Chapter 243

243 – Aro’s Second Evolution

Aro looks quite tired, so I’ll take a break nearby . In her last evolution, she went from a [Wight] to a [Skull Lowmage] . To be honest, my impression all that happened was that she went from being a skeleton to being a skeleton that’s good at magic .

It would be great if she could become closer to a human though… If she were to become a [Skull Mage] and then a [Skull Highmage], it would be all too sad . If only I knew something to help… As I’m wondering, an idea springs to mind . [Laplace Interference Authority] . That mysterious title skill .

When that skill was arbitrarily forced on me, I was presented with a choice of a fork in the future . To be honest, I don’t want to rely on it . I know God’s Voice is a bitch, so there’s got some sort of downside . Besides, I’ve got no way to know how credible its prediction really is . That idiot hero had the same skill as me, and it didn’t look like he thought he had even the slightest chance of losing . Overall, I haven’t once obeyed its predictions .

…But, however, I could really do with the information . I know it’d be coming from a dubious source . I know that but… I can’t help but ask . Hey, God’s Voice, Can Aro return to being human?

As soon as I ask a buzzing noise reverberates in my head . It sounds like something from my past life, an artificial sound . Accompanying it, I feel extreme discomfort and a slight dizziness .

“Gaa?”

My partner turns her eyes towards the staggering me . I pull myself together, pretending nothing’s wrong .

【Due to a lack of access to necessary private data, a highly credible calculation was impossible . 】

Inside my head, a formal voice reverberates . A lack of access? Data? What? What’s it on about? Am I being treated differently because there’s something private I don’t have access to?

【In addition, because you are not recognised as possessing the necessary authority, disclosure is impossible . 】

After the second message from God’s Voice finishes reverberating in my head, it cuts off… Is it just going to act all important, but not tell me anything useful? I guess my [Laplace Interference Authority] is only level 2 . At a higher level it might tell me more .

I shake my head, clearing away the remaining discomfort . How stupid . Enough, I’ll leave it here . Rather than helping me, I get the feeling it would only sabotage me anyway .

While I’m looking at Aro, my partner starts moving her head excitedly .

“Gaah! Gaah!”

It seems she wants to cook and eat the pig . Just as I’m getting up to blow on it with [Scorching Breath], I hear the sound of bones clattering . It seems Aro got up at the exact same time .

My partner silently stares at her . Aro seems to understand her and sits back down as if nothing had happened .

“Gaah! Gaah!”

Having confirmed that Aro sat back down, she goes back to harrying me . For the time being, I’ll have her eat a headbut .

“Agah!”

Can’t you wait just a minute for your food? You made Aro get overly considerate of you . Her evolution should be what comes first…

I shift my line of sight from my sulking partner to Aro . She’s sitting back down, unmoving . She really does look as if she’d said “ah~ I’m exhausted~”, with her arms and legs sprayed out like that… Probably, this isn’t going to end until my partner has had her food . Really, what are you going to do for making Aro worry like that?

I look back at my partner . She indicates the pig with her chin . Th-this girl… Show some remorse, seriously .

Same as last time, [Soul AppendmentFake Life] was indispensable for getting Aro up to the evolution boundary . I can’t afford to displease her that much . Giving up, I approach the black pig .

Reducing back the size and power, I breath out a [Scorching Breath] . The pig, as well as the grass around it heat up . The grass blackens and crumbles to ash . Vapour rises off the pig . The smell of cooked meat enters my nostrils, and I involuntarily start sniffing .

Hey, partner . Would you be okay with letting me have a tiny bit?

She bites its belly, picking it up then drops it into her mouth . I hear the sound of her chewing, then she spits out a piece of its skull .

As she’s removing some of the meat that got stuck between her teeth, she looks at me and tilts her head as if to ask『did you say something?』 . Th-this girl… Well, this should have improved her mood, at least .

Having made sure that the meal had finished, Aro slowly stands up . Knowing what I want her to do, my partner stretches her head out .

“Gaah”

With her cry, black light envelops Aro . She used [Soul AppendmentFake Life] straight away . With this, Aro can evolve .

There’s a sound of sizzling, like something is burning . I-is this okay? Shouldn’t I do something to help her?

“…a”

I thought I heard a hoarse voice coming from inside the light . Aro’s all bone, so she shouldn’t be able to produce a voice . Along with my partner, I carefully observe the black light .

When the light fades away, inside there’s something that looks like a human . Her height’s about the same, and she’s wearing the worn out Lithovar clothes, so I know it’s Aro right away .

Her loose hair is covering her eyes . Her hair’s dry, looking like it has no moisture at all . The bit of her face I can see peeking out is almost the exact same colour as the earth around her, as are her arms and legs . Her skin looks like it could collapse at the slightest touch .

She’s not just bone, but also flesh . Rather than dead flesh, it’s got a feeling of being closer to earth .

She touches her hair, then holds her hands out in front of her face . She becomes certain as she stares at her hands . For a human, it would be a bit of a shock to have that body . But she’s definitely closer to being a human all the same .

She opens and closes her mouth . She can’t quite get her voice to work it seems . I’ll check her status .

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Name: Aro

Species: Revaana Mage

Condition: Cursed

Lv: 1/30

HP: 50/50

MP: 3/48

Attack: 15

Defence: 12

Magic: 20

Speed: 11

Rank: D

Characteristic Skills:

[Grisha Language: Lv1] [Undead: Lv-] [Dark Attribute: Lv-] [Flesh Transformation: Lv4]

Resistance Skills:

[Status Condition Nullification: Lv-] [Physical Resistance: Lv3] [Magic Resistance: Lv2]

Normal Skills:

[Gale: Lv4] [Death Curse: Lv3] [Life Drain: Lv2] [Clay: Lv5] [Self-Regeneration: Lv1] [Clay Doll: LV3]

Title Skills:

[Servant of the Evil Dragon: Lv-]

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Her skill levels have gone up a lot . What’s new is… One more characteristic skill and two more normal skills . I can guess what [Self-Regeneration] does, but [Clay Doll] and [Flesh Transformation]… sound awfully disturbing .

I’ll take a look at her species too .

【[Revaana Mage]: D-rank monster】

【Among the [Revaana], it is the most capable of wielding magic . 】

【As it has the ability to increase its allies, it is imperative to kill on sight without letting it escape . 】

K-kill on sight, huh . She’s already dead though . I definitely can’t let her be seen by humans though . That’s always been the case, but now if there’s an eyewitness report, they won’t stop until they find her dead body .

I’m curious what a [Revaana] is . I’ll take a look at it too .

【[Revaana]: D-rank monster】

【An undead monster which uses magic to shape earth into its flesh . 】

【It is easy for individuals that strongly admire the bodies of the living to evolve into it . 】

I see . I thought it looked like earth, but that’s because it was .

…But strongly admire the bodies of the living? I’ve done something cruel, haven’t I?

No, it’s a bit late for that . I knew so from the start . I hate myself for having my partner use [Soul AppendmentFake Life] just to see what would happen with such casual feelings .

That’s exactly why I want to attone by helping Aro return to being human . I know all too well the feelings of hopelessness that come with being transformed into a monster before you know what’s happening . Saying it like that, I know it’s just my own self-conceit .

Although it’s a step closer to being a human, this evolution is also troublesome in a sense . If we mess up, she could end up in conflict with the Lithovar tribe .

Noticing my reaction, Aro tilts her head nervously . A bit of earth falls from her head .

It’ll be okay, Aro . I’ll protect you for sure .