As we chatted about such things, we left the nighttime city behind and arrived near the sea.

This harbor, which we've passed through many times since the labyrinth's closure was lifted.

The pier here is an ideal spot, where fish are often caught.

The night sea is quiet, with only the faint sound of waves gently lapping against the seawall.

"Was that the Water Temple? I thought so before—it's quite solemn in design."

Jeanne gazed at the temple located some distance away.

Situated slightly apart from the harbor, the temple of the Great Spirit of Water stands atop a high platform, from which stone aqueducts extend across the town to supply water.

"Why is it built so conspicuously? Is it the Great Spirit's taste?"

"Probably it's to supply the water created there to the city. It's not like the Great Spirit has a hobby, right?"

"Well, could it be possible? The Great Spirit talks and seems to have its own will, so it might just be a troublesome little whim."

"Why go through the trouble of building a water bridge when a river would do?"

"The water created by the Great Spirit isn't contaminated, so it's likely used as drinking water."

The Great Spirits are positioned around the labyrinth, one in each of the four directions—north, south, east, and west. The Water Great Spirit is located in the south, near the sea. Maybe it actually tried to place 'Water' in the east or north but failed. It's unclear why a water bridge would be built to send water from a low place to a high one.

There might be some reason behind it...

　

"Besides, it's unusually bright. Is there something special happening today?"

"Temples are always bright no matter how late at night. I don't know why, though."

The temple housing the Water Spirit is always lit. Maybe the spirit itself is glowing, like how the Fire Spirit burns. The Spirit of Darkness was pitch black, though.

"Huh. Sounds kind of interesting. Temples in this world are really 'otherworldly' places. Hey, Clo. Wanna check it out?"

Jeanne says it like she's inviting her mischievous friend to a rumored haunted ruin in the middle of the night, but I shake my head.

"…Sorry. I can't go. Didn't I mention it? I've got the favor of the spirits. Getting too close might attract the attention of the Great Spirit."

"The favor of the spirits…? Ah, right, I remember that. What happens if the Great Spirit notices you?"

"Looks edible. I once accidentally tried something and nearly got in trouble. Managed to escape using a barrier stone, though."

"Hmm. The opposite of my hated one, I suppose."

"Yeah. Over here, they'd call it 'the beloved one.'"

As we were talking like that, somehow the subject shifted to the gift we'd taken before the transfer, and we ended up sitting on the dock, chatting.

Jeanne obtained 'No Talent for Spirit Magic,' while I got 'Spirit's Favor.'

Aside from that, I picked up very little.

Night vision, resistance to aging, resistance to illness—just that.

Poison resistance was a bonus from the transfer. Dark spirit magic and increased stamina were acquired after the transfer.

The rest mostly vanished into barrier stones, scrolls, and potions.

"I took stamina increase, vitality boost, natural recovery, poison resistance, disease resistance, and aging resistance first."

"You really focused on physical attributes from the start...,"

"I like close combat, so I stick to using magic only when absolutely necessary."

"Not that this is about the game,"

Well, maybe I did practice real martial combat back in Earth's era.

Right now, Jeanne has even taken off her armor, so she looks just like a delicate, ordinary girl.

"You only took stamina increase at level one? You should get 'Cloak' too. I was nervous at first without any weapons, but even with just rocks or wooden sticks, I gained enough advantage to fight effectively."

"Even at level one, it was pretty noticeable in practice. ...But saving up points must be tough, right?"

"No, you've already got level one, right? So you should be able to level up with two points next time. Five points will get you level three. Eventually, save up fifteen points and reach level five."

"Don't push it too hard."

"It's obvious that vitality should be prioritized over any other gift. Next comes stamina."

Jeanne apparently maxed out both vitality and stamina right from the start.

That alone took forty points, but she got thirty points extra from 'lacking talent in spirit magic,' so it nearly balanced out.

"For example... if you max out vitality and stamina from the beginning, you could start as a level ten warrior right away, Clover. Even if you pick up other gifts, your level stays at one. No matter how powerful the ability, in most cases a level ten warrior would be stronger."

"What's the basis for that level system?"

"Wizardry."

Why are you playing such an old game? I know we've played one that Karen brought from somewhere, but isn't it normal for a typical 17-year-old to be unplayed?

By the way, a level 10 warrior is barely strong enough to defeat the final boss.

"So, which should I choose—stamina or vitality?"

"That's tricky. I've only been in dangerous situations twice, so I'm not really sure how much of a difference vitality really makes. But I do know that Crow seems mentally fragile. Apparently, increasing vitality also strengthens mental fortitude?"

"I see..."

Raising stamina to level 2 costs 2 points.

Raising vitality to level 1 requires 5 points.

If we keep up this pace, we can earn one crystal per day, totaling one point in thirty days—assuming we maintain one hundred million viewers. That means we could accumulate two points in two months.

Considering we'll have to live in this world from now on, maybe we should think about a long-term strategy for using our points.

Whether to choose or not… if mental strength improves, I suppose taking vitality might be better… Indeed…

"Anyway, I'll keep saving up points, though it might take time. I'd like to always have one barrier stone on hand, and if I get injured, I'll switch to a scroll instead."

"Yeah, but locals manage without these things, so it should be possible to minimize usage. In fact, I've managed to keep quite a few points saved."

"Ah, so I should probably save some too, right?"

"You're right, but prioritize strengthening yourself. If you need it, I'll handle the point exchange."

"That's not fair."

"Then how about lending it instead?"

Jeanne says with a faint smile.

Already indebted for the use of the 'Pearl of Resurrection of the Dead,' if we go on like this, I'll never be able to repay it.

Points are worth nearly as much as a life.

◇◆◆◆◇

For the next three days, Jeanne and I went our separate ways, each entering the labyrinth. On the fourth day, we agreed to explore the second floor together.

Jeanne, visiting the second floor for the first time, frowned at the stark difference from the first floor—specifically, the harsh environment.

"It's so dark. I should've taken night vision."

Exploring by torchlight alone was quite stressful.

Jeanne isn't an exception either. This hierarchy is the main reason explorers dislike it.

Incidentally, "special abilities" such as night vision cannot be obtained after teleportation.

"How does Clo fight?"

"Just like when I fought Jeanne before. I envelop myself in Darkness Fog and stab from behind."

"Can you show me?"

It's important to demonstrate our fighting style, since we're going to be a party from now on.

Without knowing how mobile our opponent is or how they fight, we can't plan a strategy.

"There's an ogre over there, meow. Two of them, both carrying weapons!"

"Then I'll take them down—watch me."

Grapeflue, who was scouting, returns to report.

The two weapon-bearing ogres are the strongest monsters on the second floor, second only to the mantis.

But right now, I have multiple ways to overcome it.

I could take it down with Darkness Fog alone, but that would make it invisible, and it'd be hard to coordinate with Jeanne.

I drew my dagger and dashed toward the ogre walking down the corridor.

Over these past few days, I've been hunting monsters relentlessly—maybe even reduced the number of creatures in the second floor temporarily. With every battle I won, I could feel myself becoming more specialized in combat.

I could see the ogre's movements clearly, even those of the mantis. Their motions seemed slow. Perhaps my own speed has improved.

Before, Refrea had taught me this:

wild animals absorb diverse spiritual energy from the creatures around them, eventually transforming into monsters.

Humans absorb spiritual energy from monsters, using that chaotic, disparate spiritual energy to enhance their bodies and transform into 'demon humans' that transcend humanity.

(Maybe I'm becoming a demon...?)

The ogre, sensing my approach, roared in warning and raised its greatsword.

I had already closed the distance to within its reach.

"Shadow Bind"

Without hesitation, I lunged into the path of the sword's arc and activated the technique.

The raised sword was halted mid-swing, tightly wrapped by shadowy tendrils.

Without even glancing to confirm, I slashed through the ogre's neck with a direct strike, then reversed my blade to sever the spiritual life force of another ogre.

Almost simultaneously, a spirit stone fell to the ground.

Not long ago, cutting someone's throat with a short blade would have been impossible, but now that my strength has increased, it's doable.

I won't lose even to an ogre now.

When I returned after picking up the spirit stone, Jeanne and Flue were both wide-eyed.

"Ninja...! I never thought Kuro was descended from ninjas... Why didn't you tell us...?"

"Hikaru-san, you've gotten so much stronger than before—amazing!"

"This is truly something... just like the legendary Shippuujinrai... Ninja... so cool..."

I'm wielding a short blade and wearing black clothes, blending into the shadows, but I never expected to be called a ninja.

Come to think of it, I vaguely remember seeing somewhere that foreigners love ninjas.

"I'm not a ninja."

"No... I get it. It's about the secret of Icchiso-den, right? You don't use other ninjutsu techniques? I've dabbled in ninja games enough to understand ninja ways, I think."

"Ninjutsu... ah, so that's what you mean. Yeah, I've always wanted something like shuriken."

"Exactly! Finger whistles are handy too. Firecrackers are nice as well."

Her eyes sparkled brightly, her breathing slightly ragged—Jeanne, utterly captivated.

Was her behavior really that ninja-like...? Well, sure, she did seem more like a ninja than a warrior.

"I knew you were strong, but of course you are. You're a ninja, after all—Eastern mysticism."

"But I'm not a ninja. I just happen to fight that way by accident."

"It's fine. I understand."

"You totally don't get it, this one."

After that, although Jeanne was unusually eager to learn the ninja's secrets, she eventually came to understand—after seeing her fight a few times—that she was simply fighting in a way that complemented the dark spirit magic.

Though, it's questionable whether she truly understands it.