Spec Up (4)
‘This upgrade cost is way too ruthless, isn’t it…’
The skill upgrade prices weren’t all that different from equipment. The purchase costs didn’t seem to differ much from Long Terror Hard Mode either…
‘Or maybe I’m misremembering.’
Perhaps since hardly anyone bought skills at the hero training center, they’d jacked up only the essential upgrade costs while leaving the unprofitable ones alone. The more I thought about it, the deeper I fell into my own hypothesis.
‘Yeah. They give you basic level 1 gear for free anyway, and skills are random but you get four gratis… Ha. These bastards run a tight ship, don’t they?’
It was natural for upgrade costs to rise with difficulty. Long Terror did the same. But there was a reasonable limit. Rewards scaled with the challenge, and consumption costs rose accordingly. If clear rewards had been stingy too, progressing would’ve been impossible.
But the fucker who dropped me here was vicious. As if they knew exactly where I’d dump my dungeon rewards first, costs were up at least 33% compared to hard mode. Factor in class-differentiated pricing that didn’t even exist in the game, and it easily topped 50%.
The gold pile I’d scraped together from no-death clears was no longer a “pile” against these murderous upgrade prices.
For a split second, I wondered if I’d splurged too much on personal allowance, but I shook my head. Good rest was essential for mentality recovery, and that took cash.
‘Even if I squeezed every coin like a greedy boss and dumped it all into upgrades, full upgrades would still be impossible.’
It hit me anew how lucky we’d been that Kaya’s and my weapons hit level 2 back then.
‘Still… looking at this makes me feel better.’
The gloom from the hero squad’s brutal spec-up costs vanished the moment I saw the updated profile. HP, attack, defense—all up, scout chance meaningfully boosted. But the real shocker? Level jumped by 3.
‘I figured maybe 3 levels at best, like half a level shy of 4.’
I was pleased. No EXP bar, so exact progress was unknown, but if I hit 4, Kaya definitely did too. Shae was the issue… If that one instance run and the 1-3 ejection left her shy of 4, I’d be cursing all day.
‘Why notify everything else by message but make level-ups this manual bullshit?’
One positive and one negative trait tacked on, but nothing standout. “Strong Will” was basically nothing in daily use, and “Extremist” just nudged the all-or-nothing gamble lower. No trait meant no crits, and having it didn’t block them either.
‘I don’t care much about positive traits. Just no weird negative ones…’
Confirm Shae’s at 4, and I could smile for a while. Levels were the foundation of spec-ups. Fourth member, gear, and skill upgrades? I’d consult the team with my intel.
Sun dipping, dinner time. Half-excited, half-worried, I headed back to the inn.
“Innkeeper, my comrades back yet?”
“Heh heh.”
Asking before heading up, the gruff innkeeper cracked a pleased smile?
“Something good happen?”
“Not for me—for you, hero.”
“Pardon?”
Odd reply, but he just shrugged. Harmless grin, so I shrugged too and climbed. Muttered “Right when it’s prime time” trailed behind.
‘What the hell.’
Innkeeper and I? Pure business—lodging fees. Good news tied to me meant Kaya or Shae. ‘See when I get there.’ His words tipped excitement to 70-30. Steps quickened.
Knock knock—
“Ah, Leader?”
“Yeah, it’s me. Can I come in—”
“Wait! One minute—no, 30 seconds!”
Shae’s urgent voice halted me from inside, no clue why.
“Nothing exploded, right?”
“Of course not!”
“Take your time, whatever it is.”
Curiosity spiked. No Kaya voice—Shae alone? While waiting, I rechecked artifacts and consumables, debating sale amid upgrade costs.
◈ Applies to: All Classes
◈ Defends against Corruption once per hero
◈ Awakening Chance +3%
◈ Retreat from battle once
◈ Chance: Severe Mentality drop on random hero
◈ Chance: Random hero Corrupted by darkness
◈ Chance: Random hero vanishes into darkness
‘Somehow, so damn ambiguous.’
Indomitable Flag seemed like solid insurance for all classes. But for me, a Skull Necklace adding 1 damage to humanoids was leagues better. Sure, it blocked Corruption once, but one more mentality dip after and horror seeped in. Slot it? Waste of space. Don’t? Waste of potential.
And the new consumable, Dark Passage? Risks too high to touch.
‘Holding this gives me a bad feeling I’ll need it later…’
“Come in now, Leader!”
Way past 30 seconds, but her urgency gone, so fine.
*Click*—
“What was that about ear—”
“Ta-da~ How’s this? How’s this? How’s this?”
Stepping in, Shae greeted me in a dress—glamorous yet elegant, not overdone. Long gloves hid arms, stockings scars; she twirled lightly, approaching like showcasing.
Beautiful. Graceful. Like a princess at a royal ball—dignified, lively, not heavy.
“How’s this? How’s this? How’s this? That’s six times, Leader!”
“Uh, uh… You look stunning. Yeah.”
“Hehe.”
She beamed at my dumbstruck reply, resting her right hand on my left shoulder.
“Your reaction makes it worth it! Ready for another shock, Leader?”
“No way.”
“That ‘no way’! Sis! Siiiis!”
Gulp—throat tightened. Dressed-up Shae was already overwhelming. Barely sane, desire stirred despite no exposure. Second rest spot flashed; dark self stirred, toes curled, teeth gritted.
“Sis? Come on out! Leader’s here.”
“W-Well, this outfit’s a bit…”
“You’re already wearing it—no refunds! And why? It’s gorgeous!”
Kaya was in the bathroom, changed there, embarrassed by the new buy.
‘What kind of dress makes her hesitate? She wears battle nun garb fine…’
“Fine, I’ll open the door if you don’t!”
“Ah, got it. Coming out.”
Shae’s threat worked; Kaya peeked face-first, tomato-red, ears quivering—really shy.
“L-Leader.”
“Yeah, Kaya.”
“D-Don’t tease.”
“Why would I?”
“Promise. Promise me.”
“Okay, I promise.”
Playing along. Her hesitation fueled my curiosity.
“Hehe. You’ll be shocked.”
Shae whispered confidently; bathroom door swung wide.
*Clack*—sharp heels, Kaya fully revealed.
“…”
“L-Leader.”
“……”
“Leader?”
“………”
“L-Leader!”
Holy… If Shae was lively princess, Kaya was walking pheromones.
“Whoa, Leader’s eyes!”
“W-Well, this dress is too…!”
The dress was pretty—my vocab failing. But honestly, irrelevant.
Border of lewd and art. Lewd and allure. Kaya stood center.
Cool gray bob, gray eyes—icy intellectual in a suit vibe, flipping 180 at the jawline.
“L-Leader… Stop staring like that…”
“Shh, sis. Leader’s focused.”
“Kkh!”
Slim white neck, collarbone, shoulders—seductive lines bare. Taut arms lively, not skinny. Chest barely contained, spilling with motion. Perfect size, balanced—hidden, yet obscenely present. Twin peaks at tips: black hole magnets.
Does dress hold chest, or chest prop dress? Ambiguous.
“Leader…?”
“Sis. Stay still.”
“Hngh?!”
Escaping pink black hole—er, pink hole—artistic waist-hip curve teased saliva. Soft hips swaying peek, plump left leg bold. Contrasting devouring dress. Killer heels amplifying legs.
“Nngh…!”
Snapped to: arms crushing Kaya, devouring lips like madman. Knew Shae was beside… Sorry, but couldn’t hold back. Shae, not your fault—you primed me!
“Pha, haa, L-Leader. W-Wait. Hng!”
*Smack, slurp—*
*Sluuurp—*
*Smoooch—*
Level check? Upgrade talk? Artifacts? Fuck ’em! Later!
Hesitant Kaya wrapped arms around neck—last reason burned to spare her dress.
“Kaya, where’s your limit? Huh?”
“Haaaah—!”
*Click*—door shut, footsteps out, bed rocked hard.