kscans

Chapter 957 - The Forest of Crystal Source

—Magic Crafter players in Arcadia are generally inept at combat and adventuring. There are various reasons, but the biggest factor is their skewed status distribution.

They put a few points into Strength (STR) and Agility (AGI), just enough to stay within human limits and maintain easy control. And since, unlike combat classes, there's absolutely no severity to their build construction, they put a few more into Luck (LUC), believing it must have some effect.

That usually leaves them with about 900 points… which they, for the most part, distribute between Mind (MID) and Dexterity (DEX) at a ratio of about 2:1. That's the Magic Crafter basic.

One might wonder what they hope to achieve with an MID value that surpasses even pure artillery-type mages, but the answer is simple: Magic Power (MP).

In Arcadia, where healer-type players are scarce, methods for recovering HP are also limited. But securing MP is incomparably more difficult.

That one junior in all-black is an exception among exceptions, practically one of a kind.

Normally, the only recourse is potions, which can't even offer instant recovery at the highest grades. Overusing them results in a debuff, so the basic strategy is to wait for natural regeneration.

And—magic crafting requires, fundamentally, a massive amount of MP.

Putting points into MID raises the maximum MP capacity.

Furthermore, in Arcadia, where both HP and MP regenerate over time based on a percentage, a higher max capacity means a proportionally higher natural recovery rate.

It doesn't take much thought to see why it's a stat worth investing in.

Combined with Dexterity (DEX), which is essential for delicate work, it's understandable why there's little variation in the stats of Magic Crafters—though apparently, there's a red-haired beauty in a kimono who reigns as a top Magic Crafter despite also being a capable fighter. But she's another exception among exceptions.

There are other overlapping reasons, like 'basically zero mental fortitude for combat' or 'a tendency toward being shut-ins,' but it simply comes down to a lack of physical mobility. Even on an adventure focused on 'travel' that avoids combat, if that adventure involves walking outside, their stats just can't keep up.

Hence their ineptitude at combat and adventuring—but,

"So, what's it look like?"

"Mmmmmm—… well, let's see…"

Just like that red-haired beauty in a kimono, 'exceptions' in a virtual world are born with startling ease.

During the recent 'Green Connect' raid, she grandly showcased the power of her Anima… a pair of magic eyes that could see through and perceive absolutely everything hidden within matter: [Celestial Aquamarine, Shimmering Blue Jade Twin Stars]. And recently, a new phrase has been added to the words directed at Nia, also known as Milmarinus.

Namely—'I want a Nia-chan for every party.'

"Sorry, the magic is so dense here I can only get a blurry view, but…"

"Zero information is the norm, so a rough idea is perfectly fine."

And why is that? It's simple.

"Okay then, just a rough, quick look… —First, the enemies here are mimic-types."

"Oh?"

"There aren't many of them. But they're huge. A few elite types? Ah, they're mimicking the trees."

"I see?"

"They're not moving an inch and don't show up on detection skills, so telling them apart without cheating looks tough… Ah, wait. There might be a feature. A faint, twisted pattern on the 'root' part."

"Hoho."

"That's about it for now. It's too blurry to see the whole thing."

"I see… —Sora-san, Ashe."

"Yes."

"Mm."

…Why, you ask? It's as simple as that.

"Is this breaking some kind of law? You think this is okay?"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? Are you suggesting Nia-chan is guilty of anything other than 'being cute'?"

This completely broken, logic-defying, unreasonable scouting ability is just too much of a cheat.

Ashe's cool, emotionless smile aside, the wry smile that Sora—who, compared to the beginning, now has a decent amount of game knowledge—couldn't hide said it all.

In a way, she's a complete adventure-balance-breaker, on par with that [Traveler].

Being able to spot most threats with her eyes before even setting foot in an area. There are few powers more effective for dealing with the countless new environments in this vast world.

"…She's truly, truly, exceptionally skilled. The second run was unbelievably easy."

Of course, that also applies to 'labyrinths' and the like, whose structures change with each attempt.

Apparently, Nia's eyes worked their lawless magic even in the 'Key Tree,' which was a zero-magic space like the otherworld on the back of Green Connect. The [Sword Queen]'s assessment, having benefited from this, was just that.

"Hee hee hee, what's this, all this praise will only get a smile out of me…!"

And this was the sapphire-haired girl's reaction to being praised by the princess.

Despite complaining and saying 'give me a break' when the world heaps praise on her… —But setting aside such uncouth retorts.

"Alright, let's go for a little look-see."

Parabellum Bullet, summon—the moment I materialized crimson blades in both hands, the air around Sora and Ashe, who had been wearing nonchalant and lax expressions, changed.

And so,

"Nia, which one's the closest? Can you see it from here?"

"Ah, um, let's see… Yeah. That one, see it?"

"Mmm… right. Got it, that one. Okay."

Pointing from a distance, we selected our target.

"What's the distance between them?"

"Between individual ones? …It's reeeeally far, I think. Even the closest one is over a hundred meters away? I'm not sure if they'll link up once we start fighting, though…"

"That's plenty. Thanks."

Next, situational intel confirmed.

"—Sora, I need you on rear guard for now. Cover Nia, too."

"Right!"

My partner at my back,

"Ashe."

"Mm."

…How to describe it? Well, I entrusted my side to the strongest in more ways than one.

"Rea—"

"—dy."

One step forward, and three flashes of light shot out in an instant.

A preemptive throw. To ensure a simultaneous surprise attack, I'd thrown a Parabellum Bullet at one of the 'trees' as a marker. The moment it struck with a high-pitched ring,

The single crimson blade, which had shallowly embedded its tip in the hide of a creature that looked just like crystal, shattered into pieces.

The reason, of course—

"It's so haaaaaaaaaard…"

"…A few elite types. Nia was right."

Two more flashes, one crimson and one silver, followed. My sword and Ashe's crossed, piercing a single point.

And so,

"——————————"

A shriek that was hard to describe, like a thousand gemstones grinding against each other.

With a tremor, something huge emerged, cracking the crystal ground. One great beast, and one law of the world (system).

"[Dilumen Monstro, Great Beast of Crystal Source]… What do you think its motif is?"

"……………A liz… ard…?"

My attack was just a probe, as I'd said, but Ashe's—the [Sword Queen]'s with her Extra-class equipment—had been a surprise blow, yet the damage was still minor.

As expected of a raid enemy dwelling in an area recommended for large-scale forces. It wasn't just its five-tiered status bar, which must be packed to the brim, but its sheer presence was also quite something.

The part that had been mimicking a tree growing from the ground was its long tail.

It had no leaves but did have branches, and just as it had blended in perfectly with the crystal trees, its design was exceedingly vicious, capable of easily skewering a target if swung around in battle.

Including that tail, its long body, surely over ten meters, was supported by a total of seven legs.

Three on the right, four on the left. The instinctively unsettling asymmetrical structure hinted at its 'actions'… and its large front-left appendage, with its subdivided tip resembling the 'root' of a plant, looked just like a morning star bristling with spikes.

Sure, the shape of its head and its body balance might resemble a 'lizard'—

"That's not like any lizard I know…"

Including the fact that it was made entirely of crystal from head to tail, it was just too monstrous. In short, when it came to at least its appearance and intimidating aura…

"…Alright. In that case, Ashe."

"Mm."

"Go easy on destroying the scenery."

"…I'm not that much of a rampager."

It was more than a worthy opponent for us to challenge together.

---

There's so little tension it's basically a picnic from here on out.

By the way, the Dilumen Monstro that appeared this time is a ridiculously distant relative on the evolutionary tree to the super-rare enemy that became the material for a certain someone's outfit.

Also, part 2.

The ridiculously vicious morning star that the protagonist identified as a 'seventh leg' is neither a 'leg' nor an 'arm' but a 'tongue' that evolved to burst out of its body.

It sprouts from around the base of the neck, not quite the torso, which doubles down on the visual imbalance. Due to various past circumstances, or rather out of necessity, it graduated from eating with its mouth, so its original purpose became obsolete. They say it felt like a waste to lose it, so it was repurposed as an organ with a completely different function. Evolution is amazing, isn't it?

Yes, this has absolutely nothing to do with the story. Scary, isn't it?