2-10 The Crab Ghost
Hello.
I woke up early again this morning, folded up the tent, and was about to head out when I noticed something posted at the entrance to the training grounds.
What's this? More war news?
"Multiple sightings of Ferregen have been reported in the Kansen River basin. All personnel, exercise caution."
It was monster intel. "Multiple" meant reports had come in from sources other than us.
Or maybe the Warrior Squad had been on lookout and spotted something matching the description.
Either way, they were going out of their way to post a warning like this, so Ferregen must be pretty dangerous.
Logically speaking, it had to be stronger than something like Keygo or heatrock bears, which didn't even warrant widespread alerts.
...Yeah, no way I could handle that right now.
I'd built up a stock of unsold magic stones anyway. Time to head south for a bit.
I wanted to experiment more with body enhancement magic too.
I left through the gate and headed south. I stuck to the road instead of going into the forest, aiming for the town. Along the way, I tested new skills on small monsters I encountered.
I slammed my sword down on a passing fang dog. At the moment of impact, I tried manipulating body enhancement magic to amplify the force in my arm. Its head squished nicely, but the sword slipped out and I dropped it.
Had to finish the rest off with my dagger.
I kept experimenting after that—slicing through black orb tentacles with my sword and such—and figured out it was better not to just strengthen my arm, but to boost my whole body's springiness.
Body enhancement magic only amplified physical strength. The self-boost from Air Pressure wind magic was obsolete now, it seemed.
Not so much about switching between them—best to use them in tandem.
As I pondered that, it suddenly clicked why I'd acquired body enhancement magic. I'd been told that developing new ways to use magic, like compound spells, could unlock fitting new spells.
My self-Air Pressure might've counted as developing a new one. It was the only thing that came to mind, anyway.
Didn't change much knowing that. But if I kept innovating my own spells, it'd widen my tactical options and potentially grant new magic. Nice.
I had Sarsa snipe an approaching arora with Far Sight.
Good aim, but it lost speed midway and missed.
Yeah, figures. I'd had her try it once to see if she could specialize in sniping, but the bow itself hadn't gotten stronger.
Level ups would boost her Attack stat for indirect muscle gains. Pair that with stronger draw-weight bows and repeat. Grind it out steadily.
Her accuracy was skyrocketing, though. A grass-hidden arshi—looked like some extinct Earth bipedal bird—burst out once, and she reacted instantly, nailing it in one shot. Scary good.
That was the same creature whose thigh stew we'd eaten our first day at Eneito Base. I praised her quick shot, then had her butcher it right away. For small monsters, she was faster and more reliable.
We reached the tent space midway to town by evening, but ran into a group of half-plate wearers huddled by the roadside.
No uniform gear, but similar outfits with deep green or purple marks somewhere.
Apparently that was how you spotted local Teba Warrior Squads. I'd learned that over the past few days.
"Warrior Squad? Something up?"
The squads around here didn't mind being approached, so I figured I'd gather intel.
If there was a Keygo pack nearby, I'd detour no matter what.
"Hm? Merc?"
"Yeah, monster hunter guild."
I flashed my monster hunter guild card. Being backed by the royals made it smooth sailing with local Warrior Squads.
"Hmm. We're on Rebeus watch duty. We'll stay off the road, so no issue, but don't get close."
"Got it. Thanks for the info."
Rebeus: big herbivore, sauropod-like monster. Attacks if approached, but mostly harmless—no need to fight.
Problem if they camped too near bases or roads, though. I'd heard squads hunted them, but they also did regular surveys like this.
Peering where the group stared, I spotted a massive shadow shuffling in the distant grasslands. Too big to miss—the silhouette screamed Rebeus.
"Sarsa, you see it?"
"Yes, definitely a Rebeus."
She confirmed with Far Sight.
"Eh, we're sticking to the road anyway, so no worries."
"True, but it might wander our way. Let's move quick."
"Yeah. Let's roll."
That said, the tent space was right there.
We arrived before dark, and the day ended without incident.
The next morning when I stepped out of the tent, more tents had popped up in the space.
Still plenty empty, so I was doing morning swings in a clear spot when a guy who'd just woken up called out.
"You the merc from yesterday?"
"Hm?"
I paused my swings and looked. Familiar face...
Harder to tell without full armor, but had to be one of the Warrior Squad guys we'd chatted with.
"From the Rebeus watch squad. Ring a bell?"
"Oh, right. Morning."
"Morning."
They hadn't been there before bed, so they'd arrived overnight.
They did morning training too—guys kept emerging from tents, greeting me, wooden swords in hand. Not just swings; mock battles too.
"Wanna join?"
"Mock battle? ...Sure, if I'm not in the way."
"Great. Shame we don't have a bokken that big, but cool?"
"Fine by me."
Hadn't done person-to-person since Tsutsu handled me at the entrance town guild. Perfect chance.
Straight swordplay, no body enhancement magic.
He grabbed whoever, so I sparred with the middle-aged guy who'd invited me.
I wielded a standard bokken two-handed; he had one in his left, shield in right.
"Name's Kanta. Yours?"
Kanta swung his shield and bokken to loosen up.
"Yoyo. You... Kanta, lefty?"
"Yup. Armies fix that kinda thing, but not our squad. Catches people off-guard in PvP."
"Huh."
"Doesn't fly against monsters, though... Here I come!"
Kanta raised his shield to chest height, right foot forward in half-body stance.
Shield thrust out—clearly baiting a counter.
Minding the unfamiliar range, I swung two-handed. He parried easily with his shield, then counterattacked with his sword.
His counters were soft, so hit-and-run kept me safe... but he was obviously going easy.
"C'mon, that all? Try this."
Kanta paused, then charged shield-first.
I tried to deflect, but his weight carried it through. I got shoved back, ass on ground.
"Pathetic. Basic shield user trick."
"Yeah..."
"Shield bash, push, whatever you call it. Dodge big moves or overpower. You ain't great at PvP, huh."
"Spot on."
No point denying. Pure combat skill, no magic? I'd rank low here. Just months ago, I was an Earth NEET nowhere near fights.
"Can't read him? Circle to his weak side. Up, let's go."
"Right."
Following advice, I circled to his left (my right), peppering light slashes.
Kanta looked annoyed, parrying sword-to-sword, bashing with shield—reversing offense/defense. Damn, this guy's strong.
"Huff... huff..."
"Yoyo, you ain't a Swordsman, are ya? Smells amateur."
"Nah, sword's not my main. But wanna practice it."
Bit excuse-y, but true.
Main firepower: magigun and magic. Sword was training wheels.
"What's your main? Wanna spar that too."
Hmm. Could play Magiswordsman and use magic. But pure sword felt like shortchanging his practice.
Nah, just reveal I can use magic vaguely.
"Magic. Details off-limits."
"Oho! Magic user with swordplay? Impressive."
"...Kinda. Attack spells would ruin training, but light magic use okay?"
"Sounds fun."
"Defense magic only, cool?"
"Do it."
What to use? Training, so practice unused stuff: fire or earth. Physical spar, so earth. No burning bokken.
Sand Guard
Raised my right hand, conjuring a small sand clump above it.
"That's how I do it."
"Quick cast. Let's go."
Swinging while syncing Sand Guard to his sword/shield. One-tempo delay made pinpoint tough.
Predict one step ahead. Kanta's attacks were straightforward—manageable.
Light swings I could block; heavy ones broke through. Shield bash halted me briefly before shattering.
That tiny gap mattered. I placed guards at feet to hinder movement too.
Now I could trade blows properly.
Earth magic could manipulate ground instead of creating sand—if soil present. Manual called it Wake Wall.
Precise control needed hand on ground—tough mid-swordfight.
Tried once; he closed before I could, abandoned it.
"Nice. Magic mid-swing's your thing?"
"Eh, routine."
Kanta laughed cheerfully. Guessed from voice—shield hid his face.
"No Magiswordsman? Wild style for a magic user."
"..."
Wonder why no Magiswordsman? Might snake into trouble—let it slide.
Once I mixed magic, Kanta sped up, hit harder. Still holding back before.
"Good stuff. Great for magic beast training."
"Hah... haa!"
I was gassed—moving, focusing magic, reading him. Kanta? Chatting fine.
Even pressing after Sand Wall blocks, he parried flawlessly. Rinse, repeat.
Barely used left sword. Style or handicap?
"My Magic Defense is high. Attack spells fine."
"...Right... you... bastard."
No promises, but I'd stuck to earth. Sand Needle time.
High level—he'd survive this. Probably.
Sand Needle
"Hah, beastly fighting style."
Sword telegraphed too easy—thrust left hand. Similar startup to Sand Wall; erratic spray dodged his reads.
Most deflected by shield; leg graze did zilch.
Magic Defense legit. Earth-heavy, but his Defense too.
"Spray and pray? Can't read that."
"Kinda cheating."
"Innovation's skill too. My turn... eat this."
His shield thudded—then Air Pressure-like shockwave hurled me back. Rolled up quick.
Shield Shockwave
"'Shield Shockwave' skill. Surprised ya."
"...Thought no skills."
"You got magic. Fair's fair?"
"Fine, whatever."
Shield Shockwave... shield shockwave? Shield job. Kanta might be Shieldman line—hadn't touched those lately.
Kept sparring with earth magic till the squad's cook called for chow. Sarsa and squad watched by end.
"That's it. Fun bout."
"Hah... hah... You're... too damn tough."
I crawled, gasping; Kanta toweled sweat, waved cheerily, headed to eat. Squad followed.
"Master, food's ready."
"Thanks, Sarsa... whew."
Took her wet towel, wiped face. Old man stink? Whatever.
"Knew I wasn't hot shit self-taught. Didn't expect total shutdown, though."
Muttered slurping morning soup. Sarsa nodded quietly, listening.
"Gotta mock-spar everywhere from now on. Back in town, hit up Tsutsu..."
"Indeed."
Still, no logical, gentle instructors? Magic Guild's Pikata wasn't kind, but structured theory helped tons.
Suits me. Always called logic nerd.
Sword coaches? Tsutsu "watch and learn" or brainless muscle types. What to do?
"Visit other towns? Back, then Cross Point maybe."
"Cross Point's mid-Kansen River, right? Crab ghost flowed downstream—more up there?"
"Crab ghost."
"S-sorry. Forgot the name."
"Ferre-something. Kinda cute."
"...Is it?"
Sarsa's cool slip aside, yeah—Eneito downstream had issues, so midstream Cross Point riskier? Gather intel.
Post-breakfast, packing up, spotted Kanta's northbound squad. Asked Cross Point deets as farewell.
"Heading south, then Cross Point. Any info? Heard Ferre-whatever at Eneito."
"Cross Point? Hmm."
Kanta eyed squad; tall young guy nodded knowingly.
"Ferregen slipped us at Cross Point. No other reports, but more nearby plausible."
"Dangerous?"
"Dangerous-ish. Everyday stuff. Worry and you're done."
"Right."
Wait for Ferregen fuss to die, or guild intel.
"Thanks. Helpful."
"No prob."
Squad'd hunt strays, check rogue Rebeus. Tough gig.
Waved them off, then prepped our departure.
"Got it—Tarstira town's lights."
Sarsa spotted them with Far Sight right after dusk.
Detoured capturing speedy shishifuka—boar-wolf hybrid looks. Spawn point origin, now wild descendants.
Survived thanks to insane escape speed.
Capture: Bashabasha to foul footing, Wake Wall pen before flight, then beatdown.
Even then, it leaped—Sarsa's cool shot slowed takeoff for my slash.
Big catch... but pelt trashed, small size—low value parts.
Shishifuka. Not worth it.
Flashed guild card at gate, entered sparse streets wafting food stall smells.
Back in civilized town—felt good. Grabbed dinner stall grub, public bath sweat-off, nearby inn. Yes, town meant fun time.
What fun? You'll see.
(Teaser ending, but no naughty scenes.)
A bit ahead, 2-15 planned as second Q&A.
Toss questions in comments/reviews—might answer in-story.