Chapter 130: Following Dreams and Carrying Out Folly, the Driving Force is Extreme or Fanatical

Guided by the God of Fate, the fated holy warrior who fought Lycaon the Night Raider in a past life reincarnated and challenged Lycaon but fell short, was carved with a curse, and continued a pilgrimage guided by fate to lift the curse... or so it was, until finally succeeding in overthrowing Lycaon the Night Raider, subduing the steel beast clearly recognized as an enemy by that Strongest Species, and becoming the fated super warrior clad in fighting spirit that no one can even touch.

That seems to be my current setting.

"Fuffuffu... My glib talk is growing every day desu wa!"

Having survived public eyes recently by mimicking a muffler, Emul transformed into a human figure with [Metamorphosis] for the first time in a while.

From the "Curse (Marking)" that previously looked like a tattoo-like bruise that could be seen as a certain kind of pattern, to a simple but messy... as if the whole body was torn to shreds, a gruesome pattern like blackened scars carved into the torso and legs of a Bird Head. The checkpoint NPC guards saw us off with eyes as if looking at a decisive battle weapon.

Of course, I can understand not being able to act tough against the dangerous group backing me up: the "Maximum Firepower" radiating intimidation even though slightly dusted, and the fox-masked ninja with a fluffy white cloak (Ceecrue) attached inside.

"Is your MP okay?"

"Fufufu~, I'm growing every day too desu wa."

"Can't Ceecrue-san do that? Hey, Ceecrue-san? Moshimo~shi?"

"He's desperately pretending to be a cloak, so please spare him the conversation..."

"Hah, that's right!"

At 5 AM, the number of logged-in users begins to increase. Feeling exposed to gazes different from NPCs here and there, I turn to Rei-shi.

"Thank you truly for everything today, not just the area conquest but even accompanying me for the Lycaon fight..."

"No......... Yes, it was fun for me too. If there is anything else I can help with... please."

"I'll contact you again when that time comes."

I wonder if there are guys of Lycaon's class popping up so often that I'd be forced into a situation where I have to rely on Rei-shi, but even deducting that, fighting alongside Rei-shi was fun. That alone is enough to consider a "next time."

Observing the town can wait; right now I need to replenish various things consumed in the Lycaon and area conquests.

Setting aside the dangerous girl shouting "Wow wow" while looking around the town and talking to the silent cloak, I look around for a deserted back alley to disband and go to Rabituza... and suddenly notice someone in the back alley.

It was a figure wrapped in a pitch-black robe drawn with strange patterns all over, with a wrinkled face peeking from the hood distorted into a smile, clearly beckoning to me.

"What's that?"

"Wa, beckoning from the back alley desu wa... Seems suspicious desu wa......... Why are you looking at me there, Sunraku-san desu wa?"

"No, just remembering a suspicious person who beckoned me from a back alley and took me to Rabituza, yeah."

"Now that you mention it, that's true desu wa!?"

Tapping the shoulder of the anthropomorphized Emul who froze in shock, I observe carefully to discern the true identity of the mysterious person beckoning unyieldingly even when called a suspicious person in a back alley. But surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly in a sense, the answer to the mysterious hood's identity came from right beside me.

"That is Arcanum, the Sage of Awakening... Ah, since you're Level 99..."

"Could I ask for an explanation?"

At my words, Rei-shi, who noticed what I was looking at and what was looking at me just before we parted, comments on its identity.

"Arcanum, the Sage of Awakening, is a special NPC that appears before players who reach Level 99... You can acquire the special job 'Arcanum (Mystery)'."

"Special job?"

Jobs in this game basically affect the ease of learning skills and magic. If you are a Magician, it's easier to learn magic, and if you are a Dual Wielder like me, it's easier to learn sword and maneuvering-type skills. Amidst that, "Arcanum" seems clearly different from normal jobs.

First of all, this job is limited to sub-jobs; in other words, it is "Equipped" by the player, crushing a sub-job slot.

Second, this "Arcanum" directly interferes with the player's stats rather than skill acquisition.

And third, most "Arcanums" corresponding to the Major Arcana of tarot cards have peaky performance.

"...For example, the 'Chariot' Arcanum nearly doubles AGI and STR, but in exchange, the STM consumption rate also doubles."

"What the heck is that..."

It's a contradictory mess like a car with terrible fuel efficiency made with super technology. That said, there are apparently useful Arcanums as "Super Specialized Types." For example, if you specialize in magic with the "Magician" Arcanum, STR dies completely, but you can realize a super firepower turret.

Moreover, the illustrations drawn on the tarot cards apparently imitate the player's figure. Detailed in useless places.

"By the way, what did you draw, Rei-shi?"

"Um, I got the 'World' Arcanum..."

Hearing about it, it applies an upward correction to all stats, but in exchange, demerits occurring from skills, magic, etc., are doubled. To put it mildly, isn't that a jackpot? As expected, those who have it, have it. I realize anew the awesomeness of the player named Rei-shi.

"Shall I try this 'Arcanum' challenge or whatever before returning?"

Without hesitation, I walk toward the beckoning old man. It is human nature to be curious about the result when an acquaintance tries a gacha; Rei-shi and Akitsu Akane also watch me and the black robe... Arcanum, the Sage of Awakening, from behind with trepidation.

"Umm, good morning?"

"One who has reached the strong... I shall awaken thy Arcanum..."

"Ah, this is the type you can't communicate with."

"Now, thy Arcanum is decided by fate... Draw a card."

The old man, who shows no reaction to conversation from this side—quite rare in ShanFro—scatters tarot cards taken from his breast pocket into the air. But mysteriously, the tarot cards do not fall to the ground; they float in the air forming a sphere. Furthermore, all the cards behaved in a way that I couldn't see their faces. This game really puts effort into useless things.

"Is this random?"

"No, it is said that it probably refers to some parameter..."

"So no matter how I draw, the result won't change."

Beshi, I roughly grab one of the cards. What was drawn was an illustration of a half-naked Bird Head walking together with a bipedal rabbit. Number 0. Since it's a staple in game themes, I have an idea even if it's a vague memory. If I recall, the number 0 card in tarot is... right,

"The Fool, huh."

"Hoh... Thou, one who settles not. Is thy walk a wandering, or a journey with a purpose... But one thing can be said."

"Which is?"

"...The Fool's Arcanum will aid thy recovery. But thou canst not ask for help other than thyself; thus, illness will thrust a sharper blade at thy neck..."

"Umm... do you know the effect of this?"

"The Fool was, if I recall... Skill cooldown time is halved... but damage and duration received from status ailments are doubled, and the success rate of recovery items becomes a probability... I think."

Umm, yeah.

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Isn't this a jackpot?

Author's Afterword
Actually, even if stats get a massive correction, since it's Full Dive you have to move yourself, so the current evaluation of Arcanum is "Strong but hard to use." To be blunt, the necessity fades once you get sufficient Uniques, so it effectively carries the meaning of relief for players with no or few Uniques.
By the way, if the protagonist had engaged more seriously in item digging and such, the card drawn would have been not The Fool but Wheel of Fortune.

By the way, as an aside:
Pencilgon: Strength
Saiga-100: The Empress
Animalia: The Sun
I think.