The Darkness Was Comfortable for Me

Chapter 69: Spirit Energy Vein and Rifreya’s Circumstances

“By the way, why is it that the weak point of the monsters is the base of their neck?” (Hikaru)

I remember what I was curious about and asked Rifreya.

“I thought it was because the Spirit Stone is at their neck.” (Hikaru)

“That’s not it. It is because it is the place where the Spirit Veins meet. In the first place, Spirit Stones are ‘proof of having lived’, so it is something that’s born at the center of the veins when you die, and it doesn’t exist while you are alive.” (Rifreya)

“Is that so… Wait, what are these Spirit Veins you speak of…?” (Hikaru)

“There’s soul veins that have Spirit Energy flowing in them -inside your body.” (Rifreya)

According to Rifreya, people and monsters have spirit energy flowing in their body, and they concentrate at the base of the neck.

When that part is destroyed, you can’t do anything but die.

That’s why I ended up getting warned that I should at least protect that part with armor. I did get scared just hearing about it, so once I have gotten a good amount of money, I should have armor be made.

Now that I look closely, Rifreya and Grapefull also have complete protection on the base of their necks.

So someone like me laying it bare is rare, huh.

“I thought you had a reason why you didn’t have armor there… To think it was actually because you didn’t know… Looks like you need to study more, Hikaru.” (Rifreya)

“Is there something like ‘the basics of an explorer’ book in the guild?” (Hikaru)

“I am better than any book. I will teach you, so you will be okay. Ask me anything.” (Rifreya)

Rifreya smacks her chest.

It is honestly a great help to have someone teach me.

This is a different world. The common sense here is so different that, if I am not taught, I don’t even notice the differences.

Truly the feeling of not knowing what I don’t know. That’s the state I am currently in.

“By the way…I have been thinking this after dungeon diving with you, but…are you an explorer, Rifreya? Or a templar apprentice? Should I take it as you training here until the exam because you are aiming to become an official templar?” (Hikaru)

I asked this while eating the extra that had been brought over. If prying into personal matters of explorers is not allowed, this is quite the bad question, but I want to know more about her.

Honestly speaking, Rifreya is pretty different amongst the explorers.

The veteran adventurers that I see every now and then have good equipment like Rifreya, and dive into the dungeon with unfaltering faces.

But she is simply a mid level explorer that mainly goes to the 3rd Floor.

I understand that she has good equipment because she is a templar apprentice, but I don’t understand why she would have to act as an explorer…or more like, I can’t connect them.

“You must have your own objectives to be here, and I am having you help me out here, so I was wondering if I could help you in some way… If it was a bad question to ask, it is fine to not answer.” (Hikaru)

“Objective, huh… I did have two when dungeon diving. One of them was money. Dungeon exploration is dangerous, but that makes it profitable.” (Rifreya)

“And the other one?” (Hikaru)

“I told you that I am a Templar Apprentice, right? It is that.” (Rifreya)

“Yeah, is that connected somehow?” (Hikaru)

“I see… You don’t know about Templars either.” (Rifreya)

Are Templars common sense in this world?

A templar is one job of the many. I don’t think it would be so common knowledge that it would be common sense though.

“Templars…these knights that protect the churches that worship the Great Spirit-samas are required to have two strengths. First, plain battle prowess… This falls into the battle arts and the Tier. The other one is Spirit Abilities. I am aiming to become a Templar of the Light Great Church, so I must use Light Spirit Abilities.” (Rifreya)

“Then don’t you already fulfill that condition? Your Tier should be pretty high too.” (Hikaru)

“Yeah, my Tier and battle prowess is appropriate…but you can tell, right, Hikaru? I can’t use my Spirit Abilities well.” (Rifreya)

Rifreya says slightly pained.

She said I would be able to tell, but I don’t really.

There weren’t any moments where they had to be used, and things could be managed with my Abilities, so Rifreya has only used them a few times at the beginning to show me, but she hasn’t used them in the explorations.

Maybe she assumed I thought her Spirit Abilities weren’t adequate enough for battle?

…No, that might actually be the case.

It is true that it is hard to say darkness and light mesh well.

“In other words, your Spirit Abilities don’t reach the requirement to become a Templar Knight…?” (Hikaru)

“That’s right. In order to become a Templar, I need to be able to use the 4th Ability: Photon Ray. My household has produced Templar Captains for generations, so it is expected from me -the eldest daughter- to become one as well… But even when I am this old…I am a failure that hasn’t even become a Templar.” (Rifreya)

“Rifreya…” (Hikaru)

I didn’t even know this, and have been using her as a ‘warrior’.

I am a failure as a party member.

“My little sister is incredibly good at Spirit Abilities, and her dazzling abilities have earned her the name The Splendorous Flora. Compared to that, I am The Dark Gray Rifreya that can’t shine…” (Rifreya)

As for me, it wasn’t my effort, but because of my cheat powers.

There’s no way I can easily comfort this girl who was born and raised in this world with her honest worries.

That’s why there’s only one thing I can do.

“Rifreya, is it okay to just have you learn the 4th Ability?” (Hikaru)

“Eh? Yes…but I have been using them the whole time, yet it didn’t work. It has been 1 year since I entered the dungeon, you know? Normally, even the Tier of my abilities should have gone up by now.” (Rifreya)

“No, it is too soon to give up. I have been feeling bad for having you help me out. There’s only 9 days left, but in that time, I will help you out in reaching the 4th Ability.” (Hikaru)

“Help, you say… I reach my limit with only 5 casts…” (Rifreya)

I don’t know if she knows, but Abilities work on a proficiency system.

In other words, they get stronger the more you use them.

On top of that, it is easier to raise the proficiency when used in battle. For example; even if I were to use my Darkness Fog to just hide in the darkness, the proficiency doesn’t increase at all, but if I use it to cover the enemy in battle, there’s times when it goes up.

It should be possible to train the abilities of Rifreya in that way.

I think she has only used Light as a light source.

If you don’t use it in battle, it is hard to increase your proficiency.

“Anyways, let’s test it out. By the way, how do you learn about your Abilities and your Tiers?” (Hikaru)

Maybe they all have Status Boards…?

“We are told by the Great Spirit-sama. Wait, you can’t do that, Hikaru! Aah, I see… It is rough being a Loved One.” (Rifreya)

“Aah, no, that’s fine then. No problem.” (Hikaru)

So Great Spirits are so convenient?

A God that tells you your level, huh… This really is a fantasy world.

“Eh…? But you said your Revelation was in Tier 4… How did you know?” (Rifreya)

“I will eventually tell you.” (Hikaru)

If I tell her about that, I would have to begin from the part that I was transferred to this world.

I will tell them when it is all over.

While we were talking, Grapefull who didn’t join the conversation and had a full belly was fast asleep.

She really is a cat.

※Regarding the concept of days, this world works with the same system of 1 week being 7 days.

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