48. Build Composition (2)
North, the ice city Vaness. A city blanketed in pure white snow, famous for its freezing magic. Right now, it's experiencing an unprecedented phenomenon.
"No idea what's going on here."
The Frost Guards gathered near the snowy mountains around the city stared at the massive ice wall frozen solid, their faces troubled.
"We don't even know how many are trapped in there..."
"Is it okay like this? The moment the ice melts, they'll come pouring out."
"For now, let's keep watch."
Inside the ice wall, countless monsters lay trapped and frozen. Hundreds at a glance. Never before had so many monsters tried to breach the city. Or rather, it didn't look like a breach—they seemed terrified of something.
"Lately, they've been coming down in suspiciously huge numbers."
"Can we hold them off with just us? Individuals can be strong, but there's a limit. Shouldn't we alert the other cities?"
"Yeah, probably impossible right now..."
Current methods wouldn't cut it. Even combining squads couldn't exceed individual limits. They needed something different. A way to massively amplify squad power.
"But we can't tell the other cities. If word leaks, our city's reputation tanks."
The Frost Guard chief wanted to keep it under wraps.
Arrived at the tavern. Jackson's gang and April were already there.
"Huh? Over here! Here! Why're you so late!"
April waving like crazy, thrilled. Must be in a great mood. Face flushed—already tipsy?
"Come 'ere. We were talkin' about the lab mess."
"Now that our protagonist's here, let's recap, yeah? Teamin' up with you is always a thrill ride!"
Jackson pulls out a chair. Jerome naturally sets up glasses. Alpano quietly pours. Michael stares vacantly up front.
Hm, this scene feels familiar...
"...Booze is, f-full."
"Wolf bro, this is all love, y'know? Our way of showin' we love ya. You're late, so match our pace, right?"
"......No need."
"C'mon, we're fated to meet like this—cheers!"
"Wolf bro! One shot!"
Yep. Hazing the latecomer. They even coded this level of detail? What kinda game were the devs makin'?
"Cheers!"
Glasses clink with April's cheer. Refill instantly. Kethar and I knock back three in a row.
"Whoa, ability user bros! Tolerance on point!"
"Wow... I'm dizzy after one."
Jerome gives me that same admiring look from battles. Wait, he always stares like that?
"But Jerome, aren't you underage?"
"Underage? What's that mean?"
"Under 18..."
Not implemented? Better not stir misunderstandings.
"Age ain't an issue for sharin' joy."
"Jerome's got the right to join the fun. Right, Jerome?"
"Haha... Y-yeah? Then one more!"
"Good. Jerome, best way to drink like a pro is learn from one. I once sniped dead drunk—epic."
"Were you smashed, bro? Like April sis now."
"Huh? Me? Why me?"
Place buzzing. Never thought I'd feel this in a game world.
But somehow.
Not bad.
Drunk creeping in. Set aside worries, focus on fun.
"Jerome, you comparin' my chattiness to Michael bro? I'm not just talk. See this face? Guys flock even when I'm quiet. Heehee, wolf bro agrees I'm fine, right?"
April eyes Kethar, answer preset.
"......"
Kethar just stares at April, silent.
"N-no? Am I weird?"
"......Yeah. Not my type."
"......"
Honest, huh? Coulda brushed it off.
"I hate lies. Pathologically can't lie..."
Ah, that explains it. Honesty from inability to fib. Some backstory, probably.
But emphasizing truth killed her twice.
"Ah... Can't lie, so that was real..."
"S-sis? You're pretty! Pretty! For real!"
"H-ha... Yeah, April. So what if chatty? She's cute! Right, boss?"
"I like how she energizes the group."
"......"
Gang scrambles to console. April barely said three words after.
"We'll... head out first... hic!"
"Hey! Michael! Can't rebel like that! Hic! I'm the b-boss... baaa..."
How much we drink? All smashed. Jerome even pulls upset on Michael. Won't remember tomorrow...
Jackson's gang staggers out first. We three still solid.
Ability users vs normals—even tolerance differs?
News to me.
We stay put. Perfect, discuss my build idea.
"April, you plannin' to stick with me?"
"Duh, obviously. Wolf bro's iffy though..."
"......Ahem."
April snake-eyes Kethar.
...Anyway. Post-Descartes, April's goals align with mine. Learned Orion caused her mom's death—rage peaked.
And hinting Injection Explosion for emotion control boosted her trust.
She's full comrade now.
So...
"Felt it in Descartes fight—theirs overpower us."
"......Yeah."
"One answer: amp our power. Smartly. Brainstormed synergy for us three."
"Synergy? Like my power helps you and wolf bro, yours help me?"
Nailed it. Rare for basics.
"Exact."
"......You built a setup?"
Kethar gets it another way.
"Hit me this morning. Solid build shaped up."
"......That fast?"
He's shocked. Me too—Damian's brain is sharp.
Anyway.
"Core's your Transfer, April."
"Hm. My ability? Just spreads my flames—how's that help you guys?"
"Now, yeah. But gear tweaks Transfer a bit."
"......The staff?"
"Bingo."
Kethar knows: staff upgrades Transfer. Useless sans skill, so hers.
"......But no elemental attacks in my kit."
"Not yet. You need upgrade too. Planning elite monster tattoo."
"......Elite? Tough process. Hence basic wolf."
Tattooists can ink any monster, but brutal: survive prolonged engraving alive.
"......Never tried even in-game."
Kethar slips "in-game" for me only.
"True. Hard. But my power now? Doable. Let's try. Succeeds..."
"Rare attributes."
Game vet—nails it.
Esperro's elements galore: common fire/water/lightning/earth. Plus poison/light/dark/bleed etc. Elites pack rares—items only otherwise.
'Cept tattooist absorbing elite.
Tattoo faster than item hunt.
"I'll snag multi-element gear. Max variety."
"......Hm. Fresh build. If it pans out..."
Kethar arms crossed, pondering. April chin-propped, lost.
"Blast myriad elements via Transfer instantly—devastating."
"Yep. Nail it, wipe dozens easy. Ultimate mobbing setup."
"Incredible. Like that guy. SerenDOS, rank 1."
Drops my name. Tempted to confirm—no need yet.
"Anyway, killer build."
Kethar smiles—first I've seen. Probably exit-game hopes rising.
"Prep starts tomorrow. First, snag weird bird."
"......Weird bird? High-level. Us now?"
"Tough, sure. But plan ready."
Kethar nods quiet.
No chat.
"Then grab the quest. But unregistered..."
"Fine. I'm with Angela's office."
"......Angela? That Angela?"
Nod at excited Kethar.
"Same start time... Impressive. Infiltrated her already."
His awe ends; we head hotel.
Next day. Jackson gang heads back Cherwin. Us too, post-build. Mech engineer awaits.
But not yet. Cherwin labs next-level.
Power first.
Post-farewell, to Angela's. Requests must be piling now.
Post-Descartes messages flooded.
"What the hell are you doing out there?"
"Guy came today wantin' to quest direct with you."
"Hey. Another one."
"......Another. Get here quick?"
"Next time you pull shit like that, tell ME!!! Quests pourin' in like crazy!!!"
"Hey!!! Get here NOW? Everyone insists on you!!"
Post that, profanity-laced ones too... But I was busy. Healing, build planning.
Screech.
"When's that guy comin'?"
"Hey, Angela! I'm in a rush—assign another hunter!"
"I'm good. Only him, please."
"Angela. When's my payout?"
This Angela's office? Fly central before.
Now packed, no standing room.
"Ah, j-just wait! I'll handle it! Ngh? Hey!!! You, sit over there!!!"
"......P-please wait. Payout soon as sorted."
Angela suppressing curses. Jena sweating, flustered.
Then, eyes meet Angela amid crowd.
"Huh? Hey, I messaged you tons... Out everyone! I'll rush yours—OUT!!!"
Recognizes me, boots customers. They protest priority, flee her swears.
Bang!
"Whew... You saw, right?"
"Feels like office now. My doing?"
"You little shit..."
Whoosh!
...Been ages. Angela's killing intent.
"Sit."
Suppresses rage again, dumps request pile before me.
"All for you. Brutal? Golds mixed in. I slaved for those—now flood in. Damn..."
That quest here? Too many—hunt time.
Kethar, knowing it, helps sift stack.
"......Nope."
"Who's topless? Why shirtless?"
Angela eyes Kethar's bare torso. Tattooists go topless for ink.
"Didn't peg you for that taste. Not enough with kiddo, now thugs?"
"Not thug. Ability user."
"What? Him?"
"......"
Kethar and Angela lock eyes. He'd retort others, but her? Silent.
"Anyway, none."
"None what? Huntin' separate quest?"
"Monster hunt. Weird bird capture. None?"
"Weird bird... Giant bird? None. Jena?"
"No."
As expected. Nothing here. Must quest direct.
Risky, but...
"You ain't goin' solo quest, right?"
Asks quiet as I rise.
"Am."
"......Crazy bastard. Think Avalor's for show? Bypass office, executioners hunt you."
Executioners. Hunters contract via offices—pact. Solo? They dispatch.
"Even master-grades dread 'em. Still?"
I know. Can't defy even me. Need level 90+.
But leverage for item trades.
Not reckless. Use them—fast item swaps.
"Filter golds for me."
Screech.
Leave Angela cursing madman. She won't sit idle—she's invested.