kscans

Chapter 948 - Steady Progress in Adapting to Daily Life

"Haru."

"Yes, that's me."

"You smell good."

"I bet I do—hey, wait…! C'mon, stop taking a deep inhale at point-blank range, stop it!!"

And so, it was just before eleven at night.

It had been a little over two hours since the end of our grand and lively banquet, which we had stretched out as long as possible while still being minimally considerate so as not to be a bad influence on the young lady.

Within those two hours, I'd been coerced into accompanying the maid who came to pick up Sora-san, and upon arriving at the Yotsuya residence, I'd been coerced into coming inside for just a little while… and finally, I'd managed to evade being strong-armed into staying the night.

Well, after all that, it was just before eleven.

Having safely returned to the Yotsuya dormitory from the Yotsuya estate, I was immediately captured in the entrance hall by the 'princess' who had been waiting for me with a blank expression.

"…It's making me hungry."

"…You know, saying things like that every day is what solidifies your image as a glutton."

As I spoke, I peeled off Ashe, who had slammed into me with a soft body check that was like a real-life Shukuchi. The fact that I could peel her off meant it was just a prank.

If she, Alicia White of world fame, were serious, there's a high chance I wouldn't be able to match her even in a contest of strength—

"Tomorrow. Nine at night. Meet at El Faria."

"Got it. What's the status on Irori's group?"

"They've already reached the hundredth layer. They said they'll have cleared it by tomorrow evening."

Slipping from my grasp, the princess began to walk, casually laying out the main topic. The abrupt start and direct progression were typical of her, and I responded just as casually…

—but with a perfectly natural motion and an imperceptible first move, two arms slipped through my guard and wrapped around my defenseless elbow, a move I couldn't counter.

"……………Um."

"Aika, Rinne… it doesn't matter if they're physical or ability-based, a counter-type tank has a terrible matchup against that False God… but with two of the Eastern 'Pairs' there, I have no worries."

"Hey, you've been doing this stuff so casually late—"

"Haru."

"Yes, that is still me…"

"Let's go for yakiniku sometime, too. With the members from the dorm, and we'll invite Sora again."

"I told you not to sniff me. …The smell is going to stick to your clothes."

"Hehe, too late."

For the short walk to our respective rooms, in the end, I was dragged along—or rather, escorted—by the princess who always goes her own way, and we walked slowly.

◇◆◇◆◇

"—…Morning."

'Morning. …Sorry, were you still sleeping?'

The next day, seven in the morning. A melodic chime announcing a visitor provided me with an elegant awakening, causing me to jolt upright and frantically get myself minimally presentable. And now…

"Nah, it's, well, it's fine. I got enough sleep."

'Sorry. I should have messaged you first.'

When I opened the door, there stood the indigo-haired girl who, unusually, had yielded her welcoming duties to Ashe last night… or rather, the fluffy, caramel-blonde girl in the real world.

And a voice I could see reached me.

I'm sure I look half-asleep, and I'm aware that my words are slightly slurred. So Nia, who isn't 'incapable of reading the room' but simply 'chooses not to read the room' depending on the person, showed a flicker of guilt.

In that case,

"I said it's fine. What's up?"

A palm-strike.

My just-woken-up mind is even less hesitant than usual. I didn't have the mental resources for deep thought, and my hand moved almost unconsciously.

At that, Nia, who took the impact on the top of her head with a soft thump, let her cheeks relax into a gentle smile.

'The thing you asked for is done.'

"Oh!"

Tap, tap, tap. She showed me the text she'd typed into her phone.

"Ooh…"

Thirty minutes later. After finishing breakfast and other morning routines, I took advantage of it being Sunday to take a second nap by logging into the game world, making my way to the Artisan's Atelier.

And there—before the room's owner, Nia, I let out a mixed reaction of admiration, awe, and excitement. The reason for my visit was now fitted onto my hands and feet.

Two pairs, one set. A pair of white and pale blue gloves and leggings, both as thin as an undergarment.

Both featured a stylish and practical fingerless design, and their comfort level was a perfect zero. I felt no weight at all, preserving the sensation of bare skin almost completely…

"How is it?"

"Perfect."

Just as I said, the items were exactly as I'd ordered.

With the evolution of my soul-bound armament, it wasn't that I had lost my Digavoga gloves and boots… but that it had become possible to layer them, which naturally created a need for new hand and foot equipment.

Specifically, a soft underlayer of clothing that wouldn't impede movement or sensation even with armor on top.

For this, Kagura-san, who had been in charge of my hand and foot gear until now, had personally recommended Nia, saying, 'This is definitely in Nia's field.' That's why I had commissioned the [Milmarinus] right after confirming the performance of my [An=Re Galta, True Theory: Armor Singing of the King's Key].

The materials used came from three raid-class boss enemies with an affinity for 'water'.

Starting with [Rapharn, the Great Spirit of Sudden Water], followed by the boss of the Key Tree Maze's fiftieth layer, [Primvare, the Earth-Eroding Mermaid], and finished with the one from the seventieth layer, the [Marid, Water Demon]…

...or rather, the loot obtained from [Shenalafan, the Water Demon]. And so, as I gazed at the gloves, on which I could faintly make out a scale-like pattern if I looked closely…

"Did the mermaid material clash with the others?"

"Not at all, just as I expected. It was pulled in by Rapharn's blessing and reversed its properties."

"A cursed mermaid, huh? …As always, it feels like every boss has its own backstory."

Primvare the mermaid, who meets her end by being scorched by 'water' at the climax of the gimmick battle. However, a look at the materials secured through a full-on gacha-fest from a Mako's perspective, along with its flavor text, revealed that it actually had a high affinity with the water attribute.

Of course, it seemed a little tweak was needed… and that tweak was none other than Rapharn, who could be called the epitome of the water attribute in Arcadia right now.

It seemed the blessings held by the materials of the Great Water Spirit and the Water Demon had successfully lifted the curse.

The name was one—[Aqua Veritas, Eternal Body, Four Shores]. It was an unconventional set consisting of four pieces for the extremities, and it would only display its true power when all four pieces—both hands and both feet—were equipped.

An item crafted by the [Milmarinus], currently the sixth-ranked artisan, using materials from three raid-class boss enemies… in other words, a completely flawless, high-end unique piece.

That meant it naturally surpassed the usual limitation of having to choose between a status bonus or a special ability, just like my old Digavoga.

The status bonus was a perfect +100 to Mind (MID). And then…

"—Stella."

My call was answered instantly. [Alv Stella, the True White Star Sword], which had been in a good mood ever since we started the Key Tree conquest, immediately provided a gentle strike as per its master's will, a far cry from its harsh retorts of the past.

Then, I blocked the pommel swinging at a decent speed with my palm—at that moment, the hidden 'power' of the [Aqua Veritas] automatically activated, emitting a faint 'water' light.

As if I had just experienced the resistance of water itself.

The star sword's pommel, having been slowed down ever so slightly but definitely, tapped my palm with an extremely soft touch.

Okay, let me say it again.

"Nia-chan."

"Yes?"

"Perfect. You're a genius."

"Heh-heh! Of course I am!!!"

Immediately, Nia puffed out her chest with a proud look. She deserved applause, not retorts. As always, my personal artisan and tailor had delivered my order in perfect form.

…Well, I'll turn a blind eye to her occasional eccentricities, like the bunny ears currently swaying on her back. In any case, with the gap in my equipment now safely filled—

"So, Nia. About that other matter I wanted to discuss…"

"Oh yeah, yeah, okay, I haven't forgotten. Should we start planning that for real?"

Just like that one time, secretly.

We'll move forward with this matter, one as important as my own life.

---

It's about time, isn't it?

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◇Status◇
Title: Acrobat
Name: Haru
Lv: 110
STR: 300
AGI: 300
DEX: 0
VIT: 0 (+100)
MID: 350 (+450)
LUC: 300
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VIT+100 = [An=Re Galta, True Theory: Armor Singing of the King's Key] Bonus: 100
(Additional bonus of +200 when fully equipped and manifested)

MID+450 = [Aquamarine Rabbit Heart] Bonus: 200
[Aqua Veritas, Eternal Body, Four Shores] Bonus: 100
[Perdia Eternity] Bonus: 50 (x2 when fighting with partner)
'Embracing Wings of Brilliance' Title Bonus: 100

The effect of the title 'Embracing Wings of Brilliance,' which has been in use for 800 chapters now, is a MID bonus based on LUC.
Opening the details reveals: 'When equipping an item derived from the [White-Shining Bird of Fortune], add half of the player's base LUC stat (excluding bonuses from equipment, etc.) to the MID stat.'

The reason it's only +100 MID for 300 LUC is simply because the bonus from 'Embracing Wings of Brilliance' is capped at 100. 'One Who Conquered the Spiral Crimson Tower,' which has a similar effect but no cap, is truly a reward befitting a high-difficulty dungeon clear.