Chapter 47
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Translator: Xrecker
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Feedback (4)
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"Th-the group's activity funds?"
"Yes. The money that the group receives every month will sometimes not be enough. So for those times, the money we earn like today will be kept as a common fund that can be used for group activities."
"That's a good idea."
"If it's necessary for group activities, then it would also include procuring weapons!"
"Of course, it can only be used if all the group members agree. Unauthorized use is prohibited."
"Hmph!"
His intention of trying to buy a weapon with this money was too obvious.
"How are you going to store it?"
"For now, I'll be in charge of it. Of course, once every two weeks, we'll all gather to check the remaining amount to see if I've secretly used it or not."
"I-I trust that you wouldn't do that, Mr. Shih-han."
"This is a necessary check that should be done before trust. In fact, we can only trust each other if we do this kind of work as a matter of course."
It was much better than having a relationship go sour due to unnecessary suspicions in a financial relationship.
"I agree with Ishihan's opinion. It's better to be clear about this kind of money issue."
After deciding on a policy for the group's activity funds, we returned to the Lucadia Academy, did our stamina training as we had originally planned, and then parted ways.
When I entered my inn room and was left alone, I stretched and relaxed.
"Hmph, that was refreshing."
Thanks to my stamina stat, I never found the stamina training that difficult, but the feeling after sweating it out and washing up was good.
Not only that, but even when I recalled the Poison Boar subjugation quest that had happened today, it had been a very meaningful day.
A battle fought as a group for the first time, not just with Pamela.
I was able to change Arsvald's attack order to be more efficient and confirm how powerful Yeon-hwa's protective barrier was.
'There was nothing to advise Yeon-hwa on.'
Unlike Arsvald, who was too focused on coolness, Yeon-hwa knew how to utilize the skills she had.
'She did try to step forward and kick sometimes... but she probably wouldn't do that in a really dangerous situation.'
Pamela also used her magic according to her own judgment when facing the Purple Poison Boar, without me having to give her detailed instructions.
It was very good that she could make her own judgments and act in a way that was helpful for coordination, instead of just waiting for a judgment.
Yeon-hwa and Arsvald would also be able to move in sync and coordinate without me having to give them instructions in the future, just like Pamela.
'Then it will be easier to catch monsters.'
Then I could clear the main story faster and grow faster to be able to defeat the Demon King of Chaos.
My lips curled up in a smile at the hopeful thought.
Of course, even though it was a good feeling, I had no intention of being careless.
Because there was no way I could defeat the Demon King of Chaos, the very embodiment of a health tank, so easily.
Since I had also gotten new points today, I opened my status window for a check-up.
'Status Window'
Name: Ishihan
Gender: Male
Stats
Stamina: 9
Strength: 7
Agility: 9
Magic: 12
Luck: 3
Fame: 60
Points Possessed: 10
Skills Possessed: Penetration (EX), Spearmanship Mastery (MAX), Severing Spear (絶槍) (F), Regeneration (F)
Titles: Bandit Hunter, Wide-Area Taunter, Bandit Exterminator, Rising Star of the Academy
Thanks to defeating the Purple Poison Boar, I had accumulated 10 points, and my fame had become 60.
I still hadn't seen this fame have a noticeable effect, but the more it increased, the higher my recognition would become.
'No, the fast spread of the rumor about the 'Rising Star of the Academy' might have been affected by it.'
In any case, I had to wait and see about my fame.
For now, the 10 points I had accumulated.
I had to decide where to use them.
It seemed too hasty to level up Severing Spear yet.
Its power was already strong enough.
As for Regeneration, since I had Yeon-hwa's shield for now, there was no need to level it up in a hurry.
'I think it would be fine to get another skill that I'm just imitating for now, and then....'
What was left was to invest the points in my stats.
"..."
After a moment of thought, I spent the points.
Name: Ishihan
Gender: Male
Stats
Stamina: 10
Strength: 10
Agility: 13
Magic: 14
Luck: 3
Fame: 60
Points Possessed: 0
Skills Possessed: Penetration (EX), Spearmanship Mastery (MAX), Severing Spear (絶槍) (F), Regeneration (F)
Titles: Bandit Hunter, Wide-Area Taunter, Bandit Exterminator, Rising Star of the Academy
I put 2 points into Magic, 4 into Agility, 3 into Strength, and 1 into Stamina.
Magic would be needed if I were to use skills often in the future.
Considering my attack style, Agility was the most important, and Strength was for when I had to face bigger monsters.
I didn't think I was lacking in stamina at the moment, but since it wouldn't hurt to increase it, I put 1 point into it.
The remaining points had become 0, but I could get more points by completing various quests and defeating captain or boss-level monsters.
'The feeling is different this time when I spend the points.'
As for magic, it was a hazy feeling because I hadn't known from the beginning.
But for stamina, strength, and agility, I could clearly feel the vitality circulating in my body from the moment they reached 10.
'I'll have to test it.'
"Ugh...."
Pamela arrived at her inn room and collapsed onto her bed.
Even though she had washed her body, her body was still emitting a faint heat, as if it still thought it was exercising.
Pamela felt that she needed to lie down for a while longer for her pounding heart to calm down.
The stamina training that had started right after she had returned from exchanging the cash at Cat's Commerce.
An activity that she had been doing for several days.
At first, even a short run had left her breathless and struggling, but now, Pamela could also feel that her stamina had improved dramatically compared to the beginning.
'And Mr. Shih-han isn't pushing me too hard....'
Even if she was out of breath and drenched in sweat, he didn't make her do it to the point where she would be bedridden the next day.
When her throat was too dry, he would immediately replenish her water.
Even though it was Ishihan who had made her do it, Pamela didn't think it was unfair or wanted to quit.
Because she thought that Ishihan was doing her a special favor by training her, since she, who had to face monsters in the future, had no stamina.
'I-I want to build up more stamina and be of help to Mr. Shih-han. So that Mr. Shih-han can...'
-You're the best first friend with good stamina, Pamela.
"Heh, he, hehehehe~ that's not true~ Mr. Shih-han~."
Pamela, who had been lost in her own happy imagination, calmed down for a moment and recalled the day's events.
A monster subjugation done with other members besides just Ishihan.
And the two new group members who she thought had been more active than herself.
'Mr. Arsvald caught several monsters at once with his magic... and Ms. Yeon-hwa's protective barrier was really sturdy....'
Pamela felt dejected at the fact that she had neither the attack power nor the defense power of the two.
But she didn't think of it in a completely negative way.
Normally, Pamela would have continued to fall into negative thoughts, but the current Pamela could recall the words that spoke of her in a positive way.
The words that her magic had been helpful.
Recalling the words that it had been easier to defeat the monsters thanks to her magic, Pamela clenched her fists.
'Let's hone the magic I learned from my master even more. So I can be of help to everyone. Then...'
-That was the best support, Pamela.
-Hmph! Not bad, Pamela! I'll praise you myself!
-Oh ho ho ho ho! You're amazing, Ms. Pamela! You're an indispensable talent in our group!
"Hehe, hehehehe~ everyone~ you shouldn't praise me too much~."
After being lost in a happy imagination once more, Pamela returned to reality a little while later.
"Ah, what happened today... I should tell my master."
Pamela had not sent a letter to her master since the news that she had passed the entrance exam.
'Let's write down everything that's happened until today. My master will be surprised, won't she? That I've done a quest with my first friend, and that someone like me has even made a contract with a commerce guild and created a group together, and that we've even caught a Purple Poison Boar as a group....'
Pamela was happy to think that she could tell her master, who had raised her like a child and taught her magic, about the recent happy events.
When she had first left her hometown, she had thought that even if she were to enter the academy, someone like her would not make any friends and would just be holed up in a corner, lonely.
But reality was the opposite.
She had made a friend named Ishihan, created a group, and even though she didn't know if they were friends, she had group members with whom she would do quests.
Just the fact that she was not alone made Pamela happy.
'This is all thanks to Mr. Shih-han.'
Pamela felt a great sense of gratitude and appreciation for Ishihan, who not only became her friend but also continued to care for her.
That was why, whatever Ishihan did, Pamela wanted to be of help to him.
'I should also write to my master about what a good person Mr. Shih-han is.'
Pamela took out a letter, a pen, and ink from her subspace ring and began to write a letter with a scratching sound.
After finishing the letter and standing up, Pamela saw something moving through the window.
"Is that... Mr. Shih-han?"
The backyard of the inn, visible when she opened the window.
There, Ishihan was swinging his spear.
With a whoosh!, the sound of the spear cutting through the wind could be heard faintly every time he swung it.
'Personal training? Mr. Shih-han, you're amazing....'
In the morning, he had hunted not only Poison Boars but also a boss-level Purple Poison Boar.
And after that, even though he had done stamina training in the afternoon, Pamela watched blankly as Ishihan swung his spear without getting tired.
Pamela had seen Ishihan swing his spear when he was hunting Half-Moon Bears and when he was hunting Poison Boars today.
But other than when he had first faced the Half-Moon Bear as a test, Ishihan had mostly defeated the monsters with a single thrust.
A neat, straight, and strong single thrust.
That was why she had never seen Ishihan handle a spear continuously and without pause, not just with a single thrust, as he was doing now.
To be precise, he had thrust or swung his spear several times during the duel with Arsvald Zenedict, but at that time, he had mostly been repeating the action of swinging once and dodging, so there was no continuity.
A series of movements that started with a single thrust.
Movements that were not too fast and not too slow.
And at the same time, neat and orderly movements without any wasted motion.
Pamela couldn't take her eyes off that sight, which was like watching a single, perfect dance.
And at the same time, as she continued to watch Ishihan's movements, Pamela thought purely.
'Mr. Shih-han... is so cool.'
Even though he was just swinging a spear, it was a beautiful movement that felt like a work of art.
And Pamela thought, with a pure heart, that Ishihan, who was demonstrating it, was cool.
The pounding of her heart, which should have calmed down after writing the letter, had grown a little stronger.
But Pamela, without noticing it, just quietly watched Ishihan's movements through the window until he stopped swinging his spear.