Chapter 228: The Bad Wolf, The Snapping Rabbit, and The Perverted Cat

Author's Preface
Slight revision: I genuinely forgot that the protagonist repels enchantments.
Changed: Enchantment: Ancient Lightning / Hazard ➔ Special State: Ancient Lightning / Hazard

Specifically, the difference is that an Enchantment alters parameters, while a Special State alters the physical condition of the body.

"Kuaaa... fuu."

Walking down the school route mixing in a yawn. Summer vacation was over, but cumulonimbus clouds sat squarely in the blue sky, as if declaring that summer itself wasn't quite finished yet.

Ultimately, I ended up staying up late after all. I never expected to get a chat notification from Rust bright and early in the morning saying, "Have you been neglecting to log into NephiHolo recently?"(Summary).
I briefly wondered if it was some kind of quota for their hardcore clan, but in the end, I came out ahead with two wins and one loss in three matches.

"What do we have today again... Japanese? Gotta make sure I don't fall asleep..."

World History is manageable, but Japanese is dangerous. Horikawa, the Japanese teacher, has a habit of putting things he casually mumbled during class directly onto the tests, so I can't let my guard down. He's probably the only guy who'd put a World History question on a Classical Japanese test.

"G-Ghood morning!"

"Uwaa!?"

What, what!?

"W-What a coincidence, right?"

"Ah, Saiga-san. Morning."

That scared me... Because I was suddenly called out to from behind, my shoulders practically jumped.
Turning around, Saiga-san was standing there with a slightly flushed face. Being the polite person she is, she apparently called out to me the moment she caught a glimpse of me.

"I-If you'd like, um... would you like to talk, on the way to school!?"

"Eh? Sure..."

I wonder why... The actual request itself was completely normal, yet for some reason, I felt like a glove or a letter of challenge had just been slammed into my face.
That being said, what should we talk about... Even I feel like bringing up ShanFro over and over again would be a bit much. Alright, since we're students, let's pad the runtime with an academic topic.

"Come to think of it, Saiga-san, are you taking Humanities or Sciences?"

"Um, I chose Humanities, for the time being..."

"Same here. I'm just really bad at Math."

It's not that I can't do it, but I don't exactly excel at it either. If I'm aiming for good grades and high evaluations, Humanities subjects are just easier for me to digest.

"T-That's right! I'm also, um... It's not that I can't do it, but in terms of subjects I excel at, it's more Humanities-leaning, I suppose......"

Oh man, am I being super high school-like right now? Discussing academics together, this is incredibly student-like!

"Hey, Hizutome."

"Nn?"

Despite having smoothly navigated the walk to school with Saiga-san using highly student-like conversation topics, the sight of someone walking to school alongside an unattainable flower (equipped with a self-defense function) like Saiga-san was apparently more than enough to become a prime topic of gossip among the general populace.

"Is it true you walked to school with Saiga-san?"

"Nn? It wasn't anything fancy enough to call it 'walking together.' We just bumped into each other on the way and chatted a bit."

A friend of mine—who sits somewhere between a normie and a loner, leaning slightly towards normie—pressed me for answers with the intense gaze of a housewife subscribed to a gossip magazine.
At his words, I felt like the consciousness of a certain percentage of the class shifted toward us... Maybe it was just my imagination. It's not like I have a skill to read presences in real life.

"Do you have any idea that what you did is harder than getting a perfect score on a test...? I mean, Saiga-san always gets picked up and dropped off in a foreign car, so why the hell were you walking to school with her?"

"How the hell should I know? Reading the RNG factors of a drop table is way easier to understand than the maiden's heart."

"...You better make absolutely sure you never say that in front of a girl, got it?"

Most likely, an expression that screamed from the bottom of my heart, 'How the hell am I supposed to know that?' had floated onto my face.
After that, he interrogated me about whether we exchanged phone numbers or if anything happened during summer vacation. But if I had to name anything, my only lead was encountering her at the convenience store, so I didn't have anything to feel guilty about.

I told him that if he was that curious, he should go ask Saiga-san instead of me. However, my friend—who had secretly pierced his ears last year, got an infection, and ended up with hilariously swollen, "lucky" earlobes—replied, "The difficulty of striking up a conversation with an unattainable flower versus some poisonous weed growing on the side of the road is completely different."

"Who're you calling a poisonous weed, you bacteria-infested lucky-earlobe man."

"Ahhh, stop! Don't pull on my piercings!"

I'll admit I'm a weed, but nowadays, I at least want to become a man with the guts to declare that, much like a dandelion, I absolutely will not be uprooted out of pure spite.

【The Hidden Wolfgang Hangout】

Pencil Knight King: 'Sup, members of Wolfgang! Time for a grateful speech from your Godmother, Pencilgon-sama!

Sunraku: For the record, this is clearly a secret chat meant only for members, completely operating on the premise of a sneak attack.

Kyougoku: So, when are we launching the raid?

OiKatzo: Let's talk about the fact that this person who was added without me knowing is absurdly militant.

Sunraku: Are you seriously telling me there's someone in here who still hasn't reached Fifticia?

OiKatzo: Shut up, I just took a different route because of Job requirements. Also, my real life is chaotic to the point of death right now.

Pencil Knight King: Rust-chan and the others didn't seem all that interested in ShanFro to begin with, and Aki-chan is firmly on the Light Side in various ways, so...

Pencil Knight King: Anyway, Kyougoku-chan over there is an acquaintance from my Ashura-kai days. An anachronistic swordswoman who firmly believes she can solve anything with a single katana.

Kyougoku: That's pretty mean. I won't deny it, though.

Sunraku: The aura of a fiend is oozing out.

Pencil Knight King: Well, for starters, I used some info-brokers to probe the internal affairs of the 'Black Wolves,' and it seems they're in an absolute state of chaos.

Pencil Knight King: Since the person at the center of the storm, Psyger-0, hasn't logged in, their spearhead is pointed directly at us.

Kyougoku: Gives me the shivers.

Pencil Knight King: Because of that, I told the Light Side squad to stay completely hidden until the situation improves, but the question is what we specifically want to do about it.

OiKatzo: What exactly is the Black Wolf side planning to demand from us?

Pencil Knight King: Since Psyger-0 hasn't shown up, they'll at least demand info on Lycaon and Ctarrnid. If we play this wrong, they might even try to pick a fight over Wethermon.

Sunraku: We have absolutely no obligation to humor the complaints of complete strangers.

Pencil Knight King: That clan is basically in its terminal stage anyway. They have genuinely good guys, but just as many elitist players.

Pencil Knight King: Usually, Mo—the Clan Leader manages to keep them in check, but the problem this time is that the Clan Leader herself has blood rushing to her head.

Pencil Knight King: For now, I'm planning to drag Library into this and look for a compromise, but my assessment is that depending on the situation, the use of force is inevitable.

Kyougoku: Sounds great. Leave it to me if it turns into a bloodbath.

Pencil Knight King: However, there is someone who put a hold on my brilliant stratagem.

Sunraku: Yeah, that's me.

Sunraku: To be blunt, I absolutely do not want to disclose the Tome of Truth regarding Ctarrnid to an unspecified majority of people.

OiKatzo: What's the reasoning there?

Sunraku: A gimmick boss that's had its mechanics spoiled is just pure agony.

OiKatzo: Hmm? Does that mean...

Sunraku: Also, the pure power that info holds is dangerous.

Sunraku: To be blunt.

Sunraku: Ctarrnid of the Abyss can be challenged multiple times.

Exactly. More than defeating Lycaon, more than defeating Ctarrnid... this was the most dangerous part of all.

A Unique Monster that could be challenged again. This piece of information was even more dangerous than the feat of defeating a new Unique Monster. In an MMO, the concept of equality fundamentally does not exist.
The profits that could be gained by monopolizing Ctarrnid were immeasurable. If this information leaked to a clan with solid organizational power, there was a high probability they would monopolize it.

And the current 'Black Wolves' would probably do exactly that. If what Pencilgon said was true, the current 'Black Wolves' were running out of control. If those hardcore players who had been outmaneuvered twice... no, three times, were truly a hardcore clan where arrogant players had seized the reins...

Well, setting that aside, the biggest reason is simply that it pisses me off to think they'd clear Ctarrnid without struggling by relying on a strategy guide.
Because of that, I also told Rust and the others not to disclose the Tome of Truth to anyone.

"Given all that, how do we find a compromise... Well, it's best to leave the troublesome stuff to the Demon Lord."

After all, the only thing I can act as is a bullet or a convenient decoy. Brain work should be left to the people who enjoy it.

"Now then, I'll just do as I please...!"

Unique Scenario EX. Although a successor named Akitsu Akane had appeared, as things stood, the advantage was entirely mine.
If I don't finish this errand soon, the Boss is going to be pissed.

"Bilac, is it done yet—?"

"Funn!"

"Hoaa, Maiden! Not the spine, not the spine!"

The comedy duo, reunited.
I don't know what he did this time, but I stumbled upon the scene exactly two seconds before Bilac brought her hammer down onto the back of the noisy, Puss-in-Boots rip-off known as Aramis, who was currently pinned face-down beneath her foot.

"Ooh! The presence of a bird that is no bird, Sunraku! I, Aramis, have brought the promised items!"

"Promised... Ah, the accessories."

Ah, come to think of it, everything regarding the accessories had completely slipped my mind. Great, even more things on my to-do list...

"Bilac, I don't know what he did, but give him a break."

Pouting with an expression of sheer displeasure, Bilac reluctantly lifted her foot off Aramis. For some reason, Aramis—the one who had been stepped on—looked rather regretful, but since both Emul and I had trained our 'ignore' skills through various ordeals, we paid it no mind.

Standing up and brushing the soot off his body, Aramis placed a beautifully decorated box in front of me.

"As a testament to our friendship with the Vorpal Bunnies, and out of respect for the courage acknowledged by Lycaon... Here is the 'Star Cloak of Lapistella' and the 'Levin Trigger: Hazard,' crafted by Catzeria's greatest Jeweler, D'Artanyata."

"Ah, um... let's see. My gratitude to the kingdom of Cait Siths... yes, Catzeria. Should you ever find yourselves in need, I ask that you rely not only on Brother Vysache, but upon me as well."

That was some sudden roleplay, but how was it? At the very least, judging by Aramis's reaction, I managed to secure a passing grade.
Having a connection with Catzeria is definitely a plus, so properly roleplaying and showing my gratitude is the optimal move here. Gah, this game's bizarre Galge elements mean I can't let my guard down for a second.

It really made me reaffirm just how valuable characters like Emul and Araba are, since I can just mess with them without holding back.

Now then, an urgent need to visit the accessory shop in Rabituza has arisen, but first, let's take a look at the performance of these supposedly highest-class accessories.

• Star Cloak of Lapistella
  A pure white cloak with shoulder armor, woven with the night sky itself using the technique of "Jewel Weaving."
  Contrasting its pure white exterior, the interior—possessing the pitch-black void and the starlight of the night sky—functions to store and convert magic power.
  By casting "Magic" onto this accessory beforehand, it is possible to set up to one spell, which can then be activated at the user's discretion. At that time, by utilizing the magic power charged within the cloak, the user does not need to consume their own MP.
  The amount of magic power the Star Cloak can charge is determined by the grade of the "Lapisteria Star Crystal" used as its material. If a Grade 1 crystal is used, it can charge up to 300 MP.
  The brilliance of the sky cannot be bound by anyone, yet the right to gaze upon it is granted equally to all of creation.

• Levin Trigger: Hazard
  A glove featuring amber decorations that covers the right hand. By striking the amber portion on the right thumb against the user's left chest, the effect sealed within the amber is activated. Furthermore, it inflicts the "Special State: Ancient Lightning / Hazard" onto the wearer for a fixed period.
  The "Sealed Amber" series is classified not only by the attribute sealed within the amber, but also by the hazard level of what is sealed. The classes are divided into five tiers: "Crude," "Density," "Pure," "Hazard," and "Superior." Among these, the "Hazard" class exhibits power that surpasses even the highest tier, "Superior," but in exchange, it bares its fangs at the user.
  The hammer and trigger of the amber are the will of the user.

Note: Special State "Ancient Lightning"... The target is cloaked in pitch-black lightning. Grants the additional effects "Additional Damage," "Reduction of Target's Status Effect Resistance," and "Corrosive Lightning Effect."
Note: Additional Effect "Hazard"... While active, inflicts the "Overflow" effect upon the user. During the "Overflow" state, the player's motion sensitivity is amplified several times over, and a correction is applied to all motions. Furthermore, every ten seconds, the user receives damage equal to 50% of their total maximum health upon judgment.

Ah, this thing is dangerous.

Author's Afterword
Just to be clear, continuously using the Levin Trigger: Hazard will not cause the user to lose their ego and destroy everything in sight.
I've gotten so hooked on it that my alarm clock is currently "Hazard On!", but there's absolutely no connection there... I swear.
By the way, neither the Star Cloak nor the Trigger are Unique Accessories. As long as you have the materials and a "Jeweler," they can be mass-produced.

• Jeweler
  Fundamentally, an accessory is synonymous with a Magic Item possessing power. In other words, one who can create accessories must be both a Blacksmith and a Magician. And among them, a "Jeweler" is a Job bearing the title of "Artisan," permitted only to those who excel specifically in the processing of jewels.
  "Jewel Weaving" is a technique that could be called the absolute pinnacle of a Jeweler. It allows them to preserve the power of a jewel while transforming its properties as an ore into threads, cloth, and ultimately, weaving it into garments.

  By apprenticing under a player or NPC with the "Jeweler" Job, meeting a specific DEX threshold, having Magician-related Jobs, fulfilling a set quota of crafted accessories, and meeting various other conditions, a player can acquire the "Jeweler" Job. However, as of right now, no player has obtained it.
  Why, you ask? Because the final hurdle to becoming a Jeweler—"Crafting an accessory using a jewel of a specific rarity or higher"—requires gathering materials from a location currently swarming with an army of absurdly strong Scorpions!! Because of that, people are (or aren't) placing their hopes on the discovery of a safe mining area on the New Continent.