Chapter 143 - Just Forgotten?
"Why did I just get chewed out all of a sudden...?"
I, on the other hand, had to ask a completely random, out-of-context question like a kamikaze pilot, earning me a suspicious glare from my dear partner.
And to top it off, she's now demanding lots of a rare drop from a rare enemy that has a low spawn rate.
How many is "lots"...? If I remember correctly, the drop rate for an [Azure Sky Feather of the Lucky Bird] was something like one feather for every three kills, if you were lucky...
Yeah, I guess it's time to sacrifice a little sleep for the first time in a while—
"Haru?"
"Hm?"
Sora's voice made me look up—and yep, too close.
Subtly taking half a step back from the girl who has been getting naturally close to me lately, I tilted my head at the amber eyes peering at me from the side.
"Is something wrong?"
Hmm, was I making a weird face thinking about my late-night bird hunt? "It's nothing," I replied to her questioning gaze, closing the chat window that had gone silent.
"Finished your warm-up?"
"Yes! I've adjusted my stats too, so I think I can move just like before!"
Haha... she might be able to move just like before, but now Sora-san's firepower has gone up even more because of it.
It all had to do with Sora acquiring a new skill after we hunted our third Misty Snake.
It wasn't a skill I hadn't seen before, though...
――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇
Name: Sora
Lv: 100
STR: 100
AGI: 200(+10)
DEX: 200⇒100(+10)
VIT: 100
MID: 400⇒500(+50)
LUC: 50
◇Skill◇
・Magic Sword Aptitude
《Optimize Alert》
Magic Sword Telekinesis
Tracking Projection
Magic Sword Generation Efficiency Up
・Light Magic Aptitude
《Qualia Veil》
・《Scareless》
・《Observer's Eye》
・Acrobatics New!
・Healer's Precept
・Evasion Precept
・Telepathy
――――――――――――――――――
Yep. The god-tier skill I've been indebted to since forever, both before and after its evolution, `Acrobatics`, has manifested.
Ever since she established her current combat style, Sora-san has been diving headfirst into the swamp of high-speed combat, almost rivaling me. To be honest, I was expecting her to get it at any time.
Its post-evolution form is exceptional, of course, but even in its initial state, it's a super-premium skill with an effect equivalent to a simple +100 DEX. For her build, this is a significant enhancement.
...Wait, thinking about it calmly, isn't a single skill having the same effect as +10 levels just insane? This is beyond "premium."
Incidentally, my `Fleetfoot` skill, which had devolved into a lesser version of `Acrobatics` after I messed up my stat reallocation, has now undergone a furious evolution and transformed into its third stage, `Adamant Sky Dash`.
Unlike `Fleetfoot`, which doubled DEX upon reaching a certain avatar speed, this new skill adds the STR value to DEX under the same conditions.
In other words, a practical DEX +300. It seems the Acrobatics line of skills is just fundamentally broken.
Anyway, we decided to finish the snake hunt and took down the fourth one. During that fight, Sora felt she had a bit too much DEX, so she used the remodeling system she'd been saving to reallocate her stats.
She won't be able to reallocate for a month now, but if you hesitate, you'll never end up using it. It's impossible to predict when it might evolve into `Fleetfoot`, so I think it was a good call.
And so, with the surplus DEX shaved off and added to her MID, Sora's MID has finally reached 500. She's reached the threshold for what they call a pure mage, a build specializing in artillery magic.
With the boost from her [Crimson Rabbit Choker]—an accessory that's already borderline broken by Nia's standards—her MID reaches an even higher 550. And she plans to fight on the front lines as a swordsman with stats like that. Her brokenness is really accelerating.
"You know, I noticed something while I was tweaking my stats for the first time in a while."
"Oh? What's up?"
Sora materialized her status window and brought it in front of me, as if to say, "Look at this."
I looked where she pointed as she came to my side—
"Right here. My title was unequipped at some point..."
She was showing the title settings tab of the status window. Just as Sora said, the box that should have had some kind of title set in it was blank.
"You didn't unequip it yourself?"
"Well... to be honest, I set it a long time ago and kind of forgot it existed."
Ah... I know that feeling. Actually, I'm exactly the same—
""....................""
We both fell silent, looking at each other's faces.
Sora must have realized from my expression that I was in the same boat.
Namely—that we had both completely ignored the fact that titles have special effects.
"I was checking the acquisition notices so often, too..."
"For some reason, the thought of changing it never crossed my mind, did it...?"
I remember paying attention to it in the early days, but I think the last one I set was the type that designates a specific person, 'One Who Weaves Bonds'—
"—... ..."
A strange intuition shot through me, and I pulled up my own status window. Just like Sora, I opened the title settings screen and...
Ah... ha, ha... mine's blank too.
"Sora-san."
"Y-Yes?"
"This might be a long shot, but..."
Actually, there's no other conclusion to draw.
"The title you had set was 'One Who Weaves Bonds,' right?"
I materialized my own window and turned it over for Sora to see.
Seeing the blank box, just like her own, she had a puzzled look on her face—
"Eh..."
The meaning of my question.
The reason I opened my title settings right after she did.
And probably the meaning behind my expression and everything else—the sharp girl read it all.
I'm sure we, two peas in a pod, arrived at the same answer—the girl's face began to turn a deep shade of crimson.
'One Who Weaves Bonds'—by setting a specific person, all stats receive a slight positive boost when fighting alongside that player.
It feels like so long ago now, back on that plain where we stood back-to-back.
I chose Sora's name without a second thought. And Sora, though I don't know when, probably chose mine.
She said it herself: the thought of changing it never crossed her mind.
And I... I was probably the same.
It wasn't that we forgot.
It was simply that we both, subconsciously, had no intention of ever changing it—
"—...!!??"
"Ah..."
She probably saw it. My face, getting uncharacteristically flustered.
As Sora turned her back, her golden hair flipping, I looked away as well, slapping my cheeks to dissipate the heat—no, this is impossible. Anyone would be mortified by this.
"—H-Hey... I have a suggestion."
"Y-Yes...!"
Her voice, trembling with agitation, rings in my ears.
This is bad. Just hearing her voice is making this hard.
"How about we... continue our break for a little longer..."
"I... I agree..."
With just that exchange, we both, without prompting, started walking towards a rocky area we spotted.
In the middle of this gloomy swamp, we sat down on a large, convenient rock—our makeshift chair—protruding from the muddy ground—
""—........................""
We sat there, our backs to each other, creating an awkward atmosphere that didn't fit the scenery at all.
And together, we both collapsed in silent defeat.
Special Title: `Twin Flames` — A special title derived from 'One Who Weaves Bonds'. When fighting alongside the designated target, all stats receive an upward correction. Furthermore, if the designated target's HP falls below a certain value, the user gains the timed buff `Devotion of Twin Flames` once per battle.
・`Devotion of Twin Flames` — All stats receive a massive +50 bonus. In addition, while 'protecting' the designated target who has met the activation condition, damage taken is halved. Furthermore, upon a death-blow, the user will instantly revive with 1 HP once.
While `Devotion of Twin Flames` is active, two exclusive skills are acquired.
・`Intertwined Branch` — Upon activation, teleport directly in front of the designated target. Can be used once.
・`Great Tree of Shared Hearts` — After the revival effect activates, nullify all attacks for ten seconds.
・Special Title — A unique title that exists in a separate category from the normal titles set by players. Unlike normal titles, which must be activated, its effects are constantly active from the moment it is acquired.
There is no need to enable it, but there is also no way to disable it.
Whether it becomes a blessing or a curse...
That depends entirely on the title's contents and the player who earned the honor of receiving such a rarity.