Chapter 12: Ch 11 – Grinding

Once everyone gets to level 1, there will be two teams: A and B. Harada Masae and Ogino Hona will be on Team A with me, Arisu, Tamaki, and Akane. Party B will have a little of everything while most of the combat force will follow me. It is likely that the teams will shift and resort again in the future, but for now that is what was agreed upon.

Apparently, all the girls had already discussed what roles they wanted to fulfill and the team they will be on. It was also disclosed the perk of being on my team, but Shiki-san wanted to test against the wording of the title itself and not just how I described it, because Arisu's title called her a Headgirl and she suspected that there was a reason for it and that it wasn't an arbitrary set of random words. If anyone can join my harem without being on my team, then it would allow more flexibility. Also, if someone didn't "join" my harem joined my team, if they kept the upgrade permanently, they wanted to take advantage of that mechanic if possible. I, the subject of the test, am not really pleased to be treated like a lab rat, but I am curious how she is going to do these tests.

"While I don't mind the theory-crafting, I hope you keep any tests to yourself, so you can be the only person who loses out on any theoretical point loss from leveling up without the bonus."

Shiki-san agreed, "Okay, I will join your harem for level 1, then start my own party to experience leveling up to level 2."

She turned to two others next to us, "Masae-chan and Hona-chan, would you mind testing something for me?"

The girl, Hona-san nodded first, "Sure."

Shiki asked, "I know it was agreed that the two of you would join his team, but instead of wanting to join his harem, can you imagine just joining his team? I want to know if being in the party without being in his harem effects the points."

Hona-san looked like she wanted to disagree while Masae-san looked like she would comply.

Hona-san spoke first, "I don't want to lose out on those points, so I'll decline."

Masae-san didn't look like she disagreed, but still answered positively, "I'm willing to do the test, it's only a single point of loss. Plus, I am already thankful to get assisted in leveling up while in a somewhat safe environment. I can imagine that others that level up independent from our group will be plenty jealous and envious."

Shiki happily nodded, "Great! So I'll level up first, then leave the party after leveling up." She then turned back to me, "If possible, I'd like to have Wazuka-chan leveled to level 1 after me, then everyone on your team, then the other 3 that will be on on my team after. I'm requesting for Wazuka-chan as priority, because she wants to be a weapon expert, and as the only one on our team, she will be pivotal in the defense of the other three girls who want to use magic."

I agreed, "That's logical."

I turned to Akane-san, "So did you decide on your role too?"

She nodded, "Yeah, me and Tamaki-san will both be sword experts while Masae-san and Hona-san will be spear experts like Arisu-san. I will get sword expert 1, physical 1, and movement 1. Tamaki-san will get sword 1, physical 1, and wind 1. Masae-san will get spear 1, physical 1, and fire 1; and Hona-san will get spear 1, physical 1, and earth 1. Arisu-san explained she has spear 3, physical 1, movement 1, and healing 2; and you have summoning 5, support 4, and healing 2. She said you aren't going to level up your healing anytime soon and that is what she is going to prioritize and specialize in after her spear arts. I am going to specialize in movement speed, a super speedster, while Tamaki-san want's to swing overly large swords like an anime character. Haha, uhm…" She coughed and continued, "Masae-san said that she want's to be able to snap her fingers and watch a monster catch on fire, her and Tamaki-san both like watching anime. Hona-san said that she will get earth magic, because it will likely cover her defensively and offensively."

I thanked her, "Yeah, thanks for explaining everything you discussed. Yeah, essentially I had initially thought that with my excess mana, leveling up my healing would bring utility for the team, but then I realized that more ranks in my summoning and support magic would better utilize my mana and allow more things that would help in general. Every rank of summoning literally increases my summons without extra mana cost, and every increase in rank for support magic means I use less mana over time for the same spells I was already using and they give more utility and power for everyone in general too. We only need a few healing specialists, and the 2 levels I do have in healing is more for emergency at this point. If I support everyone with firepower then the occasional requirement for healing should decrease, and Arisu who doesn't need mana for her spear will have all the mana needed to use healing when we do need it. It also frees the requirement of me leaving a reserve of mana just for healing, because you should always plan for the worse. After I max Summoning and Support magic, I might chase healing or I might choose an elemental magic, but the elementals I can summon cover the basics at this point. I can also assume that I will have the option or ability to summon higher tiered elementals in the future which would cover mid-level elemental magic in firepower. Worse case scenario, I copy you and become a speedster too. Haha. I would probably get detection at that point though."

It was at this point I notice everyone was in the lounge, looking ready to go out. I checked my watch, it was 7:48, still fairly early in the morning.

I took a look at everyone, "Well let's get out there and level up Shiki-san first."

She pouted, "Mo~ah, you can call me by my first name you know."

I rolled my eyes, "I still think it's easier to just call you Shiki-san, why so adamant about me calling you Yukariko-san?, it's such a mouthful you know."

She was the one to roll her eyes back, "That's why you should give me a nickname, like, ko-chan."

I just ignored the fake bitch and started to walk through the entrance. I have already tracked the nearby orcs in the area while waiting for everyone.

"In that direction, about 5 minutes, there are 4 orcs. We will level up Yukariko-san, Wazuka-san, Tamaki-san, and Akane-san. I have the direction of the next three orcs for, uhm, Party B, then another three orcs for the last two girls, Masae-san and Hona-san."

While on the move, I casted support magic Keen Weapon on 3 spears. I also have casted the Physical up spell on everyone, using up 11 mana. I had 1/12 (50) Mana. In 8 minutes I could cast Mighty arm on everyone, but given that it's 5 minutes until the orcs, we still have time for the four girls who will be landing killing blows to receive the buff.

I had 4 golems and a wolf hold back 3 orcs, and 2 golems, me and Arisu helped Shiki Yukariko get the kill on an orc. I was surprised she managed to kill the orc with the bow, even if it was such a close distance with the target being held down in a stationary spot. I guess I was looking down on the bow and arrow a little, huh.

As expected, me, Arisu, and Shiki-san are in the white room. We kept it very brief, explained the principals. Her title was Harem Candidate, but otherwise had the same expected buff as Arisu's title. We decided to hold off spending the points for a moment. Wazuka-san was added to the white room this time, Shiki-san still had the extra skill points, and we decided to continue to hold off on spending the points until everyone was ready to spend them. Shiki-san wanted to test something and asked to be removed from the party for a round. Tamaki-san was added next while Shiki-san wasn't present in the room this time, Tamaki-san was fairly difficult to hold from wanting to spend all her points. I also discovered that the laptops can't be used by others unless the other person agrees (not limited to verbal permission, if they agree and nod that works too). Finally, we were in the white room with Shiki-san again. I explained the extra tidbit we discovered with permission and control of the laptops. Wazuka-san decided to learn magic later, which does actually make sense considering her chosen attack method. I did think it was interesting that everyone had the title Harem Candidate, still, the same expected effects.

Before we were going to leave and finish in the room, I walked to Arisu. She has been giving me the stink eye since this morning, and I am curious to know why.

"So, I've wanted to talk since this morning, but we have been busy. Well, time is frozen in the white room... So…"

I looked at her with concern, "What's wrong?"

Arisu just gives me the same stink eye, "You slept with someone last night."

I nodded, "Yeah, and you slept with Tamaki-san last night too?"

She switched to a glare, "We are friends, though!"

"And I can't be a friend with Akane-san?"

"Me and Tamaki are more than friends, were best friends!"

"Okay," I turned to Akane, "We can be more than friends, right?"

She just blushed and nodded, "Uhm, okay."

I gave Arisu a V-sign and she looked like she was going to get angry, so I quickly pecked her cheek with a silly grin. What I didn't expect was the slap from Arisu.

"Jerk! Don't touch me!"

That was almost unbelievably painful, "Whatever."

"Don't whatever me!"

I rubbed my jaw before using the spell remove pain, "Jeez lady, what the fuck is wrong with you? I just wanted to cheer you up."

"Well, you failed and suck."

"I guess I failed, don't bother me then."

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I looked to the others while it looked like they wanted to look away at something else, "Well, anything else or can we leave?"

Akane grabbed my hand, I almost reflexively swatted her hand away, but I calmed down in the last moment and just gave a light squeeze instead. I just sighed.

Results:

Kazuhisa level 5: Summoning magic Rank 5, Support magic Rank 4, Healing magic Rank 2, Remaining SP: 2

Arisu level 4: Spear Rank 3, Physical Rank 1, Movement Rank 1, Healing magic Rank 2, Remaining SP: 1

Tamaki level 1: Sword Rank 1, Physical Rank 1, Wind magic Rank 1, Remaining SP: 0

Akane level 1: Sword Rank 1, Physical Rank 1, Movement Rank 1, Remaining SP: 0

Yukariko level 1: Shooting Rank 1, Physical Rank 1, Detection Rank 1, Remaining SP: 0

Wazuka level 1: Spear Rank 1, Physical Rank 1, Movement Rank 1, Remaining SP: 0

I got back to reality, and I felt like I just wanted this day to end already, but I know that the day literally just started. I wasn't going to waste and burn this opportunity. I had to become even stronger. If I leveled up my summons to a high enough level, I could have wolves muster and gather enemies to grind for me, or I could have a mount to travel more quickly. Actually both.

We traveled to a group of 3 orcs, I decided that Masae and Hona would level last, as they will join my group anyways. It would save time.

After leveling up the three new additions in the white room.

Results:

Taniko level 1: Water magic Rank 2, Remaining SP: 0

Chihomi level 1: Earth magic Rank 2, Remaining SP: 0

Kata level 1: Wind magic Rank 2, Remaining SP: 0

After leaving the white room for the seventh time today, I had an idea.

"Let me be in a group with Just Taniko-san, Chihomi-san, and Kata-san, because there are 8 orcs in that direction. We can get all three of them to level up to 2, giving them a push to rank 2 in healing, summoning, and support magic respectively. Then we can split up, your group would have enough insurance with that setup. A raven to keep an eye on your surrounding, a healer for emergency, and a support for Wazuka-san to have a great performance. If you want, there would likely be another group of 4 orcs in another direction that we could also add you two to level up too. Then you'll be left to your own devices, what do you think?"

The girls were excited from the idea and Shiki-san ultimately accepted, "Alright, that's very nice of you."

I nodded. We went to face off the 8 orcs, this time, because everyone was already level 1, we shared XP. I also underestimated the destructive power of rank 2 elemental magic. As long as an orc is held down or stationary, a rank 2 spell will not miss and will be one-hit one-kill for these regular orcs. The Earth magic rank 2 spell while not as destructive as other rank 2 spells as it's not an instant one-hit one-kill, but it has a heavy bleed out, and that damage over time if not healed will also kill an orc, but they need to be continuously held down during the bleed out. The advantage of the stone spikes is that it's possible to be used on more than 1 opponent at the same time. Sonic edge rank 2 spell from wind magic can cause lots of damage, but if the opponent has armor is ineffective. While water magic's rank 2 spell ice sword has the same issue as wind magic, there is another rank 2 spell acid burst that's similar to earth magic's rank 2 spell stone spikes that it causes damage over time, but the acid is a non-solid liquid while the earth spike could still be blocked or deflected. I continued to pickup the red gems.

I got a direction with 6 more orcs, how convenient. We killed the first 4 as quickly as possible, and everyone landed in the white room.

Results:

Yukariko level 1 to 2: Shooting Rank 2, Physical Rank 1, Detection Rank 1, Remaining SP: 0 to 3 to 1

Wazuka level 1 to 2: Spear Rank 2, Physical Rank 1, Movement Rank 1, Fire magic Rank 1, Remaining SP: 0

Taniko level 1 to 2: Water magic Rank 2, Healing magic Rank 2, Remaining SP: 0

Chihomi level 1 to 2: Earth magic Rank 2, Summoning magic Rank 2, Remaining SP: 0

Kata level 1 to 2: Wind magic Rank 2, Support magic Rank 2, Remaining SP: 0

We parted ways from the second team. It was time to power level Masae-san and Hona-san with the 2 remaining orcs.

Results:

Masae level 1: Spear Rank 1, Physical Rank 1, Fire magic Rank 1, Remaining SP: 0

Hona level 1: Spear Rank 1, Physical Rank 1, Earth magic Rank 1, Remaining SP: 0

I didn't really pay attention, but I hadn't re-added Arisu, Tamaki, and Akane back to the party. On our way to the next group of orcs, Arisu killed an orc.

Results:

Arisu level 4 to 5: Spear Rank 3, Physical Rank 1, Movement Rank 1, Healing magic Rank 2, Remaining SP: 1 to 3 (no bonus)

I didn't even know that Arisu had just came back from the white room, but after she killed that orc she went up to me and started to punch me.

"Wah, what?!"

"You fucker! You didn't give me the bonus!"

"Bitch! You keep hitting me!"

I was hit a few more times in the face.

"I didn't do shit! I've had enough, fuck you!"

She finished the round of beating with a kick to my stomach. She then turned to pick up her spear. I had commanded my wolf to me, so I could run away. I latched onto his back while I casted Haste, Physical up, and Mighty arm spells on the wolf.

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