“This is… a minus skill?”
“Yes. Unusual right? I don’t know anyone else who has one.”
“Thanks to this, I’m now at such a high level. But in return, I’m unable to join any party.”
“Wait, what does that mean…? What does the skill actually do?”
“Its effect is very simple. When the other members of the party kill a monster… The kill is credited to me. Without fail.”
Some skills like the “Benevolent God’s Favor” and “Effect Sharing” affect all registered party members.
Could Kokoru’s skill be in the same vein?
“What does that mean? I don’t think that’s particularly bad or anything… The items still drop normally, right?”
“The items aren’t affected but… the problem stems from the experience kill bonus.”
By killing monsters, you get the necessary experience points to level up.
If someone in the party defeats one, all members get experience points, but only the one who kills it gets more experience than the others. That is the so called “Kill Bonus”, and the among of experience you gain is thrice the amount than that of the party’s.
That’s why combat jobs have a higher level even within the same party.
“So it’s a skill that allows you to monopolize the kill bonus in a party?”
“Yes. Ahaha… What a horrible skill, right? It comes to no surprise, but it’s hard for party members to raise their skills when I’m around. Whether you’re a swordsman or a mage, you gain just as much as a support.”
That’s bound to happen if that were the case.
I then carefully ask a question that’s been on my mind.
“It is as you imagine. It’s the culmination of the experience points in the parties I’ve been in that have allowed me to reach this far.”
-Kokoru says with a bitter smile.
“Even though I have such a skill, I’m still a priest so I’ve been to parties before. Parties are always looking for a healer. Back when I was just starting out, with each adventure my level rapidly rose. I could quickly overtake the levels of the other party members… Well, when that happens I get kicked out soon enough though.”
“As it kept happening, before long, I started to get called in as a helper for boss battles as high level healers are scarce… A boss’ kill bonus is an amazing thing. It would normally be difficult to level up past a certain point, but it isn’t at all in my case… By the time I noticed, it was already such a number.”
“It’s really embarrassing. It was the others who were giving it their best after all…”
While looking down, Kokuri vocalized her guilt.
I then begin to talk, unsure of what to say.
“So that’s what it was… No, I understand though. I’ve been an annoyance to my party members in the past too. But… If you look for one, there’s bound to be a party that would accept you, right? High-level priests are a rare sight, and you also possess a lot of skills. If they wanted to level, they could do it without a priest anyhow.”
You’re in an infinitely better situation than I am.
But Kokoru replied with no power in it and downcast eyes.
“Ahaha, Thanks for the encouragement. But… that wouldn’t work. It’s not the issue. Even if they try their best to defeat a monster, most of the experience points go to me who does nothing in the back line. Anyone would get angry at that, surely. That’s why… Even if I get invited to a party, I’ll be shafted in a heartbeat again if things stay like this.”
Kokoru’s words left me unable to say anything. If someone told me that a minus skill is a matter of emotions, then I would have to say they’re probably right.
Even I was fed up about having low drop rates mere moments ago.
“And also… There’s a distinct disadvantage to “The Usurper of Severed Heads”. With this skill, if the person who kills has “Experience Buff” or “Drop Rate Increase” and the like, then they won’t be applied. Normally they would be extremely useful skills, but because of me….”
I froze as I was thinking of words of consolation.
“Drop Rate Increase” wouldn’t be applied?
“Truth be told… I came here to this dungeon to defeat the boss.”
“Sir Alvin, do you know the rumors about this place? They say that the boss of this dungeon drops an item that could remove skills. I want it so much… if I can erase my skill, then I could become an ordinary adventurer! I won’t become a nuisance to anyone, and I wouldn’t get kicked out of a party. If it was just a normal adventurer…”
“That’s why… this might be an imprudent request but… Sir Alvin. Could I ask you to defeat the boss with me? I was going to do it alone but, as expected, it would be tough going in solo as a priest… Even if I’m like this, I’m level 80 and I’m confident in my skills as an adventurer! Sir Alvin, you seem to be high level too, so I think that we can surely beat a small dungeon if we work together! Of course, it’s ok for you to not party with me in order for you to not be robbed of experience. As for the rewards, I only need that one single item so everything else will be given to you. So please…”
I unconsciously grab her shoulders.
To be honest, nothing really registered from her story.
While ignoring everything so far, I then say—
“Will you party-up with me!?”