TRPG Rule Breaker

Chapter 9 : Something Huddled in the Darkness – 2

Chapter 9: Something Huddled in the Darkness – 2

I had been training intensely whenever I had time these past few days.

But because of the memory of that massive failure, I had been limiting the use of skills that required a dice roll.

In particular, had a relatively high chance of failure when used on a person, so I had only experimented with it on water spirits.

Of course, the mind of a ‘Lowest’ Water Spirit wasn’t much to begin with, so the gains were minimal.

“Right now, this stable only has sick livestock gathered here. You need to find out their symptoms. If you treat them too, I’ll give you extra points. If you need anything, just tell the assistant. Oh, and under no circumstances should you enter the breeding pen next to this one…”

“Hey, Dicendel! Do you know the school’s been buzzing because of your rumor?”

Shionjian, who had spotted me and walked over, suddenly started talking to me, and because of that, I missed the latter part of Eleina’s explanation.

It was because of the trait.

Well, I was planning to leave today’s practical to this guy anyway, since he was a treatment specialist, so it didn’t really matter.

“I didn’t know. I’m not really close with anyone.”

“You’ve got me! No, more importantly—tell people yourself that I was part of that great feat last week! Why’s everyone only talking about you?”

This probably wasn’t just because of the trait.

Most likely, Galanuel had spread the rumor widely on purpose to use me.

Of course, I had noticed his intentions from the very start.

But I was just pretending not to know so I could use him in return.

“If you insist, why don’t you just go around saying it yourself?”

“That’s not cool…”

“You’re already not cool. Stop with the pointless chatter and let’s do the practical.”

“Cold-blooded brat.”

Woof-moo! Pant pant—.

I approached the livestock assigned to our group, the ‘Dog-Cow.’

It was a clever creature that looked like a cow in size but had the appearance of a dog—specifically, a golden retriever—and was usually around level 13.

Judging by the small horn on its head and the clean collar, it seemed to have just reached adulthood.

“This one looks healthy.”

Just as Shionjian said, this Dog-Cow appeared fine at first glance.

But that could simply be because animals tended to hide sickness to survive.

[Target’s dice…]

[Notice. Adding the skill’s base modifier. +40]

[…You have successfully used it.]

When I cast on the Dog-Cow, I felt a sense of joy.

Up to this point, it wasn’t much different from when I had used it on a water spirit.

However—

[Target’s…]

[…Adding. +41]

[…Success.]

When I used again, I felt a slightly more detailed thought.

A sense of joy at receiving human attention for the first time in a while.

When was used repeatedly on the same target, the base modifier increased with each cast, allowing me to read the thoughts in greater detail.

[Target’s dice… … … Use successful.]

But even after continuing to use , I didn’t sense any discomfort from the creature.

‘Did Eleina plant a fake just to test us? There are malingering patients in real life too—wait.’

If it wasn’t a fake, then for fairness’s sake, it had to show some sort of symptom.

“Shionjian. How do you check for parasite infection and treat it?”

“Usually, you check the droppings, then give them a for treatment. So you’re saying this Dog-Cow’s infected with parasites? I don’t see any symptoms though…”

In this large stable, finding a specific pile of droppings would be difficult.

And we couldn’t just wait around until it relieved itself.

But I had one idea.

If this worked, I would be making another leap forward.

“Go get that potion for me, Shionjian.”

After confirming that Shionjian had left, I buried my eyes into the Dog-Cow’s body and used again.

[Target’s dice… … … Use successful.]

The skill activated successfully.

Bubble!

This time, I summoned a water spirit and positioned it right behind the Dog-Cow.

That way, I couldn’t see the water spirit with my eyes.

‘.’

I focused hard on the water spirit behind the Dog-Cow and used the skill, but nothing happened.

From these two experiments combined—

didn’t require a clear view of the target’s details, but you did have to at least have it within your line of sight to cast it.

‘.’

My vision rose, bringing the hidden water spirit into view, and then was cast without issue.

As you can see, the casting condition for confirmed earlier could be fulfilled using .

‘I’ve confirmed all the prerequisites.’

Woof-moo?

I lay down beneath the Dog-Cow’s belly.

Then I began to slowly lower the altitude of .

couldn’t go any further once it touched a structure considered a wall, as if it were blocked.

In other words, most creatures or liquids that weren’t walls could be passed through without any problem.

‘. . …’

I spammed the skill while strongly focusing on the parasites that might be inside the Dog-Cow’s body.

My view passed through the Dog-Cow, and darkness began to engulf it.

[Target’s dice … … … Use successful.]

My mind connected with something other than the Dog-Cow.

The odd thing was that the mind I sensed was more advanced than I had expected.

The thought being conveyed to me was “Wait.”

I couldn’t be sure since I didn’t know parasite biology, but it probably meant a dormant stage.

That was why the Dog-Cow hadn’t shown any symptoms.

‘That’s not an environment suitable for growth or reproduction. So perish!’

I got a little too carried away.

If I could kill something with , I’d be the strongest in the AaA world.

“Dicendel! I brought the medicine!”

With Eleina trailing behind, Shionjian came running, holding a glass bottle in one hand.

It was perfect timing, since I had already gathered all the information I needed.

“To think you’d figure out the answer this quickly—this is the fastest record since I was assigned to Alvheim! Full marks for both of you today!”

“Um, but this Dog-Cow just refuses to drink the potion, Instructor.”

“In that case, you mix it in with a tasty treat.”

“I’ll do that.”

I patted the Dog-Cow’s neck and used .

‘.’

This was a skill obtainable at low class levels, so its effects weren’t that remarkable.

However, unlike other healing-type skills, it had one major advantage—its excellent aroma and taste.

[Player’s dice: 10, 2]

[Notice. Dice roll result: 12, Failure.]

[Notice. Failed to use skill.]

“Tch.”

Shhhk.

Despite the failure notice, a seemingly normal fruit had grown.

Of course, eating it would have no effect—and it would be extremely bitter or astringent.

Since its original effect was weak, this was the only penalty even on a failed roll.

Just as I was about to unsummon the and summon it again—

Crunch.

The Dog-Cow bit into the .

And then—

Yelp!

“Whoa!”

Startled, it bolted at full speed.

Dragging me along by the collar rope.

“Ah, not that way! We’ve just opened—!”

Crack! Bang! Rumble—

Leaving Eleina’s scream behind, the Dog-Cow’s small horn shattered the thick wooden wall of the stable.

Even then, its momentum didn’t falter, and it smashed through the brick wall of the building beyond the stable.

It was the might of a level-13 powerhouse creature.

Moo-rooo—.

However, perhaps the thick brick wall was too much, because the Dog-Cow only made it a little farther inside the building before collapsing to the ground, bleeding from its forehead.

[…Player takes a total of 37 damage.]

“Urgh.”

While I was patting the Dog-Cow, it had suddenly charged forward, and my hand got caught in the rope, dragging me along.

On top of that, I got hit by building debris and lost HP.

‘By the way, why is it so dark in here?’

Other than the sunlight streaming in from the collapsed wall behind, there was no light source at all.

‘…, !’

When faced with an incomprehensible situation, I had to assume the worst and prepare for it.

That was the rule I’d set for myself as someone with paranoia.

[Player’s dice … … … Use successful.]

Rumble rumble rumble—.

Thick coiled in a circle around me and the Dog-Cow.

“Who’s there! Why did you come in here? It’s dangerous—get out immediately!”

From somewhere above, out of sight, a stranger shouted a warning.

Immediately afterward—

[Target’s dice……]

[Notice. Summon takes 257 damage.]

Grrrr—!

Crunch.

Yelp!

Along with a beast’s cry that rattled to the bone, came under attack.

Through soul synchronization, I felt four large blades slicing off part of the vine stems.

The Dog-Cow, perhaps sensing danger as well, tucked its tail and trembled.

“Damn it! The ‘Shadow Leopards’ are in the middle of mating right now!”

‘Shadow Leopards…!’

Shadow Leopards were beast-type creatures with a shifting, amorphous jet-black body, living hidden in darkness to avoid their only weakness—light.

Considering my total level was only 3, that Medes—one of the strongest people I’d met in this world—was estimated to be in the high 20s, and that the max level in AaA was 50…

It was easy to imagine how powerful an adult Shadow Leopard at level 33 typically was.

‘What kind of seminary raises monsters like that…!’

And to top it off, there were two of them, male and female.

[Target’s dice … … … takes damage.]

Slice!

Once again, the four blades—Shadow Leopard’s huge claws—struck , this time cutting off the very end completely.

During research with Medes, hadn’t even been scratched by most attacks.

And yet now they were being cut so easily.

Truly an attack power befitting an assassination-type creature.

“They’re super agitated right now, so don’t provoke them—just stay down! Requesting backup, we’ve got someone inside! We’ll need outer wall repairs too!”

‘No. Shadow Leopards aren’t the type you can avoid just by staying still. !’

In ’s dim vision, I saw the vague outline of the coiled .

Each time the surrounding darkness deepened, suffered more damage.

‘Hurry! I can’t hold out long!’

With the Shadow Leopards’ attack power, I’d be killed instantly in a single hit.

Roarrr!

Apparently done toying with me, the two Shadow Leopards lunged in earnest.

Crunch—slice. Chomp—snap!

[Target’s dice … … … takes damage.]

My were brutally dismantled by their sharp teeth and claws.

After were unsummoned, I was met with an elf fist-sized glare, yellowish to a chilling degree.

Grrrr—.

That sound was clearly a mocking growl toward a plaything.

Just as I was considering my last resort—

“Dicendel! Where are you?”

“Dicendel, answer me!”

From beyond the hole in the wall came Eleina’s and Shionjian’s voices.

I wasted no time casting a skill.

‘!’

And of course, my target was—

[Target’s dice … … … Use successful.]

Boggle!

The water spirit that had been summoned all along, following those two.

Following my will, the water spirit shaped the water mass created by into multiple layers of lenses.

As the sunlight from outside the building passed through each layer of lens, it refracted slightly.

By the final layer, even the straightness of the light had completely bent.

The rainbow born from a prism made of water illuminated me and the Dog-Cow brightly.

Roarrr!

The thick darkness surrounding me recoiled in fright and withdrew.

“They’re retreating! Run now!”

I was planning to do that even without being told.

I climbed onto the Dog-Cow’s back and secured myself firmly using .

Immediately after—

[Target’s … … … Success.]

‘Run!’

Woof-moo!

The Dog-Cow, snapping out of it at my strong thought, began sprinting at full speed.

But the closer we got to the hole in the wall, the narrower the rainbow’s range became.

Roarrr!

Enraged at having their mating disturbed, the Shadow Leopards sought one last chance.

‘We’re a little short on distance!’

At the Dog-Cow’s speed, we couldn’t outpace them.

“Shionjian! Cast into the air to my right!”

“Uh, got it!”

Just as the Dog-Cow reached the escape point—

‘Get down!’

The Dog-Cow threw itself forward, rolling along the ground with me.

[Target’s dice … … … Evade successful.]

[Notice. As a result, target takes damage…]

Roarrr?

Bang!

One of the Shadow Leopards charging from the side couldn’t control its now-increased speed and crashed into the other one.

Since -type skills were supportive abilities that granted beneficial effects, Shionjian’s low-total-level skill had been cast on the Shadow Leopard without any resistance.

While the Shadow Leopards tangled themselves up, the Dog-Cow and I successfully escaped the dungeon.

“Wait, was that… a Shadow Leopard just now?”

“That’s what they said. Whew—thanks to you, Shionjian, I survived.”

“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault! If I, as the instructor, had been more careful about safety, this wouldn’t have happened…”

“It’s not your fault, Instructor. But if you still feel bad, maybe later you could grant me a favor—”

“A student entered the breeding pen during the Shadow Leopards’ mating! All units prepare to charge! At least recover the student’s body—?”

At that moment, the Order of Holy Knights arrived.

“…Student Lio? Were you the one who entered the breeding pen?”

“It was an accident. As you can see, I’m unharmed.”

Upon seeing me, the Holy Knight Commander Lotendar’s expression twisted into something strange.

“I’m truly relieved nothing happened to you, but… how did you survive those monsters?”

Well, as always, it was thanks to using rule-chicken play.

But I couldn’t exactly say that.

“A synergy of wit and luck. More importantly, I’d like to talk about the matter I requested last time.”

Before I knew it, it was already the third week, and I was close to reaching total level 5.

§§{Character}

Name: Dicendel Lio

Total Level: 4

…

Experience: 829 / 1,000

…§§

Surviving the encounter with the Shadow Leopards—and even dealing damage to them—had earned me a lot of experience.

“Everyone, please take your seats! We’ll begin the afternoon class!”

Medes, standing at the center of the outdoor arena, raised his voice.

Today was the day for the first practical exam in the botany course.

The evaluation method—one-on-one duels.

In the botany course, being evaluated through duels wasn’t all that out of place.

After all, the ‘Patronage of the World Tree’ was ultimately for combat.

“Those whose names are called, step to the center. The rest of you, warm up.”

And today was also the day I’d teach Galanuel his proper place in the hierarchy.