“Seriously?”
A massive purple body.
A palpable sense of intimidation.
There’s no way I could be mistaken. That rare monster among rare monsters has appeared before us once again.
I definitely defeated the first one. I confirmed it with my own eyes. So this is the second one.
…Is it really possible for such a thing to happen?
No, the world has changed so much since the emergence of the ‘Demon King of Power.’ Perhaps things are happening that we humans are completely unaware of.
The Purple Slime is creeping closer. It moves just like the first one.
But I have no special medicine left in my hand.
Instead, what I have is—
“Going in blind. I have no choice but to do this.”
I step forward in front of the Purple Slime, hiding Filoé behind me.
The enemy’s body is bigger than mine. My vision is filled with a sickly purple color.
My arms still hurt. But I can’t afford to care.
I ready my dagger, taking a thrusting stance.
Where’s the core?
This one is the same type as the one I defeated before. I’ll definitely find it—there it is.
“Activating ‘Sample.’”
The ordinary dagger, not a magic item or anything, begins to emit a divine light.
I sense Filoé gasping behind me.
I silently apologize to her. Sorry. I’m borrowing your technique.
“Activating Gifted Skill! [Pierce]—!”
In an instant, I felt as if the dagger moved on its own.
Shortest.
Fastest.
The tip of the thrusting blade touches the Purple Slime’s sticky body, and in that instant, it blasts the enemy away as if popping a balloon.
Moreover.
The additional effect, Light Blade, activates, and the condensed light in the dagger is released all at once, attacking the Purple Slime.
The enemy, already suffering significant damage from the first strike, is pierced by the light and torn in half. In the dazzling light, I saw the core explode into pieces.
It’s not over yet.
With a screeching sound, the ground screams as massive water droplets are flung into the air.
The Light Blade didn’t just slaughter the Purple Slime; it gouged the ground for several dozen meters along with the water from the pond behind it.
Soaked from head to toe, I stood frozen with my dagger thrust out.
Isn’t this clearly an overkill?
What’s with this ridiculous power?
Confirming that nothing was moving in front of me, I slowly sheathed my dagger. In that moment, I felt sharp pains in my shoulder and waist.
Well… that makes sense. Even though my level has increased, suddenly using a borrowed, super-powerful technique is bound to make my body cry out.
《’Sample Lv1′ [Pierce] has been activated.
Defeated the Purple Slime.
Level up. 20→21
Level up. 21→22
Level up. 22→23
Due to the effect of ‘Sample Lv1,’ half of the acquired experience points will be shared with Filoé Alby.》
I leveled up again.
I originally defeated the enemy by copying someone else’s skill. It felt inappropriate to celebrate wholeheartedly.
Glancing at the owner of this magnificent skill [Pierce], I saw her frozen, still touching her ear’s [Tears of Destiny].
Perhaps in Filoé’s mind, the heavenly message is loudly repeating, “You leveled up.”
I heard her murmur, “Level 10.” For Filoé, a regular person and not an adventurer, that’s more than enough.
…Speaking of experience point sharing. This skill has such an effect too?
“This is… thanks to you, Isto? All of it? Is that right?”
Filoé muttered in a daze.
Thinking it was an overestimation, I chuckled.
“No, Filoé. This is also your strength. I just borrowed a little power. The one you should truly be proud of is yourself.”
I said it from the heart.
Then, for some reason, Filoé started crying with her eyes bright red.
“I’ve never been told something like that before… I’m so happy…!”
“I see.”
“Also… to hear it from someone so amazing… it feels like a dream!”
“No, I’m not amazing or anything.”
“That’s precisely what makes you amazing. You’re so cool.”
Filoé wiped her tears.
“To effortlessly defeat such a terrifying monster… You have that much power but you’re not arrogant at all. You saved me when I was in despair, ready to die. Isto, you’re the best, the strongest man I’ve ever seen.”
“You’re overdoing it.”
I was flustered by her unexpectedly high evaluation.
It’s true that I intervened to help a complete stranger, and fortunately, I managed to take down the Purple Slime almost in one strike, but I had no intention of boasting about what I did.
Wait? Isn’t what I’m saying pretty much the same as what Filoé said?
Having led a life far from praise, I was taken aback by Filoé’s pure and straightforward words and ended up saying something pathetic.
“Hey, Filoé. I’m someone so weak that I was expelled from the guild, so can you stop raising the bar so high with words like ‘best’ or ‘strongest’?”
“Why not?”
There’s no reason for that at all, as evident from her face.
“You’re, to me, the best and strongest hero. Isto.”
A lovely smile bloomed on her cute face.
Realizing that there was not a shred of deception in that smile, I looked up at the heavens.
“I’ve made my decision.”
“What about…?”
“I won’t throw away the life you saved anymore. I’ve always been looking backward, but from today on, I want to live facing forward by your side, Isto!”
By my side?
Could it be…?
“I’ve always wanted to leave the orphanage. But I was starting to give up, thinking it might be impossible. And then you appeared, Isto, my fateful person. So please have confidence.”
“Filoé… you shouldn’t…”
I unintentionally felt like crying a little.
Confidence. That’s certainly something I lack.
“Please. Take me with you! I beg you!”
Filoé bowed her head vigorously.
I truly felt it was great that a girl who had given up on living could regain her spirit.
If I could be of help in that, then I might as well be able to take pride in myself.
This girl reminded me of my confidence.
I wanted to grant her wish.
“Okay. If you want, let’s go together.”
Gently, I patted Filoé’s head, partly as a thank you.
“Hehe.”
“Ha ha.”
Yeah, not bad.
It’s not a bad role to give hope to a girl with a bright future.
Perhaps my respected mentor treated the children with such feelings.
Leading the children, huh.
I suddenly thought.
With my Gifted Skill [Awakening Appraisal], could I help unearth the buried talents of the children and guide them down the right path?
Just like the mentor who sent me out once.
Is there still something I can do, even though I was looked down upon as incompetent?
“Hey, you old man over there! Get away from Filoé!”
It was at that moment that a boy whose voice had just changed hurled insults at me.
