Chapter 61: Adventurer's Equipment 1
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Here
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Grace, whose senses were sharpened due to her passive skill, seemed unfazed the following day.
It might have been because she was getting used to the heightened senses, or she was too worn out from a night full of intense sensations.
She seemed to have adjusted quicker than I expected.
Of course, her shy moan in the forest has already made their rounds on the internet.
... Well, it's not like Grace can surf the web like me, so it doesn't matter.
[Heroes Chronicle Wiki]
Is this vr porn? [48] +65
I know how to use the skill, try it, [199] +243
Sensitive senses? Woooow [35] +335
Here's a tip [396] + 564
Unlike the forum which is watched by a moderator, the Heroes Chronicle Wiki had been taken over by anonymous delinquents, transforming it into something like a vr adult gallery.
Here's a tip
[List of inspector skills.JPG]
[List of scout skills.JPG]
[List of rogue skills.JPG]
[List of mage skills.JPG]
Upon seeing what happened to Grace, I realized
When it says senses become sharper, it means a boost to all senses
I roughly filtered through early active skills,
Use this when you want to mastu***te or have s*x
Mad... Creative, but mad...
Can I use it in the red-light district?
If you use these recklessly on a prostitute, guard guys will come and bash you on the head
This rascal must have tried it himself, lololol
A man truly devoted to self-pleasure, you deserve an award
They're truly remarkable guys.
In certain ways...
Anyway, our forest exploration progressed seamlessly with Grace's upgraded skills.
We continued gathering magic stones and materials and discovered the passage with ease, bringing us to the end of the 20th floor.
"There's a Moss Wolf lurking up ahead. There also seems to be a goblin pack if we go around. What's the plan?"
"Since our current task calls for magic stones from medium-sized monsters, let's hunt the Moss Wolf and sidestep the goblins. They become a bit of a hassle when they start to scatter."
"Then, let's go for the wolf."
"Lead the way."
Grace's exploration ability as a 4 'Forest Stalker', an upgrade from a 3 'Novice Ranger', has seen dramatic improvement.
Where earlier she could detect an ambushing Moss Wolf or pinpoint a noisy cluster of small monsters, now she can sense their presence from a considerable distance to the point where she can plan an ambush on the Moss Wolf.
A Moss Wolf was lying in wait in the shadowy forest, but with Grace, who had already located it, the hunt became smoother than usual.
"Roland, you lead the way, and I'll ready the magic. Should things go awry, I'll need you to support me immediately. Kaiden, please keep watch behind Irene."
"Sure."
"Understood."
Grace's expanded detection range is taken advantage of by Han Se-ah, who positions herself behind me, while the rest of our team approaches from the rear of the Moss Wolf.
Being aware of the exact location of a lurking Moss Wolf allows us to use this strategy.
Kaiden is with Irene, preparing for unexpected situations, but there was nothing in the forest that could pose a threat to us.
Creeeeak
As I linger around the location pointed out by Grace, an arrow zips through the air.
Just as the lurking Moss Wolf was about to spring on me, the arrow lodges accurately into its slightly open mouth as it was about to take a breath.
Regardless of its excellent stealth skills, it's not a creature that can ignore an arrow lodged in its throat.
The Moss Wolf immediately coughs up blood, howling in agony as it writhes on the ground.
Almost as if to end its misery, a magic missile promptly strikes its chest.
"It really was there. I couldn't spot it with my own eyes. Grace, you have really good intuition."
"Well, it's not about seeing with the eyes."
Irene, witnessing the scene, exclaims in awe, clutching her hands.
Her role is to protect Grace and Han Se-ah during close combat.
In this instance, she doesn't even need to do anything, so naturally, she ends up as a spectator.
As we traverse the forest, we continue to hunt Moss Wolves.
After hours of hiking in the forest with heavy gear on, sweat begins to bead on our foreheads.
Despite demanding conditions that would usually invite complaints, our team members proceed without any grumbling.
Our party, evolved from novices to intermediates, finally stand before the gateway to the 20th floor.
"Ha, we've finally found it."
"This is the passage to the 20th floor..."
"Roland, you knew about this, didn't you?"
The team, who have grown quite close, gaze up at the towering passage, their voices filled with awe.
The magic stone spinning in the lantern, the faces of the team members smeared with sweat and dust, and Han Se-ah, who is giving me a sharp glare amidst them.
The transition from the 19th to the 20th floor is rather tricky in terms of location.
The two passages are very far apart, half-hidden in the rugged terrain of the forest.
"I knew about it."
"We'll start exploring the 20th floor tomorrow. We might have to spend a day in the tower."
Han Se-ah glares at me again, visibly irritated by my sly smirk.
Unlike the straightforward plains, the forest, riddled with countless obstacles, slows down our pace.
As a result, the duration it takes to travel from the 1st to the 10th floor and from the 10th to the 19th floor differs more than one might expect.
Even with a lantern, the distance is vexing.
While the others seem indifferent, Han Se-ah stares at me, her cheeks puffed in annoyance.
"Originally, we should have prepped for camping in the tower as soon as we passed the 15th floor. But now that we've already found the passage, we should prepare for camping from the 20th floor. We should rest thoroughly today and discuss it together tomorrow. If we plan on camping, it won't be feasible to continue with the current routine of leaving every morning and returning every evening. So everyone should come up with a suggestion."
"Is that like homework?"
"Yes, it's homework. Let's head back."
I dismiss Han Se-ah's pout with a chuckle and address the party.
If our aim was to barely make ends meet as casual laborers in the tower's lower levels, we would've ended our journey here.
However, our party is earnestly aiming to climb the tower.
Han Se-ah, being a player and a streamer, naturally, must continue.
The saint candidate, tasked with spreading the goddess's will, has to advance as well.
I will accompany Han Se-ah on the quest, leaving just Grace and Kaiden.
If I continue, Grace is likely to follow, but Kaiden...
I'm unsure.
I don't understand why she cross-dresses, nor if she intends to scale the tower.
Her character quest should show up as we go on.
The good news is that Kaiden, an offensive vanguard, isn't indispensable.
If Irene leaves the party, we need to find a new priest, even if it means camping outside the temple.
But if we lose a swordsman, we can climb higher and recruit a new one.
"Ugh, I need a shower."
"Because we've traveled so much today, it'll be late evening by the time we leave the tower."
Nonetheless, the party members remain spirited, perhaps due to the sense of achievement after a hard day.
If we had aimlessly wandered in the forest and returned without accomplishing anything, the mood might've been rather gloomy.
However, everyone is upbeat, as we've finally discovered the passage.
Just like how the 10th floor acts as a threshold between beginners and intermediate adventurers, the 20th floor holds a symbolic significance.
It serves as a stepping stone for those intermediates who have the potential to climb even higher.
It's kind of a filter, in a sense.
Despite being smeared with sweat and dirt, we all walk with stars in our eyes.
***
Raei Translations
***
As we return to the 10th floor and step outside the tower, envious glances get thrown our way.
They must be jealous, witnessing attractive people clad in expensive gear, beaming as if they've struck gold.
"The revenue from selling magic stones... it's incomparable to when I was a mercenary."
"That's why everyone wants to become adventurers. Why else would Rebecca, that crazy woman, enter the tower?"
"...Crazy."
After separating the magic stones required by the client, we sell the leftover collected items and magic stones at the guild counter, and a pouch of silver coins is handed over.
The hefty feel of it makes Kaiden murmur in wonder.
"Stash the money carefully. As we climb to the higher floors, we'll have to upgrade our equipment again, and beyond that point, the price of equipment equals the cost of an estate."
"An estate, really? Is it that expensive?!"
She's startled at my words.
It seems fitting for a nun to not know about the value of an estate.
I don't know exactly how estates are structured in the real world, but I have a rough idea in this one.
Through looking into various things to prepare my own mansion equipped with magical tools, I've managed to gather a rough understanding.
In this fantasy world, an estate refers to a territory you can buy with money.
It involves trading land for farming, farm laborers, a mansion for the landowner to stay in, and a temple to look after the territory, all bundled together.
"An equipment piece being worth an entire estate..."
"I'm not referring to a golden wheat field accompanied by a luxurious mansion. I'm talking about a small estate where you can grow something like grapes."
"But that's still a substantial amount, isn't it?"
The price of enchanted armor equals the total value of a farm, a luxurious mansion, and farm laborers combined.
Once you transition from intermediate to senior level, the cost of equipment soars exponentially.
Given that the armor is crafted from magical ore and occasionally from dragon skin handled by top-tier alchemists, it's no surprise it bears a price tag equivalent to a noble's luxury goods.
To fully equip oneself with such gear, including a helmet, breastplate, greaves, boots, and a weapon...
"Roland, is your armor and weapon that expensive?"
"Even more than that."
Actually, this armor is the default skin I've had since transforming into a game character.
I didn't pay a penny for it, but if we calculate its worth, it could be even more expensive.
It doesn't boast any special abilities, yet it offers durability that hasn't sustained even a scratch So far.
While contemplating the resilience of equipment that is unmarked even against the attacks of giants and wyverns, Kaiden slips over to my side.
"Roland, I have a favor to ask."
Not Han Se-ah, but me?
***
I've censored some words and in the future I'll probably censor like so as well. Unless someone has a suggestion?
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