Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Even Stabbed by Black Crystal, I'm Innocent
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While waiting for my mana to recover, I applied an appraisal to the brooch, and a system message scrolled up.
"...Wow."
A sigh escaped me, one that even Imperial Bloodline couldn't suppress.
Not admiration. A sigh.
This thing was genuinely headache-inducing. For real.
How could it roll such options?
Magic speed boost. Mana recovery boost. Magic power boost?
Utterly ridiculous. Seriously.
What a waste. Damn it.
"...Hoo."
Ah, 7-tier, but still...
My shoulders shrugged involuntarily.
This called for a rundown on D/Z SAGA's item option grading system. Strictly speaking, this was solidly 7-tier material!
Just look at a newbie set's gloves for clarity.
Gloves of Balance only give +3 to a stat under 10.
But Gloves of Order come with 10% EXP gain and all resistances—two options.
In other words, by original standards, pure stats reign supreme.
On the same-tier items, attached stats mean lower numbers. That's single-stat options.
Even gear boosting mana with no restrictions only gives +1 and ranks at the bottom of 1-tier.
Next come various buffs and utility options. Same tier, but two or three can stack unlike stats.
After all that rambling, the verdict: this crammed three solid options into one accessory, making it a utility powerhouse overall.
A true top-tier 7T accessory looks like this:
Conditional +1 to Strength or Dexterity, or an attached skill.
Skills are top-end 7T too. Like 【Magic Max Amp】 【5 Uses】 【Auto-Refill Every Hour】—that's pure profit for spell-slinging.
Hmm. No good.
Time to craft more and think.
After that, not a single Faint Brooch appeared.
Trash game.
For real?
"Truly, a miracle must've happened."
Speculating: it pierced the 0.00075% chance, plus Aila's 5% bonus. Insane.
"Anyway, this is the limit of my crafting right now."
No need to lament. Pulls and great successes make 7T, so at Skill Lv. 5, I can aim for 6T.
Besides, I've chugged so many mana potions my stomach's bloated and aching.
I stopped crafting and eyed the trash pile.
About thirty pieces.
Appraisals showed mostly bottom-rung mage accessories: a few resistance options.
"Time to summon the owner."
The next day, Aila visited, and I handed over the brooch.
"Eh? A g-gift? An a-accessory, even?"
"Mm."
"Wow, a brooch? Nice design too. D-does it have special meaning?"
"Mm. Your gear seemed lacking."
"I see. Just explain the options plainly?"
Why does she seem pissed?
Anyway, I explained cleanly, as requested.
Just the triple core options.
"Triple mage options. Chant acceleration. Mana recovery. Magic attack boost. All three."
"......Pardon? Eh?"
"Tch. Nothing better came up. No choice—wear it for now."
"..........W-where'd you get this?"
Where?
"Convenience stores don't stock weird stuff. I made it myself."
At my words, Aila paled.
"W-Wolfram? You made this yourself?"
"Mm."
"Uh, um."
Aila pondered deeply, muttering things like "...Hmm. Still..." "No, that's no good" "That's bad" as her brain spun.
Soon, she sighed heavily and continued.
"I really hate Regina Cielra too, you know?"
"I know. I hate her."
Why bring her up suddenly?
"......Even so, wiping out the Ciela family... isn't that too much?"
?
Why's that relevant?
Was there foreshadowing for tormenting the tragic heroine?
"What're you talking about?"
"Uh... well."
After Aila left, I fiddled with the brooch, recalling her words.
'Hmm... well, you see.'
What followed was pretty shocking.
In short: this accessory could dagger the Ciela family.
At length: it gets wordy.
The Ciela family was born Loengrin loyalists.
Precisely: an elf house quick to read the winds and side with the emperor.
When the founding emperor declared empire-building and waged conquest.
Elves initially balked, but Ciela achieved the first historic alliance.
Branded elf traitors, but conquest succeeded—Ciela became founding heroes. Elves reduced to imperial lapdogs, wielding unchecked power.
Fluid funds, advising the emperor— they bridged nobles, scheming business.
Social halls and jewel sales.
Financial ops with inflows. Auction overlords. Money incarnate.
History's weight cemented them as eternal merchant peak.
So why'd Regina Cielra snap?
This is Loengrin—emperor's word means groveling for mercy.
Imperial decree is sacred, royalty exalted, authority untouchable. Save lunatics, no enemies.
Regina, richest heir, agonizes over her life hanging on one imperial whim—duality torment.
Somehow spiraling into seeking her killer. Mad tragic... Anyway, skip Regina Cielra.
"What does Reginadan see in it? Anyway, makes sense."
Me crafting and distributing to nobles could gut Ciela.
Prince-made; Ciela can't interfere.
Actual performance rocks.
Not mere wearables—"martial tools for noble mages."
Mages cluster under high nobles with artifacts.
Plus, ore suppliers Trista—one of merchant giants. Solid name value.
"Not planning to ruin Regina's family, though."
Annoying, sure—no need to smash her.
Ruin Ciela? She'd cling: 'Ahh, you're my end. I've waited. Kill me.'
Totally nuts.
I gripped the pendant Aila refused, lost in thought.
"Aila Trista..."
So Aila politely declined my pendant.
'Won't take this pendant?'
'Yes. Grateful for your gift, Wolfram, but sorry.'
'Why? Isn't rebellion subtle yet flashy? This is subtle but flashy-powered.'
'True. Still think so. But against Regina Cielra, it's not rebellion.'
'Explain?'
'Nothing grand. I'm now top student; she's second. Flaunting this? Just bullying the underdog.'
'......'
'Thanks to you, I'm top. Don't want to bully the weak now.'
'I see. You're always Aila Trista, any situation.'
'Yes. So something plainer, please. That'd make me happier.'
In canon, Regina ends Aila's academy life.
Yet Aila doesn't wish Regina's fall.
"Mm."
This girl.
Thought Act 3 boss... but solid character.
Next day.
When Aila visited, I offered the pendant again.
Aila's eyes sparkled as she took it.
"This one's plainer?"
"No. Same as yesterday."
"...Pardon? Wolfram. But."
"Listen first."
She straightened, attentive.
Good girl.
Obedient.
"I'll keep crafting accessories. Same caliber, better too. So, limited recipients."
"......?"
Aila tilted her head.
Jefrin's—no, entire Loengrin Empire's distribution sucked.
Eve warned when I first released Magical Sweets.
Dump freely? Could get stabbed.
"Key items go only to my picks. Take it."
"...Uh, so. I'm first pick?"
Aila clutched the pendant, eyes wide.
"Yes. Aila Trista. You're first designated—exclusive."
Not wrong.
First party member; her exclusive bonus fits best.
"......I see. I'm first. Closest to Wolfram. Got it. I'll take this pendant. Treasure it."
"Mm."
Aila's oddly solemn, face beet-red. Breathing ragged.
What's up?
Arrhythmia?
"Wolfram's one-of-a-kind pendant."
"Huh?"
"Pardon?"
"Didn't say one-of-a-kind."
"......?"
I pointed to the sack behind. Stuffed with identical brooches.
Really stuffed. Overflowing.
"...N-not one...? That many?"
"Lower-grade ones for Nefti, Rudika, Milmyu."
"...Wolfram, you might need to study reading hearts."
Why?
Ah.
Thought exclusive, but store-bought? Mad?
"But this is certain."
"W-what...?"
"Best of hundreds—your custom brooch. Unchanged."
"......Eek. Just one already! Wolfram!"
Aila finally yelled at me after ages.
Good gift, intent, words—why mad?