5-Episode 3: Makoto Takatsuki sets out on a journey




Be careful, Makoto, I want you to be careful.

 The only person who saw me off was my grandmother teacher, who was my homeroom teacher in my beginner wizard class.

''You can't defeat a single little demon with your magic, you know.
 He said with a worried look on his face.

 As a result of training for a year, my profession is 'wizard apprentice'.
 I couldn't even become a full-fledged wizard, let alone my goal of becoming a magic swordsman.

''It's okay. I'll use my 'escape' skill to escape when the time comes.
Yes, you mustn't fight.

 Normally, an apprentice wizard doesn't travel alone.
 You'll be attacked by demons in no time.

I was told a lot of times that I had to join a party.
 But I refused.
 I was tired of talking to strangers and would be made fun of in the party.
 Then I'd rather be alone (solo).

I'm sure I can introduce you to the workings of the Water Temple, though.
 I've heard that story many times, too.

''Then I'll die in nine years of life expectancy. I'll have to work hard and accumulate 'contribution' points to God to extend my life span.
The world is a cruel place...
Well, I'm off.
Take care of yourself.
 We said our goodbyes.

 He was a good teacher.
 He was a bad student, but he didn't abandon me and took care of me until the end.

 When we left, I looked back at the temple a little later.
 The teacher is still watching me.
 I gave him a big wave and didn't look back after that.
 From now on it's just me.
 I'll do my best.



 ◇



 For a while, it was a peaceful journey.

 The occasional chirping of birds coming from the forest was pleasant.
 A stream runs beside the road.

 The creek is connected to a large lake called Lake Shimei.
 The city closest to the Water Temple is called McAllen, which is a water city on the shores of the lake.
 That is the first destination.

 My friend 'Fujiyan' should be there.
 I wonder how he is doing.
 I walked leisurely, feeling nostalgic.

 I'm using my 'Searching' and 'Covert' skills as I walk.

 Of course, this is to travel safely.
The area where the enemy can "search" is about 100 meters in radius.
 It's not a bad idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
 50 times.....

 It's not fair.
 Even so, I can still use my "spotting" skill to find the monsters lurking in the forest along the road.
 Without being caught off guard, I continued to use my skills.
 But..........

''I'm bored.''
 I was enjoying the scenery of my first trip, but I was also bored with the ever-present forest and city roads and streams.

'Do you want to train?'
 The practice of raising the proficiency level of water magic, which was done every day in the temple.
 Increasing the power of magic by purifying the mind.

The Waterball x 7
 You make 7 small water balls from a river or a water bowl.
 They're about the size of a volleyball.

 With my low mana, I shouldn't be able to create 7 waterballs at the same time.
 In the blink of an eye, I'll run out of magic power.

 However, if all I need to do is manipulate the water nearby, I don't need much magic power.
 The only thing you need is magical proficiency.

 The more skilled you are, the more you practice your magic, the more proficient you become.
 The more proficient you are, the faster you can generate and control your magic.
 There is no harm in raising the proficiency level.

 I've been practicing for the past year without fail.
 I'm not going to be able to get the same level of proficiency in water magic as a beginner.

 The power is only on the beginner's level, but....

"Today is another day to practice and cultivate............................hmm?

There was a response to the 'search' skill.
 In the forest a little off the street.

'Demons ... and people?'
 It looks like someone is being attacked by a demon.

Maintain your stealth skills and approach quietly.
 Our carriage is surrounded by a group of goblins.
 A man who looks like a merchant returning fire with a sword is surrounded by a group of four goblins.
 The merchant is outnumbered.

 Hmmm.....
 Should we help them?
 What do we do?

 If it's a game, I won't hesitate to help.
 Slaying goblins is a small fry fight.

If I were a hero...
 Unfortunately, we are in a survivalist alternate universe.

 If you die, it's over.
 There is no resurrection.
 There is no more life.

 And I am a wizard-in-training who can't defeat a single demon.
 My witchdoctor told me to run for my life.

 But.
 I see a man being attacked right in front of me.
 And you're abandoning him?
 But there's nothing to be gained if I'm dead.
 What would you do?
 It was then.


 --the choice(s) limb(s) were displayed(s) in front of me.


'Do you want to help the merchant?'

 I can't help you.
 rescue


What?

 What? Here.
 I've never seen this before.
Is this an effect of the RPG Player skill?
 I stared at the letters.

(....)

 What a skill.
 Scratch your cheek with your finger.

(CHEERS)

 It's not a man who doesn't 'help' here, is it?

Okay! Let's do it.

 I'm going to 'save' you!

 Gently approach the group of goblins and increase your magical power (mana).
 Aim to avoid hitting the merchant.

"Water Magic: Ice Arrow!

 The water bullets that I was using for training earlier are turned into ice arrows and fired at the goblins.
 It all hit.
 But.

(After all, we can't defeat it!)

 The goblins are bleeding, but they're not incapable of fighting.
 They're a long way away.

"Hey, are you okay?
 He called out to a merchant-like person who looked like he was being attacked.

'Ta, help me!'
Yes, sir.
 I answered the call for help.

--'Meikyomisui' skill 99%.

 This skill makes you forget about tension and fear.
 Focus only on defeating the enemy.

 One of the goblins is approaching.
 Of the four, only one is larger.
 It is probably the leader of the goblins.
 The remaining three remain surrounded by merchants.

 The goblin is holding a dagger that has turned black with rust in one hand.
 ........I don't want to engage in a proper close combat with that one.
 I shoot my magic just as the goblin's weapon reaches or fails to reach the interval of the weapon.

"Water Magic and Ice Needle!

Gah!
 The ice magic I unleashed blinded the goblins.
 A toothpick-sized needle of ice pierces the enemy's eye socket.

 It's a crappy magic, but it's effective for creatures that rely on their eyes.
 The goblin held his eyes and let go of the dagger he was holding.

 Alright!
 Missing the opportunity, I pick up the dagger that the goblin dropped.

 ...For a moment, I hesitated in the act of 'killing' the creature, but I quickly made up my mind.
 If I don't kill it, it will kill me.

 I drove the dagger into the goblin's chest.

"Water Magic Cooling.

''It's an elementary water magic method called 'freezing liquid by cooling it'.

 The dagger was passed through the dagger and planted in the opponent's blood.
 With a jolt, the goblin's body jumped and fell to the ground.
 I, with little magic power, worked hard to come up with this special move.

 I didn't forget to use my RPG Player Skill's 360-degree view during the fight.
 The other three goblins are watching us.

 So far, it's as expected.

 However, the current amount of magic power is empty.
 I really don't have much magic power (mana)....
 Two of the three remaining goblins were approaching.

 Let's just lead them to the riverside.
 We can't fight them without water.

 While backing away, I adjust the distance between us and the goblins.
 There's one goblin left near the merchant, but that's about right.
 Two goblins are rushing at me.

'Escape' skill.

 Activate the skill.
 I didn't open up the distance too much and lured the goblins to the water's edge.
 Alright, I can use the water as much as I want here.
 The two goblins are close by.

(Water Magic, Water Walking)

 Gently stand on the surface of the river.

 With this magic, you can stand on the surface of the water.
 However, the water is a stream about the depth of an adult's waist.
 The goblins also entered the river and tried to attack us.

(It took!)

"Water magic, water flow.

 The goblin's body in the river is teased out with water magic.
 The water surrounds the goblin's body.
 Gulp, gulp, gulp, the goblin is swallowed by the water.

 Just drown it.
 After about five minutes, the two goblins died.

"There, that's not a problem. Well, there's another goblin.
 Hurriedly, he turned back to the merchant.


 ◇


 The merchant was in a hurry.

 A group of hungry and belligerent goblins suddenly attacked them.
 He was confident that he could manage to get through at least one goblin.
 However, they surround the merchants to prevent them from escaping and slowly encircle them.
 I'm waiting for their physical strength to be exhausted.
 The horses are frightened and are useless.

''Ouch!''
 I felt a sharp pain in my right leg.
 When I was distracted by the large goblin and took my gaze away, the goblin behind me threw a stone at me.
 However, his aim and speed are unusual.

He has a 'throwing skill'!
 Special solids!
 Rarely, I've heard that a skilled demon is born.
 The pain in his foot prevents him from standing, so he stands up on his left leg and crouches down.

'Gee,' 'Gee,' 'Gee,'
 The goblins that surround us seem to be laughing.

 Not good.
 These guys don't come at you all at once, even after you take away their legs so that their prey can't escape.
 They are waiting for their opponents to weaken.
 In a corner of your mind, you begin to feel the fear that you are going to die today.
 I'm thirsty and my hand that is holding the sword is drenched.

Sneeze." "Sneeze." "Sneeze.
 The goblins didn't relax their siege, their abominable screams disrupting their concentration.

 Oh no, what to do.
 Just when I thought it was over, an icy arrow pierced the goblins.
''Huh?''
 What happened?

Hey.
 Human? Adventurer!

I need help!
 Desperate for help.
 It was a boy who appeared.
 He was dressed lightly and had no weapons of any kind.

 Is he okay?
 To be honest, you look weaker than you are.
 I don't know if I could defeat even a single goblin.

 But they didn't abandon me when I was attacked by a monster and came to my rescue.
 No matter how weak the adventurer looks, there's no choice but to join forces.
 I gripped my sword and tried to manage to get my aching leg up.

''Gaaaah!''
 Suddenly, the leader goblin held his eyes and began to suffer.

''What?''

 What the hell just happened?
 There's no magic chanting.
 There was no indication that he used his magic tools.

 When I couldn't keep up with the situation, I was there, and with a fluid motion, the boy thrust a dagger into the goblin's heart.
 However.

(You can't defeat a demon with a light thrust like that!

 But it wasn't.
 The goblin twitched and then fell with a thud.

(What, what? (That trick)
 The goblins that had surrounded him apparently saw the new humans as a threat.
 They attacked the boy adventurer.

 The boy ran towards the river to attract the goblin.
 The goblin with stone throwing skills, which seemed to be the most troublesome, seemed to run away when he saw that the leader had been defeated.

 Zap Zap Zap! and the sound of rampaging water and the screams of goblins.

 I wonder if he's okay.
 I'm worried, but the pain in my leg keeps me from moving.

 A few moments later, the boy came back.
 There is not a scratch on him.
 He's a hell of a skilled hand.
 I reminded myself that I shouldn't judge a man by his appearance.

"Are you all right?
Yes, yes, you're very helpful.
 Yes, he was saved.
 Released from the extreme tension, the merchant sat down heaving.



 ◇



'Thank you so much! You have saved my life!
 A young merchant thanked me for my help.

It's not much, but we are grateful.
Well, 100,000 g's? Isn't that a lot?
 I'm not a market expert.

I'd like you to accompany me into town, if you can.
I see. So you're also his bodyguard.
 Then I agree.
 Normally, it's more unusual for a demon to appear on the road.
 It should be no problem.

 Along the way, I was told a lot of stories about the hardships of new merchants.
 Come to think of it, Fujiyan should be a rookie merchant too.
 Is he having a hard time?

'Shall we get ready for camping soon?
 Before dark, the merchant suggested it.
 The road we're currently walking on has camping spaces in places.
 It is said that the lord manages them so that merchants and adventurers can rest.

''I'm sorry for the simple meal.
 But what the merchant served me was a stew that was magically frozen.
 In short, frozen food.
 We put it on the fire, simmered it and ate it with hard bread.
 It was good to eat dinner outdoors.


I'm going to take a look around.
 I told him as I put the borrowed sleeping bag on the ground.

'I'm sorry. If you didn't hurt your leg, I'd look around with you.
You're my bodyguard. I'm sure you can handle it.
 With that, he left the carriage.
 The merchant seems to sleep in the carriage.

 I moved away from the camp space for a bit and used my 'Searching' skill to make sure that there were no demons.
 I stopped the 'clearing water' skill that I always use.


''Haaah........''


 I sighed heavily.
 The back of my hands were drenched in sweat and my heart palpitations quickened.

(I didn't expect to encounter a demon before I reached the first city...)

When I looked at the Soul Book, I found that my "contribution" points had increased.
 Is my life span slightly longer?
 About three days.

'Thank goodness it's working out,'
 My knees tremble.

'The first demon I'm going to take down was supposed to be more of a minnow.
 Maybe a horned rabbit or a big rat.
 First, a bunch of goblins.

But we won.
 With a grin, he looked up at the star-filled night sky and clenched his fists.

'Yes!'
 A small gut-punch.

 The priests and sisters of the Water Temple disappointed me with my outlier skills.
 My classmates make fun of me.
 A younger boy took pity on me.
 A sympathetic teacher who worried me to no end.


 --"You'll never belong in this world," he said.


"It's okay, baby, it's okay.
 You can.

"The Water Wizard Elementary.
"Clear and Clear Water.
"RPG Player

 These three skills will get us through this world.
 I won't be dead for the next nine years.

Speaking of which, what should I do with the goblin's weapon?
 A tattered, rusty dagger that belonged to a goblin.
 Not likely to be for sale.
 It's a little too shabby to be used as a weapon.

"Let's keep it as a souvenir of our first victory. Maybe it's time to clean off the rust.
 Once there, I decided to wrap it up in a suitable rag and hold it.
 Let's get to bed now.

 We left the temple and our first day was over.
 For a while, I was so excited that I couldn't sleep.



 ◇



 I found myself standing in a large, empty space.

 A dream?
 I'm not much of a dreamer myself....

 I wonder where we are.
 It's the first time I've seen this view.
 Dreams are made up by your own memories...?

 My back cringed as I thought about it.

 It was a hot and humid summer day.
 Suddenly I felt as if I had ice in my back.
 An unworldly presence.

A calm feeling of "don't turn around" and a fearful feeling of "I want to turn around" were at odds with each other.
 As a result, I turned around, overcome with fear.



'Makoto. I've missed you...



 Standing there was a girl of immense beauty who would never be forgotten again.

'Oh, who are you?'
 Her voice quivered as she asked the question.

 That's how inhuman the girl's beauty was.
 The girl smiled at him.


''I am ... your goddess.