Chapter 48: Skills Grow Stronger
“Oh, there it is!”
As I was walking along a forest path, I found a longhorn beetle I’d never seen before.
I immediately caught it.
Bwoan!
Monster Creature Encyclopedia No. 65/251
Name: Gold-spotted Longhorn Beetle
Rarity: 0
Capture Skill: Slashing Enhancement (Small)
Capture EXP: 90
Drop Item: Magic Stone (Small)
“Slashing Enhancement (Small), huh…”
I think I learned this skill when I caught other longhorn beetles too.
It’s a duplicate.
“Just in case, let’s take a look… Status Open.”
And then, my skill list showed:
Name: Natsume Kouichi
………
Skills: 【Childlike Heart】, 【Drop Item Enhancement】, 【Water Resistance (Small)】, 【Sleep Skill Nullification】, 【Water Walking】, 【Slashing Enhancement (Small+)】, 【Butterfly Dance】, 【Alertness】, 【Poison Absorption】, 【Bond of Friendship】, 【Aerial Swordsmanship】, 【Godspeed】
“Oh! There’s a plus on it…!”
【Slashing Enhancement (Small)】 had become 【Slashing Enhancement (Small+)】.
“So skills can grow, huh.”
If it keeps growing like this, it might become (Medium) or (Large).
I was a little disappointed when the skill duplicated, but if this is the case, it might actually be better to get duplicates.
“Alright, let’s keep going.”
I put away the Monster Creature Encyclopedia and walked a little further.
“Oh…!”
There was another bug I’d never seen before.
Let’s catch it.
Bwoan!
Monster Creature Encyclopedia No. 68/251
Name: Jet-Black Scarab
Rarity: 0
Capture Skill: Defense +1 (First-Time Bonus)
Capture EXP: 75
Drop Item: Magic Stone (Small)
“This is a good pace.”
As I thought, it feels like the variety of bugs has increased since the ‘Home’ was established.
This must be the Private Dungeon showing its true potential.
But, unexpectedly, new rhinoceros beetles or stag beetles aren’t appearing.
“Those guys are basically nocturnal, after all…”
Inside this dungeon, it’s always daytime.
Blue skies, cumulonimbus clouds, and the sound of cicadas are standard features.
Even if the sun has set outside the dungeon, or it’s dark, the environment doesn’t change.
“I wonder if this dungeon ever becomes night…?”
Maybe I should try entering late at night once.
I’ve been living a healthy lifestyle lately, so I don’t know if I’ll have the energy to stay awake, though.
“…Well, for now, I guess I’ll enjoy the daytime.”
――While catching beetles perched on trees, I passed through the forest path.
☆★☆
As expected, there were new bugs in the rural area too.
The Monster Capture Net that was torn by the jumbo dragonfly had also been repaired at some point, so I used it liberally.
“Hiyah!”
Bwoan!
Monster Creature Encyclopedia No. 21/251
Name: Pointed Grasshopper
Rarity: 0
Capture Skill: None
Capture EXP: 3
Drop Item: Magic Stone (Tiny)
“Sei!”
Bwoan!
Monster Creature Encyclopedia No. 23/251
Name: Mud-colored Grasshopper
Rarity: 0
Capture Skill: None
Capture EXP: 2
Drop Item: Magic Stone (Tiny)
“Alright…!”
Even if the EXP is low, it’s fun to fill up the encyclopedia.
There’s a sense of accomplishment.
Of course, leveling up or getting large magic stones is even better, though.
And then, as I took a step onto the footpath between rice fields.
“Hm…!?”
Flap flap flap flap…!
An unusually large grasshopper jumped and landed about 10 meters ahead.
That is…
“…A type of migratory locust, huh.”
Its jumping power is incredible.
If it jumps over the rice paddies, it’ll be tough to catch.
…But, with me as I am now.
“Too bad for you. I can handle linear movements. Skill 【Godspeed】 activate!”
I used the skill I just got from the jumbo dragonfly and closed the distance to the grasshopper in an instant.
“Sei!”
Bwoan!
Monster Creature Encyclopedia No. 22/251
Name: Emperor Grasshopper
Rarity: ★★
Capture Skill: Leg Strength Enhancement, Mass Assault Enhancement
Capture EXP: 400
Drop Item: Magic Stone (Medium)
Description: A large grasshopper said to be the king of grasshoppers. It sometimes moves while leading other grasshoppers. Also, its leg strength is powerful, and it can jump 10 meters even without using its wings.
“Ooh…!”
Looking at my status, 《Mass Assault》 had become 《Mass Assault+》.
The detailed enhancement effects are unknown, but there’s no doubt its power has increased.
It already had the strength of a trump card, and now it’s even stronger.
“Nice.”
I want to try it out soon.
Still, 【Godspeed】 was fast.
From my perspective, it wasn’t much different from teleporting.
This must be what they mean by ‘too fast for the eye to follow’.
“Haha…”
I can’t help but laugh.
I can hardly believe it myself.
That I could become this strong.
“Being an Explorer is incredibly fun…”
Some people say it’s ‘dicing with death’ or ‘not a proper job,’ but…
Once you know this feeling of getting stronger, there’s no way you can quit being an Explorer.
My decision to become an Explorer wasn’t a mistake.
“Alright, let’s keep going at this pace.”
I’m getting into it.
I walked wherever I pleased, catching bugs.
☆★☆
That evening.
“Phew…”
I came out of the dungeon and returned to my Home.
I’m confident I played to my heart’s content today.
“Ahh, I’m tired.”
But it was fun.
I got a lot of magic stones too, so it’ll probably be a considerable income.
“Hm…?”
When I picked up my smartphone, I had notifications on LINK.
There were 5 messages from [Team: The 4 Buddies of the Secret Base].
“Ah… Maybe Manamin-san shared an update on the situation?”
If so, that’d be great.
I also need to explain the situation to Otama-chan, and I was thinking I should share the effects of 【Bond of Friendship】 with everyone.
Wondering what they were talking about, I opened the app.
And then.
Manami: I’ve become a Pretear.
Manami: Everyone, check this out.
Manami: https://………
Manami: (Thumbnail Image) Summer Memories! Pretear Transformation Scene – Pretear Official Channel
Sasarabashi Shiho: I’ll watch it when I’m done with work.
“Ehh…”
This is too much.
As for Otama-chan, she’s read it and ignored it.
“Can’t be helped.”
Guess I’ll have to bring it up.
Kouichi: Everyone, I have something important to discuss.
Kouichi: Especially you, Otama-chan. Contact me when you’re done with work.
About 20 minutes later.
Pikon!
Tamaki: What’s up? Did they restock the ramune?
“Alright then…”
Kouichi: There’s something I want to share with everyone.
And so, I explained the situation.
That we want to become an A-Rank Party in a month.
And if we don’t, there’s a possibility that my and Otama-chan’s party will be torn apart.
Sasarabashi Shiho: I’m sorry, everyone. For saying something unnecessary…
Tamaki: It wasn’t unnecessary at all!
Tamaki: You did it for me, right? Thank you, Shi-chan.
(A stamp of a bear saying “Thank you”)
Manami: What’s unforgivable is the government’s tyranny.
Manami: If it comes down to it, I’ll stop them even if I have to start a flame war online.
Manami: I’ll spread an essay manga starring the tragic heroine, Omogawa Tamaki!
Tamaki: Hey! Don’t use my real name like that!
Manami: Huh? I’ll have you appear on ViewTube with your real name and face revealed.
Tamaki: No way! We’ll become an A-Rank Party, so stop it.
Kouichi: Yeah, let’s do it.
Manami: Though the essay manga idea is hard to pass up.
Sasarabashi Shiho: Why is no one blaming me?
Sasarabashi Shiho: Even though I said something unnecessary without consulting everyone…
Kouichi: You’re still saying that?
Kouichi: It’s obvious.
Kouichi: It’s because we’re friends.
Tamaki: Because we’re friends.
Manami: ‘Cause we’re friends.
Kouichi: And it’s something Shi-chan did for us.
Tamaki: I want to be in a party with Ko-chan too!
Manami: It’s something the smart Shi-chan came up with, right? I bet there was no other way.
Sasarabashi Shiho: Everyone, thank you.
Kouichi: Besides, there’s a good chance we can become an A-Rank Party in a month.
Sasarabashi Shiho: Eh…?
Kouichi: It’s the skill 【Bond of Friendship】.
I explained my assessment that when a party member uses a skill derived from 【Childlike Heart】, everyone in the party gains experience points.
Tamaki: I used the 【Water Manipulation】 skill today. In the Tri-Prefecture Border Dungeon.
Tamaki: Manamin’s deduction might be right.
Kouichi: Next is Manamin’s level. She’s already close to level 20.
Tamaki: Eh!? Really!?
Manami: Of course.
Manami: “I’ve become a Pretear!?”
After this, Manamin’s rather incomprehensible talk unfolded.
She said it was the same feeling as when someone from the generation that grew up watching Pretear gets chosen to be a Pretear voice actor.
I’m pretty sure that’s completely different, though…
Well, it seems she at least gave an overview of the 【Transformation Craving】 skill.
Manami: Later, I’ll show you a reenactment of the transformation scene from that video earlier.
Tamaki: If you plan to use it in actual combat, it’s a waste of time, so you should stop.
Manami: Huh? The time Tamama spends not conveying her feelings is way, way longer and a much bigger waste, you know. Want to skip to that part?
Kouichi: Feelings?
Tamaki: It’s nothing!
Tamaki: (Stamp of a bear scattering confetti)
Tamaki: (Stamp of a bear scattering confetti)
Sasarabashi Shiho: You all seem to be having fun, huh.
Sasarabashi Shiho: Say, Natsume-kun, I have a favor to ask…
Kouichi: What is it?
Sasarabashi Shiho: Tomorrow, on our day off, can I go to the Secret Base too?
Sasarabashi Shiho: I’d like to receive a skill from Natsume-kun as well, just like everyone else.