Chapter 58: Pero’s growth

Pero’s body that has been wrapped with light gradually grows a size then twice his size. The light disappeared when he was about 170 cm tall.

“Father… this is…”

Pero seemed to be surprised at his new appearance. Pero has now become more like a werewolf, his silvery hair become more beautiful that it even reflect light. The muscles in his arms and legs looked firm and strong. His claws and fangs are even sharper and they are shiny like a knife.

Being a sacred beast, Pero grew up as a Saint Werewolf.

I quickly confirmed it with my analysis skill.

【Analysis Result: Pero Tanaka: A werewolf that became a sacred beast. He’s trying hard to catch up to his father as he felt a longing and frustration looking at his distant back: Rarity S】

【Status】 Name: Pero Tanaka Age: 5 years old Race: Saint Werewolf Occupation: Adventurer Magic attribute: Wind | Holy Magic: Air ball, Air Arrow, Holy Roar (New) Skills:  ▹ Special: Body Strengthening(↑), Claw Strengthening(↑) ▹ Advanced: Gale Attack(↑), Intelligence(↑), Intimidation(↑) ▹ Beginner: Fist King Technique (New), Fang Strengthening(New), Devil’s Nose(New), Self-recovery (New) Evolution: Does not meet the conditions 【Evolution Condition: Fist King technique (Special), Body Strengthening (Special), Fang Strengthening (Special), Intelligence (Special)】

First, let’s talk about his skills that ranked-up.

Gale Attack, Body Strengthening, Claw strengthening, Intelligence and Intimidation have levelled up.

Next will be the skills that evolved.

Taijutsu A and Taijutsu B have been integrated and evolved into Fist King Technique.

Finally, the skills added.

Fang Strengthening, Devil’s nose and Self-recovery.

Regarding the Devil’s nose, I don’t know what type of skill it is yet, but I think it is a sensory-enhancing skill like Hell Ears.

There’s also something added to his learned magic.

Holy Roar. The effect of this is still unknown, but I can say it is probably a skill related to his Holy attribute.

“It looks like you’ve grown well.”

I stroke Pero’s head. He became bigger. I’m still taller than him, but I might be overtaken someday. It’s such a strange feeling as it makes me feel both lonely and happy at the same time.

“Pero-sama is even fluffier!”

Freya hugs Pero and presses her face against his face. Pero’s growth seems to be a pleasure for her as well. I’ve heard the word “kemono” before, I wonder if that mean something like Freya…

“My clothes are torn…”

With his torn clothes on his hands, Pero looked a little depressed. Unlike evolution, growth doesn’t seem to change the cloth size.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll just buy you a new one. Until then, wear your old clothes first.”

“Okay”

I took his clothes out of the bangle and give them to Pero. As soon as he started wearing it, Freya who was happily stroking him became dissatisfied.

Rather than that, I have to get various things from Bezel. I quickly approached his corpse and used Skill Picking and Race Picking.

【Status】 Name: Shinichi Tanaka Age: 17 years old (56 years old) Race: Homeless (King) < High Dragoneut (New) | Vampire> Occupation: Adventurer Magic attribute: No Attribute Magic: None Skills: Familiar Creation, Familiar Summoning, Dragon Transformation(New), Skill Picking, Race Picking, King’s Vessel ▹ Special: Stealth, Danger Detection, Enemy Search, Taste Enhancement, Eyesight Enhancement, Hearing Enhancement, Smell Enhancement, Super Sensation(↑), Shock Absorption(↑), Hardening(↑), Plant manipulation, Leadership, Indomitable Spirit(↑), Small Dragon Breath(↑), ▹ Advanced: Theft, Digestion Enhancement, Flight, Paralyzing Eye ▹Intermediate: Master of War (↑), Limit Breakthrough(↑), Underwater Adaptation, Dragon Beheading Slash(New), Fist King Technique(New) ▹Beginner: Analysis, Life or Death Technique, Universal Thread, Division, Self-recovery, Familiar Strengthening

I acquired Dragon Beheading Slash, Fist King Technique, Small Dragon Breath, and Dragon Transformation.

No matter how many times I tried the Sword King Technique, I couldn’t get it. Well, it is probably because there is a master with almost the same skills.

Besides that, some of my skills ranked up.

Master of War has become intermediate and the limit breakthrough skill as well. In addition to that, my skills such as Indomitable Spirit, Super Sensation, Shock Absorption and Hardening became special grade.

【Since certain conditions have been met, your skills will evolve. 】

【Skill Evolution: Danger Detection → Risk Prediction】

【Skill Evolution: Leadership → Dictatorship】

【Note: Sword King Technique was absorbed by Master of War skill】

【Note: Dragoneut was absorbed by High Dragoneut】

Such words were displayed in my field of view at a dizzying pace. I wonder how Risk Prediction is different from before. Well, let’s expect that it will predict the risk I’ll be facing as what the word says. I cannot help but feel a sense of fear in the Dictatorship skill though.

Just where is my skills trying to guide me?

Nevertheless, it is unlikely that Bezel is the strongest in the empire. There’s probably still someone stronger than him.

“In this battle, the empire will surely take note of Mana. The possibility that they will lead ten thousand soldiers here next time is high.”

“You’re saying that the main force of the empire will be coming here?”

“Well, yeah. As it is now, that would be the case. To be honest, I thought the empire would put off the invasion in the kingdom. But that man named Karl didn’t seem to be willing to do that.”

“Then, what would you do? Even you can’t deal with ten thousand troops, right?”

It is as Erna had said. No matter how strong we are, I am not confident enough that we can beat 10,000 dragoneuts. And even if we defeat those ten thousand soldiers, if there are more enemies far stronger than Bezel, it is not difficult to imagine our defeat as we will surely be exhausted after such battle.

Erna hits her fist in the palm of her hand as soon as a good idea came to her.

“What if we counter them by summoning your familiars?”

“No, that’s no good. Homeless skeletons aren’t as strong as those dragoneuts. If we want to win, we have to match their numbers, but…”

Speaking up to that, an idea popped like a flash of light. However, it is unclear if it is possible.

I’m not sure about it but it’s worth a try. Skeletons are ore originally from a human corpse after all. My homeless skeletons also transformed from there. In terms of ability, three of them can beat a dragoneut.

What if my homeless skeletons were three times as many as the enemy? And, what if there was a skeleton of higher rank?

“I can see the path to victory.”

“Oh? Did you think of a way to win?”

“I’m not sure yet, but I think there is hope.”

“That’s great! As expected of Shinichi!”

Erna jumps on me and kisses my cheek. Well, I too don’t want to destroy my beloved town. It’s already like a second home.

If the empire will really come here, let’s greet them confidently.

◇

“This much scraped meat should be enough.”

This is the 20^th floor’s disposal site. I am currently dealing with the corpses of the recovered dragoneuts. In terms of number, there are 350 bodies in total.

Thinking it was a waste to use them to fertilize the soil, I decided to collect the corpses of the dragoneuts and turn them into a skeleton. It took time to dismantle the dragoneuts that can be said to be a giant. Without the skeleton troops including Suketarou, it would have taken longer. Well, in exchange for this, I can expect to have the dragoneut skeletons as my own force. Their bones, from which the meat has been scraped off, are much larger and thicker than those of a human.

“Alright then, let’s turn those five bodies into an undead.”

When I instructed Suketarou and others, they use their Soul Eating skill to transform the skeletons into magical beasts. With rattling sounds, their bones started to move and the five skeletons started to stir.

“Restrict them with shadow bind!”

Upon given further instructions, the skeletons used their magic to bind the large skeletons. Using that opportunity, I used my familiar creation skill to take control over them.

【Analysis Result: Homeless Skeleton (Large): A dragoneut that was turned into a skeleton and was made into Shinichi Tanaka’s familiar: Rarity B】

【Status】 Name: Homeless Skeleton (Large) Race: Homeless Skeleton (Large) Magic attribute: Darkness | No Attribute Magic: Shadow, Shadow bind Skills: Soul Eating ▹ Intermediate: Swordsmanship, Axemanship, Spearmanship, Hammermanship, Archery, Taijutsu A, Taijutsu B, Hardening Control Rate: 100% controlled by Shinichi Tanaka Evolution: Does not meet the conditions 【Evolution Condition: Taijutsu A (Advanced), Hardening (special grade), Self-recovery (Advanced) 】

Its status is not bad.

Its mobility is inferior to the standard type, but its power is overwhelmingly great. It seems that the larger one has better defense. I then turned them into my familiar one after another. I stopped using my familiar creation when it came to the last one.

“This is Bezel’s skeleton huh…”

The last skeleton is Bezel’s, he was a really strong enemy. His bones are exceptionally thick, one size larger than the bones of a normal dragoneut. As expected from the bone of a high dragoneut.

“Suketarou, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Katakata”

After Suketarou eats his soul, Bezel’s skeleton begins to stir. The large homeless skeletons quickly suppressed it.

“Katakatakata”

Even the four large homeless skeletons don’t seem to completely stop its movement. I immediately used my familiar creation skill.

“Mmm, it is resisting more than I expected.”

The green gauge advances slower than expected. It may take about five more minutes.

“Katakata”

Bezel’s skeleton shook off one skeleton and then another one was shaken off its body. The other two are doing their best, but if this goes as it is, it will be troublesome.

“Hold it down with ten more bodies!”

When I instructed that, the large homeless skeletons grab unto Bezel’s bone. However, it dodged one of them and just like that, it begins to fight the remaining nine bodies. Even though there are already two large homeless skeletons clinging to its body, it still managed to do that. Even if it was turned into a skeleton, it seems that the ability it holds did not decline.

“It’s there now! 10% more!”

The green gauge had already advanced to 90%.  10% more and I can finally take control over it.

“Katakatakata”

Bezel’s skeleton began to rush towards me after beating the nine bodies. Another homeless skeleton quickly tried to move to protect me, but his feet were slightly faster.

“Katakata”

Suketarou appeared in front of me. Then he grabbed the arm and ribs of Bezel’s skeleton and he flung it right away. It was a splendid shoulder throw. As soon as Bezel’s skeleton struck on the ground, the familiar creation was also completed.

“Katakata”

“Mmm, thanks Suketarou.”

Bezel’s skeleton stood up and then it struck one knee on the ground as it bowed its head.

【Analysis Result: Homeless Skeleton (Large): A high dragoneut turned into a skeleton and changed to a new specie via Shinichi Tanaka’s familiar creation: Rarity A】

【Status】 Name: Homeless Skeleton (Large) Race: Homeless Skeleton (Large) Magic Attribute: Darkness | No Attribute Magic: Shadow, Shadow field, Shadow bind Skills: Soul Eating ▹Advanced: Body Strengthening ▹Intermediate: Swordsmanship, Spearmanship, Axemanship, Hammermanship, Archery, Fang Strengthening, Shock Absorption, Hardening, Self-recovery, Leadership Control rate: 100% controlled by Shinichi Tanaka　 Evolution: Does not meet the conditions 【Evolution Condition: Sword King Technique (Beginner), Hardening (Special Grade), Leadership (Intermediate) 】

It seems that some of the skills it had during his lifetime remained. Well, it can’t be helped because I acquired a lot of his remarkable skills. Besides, it’s already such a great ability considering it’s only a homeless skeleton.

“This is for the finishing touch”

I sprinkled the saint water from the water bottle I took out on Bezel’s skeleton while it was still bowing down.

“Katakatakatakata”

The skeleton sprinkled with saint water falls to the ground and writhes in pain. It’s a scene very similar to that of Suketarou. Then, its pitch-black body gradually turned golden and it became one size larger. Its bones became even thicker, it is glittering as the light shines on it.

“From today, you are ‘Sukejiro’. You will work to my heart’s content.”

“Katakata”

【Analysis result: Sukejiro: A race born by turning a Homeless Skeleton (Large) into a holy beast thus further evolving it: Rarity SS】

【Status】 Name: Sukejiro Race: Homeless Golden Skeleton (Large) Magic Attribute: Darkness | No Attribute | Holy Magic: Shadow, Shadow field, Shadow bind Skills: Soul Eating ▹Advanced: Body Strengthening ▹Intermediate: Swordsmanship, Spearmanship, Axemanship, Hammermanship, Archery, Fang Strengthening, Shock Absorption, Hardening, Self-recovery, Leadership Control rate: 100% controlled by Shinichi Tanaka　 Evolution: Does not meet the conditions 【Evolution Condition: Sword King Technique (Beginner), Hardening (Special Grade), Leadership (Intermediate) 】

“I’ll give you this”

I hand over the flying dragon bone sword to Sukejiro. It’s not that I can’t handle it, but it’s a little too big. Besides, it would be safe to let Sukejiro, who was the original owner, use it.

“Right, this if for you Suketarou.”

I handed the Mithril sword on my waist to Suketarou. Weapons should be given to those who are capable. And considering the future battles, I’m worried about having them fight with cheap weapons.

「「Katakata」」

The two of them pierced one of their knees to the ground and lowered their heads.

As far as the status is concerned, Suketarou excels in intelligence and Sukejiro excels in strength. If so, in the upcoming battle with the empire, Suketarou should be the commander and the deputy commander would be Sukejiro.

However, the preparation does not end here.

A big job is still waiting for me.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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