Ch.142Testing NPC. (2)

[Phantom Fox Sword] A skill that makes your swordplay appear as if you’re possessed by a fox when seen by opponents.

Compared to Rey’s [Swift Sword], it’s a superior skill. The [Preemptive Sword] that Er Jim used before is truly no match against this skill.

Simply put, each normal attack is followed by one additional attack. This extra attack follows every normal hit without any cooldown.

What’s more, you gain an additional attack for every 100 character levels, making it an absurdly overpowered skill that delivers eleven extra attacks at the maximum level of 1,100.

To be honest, Chikuyo was beloved by many players for this overpowered performance, which is also why some chose not to develop her character.

With Chikuyo, there wasn’t a boss that lacked sufficient damage output.

Of course, the high number of attacks isn’t her only overpowered aspect.

Remember the Sorceress I mentioned before? I said that playable character learns the unique skill [Teleport] at level 700, and this applies to NPCs as well.

By the way, her unique skill is [Phantom Fox Divine Sword], which applies a 0.5 Phantom Fox Sword effect to all her sword skills.

In other words, at level 1,100, one skill hit delivers damage equivalent to 5 hits. Ugh, just thinking about it makes me sick, really sick.

-Bang! Clang!!

“Ungh!!”

-Clang!! Tang!!

“Hiiit?!!”

“Clang!! Clang!!!”

“Grrgh?!!!”

-Bang! Thud!!

“Kyeng?!!”

“Pfft…! What’s with that ‘kyeng’ sound?”

“N-no way. This can’t be happening?!!”

However, she’s only around level 180 now. She only gets one additional attack, and it follows the same trajectory as the initial strike. If she were over level 200, I’d have to worry about reverse-direction attacks too, so I wouldn’t be able to deflect them as easily as I am now.

Her swordplay is quite sharp. And despite my usual inability to sense killing intent well, I clearly feel it in her sword. Yet each time, her blade bounces off my fists and palms. As she gradually tires, her kimono starts slipping down unlike in the game, so out of consideration, I finally grab her sword with my bare hand.

…Oh. But I think it cut me? It stings.

“I-impossible. My sword… my swordplay… h-how can this be?!”

“I have a friend in my party who’s skilled with a sword. I have no intention of losing to someone weaker than them.”

“Th-that’s?!!”

It seems my hand got cut while deflecting her sword, probably because only the Veteran Mountain Keeper skill is active.

I need to register Siltra’s mountain soon and activate the Mountain Manager skill too.

I gently release her sword and take a step forward toward her. Chikuyo’s crimson eyes begin to tremble.

Hmm. Honestly, by now she must realize she can’t win, right?

“Looks like I’ve won?”

“W-what?! I, I haven’t lost yet…!!!”

-Whoosh!

“Eeeek?!!”

When I quickly raise my fist, Chikuyo clutches her head and crouches down.

Hmm, her trembling like a puppy about to be scolded—is that because she’s a fox beastkin?

-Bonk!

“Kyahyung?!”

“There, I win. If you don’t accept this, the next one will be a real hit.”

Hmm. When I lightly flick her forehead, she makes an adorable sound.

Chikuyo is someone with a sister too. I understand why she’d be angry at me for speaking ill of Miho.

But letting her have her way with me is a completely different matter. My hands are already numb from just deflecting her sword, and my hand got slightly cut when I grabbed her blade at the end.

Honestly, I think I’ve indulged her enough, right? Though my HP hasn’t changed.

-Clang.

“…Huh. I can’t believe I lost so pathetically. I-I just can’t believe it.”

She drops her sword and remains sitting on the ground, only lifting her head to look up at me.

Her crimson eyes, moist with sweat, glistening with tears, look quite bewitching.

But is she really so frustrated that she’s crying? No. Well, if someone insulted my sister and then I couldn’t even put up a fight, I might cry too.

“I apologize for saying Miho was weak earlier. However, I think you understand now. My companions can defeat me 3-to-1.”

“I see, you said even five Mihos wouldn’t be enough. A party where three people can defeat someone like you… *sniff*. No wonder Miho became a burden.”

I didn’t exactly call her a burden, but there’s no need to correct that.

I extended my hand to her, her kimono slipping from the sweat. Chikuyo twitched her ears and slowly reached out to take my hand and stand up.

After I helped her up, she immediately adjusted her clothes and let out a small sigh.

“…Poor Miho.”

“Pardon?”

“…Nothing. Hey, you weren’t using your full power just now, were you?”

Well, the [Mountain Manager] skill isn’t activated yet, and I didn’t fully utilize the Veteran skill’s specs.

I nodded in affirmation to her question, and she stepped on her fallen sword, turning it back into fur, then began biting her nails.

“…For a beastkin, especially a male to be this strong, I understand why a female like Miho would be attracted… Even I… hmm… what should I do? Should I train Miho now? …No, he’s much stronger than me, would my training even help? …Or should I take her there…”

Chikuyo started muttering rapidly to herself. I considered listening to her monologue but eventually shook my head.

Surely, she must be worried about her dignity as an older sister after losing to me.

I really hope that’s the case. Please.

“…Um, Chikuyo?”

“…Yes?”

“Shall we head back now that we’re done? Miho might be out by now.”

Pretending not to hear her quiet mutterings, I spoke to her, and she frowned but nodded in response.

Hmm. It’s quite interesting to see sides of her that weren’t shown in the game, but she seems to have something like menopausal mood swings.

Happy one moment, angry the next, then irritated, then tearful, then irritated again.

Hmm… she only showed her happy side to Miho, so for me it’s anger, irritation, tears, and more irritation? Well, my likability must be rock bottom.

‘…Well, that’s for the best.’

[-Job: Magic Swordsman- Level: 185 Name: Chikuyo.]

After checking her status window one more time as she walked ahead of me, I decided to give up on gaining her favor as it seemed dangerous.

For some reason I don’t understand, not only Miho but she too has a player job.

I’m not sure what this means, but what’s certain is that Chikuyo will definitely walk alongside Miho in her future journey.

Perhaps becoming the sister of a white tiger beastkin born with a player job after 1000 years has changed her destiny.

There’s no reason for me to approach these two explosive sisters, is there?

As I follow Chikuyo, who continues to mutter even more quietly in front of me…

-Twitch! Twitch!

“Huh?”

“Miho?”

Chikuyo’s fox ears moved so much they made a sound, and I instinctively looked around at her words.

Didn’t she just say Miho? What’s going on? I don’t sense anything…

-Patter patter! Pat!!

“Sister!!! Jack!!!”

“Oh my! Miho? Were you that eager to see your sister~?”

“Wah?! S-sister, you’re sweating! You’re all sweaty?!”

“Ah, right.”

Chikuyo, who was approaching Miho with open arms, suddenly stopped, and Miho turned slightly and came toward me.

…Hey. If you’ve bathed, at least dry your hair. It’s covered in leaves. What’s this? Was there any point in bathing?

“Ah, they said sister took Jack out! Are you hurt anywhere?!”

I can’t help but smile wryly at Miho, who immediately assumes Chikuyo and I had a duel.

Is this how Ira feels when she talks about me to others?

“Sob sob sob. Miho, that’s so mean, actually your sister was utterly defeated. Look, I’m completely drenched in sweat from how badly I was beaten…”

“Sniff sniff, sniff sniff. Sister doesn’t smell of anything, but Jack smells of blood?”

“Oh, oh my~? Can’t you smell your sister’s fragrant scent, Miho~?”

After Chikuyo dramatically pretended to cry, Miho sniffed at her and then immediately came over to me and started sniffing in the same way.

“It’s nothing. Your sister wanted to test my skills a bit, so we dueled and I just cut my hand a little. See, it’s nothing ser—”

-Grab!!

“Y-you’re cut! You’re bleeding!! Sister!!!”

“N-no… I could have just dodged the sword, but I g-grabbed it instead…”

“Sister!!!”

Miho grabbed my hand, which had only a tiny cut, and raised her eyebrows at Chikuyo, who started to panic and break into a cold sweat, unlike the hot sweat she shed during our duel.

Hmm, is a sister or brother who loves their younger sibling most afraid of their sibling’s shouting?

If I ever hear Ira shout like this someday, I’ll surely look just like…

-Lick!!

“Wha?”

-Slurp slurp! Lick!!

“H-hey!?!!”

“Oh, M-Miho?!!”

“Disinfecting. I just bathed so I’m clean, I’ll disinfect it for you!”

“No!! A human tongue isn’t clean…?!!”

-Sluuurp!! Lick!!”

“Aaaagh!! Let go!!!”

“Miho! No! That’s too lewd!! Licking a man’s hand!!!”

-Lick!! Slurp!!!

You crazy girl!!! You crazy girl!!! I can’t curse because her sister is here, so I try to pull away by grabbing her forehead and pushing, but she just puts my entire hand in her mouth.

Aaaah!! It’s warm!! It’s soft!! This feels weird!! I hate it!! I’m being eaten!!!

“Ch-Chikuyo!! Do something!! Get her off me!!!”

“Gulp. I-I’m jealous! Miho even gave you a little bite!”

Aaah!! Both sisters are insane!! I said get her off me?! I’ll hit her!! I’ll hit Miho?! Let go and take my hand out of your mouth!!!

As I struggle, trying to remove Miho without hitting her, I see Chikuyo behind us, twisting her body and saying nonsense like “I’m jealous, do it to me too, I got a little cut here too, Miho? Look at your sister.”

Crazy sisters! Crazy, psychotic, lesbian, pervert sisters!! Aaaaargh! Damn it!!

“You damn girl!! Didn’t you hear me say let go?!!”

-Bonk!!

“Kyahyung?!!”

“Wh-what?! W-why are you hitting our ch—!!”

-Bonk!!!

“Kyeng?!!”

I finally freed my hand by flicking Miho’s head, and when Chikuyo’s eyes flashed at the sight, I immediately approached her and flicked her head too with my saliva-covered fist.

Wow, this is really unbearable!!!

“That’s enough! My hand isn’t a toy! If you want to lick and bite, do it to each other!!!”

When I finally lose my composure and snap at them.

“L-lick and bite? Me… with Miho?!”

“Uuu… I really just wanted to disinfect it!”

The two women, clutching their heads with flushed faces, sat down and looked up at me with glistening eyes(?).