Chapter 604 - Seeking Treasure, Desiring the Unique
First of all.
Though I called everyone together today on a whim, why was visiting this place on my 'schedule' to begin with?
It all started two months ago when I obtained the [Nine Tail]. My personal artisan suggested, "The set effect is gone now, so why don't we craft you a new ring, too?"
In other words, it began when I set out to fulfill the order to go find some nice-looking gems (paraphrased).
My left ring and right bracelet. The El-Eme Series was an undisputed top-tier set with a total MID bonus of +100 including the two-piece set effect. But with the bracelet updated, the benefit my avatar received had dropped to just the +30 from the ring alone.
As Nia taught me when we first met, a +30 bonus on a single piece is still first-class by general standards—but now, I am, in name and reality, an exceptional player, a Ranker.
If asked whether I should be content with an item of general standards, the answer is, of course, NO.
And so.
Once I made up my mind, I started by simply wandering around, then quickly came to the realization that "the world is too big, this is impossible," and resorted to looking up information online. I also asked Nia and other friends and acquaintances if they knew of any promising gem materials…
But if I wanted something beyond first-class, the base specs of the material gem would also need to be super-first-class or higher—in other words, something on the level of a unique item was the minimum requirement.
It's called 'unique' because there's nothing else like it, because there's only one. If there's information on it, it means it's been discovered, which usually means it's already in someone's possession.
Frankly, it wasn't the kind of thing you could solve by seeking information. That's precisely why so many players wander the world, all searching for the unique.
In the end, my conclusion was that 'it's difficult to aim for an upgrade in a short period.' I could have tried putting out a call to buy one if I didn't care about the means, but I decided against it for one reason or another.
And so, I gave up, putting it on hold about a month and a half ago. The situation changed just the other day, about a week ago.
—I found a cool place!!!
A message from Lux arrived.
An enemy that eats minerals and leaves behind its corpse after being defeated… a secret area where beings remarkably similar to the rock ants that inhabit the paradise of mineral materials, the [Great Rock-Eating Hive], roamed.
That alone was enough to pique my interest, but when I asked where it was, she said it was outside the circles.
She even gave the area's difficulty her seal of approval as a Ranker, saying, "In my opinion, they were at least stronger than the ants," so I couldn't help but have high expectations.
I had a few personal matters to consider and was worried about my 'equipment' in general, not just accessories, so Lux's message was a godsend.
So, I asked if she could guide me there soon, around the time the selection matches were over. I received an enthusiastic, positive reply: "Just call me, and I'll be there, even on the same day!!!" and so—
"Hey, Har-kun. What do you think that is? Is it safe to touch?"
"If the great [Traveler]-sama doesn't know, there's no way I would. And stop trying to touch everything you see. Are you a child—I told you not to touch it!?"
"Aww! Come on, just a little!"
"Don't try to poke a mysterious, spiky, bomb-like object just to see what happens!"
—I had already gotten her word, which is why I summoned her today, but…
It's kind of, unexpected.
This is the second time Lux and I have partied up, including the 'White Throne' subjugation battle, but it's the first time we've 'adventured' together. However, Sora-san has been with her through two events, so I thought she would naturally gravitate toward her familiar partner.
But as it turns out—
"…Isn't Ru-chan like, super attached to you? Why?"
"Ah, haha… I think I have a vague idea why."
For some reason, it's always me who gets dragged into things by Lux, who comes to bother me at every turn.
I can't bring myself to leave alone the problem child who seems like she'd get into trouble in a second if I took my eyes off her, so I'm playing the role of her guardian… but the stares from behind are painful.
The source of the deadpan glare is mainly Nia. As she once gushed to Mitsueda-san, she doesn't usually get jealous of anyone other than Sora and Ashe… but, how should I put it.
It's a bit different from jealousy. I feel a sort of "here he goes again" vibe.
"Oh? And what's the reason?"
"Huh? Oh, well… Haru is, you know, earnest with everyone, no matter who they are."
"Earnest, hmm?"
"Even when he seems to be half-assing it, it's more like he's consciously trying to seem that way… and I think that kind of thing, um, just gets across to people…"
"Ahh… well, ahh… I see. So because he's dutiful and goes along with her even while looking annoyed, Ru-chan, who tends to leave others behind with her high energy, is happy."
"Um, I think that's what it is."
"I see, I see."
"—It's not 'I see, I see.' Could you please stop having a full-blown character analysis of me three steps behind my back where I can hear you, ladies?"
"Hey, hey, Har-kun!"
"You could at least pretend to care, you invincible creature. We were just the subject of a rather embarrassing conversation. What's wrong with you, is the only thing in your head what's right in front of you??"
"Who cares about that! Look, look, look at that!"
"Whoa, hey, don't pull me…!"
When she yanks my hand so mercilessly, I can't resist, probably because I'm losing in the STR department. As I'm dragged along, I look behind me again—
"Such a charmer."
"When it comes to this… it seems we'd better just give up…"
—a blue gaze, softer than before, and an amber one filled with resignation.
It seems I've been forgiven for now, but I know this means I'll have to listen to each of their selfish demands later. I know it. I've gotten good at spotting this kind of thing recently.
Well, can't be helped. I'll give up. For now, I should switch gears and focus on…
"…But really, what is this?"
"It's huge, isn't it?"
What we found at the end of Lux's pulling—a bizarre, shining mountain made of countless layers of familiar golden 'shells.'
Hey Nia-chan, I need you to do your job. What is this?
Even though he's in guardian mode, his Trance form is actually shorter than Sora-san's, so he just looks like a child being dragged around by an adult.
Also, everyone is talking so much that the story isn't moving forward at all. Help.
By the way, anyone who figured out why the protagonist was recently worried about his 'equipment' is a top-tier Arcadian. The information needed to guess 'this must be it' has already been revealed in this chapter.