01x04 - Headed to Town

[bunniefuu]

We're deep in the woods.

The delinquents are after the girls.

Keeping the group safe from them is top priority.

And to do that...

...we need to get out of the woods!

Headed to Town

ORC

Everyone stand back.

B-be careful!

Watch and learn a thing or two about battling!

I don't want to hear any complaints!

Heh, talk about sluggish.

PHYSICAL

ATTACKS

Orcs are strong against physical attacks,

MAGIC

ATTACKS

but the Nerds said they can be beat with enough magic.

Do I have any good magic?

MAGIC

TEMPERATURE

WEIGHT

PACKING

GRAND MAGIC

WOOD MAGIC

LIGHTNING MAGIC

MOVEMENT

"Grand Magic" is fire, earth, water, and wind, I think?

All four under one skill, huh?

WIND

WATER

EARTH

Everything but fire I got from my Packing skill.

Just by poking in the dirt and cleaning up.

Guess even the worst skills can come in handy.

Yikes!

Bwah! Uh-oh!

That was close!

Settle down, now!

Wait, it's dead?

I thought physical attacks didn't work?

Staaaaaare...

Okay, I get it!

I'll use magic like the Nerds said next time!

I derived my fire magic from my Temperature skill.

Hup!

Wait, it died?

I thought it was supposed to take lots of magic?

Sheesh!

Again!

Nothing!

Not one bit!

We can't learn a thing from this! You're too strong!

So good!

Really hits the spot!

I feel better already.

Let's make some traps for our foes
with some earth magic...

There! That should do it.

My tent wards off baddies and grants Perception, too.

Magic Tent

Grants Perception skill

This should be enough to look after the girls.

Now for tomorrow's route...

CURRENT LOCATION

I think I derived this map skill from my Appraisal skill.

EQUIPMENT

VILLAGER A SET

CONTACT LENSES

Who woulda thought?
These contacts are almost TOO good.

I lucked out with them.

RIVER

CURRENT LOCATION

The river really starts to snake up ahead.

What's the shortest route we can take...?

RIVER

PERCEPTION

Is it monsters?

sh**t, the delinquents?

Heya, Loner!

Oh! It's just you dumb jocks.

Who you callin' dumb?!

Harsh, dude.

You ever gonna let up?

Still the same, even in this place.

You're dumb if you call someone dumb!

Coulda just not said it!

Is that Haruka and...?

So, what's all this? Why are you out here?

Well, thing is...

Oh! If you're after the girls, then that means...

you're dumb AND creepy, now?

Dumb stalkers?

Yeah right!

We weren't chasing the girls!

We came here to find you!

So this is turning into BL?

No, dude!

Then why are you hiding from the girls?

W-well...

'Cause we can't trust anyone.

You know, right?

That there was a skill scarier than the dudes
with their Puppeteer and Charm skills?

There's only one skill I can think of
that's more dangerous than those.

HIJACK

WELL-BEING

CALISTHENICS

SENSITIVITY

Hijack, huh?

Yeah, the delinquents made a big deal
about Puppeteer and Charm,

but never even mentioned Hijack.

That's gotta mean they don't got it!

So someone else must have it!

You really are dumb, huh?

What if I was the one who had it?

If it was you, I'd be fine with it.

Would put my mind at ease, honestly.

Tsk! What's that supposed to mean?

Do you really have it, though?

Nope. I did learn Subjugate, though.

Uhh, wait. That sounds even worse!

Still, if you're the one who has it, no big deal.
Bet you'll be all alone anyway.

Screw off. What's wrong with being a loner?

Anyway, we just wanted to fill you in on that Hijack skill.

Watch out, yeah?

Wait, that's all?

Yep. We're gonna keep an eye
on those dudes out in the woods.

Tell the Class Rep and everyone we're sorry...

Later, then!

If you need anything, try asking the goblins!

Dumb as they are, you're sure to get along!

Screw you!

Always gotta go too far!

You're the dumb one!

DAY 17

Okay! We're headed through the woods again,
so everyone gear up.

Okay!

Nothing beats a tough chick!

Is there anything cooler than a lady knight?

Time to fight like a beautiful elf!

They sure seem pepped this morning.

Did someone mix some weird mushrooms in breakfast?

Haruka, can we talk?

About Kakizaki and the boys from last night...

Kakizaki? You mean the dumb jock?

Don't be mean.

Oh, yeah! Forgot to tell you.

He asked me to apologize to you for them.

Th-that's fine, but...

I... Well...

You see...

I'm sorry!

Huh? For what?

I swear I was going to tell you.

But the truth is I...

You have Hijack.

What?! Wh-when did you find out? H-how did you know?

It was a secret between me and Oda's group...

Only took one look to figure out.

Bet the jocks are too dumb to realize, though.

But, if you knew, why did you help me?

Aren't you afraid?

Afraid? Why?

B-because...

Hijack is a terrifying skill
that steals someone's skills by taking their life.

Anyone would be afraid of that.

Why should I be?

The nerds weren't either, right?

N-no, but...

They sealed off the delinquents Puppeteer
and Charm skills, but they didn't seal yours.

That says it all.

I'm not sure I follow...

It's obvious.

They were relieved you were the one who has it.

Same goes for me. If you've got it,
there's nothing to worry about.

You've been doing nothing but cry lately, huh?

Th-that's... your fault, you know.

I've been framed! I didn't do anything!

No, you've done so much.

Thank you, Haruka.

We're making good progress, so let's rest up!

Finally!

Yay!

I'm beat...

CHEAP PRICES

SPECIAL SALE

Listen up! I've got some great juice!

Extra cheap, too!

Berry Juice

You're charging us?!

Sorry sir, I'm broke, but can I pay in other ways?

Spice up the deal for me!

Haruka?!

A-all sold out!

SOLD OUT

That's not the issue!

SOLD OUT

Sheesh. Quit charging your friends!

I wanted juice...

I wanted some juice...

I'm exhausted...

We've been going forever...

We're ahead of schedule,
but we'll be stuck camping again tonight.

Oh! There's a good looking riverside.

Good chance to try out something.

Class Rep. You all can handle yourselves, so...

Maybe I'll go ahead and scout or something?

I'd feel better if that wasn't a question.

Want me to go with you?

Nope! You handle things here!

What?!

Sheesh!

First I use Magic Wrap!

Then I use Weight magic to make myself lighter!

Even without OP skills...

...once I pair things together...

...I can...

...go faster!

And...

...be lighter!

I can fly!

WHOA!

Huh? Am I falling?

I-if I hadn't used Magic Wrap to boost
my physical fitness that mighta k*lled me...

Found our next route, though...

How did you get that beat up from scouting?!

I got launched up really high...

...and sorta fell, I guess?

What?!

That Company Communicator skill of yours
doesn't work at all, does it?

Turns out the sky is scarier than any monster.

See? You're still communicating nothing!

I mean, when you're normally a loner
with no company you don't communicate at all...

Oh, I know!

I got a bunch of berries. We could make some juice.

Hmph!

Yay! Juice!

Hey! This is for her!

Juice! Juice!

Stop!

Thanks to my scouting we made great progress today.

You know, other than...

We found our lost girl!

You're going to be okay.

This bit.

Take that!

Why you...!

And this.

Stop! Don't push! Wait!

And this bit, too.

But after all that...

We made it out of the woods!

We did it!

We really did!

Yay!

We did it, Haruka!

Yep.

Girls, I bet the town isn't far now!

Better stay more alert now that we're out in the open.

Hmm. Those hills block my view.

CLAIRVOYANCE

PERCEPTION

ENEMY DETECTION

MAGIC CONTROL

VANISH

STEALTH

PARALLEL THINKING

SERIAL THINKING

DASH

AIRWALK

"Airwalk?" Did I derive that from my Walking skill?

Whoa! No way!

Hmm? Haruka?

Hey! Haruka! Why are you walking on air?!

Are you listening?

Hey! Don't ignore me!

Oh! That's no celestial beauty, that's the Class Rep!

Gosh, you've sure gone up high.

Yeah. Gimme a minute
to make sure things are safe out there.

Yep. Things look peaceful, so there's nothing to-

Whoa! Our first isekai natives!

Our first real villagers!

Some old guys and folks in armor.
The isekai folk are being attacked.

What?!

Wh-what do we do? We have to help, right?

Getting attacked by monsters
doesn't mean they're good people.

These girls are too trusting.

W-we have to hurry. Our fastest will go.

Yeah!

You won't make it even if you run.

And what will you do if they're actually bandits?

I wouldn't take the risk.

Haruka! I-if they're bad guys and hurt us...

...then I'll fight!

But if they aren't...

...then I want to help them!

I figured she'd say that.

I'll go, then.

B-but...

That's the whole reason I'm here.

Haruka...

Like I said, I can't run there in time.

The Magic Wrap and Weight magic
I used yesterday won't even cut it.

Time to try something new.

I'll use Magic Wrap to boost my physical fitness,

and Weight magic to make me lighter.

Then I'll use my Grand Magic...

...to make some wind...

...and fly on it!

Then I'll use Airwalk!

No way! This could take me anywhere!

Hmm? Huh? Bwah?!

Class Rep?! What the heck?!

I got caught in your wind magic!

Wait! Haruka! Look ahead! Ahead!

STOP!

Uhh, humans aren't built to stop that fast...

WHAAAAAAT?!

Wha...?!

What just happened?

Uhh... i-is everyone all right?

Think we oughta be asking that.

You really saved us. I'm Ofter and this is my party.

I'm his pal Gatek.

Cool, guess I can understand people here.

You saved our whole party. Thanks again.

Why were you getting attacked?

Merchants have been getting assaulted,

so the Adventurer's Guild put out
an extermination request.

We thought it'd be some easy cash.

But we'd be dead now without you.

There was a huge wolf, huh?

A Big Green Wolf, yeah.

Wasn't expecting that one...

Gather up everything that's left!
We'll carry it all between us!

That hit our party hard.

How am I gonna pay my bar tab now?

Not much to do until the girls get here.

And the Class Rep's still out.

Hey...

Hmm? Some grilled shrooms? For us?

They're probably pretty worn out, even if they aren't hurt.

This is GOOD! Are these Stamina Caps?!

You're sharing something this rare?

Wait, these are rare?!

Wow, I feel totally recovered!
Stamina Caps are incredible!

You're right! Nothing even hurts anymore!

Glad they like them.

They're so good!

I feel great!

Still, these old guys are partied with babes like this?

That kinda pisses me off.

Umm, Haruka? Why are you looking for a fight?!

A little later, the girls caught up.

Hey!

Class Rep!

Sorry for the wait!

We're here!

An elf!

Can I shake your hand?

And after the girls flocked to the ladies
like Taka****ka fans...

We got guided to town.

Okay, folks, we can see it from here!

That's Omui.

Yay!

Let's race there!

Quit running! What are you, kids at an amusement park?!

Okay!

Everyone, here we go!

Ready...?

We're here!

All right, that was some good leveling.

Let's track down and hit those girls!

Hell yeah!

Finally!

We waited so long I'm practically an old fart now!

Like the geezer in the white room!

I-If you're going to attack the girls, you should
get your Charm and Puppeteer skills unsealed.

Hey, nice idea!

With both of those...

Only someone with a Seal skill can unseal 'em, right?

Guess that means we find the nerds first.

And when we do, they are SO in for it!

Yep!

We'll show 'em!

'Specially that four-eyes!

This is bad. They're making their move!