Chapter-08 · EP-122

Episode 122: How to Deal with Injured People You Encounter

The three explorers who had been defeated by the fourth-floor boss and came out noticed us waiting in front of the door.

"Hey, do you have any antidote? Please, spare us some! At least neutralize the poison so we can get back."

"A-aren't your injuries a problem?"

Yuno asked timidly at the sudden appearance of the injured.

"We'll get treatment for these injuries on the surface. More importantly, these guys can't move properly because of the poison. There's no way we can drag them both back."

Two of the three were injured. One had a leg swollen purple, another's shoulder was bleeding. The third was supporting the other two.

To return to the surface, they had to go back to the portal near the entrance of the fourth floor. In their current state, they couldn't handle a monster attack on the way, so they at least wanted to cure the poison.

But…

"Why didn't you prepare your own Cure Potions?"

"We used them all up. And we ran short…"

If so, that was their own fault. It wasn't that I didn't want to help. But if we used up our supplies here, we would be the ones in danger.

Even I had once been poisoned and had to retreat from the Venom Hairy Caterpillar.

At that time, I retreated before using up all my Cure Potions. Because by the time you run out, it's too late.

It was their fault for continuing the fight after running out of Cure Potions.

Besides, our Cure Potions and antidote were for our own use.

"Sorry, but no."

At my words, not only the explorers but also my companions, especially Yuno, looked surprised and were speechless.

"We're about to challenge the floor boss ourselves, so we need them. If we gave them to you, we wouldn't have any left. I can't give them to you."

I said, refusing clearly.

Our chaperone, Professor Kushinada, said nothing.

That was right. This was a dungeon. It wasn't a place for mutual aid; it was a place where you had to take responsibility for yourself.

Hearing my words, the explorer swallowed silently, then after a moment's pause, replied with a look of understanding.

"You're right. Sorry. You guys be careful too."

Saying that, he started to leave, dragging his groaning companions.

Just then, Yuno shouted at me.

"Shirou!"

I turned around involuntarily.

Yuno looked angry.

"They're injured! Can't you just give them some antidote?!"

Maika looked troubled, watching the two, while Iori silently observed the situation.

I understood what Yuno wanted to say, but it wasn't that simple.

I explained to Yuno, as if persuading her.

"So we should give them our antidote out of pity, and give up on challenging the floor boss? Are we going to give charity to every injured person we meet and give up on progressing? They are responsible for continuing to fight until they ran out of antidote. There's no reason for us to suffer for that."

That was only reasonable. But Yuno didn't seem convinced. She turned her back to me and approached the explorers.

"Sorry. At least let me heal your injuries."

"But potions are too expensive…"

"Heal!"

Yuno held out both palms and cast Healing Magic on both of them simultaneously. Sparkling light enveloped the two.

The two injured explorers, who had been supported, opened their eyes wide and got down from their companions' shoulders.

"I can move. I can move."

"Thank you. You saved us."

Their injuries seemed to be completely healed. The two repeatedly thanked Yuno.

"We can probably walk back now. Thank you so much!"

"I'm glad. Please be careful on your way back."

"You're a valuable healer, aren't you? Sorry, we made you use your precious magic here."

"That's okay. I can use it about 20 times a day."

At those words, the three looked surprised.

"That many? That's as much as the Guild's healers, isn't it? You're talented. Thank you so much."

After thanking her many times, they headed back the way they came.

But watching them leave, I felt something was off.

…Why were they walking normally?

Their injuries might have healed, but the poison should still be there. I knew from experience – that intense numbness and loss of sensation. I had been poisoned in my arm, but one of them had been poisoned in the leg. If so, unless the poison was cured, he shouldn't be able to walk normally.

I involuntarily looked at Yuno.

Yuno had a calm smile on her face.

I pulled up Yuno's status.

Pffft!

"Eek! Gross!"

I spat out in shock.

Yuno Hayasaka: LV3 ▶
Skill: Healing Magic LV2 (Active) ▶
       Detoxification Magic LV1 (Active) ▶
Party: Shirou Ichinose ▶, Maika Momota ▶, Iori Takigawa ▶

There it was – 'Detoxification Magic LV1'. …It had branched.

I involuntarily looked at Yuno's face.

"What?"

What were the conditions for branching? Did she need Healing Magic LV2 and to heal someone who had been poisoned? Or did she have an innate talent for branching?

Either way, it was too fast. Wasn't branching supposed to happen after gaining much more experience?

And looking at Yuno's face, I came to a hypothesis.

Was Yuno… a genius?

"It's fine to cast Healing Magic on them. If you can't give them antidote, at least heal their injuries, right?"

"That's not the point."

"Huh?"

"The three from earlier walked back normally, didn't they?"

"Yeah."

"Yuno, you've probably become able to use Detoxification Magic."

Since I couldn't reveal that I could see her skill, I told her without being definitive.

Yuno was, of course, surprised, but even more so, Professor Kushinada behind her exclaimed in surprise.

"Surely not? I've heard of skill branching, but it doesn't happen that easily!"

"But you saw the explorers' condition, didn't you?"

I answered the professor.

She thought for a moment.

"Certainly, he shouldn't have been able to walk with a poisoned leg… And he started walking after receiving Hayasaka-san's Healing Magic…"

"Yuno, let's check the Skill Board when we get back to the surface."

"O-okay. I will."

This was huge. And I realized one thing.

From the fourth to the sixth floor, not only normal fighting, but also countermeasures against gimmicks like poison and webs are necessary.

With Yuno's Detoxification Magic for poison and Iori's slashes for webs, this party would probably clear up to the sixth floor with ease.

"As expected of Yuno!"

"Yuno-chan, amazing!"

"We don't know that yet. Shirou is just saying that. We need to check the Skill Board."

Probably the academy's strongest first-year party was unaware of their own strength and had a very relaxed atmosphere.

"This is the first time I've seen the moment of skill branching… but still…"

Professor Kushinada was muttering to herself.

She would probably report it to the Self-Defense Forces, but I didn't know the branching conditions either, so it shouldn't be a problem even if reported.

"S-so, shall we go?"

When the conversation ended, we advanced toward the fourth-floor boss room.