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Translator: TipToe
Translator (October 2, 2024 Version): Barnnn
After two days of rest, Tsutomu set off for the Guild, a subtle unease tugging at him. He brushed aside the boisterous cry of “Lucky Boy!” hurled from the dining hall, making his way to his usual spot before the giant monitor.
Five minutes before the agreed-upon meeting time, Tsutomu spotted Garm seated on the usual bench, already armored and waiting. A rare smile broke across Garm’s face as he greeted him.
“Good morning, Garm. How are you feeling today?”
“Good morning. I’m doing well.”
“That’s good to hear. So, um… can I rely on you to handle Tanking again?”
In their last foray into the Swamp, Garm had borne the brunt of the attacks, and Tsutomu feared he might be growing weary of the role. Tsutomu, meanwhile, couldn’t imagine himself standing firm in the path of those relentless monsters — not anytime soon, at least. He felt a pang of guilt, but the unspoken truth remained: he needed Garm to keep Tanking.
“Hmm? Same as before, you mean? I don’t mind at all.”
“Really!? Thank you! I appreciate it more than you know.”
“R-right… Anyway, Tsutomu. We’ve got some time before Amy shows up — there’s something I’d like to talk to you about. Is that all right?”
“Of course. What’s on your mind?”
Reassured by Garm’s easygoing response, Tsutomu bowed his head gratefully, then settled beside him, prepared to listen.
“I was thinking — what if we had Amy try out the Tank role, at least once? Do you think that’s feasible, or is a high VIT absolutely necessary?”
“…Amy as a Tank? Well, it’s not impossible to Tank without high VIT, but it’s challenging. The Beach would be tough for that, but… Oh, I get it. You want her to understand the Tank’s role better, right?”
“Mm-hmm, exactly.”
Tsutomu mulled over Garm’s suggestion, glancing up at the giant Monitor. As he watched the shimmering display of the Beach, a plan began to take shape in his mind.
“Hmm… Actually, the timing is perfect. I’ve been wanting to test a new support skill, and the Swamp would be an ideal place for Amy to try Tanking. She should manage fine there, and it’ll give her a clearer understanding of the role.”
“That’s great. Thanks. She’s been misunderstanding a few things, and I think this experience will help her see it more clearly.”
“I-I see…” Tsutomu muttered, noticing Garm’s tail wagging like an eager child setting up some sort of prank. Garm’s grin, too, was more than a little mischievous, and Tsutomu couldn’t help but smile awkwardly in return.
Moments later, Garm handed back the high-quality Medium Magic Stone Tsutomu had given him earlier. A brief back-and-forth followed, with Tsutomu insisting Garm keep it as it had been a gift. Just then, a bright voice called out from behind.
“Kept you waiting, huh!?”
Amy sprinted toward them from the Guild entrance, her dual blades bouncing in their sheaths. She slid to a stop before Tsutomu, her usual cheeriness in full swing.
“Oh, and Tsutomu! Thanks for the Magic Stone the other day! I used it to treat my friends at the Seafood Dining Hall. That place’s food is sooo good!”
“Glad you liked it. Oh, by the way, Amy — did Garm mention anything to you?”
“Hmm?” She blinked, momentarily confused.
“The Tanking,” Garm reminded, his voice blunt.
“Uh-huh…” Amy paused, eyes narrowing in thought, until sudden realization struck. “Wait, me as the Tank? But my VIT’s only a C! And I don’t have any aggro-generating skills! Can I really Tank without those?”
“You don’t need high VIT to Tank, but it WILL be a bit more demanding,” Tsutomu explained. “That said, we’re heading to the Swamp, so you should be fine.”
“You heard him,” Garm added with a smirk.
Amy grimaced. “Ughhh! But I’m terrible at standing still!”
“No worries, Amy. In your case, you won’t need to stand still — just keep moving and attacking,” Tsutomu reassured her.
“Huh?”
As Tsutomu moved to join Garm in the line before the crowded reception desks, Amy stared at him in surprise, still trying to process everything.
“Since you don’t have skills that generate aggro, you’ll rely on dealing damage to draw attention. It’s different from how Garm Tanks, but it’ll help you get a better feel for the role.”
“Oh, really? That sounds doable!”
“But remember,” Tsutomu cautioned, “since you lack aggro skills, it’ll be easier for the Healer — me — to get targeted. So, Garm, I’ll need you to focus more on protecting me than going all-out on the monsters. Amy’s VIT should hold up against the Swamp’s monsters, but the thing is… if you go on the offensive, we’ll wipe them out too quickly.”
“Understood.”
Garm gave a satisfied nod, while Amy still wore a bewildered look as though a giant question mark hovered above her head.
“We’ll iron out the details during the battle, just like before,” Tsutomu added.
“Okay! Got it!”
Garm muttered under his breath, “You have no idea what you’re agreeing to, do you?”
“Whaaat!? Nah, I totally get it!” Amy shot back.
As their usual squabbling began, Tsutomu chuckled, leading the way toward the now-vacant reception desk.
――▽▽――
The sky was blanketed with thick, gray clouds, so dense that not a hint of the sun could be seen. The three figures landed on the slightly muddied ground. Around them stood tall, overgrown plants and trees with drooping branches scattered here and there.
A thick veil of gray clouds smothered the sky, obscuring even the faintest glimmer of the sun. The three Explorers touched down on the soft, muddied ground, their boots sinking slightly. Around them, the wilderness rose like natural ancient ruins — tall, overgrown plants and gnarled trees with drooping branches, scattered haphazardly across the swamp.
Having arrived at the twentieth layer, the beginning of the Swamp, Amy immediately set off, scouting the surroundings as was her usual role. Meanwhile, Tsutomu knelt, pouring Potions into slim, shock-resistant vials, while Garm began his warm-up routine, following the exercises Tsutomu had taught him.
Monsters rarely attacked Explorers the moment they stepped from the Black Gate. Typically, the creatures lurked at a distance of at least fifty meters. While it wasn’t exactly uncommon for an unfortunate soul to splash down directly into the swamp’s mire, there had never been a case of an Explorer being thrown into a battle for survival right from the start.
Thus, after stepping from the Black Gate, Explorers could make their preparations at a measured pace. As Tsutomu handed a Potion vial to Garm, Amy returned from her recon.
“To the north, there’s a swamp with a few bottomless pits. East and west are about the same as here. South has a swamp too, but it’s full of big water plants. They’re light-colored, so no bottomless pits there, I think.”
“Got it. Let’s head north,” Tsutomu decided, swapping his leather shoes for a pair of knee-high boots. “Mud Slimes, Froggers, and maybe a few Bloody Bees — that should give us enough to work with.”
He passed some Potions to Amy, who wrinkled her nose in mild disgust at Garm before falling into step behind him.
“Amy, you’ll be Tanking this time. You need to stay in front,” Tsutomu reminded.
“Oh, got it!” she chirped, her usual enthusiasm undimmed.
With Amy leading the way, the trio advanced northward. The soil gradually darkened beneath their feet, turning thick and sticky with mud. Soon, Amy and Garm removed their shoes and handed them over to Tsutomu. Despite his best efforts to have them wear proper equipment, the boots he’d purchased for them remained tucked away in the Magic Bag — both preferred the feeling of the cool mud between their toes. Amy, clearly enjoying herself, hopped playfully, sending sprays of muck across Tsutomu’s pristine white robes.
Garm scowled and barked at her, but Tsutomu merely laughed. “Don’t worry about it. The clothes were going to get dirty anyway.”
They pressed on, the swamp deepening around them. In the distance, Tsutomu spotted signs of Mud Slimes hiding in the muck and a group of Froggers lounging under a nearby cluster of trees.
“Amy, kite– I mean, lure those monsters to higher ground where the footing’s better,” Tsutomu instructed.
“Right!” Amy called out, a grin spreading across her face as if she’d just been invited to a game.
With a wave of his staff, Tsutomu cast <<Protect>> to boost Amy’s VIT, followed by <<Haste>>, a fresh spell he’d recently learned, enhancing her AGI. In a blur of movement, Amy sprinted barefoot toward the nearest Mud Slime, her dual blades flashing as she drew them from their sheaths.
One sword sank into the gelatinous mass of the Slime, which instinctively tried to absorb the blade into its quivering body. Amy deftly yanked the weapon free and darted toward the Froggers, the sluggish Mud Slimes oozing after her.
The Froggers, with their dog-sized, mottled green bodies covered in warty, poison-secreting bumps, stirred at her approach. One of them, its black beady eyes glinting with alarm, sprang forward with a powerful leap, aiming for Amy.
With a sharp flick of her wrist, Amy deflected its attack with her left blade, then kicked up a cloud of mud to taunt the creature. The Frogger hesitated, croaking nervously before starting to hop after her.
Once Amy had led the monsters to firmer ground, she shot a quick glance back at Tsutomu, who stood poised with his staff.
“Amy, dodge their attacks and counter when possible. You need to build up aggro. Oh, and try not to use any skills,” he said.
“What!? With this many of them!?”
“Skills will end the fight too quickly, and you won’t get much practice. I know it’s tough, but you can handle it. <<Protect>>. <<Haste>>.” Tsutomu cast the spells again, the air shimmering faintly as the protective and speed-boosting effects enveloped Amy.
Amy’s lips pressed into a thin line of frustration, but she nodded, eyes narrowing as she surveyed the six Froggers now gathering around her. She checked the Potions holstered at her waist, readying herself as another Frogger launched itself forward. With nimble footwork, she sidestepped the creature’s swipe.
“Whoa!”
With her agility heightened by <<Haste>>, Amy’s movements became fluid and swift, her body adjusting instinctively to the speed. She danced between the Froggers’ lunges, dodging their powerful hind-leg kicks and flicking tongues with ease.
But the boost wore off after about half a minute, and she felt her steps slow. Before the drag of fatigue could settle, another blue wisp streaked toward her, wrapping her once again in the weightless sensation of <<Haste>>.
“Sorry! That one was a little late!” Tsutomu’s voice rang out, tinged with apology as he sent another <<Protect>> her way.
Two of the Froggers shifted their gaze from Amy, their wide, black eyes locking onto Tsutomu. They started toward him, legs coiling to spring.
“Amy! Attack the lead Frogger! Garm, take the one behind it!” Tsutomu ordered, already strategizing the next steps.
Amy spun, her right sword slashing across the first Frogger’s cheek. It reeled back, blood dribbling from the wound as it snarled at her in a mix of pain and rage. The second Frogger lunged for Tsutomu, but Garm was already there, his buckler crashing into the creature mid-air, knocking it off course. With a swift shove, Garm sent it stumbling back into Amy’s reach.
“Amy, hit all three Froggers once! We’ve got four Slimes creeping up from behind, and a swarm of Bloody Bees coming from the west — about ten or so.”
“What? There’s no way I can handle all that!!”
Despite her complaint, Amy gritted her teeth and dodged another charge, slicing her blade across the Frogger’s side as she twisted out of harm’s way. Tsutomu kept his focus sharp, casting <<Protect>> and <<Haste>> in rhythm, his eyes darting across the battlefield to track every movement.
Whenever a Frogger veered off toward Tsutomu, Garm was ready — shield raised, meeting the attack with calm precision, sending the beast back toward Amy. Tsutomu cast his spells methodically, muttering under his breath about Garm’s relentless efficiency, careful not to pull too much aggro himself.
As the Slimes slithered closer, Amy’s patience snapped. She steadied her breath and raised her dual blades, energy surging through her limbs.
“<<Dual Wave Slash>>!”
With a fierce shout, she unleashed a devastating slash that cut through the air like a sonic boom. The lead Frogger’s body split in two, disintegrating into a Magic Stone as the Mud Slime behind it was also cleaved down the middle.
Waves of force shot from her blades, tearing through the incoming monsters. The battlefield cleared in moments, leaving only two Froggers standing, while the Slimes lay in pieces, their remains sinking into the mud.
But before Amy could catch her breath, two more Froggers sprang toward her, attacking in tandem. She parried one with her swords, but the second slammed into her arm with full force.
If that hit had been meant for Tsutomu, it would have shattered bones. But thanks to her VIT and <<Protect>>, Amy absorbed the blow, suffering only a deep bruise. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she drove her sword into the Frogger that clung to her, its body collapsing in a violent twitch.
“Amy, stay focused! Garm’s bringing in more enemies from the west!”
“What!?”
“Sorry, but you’ll have to keep going until Garm’s had enough.”
A <<Heal>> spell shot toward her, closing the wound on her arm, but as Garm approached with his usual calm, Amy’s eyes widened in horror. Behind him, swarming through the air, was a cloud of Bloody Bees, each the size of a human head. Several more Froggers hopped along at their heels, eager to join the fray.
Amy cast a despairing glance at the sky, groaning in sheer exasperation.
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