Chapter 17
I logged in. Yesterday, after bringing the two of them to the laboratory, we added each other as friends, then called it a night because it was late.
Today was Friday. I logged in late because I had to work overtime, but thankfully I didn't have to come in on the weekend this week either, so I planned to play until dawn.
"Good evening."
"Oh, good evening! Huh? It's before evening here, so... good afternoon?"
"Hahaha. I wonder which one is better?"
When I logged in, Iris was already mining the laboratory wall with a pickaxe. At the same time, she was skillfully using her countless tentacles to mine, process leather, grind medicinal herbs, spin thread, and carve wolf fangs.
I see. She really can perform several tasks at once. Even so, how can she manage so many different jobs simultaneously? I could never do that!
"Is production going smoothly?"
"Yes! You've got to hear this! My Skills and Job levels have gone up tremendously! Now I can repay you!"
Iris waved her tentacles happily. Had the god who recommended the Lesser Roper foreseen this? Being able to perform so many manual tasks at once could be called a strength that outweighed her unappealing appearance.
"Quality... 'Excellent'...?"
What's more, the leather she tanned, the potions she made from medicinal herbs, the thread she spun, and the crafts she made from wolf fangs were all of 'Excellent' quality.
This was astonishing. Quality had six grades, from 'Divine' to 'Junk,' but apparently 'Divine' was reserved for one-of-a-kind items literally made by the gods of this world. Trial drops were an example.
In other words, Iris had produced everything at the highest quality a character could create. What's more, her Job was 'Apprentice Producer.' It granted bonuses to all production-related Skills, but the bonuses to each Skill were lower than those of specialized Jobs such as 'Blacksmith' and 'Tailor.' I'd briefly read on the bulletin board that, in production, the lower the bonus, the more strongly quality was tied to the user's real-life dexterity. In other words...
"Another real-life cheat, huh?"
"Huh?"
Apparently, Iris hadn't heard my mutter and moved one of her tentacles quizzically. Hmm, tentacles were surprisingly expressive.
Two out of the three of us were real-life cheats? The fact that the only ordinary one was the person who invited them was starting to make me sad.
"Come to think of it, where's Jigorou?"
"I think Jigorou went hunting."
"I see."
Hmm. What should I do, then? It was evening in game time. Was it too early to head outside to hunt? In that case, perhaps I should do some 【Alchemy】 too.
No, before that, I needed to evolve! Since I could change Jobs as well, I should do that while I was at it.
Hm? I couldn't change Jobs first? Then I would start with evolution. What evolution options were available?
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Skeleton Mage
An advanced species of animated Skeleton that primarily uses magic.
Evil Skeleton Mage
A variant of Skeleton Mage capable of using ???-type magic.
Stronger than a normal Skeleton Mage.
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Evil Skeleton Mage, huh? Judging by the description, it must be related to my ability to use 【Necromancy】 and 【Curse】. I see. Depending on the Skills I possessed, there could be additional evolution options.
Wait. Then what would happen if I acquired the 【Spirit Summoning】 I'd been putting off? That was probably ???-type magic too. In that case, I might as well use some of my surplus SP. It might reveal another evolution option!
Then, should I acquire it...? Huh? The required SP dropped to 80? Oh, is this thanks to 【Iifa's Blessing】? It said it reduced the SP required for acquisition. How nice. Well then, acquire!
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You acquired 【Spirit Summoning】.
You learned a new spell: Summon the Dead.
Based on your actions to date, you acquired the 【Evil Arts】 Skill.
You learned new spells: Illusion and Death.
Your Title, 'The Heretic,' has changed to 'One Who Knows the Abyss.'
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Wait, wait, wait! I'm getting confused. Why did all this happen just because I acquired 【Spirit Summoning】? L-let's check!
First, the original objective, 【Spirit Summoning】, seemed to be a technique for bringing down spirits to fight. Isn't that the same as 【Necromancy】? I thought so at first, but apparently this technique summoned inhabitants of the afterlife as temporary allies.
At first, it seemed I could summon only the dead, but by raising its level, I would apparently become able to summon legendary heroes who had made names for themselves on battlefields, and even raging gods driven mad.
This could become a trump card. I'll train it little by little.
The real issue starts here. First, 【Evil Arts】. Apparently, this is magic that inflicts mental attacks and instant death. Yes, instant death. Its success rate was extremely low in its current state, but as its level rose, I would be able to defeat targets without letting them do anything if they weren't prepared for it. Doesn't that sound villainous?
The conditions for acquiring 【Evil Arts】 were unclear, but with it, I'd finished collecting the Abyss-type magic. How did I know? It was written in the description of the Title that had changed to 'One Who Knows the Abyss.'
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'One Who Knows the Abyss'
Proof of one who can use all arts deemed evil.
Even if all people fear you, will you still venture into the depths?
Slightly increases the effects of Abyss-type magic.
Acquisition condition: Acquire all Abyss-type magic.
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See? It says so right there. More importantly, everything that had previously been labeled '???-type magic' had been replaced with 'Abyss-type magic.' It's kind of silly not to know the name of a category until you've acquired everything in it.
Even so, trying to master Abyss-type magic would be extremely difficult unless you were given a laboratory at the start, as I had been.
If the question is whether I should reveal the information as a pioneer, the answer is an emphatic no. Why would I willingly expose my own hand?
Besides, my way is to defeat people before they can counter techniques unknown to them. Pretty villainous, right?
That was quite a long detour, but I wonder if I had any more evolution options now.
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Skeleton Mage
An advanced species of animated Skeleton that primarily uses magic.
Evil Skeleton Mage
A variant of Skeleton Mage capable of using multiple types of Abyss magic.
Stronger than a normal Skeleton Mage.
Abyss Skeleton Mage
A variant of Skeleton Mage capable of using all Abyss magic.
Far stronger than a normal Skeleton Mage.
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Yes! There were more! Just as I expected! Actually, it was a good thing I'd acquired 【Spirit Summoning】 first. The description was practically telling me to choose this one. Well then, time to evolve!
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You selected Abyss Skeleton Mage.
You will now evolve into Abyss Skeleton Mage.
Through evolution, you acquired the 【Undead Wisdom】 Skill.
Through evolution, you acquired the 【Abyss Dweller】 Skill.
Through evolution, you acquired the 【Abyssal Aura】 Skill.
Your Hourai Staff, Skull Mask, and Moon's Feather Robe have grown by one stage as a result of your evolution.
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The moment I touched the evolution option floating in the virtual window, my body was enveloped in an inky-black aura. Ooh, that's quite an edgy, chuunibyou-style effect.
Iris stared at me in surprise at the sudden change. I probably should have warned her that I was about to evolve. That was inconsiderate of me.
"Power is surging through me... So this is evolution."
Amazing. Even though this body was virtual, I could feel power beyond anything I'd experienced before. I suppose this was what it meant for my rank as a monster to rise. I felt like I could easily defeat a Ratman one-on-one now.
And then there were the three Skills I gained through evolution. All of them were useful. 【Undead Wisdom】 increased magic attack and magic defense and boosted the power of 【Dark Magic】. It was probably a common Skill among the Skeleton Mage line.
The other two seemed related to the fact that I'd become a Race bearing the name 'Abyss.' 【Abyss Dweller】 strengthened the power of Abyss-type magic and, amazingly, granted resistance to the Light attribute. However, it didn't seem to alleviate 【Light Attribute Vulnerability】.
If I were hit by a Light-attribute attack, 【Abyss Dweller】 would first reduce the base damage, after which 【Light Attribute Vulnerability】 would increase it. In other words, it would still be a long time before I acquired 【Light Magic】. Apparently, things wouldn't be that convenient. I was more than strong enough as it was, though, so I had no complaints.
The other Skill, 【Abyssal Aura】, apparently cloaked me in an aura that inflicted various status ailments on anyone who entered a radius equal to one meter multiplied by the Skill's level, centered on me. The effects included poison, paralysis, sleep, confusion, silence, charm, stun, fear, illusions, and instant death. So it could inflict a great many of the status ailments caused by Abyss-type magic.
I thought this was broken, but it wasn't. Every effect had a uniform activation chance of 2%. At this rate, by the time I reached the maximum level, everyone I encountered would probably have resistance to it. It would be best to think of it as a good-luck charm.
Then there was the growth of my equipment. Since it said 'as a result of evolution,' evolution must be the condition for growth. I'd have to wait for my next evolution before it grew again. This was what had changed this time.
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Hourai Staff Quality: Divine Rarity: G (God-tier)
A staff made from the divine tree of Mount Hourai. Indestructible. Bound to its owner.
Its true power will be unlocked as its wielder grows.
Initial effects: 【Magic Effect Increase】 Lv2, 【Magic Power Enhancement】 Lv2
【Magic Stone Ejection】
Moon's Feather Robe Quality: Divine Rarity: G (God-tier)
A robe worn by the gods and their retainers who dwell on the moon. Indestructible. Bound to its owner.
Its true power will be unlocked as its wearer grows.
Initial effects: 【Color Change】, 【Magic Resistance】 Lv2
【Flight】 Lv2
Skull Mask Quality: Divine Rarity: G (God-tier)
A mask that amplifies the power of death. Indestructible. Bound to its owner.
Its true power will be unlocked as its wearer grows.
Initial effects: 【Necromancy Enhancement】 Lv2, 【Curse Enhancement】 Lv2
【Disguise】 Lv2
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The abilities I already had seemed to have simply leveled up. I was happy about that, but the new abilities were wonderful too.
【Magic Stone Ejection】 solidified my surplus magic power into magic stones. With this, I probably wouldn't have to worry about running out of magic stones.
【Flight】 was an ability unique to winged Races, but apparently the 'Moon's Feather Robe' let me fly simply by wearing it. Mobility had been a weakness of mine, so being able to escape into the air when necessary was a major advantage.
【Disguise】 apparently let me change the results when someone used 【Appraisal】 on me. The useful part was that seeing through 【Disguise】 required the dedicated 【True Sight】 Skill in addition to 【Appraisal】. There probably weren't that many players who had acquired it. The required SP was a hefty 15, after all.
This seemed like a good time to explain the markers above characters' heads that indicated their status. Normal players were blue, residents (NPCs) green, criminals orange, murderers red, beasts yellow, and monsters black.
【Disguise】 could falsify all of these, as well as one's Race and Job. In other words, it was a Skill for people with something to hide. Naturally, the people who possessed 【True Sight】 would be those responsible for maintaining public order.
I could enter a city at any time now. I'd have to hide from the authorities, but I could just keep a low profile. Look at all the things I can do now!
Also, the new abilities were already level 2. When my equipment grew and gained new abilities next time, maybe those would be level 3 as well.
"Izam, is that evolution?"
"Yeah, it is. Sorry for startling you."
"Not at all! And you've gotten so cool! You're pitch-black, and you even have a third eye in your forehead! How should I put it? You look like the final boss!"
"Black? A third eye?"
Only after she said that did I look at my own arm. My bones were glossy black, like obsidian. Then I reflected my face in the orb mounted on my staff and saw that my forehead had a third, gaping eye socket.
I hurriedly took the Skull Mask from my inventory, and it too had a hole for a third eye in its forehead by default. I suppose it had been adjusted to fit me.
In addition, the tips of my finger bones had grown sharp, and more edges had appeared here and there on my skull, giving me an even more sinister air. If an ordinary player found me like this, they'd attack without a second thought. Not to toot my own horn, but I was really scary. Iris, who could call me cool with shining eyes, really was suited to choosing a nonhuman character.
"What Race did you become?"
"An Abyss Skeleton Mage."
"Wow!"
Iris stopped working and stared intently at me. I didn't mind her looking, but please stop wiggling those tentacles as you stretched them toward me!
I wasn't some female knight from an adult book made for people with particular tastes! I was a male Skeleton! Who could possibly be interested in that!?
"Evolution, huh...? I want to evolve too, but monsters have to fight to raise their Race level, right? My Job level is shooting up, though. I'm not good at fighting..."
"Really? I thought you did a fine job capturing the thief who got behind me yesterday."
"That was probably thanks to 【Capture】. It's the one I was forced to acquire when I chose my Race."
【Capture】...? There was a Skill like that? Oh, come to think of it, I didn't need to eat, but Races other than Undead basically needed food, didn't they...? What had she been eating all this time...? No, I couldn't go any further down that line of thought. I had to stop thinking about it.
"Since your Race evolved, does that mean Job Change is next?"
"I suppose so. I'll give it a try."
Well then, Job Change was next. I wonder what I could choose. Ugh, there were things like 'Apprentice Warrior' and 'Apprentice Alchemist' too? For now, I should pick out the ones related to magic that I hadn't seen before.
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Mage
A full-fledged mage who has graduated from apprenticeship.
Slightly boosts the effects and growth of all magic.
Fire Mage
A full-fledged mage who favors using the Fire attribute.
Boosts the effects and growth of Fire Magic.
Dark Mage
A full-fledged mage who favors using the Dark attribute.
Boosts the effects and growth of Dark Magic.
Null Mage
A full-fledged mage who favors using the Null attribute.
Boosts the effects and growth of Null Magic.
Summoner
A full-fledged mage who has mastered Summoning Magic.
Boosts the abilities of summoned creatures.
Apprentice Heretical Mage
A mage who has dabbled in evil arts.
Slightly boosts the effects of Abyss-type magic.
Apprentice Abyss Mage
A mage who seeks to master evil arts.
Boosts the effects of Abyss-type magic.
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Hmm. My Skills must have had a major influence on this too. And there was only one choice.
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You selected 'Apprentice Abyss Mage.'
Your Title, 'One Who Knows the Abyss,' has changed to 'One Who Delves into the Abyss.'
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Of course I chose 'Apprentice Abyss Mage.' Wasn't that obvious? Then my Title changed again. 'Knows' had become 'Delves.' Its effects were as follows.
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'One Who Delves into the Abyss'
Proof of one who seeks to master arts deemed evil.
As you head into the Abyss, people will look upon you with awe, while monsters will regard you with respect.
Increases the effects of Abyss-type magic.
Acquisition condition: Change to a Job in the Abyss Mage line.
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The effect felt like a straightforward upgrade. Nice. In a sense, I couldn't turn back anymore. Then I'll keep advancing down the path of a mage specializing in Abyss magic, all the way!
"I've changed Jobs to 'Apprentice Abyss Mage.'"
"Huh? Abyss? What's that?"
"Uh, well, it's..."
A system chime went ping inside my head. Apparently Iris had heard it too. The contents seemed to be identical as well.
"A friend message from Jigorou-san?"
Just as I was thinking about how to explain Abyss Mage, a friend message from Jigorou reached both Iris and me. When I read its contents, I couldn't help but grin.
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From: Jigorou
To: Izam, Iris
I'm on the southern side of the Western Forest right now, and I ran into a strange pair: a huge larva and a slime.
They might be players who chose monsters. I need backup.
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We should recruit them, shouldn't we?