Progress and More Transformations

After killing her first monster, Raphtalia collapses on the ground. She is sitting on the grass-covered ground, breathing roughly. She seems exhausted and drained from what's happened.

I resist the urge to sigh as I see Raphtalia's state, crouch down to pick the Monster's Loot and approach her slowly. As if sensing my approach, her body twitches, and her face rises up to meet my gaze. It's when I see her exhausted expression.

Despite her exhaustion, I can sense her nervousness. I feel the urge to sigh and resist the temptation to go with it, again.

After stopping in front of her, I crouch low and start petting her head. "Good job, Lia. And sorry for forcing you to remember your trauma," I whisper to her.

Her eyes open wide in surprise as if she never expected that. She shakes her head furiously and says, "No! You shouldn't apologize, Mister Ran! You've done that for my sake. It was me who should apologize! I didn't listen to you because of my fear, and it's my fault..."

"Then, let's agree that both of us were wrong, okay?"

"Umm..." Raphtalia seems unsure of how she should respond.

We spend a couple of minutes in awkward silence. I never stopped my petting on her head.

"By the way," I start, breaking the silence. "Congratulation on killing your first monster."

"Yes! I've killed... a monster... right?" Raphtalia nods and trails slowly as her words and actions settle in her mind.

Forming a disbelieving expression, she looks at her knife and seemingly recalls what she's done.

"So, how do you feel? Do you think you can continue?"

She looks up to meet my eyes and nods slowly. "I am fine... and feel strong! I never thought that it's easy to kill a monster... But, you helped me!" She pauses to sort her feelings. Then, she continues, saying, "I think I can continue, Mister Ran. Let's find more monsters."

"Are you sure?" I ask.

Raphtalia shows a determined expression and nods deeply. "Yes!" She replies resolutely.

She sure is growing up fast, huh? Perhaps, she's forcing herself to not disappoint me? Either one of those assumptions can be the truth. Or both of them. Or neither.

That aside, let's return to the present.

"Fine, then. Next, you'll fight Balloons without my help. We'll follow my plan: you'll fight those balloons, and I'll help you when they try to bite you. Additionally, I've realized that you need to learn to properly use a sword. Or a knife in this case. Anyway, I'll teach you the proper forms while you fight them." I tell her, who is listening to my words intently.

"Come on! Let's find more Balloons to kill." I help her to stand up.

Before we move, I discreetly let the yellow gem attached to one of my swords absorb the Orange Balloon's remains. I'm presently under a disguise, and the Legendary Bow is transformed into the twin-swords form of Enki Transformation. Furthermore, the two swords hanging on my waists seem different due to an accessory attached to them that changed each sword's appearance.

The accessories are something created by my Omnipotence, but enough about that.

[Unlocked: Orange Small Bow - 0/10 - Common Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +1 Attack, +1 Speed]

I dismiss the notification screen and bring Raphtalia to move away from this spot.

I remember that the other heroes, except for Motoyasu, are grinding for EXP around this area. The Shadows of the Queen and the Cult probably keep their eyes on them. I don't want them to find me because their Legendary Weapons sense my Legendary Bow.

For the time being, I want to stay low. At the very least, I want to keep my anonymity until Raphtalia moves on from her trauma. No, that's too fast. I guess I'll start doing as I please with impunity after Raphtalia grew up and officially became my lover.

We move away from the prairie. I've decided to bring Raphtalia into the nearby forest. After entering the forest, I teach Raphtalia how to wield a short sword. Thanks to her small body and reach, the knife can act as a replacement for a sword.

By the way, I also unlock Slaver Series and Raccoon Series while teaching Raphtalia. I unlock Slaver Bow I and II from the ink mixed with my blood I've gotten from Beloukas. Meanwhile, the Raccoon Bow I, II, III, and IV are unlocked by letting my Legendary Bow absorb Raphtalia's hair and a drop of her blood.

Also, I've used my Omnipotence to create high-quality special ink for the enslavement ritual before mixing it with my blood. Then, I use it to unlock Slaver Bow III and IV.

After unlocking Slaver Bow I to IV and Raccoon Bow I to IV, I unlock Prime Slaver Bow and Prime Raccoon Bow. Furthermore, I unlock Holy Bow I, II, III, IV, and Blessed version from the Holy Water I've gotten from my visit to the church.

For their details, they are as follows:

[Slaver Bow I - 0/10 - Common Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +1 Speed - Equip Bonus: Slave Stat Growth Up (Small)]

[Slaver Bow II - 0/10 - Common Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +2 Speed - Equip Bonus: Slave Maturation Growth Up (Small)]

[Slaver Bow III - 0/20 - Uncommon Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +1 Attack, +2 Speed - Equip Bonus: Slave Stat Growth Up (Medium)]

[Slaver Bow IV - 0/20 - Uncommon Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +2 Attack, +3 Speed - Equip Bonus: Slave Maturation Growth Up (Medium)]

[Slaver Bow Prime - 0/25 - Rare Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +5 Attack, +5 Speed - Equip Bonus: Slave Stat Growth Up (High)]

[Raccoon Bow I - 0/10 - Common Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +1 Attack - Equip Bonus: Raccoon Demi-Human Party Member Stat Growth Up (Small)]

[Raccoon Bow II - 0/10 - Common Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +1 Speed - Equip Bonus: Raccoon Demi-Human Party Member Maturation Growth Up (Small)]

[Raccoon Bow III - 0/20 - Uncommon Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +2 Attack, +2 Speed - Equip Bonus: Raccoon Demi-Human Party Member Stat Growth Up (Medium)]

[Raccoon Bow IV - 0/20 - Uncommon Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +3 Attack, +2 Speed - Equip Bonus: Raccoon Demi-Human Party Member Maturation Growth Up (Medium)]

[Raccoon Bow Prime - 0/25 - Rare Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +5 Attack, +5 Speed - Equip Bonus: Raccoon Demi-Human Party Member Stat Growth Up (High)]

[Holy Bow I - 0/20 - Uncommon Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +1 Attack +2 Speed - Equip Bonus: MP Up (Small)]

[Holy Bow II - 0/20 - Uncommon Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +1 Defense, +2 Speed - Equip Bonus: MP Recovery UP (Small)]

[Holy Bow III - 0/20 - Uncommon Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +1 Magic Attack, +2 Speed - Equip Bonus: SP Up (Small)]

[Holy Bow IV - 0/20 - Uncommon Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +2 Magic Defense, +2 Speed - Equip Bonus: SP Recovery Up (Small)]

[Blessed Holy Bow - 0/35 - Rare Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +5 Attack, +5 Magic Attack, +5 Speed - Equip Bonus: Light Magic Damage Up (Medium), Dark Magic Resistance Up (Medium) - Special Skill: Holy Arrow]

After a couple of hours, I feel satisfied with Raphtalia's progress. She now is capable to use a basic stance of proper swordplay. I bring Raphtalia to find more Balloons.

I repeat what I've done at Raphtalia's first kill. I let Raphtalia kill her second to fifth balloons with their back facing her. I want to build his confidence first. After she killed those Balloons, I'd give the Loots to my transformed Legendary Bow. With that, I've unlocked more Balloon Series.

[Unlocked: Red Small Bow - 0/10 - Common Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +2 Attack, +1 Speed]

[Unlocked: Green Small Bow - 0/10 - Common Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +1 Attack, +2 Speed]

[Unlocked: Blue Small Bow - 0/10 - Common Rarity - Unmastered - 0/100 Proficiency - Stat Bonus: +1 Defense, +1 Speed]

[+1 Proficiency of Orange Small Bow]

[+1 Proficiency of Red Small Bow]

...

"Okay! This time, you'll stab it while its face's facing you!" I instruct Raphtalia and raise a Red Balloon in front of her.

This time, I let the face of the Balloon facing Raphtalia. This will be another milestone for Raphtalia to pass.

"Y-yes!" Raphtalia stutters and nods hesitatingly, her eyes leering at the struggling Red Balloon warily.

"What are you waiting for?" I ask.

Raphtalia readies herself and sets her body in the proper form according to my teaching. Then, she narrows her eyes, grits her teeth, and releases a cute war cry, "HYAAAAH!"

POP! The Red Balloon in my grip popped out. It was well done.

"You've killed a monster while properly looking at its face. Good job!" I congratulate her after dismissing the notification of EXP gain.

1 EXP is very insignificant to me. I need to collect hundreds of thousands of EXP to level up at my present level.

"So, how is it? Could you continue? Or would you like to take a short break?" I ask.

"Umm... I felt scared at first, but I felt silly for being afraid of it after popping it out." Raphtalia pauses and forms a thoughtful expression. Then, she continues, saying, "Let's continue, Mister Ran! I think I can still go for more balloons!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Let's find more Balloons, Mister Ran!"

"Alright!" I pat her head after collecting the Loot.

"Ehehehe..." Raphtalia giggles merrily and squints her eyes blissfully.

After that, we, or to be precise only Raphtalia, continue killing more balloons until the dusk comes.