Lonely Attack on the Different World (WN)

Day 82 – Daytime, the Evil Forest

I wonder if I’ve gotten stronger. My equipment definitely did, it’s actually so overwhelmingly strong that my body is getting destroyed from its strength, getting into pretty ridiculous territory, but what about me?

As slow as it goes, I still raised a few levels. Back when I fought here, I hadn’t even broken through the level 10 wall, but now I’m level 23. But have I gotten stronger?

「Ermm, here it is. 『Level 20 Adventurer Set』. I sort of bought it on impulse back when I just reached level 20, and totally forgot about it since then. Well, this equipment doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, but that’s how it usually goes? I guess?」

I suddenly remembered about it while getting bored out of my mind with gobs and kobs whacking, which couldn’t even qualify as a training.

「Ugh, hard to put on! What a hassle! Can’t move in this thing! A leather helmet, leather boots, gloves, and only the shoulder pads have any metal on them? The cape’s made of cloth, huh… So heavy!」

This is normal equipment for a level 20 Adventurer Trainee. Naturally, it doesn’t have even a single enchantment or effect.

Using 『Magic Wrap』, strikes me with almost lonesome level of something being amiss, from how insignificant the effect feels, as if I’m barely wearing anything at all. Still, I’ve fought plenty of late-night battles wearing nothing but 『Magic Wrap』, so I can adjust to the feeling right away.

A monster with dirty, greenish skin, short but stout squat frame, an ugly face that doesn’t resemble any creature, deserving to be called impish, armed with a club. That’s a goblin!

Dead. Yeah, I tried to hype it up, but a goblin is a goblin. A single Lv9 gob is not enough to gauge anything. I whacked it once and it’s dead.

As expected, without equipment 『Teleportation』 wouldn’t activate. Perhaps it might be possible if I really force it, but this skill is far too dangerous to use without being able to control it.

I can kick off empty air with『Air Walk』, but without the equipment it’s kind of unreliable. Even so, I’m perfectly able to land right in the middle of a goblin pack. Having myself shrouded in『Magic Wrap』I chain『Kyojitsu』, taking down six in three swings. Instant destruction.

「So even the strongest one was only level 14? There were six of them, but I sort of ended up ambushing them, so it’s kind of inconclusive?」

(Nod Nod) (Nod-Nod) (Jiggle-Jiggle)

Speak up! Looks like they are getting bored, having nothing to do.

From this fight, I confirmed that 『Kyojitsu』 will activate even without any gear equipped, and it won’t cause self-destruction either, but yeah, the power’s pretty underwhelming!

Well, actually, the likes of gobs would die in one hit even from a normal attack. I used 『Kyojitsu』on purpose, but it ended so fast I can’t even call it a training. The gobs died with a stupid 『Uewh?』look on their mugs. Their reaction is too slow.

With the goblins’ levels dropping, my own level rising, and new skills unlocked, there’s just no sense of challenge at all. The forest where just surviving was a lucky bet two and a half months ago has turned into a place I can breeze through even without equipment.

「No idea if I became stronger, or just more skillful, but this is kind of pointless as a practice, isn’t it?」

(Nod Nod) (Nod-Nod) (Jiggle-Jiggle)

Armored Pres-san and Dancing Girl-san have both taken off their armor and are in their casual clothes now. Though calling it casual, might be a stretch, they’re battle-ready outfits reinforced with high-level skills and mithril, so they’re way stronger than your average armor. But looks-wise, it’s just a blue collared dress and a white sailor-collared one, they honestly look like they’re heading off on a picnic or something. They aren’t saying a word, though!

We even allowed the gobs to ambush us a few times, but regardless if we allowed them to have the initiative or even surround us, they couldn’t provide any resistance at all. Looks like I’ve gotten a bit stronger after all.

I managed to fight, or rather, completely easily win, without relying on any cheating (equipment). Or rather, I had the upper hand in stats and completely overwhelmed them with technique, so I guess my actual skill has gone up a bit after all. All this time, I’ve been desperately struggling, combining various tricks, just to be able to fight despite the odds. I kept up a pointless and futile struggle but maybe it wasn’t so pointless after all.

「Still weak and fragile, but I guess I’ve gotten just a little bit stronger, huh~. Back when we first came here, I nearly died in this forest more times than I can count, you know? Me, the geeks, even Pres and the others… We were all fighting for our lives. Hard to believe that was only a little while ago, isn’t it?」

Eighty-one days ago, I was walking alone through this dark forest, terrified of the monsters. It feels like ages ago, but really, it was just the other day. A lot happened, but looks, all of it wasn’t meaningless. The meaning is in the three walking beside me.

After hunting down all of the surrounding monsters we head towards the cave while gathering mushrooms. The Demon Scythes, taking a separate route, will probably join up with us before long. Putting back my usual equipment I proceed through the forest.

After officially coming under my command Demon Scythes’ levels reset to 1, so they likely want to grind some experience in the Evil Forest. They seem to head out logging whenever they have spare time… and they’re probably about to pass me in levels already? Not that it’s anything new.

Alright, I’d say this is a safe zone now. Just a little farther to the cave… I have everyone fall back, carefully confirm the direction, and fire at the furthest controllable range. 「Dimension Slash」

A dimensional cut unleashed using Kyojitsu while shrouded in full power 『Magic Wrap』, with all magic, skills, and effects, all layered on. With Wisdom controlling it, it leans into range over power, with the direction being managed with extreme precision, the slash line tears through the forest. Basically, yardwork. Tree trimming and lawn mowing.

And as surely a natural outcome of that, in what could be called an extremely obvious and expected result, bordering a poetic karma, I took a ton of damage. Torn muscles all over my body, shattered bones, ruptured blood vessels, there’s a lot going on. Naturally, I’ve been munching on a High-Grade Recovery Mushroom I even started. 『Regeneration』 also started on already routine high-speed restoration, so I’ll be resting for a moment. Looks like I managed to clear out more than a kilometer in a semicircle around the cave. That whole area has now turned into a cheerful grassland with the sunlight freely pouring in. While it’s not uncontrollable anymore, it seems I still can’t fully handle the recoil. It hurts, you know?

After healing up, I collect the fallen trees, mushrooms, and the magic stones from the gobs that got caught in the attack, then return to the cave.

「It’s been a while~, I’m back. Well, it’s not like I actually expect a reply? Rather, it would be a problem if there was any? I mean, the sign out front clearly says 『No Cave Kings Allowed,』so there shouldn’t be anyone here? I guess?」[1]

(Jiggle-Jiggle! Jiggle-Jiggle!)

Very excited Slime-san is running around, exploring the place, while Dancing Girl-san is looking around with a curious look. Meanwhile, Armored Pres-san and I are chilling at the table while sipping mushroom tea. 「It’s sort of… Nostalgic.」- Armored Pres-san also seems to be in a good mood.