Entering the northwestern forest, I summoned Roof-sama and Little Roof.
At that moment, Gemma let out a strange cry and jumped onto Roof-sama.
I had explained the situation on the way, but jumping on without permission was not acceptable.
As expected, she landed without floating at all.
“Hang in there!” Gemma encouraged, but if I couldn’t float, neither could she.
Gemma persisted, but Quince and the others felt sorry for her and pulled her off Roof-sama.
Next, Ted tried to ride, but he couldn’t either.
Laughing at the two of them, Nails asked.
“What kind of monsters are we testing it against?”
“A variety. I have no idea what it can handle. For now–”Suddenly, Roof-sama floated up, and a loud impact echoed overhead.
“It seems it can handle Nudloks.”
Seread quickly took a combat stance.
The Nudrok, not expecting to be blocked by a plank, tried to regain its posture and jumped to the trees.
However, a well-aimed sling from Nails hit it directly, and Ted slashed at it as it fell.
It was still breathing but had injured its hind legs, already in a death state.
Two left.
“No problem. Finish them off.”
Elphimia’s [Magic Bolt] flew immediately, and Gemma struck the falling Nudrok with a mace.
During that time, Ted delivered the final blow to the dying one, and the last one, realizing its disadvantage, retreated from the combat area.
“I doubt I can hit it–”
I readied my bow and shot through the gaps in the trees.
No response.
“Use magic. It’s more reliable.”
“Practicing with the bow helps with long-range magic. Try it.”
Since there’s no guiding magic, you have to predict the movements.
Especially if the opponent is fast, like with [Penetrate Gale], long-range magic is essential.
I ordered Roof-sama and Little Roof to protect everyone and leaped.
Kicking in mid-air, I landed on a branch and began the pursuit.
Indeed, [Jump Rabbit] is useful.
I had completely forgotten about it with the strange plank’s appearance, but it’s a simple yet convenient magic tool.
You can leap from high places without wasted movement.
Chasing the Nudrok running between branches, I kicked through the air to close the distance.
Then, a well-aimed arrow hit its abdomen, and with a short scream, the Nudrok crashed to the ground.
I leaped into empty space, jumping straight down.
I stabbed a knife into the neck of the fleeing Nudrok, finishing it off.
Wiping the blood, I looked at the corpse.
The fleeing Nudrok couldn’t be caught without using [High-Speed Movement] or [Moving Up].
It was the first time I caught one with pure speed.
Even in their territory, with [Jump Rabbit], I could more than hold my own.
Grabbing the hind legs, I dragged it back to the others.
Elphimia and Seread greeted me calmly, while Quince and the others looked relieved.
The two we killed here were nowhere to be seen.
Elphimia seemed to have stored them.
“Can you take care of this one too?”
“Sure, but what was that mid-air kick?”
“It’s a skill of [Jump Rabbit], a magic tool I made before creating Roof-sama and Little Roof.”
Even Elphimia didn’t know about [Jump Rabbit], so I showed her the brooch and talked about my encounter with Sopric.
Ted and the others, already knowing the story, were bored, so I lent them the Jump Rabbit brooch.
Then, they started hopping around in turns.
It looked fun, but I couldn’t give it up, nor use it as a toy.
It’s a valuable magic tool that enhances my combat power.
After finishing the explanation, I noticed Elphimia glaring at me for some reason.
Not understanding what displeased her, I tilted my head.
Then I thought a bit and understood.
“I didn’t know you liked squirrels.”
“I don’t care about squirrels.”
I was wrong.
Confused, Elphimia continued.
“Could it be that you were poisoned?”
“Oh, you noticed well.”
Lowering my voice at her sharp observation.
“To be honest, I almost died for real for the first time in a long while.”
It really had been a while.
Even in Selene, I encountered powerful monsters, but not to the point of death.
When I was in Leadvault, I was swallowed by the Turrenburu Cube and almost killed by Hunter Fitch.
Even though I wasn’t an adventurer, I’ve almost died many times — or maybe my previous life was just as bad.
I died in an accident and was killed by a bug person.
To be precise, a life often nearly dying or actually dying.
So, why are you mad?
“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten our promise.”
That one word made me remember.
She had said that.
If I die, I can’t fulfill the promise.
“I haven’t forgotten. This time was unavoidable. Who’d expect to fight a poison monster while restoring the road?”
“Do something about it! Whether you die from poison or get eaten by a dragon, contact me first! You’ll make me a liar!”
“You’re being unreasonable.”
Ted and Nails glanced over at her loud voice but returned their gazes without saying anything.
I promised again to contact her if possible, and for now, she calmed down.
However, there are no communication spells or magic tools.
If they existed, the world’s structure would be drastically different.
There’s a rumor of a monster with the [Telepathy] skill, but as I’m not the person, its effectiveness is unknown. The existence itself is just a rumor. To obtain a magic stone, I have to find one first.
“So, what did you do with the poison?”
“I buried it in the ground for disposal. It could be used as a trump card, but if it leaks from an impact, I’d get poisoned myself. It’s too hard to handle.”
“Wise decision. If you still had it, I thought I’d store it for you.”
Seeing the conversation end, Ted returned the brooch.
“It’s an interesting magic tool, but we can’t master it. Only someone as agile as Alter or Uncle Oze could use it as more than a toy.”
“The better the adventurer, the more they’d want it. Let’s avoid showing it off.”
Attaching the brooch to the inside of my clothes.
Fortunately, the decoration is rounded, so it doesn’t hurt against the skin.
Then, we resumed testing the capabilities of Roof-sama and Little Roof.
We could continue as is, but I wanted to see how they’d move in a melee.
Thinking to have Ted and the others use them, a question arose.
Would Roof-sama and Little Roof follow commands from anyone but me?
We lined up, including myself, and everyone called for Roof-sama and Little Roof.
They both flew straight to me.
As the owner and creator, it would be strange if they didn’t come to me.
Next, those chosen left the line, testing the priority in the same manner.
The mysterious competition suddenly began to heat up.
Everyone called out loudly, clapping to attract attention.
Only Elphimia is called normally.
The results placed me first, Ted, Nails, Gemma, Quince, Kyle, Emily, and Ginny tied, and Elphimia last.
Emily and Ginny were tied because Roof-sama prioritized Ginny and Little Roof prioritized Emily.
Emily treated Little Roof like a pet, which might have caused the priority twist.
As for Elphimia, she wasn’t obeyed at all, not moving a bit.
Completely a mystery.
“I lost to Nails!”
Gemma lamented while second-place Ted tilted his head.
“Why doesn’t it listen to Elphimia?”
“I had a feeling it might turn out this way.”
Elphimia shrugged and explained the reason.
“Just a guess, but it’s about the name. Roofs protect residents. These magic tools were created to protect your home’s residents and associates. They seem intelligent, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they figured out the hierarchy quickly. Uh, just a guess, okay?”
With Gemma’s gaze on her, Elphimia hurriedly added.
I see, it’s possible.
Elphimia visited far less frequently than the others.
She wasn’t considered an associate and thus was not followed.
If so, the ranking between Gemma and Nails might be due to their deeper ties with Roof-sama and Little Roof.
Nails often helped Deina and looked after Quince and the others. He had far more access to the alchemy room than Gemma.
It’s hard to believe a mere plank can remember, but everything in this world has some magic power. When turned into a magic tool, past experiences might have influenced it somehow.
I consoled Gemma, and Elphimia, looking a bit tired, continued.
“One thing is certain. The owner’s command is absolute. If you hadn’t suggested checking the priority, they wouldn’t have come to anyone but you.”
“So, if I order them to follow Elphimia, they will?”
I tried commanding Little Roof, and it circled around Elphimia, following her instructions.
When I commanded it to return, it stopped obeying her.
“Indeed, such a magic tool. It fully understands words.”
“You’re lucky with the skill. No matter how intelligent, its will is only expressed through skills.”
Because it worked as a roof, it became a magic tool.
Impressed, I watched the two floating planks.
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