The banquet celebrating the complete recovery of the World Tree, the defeat of the Giant Cicada that had caused its affliction, and the elimination of the monster hordes that had attacked the settlement — all of it, every problem resolved — continued deep into the night.
Naturally, this meant going to bed late and, inevitably, waking up late as well.
On such a morning... Rei had made his way to the stable near the house he and Set were borrowing.
It was still early, a time when most of the settlement was fast asleep.
Naturally, if one wanted to act without drawing attention, there was no more suitable hour than this.
"Ever since coming to this settlement, I feel like I've been absorbing magic stones strangely often... well, with this many monsters around, I suppose it's only natural."
In Rei's hands were two magic stones obtained from green wolves — Forest Green Wolves — and another magic stone roughly the size of two fists.
The latter was a magic stone that Optis, caught up in the revelry of last night's banquet, had extracted from the Giant Cicada.
The full disassembly of the Giant Cicada wasn't finished yet, but for Rei, it was fortunate that at least the magic stone had been retrieved.
Setting aside the Giant Cicada's magic stone — arguably the main prize of this whole trip — for the moment, Rei first turned his attention to the Forest Green Wolf magic stones.
"Forest Green Wolf, huh. It's a D-Rank monster, so it's not exactly trash by general standards... but then again, most of the others this time were Goblins and Cobolts."
The Forest Green Wolf wasn't listed in Rei's monster encyclopedia, so he had learned about its abilities from Ragdo during the previous night's banquet.
The Forest Green Wolf, a D-Rank monster, was — as its name suggested — a wolf-type monster skilled at blending into the greenery of the forest.
Its fur came in varying shades of green, and it specialized in group ambushes. Packs would camouflage themselves among trees and bushes before attacking prey all at once.
Even so, the Forest Green Wolf's physical abilities weren't particularly high, which was why it was classified as D-Rank.
Of course, as Rei had noted, D-Rank wasn't considered trash by general standards — but that was only generally speaking. For Rei, it was a different story.
After all, the Forest Green Wolf magic stones had been obtained when Rei charged into a group of monsters and slashed indiscriminately with Death Scythe, killing everything in reach.
"Considering this monster's abilities, if things go well... Set!"
With the thought please learn the skill I'm expecting, Rei tossed the Forest Green Wolf magic stone. Set caught it in his beak — and in the next moment, swallowed it.
[Set has learned the skill 'Optical Camouflage Lv.4']
At the voice echoing in his mind, Rei smiled.
Given the Forest Green Wolf's characteristic of blending into its surroundings, he had predicted that if a skill were to be acquired, it would likely be Optical Camouflage.
That prediction had hit the mark perfectly, so there was no reason not to be pleased.
Moreover, Optical Camouflage was one of the most powerful skills in Set's arsenal.
It wasn't flashy like Fire Breath; it was simply a skill that erased the user's appearance — and the appearance of anyone touching Set — but an invisible Gryphon Seto moving around was devastating for anyone on the opposing side.
"Now it's just a matter of how much the skill's duration has extended..."
At Level 1 it was ten seconds, Level 2 twenty seconds, Level 3 forty seconds. It had been doubling each time, so if Rei's prediction was correct, reaching Level 4 should allow Set to remain invisible for eighty seconds.
To confirm this, Rei called out to Set.
"Set, I know it's sudden, but can you try using it? At Level 4, disappear for as long as you can."
"Guruuu!"
At Rei's words, Set rumbled and activated Optical Camouflage.
Set immediately began blending into the surrounding scenery.
Rei began counting the seconds in his head from the moment Set vanished.
Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds, forty seconds passed... and as it neared eighty seconds, Set reappeared.
By Rei's count, it wasn't exactly eighty seconds, but since he hadn't measured it precisely in the first place, being able to confirm approximately eighty seconds through feel alone was sufficient.
"Alright. This went as predicted. ...Well, going by the example of Flying Slash, skill performance jumps dramatically at Level 5, so it might not simply become a hundred and sixty seconds when it reaches Level 5."
"Guruuu?"
Set tilted his head and rumbled as if asking How was it? How was it? Rei smiled and stroked his head.
"Set's abilities really are amazing."
Whether pleased at being praised by Rei, Set rumbled happily like a cat.
Rei stroked Set for a little while, but eventually picked up the other Forest Green Wolf magic stone.
"Now then, it'd be nice if Death Scythe could learn some kind of skill too... here!"
With those words, he tossed the magic stone into the air and flashed Death Scythe in a single stroke.
The sharp strike bisected the magic stone... but even after several seconds passed, no skill acquisition announcement echoed in his mind.
"No luck, huh."
Rei wore a slightly disappointed expression.
Since Set had learned a skill, he had hoped Death Scythe might learn one too.
That was the expectation he had held.
But failing to acquire a skill upon absorbing a magic stone was something he had experienced many times before.
That was why his recovery was quick.
...The fact that the remaining magic stone was from the Giant Cicada probably had something to do with it as well.
"So, what should we do with this magic stone... what do you think?"
"Guruu?"
At Rei's words, Set tilted his head slightly.
Set's attitude made it clear that he thought Rei should do as he saw fit.
"Seriously, Set, you're too good-natured. No, you're not a person, so should I say too good-natured for a gryphon? Anyway, I'm torn about what to do with this."
It was a magic stone from the Giant Cicada, a special monster in every sense of the word. Rei was certain it would undoubtedly grant a skill.
Given that, since Set had already learned a skill from the Forest Green Wolf magic stone, perhaps it would be fine to let Death Scythe learn one instead.
That was what he thought — but at the same time, it was also true that he wanted to make Set stronger.
They usually acted together, but as this recent incident showed, taking separate actions wasn't entirely unheard of.
There had been times before when only Set had been teleported to a different location, and they had operated separately during the Rank Up Exam at the Guild.
Thinking about it that way, Rei couldn't help but feel that, for emergencies, it might be better to have Set learn a new skill or level up an existing one to keep him from getting injured.
"Hmm... what should we do, I wonder."
"Guruu..."
Set let out a cry as if agreeing with Rei's words.
Rei thought for a few seconds, but then his eyes caught sight of the Light Sphere flying through the air.
He didn't need to think about what it was.
"Is it really okay for the World Tree to be moving around so freely like this? Well, the World Tree itself is still properly rooted, so I suppose there's no problem."
Rei's gaze turned toward the World Tree, visible from anywhere in the settlement.
Seeing it covered in lush green leaves, it would normally be hard to believe it had been on the verge of withering just yesterday.
The fact that it had been near death — no, had nearly died — was the truth, so Rei's honest feeling was that it would be better for it to rest a bit more.
(Well, from what Marina told me, the reason it can become a Light Sphere seems to be my magic power, so I can't really complain too much.)
Telling it not to move when he was the one who had made it capable of moving freely would be cruel in more ways than one.
The Light Sphere flew over to Rei's side and flickered as if in greeting.
"You sure are free. No, should I say you're thoroughly enjoying your freedom?"
At Rei's slightly exasperated words, the Light Sphere flickered intensely in protest.
The fact that it kept flying around Rei in that state made it quite annoying from his perspective.
"Alright, alright. I was wrong, so cut it out."
When he offered a perfunctory apology, the Light Sphere seemed satisfied and moved away.
Watching it go, Rei held the Giant Cicada's magic stone in his hand and thought for a moment.
Was it really okay to perform magic stone absorption in front of this Light Sphere?
But after a brief consideration, he decided it would be fine.
After all, the Light Sphere could only express its intentions through flickering.
In other words, even if the Light Sphere learned about Beast Magic, it couldn't tell anyone about it.
(Well, Marina's clan is said to have a bloodline deeply connected to the World Tree... but I don't think Optis or anyone else would do anything even if they learned my secret. Still, I should give a warning just in case.)
Looking at the Light Sphere, Rei spoke as if instructing it.
"Listen. Set and I are about to do something important... something extremely important. I don't mind you watching, but don't go telling anyone about this, got it?"
As if nodding at Rei's words, the Light Sphere flickered several times.
Judging that as a sign of acceptance, Rei decided not to worry about the Light Sphere's presence anymore and turned his attention back to the Giant Cicada's magic stone.
Whether to have Set absorb it, or to have Death Scythe absorb it.
(Even if I have Set absorb it, compared to previous monster magic stones, it's pretty large... can he swallow it?)
For Set to absorb a magic stone, it needed to be placed inside his body. In other words, he had to swallow it.
Most magic stones obtained so far had been small, easily swallowed by Set, who was two meters long.
But something the size of two fists might be a bit difficult to swallow... or so he thought, but...
"Guruu?"
Seeing Set tilt his head, somehow the feeling that it would probably be fine welled up within him.
"...That's right. Let's have Set absorb it after all."
Looking at Set, Rei made the decision so swiftly it made him wonder what all his earlier hesitation had been about.
"Set, you absorb this magic stone."
"Guruuu?"
Really? Set looked at Rei while tilting his head, but Rei nodded back.
"Yeah. This magic stone will definitely become your strength. ...So, Set, absorb it for me."
"Guruuu..."
That Rei wanted to have Death Scythe absorb it — Set understood this too.
Since Set was also born through Beast Magic, he naturally wanted to absorb many magic stones as well.
But even so, he thought it might be fine to let Death Scythe have this one.
The major reason was, just like Rei, the battle with the Giant Cicada.
Fighting separately from Rei was something that gave Set various things to think about as well.
When it came to the Aerowing's magic stone, he had sulked, but at that time he hadn't expected to fight separately from Rei.
Of course, there had been a few times before when Set and Rei had fought apart.
But even so, this battle had given Set a lot to think about.
Rei, receiving that look from Set, gave a gaze that said It's fine, hurry up and absorb it — and Set was also interested in the Giant Cicada's magic stone.
"Guruu."
Expressing his gratitude to Rei by rubbing his face against him, Set caught the Giant Cicada's magic stone in his beak, and in the next moment, swallowed it.
Watching this, Rei wondered what kind of skill would be learned — or, though he didn't want to consider it, whether no skill would be acquired at all... and as he was thinking such thoughts...
[Set has learned the skill 'King's Intimidation Lv.2']
That message passed through the minds of both Rei and Set.
"King's Intimidation? ...King?"
The last time he had obtained King's Intimidation was when absorbing an Orc King's magic stone.
Since it was an Orc King, acquiring King's Intimidation had been understandable... but this time, it wasn't particularly a king.
(Could it be that without my knowing, it was actually the king of cicada-type monsters?)
Tilting his head, Rei turned his gaze toward the Light Sphere, which was flying around Set, flashing intensely — perhaps surprised that Set had swallowed the magic stone.
Set watched the Light Sphere with his eyes, but didn't seem to have any particular intention of doing anything about it.
(Is it because it absorbed the World Tree's sap and magic power? I can kind of understand that... no, the magic power would be from me. If that's the case, does it mean because it was a monster that grew by absorbing my magic power and the World Tree's sap, it granted King's Intimidation? Then... could it be...)
A thought crossed Rei's mind — that by using his own magic power, he might be able to create another monster like the Giant Cicada, and absorb its magic stone.
[Set]
'Water Ball Lv.3' 'Fire Breath Lv.3' 'Wind Arrow Lv.3' 'King's Intimidation Lv.2' new 'Poison Claw Lv.4' 'Size Change Lv.1' 'Tornado Lv.2' 'Ice Arrow Lv.1' 'Optical Camouflage Lv.4' new 'Magic Eye of Shock Lv.1' 'Power Crush Lv.4' 'Sense of Smell Enhancement Lv.1' 'Bubble Breath Lv.1' 'Crystal Breath Lv.1'
King's Intimidation: Can cause weaker enemies to cower and freeze their movements. Even against opponents who don't freeze up, it can reduce their speed by approximately twenty percent. However, it has no effect on opponents of equal or greater strength.
Optical Camouflage: An ability that can erase the user's appearance. However, at Lv.4, the user can remain transparent for only about eighty seconds, and after one use, approximately thirty minutes are needed before reusing it. Additionally, the user can also make objects they are touching transparent, but if making a person transparent simultaneously, the effect wears off after about forty seconds.