Softening
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Status
Akaya Makoto
Level: 0
Health: 100 / 100
Mana: 10 / 10
Defense: 0
Strength: 30,000
Dexterity: 100
Intelligence: 0
Resistance: 0
Agility: 0
Mystery: 0
Spirit: 0
Skills
Basic StaminaBasic DexterityAdvanced Strength ×3Harden
Equipment
Skill Tree
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Skill Tree
Tree Level: 1
Skill Points: 0
Points Mission: Completed
Skill Menu
Basic StaminaUsable: 4 timesBasic ManaUsable: 5 timesBasic DefenseUsable: 5 timesAdvanced StrengthUsable: 2 timesBasic DexterityUsable: 4 timesBasic IntelligenceUsable: 5 timesBasic ResistanceUsable: 5 timesBasic AgilityUsable: 5 timesBasic MysteryUsable: 5 timesBasic SpiritUsable: 5 timesSoften NEW!Usable: 1 timeStick NEW!Usable: 1 time
Completed Skills
Applied StrengthUsable: 0 timesBasic StrengthUsable: 0 timesHardenUsable: 0 times
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The increase in skills is seriously unstoppable.
I expected some changes after leveling up the tree by eating those weird walnuts, but I didn't expect it to become this lively.
The new skills are 'Soften' and 'Stick.' Both seem quirky and kind of weak... Are these the skills that become available at Tree Level 1? While these aren't passive skills that boost my stats, they do seem to expand what I can do. But honestly, they seem a bit underwhelming. Shouldn't there be something more... you know, like more conventional techniques?
"The first skill I got with two weird walnuts was 'Harden,' and now it's 'Soften' and 'Stick'..."
I pondered this while stroking my chin. As I delved into the strange feeling, I realized something. Perhaps the skill tree has its own unique traits. Could it be that even though they're all weird walnuts, Weird Walnut A and Weird Walnut B have different contents?
According to the Tree Cat, the 'Blood-Drained Seed, Adam's Seed' is a part of the original tree or something. The so-called original tree has access to all skills, and the seeds are just fragments. This means each seed contains different skills.
Probably, after I grew the skill tree, the reason basic skills became available was that the 'Blood-Drained Seed, Adam's Seed' that the Tree Cat initially planted contained basic skills.
"So, it's based on the weird walnuts, not just the tree level."
This hypothesis explains why the skills available at Tree Level 1 are 'Harden,' 'Soften,' and 'Stick,' which seem underwhelming.
Let's check out the details of these underwhelming skills.
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Soften
Active Skill
Makes the touched object soft
Cost: MP 10
Fragility is also a form of hardness
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Stick
Active Skill
Grants adhesion to the touched object
Cost: MP 10
A baby separated from its mother
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They look like pretty underwhelming skills. I can't imagine fighting with these.
The next day.
"Muscle pain... doesn't bother me?"
I realized this as I got out of bed and reached for the Loxonon. Had I transcended muscle pain by pushing my body so hard?
"Or maybe I've started producing Loxonon internally...?"
Today, I decided not to take any painkillers and headed to the bathroom in high spirits. As always, the sink was broken, so I checked today's status and confirmed that the 'Perimeter' point mission had returned.
Today is a holiday, but we have a special class.
As students of Hero High School, we study dungeon-related subjects in addition to the basic subjects that regular high school students learn. Therefore, regular weekday classes aren't enough, so we sometimes have special classes on holidays and weekends.
Today's special class is about the basics of being an explorer. Mr. Komine, a somewhat painful-looking middle-aged man with bright pink hair, lethargically walked in.
At the end of the class, during the Q&A session, I decided to ask a question that had been bothering me.
"Mr. Komine."
"You again, Akaya. What is it this time?"
"Do explorers have an organ that produces Loxonon?"
"What on earth are you talking about?"
As usual, I wasn't able to explain things well.
I repeated my explanation, breaking it down and adding more detail.
"So basically, you're saying the muscle pain suddenly went away. Originally, it's been confirmed that the muscle strength status also shortens the cycle of muscle pain recovery throughout the body. By leveling up, one naturally acquires superhuman recovery abilities, which is generally the effect of muscle strength. Oh, and come to think of it, there's also talk that having high dexterity improves the body's recovery abilities."
At that moment, the end-of-class chime rang.
Well, as expected, Komine-sensei is very knowledgeable.
He has answers for everything.
The answer was Muscle-san. Isn't Muscle-san the strongest?
Oops, I almost got possessed by muscles again.
If I let my guard down, I'll get powered up right away. Wait, calm down. This is probably the result of Dexterity-kun. I shouldn't just attribute it to Muscle-san.
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[Today's Point Mission]
Keep up the daily effort!
『Outer Lap』
Run around the perimeter of Hero High School grounds: 10/10
[Reward]
2 Skill Points Earned!
[Consecutive Days]12 days
[Diligence Rank]Silver
[Point Multiplier]2.0x
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In the evening, I ran.
I started running at 5 PM and finished at 8 PM.
It took me 3 hours... Am I getting faster?
Covering 50km in 3 hours means per kilometer... never mind, trying to calculate it gives me a headache. Maybe I should raise my intelligence...
I earned 2 skill points, so let's allocate them right away.
Back at the dormitory, I opened my skill tree in the bathroom.
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[Skill Tree]
Tree Level: 1
Skill Points: 2
Point Mission: Completed
[Skill Menu]
『Basic Stamina』
Times Obtainable: 4
『Basic Magic』
Times Obtainable: 5
『Basic Defense』
Times Obtainable: 5
『Advanced Strength』
Times Obtainable: 2
『Basic Dexterity』
Times Obtainable: 4
『Basic Intelligence』
Times Obtainable: 5
『Basic Resistance』
Times Obtainable: 5
『Basic Agility』
Times Obtainable: 5
『Basic Mystery』
Times Obtainable: 5
『Basic Spirit』
Times Obtainable: 5
『Soften』
Times Obtainable: 1
『Stick』
Times Obtainable: 1
『Launch』 NEW!
Times Obtainable: 1
『Attract』 NEW!
Times Obtainable: 1
[Completed Skills]
『Advanced Strength』
Times Obtainable: 0
『Basic Strength』
Times Obtainable: 0
『Harden』
Times Obtainable: 0
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Another one has been added.
The new ones are 『Launch』 and 『Attract』.
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『Launch』
Active Skill
Launch an object in hand
[Cost]MP 10
Aim for the sky
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『Attract』
Active Skill
Attract an object in hand
[Cost]MP 10
Discover the laws of motion
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These are two opposing attributes.
『Launch』 seems quite strong.
If I can launch objects and hit monsters from a distance, I can attack remotely, right?
"It's quite a dilemma. With so many options, even earning 2 points a day isn't enough."
If only I had an informed Tree Cat to consult, but it went for a walk yesterday and hasn't returned, so I'll have to think for myself.
After racking my limited brain power, this is what I decided.
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[Status]
Makoto Akaya
Level: 0
Stamina: 100 / 100
Magic: 10 / 100
Defense: 0
Strength: 30,000
Dexterity: 100
Intelligence: 0
Resistance: 0
Agility: 0
Mystery: 0
Spirit: 0
[Skills]
『Basic Stamina』
『Basic Magic』
『Basic Dexterity』
『Advanced Strength』×3
『Harden』
『Soften』
[Equipment]
『Skill Tree』
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This time I unlocked 『Basic Magic』 and 『Soften』.
I really wanted to add more Dexterity, but considering that I'll be unlocking active skills, I thought it was necessary to boost MP for now.
I want all the active skills, so I'll be acquiring skills in order as they become available. I chose 『Soften』 simply because it was the oldest available skill.
"Activate skill━━『Soften』"
I gently touched the bathroom door with my right hand.
"Oh. It really became soft."
I pushed the door with my hand, and it just kept sinking in.
It felt like touching a very soft sofa or maybe something with a high viscosity.
The texture is quite nice. So this is what "soften" means.
"Does it last about 10 seconds?"
While kneading it, the door began to harden again.
It seems the effect wore off.
"I wonder if there's any use for this."
I pondered for a while.
Looking at the door, I noticed something.
Its shape was a bit off where I had touched it. Since I kneaded it last, it had solidified with the imprint of my hand.
That gave me an idea.
"Could this be... no, wait, I can't test it now. I'll have to wait for my MP to recover."
The next morning.
I woke up early, eager to test my devilish idea from the night before, and dashed out of the dormitory, my excitement barely contained.
I headed straight for the training building. I wanted to try something on the dungeon Pomeranian in the mock dungeon. If my idea worked, it should be successful.
"Hmm?"
As I ran toward the training building, I encountered a girl in a hakama at the gate.
She was a lovely girl. Her elegant black hair was tied in a single knot, embodying the beauty of Japanese tradition. Holding a sword and a white towel, she exuded a cold aura. As usual.
Shiba-hime Kamika.
The greatest talent at Hero High School.
Should I call her one of the specially chosen among the chosen?
Or perhaps her well-established nickname after a month and a half since admission, "Ice Princess," might better describe her personality.
"Why are you so excited? Are you in heat? I'll call the police."
"The police can't enter the academy."
"Do you want to try? There are few things the Shiba-hime family can't do."
"I'll pass."
Since the first day of admission, she has threatened to call the police, cut me down, or simply insulted me every time we meet. Poor me.
But it's inevitable. At Hero High School, talent is everything.
She is truly chosen, while I am talentless.
It's audacious to even compare.
"You haven't been coming to the training building lately. Have you given up on becoming an explorer?"
Surprisingly, she started the conversation.
We meet almost every day.
I train in the training building daily, and Shiba-hime also comes here to train without fail.
However, due to the point mission "Outer Lap," I haven't visited the training building much lately.
"Giving up is the only good trait you had left."
"Of course not. I'm undergoing secret training."
"Is that what you call running around the outer lap like a madman?"
How does she know?
"You're quite famous. The suspicious guy who runs around the school grounds every day, weekends included."
Who are you calling suspicious?
Oh, I've got a good idea.
"Shiba-hime, don't move. Don't move a muscle."
"Hello, police? I'm being assaulted by a pervert."
"Too fast, too fast!"
Shiba-hime stared at me with a cold gaze.
I'll show her a bit of my power. I'm no longer the same Makoto Akaya.
"Activate skill━━『Soften』"
I slapped the ground with my palm.
The ground rippled, and soon Shiba-hime's small body began to sink into the ground.
When she was submerged up to her chest, I activated 『Harden』.
"How about this, Shiba-hime? You can't move an inch now. This is the new power of Makoto Akaya."
This is the Akaya-style skill combination.
Shiba-hime Kamika, defeated.