Every time our wooden swords clashed, something stirred deep inside me. What started as a mock battle, little more than a warm-up, gradually grew more intense. Before I knew it, we were trading blows for real.
A bead of sweat trickled down my forehead. My breathing should have been ragged, but strangely, my body felt light. If anything, I felt my senses sharpening.
As I parried a powerful strike from Gilius, my conviction grew.
(This is it. This is the fight I've been searching for…)
----
After the mock battle ended, Gilius stared at me intently and spoke.
"…Hey. Are you really a beginner?"
"Ah, yes. Today's the first time I've ever fought," I replied, still basking in the afterglow of our spar.
To be precise, I had received some aristocratic training for self-defense… but this was the first time I had ever taken such action of my own volition.
The character known as Alphons Klishal had never put much effort into combat. That was because the only thing on his mind was always how to win over Letizia, the protagonist and heroine.
Gilius's brow twitched, and he slowly crossed his arms.
"You serious…? You saw the signal I gave midway through, right?"
"Eh? Ah, yes. I saw it."
"Don't give me that 'I saw it' crap… A normal person would've stopped there. In fact, you should have stopped. You realize I was starting to fear for my life?"
Despite his words, there was a definite glint in Gilius's eyes.
"Well, whatever… At least it looks like your talent is the real deal. But, don't actually try to take me down next time, okay? You'll give me a heart attack."
His lighthearted jab made my heart pound just a little. Something inside me was beginning to take on a distinct shape.
Though Gilius seemed somewhat taken aback by me, his eyes held a hint of appraisal. But more than that,
(This world is going to be absolutely fascinating…!)
---
And so, the guild training session ended without a hitch. When I returned to the reception desk, the receptionist greeted me with a smile.
"Welcome back. With this, your Adventurer registration is officially complete. You'll be starting at F-rank."
"Thank you. In that case, I'd like to take on a quest."
"Certainly. Ah, but before that, here are the supplies for those who have completed their Adventurer registration. Some items, a wooden sword, a leather breastplate, and a small knife for gathering materials. There are no penalties if you use or break them, so please feel free to use them as you see fit."
I took the bundle, wooden sword, and leather breastplate from the receptionist and peeked inside.
"…It's light."
I murmured as I held the bundle, checking the support supplies. A small bag contained a set of items apparently given out just once to beginners and those who'd completed the training. Inside were three beginner potions and one status effect recovery potion.
"They're meant for newcomers, after all. But that makes them easier to swing, and they're good for your first time gathering materials."
I had only mumbled, but the receptionist had apparently heard me loud and clear.
"Now then, once again. Here is the list of currently available quests."
Quest forms were laid out on the table. Among them, were the signposts I had envisioned there, it goes without saying that my eyes were already searching for them and them alone.
(…There it is. The Miasma Rat extermination quest.)
Miasma Rats. They were unremarkable, their drops weren't great, and all they did was spread poison, frankly, they were a nightmare for beginners. But for me… it was a different story.
(From a game-knowledge perspective, these guys are a super jackpot…)
In the game, the Miasma Rats were tutorial monsters for the first combat event.
They had low HP but a wealth of status effects and multi-hit attacks. In the original game, they were supposed to exist to teach the player the scariness of status effects and the importance of evasion and resistance.
If you met certain conditions, these monsters were a precious source for up to three vital early-game Skills: "Poison Resistance," "Physical Resistance," and "Accuracy Correction."
(But the problem is securing a means of recovery…)
After aiming for the Skills, I'd need a way to cure my own status ailments and heal the damage from battle. Nothing could begin until I had that secured, but as it happened, I had just been supplied with potions.
(There's no choice but to go for it!)
"I'll take this quest."
I made an instant decision and handed over the quest form. The receptionist's eyes widened for a moment.
"…The Miasma Rat Extermination, is it? Um… just to be sure, are you planning on heading out right away?"
"Of course."
(Miasma Rats, the most suitable monsters for meeting the acquisition conditions for Physical Resistance, Poison Resistance, and Accuracy Correction!)
Each of a Miasma Rat's blows is light. But that's precisely why they're perfect for practicing defense. They also have a poison attack and can perform actions that affect accuracy. That means I have a chance to acquire those Skills.
(Poison Resistance… Physical Resistance… Accuracy Correction… I can aim for all of them… If I play my cards right, my combat performance will skyrocket!)
A thrill ran through me. This was the ultimate pleasure, one that only those who understood the Combat System could experience.
In this world, Skills don't just increase with practice. New Skills are "unlocked" by "repeatedly performing actions that meet certain conditions," and they "grow" through further use and experience.
For example, for "Physical Resistance," you have to take a certain number of physical attacks within a certain period of time. For "Poison Resistance," the conditions are surviving for a certain amount of time while poisoned, or the frequency with which you are poisoned.
Incidentally, the condition for acquiring "Accuracy Correction" is to repeatedly aim at and hit a fast-moving enemy.
"Um… are you sure you're prepared? Miasma Rats are a bit of a special case among F-rank monsters… For a beginner with few ways to counter status effects, I really wouldn't…"
"That's fine. In fact, it's just what I'm looking for."
(Well, I actually wanted to get "Constant Activity" first, but…)
Constant Activity suppressed the rise of what would be the fatigue gauge in a game, preventing a decline in physical ability. In the game, it was an essential Skill for long battles. But considering its effect in this reality, I could probably become tireless. That meant more time I could spend fighting!
The problem was, trying to get Constant Activity the normal way would take an eternity.
There was a way to aim for it in a short period, but it required a specific monster in a specific location.
That place was the Plains of Miasmic Fog. It was saturated with a poisonous mist, and without proper resistance, just taking a single step would drop your HP to zero.
(But the place is crawling with monsters you can't find anywhere else, and it was perfect for both acquiring Skills and leveling up…)
I couldn't go there yet. But it was worth preparing now for when I could. And what's more,
(There's a monster there that's perfect for obtaining Constant Activity!)
Yes, the Skill I wanted to prioritize most, Constant Activity. The monster considered optimal for obtaining it was in the Plains of Miasmic Fog. I wanted to go there right this instant if I could.
But if you went to the Plains of Miasmic Fog without decent Poison Resistance and Physical Resistance, you were seriously screwed. Without Poison Resistance, you'd take massive poison damage just by taking a single step, and even if you had it, you wouldn't survive if the Skill level was half-assed.
On top of that, all the monsters there had attacks steeped in poison, and their attack power was high. If I went there as I was now, it would be a swift game over.
In that case… I just had to change my priorities. First, I'd get the Skills from these Miasma Rats, raise my Skill levels, and then go to the Plains of Miasmic Fog.
"W-Well then, I'll officially accept your request for the Miasma Rat extermination. …Please, really, don't overdo it, okay?"
"Understood. …But I won't overdo it. I just want to fight."
"…?"
Turning my back on the puzzled receptionist, I opened the guild's doors. Outside, the sky was clear, and a pleasant breeze caressed my cheek.
(Alright, time to start earning… this world's "experience.")
I started walking. Toward the site where the ultimate Skill-training event, in the form of Miasma Rats, awaited.