――――――――――
- Tarrasque Cloak – Quality: Superior, Rarity: S (Special)
A cloak crafted from the thick hide of the tarrasque, complete with a hood. Provides resistance against poison and fire.
The interior is lined with the skin of the Green Wind Wolf, granting resistance to the wind element as well.
Equipment Effects: [Poison Resistance] Lv3, [Fire Resistance] Lv3, [Wind Resistance] Lv2
Creator: Iris
- Tarasque Gauntlet – Quality: Superior, Rarity: S (Special)
A gauntlet crafted from the thick hide of the tarrasque. Provides resistance against poison and fire.
Fragments of the tarrasque’s shell are strategically embedded for lightweight protection against both physical and magic attacks.
Equipment Effects: [Magic Resistance] Lv2, [Poison Resistance] Lv2, [Fire Resistance] Lv2
Creator: Iris
- Green Wind Wolf Gauntlet – Quality: Superior, Rarity: S (Special)
A gauntlet crafted from the fur of the Green Wind Wolf, dyed black.
It imbues a slight wind element to wielded weapons.
The interior is lined with the skin of the Lesser Naga, and it has the effect of enhancing [Wind Magic] slightly.
Equipment Effects: [Wind Infusion] Lv2 [Wind Magic Enhancement]
Creator: Iris
- Forest Beast Turtle Belt – Quality: Superior, Rarity: R (Rare)
A belt crafted from the hide of the forest beast turtle. It slightly increases your maximum health.
It features a small compartment on the right side and a book holder on the left, allowing you to quickly take them in and out.
Capacity: 5
Equipment Effect: [Health Enhancement] Lv2
Creator: Iris
- Tarrasque Pants – Quality: Superior, Rarity: S (Special)
Pants crafted from the thick hide of the tarrasque, complete with a hood. Provides resistance against poison and fire.
Equipment Effects: [Poison Resistance] Lv2, [Fire Resistance] Lv2
Creator: Iris
- Forest Beast Turtle Boots – Quality: Superior, Rarity: R (Rare)
Boots crafted from the hide of the forest beast turtle. They slightly increase your maximum health.
They are equipped with magic bone spikes on the soles, making them slip-resistant and increasing the damage dealt when stomping.
Equipment Effect: [Health Enhancement] Lv2
Creator: Iris
- True Scale Necklace – Quality: Superior, Rarity: S (Special)
A necklace crafted from the scales of a true juvenile dragon, Karnaghtul. It slightly increases your maximum magic power and amplifies [Dark Magic] and abyssal magic.
Equipment Effects: [Magic Power Enhancement] Lv2, [Dark Magic Enhancement], [Abyssal Magic Enhancement]
Creator: Iris
――――――――――
…these were amazing. To put it simply, that was my impression. When I saw the results of the [Appraisal], I couldn’t believe my own eyes. Naturally, compared to the rewards obtained from the “Trial of the Azure Moon”, these pieces of equipment paled in comparison. However, weren’t they outstanding as player-made equipment?
In my case, the [Poison Resistance] was an unnecessary addition, but these were still powerful pieces of equipment, without a doubt. And that necklace made from Karl’s true scales could easily be called an item made just for me, wouldn’t you agree? As expected from Iris’s work; I should equip them right away!
“Perfect job, Iris! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome… Ah! Now that I think about it, didn’t Isam also receive a robe called ‘Moon’s Feather Robe’ as a reward from the ‘Trial of the Azure Moon’…?”
“Hmm?”
Iris began to fidget with her tentacles as if she had made a mistake. Indeed, I did have the “Moon Feather Robe” as a reward from the “Trial of the Azure Moon”. But there was no need to worry.
“That’s right. In that case, I can just change its shape.”
“Huh?”
I returned the appearance of the “Moon’s Feather Robe” to its original form; it now resembled a shawl that a celestial maiden might wear. It seemed that Iris had forgotten about the [Color and Shape Modification] effect of the robe.
“Fufufu, did you forget about that?”
“Y-yes…”
I couldn’t exactly make a smug expression, being a skeleton and all, but I exuded that kind of vibe. However, due to restoring the “Moon’s Feather Robe” to its original shape, it created a surreal scene where a skeleton was dressed in leather shirts and pants. It was rather unsettling like this; I need to equip the other pieces quickly.
I retrieved the equipment from the mannequin and efficiently equipped it via the menu. I donned the armor, put on the necklace, and then hung the “Moon’s Feather Robe” now transformed by [Color and Shape Modification] into a dark purple shawl from my shoulders. With this, the transition to my new gear was complete.
“Wow! It looks amazing!”
Iris exclaimed, her tentacles wriggling with excitement. Given that she was the creator, the design likely mirrored her personal tastes. Besides, Iris seemed to have a penchant for skeletons like me, so just seeing me in the new gear was probably thrilling for her.
“Ah… Iris, I’d like to head out for some hunting, partly to test the new gear’s performance. Do you have any information on a good hunting spot?”
“Oh, yes. I think the place where Jigoro and Genjuro often go should be a good option. It’s a bit west of Birdy Perch, actually.”
“Hmm?”
The idea of a place that those “two” were frequenting was a bit scary, but if Iris was recommending it, it should be fine. However, I wanted to know more about the location.
“Do you know the name and characteristics of that area?”
“It’s called the ‘Ancient City Ruins’. It’s a series of remnants from a highly advanced civilization that collapsed, just like the ‘Ancient Travel Tower’. As for the city part, it’s quite large, and the exploration is far from over.”
“That vast, huh?”
“While it may not be simply vast, the delay in exploration is due to finding well-preserved items inside the collapsed buildings. Plus, the appearing monsters are quite troublesome.”
“I can’t repair them, though,” Iris said with a sigh. I completely understood the importance of retrieving items from the time when the city was still thriving, which explained the slow progress. However, her next words left me astonished.
“Monsters? And they’re giving those two a hard time?”
“It’s not just a hard time; it’s a terrible matchup,” Iris replied.
A matchup? I wondered what kind of monsters they were dealing with.
“The main ones that appear are Harpies… they’re bird-like creatures with human heads.”
◆◇◆◇◆◇
After leaving Iris’s forge, I headed in the opposite direction from the “Mother Tree” with a purpose in mind: I had business with the two of them and one other.
“Hahaha! Getting sharp, aren’t you?”
“Grrrr!”
“Don’t let your guard down now.”
As I approached my destination, I could hear those voices amidst the sounds of battle. Jigoro, Genjuro, and Karl were engaged in a three-way mock battle.
I wasn’t surprised by what they were up to, as I had heard about it from Iris. However, witnessing it firsthand, it was clear they were engaged in quite intense training—almost like real combat.
“Hey, isn’t that brother? Did you finally finish your work?” Jigoro asked.
“Ooh, it’s been a while,” Genjuro added.
“Yeah, it has. Good to see you both again.”
It seemed that the mock battle came to a halt as Jigoro noticed my arrival. I felt like I was interrupting them, and I apologized.
“Grr? Grrrrrrr!!!”
“Oh, there there. You’re still as clingy as ever, Karl.”
Karl, who noticed me a bit later than the others, let out a joyous cry and rushed over to me, rubbing his head against me. Despite his larger size, he remained as affectionate as ever. Maybe it was wrong for a parent to find that so endearing.
“Oh? You’ve got new equipment. Looks good on you.”
“Thanks. I got it from Iris earlier. Speaking of equipment, it looks like you two have updated yours too… Oh?”
As I approached, I noticed that Jigoro and Genjuro had also upgraded their equipment. Jigoro was now decked out in a complete set of armor made from the fur of the Green Wind Wolf, a creature known for its agility. Additionally, he had what appeared to be spiky shoulder and elbow protectors, as well as leg guards, all fashioned from materials that seemed to have come from the Tarasque monster.
His waist was secured with a belt made from tiger skin, but that hadn’t changed; it was a reward from the “Trial of the Azure Moon”, so there was no need to replace it. I couldn’t help but be looking forward and hesitant at the same time to seeing Jigoro, now equipped with enhanced armor, go all out in battle.
Genjuro, who decided that he didn’t need regular armor due to his exoskeleton, had updated his equipment with accessories. His bracelets, anklets, and belt were now made from materials sourced from the Green Wind Wolf and the Tarasque. The Tarasque equipment provided him with [Fire Resistance] which was quite fitting as fire attacks were his weakness. However, what piqued my curiosity even more was…
“Genjuro… could it be that you’ve evolved?” I asked.
“Ho-ho! You caught on quickly!”
I had a hunch that something was different about his appearance, and it seemed that he had indeed evolved during the two days I was absent. It appeared that Genjuro, who had been dedicated to combat while I focused on leveling up my [Talismanry] had surpassed me in terms of levels as well.
I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret. The difference in available login times was quite significant. But more importantly, I was curious about what kind of race Genjuro had evolved into.
“You’re probably wondering what I’ve become, right? Why don’t you take a guess?”
“Hmm…”
I closely observed Genjuro’s appearance. His exoskeleton had grown darker in color, and its shape had undergone some slight changes. Somehow, it resembled a hybrid of armor, a fusion of Western plate mail and heavy armor….yes, it had a shape reminiscent of contemporary Japanese armor.
“I can’t quite tell. Can you tell me?”
“I am the Samurai Insector Beetle!”
Samurai Insector Beetle, huh? It sounded like a strong race! Genjuro exuded a sense of self-assurance, suggesting that he was likely genuinely powerful.
“What are the distinctive characteristics of this race?” I asked.
“Well, it seems there are significant bonuses for using certain weapons. On the flip side, it appears I have no affinity for magic whatsoever. Not that I can’t use it, but it’s just not the race’s strong suit,” Genjuro explained.
So, were these the kind of warriors who excelled in martial arts? They focused on becoming weapon specialists at the expense of their magic abilities. Perhaps someday, Genjuro’s skill list would be filled with weapon-related skills, much like my extensive array of magic skills.
“I see. By the way, I heard you’re currently struggling with the conquest of the ‘Ancient Ruined City’?”
“Yes, that’s right!” Genjuro affirmed
“It’s all because of those darned birds…” Jigoro grumbled.
Afterward, Genjuro and Jigoro recounted the frustrating situation they had experienced. It seemed they had no trouble moving westward from Birdy Perch to the “Ancient Ruined City”. However, their real ordeal began the moment they arrived at this abandoned city.
“Those darn birds have claimed the entire ruined city as their territory. Just when we thought we had crossed the city’s walls, they started raining magic down from the sky. Unbelievable…” Jigoro said.
“At that time, it was just Jigoro, me, and Karl. So our anti-flight means of attack was limited. Karl had an advantage in aerial combat, but… ” Genjuro added.
“They were just too many…”
“Grrrrr…”
Karl let out a low, mournful growl as if he were recalling that moment. Somehow, there was a certain sadness in his demeanor.
“We’ve been going back there from time to time, but it’s become a stealthy sneak-and-loot operation once we get inside the buildings,” Jigoro added.
“I see.”
It appeared that the Harpies were capable of using magic. In the mountains where the “Ancient Transfer Tower” was located, birds had been the primary enemies, but they had only relied on physical attacks like claws and beaks. However, this time, the opponents were using the troublesome tactic of long-range magic attacks from the sky.
Enemies who attacked from the air with magic without descending to the ground. This was quite a challenge for Jigoro and Genjuro. Even in combat against Karl, who could fly, the opponents seemed to focus exclusively on long-range magic attacks, making them particularly formidable. It made sense why their progress in conquering the area had been slow.
“However, with Isam around, we’ll have some peace of mind,” Genjuro said.
“That’s a heavy responsibility you’re giving me.”
It seemed that I held the key to breaking the current stalemate. They believed I was indispensable to their conquest, given my ability to use various types of spells for long-range attacks.
Although there were uncertainties about whether I could meet their expectations, exploring unknown areas was exciting, and I had a genuine interest in the materials provided by the Harpies. Well, I guess I’ll do my best as always!
**************
Author Note: The protagonist’s appearance had transformed into a silver skeleton adorned with a black and purple-themed equipment. Quite the villain, wouldn’t you say?
TN: I miss the Kyuu Kyuu of Karl
Leave a Reply