Level Up

I decided to have Narikin's group take some time to tour the Holy Kingdom at their leisure. They agreed to would report back periodically if they noticed anything.

And now, Rokuko's new plan to create a park with a legendary tree had began.

"You know, if we built it in the dungeon, it might even become a [Envy] gimmick. For adventurers who don't have a lover."

"… … If we made it in the dungeon, it'd have to be a room where you can't leave unless you're a couple or something. It'd be way too hard to judge that."

A room that you couldn't leave unless you engaged in some mild flirting (the most vague expression for all ages) might have been a surprisingly reasonable judgment. That might enter the [Lust] category rather than [Envy] at that point, though. And if a party with only men entered the room, what would happen? Yeah… hard pass.

"… … A room where you can't proceed further unless you kiss might be a surprisingly good idea, don't you think?"

"What'll you do whenever some solo diver like Wataru goes in alone then?"

"… … Right, maybe have him kiss a picture of Nerune?"

"Would that be enough? How about placing a statue for kissing instead, one you can't pass unless you kiss it? That'd make the judgment much clearer."

Wait, now that I've said it, that actually sounds like a good idea. A room where you can't leave until you kiss the correct statue among several stone statues. If I just change the correct statue every time you enter, it'd probably be quite annoying… It could work as a hindrance.

I started to think that the [Envy] gimmick might be good with this. Envy from the statues that didn't receive a kiss.

"Are you going to place multiple statues? … By the way, what would happen if all the stone statues were destroyed?"

"Why'd you immediately think of that?"

"Well, I thought about what would happen if Kehma entered the room. Kehma's lips are mine."

"I don't deny it, but please don't treat me as your possession."

"Eh, ah, um… You don't deny it?"

"… … Please don't ask me so directly, it's embarrassing."

And so I decided to try making a stone statue.

The process was simple. First, I prepared a metal plate. Then I softened it with [Create Golem] and formed it into the shape of a face. I filled the mold with a separately softened stone using [Create Golem], then when I removed the mold… I had a stone mask.

After that, I adjusted it by attaching it to a bust mannequin made of stone—

"Yeah, it's just its face, but it looks pretty good… Should we put a wig on for the hair?"

"Wow, that's amazing, Kehma. Can I have this?"

"Sure, but… what are you going to do with it?"

"I'll display it in my room! Kehma, you can make a statue of me and display it too, right? You could take a mold of my foot?"

… Wao, that's a very attractive proposition.

"Even if I took a mold, I can't help but think that a stone statue of you could be sold at a high price to Haku-san."

"Ah, so you'll take it… You can sell it, but I'll take Kehma's stone statue too, okay? Of course, a full-body one. And make it a nude statue and dress it in Kehma's clothes! It's fine, nude statues are art!"

"Do you think that excuse would work if I made a nude statue of Rokuko and told Haku-san?"

"… … … … … … I-I think it would work!"

"There was quite a pause there. Alright, let's not do that."

For now, if they were to install it in the dungeon, they could ask for Rei's cooperation in creating the base, and adjust the statues individually to make them look like different people.

"Kehma, with your [Super Transformation], you can prepare as many people to base it on as you want."

"… … It would be nice if I could use [Create Golem] while transformed. As of now, I can't use it if the person I transformed into hasn't learned it…"

"Wouldn't it work if you raised the level of [Super Transformation] by breaking a Dummy Core? I hear that at Lv. 6 you can use your skills from before you transformation, right?"

"… … Where did you hear that? Haku-san?"

"Toy mentioned it."

So the source of the information was Leona… Since she had [Super Appraisal], the possibility of it being correct was high. There was even the chance that Leona secretly had [Super Transformation] as well.

"I just destroyed a Dummy Core to restore my level after it dropped during the Soto incident. I want to keep some leeway for the future in case something happens again…"

"Wouldn't it better to raise its level beforehand so you can have a higher level of [Super Transformation] and be able to handle various situations in the future in case something does end up happening?"

"… … Well, if it weren't for the Soto incident, I would have already raised it by two levels, so raising it one more level should be fine."

With that, I decided to use 5,000 DP to purchase a Dummy Core and break it to raise the level of [Super Transformation].

"… … I wonder if Soto's [Minor Replication] can increase in level?"

"Even if we were to test it, Soto has just been born, so it might be better to wait a year or two. It's just a feeling I have, though."

"It would be troublesome if it went out of control."

They placed the Dummy Core and readied the Blade Golem.

Rokuko gently placed her hand on it.

"Hehehe, doesn't it remind you of when we broke that pot in the Holy Kingdom's park?"

"This is more the original thing though?"

"We were in Rokufa and Narikin back then, so let's do this together this time!"

I didn't know if that'd be okay or not, but we cooperatively broke the Dummy Core.

The light overflowing from the core entered me and the level of my [Super Transformation] increased.

I checked the effects of [Super Transformation]. They were as follows:

"… … So this is [Super Transformation Lv. 6]."

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, I seem to be fine. And it's just as Rokuko said. Apparently, I can use the skills I have now even after [Super Transformation]."

"Hmm? That means, for example… you can use [Create Golem] while transformed into a Golem!"

"That's right."

"… … What about [Super Transformation] after using [Super Transformation]?"

"There's got to be a limit to it. Want me to try?"

I tried transforming into Niku with [Super Transformation], then once in that state, I attempted to once again transform into Rokuko with [Super Transformation]. I took on the appearance of Rokuko.

… Hmm? Did it work? When I canceled [Super Transformation], I returned all the way back to my original state.

"Wait, what just happened… Oh, I get it."

It didn't stack and was instead just consecutive transformations. Of course, the daily limit still applied.

Until now, I had always started [Super Transformation] from an untransformed state, but it seemed like I could perform the next transformation without having to cancel the previous one. That would reduce any gaps in my defense.

"Well, I guess I can't cause too much trouble."

"… … Hey, I just thought of something. What about a Magic Sword Kehma? You could transform into an Orichalcum sword and shoot magic like crazy, making it the ultimate magic sword!"

"That's way too vicious."

Oooh, Rokuko! For you to come up such a wicked idea right away…! You've grown so much.