53 Getting stronger, little by little.

The skill level of Slash Thread has risen to three, thanks to relentless harassment of the pillbug.

I would have liked to raise it further, but the pillbug ended up in a state so severely damaged it couldn't be described without censorship. There was nothing to be done about it.

Even at level three, it didn’t inflict serious wounds, but accumulation matters—dust accumulates over time.

Pillbug, I suppose you might not be forgotten, though I’m not certain.

Of course, I consumed you afterward.

As usual, as expected, it was unpleasant.

Come to think of it, there was no real need to target a pillbug.

I could have just struck a rock nearby.

Oh dear, was I the one who failed to defeat it?

No, no—quite the opposite. It benefited me. I’m certain you’re weeping with joy in the afterlife.

Huh? Cruel?

I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Then, just as I finished tormenting the pill bug, another monster arrived—drawn by sound, or perhaps something else.

『Anograt Lvl 8 Status鉴定 failed』

A creature I had never seen before.

A monkey-like monster, roughly two meters tall.

Status鉴定 failed entirely. I would have preferred to ignore it, but it had already detected me. That option was no longer available.

In short, I managed to win.

It seemed to rely on speed, but I was quicker.

I dodged its attacking arms repeatedly, then seized the final opening and ensnared it with spider silk.

It was terrifying.

No joke.

This kind of real combat—was incredibly rare.

And this monkey was surprisingly strong.

The sound of its arms swinging through the air was a deep, grating *boon*, utterly unbearable.

If it hits, I’ll die.

Of course, I dodged desperately.

If I had a mouth, I’d have screamed.

Cue?

Gyaa! That’s the only option.

Thanks to how desperately I avoided it, I gained a dodge skill.

Upon鉴定, it was exactly a skill that increases dodge ability.

Nice! A speed-specialized skill acquired!

And right after defeating the monkey, I leveled up.

《Experience points reached threshold. Entity, Small Taratect, has advanced from LV3 to LV4.》

《Base stats have increased.》

《Skill proficiency level-up bonus acquired.》

《Proficiency reached threshold. Skill 'Concentration LV1' upgraded to 'Concentration LV2'.》

《Proficiency reached threshold. Skill 'Throwing LV1' upgraded to 'Throwing LV2'.》

Proficiency reached threshold. Skill 'Accuracy LV1' upgraded to 'Accuracy LV2'.

Acquired skill points.

Three skills upgraded at once.

All are modest but useful. A considerable improvement.

Level up. Status updated as follows:

'Small Tactict LV4 Name: None

Status

HP: 40/40 (Green)

MP: 40/40 (Blue)

SP: 40/40 (Yellow)

: 40/40 (Red)

Average Attack: 22

Average Defense: 22

Average Magic: 20

Average Resistance: 20

Average Speed: 390

Skills

"HP Auto-Recovery LV2", "Poison Fang LV8", "Poison Synthesis LV1", "Spider Silk LV8", "Cutting Thread LV3", "Control Thread LV6", "Throwing LV2", "Concentration LV2", "Accuracy LV2", "Evasion LV1", "Identification LV7", "Detection LV4", "Stealth LV5", "Heretic Magic LV2", "Shadow Magic LV1", "Poison Magic LV1", "Gluttony LV3", "Dark Vision LV10", "Vision Expansion LV1", "Poison Resistance LV7", "Paralysis Resistance LV3", "Petrification Resistance LV2", "Acid Resistance LV3", "Corrosion Resistance LV3", "Fear Resistance LV5", "Pain Nullification", "Pain Reduction LV5", "Strength LV2", "Sturdiness LV2", "Vedanta LV2", "Taboo LV2", "n% I = W"

Speed remains low, as always.

Without Vedanta, my speed would have remained low. In that case, my only advantage would have been thread.

Vedanta is indispensable.

It’s pleasant that so many stats have increased at once, but lingering too long isn’t advisable.

There’s no guarantee no other monsters were drawn in besides the ape.

For now, I’ll take the ape.

Hmm.

It doesn’t carry poison.

No bitterness.

Yet it has a distinct odor—still not particularly palatable.

Cattle and pigs from my previous life must have been remarkable.

Stamina is full, but thanks to Gluttony, it won’t go to waste.

Gluttony—when I first saw it, I suspected a negative effect based on the word’s tone. I was cautious at first, but it turned out to be a highly beneficial skill.

As I mentioned before, I’m quite dependent on stamina.

Drawing thread and running both consume stamina.

Thus, this skill—allowing extra stamina stock—is well-suited to my needs.

Magic might reduce stamina strain somewhat, but wishing for what isn’t available serves no purpose.

Speaking of magic, I examined the detailed effects of each spell.

『Discomfort: implants direct discomfort to the soul』

『Illusion Pain: implants phantom pain directly to the soul』

『Thick Shadow: shadow density increases』

『Toxic Touch: applies poison-element attack to touched target』

Discomfort functions exactly as named—spiritual attack-like.

Illusion Pain is similar in effect to Discomfort.

Toxic Touch appears strong for a level-one spell, yet it is level one—there must be a drawback.

Thick Shadow seems to function as the name implies, but how is it used?

Hmm.

Combining it with a higher-level Shadow Magic, perhaps?

Then again, used alone, it seems of little practical use.

Well, in any case, it’s unusable anyway.

Now that the monkey has finished eating, let’s move along quickly.

Added Heretic Magic with LV2 spell “Illusion Pain”.