It's been one week. I realized yet again that my title and skills have ridiculous effects, specifically the [Otherworlder] and [Person Who Visited A Different World For The First Time] titles that I got when I first visited a new world.
First of all, thanks to the [Otherworlder] title, I can level up easily, and it applies to all levels; even skill levels go up at a rapid pace… I think. I can't say for sure since I don't know how it compares to other people.
In spite of that, the [Person Who Visited A Different World For The First Time] title was even more insane. I already thought it was amazing when I first read its effects, but the higher my level gets, the more I realize how incredible it is.
Anyhow, in terms of BP gained per level, the difference between me and normal inhabitants of that world is a factor of ten, and even for other Earthlings who might visit, it's a factor of five. That alone was ludicrous.
I'm indeed getting stronger because of the wise man's house and weapons, but I felt strongly that this title was giving me something more important. The title is fantastic, but the skills themselves are actually effective in my world, which is quite helpful.
For example, the [Appraisal] skill lets me easily obtain information on everything, such as finding the freshest vegetables at the supermarket, and the [Language Comprehension] skill lets me read, write, and even speak in various foreign languages. I mean it when I say I'm very grateful for that.
The titles and skills sure had the greatest effect, but one of the other things that happened is related to the food ingredients that were cultivated in the field. I've been eating food that increased my stats, but as soon as I reached a certain level, my stats stopped going up.
Maybe there's a limit to how much they can raise my stats. To be honest, it was weird from the start that eating would make me stronger, so I didn't really feel bad about it. Even if it doesn't increase my stats, the flavor is just as tasty as ever.
Oh, I also tried the [Hell Slime Jelly], and it really was coffee jelly. Yup, that was tasty, too. In addition, I also started testing things out with my body.
While referring to the book from the secondhand bookstore, I started swinging weapons around properly, and since [True Martial Arts] became level two before I knew it, I found that the skill level would increase from my actions even if I didn't kill a monster. When I think that this is also thanks to the [Otherworlder] title, it brings me a greater understanding of this title's power.
At level two of [True Martial Arts], I didn't really feel any big change compared to level one, but I felt that my weapons handling had become slightly sharper. It's just a feeling, though.
As I began to notice more and more things like this, I was actually starting to feel quite depressed. The beginning of the next academic year was approaching.
If I became a high school student, it meant my environment would change as well. I had no choice, it would only give me anxiety. No, I'd actually be excited about my new life during a time I'd usually be anxious, but I didn't have the courage to make a high school debut in a high school where I already knew everyone from junior high. If I did, the bullying will only be more cruel than before.
I wish I could just explore the other world from now on, but I can't say that.
"Sigh… I don't want it."
Even though I said I don't want it, I still need to go to school. I wish I could be a good-for-nothing, but that would completely end my life… when I think about it that way, I can't not go to school.
So, I went to visit a store selling uniforms to replace my current uniforms that no longer fit.
It's not unusual to come to buy uniforms at this time of year because the new school year is about to start, but the people in the shop that sell uniforms stared at me. I wasn't leaving my fly open, was I?
Well, as a result of taking the courage to go shopping, I was fortunate there were only a few people, so I didn't see anyone I knew. It was good.
Anyway, today I'm determined to… explore the surroundings of the house in the other world.
It's scary to think that there's still a lot of things like Bloody Ogres and Hell Slimes, but more than that, curiosity has overcome my fear.
I would never have gone out before, but after I leveled up, I'm not sure why, even I'm confident, but I still had a sense of adventure to act according to my curiosity. It may be dangerous from the perspective of others, but I was honestly happy about this change. It helped me think positively.
"This may be careless, but let's go."
I was equipped with the [Bloody War Demon Series] equipment, including the [Blood War Demon's Body Armor] and the [Bloody War Demon's Gauntlet], along with the clothes left by the wise man. When I put them on as a test, they were perfect for my body. This would have guaranteed some defense.
By the way, when I wore it for the first time, my excitement went up considerably, it was really cool… Well, I'm a guy, after all, so it can't be helped! Because it's so cool! And just in case, of course, I'll also bring [Complete Cure Herb]. This means I'll be fine unless I get killed instantly… well, I might be too optimistic.
I took a deep breath as I approached the entrance of the fence which marked the border between the garden where I've killed two monsters before and the outside.
Weapon? Check. Armor? Check. Recovery grass? Check.
"All right."
When I decided to do so, I took a step out with my trembling legs. Step by step, I walked out of my land. And then ──
"Ah…"
I managed to get out completely.
The scenery outside should have been the same as when I saw it from inside the fence, but it looked more colorful in my eyes and I was stunned for a while. As I gradually began to feel it, I began to walk with a certain step.
Even if I say to explore the surroundings this time, I don't have the courage to go too far away, so I will only explore at a distance where I still can see the house. Someday, I'll go farther away while considering the house as the mark.
I held the [Absolute Spear] as my weapon, and proceeded while watching my surroundings. It was the first time I saw the forest's trees up close, but they all had leaves I'd never seen before. There were many flowers amidst a poisonous-looking rainbow of colors, and even flowers that emitted pale light.
Looking at this really drives home the fact that it's a different world.
While I was taking in the fantastical sights, I suddenly felt the presence of creatures. The [Presence Detection] skill must have been working. While steadying my breathing, I followed the presence of the creature and caught sight of it.
It was a child-like creature with green skin, dressed in shabby armor, with sharp eyes, an aquiline nose, and some awfully sharp fangs lined up in its mouth. Actually, the Bloody Ogre was more terrible than this. While not being noticed by the creature, I tried to activate [Appraisal].
[Goblin Elite]
Level: 120
Magic: 100
Attack: 1500
Defense: 1000
Agility: 1500
Intelligence: 100
Luck: 100
I had somehow already guessed it was a goblin. But it wasn't a normal goblin, it was an elite. I guessed it was a high class goblin. So enviable. [TL: Because of his terrible life so far, he even envied a goblin, lol.]
Anyway, how should I put it? I know I'm above it in terms of stats, but… is this goblin really an enemy? Perhaps in this world goblins and humans are in a symbiotic relationship.
If that's the case, I'm the one to blame if I launch an attack here first. A Bloody Ogre and Hell Slime were the first ones to point their killing intent at me, and most of all, they tried to break into my yard, so it was easy to tell they were enemies. This time, I don't really know. The Bloody Ogre was an enemy, and honestly, I feel the goblin is probably an enemy as well, but let's be careful here.
I wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble and conflict if I could, so I quietly tried to escape.
*crack*
Then I stepped on the tree's branch under my feet and made a sound. When I timidly turned to look back at the goblin──
Oh cool, our eyes met. The moment of silence continued. I couldn't bear to talk to it with a smile to act as friendly as possible.
"H-hey!"
It babbled incoherent sounds at me.
"Right!"
As a matter of course, the Goblin Elite rushed in, wielding a shabby sword.
Previously, I would have fallen on my butt, but now I could've seen the movement of the Goblin Elite closely and succeeded in evading it with plenty of room.
The Goblin Elite looked a little surprised by my dodging movement, the tone of its babbling reflecting its emotional state, but it immediately attacked again in order to kill me. I understood now that the goblin was, as I expected, an enemy. If I knew it was an enemy, I wouldn't be in the wrong even if I killed it, so when I brandished the [Absolute Spear], I remembered the contents of the book I bought.
It did not actually say how to hold a spear.
At the time, I wondered if I had already made a mistake in getting that book, but as I read on, the objective of the book was apparently to allow the reader to merely adjust their posture such that you can move more easily, with tips such as taking care to push it out while twisting when you thrust. That's the kind of thing that was written there.
Well, you could summarize it as "twist it while you thrust it" so in that sense, I appreciated it as a beginner.
As I looked calmly at the attacking Goblin Elite, I could immediately see that the Goblin Elite was swinging its sword from one side. In other words, the head and lower body were full of gaps. Without overlooking it, I remained calm, using the length of the reach of the spear, twisting it not only with my arms but also with my whole body.
Then, a spiral wind wrapped around the [Absolute Spear], and pierced the Goblin Elite's forehead precisely as intended. It managed to grunt with surprise. While I only pierced the goblin elite's forehead, the spiral wind wrapped around the spear was too powerful, and blew up the Goblin Elite's head. When I pulled the spear back, the Goblin Elite's head had already disappeared.
As its body staggered a few steps on the spot, it sprayed a tremendous amount of blood, before eventually disappearing into light particles.
"Phew…"
For the first time, I actually felt the sensation of taking a life through the spear, directly in my hand. But strangely, my mind was calm. In actual fact, it was a miserable sight that would make me want to empty the contents of my stomach onto the ground, but I was fine. Of course, there was still the feeling that I had taken a life, so I understood the importance of that, but my instincts were saying that if I hadn't killed it, I would have been killed myself, so I felt that my mind and body had naturally adapted.
"The drops are… [Magic Stone: Rank D], [High Grade Demon's Fang], and [High Grade Demon's Skin], huh?"
To be honest, the skin was disgusting, and as one might expect, I had no use for it, so I just threw everything into the [Item Box]. Come to think of it, this was the first time I moved in armor, but my movement wasn't hindered at all. I personally liked it; it was good armor. At first I wanted to avoid fighting, but considering I was able to check on some things like this, in that sense it might have been good to fight something.
"Umm… It seems my level didn't go up."
I didn't level up, but it was good that I was able to practice the movement from that book against a monster. Moving my body in the garden was fine, but actual combat was a different story. Regardless of the contents, I was glad the book was a good purchase.
It was a different world and the opponent was a monster, but Earth's martial arts could still be used properly even there, so I hoped I could maintain that positive momentum.
"Alright, should I just continue exploring?"
Since the level between me and the enemy was close, there was no level up, but I regained my mind and resumed the search to check around.