kscans

Chapter 12 - Back-to-Back on the Plains

The [Buried Great Boar], once you dealt with its initial area-of-effect stun, was a gentle boss with honestly no other difficult elements.

The pressure from its massive body was intimidating, but its charging speed was about the same as a Fool Boar’s, making it easy to dodge if you stayed calm. The area attack where it flung dirt clods was also easy to handle, as the impact points were always at a fixed distance from it.

It did use the earthquake stun again besides the opener, but the wind-up of raising its forelegs was so theatrically long that you could just hop over it like a jump rope. Its difficulty was perfectly suited for a beginner area boss, so,

◇You have defeated the [Buried Great Boar].◇

◇You have acquired a title.◇ ・‘Vanquisher of the Buried Great Boar’ ・‘He Who Dashes Across the Plains’

◇You have acquired a skill.◇ ・Boar’s Heart ・Acrobatics

This was the inevitable result. The moment my straight sword pierced its brow, the great boar froze, and several logs popped up at once—

“Total victory!”

With the exploding carcass of the boar and a fanfare as my backdrop, I flashed a peace sign, only for the goddess of victory waiting in the rear to pointedly turn away.

From my perspective, her pouting face was an adorable sight that almost made my own expression uncontrollably soften, but considering her feelings, I knew I had to offer some sort of follow-up or risk losing her favor completely.

She was a girl who was presumably beautiful, with a gentle and modest personality. I had no idea what twist of fate allowed a plain guy like me to be with her, but there was no reason to get complacent.

As I walked over to the displeased girl, the way she kept glancing at me out of the corner of her eye made it obvious she was just “pretending to be mad.”

“Sora is so cu—whoa, that was close!”

“Heh?!”

That was close! The post-boss fight euphoria almost made me blurt out what was in my head!

It’s not “Sora is so cute,” what am I doing, trying to flirt with her so naturally? That’s not my character!!

I let out a deliberately theatrical cough and turned to smooth things over with the girl who had jumped in surprise at my sudden outburst.

“You saved me. I might have been in trouble without that stat boost.”

“…It didn’t look that way to me. You were moving as weirdly as ever.”

She must have judged it as flattery, because her response was chilly… but honestly, I really was in trouble.

That first dirt-flinging attack, I dodged it all on reflex, but I doubt I could have done that with my base stats. Even if it had a damage value, I doubt getting hit by a dirt clod would have been a one-hit kill, but there was a good chance I would have been knocked down and finished off with a follow-up attack.

There was no effort to be spared in placating my cute companion. As I rattled on with that sentiment in mind, Sora, though still looking dissatisfied…

“Hmph… I’ll let it slide for now.”

…seemed to accept my explanation, for the time being.

“In any case, I need to figure something out. You must be bored just watching all the time, Sora.”

“You have no idea. Other than using my healing skill a few times during yesterday’s boss fight, I haven’t even been able to participate in combat.”

Yeah, well, if I were in her shoes, I’d be bored enough to complain too. I definitely needed to find a way for Sora to intervene in battles.

“On that note, did you get any new skills from the results just now?”

“Oh, right. Um… `Observer’s Eye`?”

So it seems like attack-type skills really don’t manifest without direct combat experience. Still, that’s an interesting name.

“Oh? What kind of skill is it?”

“Well… hmm, how do I put it? It makes it easier to see… and understand… the movements of an opponent who’s some distance away?”

She seemed to be having trouble explaining it in words, tilting her head in confusion just as I was. Thanks to that brain-installation thing, she probably understood it herself.

“Umm… please look at that Fool Boar over there.”

“Alrighty.”

Trying to explain it as best she could despite her trouble with words, Sora pointed to a boar a short distance away.

“For example, if that boar suddenly started running,”

“Okay?”

“It takes us a little while to register that, right? Before we think, ‘Oh, it started running.’”

“Hmm? Oh, I see… yeah.”

I kind of get what she’s trying to say. It’s about the time it takes to see, perceive, and understand something.

“It’s a skill that seems to shorten that delay… Um, does that make sense…?”

“It’s okay, I think I’m surprisingly getting it.”

So, in short, it increases the processing speed of visual information. That’s actually pretty good… wait, it can do that? Manipulating an individual’s perception speed and all that… what kind of… is this more mysterious tech? As expected of [Arcadia].

“From the sound of it, that seems like a really useful skill.”

Its effectiveness would depend on Sora, but this `Observer’s Eye`, which improved reaction speed, was very much suited for combat—in fact, isn’t it just a straight-up combat skill?

She must have thought so too, because even though it wasn’t the attack skill she had hoped for, a look of anticipation gradually spread across her face.

“The condition of keeping a distance isn’t a problem, since I was already planning on giving up on close-quarters combat. If I were to make use of that skill, a long-range weapon… like a bow?”

“Yes, I think so. I can’t get a gun since I’ve just started, so a bow seems like the best option until I can learn some attack magic.”

Well, that’s the safe bet—wait, what? This game has guns? That’s pretty unusual for a full-on fantasy setting…

While I was surprised, still committed to my ignorance until I felt like looking things up online, Sora seemed to be getting motivated now that she had a direction.

“I’ll try it out!” she said, activating the skill with excitement. I watched her with a smile—

“—Haeh?”

The next moment, Sora let out a bewildered cry and staggered.

“Ngh… huh…? …! …Ngh?!”

“S-Sora-san…?”

It wasn’t just a single stagger. She let out a faint voice that sounded like both a moan and a scream. Noticing something was wrong, I called out to her—and then Sora’s knees buckled.

“Hey…!”

I instinctively caught her slender avatar. Her HP was full, and she wasn’t suffering from any status ailments. I peered at her face, worried about the sudden, unexplained collapse…

“Ugh… kyuu…”

For some reason, Sora’s eyes were spinning—no, they were literally spinning. Like in a manga, where the pupils become spiraling lines.

The graphics, which are indistinguishable from reality, threw in a gag-like expression like this, so the dissonance was… well, let’s put that aside for now.

“Sora, are you okay? …Hey, Sora-san?”

“Ugh… the future… is overlapping… with the present… spinning… dizzy…!”

“O-Okay…?”

Sora, clenching her eyes shut as if fighting a headache, was trying to tell me something in a faint voice, but her words were unclear and broken, leaving me to do nothing but tilt my head in confusion.

She leaned on me as I supported her, seeming to try to stand for a moment… but it looked like she couldn’t. Sora went completely limp, entrusting her body to me. I supported her as we slowly sank to the ground together.

This is just like something I saw working at the izakaya. A drunk guy, about five seconds away from getting sick and letting it all out.

It’s a terrible comparison for a presumably beautiful girl, but I’m sorry, it’s a perfect match.

Even the way she was clinging to my hand, putting force into it as if to distract from the rising nausea, was identical… I should stop comparing it to that experience. If I recall the tragedy that followed five seconds later in vivid detail, my own mental state will be in jeopardy.

Fortunately, Sora… well, I don’t know if you can get sick and throw up in this world, but… she was gradually calming down.

“…You okay?”

“Sorry… just a little longer… like this…”

It seemed she still needed some time, muttering weakly while still leaning against me. It’s a nice perk… but I’m genuinely worried.

It was obvious that the new skill she had just tried to activate was the cause… but still.

“Um…”

“Feeling better?”

Sora, who had been completely still as if any movement would mean death, timidly lifted her head after a while.

Of course, since she was leaning on me completely, we were at zero distance. For a moment, she held her breath and blushed at the closeness of my face as she looked up, but she didn’t rush to pull away.

Her eyes, when they met mine, were slightly out of focus. It seemed she was still a little dizzy.

“Don’t push yourself. Want to lie down?”

I patted my lap to illustrate. Sora looked surprised, then her cheeks flushed shyly as she shook her head.

“I-I’m okay… now. I’m sorry for suddenly… thank you…”

Gradually regaining her composure, the girl took a breath and said, “Alright,” as she sat up.

“It was the skill, right?”

“Yes, um… it was… intense.”

So, intense.

“Well… the moment I used the skill, everything that was moving started to look blurry.”

“Blurry?”

“Yes. I think… the information I can normally perceive and the information I could perceive with `Observer’s Eye` got mixed up… I think.”

“…Oh?”

Crap, I don’t get it. This is probably one of those things only she can understand.

“It’s like I can see it but I can’t, or I’m seeing too much… I think my own processing power isn’t enough.”

“Seriously…? Can you even get a skill like that? A skill that knocks you out every time you use it is just a self-destruct button.”

To put it mildly, isn’t that a trash skill?

“Um… I have a feeling that if I get used to it, I’ll be fine.”

“You didn’t look like you were at a level where you could just ‘get used to it’…”

“You know how when you learn a skill, you roughly understand how to use it? It’s like that, I have a feeling that it’ll probably be okay.”

“Hmm…?”

So it just needs practice? If it’s a skill that brings about such a drastic change, it’d be a waste to let it go unused. If she says so, then I guess we’ll go with training.

“Wanna train then? Think just using it over and over will work?”

“Yes, I think so. Outside of combat, the boars move slowly, so if I try using it a few times here…”

“Okay. You can count on me for a backrest.”

“Ah, thank you ve—huh?”

“Hmm?”

“Eh?”

Eh?

“N-No, um, I couldn’t possibly! A backrest, something like that…”

“But still, there aren’t any objects to lean on in this field.”

It really is just a grassland as far as the eye can see. You’d think there’d be at least one rock lying around, but the only objects are some bushes with berries that are probably food for the boars.

If we had bags, we could use them as pillows, but we, who enjoy the blessings of fantasy-like inventory space, are naturally empty-handed.

“It might be weird if you think of me as a guy, but hey, it’s just an avatar. Don’t worry about it.”

Having relegated Sora to the little sister category, I no longer possessed any shame or ulterior motives. This offer was one hundred percent out of kindness—no, I’m exaggerating. I’m a guy, so of course, I have about one percent of an ulterior motive!

“B-But, um… Ugh, ughhh…!”

As I played the part of the “reliable man” as if I didn’t have a shred of an ulterior motive, Sora fidgeted in embarrassment—hey, what’s with that cute gesture? It’s super effective on me, so please stop.

“Uuu… okay, then… will you… stay with me?”

“Yeah, leave it to me.”

I theatrically patted my chest, which made Sora giggle. After a moment’s hesitation, she leaned her body against mine, back-to-back.

I could feel the warmth of her virtual body, which was indistinguishable from a real one, and I had to calm my heart, which threatened to race.

I could hear her breathing, as if she was steeling herself. To keep from being too conscious of Sora as she began her training, I decided to focus on my own tasks.

For now, I’ll set aside the growing number of titles and newly acquired skills and start with my stats.

Between the boss fights and mob hunting, I’ve leveled up quite a bit and have a nice stash of points.

It’s pretty easy to level up in this game. The growth feels much faster than in the few MMOs I played in the past.

Istia’s blessing, which aids in early growth, probably plays a big part, but… anyway, let’s distribute these points.

――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇
Name：Haru　 Lv：23（60）
STR(Strength)：15
AGI(Agility)：70
DEX(Dexterity)：70
VIT(Vitality)：5
MID(Mind)：5
LUC(Luck)：5

◇Skill◇
・All-Weapon Aptitude
`Quick Change`
`Weapon Dart`

・Accel Tempo
・Boar’s Heart New!
・Acrobatics New!
――――――――――――――――――

“Now then…”

What to do? My initial plan was to go all-in on AGI and DEX, so I wasn’t opposed to splitting the points between them and hitting the triple digits.

I wasn’t, but… for some reason, I have a feeling I’ll be pairing up with Sora a lot more in the future, which I’m grateful for.

We have a strange connection, and since we can’t hope for any other newcomers at our level, if we want a partner to progress with, we have no choice but to rely on each other.

In that case, should I avoid a solo-focused build? If Sora were heading toward an attack-oriented skill set, it would be a different story, but as it stands, her path is definitively that of a support healer.

If I stick with a build where any hit is a one-shot kill, making healing useless, the meaning of pairing with Sora is halved.

It does synergize with her broken support skill `Spectate Yell`, but I have no intention of making her use a spectator-only skill frequently.

What’s the point of playing a game if you’re just watching? She’s a player, not my option. There’s no point if we can’t have fun together.

“In that case…”

So, should I raise VIT? It’s not that simple. Sora calls me frail, but that’s not just due to my stats; it’s also because I’m not wearing any armor, a state of being completely naked… well, naked in a game sense. I’m still wearing the default villager-like underwear.

Anyway, just raising VIT probably won’t have much of an effect. The vitality stat does bolster your base durability to some extent, but its main purpose is to meet the requirements set for each piece of armor, allowing you to equip it.

But if I start wearing armor, I’ll be shackled by the weight capacity limit, and my current style will be completely shut down.

I’m sure some would say I should just fight with one sword, but my aptitude skill is `All-Weapon Aptitude`, and its modifiers are inferior to specialized aptitudes like `Straight Sword Aptitude` or `Greatsword Aptitude`.

If I limit myself to a single weapon style, I’ll become a completely inferior version of a player with a specialized aptitude, and several of my skills, starting with `Quick Change`, will go to waste.

…Yeah, this is a dead end. It seems I have no choice but to continue down this path.

――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇
Name：Haru　 Lv：23
STR(Strength)：15
AGI(Agility)：70→100
DEX(Dexterity)：70→100
VIT(Vitality)：5
MID(Mind)：5
LUC(Luck)：5

◇Skill◇
・All-Weapon Aptitude
`Quick Change`
`Weapon Dart`

・Accel Tempo
・Boar’s Heart
・Acrobatics
――――――――――――――――――

Yep, two beautiful 100s lined up. While I’m at it, let’s check out the two new skills I acquired.

Boar’s Heart—activates after running for a certain distance. When followed by a body slam or an attack with a weapon, it adds bonus damage and a knockback effect.

Acrobatics—when DEX provides support for high-speed maneuvers from AGI, that support is strengthened.

“Hmm…?”

Not bad. Boar’s Heart turns any action after a run-up into a pseudo-charge skill, and Acrobatics simply lets me save points I would have put into DEX, allowing me to boost AGI even more.

Aside from the fact that I probably got the former from my idiotic sprinting sprees, it’s a satisfying haul. Good stuff.

Now, for the titles. I’ll check the ones that have accumulated from the two boss fights.

Hmm, well, it’s still the early game, so there don’t seem to be any titles with noticeable effects… but this `One Who Weaves Bonds` seems pretty good.

I probably got this title from clearing a stage with Sora. Its effect is a bit unique: by designating a specific player, you get a slight bonus to all stats when you’re in a party with them.

Compared to the lackluster effects like a slight stamina increase or a slight EXP boost, this is an attractive benefit.

I don’t have anyone else, so I’ll designate Sora as the target… and that should be it.

Her occasional pained sighs, the weight she hesitantly put on me. I manipulated the status window as if to distract myself from the sensations coming from her back.

---

As the skill section of the status screen is going to get cluttered from now on, here’s a simple explanation of how to read it, using the protagonist’s current status screen as an example.
――――――――――――
◇Status◇
Name：Haru　 Lv：23
STR(Strength)：15
AGI(Agility)：100
DEX(Dexterity)：100
VIT(Vitality)：5
MID(Mind)：5
LUC(Luck)：5

◇Skill◇
・All-Weapon Aptitude
`Quick Change`
`Weapon Dart`

・Accel Tempo
・Boar’s Heart
・Acrobatics
――――――――――――
Basically, the currently activated aptitude tree will be at the top of the skill list.
The group of skills attached below it are the dedicated skills from that tree, and they will disappear if you switch to a different dedicated tree you’ve acquired.

The group of skills separated from the aptitude tree are general-purpose skills that remain active even when you switch trees.
In conversations, all skills are written with ` ` brackets, but in the status screen, skills with brackets are active skills that require manual activation. Those written without are passive skills that are always active or activate automatically when conditions are met.

That’s all. I wonder if it’s hard to read… I hope not.