CH 4

[My Skill Has Further Evolved!]

“T-thank you very much.”

Bow, the one who was lowering her small head was the girl who gave her mother a hot spring trip as a present—— Tia-chan.

On the way back to the town down the foot of the mountain, I had encountered the town’s vigilante corps and explained to them the situation politely.

Then, the Mayor had thanked me profusely and said that he’d cover all my expenses during my stay here.

I, having enjoyed the hot spring plentifully after this and that, was once again being thanked by Tia-chan, who had also enjoyed the trip with her mother and was planning to go home today.

“Ahaha, you don’t have to mind it. Rather than that, keep cherishing your mother, okay?”

“Yes, of course! After all, I love my mom!” Tia-chan smiled radiantly, which made me involuntarily broke into a broad smile.

I was an only child, but if I had a sister, I was sure she would be like Tia-chan.

“Tia-chan is really kind and good kid, isn’t she?”

“Ah… Ehehe♪.”

When I patted her head with a smile, Tia blushed as though she was shy.

“Then, stay safe.”

“Yes, thank you. …U-umm!”

“Yeah?”

Tia-chan looked up at me with a face that seemed to be worried about something.

What’s wrong? – so I tilted my head, and then Tia clasped her hands in front of her chest and asked, “C-can we meet again…?”

Naturally, I nodded deeply and said, “Yeah! I’m looking forward to seeing you again, Tia-chan!”

“Yay♪ t-thank you so much!” Tia-chan vigorously bowed, her eyes shining brightly.

I couldn’t erase the broad smile from my face looking at her who was so innocent.

◇ ◇

After parting with Tia-chan mother and daughter pair, I climbed up the mountain path again.

Because, I got keenly aware of my lack of power when I had fought against Adamantia the other day.

It was all good that I had managed to deal with it because of coincidences at that time, but such a miracle didn’t always occur.

No, it was more normal for it not to happen instead.

So, when I had asked the Mayor if there was a place where I could train even a little, I was introduced to a temple in the middle of the volcano.

He had said that the 《Fire Resistance》 sub-skill could be obtained there, and adventurers often came to visit it.

By the way, ‘sub-skill’ was a skill that was established as one’s own ability, though not as strong as main skill. For example, if you got 《Fire Resistance》, you could literally become stronger against fire and heat.

There were 5 ranks of sub-skills, ranging from E to A, the initial ‘E’ was easy to acquire, but the effectiveness was not that high.

“But well, it’s better than nothing. So might as well take the opportunity to acquire it.”

The entrance to the temple was soon visible ahead as I was climbing the mountain path alone.

It looked like a cave.

“You are Exa-san, are you not? The Mayor told me about you.”

“Ah, greetings.”

Led by a girl dressed as a shrine maiden at the entrance, I entered the temple.

The path seemed to lead to the inside of the volcano, and the surrounding scenery was gradually dyed orange.

The more we proceeded, the hotter it got, and finally I could even see flowing lava.

“It’s here.”

“Y-yes…” Honestly, it was too hot and I wanted to go back already, but I had gone this far, it would be uncool to turn back now.

Or rather, the shrine maiden had a normal, composed look, so as a man I had to put up with it.

Well, the shrine maiden probably had 《Fire Resistance》, but that was another matter.

“It is said that if you meditate on the altar over there, you may obtain 《Fire Resistance》.”

“I-I understand…” Although I was kinda dazed, I went up to the altar that the shrine maiden had pointed at.

The altar looked like it was jutting out the lava, and if I didn’t watch my step, I might fall headfirst into the lava.

“Alright~, let’s go meditate~…”

――Slip.

““Ah……””

And immediately———I took a wrong step…

“Wai—!? O-owaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!?

“E-Exa-samaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?”

With the shrine maiden’s panicked voice behind me, I fell headfirst into the lava.

◇ ◇

Strangely, it wasn’t hot.

Or rather, I slowly woke up from what felt like a somehow comfortable nap.

Then.

[——To think a child of man would survive and appear before me]

I heard someone’s voice.

It was a mysterious voice, which I couldn’t tell whether the owner was a man or a woman.

[Very well. I will show respect for your courage and diligence, and give you a part of my strength]

At that moment, I knew something had changed in me.

This feeling was the same as when the 《Substitute》 skill had changed to 《Immortality》.

Then, I didn’t know why.

But, a conviction was born in me.

――That I could fly now.

[Go, child of man. With my blazing wings, fly to the end of the world.]

“!”

――Dopan!

Instantly, I opened my eyes wide, became a bird wrapped in crimson flame, and flew out of the lava.

“——Wha!?”

Then, after I got down and stood on the altar again, I caught sight of the shrine maiden – whose eyes are swollen, probably from crying – frozen with a startled expression.

Yes, I could hardly remember what had happened, but it seemed that my skill had evolved further.

『Skill――《Phoenix》：Become the agent of the great fire, instantly heal injury, including death, and nullify fire-attributed attack.』

In short, it meant that I had acquired an extremely amazing 《Fire Resistance》.

I didn’t really get it, but anyway, thank goodness.

More importantly, I had to report my survival to the shrine maiden for the time being because it seemed that I had made her really worried. “Sorry for making you worried, I’m back now.”

“Eh, ah…”

However, perhaps the shrine maiden still couldn’t process the situation, she was still stunned.

Well, given the situation, it couldn’t be helped.

So, I said with as gentlest voice as possible to reassure her. “As you can see, I’m fine, so please rest your heart at ease.”

“Ah, n-no…”

――Glance.

“Look, I’m not injured anywhere, right? I’m totally fine.”

“Ah, t-that’s not the problem here…”

――Glance, glance.

“?”

The shrine maiden wasn’t making herself clear for some reason, but before long, she said with reddened cheeks. “U-umm, if possible, I hope you can put on some clothes…”

“Clothes…? Wait, uwaaah!?”

Wai-, I was naked!?

No, tell me that first, Shrine Maiden-san!?

As I was hiding my lower part with my hands in a hurry, only then I came to realize what the shrine maiden had been glancing at since some time ago.

Rather, why did she glance at it so many times!?