When I defeated the “Green Balloon” in combination with Cipher, the core indeed transformed into a magic stone.
“Activating Skill: ‘Compression.’ Target will be converted into a chip.”
As I hunted about ten creatures, I felt a separate sensation from the gradual increase in maximum magic power—my body seemed to radiate heat. It wasn’t unpleasant; rather, it felt good.
“Master, are you leveling up?”
Name: Tsukasa Fujiwara, 15 years old, Male
Student ID: 013942
Occupation: Baggage Carrier, Rank E
Level: 5
HP: 50/50, MP: 25/25
Strength: 20 (F)
Mind: 23 (F)
Intelligence: 15 (F)
Agility: 18 (F)
Luck: 13 (F)
Skill: Weightlifting 1!
“…It’s true. I leveled up.”
As Cipher said, I checked my student card, and my level had increased by 2. All of my stats had gone up, and my maximum magic power had increased by about 10, thanks to the level-up, in addition to the gradual increases I had already been making.
“So, this is the skill I acquired as a Baggage Carrier?”
Skill Name: Weightlifting 1
Description: If movement hindrance occurs due to excess weight, it can be ignored for a few seconds.
(“…This is the same skill that Beck first learned. It feels strangely nostalgic.”)
Is this what they call memories that don’t exist? While that dream is not just a dream to me, I can’t recall everything from my previous life. Instead, it resurfaces in fragments like this.
“Cipher, how much do you weigh?”
“With weapons included, approximately 30 kilograms.”
“I see. If things get dangerous, I’ll carry you and run for a bit.”
“………”
“What’s wrong? You’re not freezing up, are you?”
For a moment, Cipher didn’t respond, and I started to worry. After a while, though, the camera turned toward me with a quiet hum.
“There is no need to protect an autonomous doll. In such a case, I recommend abandoning it.”
“To me, you’re a full-fledged party member…”
“…That’s just being a ‘good-natured fool’…”
“Huh? Did your voice just change a little?”
“I don’t know. There is no record.”
Cipher seems to understand the act of “deception.” Renjou-sensei was impressed, and I, too, am continually amazed at the advancements in technology.
“Master, a monster has appeared at two o’clock.”
“Right. Could there be a monster nest over there?”
The place where the “Green Balloon” was appearing looked like a dead-end—but apparently, a large rock was blocking the passage. The “Green Balloons” were coming out from a gap above the rock, and after defeating a fair number, no more seemed to be attacking from the other side.
“Even with ‘Weightlifting,’ this rock is too much to move… Oh, I see.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll try to move this rock. Cipher, step back.”
With Cipher moving behind me, I placed my hands toward the large rock. Then, I activated “Compression.”
“Activating Skill: ‘Compression.’ Target will be converted into a chip.”
The large rock, several times my height, compressed between my hands. I was unsure if it would work on such a massive object, but it succeeded.
“Chip contents: One massive granite boulder.”
Beyond the boulder, there was a hollow space—it seemed the path continued deeper.
“…I had a feeling this might be the case. Cipher, can you see what’s over there? …Cipher?”
“Yes, that is a ‘Summoning Trap.’”
“I see. So, it was activating behind the wall and summoning the Balloons. I’m familiar with this type of trap.”
“You have seen it before?”
Technically, it’s Beck’s memory, but in dungeons, summoning traps are common. For explorers, they’re both dangerous and a potential opportunity.
You can repeatedly activate a summoning trap to call forth monsters and defeat them. You don’t need to search for monsters, making it efficient. However, there’s a risk—if you rely on the trap to always summon the same monsters, higher-tier variants may suddenly appear.
(There’s one… that definitely isn’t a Green Balloon.)
Cold sweat runs down my back. A purple-colored creature, as if embodying the resentment of the defeated Balloons, stood on the summoning magic circle.
“Detected unidentified attack.”
“?!”
At the same time as Cipher’s warning, I was shoved aside—before I could comprehend what happened, I heard a crashing sound, and Cipher’s arm was torn off, flying away.
The shock carried to Cipher’s main body as well, making it bounce and roll along the ground.
“…Master… retreat… use the scroll…”
The escape scroll didn’t activate. It was supposed to trigger automatically when a team member was in danger, but it didn’t apply to the autonomous doll.
I hadn’t underestimated the situation. I should have run the moment I saw it—but if Cipher hadn’t protected me, it might have been over already.
A higher-tier version of the purple Balloon. Even without eyes, I could tell it was targeting me.
If I got hit again, the escape scroll would definitely trigger. I knew I had to activate it myself before that happened, but I couldn’t make the choice.
