Cliffhanger! haha sorry~

(084) Carols shoulder ride

Translator: Tseirp

Arriving at the forest, we searched for prey.

There seemed to be no particularly strong monsters so I decided to train the jobs that I dont usually train.

Jobless Lv79Apprentice Spearman Lv1Magic Journalist Lv1Magic Swordsman Lv1Artist Lv1

That was the combination I decided upon. Thanks to that, my status dropped considerably.

Even so, just taking Magic Swordsman into consideration, it is an advanced job that boasts physical attack and defense comparable to a Lv10 Apprentice Swordsman and magic attack and defense comparable to a Lv10 Apprentice Magician.

With that, I would likely not lag behind most opponents.

At any rate, there are fewer monsters than expected. Marina, there.

An eagle-sized bird was in the direction I pointed at Marina aligned her sight and shot it down with a Wind Arrow.

Splendidly only hitting its wing.

Then, to the falling bird,

Wind!

I attacked with Wind Magic.

The birds head fell off.

Ichinojo Leveled up

Apprentice Spearman skill: Spear Equip acquired

Magic Journalist skill: Talisman Creationacquired

Magic Swordsman skill: Grant Magicacquired

Artist skill: Brush Equipacquired

Recipes acquired

Somehow I acquired various skills.

Although there are few that would be immediately useful.

The recipe was the recipe for a Magic Journalist.

Magic Journalists are able to use the exclusive ink made by Herbalist to create talismans.

The talismans that I can create now are Ignition Talismans. They are talismans that will burn after a certain duration.

I thought that it would be useful for creating time bombs.

The 3 of you, please let me know when you want to change your jobs. However, judging by this hunting pace, we might not gather our target amount of meat.

Our target amount of meat was 200kg.

However, a single bird is less than 1kg.

Without a head, there wasnt any more need to bleed the bird so I stored the birds corpse into my item bag.

If it goes on like this, it might be good as long as we gather half of the target amount.

Er, Ichino-sama, should we break into 2 teams?

2 teams?

Yes. Fortunately, both Ichino-sama and Marina-san are proficient in ranged attacks while both Ichino-sama and Haru-san have monster searching abilities. Hence, we should split into 2 teams with Haru-san and Marina-san for 1 team and Ichino-sama and me for the other. I wont really be of use but I think I will be able to harvest fruits and edible plants as a Harvester.

Certainly, I cant really expect to level up much here so maybe shes right.

That sounds good. Thats right, why dont we make it a competition since were at it? Carol and I will be one team, Haru and Marina another team, a competition where our 2 teams split up and compete. Let me see, Ill to listen to anything the winners say.

Even so, Haru and Carol probably wont really be interested in that.

Since they are not greedy.

Maybe the one who will try the hardest would be Marina?

When I thought so, Carols widened her eyes and Harus tail stood up straight.

Anything huh I see, anything.

Anything from Ichino-sama Ichino-sama! Please follow me! According to my information, theres apparently a well-kept secret location in this forest ahead of here.

Marina-san, please grab onto me! Well move above the trees.

Eh? Haru? Wait stop! High places, I am kyaaaaaaa!

Haru abducted her and they disappeared with the wind along with Marinas cute scream.

Eh, they are a lot more motivated than expected?

What do they intend to order me to do?

Ichino-sama, this way! Hurry!

Looking at the motivated Carol, I had a feeling that Ive fallen into circumstances that I have no choice but to be anxious about regardless of who wins.

I want to beat up my 10 seconds ago self.

Ichino-sama, please hurry! Haru-san will take the lead over us.

Thats trying too hard. Its just a game, I did say Ill listen to whatever the winner says but if Carol has anything you want to say you can say it anytime. Im saying this about myself but I am quite thick-headed sometimes.

I know that Ichino-sama is thick-headed but erm, since its something that cant be said unless theres a chance like this.

What do you intend to say oh, hey, Carol! The fruits there are ripe. Arent those edible?

Finding pear-like fruits, I asked Carol.

Ah, yes. Thats the Powpower fruit. Its apparently a sweet and delicious fruit.

Perhaps due to her Plant Appraisal skill or perhaps due to the knowledge she had originally, Carol explained to me.

Ah, but I just barely cant reach it maybe you can ride on my shoulder?

Shoulder ride?

Yup. Well be able to reach them like that and Carol wont get experience if you dont collect them yourself in the first place, right?

Understood.

Carol nodded while sulking for some reason.

I sat down and Carol sat behind my head with her legs wrapped around my head.

Well then, Ill be standing.

Holding Carols legs and sandwiching them under my armpits, I stood up.

Maybe because she could not get her balance, Carol strongly grabbed my head.

Carol! Please dont pull my hair! Ah, dont pull my ears too.

So, sorry.

Carol somehow succeeded in regaining her balance so I told her to stretch her hands out to pluck and drop the Powpower fruits while I collect them into my item bag. We make quite a combination.

At that moment, maybe I was careless but we lost our balance and she was about to fall down.

She slid down to my back.

In the end, she ended up hugging my back.

Her slightly bulging chest pressed against my back.

Carol, are you alright?

Um Ichino-sama, can we stay like this for a while longer?

Yeah, thats fine. But, as expected, was it scary? Sorry to ask you to push yourself.

Ichino-sama, Ive said it countless times but Carol is 17-years-old.

Eh? You were 16 previously.

It was my birthday 3 days ago.

Sorry, I didnt wish you happy birthday.

Thats not what I meant. I want you to treat me as an adult.

She said as she strongly hugged my body.

Is that perhaps why youve addressed yourself as I instead of Carol?

You noticed?

Since weve been together all along. Theres no way I wouldnt notice. But, I find the previous way you address yourself to be better.

Eh?

Hn, you see, nonetheless, I still want Carol to act like Carol. But, I did consider how you dont like being treated as a kid. Okay, maybe Ill buy some delicious juice for you later?

And Im saying thats exactly treating me like a kid.

Even if she says that, no matter what, I always end up thinking of Miri when I look at Carol.

Ichino-sama, you said that its fine for me to say whatever I want to say right. I want Ichino-samas love.

To me, Haru and Carol, and tentatively Marina as well, are more important to me than my own wellbeing

Carol me, please kiss me!