To complete our monster extermination quest, Emma and I made our way to the Ahone gra.s.slands. However, this time wasn't about hunting goblins.

Today's target was called "Big Rabite", a rabbitlike creature.

When big rabites discover a place to live in, they bring along others not long after and before you know it their number has increased manifold. They are stronger than goblins and because they eat the gra.s.s off entire plains they're also bad for the environment.

With a "Giauun" the goblin stopped its charge, lowering its head and cowering in pain.

Instead, its cranium was tougher than expected and my blade got stuck midway. Well, it was still a fatal attack so it worked out. However, if I were attacked by another goblin at that time I would've been in trouble.

"Iga!?"

The other one let out a short scream as Emma sent it flying with a cl.u.s.ter of wind. A magic spell, 「Wind Attack」.

Emma came to lend me a hand by gripping the handle with me and the wind carried her fragrance along.

"...Nice smell, from your hair."

"Huh!? Wh-where'd that come from?"

"I don't mean it in some weird sense, I just thought you must be using some nice shampoo."

"Uh, yeah... I guess? Don't you use any?"

"No shampoo over at my family. And if there were, father would just sell it right away."

"That's..."

It hadn't been too long since Alice and mother got upset at him over it, resulting in father jumping into a kneeling position and apologizing.

That said, I suppose sniffing people's hair is a rather perverted tic to have,...

Precisely because we were childhood friends, there was a favor I could ask of her―――

And so I told her everything―――of the Hidden Dungeon, my powers, and the LP system. Of course, only after having her promise not to tell anyone else about it.

"―――Alright, so let's go to the Hidden Dungeon together!"

"Sorry, master prohibited that."

"Don't let anyone else enter, okay~?", is what I was told. In addition, I myself didn't want Emma to come along either, to be honest. Gold slimes aside, I wouldn't want her fighting something like a dead reaper.

"That's mean, won't you be the only one getting stronger then."

"Although as far as that goes I've also been trying to think of something."

"Boo, since that's how it is I'll be taking on the big rabite on my own, hmph!"

Acting as peevish as she could she walked ahead. Showing the childishness of someone our age like that was also part of her. A cute part.

Well, I could always lend her a hand when things got dangerous.

"Ah, found one."

In a particularly vast spot a big rabite was chewing on some gra.s.s. The ground around it was bare to the earth, probably because of its excessive eating.

Big rabites sure are huge.

With surprisingly light movements for a body of its size it came attacking.

"Here I go―――!"

She fired herself up and first of all, a wind attack!

Hoh, a hit. However, the rabite endured. With a sliding sound it s.h.i.+fted its legs, taking some distance.

"And another one!"

She fired again, but no luck this time. With a bouncy step the rabite dodged it. 'In that case!,' Emma charged at it. Her hands gripping a dagger each, blades facing downward.

It whirled its head, trying to stab Emma with its three pointed horns, but thanks to her quick movements it couldn't even graze her. Incidentally, the rabite's level was 40. Not too formidable of a foe.

*Swish, whoosh, swoosh*

The big rabite only struck air.

She seemed close to being crushed so I fired a stone projectile at full power, 100 cm. The rabite and rock collided in mid air, causing them to fall to the ground together. Thanks to that the creature landed a little distance away from Emma.

"Quick, before it gets up!"

"Y-yeah!"

Emma went into full sprint and delivered a critical hit to the monster as it was struggling to get up, a strike to its vitals. After that not even the big rabite could keep going.

I wondered if there was something I could do―――'Actually, of course there is...'

She seemed pretty good with daggers, so how about creating 「Dual-Wield Dagger Mastery B」 and―――No, that's the wrong way to go about it.

If I were to create it, it would just turn into one of my skills. To fix that I'd have to use the bestowal skill to pa.s.s it on, which would also use up LP.

Dual-Wield Dagger Mastery C → Dual-Wield Dagger Mastery B

There it is――――――!

It really was cheaper than creating the B rank from scratch! On top of that, considering the additional cost bestowal would have required it was a far better deal.

But still, 500...

I was at 700, so that would have been a little rough.

"I could use my skills to make you stronger, but right now I don't have enough LP."

"How do you gain more?"

"In our current situation... One thing, does come to mind."

"Go ahead, whatever it is! If it's something I can do then anything is fine!"

"You won't take that back, right?"

"Of course!"

Hearing that I promptly moved to behind her back. She was visibly nervous, wondering what I was planning to do. I boldly declared my intent.

"Can I chew your ears?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well, it's not that I want to eat them, more like a nibble."

"Eh, wait, th-that's how you raise your LP!?"

"There are other things I'd have in mind, but this is the most appropriate one out of them."

She was dazed for a moment, but accepted it quickly. With a face that said 'If it raises your LP, then――' she gathered her determination.

"Go!"

"Going."

Chomp, with my own resolution I bit her ear. Although I didn't use my teeth so it was more like trapping it between my lips.

"Aah-"

Plump, her shoulders gave in. After she recovered and stood straight again I continued, nibbling on her ear for some time.

The cartilages rolling around between my lips weren't bad either.

"Hanh!? N-nooir, how much longeer...?"

Looked like Emma's ears were her weak spot; her knees began trembling.

I had no clue despite all the time we had spent together.

Childhood friends.h.i.+p is a complicated thing.