arc5 · 086-ch86

Arc 5: The Immortal's Coup d'État

Episode 86: Treasure Orb

The week after putting an end to the two-month battle with the Cunning Demon Ape Monkey, Suzuka was at Hachioji Dungeon.

He could have conquered the area boss of Floor 1, District 5 in Tokyo Dungeon as is, but he decided to return to Hachioji. Since Tokyo Dungeon and Hachioji Dungeon are located close to each other, it's said there's no difference in the monsters that appear. The Explorer Association's reference room doesn't have information on District 1, Area 5's area boss, so he can't say for sure, but probably the ape monkey appears in Hachioji Dungeon too.

Still, he kept going to Tokyo Dungeon because there was an ape monkey individual he couldn't defeat. Now that he's defeated that ape monkey, he doesn't have the energy to spend one hour each way going to Tokyo Dungeon. Especially since the monsters that appear are no different from Hachioji Dungeon.

If he's going to challenge other area bosses, Hachioji Dungeon is fine too. From today on, he plans to sequentially challenge area bosses of District 5 other than the ape monkey.

"Haven't fought all the monsters in District 4, let alone the area boss... well, can't be helped after seeing drop items like that"

Because he encountered Identity Unknown while exploring District 4 and met the ape monkey, Suzuka hasn't fought all the monsters, let alone the area boss of District 4. Speaking of which, he hasn't fought regular monsters in District 5 either. He blew away everything and defeated the ape monkey, planning to ride that momentum and conquer the other area bosses.

The reason is the drop items from the ape monkey. While aiming for the depths of District 5, Floor 1, Suzuka recalled the day he defeated the ape monkey.

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He defeated the ape monkey in early morning when the sun was rising. Even though he was used to it from two months of battle with the ape monkey, fighting without eating, drinking, or sleeping was incredibly exhausting.

Even if his physical condition recovers with 『Holy God's Creed』, mental fatigue remains. In that state, he couldn't go "Alright, next area boss!", so Suzuka obediently went straight home.

After a good nap and finishing dinner, Suzuka was reflecting on the battle with the ape monkey.

"Man, you can do anything if you try. I beat you, monkey-san"

Defeating a level 120 area boss at level 52. Other explorers absolutely wouldn't believe it if they heard, but Suzuka pulled it off. The cheat-level skill of 『Holy God's Creed』's immortality plays a big part, but it's an achievement made possible by Suzuka's insanely mad persistence in continuing to challenge it.

There's no convenient feature where you get extra rewards for defeating it at level 52. Unlike games where you get trophies or titles, you don't get special rewards for defeating it at low level, and even if you raise your levels bit by bit and defeat it after existence evolution at over level 100, the rewards don't change.

But by continuing to fight in the midst of that desperate level difference, Suzuka was able to strengthen his skills more than ever before. That was the greatest reward of all, and it was an extremely valuable period for his future explorer life.

"Now then, how much did my level go up"

In these two months, to avoid leveling up, he thoroughly avoided fighting other monsters. As a result, he was able to maintain level 52, the same as when he first encountered the ape monkey. Since defeating the ape monkey gave him massive experience points, he wondered how much his level went up.

With his heart racing, Suzuka opened his status.

Name: Suzuka Jozenji

Level: 52⇒72

HP: 491⇒623

MP: 488⇒655

Attack: 495⇒687

Defense: 490⇒648

Agility: 490⇒677

Dexterity: 491⇒638

Intelligence: 481⇒608

Storage: 205⇒285

Abilities: Swordsmanship (5), Body Arts (8⇒9), Body Control (8), Body Reinforcement (8⇒9), Mana Control (7), Evasion (7), Snatch, Holy God's Creed, Poison Magic (7), Thought Acceleration (6), Mana Perception (2), Presence Detection (5), Presence Concealment (6), Status Abnormality Resistance (7⇒8), Mental Resistance (7), Self-Regeneration (8), Pain Dullness, Night Vision, Map

"Oooooooh... oh? Didn't go up that much. Still only 72. Thought it would go up to around 90"

Since he defeated a monster far above his level, he thought his level would go up nicely, but comparing, it only went up 20. Still, this increase is a first-time experience for Suzuka, but honestly, he wanted just a bit more.

"I guess it's true that leveling gets sluggish once you pass level 50. Stats are showing differences too"

Since he started exploring District 4, Suzuka's leveling speed had already dropped considerably. This is partly because District 4's monsters are tough and the number he can defeat decreased, but also because he passed level 50.

Level 50 is the timing when strengthening as a human species occurs. When that strengthening happens, it starts affecting levels and stats too.

Simply put, leveling becomes more difficult than before, and the experience points needed to level up increase. Plus, stats start showing ones that go up easily and ones that go up with difficulty.

For example, in Suzuka's case, his attack stat went up 192 from the 20 level increase, but intelligence only went up 127. Up to level 50, stats increased uniformly regardless of category, but after passing level 50, gradients gradually appear, and after existence evolution at level 100, it becomes even more pronounced.

Stat increases reflect the combat style built in the dungeon up to that point. In Suzuka's case, since he kept relentlessly beating things with a magic iron pipe while dodging the opponent's attacks, his attack and agility categories are probably high. On the other hand, since he didn't use magic much, intelligence, which affects magic, was difficult to increase.

If he were a tank-type heavy warrior, HP and defense would increase; if he were a back-row mage, MP and intelligence would increase. This means the stats allocated change according to the explorer's combat style.

"Having low intelligence hurts, though. Poison magic is essential magic, and I'm going to keep using it a lot from now on"

On the other hand, his MP is high, third after attack and agility, despite his low intelligence. Since MP is also used for body reinforcement, he probably used MP constantly throughout, which had a big impact.

"Level's weak, but skills grew by another 3. And level 9! Two of them!!"

Body Arts and Body Reinforcement had grown to level 9. Level 9 means almost the peak of skills. A skill more valuable by many times than half-baked unique skills. It's precisely because skills grew this much that he was able to overturn the level difference and win, but conversely, without the level difference, he probably wouldn't have grown to such abnormal skill levels.

Even the Old Master of Gu Poison, who was so devoted to poison magic, only had skill level 8 in poison magic. And he was an explorer who leaned that heavily into poison magic. Suzuka overtook him in just two months, even though it was a different skill.

It was such a harsh and dense two months, yet the growth speed is amazing. The battle with the ape monkey was truly a fruitful battle.

"Now that I've come this far, I definitely want to raise Body Arts to skill level 10. If I can do zombie attacks with 『Holy God's Creed』 and Body Arts 10, I won't lose. I mean, I can't die anyway"

Even this time with the ape monkey, Suzuka thinks he didn't lose in his mind. Reluctantly, he retreated due to time constraints, but if time allowed, he could have kept fighting continuously from New Year's until now. With that absolutely unbreakable stubbornness combined with the absolutely immortal skill, the opponent would likely give in before Suzuka loses.

"Well then, let's look at the ape monkey's drops next, shall we"

Since he hadn't defeated any monsters since the end of last year, Suzuka's income since 2010 is zero. Actually, he found several treasure chests, so selling items would give him some earnings, but probably not much.

Still, Suzuka can be relaxed because he lives at his parents' home and usually doesn't need much money, but also because he has savings accumulated until then.

Suzuka has been exploring District 4 since last autumn, and because District 4's materials are rare, they were bought at high prices. As a result, Suzuka's savings exceeded 10 million yen. Now that he doesn't need weapons due to 『Holy God's Creed』's disadvantage, the only expensive items he needs are armor. Because he thought anyway it would be torn apart in battle with the ape monkey, he was living buying tracksuits from Uniqlo every time and using them up, so expenses weren't high either.

Even with that much savings, if he wanted to buy powerful accessories starting with the 『Ring of Twin Poisons』, 10 million yen isn't a reassuring amount. But there's nothing he wants right now, and he doesn't need life-saving potions either. So Suzuka is in a state where he doesn't need to worry about money. How happy.

That's why he could obsess over the ape monkey that he couldn't easily defeat, and he didn't need to defeat monsters to collect items.

In Suzuka's storage, the ape monkey's items were stored.

"Whoa! Dropped more than I thought! District 5's area boss, so maybe the drop rate is good?"

In storage, there were 6 items total and magic stones. Two weapon types, one armor, two ape monkey material types, one item, and a medium magic stone.

Magic stones drop as small magic stones from level 50, and medium magic stones from level 100 with probability. Since he defeated a level 120 monster this time, a medium magic stone seems to have dropped.

Taking it from storage, Suzuka gazed at the medium magic stone. Since the Explorer Association had mega magic stones on display, he'd seen them. But since medium magic stones aren't for individual use, this was his first time holding one in his hands and looking at it.

Just size difference, but it's the same magic stone, and the contained mana is orders of magnitude different. One of these could probably cover half a year's energy for the Jozenji household.

"And two weapons. And this... maybe I can equip it?"

Next he took out was a club and knuckles. Both are Secret Treasure grade, with cool designs.

The club isn't like what goblins or orcs hold—it looks like the Ruyi Jingu Bang that Sun Wukong holds. Probably because it's monkey-related. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to stretch and shrink, but it's an interesting club where the weight changes according to the mana you pour into it.

The knuckles are the weapon Suzuka wants most right now, and also the sad weapon he can't equip due to 『Holy God's Creed』. It's not a simple thing like a brass knuckle—it covers from hand to elbow. Not something made of soft material like boxing gloves that doesn't injure the opponent, but a weapon for punching and breaking the opponent.

From wrist to elbow, it's covered with stiff fur and protected by hard bone-like material. Since it's made like arm guards, it could easily defend against sharp claws and sword attacks. The fist part is dyed deep purple, looking poisonous. The weapon's effect is that when you flow mana, the punched opponent enters poisoned condition—exactly the same effect as Poison Hand. Since the ape monkey also used Poison Hand when cornered, perhaps it can reproduce that attack.

He already has the answer to that, so it's not necessary anymore, but if he's going to master body arts, he had thoughts about trying to equip and fight with one or two knuckles like this. Above all, it's cool.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained—so he tries putting on the knuckles. Equipping itself is no problem. Opening and closing hand is fine. But the moment he makes a fist and shows even a little attack intent, it flies from his hand with a sound like "poof". It's like a rocket punch.

As expected, 『Holy God's Creed』's ability is alive and well, and as long as it manifests as a skill, it seems Suzuka won't be able to hold weapons and fight in the future either. Getting a cool weapon like this but only being able to look at it is frustrating.

By defeating the ape monkey, his level went up, and each skill level went up significantly. Existence evolution is still ahead, but unless something major happens, he probably won't suffer serious injuries. Wrapped in good equipment, even more so.

Eventually, 『Holy God's Creed』's immortality ability might become unnecessary too. But it's because of 『Holy God's Creed』 that Suzuka is alive, and it's because of 『Holy God's Creed』 that he could train his skills this much.

Receiving the benefits, then despising it when it's no longer needed—he doesn't want to do something so ungrateful. Besides, 『Holy God's Creed』's immortality effect is just a bonus, and its essential ability is being able to obtain the essence of holy magic. It's a useful skill wherever you go, and probably won't become unnecessary.

"Can't equip it after all. Maybe I should wrap bandages around my fists like fighting game characters"

He seriously considers this, wondering if his appearance would improve a bit. But wrapping bandages won't protect Suzuka's fists. It's different from punching matches against humans. To全力 punch against enemies harder than steel, bandages are probably no different from having nothing.

But for Suzuka, being unarmed is no longer a problem, and how to look cool is important.

"Not using it, but can't sell it either. For now, storage"

Since he's not short on money, he doesn't need to cry and sell it. After returning the two weapons to storage, he took out the ape monkey's armor.

"Hm? What's this"

What came out was a round ring made of metal-like material. It says 『Cunning Demon Ape Monkey's Armor』, so he thought it was armor, but it looks like an armband.

What's this? he wondered for a moment, but quickly realized, put the round ring through his arm, and flowed mana. Immediately, his equipment changed, and he was wrapped in the ape monkey's armor.

『Cunning Demon Ape Monkey's Armor』 was a full armor set. The characteristic of full armor sets is that they normally take the form of accessories, and by flowing mana, you can instantly change into armor. Since you can always carry armor with you and instantly enter combat stance, full armor sets are items that explorers want so badly they'd give their right arm for.

Full armor sets can be obtained not only by dropping from area bosses like the ape monkey or powerful monsters, but also rarely from treasure chests. Some explorers own multiple, but for third-rank explorers, it's an item many won't obtain even once in their lifetime.

The ape monkey's armor gives a somewhat rough impression for armor. It's armor prioritizing ease of movement, and doesn't use hard armor like chest guards. It was armor made entirely of cloth. It doesn't look sturdy, but dungeon armor is mysterious—contrary to appearance, when you flow mana, it attenuates attack power.

Even this armor made of non-metal, when you flow mana, can nullify even bullets without pain. This type of armor can't be penetrated by defense power without mana-attached attacks, and even if you shoot a missile, the wearer won't suffer a single scratch.

With this equipment, if Suzuka exceeded level 100, he could have taken the ape monkey's attacks head-on too.

A full armor set dropped from a level 120 area boss, combining both convenience and performance. If sold, it would easily exceed 10 million yen. If anything, might exceed 100 million yen.

Since full armor sets rarely drop from treasure chests and can only be obtained from area bosses and some monsters, they rarely appear on the market. If listed at auction, it would definitely be a high-profile item.

Since explorers basically belong to guilds, most cases where this kind of armor drops end up as guild assets. Of course, sufficient money is paid to the explorer who dropped it, and while active, they can probably use that armor. But after retiring, they hand it to the guild, and it becomes a valuable item operated generationally in the guild.

How many of these valuable items a guild holds changes the number of people who want to join that guild. "I might be able to use the weapon that DanChuTube's so-and-so used!", "That guild's full armor set, I envy it", "Since △△Guild's weapons are high quality, seems like stable exploration is possible", etc.—it becomes judgment material for choosing from among many guilds. If it's a company, they appeal with salary and welfare benefits, but for explorer guilds, they appeal with accumulated items and amount of dungeon information built up over years.

"Full armor set... amazing. This is it! This is what I wanted!!"

Since he doesn't have a mirror in his room, he can't confirm his whole body, but the design is cool. The black-based pants are baggy with no tightness, comfortable to wear. The top is white-based with a design covering up to the neck, but the simple structure without excessive decoration suits Suzuka's taste. Above all, since it's made entirely of soft material, it's very easy to move in. Since it's a drop from a level 120 area boss, performance is guaranteed anyway.

And since full armor sets can be instantly changed, he can enter the dungeon in any clothes and it's fine.

"How many clothes were sacrificed in battle with the ape monkey... Thinking of it as compensation, I'll gratefully use it"

In the ape monkey battle, not only the Meichuu tracksuits purchased for dungeon exploration, but also the clothes purchased from Uniqlo each time were torn to pieces. When finishing battle and returning, he had to change clothes in the shade of trees each time.

Armor for fighting level 100+ monsters is extremely expensive, and there are very few that prioritize ease of movement like tracksuits. Besides, the products handled at the Seekers Shop where Suzuka bought Meichuu tracksuits are targeted at third-rank explorers. Third-rank explorers are explorers below level 100. In other words, they don't stock armor sufficient to fight a level 120 area boss.

To buy such armor, you have to participate in auctions held by the Explorer Association, or use connections to directly negotiate with guilds or explorers. He doesn't have such connections, and with Suzuka's earnings from District 4's wild profits, prices wouldn't be enough, so reluctantly he kept ruining clothes each time.

With this armor, clothes won't be ruined, and he doesn't need to change in tree shade each time. It was exactly the item Suzuka wanted.

With a beaming face, he equips the full armor set and checks the next drop item.

"Fur and bones are materials, so won't take them out. They'll take up space. Want to sell around here too. Valuable items, so letting them accumulate in storage is wasteful"

Capable items should be used properly. But he won't do that right now. Suzuka is still below level 100, a level like a fledgling with some fuzz. In that state, if he sells area boss items, he'll attract great attention. Just attracting attention is fine, but there's possibility of getting approached by major guilds or companies.

In any era, being noticed by those with power isn't good. If the company is full of kindness, it's fine, but if targeted by guys walking the gray zone, it's unbearable. Like this, he'll completely conquer Floor 1, District 5, and after exceeding level 100, he can consider whether to sell materials.

"And so, this is the last item"

So saying, he took out something crystal-like, palm-sized. It's glass-transparent, hard material, with smoke-like things swirling inside.

Name: Cunning Demon Ape Monkey's Treasure Orb

Grade: Secret Treasure

Details: A treasure orb given to those who defeat a layer lord. Using it allows you to incorporate a fragment of the layer lord's power. Powers don't stack, and you obtain only one ability per entity.

"Fragment of power?"

Reading the details, he doesn't understand well. Since it says use, probably flow mana and it's fine.

"Doesn't emit poison gas or something, right? No, it says incorporate, so that's okay, maybe?"

Looking at the treasure orb, smoke-like things dyed in poisonous purple are swirling. It looks like poison gas if told so, so he hesitates to use it.

"Being able to incorporate a fragment of power and gain abilities—is it status or skill increase type? Haven't heard of such items, though"

He hasn't heard of it, but Suzuka still doesn't know much about dungeons. Suzuka just doesn't know, but some guilds might know. And information about items with such amazing effects—it wouldn't be strange if it's kept secret.

"For real? Seriously? ...let's check"

If you don't understand, just try.

Thinking that, Suzuka left home. Using an item where you don't know what will happen inside his home is too high risk. So Suzuka came to a nearby park.

Since it's past 8 PM, there's no sign of people in the park. It's a decently large park, so the size should be satisfactory... probably.

Since being seen by someone is troublesome, he activated Presence Concealment skill and took out 『Cunning Demon Ape Monkey's Treasure Orb』.

He flows mana to the treasure orb. Then the orb glows deeply in dim purple, and the outer glass-like material disappeared like melting in the air, and the smoke inside was sucked into Suzuka like the smoke when a monster is defeated.

He didn't look damaged. Even if it were poison, with Suzuka whose status abnormality resistance skill level is 8, he'd probably nullify most things. But even considering that, it doesn't seem like a bad thing.

"Absorbing smoke outside the dungeon is fresh. So, did something change with this?"

Since no power wells up, he shows his status while half-believing.

Name: Suzuka Jozenji

Level: 72

HP: 623

MP: 655

Attack: 687

Defense: 648

Agility: 677

Dexterity: 638

Intelligence: 608

Storage: 285

Abilities: Swordsmanship (5), Body Arts (9), Body Control (8), Body Reinforcement (9), Mana Control (7), Evasion (7), Snatch, Holy God's Creed, Poison Magic (7), Invisible Hand (1), Thought Acceleration (6), Mana Perception (2), Presence Detection (5), Presence Concealment (6), Status Abnormality Resistance (8), Mental Resistance (7), Self-Regeneration (8), Pain Dullness, Night Vision, Map

"...for real, a new skill appeared"

A skill that wasn't there when he checked status at home had newly manifested.

Name: Invisible Hand

Details: Creates invisible hands that can be manipulated at will. The number of hands you can handle and the ratio of the user's stats reflected change according to skill level.

"Invisible Hand... ah that? The ape monkey had 6 arms, so it's getting me closer to that, is that it?"

The ape monkey had an appearance like three faces and six arms. Since the treasure orb description said "can incorporate a fragment of the layer lord's power," with this skill, does it mean I can increase hands to 6?

"If I think that, it's good it's not a skill where new hands grow from my own body... no, seriously"

Explorers often deviate from human appearance due to existence evolution, but having 6 arms isn't something to wish for.

"And this, it's quite a capable skill, isn't it. Range isn't that long, but if I get used to it, can't I attack all over the place?"

He might be able to punch from behind with 『Invisible Hand』 while punching head-on. Right now, he's desperate to operate it since he's not used to the skill, but with Thought Acceleration skill, Suzuka might not be far from the day he gets used to it and uses it like an extension of his own hands.

"No, wait wait. Not that. The skill is amazing sure, but more than that, the treasure orb. A treasure orb that lets you learn skills? Is that a thing?"

Skill orb is a word he often heard in light novels and manga in the previous world. An item that grants skills, and protagonists often received cheat-level skills.

But in this world, he hasn't heard of it. If he searches for rumor-level information like dungeon seven wonders, maybe there is, but at least it's not public.

An item with ridiculous performance that can grant skills, and he alone was able to find it. Such a possibility probably doesn't exist.

If dungeons appeared this one year, that might have been possible. But dungeons have existed for over 50 years. Since it's a drop from District 5's boss, the difficulty is high so he understands, but he doesn't think he's the only one.

Then, what can be considered is information concealment. The information on Districts 4 and 5 is unnaturally scarce to begin with, and it's an area warned as dangerous to avoid.

Actually, Districts 4 and 5's monsters are strong, and precisely because of this warning, the number of injured and dead explorers might be decreasing. From the country's perspective, they probably want explorers to stably procure magic stones and items, so this countermeasure is natural.

However, explorers' roles aren't just bringing back resources. They also have quite strong meaning as deterrence against other countries.

Whether there are special-rank explorers or not greatly changes international standing. That's why Japan, where explorers were remarkably active after the war, was able to gain a good international position.

Such Japan is concealing items that can grant skills that definitely strengthen explorers. Why.

"...ah, maybe not concealment but restriction?"

For the Japanese government, they want stable resource supply and powerful explorers that serve as deterrence against other countries. If so, ordinary explorers don't need to know the existence of items that grant skills, and rather they'd probably want to avoid knowing, to avoid doing explorer activities beyond their means and dying.

On the other hand, for promising explorers who can enter special-rank explorer guilds, they actively disclose information to strengthen explorers.

If it's this, it makes sense.

"In other words, I should think that if I belong to a special-rank explorer guild, this information is also disclosed"

It's in the realm of speculation, but probably not far off. If they carelessly create adventurous spirit and have Districts 4 and 5 explored, the number of injured and dead explorers would increase, and people would stop coming. Joining guilds is at the timing of graduating from Explorer High School, and at that point, there are probably almost no students who can defeat District 5's area boss. If so, if only some guilds hold information, information will reach the necessary explorers.

In other words, it's better not to speak outside about this information.

"The Sword God probably knows too. I feel like I learned a fraction of that strength"

Next is about the treasure orb's acquisition method. With Suzuka's current level, he can still challenge the ape monkey. Until his level goes up and the ape monkey stops appearing, he might be able to hunt treasure orbs indiscriminately.

But the treasure orb description said this:

『A treasure orb given to those who defeat a layer lord. Using it allows you to incorporate a fragment of the layer lord's power. Powers don't stack, and you obtain only one ability per entity』

One ability per entity. In other words, even if he defeats the ape monkey many times, the possibility of gaining abilities from treasure orbs is extremely low. Besides, he doesn't even know if treasure orbs can be obtained many times. If so, he should challenge other area bosses where abilities can definitely be obtained.

Whether layer lord refers to District 5's area boss, or refers to the strongest monster in Floor 1, he doesn't know. If the ape monkey is the strongest monster in Floor 1 and only the ape monkey drops treasure orbs, then he can just advance to Floor 2 at that time.

"Basically, I just need to defeat the remaining area bosses, is that it"

If so, just right. Anyway, he planned to skip District 4 and defeat District 5's area boss. Just one more reason added.

Activating Invisible Hand and getting excited about future area bosses, Suzuka headed home.