I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World, Too: Chapter 2 (Vol. 1)
Chapter 2: The Benefits of Leveling Up
Later that night, I'm so exhausted that I immediately fall asleep, but I wake up bothered by an unfamiliar feeling.
"...Mm? What's...?"
My entire body is hot, like I'm running a fever.
As I cock my head in confusion after sensing there's something wrong with my body, I suddenly feel a huge jolt of pain.
"Guh?! Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
I let out a scream at the sheer intensity of the agony.
Strange noises are coming from all over my body, like my entire skeleton, musculature, and nerves are being reconstituted... No, it's more than that. It feels like my body is being rewritten at a genetic level.
I can't really claim to be explaining this in a coherent manner, but that's what my gut says is happening.
"Urrrgh, gah, aaaagh..."
The changes eventually reach my mouth and throat, robbing me of the ability to speak.
"Ah—"
Unable to endure it any longer, I pass out.
***
"Mm...mrmph?"
It's the dawn of a new day.
When I wake up, there's no trace of the pain that racked my body the night before. If anything, my body feels extremely light.
"What in the world happened last night...?"
I tilt my head quizzically, still having absolutely no idea what caused the intense pain. Feeling hungry, I get up to make some breakfast.
"...Huh?"
The moment I get out of bed, the pants and underwear I'm wearing slip off.
I glance down and find a well-defined six pack of abs and the sight of an unfamiliar member. I-it's huge...
I reach down to touch the abs, and I can feel that I'm touching my own stomach, so it's definitely my body.
...
"Whaaaaaaaat?!"
What the hell is going on?! Is this really all me?!
I repeatedly touch my stomach in surprise, but there's no room for doubt anymore. As for the rest... When I gingerly examine my face, all the zits and other blemishes are gone, and I notice there's a full head of hair up there.
It's just one astonishing discovery after another as I find more parts of me changed. I only stop when my stomach growls loudly. Whatever's happening, I still need to eat, so I decide to go and make some breakfast for the time being.
As I make my way to the kitchen, I realize my line of sight is higher than normal, and I almost freeze in confusion. Eventually, I manage to reach the kitchen and start cooking.
Even after I finish making breakfast, the shock of my transformation refuses to go away. I can barely taste anything I've made.
After I finish eating, I take a moment to reflect and ponder my body's changes.
...It's gotta be the fact that I leveled up yesterday...
Having regained a semblance of calm, I immediately home in on the most likely explanation. At the very least, nothing else comes to mind.
My best guess for why nothing happened until I went to sleep is because it works similar to growth spurts, maybe? Still, this is way too much of a dramatic change.
"I wish I had a mirror..."
Some half-hearted digging around ensues, but I know I broke the only mirror in the house in a fit of rage yesterday.
Still, it's not a huge problem if I can't check my new appearance. I mean, I was dead ugly to begin with, so I can't imagine it's gotten any worse. And there isn't much I can do about it either way.
Right now, I'm facing a more pressing issue.
Specifically...
"I've got nothing to wear..."
That's right. None of my clothes fit me now.
Sure, I can wear some things like shirts even if they're too loose, but you can't say the same about pants or underwear.
They're way too big for me, and no matter what I try, they slide right off.
I don't own any belts since I've never needed one before, meaning there's no way for me to hold my pants up. Well, I guess if there's no other choice, I can always resort to some string or rope...
Either way, this is no joke. It's a really, really big problem.
At this rate, I won't be able to go buy new clothes or go grocery shopping.
Oh man, I just realized I can't even wear my school uniform.
My school is a bit unusual. The uniforms for the high school students are the same as the middle schoolers, and the only difference is the color of the name tags we're given each year. In other words, even if I wanted to wear my middle school uniform, it's still nowhere near the right size.
"What am I supposed to do...?"
As I dwell on my problem, I suddenly remember something.
"Oh, wait a minute. The closet in that house had some clothes in it, I think..."
In the other world, there were some clothes and underwear that were cut too slim for my old figure.
"Might as well try those on..."
Not like I have a lot of other options right now. I immediately go through the door, enter my other house, and begin exploring the closet.
Good, my memory is right. There's a few sets of clothes and underwear.
These almost look like white button-ups and black slacks. Simple enough, and they can pass for normal clothes back on Earth.
"Phew... I can wear these...right?"
I don't see any real reason to do so, but I use my Appraise skill on them.
Shirt of Royal Silk―A shirt made of Royal Silk. It has an extremely delicate texture and is the most refined and elegant of all silk fabrics. The shirt automatically resizes itself to fit the physique of the wearer. It regulates the wearer's body temperature for optimal comfort. Will not become dirty or blemished and is imbued with a self-repair enchantment. Contractor: Yuuya Tenjou.
Pants of Royal Silk―Pants made of Royal Silk. It has an extremely delicate texture and is the most refined and elegant of all silk fabrics. The pants automatically resize themselves to fit the physique of the wearer. They regulate the wearer's body temperature for optimal comfort. Will not become dirty or blemished and are imbued with a self-repair enchantment. Contractor: Yuuya Tenjou.
"Seriously?"
What's with these stats?! It's way beyond anything normal clothes should have.
Moreover, even though I was quite rotund when I first found them, I could've worn them without any trouble.
Then there's the fact that no matter how hot or how cold it gets outside, these clothes should keep me at a comfortable temperature. I really don't get how this stuff works.
It even casually claims it can't get dirty at all... This is a feature that homemakers all over the world would clap their hands in glee over.
The description aside, these white shirts and black pants really do feel like they project a peculiar elegance and class. At least, that's the vague impression I get. Not like I have much of an eye for these things.
Hold on, what's this whole thing about a contractor for even basic clothes? Is it just standard in this world? That can't be it, right? At least, that's what I'm going to tell myself until proven otherwise.
Also, if the clothes have these stats, then what about the underwear? With that thought in mind, I Appraise the underwear, but turns out it's just unbelievably comfortable. No additional special properties of any kind.
That said, even this description includes the bit about the contractor.
Oh, by the way, the underwear consists of a black undershirt and similarly black boxers.
"Man, this is amazing..."
I'm sure the sage didn't expect all this stuff to be used this way, but it's been incredibly helpful.
I dig around in the closet a bit more and find a pair of shoes and some socks.
The socks are insanely comfy, but their only notable characteristic is that they'll never get stuffy, and I'm the contractor. Other than that, they’re just really cool looking, black with a little bit of gold trim.
Now, the shoes? The shoes are another thing entirely.
Leather Shoes of the Dragon God―A pair of leather shoes crafted from the hide of the greatest of dragons, the Dragon God. Nullifies the adverse effects of all terrains. The wearer will not tire or develop any blisters no matter how far they walk or run. Automatically resizes to fit the wearer. Will not become dirty. Contractor: Yuuya Tenjou.
We've finally reached the point where a piece of a literal god is one of the materials used.
What the actual crap?! What should I do with this? It even says I'm the owner, like that makes any sense. I mean, sure, I'm grateful, but come on.
Nothing I do on a daily basis warrants shoes like these. They're way beyond the realm of ordinary footwear.
But again, like everything else, these shoes are super cool looking. Black leather with a faint blue tinge. Of course I want to wear them.
And yeah, my feet have changed size, so I need a new pair regardless.
At any rate, now that I have some proper clothes and shoes, I can finally go outside.
***
"That reminds me, I wonder what's growing in the garden."
Having acquired clothing, my curiosity is piqued again, and I decide to give the other house another look. And before anyone judges me, just know that I've already finished the homework assignments for spring break.
I also just lucked into the equivalent of several years' worth of pay from my part-time jobs.
Seeing as how I have some free time, it'd be a shame not to take advantage of it. Besides, I'm sure I'll be busy as ever once spring break ends.
With that in mind, I step outside and check the plots in the garden.
"Ohhh, there's some weird herbs and...vegetables, I assume?"
There's a whole array of plants growing, from grasses that almost look like common weeds to things that resemble tomatoes and daikon radishes.
Since the grassy stuff is growing in neat little rows, I'm sure it's not random weeds.
"Hmm? Ah, I assume that's what you use to water them."
Right next to the garden plot is a silver watering can.
When I pick it up, I notice there's already water inside.
"...Don't tell me. I'll bet money this is some special watering can."
I can't help but use my Appraise skill...
Bottomless Watering Can―A watering can that pours out infinite amounts of water. The water inside is called Holy Cleansing Water and will revive even the most withered plants. The water is always pure and potable. Anyone who drinks the water will have all of their fatigue dispelled and their mana increased. Contractor: Yuuya Tenjou.
"I figured as much."
Yeeep.
This is starting to become routine.
I've come around to the fact that the sage, the original owner of this house, was someone beyond my wildest imaginings.
It feels a bit odd to think someone like that died.
"Hrm. What about these plants?"
I Appraise the grass first.
Which comes up as...
Herb of Complete Healing―Consuming this will cure any wounds or diseases, including lost limbs or lost eyesight. Also replenishes mana. When harvested, they automatically drop seeds, making them extremely easy to cultivate. However, the herbs are so hard to find, they are nearly mythical in rarity.
"Never mind what I said about routine."
How could I not be surprised by something this ridiculous?!
This is the sort of thing that would make every doctor in the world cry tears of joy.
Well, at least I know it's easy to grow.
"And the rest?"
I'm a bit nervous as I shift my attention to the other crops in the plot.
Tomato of Super Strength―A tomato that increases your attack when consumed. Also increases physical strength and stamina, making your body more resistant to fatigue. When harvested, they automatically drop seeds, making them extremely easy to cultivate.
Pumpkin of Invincibility―A pumpkin that increases your defense when consumed. Also provides mental clarity, making you more resistant to mental attacks and status effects. When harvested, they automatically drop seeds, making them extremely easy to cultivate.
Daikon of Great Wisdom―A radish that increases your intelligence when consumed. Also enables you to use your brain in special ways such as running in parallel thought processes and accelerated thought processes. When harvested, they automatically drop seeds, making them extremely easy to cultivate.
Potato of God Speed―A potato that increases your agility when consumed. Also improves your hand-eye coordination and reflexes. When harvested, they automatically drop seeds, making them extremely easy to cultivate.
There's so much I want to comment on.
Everything raises stats! Just what was the sage trying to accomplish?!
And all of them leave seeds? That makes no sense! I mean, do potatoes even have seeds? Normally no, right?
These vegetables are all fantasy goods. Sure, they look normal, but that's where the similarities end.
"...Well, looks like I can eat them, and if they increase my stats...I can't think of a reason not to."
I mean, if I can eat these, then I can save on my food expenses, so that's a nice little bonus. So long as they don't have any weird side effects like some medicine or anything.
"Honestly, this is a bit exhausting to take in all at once."
It's not even noon, and I could already use a break. Who could blame me?
Just as I'm thinking that, I detect a menacing presence nearby. It's the same feeling I got yesterday when the Bloody Ogre showed up.
I immediately turn my gaze in the direction it's coming from, and I see a pitch-black slime-like object sitting there.
"...The heck is that?"
I reflexively use Appraise.
Hell Slime
Level: 200, Mana: 5000, Attack: 1000, Defense: 5000, Agility: 100, Intelligence: 100, Luck: 100
"You gotta be kidding me..."
First a Bloody Ogre and now a Hell Slime...?
There's no way this forest is meant for noobs. Not that I think the sage would've lived in a place meant for beginners.
Still, even though the slime's mana and defense are equal to yesterday's Bloody Ogre, I find that I'm strangely calm.
True, it is a bit intimidating, but I don't feel the sheer terror that came over me yesterday.
It's not that I'm not afraid—I'm just not as afraid as I was before.
My higher level and the fact that the Hell Slime is a lower level than the Bloody Ogre aren't the reasons why.
More like my psyche itself is different.
...It's a little disturbing to be able to recognize and observe that firsthand, but it's good that I'm able to maintain my composure through everything.
As I calmly watch the Hell Slime, it starts slamming into the barrier, trying to get into the garden, like the Bloody Ogre that came before it.
"Yeesh, this world's creatures are really scary..."
Seriously, it's way too ruthless. The first thing they do when they see humans is attack.
...Or is it that Earth's way more peaceful than average?
"Whatever. Anyway, I don't really want to leave the grounds, but I do want to check out the surrounding area. That means I can't really avoid fighting, right...?"
As I think that, I retrieve the Absolute Spear from the Item Box.
"Huh. I can hold it properly..."
The Absolute Spear rests comfortably in one hand now. I guess that's supposed to be considered normal, but to me, it's a remarkable accomplishment.
Caught off guard by the fact that I can lift the spear with just one hand, I can't contain the urge to swing it around for a bit.
Though the spear's momentum is still jerking me around a little, I'm actually able to handle it fairly well.
"Whoa, the effects of leveling up are insane. This makes all my weight training seem silly..."
I get the sense that the main issue now stems from the fact that I don't know how to wield a spear, so what would happen if I looked up how to use a spear in a book or something?
It probably won't be easy, but I can already swing the spear without too much trouble, and more than anything, I think most dudes would find something attractive about becoming proficient with a weapon... I do want to get stronger, even if it's a little bit at a time.
"But for that to happen, I have to do something about that thing first."
I take a firm grip on the spear and prepare to throw it in a way that would've been impossible for me yesterday.
With no trace of hesitation in my movements, I wind up and then effortlessly launch the spear with one hand.
"No way!"
The spear flies off at a much higher velocity than I expected... No, it's even faster than that, and by the time I look over, there's a yawning hole in the Hell Slime's body.
Seems like I'm a lot stronger than I realize. The spear shoots forward with such force that I can't follow it with my eyes.
As I stare in shock, the spear returns to my hand.
The Hell Slime trembles a bit before disappearing in a shower of glowing shards like when I killed the Bloody Ogre.
And once again, there's a bunch of stuff lying on the ground where it vanished.
"...Guess I'll collect it."
It doesn't seem very real, and it all feels a little odd, but since I'm curious about what's dropped, I head to the gate.
I glance around cautiously at my surroundings, quickly gather the dropped items, and Appraise them.
Hell Slime Core―The heart of a Hell Slime. Contains an immense amount of mana and can be crafted into various types of weapons and armors.
Hell Slime Jelly―Coffee-flavored jelly. Eating it increases mana and defense.
Magic Stone: C―Rank C. A special stone that can be harvested from monsters with mana.
"Coffee jelly?! Seriously?!"
I never would've thought I'd find coffee jelly of all things. Not only is it edible, but it's yet another stat booster!
This is also the second time I've gotten a Magic Stone... Will this also be worth a huge chunk of money?
If I'm honest, there's a part of me hoping that's the case. I've been pretty much living hand-to-mouth, so any extra money is always good to have.
Since I don't know how to use the Hell Slime Core, either, I'd rather just exchange it for straight cash as well. That said, I'm planning to keep the Hell Slime Jelly.
As I'm examining the drop items, I notice that I missed something.
"Oh, there's one more."
The item in question is a fashionable silver necklace with some sort of black gem set into a crescent moon.
"Oh wow, jewelry!"
Since I don't know a lot about video games, I'm not sure if it's normal in these kinds of settings for monsters to drop jewelry like this. Was it one of the Hell Slime's possessions when I killed it? If so, that's pretty fancy for a slime.
Now that I think about it, the Bloody Ogre dropped armor... My thoughts were too jumbled at the time to really consider it, but that suggests it's normal to find equipment alongside materials.
Either way, that doesn't change the fact that the Hell Slime dropped it, so I use Appraise.
Necklace of the Black Moon―A rare Hell Slime drop item. The wearer's stats increase at night. Also collects sunlight, converting it to mana and continually replenishing the wearer's mana. Contractor: Yuuya Tenjou.
Oh wow, it's a rare drop.
On second thought, it makes no sense for a slime to be fancy. A little disappointing, honestly.
Still, this looks like a crazy good item. Even if it's only at night, this boosts my stats on top of continually replenishing my mana. Not that I know how to use my mana.
Since it's my first rare drop item, I decide to put it on right away. Incidentally, this is the first time I've ever put on a necklace.
"How do I look?"
I'm the only one around, but the set phrase comes out anyway.
In my old state, I'm sure it would look completely out of place on me. Since I've changed, I hope I don't look too shabby.
While that idle thought crosses my mind, a new message appears.
"You have gained a level. Detect Presence skill acquired."
"Huh?"
Wait a minute.
Do I have to suffer that excruciating pain again?! I get that the slime was a higher level than me, so it makes sense that I'd level up. But just because I understand doesn't mean I'm okay with it! I don't want to go through what happened last night ever again!
In an attempt to avoid thinking about it for the moment, I use Appraise on my new skill.
Detect Presence―Can detect the presence of others nearby.
It's a really simple description. Apparently, this lets me sense if someone's lurking nearby, like they do in manga. That's actually really nice.
Since I need to leave the property to gather items, this should keep me out of danger when I'm beyond the barrier.
Happy with my new skill, I turn to my stats.
Yuuya Tenjou
Occupation: None, Level: 150, Mana: 2000, Attack: 3500, Defense: 3500, Agility: 3500, Intelligence: 2000, Luck: 4500, BP: 5000
Skills: Appraise, Endurance, Item Box, Comprehend Languages, True Art of War: 1, Detect Presence
Titles: Master of the Door, Master of the House, Stranger from a Different World, First-Time Traveler to a Different World
They've gone up quite a bit.
Still, the numbers seem a little too even. Is that just how it's supposed to be? I mean, it's definitely easy to read, but is that on purpose?
"Ah, whatever. Time to spend my BP."
After a moment's thought, I start distributing my BP.
This is the result:
Yuuya Tenjou
Occupation: None, Level: 150, Mana: 2000, Attack: 4500, Defense: 4500, Agility: 4500, Intelligence: 2000, Luck: 6500, BP: 0
Skills: Appraise, Endurance, Item Box, Comprehend Languages, True Art of War: 1, Detect Presence
Titles: Master of the Door, Master of the House, Stranger from a Different World, First-Time Traveler to a Different World
Unlike last time, I didn't spend any BP on my mana or intelligence.
Instead, I put 2,000 points into luck because of the rare drop item I acquired earlier.
This is just a hunch, but raising my luck stat might increase my chances of getting more rare drops.
Besides, I like the idea of having better luck.
It's been a nonstop stream of excitement since I woke up, and lunchtime is approaching, so I decide to go home for a bit.
***
"Items converted. Hell Slime Core―500,000 yen. Magic Stone: C―500,000 yen."
Just like that, I snagged another cool million yen.
I feel a little woozy at the realization that I've made over 2.5 million yen in just two days, but I manage to make it back to the house and have lunch.
I take the opportunity to use the food growing in the garden.
The menu for lunch ends up being Tomato of Super Strength salad, stewed Pumpkin of Invincibility and Daikon Radish of Great Wisdom, and simmered beef with Potato of God Speed.
I use some Holy Cleansing Water from the Bottomless Watering Can to prepare all the dishes.
The ingredients didn't feel any different from their normal counterparts when I handled them as I made lunch, but I'm still a bit concerned about the flavor.
However, there was no reason to worry.
"I-it's delicious!"
Everything is mind-blowingly tasty.
I'm a mediocre chef at best. That's how I know this amazing flavor is all due to the quality of the ingredients.
I finish my meal and promptly check my stats. Lots of stuff has changed.
Yuuya Tenjou
Occupation: None, Level: 150, Mana: 2500, Attack: 5000, Defense: 5000, Agility: 5000, Intelligence: 2500, Luck: 7000, BP: 0
Skills: Appraise, Endurance, Item Box, Comprehend Languages, True Art of War: 1, Detect Presence, Cooking: 1
Titles: Master of the Door, Master of the House, Stranger from a Different World, First-Time Traveler to a Different World
"Whoa, they've gone up a ton!"
Yes, my stats increased by 500 each.
And I notice that Cooking has sneaked its way onto my skills list.
The reason my stats went up and the reason I got a new skill is because I used ingredients from the other world.
Man, food in the other world is totally overpowered. I'm jealous... Though, to be fair, I am the one reaping the rewards... I stand by it.
***
After musing about how broken the ingredients from another world turned out to be, I decide to visit a nearby used bookstore to pick up some reading material on martial arts to make better use of my newly acquired muscle strength.
The used bookstore is better than the library because whenever I go to the library, I always attract stares. In comparison, the bookstore I'm going to is small, and there's hardly ever any people there.
Once I'm ready, I head out and go straight to the used bookstore.
I don't detect anyone nearby on the way, and even after I finally reach the used bookstore, I'm the only customer.
Let's see, the martial arts section...
"Whoa, there's a lot..."
When I stumble onto the bookshelf I'm looking for, I find a huge row of books related to fighting techniques and martial arts waiting for me.
There are the expected books about sword fighting, but there's also a broad selection covering other weapons like spears, quarterstaffs, chain-scythes, and even assassination techniques.
...I hope that last one explains where and when I'd be committing an assassination! That's just scary!
I don't know if the library boasts this many offerings, but the only thing that really matters is the fact that all these old books are here.
Now, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to buy every last volume or finish reading them all even if I do buy them, so I stare at the bookshelf for a while, thinking about my next move, when a few books on the shelf suddenly catch my attention.
These books have no obvious unifying theme, each covering different weapons and fighting styles, but for some reason, my instincts are telling me they're the ones I should buy. Maybe my True Art of War skill is influencing my choices?
It's not clear, but buying this particular handful of books isn't a problem, so I bring them to the register without thinking too deeply about it and then go home.
I spend the rest of the day reading until it's time to prepare dinner, after which I resume my studying. By the time I realize how late it's gotten, I notice that I've gained the Speed-Reading skill. That would explain how I finished all of the books I bought that afternoon.
Still, it's way past my bedtime, so I decide to postpone any experiments until tomorrow and crawl into bed.
—And once again, I'm overwhelmed by that excruciating pain and pass out from the sheer agony.
Comments
Post a Comment