Chapter 81: Wethermon's Legacy
The scene rewinds to a few days earlier, two days after the battle with the Unique Monster, "Wethermon the Tombguard." After finishing the Wethermon fight and the related Rabituza scenario, I logged out and then promptly passed out as if the accumulated exhaustion had crashed down on me all at once. When I next woke, a full day had passed. I went to sleep in the morning and woke up in the morning—a truly rare experience.
Sunraku: "Food... fluids... ughhh..."
Given my hobbies, I'm used to something close to fasting, but even so, sleeping for a full day had my body blaring emergency sirens. Like a horror game zombie (the kind that doesn't run, explode, or undergo mysterious evolutions), I stumbled to the fridge on unsteady legs. I urgently replenished with milk and a sweet roll to silence my body's distress calls.
Sunraku: "Still, I'm not gonna feel like drinking energy drinks for a while..."
I scavenged the fridge for a proper breakfast, basked in the sun for about five minutes, and then logged back into SLF. Even I think my daily rhythm is terrible, but that's just how absorbed I am.
Emul: "Sunraku-san! Good morning...wa!"
Sunraku: "Mm, mornin'."
Alright, since I logged out yesterday without really checking anything, let's do some investigating. First, I'll open my status screen... and I can't help but break into a grin.
Sunraku: "Heh heh heh... I leveled up like crazy."
Player Name: Sunraku LV:78 (200) JOB: Mercenary (Dual Wielder) 150 Mani HP:30 MP:10 STM:60 STR:40 DEX:50 AGI:70 TEC:55 VIT:2 LUC:74
Skills: · Infinite Slash · Drill Piercer → Glowing Pierce · In-Fight Lv.MAX · Skate Foot → Drift Step · Parrying Protection → Setsuna's Parting · Hand of Fortune Lv.6 · Greater Climbing · Climax Boost Lv.9 · Five-Fold Jump → Six-Fold Jump · Sharp Turn → Selectable · Assassin Pierce Lv.MAX · Oppressive Kick Lv.MAX · Best Step → Moon Jumper · Hunger Wolf → Transient Lone Wolf · Off-Road Lv.2 · Vorpal Blade Art 【Water Mirror Moon】 → Vorpal Blade Art 【Water Mirror Moon】 Type 3 · Ignition Lv.1 · Overheat Lv.1 · Nitro Gain Lv.1 · Duelism
Equipment: Right: Togetsu — Moonblade: Waxing Left: Togetsu — Moonblade: Waning Head: Staring Bird Mask (VIT+1) Body: Lycagon's Curse Waist: None Feet: Lycagon's Curse Accessory: Inventoria
My level shot up by twenty-five. And the stat points are clearly way more than just what I'd get from leveling. Did I get bonus points on top of the level-up ones? Unique Monsters are too damn delicious... Makes me wanna fight another, but also never want to fight one again. And my skills have been leveling and evolving so much it's a total jumble. A trip to the Skill Gardener is a given, but there's so much to do I just end up grinning.
Sunraku: "But before the stats, first things first—the spoils of war. Heh heh heh."
Emul: "Sunraku-san, you're making a reeally nasty face...wa."
Sunraku: "I'm just being honest about my desires, so it's a pure smile. Probably."
Emul: "That's less trustworthy than a hydra claiming to be vegetarian...wa."
Sunraku: "So I'm as evil as a species's entire diet, huh?"
Shaking it off, I start checking the items. First up is the 【Clear Sky Style Secret Tome】.
· Clear Sky Style Secret Tome A memory medium recording the secrets of a divine swordsmanship style left behind by a master swordsman of the Divine Era. Decryption requires facilities from that era. A single stroke of its blade cleaves the heavens, pierces the earth, and clears the dark clouds.
Sunraku: "Seriously? Does that mean players can actually learn Tensei and those other moves?"
No way, wait, really? My heart's pounding at the thought of being able to use all those techniques we desperately fought against. Although it's labeled a "secret tome," the item itself is some kind of translucent cube with occasional lines of light running through it, giving off a super-civilization vibe. So, until I find the right equipment to read this thing, the skills inside are on hold.
Sunraku: "Next is 'The World’s Tome of Truth: Tombguard Edition'... Ah, I see. So basically, it's the answer key from the devs."
It's not written in-world; it seems more like a strategy guide detailing the developers' intended clearing method and the background story. Seriously, what do they expect me to do, handing me a strategy guide after I've desperately cleared it? Probably because Unique Monsters don't respawn, this is purely a bonus.
Sunraku: "Well, I'll read it when I have time... Heh heh heh, and now, the main event..."
Alright, alright, let's see the details of this clearly important and rare-looking item, the Inventoria.
· Inventoria A special bracelet-type accessory, serving as both key and door to a storage space, possessed only by a select few even during the Divine Era. Upon equipping, it consumes one accessory slot, but it cannot be stolen even if the wearer is PK'd. By consuming magic power, the wearer can transfer into the storage space. A portable access device for spatial expansion technology. In the Divine Era, this tool synchronized with biological data, becoming one with the wearer—a part of their body. It is the smallest portable shelter and an inexhaustible warehouse with no capacity limit.
Capacity Limit: None Storage Limit: Non-living objects up to 50m in height, width, and length
Contents: Non-Standard Tactical Machine Bird 【Suzaku】 EMPTY Non-Standard Tactical Machine Tiger 【Byakko】 EMPTY Non-Standard Tactical Machine Dragon 【Seiryu】 EMPTY Non-Standard Tactical Machine Tortoise 【Genbu】 EMPTY Non-Standard Specialized Armor 【Adebane】 EMPTY Non-Standard Specialized Armor 【Bamb】 EMPTY Non-Standard Specialized Armor 【Shoro】 EMPTY Non-Standard Specialized Armor 【Fugaku】 EMPTY Out-of-Spec Armament: Tachi Type 【Harbinger】 EMPTY Out-of-Spec Armament: Steel Wire Type 【Keepout】 EMPTY Out-of-Spec Armament: Piercing Fist Type 【Battering Ram】 EMPTY Out-of-Spec Armament: Strike Spear Type 【Phalanx】 EMPTY Out-of-Spec Armament: Roaring Hammer Type 【Erebus】 EMPTY Out-of-Spec Armament: Dual Blades Type 【Hieros Locos】 EMPTY Out-of-Spec Armament: Cannon Type 【Regulus】 EMPTY Out-of-Spec Armament: Dual Guns Type 【Castor & Pollux】 EMPTY Out-of-Spec Armament: Long Gun Type 【Sagittarius】 EMPTY Out-of-Spec Armament: Convergence Mechanism Type 【Comet Catapult】 EMPTY Out-of-Spec Armament: Diffusion Mechanism Type 【Meteor Diffusion】 EMPTY
Sunraku: "...................................."
Emul: "S-Sunraku...san?"
Sunraku: "...Gonna. Sleep."
Emul: "Uh, um..."
Save & Logout. I rose from bed in silence, changed into a tracksuit, and left the house...
Sunraku: "NNNAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
After running full-tilt for about ten minutes while screaming, I finally managed to recover my blown-away thought processes. An elderly man out for a walk gave me a look like he'd seen a monster, but that's the least of my worries right now. My panic overrides my shame; I feel like I just hit the jackpot in a luck-based game on the first try.
No, no, no. No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Wait, what is this, a one-man army? Am I supposed to take on the entire player base of SLF by myself? Even then, I can't shake the feeling I'd win easily. My mind is about to be blown away again by this sci-fi arsenal that makes me wonder if the world setting suddenly turned into a space opera. And on a side note, is this another cursed equipment accessory?
Sunraku: "A-Anyway, m-mail first..."
Right, mail. It's unfair that I'm the only one experiencing this heart-bursting shock. I have to drag those two down with me and share the wealth.
Sunraku: "URGENT: Check the Inventoria... Send."
My heart is pounding, and it's definitely not just from running for ten minutes. As I walk slowly back home to calm my mind and body, replies arrive from Pencilgon and Oikatzo at just the right moment.
Subject: eh, whats this isnt this insane wrong game? Sender: Modor Katzo Recipient: Sunraku Body: (This message has no body text)
Subject: weird voice came out Sender: Pencil Warrior Recipient: Sunraku Body: meet at thirdrema at noon usual place snakes apple
Whether they crammed the message body into the subject line, sent it without converting the kanji, or just from their writing style, I can clearly tell how flustered both of them are. See, I knew sharing the pain and pleasure is the way to go!
Sunraku: "Let's just forget about the Inventoria until noon..."
It's not good for my mental health. For now, I'll just focus on allocating my stats and sorting my skills... Yeah. Having witnessed firsthand the immense profits a Unique Monster can bring, I took more mental damage in a way than I did during the actual Wethermon fight.
At the NPC café "The Serpent’s Apple," which had already become our "usual spot." Maybe all of our moods were off, because we unanimously decided to order a birthday cake for some reason. Under the curious gaze of the NPC owner—like he was watching a rare beast—we sat around the cake in a private room. Given the topic, I had Emul wait outside for a bit.
Sunraku: "So... I assume you both saw it too... What should we do about this?"
Oikatzo: "You say 'what should we do,' but..."
Pencilgon: "About that. Before coming here, I went into the storage space and looked into a few things."
As I divided the birthday cake into three equal portions, Pencilgon, with a slightly strained smile, began to explain the results of her investigation.
Pencilgon: "To start with the conclusion: for us right now, that stuff has no value beyond decoration."
Sunraku: "And the reasoning? Here, this is Pencilgon's piece."
Pencilgon: "Hey, I want the one with more fruit. Simply put, there's no power source."
Sunraku: "Power source? Oikatzo, give me a fork... Don't throw it!"
Oikatzo: "Even though you caught it smoothly... So they're just ornaments?"
As we shoveled the sloppily sweet birthday cake into our mouths, we urged Pencilgon to continue.
Pencilgon: "Yeah, especially the tactical golems and powered suits require an item called an 'Out-of-Spec Ether Reactor,' but I have no idea how to get one..."
Oikatzo: "I have that."
Pencilgon: "Pffft!"
Sunraku: "Gross! Don't spit at my face!"
Pencilgon: "Cough, hack! It's a game, so it's not actually splattering everywhere! Wait, you HAVE it?!"
With cake spewing from her mouth, Pencilgon's usual fearless demeanor vanished as she leaned into Oikatzo. Oikatzo, equally confused, spoke to back up his claim.
Oikatzo: "See, maybe because I mostly fought the Tactical Mount “Kirin” in that battle, I got an 'Out-of-Spec Ether Reactor (Damaged)' as a reward."
Pencilgon: "Nice going, you who tied himself to a horse."
Sunraku: "I've gained new respect for you, you who rodeo-ed while tied up."
Oikatzo: "Depending on the situation, I'm willing to punch a model square in the face."
That's some twisted gender equality... Anyway, a damaged tool from the Divine Era, huh?
Sunraku: "I'll say this upfront: swallow what's in your mouth."
Pencilgon: "Okay."
Sunraku: "I can't say for sure, but I might know someone who can repair a damaged Divine Era item."
Pencilgon: "Gulp. Ugh... Phew. Isn't the wind blowing a little too much in our favor?"
You looked like you were about to puke, Pencilgon... Well, whatever. The "Divine Craftsman" job that Vash holds, and its precursor "Ancient Craftsman," should be professions that handle old tools from the Divine Era. If so, maybe Vash can repair the damaged Out-of-Spec Ether Reactor Oikatzo has.
Sunraku: "So, I'd like you to entrust that item to me."
Oikatzo: "...On one condition."
Sunraku: "Condition?"
Oikatzo popped a strawberry-like fruit from the cake into his mouth and announced to me.
Oikatzo: "Tell me the spawn conditions of that Unique you've been hiding. Then I'll hand over the item."
...I see.
Pencilgon: "Katzo-kun, that's..."
Oikatzo: "Whaaat? I'm just some guy who can't trigger a Unique on his own, riiight? I've got no choice but to piggyback on other people's finds, y'know?"
Pencilgon: "This guy is ridiculously twisted!"
Sunraku: "That's a tantrum unworthy of a pro gamer... Well, fine."
Oikatzo: "Huh?"
Don't act surprised when you're the one who made the demand... It's true I didn't really want to reveal it. But Oikatzo and I aren't so pure as to just casually hand over Unique Monster-derived items to each other. So, even as friends, I should show some sincerity. With Oikatzo and Pencilgon watching me and holding their breath, I solemnly revealed the truth I'd kept hidden until now.
Sunraku: "Though I can't say for sure... In my case, I encountered the Unique Monster 'Lycagon the Nightslayer' randomly. I was under level 20, took no damage for five minutes, and landed about two hundred critical hits with 'Vorpal' weapons. That's what happened."
Pencilgon: "Alright, meeting adjourned!"
Oikatzo: "Just take it, dumbass!"
Sunraku: "Ow! Ngyah!"
The cracked can-shaped item Oikatzo threw hit me right in the face, sending me and my chair crashing backward. Clutching my bruised head and picking up the damaged reactor, I protested.
Sunraku: "Why am I the one getting yelled at?!"
Oikatzo: "This feels like asking 'How do I fly?' and being told 'Train your pecs, duh'! Drop dead, you acrobatic moron!"
Sunraku: "That's too unreasonable!"
Pencilgon nodded in agreement, apparently sharing Oikatzo's opinion. Dammit, this is so unfair... After completing the trade process, I tossed the Out-of-Spec Ether Reactor (Damaged) that hit my face into Inventoria’s storage space, righted my chair, and sat back down.
Pencilgon: "Ah, right, Sunraku-kun."
Sunraku: "What now?"
Pencilgon: "About that thing I was holding onto... can I have it back?"
Ah, right. Today was the first time we'd met since the Wethermon fight, so I hadn't returned it.
Sunraku: "Here you go."
I rummaged through my inventory and took out the item Pencilgon had entrusted to me before we left the Inverted Garden for the Hidden Garden. Clunk. The golden scales placed on the table glittered in the light of the lantern hanging in the private room.