Show Me Your Stats!-Chapter 105

<Quest Complete!>

[Let’s Level Up the Overworked Pebble]

Use the Map Window to check the stats of guards or administrators (100/100)

Use the Map Window to display the individual distribution of 7+ species of animals or ma-beasts (7/7)

Achieve 35% Approval Rating (35/35)

Reward: Unlock one stat of the user’s choice

The recently withered Pebble, just as overworked as its master, floated weakly in front of Ayra, setting off a tiny burst of fireworks. It spun lazily in place, then raised its tiny, chubby hand to present the stat selection window.

[Please choose one stat to unlock as your quest reward!]

Magic Attack Power

Occupation

Strength

Skills

Related People (Level too low)

Current Thoughts (Requires final GM Spirit Level)

After some thought, Ayra selected Skills. Thanks to the recent recruitment of new personnel, both administration and public order had begun to stabilize, and she needed more appropriate stat categories for resource allocation. Taking the opportunity, she decided to test the newly unlocked stat by checking the skills of the chief steward and administrator.

Jinas possessed the skills: Shorthand, Proxy Execution, Personnel Management, Accurate Judgment.

Gretel’s skills were: Speed Reading, Administrative Management, Mediation.

They were called “skills,” but in reality, they were more like specialties. Since she was already at it, she decided to check Janus’s skills too.

Thanks to its level-up, the Pebble had unlocked a new system: the ability to view stat windows for all beings within the map range. Until now, the target had to at least be within distant visual range, but now she could see the stat windows of people even outside her field of vision. Of course, it drained far more mana, so it couldn’t be used frequently.

In any case, Janus’s skills were... exceedingly simple.

Slash, Rip, Bash, Transform.

...Wait. Transform?

That must mean turning into his original form, right?

The appearance of ma-beasts was distinctly different from animals. Their unnaturally developed physical structures and borderline-impossible anatomies were horrifying even in dreams. Janus’s true form surely wasn’t an exception. What would a dragon’s original form look like?

Ayra was drifting into endless speculation when a startled voice snapped her back to reality.

“L-Lord Ayra, the ink... it’s dripping...”

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Gretel, who had been waiting for final approval after submitting a report, fumbled to hand over a handkerchief. Lost in thought, Ayra had let the ink soak the tip of her quill, which was now dripping onto her palm.

“Ah, thanks.”

She wiped it off quickly, pulled herself together, and scribbled additional instructions before stamping the document. With a yawn, she returned it to Gretel. Jinas, who was assisting Ayra with her work, looked at her with concern.

“You don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”

“Mmm, no. I’m just a little tired.”

Ayra rubbed the back of her neck, sore from mana depletion. The dull ache was turning into a full-blown headache. But her fatigue wasn’t only due to low mana. After the trip to that enormous pit with Janus, a deep sense of urgency had been awakened.

The main quest to prevent the territory’s destruction required: acquiring talent, raising approval ratings, and leveling the Pebble to its final stage. The recruitment was nearly complete—only one more to go—so there was no rush there. But approval ratings and the Pebble’s max level still felt shaky.

So she’d thrown herself into completing quests and marching into the temple to spite Aterra, doing everything she could to raise the people’s trust in her. Between all the wandering and magic use, both she and the Pebble were completely overworked.

After forcibly chasing out the concerned Jinas and Gretel under the pretense of taking a break, Ayra stared [N O V E L I G H T] at her mountain of paperwork... and suddenly thought:

If only I were Janus’s partner.

She couldn’t say there were no personal feelings behind that wish. But more than romantic affection, the desire to protect Solar from destruction loomed far larger. She imagined the political, economic, and military advantages she’d gain as a dragon’s partner.

If she became Janus’s partner, not only could she prevent Solar’s destruction and clear its debts, but even if Bolni sent a real army, she could have her handsome final weapon wipe them out without a worry. Then, she could live freely as a grand lord, finally catch up on her backed-up research on ma-beasts, and as his lover, study the dragon’s body and mind to her heart’s content...

Maybe she was a little selfish—but so what?

However, Ayra didn’t entertain the hope that she might already be Janus’s partner. After all, if she were, there was no way he’d stand by and let Solar fall. He’d surely use every benefit of their bond to try to save the territory. So the very existence of the countdown to destruction was proof that she wasn’t his partner.

“But seriously... how did he do it?”

She hadn’t asked at the time—it just didn’t feel like the right moment—but Ayra still had lingering questions. Where had he gathered that many ma-beasts? Why hadn’t they escaped the pit? How had such a variety of species coexisted without killing or eating each other?

Despite all her years studying ma-beasts, their ecology remained riddled with unanswered mysteries. Not even their methods of reproduction were well understood.

Ma-beasts looked like animals on the outside—complete with brains, livers, hearts, kidneys, and other organs—but there was something they lacked: reproductive organs. Or rather, even if something looked like genitals, it didn’t function. She’d never seen a ma-beast mate, not once. Not even eggs or offspring.

So to humans, ma-beasts were disasters that seemed to spring from the earth without warning and attack the living. Fortunately, there were lands where ma-beasts didn’t appear, which allowed humans to build villages and cities.

If you dig deep enough... do ma-beasts come out?

That could explain why Janus had dug such a massive pit. Just like striking a water vein releases a spring, maybe hitting the right layer of earth caused ma-beasts to gush forth. But the real mystery was how he’d kept them under control.

Maybe dragons can control ma-beasts.

It was a logical conclusion. In fact, in the lands ruled by dragons and their partners, ma-beast outbreaks were rare. Even territories that once suffered attacks became calm and peaceful. Then, as soon as the dragon left, like the lake ruins, the ma-beasts would return.

Ayra shook herself free of her thoughts. With all the energy she’d spent leveling the Pebble and raising approval, her paperwork had piled up.

Snacking on the treats Botello had brought, she focused—and found herself finishing faster than expected. Outside, night had fallen, but it wasn’t yet time to sleep. With some unexpected free time, she rummaged through subspace.

Should I take out Janus’s claw? ...No, better save that until I know where we stand. Oh, that’s right.

Ayra retrieved the Red Bloom. Stored in subspace, it was still fresh, as if just picked.

“It’s supposed to erase scent when eaten...”

She held it to her nose and sniffed. There wasn’t even the faintest floral aroma. A flower that concealed you from ma-beasts—maybe it could help other territories reduce casualties too?

Hera said it only grows wild... Maybe I could modify it for cultivation...

Ayra loved ma-beasts, but she didn’t value them above human lives. They were research subjects she was passionate about, nothing more. Most mages who studied ma-beasts aimed to reduce harm to people.

“Plants aren’t really my specialty, though...”

Still, her curiosity was piqued. Ayra began to dissect the flower piece by piece. She chewed a petal to analyze its flavor, crushed it to extract juice, tested reagent reactions...

She was deeply immersed when suddenly, the Pebble on her hand lit up with a flash:

[Alert!]

[Emergency Warning! Please use defensive magic immediately!]

The moment she saw the alert, Ayra instantly cast a defense spell on herself.

Almost at the same time—BOOM! A deafening shockwave shook the ground beneath her feet.

“What the hell!?”

The jolt nearly knocked her over. Ayra staggered upright and rushed to the study’s terrace while opening her stat window to check on her retainers. Thankfully, none of their HPs had dropped—they were safe.

But then—BOOM! BOOM!—another explosion. Each blast was so powerful that the tea in her cup rippled and the bookshelves trembled slightly. Ayra flung open the terrace doors and cast a spell. Her body shimmered—and a mirage-like image of herself, dressed in a flamboyant outfit, split off and dashed outside.

It even made a realistic thud as it vaulted the railing and landed on the ground.

And then—something slammed into the earth like a meteor. It struck with a cannonball-like boom, gouging the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust. While the attacker’s attention was diverted by the illusion, Ayra darted out of the study through the terrace.

Cold sweat trickled down her back.

An assassin!

Sobletz? Bolni? Whoever it was, the target was clearly Ayra. The strikes had aimed precisely at the study—and immediately closed in the moment someone left it. That was all the proof she needed.

She hastily pulled up the attacker’s stat window—and a shiver shot down her spine.