Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Pioneer (1)
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The light grew stronger, eventually forming a glowing rectangular prism that flew before me and landed gently.
“I do not lie.”
The Emperor Mimic, now back to its original size, spoke. For a moment, I felt bad for doubting it.
Of course, I had no intention of showing it on the outside.
“First, let’s see what it is.”
It would be a lie to say I wasn't expecting anything.
I hadn't invested just a few pennies, but a whopping 20,000 gold.
Still, thinking it might just be a high-performance unique item, I didn't get my hopes up too high.
But the light that had just emanated from the Emperor Mimic was the same as the light I had seen in the Summoner's Shop on my first day in this world.
Barely suppressing the corners of my mouth from turning up, I placed my hand on the golden rectangular prism with a fluttering heart.
[Ashtar's Cloak (Legendary)
A cloak imbued with the power of the great demon Ashtar, the sole rival of Aurelia, the Ruler of the Sea of Trees, who vanished after his defeat.
Defense +30, Luck +1 per 2 levels, Agility +1 per 2 levels, Strength +1 per 2 levels, HP +40, MP +40, Indestructible.
Special Abilities
Upon being hit, 30% chance to reduce damage by 50%.
Upon being hit, 10% chance to reflect damage.]
A legendary item, just as I thought!
It's a shame it's not a percentage-based increase like Kalisina's Fang, but raising three stats by one every two levels is incredibly appealing.
Since I'm level 20 now, that's 10 each, but as my level increases, I'll gain even more stats.
It would have been even better if it raised all stats.
Is that too greedy?
Then again, in most games, armor stats are usually a bit lower than weapon stats.
Besides, it's not even armor, just a cloak. An item with these stats is more than I could have ever asked for.
“How is it? Not a waste of 20,000 gold, is it?”
He was stating the obvious. I wanted to take it out and equip it right away, but I had to control my expression first.
“Well, it seems usable. I won’t take back the deal.”
“...You have high standards. Anyway, with this, our transaction is... complete...”
...?
“What do you mean, the transaction is complete?”
“D-Didn't you say it was usable?”
“Yes, but I haven't received those yet, have I?”
I pointed to the still-glittering equipment.
The legendary item is one thing, but of course I have to get those too.
“...Understood.”
He looked extremely reluctant, but that wasn't my problem.
Should he really be stingy with the price of his life?
Every time I picked up a piece of equipment I'd had my eye on, the Emperor Mimic groaned, but I pretended not to notice and took them all.
Honestly, at first, I considered taking everything, since I could sell what I didn't need, but I'm not completely without a conscience.
Selling them seemed like a hassle, and I might get questioned about their origin later.
“This should be enough. Are you the one who lets me out?”
“Y-Yes. I'll send you out right away.”
He looked like he couldn't bear to see me a moment longer.
[The Emperor Mimic has created a portal back to the 9th floor.]
Almost simultaneously with the notification, a blue portal appeared.
“I hope we never see each other again.”
“What a sad thing to say. We'll see each other again if the opportunity arises.”
I gave him a grin and threw myself into the portal.
My vision shifted for a moment, and I was back where I started on the 9th floor.
[You have cleared the secret dungeon, the Mimic's Tomb.
Rank: SSS
(The rank for a secret dungeon is determined by the conqueror's actions and the rewards obtained.)
SSS Rank Reward: All Stats +1]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
Oho, so there's a dungeon clear ranking system.
It even gave me three levels. I'm already bursting at the seams, and it's giving me more.
Elsia truly is a god-tier game!
“Hyeon-ung, your negotiation skills were amazing.”
“Haha, it was nothing. You guys helped a lot, too. I was just lucky.”
“I don't think it was just luck.”
“Huh?”
“Mister, that didn't look like your first time. You didn't go around extorting people like that, did you?”
Look who's talking.
If anything, Rina was much better at pressuring the Emperor Mimic than I was...
Normally, I would have said something, but I'm in a good mood, so I'll let it slide.
I-It's definitely not because I'm scared of Rina's strength.
Rina's help was crucial in securing such incredible rewards.
Ah, and of course, Hanna's too.
“Both of you, keep an eye on our surroundings for a moment. I'm going to organize my things.”
So, I came prepared.
I opened my inventory, took out an item, and approached Hanna.
“Oh? Hyeon-ung, are you done already?”
“No, this. You seemed interested in it earlier, right?”
[Eternal Vow (Rare)
A necklace crafted by an artisan of an ancient kingdom for his daughter, who was heading to the battlefield.
MP Recovery Speed +10%, MP +2, Luck +3
Special Ability.
Allows you to speak heart-to-heart with a designated person, even from a great distance.]
Honestly, it's not a very good item.
For starters, it's only rare, and with MP recovery speed and MP stats, it's not an item for a knight. But I picked it up because Hanna seemed to like it.
“I was just looking at it because the design was pretty... Don't tell me you picked it up for me?”
I nodded at Hanna, who was looking at me with a touched expression.
“Of course.”
“Th-Then... could you put it on for me?”
Uh... well, I have no reason to refuse.
I moved behind Hanna and fastened the necklace.
Her skin is so fair that the silver necklace suits her well.
To be honest, something other than the necklace caught my eye...
Suddenly feeling a chill, I turned around to see Rina glaring fiercely at me.
****
He told the two of us to stand guard while he organized his things, but then he suddenly approached Hanna.
I wondered what kind of trick he was up to now, but then he put a shimmering silver necklace on Hanna.
That mister is an idiot.
Hanna said she thinks Bio is more handsome and better, so what does he see in her...
Does he like her that much?
Men... all they care about is a big chest...
Playing favorites among teammates...
I helped out a lot earlier, too. I hate him.
I vowed not to praise him anymore and kept glaring, but then the mister came over to me.
“Rina?”
“What?”
“Are you pouting because I only gave a gift to Hanna?”
“H-Hmph! Who's pouting?”
Does he really need me to spell it out for him?
“I prepared something for our Rina, too...”
“Really?”
Of course. My mister might be a little clumsy and foolish, but he's not the type to play favorites... huh?
What the mister held out was a golden duck that glowed yellow.
“This is it, right?”
Is he not interested in me at all?
This isn't it...
He gave Hanna a pretty necklace, but he gives me a toy duck...
He's grinning. I really want to punch him.
“Do you really think I'm a child!”
“I thought you'd like this too. I guess not. Then how about this?”
What the mister took out next was the ring with the sparkling gemstone that I had been staring at.
He was just teasing me.
That mister is such a prankster.
“Ahem, like you did for Hanna...”
“Not this one? Was it a necklace? I don't have any more necklaces...”
“Not a necklace! I'm asking you to put it on for me!”
My mister is a real idiot.
****
She should have just said she wanted me to put it on for her from the start.
Anyway, she's so picky, but well, I was the one who teased her.
Seeing Rina beaming after I put the ring on her finger made me feel proud and happy.
This is why you give gifts.
“By the way, Rina, this seems to be a holy relic from another faith. Is it okay for you to wear it?”
[Alsera's Twin Ring (Unique)
A special ring created by the first pontiff of the Epis faith, Ligerio I, for the saintess.
When equipped by a Divine-type class, Skill Effect +30%, MP +20, Luck +10.
Special Skill: Denial of Death can be used.
(Denial of Death: When the owner is hit by a fatal attack, Absolute Heal is activated. Cooldown: 30 days.)]
As expected of a unique item, it's quite good, but Rina is a high priestess of the Dyna faith.
“W-Well... I don't usually like relics of other faiths, but since you gave it to me... What, are you going to take it back now?”
She hid the hand with the ring behind her back as she spoke. She clearly loves it. I guess I worried for nothing.
She's not honest enough to just say she likes it.
Then again, that's part of Rina's charm.
A Rina who is as obedient and kind as Hanna?
I can't even imagine it. If she changed like that, it would give me the creeps.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because you're cute, Rina?”
“...Stop spouting nonsense and hurry up and find the way.”
She's as sharp-tongued as ever, but seeing her face turn red, I can tell she's fun to tease.
“I'm going to equip some gear, too.”
First, I equipped Ashtar's Cloak, then took out the rest of the items one by one.
[Form of the Spirits (Unique)
A robe used by the genius spirit master Arta, who commanded four types of high-ranking spirits.
It is imbued with the energy of the four high-ranking spirits Arta contracted with.
Defense +70, Fire Resistance +80%, Wind Resistance +80%, Water Resistance +80%, Earth Resistance +80%, Self-Repair, Underwater Breathing, Temperature Control.]
It's a shame a unique item has no special effects or skills, but the defense is excellent, and it gives an insane amount of resistance.
Features like self-repair and temperature control seem pretty great, too.
[Rapir's Ring (Unique)
The ring of Knight Commander Rapir, who always stood at the vanguard in the wars of the Masat Empire.
Strength +5, HP +5, Agility +5
Special Skill: Knight of the Vanguard can be used.
(Knight of the Vanguard: Activates the moment you are the first to attack an enemy in combat. All stats except Luck +10.)]
The ring also seems a bit plain for a unique item, but its special effect is amazing.
It has a condition, but since I'll be fighting alone a lot, it's safe to say it'll be active almost all the time.
[Frost Gauntlets (Rare)
Gauntlets made from the hide of a drake from the frigid northern mountains of the continent.
Strength +1, Agility +1
Special Effect
10% chance to inflict Freeze status ailment on the target.]
The gauntlets are rare, so they're a step down from the previous items, but I chose them because the special effect seemed decent.
Last is the necklace.
“Hyeon-ung? The design of that necklace is a bit...”
“Mister, do you like skulls? Your taste is really weird.”
My previously quiet companions chimed in. I'm not a big fan of skull designs either.
“If it's blue, the effects probably aren't that good. You should have picked something else.”
“The design is so tacky.”
“I think so too, but I chose it because I liked the stats.”
[Hollow Emblem (Rare)
A necklace decorated with a ghastly green skull, a symbol of darkness.
Special Effect
10% chance to inflict Poison status ailment on the target.
1% chance of instant death for the target.]
It's a rare item that doesn't raise any stats, but the last line of its special effect completely hooked me.
Instant death.
It's only a 1% chance, but it's such an alluring ability.
****
Labyrinth, 42nd Floor
Dozens of people surround a massive monster that appears to be about 25 meters tall.
“Tanks, fall back!”
At the command of a man who seemed to be the leader, the heavily armored people at the front quickly retreated.
What looked like well over a hundred arrows and spears of fire, lightning, and ice flew toward the monster.
Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!
The magic hit directly, creating thunderous explosions, but the dinosaur-like monster roared, completely unscathed.
Kuuuaaaah—!
“Tanks, re-engage!”
A few heavily armored people moved forward again at the roar, but when the monster swung its long tail, several nearby people were swept away.
Thud— Thud— Thud—
“Healers, heal the tanks! Second-line tanks, move in!”
The man who seemed to be the leader gave swift commands, and the people moved in perfect sync.
“Mages, prepare to attack again.”
The leader in golden armor shouted again, but the number of spells floating in the air had noticeably decreased.
“I said prepare to attack!”
“Commander, we're short on tanks at the front, and it seems the mages have almost exhausted their mana...”
The man's expression hardened at the report from a woman in a red robe standing next to the mages.
“Tell them to squeeze it out with grit and willpower! Just a little more and...”
“Tae-soo, let's stop here for now. We're going to have casualties at this rate.”
“No, we're almost done. Just a little more...”
“I don't think we have even ten minutes left before the Labyrinth closes. Let's not push it. It's not like today's our only chance, right?”
Lee Tae-soo, the commander of the Golden Lion Guild, scowled even more, but in the end, he followed his friend's advice—the man in silver armor—and ordered a retreat.
Only a few people remained to draw the monster's attention while the retreat preparations were carried out in an orderly fashion.
The last remaining people also used return stones and vanished.
Once everyone was gone, Lee Tae-soo, watching the monster roar and charge at him, also used a return stone.
[You have failed to subjugate the 42nd floor boss, the Elemental Drake.]
Lee Tae-soo, the Guild Master of the Golden Lion Guild, hung his head.
It was their fourth failure.
“Tae-soo, don't be too disappointed. We almost had it.”
The man in silver armor who had given him advice earlier approached Tae-soo and patted his shoulder encouragingly.
“Yeah. We learned that magic is effective in the final phase, so next time, we should prepare an archer-focused party.”
“You're always thinking about strategy... Aren't you worried about your friend?”
“Ah, you got sent flying earlier. Are you okay?”
“Me? I'm fine. We still made it down another floor this time. Don't be so impatient.”
“Our pace has slowed down...”
“Who's faster than us? If the number one ranker and the representative of the guild alliance acts like this, it'll make everyone else anxious.”
Seeing Chil-seong grin and give a thumbs-up, Tae-soo grinned back.
“Yeah. You're right, I shouldn't be so hasty. Let's rest a bit.”
“We only have a few minutes left, and you're just now saying let's rest? You're a total slave-driving guild master.”
Tae-soo burst out laughing at Chil-seong's banter.
“Sorry, sorry. By the way, how are the new recruits from this batch?”
“About time you asked. You're the alliance representative and the master, and you haven't even checked? I swear, all you think about is conquering the Labyrinth.”
“I know the Silver Wolf Guild is handling the training.”
“Two former Elsia rankers joined, and Silver Wolf snatched them up. I heard one has the trait 'Lord of Strength'.”
“That's a bit of a shame.”
“We got some decent people too. Go meet them yourself when we get out this time. Stop leaving everything to me.”
Just as Tae-soo was about to say he would, the Labyrinth shook, and his vision began to change.
It was the plaza where they had entered the Labyrinth ten days ago.
I think this every time, but ten days go by so fast... Huh?
[Your 'Pioneer' title is being removed due to a change in the rankings for the Summoner who has reached the lowest floor.]
S-Someone went lower than me?