Flesh Golem of the Labyrinth City - Chapter 15



14. Skill Practice

“Take this!”

All the hair on my body stood up, signaling danger as if I had detected an attack.

Thud-

“Gasp! Got it!”

Ravi’s full-strength staff swing, which had the physical attack power equivalent to that of a preschooler, was easily blocked.

The amount and speed of the impact do have some relation, but since it’s an attack where a light cane is lightly swung by a light body…

Even if you catch it with your palm, you don’t feel much.

“Would you like to try a few more times?”

“H-here..? The flask might break…”

“Then let’s step outside for a moment.”

“Uh.. shouldn’t you put on some clothes…?”

“Oh, right.”

In the end, I put on my clothes and stood in the wide street. It was a bit darker than the inside, which was bright with the lamp’s light. Ravi exclaimed in a fuss.

“J-just now! It happened again!”

“What? What happened?”

“Your pupils stretched out!”

“Well, yeah. I guess so.”

There are streetlights here and there, but it’s not a particularly bright street. However, the view from my left eye is definitely bright.

Even my body reacted first to the cane that Ravi swung, due to the unfamiliar sensation.

No, it’s not entirely an unfamiliar sensation. It’s like the feeling right before getting flicked on the forehead as a punishment. The muscles around the impact point are clamoring to dodge.

“Amazing…! The senses of a wolf!”

“No, don’t say it like that. It sounds weird.”

“Then… the senses of a beast..?”

“That still sounds weird.”

Anyway, I roughly understand the effect. Sensory perception? I’m not sure if that’s the right word. The senses of a canine animal throughout my body… and not just any canine, but the senses of a wild, undomesticated canine.

“What does it have to do with the moon….”

Looking at the moon in the sky, something.

What is this. What kind of feeling is this.

“Ugh. Why is my throat so itchy.”

“Th-throat..? Could it be that you want to howl…?”

“Howl? Like those wolves howling at night?”

“Y-yes….”

“No matter what, how can you treat a person like a dog.”

“W-what did I do?!”

Ravi banged the bottom of the staff he was holding with both hands on the ground and shouted.

“Oh dear. Anyway, I understand. You mean it’s because of the direwolf’s magic?”

“Well, that’s one possibility.”

To check the changes in the circuit, I went back inside the emotion room and lay down on the bed.

‘It smells like baby powder.’

As I took off my top and lay face down, I felt Ravi’s fingers brush the back of my head and run down my spine.

“The active circuit is so…. The skill is connected more deeply and strongly than before. There must be some changes, right?”

“Earlier today, I smashed my limbs and ate the muscles of the direwolf leader raw.”

“W-what?! What are you talking about?!”

Ravi listened to my explanation for a while, and as soon as I finished speaking, he spread his maple-like hand wide and slapped my back.

Slap- Slap-

“You’re crazy, absolutely crazy! You can’t do that!”

“Why not? I’m alive, aren’t I? And even stronger.”

“But still! Skills aren’t omnipotent!”

“You said it was an unidentified skill. How do you know it’s not omnipotent?”

“Well… that’s true, but still…”

Ravi, who was examining the circuit as I said, nodded and spoke.

“Indeed. It seems like the muscles of the Direwolf leader have replaced the injured areas.”

“So, am I going to stay like this?”

“In my opinion… as time goes by, the Direwolf’s muscles will disappear and be replaced by human muscles.”

“Hmm.”

I feel relieved, but there’s a slight sense of regret. If I could maintain this state, I think I could reach the 10th floor.

According to Ravi, as my original muscles recover, they will replace the Direwolf’s muscles, returning my body to its original state. It changed due to the skill’s influence because I was injured.

“But… I don’t think the organs you ingested will disappear.”

“Why not?”

“There are parts similar to other skills with a stacking method in the circuit. In other words… they are accumulated. Due to magical effects, they are stored somewhere. The raw things you ate!”

“Hmm, I see.”

As expected, Scholar’s knowledge is abundant. He may look a bit foolish, but he’s smart in these areas.

“Actually, I ate the lungs and heart of the Direwolf leader.”

“Ugh… I see…”

“The muscles changed to his, but the oxygen supply is insufficient, so I can’t use them properly. Should I destroy the lungs and heart?”

“St-stop doing such foolish things! Oh, come on..! Just lie down again for a moment!”

As I lay face down on the bed as Ravi instructed, Ravi brought a book and examined it while carefully looking at my circuits.

I had no idea what he was doing, but for about an hour, he alternated between looking at my back and the book, sitting quietly without saying a word.

—Flip, flip.

“Ravi? Did you find out anything?”

“I think I know. Just a little more.”

Such dedication to learning. It would be great if he didn’t use my back as a table to write on paper.

Finally, after about 10 more minutes, Ravi spoke up.

“Huh…!”

“What is it, Ravi?”

“Yuwon! Get up!”

“Yes.”

As I got up from the bed, various sheets of paper that had been on my back fell off, but Ravi didn’t care and pulled me out of the emotion room.

“Ravi, what about the upper garment?”

“It’s okay without it! Come on, let’s try it! Hand, transform!”

“Yes..?”

“Hurry!”

Ravi grabbed my right forearm with both hands and shook it up and down.

“I figured it out! This skill isn’t just about replacing the wounded area with what it consumed!”

“Then what is it?”

“You mean, you can use the organs you consumed at will?”

“Hmm, why did it take you an hour to figure that out?”

“This is really an incredible achievement, you know?”

Come to think of it, the first time I used the skill, my right forearm turned into a steak. I used it at will.

“No! Why are you telling me this just now?!”

“Sorry about that. So, what exactly should I do?”

According to Ravi’s explanation, the parts of my body that have been replaced with the muscles of the direwolf leader were changed by instinct.

The desire to heal a wounded area is the most basic ‘will’ that all living beings possess. The skill responded to my will and automatically used the stored parts on the wounded area.

If I use the skill with intent, I can use the organs stored in my skill even if I’m not injured.

“You said you turned your right forearm into a steak last time, right?”

“Yes, well. I did.”

“Think like you did back then! But with a clearer image! The heart or lungs… Honestly, I’m worried about the side effects, so I can’t recommend it. Instead, how about thinking of turning your entire right forearm into the muscles of a direwolf?”

“I’ll give it a try.”

“Mm! Good.”

But it doesn’t seem like it will work right away. Ravi, who was woken up suddenly at one in the morning and listened to my story for almost two hours, looks visibly tired.

“I’ll come back when I have time.”

“What..? You’re not going to do it right now?”

“Ravi, you look really sleepy. Just go to sleep.”

“Well… that’s true.”

Only then did he realize he was sleepy, yawning widely and rubbing his eyes. Wait, how old is he? Minors are not allowed to work night shifts.

“Then, if you succeed, please come and let me know!”

“Yes, I will.”

After putting on his coat and checking his overall condition, he asked Ravi as he left the appraisal room.

“Is there no reward this time?”

“Ah, well… the bonus hasn’t come out yet…”

“Hmm, well. I understand. You’re taking care of yourself, right?”

“Hehe, yes… Are you worried about me?”

“Yes, I am.”

Given how he looks, it would be quite sad if this little guy worked so hard and ended up starving to death. After all, such things don’t exist in this world.

“Children should go to bed early.”

“I’m not a child, you know?!”

“I see. So, you’re an adult?”

“An adult?! Well… being an adult is still a bit far off…”

“Hmm.”

From noble mtl dot com

Then what are you?

Anyway, I should sleep comfortably at the inn tonight. It’s not that the magic of the direwolf makes me extremely sleepy, but I think I can sleep if I lie down. My body is tired.

And I should practice my skills too.

“Go in and rest. I’m sorry for waking you up.”

“No, it’s fine. If anything unusual happens again, you must come to me! And… if it’s okay with you, another beast’s…”

“Beast’s?”

“Ah, no. It’s a bit much to ask for something like this. Take care and get home safely! I’ll be going in now!”

“Yes.”

* * * * *

Late at night, I returned to the inn to find the door locked. I knew where the landlady hid the key, so I just unlocked it and went in.

—Creak

“Ah… you’re back? Where have you been?”

Sera, in a drowsy state and wearing her pajamas, came out to greet me. This is quite defenseless.

“I went to see an appraiser I know. I’m not feeling well.”

“Are you sick somewhere?”

“No, thinking about it, it’s not that I’m unwell. Rather, I should say I’m feeling better.”

Maybe it’s because I have the blood of a nocturnal direwolf, but my body is full of energy. Even at night, I don’t feel drowsy to the point of collapsing.

“Is it related to your skills?”

“You knew?”

“No, not really. But it’s a labyrinth city. If something unusual happens to your body, it’s usually because of a skill, right?”

“That makes sense. Why are you still awake?”

At my words, Sera crossed her arms and squinted her half-open eyes again. The two largest lumps of fat on her otherwise slim body pressed against her pajamas, making a very strong statement.

I don’t know where to look.

“Hmph. That’s not it, you know? You should thank me for waiting!”

“Is that so? Thank you, Sera. I’m sorry for keeping you up.”

“It’s okay. I don’t have anything in the morning, so I can wake up late.”

Grabbing Sarah’s shoulders, which seemed like they would collapse if she lay down on the bed, I turned her around and guided her to her room. It seemed that the small bedroom next to the lady’s room was Sarah’s room.

I thought about carrying her in, but that would be s*xual harassment. How long have I known Sarah anyway?

I wasn’t very sleepy, so I decided to practice my skills. I’ll sleep during the day. After all, the inn is busier at night. There are only about ten rooms for people to sleep in, but there are many guests who come for meals.

Should I consider it fortunate that I’ve become nocturnal?

“Whew, let’s stretch a bit.”