Since everything was already arranged reasonably, Ryuji decided to settle down with the caravan for the time being.
As for frequently doing that kind of thing with Chobung and then rushing back to the "7 Days to Die" world to rescue Lux—
He wanted to. But there was a problem—
Chobung had things to do.
Not business-related matters, but something else. Something he couldn't get out of her. After their meeting last night, Chobung directly told Ryuji not to look for her for the next half month. Otherwise, he'd have to go back to "7 Days to Die" and send Lux away first.
Unfortunately, no matter how much he asked, Chobug refused to reveal what she was up to. She didn't even show her face today. That's probably why Miss Sizki came looking for Ryuji directly instead.
So, he could only give up on that idea for now. He had to search for another suitable "target"—preferably an excellent woman.
After all, he'd already tested it on Miss Yellow Rose. Women without power or emotional attachment to him produced only a tiny trickle of energy, no matter how much he did with her.
Sizki wasn't much of a talker. She sat quietly on the roadside beside Ryuji, waiting for the caravan to move out. She even started meditating right there.
Rosh was the same—buried in a notebook filled with complex spell formations and magical runes. Ryuji couldn't make heads or tails of them, but it didn't stop him from pulling out his own language textbook and notes to continue studying the written language of this world.
It was a slow and somewhat frustrating process—not because of his memory, but because everything about this world was so fascinatingly new to him. Just squatting by the roadside watching vendors was enough to capture his interest. Whenever he saw unfamiliar animals pass by, he'd even whip out his sketchbook and draw them with his uniquely "soulful" artistic touch.
After all, Dungeon Fighter Online was only a pixel game. It couldn't possibly capture all the richness of this world. Now that he was in the real thing, all these novel sights were like treasure to him.
In this state, studying naturally became a case of "Study? Study nothing"
Just as he was admiring a pack beast with an impressively wise expression, Sizki's voice cut through his thoughts like a cold wind.
"If you can't focus on one thing, you'll never reach the peak of any field."
Her voice was, as always, cool and precise, with a steady, disciplined tone that matched her demeanor perfectly.
Ryuji snapped out of it and realized the caravan had already started moving. He quickly grabbed Rosh by the collar, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and casually responded to Sizki.
"You're not wrong. But life gets boring without a little fun, doesn't it? Besides, I'm learning the language pretty fast."
To prove his point, he repeated a line he'd overheard from a nearby mercenary, intending it as a joke.
"For example: 'That guy's richer, he's got connections!, Please spare my life!, etc.' That kind of stuff—I pick it up right away."
But when he turned to look at her, there wasn't even a trace of a smile on her face. She simply stared at him and shook her head with a sigh.
"You should focus on learning truly useful phrases. That kind of street-thug nonsense has no value."
Ryuji winced. Deadpan people were the natural enemies of bad jokes.
"Er… but knowing how to beg for your life seems pretty useful, right?"
"There's no point in begging monsters. And it won't work on people who genuinely want to kill you. As for street thugs—begging doesn't help either. But if you walk the right path, those with upright character won't attack you at all. So 'begging for mercy' is probably the most useless skill you could learn."
"..."
He glanced at her body—firm, athletic, with curves that were downright lewd. The contrast between her serious words and that sinful figure was jarring. But he understood one thing very clearly: this female martial artist wasn't the type he could easily conquer. She was troublesome, yes—but if she ever let her guard down, she was practically a free gift.
Women like her were what he classified as "Normal Type."
Yes, completely normal personality, normal values, normal worldview.
But—It was exactly that excessive normality that made her extraordinary.
Everyone had their own unique traits. Even rigid, rule-abiding people weren't truly "average." But this woman? She was the most average of all averages.
Especially in a fantasy world like this—her kind of normalcy made her a rare character among rare characters.
If she turned out to be the type who gained her strength not from talent, but through sheer effort and dedication—Then she'd be the epitome of a classic heroine: the kind who really embodies traditional values.
No tsundere tendencies.
No feminism or gender wars.
She didn't expect men to cater to her simply because she was a woman.
She saw men as men, and herself as an ordinary woman—nothing more, nothing less.
She could objectively acknowledge the differences between men and women. She'd sacrifice for her family, willingly lower her own needs if household expenses were too high, maybe even take on side jobs. She didn't have a chaotic personality. If she bought something, it was because she needed it. If she picked up a sport or instrument, it was because she genuinely enjoyed it. She might even explore intimacy seriously—even if she didn't fully understand it.
When she committed to something, she wouldn't multitask or get distracted. When choosing a man, she wouldn't care about strength, status, or wealth. She judged people by their values and personality—completely and utterly normal.
And the most terrifying thing?
Everything she said and did—was always the best possible choice based on the information available to her.
"So focus and dedication are essential," Sizki continued, her tone still unwavering. "Just look at me. I was a sickly child. It was only through focus and hard work that I achieved this level of strength. If you want to truly experience this world and appreciate its wonders, then all the more reason to study the language seriously, don't you think? So Focus, stop letting your mind wander. You're derailing your progress."
She meant every word. Her face and voice left no room for doubt.
Ryuji paused.
She… was right.
Kuso! (Damn it.)
He even cursed in Japanese in his head.
What the hell was with this woman?!
Too proper!
He stared at Sizki. His logic told him: if he could win her over, she'd be the perfect wife. The energy output would be top-tier.
But the same logic also screamed:
This woman might be the most "normal" person alive—but getting with her? That's Hell Mode difficulty.
~~~~~~~
Bonus chapter every 200 PS.