Chapter 87
Chapter 87 - Death God's Gift(2)
"Is this... a cloak? No, a robe?"
I lifted the item from the box.
Swoosh. A black fabric follows my hand. No, is this even fabric? It was extremely light, warm... and the unknown soft material was very fascinating.
I immediately activated Mimir's Eye.
[Item Information]
[Name: Black Wings of Evolution (Unique)]
[Stats: Strength +20, Agility +20, Intelligence +20, Defense +1300]
[Details: Unique item. A special cloak meticulously crafted by the Death Gods Unterdreth, Thanatix, and Caius. Grants exclusive skills when equipped. Can only be worn by the Death God's contractor, and grows stronger by absorbing magical energy.]
[Available Upgrades: 0]
"D-d-d-defense of 1300?!"
Not only were the strength, agility, and intelligence stats on armor surprising, but the defense value itself was so high my eyes nearly popped out.
'H-how is the defense value similar to my health?!'
According to Zenon, systemized armor protects the wearer based on 'defense'.
When you wear armor, it's like the 'defense' value overlays on top of your health. In other words, it doesn't reduce damage taken by a certain amount each hit. Like a barrier, it completely blocks impacts up to the defense value, after which it becomes just ordinary scraps of cloth or metal without special effects.
Of course, depleted defense can be repaired through consecration at temples.
And this 'Black Wings of Evolution' has a defense of 1300.
Just wearing this effectively doubles my health.
I stared intently at the cloak in my hands before whipping my head toward the Death Gods.
"Is... is this normal... for armor at my level?"
I hoped for denial, obviously.
If all other armor was at this level, my struggles so far would feel too unfair.
I turned my gaze to my worn-out shirt and the tattered leather armor over it.
[Name: Leather Armor]
[Stats: Defense +5]
[Details: Basic equipment given to novice heroes. No special performance can be expected.]
[Available Upgrades: 5]
Defense 5. Just 5!
Compared to Black Wings of Evolution... a 260-fold difference.
The additional stats at the front aren't even visible. Just looking at defense, it's already 260 times higher.
No. This can't be. What becomes of me who lived 260 times harder?
This absolutely cannot be. This damn... world shouldn't do this to me.
Fortunately, as I desperately hoped, the three Death God sisters shook their heads.
"Hmm. Not really."
"We three put a lot of effort into making it for our contractor."
"It's much better than other Ashins' special armor! Trust me."
"Because our contractor is special to us."
"Though the smell of death is nice... you shouldn't get damaged."
"We made it sturdy so you won't break."
Thank goodness. Really thank goodness. I let out a deep sigh of relief from the bottom of my heart.
But the excited Death Gods had to add more.
"Other armor would be at most half of that."
"But look. This is almost the same as our contractor's health."
"Amazing, right? Right? Praise us."
If you wanted praise, you shouldn't have said that.
In the end, you just confirmed I was living at least 130 times harder.
"Life is shit...."
I muttered in despair as I wrapped the received cloak around my body.
Then swish. The cloak automatically adjusted to fit my body. I couldn't help but exclaim at the convenience unseen in leather armor with defense of just 5!
"Ooooh."
It didn't stop there. Part of the cloak stretched like it was alive and completely wrapped around my top and bottom. After a moment, a coordinated black fashion from head to toe was automatically completed.
Far from being uncomfortable, it feels great to wear.
"Oh, ooooh..."
Having only worn leather armor with defense of just 5!, I couldn't help but marvel at the incredible visuals.
That's not all.
Right after, panels kept appearing with the characteristic notification sound.
[Black Wings of Evolution exclusive skill - 'Fatal Thorns' has been unlocked.]
[Black Wings of Evolution exclusive skill - 'Black Wings' has been unlocked.]
[Skill Information]:-
[Name: Fatal Thorns LV. 1]
[Effect: Control up to 10 attack thorn tentacles. Duration: 30 seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes]
[Details: First transformation form of Black Wings of Evolution. Can control the cloak transformed into thorn-shaped tentacles. Attack power follows the wearer's stats, and the number of thorns increases with skill level. Cannot be used simultaneously with other transformation forms.]
[Name: Black Wings LV. 1]
[Effect: Grants buoyancy. Enables flight. Duration: 1 minute. Cooldown: 30 minutes]
[Details: Second transformation form of Black Wings of Evolution. Transforms into huge wings enabling temporary flight. Flight time increases with skill level. Cannot be used simultaneously with other transformation forms.]
"Ooooh, oooh, ooooh!"
I felt like fainting at the special abilities unseen compared to the leather armor with defense of just 5!
I'm so happy. High performance combining offense and defense in growth-type equipment. Such perfect equipment. It was the best gift, making me wonder if I deserve to receive something like this.
But. But....
"Huh? Why am I crying...?"
I ended up collapsing on the spot, pounding the ground and wailing.
It was a requiem dedicated to my past self who struggled so much.
* * *
"Cheer up contractor. We were wrong."
"Yeah. Sorry. Please feel better now."
"H-hey contractor. Let's change class, class change!"
Staring blankly at the empty space after burning everything white. The Death God Sisters were restless and approached me with those words.
Class change. Right. I need to change classes.
That's why I came to the temple despite my busy schedule in the first place. I can't keep feeling dejected about what's already passed.
I barely collected myself and faced the Death God Sisters.
"Right. Class change... What classes can I change into?"
"Black Knight."
"Night Stalker."
"Enigma."
The three Death God Sisters took turns saying one word each. Those three seem to be the classes I can change into.
Before I could ask for an explanation, boom. An information window appeared in front of the Death God Sisters.
It seems the Death God Sisters had prepared explanation panels in advance.
[Class Name: Black Knight]
[Details: A class change for those favored by Death. High defense and high attack power are its main weapons, showing strength in person-to-person combat.]
[Class Name: Enigma]
[Details: A class change for those favored by Death. Curses, illusions, and various support magic are its main weapons, showing strength in large-scale and many-against-one battles.]
[Class Name: Night Stalker]
[Details: A class change for those favored by Death. A class specialized in ambush and infiltration based on high agility, showing strength in special operations.]
This actually didn't require much consideration.
It seems the job variations themselves appear one each focused on strength, agility, and intelligence. Both by my personality and current status, I have no choice.
"I'll go with Night Stalker."
I casually decided on the job right away, and the three Death God Sisters were startled by that quick decision.
And again, they started muttering among themselves.
"Wow. Quick decision. This contractor is different from that person."
"Yeah. It's not Black Knight."
"I thought it would definitely be Black Knight. Since the feeling is similar to that person."
I raised my eyebrow for a moment at their excited chatter.
"... That person? You mean there was someone else who received class change from you?"
At my words, the three Death God Sisters blinked their eyes for a moment, then nodded simultaneously.
Their sparkling eyes seemed distant as if recalling that time, and they also looked pleased.
"You could say there was... That person was a Black Knight from the start when we met."
"Contractor, they were very similar to you."
"They were the Witch's Knight after all."
Wait. Who did they say?
My thoughts stopped for a moment. My gaze instinctively fell on the twin swords at my waist.
The Witch's Knight Han. That name came up again. Just what kind of person are they? Why do I keep hearing their name wherever I go?
Coincidence? No. For a mere coincidence... isn't the frequency too high?
"The Witch's Knight... just what kind of person are they?"
I asked with multiple meanings. Honestly, even if I were asked to explain exactly what I wanted to know... I wouldn't be confident in giving a clear answer.
And at my question, the three Death God Sisters simultaneously curved their lips upward. Heh.
It was a truly Death-like smile, somewhat different from the pure smiles they had been showing until now.
"We told you, Contractor. A person very similar to you."
"You could say they're the primary contributor to creating the current Hero system."
"Someone who turned the world into their enemy to protect the Witch. A romanticist."
The answers were all different, but each was meaningful.
I closed my mouth. And turned my eyes away from their somewhat sticky gaze.
I shouldn't dig deeper. My instinct was warning me so. So I followed my instinct.
"... Just hurry up and give me the class change."
Right. Who cares about the Witch's Knight or whatever. I have more pressing matters to deal with.
When I changed the topic, the Death God Sisters started sparkling their eyes again as if nothing had happened.
Is it just my feeling? I felt their eyes were unusually gleaming.
"Well then."
"Shall we begin?"
"The Contractor's class change trial."