Second Job Advancement

"Ahahaha... heh heh... Oh, sorry. It's just... I never imagined a sight like this..."

"Damn it... I'm a great ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠witch, you know..."

I grinned at Asella, who was snickering and blushing furiously right in front of me, looking at her with the fond eyes of a parent watching their daughter. She must not have liked my gaze because she puffed out her cheeks and crouched down on her chair.

"...I'm a great witch... I have to always look strong and cool..."

Watching her like that started to make my heart ache a little. It felt like she was wearing clothes that didn't fit—like a kid dressed in adult attire. Of course, that only made her cuter, but right now, it seemed like she needed some serious comforting.

Instead, I smiled brightly and approached her.

"Asella, it's okay."

"Sniff... A great witch has to be... pretty... and look strong..."

"Asella, in all my adventures so far, aside from the Demon King, I've never met anyone stronger than you."

This was the honest truth. Asella took it as a joke, though, and stopped crying with a small laugh.

"Ha! How would a newbie adventurer like you even meet the Demon King? You tell jokes pretty well."

"Hehe, whether you believe it or not is up to you. Have you finished crying now?"

At those words, her cheeks started flushing red again. Even her slightly annoyed glare just looked adorable after seeing her like that.

"Hmph, forget what just happened. No, I'll wipe your memory for you."

"If that makes you feel better."

I slowly drew closer to Asella.

"Great Witch, before you erase my memory, can I say one thing?"

"...What?"

I smiled and crouched down in front of her, matching her eye level.

"...You seem to be carrying too much burden. Sometimes... it might be good to find someone you can be honest with."

"H-How did you...?"

"Ahaha, for example, someone like me. You said I was pretty, right? That you've fallen for me?"

I held back the cringe and told her to lean on me, for her sake. Seeing her crouched and crying reminded me of my past self, which made my heart hurt even more.

'Affinity levels are important, that's all. That's why I'm saying this.'

I rationalized it to myself for some reason and kept going.

"So... even if it's not me, try finding someone you can open up to honestly."

Asella just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stared into my eyes without a word. Seizing the moment, I gently stroked her cheek and beamed at her.

"Well, my memory's going to vanish anyway after this."

Her face turned even redder as she placed a hand on my head.

"...Y-Yeah. Your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠memory will be gone anyway. Now, relax."

Well, since it's just a game character forgetting, it won't affect the player's progress much.

'Wait, but I'm a game character right now...?'

"Wait, hold on—"

'Eh... no way it'll work, right? Last time I tested it, physical damage didn't transfer...'

At that instant, a purple magic circle appeared above the character's head—and over my real head in reality.

"...Ah. Shit—"

A flash, and my consciousness flickered.

⋯

"...Ah, right. I came for the second job change quest."

With an inexplicable sense of déjà vu, I entered Asella's room.

'...? Why's her affinity so high?'

Lost World's affinity system is divided into several stages. For regular NPCs, it's usually Dislike - Favor - Friendship - Trust - Affection. Asella's was currently at Friendship.

"...It was definitely just Favor last time...?"

In Lost World, where even leveling up takes forever, raising affinity stages is even slower and harder.

"...Well, good things are good."

I looked at Asella, who was sitting quietly in her chair, and asked about the quest.

"Asella."

"Uh, y-yeah? What...?"

...Her reaction felt a bit off somehow. Shrugging it off, I asked about the quest details.

"I've come to take the second step as a witch."

"Ah, right. That's it... Okay. The second trial is..."

This quest seemed pretty easy for me. I'd already used a variety of skills evenly during regular leveling anyway.

"I'll take the challenge."

"...Y-Yeah. Be careful not to get hurt."

'Affinity at Friendship makes her worry too?'

Even at Friendship, Asella's attitude had some odd vibes. But they were all positive, so no need to overthink it.

"Got it. I'll be back."

The space shifted in an instant, revealing a vast blue meadow before my eyes. The sky cracked open, and about ten goblins began spawning around me.

I smirked and beckoned the goblins with a finger.

"You can have first strike."

The goblins, looking a bit pissed, charged at me with their daggers. I dodged their swings lightly and began chanting a spell.

"Charge."

A skill that slightly boosted my attack power. I evaded the incoming goblins effortlessly and thrust my hand forward.

"Aqua."

A palm-sized water orb floated above my hand. Soon, my reflection appeared in the spherical droplet.

"Deploy, Room."

A variant of Aqua. The water sphere expanded into a wide area, slowing the goblins' movements. Startled by the unfamiliar sensation, they flailed about in the water.

"Magic Missile."

A mana arrow formed above my hand.

"Increase spin, enhance penetration."

Thanks to the leveled-up Magic Missile, I could now add properties to the skill. Lost World's high-freedom skills let you create whatever you imagined.

"Fire!"

Whoosh— The reinforced missile, spinning wildly, shot toward the goblins. Their heads pierced clean through, they dissolved into bursts of light.

"Use as many different elements as possible, huh..."

"Room release."

The water-filled space vanished instantly. The remaining goblins, growling furiously, charged even more aggressively.

The goblins rushed at me faster than before.

"Threat."

Her purple eyes burned darkly, a chilling black aura enveloping her. A sticky energy began to smother the goblins—like a denizen of the abyss dragging them into the earth. The weak couldn't withstand the strong's killing intent; they started backing away. They turned to flee, but the strong wouldn't let them.

"Where do you think you're going."

Mere beasts couldn't endure a witch's aura, so the goblins soon trembled and lost their will to fight.

"Fire."

Black flames erupted from the witch's hand; all they could do was pray for a less painful death.

"K-Kieek..."

Finally, all the goblins crumbled to ash, and the witch simply smiled at the scene.

...Only she knew that smile came from succeeding the second job change quest. Asella had watched from start to finish, her eyes gleaming. She swallowed hard and muttered to herself.

"...Incredible."

⋯

I grinned at the completed quest window. I'd recorded the fight earlier; editing it later would make for a cool video.

The space shifted again, returning me to Asella's room. She rushed over, eyes sparkling.

"Hey, how do you exude that kind of presence?! You're just a beginner adventurer!! That aura was definitely... Ah, no... Anyway!! How did you do it?!"

I was a bit flustered by Asella clinging to me, bombarding me with questions.

'Just... used skills... Was something weird about it...?'

"I just... did my best to take down the enemies."

I couldn't exactly say "just used skills" to an NPC, so I dressed it up a bit.

Asella eyed me suspiciously but soon turned away primly and beckoned me over.

"...Fine, whatever. Come here. I'll impart the knowledge."

Imparting knowledge meant performing the second job change. I approached and knelt before her.

About 30 seconds later, the knowledge transfer ended. I clutched my dizzy head and stood.

Asella waved me off.

"Alright, now get out. I have things to do."

I nodded and turned to leave.

"...I hope we meet again soon."

"...Pardon?"

With that, I left Asella's room—or rather, got kicked out.

'Affinity window.'

Before I knew it, Asella's affinity was just shy of Trust. I hadn't done much, so what the hell?

...In the now-empty room, Asella sat lost in thoughts of me.

'What is it...? Why did I sense Lady Priscilla's aura from a mere novice witch...?'

That night, Asella couldn't sleep.

⋯

'Whoa...'

I marveled at my new second job change skills. Just looking at the expanded list, battle strategies were already forming in my mind.

I leveled up a bit more, hit LV31, and logged out.

"Argh...! Ugh...!!"

As expected, the moment I logged out, excruciating pain exploded in my head.

"Gah... Aaaahhh!!!"

Worse than the first job change, I endured it for 10 minutes, clawing at my head. After 30 more minutes of heavy breathing to calm down, I could finally think straight.