Chapter 43: Eve’s Level 20 Breakthrough and the Companion System

As they journeyed south, the caravan occasionally faced attacks from slimes. However, with Eve present, each assault was effortlessly repelled.

The adventurers on the wagons felt as though this expedition was more of a leisurely outing. Their powerful companion took charge, ensuring a smooth ride while they simply had to ‘lie down and win,’ cheering enthusiastically.

Initially, Odell had attempted to dismount and offer assistance. Yet, after several waves of slime attacks, he found himself scrambling back in disarray.

Once again, Eve had to intervene and save the day.

This experience finally hammered home the terrifying impact of the slimes’ [Collision] attack for Odell. ‘Turns out I really am useless!’ he thought, surprisingly delighted.

From initial doubt to eventual acceptance, he proudly embraced his uselessness, joining his fellow adventurer group members in chanting praises for their formidable companion from the wagon.

After sending Odell back to the safety of the wagon, Eve breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Good,’ she thought. ‘Now, finally, no one will be siphoning off her experience.’

Freed from distractions, Eve completely unleashed herself, actively pursuing and slashing at the slimes.

The slimes cried, “Meow! QAQ (Don’t come any closer!)”

During such one-sided massacres, those on the wagons often struggled to discern which side truly comprised the ferocious monsters.

After constant slaughter, Eve, who had been stuck at Level 19, finally saw an advancement.

[Congratulations! You have defeated a ‘Baby Ice Slime (Lv.2).’ Experience gained.]

[Congratulations! You have advanced to Lv.20. The ‘Companionship’ feature is now available.]

[Physique +2]

[Spirit +2]

[Agility +2]

[Skill Unlocked: Intersecting Shores]

A familiar green light enveloped her, accompanied by a crisp chime in her ears. The long-absent sensation of complete rejuvenation surged through her, and the comprehensive stat boosts almost made Eve shout ‘Glorious!’ on the spot.

Swiftly wielding her Holy Light Longsword to dispatch all the slimes attacking the caravan, Eve deftly returned to the wagon. She eagerly opened her basic stat panel.

[Eve Wells (Lv.20)]

[Class: Holy Spirit Martyr]

[Physique: 18]

[Spirit: 14]

[Agility: 16]

[Power Rating: E+ (Unremarkable, but sufficiently qualified to be a fodder soldier in the Demon King’s vanguard.)]

Her stat panel wasn’t exactly unremarkable; rather, it lacked any distinguishing features, or to put it kindly, held promising potential. Yet, upon reading the system’s sharp commentary on her power rating, Eve’s lips couldn’t help but twitch slightly.

‘Is there really any difference between a fodder soldier and cannon fodder?’ she wondered. ‘So my current strength means I’m still the kind of cannon fodder who wouldn’t survive a single chapter on the battlefield!’

Eve’s previously excited mood felt as though a bucket of cold water had been abruptly doused over her.

“Never mind,” she murmured, consoling herself. “I’m only Level 20, it’s not like my chest size, there’s plenty of room for growth in the future.”

With that self-reassurance, Eve dismissed her basic stat panel and turned her attention to the newly unlocked feature.

The moment she tapped on the new function, the system thoughtfully displayed its description.

[Companionship: Players can form a companionship party with other players or NPCs.]

[All players and NPCs within a companionship party will share acquired experience points and receive bonuses to experience gain and NPC favorability.]

[Additionally, based on the number of members in the companionship party, the entire party will receive 2/3/4/5 points of basic all-attribute bonuses.]

[If all units within a companionship party are of the same race, the entire party’s racial traits will be enhanced, and talents strengthened.]

[If all units within a companionship party are of different races, the entire party will receive an additional 5 points of basic all-attribute bonuses.]

[A companionship party can have a maximum of 5 members and a minimum of 2. Exceeding or failing to meet the companionship party member limit will result in the forfeiture of all aforementioned bonuses.]

After a quick scan of the system’s description, Eve generally understood the new function. Simply put, it was a party-forming feature within the game, offering various bonuses, with additional benefits if certain racial conditions within the party were met.

Eve glanced at her current companionship party.

[Your current Companionship Party: Brown Caravan (16 members)]

[Your current Companionship Party has exceeded the member limit.]

Emmm…

‘Well, that was to be expected…’

However, Eve was somewhat curious: did her Holy Spirit Maid, Wennya, count as part of a companionship party? ‘If she does,’ Eve mused, ‘then after leaving the caravan, if I carry Wennya in her coffin on my back, wouldn’t I constantly receive the companionship party’s attribute bonuses?’

Eve felt as though she had stumbled upon something extraordinary. ‘Am I truly a genius?!’

Suppressing her inner excitement, Eve seized the opportunity during the caravan’s rest stop. Under the pretense of needing to bathe, she slipped away and retrieved a tent and a shielding scroll from her spatial bracelet.

The tent was an essential travel item Eve had prepared herself, while the shielding scroll had been a parting gift from Alice. Such a Sixth-Tier scroll, which couldn’t be bought on the open market without several coin purses overflowing with gold, like the one Joyce had previously offered, was given away by Alice so casually, and in a heap at that.

‘Truly befitting a Saintess,’ Eve thought. ‘Utterly extravagant!’

This was also one of the reasons Eve believed she was neither short on money nor in need of it.

By now, the caravan members had grown accustomed to Eve conjuring items out of thin air. Her identity was already enigmatic, so they weren’t surprised that she possessed a rare storage artifact.

After slipping into the tent and activating the shielding scroll, Eve summoned Wennya.

“Bang-bang-ka-bang! Wennya makes her grand entrance!”

“Miss Eve, who are we going to beat up today?”

The moment the lively little maid appeared, she excitedly waved her tiny fists, brimming with eagerness for battle. Eve chuckled, stepping forward to gently rub the maid’s head. “A young lady like you shouldn’t always be thinking about fighting and killing. You should be ladylike. We’re not violent people, after all.”

Wennya rubbed against Eve’s palm like a kitten, nodding obediently. “Mhm, Wennya understands, Miss Eve!”

Every time she patted Wennya’s head, Eve felt a sense of healing. ‘Indeed, having an obedient and adorable little maid is simply wonderful!’

However, business needed attending to. Eve withdrew her hand, her expression turning serious. “Wennya, I called you out this time because I’m planning for you to join me as a companion…”

As she spoke, Eve opened the system and glanced at the Companionship feature.

[Your current Companionship Party: Brown Caravan (17 members)]

[Your current Companionship Party has exceeded the member limit.]

‘Excellent! Wennya is indeed a person!’ ‘Bah… Wennya actually counts as a companion unit! Doesn’t that mean my conjecture was correct!’

‘From now on, just having Wennya with me will be like carrying an attribute-boosting item everywhere!’