Chapter 88: For Items, the Exterior is More Important than the Contents

This is an area with a recommended conquest level of over 100. Naturally, it is safe to say that the various items obtained here possess potential comparable to the over-technological "Legacy Weapons."

Considering the restrictions imposed on the numerous Non-Standard Weapons we currently possess, I believe weapons using rare items are superior to weapons of Divine Age origin in terms of versatility.

In that case, what I should aim for is so-called "lazy gathering"—repeatedly executing suicide runs into an area unsuitable for my level to obtain items that should originally be acquired much later... In a normal RPG, this is a little trick that could make the game too easy (Nuru-ge).

However, it is a fact that there are people in this world who find nothing more enjoyable than beating bosses to a pulp with the violence of strong weapons and high levels. I name this the "Is a Shotgun in a Horror Game Right or Wrong Debate."

Anyway, attempt number two. Return to Eighthold from Rabituza, dash up the steep slope, re-enter Crystal Nest Cliff, and this time, stay quiet and move stealthily.

"............Ah, hello."

Spotted. Dead. Let's try the next one.

Attempt number three. This time, I'll use skills to accelerate and check if there are any items.

The moment the Crystal Scorpion woke up from the crystal and directed its hate toward me, the effect of Lone Wolf [Transient] finally activated as conditions were met.

It hurts that I can't activate Overheat, but instead, I use Ignition and Nitrogain for health adjustment, combined with Climax Boost, Off-Road, and Six-Boat Leap—a full burst release of skills to instantly pull away from the Crystal Scorpion attacking from behind.

Reinforcements will come soon, and others will become active. Before that, at least one item... Found it.

A brightly colored natural crystal tower that clearly screams, "Smash me with a pickaxe!" Forgetting the tremor of approaching footsteps for a moment, I take the pickaxe out of my inventory.

"Allllllriiiiiight!!"

Clang! Smashing it with all my might, I shove the lapis lazuli ore that spilled out into my inventory without even checking it properly. The swarm of rushing scorpions is a metaphor for unavoidable death... no, a simile. It's slamming killing intent straight at me. But I'm not naive enough to just die obediently.

Moon Jumper activated. I leap with full power into the sky, the only place where the Crystal Scorpions rushing from all directions are not. Although I will fall in a few seconds, I certainly succeeded in temporarily avoiding the rush of the horde of death by defying gravity and stepping into the sky.

The scene spreading below me is like a pile-up of cars on a highway in a Hollywood movie. Because each of them charged at full speed toward where I was, the scorpions with crystal carapaces crashed into each other's sturdiness, presenting a terrible spectacle.

Carapaces cracked, pincers shattered, and in severe cases, some are being crushed by other individuals.

However, the current me has already reached the highest point. Lacking wings of wax, I can only fall, and directly below me is a Scorpion Mixer warmer than a needle hell, writhing with crystal shards and rampaging scorpions.

"Falling into that and dying from fall damage is a bit heart-brea-gobo!"

A masterful technique, truly like catching a fly (me) flying in the air with chopsticks. Pierced by a tail stinger thrust from the side, I managed to ascertain that I was afflicted with some kind of poison status before dying.

Iron-Caress Lapis Lazuli Hard Crystal
A crystal with extremely high magical density generated by repeatedly compressing and purifying minerals consumed by mineral-eating monsters over a long period.
Its hardness itself is not significant, but its true value is demonstrated when used as a coating agent.
Mineral-eating creatures ingest ore, excrete ore, nurture ore, and offer their corpses to ore. It is truly a cycle completed by stone and life.

"Phew............... This smells like a reward greater than the effort."

Respawning in Rabituza, I logged out once to finish lunch, then logged back in. Checking the items obtained, I am convinced that those crystals equal a mountain of treasure.

For now, I've learned a few things from the challenges. First, the detection range of the Crystal Scorpions. It seems those scorpions sleep mimicked as crystals when inactive, but become active when a certain condition is met. That condition is probably causing vibrations to the crystals within their detection range. In short, if you don't want to be noticed, fly.

Next, the Crystal Scorpion AI. Not that smart, or rather, frankly categorized as stupid. However, if high-performance AI were installed on top of that gigantic body and overwhelming numbers at level 100+, there would be nothing I could do. But what bothers me is the massive crash when I dodged straight up.

"Wait... Carapaces and stuff were peeling off, right?"

Maybe, just maybe... I wasn't aiming for "that," but I want to challenge the possibility. Now, based on that, let's identify the problems and solutions.

"First problem: spawn placement where I encounter one on the first step if I pull a shitty RNG... No, I can only pray for this."

I don't dislike prayer games (RNG games), but if the whole game is an RNG game, that's not a game; it's called an Omikuji with pictures and sound.

Next is that ridiculous detection accuracy. How to deal with Crystal Scorpions that might activate just by flicking a crystal... Actually, the answer is already out.

"Easier said than done, but it's exactly as said..."

If they crash into each other and hurt themselves on their own, repeating that could aim for mutual destruction and profiting from the chaos. But to do that, the existence of a "Safe Zone" is essential. In this case, a safe zone isn't just somewhere attacks can't reach; in some cases, it must be a place where I can hide until hate disappears.

However, with that abnormal detection accuracy multiplied by massive mass and quantity, and above all, the Crystal Nest Cliff—which is just treacherous terrain but categorically "flat"—has no place to hide. Found before hiding, crushed even if hidden.

"Safe Zone... Safe Zone... Hmmmm............"

No good, can't think of one. If I could fly, I could probably escape the Crystal Scorpions' detection, but unfortunately, the bird mask on my head is completely decorative. My arms are mammalian, and no matter how fast I move them, I can't fly.

"......Can't help it. Guess I'll spam charges hoping the RNG tilts in my favor."

"Is giving up not an option, desu wa...?"

"Listen, Emul. Pioneers do not fear death. Why, you ask? Because the unknown lies there!"

"You are covered in greed, desu wa... Puu, I want you to consider the feelings of me opening the gate every time, desu wa!"

Punsuko! Emul opens the gate connecting to Eighthold with an attitude that looks like sound effects might start playing. Perhaps because her MP decreased from opening the gate repeatedly, she takes out an MP recovery potion from her inventory and drinks it...

"Emul, stop for a sec."

"Nmumu!?"

Emul freezes while pouring the magical liquid down her throat, and I stare at it intently.

"Inventory... MP... disappearance as matter... reappearance............ This is it!"

"Nbuhhu!? Cough, cough, what is it, desu wa!?"

Truly a revelation. At the answer my grey brain cells calculated, I involuntarily pick up Emul and lift her high up.

"Nice idea, Me! Nice action, Emul! Ahahaha, I won!"

"Pyaaaaaah! Stop moving me right after drinking wate... urp."

"Whoops, calm down Emul. Good boy, good boy... No, good girl?"

I found something to do before the re-challenge. But if things go as I predict, I can conquer the Scorpion-style Crystal Minefield teeming with level 100+ monsters as a super easy game (Nuru-ge).

They are no longer a threat to me. Triumphantly, fearing not even the echo of my footsteps, I proceed atop the cliff where crystals spread. Perhaps stepping into the detection range, three Crystal Scorpions activate and direct their hate toward me.

At this rate, a future of being trampled by three Crystal Scorpions is unavoidable. But even if I run, thirty scorpions will crush and swallow me.

"Fufufufufu... In the end, the one who laughs last is technology. Long live civilization! [Transfer: Storage Space (Enter Travel)]!"

In an instant, the world switches.

Not the crystal zone where death approached with mass, but a strange space constructed of metal, not stone, which would be difficult to reproduce even with Shangri-La Frontier's civilization level.

This is the storage space only permitted to those with Inventoria. Since I need to wait a bit, I look around this space I've entered for the first time.

"Ah, so that's how items are stored."

Looking up, I see monster materials floating in the air, likely put in by OiKatzo or Pencilgon. The faint blue glow is probably an expression that they are floating by mysterious physics.

But the main attraction in this place is not the items floating in the air. If I direct my gaze straight ahead from above, four beasts made of steel and science stand quietly there.

Sleeping in what looks like storage docks or fixed hangars, they took the forms of beasts governing the directions, which are as indebted to fiction as the Seven Deadly Sins, just as their names suggest.

"Kirin was just too big; is this the size players can use?"

I only saw Kirin's appearance because I was occupied with Wethermon, but its stupidly large size, like a dump truck with legs, is burned into my memory. In contrast, these four golems? are slightly larger than a light car. That Eastern Dragon-looking one or the "I'm not a Phoenix" bird might get a bit bigger if they spread their wings or extended their bodies, but... Ooh amazing, this turtle has a cannon mounted on it!

"Whoops, no good, no good... is it about time? [Transfer: Reality Space (Exit Travel)]"

Downing the MP recovery potion I bought with a huge sum in one go, I chant the activation code to return to reality space, the reverse of when I came to the storage space.

The world switches again, returning to the crystal zone where fantasy created by science forms fantasy with fantasy.

"Heh, kukukuku..."

Suppressing the urge to laugh maniacally, I look around with a grinning face and pick up the crystal plate... carapace that fell at my feet and put it into my inventory.

Crystal Scorpion's Clad Crystal Shell
A crystalline carapace worn by a Crystal Scorpion. Extremely sturdy, and possesses the effect of repairing damage by channeling magic power.
Crystal Scorpions frequently damage their own bodies due to their aggression, but can repair their own flesh by consuming surrounding crystals.

"Kuh, kufufufufu, fuhahahahahahahahaha! Easy money! It's All-You-Can-Gather (Viking) timeeeeeeeahahahahahahahaha! Crap, [Transfer: Storage Space (Enter Travel)]!"

Honestly, my liver froze when I was surrounded by eight Crystal Scorpions activated in response to my idiotic laughter.

Author's Afterword:
The pattern where you think the contents are the main prize, but actually, the bag holding them was the most dangerous thing.
In all ages and places, people call such an item a "Four-Dimensional Po*ket."

I want to introduce new characters and advance the plot, but the desire to talk about lore and preparations are stalling the story... Ugogogogo.