Translator: “Pink Tea” Editor: ”Weasalopes”

After getting through the 14th Floor I should reach my goal, the 15th floor. I think battles would turn even more intense, so it's about time I strengthen myself as well.

As such, I head to the staff room after school to consult with Professor Elna.

「Are there any good general-purpose skills? Or maybe such that you wanted to have yourself?」

Sitting cross-legged, Professor Elna put a hand to her chin and went into thought.

Every movement of her was that of an adult woman and gave off subtle s.e.xiness.

「From my point of view, you seem to be pretty skillful. Having no weak sides. But at the same time, it can be also said that this means you have no strong sides as well.」

The words stab into my heart. In other words, putting it elegantly, I'm an all-round type.

Putting it badly, jack of all trades, master of none.

Using 【Create】 I can turn into a specialized type, but the professor advised that I'm fine this way.

「You don't have to go out of your way to do something that doesn't suit you. For now, you should learn sword techniques, just in case. Your good friend Layla, for example, knows magic fist. So, something of that sort.」

Laylsan's magic fist possesses outrageous power. For weak monsters, one hit from it is enough.

I tend to use a sword frequently, so in my case, it might be better to learn sword arts or something.

I ask her if there were any swordsmen among the opponents she struggled with.

Perhaps the opponent was that unpleasant, but she replied immediately with a frown on her face.

「There was an opponent who was good at parrying. And each attack he made was very powerful. The fight was interrupted, so we couldn't fight it 'til the end, but I feel if we did it would've been my loss. 」

Strong enough to corner someone such as Professor Elna?

Since it sounded promising, I decided to obtain the two of those skills.

Willow Ward 800 LP

Strong Slash 1000 LP

The important point here is that 【Willow Ward】 required strong focus and depending on the situation it might not go well.

【Strong Slash】 accelerates the sword, increasing offensive power, but it consumes a lot of stamina.

In addition, the motion is big, so it creates gaps in defense.

So timing and good judgment are crucial.

I also would like to get some mid-range magic, but for now, those two skills should suffice.

The hidden dungeon comes after I train with them for a bit.

Today, I have an adventurer's work with Emma and Lunsan.

Heading to the school gates I find Laylsan waiting for me there.

「I wanted to thank you for the rabbit. Is there anything I can help you with?」

Laylsan is dutiful.

「I'm heading to hunt monsters on commission from the guild. I guess it would be a problem if you came along?」

「……No, it's probably okay. Let me help you.」

As such, we first head to the guild of adventurers.

Entering together probably is not the best of ideas, so I go in alone.

Emma and Lunsan were there, so I explained the situation to them, but the reaction was strange.

Everyone, including Laursan, was panicking.

「Emma, what happened?」

「It's a disaster! A girl was abducted by a goblin thief outside the town.」

That might be extremely bad.

Goblin thieves often target children.

The reason is of course to eat them, and there isn't much delay before they start their meal. In other words, it's a race against time.

The commission came some moments ago. It was requested by the parents of the girl and they still were in the guild.

The mother is sobbing while the father is trying to calm her down.

She was abducted 30 minutes ago at the base of the mountain near the town.

The adventurers for whom Laursan was responsible were out on a different request, so there was no one they could ask.

「Let's take it.」

「Yes, that's Noir-dono for you!」

With Lunsan and Emma, we should be able to deal with it. The parents bowed to us over and over.

「Please, save our daughter! Please, we beg you.」

「Yes, we certainly will save her. Please tell us her name.」

「Sane Hitaru. She is five years old, her hair is tied into twin tails behind her back.」

I guess I've got all of the necessary information. Stepping outside I explain the circ.u.mstances to Laylsan.

「Of course I will help!」

I never dealt with them myself, but from what I've heard, goblin thieves are troublesome opponents. Laylsan coming with us would be a great help.

The four of us head to the area where Sane-chan was kidnapped.

ーーGreat Sage, please tell me the location of the closest Sane Hotaru, the girls of 5 fives years of age.

【723 Meters Northeast.】

We've got the location. Now we only need a plan.

All four of us have no experience of fighting goblin thieves.

「As I heard, goblin thieves steal all sorts of stuff.」

「Me too. People say that they can even steal weapons and skills.」

「Yeah, seems like they have some special skill for that.」

「Even so, we have no time to waste.」

Right. That's what makes it so difficult. Since time was working against us, we first rushed to the destination.

My appraising and then relaying the details to everyone is also an option.

Currently, everyone's abilities are like this.

Name: Emma Brightness

Level: 68

Skills: Short Blade Dual Wielding Mastery A, Wind Strike, Wind Blade, Wind Run

Name: Luna Healer

Level: 74

Skills: Magic Gun Proficiency B, Energy Shot, Speed Shot, Heal Shot, Magic Power Capacity Increase B, p.r.o.ne to Fainting, Lift Curse

Name: Layla Overlock

Level: 160

Skills: Punching A, Kicking A, Hand-to-hand combat A, Shukuchi, Stealthy steps, Magic Fist.

Weapons：Magic Glove 【Magic Conduction】

A lot happened during the trip, so everyone's levels grew higher.

And then there are their own individual efforts.

I think Emma's level went up particularly high.

Lunsan's magic power also went up, so unless she really exerts herself she shouldn't faint.

Laylsan had 【Hand-to-hand combat B】 which now became even higher. As expected of her.

Now, spotting a place from where smoke was rising we slowed down.

Hiding in tree's shade I check on the goblin thieves in a clearing.

First of all, Sane-chan was still alive. She is crying, held down by goblin thieves.

The number of enemies is 8. About a meter and a half in stature with dark brown skin.

With their hooked noses and facial features, they are no different from normal goblins, but there is an abundance of hair. Unkempt, long and dirty looking. Half of them unarmed and half had wooden clubs.

And most likely the tallest and the hairiest one is their leader.

Gesturing, it's giving commands to the other goblins.

At the center of their camp was a burning fire where they now set sticks, likely intending to hang and roast Sane-chan there.

Due to the distance 【Appraisal】 didn't do much.

Though since Sane-chan was in imminent danger there was no time for that anyway.

「Let go of Sane-chan!」

As I jumped out, everyone followed after me.

「Shhiii!!!」

Goblin thieves rushed at us, burning with hostility.

「I will save Sane-chan!」

Leaving Sane-chan to Emma, everyone else began goblin extermination.

With my sword in hand, I go for the leader-like opponent straight away.

Appraising him comes first.

「Sss.h.!.+」

「ーーEh?」

My double-edged sword disappeared!

And strangely enough, it ended up in the hands of the goblin thief. Why? How does it work?

Name; Goblin Thief

Level: 53

Skills: Gamble Steal, Monstrous Strength B, Leap B

You can't let your guard down with such an opponent. It's surely due to the power of a skill that the weapon was stolen.

【Gamble Steal】

〈By expending magic power, steal one of the following at random: weapon, tool, skill, memory. The chances of stealing from highest to lowest go as follows: weapon, tool, skill, memory. In case of failure consumes a great amount of magic power.〉

It's a terrifying ability, but the risk also seems to be great. One might even lose consciousness due to the magic power shortage after a failure.

It's because they are monsters, lacking in intelligence and sense of fear, that they can use it without hesitation.

Anyway, I have to get my weapon back.

There, I first confirm my surroundings.

The goblin that attacked Sane-chan was slashed in two by Emma's 【Wind Blade】 .

Laylsan kept crus.h.i.+ng one goblin head after another. And Lunsan took position behind the goblin boss that I confronted.

*Clink*

And the sword flew out of goblin's hand, landing in front of him.

「Zuuuh?!」

A well-placed shot with precisely adjusted power hit the sword from behind.

「Nice!」

I dash to pick up the sword simultaneously with the goblin.

As the goblin thief attempted to pick up the sword before me I kicked it in the face. As this one was sent tumbling, another goblin jumped at me.

*Phew, Phew!*

The goblin is exterminated with cover fire from Lunsan. Picking up the sword I close the distance with the boss goblin that unsteadily attempted to get up.

One slash from the front step. Since the opponent had no means to defend itself, I easily put it down in a single stroke.

Only two goblins remained.

One ran away and was now pursued by Laylsan.

Thus, I take on the other one. It's armed with a club. Perhaps imitating humans that it saw earlier, but the goblin was taking a proper stance.

Since it's a good chance, I guess I'll test one of the new skills.

In the current situation, even if I fail, my allies will be able to help me.

Slowly closing the distance, I use 【Strong Slash】 upon entering the effecting range. After a bit of delay, I take a huge swing and step forward.

The goblin thief cleverly read this and defended with the club, but was cut in half along with the weapon.

「Ooh, amazing power…… But it increases pulse by quite a bit.」

My heart is still throbbing. Using it repeatedly might be hard.

Laylsan came back, dragging goblin's corpse. I go to Sane-chan, held by Emma.

「Are you hurt anywhere?」

「No, this fluffy lady protected me.」

「Glad to hear that. Fluffy lady is always so kind.」

「Eh, it's not like it's not like that~」

It seems she is aware of how nice she is. That is rather fine.

Goblin thieves are somewhat rare, so I immediately dismember them, extracting raw materials. After that we return to the town, escorting Sane-chan.

Sane-chan is an incredibly strong girl, while we traveled she neither cried nor complained.

But seeing her mother and father at the guild she immediately runs off to them in tears.

「PAPPY, MAMMY, I was so scared!」

「Sane, sorry, sorry!」

With smiles we viewed the sight of parents and the child hugging each other.

The family being alive and well is the best after all.

With Yaay, I high five with Emma.

In the end, I decided to give a word of warning to the parents.

「Depending on the season, there are times when monsters might or might not appear, please, pay attention to that. 」

「Yes, that was all due to our carelessness. Thank you for saving our daughter.」

What's important is that it doesn't happen again. After parting with Sane-chan we received our reward.