Chapter 86 - Chapter 77: Escaping Beginner Gear?
“Haa…”
“I’m home, Brother!”
The two returned to the [Virtual Club Room] after the stream.
It was good that Seth (Miki) was energetic, but Bell-buchou seemed tired.
“Good work.”
Good work, everyone.
It was almost 4 PM.
The stream started just after 1 PM and lasted a little over two hours. There were many points worth noting, and it was quite helpful.
However, the Ancient Ruins dungeon was simple. They couldn’t progress because the door at the back of the second floor wouldn’t open.
Inside the dungeon, there were places where ore could be mined, just like the ore veins on the Uninhabited Island, so it seemed quite valuable.
If a path could be maintained, it might be just right for players who’ve moved past beginner status?
“Well, Brother, was it helpful?”
“Yeah, I got to see the Armor Bear fight. I probably can’t imitate their fighting style, but I figured out its weak points, or rather, where attacks connect.”
Even if you foolishly slash at it, attacks seem to bounce off its hardened skin, just like its name suggests.
Seth parried the attacks, Nat struck with his greatsword to stagger it, and then Leona-sama cleaved its neck with a single flash.
And as it tried to flee, Polly (Iincho)’s Tree Spirit neatly tripped it up.
…That was a strategy impossible for a solo player.
President, are you alright?
“Yes, I want to say I’m fine, but teaming up with Leona-sama is exhausting.”
“Is that so? You seemed to get along better than I expected, though.”
Bell-buchou had been called upon by Leona-sama and Princess Anshia ever since she started getting a bit famous, so I think there was a camaraderie among independent virtual idols.
But I felt like she called her “Bell” more familiarly than that.
“Today, everyone in the party was working well. If there are too many mistakes, she gets grumpy in an instant…”
Ah… I kinda get that.
Or rather, it’s said that one needs considerable skill to party with Leona-sama.
Is that so? I didn’t know.
“Mion, do you not watch Leona-sama’s streams much?”
Yes. I knew from highlight videos that she’s incredibly good at action games. But during her live streams, she just played silently, so…
It didn’t suit Mion’s tastes, she meant.
She prefers playing happily while interacting with viewers, like Bell-buchou.
“Even so, a stoic type like that probably wouldn’t get too angry if you properly admitted your fault, right?”
“Yes, well, that’s true. IRO isn’t a competitive game, so maybe I could have been a bit more relaxed.”
Well, from Bell-buchou’s perspective, Leona-sama is a major senior in many ways, so it’s probably natural for her to feel nervous.
“By the way, Seth. Did you talk to Dads-san?”
“Indeed, I decided to do so before the evening stream.
I’m hesitant to decide alone, so I’m considering having Jinbee-dono accompany me.”
My master, huh? He’s probably the oldest in real life, so he seems like the right person.
“Alright, alright~ Let’s call it a day for now~”
Yata-sensei clapped his hands.
I guess it’s time to start dinner prep.
“Hmm? What’s wrong, Mion?”
What’s for dinner tonight?
“Eh? Well, just chive and egg, chicken tenderloin salad, and Chinese soup, I guess?”
Seth looked happy at that answer. She likes chive and egg, after all.
And as for Mion, who asked the question:
Please let me try it sometime…
Yeah, well, if you come over, that’s fine, but…
*
The chive and egg looked delicious…
“No, it’s just regular chive and egg, I didn’t do anything special.”
After dinner, I logged into IRO.
Mion apparently saw the dinner photo Seth posted on Saezutter.
Seth and the president were apparently going to officially announce the player guild “Silver Manor” in tonight’s stream.
It seems to have already spread among players mainly based in Amiera Territory, but this would be the official announcement.
“Lupi, are yesterday’s smoked fish okay?”
“Woof!”
I lightly roasted it to warm it up, and Lupi started eating it with relish.
Now, today I’ll finally graduate from my beginner’s leather armor.
You’re getting new armor today, right?
“Yeah. I have Ranziboa leather, and I can prepare iron plates too.”
In Seth’s stream today, Nat’s leather armor was shown from various angles, and by using the beginner’s leather armor as a reference, I should be able to make it.
“I guess I’ll just take this off and make it while looking at it.”
I removed the beginner’s leather armor from my equipment and examined it. Or rather, why not just dismantle it?
Thanks to my [Sewing] skill, it seems I can dismantle it for maintenance.
You’re dismantling it?
“Yeah. It seems I can take it apart for upkeep, and if I use it as a pattern, I probably won’t mess up the size.”
I see.
Speaking of which, how do store-bought armors handle sizing?
In normal games, there’s no sizing issue, right?
“Woof.”
“Hmm, Lupi, are you done eating? Can you go hunt some Bicobit again?”
“Woof!”
She replied and ran off towards the Dense Forest.
If Lupi had levels, monsters around here probably wouldn’t give her any experience anymore, so I really need to deal with that Armor Bear on the west side quickly.
Once you have new armor, it’s finally time for the Armor Bear, isn’t it?
“That’s the plan, but I’m still missing a decisive move.”
I know where to attack, but I can’t think of the preliminary steps for it yet.
The previous goblin battle, except for the Goblin Leader appearing at the end, was within expectations, and my secret weapon, the paralyzing knife, also worked.
“I don’t think my current paralyzing knife will be effective against that Armor Bear.”
Even if I manage to land a hit with my arts,
Considering it was about 5 minutes against the Goblin Leader, maybe 1 minute? Whether I can finish it off in that time…
Is it an opponent resistant to magic?
“Magic, huh… Speaking of which, I picked up a [Grimoire] from a Goblin Magician, but I haven’t used it for anything other than [Stone Wall].”
And if it’s [Elemental Magic], you could get advice from the president.
“I guess I’ll ask about it at club tomorrow.”
Today, Bell-buchou defeated the Armor Bear before I could even cast a spell.
With Leona-sama there, and Polly (Iincho) who was close to a beginner, she seemed to have focused on being a backstage supporter.
I’m a bit curious how a pure magic build would handle it.
What about [Spirit Magic]?
“Hmm, since it’s a Light Spirit, maybe a flash to blind it?”
…I have a feeling it would just start rampaging indiscriminately.
Right? Well, what if it turns into a war of attrition?
I have a feeling it would recover just as easily as from paralysis. In most games, status effects like that become less effective on the second or third application, that’s the rule.
“Polly (Iincho)’s Tree Spirit magic was amazing. She tripped that thing up.”
That’s true. It would be great if Shou-kun could use Tree Spirit magic too.
To be able to use a Tree Spirit, huh?
There must be some way, but…