Melina opens her eyes wide open when she hears that.
“The…..That’s true. But when you say return, isn’t it wrong saying you are returning it to the original recipient? You’re just distributing the experience points to all party members besides you……”
“I for one think it’s a lot better.”
I continue my statement as Melina turns to face me.
“The reward for killing it isn’t for a single person. The emerald golem I defeated earlier would have been a great boon to you. The whole party is involved when defeating a monster. Yet even then…. The only one who gets to keep the kill bonus is the one who defeats it. Isn’t that more unreasonable? You’ve heard of kill stealing causing fights right?”
-Melina says alongside a sigh.
“On the opposite end, someone here can never get a kill bonus but….. She will say she’s fine with that, right Kokoru?”
“That’s right! Priests aren’t even meant to defeat monsters, plus, I’m already at level 80! I have no need for anymore experience!”
“So please, Miss Melina! Form a party with-”
“But I’ll have to decline”
“Did you forget? My skill has another debuff effect. While it is true that you would take on all the debuffs that would have plagued the fighters little by little, It would put you in danger instead.”
“”It’s no problem at all! I’m level 80 you know? Even if my stats are cut in half, I’d still be stronger than your average priest. A small debuff won’t matter! And another thing….. Please look at this.”
—Saying so, Kokoru starts chanting.
Eventually, along with a faint light, the debuff icon disappears from Kokoru’s status display.
With her chest held high, the priestess then says—
“What do you think? It’s a magic that dispels effects! If the debuff ever gets too much, I can use this to make it go away.”
“…..And so? Isn’t that the kind of spell that also disables all the buffs that have been cast on you so far? It’s a long chant too, so it’s hard to use in an actual battle.”
“What’s wrong with that? If it’s just finding an opening to use it then it’s quite simple. Please don’t lump me in as the same level as the other priests.”
Me and Kokoru were surprised at Kokoru’s statement.
She delivered those strong words that would be seen as rare for her at a glance.
“Even if I somehow can’t, I will do my job as a healer without fail. When my WIS stat decreases, my healing efficiency per heal would go down along with it, but since it doesn’t affect my MP, I can make up for it in numbers. I won’t let the buffs run out too. I’ll show you that I’ll go above and beyond any other run of the mill priests.”
Melina remarks as if pressured.
“Why go so far……. I’ll only be a disadvantage if I enter your party won’t I? You wouldn’t get the kill bonus and you’ll take in a debuff. So even then, why?”
“….I’m tired of being a nuisance to anyone, any longer.”
Kokoru replies, looking down.
“Priests are a valuable addition, a Support is essential, so even with this skill, I haven’t had trouble joining parties. But…..No matter what party I join, I was a heel.”
“Do you know what it feels like to get tired of sighing at opening your status after a battle is over? I felt crushing shame, being the only person in the party who gets to level up. And in the end, I’ll lose my position in the party over a priest who is lower in level and ability than me…. I accepted that as inevitable, but I was scared of thinking that sooner or later, Sir Alvin would cast those same eyes at me, the same person who went out of his way to talk to me.”
“Compared to that, a debuff is paltry. Isn’t this a way for me to control things somehow!? I can’t return the experience I’ve snatched away but the status degradation would be all up to my ingenuity, so I’ll manage it somehow or another. That…..that would be by far easier.”
“And also….I feel like it’s fate.”
“Your skill’s name is “Blessing of the Jealous God” right? I was nothing but jealous of other priests….. Why is that person not me? I’ve always asked myself. I have a higher level, my adventuring know-how is higher too. I’ve memorized numerous spells, yet….. Why?”
“Ahaha, I went and said something weird….. But, It’s still true that I need you Miss Melina. Sp please…. Form a party with me!”
Melina’s gaze goes every which way, as if lost on what to do.
I can imagine what both sides are feeling.
For now, it would be better if I send out a lifeline.
“Melina, can you stay in the party with us at least for now? Might as well keep advancing in the dungeon like this at least for a while longer, right?”
“There’s nothing wrong with staying at least for now. I mean, you’d be safer moving too than if you would go solo. If you plan on going further down, just think of it as using us. You can think of what to do after we leave. ”
“That….might be a good proposition but…..”
Melina was lost in silence for a while——–
Eventually a small smile forms and–
“……Alrighty then. It may just be for a short time, but treat me well, to the both of you”
With a huge smile, Kokoru held Melina’s hands who looks like she has a worried expression.
I guess this should be fine for now.
I was about to open the status screen to check our current location and then—
I suddenly notice the writing on the wall of the dungeon.
Walking up to it, I take a look.
Seems like it’s another one of the Flavor Texts.
“The strength of the swordsman wielding a giant sword will one day wane.”
“The hawk eyes of the archer that sees through long will one day blur.”
“But the ▒▒▒▒ , ▒▒▒▒ is yet still sharpened.
Before I knew it, Melina was next to me along with Kokoru.
“You plan to take the boss down right?”
“What do you plan to do with that?…… the drop items.”
Melina tip-toed over her words.
She’s likely worried about who of us would get to remove their minus skill.
“I think it’s ok. Even though it’s a small-scale dungeon, it’s unlikely that a boss’s drop is consumable.”
“So you’re saying it can be used multiple times?”
“I…. have my qualms about that.”
“Think about it too. If it was an item that could be used indefinitely, then it would mean that all the minus skill holders in the world would be able to erase their skills. You can remove it for a fee, and can earn money as much as you wish.”
Being said out loud, I lose my confidence.
Items that are obtained in dungeons are always balanced.
Few of it are powerful weapons.
Useful materials, that includes coming from rare monsters, sparsely drop.
It’s also said that there’s no such thing as an item that brings the dead back to life, kill any monster with a single blow, or produce an infinite amount of wealth.
Looking from that angle, I’m beginning to feel that my prediction was a mistake.
“But what you say is not unfounded. It’s unlikely that the main drop of the boss erases only one skill. With that in mind…..It may be consumable, but it would drop for the same amount of party members. If it’s that, isn’t it likely?”
“Yeah. All of us might be able to erase our minus skills.”
“I don’t quite follow but, that means it would go well right!? Let’s go do our best then!
With the addition of the mage Melina, the party turns to three. With that, we started walking deeper into the dungeon.