A Lazy Adventurer's Day Off
The morning sun poured through the cracked window of the Adventurer's Inn, landing right on Ruko's face. He groaned, rolling over and yanking the blanket up. "Bomboclot… who invented mornings?"
"Someone who isn't lazy," Kazuma's voice replied dryly from across the room. He was polishing his sword — or at least pretending to look productive.
Ruko peeked at him from under the blanket. "You realize you haven't done anything since yesterday, right?"
Kazuma shot him a glare. "I'm conserving energy! Big difference."
Aqua, already dressed and loud as usual, burst in holding a frog-skinned bag. "Good news, everyone! We're going frog hunting again!"
Ruko groaned louder. "Can't you people take a break? Every time I go near those things, one of them tries to eat me."
"That's because you smell like laziness," Aqua said, puffing out her chest.
"Then why don't you smell like competence?" Ruko muttered.
Kazuma nearly choked trying to hold in his laugh. "He's got you there."
The day started like any other in Axel — full of noise, chaos, and the faint smell of fried monster meat from a nearby stall. Ruko trailed behind the group, hands in his pockets, his bracer faintly pulsing under the sleeve of his jacket. The Core Alloy was still resonating with his blood — weak but growing. He could feel it sync deeper into him with every step.
> [Power Level Stabilized: 1%. Growth rate locked.]
He sighed. "One percent… still feels like fighting with handcuffs."
They reached the quest area, a swamp filled with bubbles and buzzing insects. Aqua hummed confidently, Kazuma looked exhausted, and Megumin was already preparing her staff.
Ruko raised an eyebrow. "You're not seriously gonna—"
"EXPLOSION!"
The ground shook. Mud and slime rained down like confetti. Kazuma screamed. Ruko just stared, blinking. "Bomboclot… she actually did it again."
Aqua wiped her face, half covered in mud. "Megumin! You said you'd wait until after we caught them!"
Megumin fell to her knees, laughing and panting. "It was worth it!"
Ruko turned to Kazuma. "You guys ever think about getting normal jobs?"
Kazuma's eye twitched. "Don't tempt me."
While they argued, Ruko noticed movement in the swamp — a single, oversized frog still alive and very angry. Its tongue lashed out toward Megumin, but Ruko moved before thinking. His hand glowed faintly — True Copy, barely active — mimicking Kazuma's movement pattern from earlier training. He twisted his body, grabbed Megumin, and spun aside just in time.
The frog's tongue missed them by inches.
Megumin blinked, stunned. "H-How did you—"
Ruko grinned. "Guess I've got quick reflexes when it counts."
Inside his mind, a faint pulse flickered.
> [True Copy Fragment Reactivated – 0.5% synchronization achieved.]
He didn't show it, but the power tugged at his body like static. Each activation was risky — the Sealer's influence could sense it if he used too much.
When they finally finished the quest, the party was covered in slime and mud. Ruko, of course, somehow managed to stay spotless.
Kazuma stared at him. "How do you always stay clean?"
Ruko smirked. "Black air magic. It rejects dirt and bad luck."
Aqua gasped. "Teach me!"
"Nope."
They returned to town with just enough reward to pay for dinner — barely. As the sun set, Ruko leaned back against the tavern wall, watching people laugh and drink. For once, it was peaceful.
He glanced at the faint light from his bracer. Core Alloy synced. Step one complete.
The Sealer's whisper echoed faintly in his thoughts — soft but sharp:
> "You shouldn't exist here. Your power is unstable."
Ruko muttered under his breath, "Then seal this, woman," and flicked her voice away like static.
Kazuma joined him outside, two mugs in hand. "You're quiet. That's suspicious."
Ruko took one with a shrug. "Just thinking. About money, mostly."
"Same," Kazuma said with a tired smile. "We're broke again."
Ruko chuckled. "Welcome to the club. I call it: the Perverted, Underpaid, and Overpowered Association."
Kazuma blinked. "…You forgot lazy."
"Exactly," Ruko said, clinking mugs with him. "That's our motto."
The night drifted on, laughter filling the air. Somewhere above the clouds, unseen seals flickered faintly — waiting for the next move.
> [Skill Fragment Detected: Rewrite – Locked.]
[Next Quest: Uncover the Path to Soul Vein Ore.]
Ruko exhaled, looking up at the moon. "Guess tomorrow won't be so lazy after all…"