Hmm. Is it m?

  As I woke up, I was going to stretch, but noticed that I was sandwiched between two beautiful women. Why am I sleepiween Alid Lua?

  (Laura, what the hell happened?) I asked my most reliable information source.

  (Good m, Master. Do you remember what happened yesterday?) Laura asked.

  (Doesn’t answer why I’m sleepiween Alid Lua.) I ented.

  (Just think back.) Laura said.

  Hmm… so we were esc the carriages, we fought an orc, we made our camp, theher adventurers came, then there was a duel… Oh yeah. The duel. I took that attack to the face.

  (Good. At least your memory still works.) Laura said.

  (... So, what happened after I was hit by the beam?) I asked.

  (You ordered Blue-Eyes Toon to attack. It took down the spirit tiger and then you colpsed. Then Miss Lucia worked hard to heal you so you wouldn’t die. Then…)

  (WHAT? Die? I almost died? I mean, I thought I might, but still.)

  (Without immediate medical attention from Miss Lucia, you would have died.) Laura said. (You have to thank her for saving your life.)

  (Yes. I will.) I said. (So, how did I end up sleepiweewo?)

  (After you were healed, Miss Alice said she doesn’t trust the adventurers and wao sleep with you to make sure you are safe. And Miss Lucia is sleeping with you in case your health begins to dee over the night.) Laura said.

  (... but she is sleeping, right? How would she know if I just passed away in my sleep?) I asked.

  (That’s because I would wake her up.) I heard a new voi my head. The voice was clearly feminine.

  (... and who are you? Why are more voices livi-free in my head?) I asked.

  (Are you saying I don’t pull my weight? That’s insulting.) Laura pined.

  (No, I didn’t mean it like that. Just… who are you, Lady Mystery Voice?) I asked. I called her a dy instead of miss, as her voice sounded more dy-like.

  (I apologize, but I do not have a name. I am the System Support of Mistress Lucia.) The dy-voice said.

  …

  …

  Excuse me, but WHAT? System Support? As in, like Laura?

  (Not like me. Miss Lucia’s System Support is still basic level and I am standard.) Laura said.

  (So, like what you used to be. When did she get that? Or did she have it and I just didn’t know about it?) I asked.

  (She got it for saving your life, so that would be yesterday.) Laura said.

  (... so, saving someone’s life is enough to get System Support?) I asked.

  (No. It happened because I requested a reward for Miss Lucia for saving your life.) Laura said. (At first it was going to be g her Blood curse, but as you already took care of it, a different reward was necessary. So I asked if she could get the System Support and my request roved.)

  (... How does this System Support thing even work? you just ask to get it for people?) I asked.

  (I , but it will never get approved without a good reason. And if I ask too many times without a reason, I might get demoted to basic, or everoyed.) Laura said.

  (Theer not to do that. I’m not sure I could live without you. But roves these things?) I asked.

  (I’m sorry, Master. But that is level 4 cssified information.) Laura said.

  (And, what does this level 4 mean?) I asked.

  (Only perfect level System Supports tell their owhat information.) Lua’s System Support said.

  (Oh. So you were still here. By the way, if you are Lua’s System Support, how are you talking to me?) I asked.

  (I made a e with her aablished a liween us.) Laura said. (I thought Master would like to have it.)

  I guess it is nibsp;

  (Does that mean I talk to Lua in my mind like I with you two?) I asked.

  (With some minor training, Yes.) Laura answered. (And with no distance problems or transmission times, like telepathy has.)

  (... so telepathy is a thing. Well, I guess telekinesis is, so I guess telepathy isn’t that strange.)

  (Well, our unication is not telepathy. We don’t use mana to transfer our messages, but the System itself.) Lua’s System Support said.

  (Okay. I see how that would be better. … but then wait a sed. Laura. How do you and my monsters if you don’t use telepathy?) I asked.

  (It’s a hiddeure of your cards. By sending mana to a card in a specific way, I transmit ands to your monsters.) Laura said.

  (Oh. And why didn’t you tell me?) I asked.

  (Because your mana trol is not at the level where you do it.) Laura said. (Verbal ands are much more effit for you.)

  (Oh. Ok.) I accept that. And if I want to do non-verbal ands, I’ll just ask Laura.

  (Of course you do.) Laura said smugly. (And just in case you were worried, Miss Lucia is holding onto your cards.)

  Well, I didn’t actually think about that part, but it’s good to know.

  I was thinking of just getting up, but with two System Supports demanding that I wait until Lua check me out, I just id there. I also thought about opening my daily packs, but Laura bahat as well.

  And it might have been a good idea. I didn’t really realize how hurt my body was, until I focused on it.

  While my head, torso and legs weren’t too bad, my arms, especially forearms, hurt. A lot. I guess I did use them to protect my head, so… Better having them hurt than having my head hurt.

  But it’s not like I did nothing with my time. Even if Laura banned opening packs, I could still gh my colle. She even allowed it when I asked.

  And I have a very simple reason for doing it. My loss proved ohing, I’ve been using my cards wrong.

  Or perhaps I should say, I’ve been afraid of using them in their most powerful form. Install.

  Installed cards have a variety of effects, but the most powerful one of them might just be giving skills. Because skills give status points. And status points make you stronger.

  Had Alice taken on an attack like that, she’d be dead. I’m not sure about Lua or Alex, but Lua would most likely die as well. Alex is a shield-guy, so he might survive. And that is the problem. Might. I want it to be guaranteed. And if I do that with a few installs, that will be cheaper than cheap.

  I ended up with a list of fourteen cards I wao try installing. Some of them would only work on specific people, like Violet Crystal for Lua, but some could be good for any of us. (or all of us.)

  Spoiler

  [colpse]Something like Legendary Sword should be good for me or Alex. Same goes fhtning Bde and Block Attack.

  And for the two mages, Book of Secret Arts should be good. Even Hinotama, or any of the other burn cards, could be iing. And Gravity Bind might grant gravity magic.

  So many things to test, but let’s at least wait until we are doh this quest.

  “Brian, are you awake?” I heard someone ask.

  I opened my eyes and saw Lua and Alice both looking at me. I felt a bit groggy, so I might have fallen back to sleep.

  “... good m.” I said to the two.

  “How are you feeling? Do you remember what happened?” Lua asked.

  “Yeah, I remember. I went through it with Laura already. Thank you. You saved my life.” I said to Lua.

  “... I … I was just … repaying you. You know, for g me.” Lua said.

  “No. This is more than that. You saved me. I would have died without you.” I said.

  “Would you have? Would you really?” Lua asked, showihe Monster Reborn I got out of colle just before the attack hit. I’m gd that the card didn’t break.

  “I still wouldn’t be able to use it on myself if I was dead.” I said.

  “Yes. I suppose you wouldn’t.” Lua said. “But let’s get ba track. How are you feeling?”

  “Not too bad. My forearms are the only pce that really hurts.” I answered holy.

  “I see. Please let me have a look.” She said as she took my right arm and bit into it.

  I still find it iing that her bite doesn’t hurt. It’s not fortable, but it doesn’t hurt.

  Well, at the moment my paiors could just be off.

  “It feels like they are after effects of the healing. The skin on your arms was the most damaged and a lot of it had to be regrown, so I think it might just be your braiing used to the feeling of the new skin.” Lua said. “It will pass in a day or two.”

  “Oh. Was I that bad?” I asked.

  “... yes. While most of your body had only the top yer of your skin burn off, on your arms it had pletely burned away.” Lua said. “As in, I could literally see your muscle tissue.”

  “... yeah. Thank you, again.” I said. I really don’t know what else to say at this point.

  “Don’t worry about it. As I said, I aying you back.” Lua said.

  “But I’ll still thank you. Over and ain.” I said. “But if nothing is wrong, am I good to go?”

  “Yes. Let’s go get some breakfast.” Lua said.

  “Where’s my hoodie?” I asked Lua.

  “... it didn’t make it.” She answered, before showing me a half-burned hoodie. The entire front-side of it was gohe same happened with the rest of your clothes. Well, your underwear, socks and shoes did survive.”

  “... oh.” Well, that sucks. My permaly super clothes are gone. I should have installed some cards into them, so they would have survived.

  “We did find some clothes in yic bag and put them on you, but your previous ones are gone.” Lua said.

  “I see. Thanks.”

  And suddenly I’m super thankful that I had the fht to get some extra clothes from the dungeon before we left, because otherwise I’d have to be naked. Or borrow someone else’s clothes.

  I got out my spare hoodie and put it on. The girls had apparently already found ara t-shirt and jeaerday.

  Lua also gave me back the Blue-Eyes Toon and Toon World. Toon’s sleeve and toploader had taken on an e hue. That is the sign that the card has been properly summoned and I ow just summon it without any problems. No tributes needed iure. 1Simir to how a fusion has to be fusion summoned only the first time. And rituals as well.

  “I’m sorry!” As soon as I got out of the tent, Tye rushed over to me, before prostrating before me. “I’ll do anything! Just leave my team out of this!” He begged.

  … okay. I was not expeg that. He was so almighty yesterday. I’m actually a bit surprised that he didn’t just run away on his tiger.

  (He couldn’t. Blue-Eyes Toon killed the tiger, remember?) Laura said.

  (I know you said that, but it’s a summoned beast, right? ’t he just resummon it?)

  (Not that quickly.) Laura said. (It will take at least a week for that tiger to recover.)

  (Oh. I see.)

  (Well, you could most likely do it instantly with Monster Reborn.) Laura added.

  (Not a bad idea. But at the same time, I don’t feel like it. At least not now.) I decided.

  “So… you’ll take all the bme iurn for your team getting off scot-free?” I firmed his iions.

  “Yes.” Tye responded.

  “I see. Then I’ll accept your offer. I’ll e up with your punishment ter, but your team shall go without anything.” I said.

  “Really? Thank you. Thank you so much!” Tye said, looking like he wao lick my boots. Actually, these aren’t boots, but just regur shoes.

  I spoke about the punishment with Timothy, and he said he had already decred that Tye’s team would escort us to Sawyer city. As it was basically just a one day trip from here (two days if they went there and back), I thought it was fine. I could even give them some money for stealing some of their time and food.

  I was basically in … well, I could still fight as I just summon moo do that for me, so let’s just say not in perfect shape, so having a few more people probably won’t hurt.

  I was also shown the damage left by my Toon’s attack. The el left in the ground wasn’t that deep, only about 30cm, but still just shows the power of that little dragon. Some members of Tye’s party had fixed some of the damage with earth magic, mainly the road, but there were still clear signs of a battle.

  “I’m still surprised that you were able to take that hit.” The sword and shield guy of Tye’s team said. “Do you mind me asking how high your defeat is?”

  Name: Brian WoodRace: Human !Level: 38HP: 870Mana: 91th: 235Defense: 515Magic: 295 Skills: Pack Opener LV.4 (uelekinesis LV.1 (extra)Summoner’s Prote LV.2 (extra)Dungeon Founder (extra)Summon Water Spirit (extra)Health scious (extra) Mana trol LV.1Shining Taunt LV.1 Water Spirit’s Blessing (Greater)Language prehension (humanoid)

  I checked my status. Summoner’s Prote had leveled up. Nothing else ged.

  Well, I guess because the skill got a level, I got some more HP and defense.

  (Laura, what was my defense before the skill level-up) I asked.

  (485.) Laura answered.

  “My defense is 485.” I answered. I know it’s not outdated, but it was correct when I took that hit.

  “He should have died.” The bow dy said.

  “Totally.” The guy with a greatsword added.

  “No way you survive that attack with just 500 defehe shield guy said.

  … is that attack really that dangerous? Then, how much defense would be necessary to not take any damage from it?

  Actually, if all three of them say I should have died, how did I survive?

  (Because of Summoner’s Prote.) Laura said.

  (Yeah. Of course that skill was also active. I did have Toon out.)

  (Your clothing also took some of the damage.) Laura added.

  (Oh. I guess I should be thankful for my OP hoodie.)

  “I have a skill that saved me.” I said. They don’t o know the skill name.

  “I see. Magic resistance, perhaps? Or defense boost? No. Defense boost wouldn’t do it, so probably magic resistahe shield guy theorized.

  (Laura, write that down. Those skills sound useful.)

  (Sure. But it’s better to ake a hit in the first pce.) Laura said.

  (Sorry, but pying an evasion tank is too difficult. And an evasion tank ’t really protect others from AoE attacks.)

  “Yeah. Something like that.” I responded.

  After breakfast, we got on the carriages and got on the road.

  Since roup had grown by four, we had to have two adventurers per carriage. And because of medical reasons, Lua was with me and Timothy. Alex was on the carriage with the female coach with Alice, because Alice refused to sit with any of “them”.

  The carriage order was also a little different, as my carriage was no longer in the lead, but ihe third in line. Alid Alex were in the sed ohis was to have our adventurer friends take the most important spots.

  And so, our third day of traveling began.