1-10 The Meaning of Status Bonuses
"Nngh...? Morning already...?"
I stretched and took a look around. I'd crashed right there on the bed in my travel clothes without even bothering to change.
"Ahh... I was wiped out, yeah. But I didn't even take a bath, so I'm starting to reek. Guess it's bath time."
I'd been thinking about baths lately. Slagee had public bathhouses.
Until now, I'd tearfully passed on them to save every coin.
But this time, I'd made decent money on the expedition.
"...Alright, bath it is today."
With something to look forward to, my body felt lighter as I changed clothes, tidied up my subspace, got ready, and tossed my shield and sword inside before heading to the buyback center. My subspace was stuffed to the brim at this point, so I ended up carrying the materials by hand.
I handed them over to the usual friendly blonde lady at the counter, and her eyes went wide in shock.
"You've been busy in such a short time. Goblin majors... and even a Night Goblin Leader?"
"...Whoa, you can tell just by looking?"
"I've been doing this here for years."
She beamed happily. If she were just a bit younger...
"I'll weigh them and do the math. Please wait a moment."
I sat quietly, and sure enough, she called me back in under ten minutes. That lady was efficient. I wished the lazy receptionist at the Mercenary Guild would drink some of her bathwater.
"This time, it's six silver coins and sixty copper coins. And... there's a message: a subjugation bounty has been issued, so part of it will be deposited."
"Deposited?"
"Yes. It's being held at the Mercenary Guild. Go to the counter there to claim it. It might expire if you wait too long, so please pick it up soon."
"Got it. Thanks."
Subjugation bounty... The usual amount gets added to the buyback price, so this must be extra. Probably for wiping out a "new horde."
I wonder how much it'll be?
Grinning to myself, I headed to the guild and ran into Trishiera at the counter.
"Oh? What are you doing here...?"
"About time you showed up. You get your money yet?"
"Nah, was just about to..."
"Then grab it quick. You're coming with me."
What? What?
I claimed the money at the guild counter. Four silver coins.
If we'd split it five ways, that meant Elliott got twenty silvers? Pretty good, or not? As a bonus, though, I was thrilled.
With ten silvers total now—and assuming one silver's worth about ten thousand yen—that's a hundred thousand yen haul. Goblin fever's real...
Prodded along by Trishiera, we arrived at a fancy mansion with impressive gates. Iron fences encircled the whole place, warding off intruders.
...Can I really just go in?
Trishiera shot me a "get going" look, so I rang the doorbell. It chimed with a karan-koron. The armed guard who'd been staring us down the whole time finally turned our way.
Talk to us before I rang, dude... Why the staring contest...?
"This is Lord Emond's residence. Is that correct?"
"Yeah, I think we were summoned?"
I glanced at Trishiera for backup.
"There's a guest named Elliott inside. This is his companion."
"Right. Hold on."
Guard A whispered something to Guard B lounging by the door, who poked his head inside to check. Like a game of telephone.
After about ten minutes, we got the "alright, in you go."
"Oh, and you are...?"
In what looked like a guest room, a middle-aged woman turned to us.
"One of the group who rescued Lady Aawinda this time."
"...Or so I've heard."
Group, huh.
"I see. I'm Yukishina Emond, a relative of Aawinda's. Thank you so much for what you've done. Without you all, that girl might not have made it."
"No, just doing what anyone would."
Aawinda's relative, huh. Where's Elliott?
"My husband Dorutoku insisted on thanking you personally, so we've imposed on you. Sorry for the suddenness."
"Uh, yeah, sure."
What was the right answer here? Somebody help.
"Please, have a seat. He's talking with Mr. Elliott right now, but he'll be back soon. Make yourself comfortable."
"Th-thanks."
Yukishina glided out of the room. Emond... Noble family name?
"Hey, you know anything about the Emonds...?"
Alone in the room, I whispered to Trishiera beside me.
"The Emond Merchant Company is a major player. Lord Dorutoku Emond runs their Slagee branch."
Merchants, got it. Not nobles, just filthy rich. No class drama, hopefully.
"So why'd Lord Emond call me here? I already got thanks from the lady; can I head out?"
"Didn't you hear? Lord Dorutoku wants to see you. Just wait."
Fine.
I sank into the sofa and sipped the rare tea. Delicious. A touch of sugar—sweet.
I got a refill, earning an eye-roll from Trishiera, just as a lean middle-aged man, Elliott, and Marie entered.
"Hey, Yoyo."
"So you're Yoyo? Nice to meet you. Dorutoku Emond."
"First time meeting you. Yoyo here."
"Quite polite. Aawinda mentioned you a bit."
"Heh, hope it wasn't anything weird."
"Something about seeing her naked?"
"Guh... Th-that was—"
"Hahaha, accidents happen. No blame."
"Phew, good to know."
Whew, no "take responsibility" crap. So, what's this about?
"Lord Emond, you had something to discuss?"
"Yeah. No rush, though. First off, thanks for saving my niece. She's finally settling down."
"Glad to hear it. But given the circumstances, still worrying."
"True. Anyway, we'll publicize this incident—no cover-up. Aawinda might face rumors, but it'll keep the pests away."
"Pests?"
"Merchant heiress draws all sorts."
Ah, bad guys as bugs.
"If that's fine, then I have nothing to—"
"No, that's the point. We're not silencing anyone to hide it."
"Ah... Got it."
Makes sense. If word spreads later, no motive to off me. Not fully safe yet, but close. That's why he called?
"Thanks for the consideration..."
"Good. Now, as thanks—to you and Elliott, not hush money—I'd like to offer four gold coins. How's that?"
"Wha? G-gold coins?"
My voice shook.
Gold? Worth a hundred silvers each? Four million yen? Forty times the goblin haul? Not a trap, right?
"Yes. Too little?"
"N-no way! Just... never dealt in gold before. Shocked me."
"Fair. Some might say it's cheap for a life, but it's what I can spare now. Take it."
"Gratefully accepted."
Maybe etiquette says decline once first, but no way. Can't risk him backing out. Gold!
"Pick it up on your way out. Oh, and Elliott and I talked—he suggested asking your group to escort Aawinda to Oguri Kyuresu."
"An honor, branch chief."
Elliott flashed a winning smile. Turned the rescue into work—smooth.
"He proposed you join too. What do you say?"
"Escort? Truth be told, no experience with nobles. If that's okay..."
"We're no nobles."
Dorutoku waved with a wry chuckle.
"Good enough if you're willing. Knowing you found and saved her first puts my mind at ease."
"You'll have other guards too, right?"
Five freelancers seemed light for a tycoon's daughter—especially post-bandit attack.
Elliott took over as Dorutoku sipped tea.
"Emond's retainers will join, but we need to be ready to handle it solo if worst comes."
"Meaning?"
"Not to spread around, but... one of Aawinda's guards led the thieves."
"What?!"
They'd said guards were wiped out—betrayal explains the chaos.
"So they're vetting escorts now. They want trusted folks close for this trip."
"But... wouldn't an unknown like me be risky?"
Dorutoku cut in.
"I know Elliott from before—trust him not to sell her out. His party's all slaves, so no leaks."
"Ah."
"If he vouches, I trust you. He'll take the fall if anything."
Dorutoku eyed me steadily.
"...Understood. I'll live up to your and Elliott's trust."
"Good. Details later."
Aawinda never appeared, but after an hour of chit-chat between Elliott and Dorutoku, we left the mansion.
"...So, looks like we'll work together a bit longer. Looking forward to it."
"Yeah, same."
We shook on it and wandered the sun-high streets.
No mood for goblin hunting today.
Good news: low risk of getting buried over Aawinda.
But now we're heading out of town. Need to file for resident proof release or something? Annoying.
Still, ties to a gold-flashing merchant house? Useful. Thanks, Elliott.
Day off, but nothing to do. Quick bite, then library.
Paid a silver at the library and dove into what bugged me. Lots to research.
Recalling one by one, grabbing books.
Job System Primer
Status & Skill Details
Job & Skill Monographs
These were by the author of that classic Job System Primer I'd borrowed first. Easily two hours here.
Screw it—today, no skimping on research.
The World and Faith
The Empire's Glory and Fall
Basics on the world. Religion and history to understand it all. Maybe.
Ancient Empire stuff might clue me into local geography.
Tourist City Oguri Kyuresu
Grabbed this since we're escorting Aawinda there. Tourist spot, apparently. Big city?
Kyures Kingdom Nobility Directory
Boring, but good to know local nobles. King info might help dodge trouble someday. Though it's over twenty years old.
Too new doesn't circulate publicly? Makes sense—security risks.
Start with quest basics, quick scan.
...Hmm.
Tourist City Oguri Kyuresu is a guidebook. "Great tourist city!"
Whatever.
Oguri Kyuresu—"Oguri" means "king" in ancient imperial tongue, so Kyures King's city. Aka port city. Biggest population, kingdom's economic hub. Royal capital's nearby but separate—admin vs. commerce split.
Excited now. Intro history, then pure tourism—memo'd spots and done.
Next.
Status details and deeper Job System Primer.
...
Phew, just basics from Status & Skill Details and more Primer ate two hours. Checked at desk—yep, extra silver.
Embarrassing; told 'em I'd settle at end.
Now, statuses. Key: status bonuses.
That's the gist.
Key point: every status has secondary effects post-"also." All appealing, always active—even outside combat.
Still mysteries. Scholars compiled from data/observations—speculative, vague.
Like, "damage increases"—system auto-strikes? Guides your body? Mysteries abound, but higher Attack = more damage from same swing. Fact.
Bonuses amplify base; scrawny guy maxes stats, still weak. But Attack's secondary boosts his strength itself. Rare to have high Attack but weak hits—unless total beanpole.
Secondaries intrigue.
Strength types: Attack for burst power, Defense for durability, Agility for balanced muscle/motor boost. Stamina hits endurance too. All strengthen muscles differently.
Agility's motor upgrade is huge. Combat jobs? Pump Agility, get strong. Hard to train solo.
Explains Swordsman popularity. Thought swords orthodox, but Agility bonus key.
Actually, all jobs nudge all stats per level—biased growth.
Swordsman: Agility-focused classic. Shieldbearer: Defense king, but Agility stalls—unpopular solo.
Armies love 'em for formations. I'd avoid frontline Shieldbearer duty.
Keep mine secret—too risky.
Personal variance huge: MP bonuses, skill levels too. Swordsman Agility: 2 levels = +1 rank, or 5-6 for nothing. Talents matter.
Wonder how mine stacks? Multi-jobs obscure influences... Eh.
Want all physicals, plus Magic/Magic Def for mage jobs. Obvious: raise everything. Bonuses matter. Good enough!
Trivia: job origins fun.
Gods granting jobs add new ones sometimes. Old lore, proven by scholar on Kewiltus job emergence.
Kewiltus: huge local ball sport boom eons ago. Still popular.
Carry ball to enemy goal—like American football/rugby.
Full: Kewiltus Gasmu—"advance, fell, brave" + "ball." Short: Kewiltus Ball, or modern "Yuugi" (brave game).
Endless debates like Earth's mushroom vs. bamboo wars. Whatever.
Boom led to Kewiltus Athlete job suddenly available.
Sport new then, so gods added post-popularity. Jobs evolve.
Debate: gods adapt, or foresaw? I like adaptation—hate predestined fate. Sudden availability fits. Believers hate it denting omniscience. Meh.
Jobs added/removed? Conditions shift? Plausible.
Post-Athlete, idiots battlefield-applied it → Kewiltus Warrior. Fans grab despite mockery. Idiots.
Meant to hit Job & Skill Monographs, Nobility Directory, World and Faith, Empire's Glory—but wiped. Four hours. Later.
Skimmed World and Faith: polytheism, imperial roots. Creator God top. Loose rules.
Isekai reveal won't get me burned? As long as secret...
Returned books, stepped out—sun dipping, streets aglow red.
Prettier than Japanese cities. Nice sunset. Tough living, though.
Too early for inn? Wandered on.