The Kin Reinforcement Skill Unlocks!
A blinding light enveloped my vision before fading away, revealing the familiar landscape once more.
“We finally made it back!”
I stood right where I had first spotted the golden door.
“Earth? This is Earth?”
“Kyuugh! So we were tricked after all!”
“Tricked? Hold on, first let me set this down.”
I tossed the thing slung around my neck onto the ground with a thump.
“Whoa, it’s heavy. Must be because of its growth phase. The little guy just keeps getting heavier every day.”
“Hah, thanks for the laugh. You think I’m joking?”
“I already told you everything. My stats only get stronger, and the restriction just loosens up naturally.”
“The restriction was simply too strong back there, so I brought you here instead.”
“Kyuugh. I shouldn’t have trusted humans.”
“They’re not even humans.”
“Looks like they’re pretty steamed.”
“Hey, I’m sorry for the ambush. If I hadn’t done that, we would’ve all died.”
“…What?”
“Again with the lies?”
“I’m telling the truth this time. I only ever spoke the truth to you.”
“…”
“…”
“I have to stay alive so you can too. That’s the only way the restriction will lift.”
The Hero and Demon King both gave a tiny nod.
“Did you seriously get scared because we were in a strange place?”
The two kids sprinted over with faces beet red.
“No way! We’re weakened!”
“And now we’re in another world! It’s only natural!”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll handle it.”
I had been just as shocked when I first walked into the Throne Room.
‘I really thought I was gonna die back then.’
And those crazy bastards came swinging knives at me… Wait, what?
…They’re right there. The crazy bastards.
“Well, that’s one thing. Let’s focus on working hard now.”
I’ll handle them one by one.
S-rank Kin, everyone!
*****
If you’re a hunter, the first survival rule you should know is this:
‘Everyone inside the tower is your enemy.’
It’s not just monsters you have to watch out for.
For example…
“Huh? What the—did something just pop out?”
The voice came from a bit further away.
“No way, it really is. It wasn’t there when I passed earlier.”
…This kind of situation?
Three hunters armed with swords, bows, and staffs were steadily approaching.
Just by looking at them, they were at least Level 7. E-rank at the very least.
‘Why the hell is an E-rank allowed in the Beginner’s Tower…’
“Heh, it happens sometimes. Lucky newbies who picked up drop items!”
“That’s right! Today’s our lucky day.”
They were casually saying it like it was their own.
‘They’re planning to rob me… damn it.’
As expected. The hunters staring at me grinned creepily.
“Hey, hey. That’s the Tamer from earlier, right?”
“Really? What?”
“Heh, the heavens are helping! Today’s easy.”
‘Look at these idiots.’
They just happened to be the same Steel Band guys who showed up before.
Normally they’d hold back because of the Hunter Guild, but this was the corner of the Beginner’s Tower.
Where fists ruled over laws.
I should protect my own body… but I can’t do that.
‘Why did I run into people in a place with zero foot traffic?’
What now? Should I run? Even if I do, it’s the damage dealers who’ll attack.
Damn it, no angle to work with.
“What? A tower? What’s that?”
“A Beginner’s Tower? There are towers like that?”
Right then, the two little brats clinging to my side started chattering.
…Read the room. Can’t you see how dangerous this is?
“Run. Prepare to make a break for it.”
If things went south, I’d have to run to a safe place no matter what.
“What?! Why are you doing this?! Stop scaring us! It’s scary!”
“What? What is it? Why? Stop scaring us!”
But the little brats ignored me and kept clinging to my pants.
Hah, these idiots.
“Hahahaha, are you two clowns?”
“Since you laughed, I’ll sell all that gear for a hundred thousand.”
“A hundred thousand? You’re giving it away?”
Damn it…
Drop equipment in the tower goes for at least two hundred each. These bastards are trying to fleece me with fake sympathy.
“Why are you pointing that at me?”
…Just my luck. Complete scumbags.
“Heh heh heh. Want to fight even though you’re just a Tamer?”
“Suicide volunteer? Hahaha.”
“This guy’s face is too punchable. Gotta take it. Hahaha.”
The Steel Band guys walked closer with vile grins and held out their hands like they were ready to buy the gear.
…Damn it.
I was annoyed, but what could I do? I was weak.
‘At least we’re not getting killed and robbed. That’s something.’
Just then, as I was hesitating while clutching my staff and staff,
“What the hell are these guys? Why are they touching my staff?!”
“Keep your dirty hands off my staff!”
The Demon King and Hero, who had been hiding behind me, stepped forward to block the Steel Band.
“What are you kids saying?!”
“Get out of the way. If you don’t want to get hurt…”
Despite the threat from the Steel Band,
“It’s dangerous because of you two?”
“See? They are.”
The two of them stood tall with expressions that showed zero fear.
“…Move!”
“What? What are you talking about?!”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Those guys are stronger hunters than me. With your current state, you wouldn’t win even if you fought!” I forced the words out, but the little brats wouldn’t listen.
“I can’t let them take my staff. Isn’t it enough just to win?”
“Are you seriously going to give the Demon King’s staff to these weaklings?”
Completely unfazed. Full of fighting spirit.
…They’re weak and restricted, yet they stand up to stronger opponents with such courage.
Damn it… there’s a bit of coolness to it.
SWAP!
I smacked their cheeks hard to snap them out of it.
‘Come on, don’t back down! The Hero and Demon King are my Kin! I have no reason to fear these Steel Band idiots.’
My Kin are the Hero and Demon King. Can they really not beat E-rank hunters?
“Damn… can they really do it?”
“They look like they can do it even with their eyes closed.”
“Obviously. Don’t ask questions.”
The Hero and Demon King answered with casual expressions.
“……”
“Yeah! I believe it! Heh heh heh.”
Laughter spilled out at their bold stance.
Right then, the Steel Band guys finally noticed something was off and grabbed their weapons.
Too late, you idiots.
“You bastard! You want to die?”
“Tamer, you’ve lost your mind.”
“Get hit, you brat.”
Not missing a beat,
the Hero charged straight at the hunters.
“These trash talk too much.”
******
“Dodge, dodge, dodge!”
“Heh heh. You really think one little kid can handle all of them?”
The remaining hunters watched casually, ignoring the combat.
‘Smart of them not to attack all at once.’
Surprisingly, the Hero dodged every single attack from the E-rank hunter’s sword.
“All your attacks are visible!”
The Hero dodged the sword by literally one sheet of paper.
“This bastard! [Strike]!”
At that moment, bright light gathered on the Steel Band’s sword, and it swung down hard toward the Hero.
BOOM!
But
the Hero just twisted his body slightly and evaded.
“This kid again…!”
“Farewell!!”
And the Hero, taking advantage of the opening, punched with all his might.
THUD!
The weakened Hero’s punch didn’t even do damage.
“Ah, you’re really this weak? What? You want a massage, kid?”
The Steel Band laughed and grabbed the Hero’s arm.
“Kyugh, let go!”
…This is dangerous.
The moment I saw the Hero getting grabbed,
I quickly cast the skill.
‘I don’t know the exact effects yet, but I’ll figure it out as I use it!’
The skill I learned after clearing a special dungeon.
[Kin Reinforcement]
As the skill activated,
[Stats of Kin will be temporarily enhanced according to their attributes for one hour.] [Kin: Hero’s Strength stat enhanced.] [Kin: Demon King’s Magic stat enhanced.]
Blue light shot from my hands toward the Hero and Demon King.
“Whoa, it’s a buff?”
“Not bad!”
Blue light wrapped around the Hero and Demon King’s bodies.
What? Did the skill work?
“KRAKAK!”
A sudden scream echoed.
“Eh?”
When I looked again, the Hero was bending the hunter’s arm who had a sword.
“Eh? What is this?”
A bewildered expression.
Look at the buff’s performance. It’s definitely working.
******
“This bastard!”
“Kill them all!”
The hunters who had been casually watching from behind finally started shooting arrows and casting magic at the Hero.
“Ah, couldn’t land the last hit. Kabi yo.”
Even while joking, the Hero dodged every incoming arrow and spell with perfect half-step movements.
“Kuhu hu, your dodging looks pretty cool. Hero.”
The Demon King said something that could be interpreted as friendly or enemy.
But you didn’t even get the buff… This bastard? Farming?
“Aaah, I guess I should just sell the staff.”
“N-now I was trying to help!”
The Demon King waved her hands frantically at my muttering.
“Then go help right now!”
You got the buff! Time to work!
“Tch, damn human race.”
At that, the Steel Band behind me aimed his staff.
“These kids were trying to save our lives, yet you do this? From now on, we don’t see you as kids!”
And then he began chanting while wrapping his body in blue mana.
[Mana in the air, burn!] [Respond to my mana… everything…]
The Demon King, watching the scene, simply flicked her finger.
SWISH!
A sharp streak of light shot straight toward the chanting hunter.
“KYAAAAAK!”
The hunter pierced by the light fell unconscious with rolled-back eyes.
“What? You can’t even use chantless magic?”
The Demon King covered her mouth and spoke pitifully.
…Those kids are really strong.