Chapter 133 The Gap in Talent
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Once we began our exploration, things moved like a simple line of work. On the upper floors, there was almost nothing that could stop us now, except for the instant-death attack from the undead king that appeared on the thirty-first floor, or the rare instant-death trap in a Mimic chest.
On the way, Tatia stole a status-up item from a Muumin, and the only thing worth mentioning was how I had to fight the sudden urge to kill her as she hugged it with joy.
”Mm, Tatara-dono.”
”Yeah, what is it?” I asked.
”I have completed a skill,” she said.
”Oh, that’s great!” I smiled.
We had just reached the twenty-second floor when Tatia told me. Since we were moving, it was probably Mobility Boost.
”Yes, I completed ‘Flame Gold Proof, Hard Human Proof’. Next, as you told me before, I will get Magic Defense Boost,” she said.
It seemed she had finished her unique skill. I guessed it was a rare-rate type that played with chance, but I did wonder how big the effect would be after it was complete.
”Alright… but please don’t think of jumping right into the middle of a spirit king to take magic again just to get skill experience,” I said.
”…I see, that is one way,” she answered.
”Hey,” I warned.
Because she could already take in the four main elements, she had thought of a way to train a defense skill. Back in the game, people used gear that blocked elements to do the same, and it really worked, but if she did it in front of me now, I would lose my mind.
Tatia saw my reaction and laughed, looking up at me with bright eyes.
”I will not do that, Tatara-dono. I do not want to make you worry,” she said.
”If you know that, don’t go along with the joke. Your jokes are still hard to read. I take them too seriously,” I said.
”Hehe, my apologies,” she answered.
Still smiling at our small talk, Tatia moved her hand over her status screen, then stopped and looked at me.
”If I have an open skill slot again, what should I choose?” she asked.
”If you want more power, you can build up charge. If you can, Skill Power Up would be good with it. Or you could take Sword Guard Return like Yohira,” I said.
”Hmm, then I will grow charge next. I was born with that skill, after all,” she said with a light laugh.
Hearing her speak like that, I felt a warm thought. She once called herself a monster because of Sieve, but now she walked with us like any other person. I even gave thanks to God for this small miracle.
If I had to name the effect of her complete skill, it would be that for one whole floor we met only Muumin at the highest rate. It seemed her new skill flipped the rare chance completely. Also, Ethelena’s Steal skill gained an extra effect called Double Pocket, which made two items drop at a sure rate, so we got status-up items at great speed.
”What is this crazy mix,” I muttered.
”Tatara’s weak status is filled now. It is amazing, noja,” Yohira said, pulling a tight smile.
It really helped, but the unfairness was wild. Mana and Skill Power had not reached the top yet, but Magic Defense and Speed would hit the max after a few more level-ups. Well, we had already used up all items for those two.
”Oh, Tatara,” Ethelena said.
”What is it?” I asked.
”I completed six skills,” she said.
”…Right,” I replied.
She had finished Mobility Boost, Agility Boost, Stealth Step, Concealment, Ambush, and Sneak Attack. Sniping Technique was slow since she shot less now, but because she always moved to the front and stole from behind, she even completed Ambush and Sneak Attack. My head hurt.
Now it was time to choose skills with Sublimation of Existence in mind.
”First, let’s cover your biggest weak point, Ethelena,” I said.
”Eh? My biggest weak point… what is it?” she asked.
”You can’t take a hit,” I said.
”Ugh,” she groaned.
Even for a succubus, her total HP of one hundred thirty-five was far too low. It was likely the part she could not grow well. She only got one per level, so it stayed low. If she did Sublimation of Existence like this, her starting HP could be in the thirties—too sad to say. Skills add to base status, so at least those numbers would stay. She needed it.
If she got too bold and said that nothing could hit her, she would be like a red guy who moved three times faster but still got hit by a beam rifle.
”If we stay together, Tatia and I can be your shield. But from the fifty-first floor up, there are stairs with spread traps. If you fall into a group of enemies then, you may really die,” I said.
”Uu… I can’t say you are wrong,” she said.
In the game, there were random trap spots. My dad, mom, and the guard chief all complained about them.
Ethelena now had over three hundred Speed, and with Flight, in the game she could go to the seventieth floor without one hit. But if something strange happened, that could change.
Some enemies could break Physical Defense too. Without a high HP, it was really risky. In this world, the best plan was to take down the enemy before they take you.
”After Sublimation of Existence, think of the status drop. You should get Physical Attack Boost, Physical Defense Boost, and Magic Defense Boost,” I said.
”Defense makes sense, but attack too?” she asked.
”You need it to use Gloriosa and Elingium,” I said.
”Oh, right,” she said.
She might just reach Elingium, but Gloriosa was impossible. Even at her max Physical Attack, she would only reach half of the need. She had to cover it.
Also, if she ran out of Mana, her body would be the last weapon. Physical Attack never went to waste.
”So, with Hawk Eye and Hide that we spoke about before the exploration, plus HP Up, Physical Attack Boost, Physical Defense Boost, and Magic Defense Boost, that makes six,” she said.
”Hearing it again, it sounds crazy,” I said.
When I completed Mana Boost once, I got five skill slots free at once, but I never thought we would pass that.
”Wow, Hawk Eye is strong. My sight grew by at least ten meters,” Ethelena said with surprise.
I had to agree. Maybe this was why glasses were not common in this world.
”Alright, let’s move on,” I said.
”So, yes… I want to supplement my attack power.”
With a short nod from everyone, we began our exploration again. Our speed did not change much, but Ethelena’s fighting style had become a bit wild. She now used the longer range from Hawk Eye to cast Sex Sorcery from far away, and I never thought she would trap even a Golem that way. Maybe she wanted more Physical Attack, but it was strange to see a still Mithril Golem as she kicked at the mark on its head to cut it down.
Still, that way her Sniping Technique would not grow.
We walked on, watching Ethelena float around like some unknown flying thing while the enemies moved with fast steps. Tatia then let an Orichalcum Golem hit her for an hour to level her skill, and I stepped back a little. Sure, with her defense she took no damage, but was she turning into a battle fool?
Well, Yohira also kept cutting an Orichalcum Golem again and again to raise her Sword Guard Return.
At the thirty-first floor, the enemies changed to the undead group. As always, Ethelena’s Steal and Double Pocket worked well, and we got status-up items at a crazy speed.
I would think about how to share them later. If I tried now, my brain would break. I also helped take down the undead king. It spawned like any other undead, so we had to beat it before it used its instant-death move.
Just before we went to the thirty-fifth floor, Ethelena called me.
”Tatara, I completed Sniping Technique too,” she said.
”Yeah, I knew,” I answered.
Seven skills in one day. It felt like a record.
”As a scout, I would like you to take Listen,” I said.
”First eyes, then ears? Will it help that much?” she asked.
”This is a dungeon. Even if a clear enemy comes, they can’t hide their sound,” I said.
”I see, that makes sense. Then I’ll take Listen,” she said.
She moved her hand over her status screen. Even if she came here alone in the future, with her skill set her chance to live would be high. I also planned to explore, but after graduation I would be busy with the shop and jobs. As Chief Crafter, I feared what strange requests would fall on me.
The thirty-fifth floor went fine too. Ethelena’s back attacks were sharp as always, and Yohira’s Combo Attack hit hard. Tatia used charge to finish a vampire in one hit.
I crushed a vampire while feeling a bit down about my slow skill growth. The hammer’s element change worked very well, and Black Shine showed its full power. It cut down the vampire, a strong enemy, so fast that I felt like I had grown myself. Charm from Sex Sorcery did not work on them, and we could take in the four main elements, even lightning and ice from mix types with our gear.
We got a lot of Noble Blood from the vampire. With the last batch, we had over one hundred. Tonight, I could try making it with the amount I first planned in Walachia. This time, I would make a spear that could kill the undead king for sure.
We went on to the fortieth floor. We beat the boss, a Dragon Zombie, with ease and stood before its treasure chest.
”Hmm, how about Ethelena this time, noja?” Yohira said.
”Last time she got that strange but high-grade equipment, so maybe it will happen again,” Tatia said.
”No way, I don’t want that again!?” Ethelena cried.
Last time she got the Dragon Scale Armor, so we doubted her succubus nature worked on it. It was great and strong gear, but getting more of that type felt wrong.
Since Ethelena refused and the other two pushed, I made lots to draw.
”Mm, it is me…” Yohira said.
So Yohira would open the chest. She did at once.
”Open, sesame, noja!”
She looked inside, then froze with a small shake. Slowly, she pulled something out.
Golden strings and golden parts. The color was different, but there was no mistake.
”…It is Dragon Lewdmail, noja,” she said.
Full Armor: Dragon Lewdmail
HP +50
Mana +20
Skill Power +20
Physical Attack +15
Physical Defense +40
Magic Attack +10
Magic Defense +30
Speed +20
Movement +1
Special Ability: Fire Attribute Resist, Wind Attribute Resist, For Women Only
I used Appraisal just in case, and of course it was true. Last time I misread it, but it was not Scale Armor… it was Sukebei Armor. The name said everything. What was the creator thinking?
Ethelena’s face lit with joy to see someone else get Sukebei Armor too. It was like she had found a friend.
”So Torakuma got the same one too, right?” she asked.
”Mm, maybe it is the same no matter who opens it,” Yohira said as Ethelena leaned on her.
”No, maybe it shows you two are both perverts,” Tatia said.
’Say that and it is war, noja!!’
Tatia’s harsh idea hit both of them and they shouted at once.
”So, like before, Yohira will keep it,” I said.
”Why me? Tatara should keep it, noja!?” she cried.
”But I can’t wear it,” I said.
It was for women only, so there was no point if I held it. Yohira frowned as Ethelena whispered something into her ear.
”Ethelena, you are a pervert after all,” Yohira said.
”Do you say that with such a straight face?” she asked.
Wait… did she tell her that we once… wore the Sukebei Armor during… that? I looked at the golden bikini, likely made from thunder dragon scales, and thought how wild Yohira would look in it.
We laughed and talked as we moved on to the forty-first floor. A Harpy Queen attacked without her flock, and the three girls rushed to face her.
Ethelena fought like she wanted to show she was ruler of the sky.
Yohira cut the Queen with a space-tear from her Sky Slash move. It did not break the world, but it did cut the air.
Tatia used her beloved sword to stab and turn her into a strange art piece.
Maybe I should change Black Shine so I could fight in the air too. The next floors had cliffs, so I would need it.
”Mm, Tatara-dono,” Tatia said.
”Yeah, did you complete a skill?” I asked.
”Yes, I finished four: Sword Aptitude, knight swordsmanship, Agility Boost, and Mobility Boost,” she said.
”…,” I blinked.
She was not as fast as Ethelena, but still grew at a wild rate. Weapon skill, growth skill, and two base ability boosts were a big help.
”Tatia, what do you want to be like now?” I asked.
”Well… I want more attack strength,” she said.
I listened to what Tatia wanted, and it was my job to offer skills that fit. I already had a few in mind.
”First, you need more Skill Power so you can use more moves. So Skill Power Up is a must,” I said.
”I see. If I can use charge more times, I can stay ahead,” she said with a nod.
”And to grow your attack skills faster, Sword Guard Return will help too,” I added.
There was a secret way to use Sword Guard Return. By raising the number of hits, you could gain more attack experience. I never took it when I was reborn, since I never planned to explore and had a skill set made to throw away battle. Even now, I avoided it because a stray hit during blacksmithing could ruin my work. If I could not swing a hammer just right, the result would be trash. No thanks.
For Tatia, it was different. Sword Guard Return worked with charge and with Physical Attack Boost, and her job did not need that level of careful control. It was the best for her growth.
”Mm, but doesn’t Sword Guard Return cut attack in half?” she asked.
”If we stay between here and the forty-ninth floor for a while, it’s fine. Even with half power, charge still stacks on top,” I said.
Plus, using moves would trigger Skill Power Up to grow. It might not be perfect, but it was a good pick.
”Then I will take Sword Guard Return too,” she said.
”And from here, you should start White-Blade Flow as well,” I added.
Tatia looked at me with a doubtful face.
”…Lord Tatara, I remember White-Blade Flow was a dodge-type skill,” she said.
”Yes. When you dodge, you get a Speed bonus and can counterattack,” I said.
”So… you do not trust my defense?” she asked.
Ah, she took that the wrong way.
”No, it’s the other way. Because you have high defense, this gives you more chances to counter,” I said.
She blinked, so I explained more.
”White-Blade Flow gives Speed for a dodge and lets you strike back. But deeper down, I heard there are enemies with Pierce,” I said.
Well, that was from my past life.
”They have high Speed, so dodging them is hard. They also hurt a lot, and they like to target people with high Physical Defense,” I said.
”…From what I hear, they sound like my natural enemy,” she said.
”You think so?” I asked.
To me, it was the opposite. With high Speed and this skill, a tank could turn those things into prey. They would rush at the ‘easy meal’, and you cut them down. Simple.
”So you want me to be bait in the deep floors?” she asked.
”More like a lure. A shield that draws them in, then a spear that wipes them out. Or… are you scared?” I asked.
”That is a mean question,” she said, smiling with fire in her eyes.
She took White-Blade Flow.
”And last… well, uh,” I began.
”What is it, Tatara-dono? You sound unsure,” Tatia said.
”Knowing Tatara, he is about to share a strong skill with a big weakness, noja,” Yohira said.
Of course she caught on.
”The last skill I want you to take is Konshin,” I said.
”Konshin? I have not heard of it much,” Tatia said.
”That’s because most users die. It’s very hard to handle,” I said.
”Are you sure it is safe!?” she cried.
In the game Beyond the Deep Darkness, tanks in the deep floors full of Pierce enemies ended up as Konshin tanks. If a tank could not dodge, they were not a tank anymore. People found a way to use Konshin as a last attack, and those users were called throw-away tanks or Satsuma tanks. It was a self-destruct style.
”I want you to only remember it as a last option. You should not use it often,” I said.
”You press it that much…” Tatia said.
”Even I feel nervous just listening,” Ethelena added.
Well yes, it was known for having a big downside and little good in return.
”If I say it nicely, Konshin lets you make one full-power hit with everything you have. Some even call it a strike with your whole life in it,” I said.
”That sounds amazing, noja,” Yohira said.
”It feels like a Hero’s secret finisher,” Tatia said.
It kind of was.
”After you use it, for one hit, you add your defense on top of your attack,” I said.
Also, in the game it had a crit boost based on skill level and sometimes gave Pierce. Though things were not always the same here.
”I see. If it adds defense, then it fits Tatia,” Yohira said.
”I see no flaw yet,” Tatia said.
Yes, up to that point it sounded good. Now came the bad part.
”After you use it, you cannot move for one minute,” I said.
”…Eh?” all three said.
There was more.
”You also lose all defense during that time, since you put it into the strike,” I said.
”Um, that…” Tatia whispered.
”And you cannot dodge, and if you get hit you take a heavy blow since you can’t move,” I added.
”…Isn’t that waiting for death?” Ethelena said.
Yes. That was why they were called throw-away tanks. If you did not end everything with one hit, death waited. Some people even loved that style, and the Satsuma tank had a fan group. Tatia froze. But if used at the right time, it could kill even the deepest boss in one hit.
”It looks useless because the bad parts stand out, but in boss fights it’s near the top,” I said.
Also, Sword Guard Return could turn even that hit into a combo. If a boss stood alone and two Konshin combo hits landed, most would fall. Sword Guard Return was too strong. It worked on all attacks, not just moves. Crazy.
”So you want me to fight like Yohira-dono?” Tatia asked.
”No. This is a trump card. I’m telling you now because it can be a plan for the fiftieth floor boss,” I said.
Time to review.
That boss had four spirit kings with it. They were weaker than normal, and beating them made the main boss open to damage.
The problem was the boss had HP split by element. We had a short time to hit it, and its HP was high.
In the game, each element had around four hundred HP. Only certain elements worked, and we had less than a turn to attack. We had to give as much damage at once as possible.
And—its weakness was not its weakness. It had resistance instead.
So damage was halved, and it had high defense too. At the time, I thought the dev who made it should rot.
”S-so then Sword Guard Return is the wrong pick!?”
”At first, yes. That is why you need Rank I at level ten. Then you can strike twice with full power,” I said.
Yohira, who had listened the whole time, gave a small nod. Even if her attack was cut in half, she could still tear down that boss. Her Physical Attack was near three hundred, and she had strong moves she normally never used. Even if Concept Appraisal did not work on that thing, she could beat it by force.
Even with Konshin’s downside, this was the only way for the four of us to crush that boss fast.
Well, taking Dahlia along was another answer too.
”We planned to stay here and raise our status for a while, right? Then we should use this time well,” I said.
If I kept leveling like this, by level sixty all of my status except Mana and Skill Power would reach the max. Ethelena said she would help raise those two, so I would trust her.
Any status-up items I did not need would go to the others. Ethelena aside, raising Yohira’s and Tatia’s Physical Attack should not be too hard. I hoped we would not need a hundred to hit the max for both… though maybe we could manage it.
”And if Tatia trains the charge she was born with, her power will grow a lot. Once she mixes charge and Konshin, even if her attack drops a bit, she will be fine,” I said.
The truth was that charge was the fastest way to deal huge damage. In the game, when maxed, each step gave plus fifty damage.
Even without the max, it gave high firepower. At Rank II, each step gave plus twenty damage, so if Tatia trained it to Rank III, her power would be big.
”We still have room to grow, so let’s wait before we challenge the fiftieth floor,” I said.
Tatia thought for a moment, then nodded.
Feeling relieved, we passed the forty-fifth floor and fought the spirit group. The walls looked like marbled paint with four colors. As expected, when we had Ethelena scout ahead, we found several mixed-element spirit kings waiting.
With Tatia, this had become normal.
We cleared them without trouble and, after reaching the fiftieth floor, used a Teleportation Crystal to return to the surface.
”Our levels are going up well,” I said.
”Fighting at the right level makes it fast,” Ethelena said.
I was close to level fifty now, and it seemed the others were too. Good progress.
Our skills were growing fast as well. Some of theirs even grew faster than mine, and I had Early Bloom. This was the gap in talent. It stung, but I would keep growing at my own pace.
We used deodorant and headed back. Tatia had been getting into trouble with curfew lately, so she left early. She looked sad about missing dinner, so I told her to come again tomorrow.
”Tatara, tomorrow…” Ethelena began.
”I will be busy all day with a job from the merchant guild head. Are you two going back to the dungeon?” I asked.
”Yes. Our levels and skills must grow more. The fiftieth floor boss sounds so annoying that I already feel tired, noja,” Yohira said.
I had felt the same each time I made a new character in the game. The first time I fought it, I did not know the trick and we were wiped out. It stayed in my memory. I spent hours repeating save and load to find a plan, and clearing only that boss took three hours.
Looking back, I should have just checked a guide. But I wanted to win alone and wasted time. I even used Excel to make a chart… if I still remembered it now, then I must have really loved that game.
We reached home and took baths. Ethelena and Yohira used the cypress bath, while I enjoyed the family bath alone. Ichika did not come to wash my back, so I could relax.
After bathing, Hinagiku-san, the idiot, and the Acting Head of Family were doing sitting meditation together. Wow, how did they become friends so fast? The one who was meant to teach them was slumped on a sofa far away, burned out. What happened to him?
I walked closer.
”What’s wrong? Did you get scolded for how you trained them?” I asked.
”…I had a mock battle with the master for the first time in a while. I’m dead tired,” he said.
He looked like his soul had left him. For that battle freak to say that, it must have been rough.
He fixed his posture, drank a glass of water, and spoke again.
”He borrowed that Great Katana—Jihi-maru, right? When the master learned its effect, he asked to borrow it and spar with me. He got fired up since he felt pain but would not die, so we went all out with every move. I was worn out. The mistress had to hit him to stop him, and I had no HP left to teach anyone… so here I am,” he said.
”Wow…” I said.
Even I felt sorry for him. The idiot had been trained for a long time by Mother-in-law and Hinagiku-san, and now was doing meditation.
Thanks to this man, the idiot’s stamina had grown. Or maybe he had learned to cut waste from his swings. From my view, he looked like a real genius.
”Sorry, let me rest more…” he said.
”No, sorry for bothering you,” I answered.
Did I just say sorry to him? That alone showed how strange this was.
After dinner, the Acting Head of Family and Mother-in-law stayed the night, so we gave the kids rooms. I told them I would be in the workshop and left.
It was time to finish the Walachia I had planned. I had more than one hundred Noble Blood from today and ten kilos of mithril. That amount was usually impossible to gather.
First, I strengthened the mithril with Noble Blood and made ten kilos of Blood Mithril. Like a shape memory metal, it molded into a spear. It became a long red spear like Walachia, but something felt missing. So I took two orichalcum ingots and used the last Noble Blood to fuse them. A new magic metal formed. I named it Blood Orichalcum and placed a core of it inside the shaft. It read the user’s killing intent and moved the Blood Mithril to strike the enemy.
When it felt complete, I used Appraisal.
Vampire-Slaying Spear Walachia
Physical Attack +90
Max Range 3
Special Ability: Life Drain V, Pierce V, Self Repair, Self Strengthen, Self Extend, Corrupt, Vampire Killer
The name, the power, the longer reach, and the Vampire Killer effect were all there.
Notes:
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
• Dahlia – The automaton.
• Ichika – The fox girl. Kunoichi. Virgincest⚠️, becomes pregnant immediately.
• Hinagiku – A tengu woman as Ranka’s potential companion. She stays with Tatara’s group after travels. Joins household scenes only. Linked to Ranka by shared gluttony jokes. No direct tie to Tatara beyond cohabitation. Cheerful eater.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply