Published at 12th of December 2020 02:51:27 PM

240 The Forests Cleaner, Oinoin

As planned, I go for a walk through the forest with Aro. While giving the Lithovar village a wide berth, my objective is to chase after the manticore. If I can locate food and raise Aros level on the way, then even better.

Id thought it would be difficult to control the spiderlings if we brought them with us, so I left them in the care of the lesser treant. I asked it to look after them with a gesture, and it accepted with an expressionless nod. Soon enough, one of its branches became a nest for the spiderlings, but Im sure it can handle them. Thats what I believe.

[Soul AppendmentFake Life] already gives them cursed condition, so Aro and the treant should be unaffected by [Dragon Scales] I think. I cant be certain, but its a bit hard to imagine a skeleton having a coughing fit. Its only a supposition, so if I notice something strange Ill rethink things, but for now it doesnt look like theres a problem.

However, none of that applies for the spiderlings. Before they even hatched, they were stuck to my partners head, so theres a chance theyll have developed some level of resistance to it like the ball rabbit did, but I wouldnt like to take those odds. Its unfortunate for my partner, but we should cut our interactions with them down to the bare minimum.

Ill have to carefully determine if they get resistance skills upon evolving. Thats why I left them behind.

While searching for human presences with [Presence Detection] I walk through the forest. As she is now, I cant let Aro be seen by people. If the dragon-god was seen walking around with a skeleton, I wouldnt be able to prevent there being a panic.

Ive been keeping a lot of distance between myself and the village, so the probability of encountering someone should be really low Is what I thought, but I notice a human presence. I really cant let my guard down, huh

The Lithovars seem to be a tribe of hunters, so theyll show up even far away from the village. It might have been two-vs-one, but they were fighting a C-rank abyss like it was nothing. I cant feel any bloodlust or excitement this time, so I dont think theyre in battle at the moment.

Seeing as Im trying to investigate why the miko-san said not to worry about the manticore returning, I dont really want to be seen by any Lithovars. I know I probably dont have to hide, but it would feel a bit awkward to meet them. I wouldnt like them to think I dont trust them.

Having taken a roundabout path around the village, I arrive at the area behind it and stop. If Id flown I couldve gotten here and checked it out in an instant, but then Id be totally visible from below. The [Dragon Scales] would have been scattered about too. Its levels quite high now, so I dont know what would happen.

Just as Im thinking Ill casually check the area out, I hear a vulgar chewing sound. Could it be the manticore? Thinking that, I leave Aro behind and rush in the direction of the sound.

Fugoh, fugo?

Hidden behind the tree I find a pig-like monster. Folds of saggy skin cover its eyes, and it has no neck. It really does look like a large, black pig.

Noticing me, the black pig raises its head. Blood is dripping from its mouth. On the ground in front of it, a blue deer-like monster is splayed out, its entrails exposed. I dont know if it has a poor sense of danger or if it just has that much confidence in its strength, but the pig isnt running away from me. Ill take this chance to get off a safe status check.

Species: Oinoin

Condition: Normal

Lv: 9/30

HP: 57/68

MP: 33/33

Attack: 32

Defense: 41

Magic: 19

Speed: 22

Rank: D

Characteristic Skills:

[Food Regeneration: Lv 1] [Facial Skin: Lv 1]

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Resistance Skills:

[Poison Resistance: Lv 3] [Paralysis Resistance: Lv 1]

Normal Skills:

[Charge: Lv 2] [Bite: Lv 3] [Clay: Lv 1] [Roll: Lv 1]

Title Skills:

[Large Eater: Lv 2] [Foul Feeder: Lv 3]

It really is just a pig. No, I cant let my guard down. This guys got [Roll] after all. What a pig! It must be quite the legendary pig.

Putting the jokes aside Its low-level, around D-rank. However its speed and attack power are lower still. Even Aro should be able to take a hit. But more importantly

Fugouh! Fugouh!

Its not even trying to run away from me. For levelling Aro, it couldnt be more perfect. It really does have guts.

FugoOUh!

It seems that the black pig is indignant that I dont steal its prey. Theres something much more appetising than the blue deer in front of me, you know. You should look at yourself a bit more objectively.

I take a step back and make eye contact with Aro. She nods, and faces the black pig. After confirming that Aro has stepped forwards, I shrink my body down, trying my best to avoid provoking it.

If I accidentally contribute too much, Aros share of experience points would drop. Id like for it to focus on Aro by herself as much as possible.

It didnt look like Aro was able to get a good hit in against the D-rank giant forest crab, so a D-rank oinoin might be a bit tough for her. But this time, Im here from the start. If it looks dangerous, Ill be able to end the fight in an instant, so Aro should be able to go all out. This black pig isnt a speed type, so attacks on it should be able to land. If shes able to cause the [Bleeding] status condition, shell be able to deal a lot of damage.

If she deals a lot of damage, she should receive a correspondingly large amount of experience points. If all goes well, this could bring her most of the way to her next evolution. No, if she does her absolute best, theres a chance shell be able to evolve right away.

After facing the black pig, Aro looks back at me and nods with a rattle.

Best of luck, Aro. If you hit the same spot enough times to inflict the [Bleeding] condition, then run around to avoiding it, youve got a shot at winning.