Chapter 156

Let’s be an Adventurer! ~Defeating Dungeons with a Skill Board~ 156

Let’s Recommend the Ax to Van!

“Next up is Maat…”

“Pii!”

After coming out of the feather necklace, Maat squinted as she puffed up her body.

Her attitude was like saying “It’s okay, increase them however you like”.

Seeing her behavior made Haruki smile broadly.

After having to deal with that (self-proclaimed) princess, Maat’s attitude was very soothing.

Maat (??)　Gender: Female

Skill Points: 17 → 21

Class: Healing Spirit Empress

Safeguard: Angel of Judgment <Akatriel>

－Vitality ＜－＞

├ Stamina 3

└ Natural Recovery 2

－Strength ＜－＞

└ Strength 1

└ Damage Reduction 2

－Energy ＜－＞

├ Energy Power 2

├ Energy Capacity 3

└ Energy Manipulation 5

－Magic Power ＜－＞

├ Magic Power 7

├ Magic Compatibility 5

└ Magic Manipulation 8

└ Change <Healing> 4

－Agility ＜－＞

├ Quickness 3

└ Dexterity 4

－Technique ＜－＞

└  Equipment Mastery

└ Feathers 3

－Intuition ＜－＞

└ Detection 6

－Special

├ Safeguard MAX

└ Scales　NONE

“Hmm…”

Even though he had the freedom to increase them however he wanted, Maat’s skills were so high already that there really nothing that needed to be increased at this time.

Haruki was also worried that by just raising whatever he felt like, he could upset Maat’s skill balance.

After thinking hard, Haruki made up his mind and tapped the Skill Board.

Maat (??)　Gender: Female

Skill Points: 21 → 0

Class: Healing Spirit Empress

Safeguard: Angel of Judgment <Akatriel>

－Vitality ＜－＞

├ Stamina 3 → 5

└ Natural Recovery 2 → 3

－Strength ＜－＞

└ Strength 1 → 3

└ Damage Reduction 2 → 7

－Energy ＜－＞ → ＜＋1＞

├ Energy Power 2 → 3

├ Energy Capacity 3 → 5

└ Energy Manipulation 5 → 6

－Magic Power ＜－＞ → ＜＋1＞

├ Magic Power 7

├ Magic Compatibility 5

└ Magic Manipulation 8

└ Change <Healing> 4 → MAX

－Agility ＜－＞

├ Quickness 3

└ Dexterity 4

－Technique ＜－＞

└  Equipment Mastery

└ Feathers 3

－Intuition ＜－＞

└ Detection 6

－Special

├ Safeguard MAX

└ Scales　NONE

He increased a bit of everything, with a bit of focus on damage reduction.

Looking only at the average value of her skills, she was at the same level as Kagemitsu.

With this amount, there shouldn’t be any problem even if he can’t reallocate any more points to her until a few floors ahead.

＊　＊　＊　＊　＊　＊　＊　＊　＊

At last, it happened.

The long-awaited vessel had finally reached their desired floor.

His ability was enough.

Nevertheless, instead of going straight to that floor, the vessel had continued to take detours.

It was a detour that they couldn’t understand at all because they were only looking at the long-term goal.

“At this rate, we’d better off dragging him…”

“No, no. The spirit is nearby.”

“But it looks as if the spirit’s guidance isn’t working on him at all!”

“He really is a piece of work, huh?”

“But still, at last…”

“At long last, we can–”

“…Complete the second stage.”

Every one of them said that in unison.

This was a long-cherished desire for them.

It was a guide and a waypoint that would guide humankind.

This was biological, cultural, and technological.

It was an indispensable trial to get out of life’s deadlock.

Therefore, they had devoted themselves to this very day, and prepared the trial.

It was a test for those who had a “vessel” that reached the top…

Their preparations were ready.

All that was left was for them to give the go-ahead.

They weren’t afraid that the one with the large vessel would actually fail.

They were simply fed up with waiting for him to overcome their trial.

“O, true hero!”

“O, great hero!”

“Show us your power!”

“The power to become a hero…”

“The power to become great!”

“If you do that, the path will surely open…”

“Well, then–”

In a place where even the space was uncertain, which couldn’t be found anywhere in this world…

They solemnly announced the start of the trial.

＊　＊　＊　＊　＊　＊　＊　＊　＊

Two days after entering the 19th floor, Van had finished collecting lumber.

He then returned the lumber he had unknowingly taken from Haruki.

At that time, Van also tried to return the ax, but Haruki wouldn’t take it back.

“You can keep using it for a while. I’m not in a rush to sell it anyway.”

“Umm… But…”

“Also, if you fight with an ax, something good might come out of it, don’t you think?”

His main weapon was the greatsword, but for some reason, he was also proficient with an ax.

He also had a skill rating of 3, which was considerably high for an untrained skill.

That made Haruki think that maybe Van had a natural talent for using axes even better than greatswords.

His true aptitude might have been with the ax all this time. Whether he knew this or not, it was quite possible that Van had only picked up the greatsword because it was a convenient weapon for dungeon capture.

For that reason, Haruki suggested he kept the ax for a little while longer.

He was hoping that it would help Van overcome his obstacles.

“There may be something you can see if you start using another weapon. Actually, when I was a student, I belonged to the track and field club, but I would practice a different sport once a week.

I also played baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton, and table tennis.

By practicing those sports, I managed to train both the muscles and the muscle memory that I couldn’t have obtained by only practicing track and field in a well-balanced manner.”

“…I see.”

“That’s why I thought…  that maybe you’d like to use that ax as your weapon for a bit.”

This could sound like a plausible suggestion for the average person.

But from an adventurer’s point of view, not training one’s main weapon in order to become more proficient with a sub-weapon was a bit far from the standard.

Adventurers entrusted their lives to their weapons. It wasn’t a common thing to put down a weapon you’ve used for years and suddenly start using another.

However, Haruki couldn’t really say what he actually meant, which was that he had seen Van’s high Ax skill on his Skill Board.

So instead, he recommended Van to equip the ax in an indirect way.

“…”

“…”

Was it too reckless of me to try to talk an advanced adventurer into changing his main weapon…?

As Haruki wondered about that…

“…Got it. I’ll give it a try.”

He might have felt something in Haruki’s words.

Van looked at the ax, then pulled his chin as if he had bolstered his determination.

Haruki and Karen headed for the 19th floor joined by Van, who had equipped the ax instead of his usual greatsword.

Van was also planning to start exploring the dungeon from that day on.

(…Well, then.)

Haruki and Karen would go separate ways with Van.

However, since they were going to fight on the same floor, it was likely that they could end up seeing each other fight.

There was a chance Van could end up seeing Karen use magic.

(I’ve asked Van to keep quiet, but if he sees Karen using magic, I might have to ask him again just to be sure…)

While imagining that time coming, Haruki stepped out of the gate and into the floor.

At that time…

“–!?”

“–?”

“–Eh?”

Without any warning, the scenery before Haruki’s eyes changed completely.