I Wanted a Cute Girl to Cast Healing Magic on Me, So I Kept Protecting My Allies—and Ended Up with an Overprotective Party

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Chapter 38: Evolving

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In a D-rank dungeon rumored to have a boss, I took a direct hit from a Cyclops’ giant club. I had my damage adjustment set to 『Unharmed』, so I didn’t sustain any wounds, but the impact still sent me flying and slammed me into the wall.

But at that moment, I felt my level go up, even though all I had done was get hit by an attack.

Could it be that Damage Adjustment evolves with experience, just like Emil’s Heal…?

“Rikuto!”

“Rikuto-san!”

“Geez! I knew it! You really are hopeless without me!”

Each of them shouted as they rushed over to me.

“I’m fine. It looks worse than it is.”

“Huh? Really? It looked like you had taken a big, though.”

“Maybe it’s thanks to this light armor that Miya and I went to buy together.”

“I-I’d be happy to go shopping with you as often as you’d like!”

“That would be great. In that case—”

“Rikuto-san, this isn’t the time for chatting, is it? Right? Right…?”

Emil looked kind of scary.

I mean, is it even normal to repeat “right?” three times like that?

But she was correct. Monsters wouldn’t wait politely for conversations to end.

“As expected of a Cyclops—it really packs a punch.”

“Rikuto, this is no time to be impressed. You haven’t even taken one down yet. I’ll try to defeat one quickly and come support you!”

Right. There were two Cyclopes. After confirming I was okay, Karinka-san ran off toward the other one.

“It’s okay now. Emil, Miya—can you both fall back a bit?”

“Huh? But, Rikuto-san…”

“Actually, I leveled up from that last attack.”

“You really leveled up? Even though you didn’t defeat a monster?”

“Yeah, there’s no doubt about it. I really levelled up, so I’ll be fine. Besides, I’m a frontliner. At the very least, let me protect my teammates.”

It was a bit embarrassing to say, but I meant every word, so I had no regrets.

“If you’re going to say it like that, I’ll believe you. But if you ever start acting reckless again, I’ll make you drink my special soup every day!”

“I’m not sure why it comes back to soup again, but I appreciate it nonetheless.”

“I believe in you too, Rikuto-san. But if you do get hurt, I’ll heal you with all my heart. Still, please—please don’t overdo it.”

“Thanks, Emil.”

With that, the two of them pulled back to a safe distance again. A little ways off, Karinka-san was already fighting. Since she was A-rank, a D-rank monster would probably be no trouble for her. Once she finished, she’d surely come back to support me.

But if possible, I wanted to take this one down myself. I couldn’t keep relying on Karinka-san forever. I once again faced off with the pale blue Cyclops. It was several times my height and incredibly intimidating. If I didn’t have the damage adjustment skill, my legs probably would’ve been shaking.

Its weakness was that huge single eye. But to reach it, I’d have to bring down its massive frame. I already knew I could injure its leg. I focused solely on striking the same spot repeatedly. I had leveled up, but I didn’t feel any particular difference. It didn’t seem like my offensive abilities had increased.

So maybe something did change with 【Damage Adjustment】skill after all…? I really wanted to test it. But if I were to let myself get hit for the second time… I’d probably get chewed out like crazy.

As I was thinking that, the Cyclops swung its club down. I dodged it. The missed blow slammed into the ground, shaking the earth with a thunderous roar. Then it came at me again in a sweeping motion, fast and aiming right for me. Last time, I had taken that head-on and gotten blown into a wall.

Let’s see what happens this time.

I crossed my arms in a defensive stance. I wouldn’t know if the 【Damage Adjustment】 had evolved unless I actually tested it—under the same conditions, ideally. After all, it wasn’t like I could hear a mysterious voice popping up in my head and list my new status. I had to find out for myself through practical experiments.

Of course, I didn’t really think I could block that massive club with just my arms. But it had to be better than taking it without any guard at all. The club, as thick as a tree trunk, slammed into my arms with a loud crash.

“Rikuto-san!”

“Rikuto!”

The voices of two beautiful girls rang out clearly. Yes—clearly. I was still standing in place, catching the club solidly with both arms. Thanks to the 『Unharmed』 setting, I felt neither pain nor actual damage.

So this means…?

Apparently, 【Damage Adjustment】 had gained knockback resistance. The skill had evolved. Now that it had, the rest was easy. I kept attacking while dodging the club as best I could. I wanted to avoid hits whenever possible, but I still wasn’t fast enough to dodge them all, so the club struck me directly a few more times. Still, I didn’t budge.

A club like a tree trunk vs. me. A bewildered Cyclops. I was exuding overwhelming confidence. Eventually, I took down the Cyclops, leaving behind only the magic stone. I had done it. I’d taken it down on my own.

Right after that, Karinka-san rushed over to me.

“Rikuto! Are you okay!?”

“Yes. I managed to defeat it by myself.”

“Wow, amazing. I honestly wasn’t sure what would happen when you got blown away earlier.”

“Sorry for worrying you. But surprisingly enough, I didn’t take much damage from that hit.”

“Still, even if that’s true, anyone would be worried seeing something like that.”

“Exactly. Miya-san’s right.”

“By the way, Rikuto… After watching you fight from behind, it really looked like you got a lot stronger all of a sudden.”

“Like I said earlier, I leveled up.”

“Yeah, but can leveling up make you that indestructible all at once?”

Miya was sharp. Well, she was the type who always spoke her mind after all.

“I told you before—I’m confident in my defense.”