EP.3 Lina Estelle (2)

“Haa… haa… haa…”

The Blood Rabbit lay collapsed before my eyes. It was the lowest-level monster that fresh adventurers faced right after finishing the tutorial. It didn't look all that different from an ordinary rabbit. That's why careless beginners always ended up spilling blood at least once. Small, fast, and more tenacious than you'd expect. And ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the moment it caught the scent of blood, its ferocity doubled as it went berserk. A vicious trash mob that nibbled away at beginners' precious potions bit by bit.

But I was different. As someone possessed into this world with a decent grasp of its information, I knew just how ferocious Blood Rabbits were, the exact timing of their leaps, and where to strike for a quick kill. I knew it all.

...I thought I did.

“Haa… haa… Was catching Blood Rabbits always this hard…?”

My breath burned all the way up my throat. The sword in my hand felt impossibly heavy.

The problem wasn't the information. The problem was this body.

STR 4. AGI 5. These pathetic stats were holding me back.

It was just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a Blood Rabbit. Trash of the trash mobs. In the game, knowing the strategy let you farm them en masse. But right now—

It took everything I had to take down even one.

My head was full of knowledge like a stagnant pond, but this body was that of a total newbie just starting the tutorial. No, it felt even feebler than a beginner.

And that wasn't the only problem.

...The XP gain is way too low.

My level was 13. Blood Rabbits were for newbie adventurers under level 5, fresh out of the tutorial. In other words, killing them barely gave me any experience. The real issue? Even that pitiful amount required bone-grinding effort with this body.

Hard work with zero reward.

“Haa…”

A sigh escaped me naturally.

If the system worked like the game, it'd take hunting at least 100 Blood Rabbits to maybe gain one level. And after just one, I was already like this? 100? I'd collapse first.

Rustle—

“Shit…”

The bushes shook again. Another one. These damn rabbits. At this rate, I'd develop a real rabbit phobia.

If something had to pop out, why not a rabbit beastkin instead of these trash mobs?

Beastkin. This world naturally had beastkin races. They were one of the major races in the game with hefty roles, and I always made sure to include at least one in my party. Great combat efficiency plus eye candy? No reason not to.

But—this world had this weird prejudice against beastkin. Why did including one tank everyone's performance? I still didn't get that system.

Beastkin were so cute. Just petting soft dog or cat fur made you feel better, right? Especially if they had that trait and a beautiful figure. No idea why anyone would hate that.

Ah, males excluded, of course. As a guy, I had no interest in male beastkin. I only liked female beastkin—not obsessed with the race itself. Just... no hate.

“Haa…”

I sighed and gripped my sword again. Fine. Rabbit, beastkin, whatever—deal with it quick and head back.

…

“Ugh…!”

“Stay still. What if you reopen the wound by moving?”

“Yes… sorry.”

Today's haul: 10 Blood Rabbits. With these lousy stats, catching ten was damn near a miracle. The process? Anything but miraculous. Scratched, bitten, rolled around. My body was wrapped in bandages.

“Anyone would think you'd hunted goblins.”

“Haha…”

Her words drew an awkward laugh from me. Lina Estelle was deftly treating my wounds. When I staggered back to the inn covered in injuries, she'd looked genuinely shocked. But the moment I said, “Blood Rabbits…,” her worry turned to exasperation.

Fair enough. Beat up like this over ten rabbits? Even I'd laugh if our positions were reversed. An adventurer struggling against Blood Rabbits. Level 13 made it embarrassing.

Even as an inn worker, she had to think I was pathetic inside.

“……”

Her gaze felt oddly heavy, so I looked away. Yeah, I looked pathetic. But—today's ten Blood Rabbits weren't for nothing. Thanks to Star of All Gold (A).

That trait got me a magic stone from them. A C-grade one worth 300,000 Sepir. Even C-grade held solid value. And Blood Rabbits dropping one? Near impossible—drop rate close to zero. The trait made it happen.

Made Star of All Gold (A) seem pretty decent. ...Nah? No direct combat help, so meh.

Still, with it, I wouldn't starve. Being able to view status windows with Observer's Eye (S) was satisfying too.

The issue? The last slot. Cat's Eye (C).

In the game, I could make use of it. Night dungeons or ambushes, it helped. But reality differed. This wasn't a game. Adventurers had no reason to hunt at night. One life only. Die, and it's over. No retries, no revives. No need to risk night hunts.

So that trait was useless right now. ...Not entirely.

One use: peeking into bathhouses undetected. Even in dim night, shapes would be clear.

Of course, I didn't peep on Lina Estelle bathing last night. I value my life—I'm not insane. Don't want a sword through my brow. One life only. No wasting it on curiosity.

So I gentlemanly held back. It just so happened that after her bath, as I came down the stairs, she entered my view purely by coincidence. Really. Coincidence.

“...Where are you looking?”

Whoops. Too obvious? I'd been staring without realizing.

Maybe last night's memory was too fresh.

Even in her robe... I could kinda see it.

The robe hid her curves, but that presence shone through. My eyes kept drifting down despite myself. Now in normal clothes, her lines were even sharper.

...Unavoidable. Any guy would glance at her chest. Instinct. Yeah, instinct. Mhm.

I cleared my throat and looked up.

“Um… thanks.”

“Don't mention it. I just didn't want a corpse on my hands at the inn.”

Lina Estelle brushed it off casually. Her tone was curt, but I could vaguely sense it wasn't the only reason. Wish she'd be a bit more honest sometimes.

...Not that it was bad. Her looks, personality—all my type. Honestly, I liked her a lot. Enough to daydream about that rosy future from yesterday.

Of course—odds of her accepting me were near zero.

...Even if not.

If she was the Lina Estelle I knew, getting involved would be a stretch from the start. She was a key character in the main story. Deeply tied to the player—the hero. There were routes without her, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but almost no one picked them. Beyond her beauty, her combat prowess was top-tier.

Ding—!

I recalled her status window again.

Right now, she was far weaker than the version I knew. But high growth potential. In time, she'd surely become the original 'Lina Estelle.'

But—what if I got involved? It might throw a wrench in a key character's growth path. The place she should be, the bonds she should form, the events that should unfold. I didn't want to risk altering that.

I wanted to live long in this world. Amass wealth if possible. For that peace, I should avoid deepening ties with her.

...Of course, with my current abilities, we're barely regular guest and inn maid.

“So, what'll you do?”

“Hm?”

“Your stay ends tomorrow. Extending?”

“Ah…”

Pre-possession me must've booked till tomorrow. That's why she asked.

Leaving now might avoid variables.

Departing the inn could be the way to not disrupt the original flow. For peace, avoid hindering her growth.

But—too much my type. What to do?

I didn't want to deepen things. Just... see her a bit more.

The Lina Estelle I knew was cold and curt. Her past was vague even in the game. This version—smiling, grumbling, tending the inn. How did this become that battlefield divine archer? I was curious.

“...One more week, please.”

In the end, I stayed. Knowing I shouldn't create variables.

Eh, just don't do anything weird. One week. I'm still a nobody newbie. Her care was just her kind nature, not interest. A week more wouldn't derail the big story.

“One week extension is 20,000 Sepir.”

20,000 Sepir. Way cheaper than expected. My face almost twitched, but I played it cool.

“Here.”

I handed it over nonchalantly. She checked the amount, reiterated dinner and bathhouse closing times, then left.

I watched her back a moment, then shook my head.

One week. One task: get stronger.

...And if possible, learn a bit about her past.

That'd do.

…