Chapter 14 : Skill Practice

“Eiit!”

All the hair on my body stood on end, as if sensing an attack — an alarm of danger rang out.

Tap—

“Gasp! It got caught!”

Ravi’s full-powered staff swing — which had physical strength comparable to that of a preschooler — was easily blocked.

Though the amount and speed of impact are somewhat related, this was a light swing with a light staff using a light body.

Even catching it with a palm didn’t feel like much.

“Want to try a few more times?”

“H-here..? I can’t let the flasks break…”

“Then how about stepping outside for a bit?”

“Uh.. you might want to put some clothes on first…”

“Oh right.”

In the end, I got dressed and stepped out onto the wide street.

It was a bit darker than the well-lit interior.

Ravi flailed around and said,

“Th-that just now! It happened again!”

“Huh? What did?”

“Your pupils just stretched! Like, reaaally stretched!”

“Yeah, well. That makes sense.”

There were a few streetlights, but overall it wasn’t very bright.

Yet, the view through my left eye was definitely bright.

The sensation I felt as Ravi swung her staff — my body reacted on its own.

Actually, it wasn’t entirely unfamiliar.

It felt like that moment just before getting flicked on the forehead as punishment in a game.

The muscles around the point of impact were screaming at me to dodge.

“Amazing…! The senses of a wolf!”

“Don’t phrase it like that. It sounds weird.”

“Th-then.. the instincts of a beast?”

“Still weird.”

Anyway, I think I get the general idea.

Qi sense? Not sure if that’s the right word.

It’s like the entire body is filled with the instincts of canines — not domesticated ones, but wild ones.

“Does this have something to do with the moon…?”

Looking up at the moon in the sky, something felt…

What is this sensation?

“Ugh. Why does my throat feel so itchy?”

“Y-your throat..? Do you, maybe, want to howl…?”

“Howl? Like those wolves that cry at night?”

“Y-yeah….”

“Even so, don’t treat me like some mutt.”

“W-what did I even do?!”

Ravi stomped the bottom of her staff on the ground and shouted noisily.

“Anyway. So it’s because of the direwolf’s magic, huh?”

“Well, that’s the most likely explanation.”

To confirm changes in my circuits, I went back inside the lab and laid down on the bed.

‘Smells like baby powder.’

Lying face down with my shirt off, I felt Ravi’s fingers brush the back of my head and trace down my spine.

“The active circuits are… The skills are more strongly and deeply connected than before. There must’ve been some change.”

“Well, I did crush my limbs and chew on the direwolf leader’s muscles raw earlier today.”

“WHAT?! What do you mean?!”

Ravi listened to my explanation for a while, then as soon as I finished, she spread her maple leaf–like hand wide and smacked my back.

Smack-smack—

“You’re crazy! You can’t do things like that!”

“Why not? I survived. I even got stronger.”

“S-still! Skills aren’t all-powerful, you know!”

“You said it’s an unidentified skill. How do you know it’s not?”

“Well… I guess…”

As I said, Ravi examined the circuits thoroughly and then nodded.

“Definitely. Looks like the muscles of the direwolf leader replaced the damaged areas.”

“So I just keep going like this now?”

“I think… as time passes, the direwolf muscles will disappear and be replaced by human ones.”

“Hmm.”

It’s a relief, but also kind of disappointing.

If I stayed this way, I might’ve even reached the 10th floor.

According to Ravi, as my original muscles regenerate, the direwolf muscles will be replaced and I’ll return to my normal body.

Apparently, the current transformation happened only because of the injury.

“But… I don’t think the organs you ingested will disappear.”

“Why not?”

“Some parts of the circuit resemble stack-type skills.

Meaning, it’s stored.

Magically stored somewhere — the raw parts you ate, I mean!”

“Hmm, I see.”

As expected from a scholar with ample knowledge.

She might look silly, but she’s smart about this stuff.

“Actually, I ate the direwolf leader’s lungs and heart.”

“Ugh.. I see…”

“My muscles changed to his, but I can’t use them properly due to lack of oxygen.

Should I crush the lungs and heart too?”

“D-don’t do something that stupid! Geez..! Just lie back down again!”

Following her instructions, I lay back down on the bed.

Ravi brought over a book and, flipping through it, examined my circuits closely.

Whatever she was doing, for the next hour she silently sat switching her gaze between my back and the book.

Flip flip.

“Ravi? Did you find anything?”

“I think I did. Just a bit more.”

Impressive academic passion.

If only she wasn’t using my back as a writing desk.

Finally, after another 10 minutes, Ravi opened her mouth.

“Haaah—!”

“What is it, Ravi?”

“Get up! Your final words!”

“What?”

As I got off the bed, sheets of paper that had been on my back fluttered to the ground.

Ravi didn’t care and grabbed my hand, dragging me out of the lab.

“Ravi, my shirt…”

“It’s fine without it! Come on, let’s try this! Hand, transform!”

“Huh?”

“Quickly!”

Ravi grabbed my right forearm with both hands and shook it up and down.

“I figured it out!

This skill doesn’t just replace injured parts with what you ate!

It lets you consciously use the organs you ingested!”

“So?”

“Meaning — you can choose to activate them as you will!”

“Hmm, why did it take an hour to figure that out?”

“That’s a truly remarkable achievement, isn’t it?”

Come to think of it, when I first used this skill, my right forearm turned into a steak.

I managed to use it with my willpower.

“Wait! Why are you just telling me this now?!”

“Sorry about that. So, what exactly should I do?”

According to Ravi’s explanation, the parts of my body currently replaced with the muscle of the direwolf alpha were transformed by instinct.

The desire to heal an injured area is the most basic ‘will’ that every living creature possesses.

So, the skill reacted to my will and automatically used the stored part to repair the wounded area.

If I use the skill consciously, I can use the stored organs even if I’m not actually injured.

“I heard you turned your right forearm into a steak last time?”

“Yes, well… I did.”

“Think of it like that! But this time, with a clearer image in mind! I wouldn’t recommend using organs like your heart or lungs, though… The side effects are too risky.

Instead, why not try thinking of turning your entire right forearm into the muscle of a direwolf?”

“I’ll give it a shot.”

“Alright! Sounds good.”

Though, to be honest, I doubt it’ll work right away.

Ravi, who I woke up at 1 a.m. to talk to for nearly two hours, looks a bit drained.

“I’ll come back when I have more time.”

“Huh…? You’re not doing it right now?”

“Ravi, you look really tired. Go get some rest.”

“Well… now that you mention it…”

Realizing just how sleepy she was, Ravi let out a long yawn and rubbed her eyes.

Wait, how old is this kid? Minors aren’t even supposed to work night shifts.

“Well, if it works out, make sure you come back and let me know!”

“Yes, I will.”

After putting my shirt back on and checking my overall physical condition, I left the emotions chamber and asked Ravi,

“No payment this time?”

“Oh, that… It’s just that the performance bonus hasn’t come in yet…”

“Alright. Just make sure you’re taking care of yourself, okay?”

“Hehe, you’re worried about me?”

“Yes, I am.”

She looks like a kid, and if someone like her collapses from overwork without even eating, it wouldn’t sit right with me.

Not that this world seems to care about such things.

“Kids should be in bed early.”

“I’m not a kid, you know?!”

“Ah, I see. So, you’re an adult?”

“An adult?! W-Well, not quite yet…”

“Hmm.”

Then what are you?

Anyway, I should rest at the inn tonight.

It’s not like the direwolf’s mana is making me especially sleepy, but I should still be able to get some rest if I lie down.

My body feels pretty worn out.

Also, I should practice my skills a bit.

“Go inside and rest. Sorry for waking you up.”

“It’s fine. But if anything unusual happens, make sure you come to me! And… if you don’t mind, maybe even with parts from other beasts…”

“Other beasts?”

“N-No, never mind. That’s a bit too much to ask. Take care on your way back! I’ll head in now.”

“Alright.”

Returning to the inn late at night, I found the door locked.

Luckily, I knew where the landlady kept the spare key, so I just let myself in.

-Creak-

“Ah… You’re back? Where have you been?”

Sera, in her pajamas, came out to greet me, half-asleep.

Man, she’s totally defenseless like this.

“I went to see an emotions expert I know. My body’s been acting a bit strange.”

“So, you really are sick?”

“No, actually, it seems like it’s a good thing. If anything, my body’s even stronger now.”

Maybe it’s because I’ve absorbed the blood of a nocturnal direwolf, but my body feels full of energy.

I barely feel sleepy, even at night.

“Is it related to your skills?”

“You knew about that?”

“No, not exactly, but in a dungeon city like this, if something unusual happens to your body, it’s usually a skill thing.”

“That makes sense. Why are you still awake, anyway?”

At my question, Sera crossed her arms, her eyes squinting a bit more as she pushed out her chest in a way that emphasized her curves, making it hard to know where to look.

“Hmph. It’s not like that! You should thank me for waiting for you!”

“Ah, right. Thank you, Sera. Sorry for keeping you up.”

“It’s fine. I can sleep in tomorrow since I don’t have work in the morning.”

I gently turned her around and guided her back to her room.

I heard she lives in the small bedroom next to the landlady’s room.

Carrying her inside would probably be too much, and I’d rather avoid any misunderstandings.

I haven’t known Sera that long, after all.

Not that I’m all that tired, but I should practice my skills.

I’ll sleep during the day instead.

After all, the inn is busier at night, even if it only has about ten guest rooms.

Maybe I should consider myself lucky for becoming nocturnal.

“Phew, time to stretch out a bit.”