Cold green orbs seemed to only look into mine during our travels, orbs which belonged to the elf commander.
Now, was I a bit worried she'd do something? Nah.
Okay maybe a little bit. It didn't help that she was eternally scowling at me, and didn't seem to want to talk it out.
"Freya, right?" I ask, already knowing the answer, but our relationship was hardly friendly, regardless of my lack of actions against her.
"...Correct." She continues to look me over.
I reach my hand out. "I look forward to working with you." Being courteous will at least give me some brownie points.
"I do not. I find your sudden appearance suspicious, and I won't hesitate to cut you down." Everyone else tensed at her declaration.
"Er…I see." I pull my hand back.
Did I hold it against her? No, but that's because I just didn't care enough. More importantly, she was watching me and my every move, and she was not conspicuous about it either. 'Personal suspicion? Maybe under orders too.'
Rose never voiced it, but I imagine she was also suspicious of me. Thankfully my offer to help should put me in their good graces. Though, perhaps not Freya's.
"It's sooo hot..." I hear Furina complain, resting her head on the cart's edge. She suddenly sits up, grabbing my attention. "Is that a…giant pig?"
"We're here." Freya points out the now obvious fact. "Don't you have a job to do, Butcher?"
"With pleasure." Getting off the built-in seat of my carriage, I begin a few stretches. "Stop here, Meili."
"Sure, sure." She does as asked, looking at the orc encampment in our way curiously.
"Betty will come al-"
"Don't follow me!" Jumping out the cart, I go into a full sprint as I activate my Mana Reinforcement. Punching the gate guard through the front gate, I grin as I feel my blood pumping.
Running in, I finish off the one I sent flying with a good stomp to the head.
Besides Luck and Intelligence, my Strength stat was my highest at an 84. Now, was I neglecting the other stats that could possibly save my life? Possibly, but there is just something satisfying about punching things you don't like. 'Now if only I could punch other things too, like my lady problems…Well, I could, but I would never.'
In the short moment I took to think, I was surrounded by a way bigger army than last time. A hundred of the pigs, one fifty at most.
"Okay…You guys are a whole lot more organized than the other camp. Where's your boss? Actually, I'll kill you all first, then watch as they realize their imminent defeat." Jumping at the closest group, I goomba stomp a fatter than average orc.
Dodging three different, but predictable attacks, I punch straight through the chest of another orc. "Eww…" Throwing the body at the other two who attacked, I watch as they fall like bowling pins.
"Four down, many more to go." I say, catching a war ax aimed for my head.
-47 HP
Did I say catch? More like embedded into my arm. "Oh, great. A volunteer that I can test this new magic I learned on!" I'm going to enjoy killing this shit stain.
"Crystallization Field."
With the frequent use of Minya through Beatrice, I picked it up myself at some point, then immediately made a variant of said spell.
"...Well, isn't this a surprise?" This spell utilized the Minya crystallization effect to its fullest degree, and used a Shamak-like cloud of smoke to attack my opponents. All in all, the orcs stood no chance. "Looks like everyone else wanted a try too."
First, their legs turned to crystal. Then, when their crystallized legs could not handle their weight, they collapsed, and with the rest of their bodies in range, the rest turned to crystal too.
MP Drained!
Gained Status Effect - Mana Exhaustion
Mana Exhaustion
MP recovery is reduced by 25%
"...Eleven seconds. It could be better…"
You Have Defeated:
Orc x 112
Orc Chieftain x 3
You Have Leveled Up! x 13
Status Effect Removed - Mana Exhaustion
'That's a lot more level ups than before…Why? Is it because I killed them, and not Beatrice?' …A theory for later.
"Well that was incredibly short lived." I sigh, running a hand through my hair. Looking back in the direction of the entrance, I find myself locked in a staredown with a girl with butterfly irises.
"Hmph." Breaking the gaze, I look for any stragglers.
Breeding Tent
The sight was the same as before, if not worse. At my side, with a distant expression, is Freya.
"Luna told me there is no way to save them, is that truly the case?" I ask, as I kneel next to an unconscious soon to be mother. Even if her child would be her end.
"It is." She responds curtly.
"Not even if I were to cut out the fetus and heal the wound?" I ask.
"...Your job is to exterminate the orcs, not save the elves." She huffs.
"...I see."
Turning around, I make my way out of the tent.
"Elsa." Appearing at my side is the Bowel Hunter. "What's your take on all this?"
"Oh? My, you must really not want to speak with the little spirit if you're asking for my opinion." She giggles.
"On the elves, not my personal relationships."
"Fine." She shrugs. "They're unimpressive, weak. I don't see the point in helping them. Hardly worth my time."
"Hardly? So they are?" Even if it's to a small extent?
"The Commander reminds me of that knight I fought."
"Knight? Oh, Julius. If she reminds you of him, she's likely a spirit user." Shelving that thought for later, I continue making my way back to the cart. "Regardless, you're right on one thing. It's a miracle there's even any elves left, if they're all being defeated by these things."
"Speaking of, you are getting rapidly stronger by the day. How is that possible?" She asks curiously, as she begins to lean on my back.
"...Luck?" Not really, but I wasn't obligated to tell her anything.
Affection With Elsa Granhiert Has Increased By 5
"Fufu…Of course, luck."
Finally finished setting up camp, I took a seat on the log I fashioned into a bench.
"Brr…" Taking a seat at my side is Furina, freezing cold by the sounds of it. "Ren, can't you start the fire already?" She hurries me.
"Huh?" I try not to feel too annoyed by her demands, so I just sigh as I get to work. "Yeah, yeah. Not my fault your only outfit consists of three layers of upper outerwear, and just a pair of shorts."
"Hey, I look good in them!"
"I never said you didn't." I respond, placing my hand over the fire pit.
"W-Wa-Waa-Waa…" Why are you embarrassed now? You literally made me say that.
Reputation With Furina De Fontaine Has Increased By 10!
Wonderful.
"Goa." Nothing. "Tsk, no luck. Even now." Reaching into my inventory, I pull out the lighter I bought in the system store.
"What was…No, nevermind." Freya shakes her head, ignoring what just happened.
"You get used to it after a while, elf-san." Meili laughs, taking a seat on the other bench.
"It's a dimensional pocket." I tell them, or rather Freya. "I can store a limited amount of non-alive things in there." Limited to my knowledge.
"How forthcoming of you, in fact." I catch Beatrice muttering under her breath, but I don't comment on it.
"Yeah, I took you to be a really secretive person, Ren." Furina adds, far more composed now.
"I am." I reply, putting the lighter away. "But, there's things you can hide." My past, for example. "And, things you can't." Like the inventory.
Well, now that I think about it. I don't really have to hide anything, but it's convenient and there are pros in doing so.
"From the way you speak, I can only assume this group of yours hasn't been around long." Freya points out.
"Then, you'd be right." An awkward silence accompanies us after I answer, only for it to be broken up by the sound of the flames coming to life.
"There. I'm going to bed."
"Wah?! But, aren't you going to cook dinner?" Furina looks up at me disappointedly.
'Oh, I guess I am the designated cook.' Well…
"Nope. Night." With a lazy wave, I make my way over to the cart. Climbing in, I find my pillow under one of the seats. Placing it in my desired spot, I lay down with an exhaled breath of relief.
Before I can allow myself to fall asleep, I utter my new favorite word. "Status."
Ren Fujimura
Level: 64 (71%)
Job: World Wanderer (?)
Title: Made For Maids
HP: 1200/1200 (2HP/Min)
MP: 1750/2400 (5MP/Min)
STR: 84
AGI: 45
END: 45
INT: 95
WIS: 10
LUK: 100
ASP: 140
'Yeesh, I should probably average things out a bit.' Raising Agi, End, and Wis to 60 each, I'm left with, coincidentally, 60 ASP. 'Then, I'll raise both Str and Int to 100, and keep the rest.'
STR: 100
AGI: 60
END: 60
INT: 100
WIS: 60
LUK: 100
ASP: 39
Strength Has Reached 100!
Skill Associated To Strength…
…Generated!
Perfect Strike (Physical Variant) - Level Max
Somehow, Miraculously, You have hit the perfect strike. The stars have aligned so that the angle, placement and many other factors are perfect, allowing you, the player, to deal a massive increase in damage.
The Attack Will Deal 10% Additional Damage (Scales On Strength At A 10STR:1% Ratio), and has a 10% Chance of Activating (Scales On Luck at a 10LUK:1% Ratio).
Skill Has A Cooldown Of 5 Seconds.
Intelligence Has Reached 100!
Skill Associated To Intelligence…
…Generated!
Perfect Strike (Intelligence Variant) - Level Max
Just like its other Variant, but on anything that scales on INT!
The Attack Will Deal 10% Additional Damage (Scales On Intelligence At A 10INT:1% Ratio), and has a 10% Chance of Activating (Scales On Luck at 10LUK:1% Ratio).
Skill Has A Cooldown Of 20 Seconds
'Somehow, I get the feeling I shouldn't have leveled up luck first if this is what I'm going to be getting as my stat skills. At least these skills will only get better the more I grow.' Waving both new skill screens away, I debate on whether or not I should actually keep the rest of my ASP, or put it into luck. 'Decisions, decisions.' Waving the status screen away for now, I notice the blonde spirit at my side.
"Do you really not wish to speak with Betty?" She asks, her tone…reminding me of when she had given up on living, in one of Subaru's many failed loops.
Sitting up, I turn away. 'Why am I being so…dumb? Without her, I'm dead. So…why? Why can't I let go of this childish pride?' Staring out into the forest, I can already imagine the pathetic face I'm making. 'She killed a few elves, boo-hoo, cry me a river. You said it yourself. You're not a hero.' Looking back, our eyes meet briefly, before I break my gaze away again. 'Pride be damned, I need this girl around, or I will die.'
Getting on my knees, I bow my head to the ground, as I go into dogeza. "I'm sorry, Beatrice. I didn't have any right to have lashed out at you."
Sucking in a breath, I continue. "We're partners, not master and slave. I shouldn't have ordered you around like that, and for that, I am sorry."
"Please, forgive me."
To Be Continued…