――――――――――
Race level increased. Gained 1 SP.
Job level increased. Gained 1 SP.
The level of [Staff Mastery] skill has increased.
The level of [Scythe Mastery] skill has increased.
Newly learned the “Triple Slash” martial technique through the [Scythe Mastery].
The level of [Magic Control] skill has increased.
The level of [Earthen Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Water and Ice Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Storm Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Forest Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Sand Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Mist Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Lightning Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Black Magic] skill has increased.
Learned a new spell, “Black Thread”.
The level of [Void Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Summoning Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Enchantment] skill has increased.
The level of [Magic Circle] skill has increased.
The level of [Necromancy] skill has increased.
The level of [Curse] skill has increased.
Newly learned the “disease” and “slow” spells.
The level of [Trap Magic] skill has increased.
Learned the spell “Star Trap Circle.”
The level of [Spirit Channeling] skill has increased.
The level of [Witchcraft] skill has increased.
――――――――――
Well, the truth is, we had originally intended to mainly support the Gravekeeper and only provide assistance, but in the end, we ended up fighting with all our might as usual. The Gravekeeper we fought alongside seemed a bit worn out, but still quite lively.
The final blow was a deadly heel drop from Jigoro, who transformed into his divine beast form, even though I had asked the undead if he wanted to take the finishing move. We had been focused on supporting ourselves throughout the battle, and I had anticipated it being a series of fights, but it didn’t feel like that at all. What could this mean?
“I appreciate…. your assistance. Fellow monsters,”
Kyeaaaaaaaahh! it taaaaaaalks!! Well, then, enough with the tempura joke. More importantly, can he actually talk? All I heard from this guy during the fight were roaring cries of “Oooooohs” and the like, so it seemed like he had lost all sense of reason. But he seemed far more coherent than the undead mage we fought in the cave.
Now, how should I respond? Well, let’s answer honestly while staying in character.
“No need for thanks, brethren of the undead. We have simply come this far out of curiosity for the unknown.”
“Fuhaha! Curiosity, you say! It takes great audacity to venture into such a gloomy and remote place like this!”
With a cheerful smile, the Gravekeeper spoke. Alright, it seems like our first impression is good.
“So why were you fighting against those rats?”
“Well, you guys deserve to know. The truth is…”
To summarize the Gravekeeper’s story, it seemed that the Ratmen, who appeared out of nowhere, intended to use these Catacombs as their den. As if simply squatting there wasn’t outrageous enough, they apparently wanted to feast on the buried corpses as well.
In order to fulfill his role, the Gravekeeper decided to confront the Rat Men in battle. However, the opponents greatly outnumbered him, and they gradually pushed him back until he was cornered on the fifth floor, the deepest one.
The Gravekeeper even said jokingly that if we hadn’t arrived, these Catacombs would have become the kingdom of the Ratmen by now.
No, this wasn’t a laughing matter. If we had left them unchecked and allowed the kingdom of the Ratmen to thrive, we might have been unable to venture outside properly; after all, we relied on the sewers as our base.
Choosing to fight alongside the Gravekeeper instead of waiting on the stairs until the battle ended turned out to be the right decision. And unintentionally, we might have even saved the city of Firth, didn’t we? Well, it truly was a coincidence.
“Now, for reaching this far without looting or desecrating the bodies, I must express my gratitude in some way. Hmm… yes,” the Gravekeeper pondered.
Oh, hold on! It seems Genjuro’s sense of ethics has paid off here. Indeed, as the Gravekeeper, it’s only natural for him to be averse to having grave goods taken away.
If we had engaged in looting, the story might have ended right here. Or it could have turned into a battle. Considering how exhausted we are and how impossible it is to win, it’s better to refrain from that.
“Wait, but haven’t we defeated many zombies on our way here? Is that not a problem?” Ruby interjected.
Hey! Ruby, you didn’t have to be so honest about it!
“Hahaha, it matters not. In fact, I am grateful for defeating them and allowing them to find their true slumber. Of course, you are free to take anything you acquired from them as well.”
I-Is that so? So it’s safe to defeat the undead that infest this place. In that case, I won’t hesitate to gather items here. It’s a great spot for earning some loot, with monster bones from the Bone Walls and dark element stones from the zombies.
But more importantly, what kind of gratitude does the Gravekeeper have in store for us? Ideally, I hope it’s something precious, equivalent to all the grave goods we can find here.
“You’ve come this far out of curiosity. This is a map that serves as a gateway to a place where your insatiable thirst for exploration can be quenched. I want you to take it.”
“Ah, thank you. We gratefully accept.”
――――――――――
You have obtained an old map.
――――――――――
An old map, huh? I had expected it to be some kind of treasure, but it seems I was mistaken.
Although it’s quite different from what I had imagined, I didn’t show any signs of disappointment. With a skeletal face that cannot show any kind of expression, it was easy to hide my true feelings by simply paying attention to my voice.
“Well then, it’s about time we take our leave.”
“Yes, indeed. I also must continue my pursuit of the remnants of the Ratmen. May fortune accompany your journey,” the Gravekeeper replied.
“Thank you. May you also remain in good health.”
And so, our exploration of the Catacombs came to an end. Who would have expected a peaceful resolution with the main boss? Truly, this was an unexpected turn of events!
◆◇◆◇◆◇
After we returned to the laboratory, we immediately decided to open the map. Since it was described as an old map, it had several worm-eaten spots, and the shape of the land was also roughly outlined.
Moreover, the inscriptions on it were in an ancient language. If it weren’t for my proficiency in [Archaeology], I wouldn’t have been able to decipher them. I must express my gratitude to Lady Yifa for this.
“In other words, we need to head north from Firth City, cross the lake, and reach the mountain mentioned here. Then, at its summit, we are supposed to recite the incantation written here, and something will happen,” I explained.
“Ahh, that sounds sketchy,” Ruby said.
“Calling it sketchy… let’s just trust that Mr. Gravekeeper. After all, this is his way of thanking us,” Iris interjected.
I had to agree with Iris. We obtained this map after a fierce battle that nearly cost Jigoro and Genjuro their lives. It would be strange if it turned out to be nothing.
Despite everything, this was still a game. It couldn’t be that an important NPC rewarded us with a mere piece of paper, right?
…Th-that is right. Well, not really. In WSS games, there’s always a risk of all our efforts going to waste, so I can’t say for certain, can I?
“But there’s one problem,”
“Yeah, you’re right. No matter how fast we move, it’ll take a whole day to get there.”
“That’s the issue,”
That’s right. Everyone might have forgotten, but I have a vulnerability called [Light Weakness]. It applies to sunlight as well, causing significant obstacles to my outdoor activities during the day.
It’s been quite some time since [Light Weakness] reached Level 1, yet even if I log out while wearing a lamp every day, it stubbornly refuses to go down even further to Level 0. It feels like it should be soon, though…
“Well then, until Isam’s weakness is gone, why don’t we have some freedom of movement? It’s Friday anyway. I remember you saying the weakness was almost gone. Until then, let’s just casually wander outside.” Jigoro said.
“That sounds good to me. Please do that.”
It’s disheartening to know that my race’s weakness is holding everyone back…
“Well then, I’ll go hunting outside too,” Genjuro said.
“Oh, Grandpa! I’ll come with you!” Ruby added.
“In that case, I’ll work hard on production. All three of you, bring me back some souvenirs, alright?”
And so, our course of action was decided. For now, until bedtime, I would train my [Alchemy] skill using the monster bones obtained in the Catacombs and continue to build light resistance with the magic lamps.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
I diligently combined the monster bones, constantly improving their quality. I didn’t mind the repetitive nature of the task. In fact, I was suited for mindless work. With my current four arms, I efficiently carried out my tasks.
Now, as I continued working, let me explain my new martial techniques and magic spells. First, there’s the “Triple Slash” of [Scythe Mastery]. It’s exactly what it sounds like—simply slashing the enemy three times in succession.
However, you can adjust the slashing attacks from the first to the third strike, so it has various applications, right? It didn’t concern me much since I didn’t engage in close combat anyway.
Next, there’s the “Black Thread “of [Black Magic]. It creates threads of magic energy that can be controlled to a certain extent. While it’s difficult to inflict damage on its own, its restraining power is outstanding. It seems useful for setting traps or immobilizing enemies.
Moving on, there are the “Disease” and “Slow” spells of the [Curse] skill. The Disease curse causes a troublesome status ailment that can only be cured with a specific potion or a dedicated healing spell.
It’s difficult to remove, but the symptoms that manifest seem to be random. It could be as simple as a dry throat, or it could include effects like headaches, coughing, fever, runny nose, nausea, fatigue, and so on. The severity of the effects depends on luck.
There was also the “Slow” spell, but it’s not a spell that decreases agility. For that, there was a separate curse called “Agility Reduction”. So, what does it slow down? It affects the target’s every sense. Their vision becomes slightly blurry, their hearing fades a bit, their sense of smell becomes less acute, and their finger movements become sluggish.
It might not sound like a significant effect, but according to Jigoro and Genjuro, it was a major problem when someone’s senses become distorted during combat. The more intense the fight, the more distortion of the senses can be effective.
Because this was a VR setting, it seemed to have quite a potent effect. If I encounter formidable opponents in the future, I should try using it.
Lastly, there’s the “Star Trap Circle” of [Trap Magic]. It appears to allow the placement of up to five traps, just like the Star Magic Circle of [Magic Circles]. If I can skillfully lure enemies into traps loaded with high-powered magic, that might be enough to defeat them. Hence, the most important thing is that I need to master its usage.
Well, that’s about it. The magic side has been significantly enhanced. With just three more levels, the next evolution and job class await. I’m already looking forward to it…
And that’s about it. The magic aspect has been considerably strengthened. With just three more levels to go, the next evolution awaits, and I’m already excited to see what kind of evolutions and job paths will be available then. I’m looking forward to it…
――――――――――
The level of [Alchemy] skill has increased.
The level of [Light Weakness] skill has decreased.
You have lost the [Light Weakness] skill.
You have obtained the title “Darkness Beyond Light’s Reach”.
――――――――――
Th-this is…! !
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