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After seeing off Takamiya-san's family, and with Takamiya-san acquiring her weapon, we immediately approached the washroom.
"You may start anytime, Senpai."
"Alright."
Why did we come here instead of heading straight to the dungeon? In one word, precaution.
Clothes momentarily disappeared when forming a party with my skill. There was no place in the dungeon where we could do that without having anyone stumble on the scene, and not make it hell for us. Thus, the washroom was our reluctant, but best choice.
"Mm... it's really embarrassing to get naked, even if for a mere moment, and your back to me."
"I wonder why this is even necessary? It would've been so nice if there's no fanfare like when we disband the party."
"I can't say for sure, but perhaps my «Game System: Eroge» may be the culprit."
"Is it even going far to meddle with someone else's skill? What the hell was it, an incarnation of obsession and persistence?!"
Seriously, it's as if the skill couldn't wait to push Takamiya-san into perverted situations.
"Sometimes, there's just no answers. Besides, the only glaring problem is dress when partying up, but that's still doable by hiding ourself in some room at least."
Takamiya-san replied, as if quoting philosophy. The incidents ever since her enrollment must've forged her mentality, or perhaps, that was the only way to get through them. It must be why she didn't seem flustered.
I might not have the same type of demerit skill, but I knew very well just how troublesome they're.
We arrived at the dungeon shortly after, and immediately took the stairs to one floor and another. We’re heading straight to the 3rd floor.
"From yesterday's experience, I think we’d have no trouble on the 4th floor, Senpai. But I think it might be better to get a hang of ourselves as a team first, and I also can try my new shield. I suggest we start there tomorrow onwards."
"Sounds like a plan. And since you're going to use that Greater Shield, maybe I should start thinking about switching to something proper. Can't drag the shovel all the time, eh?"
"I don't think you have to, Senpai. At your level, you can insta-kill goblins with shovels."
One might be wondering why we're speaking of our party as if we're at a high enough level to challenge lower floors when the training effect vanishes when we disband the party.
To give a quick rundown, it turned out the situation wasn't what I had expected. I'd thought I would've to spend another 30 «Seed of Growth», but Takamiya-san regained her training buff when we formed a party again.
The revelation really gave me a fright.
Don't get me wrong, I was delighted I had a formidable partner, but that also meant there was a huge chasm between our strength. Once again, I was seized with worry that I might leech off a young girl.
"Ah, there's a goblin."
Regardless of my worries, the situation unfurled, and we soon met our first target.
It was a group of three goblins; two of them were goblin soldiers, while the remaining one was empty handed. The last one must be a normal goblin.
" " "Gobya!!" " "
It was a long corridor with nothing to block the view. The goblins, too, took notice of our presence immediately.
"Leave the vanguard to me, Senpai. I will tackle their attack, and get their attention. Please finish them off then."
"Understood."
I slightly hunched myself, hiding in the shadow of Takamiya-san as possible, to stay out of the goblin's attention.
Then, eyeing the opportunity, I flanked a goblin while they lunged at Takamiya-san.
" " "Gobyaa!!" " "
"Haa!"
" " "Go...byaa...?!" " "
However, before I could've made my move, the goblins were sent flying across the corridor. There was a twitch when they rolled on the floor, and then turned into particles of light.
" "......" "
Was I hallucinating?
Takamiya-san had merely given her Greater Shield a wave to deflect incoming attacks from goblins. That was it, literally, but the Greater Shield swatted them like a mosquito, and they hurled across the room like bowling balls.
......I, was I even needed here?
"Oh, wait. I completely forgot about the bonus from «Heavy Equipment»."
"Now that you say it, I guess shovel barely got you the benefits from the skill. I have to say though, it's really an eye opener. I don't think there's even a reason for me right now that you have the Greater Shield."
"Well, it weighs 20kg after all. Of course, it's almost as light as a feather to me with my skill."
Who in the world was going to believe this was a derivative skill of an absurd skill that was hellbent on making its owner go through perverted situations?!
Could you imagine it? Today, it was Greater Shield, but what if she swung around something even bigger and heavier? The only possible limitation was the closed space of the dungeon, and balance when swinging something wildly beyond her stature.
"With the power adjustment from my skill, and benefits from your skill, this floor is really not cut for my abilities now."
"......Now I feel like that leech who's hampering someone's bright future."
How was I any different from those accessory pieces in the RPGs that only exist to provide bonus stats?
"You are underselling yourself, senpai! There's no way I would've been so bold in action if you hadn't been here, always worrying about injury, and even if I'd managed to achieve the same feat without your skill, there will still come a point where I hit a dead end. I definitely neeeeed you in my team!!"
Can't say I wasn't delighted to hear her insisting that much...
"I am still level 5. Are you sure we take our game to the 4th floor?"
"It's alright, Senpai. I will protect you."
Oh god, who's this girl? So dashing. .....Hold on. Didn't that mean I'm the heroine?!
"Besides, my skills can simply transfer damage to clothes. You should be fine as long as it's nothing serious."
"Ah, I nearly forgot about that. And my skill can mend torn clothes... maybe, it's not a bad idea?"
"I know, right? How about we give it a trial run then?"