Volume 2 Chapter 15 A Certain Winter Rest Day (①)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It was late February, exactly a month after the battle with Nora. Looking back, I definitely glossed over too much in the last summary.
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After surviving the fight with Nora, I’d managed to claw back a little confidence, but I still haven’t settled the score with Regina-san¹. Nora was great-cute, high-energy, and her technique was top-tier-but she’s just not in the same league as Regina-san. It’s apples and oranges. Being able to handle one didn’t mean I was ready for the other. As for Ilse, she’s a lightweight. She’s fine for keeping my fundamentals sharp, but she’s zero help when it comes to prepping for a powerhouse like Regina-san.
My time with Nora was back at the end of January. The following two weeks were swallowed up by lunch dates with Mercedes and Yuko, and the week after that, the Gale Party’s² schedule was a mess, so lunch was off the table. That led to a string of dinner dates with them instead, which meant I had to put my visits to the brothel on ice. It’s not like we’re exclusive, so it wouldn’t have been “wrong,” but it was a vibe check. Creeping off to a brothel immediately after a nice dinner with those three just felt greasy. Eventually, I didn’t make it back to the Daydream (BSS)³ until the end of February. I made sure to book a reservation this time, so I didn’t have to spend the whole day stressing about whether or not Regina-san would even be available.
This week, my day off started with a morning date and lunch with the Gale Party. It’s that biting time of year where everyone is buried under a mountain of layers. The “cozy chic” look is cute and all, but the lack of skin is a definite downgrade. I’m ready for spring. Ines usually lives in her armor, but her casual style is surprisingly feminine. She’s tall, pulling off an effortless catalog-model look. I’ve known her for a while now, but she’s still the most innocent of the three; her naive reactions are so precious I think my heart might actually stop. The gap between her “Knight” persona and this “Girl Next Door” vibe is lethal.
Juliet stays active, rocking outfits that show more skin than you’d expect for February. I know she isn’t doing it for my benefit, but it’s hard not to stare. She’s a knockout. She’s definitely not the “innocent” type, and she has zero tolerance for anything remotely lewd. I sometimes wonder what happened to that shy, fragile girl I rescued, but then I figure it’s just her youth coming through. She’s tight with Ines and Sylvie, but she’s prickly with everyone else. She’ll snap at anyone who rubs her the wrong way. She’s a cat-type Beastman, apparently-one of these days, I’m going to fluff those ears and that tail.
Then there’s Sylvie. She loves her frills and lace, and with her petite look, she’s the definition of adorable. She’s actually the most mature of the group (I’ll keep the specifics to myself), which makes her the most chill when it comes to dirty jokes. Based on her “Oh, is that how it works?” reactions, though, she’s clearly never actually been with anyone. Score. I mean, a great girl is a great girl regardless of her past, but there’s something undeniably special about being her first.
Like they’ve said before, this world isn’t short on beauties. Women here aren’t just damsels in distress; they’re independent, powerful, and popular. Honestly, some of the “strong” women around here are a little too intense for my taste. The delicate types have their fans, but it’s nothing like the obsession in Japan. Mercedes, the self-proclaimed “Elegant Knight,” might be popular if she leaned into the “cool beauty” angle… but nah. Her issues go way deeper than her look. On the flip side, “pretty boys” are actually more popular than the traditional “alpha male” types. Maybe it’s because women outnumber men here? It feels like people are just more accepting of different vibes.
One thing to keep in mind: if someone has a high level, they can look like a fragile doll and still snap a bodybuilder in half like a dry twig. Undersell a “cute” girl in this world and you’ll end up in a body bag. I noticed something else recently: you don’t really see “ugly” high-level people. Maybe it’s survivor bias, but it feels like the more you level up, the more your body physically “optimizes.” I can’t see it in myself, but looking at my party, it’s obvious. Makoto leaned out and his acne scars vanished; Kazuya’s freckles are gone. Even their bone structure looks better.
In this world, “beauty” is a rough yardstick for “power.” It’s not perfect, since some people are just born lucky, but it’s a start. The Gale Party is solid mid-tier, so there are plenty of adventurers outranked by them. Bad attitudes aside, there’s no shortage of girls in their league. But even if high levels make you hot, it’s not like they’re walking around with a passive “Charm” aura. Charm is a status ailment-mental magic you use to brainwash someone. It’s a far cry from just “falling for someone” naturally. Obviously, “Charming” someone is a serious felony. If just getting stronger made you a walking mind-control hazard, every hero would be a criminal. That’s a terrifying thought.
If leveling up turns you into a supermodel, I wonder if those two old fossils, Osamu and Otto, are going to turn into heartthrobs. I can’t even imagine it. They’re such garbage on the inside that a face-lift wouldn’t change my opinion of them anyway.
Which brings me to me. In a few years, I’m guaranteed to be the highest-level human in history. What happens then? Do I hit a growth spurt? Do my proportions become god-like? I haven’t felt any changes yet, but normally, I’d be hyped.
Thanks to my Ordeal⁴ effect, however, girls’ affection for me is basically capped at zero. I’ll probably just end up being that guy people describe as: “He’s got a face like a god, but I have absolutely no interest in talking to him.” If there’s a woman out there who is a total sucker for aesthetics, maybe I’ll get a pity-invite for a one-night stand.
But even that feels like a reach. Nothing is set in stone, but opportunities to get close to women as great as the Gale Party aren’t going to come around often. Using my reward for “dates” was the right call. Walking with the three of them, I felt a genuine wave of gratitude for whatever luck brought us together.
Market stalls were a no-go in the cold, so we stuck to the brick-and-mortar shops.
”You don’t come around this part of town much, do you?” Ines asked.
”Not really,” I admitted.
”Really? Our inn is just a stone’s throw away,” she said. “We do most of our prep-shopping around here.”
”The prices are fair, and the quality doesn’t suck,” Juliet added.
We’d wandered quite a bit from my place, but it turned out we were right in their backyard.
”Since we’re here, why don’t you grab whatever supplies you need?” Ines suggested.
”Good idea. I think I will,” I replied.
We ducked into an item shop selling potions and gear. Seeing them all huddle up to debate the quality of a healing draught was a sobering reminder-this stuff is the difference between life and death. It was cute, in a way, but it definitely killed the “romantic date” vibe for a minute. For lunch, we went with something spicy to beat the chill. I made sure everyone was okay with the heat first. The star of the show was a steaming, spicy soup.
”I love the spice, but it’s so hot I can barely eat it,” Juliet complained, huffing at her spoon.
”So Juliet really is a ‘cat’ when it comes to hot food,” I teased.
”Yeah? You got a problem with that?” Juliet snapped back.
”Not at all. I think it’s adorable.”
”…Uh, okay? You’ve got some seriously weird taste, you know that?” Juliet muttered.
”Pfft. She’s totally blushing, isn’t she?” Ines giggled.
”Ines! Shut up! I am not!” Juliet cried.
”Juliet-san, there’s no need to be shy,” Sylvie sang out.
”Even Sylvie! Not you too!” Juliet groaned.
”Wait, so you were blushing? You cute little thing,” I said.
”I said I’m NOT!” Juliet yelled.
Juliet wasn’t actually mad. We were just giving her a hard time. Seeing her get flustered, her tail-fur practically standing on end, was the highlight of the meal.
”Sorry, Juliet. I couldn’t help myself,” I said.
”Yeah, my bad,” Ines added.
”We’re sorry. It’s just that your reactions are so fun to watch,” I told her.
”…Sigh. Just give it a rest. Seriously, you people are weird,” Juliet grumbled.
Juliet pouted through a few more bites, but she let it go. Looking at her, I realized how far we’d come since we first met. The rest of the date was just as effortless.
I spent the afternoon of my day off buried in books at the library. Healing Magic in this world is basically a miracle. It handles wounds, sickness, status effects, and curses-it can even regrow missing limbs. The catch? It requires an insanely high level, meaning it’s out of reach for the average person.
Most Clergy-type classes like Priests are tied to the Church. Anyone who can cast high-level heals is aggressively hoarded by the temples. If you want a top-tier heal, you have to go to the temple and make a massive “donation.”
It’s especially bad for the Skill Level 8 spell, Revive⁵. That’s the one that regrows limbs. There might be one person in the entire country who can cast it. The “suggested donation” for a single cast is dozens of gold coins-money a commoner will never see in their lifetime. It’s a hospital bill with better branding. Since there’s no health insurance here, losing an arm or a leg is basically a forced retirement.
Refresh⁶, which breaks mental magic, is slightly more common but still requires Skill Level 7. You won’t find it in a village, but a major city might have a few casters.
Ironically, you can also break mental magic with more mental magic, but because that school is so easy to abuse, just having the skill is enough to get you detained. If you’ve got an “Evil” title, you’re looking at a death sentence. Dispel⁷ is easier than the other two, but it still takes Skill Level 6. That makes it rare enough that a village might have one caster if they’re lucky.
Even the legendary Saints of past Hero Parties only ever made it to Skill Level 8. There are zero records for Level 9 or 10. Either no one ever got that high, or the Church decided to keep those records off the books. There’s a theory that Level 10 lets you literally raise the dead, but since nobody’s ever done it, it’s just a bedtime story. As for Level 9? People have a million guesses, but no proof.
I did my digging, but since I’m already at Skill Level 10, I already know the truth. The library trip was just to see how much the rest of the world actually knew. Let’s be real: resurrection is possible. But it’s not a “get out of death free” card. You need a body, for starters. The magic doesn’t rebuild the corpse; if the guy is missing his head, the spell fails.
If the body is too rotten, it fails. If the soul has already moved on, it fails. So, the window for a miracle is small. You have to die from instant-death magic, or shock, or have a body that’s mostly intact. You can fix minor stuff with restoration magic immediately after, but if someone gets vaporized? They’re gone.
As for Skill Level 9, it lets you clear a specific, nasty debuff called Seal⁸. It also gives you a massive AoE heal that fixes everything, but the MP cost is absolute highway robbery. “Seal” isn’t something normal people deal with, but it can lock out your skills. Since the skill technically still exists, you can’t even re-learn it. If your main combat skill gets Sealed, your career is over.
I suppose the closest thing to Healing Magic⁹ would be the various potions created through alchemy. As I’ve looked into before, while Healing Magic restores HP by a percentage, potions provide a fixed amount of recovery.
The Alchemy skill level required for crafting generally corresponds to the potion’s rank and the required Adventurer Rank; for instance, a B-rank potion requires a Skill Level of 6. That provides roughly the amount of healing a B-rank adventurer would need, but they are incredibly expensive. It must be a nightmare for those “meathead” parties that run without a dedicated Healer.
You can actually treat missing limbs with certain potions, but those are rare, high-end items. They cost even more than the alms you’d pay a temple for Healing Magic. I imagine that’s due to the cost of raw materials and the added value of them being portable and shelf-stable.
Of course, since my own Skill Level is 10, I’m aware of the tiers at level 9 and above – things not even mentioned in the textbooks. At Skill Level 10, you can craft the “Elixir,” a panacea that grants eternal youth and immortality. I haven’t made any since I can’t get my hands on the materials, but it would be a disaster if I did. If a ruler – especially an emperor with blatant expansionist ambitions – found out about it, I’d probably be kidnapped on the spot. And once I made it for them, they’d likely kill me just to ensure no one else could ever have it.
(I keep my level, Skills, and Skill Levels hidden with Disguise, so I don’t think I’ll be found out, but I need to be extra careful not to let my proficiency in Healing and Alchemy leak. I’m just an adventurer with no powerful backing; if I catch the eye of the authorities, my only move is to run. I’ve finally carved out a fun life here, and I’d like to keep it that way.)
”Researching again today?” Clarissa asked. “You certainly are a dedicated student.”
”Good evening, Clarissa-san,” Daisuke (I) replied. “I don’t have any urgent business lately, and I find the history of this world quite fascinating.”
As my time was up, I returned my books. The walk to the exit is my precious “small talk time” with Clarissa. Since we’re walking side-by-side, I can’t exactly admire her from a distance, but she has a lovely smile, and for now, that’s more than enough.
”Daisuke-san, you were summoned here along with the Hero, weren’t you?” Clarissa asked.
”That’s right. This world is quite a departure from my old one,” Daisuke said. “We didn’t have magic there, and there were no such things as Skills or Ability Scores. Or, to be more precise, they couldn’t be visualized by things like Appraisal Stones, so we couldn’t see them.”
”What?!” Clarissa exclaimed. “Then how do you fight monsters?”
”We don’t have monsters over there, so we get by just fine without magic,” Daisuke explained.
”But surely you need magic for daily life? How do you manage cooking or laundry without Water or Fire Magic? If there is no magic, I assume there are no magic items either?”
I smiled. “It’s certainly convenient having them here, but it wasn’t a problem. Water is piped into every home through a plumbing system, and for fire, we use gas – a flammable gas – distributed to houses in the same way. We don’t have magic items, but we have machines with similar functions. Honestly, where I lived, life was generally more comfortable than it is here.”
”Truly…?” Clarissa whispered.
”Well, it must be hard for you to imagine a world without magic when you’ve grown up surrounded by it and magic tools, Clarissa-san.”
”That’s true. I can’t quite wrap my head around it,” Clarissa said. “Still, for someone from a world without magic, you’ve adapted remarkably fast.”
”Yeah, well, we had fictional stories about magic and Skills back home, so I’d already done plenty of imagining,” I replied.
”A world with no magic, yet they write stories about it… what a strange place,” Clarissa said.
(When you put it that way, I suppose it is. Maybe someone, somewhere, caught a glimpse of a world with magic, or perhaps someone else was teleported or reincarnated here in the past. I don’t know what the original spark was, but “things that don’t exist” were certainly well-known back home.)
”I’ll be back next week,” I said.
”Yes, I’ll be looking forward to it,” Clarissa replied.
Clarissa gave me a bright smile and a polite bow. She really is a wonderful woman. I haven’t been able to ask her anything too personal yet, but she doesn’t seem to be married. (Maybe I’ll try to find out next time.)
A short while later, I spotted Dietlinde. She looked as sharp and composed as ever, the rhythmic clicking of her low heels echoing on the pavement.
”Good evening, Dietlinde-san. Tough day at the office?” I asked.
”Good evening, Daisuke-san,” Dietlinde replied.
The fact that she no longer greets me with “Do you have business with me?” is probably a sign that we’ve grown a bit closer. I can feel her softening, just a fraction. I’m sure it’s not just my imagination. I have a reservation at the brothel tonight, but I still have a little time, so I decided to try my luck and invite her to dinner.
”If you’re free, would you like to grab a bite to eat with me?” Daisuke asked.
”…I’m terribly sorry,” Dietlinde said. “I have an engagement today, so perhaps another time.”
(Damn. It’s hard to tell if she’s blowing me off because she’s not interested or if she actually has plans. Her expression is such a blank slate that it’s impossible to read. But the fact that she said “another time” feels like a positive sign, right? Then again, I met plenty of women back in my old world who were experts at masking their true feelings, so I can’t be sure.)
”I understand. May I ask you again sometime?” Daisuke asked.
”Yes,” Dietlinde replied. “…If you’ll excuse me, then.”
(Yes! Score! I got a clear “yes” to asking her out again. Isn’t that a massive step forward?)
My relationships with the three girls in the Gale Party weren’t exactly the result of a “proper” romantic approach, and I haven’t even asked Clarissa-san out for a meal yet. Between the High Schooler Party and the Working Women Party, I talk to them occasionally, but we aren’t “going on a date” close. (Does this mean Dietlinde-san is actually the closest thing I have to a real date through normal means?! I’m happy, but also a little conflicted about that.)
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Summary:
The protagonist enjoys a winter date with the three girls of the Gale Party, reflecting on his improved social standing and the physical benefits of leveling up. Later, he researches the world’s healing magic system at a library, noting the stark economic divide in medical access. He privately confirms that his Skill Level 10 abilities far exceed public knowledge, including the potential for resurrection.
Daisuke reflects on the mechanics of alchemy and the danger of his maxed-out skill level, which allows him to create an Elixir of immortality. He engages in a culture-clash conversation with the librarian Clarissa, explaining modern utilities like plumbing and gas. Afterward, he attempts to ask out Dietlinde, receiving a soft rejection but permission to ask again.
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Trivia:
- The ‘Ordeal’ effect is a hard cap on social affection that prevents the protagonist from naturally gaining favor with women.
- High-level leveling physically alters the body to be more ‘beautiful’ or ‘optimized’.
- Healing magic in this world is effectively a paid service with no insurance, making permanent injury a career-ender for poor adventurers.
- Mental magic users are treated as potential criminals and can be detained just for having the skills.
- Skill Level 9 can cure ‘Seal’, a permanent lockout of specific combat skills.
- Healing magic in this world works on a percentage basis, whereas potions are a fixed value.
- Daisuke is hiding his Level 10 Alchemy because it makes him a high-value target for political kidnapping.
- Daisuke’s original world’s fiction often contained magic/skill concepts, which helped him adapt quickly.
- He has a specific scheduled reservation at a brothel, indicating a recurring habit or specific goal with a worker named Regina
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Character Insight:
The protagonist displays a mix of genuine affection for his friends and a calculated, cynical view of the world’s systems. He feels a sense of isolation due to his ‘Ordeal’ but finds solace in transactional or hard-won social moments.
Daisuke shows a cautious, pragmatic nature regarding his power, yet a social, somewhat persistent side in his pursuit of women. Dietlinde is slowly showing ‘softening’ behavior, moving away from purely transactional or cold interactions.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author notes that this chapter fills in gaps from a previously ‘skipped’ digest section to flesh out the timeline between major battles.
The mention of ‘meathead’ (nou-kin) parties is a common trope in isekai web novels, highlighting the strategic importance of healers.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Nora – Beast‑man prostitute, about 160 cm, petite with long curled grey hair, drooping beast‑ears and a petite face with droopy eyes; known as “Number Two” at the Tagtraum brothel, she works as a service provider to Daisuke, linked arm‑in‑arm with him, playful and affectionate. Recently fought and slept with the protagonist, she’s cute, erotic, highly skilled, and works at the BSS brothel, using charm to attract clients.
• Regina – An experienced Onee‑san, mid‑twenties, blue‑purple hair, green eyes, marine‑blue dress with deep slit and thigh‑high socks. Soft, voluptuous, large‑breasted figure, gentle smile, mature demeanor. Manages brothel BSS, mentors girls, high‑ranking courtesan. Elite worker at Daydream (BSS), target of protagonist’s revenge for sexual prowess.
• Ilse – 16‑year‑old demi‑human female bandit, level 5 Archer with Archery Lv3; large‑breasted yet youthful, stubborn and child‑like. Slave of Elmer, she earns sexual “rewards” from Daisuke and faints at climax. She meets the protagonist monthly, has a sharp tongue but works hard, now in a sexual relationship with him. In the brothel she is called a ‘lightweight’ or ‘small fry’ for basic practice.
• Mercedes – Brown semi-long hair, a white frilled one-piece replacing thick chest armor, she is the shrewd, overworked Home Secretary (Naimukyou) of the Maultasche Kingdom, mother of Patrizia, and a high-ranking noblewoman overseeing domestic affairs, security, and the Investigation Bureau—yet remains a high-spirited Royal Knight who meditates, teaches shield techniques, leads parties, despises goblins and orcs, views dungeons as divine trials, wields elite combat and destruction magic, and deeply understands guild mechanics; she proudly calls herself an “Elegant and Fair Knight” and was once mentioned as a previous date interest.
• Yuko – Reincarnated 17‑year‑old high‑schooler, once a 40‑year‑old Earth civil servant who married, had a child and died in a train crash. Now a Level‑1 apprentice to Lady Xaveria, she wears a half‑up hairstyle, thin chest armor, stands 160 cm with a standard build, speaks politely but shows low motivation and poor etiquette.
• Ines – 170 cm tall, long green hair, voluptuous build; wears heavy armor but prefers feminine, college‑girl style. D‑Rank, Level 21+ magic swordsman who fuses wind magic with swift swordplay, accelerates with gusts. Cool‑headed yet shy, pouting when teased; dignified leader of Twin Winds and Leemans mentor, safety‑first and light‑drinker. Member of Raging Wind and Gale (烈風), feels a professional debt to Daisuke, and though a skilled knight, remains innocent and naive.
• Juliet – Beast‑kin adventurer, 150 cm tall, blue bob hair, cat ears and tail, large chest, light armor, dual‑wielder with Idaten skill wielding a two‑handed sword. Member of Gale and Raging Wind parties, excellent sense of smell for scouting; gear often shatters after an Orc fight. Prickly tsundere who avoids lewd talk, sensitive palate (nekojita), short‑tempered Twin Winds instructor who insults the protagonist and snaps at Daisuke’s teasing about her age and rank.
• Sylvie – Elf, 140 cm tall, petite and loli-like with long wavy blonde hair, wearing frilly robes, she is a spirit-magic specialist and member of the Gale Party, serving as Daisuke’s instructor and the group’s highest-leveled adventurer. Though youthful in appearance, she radiates a terrifying aura when her age is questioned, exuding refined maturity. She excels in spirit magic for scouting and trap detection, relying on MP potions in combat, but struggles physically due to her slender build. The most tolerant of the trio regarding adult topics, she balances innocence with seasoned wisdom, despite lower MP endurance than her level suggests.
• Kazuya – Scrawny, low‑key summoner in Daisuke’s party and rear‑guard of the Leemans, one of the “Three Idiots”. Freckles vanished after leveling. He grades his ~20+ Summoning Magic in his room, picturing a dancer‑like woman and a weak slime to aid combat. Speaks with a junior‑slacker cadence, has a 2‑D little brother, and leans on summoned entities.
• Makoto – Short, once‑chubby Earth‑summoned Leeman blacksmith (Lv20+), now slimmer with clear skin after leveling, speaks stiff samurai‑style “sogashi”. High STR/VIT, tanks goblins, never kills humans, dreams of mastering the forge under a mentor, frequents the workshop, awes at an elegant elven girl—his elven enthusiasm legendary. Party member, friend and apprentice blacksmith, open lolicon who says “cuteness is justice”, called Makoto‑san by Milliam, vanguard/tank with hammer and heavy armor, high endurance.
• Osamu – An 18‑year‑old reincarnated graduate, now a Sage of the Hero Party, sports thick hair and a modern look. Once dismissive, he now observes social hierarchies pragmatically. Formerly Araya’s boss, he died in an accident with a severely damaged body and wields high‑level Fire, Wind, Water and Earth magic.
• Otto – Heavy Warrior and member of the Hero Party.
• Clarissa – A graceful librarian with a radiant smile, she assists Daisuke in his research, curious about a world without magic, and maintains a helpful, approachable presence among patrons.
• Dietlinde – Dietlinde‑san, a slender sheep‑type beastman with white curly hair and small horns, works as the Adventurer’s Guild receptionist. Sharp and composed, she walks in rhythmic clicking low heels, maintains professional distance, and greets Daisuke coolly, seeing him off at the chapter’s start.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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