Chapter 122
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: New Equipment
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'...Hm?'
Feeling a pleasant, languid sensation, Gloria woke up. She lay there blankly for a moment, recalling her memories, then smiled.
'What a nostalgic sight...'
Last night, in her dream, little Clara from her childhood had appeared. She was even more spoiled than Gloria remembered... but it didn't feel bad at all.
She extinguished the still-burning incense candle. Could last night's dream have been due to the effects of this candle Ian had gifted her?
"Mom! You're up? Uncle Ian made breakfast!"
Clara's voice called from outside the room, making Gloria hurriedly get out of bed. She realized she was still wearing last night's clothes and quickly changed.
"It's torn? Have I really gained weight...?"
She frowned at the slightly torn clothes—probably from sleeping in them unlike yesterday. Still, she changed quickly and headed out. A delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen, where she saw Ian cooking with Clara.
"Ian? You didn't have to go as far as cooking..."
"No, it's fine. I cook pretty often anyway."
As she watched him assign Clara simple tasks to help (making sure she never touched the ingredients), his skilled hands moving deftly, a strange sentiment rose in her.
'...It feels just like a family...'
Shaking off the thought that surfaced in her mind, Gloria approached Ian and helped with what she could until the cooking was done.
Once Clara went to wash up, the two of them talked.
"Sorry about last night. I fell asleep first..."
She usually dozed off quickly after drinking, but last night she'd fallen asleep unusually fast—almost eerily so. Maybe it was because Ian's massage had relieved her fatigue?
'Come to think of it...'
As drowsiness had overwhelmed her, it felt like Ian had touched her breasts. Something intense had happened then, and she'd lost consciousness... but she couldn't remember clearly.
Definitely some strange sensation from her chest...
-Drip...
"...!!!"
Feeling the sensation in her chest, she panicked, hastily ended the conversation, and quickly saw off Ian, who also seemed to have something urgent.
She sneaked back into her room and opened her soaked chest area.
"Why is this happening? Why is breast milk suddenly..."
She'd heard that some priests overflowing with holy power sometimes leaked breast milk if they couldn't control the life-activating holy power... but why her?
"Eut...?"
And for some reason, her breasts felt incredibly sensitive.
"Phew..."
Emerging from Gloria's mansion, I let out a sigh of relief.
Thanks to erasing all traces after last night's ordeal, Gloria thankfully hadn't noticed anything. Dragging my exhausted body back to the mansion, I confirmed Alensia still wasn't home—probably busy—then collapsed into bed and fell asleep like the dead.
The next day, I woke refreshed and was about to start my routine when...
"Hm..."
I drew the red longsword I usually used.
It had some regenerative ability, so just sheathing it would slowly repair it... but...
"It's not fixing."
Even after two days sheathed, it remained heavily corroded with cracks everywhere, showing no sign of recovery. Did something happen when I left it stuck in that mutant ogre's body for so long?
'It's about time to switch swords anyway.'
Still, part of me considered changing it out.
What I'd realized in the labyrinth this time was how crucially important gear was. Just the [Berserker's Gauntlets] I'd gotten had boosted my combat power significantly.
The gear I was wearing now was what I'd assembled right after clearing the 10th floor and preparing for promotion. It had been more than enough back then, but...
'I've already reached the 20th floor...'
Still usable, but pushing further would be tough.
Decision made, instead of morning sword training, I headed to the commercial district. My destination: Miranda's workshop.
"Any luck finding a dwarf?"
In the guild house marked 'Earth Guild', a woman who seemed to be the guild master was receiving a report from a guild member.
"Yes. We connected with the highest-rated mid-tier craftsman dwarf. And we've contracted for him to craft and enter gear using materials we provide."
"Good."
The guild master smiled in satisfaction. For her, who had been seeking a way to connect with committee members, the upcoming 'Festival of Fire' was a golden opportunity.
"That's definite, right? Winner gets to meet the eight committee seats."
"Yes. And you can bring one companion to the venue. Usually it's an apprentice or mentor, but no rule against outsiders."
"Good. Materials ready?"
"Yes!"
She whistled at the material list handed over.
'Ogre hide from that massive drop... top-grade steels, Lizardman King's scales, Big Arachne silk... and even a bit of mithril!'
Essentially the absolute top-tier materials allowable for the 'Festival of Fire'. No way they wouldn't win with support like this.
Everyone claimed superior skill, but in this world with skills as cheats, mid-tier artisans' skill levels were all around the same. Skill gaps were minor enough for material differences to cover.
'Unless someone gets better materials than us...'
Impossible. Metal grades were restricted, monster byproducts limited to up to 20th floor. To seal the win, she ordered a guild member to gather more minerals.
'This time, I'll meet a committee member.'
"This... for me to work with?"
"Yes. Miranda has more than enough skill."
I handed Miranda the hide from the two-headed mutant ogre I'd hunted and commissioned armor for myself.
"And there's this 'Festival of Fire' coming up, right? Can you enter something made from this?"
"It's a unique specimen, but from the 20th floor, so... probably yes. You sure? Another smith might..."
I'd considered it, but Miranda was plenty skilled, and I was used to her gear already, so I stuck with her.
"Thank you. I'll do my best."
Miranda smiled, clutching the materials I'd entrusted, then glanced at my longsword nearby.
"But... this one's done for. No recycling."
"That bad?"
"Yeah. The 'Regeneration' property I enchanted is dead, soaked in poison and curses, metal corrosion severe..."
Her clinical assessment of my sword left a bitter taste. I'd grown attached to it.
Still, no helping it.
"Can you make me another sword? Custom order over off-the-shelf..."
"I'd love to, but..."
Unlike with the armor, she looked troubled at the sword request.
"I planned to hit the labyrinth: ogre hide on 20F, minerals on 21F... but got injured on 20F and retreated without the minerals."
"Minerals?"
"Yeah. Good ones are mined on 21F."
"Buy them?"
"Cheap ore maybe, but rare stuff? No stock right now. What's left in the workshop is just enough for supplementing your armor."
She lifted her bandaged arm.
Couldn't re-enter the labyrinth in this state to mine.
"Wait till after the festival? Then I can buy or mine myself and make the sword."
"When's it end?"
"Ten days?"
Ten days... swordless that whole time?
"Or buy a ready-made one. Got some here."
"Hmm..."
I tried swinging the displayed swords one by one.
Once unaffordable, but with tournament winnings left, I could afford them now. But...
"None feel right."
"Your old longsword was custom-made for you."
The red longsword was Miranda's custom job. Others felt off.
Confirms I want custom... but.
"Same anywhere. Everyone's swamped with festival. No custom orders."
"You?"
"I got these materials. And you saved my life..."
Bitter... unavoidable? She'll make it after ten days. Actually longer than that.
Too long? Need a sword at least... Ah.
"By the way, Miranda. Mining minerals on 21F?"
"Yeah. Good ores there: high-quality iron, rare mithril... Why suddenly?"
"No reason."
Bonus to mineral mining actions. Detects ore veins.
I can do some mining too.