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"Before my skill changed, it was called «Eroge Constitution». It was really rough leading a life, in particular in the starting days when I acquired it."
Even if I didn't know the effect of skill, just the name alone reeks of trouble to me. Adding what she said, I really wondered what happened?
"I learned I'd acquired a skill from status board on April 8th, the day of my birthday. The name was so comical, and there was no way to tell what it did without trying out. Since I had just enrolled into the school, I was more excited for making new friends than caring about the skill."
Well, yeah. That's the normal reaction. In my case, I was forced to be aware of that after it blocked me from spending. But that said, how in the world do you test the effect of something as ludicrous as the «Eroge Constitution».
"But, though I didn't care about it, I was forced to learn about it when I was making my way back home from school. At first, I found myself stumbling even when I was walking alright, and fell into the arms of a boy. Later, I bumped into another boy while turning around the corner and fell over him, who ended up touching my chest. And then, as if guided by some mysterious power, a gust of wind only blew behind me and nowhere, flipping my skirt, allowing the boy behind me to take a look at my panties."
...The lucky pervert incidents really didn't put shame to that name, eh? Ah, I mean, the name was certainly embarrassing.
"These perverted incidents keep happening for as long as I was outside of home. It was obvious the cause was the skill, so after a family meeting, I decided to come to the dungeon."
"So you also believe it's absolutely possible to change the skill, right?"
"I do. I have been trying to level up with only one hope—to change my skill no matter what."
I could tell she was earnest, just like me. I definitely get it. We never wanted these demerits in our life, but here we're, scrambling for level up to get our lives back on the track.
"I had some interest in dungeons to begin with, and I even thought of coming here one day, but I never thought I would do that in my high school when I least expected it. What about you, Senpai? It doesn't seem like your skill is a handful in daily life. I presume you really are trying for harem?”
Huh…? What did she mean by “You really are”?
Shiranami-san said the same thing to me. No, really, why was it that everyone somehow thought I wanted a harem?!
"No, not at all. My reason is the same as you, I just want this goddamned demerit skill changed for better."
"Huh?"
"Why are you looking surprised?"
"A-ah, I mean, I just can't see how your skill is affecting your daily life, so I just thought......"
"It’s the opposite if anything! My whole life has been turned upside down due to that."
"Is that so? Wait, I see. So you can't even recharge your cards."
"I would've wished for it to be just that. No, it's affecting my ability to spend on gacha games."
I tried to explain, but Takamiya-san simply tilted her head, question marks hovering all above it.
"......I don’t see how that’s an interference to your daily life."
"I can't whale if I can't spend."
"......I don’t see how that’s an interference to your daily life."
What was she, a broken clock?!
"No, it's affecting me almost to the level of incurable disease. Whether I can whale or not is a matter of life and death to me."
"Aha...ha. I see."
The response was a dry chuckle. It was obvious she didn't quite believe it. "Saying it's for money would've been more believable......" She remarked in a whispering tone, but I heard you, alright?!
I mean, yeah. That's how much I like gacha. So what?
"To be clear, let alone harem, I don't even want to marry anyone. I don’t even know why everyone seems to think this is the only reason I can have. ...Maybe because most of the boys' reason is harem? Am I being lumped into them?”
I unwittingly remarked, not that I really wanted to know. It was me monologuing. Unexpectedly, Takamiya-san revealed the answer.
"No, it's not that. I just presume so since you're friends with that Mori-senpai."
"That Mori-senpai?"
“Yes. Many girls have been constantly approached by him, and isn’t Mori-senpai also diving into the dungeon, alongside his party who shared the same goal? Everyone in freshman year has heard of him and his dream as early as the first month of the entrance ceremony.”
Daiki, didn't you say people in the school have a spirit of steel? I don't think you're any far from it.
"That's why I was completely assured you're aiming for harem too."
"So you're saying my reputation is the collateral damage for his act?!"
"I don't think there's anything wrong with chasing harem. If anything, I'd say that's a nice dream. However—"
Woah, she ought to be the first girl I have seen that actually encourages harem.
"I don't think having a frivolous attitude while approaching girls is really the way to do it. And more importantly, if any girl works, that's a bit, you know......"
Seriously, Daiki, just what have you been doing? To be honest, he had never been a skirt-chaser whenever we’re hanging out. But if even Takamiya-san had heard of him… just how many girls have you made advances on, Daiki?
"Regardless, this is one thing where he and I are in contrast to each other. Anyway, I don't think it's good to stay here anymore. We shall move on. Also, what do you think we party up until outside the dungeon?"
"Ah... er, yes, please. I am really sorry to slow you down."
Sheesh, she didn’t have to be so apologetic.
I wondered why she stammered? Either way, Takamiya-san nodded, so at least she must have wanted to gain experience.
Parties shared the experience value they obtained from fighting. Even if someone remained idle while others fought, experience was still divided fairly. This was a lifeline for people with recovery class skills, since it allowed them, non-combatants, to gain experience. Of course, beside them, freeloaders were absolutely not looked at kindly.
Sometimes, I couldn't help but imagine how great it would've been without a system like this which deter other from partying up with demerit skill holders like us... then again, we'd still be the weak link in the party, so I guess we're not destined to have party one way or another.
Anyway, putting the dilemma aside, it was often recommended to party up. You could technically dive together even without creating a party, but in such cases, the rewarded experience would be quite below its usual value, a strange phenomenon. It would be a waste to not party up here and squander the experience we could've gotten.
I opened the status board, and sent the party invite. Promptly, Takamiya-san accepted it, and with this, we're now party members.
—*Beep.* «Conditions attained. A Skill has been unlocked.»
All of a sudden, an unexpected message popped up on my status board.
It appeared our departure was delayed for a bit longer.