Exploring the Upper Layer at a leisurely pace again today.
There really haven't been any Monsters around lately.
In a game, there might be delays between respawns, but enemies never run out completely.
In reality, though, they don't exactly multiply if you don't let them breed, and the more you kill, the fewer there are.
Since I've been hunting every Monster I find—for both Experience Points and food—that probably explains it.
Not that they wouldn't be hiding and running from me anyway, so it makes sense that I can't find any.
I'm so close, seriously just a little more Experience Points and I'll be able to evolve.
Just two or three more trash mobs.
That'll do it.
This time I can safely evolve by using My Home near the Middle Layer entrance, and between the food stockpile and being stuffed from the last meal, there shouldn't be any problems.
Even if I run short, there's still the Earth Dragon's carcass—once my MP recovers, I can just teleport over and eat.
The environment for evolution is already in place.
All I need now is Experience Points.
Damn it.
Is there anything worth decent Experience Points lying around anywhere?
I'd totally be kicking back and having a blast right now if I could.
There's nothing, is there.
Sigh.
Guess I have to search the hard way.
And then, just like that, I found something pretty easily.
Experience Points—I mean Monsters.
It's a snake.
In the Upper Layer, that thing's on the stronger side, and if I take it down, I'll level up and be able to evolve.
But there's one problem.
A snake and humans are fighting.
Two humans are standing against the snake.
Another two are already down for the count at a slight distance.
And one more is healing them.
Five in total.
Using Far Sight to assess the situation—it looks like adventurers who got attacked by a snake?
Hmm.
It'd be great if I could use Far Sight and Appraisal together, but at a glance, the snake seems to have the upper hand.
Even two people together can't beat the snake, huh?
Oh, two of them are already down, so it started as a five-on-one.
Man, humans are even weaker than I expected.
Ugh, what do I do?
I could just swoop in and steal the kill on the snake, but then I'd end up involved with those people.
What a hassle.
But if I leave things as they are, they all look like they're going to die.
Isn't that fine, though?
After they all die, I just kill the snake, right?
Then I wouldn't even need to get involved.
...No, even I can't bring myself to do that.
If I did that, I'd wonder what happened to the human being I used to be.
I mean, it's not like I think it's wrong exactly, but it's just such a hassle, and those people are kind of pitiful if I abandon them like that.
Fine, then. I'll save them.
Be grateful to me, the magnificently generous.
Dash.
I'm not going to bother with some dramatic "I'm here to save you!" entrance.
Just kill the snake cleanly and slip away.
Less hassle that way.
So then, snake—it's time for you to exit stage left.
I arrive at the location I'd been watching with Far Sight in an instant.
Activating Spatial Motion, I position myself right above the snake's head.
My scythe comes swinging down.
Slash Enhancement, Status Boost reinforcement, plus the bonus effect of Poison Attack.
My scythe pierces through the snake's skull without the slightest resistance.
That alone drops the snake's HP to zero in an instant.
The snake collapses.
I pull my scythe out of the snake's head and flick off the blood.
I've cut down yet another pointless thing.
《Experience Points have reached a certain threshold. Individual Zoa Ere has risen from LV19 to LV20》 《Various base ability values have increased》 《Skill Proficiency level-up bonus acquired》 《Proficiency has reached a certain threshold. Skill 'Stun Resistance LV3' has become 'Stun Resistance LV4'》 《Skill Points acquired》 《Conditions have been met. Individual Zoa Ere may now evolve》 《Multiple candidates for evolution available. Please choose from the following: Eda Cyne Greater Taratect Orthocadinaut》 Yes!
Finally leveled up.
Now I can finally evolve.
Let me check on the adventurers (tentative), and sure enough, they're standing there frozen in shock.
Well, I guess I can understand how they feel.
Now then, let me carry the snake and teleport out of here.
Wait—hold on. The two unconscious ones deeper in look like they're about to die.
The snake's venom must still be in effect.
The guy who's been healing them is desperately trying to use magic to fix them up, but both the construction speed and potency are low.
At this rate, they'll die before he can heal them.
Hmm.
Well, I've already come this far.
If I'm going to do something, I might as well go all the way.
I move over to where the two are lying.
The guy who was healing them nearly jumps out of his skin, causing his magic to disperse midway—but it doesn't really matter whether his healing magic is there or not.
Healing magic, activate.
Status abnormality recovery and HP recovery magic, two doses each.
Thanks to spamming it so much when I raised my Fire Resistance, my healing magic Skill level has gone up quite a bit.
For this level of poison and injury, recovery is no problem at all.
The man who was watching me cast his healing magic stares wide-eyed.
Ugh, any more involvement and this is going to get troublesome.
From here on out, you'll have to manage on your own.
I head back to the snake and prepare to teleport at last.
And then something catches my eye.
It was fruit.
Something like a dried persimmon.
Whooooaaa!?!
Sweets!?
This is sweets, isn't it!?
These people dropped it during the fight!?
I can take this, right!?
I'm not going to take no for an answer!
I'm taking it!
And so, sweets obtained!
Woooah!
This makes me happier than leveling up in a sense!
Skipping along merrily toward the snake.
Leaving the still-dazed adventurers (tentative) behind, I finally grabbed the snake and teleported out.