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Since that day, Emeraldine changed. I thought she was the delicate type of girl, but she showed me that she had a very blazing spirit deep down, like that of a warrior. The moment I told her that she had to show me how strong she could grow in a week, she began to work harder than ever. She woke up early in the morning, around 4 AM, and began to do exercises…
Indeed, the beautiful and cute elf was doing sit-ups, squats, push-ups, and running around for around two hours straight without stopping. After that, she stretched her body for half an hour, and then, she took a bath with cold water in the lake and used a bow to hunt in the forest alone.
After two hours of hunting by herself, she brought ten-horned rabbits and even a tiny wolf.
Wow, so efficient! What the heck?! How were these bandits able to restrain her if she was so strong?
Actually… horned rabbits are easy to catch, and even goblin children capture them, so I guess it is not so crazy.
She had some scars on her thighs and arms, so the wolf had bitten and most likely slashed her, but she had healing magic, so she just healed herself and continued her hunt… That's why she only had scars and not open wounds.
Still, it was a bit worrying…
Nonetheless, she gained two levels from it, reaching Level 8.
Unlike pure monsters such as me, Lucifer, or Partner, demi-humans have a variety of ways of growing stronger. They can pick a Job through a special Job-changing crystal inside an Adventurer Guild, and through leveling using that Job, they get extra stats and new Job-exclusive Skills. However, these Jobs can also be taken out and replaced as they progress, depending on how strong the Job was.
Taking it out might reduce their stats as the Jobs evolve with them and grant more stats the higher level they are, but these stats are also bonuses that can also be taken out when the job is replaced by another. The job-exclusive skill can also be taken out unless the user of that Job has completely mastered the skill, in which case they can learn it permanently, alongside a title skill. But aside from Jobs, demi-humans can also evolve.
Majin are said to be beings between monster and demi humans, and therefore, they can evolve and change jobs at the same time. Beast-kin are the same, and similar beings such as Vampires, Werewolves, and even Goblins… However, their evolutions are limited compared to the variety that actual monsters can achieve.
I guess it is a way to balance them? I don't really know….
And between Demi-humans, it is usually impossible to evolve. They can improve themselves through Jobs alone, which is more than enough, but Majin can evolve a couple of times through their development, hastening their maturity and having the edge over them.
I suppose this eventual fear of Majin growing stronger was what made Humanity fight against their expanding Demon Kingdom. However, there are sometimes exceptions, which are called special evolutions. Non-human demi-humans can sometimes evolve too, even if they don't know how. It just happens. Often when they reach a level of power, that vastly changes their appearance.
Elves have been seen to be able to evolve into Fairies, Dryads, or even their dark versions, such as Dark Elves, Nightmare Fairies, and so on… but they're usually scarce individuals. Some powerful elves can live their entire lives fighting and leveling up but never evolve. And due to this, I wonder if Emeraldine could evolve. I guess we'll have to see, but getting two levels in the morning was quite impressive.
I learned this information from Lucifer himself, who had been hunting around these last days, as he wanted to get enough EXP to reach max level and evolve. He had been doing it accompanied by all of us, Kuro included.
I had tried to aid Emeraldine in her hunting, but Lucifer stopped me, telling me that she was undergoing a trial for herself. If I were to help her, the entire intention of the trial would be lost. And so, I saw her exercise and go hunting every day while she interacted with us and spoke about a few things. It was still hard for her to open up to us, but she was trying.
I believe she can do it! I am rooting for her every day as she goes hunting as well!
But, I've been using Undead to guard her from afar though.
Yeeaaah… I don't want her to suddenly die.
Some bone beasts had been lurking a few meters from her as she explored, so I could keep her moderately safe. They will only interrupt if she's about to die for real. But it hasn't happened. Though, sometimes she almost dies but manages to pull through….
On the fifth day, she brought a giant wild boar… Is she a prodigy or something? What is motivating her so much?! Damn, give me some of that motivation, girl!
That day, I saw her status… She was level 16 already… but what I found weird was that there was a cap of level 20. Does she needs to change Jobs again? There is no job-changing crystal in this village, so she would have to go to Affnaria to change Jobs.
Her stats had increased quite well, and she got a few new skills and titles to boot… She had gotten more expressive as well and had begun to feed me food sometimes…
"Now, Maria… Say: "Aaahh," please~"
She offered me a slice of grilled meat.
"F-Fine…"
Being served like this certainly feels odd. But I bet Lucifer would wish to have a cute girl serve him like this! Heh.
Though, Partner is now doing the same because she doesn't want to "lose" against her, or something…
And on the seventh day...
"Maria, I think I have evolved!"
Emeraldine suddenly seemed more radiant than other days… like, her hair had turned from dark blonde to a brighter yellowish white. Her eyes shone brighter than usual as well. And her presence seemed more… I don't know how to say it… Spiritual? Holy?
I guess she passed the test… I can't really reject her anymore, she really worked hard for it.
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