Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: First Form
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My skills were mostly clustered in passives—an irregular setup.
The direct attack skills I had were things like Dragon Fang Kick or Conditional Blade Storm, which only triggered under specific circumstances.
I was a slow starter who gradually ramped up during prolonged fights, relying on physical prowess to slash, stab, and smash away.
A slow starter in real combat? Surviving this long was a miracle; it was the absolute worst of the worst.
'It's about time I got a break...'
Of course, I wanted a solid attack skill too.
The ones I truly craved were hidden pieces that had gone unfound, forcing me into this passive-heavy situation out of necessity.
I'd chased plenty of wild geese before, but Dovart had been such a trauma that I'd buried it deep.
If Eclair hadn't brought that commission, I'd have kept unconsciously ignoring the memo I'd jotted down years ago.
The payoff for success was huge!
Forgetting about it? That was just my humanity getting the better of me.
Thanks to Rike, my mentality felt healthier now—I could accept the results, hidden piece or not.
Tak!
At the end of the dungeon, my eyes locked onto the chest beneath the statue of the woman gazing at the ground.
I'd left it open back then before bailing, so it was still wide open, unchanged.
Back then, I'd dismissed it as "clear reward"—just some gold coins and a few gems rattling around in an empty box...
Breath held in anticipation, I peeked inside.
"Ha—haha!! ...Finally."
I pulled out the four books from the bottom of my inventory, the ones I'd been using as food trays.
Adding the one from the chest made five in total.
Who could know the despair of gathering four through deadly trials, only to miss the last one?
And who could grasp the thrill of resolving that long-buried grudge?
You can acquire a skill.
Forms of the Martial God - ■
▷ The currently usable form is Rakshasa ().
▷[Acquisition conditions not met.]
-The five forms of the Martial God, who reached the pinnacle in five worlds.
'Finally... Conditions can be filled step by step.'
The refreshing chill quenched the parched thirst that had cracked my throat for so long—I clenched my fist tight.
For someone like me who used whatever weapon fit the moment without discrimination, mastering a single sword style felt half-baked.
But learning spear arts, sword arts, grappling, and more in a jumble? It wouldn't work like pressing a button in a game; it'd just tangle my mind and hands, hastening my doom.
That's why I needed it.
A skill that could fluidly manifest any weapon I wielded, without favoritism or distinction.
'Might as well test it right away.'
First Form - Rakshasa ()
Grrrrowl—
Mana surged out of my reservoir in a torrent, enough to strain the pool I'd diligently built up.
The moment it activated, an alien sensation spread across my face.
In one hand, a sword conjured by the skill blazed with pure white flames.
The hilt I gripped was plastered with talismans, giving off an eerie vibe.
Thud—thud—
I groped the Rakshasa mask that had formed on my face with my free hand.
Enormous fangs protruded top and bottom, and the feel against my palm suggested a fierce, demonic visage.
'Probably looks just like in the game...?'
Rakshasa—a god reborn from a malevolent spirit, but one from another world, unknown on the Akarite continent.
Thanks to devs honing in on the "rebirth" keyword, the Rakshasa form specialized in devouring undead and black magic impurities.
Even without that, it was plenty useful.
"Hoo—..."
I gripped the skill-manifested Rakshasa sword tight and regulated my breath.
At this proficiency, I instinctively knew one swing would end the skill.
"Hup!!"
Pheew—!
Pure white flames clung flat to the wall in a straight line after my slash, crackling away.
No aura needed, yet it sliced the thick wall like pudding—immense cutting power plus ranged strikes.
A proper active skill, earned after ages of grinding.
I was moved.
"Man... life's actually worth living these days."
-
The moment I chanted the activation word for Frostbite, I stepped outside.
I'd warped to Dovart's outskirts, and luckily, it was dawn—no one around.
Instead of heading back to Dovart, I plunged straight into the forest.
The next hidden piece was a short jaunt away; no drawn-out plot there.
Slowly recovering my mana—drained in one go—with potions, I traversed the dark woods.
'Romelius effect is really noticeable. Mana's filling up noticeably faster.'
The trickle turned into a gush, filling the vessel.
Rustle—crunch—
Grass up to my calves crunched underfoot as I pushed forward.
-Grrk!! Grrak!
-Aghek!!
Goblin cries echoed from afar for the first time in ages, but they didn't charge.
Small-brained as they were, they shrewdly avoided hopeless fights.
'Time flies~'
Feels like yesterday I fled home, battled goblins in the mountains, fought turf wars...
Reflecting on that dizzying past, I kept walking.
The second hidden piece paled compared to the first—not a big deal.
Just a toy trinket; I could live without it.
I'd once brainstormed uses for "it," but if Rike wouldn't take it, it'd just gather dust for me too.
Still, the reason I trekked this far? It wasn't the toy—it was the first step toward the skill's second form.
Devs probably designed it that way on purpose.
Since Seria had treated last time, I figured Rike could foot the bill today.
But Seria beat me to it, paying ahead without a word, insisting it was on her.
"...Don't do that next time. I appreciate it, but it's burdensome."
Under Rike's gaze, Seria averted her eyes with an awkward smile.
"Hehe—... Sorry. Just~ you seem like good things are happening for you lately."
"For me...?"
"Yeah. Might be my imagination?"
Was it that obvious on my face?
Avoiding Seria's expectant stare, Rike sank into thought.
First time trying love and romance, Rike was cautious—but that didn't mean she lacked the urge to brag about her lover out loud.
If anything, she'd love to publish a book proclaiming Roman to the whole Empire.
If possible, broadcast it to the distant Federation too.
But coldly speaking, she was an academy cadet, he a fellow instructor.
'If word got out we were together, it'd be truly, really unavoidable...'
Her clearly broken mind might even secretly hope for it.
Roman said he'd follow her lead, but Rike still had worries aplenty.
Cadets might've forgotten already, but a Platinum adventurer moonlighting as an academy instructor? Far from ordinary.
From what Rike heard, Roman joined the academy to repay a debt to someone.
In a way, that debt led him to her—she'd benefited too.
'Oppa says it's fine to tell people, no issue...'
But could there be zero suspicion of favoritism toward his cadet lover in his instructor role?
What if rumors hurt his adventuring gigs?
It might taint Roman's noble intent to repay that favor.
'My personal satisfaction doesn't even compare.'
Bragging about Roman and announcing herself as his girlfriend would bring ecstatic joy.
But going public? Too soon.
Among those she could confide in... Seria seemed trustworthy, unlikely to gossip, but they'd only known each other briefly.
No full certainty yet.
Telling Seria everything and using those eyes to ensure secrecy? Sketchy visual.
What if her words rang hollow, no real intent to keep quiet?
Whip out Vanitas and swing? Nah, not that either.
"Just... nothing special."
"Hmm—okay."
Seria looked disappointed but didn't pry further.
Chatty as she was, she was quick on the uptake—no sign of crossing lines.
Her youthful looks made it feel both endearing and oddly unsettling.
After brief deliberation, Rike spoke to Seria.
"...Wanna do dinner together for a while?"
Seria's eyes went wide at Rike's words.
Feeling closer to the once taciturn girl, Seria beamed.
"Sure! Dinner was on my mind anyway."
"Your sister's out on another commission?"
"Yeah. I worry she's going out less because of me."
"Adventuring really is busy..."
Would Roman get that swamped after academy duties?
If he left for months, could she just wait patiently at home?
'But if we had a kid... it'd be okay.'
A child like her and oppa... the mere thought melted away loneliness and gloom.
While Rike rode her solo emotional rollercoaster, Seria added a menu item.
"I've always wanted to try this here but never had the chance. Let's share!"
"I'm fine, but..."
Seria was already slicing the meat deftly with a fish knife.
A manners-obsessed noble would foam at the mouth.
"Just one bite! Good stuff's even better shared."
"...Is that so?"
Wasn't the best stuff best savored alone?
The one topic in today's chat Rike couldn't agree with.