ALL NOVEL Chapter 44: Saltwater Mage Set & Payment for the Rescue
"OUCH!" - Garami
"OOH!" - Ferno
"OWIE!!" - Jill
All three of us had a hard landing as we exited the tunnel that forced us out of the Dungeon. Only Nyx cleared the landing. Talented girl..., ouch...
"Everyone alright? To a certain degree?" - Ferno
"Think so..." - Garami
"I..., I think I left my stomach back there..." - Jill
Okay, one of us seems to not be in shape, but considering what we experienced, it's a small price to pay. I'm never gonna use a slide ever again...
"Garami, did this happen to you as well when-?" - Ferno
"Shh. Look around." - Garami
A lot of people had started to gather around the Dungeon, so talking out loud now would be like broadcasting anything we may want to keep a secret. Catching on to my intent, Ferno picked up Jill, whose eyes were still spinning, and said "Let's continue in a more private area".
We returned to town, ignoring most of the questions the players bombarded us with, and entered the Union hall. Ferno then asked to rent a private meeting room and we could finally take a break there. Several snacks and drinks were brought to us, all ordered and paid for by Ferno. Then don't mind if I do~.
"Continuing from where we left, Garami, did something like from before happened to you when you cleared your Dungeon?" - Ferno
"...I can at least say I wasn't kicked out as we were. And most of the Dungeon felt different from mine. I had to clear a quest to become that place's ruler, and there was the risk of losing your character data if you failed. This place was relatively easier, so it was probably not a Dungeon you could obtain by clearing it from the start." - Garami
"Hmm, there are a lot of different Dungeons~. In a lot of meanings~." - Ferno
Oh? I was expecting her to not understand what I was talking about, but I guess she can use her brain when she needs to.
"In that case..., Jill, you got something?" - Garami
I turned my attention to Jill who was starting to get his head straight. He then started to navigate through his menu, even if I can't see it, and paused for a second before rubbing his eyes..., then rubbing them some more. Did something incredible happen?
"I..., I think I may have obtained something..., could you girls please keep this a secret?" - Jill
Both of us nodded to his request, which made Jill start operating his menu again..., I think. I can't see other people's menus, so I'm just guessing here.
A huge treasure chest appeared in front of Jill. The kind from when you clear system-related quests. And in it was..., a set of blue equipment. A sleeveless vest, a frilly skirt, a mage's robe, a pair of elegant boots, fingerless gloves, a wizard-looking staff, and a belt that had some hinges that seems you could put big books in there. If not grimoires, because the belt came equipped with two of them already.
All the items had a blue, black, and white color scheme. It feels like they are based on the ocean, and as for what my [Identification] can tell me, they are...
| Name: | The Saltwater Mage's Vest | ||
| [Upper Body - Vest] | Rarity: Ex | Quality: A+ | Durability: --- |
| Description: |
A vest that represents the elements of Water and Salt, created by the library constructed from a salt pillar and where the water of knowledge floats endlessly. This vestment was created from weaving sea salt together with the purified water produced when extracting the salt from the seawater through techniques long forgotten by the world. Only its true owner can own this item, and only they can use its powers. It protects its true owner against fluid-based attacks by a certain amount and will grant them excessive mana. |
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| Name: | The Saltwater Mage's Skirt | ||
| [Lower Body - Skirt] | Rarity: Ex | Quality: A+ | Durability: --- |
| Description: |
A skirt that represents the elements of Water and Salt, created by the library constructed from a salt pillar and where the water of knowledge floats endlessly. This garment was created from weaving sea salt together with the purified water produced when extracting the salt from the seawater through techniques long forgotten by the world. Only its true owner can own this item, and only they can use its powers. It reduces the effect of movement reduction by fluid-based environments or abilities, but only to a certain degree. |
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| Name: | The Saltwater Mage's Robe | ||
| [Back - Robe] | Rarity: Ex | Quality: A+ | Durability: --- |
| Description: |
A robe that represents the elements of Water and Salt, created by the library constructed from a salt pillar and where the water of knowledge floats endlessly. This robe was created from weaving sea salt together with the purified water produced when extracting the salt from the seawater through techniques long forgotten by the world. Only its true owner can own this item, and only they can use its powers. It enhances the magical powers of its true owner, but it is restricted to magic related to Salt and Water. |
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| Name: | The Saltwater Mage's Boots | ||
| [Feet - Boots] | Rarity: Ex | Quality: A+ | Durability: --- |
| Description: |
A pair of boots that represents the elements of Water and Salt, created by the library constructed from a salt pillar and where the water of knowledge floats endlessly. These boots were created from carving out sea salt while adding the leather of sea creatures that lived in the water the salt originated from through techniques long forgotten by the world. Only its true owner can own this item, and only they can use its powers. It allows its true owner to walk on fluid landscapes. |
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| Name: | The Saltwater Mage's Gloves | ||
| [Hand - Gloves] | Rarity: Ex | Quality: A+ | Durability: --- |
| Description: |
A pair of gloves that represents the elements of Water and Salt, created by the library constructed from a salt pillar and where the water of knowledge floats endlessly. The white glove is the Glove of Salt while the blue glove is the Glove of Water. These gloves were created by respectively weaving sea salt and seawater into gloves through techniques long forgotten by the world. Only its true owner can own this item, and only they can use its powers. The Glove of Salt can cover whatever its true owner is holding in a shell of salt while the Glove of Water can control any water-based fluid the glove's true owner touches with it equipped. |
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| Name: | The Saltwater Mage's Staff | ||
| [Weapon - Staff] | Rarity: Ex | Quality: A+ | Durability: --- |
| Description: |
A wizard's staff that represents the elements of Water and Salt, created by the library constructed from a salt pillar and where the water of knowledge floats endlessly. This staff was created by carving out a salt pillar taken from the library it was created in and enhanced with the water of knowledge through methods long forgotten by the world. Only its true owner can own this item, and only they can use its powers. The staff will enhance its true owner's magical capabilities based on their knowledge regarding the magical arts. Also, the true owner's ability to support creatures related to Salt and Water is enhanced. |
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Thanks to [Identification] reaching Lv.3, I could read the description of the items I Identified now. It didn't help against the "book belt". Maybe it has some concealment effect.
Since the other two don't have their [Identification] on a level as high as mine (one never had the AP to spare and the other is a meathead), I showed them screenshots of the [Identification] results.
"...they're amazing, but..., why a skirt?!" - Jill
"Why complain?" - Ferno
Both of them latched on to the skirt-part, but give it up. Even the game system seems to think of Jill as a girl more than a man.
As for why I believe this, the part about the system, it's because I've seen words about this kinda equipment. It's when I looked at a certain facility I could place in the Fort. The "Treasury" facility.
After I defeated the Vile Queen, the system message back then said I had access to some stuff lying in the Treasury. However, I need to spend 300 DP if I wanna place it in the Dungeon, so the stuff's been out of my reach.
However, a note that came with the facility description told me that the items inside were something tailored after me and the "original" Fort.
If my theory is right, then this "Saltwater Mage" set is something based on the Dungeon from before and Jill himself. So the skirt must be tailored to match his feminine looks. Just give it up, you gender-confusing demon.
Jill calmed down after a while, probably because the items are so powerful if their descriptions are telling the truth. But there's something else in that treasure chest of his.
It's a..., gem made of salt? What does [Identification] say?
| Name: | Salt Keystone | ||
| [Key Item (Consumable) - Gem] | Rarity: Ex | Quality: A+ | Durability: --- |
| Description: |
A strange stone that harbors the element of Salt. It will unlock the Talent of Salt for whoever uses this item. |
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...okay, I guess why Jill's not getting a Dungeon.
"Jill, your place was a Salt Talent-unlocking facility." - Garami
I showed the two the new screenshot. There are likely two types of Dungeons you can start a racial start in; one that's dangerous to the point of losing your character data if you're careless, and a less dangerous (but still dangerous) one that will become a "trial ground" of some sort if you want a composition element.
"Ah, then you gotta let the Dungeon stay, or else other players won't get a chance," said the hothead after I explained my idea to them. And she has a point. One player having exclusive access to an element? People would flame Terra Sol AS if that happened.
There may be other Dungeons with different "set-ups", and this may not even be limited to Dungeons where you get a racial start in. There may be more sources to get a composition element as well, but we're not part of the "verification paparazzi". This is something for them to look into. We got no obligation to do so, and, at least for me, no interest in doing it anyway.
Still, can demons have something like a Salt element? Isn't salt used to ward off evil beings or something? But it seems that Jill didn't have anything against that as he put his hand on the keystone to make it glow and disappear.
"...yes, it seems that the new skills have been unlocked in the skill shop." - Jill
You don't get it for free? Cheapskates.
"Ah, thank you again for helping me out of the Dungeon," said Jill while lowering his head to us.
"No prob~, no prob~. Just return the favor someday~." - Ferno
"You can do so right away in my case," I said and showed Jill a paper. It's one telling about the next cosplay contest in town.
"The participation reward for entering this thing is a weak skill-up potion that works on Lv.1 skills. Give me that, and we're square." - Garami
"That should be easy. It's just a participation prize...HEY!" - Jill
"Aha~! A cross-dressing contest~!" - Ferno
"For guys only, which is why the locals have to lure people to join with a promised potion." - Garami
"Even if I'm indebted to you or not, dressing up as a girl is-" - Jill
"He'll do it~," chimed Ferno in as she easily lifted the smaller Jill with one arm.
"Hey, let go-!" - Jill
"Never~. This is too great of an opportunity to say no~." - Ferno
"For who!?" shouted Jill as Ferno dragged him outta the meeting room.
"......Jill, if you play along as a dress-up doll, more girls may wanna do the same with you, don't you think?" - Garami
"Consider that contest of yours cleared. I'll bring your payment here tomorrow at the same time. And let me down already, you lesbian fiend!!" - Jill
...yeah, he's a Pink Demon, alright. Or, both of them are.
*RIIIING!*
As I was enjoying the calm silence after the hormone-overloaded duo had left the room, a sharp sound rang out. It came from..., my system menu? It can pop up on its own?
......hey, isn't this a little early? Better go and supervise on the site.