161　Comedic duo? (Manzai?)

"Good mornin……eh, why is Pani-cchi here?"
"Oh, my, how are you, Cosmos? I know I keep saying this, but could you please stop calling me that? "
"If you show me some sincerity, I may consider it."
"Sincerity? "
"That's right. It's called sincerity, the thin cloth you wear down there."
"You don't waver, do you……?"

　Early morning. When I got to the meeting place right on time, Champani and Cosmos were talking happily about something.

"Good morning. What were you talking about? "
"Good morning Master. I was just exchanging information with Champani about the recent market price of cloth."
"Good morning, Master. It's a lovely morning."

　Heh, the market price of cloth. It's hard for a maid to pay attention to all that.

"Are you still acting like a princess in front of Master? "
"The real question is, "Do you think you could act proper for once? "
"Oh please never ask me that."

　The two talked secretly to each other. They are very close.

"Now, today we are going to learn Jojutsu, but before we do that, let's just finish up the Rook and Dragon King that we have left to learn in Spearmanship."
"Understood. But…… is it really that easy to learn? "
"Yeah, as soon as we get Rook out of the way, we're good to go. Dragon King Spearmanship comes instantaneously if you know how to do it."
"That's amazing."
"As one would expect from Master."

　They both gave me compliments. No, I shouldn't be praised for such things.

"By the way, I also cum instantaneously if you know how to do it"
"……What are you trying to compete with me for?"
"No, never, I'm not ready for a dildo yet."
"Dildo? "
"Oh, I mean the imitation of male body parts. Primarily used by women for personal acts, but some men also use it 'behind their backs'."
"Shut up! "
"Ooooowww! "

　It sounds like some kind of private conversation again. It must be a silly story, as Champani is making a tsukkomi at it. These two seem to be really close. But if you keep it that private, I'm a little curious to know.

"Let's go."

　Getting back on track. The destination was still the 『Slime Forest』 today.

　As a matter of fact, learning 【Jojutsu】would be accomplished in the slime forest. However, this method of learning 【Jojutsu】is a bit different from the way other skills are learned. Mainly in a tedious direction.

　Now, this is going to be a long day……





"I did it!　I could learn it!　I'm so glad! "

　It has been a little over two hours since we arrived in the slime forest. Finally, Champani learned all the 【Spearmanship】skills.

　She expressed her joy with her whole body, bouncing up and down. However, the fact that she is not overly boisterous is probably because she is a young lady at heart.

"Words of joy poured out of her mouth. At the same time, there was a liquid of pleasure seeping out of her loins without her being aware of it. A pleasure that she had never felt before assaulted her. Yes, this was the first time she experienced climax. She bites down, stifling the pleasure she feels for the first time in her life as she is penetrated by their cold gazes, and finally, she makes an ungraceful expression on her face. God, why does it feel so embarrassing and pleasant? A moment before she lost herself in a daze, she looked into their disdainful eyes and shuddered in ecstasy as if to announce the end of her pleasure. Thus, she unknowingly learned the pleasure of exposing herself to the world――"
"You're too noisy! "
"Oww! "

　Cosmos, who was mumbling something beside Champani, gets a chop.

　I see. I'm starting to get the picture. So Champani is the straight guy and Cosmos is the goof. Should their name be "Shanko Star"? Just kidding. (TLN: Reference to Nyanko Star https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%81%AB%E3%82%83%E3%82%93%E3%81%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC)  Eh?　You think my naming sense is bad?　Well, whatever.

　But I didn't know that the two of them were a comedy duo. They may be aiming rather seriously, as they do not miss even a small practice on a daily basis in such a manner. Or they are probably cobbling together a show around Firstest's cherry blossom viewing party.

　Oh no, but if that's the case, I feel sorry for them. The reason I say this is because that Raspberry Bell fellow is a bit of a nag. I recall that she had a thing against comic dialogue, and even in a light-hearted exchange between the host and the commentator on Mobius TV's live webcast of the title match, she said things like "Booooring" and "Even a baby has better responses". It would be a real bummer to have a former Saint ruin the comedy sketch of the maids.

"Good for you."

　But I'll support them. I am more interested in genuinely seeing the two perform their comic dialogue.

"Thank you, Master!　I'll do my best to gain experience! "
"Yeah, go for it. Hopefully, it'll be ready in time for the summer."

　Champani fluffed her long, wavy blonde hair and bowed with a graceful curtsy.

　She originally raised her 【Swordsmanship】as well as 【Spearmanship】 to a certain degree, so she should be able to hunt monsters somewhat easier than the other servants. The experience gained from monsters in the same level range will be slightly less because of this, but with a rank as high as hers, there is no need to be that worried about it. Hence, instead of worrying like Cubero and the others, thinking "Will I be able to make it?" she thinks, in her case, "I hope I can make it in time."



"Then let's resume."

　After that, we saw off Champani, who was smiling happily into eternity, and the real work of learning the 【Jojutsu】skill finally began.

　As of now, until Champani learned 《Rook Spearmanship》and 《Dragon King Spearmanship》, Cosmos and I have learned 《Soldier Jojutsu》 and 《Lance Jojutsu》 at the Royal Library, and 《Knight Jojutsu》, 《Silver Jojutsu》and 《Gold Jojutsu》 at the Slime Forest.

　Yes, most skills are easy to learn, even Gold. The problem is the four following Bishop.

"Bishop is next. May I tell you my prediction? "
"Yeah, no problem. Because if you've made it this far, you can pretty much guess what to do."
"Yeah."

　【Jojutsu】is very unique compared to other skills. In 【Jojutsu】, the three basic movements of "thrust, strike, and sweep" can be performed with each of the individual skills. In other words, it can be said that there are nine types of techniques from Soldier to Dragon King times three, for a total of twenty-seven types of techniques.

　And the way they are learned is also unique. In addition, there are rules of thumb that can predict the next method of learning.

　Knight can be learned by using Soldier and Lance to thrust, strike, and sweep against the same monster twice each to defeat it. That means 2*3*2 attacks.

　Silver uses Soldier, Lance, and Knight to thrust, strike, and sweep three times each against the same monster. In other words, 3*3*3.
　Gold is Soldier, Lance, Knight, and Silver, thrusting, striking, and sweeping four times each to the same monster. In other words, 4*3*4.
　This means that the formula for the method of acquisition is thus. (n-1)*3*(n-1), where n equals the number from which the skill in question is counted starting from soldier.

　Hence, since Bishop is the sixth counting from Soldier, n=6, which gives 5*3*5.

　This means that a total of 75 attacks must be made on the same monster.

　Thus, the conditions for learning 【Jojutsu】are easy to spot once you have found its rules.

　And if you try to fulfill this requirement against ordinary monsters or boss monsters with high HP, it will be very difficult to learn. But if you can find "a certain slime" lurking in this 『slime forest』, it becomes very easy to learn.

　Yes, if only you can find it. That is why it is tricky.


"…………"

　Well, never mind that.
　I was secretly looking forward to it. Cosmos predictions.

　Even I, a junior high school graduate, can understand (n-1)*3*(n-1), and Cosmos must have figured it out by now.

　So why did she again say " prediction" here?

　Yes, it's for the sake of playing her role of the goof.

　Enough pretense. Now, how is she going to say something silly? I'm quite ready to say "Of course not! " in response as the straight guy. All right, come on……


"Soldier, Lance, Knight, Silver, and Gold, thrust, strike, and sweep five times each against the same monster, right? "


　……Ehh?

"Ah, yes, you are correct."

　Oh shoot, was this another joke?!　I didn't recognize it right away. Damn it, it's a highly sophisticated goof that runs in the background. I should've said "Are you for real?! " or something similar, right?!　Damn, there's a weird pause. It's too late now to say it. I'm sorry I've disappointed you……


"Um, did I say something strange? "

　As I was thinking about this, Cosmos interjected with an anxious look on her face.

　Eh?　……No way, was it a joke or not?

"I am sorry, Master. In retrospect, it was not something I should have bothered to mention. Please forgive my indiscretion."

　Apparently, that's the case. She was really serious about it, it seems.


　Then…… I somehow felt a kind of loneliness immediately.

　Cosmos is a blabbermouth to Champani but doesn't give me one of her obvious jokes. In other words, I'm inadequate as a straight guy, or so the insinuation goes.

　That may indeed be true. I'm not particularly bright in the comic department, so I wouldn't be a very good comedian.

　But still, I can at least be a practice partner.

　It must be told. That they could rely on me more. I am their master.


"You can tell me."
"Yes? "
"Don't hold back. You can just tell me. You want to say it, right? "
"Uhhh……? "
"You can tell me like you told your Champani buddy."

"……You can't be serious, Master."


　I tell her that it's okay to play the goofball.

　Cosmos then scrunched up her face for some reason and muttered, "No way".


　――Ah! ?　Was it a secret? That they were going to do a manzai at the cherry blossom viewing!?

　If so, then…… Oh, dear. It means that I just now ruined their surprise.

　……No, but wait. In saying that, aren't the girls who practice secretly in front of me also somewhat responsible for this?

　That's right. That's right, isn't it?　It's not just my fault!

　Okay, let's reopen the door here.


"Sorry, I heard you before with Champani."

　When I said it like I wasn't feeling at all bad about it, Cosmos replied……


"　"


　Her whole body became rigid, her mouth moving with a gasp, and as she looked at me, she became teary-eyed and bawled her eyes out―― I felt so sorry for her, her ears, face, and even her neck turned red.

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Thank you for reading.

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Cheat sheet

Stats details

＜Status Details＞

• HP　Hit Points
• MP　Magic Points
• SP　Stamina Points
• STR　Short range attack skill power, strength, physical power.
• DEX　Long range attack skill power, dexterity, hit rate.
• AGI　Quickness, avoidance rate.
• INT　Attack Magic skill power.
• LUK　Good luck, critical rate.
• VIT　Simple defense.
• MGR　Magic defense.

Types of combat skills

Named after shogi pieces (The word in bold is the one being used in this translation). From easier to acquire to harder.

1. Pawn/Soldier (Fuhyou)
2. Lance(Kyousha)
3. Knight (Keima)
4. Silver General (Ginshou)
5. Gold General (Kinshou)
6. Bishop (Kakugyou)
7. Rook (Hisha)
8. Promoted Bishop/Dragon Horse(Ryuuma)
9. Promoted Rook/Dragon King (Ryuuou).

List of Swordsmanship skills

Swordsmanship

1. 《Soldier Swordsmanship》　                  Normal attack.
2. 《Lance Swordsmanship》　                    Piercing attack.
3. 《Knight Swordsmanship》　                   Precision attack.
4. 《Silver Swordsmanship》　                     Strong single-target attack.
5. 《Gold Swordsmanship》                           Small-range attack to all directions.
6. 《Bishop Swordsmanship》                      Quick and powerful piercing attack
7. 《Rook Swordsmanship》　                      Rush piercing attack
8. 《Dragon Horse Swordsmanship》　  Powerful ranged attack in all directions
9. 《Dragon King Swordsmanship》　       Most powerful range attack, takes time to prepare

List of Shieldmanship skills

Shieldmanship

1. 《Soldier Shieldmanship》　                  Normal defense.
2. 《Lance Shieldmanship》　                    Piercing deflection.
3. 《Knight Shieldmanship》　                   Defense + knockback.
4. 《Silver Shieldmanship》　                     Defense +chance to parry
5. 《Gold Shieldmanship》                           Ranged guided defense + knockback.
6. 《Bishop Shieldmanship》                       Reinforced defense (Temporarily boosts VIT and MGR)
7. 《Rook Shieldmanship》　                      Rush attack
8. 《Dragon Horse Shieldmanship》　    ???
9. 《Dragon King Shieldmanship》　       Powerful shield attack, takes time to prepare

List of Archery skills

Archery

1. 《Soldier Archery》　                  Normal range attack.
2. 《Lance Archery》　                    Piercing range attack.
3. 《Knight Archery》　                   Precise sniping range attack.
4. 《Silver Archery》　                     Strong single-target range attack.
5. 《Gold Archery》                           Weaker range attack with added knockback.
6. 《Bishop Archery》                       Strong piercing range attack.
7. 《Rook Archery》　                      Very strong single-target range attack with scaling % damage.
8. 《Dragon Horse Archery》　    Powerful Area of Effect piercing range attack.
9. 《Dragon King Archery》　       Powerful on-impact range attack, takes time to prepare

Types of Magic skills

They use the “Form” or “step” system of martial arts. From lower to higher.

1. First Form　      　      Regular attack
2. Second Form　      　 Extended range attack
3. Third Form　      　    Strong single target attack
4. Fourth Form　      　  Strong extended range attack
5. Fifth Form　      　      Extremely powerful extended range attack

• Their cast time becomes longer in this order First→Third→Second→Fourth→Fifth.

Ranking of the skills

From lower to higher, then it changes to the “Dan” system of martial arts, which means Grade.

1. 16th class
2. 15th class
3. 14th class
4. 13th class
5. 12h class
6. 11th class
7. 10th class
8. 9th class
9. 8th class
10. 7th class
11. 6th class
12. 5th class
13. 4th class
14. 3rd class
15. 2nd class
16. 1st class
17. Grade 1
18. Grade 2
19. Grade 3
20. Grade 4
21. Grade 5
22. Grade 6
23. Grade 7
24. Grade 8
25. Grade 9
26. Title

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 ToC    

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