"So I've been wondering… Why does everyone stare at us so much when we begin heading out of the town? I know that some people are gonna take quick glances, but it feels like everyone and their mom is watching us. What gives?" Tael quickly asked.
"Sheesh, you don't know? They're a.s.sessing us."
"a.s.sessing? What's that supposed to mean?"
"I would a.s.sume it means that they're trying to decide if we're gonna die out there or not." I quickly answered.
"Yep. The guards here have this thing where they take bets on who is gonna die when they head out. It's their method of gambling. I partic.i.p.ated a few times. The top bets sometimes go up to a few thousand juns."
"That's awful."
Kany shrugged in response.
If they're really trying to just a.s.sess us, then surely they would have stopped staring by now. Maybe it's because all of us are still relatively new? Now that I think about it, I wonder what the bet on Tael and I was when we left the first time. I bet whoever gambled that I would live had a nice day afterwards. Still, that doesn't remove my first issue. Maybe…
"Does this city have a crime problem?" I directed this question at Kany.
"...I don't know. It's not like I've been to other cities before. I can't tell you if the crime rate here is higher or normal compared to other cities."
"Kenji-san, are you asking Kany this because you think she's a criminal?"
"Well, she is. At least, that's how I met her."
Tael burst out laughing when I said this.
"Bwahaha! Leave it to Kenji to point out that our resident loli is a kleptomaniac!"
"What's this about kleptomaniacs?" The gruff guard that we had met before approached us. It seems that we had all become so invested in our conversation that we didn't even realize that we had arrived at the drawbridge.
"Nothing! Don't worry about it!" I quickly declared.
The guard looked at me like I had said something funny for a moment before he eventually decided it wasn't important.
"Well… You certainly look different compared to the last time I saw you. You also have more people now! What are you going to do today?"
"I recently acquired a few levels in some cla.s.ses. I need a good place to test out my abilities so I'm heading out of the city for a while."
"Well alright then. Be careful out there. Ever since some moron killed a hobgoblin, all the goblins in the area that the guy didn't finish off have been forming small pocket camps. Honestly, it makes my job a lot harder."
I could hear Tael and Kany snickering behind me. Erana simply looked towards the ground in embarra.s.sment.
"Ah. I see. Thank you for the information." I grit my teeth and smiled. Punching a guard in the face would probably get me put in jail for a while, so I'd rather avoid it.
"Well then, safe travels!"
"Wait… What's the closest goblin camp? We'll clear them out for you."
"Oh really? Well then… They're around half a mile south from here. You can't miss them."
"Got it. Thanks."
With that, we left the confines of the city. We stepped out onto the gra.s.sy fields and took a moment to relax a bit.
"Fwaah… Being in the city is so suffocating…" Erana held her tree branch in both hands and looked upwards.
"Erana, why'd you leave the forest if you hate the city so much?" Tael turned over and asked.
"The cities are the only safe place to be now. I'd love to live in a forest in a log cabin, but that's no longer viable thanks to the demon king's forces…"
Leave it to Tael to step on a landmine without thinking.
"Well, you best get used to it. The Frozen Mist Hills are basically one gigantic city. We won't be seeing the sun for a week after tomorrow!"
"Urgh…"
I walked a little bit away from the group. I closed my eyes and began to look inward. The first thing I want to try is my new monk ability "Ability Boost."
How exactly does it work? Can I choose any ability, or is it limited to a limited number? How significant is the boost? Can I affect multiple powers at once? Can it affect things other than abilities?
Okay look, let's just start with the basics.
"Ability Boost!" I shouted.
...Nothing's happening.
Did I do something wrong?
Oh wait, it's probably this.
"Ability Boost: Strength!" I shouted.
Suddenly, I could feel a sudden surge in my physical strength. It feels like I could lift a boulder with my bare hands.
"Tael, come here real quick."
"Huh? Okay…"
Once he stepped close enough, I picked him up with one arm as if he were a doll.
"W-Woah! Stop!"
"Sorry, I just got this new ability and needed to try it on someone." I set Tael back down.
How long does this ability last? It's not like I feel a timer…
Wait, do I need to turn it off? I looked around inside of my mind and realized I was experiencing the same feeling that I do when I have the status menu up. This is definitely something I am maintaining. I released the feeling and I could feel my muscles slightly lessen.
"Awesome. Next up, an abstract ability."
"What? What's that mean?"
"Ahem… Ability Boost: Brain Power!" I shouted out.
Everything began to move in slow motion. I could see every individual blade of gra.s.s begin to move. I could feel every particle of air touch my skin. Uh-oh.
I released the ability.
"So… did that work?"
"Yep. A bit too well."
What about multiple abilities? Best to go all in.
"Ability Boost: All!"
Every part of me began to feel just a bit better. It's not like I was just a better version of myself, but it felt as if I was having a really good day.
I released the final test.
"Alright! This ability is actually crazy useful! I'm really glad I took those monk levels! Thank you, Yimmie!"
"Listen, since you tested your power on me, now I'm gonna test my power on you. It's only fair."
"Guh." He's right. It's only fair. I don't want to get exploded though…
"Magic Skin!" Tael shouted. I could see what seemed to be a very thin membrane covering his entire body including his clothes. It was like an aura.
"Okay. Hit me."
"Are you sure? You don't want me to just toss a rock?"
"Hit. Me."
"Well you said so." I said as I rounded my shoulder. I stepped forward and delivered a straight to him. I could feel that my punch was done in a far more efficient way than it was before. This must be those martial arts I was told about!
A loud TWING sound blared out as my fist was bounced off of Tael.
"Fufufu! It works! I got this ability at level 4, but I haven't been able to test it yet! Sorry Kenji, it seems like you'll just have to basque in my greatness!"
"I have 4 levels in wizard now too."
"Oh… I see."
Slurp… Slurp… Slurp…
"Oh, a slime!"
We quickly spotted the small green creature that was making its way towards us. Honestly why is it that we encounter these things in this field so quickly?
"Allow me! Lightning!" Tael pointed his wand towards the slime as a bolt of electricity flowed out of it. The slime spasmed for a bit before it shriveled. The electric shock had destroyed its core.
"Nice! I got that at level 6!"
2 levels behind… Alright!
"Are you boys having fun?" I heard someone ask. I can't see them.
"Yo Erana check it out! They really can't see me!"
"I can't even see you!"
Kany appeared behind Tael and took his hat.
"H-Hey! That's my hat! Give it back!"
"Nope!" Kany shouted as she began to run away.
"Fine! Shifting Sands!" Tael pointed his wand downwards. The ground suddenly changed from gra.s.sy to filled with sand. Kany immediately began to sink.
"W-Wait! Fine! If we're gonna play dirty… Freedom of Movement!" Kany shouted as her body began to glow red. She disappeared from the sinking sand and appeared on a spot with gra.s.s still on it.
I walked up to Erana as we watched the two have their battle over a hat.
"Well… Everyone's certainly improved a bit."
"That they have."
"I guess our next stop is a goblin camp. Are you up for it?"
"I don't like goblins, but I can't exactly say I dislike exterminating them. I suppose I'm ready whenever you are, Kenji-san."
"Alright. PACK IT UP KIDS, WE'RE HEADING OUT TO KILL SOME GOBLINS!"
"Okay!" Kany shouted back.
"Ugh! I'm not a kid! I'm the oldest one here!" Tael shouted out from under Kany. It seems that Kany had pinned Tael down while I wasn't watching.
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