<391 - A Shortcut Faster than a Shortcut>
It’s not easy to surpass my days as the Marine who Specializes in Strength All-in on the bad ending route.
It’s practically a world that has already fallen apart.
A timeline that veers off course without any proper growth trajectory, wildly expanding haphazardly.
The world utilizes even the elements necessary for its rightful existence as growth materials, taking advantage of chaos to commit various taboos without a second thought and pump up growth stats.
The strength achieved as a result is bound to be far greater than any normal ending.
“Does that mean I simply can’t beat the bad ending ‘me’ with ordinary growth? I’m really impressive!”
For a moment, I felt a swell of pride in myself.
But I soon realized how challenging it is to view that past self as an enemy and a target.
“Hmmm.”
I can’t just snap off a branch from the World Tree to create a Mithril-Tain, nor can I mine the ores that make up the foundations of the Great Mines to forge Immortal Armor.
Touching the artifacts or divine items of Elves or Dwarves will ruin relations with that race.
A race in a corner will automatically have their racial quest expedited, and an event that could lead to their extinction ticks away quietly without a player’s knowledge.
One day, when the time comes?
A nightmare called Yokka explodes!
“Is this why it’s easy to live badly but hard to live well? Being a good child is really tough!”
Even though I treated Dobi well, only scary kids have come up.
Yikes, yikes.
“Hmmm.”
So, does the good child Oknodie have no way to defeat the bad child Marine who Specializes in Strength All-in?
Not exactly.
There is a way.
It’s a very hard, laborious, and difficult path, but the potential for success is clearly higher on this side.
Marine who Specializes in Strength All-in simply pumped one extraordinary strength stat through various cheap tricks and gained a function that affects attack power coefficients.
Not all stats are equally developed.
That’s why, despite possessing incredible strength, I have no choice but to stick to a build that risks my life in a single blow.
“If I build up enough growth not to die in one hit, my strength experience points get cut in half, and I should receive a counterattack!”
That said, I must not become The Immortal Unbreakable Defense.
If it turns into a showdown between a spear that pierces everything and a shield that blocks everything, I won’t be able to stop a spear that’s unfairly boosted.
What I need at times like these is the royal road.
Sometimes a shortcut seems faster, but proving that the longer, proper way is actually the quickest route is the answer.
What is the proper approach in this game?
Hexagonal stats!
Since my body is sturdy, I can exert much stronger power repeatedly, and since my body is more agile, the efficiency of my strength increases.
“Of course, to raise all stats, it’s all about collecting Handbooks!”
I sprang to my feet, fists clenched, and my eyes met Jiang’s, who was perched on the window ledge.
“Hi there!”
“Yep, hi!”
“Oknodie seems to have a lot on their mind today.”
“Concern? It’s resolved!”
“Really? That’s good. Then can you listen to your neighbor’s concern as well?”
“Neighbor?”
“Hestia.”
“Why Hestia?”
“She said she’s feeling down because she can’t talk to your hat friend. Since you’re the closest to her, she asked me specially. Closest? Best friend? I’m not sure, but that’s what she called it, so I came to help, but how is it really?”
“Hmm?”
“Isn’t my closest friend Oknodie, but me, Titosso?”
Gasp.
Suddenly facing the dilemma of “who do you love more, mom or dad?”!?
“Of course, Jiang is my closest friend!”
“I knew it.”
Jiang smiled beautifully like a doll.
I could hear the sound of memorization going in behind her back.
Then I can do the Handbook collection with Hestia this time!
“What a well-connected young lady.”
The 2nd Hat murmured in disbelief.
*
Once, Hestia seriously contemplated leaving the Paper Dungeon Expedition Team club, doubting whether her seniors had merely formed connections based on strength rather than genuine human relationships.
She thought that since Oknodie was stronger than herself and seemed fit for adventures, Oknodie couldn’t possibly be the type who judges people solely based on their abilities.
“If I’m with Oknodie, I’m sure I can do better in this club. I thought so, but…”
She was immensely shocked to discover that the plant friend with a soul was merely a Goo Mandragora, and the one who had conversed with her all night was the 2nd Hat.
She was now at the point of questioning whether Santa Claus even exists!
“Will I still be able to get along with Oknodie in the future…?”
No matter how firm her belief, the notion of Oknodie being a good child was starting to waver.
She wished for faith in something, anything.
“Hestia~ This week, let’s skip the club!”
Oknodie boldly proposed this in front of the club room to Hestia.
“Is that okay? Normally, if you skip club activities arbitrarily, you have to pay a fine as per the rules.”
“Let’s just ask the manager!”
Creeeak!
As Oknodie opened the door energetically, the seniors who had gathered near the entrance hurriedly pretended to study like students caught slacking off in front of their mom.
“Is the Paper Company manager around?”
“The manager is not here.”
“What? That can’t be! You’re telling me that someone who has given up on promotion and is gambling their life on points from the club isn’t here?”
Oknodie’s brutally honest fact made a few seniors flinch, and they lowered their heads.
“It’s true. The manager hasn’t returned since heading to the professor’s laboratory again today.”
“For an experiment?”
“…At least call me a research assistant, okay? Ugh. I wonder why a dumb human suddenly aced tests and got whisked away by the professor.”
“Then tell them we stopped by for a visit!”
“Ah yeah. Sure. Enjoy your visit.”
One senior, who seldom attended the club, walked out while clicking their tongue.
“The world is truly strange. A first-year is outright saying they’re skipping, and you’re just letting it slide? You all don’t even deserve to wear the 2nd-year badge!”
Seeing this, one 2nd-year senior kicked the side of the fallen senior with a jet kick, and everyone rushed to stomp on him while shouting.
“You crazy bastard, shut your mouth!!”
“What do you know! You barely even show up to this club occasionally!”
“This guy’s opinion does not represent the official opinion of all us 2nd years, so don’t misunderstand, juniors.”
“Seriously, you should leave the 1st years alone who say not to touch Mandela. What a madman.”
Words left by the top student of 2nd year, Mandela Castera, had an impact.
Recalling the occasional fun of beating up dodgy 2nd years, Oknodie could only feel regret.
“So what are you planning to do during club time? For someone who’s known for being diligent, that’s quite unlike you.”
“I’m planning to do Handbook submissions that I couldn’t do usually!”
“Food?”
Hestia licked her lips.
“No!”
Unfortunately, Oknodie was already carrying a ton of food in her backpack.
The future of the Cooking Handbook looks bright.
“Collecting insects?”
“No!”
These days were simply not suitable weather for insects to be out.
“Then what are you suggesting?”
“Collecting herbal medicine!”
“…In this winter?”
“There are greenhouses and a Greenhouse!”
“Well, if it’s a place like that, the herbs will likely grow well.”
Nodding and understanding, Hestia suddenly paused, sensing something strange.
“A greenhouse? A Greenhouse? Doesn’t that mean someone is actively cultivating herbs?”
“Of course! If they’re not nurtured consistently, they wilt or lose their effects.”
“That’s theft!”
Hestia’s criticism was valid.
She worried that if the kid went off-track, they would become a bad child and blatantly suggest stealing!
Though she had heard tales of various petty acts behind her back, Hestia grew up under unfair oppression merely due to her Berserker class.
She was the type to lightly disregard other people’s evaluations and rumors, judging only based on what she had seen and heard herself.
“Oknodie, I trusted you! How could you suggest doing something so bad?”
“Eh…? I just suggested we go collecting!”
“Don’t mumble in that silly tone. You’re 11, you’re practically an adult. If you get caught stealing, you’ll have your hands cut off!”
With an utterly wronged expression, Oknodie protested.
“But—”
“No excuses. So is what you did right? Would you still say that in front of a judge? If you get caught by a bad adult, you might not even get taken to court; you might be captured on the streets and suffer even worse!”
Recognizing that Hestia was genuinely worried and scolding her, Oknodie drooped her head in defeat and fidgeted with her fingers.
Seeing her like that, Hestia softened her heart and proposed a compromise.
“I know you take Professor Bronze as your mentor. Yet, he’s a Rogue. While righteous theft might be excusable, what about those herbalists who painstakingly grow their crops? Considering their hard work, you shouldn’t do it.”
“Hmm…”
“Answer like an adult.”
“Uh-huh…”
From Oknodie’s pouty expression, Hestia felt something.
“Is it possible that the owner of that herb patch is a bad person?”
“Exactly! A very bad person!”
“Who is it?”
“A professor who says they’ll reward you for growing herbs but only tosses out a few measly points and eats all the herbs themselves!”
“What a truly wicked person. Wait a minute. A professor?”
“The professor is Red Mountain, teaching the class on Let’s Challenge Growing Herbs in the 2nd year of the Production Department!”
“Are you trying to steal from the professor?”
“More precisely, it’s for the final assignment that the students will submit!”
“…But then, what about the students?”
“If everyone is stolen from equally, it will acknowledge the professor’s poor management, and they might get higher grades!”
Uh… If that’s the case, can I really conclude it’s a bad act?
Persuaded that it might be close to being a good child, Hestia finally decided to join in the theft.
