Chapter 352 - What True Appraisal Reveals
"Discernment activates against anything falsified, so I don't think there will be many places to use it."
"Ah… So, I can only use it when someone is disguised or miming again?"
"That's right, but look. You can try it on us here."
Azure-san said with a smile.
Ah, so the dragons are disguised as humans, and he wants me to confirm that with Discernment!
But, isn't this sort of thing…
"Isn't that rude?"
"Normally it would be, but it's fine if it's Shou."
"Right."
"Alright, alright, get on with it, quickly, quickly."
First, he had to acquire the Discernment skill. It was a rare skill, costing 9 SP, leaving him with 7 SP.
If I get the pioneer reward, I'll talk about the Discernment skill during the live stream. I can just say I received the Azure Dragon Scale Ornament as a thank you for sweets.
Is it okay to use Appraisal? When he looked at Vermilion-san with Appraisal, for a moment, he was surprised to see his true dragon form.
[Dragon: Vermilion: Trusted: Disguised]
*A Divine Dragon called the Scarlet Dragon.
He boasts the greatest martial prowess among the Dragon race and leads the militant dragons and Dragonfolk.*
[Pioneer of Discernment: Acquired 10 SP]
[Discernment skill level increased!]
"Whoa! He looks strong!"
As befitting the name Scarlet Dragon, he might be the closest to the dragon I imagine.
"Good reaction!"
Vermilion-san seemed pleased.
"Alright, alright. Next, me!"
Azure-san was…
[Dragon: Azure: Trusted: Disguised]
*A Divine Dragon called the Azure Dragon.
He boasts the greatest knowledge among the Dragon race, and none surpass him in Elemental Magic.*
"Ohh, he's beautiful."
[Discernment skill level increased!]
"Hehe-hee!"
As his name suggested, he was a blue dragon, a cool and intelligent dragon.
Azure-san seemed pleased with that comment as well.
"Please."
"Ah, yes."
I thought Argenta-san wasn't the type to go along with this kind of thing, but…
[Dragon: Argenta: Trusted: Disguised]
*A Divine Dragon called the Silver Dragon.
She is called the White Dragon Princess's trusted aide and is effectively the number two overseeing the Dragon race.*
"Ohh! As expected, amazing…"
[Discernment skill level increased!]
When I first transferred to the Large Transfer Room in the basement, I could only be surprised, but a silver dragon has a somewhat mechanical feel to it, which is cool.
"Hmph."
""Tch.""
The two clicked their tongues at Argenta-san's triumphant expression.
I wish they'd stop fighting over my reactions…
"Um, could you tell me about Mana Transmission Lines?"
"Ah, that's right. Um, it's in the book I gave you, but…"
He had been given a book about magic tools, but the title was "Basic Alchemy."
Huh? Does this mean there's an Alchemy skill? No, for now, let him explain first.
Flipping through the first few pages of the book,
"Ah, that page. Um, you make ingots with the blending ratio written here, but it's hard to get the proportions exactly right from ore, so…"
Apparently, it was best to first turn each into pure ingots, and then mix those ingots according to the ratio.
Then, use the resulting alloy ingots to create Mana Transmission Lines.
"Are magic tools easy to make?"
"Hmm, not easy, no. You need to analyze existing magic tools and acquire all the constituent magic spells."
So Magic Analysis is for that.
And you can only make magic tools after analyzing them and being able to use all their constituent magic spells…
"Wait, by that logic, Shou-kun can't make magic tools, right? Why do you want Mana Transmission Lines?"
"Ah, well, you see…"
I never did tell them about Nina, after all. I'll take this opportunity to tell them.
Briefly, very simply, an AI that manages Ancient Ruins… no, they wouldn't understand that. A life form? A spiritual entity? I'll tell them there's something like that.
"I want to talk to that Nina-san!"
"Azure, wait. Only after our current problems are resolved."
"Aww…"
Azure-san also hadn't known and was extremely interested, but as Argenta-san said, it would have to wait until this matter was settled.
[World Quest updated!]
"Ah! Um, I'm sorry. World… A revelation! Please wait a moment."
Vermilion-san also seemed curious, and being surrounded by the three of them felt a little intimidating.
[World Quest: Necropolis: Part Three "Truth"]
A ruin found deep in the Jet Black Forest. This undead-occupied city was the epicenter of a catastrophe caused by an Ancient Magic Civilization.
The interior of the city, infested with undead, has been purified by those who earned the trust of the Dragon race, restoring it to a state that hints at its former prosperity.
The remaining core of the calamity. The innermost "Core of Wisdom" now seeks peace from the Blessed Ones and is about to be reopened.
Objective: Purify the "Core of Wisdom" in the innermost part of the Necropolis.
・Approximately 15 hours until the door to the "Core of Wisdom" opens.
Sub-objective: Defeat the demons infiltrating the Necropolis. Achieved: 11/13.
Someone seems to have reached the innermost part, but there's a door, and they have to wait for it to open?
15 hours later means past noon tomorrow, right?
"Um, it seems someone has reached the innermost part, or rather, the center, but the door there is said to open past noon tomorrow."
"I see. Shou-sama, do you have any other plans for tomorrow?"
"No, none in particular… Should I come here?"
"If possible, we would ask you to. That central area is where the calamity once occurred."
Argenta-san bowed her head.
Vermilion-san and Azure-san, while prefacing that they wouldn't force him, said they would protect him and Lupi no matter what, and asked him to come in case of an emergency.
Well, only I can use the highest administrator authority, after all. Tomorrow is a holiday, so there's no problem…
"Understood. Then I'll come before the door opens, but should I just be on standby?"
"That's right. It would be best for Shou-kun to wait here, just in case."
"What about me?"
"Vermilion, please go to the site with Geira and the others."
Various arrangements were being made, but I guess I'll just come before that time.
Shou-kun. It's almost time.
Ah, I messed up.
"My apologies. It's time for me to go home today."
...
..
.
"I'm back."
"Woofn."
Welcome back. It's exactly 11 o'clock.
He returned to the Large Transfer Room and breathed a sigh of relief. The timing was perfect.
He rode the Transfer Elevator up.
When he emerged into the basin where his mountain cabin was, Leda, Roy, Sweee, and the Fairies greeted him.
"~~~♪"
"I'm home. Anything new happen?"
Sweee shook her head from side to side and settled onto his left shoulder, her usual spot.
Lupi also seemed to be getting a report from Leda and Roy, so I'll give them their reward for staying home, even if it's a bit over time, then log out.
"The door opens tomorrow at 2 PM, right?"
Yes. But why at that specific time?
"It's a public holiday, so I guess it's a gimmick to get as many players as possible to participate?"
I see.
He put down his luggage and gave Sweee and the Fairies Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit. For Lupi, Leda, and Roy, he reheated smoked Oranjack (horse mackerel) as a reward.
By the way, can't you acquire skills from the books you received?
"Ah, that, I thought about that too."
He took out the "Basic Alchemy" book from his inventory, held it in his hand, and opened his skill list. He searched for "Alchemy"…
"Found it. Just [Alchemy], Uncommon rank, huh."
[Alchemy]
Skill for creating various alloys.
Prerequisites: Mining Lv5, Blacksmithing Lv5, possession of alchemy-related books.
Will you acquire it?
"Yeah. With this, I feel like I won't fail when making alloys for Mana Transmission Lines in the Magic Furnace."
So he clicked it.
I'd like to try it out, but it's almost time, and I have tomorrow too, so I'll do it later…