'Lucifer…' I groaned.
'Yes, master?'
Lucifer answered as if he didn't know why I was calling for him, despite him being the reason why I couldn't turn back to normal when HwanGi was there.
Even though I was communicating with Lucifer in my head, I felt greatly embarrassed and shameful that I couldn't voice out my words inside my own mind correctly.
It was because I was still surprised by what happened earlier, the fact that HwanGi appeared and witnessed me acting that way.
'Shit..' Embarrassed, I cursed.
As punishment, I told Lucifer with a solemn look on my face. '..You won't be polished next time.'
'But master, I'll be dyed with blood.'
This time, I ignored him completely, I didn't want to forgive him for making me look shameful in front of HwanGi of all people, probably because I'm too ashamed to even speak.
Or partly because it was also my fault to put all my trust in Lucifer and since I didn't consider the place to be easily discovered by HwanGi, it led to me being found so quickly and disgracefully.
'Fuck.. Why did HwanGi have to appear at that moment?' I shrieked in my head.
'More so than that, why is it always HwanGi..?' I groaned again.
I let out a long groan, frustrated and tired with my mental state because of what happened earlier. 'Fuck, fuck fuck fuck..!'
Ruffling my hair like a fool, I expected myself to look like a crazy freak with messy hair to anyone who watches me right now.
Sooner or later, I exhaled a hesitant sigh after calming down little by little. "Ha."
By the way, I had been groaning a lot without checking what the others were doing right now.
Though that wouldn't be a problem if I left them alone, I couldn't just be a leader who idly sits without helping my own teammates.
"Yeah, let's just forget about that one heck of a disaster a moment ago." I told myself.
Whoosh..
Without expecting it, I heard a call from my right before shifting my glance over there to spot Noel running up to me with his newly picked weapon.
"Father!!" Noel exclaimed happily as if to show his fondness over his weapon.
Thud..
With a smile, I felt Noel knocking into my legs as he gave them a tight hug, and I even patted his head when I realized how his height ended at my stomach.
'He's just like a teenager despite being an ice elf with plenty of lifespan to spare.' I thought with a smile.
Also, I didn't forget that Frostina was with Noel as I spotted her standing there patiently.
As natural as I can be, I greeted her with a grin, waving at her since I didn't want her to feel left out.
In any case, I spoke to Noel, trying to act like a fatherly figure. "Do you like your weapon?"
"I had no choice but to choose this! So I don't like it that much.."
"Really? Your expression says otherwise."
While I was seeing a pout on Noel's face, I heard my name as it was once again called out by someone.
Swoosh~
"Uncle JoonChul!" It was Mya with Mirai walking behind her.
It appeared that Mya was looking very gratified while she was holding onto the bow that she had picked.
'Ho?' I thought.
In no time, I had taken notice of the back quiver she was wearing, yet I didn't expect there to be a suitable case of arrows to resemble Mya's nature.
Even though I knew this item existed, I didn't understand why someone would be dumb enough to leave this excellent accessory behind.
'Ah right, I almost forgot that this item hid its full potential from players.' I remembered.
I mused with a smirk. 'Usually, its appearance is just a dirt-like quiver. And because Mirai was accompanying Mya, she was able to pick such good equipment.'
"What do you think of my equipment, Uncle JoonChul?" Afterwards, Mya asked while showing me her chosen items.
Swish~
When she was extending her bow to me, I was going to stop her until she unnecessarily swiped her bow's information to me.
..Was she this excited?
Anyways, the bow's description that I already knew, swayed toward my gaze.
+
⟨ Flora's Bow ⟩
Item Rank : Epic
Offense : 800
Defense : 420
Effect :
1. Dexterity is tripled.
2. If shot, all arrows will have poisonous petals to accompany its trajectory.
3. Luck has increased by 30%.
4. A Rose Arrow has a chance of spawning, if pierced by this arrow, the victim will be dealt with a tripled critical strike and a stun effect.
5. Nature Based Skills will be leveled up by 3.
+
'A 5th effect?' I raised my eyebrow when I spotted that.
Shortly after, I grinned and thought. 'How interesting.. To think the 'Helpers' added a new effect onto this bow. And not only that, this is quite a good effect for Mya.'
..Was it a coincidence that this happened?
Occasionally, for a weapon to get another effect, it would take quite a while for the 'Helpers' to set up and maintain balance and fairness when choosing an effect to add on an object.
As a result, not a lot of 'Helpers' care to waste their time doing this since they have other work to do.
'..So who got a lot of their time to add one effect to an item? Particularly, Mya's weapon? Is it really a coincidence? Or just her luck?'
'Never mind that. Whoever did it, just handed Mya a chance to improve her strength.' I sneered at that thought.
As a result of the fifth effect of the bow, I was glad that such an effect was befitting for Mya since she had Nature Based Skills, but were too low level to be even frightening.
And thanks to this Flora's Bow, Mya's skills would definitely prove to be stronger than ever, enough to rival HwanGi.
'No.' I smirked.
If HwanGi and Mya were to face each other in a match, I would put all my bets on Mya because she would absolutely win without a doubt.
I shrugged my shoulders. 'Well, technically, HwanGi can't even use his divine flame because it can't harm plants, so of course he would lose against Mya when she uses nature based skills.'
Out of the sudden, Mya yearned for my response. "How is it, Uncle JoonChul? I did great, didn't I?"
'She got stronger because of just one bow.. How thrilling!' My lips that couldn't resist sneering, were shaping itself into a ferocious smirk.
"You exceeded all my expectations, Mya!"
As I must not let Mya wait for my response, I accidentally cried out with a joyously sly expression.
'Oops.. I couldn't control my voice for a second.'
"Did I become stronger enough to protect and not be a burden? Even Aunt Mirai said that I had turned surprisingly stronger than what I had hoped for!"
When Mya was uttering her words exhilaratingly, I was calming myself down before giving her a reply.
"Indeed, you have become one of the most powerful children in this team."
"Father, what about me?" Noel grumbled with a pout and a glare at the innocent Mya as if he was staring at a rival.
'Hm? What's this?' I stared at Noel.
Judging by how Noel was straightforwardly showing his hatred or jealousy toward Mya, I ought to do something about it before he started to actually dislike Mya.
Anyhow, I told him. "Noel, you aren't a child. And that's made you the strongest teenager."
"..!" Noel instantly gasped with exhilaration when he heard and understood what I meant.
I mused. 'How gullible..'
"Pfft, I'm the strongest teenager." Quietly to himself, Noel muttered as well as staring at Mya as though he beat her with just my compliment.
'...' I furrowed my eyebrow over this before sighing. '..Noel..'
As time passed, I started to ponder about the others who were picking their weapons, and shortly, I looked at Mirai who was standing beside Frostina with her contented expression.
When I watched those two, a faint smile formed on my face as I couldn't manage to hide my satisfied grin.
'How nostalgic.'
At that moment, I removed that smile from my face before asking Mirai about something. "Mimi-Chan, how are Alaine and Louis doing?"
Without delay, Mirai responded to me with a cute grin. "Louis is already done, but Alaine isn't. Rai and Louis are assisting her right now."
"Louis already? What item did he get?"
..Ding!
[Stage #18 has ended.]
'The system really knows how to turn up at the wrong time, doesn't it?' I grunted when I was hoping to know what Louis' item was.
'Tch, it's fine. Knowing his weapon isn't important.'
[Stage #18's reward will be delivered to the accomplishers.]
'Next stage will be easy since I already know the answers. Hm.. I better tell Mirai to make masks to cover everyone's mouth.' I pondered.
[A bonus reward has been given to the Player '555'.]
When I was using my brain, I suddenly let out a sigh as I muttered to myself. "I really don't want to explain why I want to cover their mouths."
[Stage #19 will begin shortly after the Players reach a certain area.]
———
BANG!
At the headquarters, a certain angel swiftly arrived at the front door before giving it a slam to make her way through the hall.
On her way, she was greeted by Tanzanite. "Oh, Pearl! How was your task?"
The angel who charged in with her head lower to hide her flustered face, was none other than Pearl.
"N-Not now." Pearl spoke with a wavering voice.
"Eh? You're at the headquarters, so why are you still pretending to be shy?"
"None of your business!"
In a flash, Pearl dashed to her quarter with her hands covering her face, running with slight difficulty since her sight was blocked by her hands.
'Ahhh! That was so.. unforeseen!' Pearl thought as she was sprinting.
BUMP!
"Ouch!"
With a groan, Pearl had knocked into someone which caused her to fall on her butt in the process.
As she was already flustered, adding anger into her already emotional situation wasn't a healthy thing to do.
"Who in heaven's name got in my way!?"
So Pearl bellowed before unfolding her pearl-like eyes to gaze upon the person who dared to stand in her way.
..Until she realized the person in front of her and her glance was immediately filled with surprise. "..!? Sister?"
"What were you thinking about that caused you to run without looking, sister?"
This time, it wasn't Moonstone. Instead, it was another one of Pearl's sisters..
"Sister Alexandrite.. What are you doing here?" Pearl asked as she got up from the floor gracefully.
As Pearl's glance laid on her sister, the most distinguishable thing minus Alexandrite's exotic beauty, was her stunning hair.
Pearl gulped. 'The color of her hair…'
Alexandrite, the eldest sister of the June's sisters looked to be having a purplish red color of her hair.
If the gemstone named Alexandrite can change color because of daylight and candlelight, then the angel, Alexandrite can change her hair color whenever her emotions are either positive or negative.
Which meant..
'She's not in a good mood..' Pearl thought as she was nervous to face Alexandrite.
"Siste—"
When she was trying to call her sister, Alexandrite was quick to notice and cut off Pearl's words. "Alex. Not sister."
"But sister..!"
"Pearl, call me Alex, please?"
Since Pearl had no choice, she immediately followed through. "..Fine, Alex."
"Now, Pearl~ Can you tell why your face is cherry red?" Alexandrite chuckled.
"T-That! ..Uh.. You see.."
Pearl knew exactly why Alexandrite was feeling negative emotion, and the reason was the most embarrassing yet dangerous thing ever.
"I~ saw~ every~ thing~! How that guy~ did—"
In an instance, Pearl went ahead and covered Alexandrite's mouth as she herself doesn't want to hear anything about what happened earlier with that 'Last' Player.
"D-D-Don't! I can handle it by myself! I don't need your help!"
"But he dared to do that to you!?! How could I allow that to my adorable little sis~?"
..Pearl's eldest sister, Alexandrite was the kind of sister who adored all her little sisters, along with being obsessive of them, she was also overprotective of Moonstone and Pearl.
"Do you want me to destroy him? But that would be easy, wouldn't it? So why not torture him for laying his hands on my cute little sis's lips and chin~!?"
By Earthlings' definition. Alexandrite is a total..
'Siscon..' Grumbled, Pearl secretly pulled her pigtails in distress and embarrassment.
"Heheh~" At that moment, Alexandrite chuckled while staring at Pearl with her sisterly love.
'Why is my sister like this?' Pearl thought with a distressed look. 'Any sister would do, but why a siscon?'
"Hm..? Alex..?"
Out of the blue, when Pearl was having a stressful time, Alexandrite took this chance to wipe the blood that was acting as a lipstick on Pearl's lips.
"Don't move, I must remove this from your cute lips." Alexandrite spoke with an affectionate tone.
Although Pearl disliked her siscon of a sister, she couldn't bring herself to hate Alexandrite completely when she was showing so much warmth and love toward Pearl at every chance she gets.
Eventually, Pearl thought with a soft grin while glancing at Alexandrite who was wiping JoonChul's blood away from Pearl's lips.
'..Silly sister of mine.'