"Ehh...? "
Eko raised her voice, not really understanding the situation that was developing in front of her eyes.
"You i-idiot!! "
"Don't come"
I stopped Silvia who was trying to get close to me and provide first aid.
"Kyaaa!? "
Sounded the shocked scream of Eko.
Hey, it's me who wants to scream... God, it hurts...!
Tch...Ahh, dammit, I have to endure!!
If I make Eko a member in this situation, then being the world's top will definitely become easier!
Why? Because――
"Eko, you are suited for recovery magic. Use this and show me you can heal my hand! "
――She is a 『Muscle Monk』 after all! ...I hope!!
"I c-can't do it. No way."
While shaking her head in denial, Eko kept crying.
"It's fine, just do it! Hold this wand! "
I pushed the wand onto Eko.
It's the 『Wand of Recovery Magic ・ Medium』―― the super rare drop from the Holy Slime that allows anyone to use the [Healing Magic] "Medium Recovery" just by holding it.
If Eko's growth type is really the『Battle Priest』 then the additional effect of 「＋＋」limited to the healer types will be activated, and my hand will recover instantly!
"Daaaamn, it hurts! Hurry up! "
"But! But! "
"No buts! I told you, you can do it, just hurry up aaaaaahhh!! "
"O-okay! Okay!! "
I yelled at her. Sweat was coming out from my whole body, and I was attacked by intense nausea and dizziness. Ahh, I'm about to reach my limit.
Eko brightly nodded while still shedding some tears, and with shaky hands she desperately held the wand.
...Yes, like that. Do it. I know you can do it. Believe in yourself! Notice it! This is your way out!
"...Ohh!? "
That was probably her surprised voice. Since she now found "Medium Recovery" in her skill list column.
"I'm g-going to start!! "
While holding the wand very tightly, Eko activated "Medium Recovery".
The next moment, just as I saw the dazzling light coming out from the wand, it wrapped around me――
――And then, my left hand returned to its original form as if nothing had ever happened.
Ahh, thank God....
"W-waaaaaa."
Eko gave a surprised cry due to the dazzling light that came out of the wand, and fell back on her buttocks. Silly girl.
"Ah... sorry... can't stand."
"Second-dono! "
Maybe it's because I lost too much blood, but my head felt light and I fell on the ground.
While enduring the nausea and the urge to vomit with all my might, I slowly began to lose consciousness――...
『Muscle Monk』
I noticed that was Eko's growth type while we were chasing her.
Her legs were slow, she was quite strong, she had plenty of SP, and she was considered a failure in the Magic Academy. In other words, her INT was very low.
Those elements that seems to be unfit for a magician, are the perfect characteristics of a Muscle Monk.
For the Battle Priests, their INT, AGI, DEX, and LUK are at extremely low levels. Particularly their INT and DEX stats are much lower than Heavy Warriors and other battle types. Instead, their HP, MP, SP, STR, VIT and MGR are at a very high level, especially their HP, MP and SP which are stupidly high. To the point where she was able to win in stamina against the intermediate class Silvia.
Because their INT is low, they aren't suitable for magic. They aren't suitable for Archery either since their DEX is low. Their STR is reasonable, but they can't make good use of it in offense since their AGI is low. Their MP is large even though they have low INT. Although a character with these stats might seem useless at first glance, there were some players who preferred this specific growth type.
That's because every well-known team always had a player who was of this type, of the Battle Priest type.
Why?
Because it was the ideal "tank" role.
Taking advantage of their high HP, SP and VIT, the Battle Priests use their shield to become an impenetrable wall and protect the other party members from taking damage from monsters. Furthermore, they could recover their HP using [Healing Magic] on themselves.
In other words, they could continue Tanking for as long as they had MP.
Also, unlike [Attack Magic], [Healing Magic] is not affected by the total INT value. Since INT as a stat is directly connected to the value of the "strength of the Attack Magic", it has no relation with the effect of Healing Magic.
Therefore, the Battle Priest growth type is for cultivating macho-man-like healers who can play the endless role of being a tank while continuously self-healing. Those guys were also known as the "Berlin Wall". A solid wall that would not crumble for 28 years. (TLN: This might a reference of the game life? Berlin Wall was up for 28 years, so maybe not)
Right. Muscle Monks are such a strong growth type. While the Heavy Warriors and Heavy Knights were conventional Tanks, the Battle Priests were specialized in tanking and were the ones playing the most active part as forefront players.
If Eko, being the Battle Priest type, becomes a companion, then our group will be
advance guard, center, rear guard.
The Battle Priest Eko, the All-rounder me, and the Magic Archer Silvia; we can form a proper team without anything to criticize. We can aim higher. Reach the world's first place much faster.
I really want her――Those were my thoughts.
Certainly, I still had the desire to save her crushed and despairing heart, which closely resembled the me of the past. Because I knew of a way to save her, I couldn't help but to reach out to her.
But at the same time, the feeling of "I want obedient companions" was growing bigger and bigger inside me. All in order to reach the world's number one spot.
I'm trying to take advantage of her.
Thinking that Healing Magic is useful, and hoping for her to become our companion.
If I think about it, it was the same for Silvia.
That was a semi-forceful invitation, taking advantage of the weakness in her heart.
I wonder if they are alright with this?
I wonder if I am alright with this?
I'm uneasy.
Being unreasonable, using your emotions, somehow managing to convince you, and forcing you to follow me.
But I really want you to come with me.
I beg you. Please. Come with me.
With me, with me――
"...Eh..."
...Somehow, I had a scary dream.
When I woke up, I was in a bed. Looking closely, this is one of the rooms of the inn.
"Hey."
"You're awake! "
When I called out, Silvia's lively voice resounded and she hurriedly grabbed my right hand.
"...Don't push yourself too hard. If you had lost this hand, you wouldn't be able to become the world's number one."
While gently stroking my right hand, Silvia spoke in a quiet voice.
"It's somewhat hard to say but, it wasn't that one, it was the left hand."
"..."
Silvia's ears turned bright red.
"Ouch."
She silently pinched the back of my hand and then quickly left the room.
Ahh, I feel relieved for some reason.
I'm not sure why that is.
"Second! "
Along with a bang, the door was forcibly opened and Eko jumped in.
She then dove into my chest, muttering "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" while in tears.
I'm not sure why she's being sorry though.
But rather than being apologized to, this is actually a chance.
"Eko. I'll say it again. Healing Magic is suitable for you. Quit the school and come with me."
Even after everything I thought before, I'll take advantage of her. But I really think that is something that will become her salvation.
Raising her face while still crying, Eko showed me full smile.
"I'm happy! Will I be useful!? "
"Yeah. 一Let's go, together."
I pushed my invitation.
Eko was about to nod with a smile... But suddenly, a shadow descended on her face.
"Uh... But... But..."
She seems to be troubled.
I want to go, but I can't go. It looked like that kind of anguish.
...Is there a reason for that?
"By the way… Is there a reason why you might not be able to drop out from school? "
"How do you know!? "
Eko's rounded eyes looked up to me as she raised a surprised voice.
"Because I'll be the world's top. Here, tell me what it is."
I proudly said and waited for Eko to begin speaking.
"You see..."
Eko began talking after wiping her tears.
Apparently, she's from a demihuman village in a remote country.
Since a young age, Eko has had a stupidly high amount of MP, and when her father, who knew of it, started proudly boasting about it to everyone, the whole village began to grow their expectation that Eko would have talent for Magic.
The story began to grow and grow until last year. It was then that she was admitted into the prestigious 『Royal Magic Academy』 using the money that was collected from everyone in the village.
A genius from a remote demihuman village. If Eko were to become a splendid magician, it would lead to the village revitalization. They probably had such shallow thinking.
How did she pass the entrance exam? Just because Eko had low INT due to her particular growth type, didn't mean she had problems acquiring skills and magic knowledge. Rather, she was excellent. She had already acquired the Second Form of two attributes, earth and wind. However, the power of her magic was less than half of that of other students. Therefore, she was considered a failure.
"...That's the reason why I can't quit. I can't betray the expectations that everyone in the village placed in me."
The expectations of everyone in the village.
What good can come from those?
They are just a huge weight on her. One that has crushed this girl's heart and still continues to crush her even more.
"...Don't worry. Here I have a way out."
"Ehh...? "
"A way out. Luckily there's a good way out."
Unlike for the past me.
"A good way out? "
"Yeah. So, rest assured."
I nodded deeply, then I told Eko.
"I will be the world's number one. The first place in the whole world. Do you get it? The very top of the whole world. There won't be anyone stronger than me and you will be a member of that team. Think carefully. Is there anything more distinguished than that? The Royal Magic Academy is just some bullshit. The court magicians have terrible judgment. The villagers will surely be satisfied and more than happy. They will build you a bronze statue in the middle of the village over your legendary glory, and that day will start a festival that will continue for three days and three nights, repeating every year. By the time you return to your village, you would have become someone so great that everyone there will prostrate before you."
"...Pu, fu fu fu."
"Ahh, Eko-sama, we're happy you are finally back! That's the first thing the village chief will say, right? Next will be your father. Eko, please get me the autograph of Second-sama! "
"Kyahaha! "
"Then, you'll wonder, where are the men of the other villages? Hey, are you blind? Look at your feet Eko. From the moment you walked in, these men have been on their knees! "
"Kyahahahahaha! "
Eko laughed. Quite loud. She began hitting her knees. And holding her stomach. It's great that she cheered up.
Weirdly enough, I also started laughing along with her.
I can't even think of anything unpleasant. I'm just enjoying what's in front of my eyes right now. Just that, thinking of something else was quite difficult.
After laughing for a while, Eko spoke.
"Second! I'll go with you! "
And thus, the Battle Priest demihuman Eko Leafret joined our group.