(Your level has increased.)
(Your level has increased.)
(Your level has increased…)
It wasn’t just my level going up.
Fire Enchant’s proficiency rose too!
At first, I struggled with it, but in just an hour, I could slap it on like a sticker. By leaving combat to Isti, focusing on enchanting, and diligently tracking traces, I got: (You have acquired Search.)
Oh…! Amazing!
Learning the Search skill made traces more visible.
For example, orc footprints glowed with a faint halo. Focusing on that glow let me sense the direction the orc went. I couldn’t pinpoint location, distance, or numbers like Isti, but… I figured out how it works.
“I learned it! The Search skill!”
“Really?”
Isti’s as happy for me as if it were her own achievement.
We went on a rampage, wiping out orcs in the forest like we’d dry up their whole population.
Well, Isti did.
Along the way, we easily ran into adventurers surrounded and in danger from orcs, and Isti saved them with a single arrow. At first, the adventurer group couldn’t even process what happened, but then they bowed to Isti.
“Did you see that?”
“White hair, elf, godly archery. It’s the ‘Noble Huntress.’”
“Wow.”
I totally got why they were awestruck by Isti. But she always hurried away when people noticed her, as if she dreaded them talking to her.
“They seem grateful to you.”
“Not interested. I don’t care what happens to anyone but you, Decal.”
That skill, paired with her mysterious aloofness from everyone. No wonder she’s famous.
I stay quiet, and as we walk, Isti says, “Do you want me to be nice to people, Decal?”
“Nah, I like you just as you are. No need to force a change. I enjoy roaming with you like this. Oh, orc incoming.”
Fire Enchant!
Isti deftly handles her bow and takes out the orc. Now I can tell how many fell just by the sound. Seven or so, maybe?
“I’m having fun too. Before, hunting with someone was unthinkable…”
Yeah, makes sense. That was before she got hypnotized.
“Wanna take down a few more and rest?”
“Yeah.”
Four hours total with Isti. We took out a ridiculous number of orcs. I’d have been toast alone. A timely monster outbreak, plus the fantastic setup of me leeching EXP from Isti’s kills, let me grow insanely fast in a short time.
[Level: 81
Status: HP 3145/3145 MP 3449/4217
Beleira’s Blessing (True) 「Fire immunity, increased fire magic power, all skill proficiency ++」
Agent of the Goddess 「Communicate in all languages, read all scripts. Qualified to cross worlds.」
Stats: Strength 341 Magic 558 Stamina 322 Agility 343
Skills:
Fire Arrow (★★☆) – The most basic yet practical fire magic. Ignites after hitting, dealing extra damage.
Fire Enchant (★★★) – Magic that imbues various objects with fire attributes.
Search (★★) – A skill to detect and analyze traces through careful observation.]
After this huge level jump, I felt physical changes. Strength and energy surged through me. I felt a solid pull toward my core, and my stamina had clearly shot up.
It wasn’t just numbers rising—my mind sharpened, and my movements got nimbler, proving it.
I hadn’t noticed at first, but now, with this big leap, I knew. I’d gotten tougher.
We rested on a flat rock as a makeshift chair. Sharing water from the bottle, we catch our breath.
“Isti, I’m grateful for the help, but why’d you decide to power me up like this?”
“Back at the guild, when that long-haired guy was talking.”
“Yeah?”
“I got mad seeing him ignore you. I don’t care how other humans see me, but I hate you being dismissed.”
“So you’ve been plotting how to boost my rank? Some leader you are.”
I tease her meanly, and Isti panics.
“Th-That’s not—”
“Kidding. I’m happy.”
“…”
Isti leans on my shoulder, relieved.
Then a thought hits me.
“Got any good defensive skills? I’d love to learn one if you do.”
“Defensive skills? Hm… I use spirit arts to protect myself, but spirits are picky and hard to befriend right away.”
Spirits exist?
“Wait.”
Isti cups her hands, and a gentle breeze suddenly blows. She stares intently at her hands, silent.
“What’re you doing?”
“Shh.”
…Seems like something that can’t be interrupted.
After ten minutes or so, Isti tells me, “Done. A spirit agreed to help you. I’ll assign one to you.”
…Assign?
Feels like adopting a puppy.
“Thanks, but… I can’t even see this spirit thing.”
“They’re shy and don’t show themselves much.”
“That’s how it is?”
“Yeah.”
Isti places something in my hand.
Weirdly, I know nothing’s there, but I feel a pleasant swirling breeze.
(You have acquired Wind Spirit.)
“Oh, I learned something.”
“When you want to talk to the spirit… just think it. It’ll stick by your side always.”
Hmm…
“Isti, stand up.”
She gets up, looking puzzled.
Lift Isti’s skirt!
…
A totally deliberate gust flips Isti’s skirt, briefly flashing her underwear.
“…Decal.”
“Just a joke.”
Her icy glare spooks me.
“The more you bond with the spirit, the stronger winds you can control.”
“Could I use it for defense?”
“That’s the idea.”
This seems more useful than I thought.
Since it’s commanded by thought, not words, there’s no opening to exploit.
Thanks to Isti today, I’ve picked up a ton of handy skills. They’ll help a lot down the line.
Isti suddenly turns away.
Looking over, an orc’s charging at us.
Something’s off. It’s like we’re not even on its radar—it looks desperate.
I don’t overthink it and enchant Isti’s arrow with fire.
The arrow slams into the orc’s thick torso, and it topples forward, unable to handle its own momentum. Behind the dead orc stands a woman with a baffled expression.
“Huh!? That was mine!”
I’m more shocked than embarrassed about stealing her kill.
Bright red hair reminiscent of Beleira, tied with a yellow ribbon. A pretty, petite swordswoman with a ponytail,
but her chest—big as her head—and thighs spill out of her clothes like they’re breaking some rule. Without the short sword in her hand, I wouldn’t have pegged her as a swordswoman. Her b0dy’s practically violent in its lewdness.
A charm totally different from Isti’s.
“Unbelievable! Both of you, still silent. Are all adventurers like this?”
I miss my chance to speak, too busy staring, and Isti doesn’t seem to have anything to say.
“We couldn’t see you from here. Sorry about that.”
I wedge myself between Isti’s aloof face and the woman.
“Hmph.”
She crosses her arms under her chest, sizing me up.
“I don’t want an apology from you. The one who messed up should apologize.”
Fair point. But Isti’s never gonna apologize, I bet.
As expected, she’s half-listening, not provoking but just uninterested. If I weren’t here, what would Isti do? Probably just turn and leave.
“You listening? With that skill, hiding behind a guy and not talking? Pathetic!”
The woman’s temper matches her fiery red hair.
Are all redheads like this? She’s yelling at Isti over my shoulder.
“Hear me? Elf!”
“Decal. We going?”
“Let’s settle this nicely. It was our mistake.”
No need to use hypnosis here. Though for other reasons, I kinda want to. Looking down at her, I really wanna hug that b0dy. Without hypnosis, that short sword’d probably gut me, though.
“Sorry.”
Isti apologizes honestly.
“What? You can talk. Be careful next time.”
The woman turns away briskly.
“Wait. You’re not an adventurer, but you’re hunting orcs here?”
“So? Is there a law saying only adventurers can?”
With that b0dy, alone?
All I can picture is her getting grabbed by orcs and worse.
“No law like that. But adventurers take risks for proper rewards—why’re you doing it?”
“You’re full of questions. Got a crush on me, mister?”
Yeah. A big one.
“I’m a hero candidate. Besides adventurers, this forest has hero trainees prepping for emergency missions.
I’m one of them!”
A topic I’d shoved to the back of my mind pops out of her mouth. Now it clicks. She’d be odd as an adventurer, but as a hero candidate, she fits perfectly.
Young but brimming with confidence, reckless enough to face monsters solo.
To step up as a hero candidate, you need this kind of spunk.
I like her even more.
“Emergency mission—you mean that one?”
I glance at Isti uncertainly, and she nods silently.
The redheaded swordswoman sees our exchange and says, “Guess the rumor’s spread among adventurers too.”
“Rumor aside, the one who brought that emergency mission order to Dry Village is this… Hunter right here?”
“…”
The woman freezes.
“Y-You’re the examiner?”
“Examiner?”
Isti’s doing exams?
“I’m not an examiner, but I do speak up on mission evaluations.”
…In a way, that kinda makes her an examiner.
“So all hero candidates’ pass-or-fail comes down to your call?”
“Just for Dry Village’s emergency missions. There’re other diamond-rank adventurers with their own emergency tasks too.”
“…”
The woman stands in front of me, looking uneasy.
“You’re not gonna dock me for being informal… right?”
Suddenly she became polite.
“…”
Isti watches the redhead quietly, then shakes her head, “I don’t do stuff like that.”
“Phew. Almost ruined my life.”
Isti’s public clout seems way higher than I thought. She’s got sway in picking hero candidates too. If Isti set the emergency mission, it makes sense it’d be above B-rank difficulty.
A task from Isti…Isn’t that life-threatening?
“No more questions, right? I’m outta here! Bye!”
The woman waves cheerfully and leaves.
But before that—
“Look this way.”
Snap.
I snap my fingers.
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Check out my other projects: Pushover Extra Trains the Villainesses (complete, semi-er0)
Rehabilitating the Villainess (complete)
Transmigrated as the Villainess’s Childhood Friend
I Picked Up an Amnesiac Witch
My Wife is the Devil
Transmigrated as the Butler of a Defeated Heroine