Heading down to the village, we kept a vigilant lookout and moved slowly. I was now wearing the leather armor that Lydia had picked up from the village just before we left. It was pure luck that she had grabbed my backpack last night when she chased after Miki. She had thought I might need my supplies during last night’s battle, and thus nothing of importance was left behind in the inn. Well, the bag was still stocked from our previous short-lived excursion. It was one of the reasons I thought I could be so bullheaded when I portaled away.
“The last time we were here, all I saw were a bunch of dolls. Is that what you saw?”
Lydia shook her head. “I saw many floating people. They had really scary faces and they were bloody and they went ‘woooo’.”
“That does sound exactly like a ghost,” I responded flatly.
In fact, it sounded too much like a ghost. What was with the voices?
“The wooo might have been the blood rushing to my head.” Lydia blushed, looking away.
“I’ve seen a map of this city before. If I recall correctly, there is a herbalist on the outside of town. That’s where I want to set up shop.”
“Why a herbalist?” Lydia asked.
“A couple of reasons. First, a herbalist probably has some reading materials, and I’d like to start learning to read.” I explained, thinking of the Adventurer’s guild near the center of town and shivering. “Second, I want to take advantage of all of our skills. Miki here is a level 9 alchemist, and I believe she might be able to make some useful stuff for us. Ideally, I’d like to find some kind of anti-ghost potion.”
“Actually, Master… I’m sorry, but I’m only a level 8 alchemist. The slave trader must have embellished a bit to get you to buy me.”
“Last night, you reached level 9 when we used that spirit fire.”
“Huh? How do you know that?” Miki seemed taken aback.
“That’s right!” Lydia spoke excitedly. “Master has the ability to look and change jobs, just like a priest. Except he’s really fast, and he can even change his own job!”
“Re-really?” Miki’s eyes widened.
“Master is really amazing!”
“Ah… it’s nothing. Once we get going, I’m probably going to change your job to Spiritualist. I think-“
“Wait!” Miki stopped dead in her tracks. “I have the spiritualist job?”
“Can you equip it immediately?”
“Really? I was worried that if you go from level 9 to level 1, it might hurt your constitution. It’s still only been a day since you were resurrected.”
“T-that’s true…” Miki responded, her expression growing pouty, “But spiritualists can absorb spiritual energy around them and use to strengthen their energy. I was told the only way I could ever survive having 9 tails was to become a spiritualist, but as hard as I tried, my dream never came true!”
“So, you didn’t have it before when you were in the slave caravan?”
Miki shook her head, her forehead creased. “No, not at all!”
“Perhaps when you died and became a spirit, it unlocked for you.” I pondered, and then shrugged. “Very well, I suppose it can’t hurt to try it for a short time. If you feel weak at all, I’ll immediately return it back.”
{Miki’s job has been changed to Spiritualist.}
Miki’s back seemed to straighten, and her complexion seemed to recover by several shades. Suddenly a glowing came from behind her, and when I looked, I gasped. Ever so faintly were eight additional tails, all glowing different colors, just like I saw when she was in her spirit form.
“Oh… they’re growing brighter!” Lydia said excitedly.
She could always see them, but under the spiritualist job, they transcended her sensitivity and reach my own. I could also see the spiritual tails now. Although they were faint, Lydia had been right, they were beautiful.
“I feel it, Master. If I can use Spiritualist every day, I won’t remain sick and weak forever. There may be a day where I can be healthy again!”