CH 17

[—————-Why am I so strong despite being level 1?]

On the way to our destination, I asked Resilia.

I may have already settled my emotions, putting such things aside, Resilia’s high ability is obviously abnormal.

In B&B, you can increase the corresponding stat values by “training” in addition to leveling up, but I have never heard that you could get such stat values even at LV 1.

It’s scary to rely on power from an unknown source, so if I could know the secret of her strength, it may be useful for us in the future.

So, I decided to ask her about the secret of her power.

[If it’s about that, then I think I need to tell you about the Toren Family.]

Not seemingly offended by my sudden question, Resilia began to speak, choosing her words carefully.

Unexpectedly, it seemed like the story starts from the roots of “Rex Toren” and “Resilia Toren”.

[The Toren Family has served as guards and swordsmanship tutors for the Ash Royal Family for generations. Such a tradition continued until my generation.]

[What in the world is with the Ash Royal Family……]

[They are descendants of the  Ash Kingdom, who sealed the Evil Deity together with the <Goddess of Salvation>. They lost their real power, but they were living peacefully in the castle in Ash City.]

[Ahh, speaking of which……]

There certainly was a setting like that.

I remember hearing a little about the Ash Royal Family at an event related to the <Cult of Eternal Darkness> that worships the <God of Darkness>, an antagonistic force that comes to prominence in the latter half of the game.

In the world of B&B, the setting of countries and government is rather vague, perhaps because of the worldview in which the Gods stand above the people.

The form of the countries was similar to a federation of kingdoms, with each city and town having a certain degree of autonomy.

[Although they had no real power, the descendants of the Ash Royal Family were considered the closest to the <Goddess of Salvation>, and their lives were often targeted by Demons and those who were in league with such evil beings. We of the Toren Family honed our swordsmanship for them and devoted our swords and loyalty to them, and we’re known as the <Guardian Knights Toren>. On the other hand, the training was severe and I hear that many had dropped out or failed.]

[Perhaps, that could also be the reason “Rex” left your home……]

[……I don’t know what Rex nii-san was thinking. However, it seems like that’s how the world saw the situation.]

She said so matter-of-factly.

It’s just, I feel like there seemed to be a hint of anger in it.

[T- Then, if that’s the case, is Resilia also……]

I was about to say something to divert the conversation, but I realized that I had made a poor choice of topic to divert to.

If she was training to become a Guardian Knight, she already had someone she was supposed to be guarding that day……

[……Yes. I was also supposed to serve as the Second Prince as a Royal Guard.]

I’m not so sure if I did a good job hiding my expression when I heard that answer.

[……I see.]

“I hope he managed to survive”, aren’t words that I could say lightly in this situation.

After all, I knew who that guy is.

I knew that the Ash Royal Family’s Second Prince…… was still alive.

(D*mn it! That’s how things were connected huh!)

I prayed very, very hard that Resilia would never see “him” again.

After all……

The sole survivor of the Ash City and Ash Royal Family.

The <Servant of Darkness> who has risen from purgatory and vowed revenge against the Goddess.

""

He’s the strongest and most powerful Mage who makes full use of Dark Sorcery.

The <Prince of Darkness>, the worst enemy who later leads the <Cult of Eternal Darkness>, and standing in front of the Hero many times and trying to lead the world to destruction, had introduced himself as the Ash Royal Family’s Second Prince after all……

※　※　※

[I guess the Toren Family have their own unique school of techniques?]

Perhaps concerned that they were talking less to each other, Resilia responded in a cheerful tone.

[Indeed. The Toren Family fighting style takes advantage of speed and uses Wind Magic for support. In fact, I was only initiated into the Hidden Techniques just the other day, so in a manner of speaking, it isn’t as if I have ceased learning our school of techniques.]

[H- Hidden Techniques……]

[I still have much to learn. But with that, I’m a member of the “Toren Swords”, and I can proudly call myself an <Imperial Sword>.]

[……Eh? W- What did you just say?]

Hearing a phrase that I couldn’t ignore, I reflexively asked back.

[Toren Swords?]

[No, the other one.]

""

[Ahh, you’re talking about the <Imperial Sword>?]

The moment I heard those words, I felt like an electric current ran through my brain.

That’s right!

I thought I recognized something when looking at Resilia’s Status!

They were the stat values necessary to Job Change into the Swordman Line’s Upper-Rank Job: <Imperial Sword>.

(Oi, oi, oi, oi, there’s no way……)

A crazy hypothesis popped into my head.

Resilia is a character who is supposed to die in an event, and she doesn’t even have a battle scene.

Therefore, there had been no need to set her stats, and she was probably initially set as a LV 1 character with no development at all.

However, it was probably decided in Resilia’s setting that “she’s the inheritor of the Toren Family’s techniques”.

So, if someone had set her occupation to <Imperial Sword>, what would have happened?

Of course, the default stats needed to meet the requirements to change into an <Imperial Sword>, but if the program automatically raised Resilia’s stat values to reach the <Imperial Sword>’s lower limit……

————–They’d create the most powerful LV 1 character.

This may just be my wild idea, but the more I think about it, the more I feel like I’m getting the right, or at least close to the right answer.

If only Resilia dies without a battle, there’s no problem in the game no matter what kind of messed-up stat values she has.

And so, it’s very possible that it wasn’t checked, or even if they did, it was just overlooked.

(For real!? You’re supposed to check stuff like this!!!)

I swore at how noncommittal the development team of B&B, who was far away in a different world.

(No, but this is a good thing.)

While there’s a reason to be happy that Resilia is strong, there’s no reason to be sad about it at all.

I don’t feel envious of her cheat-like a person she is.

Rather……

(Isn’t this quite useful for me?)

Entities that are excluded from the game, irregularities like Resilia.

This proves that if I could make use of them, we can benefit from them in ways that were unthinkable in the game.

If we get the people the player originally wasn’t able to ally with and those that weren’t able to save in the game into our camp……

————–I might be able to make the strongest army.

I felt shivers running down my spine just at the thought of it.

(Now isn’t the situation getting quite exciting?)

As I was secretly immersing myself in my imagination……

[……It seems like we arrived.]

Resilia’s quiet voice brought me back to reality.

We had arrived at our destination.

A place where even a cursory look around would reveal a sparse population of Goblins, commonly known as the <Demi-Human Meadow>.

Today, we came here to raise Resilia’s level.

※　※　※

""

[……Let’s get started then?]

Saying this, Resilia has a natural posture.

She seems to be slightly nervous, but she doesn’t appear to be overawed, nor does she seem to be atrophied from her first battle.

Of course, her opponent is a Goblin.

With Resilia’s Status, it would be more difficult for her to struggle against it.

However, it would be better to increase the odds of winning as much as possible.

[If you’re worried, how about I lend you a weapon? I have a great weapon that would be perfect for killing Goblins?]

[No. This is my first battle, so let me use a weapon I’m familiar with.]

Hearing her shrug off my suggestion, I retracted my left hand which was about to pull out an Orichalcon knife.

[Here I go.]

It was indeed at that moment when she said this……

[……Wind.]

I felt like I saw Resilia’s green hair fluttering in the wind, and then, her figure moved a few away, close to the Goblin whose back was turned……

[Fwooosh!]

Immediately afterward, the Goblin’s head was split into two halves by the slash that Resilia had unleashed.

Naturally, there was no way the Goblin could survive with its head cut in half.

Soon after, the pitiful creature turned into particles of lights and floated in the sky.

[Well done.]

I approached and called out to her, but she remained motionless, staring blankly at her sword in her hand.

[Are you alright? I guess killing a humanoid opponent is……]

[Ah, no. This may not be the right thing to say after killing a living creature, but I was just deeply moved.]

Seemingly oblivious to my confusion at her unexpected words, Resilia continued somewhat absentmindedly.

[“The Toren Family’s sword grows stronger with their wielder”. Saying that, we were forbidden to hunt monsters. That’s why, fufu, it feels like my wish has been granted.]

The small, bashful Resilia looked more like her age than before.

It wasn’t like I had done anything, but seeing Resilia happy like that, I naturally smiled too.

As I was looking like that, Resilia huddled, seemingly as if she suddenly remembered something.

[……I’m sorry. We still haven’t started in the main topic of today’s discussion, right? I got carried away on my own.]

[No, don’t worry about it. I’m happy when you’re happy, Resilia.]

I feel really stupid for being jealous of such a girl yesterday.

That’s why I’m also getting nervous about the results of our next experiment.

[……We’ll probably get our answer with the next Goblin or the one after that. Are you ready?]

[……Yes.]

At my words, the loose atmosphere Resilia had tensed.

The purpose of visiting this place was only to increase Resilia’s level.

To be precise, our objective was to see how much her stats increase per level up.

It should be obvious, but one’s stats should increase with each level-up, and by comparing the stat values before and after leveling-up, we can determine the growth in ability, and by extension, Resilia’s aptitudes.

Therefore, the plan is to have Resilia level-up by defeating several Goblins and compare the difference in her stats.

For example, all of my, “Rex”, growth rates are 4, so if I were to level up, the difference between my old stats would be 4.

And so……

Strength – 4

Vitality – 4

Magic – 4

Mind – 4

Agility – 4

Focus – 4

The stat difference would be as follows.

How much would the increase in Resilia’s stats be?

I understood the reason for the initial value, which was unexpectedly and abnormally high based on our conversation before coming here, but well, now that I understood, this experiment to investigate this matter became more important.

Her having high initial values doesn’t necessarily mean she has high growth rates.

Rather, with the exceptional way the devs had dealt with her, it’s even possible that Resilia’s growth rate is 0.

If Resilia’s current Job is <Imperial Sword>, the class correction should guarantee of about 2 points in each stat.

However, if her aptitudes had been reduced to 0 due to a flaw in her settings, or if she had been set as an “Ordinary Villager” instead of an “Adventurer”, her growth rate could be as low as 3.

As I gazed on with such concerns in mind, Resilia’s sword, gushing like the wind, slaughtered two Goblins.

And at that moment!

[This is……]

Her body is enveloped in light.

————–She leveled-up!!!

When the light subsided, there she was, not looking any different than before, but a little stronger.

[Well then, let’s take a “look”.]

[……Please do.]

Nervous, I feel like my throat is parched.

Come to think of it, it has probably been a long time since I have been so emotionally involved in something that isn’t about myself.

(Please! I’m begging you!)

I’ve put aside my jealousy.

And so, I pray with an open heart!

Not to make the strongest army, but just for her sake!

If possible, an average of 4!

No, even just an average of 3 is fine!

Still, with her high initial values, she would be able to fight well enough.

So, at least, just not less than 2……

With that prayer in mind, I use <Inspect> on her again.

Her Status displayed.

And the increase calculated by subtracting the previous stat values would be……

Strength – 8

Vitality – 6

Magic – 3

Mind – 5

Agility – 9

Focus – 5

[How was it?]

As I unintentionally fell silent with a serious look on my face, a calm, with a hint of anxiety in it, called out to me.

In response to that voice, I slowly looked up.

And then……

[O……]

""

[O……?]

With a lot of emotions gushing within my heart, I opened my mouth……

[————–Ororororororororororororo!]

Unable to bear the extremely clear disparity between us, the emotions gushed out of my mouth like a white waterfall.

The waterfall cascaded down into the meadow, creating a small pond of porridge there.