It was the day after the triple invasions of the monsters, and just as I entered the Guild... I was assaulted by scout-line adventurers.
"Miss Garami! How do you obtain the Assassin class?" - Hunter adventurer
"Do you need to have skills related to daggers?" - Scout adventurer
"Is stealth related to it? Please tell us!" - Archer adventurer
"One at a-, one at a time! What's going on here?" - Garami
I got them to sit down in a seiza-position while listening to their excuses... and stormed into the guild.
"LILLLLYYYY!!" - Garami
"Huh? GYAAAHH!! Boss-! My brains, my brains are coming out!!" - Lily
I caught the loose-lipped chimera in my patterned Fatal Blow-Iron Claw and squeezed her for her testimony.
"Pe-people was surprised when they had received a title all of a sudden over the night, and it was the one you told me about before, so I thought I could make some easy money informing them abo-ow, ow, ow, OW!!" - Lily
"Are you an idiot? No, you're a goddam real idiot! What good is it for us when Assassins turns into a staple class? Do you really want more people like me roaming around?" - Garami
"?! I didn't think of that!" - Lily
This idiot ram! Argh, even Mira knows better than her. Looking at the empty dishes, I bet that those guys outside bought the information with food... ram? No, that's wrong...
"When did you have horns again?" - Garami
A jet-black goat horn peeked out from her hair. Or, it's perhaps better to call it a devil's horn...
"The dismantler guys from the Guild dismantled the big goats for me yesterday night!" - Lily
Ah, now I see. I gave the responsibility for guarding the reward chest to Marc after all. Better double-check if we got all the materials.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey. Let me see my skills now!" - Lily
"......Let me ask, how many Baphomets did you even eat?" - Garami
"? All of the-ow, ow, ow, ow!!" - Lily
I resumed the Iron Claw to went some anger on this idiot. Don't eat our game without consulting with the rest of the team!
"B-b-but, he said it was a goo-ow-ow-ow!!" - Lily
"No buts! And who's he?" - Garami
"He's the guy... huh? He's gone!" - Lily
Lily pointed towards the other side of the table... which was currently as empty as her head right now.
...Was there someone there when I entered the Guild? I think there was, or maybe there wasn't someone-*creak*-ah! There!
"WHOOA!!" - ???
The threads I had thrown towards the door wrapped themselves around... something there, but I couldn't see what it was. Wait, aren't [Magic Sense] supposed to be the greatest observation skill?
"OUCH! Uncle, I said uncle! Give up, I surrender, just stop that thread! My arm's breaking here!" - ???
Whatever it was that I had captured turned out to be done so in a bad position. A small gust of wind blew and then, like a mirage fading away, a man in their thirties appeared, bounded in my threads, with his right arm in a direction it shouldn't have been in. His clothes were shabby, but the mantle he wore over them was kinda fancy. I like that lustrous green color it has.
If I had to describe him, I would call him a useless old vagabond. The type who would hit on every girl he could lay his eyes on. But that's not important at the moment. The real problem is: how did he trick [Magic Sense]?
"...Let me ask: Are you the Champion of Nirmer?" - Garami
"And you're the poor fellow that's under Alvatria?" - Zerus
"I'll take that as a yes. Then, for what reasons are you filling our loli-chimera with bad ideas?" I asked, having [Bloodlust] at full force.
"Loli-chimera?!" - Lily
"Nothing! Nothing at all! I'm definitely not trying to have her in my debt so she can tell me when some busty babes are in the open-air bath... ah." - Zerus
Honest to a fault, alright. But before anything could happen, the so-called Champion of Wind has slipped through the loosened threads and made his escape out of the door. That [Storm Step] sure is effective.
"...Ah! Aren't you going after him?!" - Lily
"Hmm... no. I'm gonna let him slip away this time. Such a guy's too difficult to hate anyway." - Garami
I just hope he doesn't reach the point of being a [Sage of Age] when I meet him.
"Also, even if I don't hunt him down, he's got enough problems as it is," I said while pointing out the door the Champion of peeking had run out of.
As I and Lily peeked outside from the door, we saw Zerus running away with a horde of female adventurers, probably all customers of the local hot spring bath. I was denied access by the way...*sniff*
*SPLASH!!!*
And with that, the pervert was washed to the next... no, wait a sec! What happened? No, I get that a large amount of water with enough force almost hit Zerus, but where did that come from?
I went out of the Guild to see the direction from where the water originated from... ain't that our inn? Just when I recognized the place, a figure jumped out of the windows.
"I don't know what's going on, but I can smell a bounty from a mile away from you. Give up all hope of escape, and be obediently captured by this Ocean Sword Sprite, Mira Aureola!" - Mira
The one who had jumped down was Mira. And what the heck's an 'Ocean Sword Sprite'? That wasn't in the evolution options yesterday.
"O-, O-, O-O-O-O-O-O-?!" - Lily
Lily has been making a strange face ever since Mira introduced herself. Or, everyone is doing it. Even the female mob that was after the bounty-hunted Champion has stopped up. Ain't this a chance for them, now that Zerus is being stared down by Mira?
"Hey, what's the commotion?" - Marc
"Mira just woke up and have already captured a semi-criminal. And you? Out and shopping already?" - Garami
"Yes. The innkeeper allowed me to borrow the kitchen, so I wanted to try to make one of the local dishes. But is Mira alright? She passed out drunk yesterday." - Marc
"Ah, she's feisty as today's catch. Also, she didn't pass out. She started to evolve." - Garami
"Yup. But what the heck's an 'Ocean Sword Sprite' supposed to-." - Garami
"EHH?! You don't know? Are you stupid?" - Lily
... Alright, only rice with seasonings for this girl for a week.
"The 'Ocean Swordsman' is one of the most famous heroes in the world! If not for him and his allies, humanity wouldn't have been able to travel out of the Enitum continent!" - Lily
...So, her evolution is based on someone famous?
---
"That sneaky old fart! Champion or not, next time I see him, I'm gonna thrown him to the cops!!" - Mira
So fumed Mira at the breakfast table at the inn, after Zerus lived up to his [Great Escape] skill and escaped the city.
I took another look at her as she sat on the other side of the table. Her sky-blue hair now had silver stripes mixed into it. The same color was used for the symbols in her eyes, which had kept its shape from before.
The only other changes that I can see is that she has a tattoo-like mark on her chest, above her boobs, and on her arms. The chest-tattoo looks like a mix of the old teardrop-symbol along with waves that went across her chest. The arms-tattoos looks like swords, but are of the same dark-blue color as the one on her chest.
And for some reason, she looks more of a beauty than before. Is she sure she didn't pick that sea-succubus evolution?
"Yeah, yeah. Before that, start explaining. Where did 'Ocean Sword Sprite' came from?" - Garami
"Not sure. The notice about me getting another evolution option suddenly appeared." - Mira
"...And you accepted it without counseling me?" - Garami
"Eh? Didn't you leave behind your book so I could choose myself?" said Mira, while handing me the Kigal-Note from her pocket. Wait, when did she get that? I have... haven't it on me. What?
"Then, Garami's book described what kind of creature that new 'evolution option'' was, and you decided to pick it at once?" - Marc
"In short, yes. It even had the evolution requirements written on it, so I didn't want to bother Garami. She looked tired for some reason." - Mira
"More like I'm tired 'cause of your actions. What were those requirements anyway?" - Garami
The Kigal-Note shouldn't have been able to give out that kinda information.
"Well, first was being a Water Sprite at LV40, then having a Main Class that required Swordsman LV50 to obtain, three or more Water-attribute skills except [Water Element], and then I needed [Water Element] at LV30 or more." - Mira
That's... harsh. The Sword Sprite needed only the skills from clearing Swordsman as the main, but now you needed to evolve the class as well. That's 10 freaking Skill Points. We're swimming in those thanks to the Haunt grinding, but usually, that's an amount only exceptional adventurers can earn. Hey! Who're you calling unexceptional?!
"It sounds like it was order-made for you." - Marc
"Quite the opposite. It's rather me who had specialized myself for this species, even when I didn't know it existed. Remember the reason why I chose Swordsman as my main class?" - Mira
"'Cause of that Paladin-dude that saved you. What about it?" - Garami
"The 'Ocean Swordsman' from the stories was a Swordsman before he became a Paladin!" - Mira
"...Again, who's this 'Ocean Swordsman' guy?" - Garami
"They don't know," informed Lily to Mira, pointing on me and Marc. With a look that said she understood the situation, Mira started to tell the story about four humanoids, a human, a demon, a beastkin, and a sprite, which adventured together, saving many people's lives in the process, and even opened up the sea borders of the Enitum continent, which only had one piece of land where one could build a dock.
Long story short, the sprite on the team was a Water Sprite that was also a swordsman, and a crazy one too boot. Crazy as in being able to cut a dragon into sashimi without it being able to defend itself.
"Then, the new option was related to that guy?" - Marc
"Sure is! The book said the evolution was a new path added into the World System's evolution chart as a reward for the four heroes' bravery! This is way better than becoming a Paladin!" - Mira
"You could just have picked the Nereid option-" - Garami
Before I could finish my speech about that being helpful for her other classes as well, Mira had grabbed me by my collar and forced my face close to hers. Her eyes are colder than the tundra. Scary!
"The Ocean Swordsman is from the bedtime stories my mother used to tell me before she died. Being a real sprite is an honor for me, and it's my only connection left with my parents. Don't even try to say something like becoming one of those fake sprites to me ever again. Got it?" - Mira
"...Got it." - Garami
The sheer pressure Mira radiated was enough to make me swallow any witty comments I had in store. Lily and Marc had taken cover behind another table they had flipped over. Can't blame 'em. Mira's serious mode's damn scary!
"However, even this book ain't fail-proof. If something like that happens again, ask me for help. Having more sources of info will never hurt. Especially when something that strange happens." - Garami
"Fiiiine. I'm also reflecting. Now, where are the sweets? We're not gonna celebrate that I evolved? And I want the other-world ones." - Mira
Her reflecting's too fast!
"! I want them too!" - Lily
"Fine There's no one else here anyway. Just be quick about it." I told Marc while giving him the money for the purchase. After the goods were received, I took one-quarter of it all with me.
"Just remembered I'm needed somewhere else. You guys can chill out here, but remember the gate's opening at two o'clock, so pack your stuff before that. And get something for Levi later." - Garami
"Got it! So sweet..." - Mira
Many thanks to the inventor of sweets. If not for them, it would have taken a lifetime to please her. I took a peek at Mira's stats before leaving.
Attack Skills: [Sword King Arts LV1] [Magic Sword Arts LV14] [Curse Attack LV1] [Mana Burst (Water) LV14] [Storm Surge LV1] NEW [Oceanic Force LV1] NEW
After leaving the inn, I traveled to a less populated area of the city. After nobody was around, I placed the sweets I had taken with me on top of a rock, prayed, and when I opened my eyes a moment later, the sweets had disappeared.
[Yay! Free sweets!] - Alvatria
"Stop the act. What did you do?" - Garami
The only one that could make the Kigal-Note appear in front of Mira like that is this sweets-depending goddess. And when one thinks about who could add another evolution option all of a sudden, then one can only point to the gods.
[I didn't do anything. The four hero-evolutions were added way before this, but the requirements for the evolution was too strict, so we eased them in the update last night. It was Sprite-chan's hard work that allowed her to evolve.] - Alvatria
"...And the previous requirements for Mira's current evolution were?" - Garami
[Having both [Sword King Arts] and [Sword Mastery] at max level, plus all the stuff from before. Way too demanding for a rank D+ evolution. The same was true for the other evolutions, but that's a thing of the past. Ain't you happy with that, miss designer of the heroic evolutions.] - Alvatria
"Knew I had heard about it from somewhere. Then, there's demon mages, human priests, and beastkin pugilists evolving all over the place, or was it just here?" - Garami
[The demon evolutions are goings great. Same with the human evolutions, as we made the level limit there be LV40 rather than the level cap. For the beastkin, they're probably too hardheaded to notice that one of the evolutions they obtain is related to a hero of their species.] - Alvatria
Tough luck for that hero. It was probably limited to feline beastkin anyway.
[And I didn't do this for no reason you know?] - Alvatria
"Then what? Were you going to demand sweets even if I didn't give you them?" - Garami
[What are you taking me for? I would have demanded them even if you guys were broke. It was little Sprite-chan who asked me for help, with 'help me to impress my leader'. She's quite loyal to you, even if she's trying to keep it a secret.] - Alvatria
"...Seriously, that girl... When did this transaction happen?" - Garami
[On the day you recruited that Migrant. It was quite the ordeal in convincing Order to delay the update. I even had to share the first batch of sweets I received!] - Alvatria
"? Then why did you do it?" - Garami
['Cause that freaking Holstein Lusalki's Champion is a freaking Diva Nereid!] - Alvatria
...What's the odds.
[Any kin of you are the same as my subordinate! And no way in my name is any of my subordinates gonna lose to some wannabee from that Holstein's camp!] - Alvatria
"Don't go and make my second-in-command the nemesis for a Champion." - Garami
[Eh, she's already after the wind-guy. Why not one more?] - Alvatria
"What's with that logic? If that was all, then I'm gonna go-." - Garami
[And not hearing about my plan to grant your dragon the evolution it wishes for?] - Alvatria
"By all means continue, Alvatria-sama." - Garami
Having Levi evolve is something that I can swallow my pride.
[... I could get used to this treatment. *cough* Go to the Dungeon filled with gemstones inside the city of Baoshi. In there, exists a sub-boss that your dragon has to defeat on its own to gain the future it wishes for.] - Alvatria
"A Dungeon? Inside the city?" - Garami
[On the same plateau as the city. It's treated as a mine that works as an endless source of gemstones. You can use them as an excuse for the rest of the team. There are also many Gem-attribute monsters there, so your chimera will probably like it as well.] - Alvatria
Hmm, that will be the first Dungeon I challenge as an Adventurer for real. The Water-Knot isn't something I want to classify as a Dungeon, and the Husk Forest was more like a hideout than a Dungeon as well.
[Well, good luck then. And I want a new offering after the Alchemist exam. Remember, if you fail, then... kukukukuku.] - Alvatria
Huh!? Wait a-! ... She cut the line.
The exam in three days is gonna be eventful if anything. *shudder*
Greydra
Kigal-Note/Humanoid/Sprites: Ocean Sword Sprite
The Ocean Sword Sprite is a special evolution for the Water Sprite race, recorded in the World System as to honor the great hero Acreius Lonkrei who defeated the great Hydra and granted the people of the Enitum continent access to the seas.
As one can expect, it is a Water-attribute creature, with the additional Metal-attribute to boot. It is ranked D+, making it equal to many of the monster-variant Sprites.
The Ocean Sword Sprite has some differences from the regular Blue Water- and Blue Sea Sprites. First is that the markings in the eyes have gone from a type of blue to silver. The Sprite's hair has also gained stripes of this same color. Like any rank D and above Sprite races, the Ocean Sword Sprite has markings on their body that represents their attribute, in this case, markings that represent water and the sea, as well as makings similar to swords.
The requirements for a Water Sprite to evolve into an Ocean Sword Sprite is to reach their highest possible level, meaning LV40, obtaining a Main Class that requires Swordsman LV50 as payment for the new class, having three or more Water-attribute skills except for the [Water Element] skill, and one must said [Water Element] skill at LV30.
Before the World System update at the 25th day of Agnir, year 327 of the New Terrian Calendar, instead of the requirement of having a Main Class that is an upgrade of the Swordsman class, one needed to have the skills [Sword Mastery] and [Sword King Arts], both at LV50.
The Ocean Sword Sprite is one of the most battle-orientated, humanoid sprite-races there is. Not counting their mastery of the Swordsman class, they have various strengths, as with the [Storm Surge] and [Oceanic Force] skills. They also have the race-unique [Soul of the Sea], an enhancement-type skill that drastically increases the output of Water-attribute moves, as well as increasing all the stats of the user when they are in the ocean.
Like the legends of when Acreius Lonkrei defeated the Hydra, the Ocean Sword Sprite has a natural advantage towards snake-type monsters. This also extends to snake-type dragons and half-dragons. They have a high natural resistance to any type of poisons.
As with every sprite-type humanoids above rank E, the Ocean Sword Sprite gains extra EXP or proficiency with skills. In this case, they obtain a 12% boost in Water-attribute skills, a 15% boost in sword-related skills, 10% more EXP when using swords or Water-attribute skills to defeat an enemy, and they all gain an extra 5% if the opponent is a snake-type creature.
Garami's comment: Oh, ho? So, Hydras and dragons aren't welcome, hmm? *menacing smile*