137　It’s been a while since I last was this pumped up

"I'll be out in a bit. For about three days."

　After finishing my evening meal, I suddenly announced.

　After much planning, I came to the conclusion that I had to stay out all night for three days.

　Otherwise, it would be impossible to learn all the [Sword-drawing] skills in one week. Not even a second can be spared.

"Wait a minute, Second-dono. Eko and I are getting the fundamentals laid. Isn't it about time to learn the Game Plan?"

"Looks good!"

"Is that so? Then you'll be doing basic training for the rest of the month."

"What!?　Why?"

"Because someone who has the fundamentals in place never talks about the fundamentals being ready."

"Mmm-hmm..."

　Silvia nodded reluctantly as if she couldn't argue. Eko seemed honestly convinced, saying, "I see."

"Well, I leave everything to you while I'm gone."

"Very well, Master."

　I told Yukari a few words and left the house.

　Raspberry Bell seemed to be doing something in her room after the evening meal. Perhaps the development of a treatment for Caramelia addiction. She seems to be moving forward, I'd love to see her doing her best.

"Well then."

　I thought as I walked out into the snowy outdoors and used "Monster Summoning" to call for Anko.

　To begin with, I don't intend to just learn [sword-drawing].

　By the end of the week, I will have all of my [sword-drawing] skills at grade 9――ideally this is what I want to do.

　I will be well-prepared for PvP with the fierce fighters who may be lurking in that Land of the Eight Swords by any chance. That's why I went to the trouble of borrowing a katana to shorten the time.

　Hence, what is needed during the week is not only to fulfill the skill acquisition requirements.

　...It's been a while since I last was this pumped up.

"My Lord, which way shall we go? "

"Your old home."

"!　As you wish."

　And so, the game begins.

"Say, My Second. That weapon, is it called a "katana"? A most delightful weapon, isn't it? "

Right?"　I really like it."

"The fact that it is always in its sheath is interesting. It may look like a stick hanging from your waist, but it becomes a sharp blade in a second. Its silver blade is also really beautiful. I like it."

"I see, I see."

"...By the way, my Second. When will my turn come? "

"A little while longer."

"Is that so...?"

　The Great Spirit King looked crestfallen.

　That's not surprising. I am not summoning Angolmois to join me in battle, but simply to "talk" to him.

　...I have been on Isoreus for about 20 hours now.

　I was currently in the middle of a battle with armored knights who spawned near the gates of Isoreus, crushing them as they spawned.

　Two or more armored knights will always spawn here. In addition, they respawn a little faster than other monsters, perhaps because their role is that of a gatekeeper. Therefore, it became a very good hunting ground for intermediate to advanced players who aimed to earn experience as well as to meet the skill acquisition requirements.

　[Sword-drawing]'s Soldier to Bishop skills are similar to other skills in terms of learning requirements, such as killing hundreds of monsters or making hundreds of attacks that reduce a monster's HP by 30%. Therefore, they can be learned without much difficulty.

　And after about a full day of combat, I had finally learned everything from "Soldier Sword-Drawing" to "Bishop Sword-Drawing".

"My Lord, I have killed them all."

　Then, just in time, Anko returned with a slightly elated face.

　While I was busy learning skills, I had Anko circling the shallower layers of Isoreus. Thanks to this, I am getting a lot of additional experience.

　This would make raising all from Soldier to Bishop to a higher grade easy. Wonderful, my Darkness Wolf.

　There remained three more, Rook and the problematic Dragon Horse and Dragon King.

　It is better to learn them in order. First up is "Rook Sword-drawing".

　"Rook Sword-drawing" is a bit tedious. The condition for learning this sword-drawing skill is 「to kill monsters in the same level range as yourself with a single blow 10 times in a row using the sword-drawing skills」.

　The monsters that presently appear in Isoreus are in the same level range as me, so if I can kill the monsters here ten times in a row with a single blow, I will have acquired the skill.

　The challenge is the part about the one hit 10 times in a row. That is quite severe.

――――――――

[Sword-drawing] Skill Table

　Net Firepower: (STR+DEX+AGI+VIT)/5.12+ Excess SP/10^4 (128% firepower when wielding a sword at the belt)

"Soldier Sword-drawing" Sword drawing attack (Single attack)

"Lance Sword-drawing" Movement + Sword drawing attack (Single attack)

"Knight Sword-drawing" Large movement + Sword drawing attack (Single attack)

"Silver Sword-drawing" (The more you charge, the more power) Powerful Sword-drawing attack.

"Gold Sword-drawing" Counter (Single attack + defense)

"Bishop Sword-drawing" Quick and powerful thrust.

"Rook Sword-drawing" (The more you charge, the more power)  Extremely powerful Sword drawing attack (Single attack)

"Dragon Horse" Range attack in all directions.

"Dragon King Sword-drawing" (The more you charge, the more power) Extremely powerful area of effect attack.

――――――――

　Currently, among the [Sword-drawing] skills I have already learned, the one that gives me the most firepower is "Silver sword-drawing" at 9th grade. If you charge it up to the maximum while belted, and then make a critical hit, it is a one-hit kill for sure.

　Hence, Critical becomes extremely important. Assuming that you do 10 consecutive critical hits… with crit occurring at a 50% chance, the probability of success would be 1 in 1024.

　It's a number that I can't afford.

　The solution?　Of course, there is one.

"Alright, let's get changed."

　I took what I had prepared from my inventory and replaced my current equipment with the new one.

　It is a piece of equipment that is bestowed with 『Kakugawari』. The effect of Kakugawari is a 5% increase in the critical chance. This time, I brought the 『Kakugawari shell earrings』 borrowed from Silvia, 『Kakugawari leather shoes,』 and various other non-essential equipment with Kakugawari on them. The Kakugawari equipment I was able to procure consisted of a helmet, chest, pants, boots, gloves, and three accessories, for a total of eight pieces. The equipment itself was weak, but the Bestowal effect was a whopping 40% increase in critical rate.

　My current net Critical chance is 40 for 9th grade plus a LUK of 92, which is divided by 10 and added together, so 40 + 92/10 is about 49%.

　The Bestowal effect of the Kakugawari equipment for 8 parts is added to this, and the final criticality rate is――about 89%.

　With the critical chance increased to this level, it becomes easy to make 10 consecutive critical hits.

　...However, there is one thing that bothers me.

"BWAHAHAHAHA!　What a ridiculous appearance!　Lame!!　You're so lame, My Second! "

　Angolmois, he is overjoyed.

　Sure, my outfit was extremely lame. Yukari happened to have scraped together the Bestowal equipment that she had succeeded in bestowing Kakugawari by chance, so the colors and shapes were all mismatched.

"This A-Anko doesn't really understand... But my Lord is, how to say it, my Lord is, huh, you changing clothes is, a chance to...! "

　This one is huffing and puffing over here and looks as if she is about to pounce on me at any moment.

　Seriously, both of you are...

"You're noisy!　Unsummon! "

　When it became quiet, I quickly defeated a dozen or so demons and learned "Rook Sword-drawing".

　Now, it's finally time for Dragon Horse and Dragon King.

　I'm starting with "Dragon King Sword-drawing" here. The condition to acquire this skill is to kill a monster of the same level as yourself 50 times in a row with two consecutive strikes of "First Slash" and "Second Slash" by using Sword-Drawing.

　First Slash refers to the first strike when the sword is drawn, while Second Slash refers to the second attack that slashes after the sword is drawn.

　[Sword-drawing] is basically an "attack from the belt". The reason is that you get a 1.28x damage bonus just by pulling it out from the belt stance. Therefore, it is best to "return to its sheath" the katana each time an attack is made, without bothering about it.

　But on occasion, you may have to swing your katana from an already drawn position. The reasons vary from case to case, but it may be necessary when a quick follow-up is needed or when dealing with more than one opponent.

　However, after all, [Sword-drawing] is a skill whose significance lies in the act of drawing the sword. I knew that a killing blow that unexpectedly strikes the opponent's vital point is the true essence of [Sword-drawing], and that the Second Slash was sometimes an unnecessary measure.

　It is only 1.28 times, but it is still 1.28 times.

　When the conditions for learning the "Dragon King Sword-drawing" skill are met, the student is reminded of this fact. That 1.28 times difference.

"Tch!　Fuck! "

　Again, I could not finish it off with the Second Slash.

　I have been holed up in Isoreus for two and a half days now.

　I have yet to achieve 「50 consecutive one-two kills」.

　Highest so far, 44 times in a row. It seems like a close call, but it's not. If you fail even once, you have to start from scratch again.

"...I'm gonna have to change my equipment."

　And I am still searching for it.

　Well, I should say, as expected. It is difficult to find the right configuration.

　Removing the Kakugawari equipment, using the "Silver Sword-drawing" skill, and using the "Rook Sword-drawing" skill for the Second Slash. This may kill them in one blow if I get a crit with Silver.

　That said, Soldier to Rook may not be able to finish them off with Second Slash.

　The same applied in other cases. I tried many different combinations over and over again. But no matter what you do, the criticals and 1.28x will get in the way for a good portion of the time.

　Especially Second Slash without the 1.28x bonus. This caused the "just barely not enough" situation to occur with a shitload of frequency.

　And if you adjust that subtle lack to be enough, now you can get a one-shot kill if the first hit is critical.

　...I don't know how many times I've said "fuck" in the last few dozen hours.

　I am getting more and more depressed.

　This is not good. I thought so and devised a plan.

"Mini-skirt!! "

　Instead of yelling fuck, I yelled mini-skirt.

　And at least by a little, it made me feel better.