Act 1: Chapter 16: The Next Goal
TN : Behold, this is how a cute loli should act!
===
Lunaire and I were walking side-by-side as we went back to her hut.
As for what I’m going to do after this… I think I have to talk to Lunaire regarding the matter of me leaving 《Cocytus》.
I confirmed my own status with 《Status Check》 as I was walking beside Lunaire.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
『Kanata Kanzaki』
Race : Human
Lv :136
HP :547/653MP :274/585
Strength :190+300
Defense :109+100
Magic :163+400
Agility :150
Special Skill :
《Rookroa Language Comprehension [Lv:–]》
Common Skill :
《Status Check [Lv:–]》《Swordcraft [Lv:2/10]》《Alchemy [Lv:2/10]》
《Fire Magic [Lv:8/10]》《Water Magic [Lv:4/10]》《Earth Magic [Lv:4/10]》
《Wind Magic [Lv:5/10]》《Lightning Magic [Lv:2/10]》《Ice Magic [Lv:2/10]》
《White Magic [Lv:2/10]》《Ghost Magic [Lv:1/10]》《Barrier Magic [Lv:1/10]》
《Time-Space Magic [Lv:2/10]》《Summoning Magic [Lv:1/10]》
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Oooh….. My level was raised by 14 levels at once since I defeated the earth dragon that was Lv.150 created by 《Sand Tyrant》.
But… that’s not everything. I’ve amassed various skills too.
Although, my 《Fire Magic [Lv:8/10]》has almost reached its level cap, it seems that there’s another stage after I reached 10/10.
The range of magic someone could use is demonstrated through its ranking. Basically, people could only use magic up to their proficiency level. In my case, I could only use fire magic up to the 8th rank.
It’s not like I absolutely couldn’t use the 9th ranked magic. I could use it but it took a lot of time to cast, while it also lacked in power, and it had poor power conversion.
It seems that there’s a clear line separating normal magic with magic above the 20th rank which is called Divine Rank magic. Also, the name of the skills changed once I reach that tier.
It seems that the area above the 20th rank has another name, the root of magic. An old magician who devoted their whole life to study magic might be able to reach that territory at the end of their lifespan.
Though it wasn’t that hard for me to understand thanks to the effect of 《Inquiry of Magic King》.
By the way, Lunaire’s prided 《Retrograde》 was space-time magic of the 22nd rank. Whereas, 《Nil》 was a type of magic that erased its target which, she had previously shown to me. This was magic from the 20th rank.
It made me realize again just how amazing Lunaire is.
I mean just a few days ago, Lunaire cast 《Retrograde》 repeatedly on me again after I was injured from the light attacks from her golem.
I wish she didn’t use super magic just to heal a bruise which, could have been treated with low-level magic.
I chuckled while reminiscing about that time but, while I thought back on it my heart ached like it was suddenly attacked by some sort of loneliness.
I am running out of time to be together with Lunaire.
「Master…. Uhm, when will you send me away to leave 《Cocytus》?」
I took a peek at Lunaire’s face.
Will it be….. Tomorrow? No, I hope it’s the day after tomorrow.
……. I hope it’s not today since I’m gonna feel really lonely.
But, since I’ve no way to know what Lunaire was thinking about, even I don’t know what kind of answer she’s going to give me.
There was no reaction at all from Lunaire.
It seems she was deep in her own thoughts since she didn’t even realize that I called out to her.
「Master? Master Lunaire? 」
She seemed to be shocked and then turned quickly to look in my direction when I called her.
「…… I’ve been lost in my own mind since a while ago. So, uhm… What were you talking about just now?」
「I was just wondering when will you take me out of this place since I’ve reached the targeted Level….」
「Eeeh….. That’s…..」
Lunaire didn’t say anything for a while.
「Master? 」
Damn it, I ended up calling out to her since I wanted to hear her reply.
Lunaire’s body was trembling nonstop, she was showing an overreaction over this matter as she looked at me with an unfocused gaze.
「… Uhm… You know… Now that I think about it… Your Level might not be high enough.」
「Eh! ? 」
Her answer was completely beyond my expectation.
「D-Didn’t you say before that I would be able to safely leave this place if I reached Lv. 100? 」
She did tell me that before.
Although I’ve reached Lv. 100 yesterday, Lunaire had said 『Maybe your combat prowess has yet to reach appropriate mastery for your level』. Thus, she decided on today’s graduation exam.
Did I commit some sort of blunder during my fight against the earth dragon?
Lunaire’s restless expression didn’t tell me anything in this situation.
「Master, I’ve steadily gotten stronger so….」
「THAT’S NOT ENOUGH! I mean, outside of the dungeon is an extremely dangerous place! 」
Lunaire said as she flailed her arms with a flushed red face.
「S-Seriously, more dangerous than this abyss!? 」
Are you kidding me, wasn’t this place supposed to be the most dangerous dungeon in this world?
I mean, even that Nyarlhotep said so.
「Humph, if we’re speaking about danger, then this place is more dangerous indeed but… things might be even more dangerous outside if a super terrifying otherworlder sets their sights on you. 」
「W-Will that… really happen to me? 」
Surely, this place was only filled with Lv. 2000 class monsters.
Could it be that I was actually too naive in thinking that the outer world is safer than this place…?
「E-Even if the outside isn’t as dangerous as this place, there’s a possibility that you could encounter a Lv. 1000 demon outside… Maybe, no… You’ll definitely meet one of those Lv. 1000 demons! Without any kind of status or warranty to keep you safe, you might not survive the outside world for too long. T-That’s why you should continue your training in this place! 」
S-Somehow I felt that such an event might really happen if she said so.
Adding to the fact that I have absolutely no idea about the world outside of this dungeon, I think that I might have been too naive all this time thinking that it’ll be alright once I leave this dungeon.
The only information I was given was about the dangerous demons inside this dungeon. I have absolutely no idea what the differences are between the demons in here versus the demons outside.
The reason? It was because this 《Cocytus》 was my starting village.
Lunaire gripped my robe as she stared into my face.
「Yes and although what happens to you once you leave this place is no concern of mine, I think I more or less feel some kind of responsibility towards you. That’s why I’ll be looking after you for a while longer.」