'All attributes +10 points?'

To raise any single attribute by 10 points would take 10 levels—*but this*? All attributes +10 was like gaining the strength of 70 levels in an instant.

'Unreal. It’s cheating!'

With this, even in the early stages, Anyi could crush monsters with ease. Not just one Goblin Centurion; he could take down an army of them, if needed.

Yet there was a catch.

‘Skill: Encourage, show skill description.’

[Skill: Encourage

Description: Grants the user [All Attributes +10] by entering an Encourage state. Activates with 100 mana, then consumes 1 mana per second.* *(Minimum 100 mana required to activate.)]

‘Just as I thought…’ Anyi mused, recalling his previous life. Back then, he’d acquired a Lv1 version of this weapon, with a modest +1 attribute boost per stat and a hefty 5 mana-per-second drain—nothing more than "white trash tier."

But maxed out? The attribute boost soared, while mana consumption dropped to nearly nothing. With a mana pool of 300, he could activate *Encourage* for 200 seconds after the initial 100-point activation cost. That might not seem long, but with his boosted Strength of 32, Agility, Endurance, and Durability all at 20, 200 seconds was plenty to slaughter a horde of Class 4 monsters.

Still, even with a Prana boost of 15 points, his original 300 mana remained unchanged unless replenished. An increased limit wouldn’t refill the mana he already had.

A pity, though. The skill's effect wasn’t shareable. Otherwise, he’d have charged with his whole group straight into the monsters’ lair.

[Level Increased! Lv9 → Lv10!]

Since it was their first time killing Goblins to level up, Anyi’s team gained full experience points. Leveling from 9 to 10 took 9000 points, with each Goblin granting 50 experience, and each Hobgoblin worth 200. The Goblins swarmed around them, with fewer Hobgoblins in number but still numbering in the dozens—just enough to level up the whole team.

As Anyi hit level 10, Miruku was next. Her unmatched speed, paired with her Venom armor, let her slice through Goblin bellies like paper, dispatching them with swift precision.

Ariana and Layton were not as fortunate as the others. They had just run out of Goblins.

Dus took his rod back with a sigh. "So, is everyone level 10 yet? I didn’t get much experience from these Goblins, and I might’ve let a few slip."

"I am," Anyi replied.

Ariana hesitated. "I... I'm still just a bit short of level 10."

"Me too... not quite halfway," Layton admitted sheepishly, knowing he’d been the least efficient. While the others could strike multiple foes at once, he was stuck taking them out one by one with his shield.

"And I’m already level 10!" Miruku cheered, proudly raising her head before quickly stepping back beside Anyi, wary of letting her excitement get the better of her.

Dus turned to Anyi. "Since some of us still need more experience, shall we continue searching for other Goblins?"

Ariana’s eyes sparkled. "Yes, please! I’m so close!"

Layton chimed in as well, "Same here!"

But Anyi shook his head. "No. We head back."

Ariana pouted. "But it’s just a tiny bit more!"

"The Goblins here are wiped out, but nearby ones will hear of this soon. If we linger, we’re likely to attract a few Goblin Centurions. And it’s just the five of us—if three of them show up, can you guarantee we’d handle it?" he replied, meeting her gaze.

"Yes, I can!" Ariana retorted, a flash of defiance in her eyes. She lifted her staff, which had morphed to mirror the Goblin Shaman's weapon. "This staff has the skill Encourage, boosting Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Durability by 5 points each for everyone here!"

The others gawked at her, impressed.

Layton stared, dumbfounded. "That's... incredible!"

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Dus nodded in surprise. "Goblin Shaman’s magic!"

Miruku whispered under her breath, imagining the possibilities. With Encourage, she’d have nine Strength points and her Durability would rise to eight. Her Agility would jump back up, even with her armor’s penalty. 'Was she about to become unstoppable?' She grinned, letting herself indulge in the thought.

But Anyi still shook his head. "This isn’t just about whether we can handle three Centurions. The mission’s bigger than that. We need all 24 Heroes to reach level 7. Changing course now risks throwing off the whole plan and dragging us into a battle against thousands of Goblins—and the Centurions among them."

Anyi's gaze locked onto Ariana. "If you insist, we’ll follow. We’ll protect you, no matter what."

Ariana’s shoulders slumped as she muttered, "Fine, fine, we’ll go back."

She shot Anyi a small glare before turning, hands on her hips, and stomped off in frustration. Anyi watched her go, brows knitting together. 'Was she... angry?'

Miruku rushed after her, taking her side as an extra guard. Layton looked back at Anyi, sighed, and followed suit.

As they trailed behind, Anyi scratched his chin, mumbling, "Holy Maiden isn’t usually one to stir up trouble. She’s always so smart and level-headed."

Dus chuckled heartily, cutting him off.

Anyi gave him a questioning look. "What’s so funny?"

"Ha! You just don’t understand women, do you?"

A smirk crept onto Dus’s face. This cool, unreadable young man, who seemed to know everything, finally looked a little lost.

Anyi tilted his head, mulling over the statement. "Not understand? I feel like I understand them well enough."

'From an anatomical point of view,' he added to himself.

Dus laughed again, clapping Anyi on the back. "No, trust me, you don’t get them at all!"

“You think she’s all calm and rational? That’s only because she doesn’t know you well enough yet! When people are strangers, they keep their true selves hidden. But once a woman’s comfortable around you, she’ll show her real temperament.

Look, with women, it’s not about being right or wrong. Just go and make them happy! Even if your reasoning was sound, your words to her—‘If you insist on finding other Goblins, we’ll go with you’—well, that came across as, ‘If you want to die chasing Goblins, we’ll die with you!’

Emotions change like seasons. You’d already explained yourself; she agreed. But making her decide put undue pressure on her, so of course she got upset! And that reaction? It shows she’s comfortable enough to let her guard down with you.”

Anyi nodded thoughtfully. “So that’s it….”

This was unfamiliar ground for him. Despite having a sister, he’d always just waited until Annie slept off any upset.

‘Oh, sleep…’

“Leave her be; by tomorrow, she’ll be fine,” he decided.

“You idiot!” Dus smacked him on the back. “Now’s when she needs comforting most! Wait until tomorrow, and it’ll be too late!”

“Comforting…?” Anyi mused, eyebrows furrowed.

“It’s about what matters to her. Sometimes a quick apology works. Other times, it might need a promise—no need for a real date, just enough to settle things down. Or offer a gift, or let her take a swing at you if it helps.” Dus shrugged.

Anyi’s eyes lit up. Layton, walking ahead, barely suppressed a grin. *Dus really thought Anyi and Holy Maiden had… that kind of relationship?* A real misunderstanding!

Meanwhile, Ariana and Miruku walked further up the trail, blissfully unaware as Dus muttered “proposal” to Anyi.

Anyi quickly closed the gap between him and Ariana, leaving Dus hanging back by Layton, already poised to enjoy the show.

'Go on, Sword Hero!'

Ariana, on the other hand, was no longer angry. Anyi’s reasoning had been valid; she was more perplexed by her own reaction.

'Should I apologize?' she wondered.

Just then, hurried steps crunched through the fallen leaves. She turned to see Anyi, striding toward her.

“Holy Maiden.”

“Huh?”

“I may have sounded a bit harsh. I didn’t mean to pressure you.” Anyi’s tone softened, his gaze steady.

Miruku, catching on quickly, hurriedly stepped aside.

Hearing Anyi's apology, Ariana froze, then smiled warmly.

“It’s alright. Actually, I wasn’t bothered at all.” Her smile was gentle.

‘Eh…’

What? That was her response?

Strange.

Gazing at Ariana’s serene smile, Anyi couldn’t quite gauge her true thoughts. Had she forgiven him, or was she just covering up something left unsaid?

Judging by her previous anger, he felt it had to be the latter.

Clearing his throat, Anyi tried again. “A moment ago… I may have overstepped. If it bothers you, go ahead and hit me.” He looked at her earnestly.

Ariana: “?”

'Hit him?' But there was no discomfort to speak of. Why would she hit him?

Then it dawned on her—he must feel guilty, trying to make things right.

An idea glimmered in her eyes.

“If I hit you, my hand would hurt more than you would! But…how about sleeping with me tonight?” she suggested with a teasing grin.

Layton: “?”

'What?' Were they really that close?

Dus: “???”

'Hold on—did she just switch the topic to sharing a bed?!'

Meanwhile, Anyi’s response was simple:

“No.”

“Why not?” Ariana asked, blinking.

“I’ve already told you—that’s for husband and wife only.”

“Oh… I forgot,” she replied, scratching her head with feigned innocence. “Then… maybe just secretly?”

Anyi sighed. “Why are you so insistent about this?”

“Because it’s comfortable sleeping beside you!” she said honestly.

Layton: “????”

So… they had already reached that stage?!

Dus, spiraling into his own elaborate fantasy, drifted into a mental haze, his mind blank as he reached a pure state of “Sage Mode.”

Miruku, walking nearby, covered her face with both hands, inwardly cringing. 'Holy Maiden-sama… please don’t say such things so innocently!'

...

“All dead?!” The Goblin Centurion slammed his fist down, shattering the chair arm as he stood, seething with rage.

Below, a group of Goblin Shamans trembled violently, teeth chattering as they cowered.

The morning’s battle had cost them fifty Hobgoblins, over four hundred Goblins, and a Goblin Shaman.

“Does anyone know what happened?!” The Goblin Centurion bellowed.

“It… it was five humans!” a Goblin Shaman stammered. “They were like the humans before—strong, fast, wielding strange weapons!”

“Bang!”

The Goblin Centurion took a single step forward, the ground shaking as he kicked the shaman into pieces. “What a pathetic explanation!”

The Goblin Centurion seated to his left glowered darkly.

'Damn it—that was my subordinate.'