Chapter 273 – 273: Magical Girl Appears!
A party… If possible, I wanted to form a party with Rent.
Rent had been an adventurer for over two months, so even if he was a newbie, he knew more than I did.
He could advise me on dungeon paths and how to form a party.
Moreover, I learned that it was better to put the dismantled monster parts directly into my inventory and give them to a dismantler named Kelban, rather than extracting the magic stones myself.
Even if it’s been two months, I should be able to catch up with my talent.
Rent is a front-line fighter, which is compatible with me, and more importantly, he has other companions.
That would be even better for me, a back-line mage.
The most important reason… is that I want to be praised by Rent, who keeps looking at me with those sparkling eyes, saying I’m amazing and great…
Huh? Was I this strong with my need for approval?
But if I suddenly ask to form a party, he might say no because he already has companions.
Besides, there might already be a back-line member in his party, so it might be impossible.
So, let’s get some information first.
“Rent.”
“Yes, Tikia. Shall we head to the second floor now?”
“No, I just have something to ask…”
“What is it?”
“Rent, you said you have a party, right? How many companions do you have?”
“It’s a four-person party, including a priest, a thief, and a lancer.”
Good! Except for the priest, most of them are front-line fighters!
Besides, they seem to lack ranged attack power, so if I, a mage, join, it would be a perfect fit.
But… asking to form a party right after asking might lead to a rejection.
Since I came to Plodan to improve my skills, and I plan to stay for a few years, it wouldn’t be bad to build a relationship slowly.
“You have a lot of front-line fighters.”
“Yes, we do. Usually, we take turns, with one person protecting the priest companion, and two people hunting.”
“I see… By the way, who is the companion who is like me?”
“Companion… Ah, the one who reads Magical Girl Marin is Elsie. She’s a priest.”
“Hmm, hmm.”
Perhaps because she’s also a back-line member, there’s a high chance we could become like-minded companions.
Yes, it would be nice to be in the same party as Rent, but I also want to have a heart-to-heart talk with a companion I meet in Plodan.
Unfortunately, after graduating from the magic academy in the magic city, there was no one I could call a companion.
Well, it’s also because I don’t go out much and spend my time researching and reading books at home…
But adventurers are at least my age or a little younger!
I’m curious about what it would be like to have a heart-to-heart talk with a companion of a similar age.
“If it’s okay, could you… introduce me to that companion named Elsie?”
Rent nodded with a bright smile.
“Of course! Elsie will be happy too.”
Ah, when he smiles, he looks like a big dog, so cute.
Hmm, I want to pet him.
I never thought I would have such a desire.
Since coming to Plodan and meeting Rent, I’ve discovered various sides of myself in such a short time.
“Y-yes… That’s great! Ah, by the way, how do you hunt, Rent?”
“Me?”
“Yes, I showed you how I use magic, right? So, it’s your turn, isn’t it?”
In fact, if we were to be in the same party, it’s important to see each other’s skills.
“That’s true. Then, I’ll show you.”
Rent took out gauntlets from his inventory and put them on both hands.
Looking at him, I thought he was a perfect fit for the fighter class.
“Let’s walk a bit first. You’ll see goblins soon.”
I put the goblin corpses into my inventory, and I walked with Rent for about three minutes.
Kieeeeeeeeeeeek!!!
Kikikikikk!
Six goblins appeared at once.
“Do you want me to help?”
If I use Twinkle Stars, I can take down four of them in an instant.
I still have some magic power left.
But Rent shook his head.
“No, it’s okay.”
Rent moved forward towards the goblins.
Kieeeeeeeeeeeek!
Kikikikikk!
Kikyaaaaak!
Three goblins charged at Rent at once, and the other goblins followed behind.
The goblin in front jumped up and swung its club at Rent’s chest, while the other two goblins swung their clubs at Rent’s arms and legs.
“Dangerous…?!”
Even if it’s a goblin’s attack, getting hit defenselessly will cause injuries.
So, just as I was about to say it was dangerous.
Rent moved.
Swoosh!
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Rent stepped back just enough to dodge the goblins’ attacks, then quickly threw punches.
The two goblins attacking his chest and arms were hit by Rent’s punches, and the goblin trying to attack his legs was hit by Rent’s kick.
The three goblins were each hit once by Rent and died instantly.
Thud!
And this time, Rent charged forward.
Picking up a goblin’s club that had fallen on the ground, Rent threw the club at one of the goblins that was still running towards him.
Whoosh!
Thwack!
The goblin’s face was caved in by the club.
As Rent ran, he swung his leg like he was kicking a ball.
Thwack!
Another goblin was hit directly in the neck and flew away.
The last remaining goblin tried to attack Rent, who was right next to it.
Pow!
Rent clenched his fist and slammed it down on the goblin’s head, and the goblin immediately lost its life.
“Uh…”
Even for me, a mage, it was a movement without any hesitation.
Rent’s movements flowed like water, never stopping, and moving naturally.
Is this the average movement of an adventurer who has been in Plodan for more than two months?
No, it was hard to think so.
Rent clearly has an incredible talent for martial arts, just like I have a talent for magic.
That was the only way I could think of it.
“How was it, Tikia!”
Rent turned to me and looked at me with eyes like a puppy that wanted to be praised.
He really is like a big dog.
“You looked amazing. I don’t know much about martial arts… but I can tell that you’re amazing, Rent.”
“Hehehe, thank you!”
Rent scratched his head shyly and smiled brightly, making him look even more like a big dog, which stirred something in my heart.
For example, if Rent lowered his head, I would have the urge to pet his head.
“Shall we go to the second floor then?”
“Okay.”
Rent lifted me up again… and this time, instead of my shoulder, I put my arms around Rent’s neck.
I thought when he grabbed my shoulder that I might fall at that speed, so I was a little scared.
It’s better to hold on tight like this.
…But Rent has a nonchalant expression even when I’m hugging him, though it’s for safety.
I’m a girl, you know.
Shouldn’t you be a little more embarrassed?
He had a nonchalant expression when he first picked me up too…
And if you’re going to pick me up, wouldn’t it be better to carry me like a princess?
“Let’s go.”
Whoooosh!
Rent kicked off the ground and started moving.
“…!”
Wait, he’s much faster than before!
◈
I arrived on the second floor with Rent.
Honestly, I didn’t know the dungeon would be so big, but what surprised me more was that Rent didn’t seem tired at all, even after running so fast.
What’s wrong with his body?
Adventurers’ physical abilities improve as they rank up, but is it possible to have such incredible stamina like Rent?
No, the increase in rank varies depending on the individual, and the parts that increase also differ.
Just like my magic power increases when I, a mage, rank up, front-line fighters often have increased stamina or strength.
In Rent’s case, it must be his stamina.
Still… this endless stamina is really questionable…
Let’s just think that Rent was born with a lot of stamina.
“Tikia, the scenery when we came down was really amazing!”
Rent said with a bright smile.
The scenery we saw when we went down the stairs to the second floor.
That scenery was definitely impressive to me too.
“Ah, yes. I definitely thought the dungeon was a very mysterious place.”
I have no idea why the sun is shining in the underground dungeon.
I also wanted to uncover that secret someday.
Right now, I’m walking calmly through the meadow on the second floor with Rent.
We could go straight to the third floor, but Rent said that it would be better to stay here and gain some experience for ranking up until we find a companion.
That made sense, so I said I wanted to take a look around the second floor calmly.
It would be a waste to go straight to the surface as soon as we arrived on the second floor, and slimes are safe unless you attack them first.
Besides… I also wanted to talk to Rent a little more.
It was also in Magical Girl Marin.
Meetings are very important and precious.
Besides, it’s good to build a closer relationship with an adventurer who is fun to talk to like Rent… and who is also a companion and a comrade, and who has a high chance of becoming a comrade.
That’s why I chatted with Rent as we walked around.
I know that it’s better to talk about yourself to get closer, so I started by telling Rent about myself.
My meeting with my master was a bit dark because I had to talk about the story of those who only had blood relatives as parents, so I talked about my time at the magic academy.
In other words, it was bragging.
“I entered the magic academy at the youngest age of 12. At that time, I had already learned magic from my master and could use all the elements. When the academy professors found out that I could use all the elements, they were all surprised.”
“Elemental Masters are very rare, I hear.”
Elemental Master.
That’s a term for a mage who can freely use all the elements at a certain level or higher.
Actually, I’m a little curious how Rent knows this term, but I guess he heard it from a mage adventurer he knows.
“Well, if all mages try hard, they can use basic elemental magic even if they don’t have an aptitude for it. But it was rare for someone like me to have an outstanding aptitude for all elements. Besides, I was only 12 years old at the time.
I can say that my skills and talent were completely different from my other classmates who were three years older than me.”
“Oh, then Tikia was a genius magical girl back then.”
Genius magical girl…
That’s a very nice ring to it.
“Yes! I was a genius magical girl back then! No, I’m still a genius now, so the genius magical girl is still active!”
I got excited without realizing it.
But I didn’t think about calming down this excitement.
“You think so too, right?”
“Yes. Well, the word ‘girl’ doesn’t necessarily refer to a young woman. Besides, women always have a girlish heart, they say.”
“You’re saying good things! That’s right, I’m still a genius magical girl!”
Just like Magical Girl Marin!
Marin is an ordinary girl, but if she has the talent to be chosen as a magical girl, she’s no different from a genius!
“I’m only saying this here, but this outfit is actually an arrangement of Magical Girl Marin’s costume that I made myself.
The spell formulas inside are properly woven, so it has better durability and defense than most armor. It’s a perfect outfit that combines cuteness and practicality! What do you think, Rent!”
“It’s amazing. And honestly, I thought it was cute too.”
“Right? Right?”
Rent is definitely a man who knows what’s up.
“Rent, what part of it do you think is cute?”
“The dress is flowy, and the color matches Tikia’s sky-blue hair well. Besides, the two ribbons tied in the back are big and cute.”
“Hehehe, yes, yes.”
These yellow ribbons are also Marin’s trademark.
And personally, I like big ribbons too.
“But most of all…”
“Most of all?”
“I think Tikia, who looks good in that outfit, is the cutest.”
“Ugh…!”
The word “cute,” spoken purely and not teasingly.
My face flushed instantly.
No, I definitely made and wore this outfit because I wanted to be cute like Marin…
I never thought he would say I was cute so confidently…
I’m so embarrassed.
“R-really~? What part of me is so cute~?”
But let’s ask what I’m curious about.
“Yes. Well…”
Rent trailed off.
“What is it? If you said it once, say it all, Rent.”
“Well… Tikia, you look much younger than your age… so I think it suits you even more. Ah, but it’s not like you look like a child. I think Tikia has her own charm.”
Rent seemed to have trailed off because he thought I would be worried about my slow development.
Hmm, I do worry about it, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing.
I get angry when people make fun of my slow development or insult me, but I don’t feel bad at all when people say I’m cute.
Rather, I like that I have a similar body type to Magical Girl Marin.
So, rather, Rent’s words now are…
“Really? Really? …Hehehehe. So, I’m cute and I look good in this outfit~?”
I was very happy.
