An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

Then, Hajime's body began to change.

First, the color of his hair gradually faded. Whether it was due to the excessive pain or some other reason, the uniquely Japanese black hair gradually turned white. Then, his muscles and bones gradually expanded, and several dark red lines appeared faintly on the inside of his body.

There is a phenomenon called super recovery, which is the phenomenon that muscles broken by weight training will grow slightly larger and heal as they are repaired. The abnormal situation happening to Shi's body now is the same.

Monster flesh is highly poisonous to humans. Monsters possess special internal organs called magic stones, which allow magic energy to circulate directly throughout their bodies, unleashing astonishing physical abilities. This transformed magic energy can penetrate their flesh and bones, strengthening their bodies.

It is generally believed that this altered magic power is the source of unique magic that requires no chanting or magic circles, but the details are unclear. In short, this altered magic power is a deadly element to humans, corroding the human body and destroying cells from the inside.

In the past, anyone who ate monster flesh would be torn to pieces and die without exception. Hajime knew this knowledge, but due to his hunger, he completely forgot about it.

If Hajime had simply eaten monster flesh, his body would have collapsed and died, but there was a secret medicine that prevented that from happening—the sacred water. The sacred water would instantly repair any damage, causing his body to become stronger at an astonishing rate.

Destroy, heal, destroy, heal. The flesh gradually changes with the pulse, and that process is like reincarnation. A birth ritual that abandons the fragile human body and is reborn, Hajime's scream is the cry of birth.

Finally, when his pulse subsided, Hajime collapsed completely, his hair turning pale. Though invisible now, several dark red lines appeared beneath his clothes, just like those on Kicking Rabbit, Two-Tailed Wolf, and Claw Bear.

Hajime's right hand moved, and his eyes, which had been tightly closed, opened slightly, his unfocused pupils looking at his right hand. Soon, he clenched his fist, making a rustling sound as if grasping the ground.

Hajime opened and closed his right hand several times. After confirming that he was still alive and that his hand could move according to his will, he slowly stood up.

“…So, monsters can’t be eaten… Am I stupid… But it’s gotten to the point where I have no choice but to eat them…”

Hajime showed an exhausted expression and laughed as if to himself.

The hunger disappeared, and the sharp pain and phantom pain seemed to have disappeared. It had been a long time since I felt so pain-free. Not only that, my body felt unusually light and full of strength.

Although his mind was exhausted from the intense pain, his body was in top condition. Looking at his arms and abdomen, Hajime could clearly see the well-developed muscles. In fact, Hajime had also grown taller. Previously, Hajime was 165cm tall, but now he was over 10cm taller.

"What's wrong with my body? I have this strange feeling..."

It wasn't just his body that was changing. Hajime also felt a strange sensation within him, a strange feeling that felt both warm and cold. He tried to focus his attention, and saw a faint, dark red line on his arm.

“Wow, this is so gross, I feel like I’ve turned into a monster… This is no joke. Oh, oh, the status board…”

He fumbled in his pocket for the status board he'd long forgotten about. It seemed he hadn't lost it. He checked his current condition, thinking perhaps he could gain some understanding of his body's abnormalities.

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Nanyun Hajime 17 years old Male Level: 8

Vocation: Alchemist

Power: 100

Stamina: 300

Resistance: 100

Agility: 200

Mana: 300

Magic Resistance: 300

Skills: Alchemy, Magical Manipulation, Gastric Acid Enhancement, Thunder Entanglement, Language Comprehension

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"...Which A button should I press?"

Just like last time, Hajime was so surprised that he couldn't help but grumble in his Kansai accent. His overall stats had increased dramatically, and he'd gained three skills, but his level was still only 8. Considering that level represents the current level a character has reached, it seemed Hajime's growth limit had also increased.

"Magic operation?"

If you take it literally, it probably means being able to manipulate magic power.

Hajime speculated that the strange feeling he had been feeling for a while might be magic. Then, concentrating just as before, he tried what he called "magic manipulation."

As Hajime began to concentrate, the dark red line reappeared faintly. He imagined the sensations he felt throughout his body converging on his right hand. Then, albeit slowly and choppily, that strange feeling—no, that magical power—began to move.

“Oh, oh, oh~?”

That indescribable feeling made Hajime cry out. He tried, and the magic power he gathered began to converge on the alchemy magic circle drawn on Hajime's right glove. Hajime tried to alchemy with surprise, and the ground suddenly rose.

"Really? Does that mean there's no need to chant? In principle, mana can't be manipulated directly, but monsters are an exception... So, by eating a monster's flesh, I gained its characteristics?"

Correct answer. Hajime had indeed acquired the monster's characteristics. Hajime next planned to try "Thunder Entanglement."

"Uh... what should I do? 'Thunderbolt' is electricity, right? The one with the two-tailed wolf's tail...?"

Hajime tried many things, but nothing changed. Since he couldn't feel it like magical power, he didn't know what to do. He pondered for a moment, remembering that imagination was crucial when it came to refining. Because he didn't need to write numerous formulas within the magic circle, a relatively clear imagination would be directly reflected in the crafted object.

He imagined the crackling sound of static electricity, and then red electricity burst out from the fingertips of his right hand.

"Ohhh~ I did it... I see. The magic unique to monsters is all about the imagery in the mind. Speaking of which, the magic light has also turned crimson... No, it's turned red."

After that, he continued to discharge electricity repeatedly, but he couldn't shoot it out like the two-tailed wolf. Perhaps, as the word "Thunder Entanglement" suggests, it can only wrap around the body or conduct electricity. Adjusting the current and voltage will require more practice.

'Stomach Acid Enhancement' was exactly what it said. Hajime didn't want to face that excruciating pain again after consuming monster flesh. However, there was no food in the maze, so Hajime secretly hoped that this skill could resolve the ultimate dilemma of hunger and pain.

He cut off the meat of the two-tailed wolf and grilled it with the "Thunder Wrap". After all, his hunger was relieved now, so there was no need for him to eat raw meat. Although it would emit a strong stench, he still endured and grilled the meat.

Then, Hajime made up his mind and ate it.

Ten seconds passed... a minute... ten minutes... nothing happened, so Hajime continued to grill the meat and tried to eat it again. He didn't feel any particular pain, though. He didn't know if it was due to the "strengthened stomach acid" or if he had developed resistance. He didn't know why, but Hajime was thankful. Now he didn't have to endure the hellish pain of every meal.

After eating his fill of meat, Hajime decided to return to the base for the time being. Now that he had a chance of defeating the Claw Bear, he decided to focus on mastering his new power for the time being.

He began to cut the meat of the other two wolves. It was much easier now than at the beginning. After filling the stone container with some meat, he cautiously returned to the base where the God Crystal was.

After returning to the base and starting to train his forging and other skills, several days passed.

Each skill was progressing smoothly, and even the refinement itself had changed, with a new derivative skill emerging. That skill was "Mineral Appraisal," a skill only possessed by the highest rank among the forgers directly under the Kingdom.

Normally, appraisal magic requires more complex formulas than offensive magic, necessitating the activation of large magic circles within limited facilities. However, those possessing this skill can analyze any mineral simply by touching it, using a simple chant and magic circle. This isn't a hidden skill, but a unique derivative skill only acquired by those skilled through years of practice.

So Hajime decided to immediately start investigating all the minerals around him. For example, after using "Mineral Identification" on the Green Stone, the status board would show -

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Green Stone

A mineral that absorbs magic power. When magic power accumulates, it emits a light green light.

In addition, if you break it while accumulating magic power, it will release light equivalent to the accumulated amount in an instant.

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The explanation was simple, yet incredibly valuable. Hajime, as if devising a scheme, smiled cunningly and wandered around, searching for usable minerals. Finally, he found the minerals he needed to craft a weapon for his partner and ace.

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Burning Stone

Combustible ore, once ignited, burns using its constituent components as fuel. As combustion continues, it gradually decreases in size, eventually consuming itself. Igniting a large number of Burning Stones simultaneously in a confined area can cause an explosion, potentially rivaling even high-level fire magic in power, depending on the quantity and compression ratio.

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The moment Hajime saw this explanation, he felt an electric current running through his brain.

“On Earth, the Burning Stone should be able to function like gunpowder, right? If so, perhaps the forging that originally couldn’t be used for attacking could now maximize its offensive power,” Hajime thought.

Hajime was extremely excited. Although the creation of it required a huge amount of labor and experimentation, even so, thinking that the refinement that had saved him many times so far might finally give him the means to attack, Hajime was extremely happy.

In this way, he forgot to eat and sleep, and devoted his time to perfecting the product. After thousands of failures, he finally succeeded in making something.

It is a modern weapon that can cover the shortest distance at supersonic speed and destroy the target with overwhelming power.

Approximately 35 centimeters in length, it features a six-round revolver magazine made from Taurus ore, the region's hardest and toughest mineral. The barrel is rectangular, and the bullets are also made from Taurus ore, containing ground and compressed incendiary stone (combustion powder).

It was a large revolver pistol, and its bullets not only relied on the explosive power of the burning stone, but also received electromagnetic acceleration through Hajime's unique magic, "Thunder Entanglement", transforming it into a small electromagnetic cannon. Its maximum power could easily surpass that of an anti-aircraft rifle. Hajime named it Donal because he always felt that his partner needed a name.

"...With this, whether we need to defeat that monster... or escape from here... we can do it!"

Hajime arranged all the weapons, except the Donal, that were made based on modern weapons in front of him, and smiled sinisterly.

Originally, the skill of the ordinary "Alchemist" who could only skillfully create swords and armor was used everywhere. At this moment, the skill of "Alchemy" created weapons in the world of swords and magic.

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Taurus Ore

A hard black mineral with a hardness of 8 and a toughness of 8 (rated on a 10-point scale, with 10 being the highest). Resistant to shock and heat, but vulnerable to cold. It becomes brittle when cooled, but resolidifies when heated.

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“Mmm, mmm… Even though it’s rabbit meat, it still tastes terrible…”

A few days after the weapons were produced, Hajime was munching on rabbit meat at the base. Yes, it was the meat of a kicking rabbit. The kicking master who once despised and mocked him was now just food. Hajime had hoped it would taste a little better, as it was rabbit, but it was still monster meat, and it tasted just as bad.

Even so, Hajime devoured the entire thing without leaving a single drop. Ever since he'd acquired 'Stomach Acid Enhancement,' he seemed to be able to eat as much as he wanted, especially after using his special magic, which made him feel incredibly hungry. He'd also used it when killing the Kicking Rabbit, so it was a good balance.

If he overused it, hunger might set in again. Although Hajime would not die as long as he had the sacred water, he still had to think carefully before using it.

Incidentally, the Kicking Rabbit was defeated by a trap set by Hajime. Hajime carried water from the stream at the starting point and sprinkled it on the ground, using it to guide the Kicking Rabbit. As the Kicking Rabbit rushed towards him, passing through the stagnant water, Hajime unleashed his "Tangle Thunder" at full power, electrocuting the Kicking Rabbit. Despite being covered in smoke, the Kicking Rabbit continued to charge forward as expected, so Hajime used "Tangle Thunder" to slow its movements before firing a single shot from the front with Donner.

After all, it couldn't dodge a bullet traveling at 3.2 kilometers per second after electromagnetic acceleration. Kicking Rabbit's head was shattered, killing him instantly. Donal's power was beyond imagination.

"Alright, this is my first time eating Kicking Rabbit meat... How's the status panel..."

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Nanyun Hajime 17 years old Male Level: 12

Vocation: Alchemist

Power: 200

Stamina: 300

Resistance: 200

Agility: 400

Mana: 350

Magic Resistance: 350

Skills: Alchemy (+Mineral Identification) (+Precision Alchemy) (+Mineral Exploration) · Magical Manipulation · Gastric Acid Enhancement · Thunder Wrap · Sky Step (+Aerodynamics) (+Shrinking the Earth) · Language Comprehension

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As expected, eating monster meat would increase the stats. Considering that eating the meat of the two-tailed wolf barely increased the stats, it seemed that eating monsters that had never been eaten before would significantly increase the stats.

Hajime immediately investigated what this "Sky Step" was. His first thought was the Kicking Rabbit's sprint, so fast it was impossible to focus, its body seemingly split into two parts. Hajime suspected the "(+Shrinking the Earth)" below the Sky Step might be that skill. Speaking of "Shrinking the Earth," it was a high-speed movement technique famous even on Earth.

Hajime imagined an explosion beneath his feet and stomped on the ground in one breath. The magic power in his body instantly concentrated under his feet, and the ground around his feet suddenly sank... Hajime flew out and hit his face against the wall.

“It hurts!? This strength is hard to control…”

But it worked. With continued practice, I should be able to do moves like the Kicking Rabbit. Combining it with gun skills will make it an even more powerful weapon.

Next was (+Aero), but it wouldn't activate no matter what. It was hard to tell what the skill was from the name alone, so after trying various things, Hajime remembered the story of the Kicking Rabbit stepping through the air. He immediately imagined a transparent barrier in the air above his footsteps, and then leaped forward.

As a result, his face hit the ground.

“Guoooooooooo!?”

Hajime covered his face with his right hand and rolled on the ground in pain. After struggling for a while, when the pain subsided, Hajime drank the holy water with an unhappy expression.

“…It was basically a success…”

The reason he landed face-first while leaping forward was because he had a foothold midway. Simply put, he tripped. It seems (+Aerodynamics) must be a special spell that creates a foothold in mid-air. While it feels like he's gained two special spells at once, they seem to be derivatives of Skystep.

Feeling gratified, Hajime began training. His target was the Claw Bear. While long-range shooting might be enough to defeat it, he decided to practice for safety, as there was a chance a stronger monster might appear. Overoptimism in the maze would lead to death, and even after defeating the Claw Bear, he still had to find the exit to leave the floor.

It all starts with mental exercise.

In the passage of the maze, there was a shadow that was moving hurriedly and at high speed.

That was Hajime. Having mastered the Sky Steps, Hajime used the Earth Shrinking Technique to create footholds on the ground or walls, sometimes even using his Aerial Force, constantly moving at high speed, searching for his nemesis, the Claw Bear.

Finding the exit should have been his priority, but Hajime was determined to kill the Claw Bear. He couldn't help but test himself, wondering if he could fight the monster that had shattered his soul.

“Guaaaa!”

On the way, Shi encountered a group of two-tailed wolves. One of them pounced on him, but Shi calmly jumped, flipped in the air, pulled out the Donard that was fixed to his right thigh with smelted wire, and shot it.

boom!

The burning powder exploded as it dried, and the bullet, electromagnetically accelerated by the "Thunderbolt," smashed the head of the first two-tailed wolf squarely.

Hajime used his "Aero Force" in mid-air, leaped once more, and fired continuously at the two wolves that were charging at him. Although he didn't hit all of them, he managed to kill them all before he ran out of bullets.

Hajime tucked Donal under his left arm, which was missing the part below the elbow, and quickly reloaded the gun. Then, without even glancing at the two-tailed wolf's corpse, he started running again.

In this way, Hajime instantly killed the Kicking Rabbit and the Two-Tailed Wolf he encountered on the road, and soon found the figure of his nemesis.