Anna let out a long sigh of hot air and couldn't help but flash a smile.
"Well done, kids." Anna said: "You've earned a total of 76 silver coins and 596 points. Hand over your cards to register and wait a bit."
After they handed them over, Anna smiled at Tomoya: "In just two days, you'll be promoted to Rank D. Little Tomoya, dear, if you keep up this pace, in less than a month you'll be promoted to Rank C~"
Anna's voice wasn't too loud nor too soft. When it was heard by the adventurers, they were surprised and could only envy his talent.
Many of them had been adventurers for years but hadn't even reached Rank C.
Not everyone was a skill holder and relied heavily on brute strength and equipment.
"Let's eat and drink while we wait." Vulcan suggested.
"I agree." Aria was the first to nod.
Tomoya also agreed with a silent nod.
The three went to an empty table.
It didn't take long for one of the waiters in a black loincloth and silver helmet to come serve them.
After taking their order, he left and brought back three mugs of beer.
"Nyahhh! Nothing better than drinking after working hard~!" Vulcan said with smiling eyes as he downed it all in one gulp: "Waiter, fill 'er up for me!"
**
**
'Where am I? I'm a Behemoth, a Rank S monster. Or at least I was until I was killed for the second time. Yes, this isn't the first life I remember. Before becoming a Behemoth cub, I was a human adventurer and was defeated by a demon's blade. When I opened my eyes, I found out I had reincarnated as a Behemoth cub.'
'I wanted to live, even if it was as a monster. If… If I could reincarnate one more time, I hope it's as a human…'
A drop of water fell and woke him up.
Opening his eyes, the adventurer who had reincarnated as a Behemoth cub had reincarnated a second time in some kind of dark cave.
"…"
Sitting on the damp floor, she touched her head.
Her hair was long and spiky, wearing a dirty white dress that looked more like an old rag. Touching her chin, then looking at her hands, she murmured: "I reincarnated again and… as a human?"
She was startled when she realized how feminine her voice was. Touching her throat, noticing the absence of an Adam's apple, she was in shock. Especially when she touched her breasts, which felt more like two melons…
"I've become a woman?!"
Her voice echoed loudly.
**
**
The points were tallied and registered, Anna called them and handed back their cards.
[Name: Tomoya Yamano
Race: Human
Occupation: Adventurer
Class: Mage
Rank: D
Promotion: [584/10,000] mission points – [1/2] Rank C mission.]
The corners of Tomoya's lips curled up as he saw the changes on his card.
He understood that Anna had done this for him. Anna must have first promoted him with the goblin missions, then calculated the gains from completed missions. That's why, in the requirement to complete two Rank C missions, it already showed as [1/2]. The first, in this case, was the mission where they defeated the Minotaur.
"Thank you." Tomoya slightly bowed his head toward Anna.
"Ara~ Seeing how grateful you seem, it was worth doing this for you~" Anna said in a sweet tone.
…
The money was split into 3. Tomoya took just one extra copper coin that was left over. Vulcan and Aria each got 25 silver coins and 33 copper coins.
They didn't leave after taking the money and their cards back.
Instead, they went back to drinking and eating.
With her hands supporting her chin, Vulcan said in a soft tone: "Hey, you two, what do you think about the three of us forming a real party?"
"Huh?" Aria seemed surprised, but Tomoya not so much.
Vulcan said: "Aria, I like how straightforward you are – nyah – and I know you'll get stronger." She tapped her index fingers together a bit shyly: "Actually, my old party broke up, and I've been wanting to find a new group. It's not like we fought or anything; it's just that they became a couple, and the girl got pregnant."
Tomoya thought: 'It makes sense to want to stop. After all, working as an adventurer while pregnant is pure recklessness. And if they were former members of Vulcan's party, they must have saved enough to retire as adventurers.'
"What should we do?" Aria seemed happy with the proposal but still looked at Tomoya.
"I think it's fine. Having Vulcan in our party is reassuring." He replied.
"I think the same!" Aria smiled: "We'll be counting on you, Vulcan~"
"Nyah~ I say the same~" Vulcan smiled back.
"Then…" Tomoya raised his glass: "Let's toast to the formation of our trio's party."
"""Cheers!"""
The three clinked their glasses and drank.
On the table, there was an open lobster with juicy meat and fish fillets, along with other seafood.
They drank and ate until they were stuffed.
**
**
Tomoya and Aria returned to the inn while Vulcan went to the bank to get the money. Even with everything that happened, she didn't forget about the artifact she wanted to buy from him.
At the hot spring, Tomoya relaxed in the water like a capybara.
His face flushed with happiness. He let out a soft sigh as he relaxed more and more.
If he didn't know better, he'd almost believe the water in this hot spring had healing effects – though it still helped with blood circulation, among other things.
'Friday, no one came to call me?' He asked.
{No, Master.}
Hearing that, he closed his eyes.
…
Outside, Tomoya handed a bottle of yogurt to Aria, who was already waiting for him.
The two drank, and with a "Puahh," they closed their eyes with satisfied smiles on their lips.
"This is addictive~!" Aria exclaimed.
Aria's current appearance even stirred Tomoya's heart a little. She was wearing a light green full-body dress with ruffled edges around the chest in an avocado green color.
She wasn't wearing a bra at the moment, which made her mounds sway a lot in the fabric, and her nipples stood out through the material.
Plus, her blonde hair, still wet, combined with her sweet post-bath perfume, was far too alluring.
Looking away from her, Tomoya said: "Let's head up."
"Yes~" She agreed.
…
In front of Tomoya's door, Vulcan was waiting with a large brown cloth sack beside her.
"Finally, you're here – Nyah~" Vulcan smiled and said: "Here's the money, let's negotiate!"
"Mm, let's go inside first." Tomoya lied: "The artifact is in my room."
After entering, Vulcan handed him the money.
Tomoya sold it directly to the shop.
[+10,000 gold coins!]
With the shop open, he saw the item he wanted to buy.
══════ •『☯』• ══════
[Item: Blacksmith's Ring]: 9,500 Gold Coins
Item Rank: Mid-Mid
Mana Control: +15%
Strength: +50
Intelligence: +5
Defense: +100
Special Skill: Weapon Transformation - 2 different forms: [War Hammer and Gauntlets]
[Warning: The effects of this ring are not cumulative. That is, even if the user has two of the same ring and wears them, only one will take effect]
══════ •『☯』• ══════
[-9,500 Gold Coins!]
Without hesitation, he bought it and chose to have it appear on his left hand.
Opening his hand, a silver ring with a flattened, round front had a design of an anvil with a pair of silver gloves and a War Hammer crossed over it.
'Cool.' He thought.
Vulcan, who saw the ring in his hand, had her eyes sparkling while seeming a bit impatient.
"Here, it's yours." Tomoya handed it to her.
Taking it, she asked: "Which finger should I wear it on?"
"Any finger will do. The ring adjusts to the finger's size." Tomoya explained: "After putting it on, you should feel a bond with the ring and know how to transform it. Plus, you'll also feel an increase in your strength."
Vulcan nodded and put on the ring.
When she did, her expression changed.
"Wait – nyah… Even without transforming it into a weapon, the effects of this artifact are working!" Vulcan exclaimed.
"Of course, in the end, it's still an accessory, not a weapon itself." Tomoya explained as if it were obvious.
"No, that's not what I'm talking about, my dear friend, Tomoya." Vulcan gestured with her index finger: "If it's really like that, I'll still be able to use a weapon and get the effects of both – Nyahhh!"
"Yes." Tomoya replied.
"…You already knew?" She seemed surprised now: "Even knowing that, you sold it to me so cheap? Are you an angel or something – nyah!?"
"My God, you found out. Sigh, I won't be able to stay on this earth anymore and will have to return to heaven now that you've discovered my true identity…" Tomoya reacted, exaggeratingly.
Vulcan laughed at his joke but soon got serious: "I'm serious. This is really expensive – Nyah!"
"It doesn't matter. To me, that's a fair price." Tomoya said: "I don't do something that puts me at a loss. My source is just more competent than others. That's why it's that price."
"Really?" She seemed skeptical but still accepted: "Then, thank you – nyah~"
With a smile on her lips, her eyes were closed, curved in a smiling shape.
She seemed very satisfied.
The reason was simple to understand. With this, she would be more powerful even without having to use a physical weapon. How could she not be satisfied with that?
And if she used a physical weapon at the same time? She would be even more powerful!