I take another look at my status window.
This window appears in my field of vision just by thinking "I want to see my status."
I can place it anywhere I like.
The window shows my stats, job, skills, and remaining points.
But it doesn't show something like Hit Points or Magic Points.
In games, HP or Hit Points usually show how much damage you can take. If they hit zero, you die.
If something like that existed in real life, it would mean things like dodging attacks, using armor, or creating a magic shield.
But my status display has nothing like that.
That means if I get hit, I'll get hurt. If someone hits me with a club or a knife, I could die.
It sounds obvious, I know. Even if I have a game-like status and skills, this isn't a game.
I haven't found any skill that gives me Hit Points. No skills for defense, endurance, or resistance either.
Maybe they haven't appeared because I haven't met the right conditions or done the right actions. Still, I'd like something to protect my life.
A skill that increases my toughness or defense would be good.
Since if I die, it's over. Even just getting hurt could be a big risk.
So, for now, I'll move forward with "safety first" as my motto.
Am I scared?
Not really. There's a difference between bravery and recklessness.
If I have magic in my status, there should be something like a Magic Point system, a value that gets used up when I use skills and stuff.
When I use ninja skills, where does that energy come from?
Isn't it magic that's powering it?
It doesn't make sense for skills to be free to use endlessly. Life's not that easy, right?
So far, I haven't felt like I've used any magic when activating skills.
Maybe some skills just don't use any.
Well, I should try it out. Let's test a skill I haven't used yet.
"Clone Technique!"
*Swoosh!*
A sudden energy gathered beside me and...
"Oh! It worked!"
The skill activated, and a clone appeared right beside me.
I feel a slight tiredness, like I've used some energy. Maybe this is what it feels like to use magic.
It might be that [Clone Technique] uses more magic or stamina than [Wall Running].
I take a step back and face the clone.
It's frozen in the exact pose I had just now.
It looks a lot like me, but it feels off, maybe because it's not mirrored like in a mirror.
Still, it's clearly me.
Do I really look that serious all the time...?
Dark circles under my eyes... Guess that's the prideful mark of overwork....
Oh right, I didn't sleep much last night.
And now I'm working inside a dungeon.... What even is my life?
*Swoosh!*
"Oh, it disappeared. So, the clone doesn't last that long."
While I was thinking, the clone faded into dust.
Kind of like what happened when I beat that goblin earlier.
I use the [Clone Technique] again.
*Swoosh!*
A figure appears, shaped exactly like me, but it doesn't move.
It's like a life-size mannequin figure of myself.
I walk around it, checking from the side and back.
Everything's been recreated perfectly.
It's a bit refreshing to see myself from angles I don't usually get to.
Might be helpful for getting ready in the morning, like spotting messy hair on the back of my head.
It doesn't seem to have a real body.
When I touch it, it breaks apart like mist.
Even if I don't touch it, it fades after a few seconds on its own.
The clone seems to appear exactly where I was when I activated the skill.
It lasts a few seconds.
If I put in more effort when using the skill, it lasts a little longer.
But the tiredness is much greater.
So yeah, these ninja skills do use up something.
"Which means... there really is a magic-like resource, even if it's not shown as a number in the status board."
It would be easier to understand if it actually appeared as a stat, though.
From testing, I can only make the clone appear right on top of where I am.
Even if I try to change that with my thoughts, it always comes out on my position.
The clone copies whatever pose I'm in when I use the skill, kind of like creating an illusion rather than a clone.
But maybe if I level up the skill, I'll get more control over it.
Even now, though, the clone has its uses.
If I move while using Clone Technique... I can pull off that move.
You know, the classic ninja trick.
Let's try it out right away.
I wander through the dungeon, looking for a new monster.
And this time a goblin appears again! Are goblins the only DEADLY things here in this dungeon?
I activate [Stealth] and silently approach.
It doesn't notice me at all.
Honestly, with just [Stealth], I could probably crush these goblins all day.
If I use [Assassination], I could take it out in one hit.
It'd easily overpower the goblin. Just an easy win right there.
But that's not the point right now, I want to test [Clone Technique].
Even dumb goblins will react if I talk to them.
"Hey there."
I was behind the goblin, so I tap its shoulder while speaking.
"Agii? Agyaaa!"
It turns and sees me, swinging its club sideways to attack me on the head.
*Swish*
But I was already gone. And to confuse the goblin, I also left a clone behind.
The club hit the clone, which vanished like mist.
The goblin was shocked and looked wide-eyed and confused.
It's kind of funny, maybe because I feel more relaxed now with these abilities.
"Ah? Agyaa?"
The goblin is completely lost. It can't find me.
"That was just a clone little guy! I'm up here now!"
I'd already climbed the wall. Now I'm right above the goblin.
*Swish!*
I fall from above and smash the goblin's head with the metal bat.
*Bang!*
A solid hit.
The goblin dies instantly, turning to dust.
I land smoothly on the ground, not letting my balance off.
A stylish kill.
Yeah, I'm starting to feel more like a ninja now.
"[Clone Technique], [Assassination] and then air strike! A full on combo! I'm really ninja-ing right now!"
In ninja stories, there's a move called "Utsusemi" where they ditch their old appearance and escape.
It's like leaving behind a shell, like a cicada's skin.
In a way, it's similar to the [Clone Technique].
I make a clone, hide with [Stealth], climb a wall, and attack from the target's blind spot.
For the last hit, I turned off the [Critical Strike] skill for testing.
Even without it, the result felt the same.
That means [Critical Strike] and [Assassination] might not stack together.
Neither skill seems to use up any resources, let's just say magic.
So I can leave both active all the time without worrying about anything.
There might be some difference between them, but I don't get it yet.
From now on, I'll choose skills that don't overlap so it'd be worth using points on.
I want to use my points wisely.
Finding the best way to manage limited resources is part of the fun of this kind of game type settings.