▽
Liora, her eyes swirling with emotion, clasps her hands together like a praying saint and bows to me repeatedly. Over and over, she murmurs,
"Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you, God."
"That's enough! I accept your prayers!"
However, let's prioritize playing the game over words of gratitude for now.
"Liora, I can change your job with the power of the gods. What new job would you like?"
"I would like to be a cleric…"
A cleric? Does she want to preach my greatness to the world?
Pfft-! That's funny!!
With a large nod from me — although it's just a black orb bobbing up and down — I agree.
"Alright, let's go with a cleric."
I change Liora's job.
A cleric's job boosts MP and magic attack power. Apparently, in this game, both offensive and healing spells are calculated using the same stat.
Moreover, the hidden ability of the cleric (a special effect not shown in the status) is increased healing capabilities.
Since I have 'Auto HP Recovery' and 'Auto MP Recovery,' it's quite effective.
"You can also choose one skill. Which one will it be?"
"I want God to decide… for me…"
"Me? Hmm, let's see…"
This is good news.
Many players complain, "I want NPCs to be front-liners, but they keep choosing magic support skills!" Liora is considerate to let me decide.
"Well, we need a weapon first. How about a sickle?"
The only nearby weapons are a club dropped by a goblin and the sickle Liora brought.
To get a sword or axe, we'd have to steal from the village. But considering what Liora said, it seems no one would willingly lend her anything. People should be kinder to little girls!
But first, there's something I need to ask.
"Liora, what about magic? It seems you have an aptitude for magic."
Magic Arts allows one spell per skill level 1 and then one more every ten levels. Essentially, this means you can eventually learn up to eleven spells.
Yet Liora hasn't learned any magic so far.
"No one… taught me magic…"
Liora looks down and then suddenly beams a radiant smile.
"That's why… I want God to decide… everything for me."
"Oh, I see… That's good… yeah."
Liora smiles happily.
It seems her affection level has maxed out. She's had a tough life so far, and I'm the only one who has treated her well in a positive way.
I gave her power.
And I acknowledged the dark desires she had been harboring…
Standing next to a goblin's corpse is getting a bit tough, so we decide to move a little.
▽
Our new spot is a giant rock.
Liora sits on top, swinging her legs cheerfully. She looks just like a little girl (because she is one).
"What magic should I choose?"
It's tough since I can't undo it once my little contractee learns it once.
The consensus on the message boards is that a cleric job's magic is difficult.
Although, she is now essentially a dark magic user, that too includes "healing," "buffing," "attack," "binding," "defense," and more. Specializing in any of these can be powerful, but being a jack-of-all-trades might be weak.
…
"Then, how about learning the 'Flash' spell at level 1?"
"Understood. God."
[NPC Liora has learned the spell: FLASH under the guidance of player: Zephyr]
Notification resounded confirming that my follower had learned the spell.
"You've learned it, Liora. Please use it well."
This spell has a low rating on the boards.
It's just a simple flash of light, not as impressive as healing, supporting, or attacking. The effect is uncertain too.
But thinking about it as a fantasy game with swords and magic, a low-cost flashbang sounds quite useful for hunting or in actual combat.
Simple attacks, recovery, and support might be stronger, but Liora uses 'Flash' happily.
So flashy! A trail of darkness was left behind as she moved with her new skill excitedly.
Whizzzzzzzzzz- Whizzzz-!
Liora swings her sickle wildly.
'I may have to get a scythe for her in the future, after all she seems comfortable with that sickle.'
As for a combat skill, let's follow up with [Scythe Technique 1.]
She looks like a fierce praying mantis. Though the sickle is small, she seems to be getting the hang of it.
We're ready. Let's start leveling up.
▽
Liora charges alone into a group of goblins.
I use [Darkness Creation] to protect her vulnerable areas, covering her neck and chest with tangible darkness.
The five goblins cheer at the sight of prey but soon, their excitement changes to screams.
Liora equips "Flash" appearing in front of the goblin covered in darkness, then slices its neck with the sickle.
The goblins are around level ten.
It's hard to believe that Liora's strength alone could cause an instant kill.
But this is actually due to the 'Scythe' skill.
The skill 'Scythe Technique 1' comes with the passive skill [Head Hunt]. This skill increases the power of attacks aimed at the neck by five times and ignores the target's durability (defense).
It seems it can also instantly kill weaker enemies.
"Feel free to go wild, Liora."
"Yes! Sir!"
She swings with a rotating slash.
One goblin's neck is severed, and another's chest is deeply slashed. The goblins, spurting blood, scramble to fight back.
And then!
"Flash!"
The dark attribute art explodes.
Blinded by the flash, the goblins freeze. Liora, unaffected, charges forward.
She continues to decapitate the goblins.
Liora's hair sways in the wind as she emotionlessly hunts. How cool!
"I will annihilate them!"
"One wounded, one unhurt left, Liora."
"Yes, my god!"
She immediately casts another 'Flash.' The goblins, wary now, close their eyes and swing their clubs wildly, trying to keep Liora at bay.
Not a bad move.
But not good enough! Because,
"Darkness Creation!!"
I'm here.
Binding them up with the chains created from my skill, I keep the goblin's movement at bay.
"Gyaa!?"
The screaming goblin doesn't understand what happened. And why it's hands are tied my something aburptly.
Liora throws her sickle, hitting its neck.
The goblin's head is ripped off.
Only the injured goblin remains.
"Gya-gya-gya-gya!"
The last goblin, panicked, throws its club at Liora. With little battle experience, Liora reacts slowly and takes the hit to her face.
"Liora!?"
"I'm used to… the pain…"
Despite her broken nose, Liora charges at the unarmed goblin. I retrieve her thrown sickle with a dark hand created by [Darkness Creation].
Gripping the sickle tightly, Liora delivers the final blow.
In the mountains, another weakling lets out a death cry today. While it might be commonplace in the mountains, for us, it's a rare event.
The heat of victory fills our bodies.
[Zephyr has leveled up.]