Chapter 9: Manaless

Chapter 9: Manaless

|Skill [Throwing] has leveled up to Lv 7.|

Once she heard those words, Ai, drenched in spider fluids, stood up and jumped down from the top of the spider's head.

"GYAAAA" (Ai)

And then, while shrieking loudly, she went back to Tatsuro's side at light speed.

"Ah, let's wash in the river for a bit" (Tatsuro)

"Hn." (Ai)

With teary eyes, she immediately removed her jersey, shoes, and socks. With only her underwear and a PE shirt on, she started splashing her clothes in the river, trying to wash off the spider's body fluids off her clothes.

"EWEWEW" (Ai)

"Give me half of them. I'll help." (Tatsuro)

"Thanks!" (Ai)

Tatsuro, who forced his exhausted body to move, took the shoes, socks, and the top of the jersey while sitting down next to Ai.

"That's what I should be saying. Thanks for saving me earlier." (Tatsuro)

"E-eh, I told you it's fine already! And it's only because of those special luxury edition Frisbees that you made so don't mind it." (Ai)

"That's one thing but standing in front of that monster is on a completely different level. That's why, just accept my thanks." (Tatsuro)

"Is that so?" (Ai)

"That's so." (Tatsuro)

Basking in the pleasant mood created by them, the two stayed like that for a bit. Before long, Ai broke the tranquillity by muttering.

"You know, that's why I love you." (Ai)

"Me too. I love that side of you too." (Tatsuro)

"Really?" (Ai)

"Really." (Tatsuro)

Taken in by the atmosphere created by their conversation, the two stared at each other and closed the distance, finally breaking into a kiss. After the tender moment, their cheeks were burning red and they could only smile at each other.

"Aren't you cold wearing only that?" (Tatsuro)

"It's fine for now, I guess?" (Ai)

After washing her clothes, they once again sat down next to each other, facing the stream, and opened the convenience store lunchbox to share the food.

"Even though it's a store lunch it's good, isn't it?" (Tatsuro)

"Yeah, it did change quite a lot recently." (Ai)

They exchanged a few empty conversations until they finally finished their food. When they did, Tatsuro brought the empty lunchboxes to the river and washed them.

"Why are you even washing them?" (Ai)

"We don't know anything about this world so it might come in handy." (Tatsuro)

"Eh, can we even use that?" (Ai)

"Well, if we can't, then we could just throw it away so no harm in taking it along." (Tatsuro)

As he was wiping it dry, he suddenly thought about using [Water Magic]. Upon activating so, all the moisture in the lunchbox gathered in one place and fell onto the ground. What was left in his hand was a perfectly dry empty lunchbox.

"Ooh, that's nice." (Tatsuro)

"So you can do that kind of thing too, huh?" (Ai)

"Seems so, I just did what I thought of at that moment but it's kind of convenient." (Tatsuro)

"And so Can you dry my clothes too?" (Ai)

"What nonsenseOh, it's true." (Tatsuro)

"EROROU!" (Ai)

"No need to compliment me, ma'am." (Tatsuro)

"THAT'S NOT A COMPLIMENT!" (Ai)

After he finished drying this, he returned it to Ai with a bit of regret. She quickly snatched it away, not different from earlier when she received that.

"I'll be changing now so look away." (Ai)

"I know. I'm seriously considering whether to look here or there right now." (Tatsuro)

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT!?" (Ai)

"No need to mind me." (Tatsuro)

"LIKE HELL I WOULD! EROROU! IDIOT! I'm fine already so just start drying my other clothes!" (Ai)

"Can't be helped then Haaaa." (Tatsuro)

"What's with the haaa? Shouldn't I be the one saying that!?" (Ai)

And so, while Ai was changing her clothes, Tatsuro continued drying the jersey and footwear.

|Skill [Mana Purification] acquired.|

Without anything eventful happening after that, Ai finished changing back into the jersey she previously wore. Meanwhile Tatsuro, upon drying the last piece of clothing, learned a skill without using the system for the first time.

"Oh, so this is what it feels like to learn a skill, huh?" (Tatsuro)

"Eh, did you learn one? I know! It's [Clothes Dryer Lv 1], right?!" (Ai)

"There's no way that we have that kind of washing machine skill!" (Tatsuro)

"Heeh, but I want it too" (Ai)

"Really? But that's not the point! Looks like I got [Mana Purification] somehow." (Tatsuro)

"And what about the effects?" (Ai)

"Don't make it sound like a hot spring Uhh, the mana in my body gets to have higher purity, so I consume less mana to use magic, I guess?" (Tatsuro)

"It's something that any magician class would want to have." (Ai)

"Yeah. It's not really needed if you're manaless, but it's part of the foundation for magicians." (Tatsuro)

"It's a bit hard to build up the foundations, but it's harder to say that doing so is fruitless." (Ai)

After conversing with Ai, Tatsuro opened up his system to gather information about his new skill.

"Hmm hmm To reduce mana consumption, I just have to think about it while using magic. Seems like that's how you use this skill." (Tatsuro)

"From Help? (Ai)

"Yes. From Help." (Tatsuro)

"Well, no matter what we get, if we're getting it on our own, then it helps." (Ai)

"True Fuuu Shall we get going?" (Tatsuro)

"Can you move properly now?" (Ai)

"I think I can if I support myself with [Life Magic]." (Tatsuro)

"[Life Magic]? The one that has wounds and healing in its description?" (Ai)

"Yeah, but it seems like it can also do other things like stamina recovery, blood circulation, healing a stiff neck and even back pain!" (Tatsuro)

Hearing that, Ai's eyes went round with admiration.

"If you say it like that, then magicians will start to sound like the best multi-tools, you know?" (Ai)

"But you're still a manaless, you know?" (Tatsuro)