Chapter 113 - Gift
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[Seymore POV]
Those guys quickly equip after they woke-up and informed us before they left afterwards, leaving me and these kids in the igloo. They seemed to be not aiming something for us, but I just can't help but become vigilant towards them.
After all, those guys can kill us with ease if they ever want to.
I told these kids about my concern, and Mikael seemed also lined-up with mine. Although, I'm not sure if it's just him being such a wimp but were in the same page here, nonetheless. However,
"Aren't you two just getting paranoid here?" For some reason, this fearless woman was thinking the opposite of us. The three of us were usually on the same page but what is this? "I mean, if you think about it, they could just kill us the moment we've found but they didn't."
"That's the dumbest reasoning I've ever heard, young woman." I exclaimed. Seriously, is this woman serious? "No one knows what they're thinking. Don't assume that they're safe just because they let us here for the moment."
"That's right!" Mikael added. Alright kid. You got this! "What if they're a sadist and they intentionally let us here then kill us the moment we trusted them!"
"..."
"..."
Sigh, who am I kidding. I should've trusted this wimp after all this time...
"Anyway! While you guys rest your ass-up yesterday, I decided to do some reconnaissance myself. I voluntarily helped those guys with their things in order to find information, and by the things were going, that guy with a red hair was probably their leader."
"Oh yeah?" I replied. "What then?"
"Um, they seem to be kind of a laidback group. Well, given their strength as you've stated earlier, it's probably because of that..." Shortly, Lara began pondering for a bit before she continued. "Now that I've mentioned it, that red hair... I don't know why... but it seems like he's something to be reckoned with... that guy seems to be more than meets the eye..."
"That's we've been telling you before, though?" I retorted. Damnit, I guess I still can't leave these kids alone. What troublesome bunch...
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[Sai Crimsonheart POV]
Afterwards and we manage to haul a great number of materials... No. Not really. The only things we got besides the treasures, was a number of Ice Shards—which is a common drop from the monsters in the Arctic. No rare weapon was dropped at all. How depressing...
As for the treasures we found, we did manage to get a weapon.
"Cannon!" I let the girls be the one to open the chest instead, and they found was a cannon that uses snowball as ammunition—the 『Snowball Cannon』.
Given it's a Gun Class weapon, it's obvious it's a weapon that will be for Seia. Though unfortunately, that weapon... is a starter weapon sadly. But hey, it was actually a very great weapon early game. It demolishes enemies on your starter playthrough.
Well, I don't want to ruin their fun, so I'll keep my mouth shut.
We also hunt for another frozen chest since there's still time before the buff runs out, albeit almost. Surprisingly, the last two Chest we got before the buff runs out was both a 『Frozen Shoestring』. Our luck was on our side this time.
With a game of rock, paper, scissors, it was decided that Luna and Astra had won this round. The others didn't really react bitterly, though. I guess because all of us would get it anyways.
"Ah, I can feel the cold breeze with this quick speed of mine. Sheesh!" Said Astra who was sprinting around, testing her Tier IV 『Icethrottle Boots』. In reality, she was just flexing it, though.
"But Astra, you're currently in the influence of Cold Immunity by the Potion. With that regard in mind, you weren't supposed to be able to feel it."
Damn!
"Learn to read the mood, do you..."
Everyone laughs at Akari's frank remarks towards Astra. Oh, Astra's blushing. Seems like Akari landed a critical hit to Astra. Haha! Astra down! Astra down!
* * *
In the end, we didn't get to obtain anything after searching for more than who-knows-how-many hours. Were currently on our way back to the igloo but since we've been roaming around the place, I'll take us a while before we get there.
"Damn it! If only there was a mineshaft here," After roaming for many hours, we didn't get to locate a mineshaft—some sort of a railroad system that can connect us to many networks of caverns. But no matter where we go, it's just walls after walls. Damn it, it's more like were not an adventurer but a miner, though! "And here I thought luck was on our side... What are the odds..."
"Not to worsen your dismay but I'll be frank. You're just being too greedy, Sai." Astra interjected. How ruthless! "You're asking for too much. We're actually so lucky that were able to find this many."
"I-Is that really it...?" I timidly asked. Well, I was embarrassed. I mean, finding treasures back in the game was so easy, though!
"—?! Master...!" Our attention shifted to Luna as she voiced an alert. We turned to the place Luna was wary about—on a Chest that's placed in a weird spot. "That Chest... Feels off."
The girls took a careful look before knowing what's wrong. Ah, seems like Seia already discovered it beforehand. Not bad.
"What do you think is that, Luna?" I asked. I was right on putting Luna at front. She's so perceptive.
"I-Is there really something wrong with that Chest?" Asked Lemuen who can't discern the difference. Don't worry, Lemuen. You're still starting on this kind of thing so it's a given.
"...A Mimic." Luna answered.
"That's right," I nodded. "I'll take back what I said, luck is on our side this time. As for that Mimic, I'll let you guys handle it instead."
"We don't mind but, was there something on that Mimic that you'll let us handle it instead?" Asked Lily.
"Hm, how do I say this..." I pondered on how I would explain it to them. I bet It'll be a surprise. "Let's just say that my arsenals were fine as it is, so a surplus for me right now was unnecessary—"
As I've finished my reason, the Melees leaped towards the Mimic while the Ranges fired their attack as quick as they can. Akari was an exception, though.
It's first one first serve!
Luna quickly draws out her sword and slashed the Mimic with a whack. The latter then start moving, aggressively jumping towards them like a goof. Then later was shot by projectiles coming from the rangers. But more than that,
""—?!""
Everyone was surprised as it was given. After all, without any much of a reaction, the Mimic attacked them as laidback as it can be as if they never hit them in the first place. No knockback whatsoever.
"Mimics compared to some mobs had quite a huge defense and magic resistance. It's also immune to knockback so I'd suggest you keep your distance altogether." I explained. "Ah, but the drops are rewarding, though. So, it'll be worthwhile."
"W-We'll try out best!" Luna replied. Goodluck, girls. I'll be cheering you from the si—
"Wait!" My Inside support was cut-off. With that in mind, all of us turned to the person who yelled as loud as she could.
"Astra?" Luna asked as she withdraw from the frontline. The Mimic follows her but can't reach her since she went back from the high ground.
"Can you guys let me handle that thing alone?" Astra asked. "Actually, Sai,"
"Uh... yeah?"
"H-How shameful!" Lily interjected.
"I want to try this sword that you gave me." Astra replied as she shoved her sword—a huge sword on the ground. "I've never had someone ever give me something as this. I just want to test this gift that Sai gave me so everyone, if you please..."
Everyone looks at each other with a question mark on their head, I was also as confused as them. I really don't get what this girl is thinking sometimes.
After a bit of pondering, Luna was the first one to response.
"Um, I don't see why not?" She answered.
"Thank you, everyone." Astra replied then took the sword out of the ground. "Then,"
Leaped she goes. The Mimic then followed suit, jumping like as frog as it dares try to kill Astra. But sorry, that's impossible.
Midair. The moment the Mimic went inside Astra's reach, Astra swoop her sword that's seemed to be larger than before and cleaved the Mimic to its center.
Clank! A solid sound of metal clank exploded as Astra's sword and the Mimic collide. The impact is so loud that it felt like the Mimic was just ran over by a truck. Super scary, I'd say.
Although I mentioned that the Mimic was durable, its toughness wasn't enough to go against Astra. It currently has a dent over its head. You'll really realized how solid Astra's hit can be.
"You don't understand, Sai," While she lands to the icy ground, Astra suddenly added her reasoning. "It might be for the sake of adventure, but this is the first time I was gifted with something."
...
"This gift is precious to me. Call it a childish reasoning, but I want to use this to its full potential. You get me? That's how I appreciate things."
"...Have fun?" I hesitantly replied.
『Envenomed Edge』. It is the broadsword type of blade that I gifted—Specifically, I upgraded for her. It is the direct upgrade of her 『Corrosive End』 that I upgraded using some materials that was fortunately available at the moment.
The sword was more of a large red blade Machete that tainted some green spots over it, pertaining that it contains some dangerous substance into it, which is true considering that when its upgraded, the former poison debuff when hit has now changed into venom—a debuff that's more fatal.
Additionally, it also has the same function as our other sword—a sword that shoots projectiles. This time, the 『Envenomed Edge』 shoots a bouncing red beam that also inflicts venom. Oh, nasty!
Once again, Astra plunged toward the Mimic while the latter came to her instinctively. But before they collide into each other, Astra brake with her feet and stops a few meters away from the approaching Mimic, took her stance, and concentrated to deal her final blow.
"Take this...!"
⟨⟨Iaijutsu⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Lightning Thrust⟩⟩
I was not kidding when I saw the sound barrier, and the Mimic that sliced in half. It was so fast that Astra was already behind the Mimic when the action happened. If not for my current stats and I probably wouldn't be able to see it. She didn't use the projectiles, huh.
"So fast...!" Lemuen mused.
"Took the words out of my mouth," Seia replied.
Curious to the impressive performance Astra executed from us, I used my ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ to assess her:
『Astra Redwillow』 Current stats:
『HP: 800』
『MP: 400』
『Armor: 32』
『AGI: 720-1448』
『DEX: 400』
『Endurance: 800』
Armor: 『Ancient Damascus Armor』
Weapon and Equipment:
『Envenomed Edge』 『Wooden Sword』
Accessory:
『Icethrottle Boots』 『Antipathy Gloves』
Skills:
⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Intermediate Defensive Technique ⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Intermediate Offensive Technique⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Triple Jump⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Counter⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Rapid Life Regeneration⟩⟩
This time, Astra's Endurance is stronger, huh. I still haven't seen the rest of the girl's stats. I want to surprise myself. Anyways, after some evaluation, it seems that after the second upgrade of our MP, one of our stats will become more dominant that the rest. In this case, Astra's endurance was higher.
Hm, there's still more things I didn't know about this status thing... How concerning.
"Ho, it really is a weapon drop." I turned around to see Astra holding a sword with its blade that's made entirely of ice. Shortly, Astra went to Luna and handed the sword into her. "Here. I only said that I wanted to fight that thing alone. As for the drop, I want you to take it."
In response, Luna shook her head. "You're the one who fought it, so take it instead."
"But—"
"Right, everyone?" Everyone nodded to Luna's statement. I also nodded in accordance with their agreement.
"...I see. I'll be taking it, then." Astra grinned as she put the sword into her Pouch. "Thank you, guys."
"Shall we head back then?" I informed. "We've been farming here for a while, so those guys were surely tired waiting for us."
With that in mind, all of us went back to the igloo.