âMiss Kokoru doesnât have a debuff icon, it looks likeâŠ..Youâre sure that itâs a debuff right?â
âThen whyâŠ..No, scratch that. It shouldnât even be on Miss Kokoru. If itâs a debuff, then I would have itâŠ..or at least, it should be. â
Tet then continues, looking confused all the whileâ
âCome to think of it, even the Aqua Salamanderâs debuff isnât there. Why is the effect of Mummy Graverobber goneâŠ?â
âThatâs because it isnât. The debuff is just gone because of another effect.â
âWhat do you meanâŠ.?â
âMummy Graverobber has a secondary effect right? â
âYeahâŠ.The effect of the debuff fluctuates depending on the so called âReward Rateâ of the partyâ
âSir Alvin, itâs your turnâ
Tet then stares at me, as I ready my explanation with an exhale of my breath.
âMy minus skill isnât as rare as these twoâs. Itâs just
Tetâs eyes popped out as he screamed in disbelief.
âSpecial of all things! Itâs not even small or medium!?â
âI find it hard to believeâŠ.. That someone with that terrible of a skill would still become an adventurer.â
âBut that clears things up. With that our reward rate would end up beingâŠ.
âThatâs right. I donât know how calculates the reduction, but with at least a single Special Class Minus Skill it seems that it can nullify a Small Class.â
âSo that explains why and is gone.â
The reduction rate of Jealous Godâs Curse is lower than so it stands to say that its supposed rank is lower.
âEven soâŠ. Something still doesnât add up.â
âWhen Alvin defeated the Aqua Salamander and the Mermen, the items and coins still dropped normally right? A rank of Special on the drop rate debuff should amount to 80% if Iâm not mistaken.â
âYouâre right about that, but arenât you forgetting about my skill?â.
Kokoru says with a smile.
âEh? Ah , so Alvinâs skill wouldnât be taken into account!.â
âThis party was created when I first met Kokoru. That was the reason why I begged her to party up with me.â
It was quite recent, but it felt like ages ago.
âWith you joining, this skill just come to a full circle.â
âLooking at it, youâre right about that.â
Each one before it cancels out the negative part of the skill.
âThe 10% increase in stats is still put into effect without the downside. The minus has turned into a plusâ
âItâs a synergyâŠ..â
Kokoru says in a soft voice.
Noticing our gazes, Kokoru talks panickedly.
âEhh, Uhmm, when skills are compatible with each other and build upon their effects itâs call synergy right? Like and or and . Our minus skills are exactly like that.â
The four skills together are a sum vastly greater than its parts. A curse into a boon.
âSo with that said. Hear us out Tet..â
. I say to Tet who was sort of disoriented with the barrage of information.
âWe need your skill. No, even as just a thief, thereâs no one better to ask for than you. Wonât you join us?â
âI know why you donât trust parties. Iâm also a Minus Skill holder too. Iâve had people that I trusted turn their backs on me more times than I can count. But itâs exactly because why you should trust usâŠ..Weâre all in the same crummy boat after all.â
âHeck even if itâs just for this dungeon. I want us to challenge the boss here with you. Thereâs probably no other party out there with a high average level and numerous skills. Iâm sure that the four of us can take on any trick it might have up its sleeve. Itâs as you said. Thereâs no guarantee that thereâs an item that can erase skills. But why not take a gamble? Itâs for our future.â
Tet was silent for a while but then faced us afterwards and gave a slight nod.
âI-If you ever betray me Iâll curse you and turn you into an undead monster.â
âWithout you we wouldnât be able to remove the âCurseâ type debuff. Iâll make sure that wonât happenâ
âWhat the heck is that responseâŠâ
Tet chuckled as he said so.
âI was worried on how it would turn out but Alvin managed to catch you hook line and sinker..â
âI feel conflicted about that since I feel like Iâm getting better at pleading to people for some reason.â
âI didnât mean to tease you on that butâŠ..â
I pleaded sincerely with all I can is all..
âAh, before we forget. Letâs collect the Aqua Salamander drops. We better gather it up or itâll despawn.â
After saying so, Tet cantered off towards the loot.
As he stored a few coins and items into his inventoryâhe suddenly stopped all actions.
He stares at one of the items he gathered.
âDid the Aqua Salamander really drop thisâŠâŠâŠ.â
In his hands was rolled up parchment.