For Shihoru, Takeru's suggestion was to learn a Smash attack skill and a Counterattack skill!
Smash was purely offensive, while Counterattack was defensive… blocking an enemy's attack and using their own force against them in a counterstrike...
With these two skills combined with healing, Shihoru's combat ability would improve significantly.
Since Takeru and Shihoru were learning different skills, Priest Orr asked Takeru to learn first, with Shihoru waiting.
Takeru's comprehension was strong, and he could cast all three skills within two hours.
"You are a genius." Watching Takeru consecutively use the three skills, Priest Orr remarked with admiration.
"Thank you." Facing Orr's praise, Takeru just showed a faint smile.
Next was Shihoru's turn. Compared to Takeru, by the time Shihoru finished learning Smash, it was already afternoon.
Following Priest Orr's advice, Shihoru would return tomorrow to learn the second skill...
Hearing this, Shihoru was disappointed but quickly accepted...
With some time left, Takeru took Shihoru to the forest, captured an injured goblin, and had it fight Shihoru barehanded.
Shihoru hadn't expected Takeru to capture a goblin as her training partner. However, facing the ferocious goblin, even without weapons and injured, Shihoru was no match.
Finally, in a near-mutual defeat scenario, Takeru killed the goblin and healed Shihoru...
"I'm sorry, Takeru-nii..." Shihoru, being carried by Takeru, spoke apologetically.
"Shihoru, you don't need to apologize. I want you to remember this fight well. Next time, you won't be facing an injured goblin." Takeru shook his head.
"I understand. I'll do my best!" Though it was tough and frightening, Shihoru knew Takeru was doing this for her and wouldn't retreat.
Resting on Takeru's back, Shihoru felt an unprecedented sense of security. Though being carried by a boy was embarrassing, Shihoru didn't want to leave this warm back now… besides, she currently had little strength anyway...
When Takeru brought her back to their lodgings, Shihoru had already fallen asleep...
"Eh, Takeru, what's this?" Mio, practicing new skills in the courtyard, noticed Takeru carrying Shihoru and showed surprise.
"Nothing much. Just took Shihoru for some training." Hearing Mio, Takeru shook his head lightly.
"Eh?" Hearing Takeru, Mio was momentarily stunned, recalling Shihoru's troubled look these past days and showed understanding.
"Shihoru." Sensing Shihoru was asleep, Takeru gently called her.
"Hmm..." Waking from her brief sleep, Shihoru felt tired and rubbed her eyes.
"We're back at the lodgings." Takeru reminded her.
Realizing she was on Takeru's back with a curious Mio nearby, her cheeks instantly flushed red. She flusteredly jumped down and nervously apologized to Takeru.
"It's fine. Alright, you've had a busy day. Go rest. Tomorrow's challenges will be even tougher." Seeing Shihoru's state, Takeru showed an amused smile, waved at her, bid Mio farewell, and returned to his room.
After Takeru left, Shihoru and Mio still dazedly watched his retreating figure… Takeru's smile just now was rather unfairly charming...
"Ah, um, Mio, I... I'll go wash up now too!" Coming to her senses, Shihoru said embarrassedly to Mio before quickly leaving.
As for Mio, she fell into thought watching Takeru and Shihoru. She didn't understand why Takeru was so kind to people from this world.
Previously, they had confirmed Shihoru wasn't a Reincarnator… meaning she couldn't leave this world.
Yet, towards someone who couldn't leave, Takeru gave preferential treatment. Note that after Mio and Tsumugi learned Shihoru couldn't leave, they instinctively maintained some distance.
After all, if they became too close and couldn't meet again after the mission ended, it would only cause more pain later.
Takeru wasn't unaware of this reasoning, but he had his own motives: the mission rating system.
While Shihoru might not trigger side missions, generally, altering a native's fate could yield some bonus in settlement ratings.
The bonus from one person might be small, but Takeru wanted to test various possibilities.
...
In the FORTUNELOVER World, Yukino, Umaru, Hachiman, and others, living as Catarina, experienced many scenarios: engagement to the cunning, sadistic Prince Geordo, meeting the insecure and lonely stepbrother Keith.
Attending tea parties, and getting acquainted with the fourth prince, Alan Stuart!
Surviving in this world as Catarina didn't proceed day by day normally. They would stay in certain fragments for a while, and upon waking again, several days might have passed.
At first, everyone was unaccustomed, but clever ones like Yukino and Umaru deduced more, further confirming they were experiencing a special game.
In these fragments, each tried their best to perform. Though unaware of the plot, they instinctively sensed the key characters.
However, even knowing the key characters, exactly what to do required their own consideration.