Flesh Golem of the Labyrinth City

"Haiya!"

The hair all over my body stood on end, signaling danger as if detecting an attack.

Tap-

"Gasp! You caught it!"

Lavi's full-power staff swing, with physical attack power rivaling a preschooler's, was easily blocked.

Since it's a light attack with a light staff from a light body...

Catching it with my palm barely registers any feeling.

"Want to try a few more times?"

"H-here...? We can't break the flasks...."

"Then shall we go outside for a bit?"

"Um.. you should put on clothes first...."

"Ah, right."

Finally, after putting on clothes, we stood in the wide street. The street was darker than the lamp-lit interior, Lavi exclaimed excitedly.

"J-just now! It happened again!"

"Huh? What did?"

"Your pupil stretched out! Like swoosh!"

"Yeah, well. I suppose so."

While there are scattered street lamps, it's not really a bright street. But the view from my left eye is definitely bright.

I then felt an unfamiliar feeling creeping up my body.

No, not entirely unfamiliar - it's like that feeling right before getting flicked on the forehead as punishment. The sensation of muscles around the impact point screaming to dodge.

"Amazing...! Wolf senses!"

"No, don't say it like that. It sounds weird."

"T-then.. beast senses...?"

"That still sounds weird."

Anyway, I roughly understand the effect. Danger sense? I'm not sure if that's the right word. My whole body is heightened with canine senses—wild canine senses, not domesticated ones.

"I-I read something about a connection to the moon...."

Looking at the moon in the sky, something...

What is this feeling?

"Ugh. Why is my throat so itchy?"

"Y-your throat...? Could it be, you want to howl...?"

"Howl? Like how wolves cry at night?"

"Y-yes...."

"Come on, that's too much. How can you treat a person like a dog?"

"W-what did I do?!"

Lavi gripped her staff with both hands and tapped its base on the ground while squawking loudly.

"Oh well. Anyway, I get it. You're saying it's because of the dire wolf's mana?"

"Well, that's what we can assume."

To check the circuit changes, I went back inside the appraisal office and lay on the cot.

'Smells like baby powder.'

As I lay face down without my shirt, I felt Lavi's finger brush from the back of my head down along my spine.

"The active circuits are so... The skills are connected more deeply and strongly than before. Something must have changed?"

"Well, I did have my limbs crushed today and ate raw dire wolf alpha muscles."

"What?! What are you saying?!"

After listening to my explanation for a while, Lavi immediately spread her maple-leaf-like hands and hit my back.

Pat- Pat-

"You're crazy, crazy! You shouldn't do things like that!"

"Why not? I survived. Even got stronger."

"S-still! Skills aren't omnipotent!"

"You said it was an unidentified skill. How do you know if it's omnipotent or not?"

"That's... true, but...."

After looking over my circuits here and there according to my words, Lavi nodded and said.

"Indeed. It looks like the alpha dire wolf's muscles have replaced the injured areas."

"Will I stay like this?"

"I think... the dire wolf muscles will probably disappear over time and be replaced with human muscles."

"Hmm."

While it feels fortunate, I also feel a slight sense of regret. If I could maintain this state, I could reach the 10th floor.

According to Lavi, as my original muscles recover, they'll replace the dire wolf muscles and return to my original body state. She says the change happened because of the skill's effect on my injuries.

"But... the organs you consume probably won't disappear."

"Why?"

"There are similarities with other skills that have a stack mechanism in their circuits. Meaning... they're accumulated. Through some magical effect, the things you ate are stored somewhere in your body!"

"Hmm, I see."

As expected of a scholar with abundant knowledge. Though she might look a bit clumsy, she's quite smart in these areas.

"Actually, I ate the alpha dire wolf's lungs and heart."

"Urk.. I see...."

"The muscles have changed to his, but I can't use them properly because my oxygen supply is lacking. Should I maybe crush my lungs and heart?"

"D-don't do such foolish things! Geez..! Lie down again for a moment!"

Following Lavi's words, I lay face down on the cot. At the same time, she brought a book and carefully examined my circuits while looking back and forth between them.

I have no idea what she's doing, but she sat quietly for about an hour, alternating between looking at my back and the book without saying anything.

Flip, flip.

"Lavi? Did you figure something out?"

"I think I'm getting it. Just a bit more."

What impressive academic dedication. It would be great if she just didn't use my back as a table to write on.

Finally, after about 10 more minutes, Lavi spoke up.

"Haaah..!"

"What is it, Lavi?"

"Yoo Eon! Get up!"

"Okay."

When I got up from the cot, various loose papers on my back scattered everywhere, but Lavi paid no attention. She pulled my hand outside the appraisal office.

"Lavi, my shirt."

"It's fine without it! Now, try saying: Hand, transform!"

"What...?"

"Quickly!"

Lavi grabbed my right forearm with both hands and shook it up and down while bouncing.

"I figured it out! This skill isn't just about replacing injured parts with what you've eaten!"

"Then what?"

"It's a skill that lets you use the organs you've consumed orally at will!"

"Hmm, why did it take an hour to figure that out?"

"This is a really amazing discovery!"

"Come to think of it, my right forearm turned into steak when I first used the skill. I used that at will."

"No! Why are you only telling me this now?!"

"Sorry. So, what exactly do I need to do?"

According to Lavi's explanation, parts of my body that are currently replaced with alpha dire wolf muscles changed by instinct.

The desire to heal injured parts is the most basic 'will' that all living things have. The main point is that the skill responded to my will and automatically used stored parts to replace the injured areas.

She says that if I use the skill with intention, I can use the organs stored in my skill even without injuries.

"You said you turned your right forearm into steak before, right?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"Think like that time! But with a clearer image! The heart and lungs... honestly, I can't recommend those because I'm worried about side effects. Instead, how about trying to think, 'change the entire right forearm into dire wolf muscles!'?"

"I'll give it a try."

"Mm! Good!"

But it probably won't happen right away. Lavi also looks less energetic, having been suddenly woken up at 1 AM and listening to my story for almost 2 hours.

"I'll come back another time when I'm free."

"Huh...? You're not going to do it right now?"

"Lavi, you look really sleepy. You should go to bed."

"That's... true."

Only then, seeming to realize her own sleepiness, did she let out a long yawn and rubbed her eyes. Wait, how old is she? Minors aren't allowed to work night shifts.

"Then, if you succeed, make sure to come tell me!"

"Yes. I will."

After putting on my shirt and checking my overall body condition, I asked Lavi about it as I was leaving the appraisal office.

"No fee this time?"

"Ah, that... well... The performance bonus hasn't come in yet...."

"Hmm, well. I understand for now. You're taking care of yourself, right?"

"Hehe, o-of course.... Are you worried about me?"

"Yes. I am worried."

With how she looks and all, if someone who looks this much like a kid works too hard and dies from hunger without eating, it would feel really bad. Especially since this world doesn't have those kinds of protections.

"Children should go to bed early."

"I-I'm not a child!"

"I see. Then you're an adult?"

"Adult?! Well... that's still a bit early...."

"Hmm."

Then what are you?

Anyway, I should sleep comfortably at the inn tonight. The dire wolf's mana doesn't make me extremely sleepy, but I think I can sleep well if I lie down. Since my body is tired.

And I should practice the skill too.

"Go in and rest. Sorry for waking you up."

"It's fine. If anything unusual happens again, you have to come to me! And... if you're okay with it, could you try other beasts...."

"Beasts?"

"Ah, never mind. It feels a bit wrong to ask for this. Be careful on your way back! I'm going in!"

"Okay."

* * * * *

When I returned to the inn late at night, the door was locked. I knew where the madam hid the key, so I just picked it up and went in.

Creeak

"Ah.. you're back? Where did you go?"

Sarah came out to greet me in her pajamas, half-asleep. This is quite defenseless.

"I went to see an appraiser I know. My body's condition was strange."

"So you were sick after all?"

"No, thinking about it now, it's not bad. Rather, it's better, I should say."

Maybe because I received the nocturnal dire wolf's blood, my body is overflowing with energy. Not getting drowsy enough to collapse at night must also be due to that.

"Is it related to skills?"

"You knew?"

"No, not really. But this is a labyrinth city. When something unusual happens to your body, it's usually skills?"

"I guess that's true. Why are you still up?"

At my words, Sarah crossed her arms and squinted her already half-closed eyes further as she spoke. Despite her having little fat, the two largest fat deposits Sarah has made quite a strong statement pressed against her pajamas.

I have nowhere to look.

"Hmph. That's not it? You should say thank you since I waited for you!"

"Is that so? Thank you, Sarah. Sorry for making you lose sleep because of me."

"It's fine. I don't have work in the morning, so I can wake up late."

I grabbed Sarah's shoulders, as she looked like she might collapse into bed right away, turned her around, and guided her to her room. Apparently, the small bedroom next to the madam's room was Sarah's room.

I thought about carrying her in, but that would be sexual harassment. How long have I even known Sarah?

I'm not particularly sleepy, so I should practice the skill first. I'll sleep during the day instead. The inn is busier at night anyway. Though there are only about ten rooms for lodging, many customers come for meals.

Should I consider becoming nocturnal fortunate?

"Whew, let's loosen up."