Chapter 345
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Your Race level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.
Your Job level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.
Your 【Intelligence Super-Enhancement】 level has increased.
Your 【Mental Super-Enhancement】 level has increased.
Your 【Explosive Magic】 level has increased.
You have learned the Stun Bomb spell.
Your 【Holy Magic】 level has increased.
You have learned the Holy Lance spell.
Your 【Time-Space Magic】 level has increased.
You have learned the Time Stop spell.
Your 【Void Magic】 level has increased.
You have learned the Penetrate spell.
Your 【Enchanting】 level has increased.
You have learned the Enchant Keep spell.
Your 【Talisman Magic】 level has increased.
Your 【Necromancy】 level has increased.
Your 【Spirit Summoning】 level has increased.
You have learned the Heroic Spirit Summoning spell.
Your 【Dark Arts】 level has increased.
You have learned the Death Sickle spell.
Your 【Appraisal】 level has increased.
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After seeing the Super-Giant Hermit Crab off, we walked back to the Dark Elf village, then returned to the city with Base Teleport. When we went to deposit the items we had obtained with Iris, we found that she had unfortunately already logged out. So we left the items with Towa instead and logged out as well.
After Iris and Shiitake conducted various experiments, we discovered that cement mixed with Life Steel became harder while also gaining the ability to absorb magic power. Using it should allow us to make city walls that were resistant to magic as well.
Once we learned that, we spent our days gathering materials. More specifically, we dug up anthills at 'Spear Rock's Lucky Mine.' We would stockpile large quantities of the raw materials for cement, then recover Life Steel metal powder when we began seriously exploring the 'Soul-Eroding Rust Sand Sea.' There was enough metal powder to fill the entire Sand Sea, so there was no need to hurry.
However, we weren't doing nothing but gathering materials. We were also training with the companions who planned to enter the combat tournament, including Jigoro and Genjuro. We practiced against one another, but we also spent our time fighting in nearby fields to raise our levels.
We fought in Hell until we were sick of it, not just at 'Spear Rock's Lucky Mine.' As a result, I fought several kinds of Hell Beasts and obtained various items, while my level rose by two and I learned to use several new spells. Even though I had no intention of entering the combat tournament...
"Well, the event lasts five days starting today. I might as well enjoy it as much as I can."
After logging in, I didn't head straight for the event area. There was something else I needed to do first. I left my room and walked toward my destination.
"How is it? Tasty?"
I had gone to the courtyard. What I needed to prioritize was watering the Wise Tree. Ever since I planted it, I had made a habit of watering it and talking to it as soon as I logged in. This was also part of its education.
However, I probably looked like a dangerous person to anyone who didn't know the circumstances. Sei, who hadn't read the message saying that I had planted the Wise Tree and asking him to talk to it occasionally, had genuinely worried about me.
I explained everything properly and cleared up the misunderstanding, so nothing came of it, but I felt sorry for having done something so misleading. I also reconfirmed that Sei was an exceptionally kindhearted young man. That was rare these days.
Incidentally, Sei's familiar Momo and the Wise Tree had been delighted to see each other again. Apparently, Momo had sensed that the Wise Tree retained its memories from before even without me explaining it. Plants seemed to share some kind of understanding.
"Is this enough? Oh, I see. Do you need fertilizer today too? I see, hang on."
The Wise Tree shook its branches with a rustling sound, as if nodding. It was easy to care for because it always responded when I spoke to it. I would have been uncertain about the amount of water if I had relied on my amateur judgment, but the tree itself knew best, so there was no danger of getting it wrong.
I took Cal's dung from my inventory and gently placed it at the roots, then covered it with soil. The Wise Tree seemed to have become an even bigger glutton than it had been in the flowerpot. I had to replenish both its blood and dung every day.
"There, all done. Keep growing more and more like this, all right? Everyone, myself included, will be happy if you produce lots of acorns."
The Wise Tree arched its trunk as if puffing out its chest and saying, Leave it to me. Perhaps because it had interacted with us, it had started making strangely humanlike movements. Apparently, someone had been teaching it various words and odd bits of knowledge whenever I wasn't looking.
I didn't know who it was, but I had no intention of going out of my way to find them. It wasn't anything worth getting angry about, and its comical movements were entertaining to watch. As long as no one taught it outrageous lies or problematic behavior, I could leave things as they were.
"All done taking care of you. Now to put on my disguise first..."
I swapped out the mask, staff, and hooded robe I was wearing for others. They were all new creations by Iris, but each incorporated the techniques of the residents.
The mask used an alloy made from materials taken from metallic monsters we had defeated at 'Spear Rock's Lucky Mine,' and was named the 'Steel Ogre Mask.' Its color was dull gray, making it look like an unremarkable iron mask, but it had been crafted using Metallica technology. Its intimidating design had been inspired by oni roof tiles, and I personally liked it.
The mask merely raised my defenses against physical attacks and magic a little, so it wasn't particularly powerful. Its design was more important than its performance. Anything was fine as long as it wasn't a silver skull.
The staff was the 'Steel-Eating Tree War Staff,' carved from the branch of a Steel-Eating Tree we had obtained the other day. It could be used as an ordinary staff, but its greatest feature was its high physical attack power. It could also serve as a bludgeon, and both ends had been sharpened so it could be used to stab as well. Naturally, it also bore Scar's markings.
It didn't suit my fighting style, but since I wasn't entering the combat tournament, it would do. Besides, I had taught Jigoro and Genjuro how to fight with staffs. I didn't expect to be attacked in the event area, but I should at least be able to defend myself.
As for the robe, this was Iris's masterpiece, which I had decided to use for everyday wear. It was made from woolen cloth woven by the Centaurs, with embroidery made from thread spun by the Dark Elves. The robe was called the 'Robe of Esoteric Evil,' and it had the versatile effect of slightly increasing all my stats.
The woolen cloth had been dyed black with dye made from Hell liquids, and it was soft to the touch. The thread, stained with the juice of fruit from the 'Dark Forest of Temptation,' was pale yellow and subdued in color. The intricate geometric embroidery belonged to Scar, while the alloy metal plates fitted over vital areas had been supplied by Metallica. It was truly a masterpiece representing the culmination of the techniques of the four Races and Iris.
"There, that should do it. No one will mistake me for the person who rampaged through the northern mountains now. All right, let's go!"
After changing clothes, I operated the menu and headed to the event area. My vision went completely white for an instant, and then I found myself standing in front of what appeared to be a sports stadium. This must be the event area. I steeled myself, opened the door, and stepped inside.
"Oh, is this the lobby? It's enormous...!"
Beyond the entrance was a very spacious area. Several objects resembling virtual displays floated in the air, showing players participating in various competitions.
That was... dodgeball, perhaps? I think teams were supposed to consist of six players each. If I remember correctly, the eight teams with the highest win rates in the preliminaries held from the first through the third day would compete in the final tournament on the fourth day.
It was a competition I had thought would be impossible for us, since we would have to coordinate six people's login times and play matches repeatedly. Nobody had even suggested entering, so it wasn't as if I regretted missing out... but the players participating looked like they were having a great time. Were they reliving their childhood? Hmm, perhaps we should have entered too.
"Whoa, isn't that Izamu? Long time no see, man!"
"Hmm? Oh, Mac! It's good to see you."
The person who called out to me while I was staring at the screen was Mac17 of the 'Undead Bastard,' whom I had fought alongside before. His companions were gathered around him. Seeing familiar faces was reassuring. To celebrate our reunion, we shook hands firmly.
They seemed to have evolved since the last time we met, with their bodies growing larger or their colors changing. Their equipment had also improved, so they must have gone on all kinds of adventures.
"You're alone? Where are your companions?"
"Our schedules didn't line up. What about your little sister?"
"Hey, I'm not a siscon. It's not like I'm always with her."
"You are a siscon."
"You totally are."
"Don't lie, Mac-san."
Mac looked as though he found that outrageous, but all the members of the 'Undead Bastard' denied it in unison. Mac was left speechless and turned around, while the others showed no remorse whatsoever, as if to say it was obvious. I felt like I had seen a similar scene before.
"You guys... A-anyway! Saara isn't here. She went somewhere with Pop, taking the female members along."
"Maybe they're entering a competition. What about you guys?"
"For now, we plan to enter the combat tournament in the party division. What about you?"
"I'm not entering the combat tournament. Jigoro and Genjuro are raring to go, though."
"Those two, huh...? I'd never want to face them."
Perhaps he remembered how wildly they had fought alongside us, because Mac shook his head as if pleading for mercy. At least one of them would probably enter the solo division rather than the party division, so the chances of facing them should be low. Either way, do your best and show them the power of the Undead!
"So you're just going to wander around here?"
"No, I found an interesting competition, so I'll enter it. If I'm going to compete, I'm aiming for first place."
"Oh! You're going for the win? What are you entering?"
"Well, you see..."
When I told him the name of the competition I planned to enter, he looked at me as though I were something incredibly strange. However, he nodded and admitted that even I might be able to aim for first place in that event. All right, then! Let's go give it a try!