Chapter 10 - Learning Skills

We’re now back in the safe zone.

Without any wait, I let her test making something using the same method I do. She nodded and got into work with a moderate stone hitting a big stone.

“Ah… I got it. [Handicraft] passive skill…”

In just about 15 minutes of hitting two stones, she got it. She didn’t even need to finish making a knife, if I could say she’s making one. She’s clearly not making knives.

“What are you making there?”

“Uhm… a stone skillet.”

“Why?”

“Well, because I feel bored of eating fruits. Maybe we can stir-fry them or something?”

“You do realize the only wood we get here is from that tree, and we don’t even have any means to light the fire, right?”

“Those Glowing Moss, maybe flammable you know?”

“Huh?”

“They are more of dried moss once they lose their light, their texture is similar to dried grass.”

Is she a professor doing research on Glowing Moss or something? She knows them too well.

“We can use sparks from hitting two stones together, but that would be hard if I don’t have the passive skill for it. So, I wonder, what if there are passive skills to everything, including generating sparks from hitting two stones together?”

... Wow, I would never think of petty things like that in my games. Anything that does not help with combat or at glance seems to be useless perks, might be handy this time.

I never thought that she would be so useful. I’m glad she’s with me now.

“Let me continue finishing the skillet, and hope I got the skill to make the sparks.”

“Alright, then I think I will try to shove my head underwater, holding my breath to learn some endurance skill like [Breath Holding] or something.”

“Hmmm… that might be a good idea, but don’t push yourself too much, okay?”

“Got it, Mom.”

“Who are you calling Mom, huh?”

She wasn’t as aggressive as before, she might have gotten accustomed to how I joked.

Anyway, I shoved my head into the river, tried to hold my breath as long as possible underwater. In around 30 minutes, I finally got something.

[Skill Unlocked: Endurance Lv 1] it gives extra stamina when tired.

“[Endurance]... gives you stamina, huh. Okay, that’s a great skill to unlock.”

Let’s see if I could get the level up while waiting for Yumemi to finish the skillet.

…

Around 2 hours have passed.

[Skill Unlocked: Endurance Lv 2]

“Finally…! Got… it…”

I laid my body facing upwards on the ground. Seems like leveling up your skill is not as easy as it sounds.

“Yuu-kun, the fruit stir-fry is ready.”

“... what?”

She changed how she called me, took me off guard. Seems like when I was too focused on learning the skill, she’s now level 6.

“Huh, you leveled up already?”

“Yes. I want to be a help in combat too, so…”

Or maybe she’s just curious and wants to get her memories as fast as possible. We’re both level 6 now, our stats must be about the same.

“So… about my memory…”

“Ah, no need. I already trust you, so let’s focus on more useful things. You got the skill?”

She pouted for a bit, before she finally answered “... Yes, besides [Firemaker], I also get the skill [Master Cook] that increases the deliciousness of the dish I cook.”

She held one slice and offered it directly to my mouth.

I took the whole slice into my mouth and started chewing.

“Ooh! It really is way better than eating it from the tree! That’s a great skill to have! Can you make our food from now on?”

“... Sure, Yuu-kun!” She answered with a smile.

“By the way, why the sudden change in how you call me?”

“... baka.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing, it just irks me when you are calling me by my name and I don’t.”

She pouted again and turned her face away.

“Is that so…?”

To be honest, it just reminds me of what everyone usually calls me in kindergarten…

Oh well, it must be easier for people to call me that anyway. That stopped when I got into grade school and met people with the names like Yuuki and Yuuji.

Not exactly ‘Yuu’ but they got ‘Yu’ in Yumemi. Parents sure like to put Yu in their kids’ names, huh…

“Anyway, Yumemi. Try learn the skill [Endurance] by holding your breath underwa–”

“Ah, about that… I actually thought that having more stamina would be nice when making the skillet, then I heard you muttering about [Endurance] and I already got it to level 2…”

What were my hardships all about when I could’ve made something to learn that!? Talk about blunder! Argh!

I think Yumemi might be a better gamer than me…

“Yumemi… you are a fine gamer.”

“I can tell for sure that I do not feel good being told that.”

“Yeah, I can tell that you’re not reacting to it as hard as when I said you’re cute.”

“Wha– Don’t suddenly tease me like that! Is it that fun!?”

“Yup. Your reaction is amusing.”

“Baka Yuu-kun…”

“You really love to call me baka, huh. Am I really that idiot?”

“Yup.” Look how brazen she’s become, not that I am the one to say that though.

Our stats are almost the same, I think I can say we’re on equal standing.

I want to keep utilizing the bonus EXP, so I won’t raise my level until I feel I need to.

“By the way, Yuu-kun. I got a great Idea!”

“Hmm?”

“See, we are both [Irregular], right?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Just like how we woke up in different paths, there might be another one like us somewhere in some paths!”

… again, with a great idea… Is she actually brilliant?

“Alright, let’s shout out loud to call for them then! I do path A to M, you do N to Z.”

“... Okay!”

And so, starting with Path A that’s full of baths, we shouted on each path one by one.

“Helllo! Is anyone there!? We’re [Irregular] waiting in the safe zone where monsters can’t enter! Please come here if possible! Let’s work together to get home!”

I repeated the same thing, and Yumemi did say something similar.

But then… I hear Yumemi shout “YUU-KUN! COME HERE, QUICK!”