I’m Just Leveling up Efficiently, but for Some Reason, the People Around Me Seem to Be Looking at Me With Disapproval - Chapter 4

Uwooooooooooh!!

Experience points experience points experience points experience points!!

It had probably been three or four hours since I started taking down Ugly Pig Tribe Orcs.

I was gathering experience points like crazy and raising my level at an insane speed.

Right now I had just beaten another one in front of me and leveled up.

――――――――――
Level: 32
Exp: 7876/32000
Stamina: 31
Magic Power: 37
Endurance: 36
Strength: 26
Technique: 28
Durability: 29
Reason: 35
Faith: 22
Remaining Status Points: 64
――――――――――

Nhooooooooooh!!

That feels so goooooood!!

Way too good!!

Leveling up is so much fuuuun!!

I checked my status and came right there.

I was squatting down, almost convulsing, when Dad came over with a serious look on his face.

“Yushuu! Are you okay!”

Oops.

Close one.

If I keep this up I’ll look like some crazy guy who gets off on leveling up.

I had to avoid that.

I forced a serious expression onto my face and looked up.

“…Dad.”

“Why… you…”

Why?

Isn’t it obvious?

Come on.

“I thought I had to take down the Ugly Pig Tribe Orcs.”

Of course it was for leveling.

There was no reason not to fight these tasty-looking experience point enemies.

If I let them get away now I’d definitely regret it.

First priority, leveling.

Second priority, leveling.

Third priority, experience points.

No other reasons.

——And with that.

I stood up and said,

“Well then, see you later, Dad.”

“Hey! What the hell do you——!”

“There are still more Ugly Pig Tribe Orcs, right?”

“Yeah there are, but…”

“Then I have to take them down.”

“Why does it have to be you! There are other village guards! You don’t have to do it all by yourself…!”

“Can the other guards beat the Ugly Pig Tribe Orcs?”

I asked Dad that.

If the guards wanted to take them down for leveling too, then fine.

It would be a shame, but I’d step back even if it hurt.

But from what I saw, they didn’t look like they could win.

In that case it was fine for me to take all the experience points myself, right?

For some reason Dad looked frustrated and looked down when I asked.

Right then.

The mother and daughter who had been shaking behind him came closer and bowed their heads to me.

“…Um, thank you so much for saving us.”

Then they bowed to Dad too.

…Hm?

Did I do something to get thanked for?

…Well, whatever.

While I was tilting my head, Dad spoke with a bitter look.

“Yushuu. I’m counting on you for the village.”

I didn’t really get it but I nodded anyway.

“Leave it to me.”

After that Dad left with the mother and daughter.

…All right.

I wiped the drool from my mouth, got fired up again, and gripped my survival knife.

Time to restart the leveling.

* * *

At that moment, Avi was full of regret.

She regretted leaving Yushuu behind.

She regretted letting him stay alone.

By now he was probably already killed by an Ugly Pig Tribe Orc.

Yushuu had received his blessing.

But he had only just gotten it.

Even Avi, who had never fought, knew the Ugly Pig Tribe Orcs weren’t weak enough for him to beat them easily.

“Erin…”

Yushuu’s mom Erin was crying.

She was crouched down, crying quietly.

“Yushuu… uuh… Yushuu…”

Avi had lost her parents to monsters when she was really little.

After that she had been alone the whole time.

Because she was quiet, the other village kids avoided her and never came close.

In all that time, the only one who treated her normally was Yushuu.

Avi liked that Yushuu.

She wasn’t even sure if it was romantic feelings or just friendship.

But it was clear that Yushuu was her only emotional support.

And Avi knew exactly how it felt to be lonely.

It was sad.

It was painful.

It was hard.

She didn’t want to go back to being alone.

Sure, Erin and Yujin were kind to her.

But it wasn’t the same.

Avi knew deep down how important it was to have a friend her own age.

If she lost Yushuu, she would be alone again.

She hated that.

She really hated that.

But…

(I was scared… Back then I should have stood next to Yushuu no matter what, but I was too scared to do anything…)

Why.

How come.

Why couldn’t I find any courage back then?

It was too late to regret it now.

Yushuu was probably already cut to pieces and killed by that Ugly Pig Tribe Orc.

“Uuh… uuuu…”

She stood there crying.

Even when she tried to stop, the tears kept pouring out.

“Yushuu… Yushuu…”

That was when it happened.

The bushes rustled.

Her body jumped in fear and she quickly looked toward the sound.

Erin looked at the bushes too.

What appeared wasn’t an Ugly Pig Tribe Orc.

It was Yujin.

“Yujin!?”

Erin called out.

“…Erin? And Avi too.”

Yujin sounded surprised.

From behind him, the mother and daughter peeked out.

Then they heard the whole story from Yujin.

That Yushuu was still alive.

That he was fighting the Ugly Pig Tribe Orcs.

That he was desperately trying to save the village even though he was all beat up.

Yujin told them while mixing in his own frustration at not being able to do anything.

“…I see. So Yushuu…”

Erin muttered in a complicated tone.

Avi felt like her heart was being torn apart.

Yushuu’s resolve cut deep into her heart.

(Why does Yushuu have to go through something so painful… How can he keep trying so hard even while suffering like that…)

But somewhere in her heart, Avi understood.

They had made a promise a long time ago.

When they were little, Avi and Yushuu had promised each other.

‘Yushuu.’

‘Hm? What’s up?’

‘If… if a really strong monster showed up, what would you do?’

‘Where did that come from all of a sudden?’

‘Sometimes I dream about it. A strong monster appears and I end up getting killed like my mom and dad.’

Back then Avi had been shaking.

She was scared.

Scared of having that dream.

Scared that the dream might become real.

But Yushuu answered clearly.

‘Then I’ll protect you.’

‘…You will, Yushuu?’

‘Yeah. I’ll protect you, Avi. Even if it costs my life.’

It probably wasn’t just for her.

Yushuu was probably fighting for the whole village.

But.

She couldn’t help thinking a little.

If they hadn’t made that promise, maybe Yushuu wouldn’t have to suffer and fight alone.

Maybe the reason he was suffering and fighting right now was because of that promise with her.

It might be conceited.

Yushuu might not even remember such an old promise.

But she couldn’t shake the feeling.

(Please live. Yushuu… Please, just come back alive…)

All Avi could do was pray.

She still hadn’t received her blessing.

If she went to Yushuu now she would only get in the way.

So she prayed.

She prayed that Yushuu would come back alive.

That he would come back safe and healthy.

She prayed with everything she had.

(If he comes back alive, I swear I’ll never let him go again… So please… God… Don’t take Yushuu away from me… He’s all I have…)

It was a desperate wish.