I Wanted a Cute Girl to Cast Healing Magic on Me, So I Kept Protecting My Allies—and Ended Up with an Overprotective Party - 39

Chapter 39: Is This a Cheat Skill Too?

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It seemed that the 【Damage Adjustment】 skill also evolved via proficiency—just like Emil’s Heal. The skill had evolved and now granted resistance to being knocked airborne.

Sure, that part is fine and all, but… What is happening right now?

Right now I was surrounded front and both sides by party members.

“Karinka‑san, isn’t this formation odd? It’s like everyone’s protecting me.”

“Exactly. We’re all protecting Rikuto.”

“That’s kind of you, but I thought Emil should be in that position.”

“Rikuto‑san, now’s not the time for conversation, right? Right?”

“There are no monsters around, so I think it’s fine to talk. Emil, don’t you agree?”

“Let’s all work together to beat the boss!”

It looked like I’d lost the right even to question Emil. Why? I reluctantly let it go. Still, Emil and Miya were too close, and on this wide path I ended up brushing against them often. Each time I moved, I could feel how soft a girl truly was. 

Despite it being a rocky dungeon, there was a staircase leading underground—as if someone had deliberately built it. Investigating such things was part of an adventurer’s job. 

Thinking about it, being an adventurer was actually quite important. We reached a huge double iron door—several times taller than me.

“Beyond this lies the dungeon boss. Everyone ready?” 

Karinka‑san asked. We all nodded quietly. She opened the door and we followed. It seemed no other adventurers were here. If there had been, we would have cooperated with them. Inside, there was nothing: just rock floor, walls, ceiling—endlessly spacious, as if made solely for battle.

“All right everyone. As explained, this boss induces a sleep status effect. Unfortunately, preventing it is difficult. But don’t worry, I’ll use an item to wake everyone up.” 

Karinka‑san said. Before arriving, she’d told us that the boss used sleep gas, and inhaling it caused a sleep status effect. As gas, it was nearly impossible to block. 

Only Karinka‑san currently had resistance. If anyone fell asleep, she’d use a 『Bell of Awakening』—a rare unlimited-use item from her previous party, effective only against forced sleep.

Still, I found the whole idea of sleep as a status effect suspicious. Would anyone actually fall asleep mid‑battle? Surely you wouldn’t be able to fall asleep mid-battle. More than that, I wondered whether 【Damage Adjustment】 worked against status effects. I tried testing, but it was hard to inflict one on myself. I couldn’t possibly drink poison on my accord.

Since there were no hiding spots, the formation dissolved. Only Emil retreated, and everyone advanced to the center.

“Boss incoming! I’ll draw its attention—Rikuto and Miya, just attack! Emil, stay back!” 

Karinka-san’s voice signified the start of the battle. Her voice was louder than usual. I drew my shortsword, and Miya pulled out a dagger. A large shadow suddenly fell—clearly a drop from above. It was a dragon, like those depicted in many stories.

If the guild notice hadn’t mentioned a dragon, I would have been terrified.

Karinka‑san explained that dragons varied in rank. In D‑rank dungeons like this one, the dragon was lower tier—not overwhelmingly powerful. But still, its massive frame was hard to see straight up. I had to tilt my head upward to see its body. The dragon was covered in hard purple scales with sharp black claws. The intimidation emanating from the dragon was absolutely intense. 

“I’ll draw its attention! Rikuto and Miya, flank it! Emil, hide safely!” 

Since we’d been told the dragon exhaled sleep gas, we planned to flank from behind. We tried—but the dragon slashed at Karinka‑san and swung its tail at us. Our plan to sneak from behind didn’t go smoothly.

“The dragon is inhaling! Incoming sleep breath!”

Karinka‑san shouted, but there was no way to defend ourselves against it. Maybe we could try holding our breath?  The dragon arched its head and expelled white smoke. I was set to 『Unharmed』but… Would I be able to escape from the status effect?

Soon the fog cleared and vision returned. Everything looked normal.

So, I’m fine… Sleep as a status effect is ridiculous anyway.

Seeing the chance, I rushed to flank it from behind. But then I heard a sound… Thinking about it, I realized I had been hearing that sound for a while now.  Was it… a bell?

“Rikuto! Rikuto! Wake up!” 

Karinka-san called. I realized I’d been lying face-down.

“Rikuto! Thank goodness—now get up! Miya too!” 

It turned out I had dreamed I hadn’t fallen asleep. It was a dream. In reality the sleep breath worked—but Karinka-san used the 『Bell of Awakening』, and I awoke instantly.

Sleep status effect mid-battle… That really is dangerous.

At that moment I felt the level-up sensation—this timing could only mean that 【Damage Adjustment】 had evolved once again. I wanted to test it, but there was no way I could do it now.

Miya and I attempted again to flank the dragon, but we still struggled under its fierce attacks. Then Miya dashed alone across the dragon’s side. The dragon quickly turned its body and attacked her with claws and tail, but she dodged everything with lightning speed. 

Has Miya always been that agile?

“I decided I’ll never get injured again! Especially my face! If that happens again, I don’t think I can take it…”

 Her determination was fierce, but a part of me was wondering whether it was alright for Emil to hear that. 

“Rikuto! Then we’ll attack from here!”

“Understood!”

Karinka and I attacked from behind. I aimed at its legs, she at its back. The dragon faced us, but Miya replaced our position by slashing it from behind. She stabbed the dragon repeatedly with her dagger. 

The dragon then attempted another sleep breath—but I didn’t feel sleepy. This was real. This wasn’t a dream. There was no mistaking it. 【Damage Adjustment】 gave me sleep resistance!

The skill had evolved again. At this rate, maybe I could truly nullify all attacks. This really was a cheat skill.

Finally, we defeated the dragon. After confirming the dragon had turned into a magic stone, we all regrouped. 

“Good work, everyone’s grown. Especially Miya. What beautiful movements.”

“Yes! Karinka-san praised me!”

“I thought you were amazing too. You really seemed determined to never get hurt anymore.”

“Th-Thanks… Rikuto, you really give praise so straightforwardly, huh?”

“Really? I said what I said because I truly thought you were amazing.”

As I said that, I noticed a scar on Miya’s face—probably a claw scratch from the dragon. This was supposed to be my role, but even someone like me could read the situation. There was no way I could chose anything but 『Unharmed』 in a boss battle. 

The Saintess had said that Emil needed more level-up, since her magic control wasn’t great. That meant I had to reluctantly let Miya take the role of receiving Emil’s Heal.

“Miya, you have a—”

“Come on! Let’s go back and report to the guild! Hurry!”

Miya cut me off, clearly trying to hide something.

….Well, I’m not a demon so… Maybe I should forgo Emil’s chance at leveling up her healing?

“Miya-san, you have a scratch on your cheek.”

But as expected of Emil. She noticed the scratch on Miya’s face. She must be watching carefully, making sure no one was hurt. Miya panicked when Emil pointed it out. 

“Ah! It’s fine! A potion will heal it!”

“Yes, but I… I had nothing to do during battle and was always being protected…”

“That’s not true! Emil, just your presence is enough!”

Emil moved closer, but Miya stepped back. It was like Miya was dodging from being “attacked” by Emil.

“Miya-san, do you feel I’m not helpful enough? I’ll try harder—at least let me heal you?”

“Why does this girl have such clear, innocent eyes?!” 

Miya froze. Emil stood in front and gently cupped her face. Since both of them had similar height, their eyeline was perfectly aligned. This was the third heal from Emil, all on the face.

Well, everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time

“Seriously, you’re too close! I mean, it’s just girls hugging girls! What about it?! But… Emil’s hands feel so warm… No! Wait, wait!”

“Heal…”

“Ah—… hya…” 

Emil’s hands glowed pale green as she healed Miya’s wounds and Miya’s expression… I could only say she looked like she needed to wipe her drool. Then Emil leaned even closer—perhaps checking the wound.

“Afe…”

Maybe I’m the only one in the world immune to Emil’s Heal? I might be the only one with resistance to hea. Is that a cheat skill too?

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