“Dammitdammitdammitdammit!” Unable to stop cursing, I run as fast as I can. Why? Because a fucking gatling water gun is shooting at me, whenever a 'bullet' hits the ground a hole appears. I might survive a shot or two, but it's about eighteen shots per second!
“Here!” Rine swings her sword at a mob... that only she is seeing. “Huh?”
“Rine-chan, turn around! Arako, do something!”
“I certainly do.”
Several water-blasts are repelled by her [Watershield], ever time the water-barrier is hit, water splashes at her and Kyou-san, who are hiding behind it. It proves to be very effective against those bullets. I also want to hide behind the shield, but then I can't attack anymore, and with Rine in this state...
Using this assault as an opportunity, the trees started to mess around with her mind. Do you know those game, where the confused condition also messes with your controls? Like reversing them or changing them all the time? She moves awkwardly like that.
The gunner is a large monster with the face of a ram. Four hollow, curved horns are coming out of its neck, all point forwards, shooting the water-bullets in quick succession. It has green-gray skin and large feet, which are hidden inside a swamp hole.
I think it pumps the water from the swamp hole through its leg to its horns, but I'm too busy with surviving to take a good look to be certain.
Finally! It lets me off to shoot at Rine, who reflexively starts to deflect the water-bullets with her sword. The speed she's moving at while not even sure where to look is amazing. Too bad the mob still makes sure to shoot at the [Watershield] and me for small instances to keep us away.
The moment it turns its head to Rine again, I use [Camouflage] to adapt my appearance to the surrounding and [Mask of Wildlife] to mix my spirit with the vegetation around me, though they are only a few, there are some trees and reeds. However, they're close enough to do something... Good, it lost me.
Time to mount a counterattack. Rine moves closer while deflecting, as she now at least knows where the attacks are coming from, let's get it in a pincer!
Theoretically, it'd be great just to cram its horns, but it's not like I can simply use [Quadruple Shot] to jam each of its horns with an arrow, especially while it's in rapid-fire mode. So I have to kill it.
Without hesitation, I get closer. My [Camouflage]-skill only adapts my body color the moment I use it, so it doesn't change again when I move, but I just have to hope that the mob will take some time to realize that there is a strange color mix moving.
A full barrage of water-blasts answers my hopes! I turn around to make it hurt my back instead while trying to use the sheer force to sling myself back behind Ara-san's [Watershield]. It hurts! My back hurts badly, each bullet has the power of a baseball bat behind it... I think? It's not like I was beaten up by one ever before.
“[Heal]!” Kyou-san's spell makes the pain subside. “Let's count on Rine-chan.”
Ah, my motivation drops. I literally feel like all the excitement I had before, even if it was just angst and cursing, is blown away, like a balloon losing air. Well, I guess we have no choice here, I mean, Rine can even keep up with this rapid-fire, even deflecting it.
Ara-san points at the princess of Feuerberg or rather... “You mean the one, who fell into a bog?” I facepalm.
Seriously? “Phew...” Well, I can't say what Rine is currently even seeing, so missteps should be a given.
The mob keeps shooting at the bog, Rine is losing HP, as the water impedes her movements and therefore she can't deflect all bullets in time anymore. Which means, she's still capable of deflecting a lot, which is crazy in itself!
Then she decided to dive in, giving the mob no way to find her, so it shoots at random into the water.
Well, time to step in. “Kyou-san, give me [Protect], Ara-san, drop the [Watershield], I'll charge in.” This will hurt, this will really, really hurt. Nonetheless, I change into [Pikeman] to buff my [Vitality] as much as possible.
Kyou-san gives me a strange look for a moment, but then: “Fine. [Protect]!” A small, protective area surrounds me, it'll just act like a cushion, but seeing how the [Watershield] holds, maybe only the initial impact of the water-bullets is powerful, so [Protect] might be worth much. We under-use this spell anyway.
“I'll drop the shield in three... two... one...”
The second the [Watershield] dissipates, the mob changes its target. Instead of shooting a Rine it can't detect, it blasts me with a series of shots. Luckily, while it slows me down, and feels like hitting the water with the chest after jumping from a ten-meter platform, I just keep pushing forward.
Thank you, [Protect].
“[Speedthrust]!” Working against the bullets, I catapult myself forward using my skill. The spear blade just graces the nose of the mob, then gravity takes its toll, and I fall into the same bog it's in.
Time to take the reigns! I grip one of its horns and pull myself up onto it, swinging myself on its neck, just to jam my spear between its horn, giving me leverage to twist its neck. The mob stands up on its hind legs, but I won't let you go!
“Anyone, a killing blow he-” I gasp, as I look back at Ara-san and Kyou-san, as suddenly something shoots out of another waterhole, winding around the latter girl.
“Huh?” Kyou-san looks startled, as she's caught by something slimy, pink... a tongue, it's a giant frog's tongue. “Wah!” Here she goes.
A huge purple, green-thorned frog pulls her in and swallows her whole.
…
… … …
“WHAT!?” Unable to really process what just happened, the strength in my grip loosens, and the water-shooting beast's struggle becomes more severe.
Dammit mob, try to read the mood! I wrestle back for control, as Ara-san is facing the purple frog on its own. She slings her [Watergun]-spell at it, as she tries to get some distance. Despite Kyou-san just being eaten, Ara-san remains calm and methodical.
For me, I can't even think straight. “RINE, DAMMIT! WHERE ARE YOU!” Just emerge and... wait, what if she hasn't submerged voluntarily, but was in a battle with another mob? I check her status, and this seems like the case here.
Time to get reckless.
I jump from the horned mob's neck, while still twisting it, then I stem my feet at its flank, while slowly using the leverage my spear has. There it is! The point I'm looking for. I yank the pole forcefully and an ugly sound later, the mob falls lifelessly into the bog, with me on it.
Struggling against the carcass and the water, I feel how my breath is running out, but I need my spear, which is still caught between the horns.
Air! I need air!
Looks like I have to lift the corpse with my spear to the surface. It's surprisingly easy, but on the other hand, I'm in my [Pikeman]-class, which has the highest [Strength]. This and the fact, that the cursed ring boosts all my [Attributes], as long as I stay close to my wives, gives me all the power I need.
“Buah!” Diving inside a bog isn't recommended, I have a slimy feeling inside my nostrils, and ears, while my whole body just feels... filthy. Although there is no time to be disgusted, I need to keep pressing forward.
Rine or Kyou-san? One being underwater for a while, the other one swallowed alive. ...I hate myself for this, but I'll choose Rine, as breath is something both will lack, and it might take a while to recover Kyou-san, the odds are bad for her to get out of this alive in the first place. Plus, Ara-san is on this.
Back into a bog, the one Rine fell into.
Only problem: I can't see shit, even after changing into [Ranger]! The water is too foggy, the pure [Perception]-ability isn't enough, and I have no skills to circumvent these conditions.
Wrong decision? I need to dive further, hoping to feel some sort of fight going on.
There is a water current flowing... there! Good thing, that [Perception] enhances all my senses. A small white-glowing orb, Rine's [Torch]-spell. So it functions underwater, too.
What about the girl itself? She's caught in... vines? Did the trees or other plants decide to harvest us? Dammit!
If Rine can cast [Torch] underwater, that means... “[En*splosh*tan*splosh*gle*splosh]!” Usually, it would only strengthen the grip, but in this case I want them to leave Rine alone, so I choose a new target for them: Myself.
Yup, I'm entangled entirely by the vines, but then suddenly, they all come loose. Rine cuts them. I guess she was cutting them the whole time, but kept on being restrained. Back to [Pikeman], I need that [Strength] again, as I can glimpse how blue Rine's face is looking, while she smiles at me. She's running out of air!
I grab her arm and pull her behind me as I resurface. Her weak kicks just support my theory that she's about to pass out. Though I have to be fair; she has been fighting killer-vines without breathing the whole time, of course even Rine would hit her limit.
“Uuaaah *cough, cough*!” With a really primal sound, Rine starts breathing in the second her face is above the surface, only to swallow some water in the process.
You gain 6 WP. You've saved each other, a true couple faces peril together!
...I'd rather avoid that situation altogether, instead of getting these WP, but I guess it's better than nothing.
I swim to the shore with Rine in tow, put her at the shore, and go to the next fight, the purple frog with green thorns.
For some reason, that mob isn't looking good. “Ara-san, what did you do to it?”
“Almost nothing.” I see some ice around it, shattered [Icicle Knives], I guess she couldn't fire a [Tidal Wave] due to its chanting time and was hesitant to pierce it with [Root Lances] since she might also hit Kyou-san inside...
Wait a minute... These mouth-movements...
The frog uses a spray of acid. Not against us, it just barfs, including enough chunks to give us an idea of its diet. One of them is Kyou-san. She's definitely the reason why the frog threw up!
“Seriously, you're so toxic that even the mobs won't eat you?” I know, this is mean, but let me have this moment, she's safe; her squirms, moans and status tell me that she's fine; and this is such a rare occasion.
Another monster emerges... acid and mucus all over its body, the greasy hair bundled in thick, slimy strands, it's a really pissed Kyou-san, and she's scary! “Shut up.” It's not an order, it's an unspoken threat. She stands up shakily, while she draws her knife. “[Coating]!” A new skill of hers, it transforms an herb or medicine into a liquid. The perfect tool for poisoners.
[https://kentusauthor.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/06-2-1.png]
Her body changes muscle-proportions, she just changed classes. I know, it's [Cook].
The look she gives the frog makes it startle, I guess it's afraid. I'm just glad that I'm not it right now. Especially as she jumps right into it, using a skill she attained just a few days ago: “[Butcherknife]!”
I will spare you the details of Kyou-san stabbing inside the monster, how she starts to tear flesh, bones, and sinews apart with scary precision, while her poison slowly paralyzes it.
To be fair, Ara-san and I also help, but the slaughter starts and ends with Kyou-san. After the matter, her eyes glance at us, as if she's thinking about whether we're her next target or not.
I can only imagine the horrors of being swallowed, and she's in that particular time. I guess this only squares the bad mood. “...what?” She glares at me.
Questions I won't ask...
Are you alright? - Of course, she isn't.
Are you hurt? - I can see her status, yes, her HP shaved off a bit, and I guess being swallowed is a way to get bruises everywhere. There is a lot of force at work in the gullet.
How was it inside? - I didn't survive this battle just to commit suicide afterward.
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Therefore I point at the bog in which the water-shooter died. “This one is most likely safe.”
“...” She nods and walks into the rather filthy water. Still better than the goo she has to deal with, I guess.
I take a look at Rine, whose breathing stabilized. “I thought I was dead.”
“Almost.” No matter how ridiculous strong you are, you still need air to breathe. You might also just be unfit to fight some enemies, like plants. Yeah, I found Rine's weakness, it's plants, finally! I'm sarcastic, you know?
I mean, she may be the reason why I'm a bit sulky, but it's because of me, not her. I feel just like I'm not as good at fighting as I used to be, or maybe I'm just jealous because I'm running into too many problems, which I could easily solve if I were only half as strong as Rine.
It's complicated, but it's not like I blame Rine, she's doing her best. I'm not like those people who put all their hatred on a person who's just better than them. It's the frustration because I'm not as good as her. Not even comparable.
This is why I don't feel good about Rine failing against plants which are playing with her senses, even though I'm better than her in this regard. First, my whole prowess is a hero-thing, something that was granted, and I did put some effort into attaining my classes and the [Ranger]-class-up, but it's not like I could have learned it without the kickstart.
Second, having Rine is always great, because she's a fail-safe, someone who can turn things around, when they become dangerous, so I'm a bit concerned whether I can keep counting on her.
Third, who would feel good to see a girl almost dying? … OK, to be fair, I would be quite amused if it'd be one of Inoue's girls.
However, there is still work to do: “Ara-san, there is a plant or a vine monster down there, could you please kill it?”
“Do I have to?”
“You're the only one who's not wet, so fair dos.”
“...you're getting better.” Ara-san nods, I guess this plays in her alfr-humor. “Though you've forgotten something: [Air Bubble]!” She casts a spell, the air around her shimmers, and she quickly jumps into the bog, a bubble forms around her, keeping her mostly dry.
“...well, can you stand up, Rine?”
“Please take my hand.” Ah, there it is, her almost-crying face.
“Phew...” I take it and lift her up. “Anything broken?”
“I think? Because I can hardly tell the difference between up and down. When you grabbed me, I thought 'Why is Kenta swimming downwards,' but it's me. I think my sense of direction is broken.”
What a pain. Good thinking, me, that I grabbed her when we were underwater. I thought she might not have had enough strength to swim anymore, but to think that all that spirit-manipulation will get her this messed up. I've known before that your senses are the doorway to reality, though it was just a pure philosophical thought until now.
To not trust your own senses, this is just crazy. Is this why Rine is clenching my hand? Because it gives her some minimal security of which way is which? “Tehehe.” No, she's smiling like an idiot, so she's just happy to hold my hand.
I hear someone closing in, it's Kyou-san, who may be wet, but at least got most of the mucus from her. The way she walks is awkward, could it be... that it hurts? Considering how she treated me way back, I don't feel sympathy, but at the moment, a lot of bad stuff is happening at her at the same time.
Normally, it'd be me, so again: No sympathy. A bit of concern, yes. Especially how it'll worsen her mood. Yes, like this, how she looks at me with contempt, asking with a strained voice: “...what?”
Not again. I wish I had a choice-screen, because then I may deduct the right answer. “Could you please take a look at Rine?” So I opt for a diversion, trying to act as always. Well, I added a 'please' to be sure.
“...fine.” It worked? It worked! Kyou-san changes to [Priest] and takes a look. “Just some bruises, and some minor damage at several places due to suffocation. When we're out of here, I'll treat her properly, but for now [Heal]!”
“Ah, this is good. Another one, please.”
“[Heal]!”
“Thanks, Kyou!” Rine falls into her arms, or more, she tries to fall 50 degrees left from Kyou-san in some air-arms. So I gently correct her course before she smashes her head into my face. “I'm super happy, that you're alright.”
Kyou-san pats Rine's back, even though she's half a head shorter than her, so it's a bit awkward.
*Splash* Ara-san emerges from the water, dragging a knotted vine behind her. “Kenta-kun, if you could please?”
“Phew...” I change into [Pikeman] and begin reeling it in. A big clump of knotted vines surfaces, at the center a small, gnomish looking creature made out of wood, struggling to move the vines, but I guess Ara-san has control here.
“Thanks, Kenta-kun. Now I can properly aim. [Plant Whip]!” The wood-gnome is whipped by several of its own vines, and Ara-san's staff, after it lost consciousness, crushes its head. “These monsters are capable of using [Spirit Magic]. At least to some degree.”
The easiest to understand the difference between a monster and someone from another humanoid species is speech. A kobold might look like a two-legged dog and have some sort of culture, but the latter goes for apes as well, and those are also still animals.
There is only one language in this world so far. If it can't speak it, don't treat it like a human. Or alfr. Keep things simple, especially if it tried to kill you. Maybe it's totally wrong, but it works for now.
“Let's get to a place that at least feels safe.” There are two bogs, some trees, and a lot of trouble. I'd really hate to fight even more of these monsters!
―○●○―
“Phew...” Thanks to Ara-san and her [Dry]-spell, we're at least not wet anymore, though I think I still stink like swamp. Maybe I just imagine it, but same goes for the girls, who at times sniff at their sleeves.
Finding a place to take a rest is surprisingly difficult, as we tried a 'no trees, no bogs'-policy. For now, we ignited a campfire on a clearing, to keep some warmth and keep the mist at bay.
Rine links her arm with mine, as we're farming the WP, though she's cuddling it even more than usual. I somehow have an inkling that there is something wrong with her, and that I should know what.
Kyou-san has treated her, so unless it's something her [Check-up]-skill missed, it should be no injury or another health-related issue. Usually, I might ask Kyou-san to check her up again, but my instincts tell me that I shouldn't. Most likely she would take it the wrong way.
Well, let's start the uncomfortable but necessary conversation instead: “Let's reflect on the last battle.”
Rine cocks her head, Ara-san's ears are twitching, Kyou-san looks at me as if I want to start a conversation about Japan during WWII.
“I don't like to pussyfoot around, so I'll be direct: We sucked. Big time.”
“...sorry...”
“Rine, don't apologize! And don't you dare to tear up here! There is no reason to apologize. It's not like it could be helped. So don't sulk about that, because we can do better now. If we talk about it, analyze the strategy so far, and figure out what to change..”
“Yes!” Her beaming smile is much better than her crying face, she often changes moods like that, but usually, she's the one that keeps us all thinking positive, so something is odd.
Let's concentrate on the strategic meeting right now. It'll be similar to MMORPGs when there is a new raid or something; you suck at it at first, then you'll talk over it; it becomes better, you discuss again, rinse and repeat. We face the same problems: Foes we can't easily get rid of, new environments to adapt to, and a huge lack of knowledge of what is coming at us.
Most raids become easier, sometimes due to updates to the raid or the characters' statuses, but the best way to improve is just knowing how it works: Which areas constantly spawns monsters, when there is a need to rebuff, which enemies need tanking, which ones kiting, which are mez, what kind of mez they are, how to avoid them. Many things accumulate to a hell of a headache until these questions are answered.
“Let's first name the three mobs: Vine-gnome, thorn-frog, and rapid-water. So, we have the vine-gnome, which has actively messed with Rine's perception.” The moment it was dead, Rine could tell the difference between directions again, it's basically a mez. “This is bad news. It was able to tell who has the least amount of protection against [Spirit Magic] and made that person practically helpless. If it weren't Rine... it wouldn't have gone so well. Ara-san, please keep your eyes open for those.”
“Affirmative.”
“Whenever someone feels strange, try to get to that person. Can you dispel it?”
“No. There may also be cases when I can't even detect the anomaly.”
“How come? Shouldn't you be able to notice it, if someone plays with our spirits?”
“Only during that moment of interference, in this case, I can stop it. If I miss this moment, it becomes complicated. Your human spirits are strange compared to alfr spirits. This difference makes it difficult to perceive changes that aren't intrinsic. Humans and folksmen are especially capable of having sudden and strong changes in their spirits, during a battle your spirits usually shift their spectrums constantly.”
“So basically, you can tell if someone is messing around, but not if it was messed with... but why can't you remove it, even if you know it?”
“I don't have a spell, which can detect and solve whatever is done to the spirit, and I lack the professional knowledge of a psychiatrist to do it manually.” So psychiatrist of Alfarheim are messing around with your head for real? “However, there is another strategy. Whenever something is done to your spirit, just widen the distance to the one who did it. As long as there is no irreparable damage done, your spirit will set itself right back.”
“Which is hard, if you don't know which direction is which... Phew, just try your best to keep the victim safe, OK? Plus, take these vine-gnomes out!”
“Affirmative.”
“Next one, the thorn-frogs. As far as we know, they only have the tongue to look out, but they're also lurking monsters. Kyou-san, did you poison it from inside?”
“...yes.” This face, she just remembered how it was to be swallowed. “Inside it's dark, wet, cramped, and it squeezes the juice out of you. I couldn't properly move, without my arm-pouch, I'd have never gotten outside.” Too much detail!
“Hm... let's try stink-bombs next time. Maybe that's enough. Aside from their swallowing, they're just a bunch of HP, so Rine, you'll concentrate on those.”
“Yes!”
“Next the rapid-water... this one is just nasty. Its shots are soft enough to man up with a buff, the mob itself is neither fast nor that sturdy. I'll tank it, if necessary, as they could prove fatal while fighting something else. This water-gatling can be really serious if you're not prepared, and will mess up everything else.”
“Here.” Kyou-san lifts her hand. “What should I do?”
“Until we encounter a new type, just stick killing thorn-frogs.”
“Great.” She smiles, she holds a grudge and is willing to kill. I guess it's good that she's motivated to fight directly?
“Be prepared to run away if things go bad. We'll follow Ara-san then, these monsters are in our level-range here so far, so it's not all bad. I've already leveled up once, it'd be actually a great grinding ground, but don't drop your guard. Especially the deeper we go, because the worst mobs will claim the best territories. So we'll try to circumvent them, if possible.”
“““Yes!””” ...why in unison? And all of you? I mean, it has a certain charm, but it makes me feel like some commander guy. I'm just a gamer...
I just wish we could shield Rine's spirit. Ara-san has the [Mind Shield]-spell, but it's a passive one, which merely increases her own mental fortitude against mind-controlling effects.
You gain 1 WP. Even in times of peril, you remember to maintain the actions of love.
“Good, linking time is up, let's-”
“No!”
“Huh?”
“No!”
“Ouch!” For some reason, Rine starts hissing at me, as she really claws her hands into my arm. I know, she doesn't like to let me go, but this... wait... please no... “Rine? Are you feeling good?”
She pouts! She isn't even looking at me, she's in the worst mood right now.
This can only mean one thing... Right? Wait, the timing is wrong... “Kyou-san? Please stay calm and answer this question... is this what I think it is?”
“...” Kyou-san starts counting days at her hand. “It's actually late...”
“But isn't it after-”
“Put it together.” So this means that Kyou-san's also late? Ugh, uncomfortable here! It's your stuff, not mine! Yet she begins mumbling something. “...no, it can't be, right?”
I don't like that tone. “What?”
“There are cases where when several women are together for some time, their periods align.”
“Hah!?” This has to be an urban myth, right? How does that make sense!?
“I thought you humans are ovulating all the time?” At least there is one, who knows even less than I about this.
“...the ring. It's the ring!” Kyou-san stares at her left hand. “It makes sense! That's why I was late recently.” Please, spare me the details. “Now Rine is also late, but we're closer... so Arako will have her next early.”
“...no! I don't want to get through it again, especially not earlier than necessary!” Ara-san sure hates that. I can't even blame her for that. For her, it's not even natural.
However, there was a hidden message in there...
“Kenta, why are you just talking with them? What about me?” Ouch, let my arm go!
Argh! Let's be straight: Rine is always moody, very naive, and in many senses a child. She may also have PMS. What that is? Look it up, I won't talk about it! To sum it up, right before her 'monthlies' she tends to swing from one mood to another while being highly irritated.
I only witnessed it once, back in Aroahenn when I was making the [Ranger]-class up. I wasn't prepared, I didn't know what to do, I call it the 'five days of terror.' When the irateness stops, it starts, she becomes a whiny moanbag then.
Whatever Rine does, she does it three times more intensely than the regular human. Including that time of the month.
Knowing that, the best I can do is not to challenge it. “Rine, how are you?” I really suck at starting small talk.
“Do I stink? Is that why you were trying to break us apart? Or because I made another mistake? But Kenta isn't it you, who-”
...this might take some time...
I also have mixed feelings about the future. If all of them are really aligning, I'll have to deal with three of them in 'that state' at the same time. On the other hand, it'll only last a few of the thirty days, which are three weeks in this world's calendar. This may still be better than handling each of them individually over a much longer period of time...
Anyone who thinks that traveling with an all-female party is a bliss should face this reality: Girls have periods!
“Here, Rine-chan.” For some reason, Kyou-san presses some liquid in a small flask into Rine's hand. “Drink it.”
“Why?”
“It makes Ken like you more.”
“Oh!!!” Rine's eyes are sparkling, as she drinks the liquid. What is it? As Rine holds it, I can identify it as if I were holding it by myself thanks to the curse.
[Madhorn Extraction]
Description: A medicine Momokawa Kyou made out of the madhorn-herb for her friend Katarine von Stolzherz. Status: Adjust hormone levels. Value: 105 Newgold
Madhorn? It's one of those herbs which causes hallucinations and such, right? Rine just drank something like that. As a hero, medicine works fast and sometimes strange, so a sudden change is visible, her facial expressions loosen, she cocks her head, looks at me and smiles...
“Kyou-san, is it?”
“Yes, I made it for her, because she was suffering the last time. I looked at her with [Check-up] back then and found out it's because of her hormone levels. So I made a medicine to make small corrections there.”
You know, I always liked crafting classes. Today, I fell in love with one, [Herbalist]. Because it can make miracles happen.
“I've never tested it before, so I can't guarantee its effectiveness. I just did what my skills suggested.”
“What are you even talking about?” The girl in question is asking. “But I'm feeling somehow calmer. Ah, I was troubling Kenta again, I'm sorry.”
“Don't mind. Could you let me go?”
“Ah, sorry!”
With this new freedom, I grab Kyou-san's hands: “Thank you!” It comes from the heart.
Her eyes are full of contempt: “You're about to ask, if there is a medicine for the other thing too, right?” She caught me.
“There is?” Ara-san is also keen, no wonder, she's the one who's actually suffering.
Kyou-san plays with the ring on her finger, while grumbling: “It's something natural, so I can't use [Check-up] to see what's wrong... so I have no clue...” So she was looking for it?
“Nonetheless, thank you.” I put some severity into my words, and look directly into her eyes: “You're doing great.” While she still has a lot to learn about combat, she's way ahead of me in terms of crafting.
Crafting is besides combat another reason why heroes are summoned. Not only their knowledge about technology, but how quickly they can learn and apply stuff. Kyou-san doesn't know anything about hormones, but after leveling up so much, she could see what exactly happens with Rine during that time, and use this knowledge to counter it by relying on her skills to make things right.
“...” For some reason, Kyou-san's agape. “Could you please let my hands go?”
“Ah.” I let her go, scratching my head. “Sorry. I mean, I don't know... just sorry.” She made this medicine, because she was either concerned about or annoyed by Rine last time. Either way, she did it, and that's praiseworthy.
Rine makes a request. “Kenta, can I hold your hand?”
“Good idea.” This not only gives us another WP today, but also some peace of mind, as I'll know where Rine is. “Time to move on, relight the torches at the fire, then we'll extinguish it.” Last fight the torches were extinguished because we dropped them for free hands, and they were inside the [Watershield].
Nonetheless, they might still prove useful.
I mean, Kyou-san turned out to be useful as well, and now she has risen to something like a saint-status for me. At least until she starts nagging again, which might be soon. Nonetheless, I'm very thankful at this moment.