24.1. Divvying Loot

Salvos

Species: [Lesser Demon]

Subspecies: [Zelus Imp] - Lvl. 25

General Skills:

[Basic Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 5

[Identification] - Lvl. 4

[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] - Lvl. 1

[Rest] - Lvl. 2

Stats:

[Available Stat Points: 5]

[Vitality]: 21

[Strength]: 16

[Endurance]: 34

[Wisdom]: 41

[Agility]: 52

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 5]

[Basic Fire Creation] - Lvl. 15

[Double Step] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Fire Strike] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Fire Blast] - Lvl. 11

[Flame Coat] - Lvl. 3

[Passive - General Tool Proficiency] - Lvl. 3

[Unused Skill Slot] x1

I evaluated my Status, having leveled up twice in the last battle; we had been attacked by a lot of bandits— as Edithe and Daniel called them— most of whom I managed to land a hit on before they were taken out by me or the two Humans with me. And it was not like these bandits were low leveled either.

Most of them had been in the low 20’s, with some being in the upper 20’s or even low 30’s. Furthermore, I had probably been close to another level up before the fight even began, since I had been gaining experience from training my General Skills in the lull of action since I went to Hazelbury.

Previously, I had decided to distribute my Stat Points in a way that allowed my [Wisdom] and [Endurance] to catch up with my [Agility]. However, now that they had closed the gap a little, I felt it was time to change which Stats I would raise.

First of all, I would increase the amount of Stat Points I spent on [Agility] from 1 to 2. I did not like how that [Rogue] had kept up with me in terms of speed, even if she had been distinctly weaker than me in other areas. If I could get hurt by a single [Rogue] in a fight, then I worried about what a group of [Rogues] could do to me. Perhaps she had been focusing mostly on raising her [Agility]— hence why she was rather weak— but I still didn’t like the idea of facing many of her at once.

Then I looked at myself. I had barely taken any hits in that fight, but I was still injured all over. My body felt broken, and it probably would have been more broken if I hadn’t taken out the Level 31 [Warrior] before the battle started. So I raised my [Vitality] by 2.

Finally, I used my last Stat Point on [Strength]. I didn’t have much of a reason for it— it just seemed like it was being neglected so I gave it a pity point.

With that settled, I moved on to my Skill Points. I split 3 Skill Points evenly between [Basic Fire Creation], [Fire Blast], and [Flame Coat]. Then that was done too.

…

“Are you guys done? What’s taking so long?”

I called out, looking at the Edithe and Daniel as the two were bent over the bodies of the bandits. I had taken my time to make my decisions, but they still were not finished! The Human man glanced up, grimacing as he tossed aside a bloodied pouch.

“Not yet. We still have a few more bodies to look through!”

“What’s taking so long? I’ve already spent all my Skill and Stat Points! And I’m also all healed up— see?”

“Well, maybe if you help us, we’d be done quicker.”

He retorted, before going back to what he was doing. The two Humans were rummaging through the corpses, trying to find… something? I wasn’t entirely sure.

They tried to explain it to me— that they could find loot off the bodies? And if they could find any proof of their bandit group, they could possibly claim a bounty too?

Sighing, I got up and walked up to Daniel as he rummaged through the bag of the [Maulwielder Warrior]. He lowered the sack, pulling out a glinting object from it as he held it up to the sky.

“A platinum coin, huh? These guys were rich.”

“Of course they were.”

Edithe shook her head, leaving the body of the [Mage] I had killed. She had a book under her arms as she pocketed a bracelet into her robes.

“These guys were the lowest of the lows. They were probably planning on looting what was left of Maplewell, as well as killing and robbing from the bodies of any survivors they can find. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were following the path of destruction that evil Demon left behind just to prey on easy targets.”

She hesitated, casting a glance at me.

“Uh, no offense. I didn’t mean that a-all Demons were evil…”

“I don’t care.”

I shrugged simply.

“As long as you recognize that I’m Salvos and not just a Demon, I don’t care what you think about the others.

“R-right.”

The Human woman turned to loot another body as Daniel picked up the maul lying at his feet, frowning as he inspected it.

“Hm, this is a Low Grade Weapon. I think it can sell for quite a bit… actually, is there anything you want from these bandits, Salvos?”

He turned to me, raising an eyebrow. I paused, looking over the items strewn across between the corpses.

“I don’t know. Are there any Medium Grade Weapons here?”

“Nope, sorry. Best thing here is this maul, that wand Edithe found, and these three arrows that were on the archer. All of them are Low Grade.”

I eyed the maul he was carrying with a single hand. I reached to grab it.

“You’re right! Why haven’t I gotten anything— urk... what is this?”

The Human man let go of the maul as I held it with both hands. Immediately, I almost felt my hands give way to it. I barely held it up over my chest, using all of my strength just to swing it once.

“This is heavy!”

“Ah, right.”

He scratched the back of his head.

“Seems like it’s got a weight enchantment on it without any of the countervailing enchantments to make it lighter. That’s probably why it’s Low Grade and not Medium Grade. I bet it can hit as hard as any Medium Grade maul, but it’s not anywhere near as easy to use.”

“How did you hold it so easily?”

He hesitated, biting his lower lip.

“Uh, I’m strong I guess?”

“Huh.”

I stared at Daniel for a moment, before shoving the maul back to his chest.

“Take it, I don’t want it. It’s heavy! Is there anything lighter for me to keep?”

“Uh, right.”

He glanced around, unsure.

“I didn’t know you wanted to keep something for yourself. I thought Demons— I mean, you said nothing so far. And you owned basically nothing before I met you. If I had known, I would’ve kept an eye out for anything you might want.”

“I don’t know either. I just thought I should get something since you guys are taking things for yourself.”

I paused, remembering something.

“And Lucerna owned lots of things! So I guess I should too?”

I spoke with uncertainty; I had no idea if I even wanted anything from these bandits. There were shiny objects, weirdly shaped items, and other such trinkets. But none of them interested me beyond a cursory glance. They were almost like… rocks. I just had no use for any of them.

I took the three arrows Daniel offered me.

“I’ll take these for now— just so I can have something too!”

The Human man nodded.

“Alright then. Are we ready to go?”

He turned to Edithe. The Human woman walked up to us and nodded.

“Yeah. Let’s return to Hazelbury.”

“Let’s go!”

I excitedly spoke out, pumping a hand in the air. I marched forward as the two exchanged a glance. Daniel sighed.

“Uh, Salvos, that’s not the direction to Hazelbury. That’s where we came from. Hazelbury is this way.”

I blinked.

“Oh, that’s where I meant to go... don’t look at me like that!”