"[Whirlwind]!"
Dawn shouted out the name of her skill as she spun around and knocked the Wild Boar away with her hammer. It was uncommon in this world for people to get skills that weren't related to their job. Only people with a high proficiency or aptitude can break the job barrier and get skills that suited them.
Such a barrier didn't exist for me though because I have no job. That's why I can potentially create any skill I wanted. At least, I think that's how this world works from what I have seen so far.
A system existed in this world and I was excluded from it for some unknown reason. Side quest added: Find out more about this world and its system.
"That skill works better when you are surrounded by multiple enemies. You are only wasting your MP and leaving yourself open when you use it. Don't you have any single target attack skills?"
I instructed Dawn while she was fighting. As someone who loved playing RPGs back in my world, I know the general way on how to fight against enemies and make use of skills efficiently. Though reality is different from those games I played, I believe my experience from those games has helped me survive in this world. Me being transformed into a half-mud girl is only a part of it.
"I only know [Whirlwind] and [Fire Magic]! Ah!"
Dawn narrowly dodged the Wild Boar's charge. I guess the job barrier is a bigger deal than I thought. At least she had enough MP to use a spell from her [Fire Magic], unlike my classmates.
"Just think about how much easier it will be to beat monsters once you job up! Take this time to practice and hone your abilities. If you are having a hard time against only one enemy, how will you survive if another wolf pack comes after you?"
I encouraged Dawn while I continued watching her fight. I'm not doing nothing either. I'm restraining around ten other monsters with my mud right now. I couldn't let them get in the way of Dawn's 'training'. I dissolved any new monster I found in hopes of getting a new skill but have had no luck yet.
"Smash! Hyaaa!" Dawn shouted.
She swung her hammer down right onto the incoming Wild Boar's head. Its momentum, coupled with the aid of gravity had resulted in a gruesome sight of a crushed boar skull. She lifted her hammer and rested it on her shoulder while blood was still dripping off of it. Some blood had splattered on her cheeks during the attack.
"Rim! I did it!" She said while waving at me.
Ah so cute. Watching a loli try her best was heartwarming. The blood only added gap moe which I found weirdly attractive.
"Good job. Could have gone better but that's why practice is important."
I recalled my time massacring cockroaches in the dungeon. If I didn't practice on them before fighting the Cockroach Queen, things could have ended differently.
"You should only need one more to job up right?"
"Un!"
"Do you want to fight a Gray Monkey or another Wolf?" Out of the monsters I have trapped, these two were the only ones around Dawn's level.
"Um… monkey!"
"Alright. Let's take a short break first."
###
"Why is there a question mark at the end of your race?" Dawn asked after using [Appraisal] on me.
She had a difficult time dealing with the Gray Monkey because of how agile it was. In the end, she had to use [Whirlwind] so that she could hit it no matter where the monkey dodged. A lucky hit had broken the monkey's leg which allowed her to finish it off easily. She successfully became a Hammer User and got the [Appraisal] skill along with a few job related skills.
"I don't know either. My race has shown that ever since I first saw it."
This wasn't a lie. I don't know if it was different before my encounter with the mud monster. But when I first got the [Self-Analysis] skill, my race has always been 'Half-Human?'.
Dawn and I chatted while walking back towards the south gate of Lam City. Behind me was a mud Cockroach Defender that I spawned carrying all of the loot in a basket on its back.
"It's amazing that you can do such a thing with [Earth Magic]. You don't even need to chant. Can my [Fire Magic] become like yours in the future?" She asked me with sparkling eyes.
I can't tell her that I can only do this because I'm not really using [Earth Magic].
"It will depend on your effort and the job that you choose to advance to in the future. I'm an Earth Magician after all."
As we got closer to the gate, I saw a few familiar faces in the line. It was Blake and his party. They looked tired and their clothes were covered in dirt. They must have had a tough time in the Cockroach Cave.
There was another person dressed in black that they were talking to. When we got a certain distance from them, the person in black suddenly disappeared. I stopped in my tracks.
A dagger was being held at my neck as the person in black had appeared behind me.
"Who are you and what are you doing with my little sister?"
Little sister? Is this Dawn's brother?
"Big Brother Nat! Don't hurt her! Rim is my friend!" Dawn quickly said when she saw what was happening.
"Be quiet for now Dawn. What is a Half-human like yo-" He was about to say something while ignoring Dawn but…
*Splurt*
I moved forward and let the blade cut across my neck. Blood gushed out and splattered on the floor and all over the man's blade. I fell to the ground lifelessly.
"NOOOOOO!" Dawn screamed.
The man in black was taken aback by what happened. He just wanted to threaten the person who had 'Half-Human?' as her race and was with his sister. He was worried that his little sister's real race was found out. He never thought that the person would suddenly kill herself.
The people at the gate heard Dawn's scream and looked over. They saw a man with a bloody dagger and a body on the ground with blood starting to pool. It wasn't hard to tell what they were all thinking.
"No wait! I can explain-"
"Stop right there!"
Dawn's brother was interrupted by the gate guards who rushed over and surrounded us.
"You have some balls to be committing murder right in front of the south gate of Lam City."
Sir Hamish who I met before appeared as well. But I already knew he was there thanks to him wearing the bracer I gave him.
"No listen. I'm an Adven-"
"*Cough* Hurr."
I coughed to show that I'm still alive and so that Dawn's brother wouldn't get a chance to explain himself.
"Rim?! You bastard! Guards take him away and lock him up! Someone bring me a recovery potion quick!"
Sir Hamish recognized me even without my mud robe on.
"You guys don't understand! My name is Nat and I'm an Adventurer from-"
"Big Brother… How could you…?"
Dawn was kneeling before me with tears in her eyes. She looked at her brother with a face of disappointment. Tsk. How could this brother make his cute little sister cry like this?
... What? It's my fault? No, no, no. I have a good reason for doing this. First of all, I am perfectly fine. The blood was my mud with [Shapeshift] applied. It's the same as what I did with William before. I have three reasons for doing this little farce of mine.
First, Dawn's big brother, Nat, was incredibly rude. This was our first time meeting yet he pulled a dagger on me and threatened me with it. Even though he is probably just being overprotective of his sister, such a stunt is unacceptable. This should teach him a lesson.
Second, he is an Adventurer which means that that bastard Argo is in charge of him. I expect this situation will give him quite the headache. Hehehe.
Lastly, I know that recovery potions exist but I haven't really tried using one for myself. I still have a few that the Royal Army so kindly gave me, but I didn't want to waste them. I'm short on funds after all. I was expecting Nat to be the one to give me one since this appeared to be his mess. But I didn't think that Sir Hamish would be so kind as to offer me one himself.
Nat had a look of betrayal on his face as he was dragged away by the guards.
Name: Nat Lv. 2
Job: Shadow Stalker
Race: Human Shadow
I learned from Dawn earlier that when you job up, your level goes back down to 1. I should be careful not to underestimate any of my future opponents even if they are a lower level than me. They could be level 1 but jobbed up four times or something.
"Here's the potion Sir."
Name: Medium Recovery Potion
Rarity: Uncommon
Effect: Recover some HP when consumed. Cannot regrow limbs.
It was the same type of potion that I had.
"Alright. Excuse me Rim."
Although I would much prefer the cute loli Dawn to give me the potion, I had no choice but to settle for Sir Hamish. After I drank the potion, I slowly let my 'wound' recover. On my status, I noticed that my HP healed by a bit. If I took a few more of those potions, can I fully heal? Shame the health recovered wasn't percentage based.
"*Ahem* Thank you Sir Hamish. I am in your debt. I did not expect to suddenly be attacked by that Adventurer."
"Che. Adventurers are an unruly bunch. They never stop going around causing trouble, giving us guards a headache. Pay it no mind Ms. Rim. This arm bracer that you gave me has incredible defense. I actually wanted to return it to you because it seems like such a valuable item. My [Appraisal] can't even see any details from it."
"Ah don't worry about it. A capable man such as yourself requires the gear to match. Unfortunately, I can't offer you more as that's the only one I found in a hidden treasure chest. Do keep in mind that it has a certain durability. If it gets too damaged, you can repair it by putting a magic crystal on it."
Without a constant supply of my mana, that bracer will evaporate just like all my separated mud.
"A self-repairing equipment?! I will make sure to treasure this for life!"
I'm a bit worried how easily I bought this guy over.
"Haha. Don't worry about it. If a time comes where your life is in danger, don't hesitate to sacrifice it in order to survive." I told Sir Hamish.
"R- Rim! I'm sorry for my brother's actions. He… He isn't a bad guy. I'm sure he was just…"
"It's alright Dawn. I understand. Next time you see him, make sure to warn him about being too rash though."
I got up and was immediately allowed to pass through the gate with Dawn by Sir Hamish. I waved goodbye to Blake and his party who looked like they wanted to say something to me but I brushed them off for now. My opinion of Adventurers has dropped a good amount.
"So Dawn. I don't suppose you can introduce me to someone in the Craftsman Association I can sell these materials to, can you?"
"Un! I planned to since it's part of our deal. Follow me."
Dawn grabbed my hand and pulled me along. In the east part of Lam City was the commercial district. Various shops and facilities related to the Craftsman Association were located there.
The Craftsman Association is a group of guilds dedicated to creating quality equipment, tools, furniture, medicine, and all other types of stuff. They are basically the production force equivalent of the Adventurers Guild. They aren't as famous as the latter, but any item produced by a guild that is part of the association is guaranteed to be top-notch. In fact, in order to join any part of the Craftsman Association, you need to take a certification exam. Any item that you produce can be patented through the association. They ensure that you get royalties for original products and inventions.
Dawn led me to a smithy shop in the center plaza of the commercial district.
CHAPTER END.
Name: Ruby Sen Lv. 13
Age: 17
Race: Half-Human?
Class: Half-Magical Creature
Job: - Lv. 13
HP: 10 [39%]
MP: 15 [99%]
STR: 10 (+5)
DEF: 10 (+25)
INT: 17
WILL: 15
SPD: 10
<
Assimilate
Mana Manipulation
Physical Resistance
Weaponized Limbs
Foresight
Shapeshift
Mana Absorption
<
Dissolve
Body Enhancement
Mind Enhancement
Mana Release
Sensing
Camouflage
Sculpting
Detonate
Appraisal Analysis
Lesser Heal
Mana Coating
Cloning
<
Tongue Enhancement