Akatsuki Translations

It had felt like there was a constant fog in my mind until now. Whenever I tried to remember things or think about complex matters, that fog would interfere with everything. But now, I felt that fog clearing away, and my mind becoming sharper.

“Lean, you…”

My master must have heard that dungeon voice too. The voice announcing the start of species evolution. Until now, I probably wouldn’t have understood its meaning clearly. But now, I could grasp it a little. Apparently, I had defeated 1000 goblins of a higher level than myself.

Had I really killed that many?

Killing 1000 of your own kind triggers species evolution. The dungeon has quite a twisted sense of humor. But if you ask whether I feel guilty about killing so many of my kind, the answer is no.

It seems my sense of kinship with humans, my master’s species, is stronger than with my own kind. That’s why I even felt hatred towards goblins who hurt humans.

“Master, it feels like I’ve been reborn,” I said.

And of course, she was the first person I wanted to report this to.

“…Haha, it seems so,” she replied.

My master is a very beautiful person. And she’s always worried about me. That used to annoy me, but now I understand her feelings a little. If I had such poor judgment before, of course she’d be worried.

I looked at my hands. My skin was quite different from before.

It was like I was wearing a blue leather suit, almost enamel-like.

My height seemed to have increased too, not much different from my master now. My chest and hips had grown larger as well. I wondered what face Yuuta would make if I hugged him now, when he used to be so unresponsive before.

“Lean, do you want to look in a mirror?” my master asked.

“Yes. I want to check my status too,” I replied.

Name: Lean

Species: High Blue

Level: 10 → 11

Job: Close Combat Type Summoned Monster

Title: Evie Nova Timberlake’s First Daughter Summon

       Blue One

HP: 73 → 81

Strength: 69 → 76

Agility: 65 → 72

Defense: 69 → 78

Dexterity: 39 → 64 (Species Evolution Bonus +20)

Intelligence: 4 → 10 (Species Evolution Bonus +6)

Charm: 48 → 55 (Species Evolution Bonus +7)

Special Abilities: 【Roar】

                   【Double Roar】 (Union ability with second daughter)

                   Unapproved 【Blue Nova】

Equipment: Stone Grade 【Blue Bar】 Lean’s Exclusive Equipment

           Bronze Grade 【Aristo】 (Barrier Value 100)

“Lean, you’ve improved across the board. Even your level went up. I mean, this isn’t that different from Yuuta’s stats, is it?” my master exclaimed.

“No, it’s probably still a bit inferior. But I’ve caught up quite a bit,” I replied.

“I see.”

My master looked at me with such joy. That made me happiest of all. Until now, I honestly didn’t understand how strong Yuuta was. Now that I’ve gotten closer to his level, I understand a little better.

At the same time, I realized how weak I had been. Even though I had strength, I couldn’t control myself well due to low dexterity. Above all, without magic or skills, I wasn’t much different from goblins fighting with just their basic physical abilities.

This would change significantly now that I had High Blue’s exclusive equipment. Does summoned beast’s exclusive equipment appear during evolution? I didn’t know that, so I was very happy. Now I can be useful to everyone.

“With your intelligence at 10, we can’t call you stupid anymore. Here, Lean, a mirror,” my master said.

She handed me a hand mirror from her magic bag. I looked at myself. My face had changed quite a bit. My skin was now smooth and blue, and my eyes looked like they had cat’s-eye gems embedded in them.

On my forehead, there was a jewel like a blue diamond, reminiscent of a third eye. I had no hair. Rather than looking bald, it seemed like I was a creature that naturally didn’t have hair.

“What a strange appearance. Master, have I become quite inorganic?” I asked.

I drew upon the knowledge I had received from my master. Until now, I couldn’t do this well, but now I could use it smoothly as my own knowledge.

“You really have. But you look cool. It’s a bit of a shame you don’t look like a cute child anymore, though. Hehe, Yuuta’s going to have a hard time with you like this,” she chuckled.

“That’s certainly true,” I agreed.

My master, Yuuta, and Misuzu didn’t complain when I clung to Yuuta because I looked like a young girl. Yuuta found comfort in my child-like appearance. But now that I no longer looked like a child, all the girls around him would be sexually attractive women.

“And, how should I put this, does the evolution have nothing to do with goblins?” my master asked, seeming concerned that my appearance bore no resemblance to goblins.

“Probably. I think High Blues are completely unrelated to goblins. Perhaps killing 1000 goblins of a higher level is the trigger to become something that isn’t a goblin,” I theorized. I was most surprised by my ability to make such deductions.

“I wonder if goblins are no longer challenging enough for you, Lean?”

There are still plenty of goblins stronger than me. Mages, Soldiers, Generals. And the Emperor. But I think that’s probably where it ends for goblins. If I want to keep getting stronger, I don’t think it’s possible as a goblin.

“Well, if Lean had turned into a muscular goblin-” my master began, but was cut off.

“AAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!”

The voice suddenly rang out. Even though I was a different species now, I could still understand goblin language. The tremendous volume echoed throughout the entire settlement.

“What was that?” my master asked, startled.

“Master, Misuzu has been discovered by the goblins,” I explained.

One of the goblins was shouting, “We’ve found the comrade killer!” Goblins don’t mourn their comrades, but they do have a sense of camaraderie. Having distanced myself from the species, I didn’t quite understand. After all, goblins respawn 24 hours after death.

Why are they so angry despite that?

I realized I was thinking like my master and the others. More importantly, Misuzu was in danger. She was in that direction. Unlike before, my mind was working rapidly. I could make quick judgments and my body started moving.

“Master, I’m going. Trust me, I can make my own decisions now,” I said.

“Hehe, yes, do your best, Lean,” she replied.

Usually, my master would give me various warnings before I acted, but this time that was all she said. I started running from my master’s side.

“【Summon Beast Enhancement】!” I heard my master’s voice behind me.

My overall strength increased dramatically. I felt like I might even be stronger than Yuuta now. I wondered about that. I wanted to fight Yuuta once to find out.

With each step on the ground, my body accelerated. Was this the world Yuuta always saw? My body moved freely. I wasn’t overwhelmed by the speed. In an instant, I reached the place where Misuzu should be, where I had heard the goblin’s voice.

I jumped.

The ground rapidly fell away.

Amazing.

I could jump so high so easily. With the momentum, I leaped about 5 meters high. Looking down, I saw Misuzu. Her stomach and arm were cut, and she looked in pain. Goblins. You’re just like me. My comrades are important to me too. Don’t hurt my friends.

The way to use my exclusive equipment 【Blue Bar】 came to mind.

“I see. Very convenient,” I muttered.

My arm stretched out. It changed shape freely, wrapping around the watchtower. I had almost overshot, but this sudden brake stopped me. The watchtower shook, but the goblins were too engrossed in looking at the woman to notice.

Even with higher levels, they’re still obsessed with women. If they’re not looking this way, I can catch them off guard. I transformed my right arm into the shape of a hammer. The Blue Bar fuses with my arm. I can change everything from the shoulder down at will.

How to use the Blue Bar immediately comes to mind.

Die.

I fall towards the Goblin Soldier trying to grab Misuzu. They still haven’t noticed me. They’re intent on getting revenge on us for killing so many of their comrades. They’re about to do something terrible to Misuzu, completely absorbed in it.

These fools really can’t break free from their racial constraints.

But I have.

I swung the hammer down with all my might towards the Soldier’s head. With a squelch, its head was crushed. The contents splattered all the way to Misuzu.

“Huh?” Misuzu looked bewildered. She turned to look at me with a ‘who are you’ expression.

“Lean?”

“Yes. Here, a potion,” I said, taking one out of my magic bag and handing it to her.

“Wow, what happened to you? Your appearance seems like it might violate various content regulations,” she remarked.

I kind of understood what Misuzu meant. According to my master’s memories, even if you’re painted blue, nudity isn’t allowed. But it’s fine. I’ve changed the Blue Bar to cover my entire body properly. I’m not naked.

“Are you okay?” I asked Misuzu, with multiple meanings.

“Y-yes,” she replied, wincing at her arm wound as she opened the potion and drank it all at once. Her wounds began to close.

The goblins were momentarily stunned by their comrade’s crushed head. However, they recovered, and a Mage started casting a spell.

“【Gya】”

I grabbed Misuzu’s waist.

“Are we fighting?” she asked.

“No. More and more are gathering. We’re escaping,” I replied.

My arm was still wrapped around the watchtower’s frame, and I pulled Misuzu and myself up.

“Understood,” Misuzu said.

Though she probably had many questions for me, she put them aside and readied her bow.

 *Thwip!*

An arrow was released. Supported by me, with her feet off the ground, Misuzu kept firing arrows.

“【Gya】”

The Mage cast a spell.

“Gyagya” “Gya”

Just when I thought the Soldiers couldn’t attack us because we were too high up, they sliced the watchtower horizontally in one stroke. The watchtower collapsed. I lost my balance. But I didn’t panic. I tried to think clearly. Huh? Even though I’ve gotten smarter, I can’t think of what to do.

“Leave it to me, Lean!” Misuzu held up a magic circle drawn on something like a talisman.

“【Stone Explosion】!”

It was something she had been saving. A magic circle from a gacha. She poured activating mana into the magic circle. Several stone bullets flew forward. But the Soldiers protected their vital organs like turtles and kept charging.

Are these guys this troublesome when it’s not a surprise attack? The number of reinforcing goblins kept increasing.

This is bad.

But then, the ground shook.

“What?”

“Lean, it’s Yuuta!” Misuzu exclaimed.

In the distance, red magma erupted.

“【Fire Arrow Formation】”

I heard my master’s voice from behind us.

I remembered. “Lean. Listen. When you see an eruption, that’s the signal to start.”

That magma is Yuuta’s signal.

He used the 【Lava】 from the gold capsule.

Yuuta is saying that he’s reduced the goblin numbers enough. Let’s end the surprise attacks. It’s the signal to start annihilating the settlement. The signal that Yuuta has defeated 30 goblins.

I thought that maybe I still can’t beat Yuuta after all.