It’s time to counterattack. That said, it doesn’t really have any means to attack. This Orochi is flailing and trying to wrap its tail around me, but… It hurts a little, but very little gets past my Constitution.
Water Current Control is moving the mud under me to make it so I can’t really step firmly. That’s all it can do right now. There’s still a skill I don’t know, but it’s not showing any signs that it will use it. Or has it used it already…? Anyway, I’ve succeeded in overpowering it, so let’s check with everyone.
“Everyone, I stopped it, but don’t get close just in case.”
Aki and Maki slowly nod with tense expressions. Well, even if it’s level forty-five, it does have the stats to harm them. I don’t want them to get careless because they’re with me.
“Ayane, the camera.”
“It’s all good. But I started from when you held it down, so I didn’t really get good footage.”
“Ah… I see. And thanks for before. How did you know so fast?”
“About the Paralysis? I learned about it in a lecture!”
Says Ayane with her chest puffed out.
I’d pat her head if I wasn’t busy right now… So what do I do with this?
“Master, do you remember how it inflicted Paralysis?”
“It glared at me.”
“I see. So it really is Evil Eye.”
“Evil Eye?”
That chunni name sounds exciting.
“It is a troublesome trait that inflicts status effects when your eyes meet. It is common in snake types.”
“Eh…? If you knew, you should’ve told me.”
“I knew this would not kill you.”
“Well thanks for believing in me.”
“Also, Paralysis is the most common effect of Evil Eye. It is what they have most of the time, and it is hard to be wary of it without experiencing it once. And so, despite my reluctance to do so, I remained quiet.”
Aira starts speaking very fast, being unable to bear Aki and Maki’s stares behind her. Well, my life wasn’t at risk, and if a little bit of trouble can be a learning experience, that’s fine, but…
Well, it’s not like this is the first time Aira has put me in a bit of danger so I could learn something, so I’m used to it. And I did learn, so I can’t complain.
“But make sure you tell us, okay?”
“Yes. I can’t bear to stand silent while Shouta is in danger.”
“I didn’t know he was gonna charge ahead all of a sudden though…”
“Ah… S-sorry.”
“Yes, reflect on that.”
“Yes…”
Come to think of it, Aki was trying to say something.
Finding a new rare monster made me distracted…
“By the way, what other typical Evil Eyes are there?”
“Aside from Paralysis, there are a lot of reports of Stun, Charm, and Vertigo, effects you have already experienced.”
A lot of reports, but they’re not common?
Well, if I start poking at that sort of thing we’ll be here all day. It’s fine for now.
“Can I finish it?”
“I got it on camera!”
“And I wrote down its stats.”
Say Ayane and Maki.
“Well then.”
I swing my sword and cut its head.
“…Hn?”
But Orochi is still wrapped around me, and not turning into smoke.
If anything, it’s wrapping around me tighter.
‘Shaah!’
“Uoh!?
‘Gogoh!’
The head I cut opens its mouth and jumps at me. I immediately dodge, and Enki grabs the head and smacks it to the ground. And it’s still not turning into smoke.
“Thank Enki.”
‘Gogoh.’
“Master, you cannot underestimate the vitality of snakes.”
“But I cut its head off. That’s not enough to kill it!?”
“Shouta, even regular snakes have great vitality. I don’t think a snake rare monster will be killed so easily.
Seriously, Maki? What a pain.
Come to think of it, Enki completely squashed the regular ones. Do I have to go that far…
“So what should I do?”
“Shouta, when you’re fighting stubborn monsters like that, you gotta crush their heads completely. Enki’s keeping it down, so you can end it right there.”
“But darling, it might use Paralysis again, so don’t look it in the eyes. I’m covering you, but don’t be careless.”
“Uhe…”
Snakes are a bigger pain than I thought.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
After my Crimson Sword scorches the head, I pry the body off me and hack it to pieces. I find what looks like its heart right in the middle, and after stabbing it, Orochi turns to smoke.
【Level up】
【Leveled up from thirteen to sixty-eight】
“Ahh, that really is a lot of vitality… Are regular snakes like this?”
“I doubt they go this far.”
“I didn’t get the effects of Evil Eye, but its stubbornness has been very well recorded.”
“Next time, let us target the head and brain, and its core parts.”
“Good job, Shouta.”
Maki hands me a cool towel, and I wipe my face. Ah, feels nice…
I’m mentally tired, so I rest my head on her lap. Being rewarded like this after a fight already makes me thankful that they’re coming along.
“So what’s my role here, Shouta?”
Asks Aki.
“Eh… Combat instructor?”
“I guess. But you haven’t really fought on this floor, so I got nothing to say. I get that filling the map is important, but…”
“Haha, sorry. But boars won’t have tricks like this, and they’ll be in more open areas, so I think I can fight them head on.”
“Puh…”
Aki is still sulking. But she knows I want to fight powered up versions and get trophies. I won’t be fighting boars today, only snakes, so she’s sulking because she won’t have much to do.
What can I do?
Then the smoke that’s still here after a few minutes starts swelling.
“The next one is coming. Everyone, get ready for battle!”
“Master, you are already aware, but…”
“Yes, don’t look at its eyes, right? I know.”
And if I get inflicted with Paralysis again, Ayane can heal me. I unsheathe my sword, not feeling worried.
Everyone takes position, and I step forward with Enki next to me. Aira and Ayane are behind me, ready to move out at any time, and Aki and Maki are behind them.
The smoke moves to the center of the pond again, and produces something else.
“…Is that a person?”
I’m confused, because it looks like a woman with long hair. But I quickly realize it’s a monster.
It’s a naked woman from the waist up, with green wavy hair, and the bottom half is just a snake.
＊＊＊＊＊
Name：Lamia
Agility：700
Intelligence： 1200
Luck：None
Equipment: None
Skills: Wind Magic Lv3, Water Magic Lv4, Earth Magic Lv4, Charm, Wisdom of Sorcery, Magic Energy Recovery Lv2
Drops: Lamia hair, Lamia cast-off skin, random box
Magic stone: Extra large
＊＊＊＊＊
It’s strong…”
My heart starts racing. It’s the second strongest monster, next to that slime, and a magic type like the Golden Swallowtail Butterfly. And it even has Charm. I’m sure a normal team would have a tough time with it.
But as I look at the True Appraisal screen, I forget something critical.
“Master!”
“…Eh?”
My eyes meet the Lamia’s through the screen, and I lose consciousness.
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He never learned! 🤨
Thanks for the treat.
All the more reason he needs his harem around him.
Why do so many mc’s IQ go down as their power goes up?