Chapter 78

After breakfast, I made Selly forge something.

"What are we making next?"

"A wooden staff. We need two boards."

"Is a staff the same as a cane? Is it different from a wand?"

I asked while handing over the boards.

"Wand-type staves mainly enhance the power of magic. In contrast, staff-type staves not only increase magical attack power but can also be used to directly hit monsters. As Roxane mentioned earlier, they are weapons used by front-line priests and priestesses."

"I see. So they can do both."

I'm sure that if the prices are the same, staff-type weapons would be weaker.

If the power of magic doesn't change at the same price, people would stop using wands.

For my weapons, wand-type staves are better for now.

However, staff-type weapons might be an option in the future.

Right now, it's not a concern, but if monsters get stronger in the future, we might end up in more chaotic battles.

A combat style where you hit with a staff that absorbs MP while casting spells could be useful.

I can't expect to absorb MP from the spells I use.

Even with Durandal, using magic doesn't recover MP.

Even if I add MP absorption to wands or staffs, it won't recover MP from casting spells.

"Then, I'll make it."

Selly held the boards and chanted a skill spell.

Bright light overflowed and then subsided.

A wooden staff remained in her hands.

"Wow. It's a success."

"Well, new equipment usually doesn't succeed unless you practice for a long time. It feels a bit anticlimactic."

"That just means Selly is excellent."

More than that, it feels strange that a wooden staff can be made from two boards.

It's odd that a staff or cudgel can be made from a square board.

I can understand a flat board being turned into a flat wooden shield.

There's no other way to think about it except that the skill magic is doing something.

"Thank you. A wooden staff is a staff that also has physical attack power."

"Indeed, it looks a bit painful."

"Similar to a wooden staff, there are holy spears that enhance magic. However, they are rare and expensive, so you can only get them at auctions."

"Is there such a thing?"

It would be a good weapon for a healer to attack from the backline.

After forging, I went to the Merchant Guild.

I bought the rabbit monster card from Luke.

It has already been confirmed to be genuine through appraisal.

"I want to use this with a kobold monster card, but the kobold monster card is still being bought for 5200 nals."

"It's still being bought. The previous price was 5200, and the last one was 5300."

"Then, I have no choice. I'll bid 5400 nals. Please do your best."

A customer was buying kobold monster cards for 5200 nals.

It seems to be continuing.

Quite stubborn.

I hope the desired item is completed soon.

Since the last auction price was 5300 nals, there are other customers targeting kobold monster cards.

To get one, I'll have to bid higher.

"Understood. One card, right?"

"...Yes."

Indeed, Selly won't fail, so one card is enough.

But Luke shouldn't know that.

But if the fusion fails, the rabbit monster card will also be lost.

There's only one chance, and I need one kobold monster card.

The customer who bid 5300 nals last time might not bid again.

Maybe 5400 nals was unnecessary.

If I want to be sure, I have no choice.

The customer who has been buying at 5200 nals is quite persistent.

At the same time, the other monster card for fusion also needs to be collected in the same quantity.

Even if the desired item isn't completed, the customer might stop buying kobold monster cards once the prepared monster cards are gone.

Thinking about it, I could have waited a bit.

But a few hundred nals isn't a big deal.

As long as there are other customers targeting it, the price won't drop drastically.

"Then, I'll aim for the kobold monster card at 5400 nals."

"I also want a goat monster card."

"A goat monster card? The last auction price was 5000 nals. The one before that was 5100. It might take a bit longer to get one immediately. Usually, it's auctioned for 4700 to 4800 nals at the lowest, and 5400 to 5500 nals at the highest."

Luke's response is quick.

He remembers well.

Looking at Selly, who is silent while looking at the list of auction results in the waiting room, it seems to be accurate.

"Expensive, huh?"

"Magic users are the main firepower in a party. In a party with a magic user, enhancing magical attack power is the first choice for strengthening. Also, people who become magic users tend to come from wealthy families, and having a magic user makes it easier to go to higher floors, so goat monster cards are inevitably more expensive than other cards."

So, it's a card that people want, and the people who want it have money.

"I see. Then, I have no choice. I'll bid 5400 nals for the goat monster card too."

"Understood."

He won't say it's just one card, right?

Specifying the necessary monster card is the bottleneck.

For things like a substitute bracelet or spell interruption, I need several, but I don't need several goat monster cards.

I only need one.

But I can't just say one.

I don't need to tell Luke that Selly can definitely succeed in one attempt.

So, I have to buy several.

But in the end, I'll probably need several, so it won't be a waste.

The goat monster card to enhance magical attack power is needed immediately, so there's no choice.

After asking for the kobold and goat monster cards, I parted ways with Luke.

I left the Merchant Guild by walking outside instead of through the wall of the waiting room.

I went to a nearby weapon shop.

Steel Spear

Spear

Skill: Empty, Empty, Empty

The good product among spears is this steel spear.

The maximum number of empty skill slots seems to be three.

There are only two with three slots.

"Then, choose the better one."

I handed the two to Selly.

"Well, I'll do my best."

For some reason, Selly answered with determination.

I don't think it matters much which one she chooses.

"Thanks."

"If the fusion fails, I can't remake it."

She muttered.

I see. So, she's going to try hard with the monster card fusion.

"Don't worry."

I patted her shoulder lightly and turned to the staffs.

Rod

Staff

Skill: Empty, Empty, Empty

The good one is this rod.

The best staff sold in the weapon shop is probably the damascus steel staff displayed at the back, but it's a staff-type weapon, so it doesn't meet the current requirements, and it doesn't have any empty skill slots.

I'll pass on this one.

For cheaper weapons displayed casually, you can freely choose ones with empty skill slots.

For expensive weapons displayed carefully, you can't do that.

Expensive and good weapons will have more maximum skill slots.

On the other hand, the number of productions and available items decreases, making it difficult to get ones with many empty skill slots.

There were only two steel spears with three empty skill slots.

For orichalcum weapons, which are only sold at auctions, how can I selectively get ones with empty skill slots?

Thinking about the future, I'm a bit worried.

I'll have to frequently visit weapon and armor shops and immediately buy good weapons with empty skill slots.

Since I'll be selling the weapons Selly makes, there's no problem with frequent visits.

The rod and steel spear are probably the best staff and spear among mass-produced items.

Since there's not much difference, I'll choose the rod casually.

I received the steel spear Selly chose and bought both.

I didn't buy anything for Roxane this time.

I spent three gold coins on the rod and steel spear.

I've been buying a lot of things for Roxane, like the amber necklace and hard leather jacket.

"This time, it's just my and Selly's weapons. Sorry."

"No, it's fine."

Outside the weapon shop, I consoled Roxane.

I can't always buy things for Roxane.

"I'm not having any particular trouble with the scimitar."

"That's true."

I can't be too lenient as a master.

If I keep buying things for Roxane, she'll get spoiled.

Sometimes, I need to show a firm attitude.

"To strengthen the party, we need to add more members. We can't just keep spending money on equipment."

"Yes, that's true."

I need to make her realize that the world doesn't always go as planned and that I'm not a soft master.

I can't be too lenient.

I can't let her take me for granted.

"Don't think about dodging attacks, disliking persistent and creepy men, or quickly giving up and looking for another master."

"Um, yes."

Hmm.

My dignified, overly dignified self.

"Eventually, I'll strengthen Roxane's weapon too."

"Thank you. It's fine if it's not immediately."

"The one-handed sword displayed at the back is an estoc. I'm thinking about it when good items are available."

"...It seems like a very good weapon."

My strict attitude seems to have worked, as Roxane is a bit taken aback.

She's probably intimidated by my decisive actions.

I've shown a relentless presence.

"It's fine. I'll do it eventually."

"Y-Yes."

"Also, strengthening Roxane's weapon will strengthen the entire party."

"Thank you."

Roxane must have realized her position.

With this, she shouldn't get too arrogant.

I returned to the Merchant Guild and teleported to the 11th floor of Halber.

I needed to try out the new weapons.

I held the rod and gave the steel spear to Selly.

I received a cudgel from Selly.

Kagatou Dofu

Male, 17 years old

Explorer Lv36, Hero Lv33, Mage Lv36, Priest Lv34

Equipment: Rod, Leather Hat, Leather Armor, Leather Gloves, Leather Boots, Substitute Bracelet

Roxane

Female, 16 years old

Beast Warrior Lv25

Equipment: Scimitar, Wooden Shield, Leather Hat, Hard Leather Jacket, Leather Gloves, Leather Boots

Selly

Female, 16 years old

Blacksmith Lv23

Equipment: Steel Spear, Leather Hat, Chain Mail, Waterproof Leather Mittens, Leather Boots

Spears are not weapons to carry around in the city.

They are over two meters long.

Selly also said that they are not weapons to swing around in the front line.

"Since Selly is changing her weapon to a spear, you might be a bit confused at first. Start by guiding us to places with fewer monsters."

"Understood."

"Selly, it might be difficult to swing a spear in the front line, but please do your best."

"Yes, I'll do my best."

"When you get used to it, take us back to places with more monsters. The decision is up to Roxane. My staff has been enhanced, so it should be easier to fight than before."

Roxane first led us to a place with one ant.

The Level 11 Neet Ant was defeated with three Water Balls.

It turned to smoke before Selly could swing her spear.

Three shots.

With a wand, it took four shots, so the enhancement is working properly.

Next, Roxane led us to a place with one minotaur.

I cast a Fire Ball.

I couldn't defeat it before it reached us.

Roxane stood in front of the minotaur.

From the side, Selly swung her steel spear, and I cast a Fire Ball.

Roxane easily dodged the minotaur's attack.

It took two Fire Balls after facing Roxane, and five Fire Balls from the start to defeat the Level 11 Minotaur.

Without a weakness to magic, it took five Fire Balls.

With a wand, it took seven shots, but with a rod, it took five.

It's a decent improvement.

However, if the monsters on the 12th floor are 1.5 to 2 times stronger, it would take eight to ten shots.

I need to be prepared for tough battles on higher floors.