ch81-ch100 · 086-ch86
Chapter 86: Rain and the Hospital
I fell asleep while I was on the phone with Kasumi-san last night.
I slept soundly until morning and feel fine, but the sky is not fine.
Apparently the rainy season has properly set in.
The rain that seems to have been falling since yesterday shows no sign of stopping.
Brrring. My phone rings.
There's something more important than how I feel or how the sky looks.
What kind of mood is Kasumi-san in?
'Hello, Haruki-san. Good morning. You're already up?'
Her voice is bright.
Almost too bright.
At the very least, she doesn't seem to be in a bad mood.
"Good morning, Kasumi-san. About yesterday, I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologize. I'm the one who should be sorry, keeping you up when you were exhausted..."
We confirm today's plans, and I see Kasumi-san off to work over the phone.
"Have a good day at work, Kasumi-san."
"Yes. I'm off."
Mmfufu.
I'm so happy it's scary.
I feel a lot better, too.
Maybe I don't need to go to the hospital at all?
(But I did promise to go report my diagnosis, huh.)
I've told her I'll come by the Association in the afternoon, but Kasumi-san won't be off work until after five.
After that we're all having dinner with my parents, so if I show up too early I might just get in the way of her work...
(...Working the Chiba Dungeon counter?)
Maybe I should go early and keep her company.
In that case, let's go meet this so-called beautiful doctor ahead of schedule.
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"Do I really have to answer all of these?"
"I'm afraid so. Going by your symptoms and history, the cause is your stats and your skill loadout. Along with that, I'd like your level and jobs too."
So said the beautiful doctor—black hair in a very short cut, glasses—Dr. Amamiya.
An older beauty with glasses—that's Kasumi-san's territory.
Apart from the hairstyle, they might actually look a bit alike.
But I can't answer this...
Name: Kasugano Haruki
Job: 【Charge Shielder】【Charge Spearman】【Scout】
Lv: 30
HP: 2250/2250
MP: 600/600
Strength: 120
Endurance: 150
Agility: 105
Magic: 60
Skill: 【Gate】【Charge・Spear】【Charge・Spear・Weapon Enhancement・Spear】【Charge・Spear・Strength Up】【Charge・Spear・Endurance Up】【Charge・Spear・Agility Up】【Charge・Spear・Aiming】【Presence Concealment】【Presence Detection】【Scouting】【Night Vision】
Skill Points: 9
We're not in the dungeon, so this isn't certain, but it should look about like this.
My MP has probably recovered, but my HP might not be at full.
I registered my license on June 1st. Today is June 13th.
Is it safe to tell them I hit Level 30 on day thirteen?
Let alone that I hold a high-rank job...
"Symptoms on the surface side, I hear all the time. Most likely from your sudden level-ups. It's what you often see in adventurers who've power-leveled."
They measured my grip strength earlier—60 kilos on both hands.
When I mentioned that at last month's fitness test my right hand hadn't even reached 40, they excused me from the other measurements.
Your body's straining to output strength it can't handle, and that's what causes the injuries, apparently.
"Sounds like you've got good company there. Can't say it's good for your body, though."
Oh? She's decided I'm not going to answer and is moving things along.
A perceptive doctor. What a relief.
That's right. Kasumi-san is a wonderful comrade.
"It's what people call the side effects of leveling. Time will take care of this part. On the surface, resting is best, though they say it's also good to keep entering the dungeon. Exercise inside the dungeon is probably fine, but you shouldn't level up."
Apparently that isn't confirmed information.
After all, dungeon-derived illnesses have only been studied for a few years, so there are few cases on record.
Lots of people research status and skills, but hardly anyone researches the illnesses—even among those studying recovery magic like 【Heal】.
That's apparently the reason Dr. Amamiya became the leading expert in this field at such a young age.
I don't know her actual age, but she seems older than Kasumi-san or Shiraishi-san.
"How long are we talking?"
If I don't level up, a few days and it clears?
"I'd say one to two weeks? I think you'll be able to tell yourself when it's gone. Anyway, don't push it."
That long?
What about Kasumi-san's Triple-Rank?
And the home cooking?
Huh? So I just need to not level up?
Sounds like exercise is good, too.
So I should be fine if I pop in, quickly take down just the Ogre King, and come home.
"The problem is the symptoms you get in the dungeon. The force and volume of that nosebleed must have been considerable, no? If it clogs your airway, it becomes life-threatening. And you were in a dungeon, at that. There are only a handful of reported cases. My guess is you're overworking your skills. It's what happens when scout-types keep multiple skills active all night long. I'll say it flat out—your job is 【Scout】, isn't it."
Dr. Amamiya goes 'hmph' with a smug look.
Wide of the mark, yet not far off—would be the way to put it?
I do have 【Scout】, sure, but these symptoms started before I even took 【Scout】 as my sub-job and used its skills.
The question is how to cure it.
"So? How do I cure it?"
"Hm? We don't know yet?"
Hey.
"That's why I said it was the problem. Well—don't overuse your skills. Don't run several at once, that sort of thing. That should stop the symptoms from showing up."
That's going to be impossible...
Am I supposed to fight without super mode from now on?
Would just the one MP-consuming attack, 【Charge・Spear】, be all right?
I haven't even taken any 【Charge Shielder】 skills yet...
"That aside—would you let me collect some data? I'd like to watch the nosebleed happen in person... what do you say?"
She's a pervert!
"I'll pay you for it. You're a high schooler, right? Money always comes in handy. Please?"
I'm not exactly hurting for money.
If it doesn't cure me, there's no upside.
Begging all cute won't get you anywhere.
"If we collect data and study it, we might find a treatment. Think of the adventurers who come after you—lend us a hand, hmm?"
So it might cure me?
Hmm...