Chapter 349 - Seclusion (4)

Manticore.

It was certainly an Essence I'd absorbed with the intention of erasing it someday. That was why I'd debated whether to erase it or Corpse Golem when buying an Essence this time.

But...

“Listen, Amelia... if I get rid of this, my Mana resistance will drop, leaving me vulnerable to things like magic...”

At first, I'd balked at losing [Leap], my only movement skill, but that wasn't the real problem.

The lack of Mana resistance.

Until I could procure Bellarios's Essence, my tanking capabilities would be seriously unbalanced.

'It's not like I can erase Stormgush, either.'

Stormgush was a whopping rank-three Essence. Sure, I'd have to erase it eventually, too... but at least I should clear the Underground Island event first. With this Essence, I could breeze right through it.

Oh, for the record, that was where I'd get my second core Essence after [Gigantification].

'... Whew. What do I do, then?'

My dilemma deepened. Rather than give up an Essence, abandoning the idea of disguising my identity seemed like an option, too.

There were definitely suspicious aspects to the royal family's actions, but clearing my name of the evil-spirit accusation(?) might turn out to be surprisingly straightforward.

Surely they wouldn't kill me to silence—

“Oh, and I didn't mention this because I assumed you knew, but the royal family won't exactly welcome proof that you're not an evil spirit.”

“... Huh?”

“Why do you look so surprised? Since they acknowledged the rumors, that would amount to a blemish on the royal family's infallibility.”

Ugh... as if this wasn't a hard enough decision.

Unable to make up my mind easily, I asked Erwin and Amelia for their opinions.

“What do you two think I should do?”

“I... think you should stay hidden as much as possible, if you can.”

Erwin, for one, favored absorbing an Essence.

“Why?”

“... Just a feeling.”

Right. A gut feeling.

When I turned to Amelia, she offered her opinion, too.

“I agree with Tersia.”

“Why?”

“Because reclaiming your name won't gain you much in your current situation anyway.”

What did she mean, it wouldn't gain me anything? I wouldn't have to erase an Essence.

I was about to say so when Amelia continued.

“Surely you don't expect your former companions to come straight back to you after more than two years?”

Erwin agreed with her.

“That's true. I can't speak for Aynar, but Allua Raven will have trouble returning even if she hears you're back alive, mister. For one thing, she belongs to the royal military.”

I imagined Mister Bear would be in a similar position. Having joined a clan, he'd have trouble getting away.

As for Misha, all I knew was that she'd become Lee Baekho's companion.

'In that sense, they're not wrong.'

I paused the conversation and weighed the pros and cons of both options again. It didn't take as long as I'd expected.

'According to the information I got at the Round Table, the royal family will soon issue a conscription order for the nobles.'

Most would send the private soldiers they'd carefully kept in reserve, but as a former explorer, I wouldn't get off so easily. I'd have to join the war immediately and follow orders from above.

At last, I made my decision.

“I'll... erase the Essence.”

My jump button...

* * *

With our course of action settled, it was time to move to the next item on the agenda.

If I was going to absorb an Essence, which one should it be?

As we discussed this, I realized these two had something in common.

“An Imp's Essence seems like a good choice. It even gives a little Mana resistance.”

“But it's a rank-seven Essence, which actually makes it harder to find at the Trade market. A Dwarf Eater's Essence would be better. It increases Bone Density, like Aynar's, so it would suit him well.”

“Do we have the money to buy a rank-four Essence? I think a rank-five Alt Smaller would be better.”

“Oh, Alt Smaller? That won't do. It has a serious side effect...”

“A side effect?”

Erwin glanced at me, then whispered something to Amelia.

I couldn't hear what she said, but Amelia shot me a glance after hearing it, then said, “That could be a problem,” and dropped the subject.

'Why are they both so interested in my Essence situation?'

I chuckled and interrupted them.

“That's enough. I've already picked one.”

I'd selected the ones with the better stats and skills among those that could shrink my body, and I had three candidates ranked in order of preference.

“Erwin, go to the bank tomorrow and first find out how much we can borrow against the house. Amelia, check the Trade market for the Essences I mentioned.”

“Understood.”

“Let's eat, then. I'm starving.”

We wrapped up the conversation there, and the three of us shared the dinner Erwin had bought.

And...

“... You're going to stay here starting today?”

“There seem to be plenty of spare rooms. Is there a problem?”

“I'd prefer to keep business and personal matters separate.”

“Whew. Both of you, stop it. I'm tired. Let's just sleep. Amelia, take any of those empty rooms over there.”

There was a bit of a commotion when Amelia, whom I'd thought had returned to her lodgings, showed up in the night with her belongings, but it didn't turn into anything serious.

And so an oddly exhausting day came to an end.

“Mister! I'll be back!”

Starting the next day, Erwin and Amelia went out to attend to their respective tasks, while I stayed secluded in the dark house.

In plain terms, I kept sleeping.

Fortunately, three days later, the mortgage loan came through for just the right amount, and we used the money to recover Kraul's Demon Crusher, which had been pledged to the bank.

“... Hehe. Are you that happy about it?”

Of course I was. This was going to be my most prized possession.

「The character has equipped No. 87 Kraul's Demon Crusher.」

「Total Item Level increases by +4,800.」

Anyway, the good news didn't end there. Just then, an Essence I'd been looking for also came up for sale at the Trade market.

Well, it was my second choice rather than my first... but there wasn't a meaningful difference between their rankings, and I wouldn't be using it for long anyway.

'The price is reasonable, too.'

I spent almost all the money left after recovering the Demon Crusher to buy the Essence.

I'd already placed a custom order through Erwin for a shield to use in the Labyrinth, and I intended to put together the rest of my gear cheaply with tier-one materials, so I figured there wouldn't be any more major expenses.

... Oh, was there still one left?

'Please, don't let anyone recognize me.'

With the Essence purchased, I visited a temple the following day. It belonged to the Order of Tobera, one of the three divine orders.

I'd visited Leatlas's temple so often that going there made me nervous.

“We'd stand out even more if we went in together.”

“See you in a bit...”

“Don't make some needless mistake and draw attention.”

Rather than the conveniently located Grand Temple, I'd chosen a small temple on the outskirts of the city, where ordinary people made up ninety percent of the visitors.

Even so, I was fairly worried, since I'd have to uncover my face to have the Essence erased...

“Hoho, you're exceptionally well built for a human, young man. You'd have gone far as a knight.”

Fortunately, the elderly priest in charge of removing my Essence didn't recognize me.

「[Manticore's Essence] has been removed from the character's soul.」

「A portion of the stats gained through the Passive Skill [Heredity] is permanently retained.」

And so the Essence removal I'd worried about went off without a hitch. After paying exactly twice what my previous removal had cost, I hurried out of the temple and returned home.

Then I uncorked the vial I'd purchased in advance.

「[Gacha Bone's Essence] seeps into the character's soul.」

The Essence of Gacha Bone, a rank-six undead monster.

Its base stats were simple.

「Sixth Sense increases by +40.」

「Physical Resistance increases by +15.」

「Darkness Defense increases by +30.」

「Precision increases by +45.」

A set of stats that didn't quite fit any particular class.

On top of that...

「Bone Density increases by +110.」

The Bone Density stat that would give me a human build.

Finally, there were the penalties.

「Luck decreases by -50.」

「Self-Control decreases by -30.」

Luck was a stat that improved the odds of random outcomes, such as critical hits. Self-Control gave a bonus to resisting mental magic and status effects such as Fear.

Well, now that they'd dropped, they'd have the opposite effect.

“Oh.”

“Wow...”

When the Essence finished absorbing, the two watching me let out curious exclamations.

In truth, I was the one who felt strangest. Our eye levels weren't even that far apart now.

Amelia was in the low 170s in centimeters, wasn't she? Did that mean I'd shrunk to somewhere in the mid-180s?

As I pondered that, Erwin averted her eyes.

“... Do I look that strange?”

“N-no. It's not thaaat...”

“Then what?”

“I-I think... it'd be quicker for you to look yourself than for me to explain...”

Erwin pointed at the mirror with her index finger, and I walked over, holding up my loose trousers.

But the sturdy barbarian warrior was no longer there.

Only a tall, handsome human man remained.

“... That's me?”

I thought I understood why Aynar had been so depressed back then.

I looked so weak.

Like a single blow from a hammer would break something.

* * *

「Bjorn Jandel」

Level: 6

Physical: 1,230.39(New +290.62) / Mental: 443.3(New -60.19) / Ability: 1,706.25(New -469.3)

Item Level: 6,285(New +1,658)

Overall Combat Index: 4,951.19(New +175.63)

Obtained Essences: Orc Hero - Rank 5 / Ogre - Rank 3 / Bayon - Rank 3 / Stormgush - Rank 3 / Vol-Herchan - Rank 3(New) / Gacha Bone - Rank 6(New)

* * *

'Should I... erase this Essence again?'

The reflection in the mirror looked so pathetic that I seriously considered it. No wonder Erwin had averted her eyes and trailed off when she saw me.

“Um... mister, what's wrong? Your shoulders suddenly slumped...”

As I stood there feeling depressed, Erwin asked why, and I answered honestly.

How could I go outside looking like this?

Just look at Erwin. She still couldn't look me in the eye—

“W-what? Y-you've got it wrong! That isn't why I looked away!”

“Huh? It wasn't because I looked even more pathetic than you'd imagined and you were trying not to laugh?”

“No! Of course not!”

“Then why did you?”

At my question, Erwin answered quietly, sounding rather embarrassed.

“B-because you're handsome...”

“What?”

Her tastes were pretty conventional, too.

Had her obsession with me as a barbarian really been because she saw me merely as a guardian, not as a romantic prospect?

To get another data point, I asked Amelia.

“Do you think so, too?”

“Who knows...”

Amelia stared intently at my face, then gave a small smile and turned away.

“Well, it might be nice not to hurt my neck looking up at you.”

Surprisingly, neither of my companions thought negatively of my current appearance.

Had I become too steeped in barbarian tastes?

'... Looking closely, I suppose I might count as handsome by modern standards.'

Of course, that didn't mean I had the slightest desire to stay like this.

[Gigantification] worked off my base physique. With a body this tiny, it wouldn't be effective.

“Anyway, I want to test my Ability. Can you help?”

I couldn't mope about my shrunken body forever, so I decided to get on with what needed doing.

First on the list was practicing my skills.

'Going into the yard in broad daylight isn't a great idea, so I'll just try it in the living room.'

“Yes, I'll help. What should I do?”

“Oh, just attack me. With your spirits or an Ability.”

“... What?”

Uh... did she not know this Essence's passive?

Apparently not, so I briefly explained the Passive Skill.

(P) Probabilistic Retaliation - When taking damage from a resource-consuming attack, you have a set chance to negate and reflect the damage.

It was a Passive Skill that applied to anything that used resources, whether magic, Divine Power, or spirits.

In fact, this skill was a major reason I'd chosen this Essence. Of course, even this would struggle to make up for my reduced Mana resistance, but no other Essence offered this kind of performance at this price.

My first choice had been a different color variant of this Essence, anyway.

'Anyway, the chance was about ten percent...'

For the record, that figure accounted for the reduced Luck stat. There might be a slight discrepancy depending on the Luck I'd originally had, but it shouldn't be significant.

“Um... shall I start, then?”

Once I'd finished explaining, Erwin summoned her spirits and began attacking me.

And...

「The character has taken cold damage.」

「The character has taken cold damage...」

「...」

Huh?

“Erwin, try changing the element.”

“Okay!”

「The character has taken fire damage.」

「The character has taken fire damage...」

「...」