Chapter 51

CHAPTER 2 Expedition Reports and Skill Meetings Part I: All-Star Seekers Once the ladies had returned from their baths, I told them to relax in their rooms while I went over our results with Louisa and then met with Ceres and Steiner. “Now then, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll examine your license…,” Louisa began. “Oh my. I had expected as much, but this is incredible…” ♦Previous Expedition Results♦ > Suppressed stampede from a 5- labyrinth: 5000 points > Earned Most Distinguished Seeker status for stampede contributions: 2000 points > ARIHITO grew to level 8: 80 points > THERESIA grew to level 8: 80 points > KYOUKA grew to level 7: 70 points > ELITIA grew to level 11: 110 points > SUZUNA grew to level 6: 60 points > MISAKI grew to level 6: 60 points > MELISSA grew to level 8: 80 points > CION grew to level 7: 70 points > SERAPHINA grew to level 12: 120 points > Helped defeat 1 DEATH STALKER: 55 points > Defeated 1 THE CALAMITY: 4800 points > Party members’ Trust Levels increased: 270 points > Fought alongside MARCUS’S party: 10 points > Fought alongside KOZELKA’S party: 10 points > Rescued CURT: 100 points > Rescued FRAN: 100 points > Returned with 1 BLACK TREASURE CHEST: 50 points Seeker Contribution: 13,125 points Cumulative Special Contribution: 15,000 points District Seven Provisional Contribution Ranking: 345 “I’ve never seen Seekers earn five figures in a single expedition…,” Louisa marveled. “Even so, we didn’t take number one in the all-time contribution ranking. Definitely makes me realize there will always be greater heights to reach.” “I imagine the parties who left those records must have delved into a labyrinth for several days and defeated a considerable number of monsters in that time. You all grew in level as well, since you came from District Seven and earned a great deal of points in doing so…” She paused. “Normally, it would be impossible to leave such an extraordinary record in mere hours.” We’d made the impossible possible—when put that way, it sounded like a big achievement, but Kozelka and the other Guild Saviors had assisted us in defeating The Calamity, and we owed much of our success to the weapon installed into the very city itself. While Murakumo, Alphecca, and Ariadne also lent us an enormous hand, their efforts didn’t appear listed on our expedition results. My license did record their movements, but these had not counted toward our contribution points—was that some sort of rule? “Louisa, we got a lot of help from our Hidden God—from Ariadne—during the battle. Does the Guild not assign points for her work? I’ve seen this in previous results so it’s kind of late in the game to ask, but…” “Oh, so you’re curious about whether Hidden Gods are evaluated by the same rubric as Seekers? As a rule, the Guild does not require Seekers to disclose whether they have any understandings with Hidden Gods as they are sacred and revered deities in the Labyrinth Country. The Guild recognizes we are not so omnipotent an organization as to cast judgment on the workings of the gods.” “I see. Thank you. If the Guild can’t do it…then I’d like to find some other way to personally thank and honor the gods for all their assistance.” “I am naught but a Stellar Sword, a weapon to serve you, Master…though I imagine such an explanation will not suffice to satisfy you. If you should like to show me thanks, I would ask you to provide me with more resources such as the Sickle Blades you once used to strengthen my blade,” Murakumo told me from the sword stand where I’d left her. I actually had a question for her, so I asked Louisa to wait for a moment while I turned inward and telepathically spoke with Murakumo. “You told me before that the Sickle Blades enabled you to use new skills. Did you mean the Blade of Heaven and Earth: Steel Slice?” “Yes, indeed. While you did not realize it, the Ocean Mantises had a skill called Severing Steel Slash capable of destroying metallic equipment. Apparently, the sickles provide additional power against insect-type monsters if used to reinforce weapons, though the effect is different on me,” the sentient blade explained, describing just another of the myriad aspects that set ethereal weapons like Murakumo apart from all others. Without ever changing their original shape, they could absorb the power stored in monster resources and learn new skills. Even so, we’d had to ask for our Hidden God’s enormous hand to help Murakumo slice through the Simian Lord’s Helltect Steel. “I fear this may sound defeatist, but I greatly doubt whether I can sever that blasted chain once more. Even my ethereal power is tested when wielded by the holy hand of a Mechanical God…,” Murakumo admitted. “Although I would regenerate if my blade were to shatter, it would take at least ten days.” “All right, I’ll keep that in mind. Could you let me know if any of our resources might help augment your skills?” “Yes, with gratitude… I must also warn you: Now that the Simian Lord has seen the difficulty we had in severing its Helltect Steel, it may very well utilize it as an ultimate means of defense.” It had been clear for all to see how elated the Simian Lord became as it ensnared Alphecca in its chains and dragged her toward it. We’d have to prepare as many options as we could to fight back against those restraints and prevent them from putting us in an impossible situation. Strengthening Murakumo definitely counted as an option, but I had to explore other avenues as well. If in the end I did have to rely on the Stellar Blade to slice through the Helltect Steel once more, I’d have to augment her power or prepare to see her shatter upon first strike. We couldn’t realistically hope to thwart all enemy attacks that posed real threats to us. With the Simian Lord, we’d very likely only scratched the surface of what it could do. If we were lucky, it wouldn’t have robust defenses against status ailments, but previous experience had shown more often than not that Named Monsters under extreme pressure wielded abilities not only to cancel out such ailments but also to bolster their other stats. “Some tea for you, Mr. Atobe.” “Th-thank you, Louisa. I’m sorry to keep you waiting.” “How very like you to have acquired such an invaluable weapon as a talking sword.” Though every little thing I’d done had sent Louisa for a loop at first, recently she’d come to expect the unexpected as “very like Mr. Atobe.” I took a sip of the tea she’d prepared; it was pleasantly hot and immediately warmed me up, banishing any worry I’d catch cold after cooling down from the hot bath. “If you’ll allow me to go back to your results, you will receive a five-thousand-gold-piece reward for defeating the monster responsible for the stampede.” “The Calamity didn’t appear to have a bounty,” I pointed out. “Is that because it hadn’t yet harmed any Seekers?” “Exactly. Instead, the Guild calculated the bounty it should have carried based on factors such as the damage it inflicted upon the town… The true bounty may have amounted to an even greater sum, but District Five has a five-thousand-gold-piece cap on first-time bounty receivers.” We’d never even considered waiting for the bounty on it to increase before moving on the monster, so the five-thousand-piece reward was more than enough. “Now, allow me to examine your results from the Blazing Red Mansion. Though you did leave almost immediately after entering the labyrinth, you did rescue Elitia and as a result will not lose any contribution points.” ♦Expedition Results♦ > Raided 1F through 2F of BLAZING RED MANSION: 20 points > Retreated from fight with forces under SHINING SIMIAN LORD’s command: –30 points > Engaged in battle with forces under SHINING SIMIAN LORD’s command for a fixed duration: 10 points > Fled the labyrinth quickly after raiding: –30 points > Party members’ Trust Levels increased: 10 points > Rescued ELITIA: 100 points Seeker Contribution: 80 points District Five Provisional Contribution Ranking: 345 Elitia had been automatically removed from my official party the minute she ventured into the labyrinth on her own. Though she had rejoined our ranks as soon as we’d found her, our licenses still evidently registered retrieving her as a Rescue. Eighty points wouldn’t affect our standing in the district, but I was just glad we hadn’t lost anything. Scanning the results, I noticed something curious. “…The Simian Lord is a hollow-starred monster, I see.” “Oh, you’re right… Perhaps it shares some commonality with the Mirage Morpho?” Kozelka had explained that Seekers who defeated a hollow-starred monster would earn a special certification. What did these monsters have in common—maybe some particular way of interfering with Seekers outside of normal battle? The Simian Lord’s underling was a normal black-starred Named Monster. What did the Mirage Morpho have that set it apart…? Oh, the skill that affects our karma. Does the Simian Lord have some similar capability…? The “Guard” in “Demon Monkey Guard” probably meant it served as the gatekeeper to some hellish prison. And the Simian Lord, its master, traps and bends Seekers to its will. In other words, the fact that the Simian Lord built that fortress or prison makes me think it might somehow affect our karma simply by setting foot inside. That said, I couldn’t claim with any confidence that all hollow-starred monsters could manipulate our karma with just two examples, but as a working theory, it made sense. “I’ve heard Seekers earn a special honor if we defeat a hollow-starred monster. Do you know anything about that, Louisa?” “No…I’m afraid not. Before I met you, I only dealt with the more mundane aspects of clerical duty, so I never even imagined I’d have the opportunity to handle such extraordinary cases. But…” Her voice trailed off. Louisa had looked a little disappointed when we took the day off to enjoy the Islet of Illusion since she hadn’t been able to join us on our expedition—now, however, her eyes shone with what felt like renewed determination. “As your dedicated support staff, my official role and authorizations will continue to evolve as you progress. My superior only today reminded me of this fact. Now that you have become All-Star Seekers, my position has evidently gone from General Employee to Specially Appointed Staff, and my salary will also rise accordingly…” “Whoa! That’s wonderful news. Congratulations, Louisa! This calls for a celebration!” I exclaimed in a rather uncharacteristically loud voice. Raises and promotions apparently held more allure for me than I’d expected, and I rejoiced for Louisa as if I were moving up the ladder myself. The recognition must’ve also represented all the great work she did at the Guild. “Th-that’s far too kind…” She demurred humbly. “I have you and your party to thank for everything. I’ve actually been thinking of adding my salary to the party’s shared finances—though, that said, I haven’t yet received any remittance since we first began to work together.” “Oh, I didn’t realize. Well, at the end of the month maybe we can—no, we’ll absolutely have to go out for drinks to celebrate a job well done. That is, after we resolve this situation, of course.” “…Thank you. Of course, I can wait as long as necessary. The most important things for me are that you and your party return safe and sound from your expeditions, and that you have many more such adventures to come.” Louisa and I shook hands as if to renew our partnership and, on my part, to express in the best way I could for the moment how happy I was for her promotion. “……” “Oh, Theresia…thank you,” Louisa said, taking Theresia’s outstretched hand. “I look forward to our continued collaboration, too.” With that, she retreated to her bedroom, one of the two in the suite that she would share with Igarashi, Seraphina, and Melissa. Misaki, Suzuna, Elitia, and Madoka seemed to have become fast friends; boisterous giggles and chatter escaped their room every once in a while. Just then, a rather drained-looking Ceres, who had been passing the time with them, exited the bedroom and grabbed a cold bottle from the magic-stone-powered fridge. Part II: Scorpion and Morpho Equipment “I can hardly keep up with those whippersnappers…” Ceres sighed. “Ah, but look at me, indulging in your refreshments without asking.” “You’re always free to help yourself,” I assured her. “Ceres, do you have time for a meeting now?” “Mm, that I do… Steiner, I never made you out to be a dog lover.” “Oh yes. Just sitting next to her gives me great comfort,” Steiner replied. They’d been sitting as still as a statue next to Cion, who lay sprawled out on the floor, but they came to life at their master’s call—I had to admit, I was dying to know what went on under that armor. Getting to their feet with a loud clatter, Steiner took a cross-legged seat on the floor by us; evidently, the sofa would not have held their weight. “Sorry I can’t take a more proper seat. I promise I am listening, though, so please go ahead.” “Have you not grown tired of only removing all that before bed…?” Ceres asked wearily. “Well, it matters not to me.” “I-I’m going to jump right in. These are the new resources we picked up.” ♦Materials Available for Processing♦ Materials from 1 MERCIFUL WINGED MIRAGE MORPHO > MERCIFUL WINGED MIRAGE MORPHO scaled feeler x1 > DEATH STALKER stinger x1 Materials from 1 Frozen THE CALAMITY > THE CALAMITY stinger x1 Studying the list, Ceres brought her hand to her chin and fell into deep thought with a hmmm. “You have two Named Monsters to dissect, yet only select parts of each can be used as resources. Many monsters lose characteristic strengths or functions after they perish, after all… I must say, this is rather interesting.” “I looked into that giant scorpion, but it seems to have resistance against all status ailments. How did you manage to freeze it like that?” “Misaki used her deck of cards to force a vulnerability on it,” I explained. “After that, ice attacks proved extremely effective.” “Ahhh yes, the Jester’s Wildcards. Or rather, Steel Magic Cards, as they became once I added a rune… I’m pleased to hear you found use for them. Nothing warms an artisan’s heart more.” Ceres beamed from ear to ear, looking exceedingly happy. Up until then, I hadn’t often pointed out which gear or armor came in handy during our battles, but her smile made me want to update her more frequently going forward. “Fortunately, the portion of the scorpion’s stinger that emits the laser beams—the Queen Scorpion’s Afterglow—has only fallen dormant in this frozen state and still retains its functionality. Historical records show the last Seeker to defeat The Calamity removed this section on the spot immediately after the monster expired to preserve its capabilities…,” Ceres informed me. “This sort of information would be an invaluable addition to the archive. With it, future Seekers will learn they can freeze a monster’s body and avoid the rush to dissect it.” “D-do you really think so…? I suppose some resources you can only get in very special circumstances. Is that Queen Scorpion’s Afterglow still attached to the body?” “Melissa’s Assess identified the usable portions of the monsters, but she’s kept everything stored away until you instruct her to begin the dissection. It’s probably best to use them right away, in any case.” The thoughtful measures Melissa had taken left me speechless. Monster resources were still far beyond me, and it was a huge relief to know Melissa had the knowledge and skills to handle them for us. “If we combine the Queen Scorpion’s Afterglow with its stinger, we can make a weapon…no, better yet, artillery, which replicates The Calamity’s laser. It would have far too much weight for any individual person to equip, but as long as you can find a way to transport it, you’ll add a mighty weapon of incredibly rare power to your arsenal.” A heavy piece of artillery—if we decided to use it, we could ask Alphecca to carry it for us. “How long would it take to create that from the Afterglow and the stinger?” “At least three days, if you can spare them. With weapons of this caliber, you do need to do a proper test run after all.” “All right. Then, let’s go with that.” “We could use all the other resources you have as well,” suggested Steiner. “If you want to replace weapons you’re currently using, you’ll need to find replacements, of course.” I’ll keep that in mind and have them bolster our equipment. We might be able to find some good weapons on the market in District Five—I’ll ask Madoka what she thinks. After asking Madoka to look into it, she showed me the weapons on sale in the district. Her membership in the Merchants Guild allowed her to review the items in stock at affiliated shops on her license without having to visit them in person. As I might’ve expected, the great demand for better-quality items left relatively slim pickings when it came to what might suit our party members’ occupations. Even so, we did manage to find a few for purchase. ♦Items Ordered♦ > NELZEX GAUNTLETS x2 > NELZEX GREAVES x2 > WHITE APOCYNUM SHROUD x1 > WHITE APOCYNUM OVERALLS x1 Apparently, items made from a type of metal called nelzex silver sometimes went up for sale in District Five. Though they were not cheap, I bought two pairs each of nelzex gauntlets and greaves for 800 and 1,000 gold pieces, respectively, and had Seraphina and Igarashi equip them. We also saw two items of clothing made from white apocynum, a softer and stronger material than regular hemp linen, which would be perfect for Suzuna and Melissa. I bought the shroud for 800 gold pieces, and the overalls for 1,000 gold. All told, we spent 5,400 gold pieces, but our bounty from The Calamity covered almost everything. After having to spend such a large sum in one go, I decided we’d better watch our budget a little more closely and save up what we could. In the end, we used resources from The Calamity to forge and bolster the following: ♦Materials Acquired from The Calamity♦ > Use QUEEN SCORPION’S AFTERGLOW and STINGER to forge QUEEN’S TAIL > Apply ARM SPEAR to KYOUKA’s AMBIVALENZ AMBIVALENZ will gain PIERCING STRIKE 2, +1 strength > Apply SHELL to ELITIA’s HIGH MITHRIL KNIGHTMAIL HIGH MITHRIL KNIGHTMAIL will gain METAL RESISTANCE 1, +8 strength Max strength reached > Apply SHELL to SERAPHINA’s MIRRORED SHELL PAVIS MIRRORED SHELL PAVIS will gain METAL RESISTANCE 1, +1 strength Since the scorpion’s exoskeletal shell worked well in protective armor, I decided to apply it to our two vanguards’ equipment. Steiner, who handled all the processing, said they’d finish Elitia’s Knightmail by morning—I honestly could not begin to thank them enough. We also harvested two spear-like arms, which, as I understood it, combined well with lances or similar weapons. I’d thought to use one of the arms on Igarashi’s Elluminate Cross Spear, but there was some issue with the spear’s strength, so instead we applied it to her Ambivalenz. The other arm we couldn’t find any use for at the moment, and so we left it in storage. Having already called Rikerton over, Melissa and her father got to dissecting The Calamity. She told me she’d wash up after she finished. I figured it’d probably be best to have her rest up the next morning as I’d be away visiting the archive in any event. Next, we moved on to resources harvested from the Mirage Morpho, materials that went mainly to bolster my party members’ protective gear. We replaced the bowstring on Suzuna’s bow with one of the Morpho’s feelers, an upgrade that also gave the bow an official name. Apparently, runes weren’t the only additions that could bestow names on equipment. ♦Materials Acquired from Merciful Winged Mirage Morpho♦ > Apply FEELER to SUZUNA’s ASHWOOD BOW +1 Modify to MIRAGE ECLIPSE BOW +1 > Apply FEELER to THERESIA’s ELLUMINATE LASER SWORD +6 ELLUMINATE LASER SWORD will gain INVISIBLE SLASH, +7 strength > Apply UPPER WINGS to THERESIA’s CHAMELEON BOOTS CHAMELEON BOOTS will gain FIRE RESISTANCE 2, +1 strength > Apply UPPER WINGS to MISAKI’s BAT LEATHER JACKET +2 BAT LEATHER JACKET +2 will gain FIRE RESISTANCE 2, +1 strength > Apply LOWER WINGS to SERAPHINA’s NELZEX GREAVES NELZEX GREAVES will gain FIRE RESISTANCE 2, +1 strength > Apply LOWER WINGS to CION’s HOUND’S LEATHER VEST +3 HOUND’S LEATHER VEST +3 will gain FIRE RESISTANCE 2, +4 strength > Apply BUTTERFLY SCALES to ELITIA’s DEXTERITY GAUNTLETS DEXTERITY GAUNTLETS will gain FLARE DIVISION, +1 strength We agreed our artisans would get started on these orders the next afternoon as they amounted to far too much work for one night. Once I found out the Merciful Winged Mirage Morpho’s materials were fire resistant, I decided to bolster as many members’ equipment with them as possible. Igarashi, Suzuna, and Elitia didn’t need it as they already had accessories with fire-resistant properties. Still, I wanted to find other ways to further protect the others like Melissa from such burns—it didn’t take much imagination at all to assume the Shining Simian Lord most likely counted devastating fire attacks as part of its arsenal of skills we had not yet seen. Lastly, we turned to the Death Stalker resources. This was what we decided to do: ♦Materials Acquired from Death Stalker♦ > Apply STINGER to SERAPHINA’s ELLUMINATE BATTLE ROD ELLUMINATE BATTLE ROD will gain POISON ATTACK 2, +2 strength > Apply PINCERS to CION’s BEAST CLAW +3 BEAST CLAW +3 will gain BIND ATTACK 1, +4 strength > Apply SHELL to KYOUKA’s NELZEX GREAVES NELZEX GREAVES will gain POISON RESISTANCE 2, +1 strength Seraphina didn’t often wield a weapon in battle, but she did carry a baton, and since she would soon inevitably engage more enemies at a much closer range, I figured it’d be best to give her a way to take advantage of the proximity and inflict status ailments on them. The pincers dredged up awful memories, images of Theresia trapped in their grip. Still, the Bind Attack 1 skill worked to stop the target in its tracks and, I imagined, might come in handy against the Simian Lord’s captive Seekers. With that, we settled on a short-term schedule as Ceres and Steiner wouldn’t get to the last load of orders for at least another day. Two runes we still hadn’t used, but we did come up with a plan for them. “You’d do well to apply this Alter Rune on your party’s shield…,” suggested Ceres. “I daresay Seraphina would work wonders with it, since she carries such a large shield, but it can only be affixed to armor. Ideally, you should find a suit with rune slots that fits her.” Cion bravely defended our party with Covering, but nothing beat a shield when it came to blocking the most vicious attacks an enemy could muster. I called Seraphina over and asked her thoughts. “Thank you very much for using such precious materials on my equipment. And regarding the rune, I agree with the proposed plan. Where could we obtain an armor with rune slots?” she asked Ceres. “Are they, as I expect, most likely found in labyrinths?” “Indeed. It takes a great deal of rare, specific resources to forge weapons with rune slots from scratch. You might also combine a slotted piece of equipment with another to the same effect, but that poses another difficulty in that you need Sterling Silver Sand to weld them together. I imagine it’s easier to come across in the upper districts, but the great demand for it makes it difficult to find on the market.” “Some did go on sale this afternoon but sold out almost immediately,” Madoka informed us. “Apparently, bidding wars tend to lead a small number of people to horde the sand, so it’s sold at a fixed price of one thousand gold pieces.” Though she still retained her childlike charm, Madoka’s prowess as a merchant always left me at a loss for words. I couldn’t help but marvel at how she provided even more detail than I knew to ask for, smiling brightly all the while. Still, I couldn’t task her with endlessly waiting for the silver to pop up on the market, knowing how unlikely the prospect was. In the end, our best bet would probably be finding a metal ingot to refine. “A place rich in Sterling Silver Sand…,” Ceres wondered aloud. “You may want to add that to your list of considerations as to which labyrinth you raid next.” “Yes, but we did also find a black treasure chest, so I’d like to open that first and then decide.” “You what…?!” she exclaimed, bewildered. “I suppose it’s past time I let your every exploit surprise me. Falma, however, will be quite astonished at how regularly you call for her, I tell you. Come to think of it, I met Rikerton earlier. He was mighty pleased to be visiting District Five.” “He was?” “Seems like his wife happens to be in this very district. He said she moved up from District Six about half a year ago.” Rikerton’s wife apparently became a demi-human while pregnant with Melissa and was on a mission as a Seeker to find a way to return to her human form, or so I’d heard. “Melissa hasn’t mentioned anything yet, but I hope we can make time for her to meet her mother.” “You truly… No, I shan’t continue, for I fear I’ve already bombarded you with too much praise. Arihito, you must not react with alarm when you see Rikerton’s wife,” Ceres warned. “Though I’m sure I have little to worry about with you in that regard.” Melissa’s mother had apparently turned into a werecat. However, no matter what that had done to her appearance, I wanted to thank her for allowing Melissa to join our party. “Mr. Arihito.” “Y-yes, Seraphina? Something wrong?” I spluttered, taken aback at how she suddenly switched to using my first name. Her flushed face led me to believe she must not have done so lightly. “N-no… However, now that I have officially joined your party, I thought perhaps it might be impertinent to continue referring to you with such formality. Have I offended you…?” “Of course not. If anything, I’m happy you feel comfortable with that. After all, I’ve been calling you Seraphina this whole time, not Lieutenant Edelbert.” “…Then I’ll do the same. Mr. Arihito, the hour has grown quite late, but myself and the others still have energy to spare. May we proceed to skill discussions?” “Good idea. We can start with you if you’d like,” I agreed. “Theresia, come over here. You’re up after.” “……” Though I’d urged her to sit earlier, she’d stayed standing by me throughout the previous discussions. Finally, she gave in and took a seat next to me, making sure to leave a little space between us. “…Young lasses these days confound me. How is it she takes no issue with sharing a bath but flushes at the thought of sharing a couch?” “I actually feel like I get it… Come on, Master, we should get to the workshop.” “Quite. Arihito, do consider whether you’ll use the vellum rune as well. Given the power it contains, I imagine you may waver over whom to entrust it to…but when the situation calls for it, I am sure it will give you hope.” And so Ceres and Steiner retreated for the night. Seraphina then took a seat across from me; only then did I notice she was dressed for bed in a rather casual combo of a thin tank-top-type shirt and shorts—all the more striking given I normally saw her in a full suit of armor. “……” “…T-Theresia?” She was staring at me—maybe she’d read my mind. This isn’t the time to be fixating on striking pajamas. I get it. You’re totally right. I couldn’t be sure Theresia’s pointed gaze was meant to stop that line of thought, but my heart raced nervously all the same. “Mr. Arihito…?” “S-sorry. So…” “There’s no need to be so nervous. Guild Saviors’ licenses are different, but not so special as that. Here, these are the skills I have.” Her license was, in fact, shaped differently from regular Seekers’. Forcing myself to change gears, I studied the roster of her skills. Part III: Skills Meeting A quick look at Seraphina’s license painted me a clear picture of the difficulty she’d had deciding where to allot her skill points. ♦Acquired Skills♦ Aura Shield Suppressing March Fanatic Shield Parry Defense Force Wide Stance Immovable Mass Provoke Secrets of the Shield 2 Shield Slam Counter Tackle Defensive Stance Bodyguard Training Method 1 Medicinal Herb Theory 1 Stoic Counter Immovable Breath ♦Available Skills♦ Level 3 Skills Aura Smite: Shield-based attack with a high probability of delivering a critical hit. Attack power increases with shield’s defensive strength, including temporary improvements. (Prerequisites: Aura Shield, Shield Slam) Breaching Charge: Helps user break through walls by ramming them with a shield. Can destroy enemy armor when the user’s shield is harder. (Prerequisite: Shield Slam) Guardian’s Task: Converts and accumulates reduced damage from successfully blocked attacks to power a Defense Barrier Aura which can be applied to any designated party member or the user. Cannot be used in rapid succession. (Prerequisite: Wide Stance) Forced Breakthrough: Allows user to send an enemy flying when rammed with a shield. Delays enemy attacks within a certain area for a split second. (Prerequisite: Suppressing March) Level 2 Skills Riot Guard: Inflicts substantial knockback on enemy whenever an attack is successfully defended and reduces enemy speed. Interception Prep: Instigates enemy attack while inflicting damage that increases accordingly with the number of people who counterattack. Man-to-Man 1: Allows user to gain experience by training with a specified party member in town. (Prerequisite: Training Method 1) Training Method 2: Increases experience gained by party actions that involve muscle power. (Prerequisite: Training Method 1) Submission 2: Drastically decreases attack power of Bound enemies. Can only be activated when no armor is equipped. (Prerequisite: Submission 1) Ground Seeker: Increases scouting capabilities when user is in a prone position and reduces chance of detection. Medicinal Herb Theory 2: Increases potency of medicinal plant and herb compounds. Increases raw material generation efficiency. (Prerequisite: Medicinal Herb Theory 1) Heavy Armor Tips 2: Bolsters attributes of equipped heavy defensive armor. (Prerequisite: Heavy Armor Tips 1) Side Arm: Allows user to equip short swords or other supplemental weapons. Level 1 Skills Submission 1: Allows user to put enemy in Bind status with martial arts. Can only be activated when no armor is equipped. Iron Head: Inflicts Stun status with a headbutt. Shock Absorber 1: Reduces impact of shock-attribute attacks. Troop Leader: Party members will not lose sight of the user until they reach their destination. Delayed Retreat: Allows user to act as bait when retreating and delay pursuant enemy attacks. Minesweeper 1: Occasionally detects traps embedded in the ground. Heavy Armor Tips 1: Slightly accentuates attributes of equipped heavy defensive armor. Patriot: When traveling with a vehicle, user can prioritize predicting incoming attacks and prioritize activating skills to counter or defend. Remaining Skill Points: 8 She’d picked up quite a few skills suited for blocking enemy attacks on the front lines, but I saw a number that could even further bolster her defenses that she’d left untouched. “Can I assume you didn’t choose these Heavy Arms Tips skills to try to save points for something else? Your battle gear is always quite heavy, so I imagine they would prove very useful to you.” “Soon after I arrived in the Labyrinth Country…when I grew to level two, I decided against Heavy Armor Tips 1 in favor of Medicinal Herb Theory so I could quickly return to battle even if I sustained a wound,” she explained. “But…ever since I secured the funds to purchase potions, I haven’t had much use for it.” Everyone could relate to the nagging feeling you chose the wrong one of two options. Even I had left some skills unused despite the useful advantages they seemed to promise. “I also believed it would be ideal to strengthen my own body so I could defend myself and others without having to rely on a skill…” “I see; that does make sense. If you can train your body and your mind in defense, you can also save skill points that way. I do also think adding this to an already strong physical foundation could be helpful, though… This Medicinal Herb Theory—does it help you identify which plants you can use for medicines?” “Yes. Medicinal Herb Theory 1 only applies to beginner-level plants, but I do from time to time come across them in a labyrinth. However, I thought perhaps this time I might choose some skills that could assist with our upcoming operations…” If these skills reflect both Seraphina’s occupation as a Riot Soldier and her own personal qualities, then I can see how she would have options apart from defensive skills, like those related to Training. She’s got Man-to-Man and Training Method… I guess she must have a proclivity for instructor positions as well. Ryouko was similarly a Swimming Instructor, so I could see how Seraphina’s personality would also be suited for a teaching role. And while I hadn’t gotten a chance to study the Four Seasons’ members’ skill rosters, I had no doubt they faced the same concerns we did about choosing the right options. “I think it’d be a good idea to take both Heavy Arms Tips 1 and 2 first. They should continuously raise your defenses, and I can’t think of many situations where they’d put you at a disadvantage.” “Understood. I’ll use three skill points and acquire both of them.” “Medicinal Herb Theory 2 does sound incredibly promising as well, so it’s a tough call…but maybe it’s better to choose a defensive measure we could keep up our sleeves, as you kindly suggested. Would you mind prioritizing a skill of that nature?” “Not at all. And no need for the ‘kindly suggested’ formalities. Please, be at ease.” Clearly, I was struggling to adjust to the change in our relationship. I felt honored she asked to speak with me on the same level, though, so I’d have to find a way to get used to it. “This Submission looks useful for stopping enemies as they approach. Do you have a background in martial arts?” “Yes, I took some classes in my previous life. We also learned it as part of the Guild Saviors training regiment, and I’ve engaged in a few real fights as well.” So not only had Seraphina mastered the art of the shield, but she could also hold her own unarmed—a talent of unparalleled importance for those in the military or bodyguards. Still, it’s never too late to learn martial arts, so I could see how complete beginners might also develop great proficiency. “I determined those skills unnecessary since I could not foresee abandoning my shield for any reason, and so I left them untouched. Do you believe they will assist in our battle against the Simian Lord?” “It’s possible. I imagine judo joint-locking techniques, for example, will work to a certain degree against any monster who has them…but there is a risk they won’t work, and it is, of course, dangerous to get close to an enemy without your shield.” She could theoretically combine Forced Breakthrough with Submission 1, but that would mean she’d have to set her shield down after the charge. Even if the rest of us backed her up, the idea of her putting or throwing her shield away mere feet or inches from an enemy was not realistic. “You could also consider using Heavy Armor Tips 1 to raise your shield’s base defenses, then follow up with Aura Smite to increase your attack power. Still, I think it makes the most sense to have defensive and attack roles separate when possible.” “Then perhaps I should take Guardian’s Task? This should allow me to reduce the risk of injury to Ms. Elitia when she closes in on an enemy. Depending on the situation, I could also apply the Defensive Barrier Aura to myself if necessary.” “Breaching Charge and a few of these other skills look quite promising, too, as options you could acquire during battle… That said, I don’t expect we’ll have much time to think in the heat of it. This really is a difficult decision.” Breaching Charge would let her ram her shield through a wall—of which fortresses famously had many. But at this point, we had too little information to determine if busting through walls would be a useful battle tactic. We could also use Queen’s Tail to the same effect, though if possible, I wanted to save that for the Simian Lord itself. “In that case, I shall familiarize myself with my available skills and take whichever become necessary during our expeditions.” “That would be great, thank you. I may also ask you to acquire a specific one, too.” “Understood. I see no significant shortcomings in the state of our battle cooperation and communication, so for now, I shall focus on ensuring my actions lessen the burden you have to bear.” With that, Seraphina held out her right hand—to reassure me that she valued our continued partnership, perhaps? I shook hers in return and was surprised to find it far more slender than it had ever seemed under her gauntlets. Even so, the strength came through so clearly, I could tell I’d easily lose to her in an arm wrestle. “May I ask you one more question?” I said. “Yes, of course.” “What does this Stoic do…?” It had stood out to me when I looked through her skills, but I hesitated to ask as I got the feeling it might lead the conversation off course. As she tightly clenched her hands where they lay on her lap, a blush slowly warmed her face. “Ah…! Never mind, I was just a little curious. Sorry to pry.” “…When I first came to the Labyrinth Country, I felt like I was groping in the dark much of the time…,” she began haltingly. “I want to believe it continues to serve me even now, but it does make me reflect on the immaturity that led me to take something which is essentially a prayer to the gods.” Then, after wavering for a brief moment, Seraphina toggled to the right screen on her license and showed it to me. ♦Skill Display—SERAPHINA♦ Stoic: When user practices an ascetic lifestyle, skill increases all stats and reduces the likelihood user will be hit with a status ailment. “I had no idea such a thing existed… So this must be why you don’t drink alcohol.” “To be honest, I cannot say for certain what counts as an ascetic lifestyle. However, I do seem to resist status ailments and have always enjoyed good health.” I imagined an ascetic lifestyle could involve more than restraining from indulging in luxuries like alcohol, but didn’t feel it was my place to press any further. “……” Though silent, Theresia began to blush slightly as well—perhaps even she saw how this could apply to more private matters? For some reason, I suddenly felt devastatingly mortified. “…I believe this skill would suit you better than I, Mr. Arihito.” “Huh…?” “N-never mind… Well then, I’ll go see who’s next. If you’ll excuse me.” She stood up and left the room. If Seraphina intentionally abstained from drinking or other luxuries to activate Stoic, then did that mean she actually enjoyed them? Now that I came to think of it, we’d fought side by side several times, but I knew almost nothing about her personally. The Labyrinth Country did have some entertainment districts, but I wondered how other parties handled this aspect of their lives. As a man among a party of women, I never wanted to do anything to threaten their trust in me. I might have a drink every once in a while, but I couldn’t imagine myself going out alone at night. “…Good evening.” “Hi, Igarashi. Shall we get started…?” I asked, getting up to greet her. Igarashi sat down across from me, seeming somehow restless. “A-ahem. Atobe, did I hear correctly? It sounded like Seraphina was calling you something different than before…” “Yes, she said she wanted me to feel more at ease with her now that she officially joined our party.” “I—I see… But you’ve never been standoffish toward her or anyone.” “Umm… This is just how I took it, but I think she meant it would be easier to work together if we could interact more frankly.” “O-oh, of course, I know what she meant,” she stammered. “But maybe friendly would be better than frank in this case. Yes, I’m sure of it.” Her arms crossed, Igarashi didn’t even glance at me once while she spoke. I looked over to Theresia, who also tilted her head quizzically, apparently as equally confused as me. “…We’re all a party, so we have to get along, or…you know, treat everyone equally? So, you know, it’s a bit late in the game for me to say so, but, you know…,” Igarashi whispered, peeking over at me every few words. For some reason it felt like she was rebuking me, or ever-so-lightly threatening me, or who knows what. “……” I can’t keep looking to Theresia for a lifeline for every little thing. But that same moment, I finally realized what Igarashi was trying to say. It took me far too long and made me wonder how dense, or tactless, I could be. Still, there was no way I’d be able to muster the courage to shift things between us and say something like, “We’ve been together for quite a while now, too. How about we also take a frank approach and call each other by our first names?” Even now, I still had to catch myself from calling her “Boss,” especially when I was more at ease. They say tigers can’t change their stripes overnight, but not even reincarnation had managed to shake me out of the habit of respectfully addressing her as my superior. All jokes aside, I recognized this could destroy the relationship I’d built with her. But she’d just been muttering about treating “everyone equally.” Surely she wouldn’t get mad at me for using her first name. At least, I really hoped not. “U-umm, Kyou—” “…Ah! S-sorry, I shouldn’t have gone off in front of Theresia like that… We should really focus on the important decisions I have to make about my skills,” she interrupted, stopping me in my tracks—just when I had worked up the courage, too. “…? What’s wrong, Atobe? Were you trying to say something?” “No, it’s fine. I just wanted to thank you again for all you did today, Igarashi.” “I should be thanking you. We went to a rather large bathhouse, and they had bubble baths and electrically warmed tubs, and even ones with medicinal herbs in the water. They had a sand bath back in District Seven, so I suppose each district must have its own special touches.” “I’d like to try that out myself.” Next time, after we defeated the Simian Lord, maybe Theresia could join them, too. While the possibility we could grow in level again before our battle with the evil ape did remain, we definitely couldn’t count on it. Instead, we had to make the most of all the skill points currently at our disposal. Igarashi seemed to agree; she’d tied her hair back for once, and for the first time in a long while, I saw her face snap into Igarashi Boss mode. “Phew… It’s kind of hot in here. Do districts with more deserts take on some of that weather?” she wondered, tugging at the neck of her blouse and flapping it up and down in what appeared to be a candid gesture, though I’d have been more than honored if her doing so meant she felt comfortable around me. Nevertheless, I had to stop my eyes from drifting to her deep cleavage, which I should have long ago grown accustomed to—and kicked myself hard for even considering it. “What’s wrong, Atobe? Why are you looking at the ceiling…?” she asked, confused. “Ew, don’t tell me there’s a bug up there?” “N-no, nothing like that. Sorry. I just had the urge to stretch my neck.” “Really? If you’re tight from all the meetings, we can take a break before we begin.” “I’m fine, thank you. Sorry to worry you.” “Then if you insist,” she said, and showed me her license. Knowing I’d be dancing with the devil if I let her bend down to give me a better look, I reached out and took it before she could. ♦Available Skills♦ Level 3 Skills Windmill: Rapidly spins a spear to attack enemies within range. Inflicts more hits per enemy when fewer are present. (Prerequisite: Spinning Spear) Level 2 Skills Spinning Spear: Increases damage when attacking by spinning your spear. Brave Song: Raises all party members’ attack strength and morale. Releases allies from Fear status ailment. (Prerequisite: Mist of Bravery) Lancer’s Protection: Enemy’s piercing attacks are nullified when skill is activated. Throw 2: Increases the distance, power, and accuracy of thrown spear attacks. Allows user to benefit from Piercing Strikes. (Prerequisite: Throw 1) Earth Puppet: Draws power from earthen sprites to create an autonomous golem. The golem cannot attack and relies on the user for stamina and defensive capabilities. (Prerequisite: Decoy) Einherjar: Reduces hostility in immobilized targets and allows the user to recruit them once they regain mobility. Applicable only on humanoid targets. Success rate depends on the difference in stats between the user and the target. Pole Dance: Can be activated only when a long-handled weapon is equipped. Temporarily increases agility and evasion rate. Allows user to occasionally charm enemies when dodging attacks. Cannot be used in succession. (Prerequisite: Dance of the Warrior Maiden 1) Level 1 Skills Dance of the Warrior Maiden 1: Slight chance of canceling an attack from an enemy of the opposite sex. Piercing Strike 1: A portion of your attack penetrates the target’s defense when you’re equipped with a spear. Freezing Thorns: Freezes opponent’s legs and slows their movement. Bulletproof 1: Enemy long-ranged attacks are slightly less likely to hit. Throw 1: Attacks by throwing a spear. Increased hit rate compared to normal throwing attack. Freezing Weapon 1: Temporarily adds Frozen attribute to a weapon. Seishin Stance: Nullifies status ailments that affect concentration with a fixed probability of success. Ensures the next attack will be a critical hit only once. Remaining Skill Points: 3 A quick scan revealed a surprising variety of skills, a mix of those drawn from the Valkyrie occupation and others from Igarashi’s personality. Seishin Stance probably came from naginata, a Japanese polearm with a curved blade at the end. At one skill point, it was a steal, though we’d only discover its true value during a crisis. There seemed to be no reason not to take the skill, considering the impact it could have if she used it in combination with a weapon of the spear variety, like the Forbidden Scythe, which was capable of defeating an enemy in a single strike during times of crisis, or one of the long-handled weapons Valkyries apparently excelled in. That is, no reason except for the limited points we had to work with. Seishin Stance cost only one point, but even so we had to think very carefully before deciding to spend it. “Oh, I can get a level-three skill now,” Igarashi noted excitedly. “…It looks powerful, but if I take that, I’ll be completely out of points.” “It does look quite powerful. If you can get more than five hits out of Windmill, I expect it’ll make a huge impact on a single enemy.” “Windmill, like those things powered by water or wind…? I get the feeling it’s probably a pretty showy attack. I’d need to get Spinning Spear first, though, so I’ll have to hold off on it for now. What can I get with the points I have…?” Though Igarashi most likely didn’t realize it, she was pushing her breasts up with her hand as she leaned forward, as if they were too heavy on their own—no doubt the daggers I felt Theresia staring at me were not just my imagination. “…Atobe, are you eyeing this one? Pole Dance? I mean, really. Sure, I was in the dance and naginata clubs in college, but I never did anything like that.” “O-oh, no, I wasn’t expecting you to take that at all…” “You make it sound like you don’t expect anything from me! Just kidding. The description does make it sound like a good tool to have for our next big battle. If I could charm the Seekers under the Simian Lord’s control, maybe we wouldn’t have to fight them.” “If you’re looking for a way to avoid fighting the captive Seekers…this Einherjar seems promising. The conditions it needs to work are tough to meet, but it looks very useful. Plus, I imagine actual humans count as ‘humanoid targets.’” Not all bipedal monsters could be categorized as humanoids, meaning the Simian Lord or its orcs were probably out, but real humans and demi-humans definitely fit the bill. Skills like this that were effective only in specific situations lacked versatility and might not see much use. I expected it could come in handy this time around, but Igarashi had other powerful skills available that made the choice a tricky one. In preparation for battle with powerful opponents like the Simian Lord, were we better off prioritizing ways to instantly increase all our members’ attack capabilities, or methods to avoid battle and rescue the Seekers it held captive? It would all come to nothing if we couldn’t defeat our main foe, so you could say both focuses held equal weight. Earth Puppet seemed helpful as a decoy to lure enemy attacks, but we should probably hold off on that one for the time being. Maybe I ought to assign everyone specific roles that we can refine as we continue seeking and then go up against the Simian Lord once we’re ready. But any decision I make now might very well have a crucial impact down the line. We can’t afford to make any mistakes, so maybe it’s best to forgo taking any skills while we still have time? Igarashi could still grow in level, too. Oh, but there is one skill she should definitely acquire. After careful consideration, I pointed to the last skill on the list. “I think there’s a chance this Seishin Stance could work with my Morale Discharge, like Wolf Pack.” “Your Morale Discharge…,” Igarashi said. “I checked my license after the battle, but that’s the one that makes all of our skills that bump up our individual capabilities apply to everyone in the party, right?” “Exactly. I would have to get injured first to activate my Morale Discharge, but I imagine that bar won’t be too difficult to meet in the heat of a vicious battle…” Igarashi glanced up as I spoke and looked me straight in the eye—her gaze looked angry yet not, but the reproach in her expression came through very clearly. “One day, one of us might find a skill that can raise your morale like you lift ours, or maybe we’ll discover some other method,” she said to me. “Either way, once we do, I’ll never let you talk about getting hurt as if you’re just collateral damage we can’t avoid.” “S-sorry… But collateral damage, huh? Never thought anyone would describe me with the kind of phrase you’d hear in a movie.” “Oh, please… You’ve already made it through tons of cinematic scrapes, you know. The only difference is, unlike in a movie, our actions are what decide whether we survive.” Above all else, we had to make it out alive, save Rury, and lift the hex off Theresia. Still, I couldn’t easily shake the nagging thought there might be other Seekers out there like Elitia, who were frozen at the loss of a dear friend, or the hope that we might be able to save them, too. “…Our overall strategy is obviously important, but I’ve also decided I want to take any skills that could help protect you. I’ll bet the girls all feel the same way.” “Igarashi…” I was at a loss for words. “Thank you.” “…Oh, b-but, umm… I’m not saying that out of any personal feelings toward you, okay? You’re the center of our party, so I just thought I should keep you as my main focus when it comes to skills… It’s, you know, from a risk control perspective, that’s the best move,” she hurried to say to hide her embarrassment. Then, realizing how flushed her face had become, she cleared her throat with an ahem, got up, and went around to lean against the back of the couch. “S-so…what’s your verdict? I do have quite a lot of options; maybe I should hold off for now?” “Looking closely, there’s one skill that raises both attack capabilities and morale, isn’t there? Brave Song.” “Ah…sorry, I missed that one.” “That said, while increased attack power is definitely appealing, I can take care of raising the party’s morale, and we can only use Morale Discharge once per expedition, so it’s hard to justify using two skill points on that.” “All right. Perhaps I should consider taking Einherjar, then?” “Yes. But for now, I think it’s best if you acquire either Seishin Stance or Bulletproof 1.” “Huh…?” Apparently the Bulletproof 1 suggestion took Igarashi off guard. “You don’t shy away from possibly making yourself collateral damage, either, when the going gets tough, you know. I’d like you to take some skills that can help bolster your own defenses, too.” “…S-so, you were mad about that…?” she said. Igarashi had risked her own safety to save us with her Ambivalenz, a powerful but double-edged weapon in that it also inflicted damage on her. The experience made it impossible for me to disregard one important lesson: Igarashi could absolutely sacrifice herself for our party. And I couldn’t expect her to get safely out of every situation that pushed her to make that kind of choice. “I have no right to be so presumptuous and get angry at you. I’m just concerned about you, the same way you worried about me. That’s all I meant.” “…Sorry… A-actually—should I say thank you instead?” Personally, I didn’t need either—in fact, I wanted to thank her. But it seemed like she still hadn’t let go of the guilt she felt for the way she’d treated me as my boss, and it made me feel a little hesitant to open up to her completely. That’s why I’d tried my best to call her by her first name, but I wasn’t sure I had another try in me. “I think Ambivalenz is a great trump card kind of weapon that’s powerful enough to take on even the monsters in District Five, but we need to prepare for all the risks that come with it if you do have to break it out.” “Yes, I agree… If and when we have to pull out that trump card, I want to really make it count, and stay totally focused. In that sense, Seishin Stance can help with both those points. But I’m all right without Bulletproof. I’ve got other evasion skills already,” she said, and acquired Seishin Stance. Then flashing Theresia and me a mischievous grin, she took down a cross spear hanging on the wall. Leaving the protective cloth wrapped around it, she readied the spear—her body lowered halfway to the ground, she held the handle with her left hand and raised her right high in the air. The blade on the spear faced downward, but she looked like nothing could get past her in that beautiful form. “This is what the Seishin Stance is supposed to look like…,” she explained. “It’s odd; now that I have the skill, I get this indescribable sensation when I do it.” “Well, it seems perfect to me. I suppose cross spears and naginata are not so different after all.” Blushing with embarrassment, Igarashi hung the spear back on the wall. That was when Theresia, who hadn’t taken her eyes off the Valkyrie for a second, stood up. Just as I was wondering what she planned to do, she assumed an exact replica of Igarashi’s stance, minus the weapon. “You really didn’t miss a thing, Theresia. Thanks for watching so closely,” Igarashi said appreciatively. “……” Theresia nodded silently, then lowered herself back down onto the sofa. Evidently, she’d decided she didn’t need to stand to protect me and had adopted the seat as her new station from which she’d watch over me during these meetings. Up next came Misaki and Suzuna. I’d kept them waiting a long time and worried they might’ve gotten sleepy, but both still bounded with energy. “Haaah, Arihitooo, how are you sooo good at keeping your hands to yourself? I don’t know how anyone couldn’t not control themselves in front of a steamy, fresh-outta-the-bath Kyouka.” “Wait, that means they can stay in control, right?” “Ah, caught that? You know, you may always look calm and collected on the outside, but you’re such a wicked tease!” “I-I’m sorry, Arihito, Misaki’s been so excited for her turn…” Suzuna apologized, her hands full with Misaki and her unbridled energy. But I had a hunch as to why our in-house Gambler was bouncing off the walls. “I wouldn’t be surprised if some of that energy rubbed off on Elitia. Actually, I might be shocked if it didn’t… But who knows?” “Aw, don’t give me a who knows! Of course my very presence lifts her spirits! It’s not like I’m trying extra hard or anything, though. I’m just always like this.” “Ha-ha-ha… No argument there.” “Ohhh, I see how it is. I see you laughing! Is it just me, or did you wake up and choose to bully your poor Gambler today?” I’d never dream of it, of course, but Misaki always joked like that, and I wouldn’t have changed her humor for the world. Through all this, Suzuna stood one step removed from the action, a literal pillar of emotional support for her peers Misaki and Elitia—actually, I felt guilty admitting it, but her quiet fortitude gave me, a fully grown man, great comfort as well. “Arihito, we’ve all looked through the skills we have available and have given some thought as to which we want to choose,” Suzuna informed me. “That’s great. I’ll try my best to take that into consideration.” “All right, why don’t you go ahead first, Suzu?” Misaki suggested. “Don’t mind me, I’ll just wait here like a reality TV cameraman until you ask for my opinion.” “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t. I’m a little camera shy, you know.” “Ho-ho! I gotta say, your uber-calm comebacks are growing on me.” Grinning at Misaki’s joke, Suzuna handed me her license. ♦Available Skills♦ Level 2 Skills Exorcism 2: Effective against undead-type monsters. (Prerequisite: Exorcism 1) Dance of the Shrine Maiden: Draws target’s attention with a dance. Increases dodge rate. Soul Siren: Calls a designated person’s spirit closer. Can only be used when the person’s spirit is separated from the body. Spiritual Dwelling: Moves a specified party member’s soul into another person’s body. (Prerequisite: Medium) Shinto Prayer: Creates protective barrier for all party members that reduces damage from undead enemy attacks. Purge: Reduces the effect of status ailments that constrain movement or, when activated in advance, prevents them from taking effect. (Prerequisite: Exorcism 1) Level 1 Skills High-Angle Shot: Fires an arrow upward to strike the enemy at the end of the arrow’s arched trajectory. Exorcism Arrow: Adds HOLY attribute to arrows when using a bow. Cleansing: Adds HOLY attribute to whoever is in a body of water with you. Prayer: Party’s success rate increases slightly. Oracle: Allows user to receive divine revelation when party is receiving a god’s graces. Revelations will vary between gods. Cannot be used in succession. Remaining Skill Points: 3 Suzuna looked over at Theresia apologetically. “I had hoped as a Shrine Maiden I would have access to skills that could lift the curse on Theresia, but…maybe they’re just not available yet at my level? Or do you think perhaps people in my line of work can’t undo hexes at all?” “I think there must be a specialist occupation that can remove curses, or at least, that’s what Ceres said… But Suzuna, you have a role only you can play. Let’s try to keep that in mind and stay positive.” “Okay… Thank you, Arihito.” My heart welled with appreciation for Suzuna for even hoping she might be able to help Theresia out of this mess. “It’s no fair. Suzu’s got all the cool skills. They all do something amazing,” Misaki complained in jest. “But I gotta say, I really don’t wanna run into any of those ‘undead-type monsters.’ Sounds like something straight out of a zombie movie.” “That’s true. Suzuna’s Sacred Words skill was what allowed us to defeat the Merciless Guillotine, after all. I think you could easily become an undead monster expert depending on what skills you take, but there are lots of other great options here so it’s probably best to keep a good balance.” I couldn’t help wondering what kind of level-3 skills would show up for Suzuna. For this meeting in particular, I really wished she had grown one more level. “Would it be okay if I acquired this Oracle skill?” Suzuna asked. “Ariadne is our guardian deity, so I’d like to prepare myself as a Shrine Maiden to receive any divine revelations she has for us.” “D’you think this is different than just talking to her like normal?” Misaki wondered. I had a feeling it was; skills like Oracle and Medium would probably have different effects, but as usual, we wouldn’t know until we tested them out. Maybe if Suzuna activated Medium now, I could ask Ariadne directly—I thought, then noticed a mysterious blush had bloomed on Suzuna’s cheeks. “What’s wrong, Suzu? Too hot? You’re, like, beet red up to your ears!” “N-no, that’s not… Arihito, I’m going to leave two skill points so I can take anything we end up needing in the moment, okay? I need to step out for a bit of air.” “R-right. Thanks, Suzuna.” Suzuna got up and left while Misaki watched on, a quizzical expression on her face. The Shrine Maiden had cracked a smile at Misaki, though, so I could be fairly certain she wasn’t angry. I didn’t worry about her wandering around town late at night, either, as she seemed headed only for the balcony attached to their shared bedroom. “It’s gettin’ hottt in this meeting, huh? Must be all that passion you’re packing, Ari-heat-o.” “Pretty sure that’s not it. Oh, but…I think she might’ve remembered the favor I asked her the other day.” “F-favor? You asked Suzuna a favor—in private…? So, like…” I could almost see Misaki’s mind racing toward outlandish assumptions. The truth was nothing to be ashamed of, though, so I saw no harm in filling Misaki in. “We need to raise our devotion levels to Ariadne if we want to rely on her strength, right? So I asked Suzuna if she wouldn’t mind acting as a medium for me to speak with Ariadne… That said, we’ve only done it once, so it’s not such a huge deal. Wh-what?” “Oh, Suzu, I had no idea you two had gone so far… Not that it bothers me, of course. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my friends happy, all right?!” “It’s not what you’re thinking. I just asked her to turn her back to me so I could activate the skill.” “Eeep! Do you even hear yourself?! Have you been keeping a secret back fetish under lock and key this whole time?! Now I’m getting all self-conscious—I don’t even know what mine looks like!” “……” After quietly watching that exchange, Theresia slid her hand behind her to touch her own back—was she getting nervous about hers, too? From what I’d seen, she had pure, white skin, free from any lizardman scales. “Don’t worry, Theresia, you’re fine,” I assured her. “As for you, Misaki, reel it in on the jokes, okay?” “……” “All riiight.” She relented. “But I gotta say, I’m totally into how you said that just now. You sounded like a teacher! Well, Mr. Arihito, these are the skills I’ve got to work with. Kindly share your advice with your dear student, Teach!” Ibuki called me “Teacher,” too. Maybe my suit makes me look the part? Misaki had finally gotten down to business, so I shook any musings out of my head and took a look at her license before she got distracted yet again. Part IV: Traces of a Hex Something seemed to occur to Misaki from her seat across from me; she got up and came to sit at my side. “It’s easier to see this way,” she said by way of explanation. “Hee-hee. Don’t think I’ve got ulterior motives, okay?” The mischievously happy grin on her face made that hard to believe, but I let it slide. ♦Available Skills♦ Level 2 Skills Extra Turn: Takes one action on behalf of the indicated party member. Pool Cap: Can reduce damage from a fatal monster attack on the indicated target to keep them just able to fight. User takes half of the reduced damage instead. Can only be used once per expedition. Level 1 Skills Russian Roulette 1: Chooses a random target among both allies and enemies and halves their vitality. Poker Face: Renders facial expressions unreadable. Lucky Guess 1: Allows you to vaguely sense which action will lead to good results. Coin Toss: Increases luck if the coin lands on the face chosen by an ally. Small Bet: Divides user’s vitality and magic among others during battle. Recovers twice the given amount when the battle ends. Double Draw: Doubles attacks made with card-type weapons. Gambit: When a coin toss lands on tails at the beginning of a battle, the enemy will strike first but will be limited to attacks without attributes. (Prerequisite: Coin Toss) Big Lotto: Increases chances of finding rare items when gathering resources in a labyrinth. Remaining Skill Points: 3 “Haaah…” Misaki sighed. “I thought really hard about which of these to choose, too, I swear. But they’re all so tricky, I just can’t make up my mind.” “This list drives home just how fascinating the Gambler job is. Practically all these skills are irreplaceable.” “D’aaaw. Oh, stop, stop, all that praise is just gonna go to my head! But do go on,” she said, then bent her head down a little toward me. Ah, she wants me to pet her. Part of me felt I shouldn’t encourage this behavior, but I did give her a quick pat, pat. “Hahhh… You’ve got such a soooft touch. But why’d you stop so soon?” “W-well, I’m not exactly used to it…” “With me maybe. Right, Theresia?” “……” Without taking her eyes off us, Theresia lightly rested her hand on top of her lizard mask. Somehow the message got through to me, and I started to feel a little embarrassed myself. “Ahem… Getting back on track.” I steered us back to the task at hand. “Misaki, which of these skills do you think you absolutely need?” “It’s tough to say, since I feel like I haven’t really made full use of the ones I’ve already got. Sometimes I’ll be, like, ‘Ah, I should’ve used that one!’ after the fact. Like, Magic Number. I’m glad I took it, but I haven’t even used it once yet.” “I mean, it is kind of a parlor trick…and there are only so many instances when you can order your friends to do something.” Seemed like Misaki had thought things over after our expeditions and found some areas for improvement on her own. Most of her skills never hurt to use, and some combinations like Dice Trick and Lucky Seven 1 were guaranteed to provide some benefit. She’d probably get some later on that had to do with the roll of the dice again, but for the moment, those seemed out of reach. Every available skill had potential uses depending on the situation, but even one like Pool Cap, which could come in handy in a dire spot, wasn’t an easy choice as it would hurt Misaki to activate. “Gambit… This one looks pretty useful. Oh, but you’d need Coin Toss first, and the enemy could still end up attacking first anyway.” “Seems like something that’d be perfecto for a certain kind of momento, right? But, like, I can totally see why it’s two points… Wait, how crazy is this Pool Cap?” Tapping the skill, Misaki went to acquire it, then chuckled a little grimly and stopped. “It’s kinda hard to keep my cool when you’re looking at me so seriously…” “That skill could save one of our party members if they’re hit with a fatal wound, but…I think it’d take a toll on you, too.” The skill could cut an attack that stole all of someone’s vitality, then take half of that damage from Misaki. The only problem—if the injured person had much more vitality than her, it could put Misaki’s life in danger. “Y’know, it’s been a pretty smooth ride for me so far. I mean, apart from immediately losing my cool whenever we all get caught up in something wild. But…back in District Eight, when you got stabbed by that stupid eagle warrior’s feather, I remember just wishing I could’ve taken half the pain for you. Maybe that’s why this skill’s popped up now…you know, maybe. I don’t know.” “…I know you’re a Gambler, but you don’t have to bet your own safety, you know.” “Hmph! Well, I wanna help protect you, too, I’ll have you know! Or so she says, then secretly stashes all her skill points away…,” she joked, but I could tell that even if she did leave the points unused now, she’d probably take Pool Cap if one of us was in danger. “Emergency-use skills are great, but I think you might want to look at some that are more versatile.” “Verse-uh-tie-all?” “Something that has a lot of different everyday uses,” I explained, then wrote the word out with my finger on the table. “Ohhh,” she gasped, and clapped her hands together in understanding. She’d probably heard the word before, but we all have moments where something won’t come to us immediately. “Versatile, versatile…,” she murmured. “Oh, then doesn’t this one look good? Big Lotto.” “Lotto, if I’m not mistaken, is a lottery. So this skill improves your luck when searching for resources, huh? You’re right; that does look useful.” “Maybe it’s just me getting these vibes, but doesn’t this remind you of those piggies that hunt for truffles?” “I get the feeling it’s probably less about smelling them out and more sensing out an area richer in resources, no?” “Ooooh,” she marveled, but I was just making an educated guess. I couldn’t promise I was right. “I was thinking we should try to find some Sterling Silver Sand in the next few days to beef up our equipment, so this Big Lotto might come in handy,” I said. “Okayyy, on it. Aaand, go!” She tapped her license to acquire the skill. “…Sniff, sniff. Smells like treasure!” “Oof, a dad joke? Not sure what to say…” Misaki leaned over me and started sniffing around my arms. It doesn’t bother me if she smells me, but we might have an issue if someone sees us. No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than Theresia and I locked eyes. “……” “Ooh, Theresia’s sizing you up like she wants to give you a sniff, too! Wanna let her have a go? C’mon, he’s all yours!” “Do I have any other choice…? I get that you’re excited, Misaki, but try not to go overboard,” I chided her, after which she promptly stuck her tongue out at me and got up. “Are you not gonna have time to help Melissa with her skills tonight?” “I’m going to go to the Repository to check on her later,” I said. “It’s best we go over everyone’s skills tonight.” “One hundo bromundo! Good night!” “Ha-ha-ha. Night.” Sometimes I can’t help but think the minds of girls who come up with colorful slang must spin so much faster than mine. But I guess even thinking about it that way ages me—wait, this isn’t the time to be indulging in mixed emotions. “……” Theresia stood up and looked like she was going to sit next to me on the sofa—but then for some reason she looped around the back and finally took a seat on the couch opposite me. “Hmm? What’s wrong? Easier to talk face-to-face?” She nodded. That was fine, but it had seemed like she’d first been about to come next to me. Maybe I’d just imagined it? So far, I hadn’t noticed any changes in her demeanor or health due to the hex. I knew worrying too much about it would burden her, but the thought never left the corner of my mind. “All right… I’m going to take a look at your new skills.” She nodded once more. Pulling up the screen on my license, I turned it to the side so we could both get a good look. ♦Available Skills♦ Level 3 Skills Lizard Skin 2: Inherent demi-human skill. Temporarily transforms user, greatly increasing resistance to attributes related to the individual’s characteristics. Allows user to activate unique skills only available while transformation lasts. Scapegoat: Switches target of any attack aimed at the user to someone else. Level 2 Skills Hidden Viper: Special demi-human skill. Allows user to bind target when attacking from a Hidden state. Hide: Renders the user unnoticeable unless hit by an enemy’s attack. (Prerequisite: Silent Step) Pickpocket 2: Steals multiple specified items from target without their knowledge. (Prerequisite: Pickpocket 1) Trap Detection 2: Gives user special trap-detecting vision. (Prerequisite: Trap Detection 1) Antibody: Nullifies systemic status ailments due to poison or similar substances with a fixed probability of success. Temporarily augments user’s attack power and speed. Weapon Bite: Blocks enemy weapon attacks and steals weapon upon success. Reverse End: Counterattack after a successful Dodge is guaranteed to hit with double intensity. (Prerequisite: Reverse Grip) Evil Domination: Automatically acquired when Etch-a-Hex takes full effect. User will leave current party and become subservient to the Hex caster. Progress Level: 3 Level 1 Skills Pickpocket 1: Steals a specified item from target without their knowledge. Escapology: Escapes even when restrained. Reverse Grip: Increases chances of a critical hit when user strikes with a lightweight blade held in a backhand grip. Boosts attack power if two weapons are equipped. Hijack: Steels loot or resources when an attack successfully hits a fleeing enemy. Remaining Skill Points: 3 ( 2) “……!” Nothing could calm the anger that smoldered in my heart when I saw the look on Theresia’s face. The Shining Simian Lord’s hex had wormed its way into her skills, the most vital aspect of a Seeker’s life, and was slowly stealing Theresia’s freedom. I had felt a sort of relief that Theresia seemed unchanged from the outside; only after checking her license did I realize the awful truth. “……” Careful not to touch Evil Domination, Theresia pointed to the level-3 skills that had X’s before them. “I saw the same thing on Elitia’s skill display, too. Apparently, curses or hexes make certain skills off limits,” I explained. Though she hadn’t taken her eyes off her license until that moment, Theresia then turned to me and nodded. Next, she pointed to Reverse Grip and Reverse End. She already had plenty of attack skills, and with these external restrictions on which new ones she could acquire, I would’ve thought there was no need to rush and choose another—even so, she wanted to lean into her role and augment her capabilities as an attacker for our party. For a while, all my words caught in the back of my throat. Things like Thank you, or I’m with you there, Theresia, sounded like empty platitudes. “……” “…Yeah. You already managed to sneak up on the Simian Lord once—after we get your Hide and Seek repaired, you can try again and go at it with Sneak Attack, then double the damage with Reverse Grip. You could also use the Butterfly Ring to activate Butterfly Frolic…” Whenever Theresia acquired new weapons or skills, she always found ways to put them to good use. I didn’t need to give her any detailed instructions ahead of time; she figured it out on her own. I knew, but I had to say something, fully aware that this need reflected my own weakness. “……” After nodding once again, she acquired both skills. She’d probably long ago decided she would do all she could to fulfill her duty. If only she had access to skills that would protect her from the Simian Lord’s dangerous attacks, or give her a little more leeway in life-threatening moments, or use for defense. Such wishful thoughts repeated unceasingly in my mind. “…They do say a great offense is the best defense, don’t they, Theresia?” “……” The tiniest of smiles crossed her lips for the briefest second before it disappeared, perhaps repressed by her status as a demi-human. “Last but not least—guess I’ve got to look at my own skills, huh? Want something to drink, Theresia?” I figured she’d stay up as long as I did, no matter whether I told her to rest for the night. This time, though, she stayed still and did not nod. Taking that to mean she was okay, I decided to dive right in and see what I had available. ♦Available Skills♦ Level 3 Skills : Details unknown. Falcon Eyes: Further increases ability to monitor the situation from the back line and augments shooting attacks. Activates Overtime when user hits the enemy’s weak spot. (Prerequisite: Hawk Eyes) Level 2 Skills Back Slip: Temporarily increases user’s speed, allowing user to move first. Back Order: Activates a skill with insufficient magic by taking a portion from your allies. Doll Assist: Strengthens golems and similar pawns created by allies in front of user. Backdoor: Provides a constant stream of intel on enemies whenever user is in retreat. (Prerequisite: Rear Stance) Escape Anchor: Significantly increases swiftness when activating Rearguard General. (Prerequisite: Rearguard General) Recovery Support 2: Applies healing effects on user to all party members in front. Recovers only vitality or magic. Can be activated once every thirty seconds. (Prerequisite: Recovery Support 1) Morale Support 2: Gradually increases morale of party members in front of you. Increases party’s maximum morale limit. (Prerequisite: Morale Support 1) Level 1 Skills Front Line Support 1: Inflicts knockback on enemy whenever allies in front of user sustain an attack. Magic Support 1: Increases magic consumption and spell strength by 50 percent for party members in front. Evasion Support 1: Occasionally activates Auto-Dodge for party members in front. Summon Support 1: Summons a nearby party for rear support. Rear View: Uses 5 magic points to expand your vision to cover your rear for a set period of time. Pass Back: Passes an attack onto target behind you. Can only be used when there is an available target. Backdraft: Automatically counters when attacked from behind. Tactical Reload: Reloads bullet-shooting weapons quicker and recovers magic from last shot. Requirement: Must frequently use a magic-powered bullet-shooting weapon; must be of a particular occupation. Remaining Skill Points: 4 Details unknown…? It’s got a “3” next to it—can I assume that means what it would for any other skill? Or is that just another corrupted piece of text…? I had enough points to take it, but for the time being, I should probably stick to skills whose effects I know for sure. Falcon Eyes looked very tempting, but that didn’t feel like an option since I didn’t know what Overtime meant. If only we could test skills out before choosing them. Tactile Reload seemed like it would give my attacks more bite and also replenish my magic during battle. Plus, if I combined that with Recovery Support 2, maybe I’d eliminate the risk of running out of magic in the middle of a fight. Morale Support 2 probably shortened the time it took for us to max out on morale, and I’ll bet there’s some positive benefit from increasing the party limit. But we could already use Morale Support 1 to boost our morale well enough beforehand to prepare to use any discharges. Magic Support 1 and Evasion Support 1 also looked pretty useful, as did some of the others—but I guess I could always choose from these many options as I needed to on the spot. “……” “Hm…?” I’d been so focused on my skills, I hadn’t realized Theresia had disappeared. Wondering if she’d retreated to the corner of the room again, I turned around—and felt her hand on my shoulder. “……” “…Sorry, I must’ve looked pretty scary, huh?” I said, assuming she’d moved to let me save face. But without carefully reading her every gesture, it was impossible to know what she was thinking. “…I…” Theresia’s soft breath tickled the nape of my neck, though she hadn’t blown on me or anything. She’d brought her face close in order to do something. What if she took Misaki’s joke literally? In that case, what she just did was— “U-um, did I miss a spot in the bath…?” “……” She said nothing. Normally, she’d run away about this point. But this time, even after I turned around to face her, she still stayed exactly where she stood. I could see the visible portion of her mouth moving beneath her mask, trying to form words, but no sound came out. “……!” Suddenly, she started to panic and hung her head. What in the world could be causing her to slump like that, when she was always so headstrong, refusing to listen and stay behind when I went in for a bath? But I needed to express my own thoughts more clearly, too. I stood up, but Theresia still did not raise her head. “You don’t have to apologize. And don’t hold yourself back.” “……” She didn’t move right away. Nervously, very nervously, she lifted her chin, then placed her hand on her own heart. When I reached out and petted the top of her lizard mask, she seemed to suddenly remember something and blushed bright red. But she didn’t move except to lower the hand she had over her heart and reach for my shirt. Holding on to it, she looked up at me. I pulled my hand away, but hers retained its grip. “You need to get a good rest tonight, Theresia. I’ll keep watch, don’t worry.” “……!” She shook her head. I was almost positive she would’ve sacrificed some of her sleep to stand guard as she always did if I hadn’t said anything. “I may not look it, but I’m a pro at pulling all-nighters. Man, how pathetic would I look if I fell asleep on the job?” “……” Once more, her lips curled up into a faint smile. This time, though, it stuck around. Our party sorely lacked a professional healer. Recovery Support and potions could go only so far—and leaving this problem unattended would definitely not fly. We’d already experienced the dangers of this firsthand when Suzuna’s magic ran dry and almost put her out of commission. I decided I had to take Recovery Support 2 and Tactile Reload. If I didn’t grow any more in level before our next date with the Simian Lord, I’d have only one skill point left to use in the heat of the moment. “……” “…Theresia, think you can let me go?” I asked softly; she still hadn’t released her hold on my shirt. She let go—only to immediately grab my arm and sit me back down on the sofa. “……” Then she started massaging my shoulders, squeezing and releasing. Her form was a bit strange, but that also made it relaxing. I felt her come as close as she’d been a moment earlier. Was this also Misaki’s influence, or had she always wanted to do this? I wasn’t sure but felt it would be rude to say anything either way and decided to sit still for a little while longer. Part V: Yearning Hoping to review all my party members’ skills before the day ended, I headed to the Repository. I left the lodging and walked to a small stone teleportation shed nearby then ducked inside. The teleportation door within took us to either the Repository or Monster Ranch, with which our party had contracts, depending on which key I used. “All right… Let’s go.” A faint light illuminated the door as I brought my key close to a crystal embedded on it. Then the words Repository 5583 formed on the surface, perhaps signaling my destination. I stepped through the threshold and into another dimension, just like when we asked Falma to open a treasure chest for us. I wasn’t exactly sure why, but cold air had been set to flow through and fill the Repository. Melissa had probably bundled up to protect herself from the chill. I heard a clang, clang coming from the back of the room—late as the hour had grown, our Butcher was apparently still hard at work. The room was dim and without a lamp or candle in sight, but slowly my eyes grew accustomed to the low light. A large magic circle was inscribed on the floor beneath my feet. This must’ve been where people got transported after using a key to their Repository. Lifting my head as the thought occurred to me, I almost screamed. Farther into the room, I could just barely make out an enormous—half-dissected—scorpion with a white exoskeleton suspended in a huge mass of ice, as well as a bespectacled middle-aged man and young girl with fine, flaxen hair and the eyes of a wild lynx. “My, if it isn’t Mr. Arihito,” Rikerton said. “I didn’t expect you’d come down here so late.” “…Hello.” “H-hello… Wow, you’ve already made so much progress.” “Oh yes. It’s extraordinarily hard, though, so we’re throwing all the skills and tools we have at it to first cut it up into manageable chunks. I borrowed a few tools made of ore only available in District Five for the job. Take this one here. It’s got a mysterious type of metal covering the blade,” he explained, and showed me something that resembled a chisel you might use for woodworking. Since Melissa was holding a hammer, I assumed they were splitting the work, with Rikerton placing the chisel in the right spot and Melissa pounding it. I could almost hear them breathing in perfect unison—a real father-daughter team. “…We have to process every piece of the exoskeleton to make it lighter. It’s too heavy for armor as is. Ceres asked me to take out the part that shoots laser beams. I put it here. This one’s too big, too. We’ll need something to carry it,” Melissa informed me, referring to the Queen Scorpion’s Afterglow that Ceres mentioned. The Butchers had pried off the shell covering The Calamity’s chest and removed whatever lay within. Several wires made of some kind of organic material had been strung up; were these what we’d need to connect to The Calamity’s Stinger to make Queen’s Tail? Alphecca can materialize for only so long, so we’ll have to come up with another solution for hauling this thing. Right now, I guess the cart Madoka has been asking for is our best bet. We’d had Madoka join us on expeditions before as rear backup. Her Morale Discharge, Item Effects, was a powerful recovery ace in the hole, and I was considering asking her to come along on this next mission, too. “Wow… Up close, this looks like some complex circuitry, doesn’t it?” “Monsters with highly unique capabilities can sometimes have organs that are essentially magic tools. Some simply keep a magic stone within their bodies, but this Afterglow appears to work by connecting various such stones with an executive organ.” “I see… So does that mean it’s possible to repurpose these parts as magic tools?” “Theoretically, yes, though in reality, it’s just as difficult as relying on machines to replace the organic functions…so to speak. That said, we Butchers can pick up new skills related to magical tools, not only the dissecting itself, so we are always learning more.” After finishing the rather verbose explanation, Rikerton took off his glasses and wiped them with a cloth. Evidently, he had a bit of a fanatic streak in him when it came to magic tools—not that I blamed him. I could talk for ages about things I loved, so I sympathized. “…It can be hard to get a word in with my dad.” “Ah, I beg your pardon. Somehow I got the sense you’d understand the romance and adventure behind magic tools, and I blathered far too long.” “Not at all; I found that very interesting. By the way, Rikerton, is this part unusable?” I asked, referring to The Calamity’s head, which had been removed from the rest of the body. I was surprised to see no blood even after such a dramatic dissection; instead, an oily liquid dripped from the bust into a metal bucket the two had placed beneath it, perhaps so not even this would go to waste. “Ohhh, that… Take a look at the monster’s forehead, if you would. You’ll see it’s covered with a membrane unlike the rest of the exoskeleton, but there appears to also be what looks like a magic stone embedded in there. If you’ll allow me, I can extract it now.” “A magic stone…” “…I sense something that reacts to the power of the Hidden Gods. In all likelihood, the embedded crystal is an Armament Controller,” I heard Murakumo mention. After I asked Rikerton to go ahead, he carefully cut out the item—which turned out to be a stone about the size of my palm. He handed it to me, and it began to glow with a faint blue light—just as Murakumo had suspected, it seemed similar to an Alkaid or Alioth Crystal. ♦Merak Crystal♦ > Unknown application. No information to display. > Cannot be appraised. “Thank you so much for spotting this, Rikerton. This is an extremely valuable find for our party.” “Well now, I’m mighty glad to hear it. Now that it’s out, it doesn’t appear to be a magic stone, does it…? I’ve never seen this kind of material before,” he noted. “Is this something you can use as is, without any processing?” “Yes. As you can see, we have another one embedded in this blade…in Murakumo’s handle. They correspond to something very particular.” “Now isn’t that something… A thrilling possibility, to be sure…,” he marveled. I couldn’t help but wonder if his eyes used to sparkle with wonder much like this when he was a Seeker. A moment later, though, he snapped out of it with a smile and looked once again like the calm and collected artisan we knew. “Well then,” Rikerton said, “I’m going to continue hacking away at The Calamity, and I’ll happily process any other monster resources you pick up while I remain in District Five. Melissa, it’s time you turn in and rest up for your expeditions.” “…Okay.” Melissa nodded. “Good night, Dad.” She took a thermos from the table where all their tools had been laid out, poured the drink into a cup, and handed it to Rikerton. He took the cup then turned back to his work; you could practically see him glowing with appreciation and affection for his daughter. Melissa and I returned through the teleportation shed and walked back to our lodgings. A few steps ahead of me, she stopped and turned around. “…Melissa?” The wavering light from the magic lampposts reflected off the tears streaming down Melissa’s cheeks. “Ah…” Surprised, Melissa brought her fingers to her cheek as if only just then realizing she’d been crying. I had a hunch about what had caused them to flow: According to Ceres, Melissa’s mother was somewhere in District Five. “…Is your father going to go see her?” “Arihito…you knew?” “Ceres told me. Melissa, do you…?” Before I could finish asking want to see her, too?, I realized there was no need. She wiped away her tears, turned her reddened eyes toward me—and shook her head. “We’re both Seekers. We have our own goals. That’s what’s most important…” “…Melissa, you’ve grown so much since you joined our party. I’m sure you could really support your mother now.” “Maybe. But I can’t go see her.” “Is that…because you don’t want to seem lonely or something?” She started to say something—maybe along the lines of No, that’s not it. But swallowing those words, she let out a long breath that trembled as it left her, and she nodded. The truth was, she would probably run to her mother this very instant if she could. But out of devotion to her role as a member of our party, she was doing her best to suppress that longing.