Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Law of Competition and Distribution (1)
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The number of leaders participating in the battle totaled eight.
"Target Elsilva and the mage first!!"
Six of them had already formed a temporary alliance.
It was an alliance specifically to take out Elsilva and Regin first, since they had voiced differing opinions.
"Huh?"
But there was something they had overlooked.
They didn't realize just how swift the attacks could be when a spellcrafter came prepared for battle.
Pfoof—!!
"Urk...!"
"Idiots! What good are you if you can't even dodge a single fireball!"
"...No casting time, so how the hell do you dodge it, you moron?"
Regin let out a scoffing laugh.
'A job that stores and uses pre-cast spells—why would they need to cast on the spot?'
Most mages truly shone once they reached the third stage.
Especially elemental sorcerers, thanks to the Mana Boost they learned at that stage, which covered all their weaknesses.
'A spell that accelerates mana flow several times over. Master that, and the casting time drawback gets completely hidden.'
But spellcrafters didn't even need to reach the third stage.
Sizzle—!
"Damn it! Mage! Take out the mage first!"
"Ignore Elsilva—focus that bastard!"
The casting time drawback simply didn't exist for spellcrafters.
"The spells aren't that refined! Even a fireball's something you can tank!"
Of course, they couldn't match the power of spells cast directly by other mages.
No matter how high-quality the scroll materials, they couldn't surpass a mage expending their own mana.
"Lightning."
But that only applied to those confident enough to withstand it.
'These guys grinding the 6th Floor repeatedly aren't the type to just eat hits.'
Halt—
The leaders charging forward froze in place.
Daggers, swords, hammers—each gripped their weapons, eyeing Regin, but going no further.
"...Don't stop!"
"......"
The burly man bellowed, but no one followed like before.
"...How the hell do we break through that?"
Regin blocking attacks alongside Elsilva.
Whenever a gap appeared, a barrage of spells flew out, guarded by Elsilva's swordplay like an impenetrable wall. It was a perfect synergy.
"I'm out."
"Me too. Not risking my life for scraps."
Swish—
Two leaders sheathed their weapons.
The burly man glared fiercely, but they retreated without a second thought.
"If you're so confident, you and the other three stake your lives and take down Elsilva and the mage. I don't have the guts."
"Gutless bastards...!"
"One or the other might be doable. Both? No way."
Only four leaders held the line now, the burly man included.
Even they had lost their fighting spirit, save for him.
"Damn it. Why'd the stuff we need have to drop here...?"
"Sell that haul, and we could lounge for months. Should've just gone with contribution distribution!"
The rest couldn't back out either.
Walking away empty-handed after hours of fighting would be a total loss.
"...Sorry!"
One couldn't hold back and shouted.
"How about contribution distribution now? We got suckered by this guy's talk. Sorry!"
"You slimy prick—weren't you the ones who agreed, drew weapons, and charged?!"
"We never wanted to follow their lead from the start!"
It had shrunk from six to four in an instant, and now even that group was fracturing.
Elsilva watched the scene before turning to Regin.
"What do you think? Switch to contribution distribution like they suggest?"
"Huh?"
Regin laughed in disbelief.
"You okay with that? Sharing with them?"
"......"
It was a question he knew the answer to.
'Seeing it up close drives it home. How useless they were in taking down this Skeleton Knight...'
Even with Regin right there, failing to overpower two out of six said volumes.
Elsilva pondered before speaking.
"What's your name?"
"Regin Petrichio."
"Elsilva."
He readjusted his grip on his sword and continued.
"I'd like to modify the traditional distribution a bit."
"Modify it?"
"Yes. Let's form an alliance. Your party and I can split the loot—that seems fine."
Regin nodded without hesitation.
"Excellent judgment."
A rare NPC who actually listened to reason.
* * *
With Elsilva and Regin joining forces, the battle wrapped up swiftly.
"Cough!!"
Even the burly man holding out till the end collapsed, leaving all leaders incapacitated.
"......"
Some lay bleeding out.
Others barely breathed, sprawled on the ground.
'...Nearly killed them.'
Even Regin felt a bit rattled by the sight.
People could die in traditional distributions, but you weren't supposed to kill them.
'Various reasons. Starts bad blood with their party members. And the infamy system kicks in.'
Just as fame built from achievements, infamy piled up from misdeeds.
Rumors spread the same way.
'Not for nothing that DAT's three great villains had bounties.'
Khaluan, the one they'd met before, was a prime example.
He'd planned a massacre on the 17th Floor—if Regin hadn't stopped him, it'd have happened again.
Those types racked up infamy, and in severe cases, kingdoms hunted them down.
"Greg. Seria. Give any remaining potions to these folks."
"Yeah. We weren't fighting to kill."
"Right."
Infamy from distributions made you an outcast in future boss raids.
Regin handled cleanup, ensuring the defeated leaders survived, eyes scanning them and their surrounding party members.
"Looking for something?"
"Oh, no."
"By distribution rules, you and I split the loot."
Elsilva approached and told Regin.
If they'd stuck to opposing traditional distribution to the end, fine—but drawing weapons meant consent.
No complaints if the remaining two leaders, Elsilva and Regin, took everything.
"You pick first."
Regin gestured to the piled loot.
Six items dropped from the Skeleton Knight.
'Only two of them useful, huh.'
Elsilva consulted his party while choosing.
Regin watched quietly, wondering.
'Decent skill, gutsy leader. Curious if he has an eye for items.'
He'd be happy with one of the two he wanted.
Worst case: Elsilva taking both.
"Elsilva, grab the sword for sure. Skeleton Knight's blade. Say it's for sale, and people will line up, right?"
"Hmm."
One of his party members started persuading Elsilva.
'...Nice.'
Regin inwardly cheered.
'One of the trap items.'
Dropped intact from the Skeleton Knight, in decent condition.
One repair, and usable—but Regin wouldn't touch it.
'Skeleton Knight's sword... needs second-stage mental fortitude to wield.'
Some gear had stat requirements.
Better universality than debuff-on-equip items, but mental fortitude as the req was the issue.
'Tricky stat. Doesn't scale with level.'
One of DAT's underexplored stats—even players struggled to research it.
Regin wouldn't claim full mastery either.
He just knew a few ways to raise it.
'Win a battle with HP under 3%, or level up—mental fortitude rises.'
Edge-of-death victories boosted it.
In DAT's world, it was inevitably the trickiest stat.
No status windows here.
Outside Regin, no one could objectively gauge their own mental fortitude.
'So that sword, breastplate, and armor set are all traps.'
Obvious returns from buyers among explorers.
"Fine. We'll take the sword."
"...I see."
Nice.
Regin suppressed a rising smile and nodded.
'Sad face. Regretful face.'
He kept up the disappointed act, awaiting the next pick.
"And... the barbuta and the banner."
"......"
This time, genuine regret.
'The barbuta I could let go. But the banner's different.'
Barbuta, a type of helmet.
Open-faced style—honestly, Regin's group had no need.
Only Greg might wear it, but...
...Greg constantly chugged booze, so his mental fortitude fluctuated.
'Means we couldn't use it anyway. But the banner stings... best low-floor buff item out there.'
Granted a buff boosting user and party defense.
Efficiency rose the closer party members clustered.
"The remaining three go to Regin's party. Thanks for letting us choose first."
"...Haha."
Regin eyed the banner Elsilva claimed, then shook his head.
'Disappointing, but...'
Also a relief.
"So we get the pauldrons, breastplate, and insignia?"
"Yes."
He and Greg gathered their share.
First grab: the insignia.
'Skeleton Knight's insignia.'
Eyes sparkling, Seria asked.
"If you're eyeing it that hard, must be useful, right?"
"Oh, no. Actually, no real effects."
"No effects at all?"
"In this state, yes."
"Ah."
Seria smirked at Regin.
"Means there's a special way to use it."
"Correct."
"And you know it."
"...Haha."
"Mage knowledge is on another level. Never spared it a glance before."
Seria noted past drops ignored by everyone.
Regin figured as much.
Just a bauble on its own.
'Too grotesque for decor... barring eccentric nobles, no buyers.'
Finger-bone chunks crudely affixed to steel.
Who'd wear that creepy thing as jewelry?
"Gives us one more reason to hit the 8th Floor."
"Related to the Portrait Room?"
"You bet."
Regin nodded and continued.
"There's a being there who'd love this."
* * *
"Strange sight. Do you always rest like this after Skeleton Knights?"
"Yeah. Rare gathering. No Skeleton Soldiers for a while."
Regin's group decided to rest nearby post-battle.
Greg sat on the floor and asked; Seria answered like it was routine.
'Hard to see a floor with everyone clumped, resting together.'
Other parties lounged nearby too.
Gear half-unpacked, mats on the ground.
Hard to believe they'd just fought over loot—pure peace now.
'Like picnickers on a sunny day by the Han River.'
Exhausted, and mutual vigilance deterred ambushes.
Unspoken rule: don't mess with resters.
Everyone got a brief breather.
"But Regin."
"Yeah."
"You've been scanning for someone since earlier."
"...Yeah."
"Even handing out potions, checking faces closely. Looking for someone?"
Seria eyed Regin.
He slowly shifted his gaze and replied.
"Was looking for someone..."
"Not here, huh."
"Nope. Not here."
No sign, no matter how he searched.
The party that should be hunting the Saint's Sword on 6F.
'Manannan and Bern's party.'
Their absence meant one of two things.
They'd given up on the Saint's Sword.
'Or found it.'