“…… *hufffff*.”
Lying on my back on the bed in my room, I let out a deep sigh.
What should I say, and how, tomorrow night?
And if I do tell them, how will my companions react?
The more I thought about it, the more my stomach ached, so I forcibly pushed the thoughts aside.
What came to mind was Ena’s secret.
The moment I said I knew about Assassin Rage and Ena sank into despair, Ringo and Mitsuki returned, interrupting our conversation. We ate dinner together, and I told Mitsuki and the others, who kept perking up their ears as if wanting to ask something, “I’ll tell you the details tomorrow,” before quickly retreating to my room.
“Still, Assassin Rage, huh…”
Katsujinken Assassin Rage is famous for its effects and impact, but it’s also known as a skill with few users despite its fame. The reason its name is so well-known is primarily due to videos posted online. In reality, not many people have even learned this skill, let alone used it.
Assassin Rage is the 13th skill for the Ninjato. In terms of learning difficulty, it surpasses Tenha. Even Tenha could only be learned around the time of clearing the Game, so unless a Player has extensively played, even if they main the Ninjato, they wouldn’t normally learn Assassin Rage.
Perhaps it’s because a skill that could be considered a Secret Technique caused enemies to heal that it became a topic of conversation. Most people who use Assassin Rage as a Bug Skill are those who have raised their Ninjato proficiency with the Torch Sisyo after clearing the game. However, for such experienced players, the Bug Skill exploit of Assassin Rage often has only limited utility.
Compared to other healing methods, this skill has three advantages that come to mind immediately. First, because it consumes Stamina rather than MP, healing can be done almost at no cost while moving. Second, it has a high skill modifier, and its power depends on physical attack, so even Warrior-type characters can expect sufficient HP recovery. Third, as long as you’re holding a Ninjato, it can be activated instantly without taking out an item or casting a spell, making it useful even in emergencies.
The first point is probably the most important. Stamina recovers quickly, so you can effectively heal HP infinitely without worrying about problems like MP depletion. Healers would cry.
However, as the game progresses, healing items like Potions are usually readily available, so the advantage of healing while moving diminishes by the time you can get the Torch Sisyo. Moreover, it only heals HP. Considering measures against status abnormalities, healing magic and items are still important.
Conversely, the drawbacks include the necessity of equipping a Ninjato in one hand at all times. You cannot heal distant or multiple companions. You cannot heal yourself. It’s obviously useless in Solo Play, and even if your companions learn it, they use it as a normal attack skill. In fact, it’s a prime example of a skill that should not be taught to companions.
For these reasons, Assassin Rage was recognized by ‘Nekoneko’ Players as “a convenient skill, but a half-joke skill that isn’t actually used much.”
(But if the Torch Sisyo is available from the beginning, the situation changes.)
If healing magic and items are not yet fully available, having a Ninjato user in the party who can heal infinitely would drastically increase their sustain. It wouldn’t change the world, but it could lead to major reconsiderations in Adventurer weapon choices and party formations. Specifically regarding what would change, it would ultimately come down to the healers crying.
However, what should be most noted about this incident is that Ena discovered it on her own.
(I’m truly surprised by Ena.)
Although she was dejected by the fact that the secret she dramatically revealed fell flat, it’s still a remarkable feat. At least in the Game, NPCs didn’t discover and use Bug Skills on their own. Her actions, coming to the Capital City alone and teaming up with Tiel, are quite different from her behavior in the Game. This difference likely stems from NPCs becoming real Humans.
It’s an estimation, but at the start of the Game, when I arrived in this world, it was probably the closest to the ‘Nekoneko’ Game. Ena was in Solo Play, Mitsuki was helping people and traveling the world, Ringo was still Princess Shelmia, and all characters were in their game-assigned locations with their game-assigned abilities and thoughts. The situation has gradually changed due to various differences, including NPCs becoming human. And from now on, that trend will likely intensify.
Bug Skills other than Assassin Rage, like the defense against status effects using Invisibility or Bug Weapons like Fire of Sh, will likely be discovered by NPCs, or rather, by the Humans in this world, more and more. Of course, this doesn’t apply to systemic issues involving accessory over-equipment or cancellations, but this isn’t limited to Bug Skills.
The NPCs fought aimlessly in the Game, but in this materialized world, they might explore more efficient hunting methods, devise their own tactics, and conquer this world much like Game Players do. If that happens, it might be possible to create a world where Humans have the advantage over the Game world.
And the main reasons for this world’s destruction, the Demon Lord and the Slime, have already been dealt with. If that’s the case…
(Maybe I don’t need to work myself to the bone anymore.)
I felt a strange mix of relief, as if a burden had been lifted, and a touch of sadness.
There are still a few dangerous events that could occur, but it might finally be time for me to think about ourselves. Tomorrow, I’ll tell my companions everything, and then I’ll seriously think about how to return to our original world again.
Just as I reached that conclusion…
–Knock, knock.
A gentle knock echoed in the room. “Please, come in.”
A moment after my voice, the door opened. What peeked through was a translucent, light blue.
“Ringo? Is something wrong?”
Ever since Mitsuki started living in the mansion, Ringo and I have been living in separate rooms. Ringo has never visited my room at night before…
“…Soma.”
Ringo hurried over to my side and looked around the room. “…Bear, don’t you know?” It seemed she was looking for Bear. It’s true that Bear often comes to my room, so she wasn’t wrong to come here, but “No, sorry, I haven’t seen him.” Bear acts with complete freedom within the mansion. He seems to have a thorough grasp of everything in this bizarre mansion, and besides, all the strange people in the mansion obey Bear’s orders. Finding Bear in the mansion is an endeavor of utmost difficulty.
“Is there something you need? If you want, I can help…”
I started to say, but Ringo shook her head before I could finish. “…It’s fine. I was just curious.” She seemed to want to say it wasn’t anything important. But why would she come looking for Bear so urgently in the middle of the night? As I stared at her, Ringo slightly averted her gaze. “…I can’t sleep.” Ringo did seem a little down.
“Are you perhaps feeling unwell?”
As I sat up and peered at Ringo’s face, she took a step back. “…I’m fine.” But contrary to her words, her demeanor showed distress. This was as good as admitting she was lying.
“I won’t get angry, so please tell me honestly.”
Looking into Ringo’s eyes, I pleaded. Ringo never met my gaze until the end, but when I continued to stare persistently, she finally seemed to give in and opened her mouth. “…Just a little.” “Hmm?” She confessed in a very small voice. “…I feel… a little… difficulty breathing.” “Difficulty breathing…?” I frowned, and Ringo carefully chose her words. “…My chest feels… blocked.” Respiratory system, perhaps? I have no medical knowledge, and I don’t even know if modern medicine would work in this world. Still, it felt like more than just a simple physical injury.
“When did it start?” “Um… since I returned to town today.” It would be after defeating the Demon Lord. It wasn’t a strenuous battle, and I couldn’t think of a cause.
“What about a healing potion? Did you drink one?” To my question, Ringo answered by shaking her head. “…It’s nothing serious.” It sounded like an excuse from a child who didn’t want to go to the hospital. Ringo says that, but in this world, there’s a strange system where lack of sleep, muscle pain, and hangovers can all be cured by HP recovery medicine. If you’re not feeling well, drinking a Potion is always the right choice.
“Wait… just a moment.” I hurried Ringo to sit on the bed, pulled out the first Potion I saw from my pouch, and tried to hand it to her. However, Ringo shook her head again, trying to refuse. “…No. It’s a waste.” “It’s not a waste!” It’s a cliché, but Ringo’s well-being is far more important than a Potion. I took Ringo’s hand somewhat roughly and pressed the Potion I had taken out into it. “Please. Drink it for my sake.” When I asked, Ringo reluctantly brought the Potion bottle to her lips. Holding the container with both hands, she began to drink sip by sip. I watched intently as the contents of the bottle gradually decreased, but seeing Ringo glancing at me periodically, I decided it would be awkward to just stand there with my hands full. I announced, “Here, I’ll rub your back for you,” and reached for Ringo’s back. The moment my hand touched her back, Ringo’s body flinched, but she didn’t object to my hand stroking her back. While stroking her back as gently as possible, I watched her slender, white throat rise and fall in small gulps. “…How is it?” I asked, having confirmed the container was empty. If that didn’t work, I would consider trying status ailment recovery items, and if that failed, going to the clinic. No, in the worst-case scenario, I’d have to go to the Dungeon to retrieve Nectar from there…
“…It’s better.” But my worries were unfounded. Ringo blinked her eyes and curiously rubbed her chest. “I see. That’s good…” Hearing those words, I also breathed a sigh of relief. Potions are truly universal medicine! Ringo pondered for a while longer, but when I asked, “What do you want to do? Want to rest here for a bit?” she shook her head and stood up. “…Soma, thank you.” She said only that, and tried to leave the room. I hastily grabbed her arm. “…Soma?” Ringo’s eyes widened, but I had to say this. “Listen, Ringo. If you ever feel unwell again, tell me immediately.” “…Mm.” Whether she understood or not, Ringo nodded lightly. I pressed further. “You might not want to worry me, but keeping quiet about such things worries me far more.” When I said this with a serious look, Ringo eventually lowered her head. “…I’m sorry.” “Ah, no. It’s fine as long as you understand.” Completely disarmed by the unexpected, honest apology, I let go of her hand. Ringo moved as if slipping through my hand and went out into the corridor. “Good night.” “Yeah, good night.” We exchanged goodnight greetings there, but Ringo didn’t move from her spot. Standing frozen in front of the doorway, she seemed to be hesitating about something. “Ringo?” When I asked, Ringo murmured in a faint voice, “…I’ll see you tomorrow.” She waved a small hand at me and then, before I could react, the door was closed as if in a hurry. I stared blankly at the door for a while, but (Ringo has really changed a lot, hasn’t she…) I was lost in thought. Ringo, who seemed like the very definition of a doll princess when I first met her, has become much more expressive recently, and I feel she has become more approachable in a good way. The matter of her discomfort is a little worrying, but I’ll keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn’t push herself too hard for a while. Thanks to Ringo, I think I can finally sleep soundly. Just as I was about to clean up the Potion bottle Ringo left behind, “Ah…” I realized my mistake. “This is an MP recovery medicine…” I must have mistaken it for an HP recovery medicine in my haste. An MP recovery medicine shouldn’t have the effect of curing physical ailments… “Don’t underestimate it, Mr. Placebo.” Perhaps the true universal medicine is conviction. Reflecting on the mysteries of the human body, I drifted off to sleep… …And so, it should have been a clean end to the day. –Knock, knock. Just as I pulled the covers over myself, my room door was knocked on again. I wondered if Ringo had come back. “Please, come in.” I called out, but there was no sign of the door opening. (Is it someone’s prank?) In this mansion, there’s no shortage of such individuals. Or rather, not individuals, but non-humans. “This is troublesome,” I muttered involuntarily, but I couldn’t just leave it at that. I got out of bed and roughly pulled the doorknob. “Hya!” Looking down at the scream I heard, there was, “—What are you doing?” Ena, hugging a rather large cushion, looked up at me with wide eyes. The story about Ena became quite long, so I’ll divide it. I’m still not good at writing stories like this…
