Morning arrived with the usual bird chirping. Who even enjoys that sound? I was still exhausted.
I muttered to myself, "The outside is getting brighter. Time to wrap this up."
One of the otaku's backpacks was now stuffed full of mushrooms as their "information fee," so food should last them at least ten days. I didn't need to worry about those staggering kids anymore.
I headed back into the forest. The otaku group is eager to reach a town.
I called after them, "Don't get hunted by classmates. Stay safe. Shoo, shoo."
One of them replied, "Shoo shoo…? Excuse us, we're coming through."
Another asked, "You're really not coming with us?"
The guy was persistent. If it had been a girl—preferably a JK—I might have considered tagging along.
I struck a dramatic JoJo pose and declared firmly, "But I refuse!"
All four of them shouted in perfect unison, "You keep calling us otaku, but you're totally one of us, right?!"
I shot back, "That's rude. I read manga and light novels, but I don't go around saying 'moe~' or anything like that."
They immediately started arguing back.
"No, you don't say it."
"Yeah, hardly ever."
"Only sometimes!"
"Only for 2D, my lord!"
The otaku squad fired back in perfect sync. They stayed noisy right to the end. That last line was definitely a fail, though. Classic moe-pig behavior.
I told them sincerely, "Thanks for everything. See you around."
One replied, "We owe you. Come to town soon so we can repay the favor."
Another added, "Seriously, if you don't come soon, you'll go full wildman."
I muttered under my breath, "…Thanks."
Come to town? They haven't even found it yet. And wildman? No way—I was already going full hikikomori.
I waved them off. "Get going already. Later."
They chorused back, "Have a safe trip!"
And so the otaku crew set off toward the unseen town of another world—assuming the town even existed.
…
I let out a long breath. "Fuuuuh…"
While chewing on the not-very-tasty preserved dried meat, I pushed deeper into the forest.
The otaku had suggested—or rather advised—leveling up and beating things physically, so goblin hunting became the plan.
Kobolds or orcs apparently gave better EXP, but they were much stronger.
I decided to start with goblins. I would deal with kobolds or orcs if I ran into them. There was no point planning countermeasures without seeing them in action.
Whenever I spotted a goblin, I let out a wild "Hyahaaaah!!"
When I spotted another, I shouted "Wahyahaaaah!!"
Wait… am I the villain now? That's a bad sign. A mohawk title feels incoming.
Luckily, it turned out fine.
The otaku had warned that goblins around the cave were strong. They were Lv 10–15 range, with skills like "Hammer Arts," "Heavy Blow," and "Body Slam." Total trash, honestly.
They probably struggled because of mana depletion. They were cheaters with Lv 16 and still got scared.
Well, they were bullied kids who sucked at sports—maybe levels don't reflect real strength.
Hm? Something is nearby. Oh?
The description matched perfectly: blue skin, tall and skinny, dog-like face. Easy to spot.
That's a kobold. I used appraisal first.
**Kobold A**
AGE 08 Lv 11
HP 40 MP 4
ViT 26 PoW 22 SpE 37 DeX 24 MiN 2 InT 5 Luk 18
Martial Arts: "Claw Arts Lv3" "Bite Lv2" "Body Slam Lv1"
Skills: "Leap Lv1" "Intimidate Lv1" "Presence Detection Lv1" "Scent Lv3" "Coordination Lv1"
Equipment: "Wooden Stick"
**Kobold B**
AGE 08 Lv 10
HP 41 MP 5
ViT 22 PoW 23 SpE 38 DeX 22 MiN 2 InT 4 Luk 21
Martial Arts: "Claw Arts Lv2" "Bite Lv2" "Body Slam Lv1"
Skills: "Leap Lv1" "Intimidate Lv1" "Scent Lv3" "Coordination Lv1"
Equipment: "Wooden Stick"
Stronger than goblins. Their speed is more than triple mine.
Can I win? Two at once sounds bad. I tried to back off, but our eyes met. Don't look at me.
They have presence detection. Whoa—fast!
They didn't charge straight ahead. Damn, they're coordinating.
They circled to flank me from front and back, left and right. A rear attack was incoming.
"Gyaah!!"
The counter landed perfectly. I had been on alert with presence detection and used "Focus" to aim. Hearing "gyaah" in real life… whoa.
"Close one—gyaaaaah…!"
I wasn't careless, but they were too fast. Instant bite.
I blocked the thrust with my stick, but the bite came anyway. If I hadn't guarded with my left hand, my head would've been chomped. Ass bite?
"Gwaaah…! It huuuurts!!"
I was dragged down while my arm stayed in its mouth. This is bad.
Too close for thrusts, not enough room for a full swing.
Its head was in range—attacks landed but had no effect.
My arm hurt, and its claws were raking my body. Painful! I focused harder, pouring mana into the "Wooden Stick?" Using "Weight" and "Packaging" to reinforce it heavy and strong. Elbow snap like hammering nails—HNGH!!
Bonk!! I hit a kobold on the head with my staff not packed with mana.
"Uwah!"
Kobold down… gross. Its head burst on impact.
I seriously thought I was dead.
…
I calmed down and pulled the magic stone for revenge-appraisal: "Magic Stone F-rank." Stronger than goblin but same rank? Terrible deal.
These should sell for money in town, but if the price is the same, everyone will just hunt goblins. Isekai guild okay?
Whether a guild even exists is another question.
Ugh— my HP is critical. I leveled up, but remaining HP, which didn't go up from levelling is scary.
[Status updated HP 7/50, MP 9/47, massive stat gains, new skills like Physical Resistance Lv1, etc.]
Consecutive fights are impossible. I suppressed my presence and sneaked back the way I came.
Creep… creep…
Shit, something's there.
Just goblins. Hyahaaaah!!
"I'm home~ Fuuuuh…"
Sleep-deprived today—I collapsed onto the bed the moment I arrived. Stone bed hurts.
I'm back. Yeah, this cave has become completely home to me.
The otaku quartet is gone. The room felt spacious even with five people, now it's empty, now it's even more of a home to me.
Lots to think about today. First, the otaku information. There's stuff about classmates deeper in the forest, but also general isekai knowledge from light novels, anime, and games. They're incredibly detailed. They're not called otaku for nothing.
That knowledge would've been useless without isekai. Maybe they're happy now—more alive than in school, talking nonstop. Mostly trash-talking classmates, though.
I've read plenty of isekai stories, but otaku-level info is on another tier. The class treated them as convenient tools, but actually relied on them heavily—understanding the situation, skills, everything—while being clueless themselves.
They could've just asked nicely, but the lowest-tier shining made others vent frustration. Trying to order around the most useful people in this crisis? Hopeless. They deserved to be abandoned.
Most helpful people fled. No knowledge, no support left. Self-inflicted. Probably chaos right now.
Surprised they had multi-tools for isekai prep. All four.
And kobolds—dangerous. Fast, bites, claws bad. Were they stronger without a stick?
Clothes and gloves survived the bites. Mystery gear really works.
Can't handle kobold packs now. Stick-beating has reached its limit. Staff arts—time to practice.
…
I've seen swordsmanship and done kendo. Spears and Naginata only on TV. Staff arts? The glasses wizard from that big movie didn't whack people with his staff.
I recalled manga and anime fight choreography—swing like a sword, thrust like a spear. I made up forms and repeated them.
"Fuuuuh…"
My body reached its limit. I got too into it.
My imagined "Shinto Muso-ryu Staff" was super chuuni, but the image set. "Thrust like spear, sweep like naginata, hold like sword." Chuuni relapse inevitable—I did the pose too. Suicide if sany classmates seen. Good thing I'm a loner.
The floor was slippery with sweat—time to stop. Stone floor annoying. Mana recovered—cleaning experiment time.
Earth magic came from smoothing the cave floor with "Packaging" stretch. Water wrap for wipe-clean?
I carried water from my self-made bottle. Hand faster—secret. Water blob ran around like a Roomba.
I scrubbed everywhere, dumped dirty water outside. Done.
"Status."
Yes—"Water Magic Lv1." Floor clean but damp, used wind to dry. Wind magic levelled.
Wind magic acquired? But status now shows "Four Great Magics Lv1" instead of separate elements. Wind included.
Wood magic from earlier mana-wrapped stick. Others probably lightning, ice, healing—lightning wrap? No thanks.
I casually wrapped mana around a goblin club.
"Crack!!"
Broke? Tried slow on another.
"Pa-sh!"
Whoa!! Goblin kill combo!!
Wooden stick? fine with wrap before but goblin club breaks?
Mana stronger now, or club trash? Probably both.
Kobold stick had no "?" So I tried using one.
"Ei!"
"Crack!"
It broke too. Wooden stick? absorbs mana—unique weapon, can't risk breaking mid-fight. Slow pour.
Feels right. Kept going… more… more…
Weird feel. It didn't break?
Appraisal: "Tree Staff?"
Pulse-like feel—grew? Living wood?
Seems usable. But mana depleted—sleep hits hard…
Time to sleep.
**Day 9 End**