[Strange Sword Style: EXP 2022/10000]
[Strange Sword Style: EXP 2023/10000]
[Strange Sword Style...]
Every stab hit its target.
Ethan didn't even need to aim anymore. He already had precision, and with how densely packed the Strong Acid Ants were below, almost every thrust connected.
Watching the experience points rise nonstop, Ethan actually found himself hoping, 'Let more Strong Acid Ants come.'
After all, chances like this weren't common.
Sitting high on a stool like a fishing platform and casually poking things with a sword to gain experience points was not something you got every day.
"Lord, do you need us to go down and help?"
Bird One and the others had been standing on the tree branch for a long time and were getting a little bored. Besides, they had watched the lord working the whole time while they stood around doing nothing. That felt a bit excessive.
"I'll go down and help too."
Since Harriet had broken two swords in a row, she had no spare sword left and could only switch to a large saber.
Seeing the number of Strong Acid Ants below decreasing, she also became eager to join in.
After all, although killing monsters wouldn't give level-up experience, it would increase skill proficiency.
That was exactly how she had raised her swordsmanship to Level 4 from constantly doing missions.
And besides, killing monsters could also drop plenty of good materials.
The most valuable among them was naturally beast cores. Even though she had lost quite a few people during this trip, if she could bring back enough beast cores, she could make up for her mistakes.
If the number of beast cores was large enough, her lord might even give her credit for it. By then, becoming second only to one person wouldn't be impossible.
"Nobody move!"
Hearing the suggestions from the group of women, Ethan immediately widened his eyes and shouted, stopping them.
"Whoever dares go down there and touch my stuff, I'll cut her down too!"
"Huh?"
Everyone looked at Ethan with disbelief on their faces.
Only then did Ethan realize this wasn't a game where people stole monster kills. They probably didn't know he was grinding levels either, so he quickly changed his wording.
"Oh, what I mean is... you'd better not go down there. Otherwise, I'll be using area attacks later. If I accidentally hit you, that wouldn't be good."
"Yes, Lord."
The birdfolk group naturally agreed.
As for Harriet, she frowned and looked at the pile of Strong Acid Ant corpses below. There was a trace of unwillingness in her gaze.
But Ethan had already spoken.
If she really went down to steal kills, then she really might get "accidentally hit" later.
After putting away her large saber, Harriet gave Charlie a look. The two secretly began communicating through their magic books.
[Harriet: Charlie, how much longer until this wave ends?]
[Charlie: I've already predicted it. Each wave is roughly ten thousand monsters. I did some calculations. These Strong Acid Ants seem to spawn at about five hundred per minute. The first wave should end within twenty minutes. There should be about one minute left before the twenty-minute mark, so it should end very soon.]
[Harriet: What about the next wave? Do we know what it is yet?]
[Charlie: Sister Harriet, I secretly made another prediction. If the first wave was from the ground, then the second wave will be from the sky. So it's very likely flying creatures. Defending against them will be very difficult.]
[Harriet: Perfect! This lord from Area A thinks too highly of himself. When the second wave arrives, I'll let him handle it alone as well. Once he's exhausted enough, I'll make my move against him. Won't that be easy?]
[Charlie: Sister Harriet, I feel like he's a fairly upright person. He probably wouldn't attack us, right? Do we really have to make a move against him?]
[Harriet: You're a grown man. Why are you being so soft-hearted? This world has always been one where the strong devour the weak. If you don't swallow him, then wait for him to swallow you.]
[Charlie: But I feel... he doesn't seem like that kind of person! And if he really wanted to do that, why would he share the contents of the treasure chests with us? He could have killed us from the beginning. Then he would have gotten all the benefits himself. I think...]
[Harriet: I don't care what you think. I care what I think! Hah! The reason he still hasn't made a move is simply because of the population restrictions inside these temples, so he doesn't dare act recklessly. Once this temple mission is over, if he really wants to attack us, do you think you'd have any ability to resist?]
[Charlie: I... really wouldn't.]
[Harriet: Then that's that! When facing an enemy stronger than us, we absolutely can't rely on luck. Striking first is the most correct truth!]
[Charlie: But didn't you already sign a lord contract with him? The contract that says companions absolutely cannot harm each other during cooperation...]
[Harriet: Hahaha! That lord contract you saw was only an illusion! I never signed any contract with him at all. That's all thanks to the Deception Mask. As long as I want him to believe something, he'll accept it as the truth without question. The deception only lasts for one day, but that's more than enough.]
[Charlie: Deception Mask? What's that?]
[Harriet: Eh? That slipped out. Anyway, it's a mask that can be used to deceive people. That's all you need to know.]
[Charlie: I see! Huh? It looks like the Strong Acid Ant attack has ended. Let's stop talking, or he'll notice!]
[Harriet: Mm!]
When the two of them stopped staring blankly at the same time, Ethan had already killed the last Strong Acid Ant.
He waited for quite a while.
But aside from the corpses of the Strong Acid Ants on the ground, no new ants emerged.
This left Ethan deeply disappointed.