks up at me. I pat her head for now. Good girl.



“Wafuuuuu…”



Momo seems to feel comfortable from the touch.



“Um… does Momo want me to raise the level of ‘Shadow Manipulation’?” “Wan!”



Momo nods in affirmation. Hmm, should I do it since it’s Momo’s recommendation?



No, don’t lose focus. There isn’t any disadvantage in raising “Mental Distress Resistance”.



“Wafuu…?”



Just as I am pondering, Momo approaches.



Stop, Momo, don’t do this!



Don’t look at me with such sparkling eyes! Don’t rub your body on me!



The mofu-mofu assaults me. Kuu… stay calm. Yes, calm down. I will never give in mofu-mofu. Never!



“SP has been consumed. ‘Shadow Manipulation’ has increased from LV 5 to LV 6.” In the end, I couldn’t beat the mofu-mofu… I’m beginning to understand why female knights can’t beat orcs.



Humans are creatures weak to pleasure, and pleasure isn’t something that can be resisted at will. What a formidable foe Momo’s mofu-mofu is.



Let’s save the remaining 2 SP.



“Well then…”



After finished the distribution, I head to a place which had me thinking.



The fountain in the park where water has stopped flowing. I smile at what is floating there.



“Oh, there you guys are.”



“Furu furu. ♪”



Aka trembles in delight as well. Yes, slimes are floating on the puddles of the fountain. After the incident in the high school, we did not encounter any slimes, so this is a nice find.



“Enemy Detection” do not work on these guys, so we have to manually look for them. The number is… one, two, three… eight in total. This is quite a lot.



“Do slimes like to be in water or the shade…?”



The first slime I met was hiding behind the Home Center, and Aka was found inside an inconspicuous garbage can. There were also a lot of slimes clumped together in the moat of the rice field. I guess some monsters have places they like and dislike.



Anyway, we’re lucky to find slimes here. Let’s have Aka absorb them.



“Momo.”



“Wan!”



Slimes are hard to catch with bear hands, but it becomes much easier when using the shadows in the form of a net. The slimes don’t resist either, so capturing them is easy.



“No matter how many times I look at it, that skill seems to be very useful.” Rikka-chan, who has been watching Momo and I fish for the slimes, comments.



She’s crouching in her mini skirt, so the underwear is visible. White.



“It’s not all that versatile of a skill.”



“Is it not?”



“Yes, there are many limitations and weaknesses.”



The effect range of the shadows and the shape or size of the shadows depends on the level of the skill. As is with the case with Momo and the shadow wolf, the shadows cannot be cast unless their feet are planted in the ground.



But I don’t tell her about these.



“Hmmmm”



Ichinose-san and Momo told me that it’s okay, but I don’t trust Rikka-chan completely yet. Mom and I work silently and carry the slimes near Aka. Rikka-chan continues to watch the situation.



Meanwhile, Ichinose-san is sitting on a bench maintaining her gun. From how much she’s concentrating, the aura around her is telling us not to speak to her.



Her appearance might be slightly out of place, but the atmosphere around her makes me imagine her as a veteran warrior. She doesn’t look like a Hiki Komori girl who would throw up in front of people. If it’s only her appearance, people would think she’s a competent girl.



“And that finished it.”



“Wan!”



Operation complete. All there’s left is for Aka to absorb them.



Then, Rikka-chan calls out to me.



“Good work… By the way, onii-san.”



“What is it?”



“I don’t really care about it, and you can stare at my panties as much as you want to, but it’s really easy for girls to notice that you’re staring at them. It’s better for you to remember.” Busted. Rikka-chan is surprisingly sharp. Of course, I apologize. Sorry.



“Now, Aka. You can have your fill.”



“Furu furu.”



Aka absorbs the slimes in the blink of an eye and doubles its size.



“Oh, it’s now bigger than before. Slimes are amazing, aren’t they. It’s so big, but it still feels bouncy.” Rikka-chan is intrigued and pokes at the grown Aka with her fingers. Yeah, it’s definitely bigger than before. However… “It wasn’t enough to revert back to its original size…”



In its heyday, Aka’s body was slightly bigger. Maybe there weren’t enough slimes. To be fair though, Aka did absorb a considerably more amount of slimes in the rice field.



“Furu furu.”



Depressed.



“Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s okay. Even now, you’re helpful to us.” “Wan! Wan!”



“That’s right! Aka-chan is so cute and really useful.



Aka trembles apologetically, so Momo, Rikka-chan, and I comfort it with the best of our abilities.



(But it’s truly not ideal for Aka to remain like this…)



Aka is now an integral part of our party. To survive in the future, Aka’s powers are absolutely necessary, especially when we encounter non-standard monsters.



(That golem…)



The rock giant which suddenly appeared and wrecked havoc. It was simply a gigantic monster which derived its strength from its colossus size. Attacks from my Item Box and my Ninjutsus leave little impact on it.



(I was lucky enough to escape this time, but this might not be the case next time.) It’s too dangerous to rely heavily and have an optimistic view towards escaping. During the fight with the high orc, I was made aware of this fact. That’s why we need to have countermeasures in case we fail to escape.



(What was that golem in the first place?)



Until it appeared, there was no response from “Enemy Detection” or “Hostility Detection”. “Crisis Detection” responded at the very last minute, but it was too sudden.



(Also, it didn’t feel like it “broke through” the ground.)



That… yes, that felt more like my Ninjutsu. An Earth-style Jutsu which allows its user to “swim” underground.



(If he could move freely beneath the ground…)



My body shivers. In that case, it won’t be strange if it appears in front of us again. Somehow, I can tell that my hypothesis is correct.



(To be capable of ambushing others with that huge body… that’s too much.) There should be a limit to being unreasonable. Anyways, that is the reason why I want Aka to regain its power as soon as possible. Aka’s defensive abilities would prove to be helpful when we fight it again. If I’m being more honest, I want Aka to raise its level and gain more power.



(A place where a lot of slimes are likely to be…)



Shade and water…



Speaking of which, there’s should be a sea nearby. A beach. There might be some slimes there. I can imagine the slimes moving along with the waves. Since it’s a beach, “that” should also be present, so there’s no harm in going there.



The beach isn’t that far away either, so I guess we’ll visit that place. We haven’t received any mail from Nishino-kun yet, and it’s not like there’s anything to do while waiting here. I shouldn’t waste my time needlessly.



“Ichinose-san. Aisaka-san.”



I call out to them.



“Why don’t we go to the sea?”



And with that, we walk towards the beach to find some slimes.