Flexible thinking.
It's what I need most right now.
I haven't often clashed with people, nor have I established many relationships.
Wherever I was, I was alone, and I didn't particularly dislike it.
No, I liked it.
The best life for me was just playing games in my room.
Friends, lovers, family... they were all in there.
Moreover, most of the games I played were story-driven.
The problem was that because of this, my thinking wasn't flexible.
But a hint.
Something that kept flashing before my eyes, a hint that made me realize something.
I saw it in Min Ha-yeon's archery.
When she stepped out of the safe zone to shoot an arrow, it suddenly hit me.
'Right! I didn't think of that!'
[...?]
'Let's solve this first!'
While I was momentarily distracted, the shock bees were approaching Min Ha-yeon.
After shooting the shock bees with a strong hit, I grabbed her arm and headed towards the safe zone.
Then I said to Armonia.
'Armonia! Can you make me a bow?'
[I'll make a bow used by the Hero Academy.]
'No! Just give me the one Ha-yeon uses!'
In terms of pure performance, the cadet bow used by the Hero Academy would be far superior to an old bow.
But if I just created a bow from the outside world, it might be awkward with Min Ha-yeon watching.
More importantly, what I need right now isn't a strong bow.
In the pitch-black darkness, a bow was placed in my hand.
At that moment.
[Archery Lv.1 has blossomed. Due to Hand Skill Lv.555, the level of Archery has been adjusted to 43.]
'Yes! This is what I wanted! ...What the hell?'
As I cheered through the communication, another line appeared.
[Due to the body's frailty, the level of Archery has been reduced from 43 to 12.]
It was overpowered, but not anymore.
I was just lucky until now.
If it were just using hands, maybe, but archery is a skill that involves not just hands but the upper and lower body.
You need to move when necessary and know how to flexibly turn your upper body depending on the situation.
Min Ha-yeon, who was an archer, had low archery skills here for that reason.
'Damn it!'
[Suho, with your current archery level, you can't handle shock bees. With superconductors...]
'No! It's fine.'
[...?]
Armonia seemed puzzled by my words but didn't ask further.
As I was about to communicate with Armonia, I finally saw the safe zone.
And Han Yeo-reum was inside it.
"What the!? Don't come here!"
I sighed inwardly as I saw Han Yeo-reum shouting at us.
'Damn, that guy is no help at all!'
Han Yeo-reum cursed and urged us to leave quickly.
Wow, he's good at leaving his girlfriend behind...
Min Ha-yeon and I left Han Yeo-reum behind, but as soon as the safe zone disappeared, Han Yeo-reum shouted and ran towards us.
"Save me!!"
"..."
Min Ha-yeon and I couldn't see each other's expressions in the pitch-black darkness, but we could read each other's thoughts.
Please just disappear...
But more important than Han Yeo-reum disappearing right now was Min Ha-yeon and I surviving.
As I ran beside Min Ha-yeon, I asked Armonia.
'Armonia! Can you make arrows with superconductor tips?'
[Yes, I can. It will cost 400 Enel.]
'Make three for now.'
Low archery level? Then I'll compensate by combining it with other skills.
I immediately took out Artemis' potion, drank it, and checked my level.
-[Archery Lv.22]-
'Good! First, secure the safe zone...'
"Ahhh!"
"What?"
Min Ha-yeon's voice, which should have been running beside me, came from behind.
I immediately turned around and vaguely saw her silhouette in the darkness.
Han Yeo-reum running towards me, leaving Min Ha-yeon behind.
And... Min Ha-yeon was about to be hit by a shock bee.
I had never shot a bow before. Moreover, shooting in such darkness might accidentally hit Min Ha-yeon.
But...
"I don't know!"
This wasn't the time to worry about that.
I loaded an arrow with a superconductor tip onto the bowstring and aimed.
I hesitated for a moment.
Should I use a weak magic circle or a strong one?
If my archery level were higher, I would have definitely used a weak magic circle. That would have been enough.
...Let's go with the weak one!
The conclusion came quickly.
It's a gamble.
A strong magic circle is irreversible once used.
After using it, there's no guarantee Min Ha-yeon will survive until recovery.
A coin-sized magic circle with yellow sparks formed in front of the arrowhead.
Two on each side, totalling four.
And the skill assisting my archery.
-[Aim Lv.48]-
Thanks to Aim, there was no trembling in my fingers or blurring of focus.
However, since I could only see silhouettes, I wasn't sure if I could hit the head accurately.
I aimed at the shock bee flying right in front of Min Ha-yeon and released the bowstring.
Whoosh!
I definitely hit it.
The shock bee hit by my arrow crashed to the ground, and I shot the remaining two in the same way.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The arrows struck, and the other two shock bees also crashed to the ground.
After shooting the arrows, I approached Min Ha-yeon and immediately helped her up.
"Are you okay?"
"...Yeah."
Min Ha-yeon trembled with her frail arms and legs, unable to stand properly.
She clung to my arm, shivering.
I held her shoulders and spoke calmly.
"You need to pull yourself together. Let's run for now."
"Uh... okay!"
As Min Ha-yeon nodded and steadied herself.
Pat!
"Huh!?"
"Ouch!"
The forest, which had been so dark that I couldn't even see the face of the person next to me, was suddenly enveloped in a bright light.
And in the center of that light, a fairy appeared.
The fairy's constantly changing expression was really annoying.
The fairy tilted its head and spoke to us.
"Hey! Who the hell does a boss battle at this hour!? Huh!?"
"...Huh?"
"What? We're not in a boss battle?"
The fairy got angry at my words.
"If you had just died, I wouldn't have cared! Why did you have to clear it at this hour!?"
"..."
Min Ha-yeon and I didn't understand and cautiously looked back.
Behind us...
"..."
Three shock bees were writhing on the ground with their heads or bellies blown open.
***
Min Ha-yeon, Han Yeo-reum, and I gathered in one place to listen to the fairy's explanation.
The location wasn't the forest where we fought the boss battle but a village with a few wooden buildings.
There was no sign of human presence around.
The fairy, the only source of light in the village, sighed deeply and continued.
"Ha... First, let's proceed as per protocol. Congratulations on clearing it. Here's your reward."
"..."
Despite saying it was protocol, the fairy spoke with a disinterested expression and tone.
Well, if I were sleeping in the middle of the night and suddenly told to come to work, I'd be pissed too.
The reward was a postcard.
And on the top of the postcard was written one word.
-Job Rights-
The fairy explained.
"What you've received now is Job Rights, which allows you to have one additional job besides the one you originally chose."
Originally, those summoned inside Yggdrasil are only allowed to have one job.
Even if you can change jobs later, having two jobs simultaneously is impossible.
But this Job Rights.
It's a special privilege given only when you clear a boss battle while in this Zephyrum village.
It's a fair reward for clearing something so difficult with little information.
"And ha... you there."
"Huh? Me?"
The fairy pointed at me.
"Please follow me for a moment."
"..."
Wondering what it was, I followed.
Min Ha-yeon looked at me with worried eyes, and Han Yeo-reum glared at me with an annoyed expression.
That bastard keeps acting like this...
Let's see what happens after I come back.
The fairy led me to a building in the center of the small village, closed the door, and spoke.
"After internal discussions, we couldn't find a suitable reward for you."
"..."
The reason the fairy called me here was for the reward.
What reward?
"Honestly, we didn't expect the shock bees to be defeated so easily."
"Huh? You said someone caught them before, right?"
"No! That was a year ago! It was during the initial summoning ritual when the balance was messed up, and those who came caught them."
The fairy continued excitedly.
"Moreover, the shock bees back then weren't as strong as they are now! They didn't use paralysis waves! And they were about a handspan smaller!"
"But they were still strong, right?"
"...Yes. Actually, the current paralysis wave is too problematic, and we were considering removing it.... But why did you have to clear it now!!"
According to the fairy, summoners were dying too frequently, so they were considering removing some skills.
But because of me, they might have to keep it...
"Hey, I cleared it to survive..."
"Huu..."
Damn, I was just struggling to survive. Am I really getting scolded for that?
But it's not good to argue with someone who's about to explode...
The fairy, about the size of a shock bee, fluttered its wings, closed its eyes, and fell silent.
After about a minute of silence, it spoke.
"After discussing a suitable reward, we've reached a conclusion."
"Oh, what is it?"
That Job Rights thing seemed good, but if you defeat a boss, you should get something even better, right?
In front of the fairy, something smaller than a finger joint floated, glowing brightly.
Its identity was...
"...A bean?"
Looking around, it was definitely a bean.
A green, shiny bean.
Could it be something that, if eaten, would keep you full for ten days and heal all wounds?
As I curiously examined the bean, the fairy spoke.
"It's a seed of Yggdrasil."
"Huh? Not a bean?"
"...What are you talking about?"
"Ah, never mind. My mistake...."
The fairy ignored my words and continued.
"The seed of Yggdrasil. It will save you in a moment of life-threatening crisis."
This bean, no, seed's ability was simple.
While living in Yggdrasil, it accumulates energy, and when it reaches 100%, it detects the owner's moment of crisis and saves their life.
"By the way, it's not a one-time consumable. It can be used continuously by absorbing Yggdrasil's energy."
"Damn... that's overpowered."
"But! It takes a very long time to charge. It's currently at 0%, so remember it won't activate until it reaches 100%."
"Oh.... Thank you, thank you~"
The floating seed of Yggdrasil... no, bean, flowed into my chest.
"Ooh..."
It wasn't an item stored in an inventory but something absorbed into my body, protecting me.
"Now! There's something else I need to tell the three of you!! Let's finish quickly!!"
As the fairy turned to fly towards Min Ha-yeon and Han Yeo-reum, I called out.
"Hey."
"What is it!?"
The fairy turned back, annoyed, and frowned at me.
Its expression was like a gremlin.
I extended my arm to the gremlin-like fairy.
Kyaaaa...
Is this guy going to bite my arm off?
"...What is it?"
"Didn't you say fairies get points as a tip? Since I got something good, I thought I should give you some points."
"Ooh!!! I knew you were a good person for clearing the boss battle!!"
The gremlin suddenly turned into Tinkerbell, smiling sweetly and extending its hand to me.
I decided to give 10,000 points, fearing it might bite my arm off if I only gave 100.
After giving 10,000 points...
"Whoa~~~~ I knew you were a good person!"
"..."
It's lying.
The fairy smiled brightly and handed me a business card.
=====
Name: Low-Level Fairy No. 108
Rank: Lowest-Level Guide
=====
Its name and rank were so insignificant...
"...What's this?"
"If you ever need anything, please call me! I'll serve you with all my heart!"
"Okay."
The fairy smiled obsequiously and fluttered away like a booking waiter.
It flew towards the two, leading me as if to a VIP room.
As I followed the fairy to the two, they were arguing in my absence.
"Stop sticking with that guy!!"
"Sigh..."
"That guy is completely different from what you think, Ha-yeon!"
The argument was about me.
Don't stick with me.
Han Yeo-reum, who knows how my relationship with Min Ha-yeon develops through regressions, wants to separate me from Min Ha-yeon at all costs.
But the funny thing is...
"...Ah! You're back?"
"Yeah."
"What did you talk about?"
"I'll tell you later."
All three of us here have regressed and are pretending not to know each other.
It's just that Han Yeo-reum is the most clueless.
The relationship between me and Min Ha-yeon that Han Yeo-reum is worried about is now something he can't sever.
No matter how many regressions happen, he'll never get Min Ha-yeon back.
Han Yeo-reum stepped between me and Min Ha-yeon, looking down at me with a low voice.
"Hey, can't you stay away from Ha-yeon?"
"..."
Suddenly, I was curious.
Is this place considered Zephyrum?
Since the place where we fought the boss battle was considered Zephyrum, maybe this place, though separate, is judged as the same area?
Just in case, I said to Han Yeo-reum.
"This won't do. Raise your hand and stand next to me."
***
Hey readers!
Want to read ahead? đź“– Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.
🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹