*Warning* This is a Fanmade Story created by Levelgap; the characters, events, places and other images might be inaccurate or outright false and if you don't like those, kindly turn back and look for other professionally made stories.

Disclaimers : Touhou Project Series is owned by Team Shanghai Alice whose sole member is only ZUN. Any other references are owned by their respective owners. I don't own anything!

Chapter 5 : The Courage To Become Strong

So the receptionist Onee-san (she told us to call her Aelyn) explained to us about the Adventurer's Guild.

I already told the majority of it to the hero though there are something added to what I know.

Oh right, she explained this to us after the people clamoring on our surroundings calm down after what I did to the mithril needle.

Anyway, so other than what I told to the hero, she also told us about some other else.

It seems usually, new adventurers can only take request that was on their rank or a quest one rank higher than them. They can't take on a quest that was more than the rank than they have. This is to ensure that low rank adventurers doesn't die uselessly.

The only exception to this rule is a hero and his companions. They are considered the ace of humanity so if they registered to become an adventurer, they can still take quest much higher than their rank. Like even if they are G Rank adventurers, they can take a SSS Rank Quest.

People of this world have high expectations of heroes so this much leeway is expected for them.

Also, most heroes from the past are known to have a lot of common sense than even the people of this world. That is why they mostly trusted the heroes from another world to know what is their limit and don't recklessly challenge seemingly impossible quests.

Now that the explanation is done, we can finally go out and grind some monsters.

Before we could go out though, I heard the sound of a stomach grumbling.

Looking behind me, I saw Hitogi-san scratching his head with an embarrassed look.

"... Would you like to eat first before going out?"

"... Right, I am sorry"

He said that with a look of shame in his face.

Yeah... I am sure he is thinking that it was so uncool.

"Great. Lead the way, Hero Yuuga"

With that, we headed back to the inn where we are staying with me following on his back.

"So what do you think?"

Aelyn asks the Guild Master of Adventurer's Guild on this city.

The Guild Master was old, with his hair and trimmed beards graying out and his face having many lines. Though even with this kind of look, his back is straight and his body looks strong like it wasn't even the body of an old man.

Currently, that Guild Masted is staring at the needle that the girl infamously known as the Doll Prodigy just enchanted just to prick her finger.

? (?)

?

[Durability : ?/?]

[Enchantments]
?

This is the first time he saw something that can't be identified by his Super Appraisal.

Though his Super Appraisal was one of the strongest Appraisal known in this world, capable of seeing through even a mythical weapon or an ancient being's status, this item can't even be appraised at all.

His Super Appraisal also leveled up by two just by appraising it once. And now he tried appraising it three more times, which gave him another four more levels before he gave up.

Even if he have a chance to level up his Super Appraisal which can see through even a Demigod, Super Appraisal uses a thousand times more MP than the simple Appraisal.

That's why he can't even spam it just to level up his appraisal.

Though he already was interested to use this needle for appraisal training to some personnel here.

One such personnel is Aelyn Rua Adeneleid.

Aelyn is a high elf working in this place to take some experience. She said that after a few hundred years, she will come back to her kingdom where elves are living in peace and use her experience and knowledge she learns outside to use for her race's prosperity.

Aelyn was working in this Adventurer's Guild for almost a hundred years now. She knows a lot of people in this place.

And she knows that the guy who was the Guild Master of this place can be likened to a legend. A Brave by the name of Georgius Eckland.

Brave. They are a native of this world who have achieved great strength and the favor of the goddess. It is what is called the Hero's version of this world.

Unlike heroes who are called a Hero because they came from another world to save this world, a Brave is the native hero of this world.

And that Brave is currently looking at the needle with great curiosity. It looks surreal for Aelyn to look at a legend like that being very curious at a simple needle.

"... You said that the Doll Prodigy was the one who did this?"

"Yes, Guild Master"

He looks at the needle for another few moments before looking at Aelyn.

"It is unfortunate that the Doll Prodigy was a companion of a hero. Though he was weaker than the others, a hero is still a hero. We can't force her to create more of this unknown items"

They already have some info about Yulia. The first daughter of this generation's Marigold House. She was called as the Doll Prodigy due to being a genius in every sense and an unfortunate condition of not being able to express her feelings. She was like a doll, hence her infamous epithet.

She is also known as the author of the currently popular fantasy novel called Hero Quest. Though, that kind of knowledge was unnecessary for them.

If it was possible, the Farren Kingdom wanted her to be a part of their forces. Unfortunately, the Goddess Mavel chose her as a destined companion of a hero.

They can't force someone who is a part of a hero's party. That would be interfering with the Goddess Mavel's divine revelation. In short, it would compromise the mission of the heroes to become stronger and defeat the Demon King due to them using the hero's comrades as a piece for their own self-interest.

It is an unwritten rule for all the nations that they can't force a hero to do something. The hero must be the one who decided if they will do it or not.

Though they can ask for a hero's help, they can't force them. This also includes the hero's comrades.

And even if the threat of the Demon King is finish, they still can't touch the hero's comrades. Most heroes always have a strong sense of camaraderie and they are known to always move by their emotions. Most of the time, heroes moves because their female companion are being abused by someone or another.

And the destruction they always left on their wake was always something most nations can't recover from. So it was a bad idea to touch their comrades even if their mission to defeat a Demon King is done.

So in their perspective, it was truly unfortunate.

"Aelyn"

"Yes"

"This needle will be put in the hidden parts of our guild. This will also become a training tool for Appraisers who we trust. Do you understand?"

"I understood!"

With that, they decided to use the needle as a training tool for appraisers. Also, it will also be pass down to the next Guild Master, is what Georgius is thinking.

We just finished eating on the inn we are staying and then headed straight outside the city because the sun is still high at the sky.

We are finally outside the walls of that city now!

Now we can start grinding levels.

Though to be honest, I hope there is another way to level up other than killing monsters. Sadly there isn't anything like that. I know because I already tried everything I can think to level myself up without killing someone for my whole seven years of life.

We can also not look for monsters and let Hitogi-san train his skills first and level it up until he maxed those skills out. Though that doesn't increase his status at all if he did just that. Again, I know because I tried that already.

So he needs to level up. Hunting monsters increases his proficiency on his abilities and also increases his EXP to level up.

And I want the hero to become strong as soon as possible so even with my aversion to killing, I need to do this so the hero levels up faster.

So we are going to the forest near the city.

The monsters there are just weak ones. Something like wolves, slimes, and goblins.

Walking for awhile inside the forest, we finally found a monster. It was a group of goblins. They are seven in total.

"Hero Yuuga, I will support you at the back. Please do your best"

"... A-ah"

Hm? What is wrong with him?

It seems like he was shaking when he was looking at the goblins who are now looking at us.

I wonder what is happening to him.

The goblins are now charging towards us. All of them are looking at me with an unpleasant gaze.

While I did say I am averse to killing, I was already used to killing monsters in my life. I was trained since I was five after all.

Though, it still feels unpleasant so I would like it if I don't have to kill someone, even if they are monsters.

Willing the earth to obey, I let them fall on the ground that suddenly vanishes on their feet before closing the opened pit. Then, I moved those trapped goblins near the hero before letting their heads free on the ground, their body stuck on it.

"There, you can kill them now that they are stuck in the ground"

I said after mentally pumping my fist high in the air with my awesome performance.

Moving the earth precisely like that is hard for a magician you know? Or that's what I read on the book.

For me, it was pretty to do. It's as easy as breathing.

Then, I noticed the hero just standing there with his sword raised at the goblin who was stuck on the ground. That goblin was moving it's head erratically, trying to get out on the prison of earth that I put him in.

"What is wrong, Hero Yuuga?"

"... Is it really necessary to kill them?"

He then lowered his sword besides him and turned to me with a look of horror realization.

So that's what it is. He was hesitating to kill the goblin. Maybe because he didn't have experience doing that in his entire life.

It was like telling a teenager to try and butcher a pig. Even if that pig is not human, that teenager will surely hesitate. More so if they didn't experience doing that in their entire life.

This is just like this. And well, I expected that this would happen.

Let's see...

"Hero Yuuga, it is alright even if you don't want to kill them now. Though you won't be able to level up and become stronger. There is no other method other than killing someone to acquire levels in this world. But I will respect your decision and will do this in your stead if you don't want to kill them"

There, I will be guilt tripping him to do what I want. It's cunning but it was necessary so he can kill his enemies and make himself stronger.

It leaves a bad taste in my mouth but by telling him that I will respect his wishes and I will do his job in his stead, this will force him to be the one who did this.

Though, if he was a sociopath or a scum, he will just let me do that and let himself relax somewhere.

He stares at me for awhile before his gaze have a glint of resolve in it.

"I am sorry I ask something stupid of you. I can't let you kill someone just for my sake. I should get used to this" He cried with a face full of resolve before turning back on the goblins whose heads are the only part poking out of the ground. "And I can't bear to let you take the burden that I should be doing. That would be totally uncool of me" I heard him mutter under his breathe.

And then, he let the sword fell on the goblin's head.

The sword easily cleaves through the goblins head and it causes it to split in half. Blood spurted on the ground, some of it staining the hero's pristine boots.

I saw him shuddering as he looks at his first kill. Then he lurches before he ducks on the ground and vomited while turning his back on the dead body of the goblin.

I just look at him without averting my eyes. I can't avert my eyes on his resolve to do this. I intentionally did this to him just so he can become powerful for my sake. It would be heartless of me if I just turned my gaze away from him and think that this have nothing to do with me.

I should see what I have done. I swear I am doing this for my own satisfaction but I also want to take the responsibility to look at the bad things that I do. That's the only thing I think I can do to atone for my sin against him.

Yes, I know I am the one who pushed him to kill that monster. Yes, I know that I could have just kill them without him doing anything.

Still, I can't let this hero become weak forever. He must also learn how cruel is this world. The first step for that is to kill a monster.

And while I can share my EXP to him if I am the one killing the monster, he still need to deal some damage to the monster before he can acquire any EXP. And the EXP he will got there is minimum unlike this time where he is the one who kill them himself.

So him killing the enemies makes it more efficient to level him up. The faster he levels up and acquire skills, the faster I will be able to rely to him for my own satisfaction.

Right, I am very selfish.

Though I am not saying I will abandon him after I am done using him. I will also take care of him with whatever I can do. I consider him as a friend so it was alright to help him with what he needs.

Though I won't become his lover.

After he is done hurling out the meal he got awhile ago, he stands up and wipes his mouth with his armored arm.

Then I used water magic and change most of it's liquid properties before letting it cover the hero's body for a short while and then letting it dissipate. Of course I didn't forget to also clean the blood and the bile with my water magic.

"I am here behind your back. I will always support you on whatever you did"

He looks at me for awhile, his face now looks clean once again and his armored boots was also back to it's pristine state because of my water magic. Then he smiled at my way.

"Yes. I'll take care of the rough job. You will support me at the back"

After saying that, he goes towards the other goblins and kills them one by one.

He is still shaking but I can see that his expression was full of conviction. He was looking at me as he was having that kind of expression.

I use my appraisal to look at his status.

Name : Yuuga Hitogi
Gender : Male
Age : 16
Status : Healthy
Title : Luna's Champion
Level : 3

HP : 33
MP : 33
SP : 33

Strength : 33
Endurance : 33
Agility : 33
Magic : 33
Resist : 33
Charisma : 33
Luck : 33

[Active Abilities]
Time-Space Magic I
Sword Art I

[Passive Abilities]
Water Resistance I
Fear Resistance I
Sword Mastery I
Negotiation I
Language Comprehension I

[Unique Abilities]
Ultra Appraisal (Concealed)
Inventory (Concealed)
Exponential Growth (Concealed)

Hmm... his status grows slowly huh... I wonder what is his Exponential Growth cheat skill can do?

"Hero Yuuga. Do you want to continue on hunting some monsters or are we going back?"

After I ask that, he looks at me for awhile before looking at me straight and telling me that he wants to continue.

"Are you sure?"

I asked just to be sure and he just nodded at me.

Well, he said we will continue on hunting monsters so let's continue!

"Would you like to go back now Hero Yuuga? The sun will be setting soon"

It took us until it was almost evening before I called out to the hero again.

We manage to hunt some a group of four goblins, two slimes, and a pack of four wolves. We killed them all, with me putting them in front of the hero and making them stuck on the ground using my Earth Magic and Hitogi-san cutting them down easily.

With that, his level grew up and his status rose in an exponential way, just like what his skill is conveying. He also have some new skills and some of his skills level up.

His status now became like this...

Name : Yuuga Hitogi
Gender : Male
Age : 16
Status : Healthy
Title : Luna's Champion
Level : 6

HP : 98
MP : 98
SP : 98

Strength : 98
Endurance : 98
Agility : 98
Magic : 98
Resist : 98
Charisma : 98
Luck : 98

[Active Abilities]
Time-Space Magic I
Sword Art II

[Passive Abilities]
Water Resistance I
Fear Resistance II
Sword Mastery II
Negotiation I
Language Comprehension I
Presence Perception I
Hostility Perception I

[Unique Abilities]
Ultra Appraisal (Concealed)
Inventory (Concealed)
Exponential Growth (Concealed)

He looks at the sky when I told him about it and after seeing that it was going to become evening, he turns his gaze at me again.

"Okay. Let's go back to the city them Yulia-san"

With that, we walk back to the city. Well, we are only at the shallow parts of the forest and I can remember where we walk awhile ago so it was easy to get back to the city without getting lost.

We didn't encounter the other hero party. Maybe they are still busy picking up their weapons or maybe they are somewhere in the city?

Regardless, today we got a good progress. Tomorrow we should look for more monsters to grind more levels. Oh right, I didn't acquire any level from them because I was already high level. The EXP they give is a paltry amount for me.

Well, that's what I am thinking because I can't really see any EXP indicator on my status. I will just know I level up when a level up prompt appears on my vision.

We came back to the city safely and then walk straight to our inn before the sun sets in. After that, we took a dinner together before going to our respective rooms to sleep.

**End of Chapter 5**

Name : Yulia Marigold
Gender : Female
Age : 7
Status : Healthy
Title : Eastern Dreamer
Level : 21

HP : 99,999+
MP : 99,999+
SP : 99,999+

Strength : 99,999+
Endurance : 99,999+
Agility : 99,999+
Magic : 99,999+
Resist : 99,999+
Charisma : 99,999+
Luck : 99,999+

[Active Abilities]
(A myriad of abilities, all concealed)

[Passive Abilities]
(A myriad of abilities, all concealed)

[Unique Abilities]
Eastern Dreamer (Concealed)

(Eastern Dreamer : Currently Used)

Fujiwara no Mokou (Passive/Active)
Hata no Kokoro (Passive/Active)
Hieda no Akyuu (Passive/Active)
Hoshiguma Yuugi (Passive/Active)
Houjuu Nue (Passive/Active)
Houraisan Kaguya (Passive/Active)
Ibuki Suika (Passive/Active)
Inaba Tewi (Passive/Active)
Junko (Passive/Active)
Konpaku Youmu (Passive/Active)
Kurokoma Saki (Passive/Active)
Mima (Passive/Active)
Moriya Suwako (Passive/Active)
Patchouli Knowledge (Passive/Active)
Star Sapphire (Passive/Active)
Yagokoro Eirin (Passive/Active)

A/N

So I think this chapter is shorter. Also, more exposition.

Sorry if the last three chapters are full of exposition. My hands just moves on it's own and I can't really delete what I write because I felt it fit in that scene, like how Isekai novels are written.

So sorry about that.

And yeah, Yulia was selfish. She was doing this so the hero becomes stronger. If the hero becomes stronger, she can use the hero as a shield to avoid her responsibilities as a noble and do what she wants.

She likes her family in this life but she doesn't want to be a political tool that was only meant to be married off. She wants to have the freedom to choose what she wants.

So that's her mentality as to why she is doing this thing. It is to ensure her independence.

And this fits her personality. As Yume, she too doesn't want to be bound by too much responsibility and obligation. She wants to do something that she wants, though if nothing really works she will just look for a way to become satisfied on the path she will inevitably fall into.

So that's the reasoning why she is sounding like a hypocrite in this chapter.

I hope you still like this chapter even with that...

Review if you like, helpful comments are welcome and thanks for reading this!~~