Defense specialization and first combat.
Adjusted the status display slightly.
The empty slots in the equipment section are not empty—by default, they are garments that do not function as armor.
The skill was too powerful, so the acquisition conditions were made stricter. Additional drawbacks were added, making it disadvantageous for regular players, thereby reducing its overall strength.
"Here... um. Status!"
A translucent blue panel rises before Maple with a soft *vonn* sound.
Maple
Lv1
HP 40/40
MP 12/12
【STR 0〈＋9〉】
【VIT 100〈＋28〉】
【AGI 0】
【DEX 0】
【INT 0】
Equipment
Head 【Empty】
Body 【Empty】
Right Hand 【Novice's Short Sword】
Left Hand 【Novice's Large Shield】
Feet 【Empty】
Boots 【Empty】
Accessory 【Empty】
【Empty】
【Empty】
Skills
None
—Hmm…? VIT is defense, right? Right. Wait… did I mess up?
Even Maple, who rarely played games, could sense that having all zeros in her stats was not good.
Looking back on her life, she could recall far fewer moments when zero had been beneficial.
As she checked each stat one by one, she realized: attack power barely existed, sustained only by her weapon. No intelligence. No agility. No dexterity.
—Hehe… I messed up… What should I do… Risa isn’t here either…
Nodding slowly, she thought for several minutes. Her plan was simple: fight a monster once. If that failed, she would have no choice but to restart.
—Alright, I’ll go outside the Town…!
As Maple walked toward the outskirts of the Town, one thought struck her.
—People walking around… so fast…?
The effect of 【AGI 0】 had not been apparent while standing still—now it revealed itself in the small details.
Yet undeterred, Maple trudged onward beyond the Town.
Her goal: first hunt.
Outside the Town, people were present, though not in great numbers. Fighting here would likely draw at least one witness.
—Don’t want to be seen looking foolish… better go further out.
Maple continued walking, step by step, until she reached a forest where no one was in sight.
—Good. This will do… Monster, come at me from anywhere you like!
Whether her words prompted it or not, a white hare with sharp horns burst from the undergrowth. It charged with startling speed. Whether Maple, moving at real-world velocity, could dodge such a charge—answer: no.
—Huh!? Oh—sorry!
She did not know what she was apologizing for, but Maple suddenly spoke, shifting her great shield awkwardly. The charging creature’s sharp horn struck her belly directly.
“Huh…! …not…?!”
The rabbit stared, confused. The critical hit should have caused damage. It did not.
“Ooooh! Amazing! Not painful! As expected of 【VIT 128】! Hehehe… well then, rabbit. How do my abs look?”
Maple pressed her abdominal muscles inward. They were not cracked. Quite the opposite—soft and yielding.
The rabbit interpreted her exposed belly as a challenge and charged again.
Maple did not use her great shield. She received the impact with her belly.
The white rabbit lunged repeatedly. Maple laughed softly each time, absorbing the blows.
A situation so bizarre that anyone passing by would have written it on the bulletin board in an instant.
Whether this could be called a battle was questionable. It lasted for an hour.
"Come on, come on—put more spirit into it?"
Maple, urging the white rabbit on, suddenly heard a voice in her mind.
『Skill [Absolute Defense] acquired』
"Hmm? What's that?... Just a moment, little rabbit."
Maple checked the skill, ignoring the rabbit’s charge.
Skill [Absolute Defense]
Doubles the user’s VIT. Requires three times the usual points to increase [STR], [AGI], or [INT] stats.
Acquisition condition
Endure one hour of continuous attacks from an enemy without taking damage. And do not inflict damage through magic or weapons.
“Hmm? So… this is 【VIT 256】⁉️ That’s quite an impressive skill, isn’t it!? …I just played with the rabbit, that’s all…”
Maple assumes the skill came easily. But even Yui, the great shield-wielder, lacks the defense to endure it. To swing the polearm to the extreme is to exhaust oneself later. No one does so. Even less likely is someone who has swung the polearm to the extreme actually playing with the white rabbit for an hour.
In truth, the skill was obtained by miracle. And even more so—currently, only Maple possesses it.
Of course, Maple herself has no way of knowing this.
“Alright, rabbit, I’m sorry to keep you waiting… rabbit?”
“Ky….”
The white rabbit was battered with every lunge, its body torn against the ground. Above its head, a bar resembling HP appeared.
It had just turned from red to zero.
With a soft *ping*, the white hare dissolved into glowing particles. Not a single drop item, not a trace remained.
"Rabbit! Aaaaaaah!"
『Level has increased to 2.』
"Rabbit! Aaaaaaah!"
The girl's cry echoed through the forest.