とフィニアはその場を直ぐに移動した。如何にフィニアが強くても、如何に桔音の意識が自身のステータスに追い付いたとはいっても、蜂の大群に襲われれば多勢に無勢。巣が近くにある可能性を捨てきれない以上、この場に留まるのは得策ではないと考えたのだ。
それに桔音としても、蜂の針を防げたからといって先日の狼や大蜘蛛のような相手の攻撃を生身で受け止められるほど防御力が高いとは思えないのだ。正直な所怖いものは怖い、そう何度も攻撃を受けたいとは思わない。
「あとどれくらいかな......」
「うーん、見た感じ最初の1/3くらいじゃないかなっ」
「残り10kmか、そこそこ来たね......このまま行けば夕方頃には着けるかな?」
「死ななければね!」
桔音とフィニアは少しづつ街に近づいていた。フィニアは蜂との戦闘後、かなり魔力を消費したらしく、現在は桔音の肩に座って魔力の回復を図っているようだ。魔力は時間と共に回復するらしく、その回復速度は人それぞれとの事。ちなみにフィニアは二時間もすれば全快出来ると言っていた。
桔音は此処までの道中、ステータスについての確認をしながら歩いていた。
『耐性』のステータスは確かめようが無かったので、『敏捷』や『筋力』のステータス確認の為に軽く走ってみたり、その辺の石を殴ってみたりした。
結果、『体力』と『敏捷』の向上もあって普段よりもちょっと速く、そして長く走れた気がした。石を殴った時は罅が少し入った程度、『耐性』のステータスのおかげか、『痛覚耐性Lv8』のおかげか、殴った拳は全く痛みを感じず、また傷めることもなかった。
「そういえばフィニアちゃん、スキルって何?」
「スキル? うーんとスキルっていうのは所謂......その人の出来ること、かなぁ?」
フィニアは知識を絞り出すように説明する。
この世界において、スキルというものはその人の持つ技能のことだ。
例えば、一般人Aが剣術を学んで一定以上の剣術を身に付けたとしよう。その場合、スキルとして『剣術』を習得する事が出来るのだ。
またスキルにはアクティブスキルとパッシブスキルがある。アクティブスキルはレベルの付いたスキル、パッシブスキルはレベルの付かないスキルだ。
この場合アクティブスキルに付くレベルというのは、そのスキルの熟練度や効果の高さのことだ。このレベルは自身のレベルやどれほど使いこなせるか、ステータスなんかも関与してくるが、上がれば確実に強力なものになる。
例として、フィニアの『火魔法Lv3』を挙げてみよう。
彼女は火魔法が使える、故に『火魔法』のスキルを習得している。そして彼女の高い魔力資質と火魔法を使いこなす技術、そして彼女の戦闘経験を踏まえて、現段階で『Lv3』という評価が付いているのだ。
このアクティブスキルについたレベル―――スキルレベルは、そういったスキル所有者の実力に沿って上がる。
まとめると、その人自身のレベルは、戦闘経験や知識を詰む事で上がり、ステータスも適性やレベルに準じて向上するが、スキルレベルはその人のレベル、ステータス、スキル熟練度、資質等によって向上するということだ。
ちなみにスキルレベルの基準はこうだ。
Lv1:初心者
Lv2:中級者
Lv3:上級者
Lv4:ベテラン級
Lv5:プロ級
Lv6:天才級
Lv7:英雄級
Lv8:勇者級
Lv9:人外級
という9段階だ。この世界において高位の実力者であってもLv7に到達出来る程の才能を持った者はそういない。一般人が死ぬほど努力しても到達出来るのは精々Lv5まで。Lv6以上はそれこそ天賦の才能をもった者だけの領域である。
「ふーん......出来ること、か......」
桔音は考える。スキルレベルの付いているものは出来ること、ということで説明は付くが、『不気味体質』や『不屈』、『威圧』といったスキルは出来ることでは説明がつかない。
「アクティブとパッシブ......なるほど、故意に発動するスキルか、常時発動型のスキルかの違いか」
とりあえず桔音はスキルレベルについてなんとなく想像が付いたので、基準はまだ良く分からないが、当たらずも遠からずな所に思考を終着させた。
フィニアはスキルはスキルってことでいいや、という感じであまり深く考えないようだ。
「それにしても、『不気味体質』ってなんだよ......これ絶対虐めの原因だよ」
「でもそれどういうスキルなの?」
「知らない、不気味に思えるんじゃない?」
「きつねさん不気味じゃないけどなぁ」
桔音は『不気味体質』と『不屈』、『威圧』という自身のパッシブスキルの効果を知らない。蜂や蜘蛛の時は桔音の知らない内に怯えられていたのだが、桔音はそれを知らないのだ。
また、アクティブスキルである『ステータス鑑定』はスキルレベルが付いていない。これもまだ分からない要素だ。桔音は少し考えてみたものの、分かる筈も無かったので置いておくことにした。
「でもまぁとりあえずあの蜂程度のモンスターなら危険はなさそうだし、今までよりは安全度も上がったかな?」
「でも今のきつねさんの防御力って子供に投げ付けられた小石を防げる程度でしょ? 安全もくそも無いと思うな!」
にぱっと笑いながら、また気落ちしそうなことを言うフィニア。桔音は確かにそうだなぁと思いつつ、草木を掻き分けて歩くのだった。
◇ ◇ ◇
それから休憩交じりに結構歩いた。
疲れてきたが、ここまで魔獣に遭遇せずに来れたことは幸運だ。街までの残り距離は約3km、体力的にも精神的にも大分余裕が出て来る距離だ。なにせ9/10はやってきたということなのだから。
「あとちょっとだね」
「うん! 私の魔力も全快したし! これから幾ら魔獣が出て来ても大丈夫だよ!」
「というか、フィニアちゃんが僕を抱えて飛ぶことが出来ればいいんだけどね」
「悪いねきつねさん! 私の羽は一人用なんだ!」
「まぁ二人抱えるには羽が小さいか」
二人共精神的余裕が出てきた故か、会話も弾む。しかし周囲の警戒は怠らない。ここはまだ森の中、魔獣が出て来てもおかしくはないのだから。
「でもあれだね......お腹空いたね」
「私は食事を取らなくても生きていけるから別に......」
「.........この裏切り者め」
「あははっ、酷いやきつねさん! いや......この場合酷いのは私......?」
「ほら行くよー」
「あ! 待ってよきつねさーん!」
空中で腕組みして考え始めるフィニアを置いて、桔音はさくさくと先に歩いて行く。フィニアはそれを追い掛けてひゅーんと飛んで行く。
だが、その瞬間空間に変化が起こった。
桔音の下へ向かおうとするフィニアは、背後からの衝撃で吹っ飛ばされた。
「―――っぇ!?」
飛んでくるフィニアを受け止める桔音、だが落ち付いていられたのはそれまで。フィニアを衝撃で押した現象は、それだけに収まらなかった。桔音が振りかえった先、次の瞬間―――桔音の腹の中心を何か鋭く尖ったものが勢いよく突き刺さった。
「ごっ......ふ......!?」
肺から空気が押し出され、その威力に大きく後方へと身体が吹っ飛び、地面に落ちても勢いが収まらず転がった。
「何......?」
どうやら桔音の『耐性』ステータスが幸いしたようで、鋭い何かは桔音の肉に若干突き刺さる程度で桔音に傷を負わせはしなかったようだ。
桔音は腕に力を込めて身体を起こし、自分を吹っ飛ばした相手を見る。すると、自分が先程まで居た場所には、正体不明の何かがいた。
黒い瘴気の様なぐじゅぐじゅした塊、それが燃え盛る炎の様にそこにいた。そして、その瘴気の中―――赤い瞳が桔音を見ていた。
―――死ぬ
が流れ込んできた。桔音は一瞬で理解する。対峙すれば殺される、戦えば殺される、絶対的に、絶望的に、格が違いすぎる怪物、それを理解した。
心の奥底から悪寒がゾクリと身体を震わした。桔音は眼を見開いて焦るように立ち上がる。そして吹き飛ばされたせいか、足下で気絶しているフィニアを乱暴に掴みあげると、全力で走りだした。
「はぁっ......はぁっ......はぁっ......!! 何だアレ......!」
足がもつれる、ステータスが向上したおかげでずっと速くなった足が、今は物凄く遅く感じる。背後から感じる凄まじい威圧感が少しづつ迫っているのが分かる。
怖い、怖い、怖い、死ぬ、このままじゃ死ぬ、桔音は恐怖心に駆られていた。天地が引っくり返っても勝てないと確信していた。
しかも、あの怪物からは殺意が感じられない。あの怪物は桔音を殺そうと思っていないのだ、桔音を殺すようなものだと思っていないのだ、ただ何かを楽しむ様に桔音を追い掛けてくる。そして捕まったら最後、殺しているという実感もなく桔音を殺すだろう。
「なんだ......! 意味分からない......! ......はぁっ......はぁっ......!!」
呼吸が乱れ、体力も無くなって来る。精神がガリガリと削られ、桔音の瞳からは無意識に涙がこぼれていた。
「あぐっ!?」
黒い瘴気の怪物が桔音に飛びかかり、そして桔音の背中を切り裂いた。高い『耐性』ステータスを持つ桔音の防御力は紙の様に破られ、切り裂かれた背中からはだくだくと血が出ていた。
桔音は切り裂かれたはずみで地面に倒れる。
動こうとすると、中々上手く動かない。『痛覚耐性Lv8』のおかげで痛みはないが、身体は確実に怪我を負っているのだ、動きが阻害されるのは当然だ。
だが桔音はなんとか前のめりの体勢ながらも立ち上がり、ふらふらと逃走を続ける。黒い瘴気の怪物はそんな桔音を見て、瘴気の奥の赤い瞳を細めた。理性はないようだが、桔音に先程までとは別の興味を持ったようだった。
足を一歩、一歩と前に出す度に背中の傷が痙攣して身体が倒れそうになる。また、進む度に地面に血液が付着して、自分の進んでいる道を教えている様なものだった。
だが、瘴気の怪物はそれ以降桔音を襲って来ない。ふらふらの桔音の速度は遅い、故に瘴気の怪物は既に桔音の隣にまで迫っていた。しかし、どうやら瘴気の怪物は桔音の事を観察している様にうろうろと桔音の周囲を動く。赤い瞳がずっと桔音に視線を送っていた。
「はぁ......はぁ......っ......!」
桔音はそんな怪物に対する恐怖で呼吸が更に荒くなる。気絶しそうなほどの威圧感と次の瞬間には死ぬかもしれないプレッシャー、桔音の精神は既に限界だった。
「く......う、あああああああ!!」
桔音は雄叫びなのか、叫びなのか、大きな声を上げてポケットから折れたナイフの刃の部分を取り出して振るった。だが、瘴気の怪物は軽々とそのナイフを躱す。どころか、桔音の手から奪い取った。
しばらくナイフを眺めていた瘴気は、興味が失せた様にそれを投げ捨てた。そしてずいっと桔音の顔を覗き込むように近づいてくる。
「なんなんだ......こんな化け物がいるなんて......聞いてないよ......!」
桔音がそう呟くと、怪物は楽しそうに赤い瞳を細めた。何か喋ったわけではないが、感情が伝わってくる。
だが桔音はその怪物を眺めながら、大分精神が落ち付いて来たのを感じる。今すぐに殺されるかもしれないが、今はまだ生きていると気を取り直す。
(.........この怪物が何か分からないけど......まだ生きてる、まだ動ける......!)
桔音は自分の手の中にいるフィニアを見て、思い返す。
(しおりちゃんとの約束......守らないとね......! まだ死ねない......! 死にたくない......!)
桔音は身体の内から力が込み上げてくるのを感じた。身体が動く、傷はまだ治ってないが、抵抗なく動くようになっていた。
死に瀕して興奮しているのかもしれない、アドレナリンって奴かなぁと考えながら、身体に鞭を打つ。
桔音は気が付いていないが、これはスキル『不屈』の効果だ。精神的に生存を諦めない限り一時的にステータスの限界を越えて動くことが出来るスキル。この時桔音が『ステータス鑑定』を使っていれば分かっただろう。
名前:
性別:男 Lv.4
筋力:140(+100)
体力:160(+100)
耐性:280(+100)
敏捷:150(+100)
魔力:120(+100)
スキル『不屈』発動
◇
となっていることに。桔音は動くようになった身体で駆けだした。先程よりもずっと速く、瘴気の怪物は少し驚いた様子だった。
だが、それでも怪物は悠々と桔音の背後を追い付いてくる。『不屈』によるステータス補正が付いても、桔音は未だ怪物に及ばない。圧倒的な差がほんの少し縮まっただけで、格の差に変わりはないのだ。
「はぁ......はぁ.........やっぱり......死ぬんじゃね?」
桔音は先程よりは整った息遣いで出来得る限り速く走るものの、桔音の速度に合わせて隣を並走する怪物を見てそう漏らした。
(軽口が叩けるくらい精神的には余裕が出てるけど、アドレナリンのせいだしなぁ......うわー勝てる気がしない......でもこのまま街まで逃げ切れれば......!)
桔音はそれでも先程よりも速いペースで走れていることを実感しながら、このまま街まで逃げ切る道を選んだ。怪物から感じる不気味な気配と圧倒的プレッシャーにはまいるものがあるが、それでも結局今までも相手にすれば死ぬ怪物たちを相手にしてきたのだから、いまさらもっと強い奴が出て来た所でどうということはない。
桔音は急に立ち止まり、方向転換する。瘴気の怪物は勢い余って少し先まで走って立ち止まり、桔音を追うべく方向転換する。
だが、桔音は今の方向転換で少しだけ距離を稼いだ。すぐに追いつかれるだろうが、それでも距離を稼いだ。追い付かれる前に何か策を考えるべく周囲を見渡す。
「............何もねーじゃん!?」
走りながらショックを受けた。森の中故に何も無い。策を思い付かないまま、普通に追い付かれた。
「はぁ.........このまっくろくろすけが」
桔音の雰囲気が変わった。立ち止まり、瘴気の怪物を睨みつける。大人しく街まで逃がしてくれる様な相手でもなさそうだし、また撒くにしても向こうの方が速い、無理そうだと判断したのだ。
「というか、街まであと約3kmじゃん......逃げるにしてはまだ遠いよ......僕何考えてんの」
桔音が呟きながら生きる意志を瞳に宿す。桔音の死ぬわけにはいかないという想いが、『不屈』の効果と相まって―――瘴気の怪物の狂気を上回った。
それつまり、『不気味体質』の発動条件が整ったことに他ならない。
「とりあえずやられっぱなしは趣味じゃない」
怪物は桔音よりもずっと強い怪物だ。会ったことはないがドラゴンとかそういった種類の災害と同じ圧倒的強者だ。
だが、『不気味体質』はそういったレベルの差に関係無く作用する。実力で劣っていようが、精神的に上位に立つスキルなのだから。
「抵抗して抵抗して、死ぬ前に逃げる。掛かって来いよまっくろくろすけ!」
桔音の言葉に、困惑していた怪物が喜びの感情を見せた。どうやら桔音に一層興味を持ったようだ。プレッシャーが更に大きくなった、だが精神的優位に立つ桔音には多少相手が強そうに見えただけのこと、大した効果はない。
「おりゃあ!!」
桔音は地面に転がる石を怪物に投げ付ける。当然、怪物は避ける―――が、桔音はその瞬間に怪物の目の前まで踏み込んでいた。『不屈』によって引き上げられた速度は、怪物の思っていた速度を大きく超えた。
「隙ありッ!!」
そこへ折れたナイフの柄の部分を取り出し、残った刃の部分を横薙ぎに振るった。瘴気の中に入った刃は何かを掠る。そして瘴気から振り抜いて出て来た刃にはほんの少しだけ血がついていた。
―――イケる、攻撃は通る!
「――――♪☆♡♪☆☆☆♡♪」
怪物が音にならない雄叫びをあげた。その雄叫びに『不気味体質』が強引に解除され、『不屈』も弾かれるように効果を喪失した。
眼を見開いて驚愕する桔音、だがその一瞬の隙が命取りだった。
「ッァ―――はッ......!?」
気が付けば、桔音は空を舞っていた。
上下左右が分からない、一瞬の出来事過ぎて何が起こったのかも分からない。ただ分かるのは、自分は森の上まで吹っ飛ばされて、空を舞っているということだけ。
そして次の瞬間、
桔音の口から血が吹き出た。赤い血が重力に従って落ちていくのが見える。そして、じわじわと腹部に走る―――痛み。
桔音がされたこと、それは瘴気の怪物による凄まじい速度で放たれたアッパー気味の攻撃が桔音の腹部を捉え、あまりの威力に桔音は空へと吹っ飛ばされたのだ。そして、その威力の高さ故に桔音の『痛覚耐性Lv8』の痛覚遮断効果を越えて桔音にダメージを与えた。
(.........ああ、動かないなぁ......身体)
『不屈』も『不気味体質』も解けて、背中の傷による行動の阻害も戻って来る。高く跳ねあげられた身体が下に落ちていくのを感じながら、身体の限界を悟った。
(フィニアちゃんは.........死なせたくないなぁ......)
桔音は自分の手の中のフィニアを抱きしめるようにして、地面に背中を向ける。お面を外し、フィニアと共に抱きしめた。これなら地面に衝突したとしても、お面とフィニアだけは無事で済む。
「しおりちゃん.........ごめん」
そして落ちていく桔音は地面に衝突する瞬間、そう呟いて意識を失った。最後に桔音が見たものは、楽しげに落ちて来た桔音を見ていた―――赤い瞳だった。
Kitsune and Finia immediately moved from the area. No matter how strong Finia was, and regardless of how Kitsune's awareness had finally caught up to his status, they would be severely outnumbered against an entire colony of bees. As long as they couldn't drop the possibility that they were close to the hive, it wasn't wise for them to remain anywhere near the battle site.
Also, while Kitsune knoew he would be able to block a bee's sting, he was doubtful of whether he could block an attack from the wolf or spider of the previous day with nothing but his body. Honestly, scary things are still scary, and he didn't want to try taking attack after attack.
"About how much further?"
"Yeah, from what I see, we're on the last third of the trip."
"So 10km left. We've come quite a ways... if we move at this rate, I guess we'll arrive by sunset?"
"If you don't die, that is!"
Kitsune and Finia were steadily approaching the town. During her battle, Finia had expended quite a bit of Mana, and she was sitting on top of Kitsune's shoulder, trying to recover it. Mana was something that replenished with the passage of time, and the recovery speed varied from person to person. By the way, Finia boasted that she could make a full recovery within two hours.
Along the way, Kitsune tried to test his status as he walked.
There wasn't a good way to confirm{Resilience} , but to test {Dexterity}  and {Strength} , he tried running a bit, and hitting some rocks around the area.
The result was that with the elevations to {Vitality}  and {Dexterity} , he was able to run just a little bit faster, and slightly longer, at least, so he felt. The when hit, the rock only cracked a little bit, and perhaps because of his {Resilience} , or his {Pain Resistance Lv8} , his fist didn't feel any pain during or after hitting it.
"Oh right, Finia-chan, what are Skills exactly?"
"Skill? Um, well, they're sort off... what people can do, I guess?"
Finia attempts to wring out her knowledge to answer.
In this world, Skills are the abilities held by people.
For example, let's say Bystander A were to pick up fencing, and keep it up past a certain point. In that case, they would be able to acquire{Fencing} as a Skill.
Among them, there are also Active, and Passive ones. The active ones are the ones with levels attached to them, and the passives are those without.
The Level stuck on Active Skills are that skill's proficiency, or the scope of their effects. At a person's level, just how proficiently can they use it, or how much of it would their Status allow them to draw out. If it rises, it will definitely become something powerful.
As a test case, let's look at Finia's {Fire Magic Lv3} .
She was able to use fire magic, therefore, she acquired the {Fire Magic}  skill. Her high magic disposition, as well as her skill in manipulating it, along with her current battle experience, earned the Skill an evaluation of {Lv3} .
The level tacked onto Active Skills... their Skill Level raises by the possessor's competence.
Putting it all together, the person's individual level raises through gained experience and wisdom, and Status and aptitudes rise corresponding to it. Skill Level is influenced, and rises by personal level, status, proficiency in use, and nature.
By the way, the standard scale of Skill Levels is as follows.
Lv1: Beginner Class
Lv2: Intermediate Class
Lv3: Advanced Class
Lv4: Veteran Class
Lv5: Pro Class
Lv6: Genius Class
Lv7: Hero Class
Lv8: Legendary Hero Class
Lv9: Inhuman
Those 9 stages. In this world, even among the highest level of practitioners, there are few with the talent to reach Lv7. If an ordinary bystander were to put in life-threatening training, then the greatest he would be able to achieve would be around Lv5. Lv6 and above is the realm of those born with innate talent in the field.
"Hmm... what they can do, is it..."
Kitsune thought. The things he had been given Skills for were things he could do, and that seemed plausible, but {Eerie Constitution} ,{Persistence} and{Coercion}  didn't really fit under that umbrella.
"Active and passive... I see, so skills you activate by will, and ones you usually have under effect."
For now, Kitsune had obtained a vague idea about Skill Level. He didn't really understand the criteria, but he thought he would get it sooner or later, so he shifted the rails of his train of thought.
Finia seemed to think Skills were just Skills. She wasn't thinking too hard about it.
"Even so, what the hell is {Eerie Constitution} ... This is definitely the cause of my bullying."
"What sort of skill is it?"
"No idea. Doesn't it make people think I'm eerie?"
"Kitsune-san isn't eerie though."
Kitsune didn't know the effect of his passive skills. When he had encountered the Spider and Bee, he had invoked fear in them through it, but he hadn't realized it.
His Active{Skill Discernment} was too low to even be given a Skill Level. However, that was also something he didn't know. Kitsune tried thinking harder about it, but as he figured there was no way he would get anywhere just by thinking, he put the matter aside.
"Anyways, for now, it doesn't look like monsters on the level of bees pose any danger, so has our security increased from before?"
"But right now, Kitsune-san's defense is only enough to block a pebble thrown out by a child, you know? You have no safety!"
With a bright smile, Finia continued to throw out demotivational lines. Kitsune thought she may be right, as he pushed his way through the vegetation and proceeded forward.
* * *
After that, they proceeded quite a distance with breaks mixed in between.
While they were tired, the fact they had gotten this far without encountering any Magical Beasts was a spot of good fortune. The distance left to the town was only 3km, a distance that left quite a bit of leisure, both physically and mentally. I mean, they only had one tenth of the trek remaining.
"Just a little bit more."
"Yeah! My mana is full, too! Even if we encounter a Magical Beast, we'll be fine!"
"And wait, Finia-chan, couldn't you have just carried me, and flew there?"
"Sorry, Kitsune-san! My wings are for one man use!"
"Well, I guess they're too small to carry two."
As they had some mental leisure, conversation sprung back and forth. But they weren't negligent of their surroundings. They were still inside of a forest, and it wasn't strange for another Magical Beast to pop up.
"But it's that... my stomach's empty."
"I can live just fine, even without food, so I'm not really..."
"... You traitor."
"Ahaha, how cruel, Kitsune-san! No... in this case, am I the cruel one...?"
"Hey, keep up."
"Ah! Wait for me, Kitsune-san!"
Leaving behind Finia, who had crossed her arms, and begun thinking deeply in midair, Kitsune continued walking forward. Seeing that, Finia rapidly started fluttering towards him.
But at that moment, an aberration occurred in the airspace.
As she was trying to head to Kitsune below, an impact rocked Finia from behind.
"...!?"
Kitsune caught her as she spiraled in his direction, and the calm atmosphere ended there. The phenomenon that caused Finia's fall didn't come to a close there. The instant after Kitsune turned around... in the center of his stomach, a sharp edge stabbed him with fearsome momentum.
"Go... fe...!?"
The wind was knocked out of his lungs, and the power sent his body shooting backwards. Even after hitting the ground, the momentum send him tumbling across it.
"What...?"
It appears that Kitsune's {Resilience}  was on his side, and even though he was stabbed with a sharp object, it barely went into his skin, and it didn't leave a wound.
He mustered power into his arms to lift his body, and looked at the opponent who had sent him flying. In the place he had been standing before, saw an unidentifiable something.
A messy black mass of gathered miasma, that raged up like a blazing fire was there. And in the center of that darkness... red eyes stared back at him.
... Death.
Inside of Kitsune's head, an image of death played out. He understood it in an instant. That if he confronted this thing, if he fought this thing, he would be killed. Overwhelmingly. Hopelessly. This was a monster too different in ability, and he understood that.
From the depths of his heart, chills shake his body. Kitsune opened his eyes wide, and hurriedly stood up. Roughly gripping Finia, who had fallen unconscious near his feet due to the impact, he ran with all his might.
"Hah... hah... hah...! What the hell is that...!"
His legs are tangles. Even though he had become much faster through the status elevations, he felt he was moving incredibly slow. The intense intimidating aura he felt from behind was slowly closing in.
Scary, scary, scary, die, at this rate, I'm going to die. Kitsune was driven to terror. Even if the heavens and earth were reversed, he was certain he wouldn't be able to win.
What's more, he didn't even feel any killing intent from that monster. It wasn't thinking to kill him. It wasn't thinking of anything like that, but it was merely chasing him because it found it interesting. And once it had caught up, even without the intent, it would probably kill him.
"What is this...! I don't get it...! ... Hah... hah...!!"
His breathing was in disarray, and his stamina was running out. His mentality was being chipped at, and he was unconsciously letting tears flow from his eyes.
"Agu!?"
The black miasma leapt at him, and cut at his back. The defense given to him by his high {Resilience}  was torn through like paper, and blood gushed out of the tear in his back.
With the momentum from the cut, Kitsune collapsed onto the ground.
He tried to stir himself, but he couldn't move properly. Because of {Pain Resistance Lv8} , he didn't feel any pain, but his body had definitely taken damage. It's natural that the damage would obstruct his movement.
But even after falling forward, Kitsune rose, and he swayed as he continued his flight. Seeing his action, the red eyes within the depths of the miasma narrowed. They didn't seem to hold any rationality, but it appears that they had developed a different sort of interest in Kitsune than before.
Every time he moved his feet forward, the wound on his back convulsed, and he felt like he's going to fall over. Every time he proceeded, the ground was stained red with his blood, and the path he was taking was clearly indicated.
But the monster of miasma didn't pursue the boy any further. The swaying Kitsune's speed was way too slow, and as such, the monster was leisurely moving beside him. The monster appeared to be observing him, as it aimlessly moved around him. The red eyes remained directed at him the entire time.
"Hah... hah......!"
The fear Kitsune held towards the monster messed up his breathing even more. The intimidating air that made it feel as if he would fall unconscious, and the pressure that he may die in the next instant put his mental well being at its limit.
"Ku... Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
Not knowing whether he had raised a battle cry, or a scream, Kitsune raised a loud voice as he took out the broken knife portion from his pocket, and swung it. The monster dodged it all too easily. It even managed to swipe it from his hand.
After gazing at the knife for a while, the miasma monster discarded it as if it had lost interest. To gaze directly into Kitsune's face, it drew closer.
"What is this... for there to be a monster like this here... how was I supposed to know...!"
As he whispered that, the monster narrowed its eyes in delight. It's not like it said anything, but the emotion was definitely conveyed.
Kitsune stared at it, and for some reason, he felt his mind calm itself down. Even if he was going to be killed in the next moment, he was still alive for now.
(... I don't understand what this thing is... but I'm still alive. I can still move...!)
Looking at the fairy Finia in his hand, he remembered.
(My promise to Shiori-chan... I have to protect it...! I can't die yet...! I don't want to die...!)
He felt power surge up from the depths of his body. His body moves. Though his wounds aren't healing, he's able to move without resistance.
Perhaps he had gotten stimulated by being too close to death. Perhaps it was that adrenaline thing, he thought, as he stirred up his body.
Kitsune hadn't noticed it, but this was the ability of the skill {Persistence}  in effect. As long as his mentality didn't give up hope on his continued existence, it was a skill that would temporarily allow his body to work beyond its limits. If he had activated {Status Discernment}  at the time, he would have understood it.
Name: Naginata Kitsune
Gender: Male Lv4
Strength: 140(+100)
Stamina: 160(+100)
Resilience: 280(+100)
Dexterity: 150(+100)
Magic: 120(+100)
Skill {Persistence} In EFFECT
*
Is what it had become. Kitsune raced out with his body, which could move again. Much faster than before, the monster of miasma seemed mildly startled.
But even so, it easily followed behind him. Regardless of the {Persistence} Status boosts, Kitsune was still far below it. The overwhelming difference had only closed ever-so-slightly, but the main problem didn't change.
"Hah... hah... as I though... am I going to die?"
His breath now in order, he ran as fast as his body would permit, but the monster was already running in normal strides beside him.
(My mind's recovered enough for me to crack retorts, I guess. This is adrenaline, right... Uwah, I still don't get the feeling I can win... but if I can run like this all the way to the town...!)
Kitsune experienced speeds the likes of which he had never run before as he turned down a path that would lead him to town. The overwhelming pressure on him was still crushing him, but in the end, all of the opponents he had faced up to this point were monsters capable of killing him, so having a stronger one come out didn't really change anything.
Kitsune suddenly came to a stop, and changed directions. The monster keeps running forward a bit, before braking, and changing course to match him.
But by that turn, he was able to gain a little bit of distance. It would probably close up soon enough, but still, it was there. Before he was closed in on, he tried scheming a plan.
"...... I ain't got nothing!?"
While running, he received quite a shock. As he was in a forest, there wasn't anything. Without any plan in mind, he was easily overtaken.
"Hah... this pitch black wanker."
The atmosphere surrounding Kitsune changed. He stopped, and glared at the monster. This didn't look like one who would calmly let him run off all the way to town, and even if he tried to run, the other side was faster. He decided running would be impossible.
"And wait, there's about 3km to town, right... it's too far if I wanted to run... what the hell was I thinking?"
Kitsune muttered to himself as his eyes filled with his will to live. His feelings that he didn't want to die mingled in with{Persistence} ... and exceeded the miasma monster's madness.
To summarize, {Eerie Constitution} 's activation conditions had been met.
"Anyways, going down without a fight isn't my style."
The monster was much stronger than Kitsune. While it had never met them before, it was on the same level as Dragons, and other supreme beasts of calamity.
However, {Eerie Constitution} worked without heed to such differences in level. Regardless in a true difference in ability, it was a Skill that worked through psychological superiority.
"I'll resist, and resist, and escape before I die. Come at me, pitch black monster!"
On the boy's words, the perplexed monster displayed an emotion of joy. It's interest in Kitsune was higher than ever before. The pressure it exerted rose even further, but as Kitsune already saw the monster as much stronger than himself, it didn't have any effect on his psychological superiority.
"Orya!!"
He picked up a rock lying on the ground, and chucked it. Of course, the monster dodged... but in that moment, Kitsune was able to close in, and step right in front of it. The speed raised by {Persistence}  surpassed what the monster had anticipated.
"An opening!!"
He took out the broken knife hilt, and swiped the remaining blade portion at it horizontally. Inside of the miasma, the edge grazed against something, and when the knife had escaped the darkness, the blade was covered in a slight amount of blood.
... I can do this. Attacks can get through!
"--------"
The monster raised a cry that couldn't be described in sound. On the cry, {Eerie Constitution}  was forcibly dispelled, and {Persistence}  also lost its effect.
Kitsune opened his eyes in shock, but his moment of hesitation was fatal.
"aa... Ha...!?"
By the time he noticed it, he was dancing through the sky.
He couldn't tell what was up or down, and he couldn't determine the actions that had happened in that instant. All he understood was that he was sent flying above the forest, and sprawling in the sky.
And then...
From his mouth, bloot spurted out. He saw the red blood obey gravity, and fall to the ground. And across his chest, raced... pain.
What happened to Kitsune was an uppercut-esque attack performed by the monster of miasma with fearsome speed. The attack had impacted his abdomen, and its massive output was enough to send him reeling into the sky. What's more, the level of damage it caused was enough to breach Kitsune's {Pain Resistance Lv8}  effect that cut off his sense of pain.
(... Ah, it won't move anymore... this body.)
{Persistence}  and {Eerie Constitution}  were lifted, and the damage obstructing his movement returned. As he began to feel his body start to descend, Kitsune obtained enlightment about the limits of his own body.
(I don't want... to let Finia-chan die...)
Kitsune held Finia's body close to his, as he pointed his back to the earth. He removed the mask, and embraced it alongside her. Like this, even if they were to collide with the ground, the mask and the girl would get out of it alive.
"Shiori-chan... I'm sorry."
The moment his body hit the ground, he spoke those lines as his consciousness faded. The last thing Kitsune saw was, watching his descent with delight... those red eyes.
I Kinda Came to Another World, but Where’s the Way Home?
【書籍化】異世界来ちゃったけど帰り道何処？
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-kinda-came-to-another-world-but-wheres-the-way-home/
Action Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Harem Shounen Slice of Life
Apathetic Protagonist Bullying Calm Protagonist Demi-Humans Demon Lord Demons Dense Protagonist Fairies Game Elements Ghosts Heterochromia Knights Level System Male Protagonist Murders Naive Protagonist R-15 Royalty R*pe S*aves Sword And Magic Transported to Another World Weak Protagonist Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2650bx/
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