Chapter 284 - What I Obtained Is
Deep within the jungle dungeon, the [Poison Spring Respite], a place teeming with poison slimes, a boss enemy appeared in a spring of noxious miasma. As one might expect, it was a giant poison slime.
However, unlike the [Minions of the Poison Spirit], whose only strengths were their physical immunity and numbers, this was a well-crafted 'formidable foe,' just as you'd expect from a proper Arcadia field.
It was, but—
◇ You have defeated [Venomis Eldart, Cursed Poison Spirit] ◇
◇ Title Acquired ◇
・'Overwhelming Victory'
・'A Strong Man's Diversion'
・'Sweeper of the Weak'
◇ Skill Acquired ◇
・[Water Magic Aptitude]
・[Mana Efficiency]
—and so on.
The giant chimera slime, a disgusting fusion of countless poisonous creatures, was no match for me. It's not arrogance, just a fact—I've gotten too strong, so it was inevitably annihilated in an instant. Wait a minute, did some important information just scroll by in the log!?
"I got a magic aptitude, just like that!"
"Whoa, you scared me. Huh, a skill? Congratulations?"
"Thanks!"
I couldn't help but crank up my volume knob, startling Tetra, who was examining the loot next to me. My apologies. But this time, I hope he'll let it slide.
I mean, it's magic! Magic! I'd always been a little envious of Sora's magic swords, but my admiration had been quietly growing ever since I saw so many mages during the Four Pillar War.
"Wait a sec, I still don't really get how magic works. Can I use this right away? Is that how it works? I'm not getting that usual zap of a brain-install. Is this a bug?"
"Okay, okay, you're being loud. I get that you're happy, but could you calm down a bit? You're too close."
Oops, maybe I got a little too excited. Tetra's slightly taken-aback expression brought me back to my senses, but my heart was still racing as I opened my skill window.
"First, activate the magic aptitude tree. You can have one weapon and one magic aptitude active at the same time… By the way, what's the attribute?"
"It was Water."
"No way, it doesn't suit you at all."
Shut up, I thought, but I had to agree with him wholeheartedly, so I let him off the hook.
I mean, really, how in the world did I end up with Water…? Sora's 'Light' and Tetra's 'Shadow' fit them perfectly, but is there any part of me that screams 'Water'???
◇ [Water Magic Aptitude] has been activated ◇
◇ Skill Acquired ◇
・[Aqua]
"Oh, huh… I just learned a magic spell with a really bland name."
"That's the basic skill for each attribute. For Water, I think it's [Aqua]. Now that you've activated it, you should have 'received' the instructions on how to use it, right?"
Just as Tetra said, the moment I enabled the magic skill tree, [Arcadia]'s trademark system kicked in, engraving the skill's usage into my brain—
"—…………"
"Pfft… …………"
I was left speechless, and Tetra was trying to stifle his laughter.
Okay, well, basically… the gist of it is similar to how I use [Parabellum Bullet]. It seems I can use it by materializing an image, something I've done plenty of times.
—Alright, let's do this. Everyone, please direct your attention to my right hand!
"[Aqua]."
Splash. That's it.
"…………For reference…"
"Heh, pff… Y-Yeah. What is it?"
"If this is the first tree a beginner gets, what are they supposed to do?"
It wasn't a powerful stream of water or a high-impact bullet. How was anyone supposed to fight with a skill that just dribbles out an amount of water corresponding to one's mana?
"Well, it is convenient in its own way, you know? It's basically pure water, so it's apparently highly valued among production classes."
"Oh… And for combat?"
"You could team up with an ice mage, I guess. Though I only know a handful of people who use a pure Ice Magic Aptitude tree."
"So it's useless!"
Not that I really mind!
It's not like I was hoping for it as a direct power-up or anything!!
"…Well, don't worry. Water magic is famous for having the absolute worst starting skill, but it's also known as a late-bloomer type. You're already more than strong enough without magic, senpai, so this is actually convenient for you, right?"
"Well, when you put it that way… By the way, you're not going to tell me you have zero attack options, including enchants, as a support-specialist, are you?"
"I told you, it's fine. I don't know if you'll be able to learn them, but there are definitely confirmed enchant and attack spells."
Hmm… Hmm. I can't deny I feel a little let down right off the bat, but if my senpai says so, I guess I can believe him.
In any case, this splish-splashing is still visually magic, so there's that…
…………By the way?
"This lets you produce an amount of water based on your mana, right?"
"Well, I don't know the specifics. If the system told you that's how it works, then that's probably it."
"So, for example…"
"Yeah?"
"What would happen if a player with 650 MID poured all their MP into it?"
"Huh?—Wait, wha… Six hundred???"
I kind of figured it out while using it, but this probably isn't a fixed-output type skill. That means I should be able to adjust the amount, just like Sora's Optimize Alert.
"Wait a minute, you're kidding, right? How do you have more MID than a pure mage with that combat style… No, wait, stop! You've got to be joking. If you're going to 'experiment,' do it by yourself—!"
"Don't be so cold, senpai (kouhai)."
We're in a dungeon where there's no death penalty even if something happens. Don't you want to join in on the fun?
And well… consider this a little payback for laughing at me.
Alright then—Surge, my mana! Roar, my new power!
"Alright, here I gooo! Three, two, one—!"
"Wai—You've gotta be—!?"
"Come forth—[Aqua]aaaaa!"
Now then, I learned two things from this little 'prank.' Drowning in Arcadia isn't painful, but it is terrifying.
And—
"Too slow. Next. Twenty more runs."
"YES, SIR!"
—my senpai (kouhai) is also terrifying when he's angry.
It wasn't just drowning; causing a flood right next to a poison spring is obviously a bad idea.