Published at 26th of December 2025 7:37 am

Chapter 426: Valuable Items That Disappear Once Used Tend to Be Hoarded for a Lifetime.

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Here I go ha!

I exhaled lightly and in sync with relaxing my body, I stepped forward. My body, leaning forward, started running on its own and instantly made contact with the taut-bodied golem no, Encounter.

First!

With that momentum, I swung my sword, and once again, the Encounter was easily split in two vertically. The reason I dont cut at the waist is because I know that just slicing them isnt enough to incapacitate them. If it were the right and left halves, they could probably only writhe around, but if its the upper and lower body, they can move around quite a bit.

And then, the remaining Encounter similarly comes swinging at my back. Its the exact same flow, but unlike earlier, I cant expect Tias help. So is this a pinch? Ha, no way!

As if you could hit me!

I lightly shift my body to the side and easily dodge the Encounters attack. I only stayed still back then because Tia was there. Its not that I couldnt move if Tia wasnt there, so theres no reason for me to struggle against enemies of this level even if Im alone.

And, its over!

Without using any particular tricks, I simply turn around and slice the second Encounter in two from the head as well. It may be plain, but creating flashy scenes every time you fight small fry is something only idiots do. As I sprinkle the Nukimizu on the writhing remains of the Encounters, Anemo, accompanied by Tia, comes over while clapping her hands.

Ooh, impressive skill! But to think you could split an Encounter cleanly in two, you must be using quite a good sword. How many times can you use it?

Hm? No, theres no usage limit on this, you know?

What!? No, no, no, no. Im sure I explained it properly, right? Weapons for fighting Encounters have a special coating, just like the tools used to cut out dungeon walls. Otherwise, theres no way a sword could cut through stone!

Even if you say that

Im sure Ed-san is just forgetting, but that sword must have a proper coating too. Let me take a look for a bit.

As I handed over my [Dawnbreaker] to Anemo, she started observing the blade intently. However, when she traced the edge with her finger, her expression distorted in shock.

What, no way, it really doesnt have a coating!? But there are no chips on the blade either???

Like I said, as long as its not an extremely dull blade, I can cut through something like stone with my skill. Especially since that sword is the greatest sword forged by my master so it can slice through iron or whatever like butter, you know?

H-How absurd I thought you were just ignoring the talk about weapons, so I was planning to lecture you if you made any mistakes, but

Ohh, about that well then, lets just call it even.

The reason Anemo didnt give any additional warnings was probably because she thought it would be easier to learn after experiencing a painful failure once. I noticed that she was ready to jump in and help at any time if I messed up, so I dont feel like blaming her.

And on my end, I didnt say anything until I actually showed it because I understood that just explaining it verbally would only be met with laughter, but I do feel a tiny bit of guilt for not conveying it beforehand, even just a word.

So, as I give a wry smile and say that, Anemo looked up and let out a big sigh in front of me.

Haa, the world is vast, isnt it? To think that there are still so many things I dont know about, even this close to me. But Fufufu, its precisely because of these encounters with the unknown that I cant quit being an explorer! So, next is Tia-san. If we find a suitable Encounter, Id like you to fight it alone, but will you be okay?

Of course! I cant let Ed hog all the cool moments!

At Anemos words, Tias ears twitched with enthusiasm. Then, after about 30 minutes of exploration, we came across three Encounters this time. However, these Encounters were only about 50 centimeters tall each, and their physique was less humanoid and more like a round, large stone with smaller stones for limbs and a head attached.

There are more than earlier, but they seem to be smaller in size to compensate. What should we do?

I think that level wont be a problem.

Understood. But even if Encounters are small, they are still strong, and above all, being small means its harder to land hits, and theres also the danger of the enemys attacks concentrating only at your feet. Please be very cautious.

Itll be fine. Watch me.

However, in response to Anemos serious face, Tia smiles and tells her that, then steps to the front of our group. But without approaching the Encounters any further, she begins chanting on the spot.

Gathering the winds and shaping them into a spiral of crescent moons, enveloping them in a faint glow and carving them with the ethereal claws of two arms and eight fingers!

Perhaps hearing that voice, the Encounters slowly approached us. Their speed of movement was unthinkable for lumps of stone, but its slightly too slow to interfere with Tias chanting.

Conquer, advance, soar through and pierce! Under the name of Lunaritia, manifest, [Wind Arrow]!

In front of Tia, who finished chanting, three arrows of wind visualized in emerald green were born. They unerringly pierced the bodies of the three approaching Encounters, instantly turning them all into writhing lumps of stone.

Hmph, hows that?

As expected of Tia. Nice work Anemo?

I returned Tias words with a smile as she turned around with a proud face. But Anemo, who was beside me, was trembling with a face that looked like she saw something unbelievable.

W-Whats wrong, Anemo? Thats an interesting expression, but did I do something weird?

M-M-M Magic?!?!?

Suddenly raising her voice, Anemo pounced on Tia with incredible force. Then, Tia, who had been carrying her luggage on her back because she hadnt intended to engage in close combat, couldnt withstand the added weight and fell on her bottom.

Ow What are you doing, Anemo!?

What am I doing? What are YOU doing!? Using magic like that, what are you thinking!?

Huh? What do you mean I dont think we talked about anything yesterday, but could it be that I wasnt supposed to use magic?

Its not about whether you should or shouldnt! Aah, what should I do? I dont have any Tashimizu on me, but I need to restore your mana quickly

Restore? Im not that tired, you know? This level of exhaustion recovers on its own just by walking normally

Theres no way that could happen! A humans mana covering on its own is impossible!

Anemo shouted at the confused Tia with a face that looked like she was about to cry.

Listen carefully! Magic consumes mana every time you use it, but that mana doesnt recover at all! And if you use up all your mana no, even if you dont reach complete depletion, if it falls below a certain level, youll be absorbed by the dungeon just like that! Well, the mana you used can be replenished by drinking Tashimizu that had mana transferred to it when making Nukimizu, but thats just a temporary stopgap measure, and it will naturally leave your body over time.

In other words, there is no way to truly recover mana in this world! Magic is a power that chips away at your life the more you use it and yet, to use it in such a trivial situation like this!

Tears spill from the eyes of Anemo, who was practically pinning Tia down.

Im sorry. Even though I knew you had lost your memory your common sense! Aah, if only I had properly taught you about magic Im sorry, Im sorry

Wait a minute! Dont cry, Anemo! Im really okay! I used magic on the day I met you too, but my mana recoverd properly!

Thats a lie. Just to comfort me, saying something like that

No, its true, so its okay.

I placed my hand on the shoulder of the sobbing Anemo and lifted up her face that was buried in Tias chest.

I dont know why either, but Tias mana really does recover. So rather, I want to ask you, do you have any idea about humans whose mana recovers naturally?

That was a question I had prepared in advance. I didnt expect Anemo to react this excessively, but precisely because of that, as a move to cleanly wipe away her worries, Anemo answered while hiccuping.

Sniff hic well, something like that other than Encounters born from dungeons, the only existence whose mana power recovers is in fairy tales

Fairy tales?

Yes. Somewhere in this world, there is a place called the Kuna Forest composed of earth and trees, and there is said to be a special race called Elves living there. Their characteristic is their long ears, and according to one theory, those ears may have the function of converting a dungeons mana into their own

Anemos eyes moved slightly to the side from Tias face as she talked. There, ears that were quite a bit longer compared to humans were twitching

L-L-Long ears?!?!?

Anemos scream echoed through the dungeon again.

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