The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

Since we set up a transfer point right near the town of Shaboom, we can return whenever we like from now on.

It's no wonder Saaya is in high spirits after hearing that, but I wonder if techniques can really work this well just based on mood.

"Watch this, Ruruk! [Relative Transfer]!"

Without taking time to concentrate particularly, Saaya activated the transfer quite naturally.

She appeared quite far ahead on the road and is waving at us. She looks happy.

I also transferred nearby with Elenora and Punisuke.

"Looks like you've got the hang of it."

"Yeah! Somehow, I just went Gwah! and it worked!"

"A feeling-based type, huh. This is why geniuses are troublesome."

As someone who thinks everything through before acting, I can't relate at all.

Anyway, once you get used to transfer techniques, your range of actions expands considerably. It shortens travel time, can be used for emergency escape, and even comes in handy in battles, but...

"Still, Saaya, you hate fighting, don't you?"

"About that, I've been thinking."

Saaya murmured quietly.

"Like with this recent incident, I was targeted, right? I know I have the talent to become strong, and I know I have a lot of combat skills. If that's going to be a reason for being targeted, I don't want to keep relying on you guys anymore."

"I'm prepared to fight, so I don't mind, you know?"

"No, that's not it. It's my problem. If I had the will to fight, if I had strength like Ruruk, I wouldn't have needed you to protect me back then... I don't want to feel like that ever again. I'm scared of injuries and blood, and I might be bad at fighting, but I've decided not to run away anymore. So Ruruk, teach me how to fight."

"Are you sure? An adventurer's enemies aren't just monsters, you know. You might have to fight bandits, criminals, demons, and even other adventurers. Living by fighting in this world means that kind of thing, you know?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Even so, I'm not alone."

Saaya looks up at me with determined eyes.

She looks 10 years old, but I know her core strength isn't that of a mere 10-year-old. Come to think of it, she had a forceful and stubborn side even when we were classmates.

I relaxed my shoulders and nodded.

"Alright. Then, let's start with leveling up. You'll be doing it together with Punisuke."

"Okay!"

"I'll be together too, nano!"

So, looks like we're changing plans a bit.

Before we enter the Kingdom of Restamia, let's first get her used to fighting monsters.

Even though we've been progressing quickly with transfers, we're still far from the border.

There are no towns or settlements for a while after crossing the border, so it should be fine to be a bit flashy around here.

"Elenora, if you would."

"Mm, [Full Scan]."

Elenora, who had read my intentions, cast a detection spell.

"South, lots of goblins. North, three Gray Bears."

"Let's start with the north. An iron sword might not be enough for Gray Bears, but... How much magic can you use again?"

"I can use all basic magic. Roze-san praised me, saying my power is decent."

"Then there shouldn't be a problem. Let's go."

We leave the main road and follow Elenora's lead into the forest.

After walking for a while, we see a gray bear moving slowly between the trees. From here, we can only see one, so the other two must be further in.

They don't seem to have noticed us yet.

"What should we do?"

"Try doing what you think is best, Saaya. If it looks tough, we'll support you. Just don't use fire since we're in the forest."

"Got it. [Wind Cutter]!"

A blade of wind forms and cuts into the back of the moving Gray Bear.

"GROOOOAR!"

Perhaps angered by the sudden attack, the Gray Bear immediately notices us and starts charging.

Saaya freezes for a moment but quickly regains her composure and starts chanting again.

Just a second before contact, her next technique is complete.

"[Ice Wall]!"

The Gray Bear crashes into the suddenly appearing ice wall.

As the Gray Bear staggers, dazed from hitting its head hard, Saaya circles around the ice wall and thrusts her sword into its back.

The Gray Bear lets out a loud groan and flails its arms wildly as the sword sinks deep.

"Eek!"

Saaya quickly jumps away, letting go of her sword.

She looks at us with a troubled face.

However, the Gray Bear seems confused and is rampaging without targeting Saaya.

It would probably die from exhaustion if left alone, but...

"It's not good to let it suffer unnecessarily. Finish it off."

"O-Okay."

Saaya accurately strikes the Gray Bear's crown with [Lightning Arrow], effectively ending its life.

Her magic skills are impressive. Especially her clear aim and decisiveness. I hear magical accuracy depends a lot on imagination power... As I thought from the beginning, Saaya has abundant magical talent.

Her sword skills are poor because she doesn't have a proper mentor, but her status will probably become high enough to overpower monsters with sheer physical ability.

"I can do it if I try, can't I!"

Saaya grins.

I praise her too.

"That was a good way of fighting. Restraining with magic, then stopping and defending, and aiming for a fatal wound with the sword. It's basic swordsman tactics."

"Yeah. Roze-san said to fight like that."

"I see. I think it suits you well, Saaya."

Although I feel like any fighting style would suit Saaya since she can use both magic and mystical arts.

"However, letting go of your sword wasn't good. With larger opponents, instead of aiming for organs with thrusts, it's better to aim for nerves or blood vessels. The important thing is not to take down the enemy in one hit, but to avoid getting hit yourself."

"I understand. I was in a hurry, so I thrust without thinking."

Saaya pulls her sword out of the fallen Gray Bear.

While grimacing at the flowing blood, she immediately starts wiping and maintaining the bloodied sword.

I spoke as if I knew better, but I'm an amateur when it comes to fighting. My tactics and strategies are always self-taught. I'm not in a position to say much, but I want to unify the tactic of taking as little damage as possible for this party.

In group combat, if judgments differ at crucial moments, that alone can create a fatal opening.

For now, we skin the Gray Bear, drain the blood, and collect the meat.

While we're collecting, the remaining two Gray Bears appear from deep in the forest, probably noticing the smell of blood.

They approach with murderous gazes.

"Punisuke, want to try next?"

"Yes! I'll do my best, nano!"

Punisuke bounces towards the Gray Bears.

Now, how will Punisuke, with its overwhelmingly different status, fight?

I'm worried, but overprotection won't help growth. I'll only support in dangerous situations.

Thinking this, I watch as Punisuke slightly lowers its body and then leaps at a tremendous speed.

"Take this, nano!"

"GUMOH!?"

Punisuke hits one Gray Bear square in the face. It bounces back, and the moment it touches the ground, it flies at high speed towards the other Gray Bear.

The other Gray Bear couldn't react either, and Punisuke's body blow hits it right on the nose.

Both bears stagger backwards.

"What was that just now?"

"Mm. Fast."

Punisuke's agility stat is only 12.

Theoretically, that's about the speed of a toddler walking, but this movement just now was unrelated to agility.

"Ruruk, what's going on?"

"Well, that was..."

It seems I'm the explainer Ruruk here.

Punisuke partially liquefied its body to soften it, then instantly returned it to its original state using elasticity manipulation.

At that moment, a strong repulsive force is generated, but by manipulating the elasticity to concentrate the bouncing direction to a single point, it shoots out all at once. After shooting, it hardens its entire body with elasticity manipulation for the body blow.

It's like a super ball that can bounce in any direction it wants. It must have thought this through during our free time at the inn. Our child is doing well.

"Yes, if we were to name it, it would be Super Punisuke Ball!"

"Your naming sense is terrible!"

Saaya retorted.

Hmm, harsh.

While we were talking, Punisuke continued to bounce around and attack repeatedly. Despite the Gray Bears being overwhelmingly stronger, they seemed helpless against the slime that was attacking from all directions.

However, Punisuke also couldn't inflict fatal wounds on the bodies covered with thick skin and meat, and was struggling to make progress.

"Punisuke, when you hit the enemy, try growing a few sharp tentacles just a little bit."

"Understood, nano!"

Punisuke cheerfully replies and puts the words into action.

At the moment of impact, Punisuke's body, now like a morning star with spikes, bounces and strips away the Gray Bears' flesh.

The Gray Bears start screaming in pain. One is trying to swat Punisuke away by swinging its arms, but the other has started to flee.

...I've taught a brutal attack.

"I'll handle the one that's running! You finish off that one!"

"Yes, nano~!"

I slashed the neck of the Gray Bear trying to escape into the depths of the forest with [Blade Conversion].

The injured Gray Bear didn't have enough stamina left to withstand the mithril blade.

Now, as for Punisuke...

"Yay, nano! I won, nano~!"

Punisuke is bouncing up and down on top of the fallen Gray Bear's body.

Saaya was dumbfounded.

"Amazing... it won on its own..."

"Oh, its level went up quite a bit."

Having defeated a much stronger opponent, Punisuke's level had risen to 20.

Although its stats haven't increased much. Being a slime, I think it will eventually evolve, but there's no sign of change yet.

Let's keep at it.

"Hey Ruruk, what about me?"

"Your level? It's the same."

"Eh~ ... But I defeated one on my own too."

Saaya puffed her cheeks.

Unfortunately, for Saaya's status, that was quite a low-ranked opponent. To begin with, leveling up against low-level monsters is almost meaningless.

Well, if quality isn't possible, we'll have to go for quantity.

"Let's defeat the goblins at this pace too."

"Alright! I'll level up next for sure!"

"I'll do my best too, nano!"

With the enthusiastic Saaya and Punisuke in tow, we headed south.