Chapter 56: After the Expedition (1)
"Let's check the title first."
[Orc Sorcerer Slayer]
Rank: Special
Description: A title given to the one who defeats the Orc Sorcerer for the first time.
Effect: +10% magical defense (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)
Hmm... It’s not as great as I thought.
Compared to the Courageous Knight title given by the Orc Lord, this title seemed somewhat inferior. It even seemed worse than the Queen Slayer title he had acquired by defeating Fermi. But still, it was a special title.
It’s better than nothing.
Though the title effect was somewhat disappointing, Kai hoped the other rewards would make up for it.
He slowly identified the equipment.
[Bloodthirsty Double-Ax]
Grade: Unique
Attack Power: 145-189
Strength: +20
Stamina: +8
Attack power increased by 10% when ax blade covered in blood.
A weapon used on the battlefield for a long time eventually craves blood. This ax is no different. To become the owner of this item, which has become a type of ghost blade, one must enjoy spending time on the battlefield more than anyone else.
Requirements: Level 90, Strength 320 and above, Intermediate Level 1 in ax skill and above.
Durability: 67/120
It's a Unique item.
It was the ax that came from defeating Urghan. After checking its option, Kai felt extremely fortunate for having dodged the relentless attacks. A single hit could have sent him straight to meet Helik in the heavens!
Attack power increases by 10% when covered in blood... Warriors would love this.
Unless fighting monsters like Golems or Slimes, the option would be almost always active.
"Not bad. Next is..."
He had been calm even after seeing a Unique-grade item, but now, a smile crept onto Kai’s face.
Yes! How amazing of the Orc Sorcerer, there's even two items! Maybe it's because of the night bluff? I didn't expect it to drop two.
Aside from gold, two items had been dropped—wand and a book.
Kai first checked the wand.
[Staff of Remembrance]
Grade: Unique
Spell Power: 220-234
Intelligence: +14
Mana Regeneration: +10%
+2 slots to the Memorize skill.
It was a staff made for fun by a genius Wizard who was too lazy to memorize spells.
Requirements: Level 89, Intelligence 315 and above.
Durability: 82/94
"Wow! Another Unique item!"
Just like the ax before, it was also a Unique item, but Kai's reaction was significantly different. Of course, it was also undeniable that the Unique double-ax was an incredible item.
However, close combat classes, and only some of them at that, learned ax skills. In other words, the people who used a double-ax as a weapon was somewhat in the minority!
But the staff is different.
Staffs were used by the majority of Wizards. It was a major weapon used by Necromancers, Summoners, and Elemental Wizards.
And Memorize was a skill every Wizard wanted to learn!
It's a skill that lets you store spells in slots in advance and cast them immediately with just an activation term. Of course, it's incredibly rare since it can only be learned from a skill book.
The number of slots for the Memorize skill varied with proficiency, but at most, there were five slots.
But just equipping this staff adds two slots?
Simply put, this staff was something level 90 Wizards couldn’t buy even if they wished! No, even Wizards over level 100 could covet this staff depending on their situation.
Should I buy a lottery ticket? No, wait, did I use up all my lottery-winning luck here too?
It didn't matter either way!
Kai looked at his inventory filling up with Unique weapons like they were his lovely partners.
Now that I think about it, I need to sell the Fang of Fermi too... It’s time for a trip to the auction house.
Without wasting time, Kai quickly looked at the book info.
[Skill Book - Skin of Magical Resistance (Passive)]
Grade: Unique
Significantly increases the caster's magical defense.
Requirements: Level 60 and above.
"Wow!"
Kai's eyes widened.
Anquetme!
Kai had shortened "Another unique item" into one word.
Moreover, this was a skill book that increased magical resistance.
At that moment, the complaints of the Black Bee guild members came to mind.
They definitely complained about why the Orc Sorcerer's magical defense was so high.
Indeed, in MID Online, there were no results without causes!
Kai picked up the shining book.
"Selling a skill book like this would make at least a billion."
But rationally thinking, he didn't immediately need the money.
It’ll be better if I use it myself.
If the skill was unusable or not particularly useful to him, he wouldn't have hesitated to sell it. However, Skin of Magical Resistance was a skill that was undoubtedly beneficial if learned! And after considering the synergy with the seemingly unimpressive Orc Sorcerer Slayer title, Kai's contemplation didn't last long.
"Use Skill Book."
[Skill Book - Skin of Magical Resistance....]
"Huh."
[Acquired skill - Skin of Magical Resistance.]
[Beginner’s Skin of Magical Resistance LV.1 (Passive)]
Increases magical defense by 30%.
Proficiency 0/100
There was one simple line for the description! But perhaps due to its simplicity, it was more intuitive.
The proficiency is still at beginner level 1, but it increases magical defense by 30%, huh...
Moreover, this type of passive skill didn't really require hard work for proficiency.
The proficiency should increase if I get hit by Wizards.
Lucky or not, Kai was already out of favor with the Black Bee guild!
He smiled crookedly; he was greatly satisfied with the effect of the skill.
"It's quite expensive, but I like it."
It wasn’t just quite expensive, it was a billions worth expensive but Kai didn't mind at all.
This is an investment in myself.
After all, he was behind many rankers in various ways.
And in order for me to catch up to them, I need to work several times harder, spend several times more money, and be several times luckier!
It seemed like a future full of hardship was ahead of him!
Letting out a short sigh, Kai checked for any items dropped by the Black Bee guild members.
"Hmm... Those scumbags. They just dropped one item?"
After making a round of their bodies, he stopped where Claude had died.
At least the leader dropped something.
What he picked up was a worn and old-looking bracelet.
"Item information."
[Wanderer’s Guiding Bracelet]
Grade: Magic
Defense: 260
Magical Defense: 275
The precious bracelet of a wanderer who knows the location of an ancient king’s tomb.
Requirements: Level 50 and above.
Durability: 32/75
"Eh."
Having seen only Rare and Unique items for a while, Kai began to have high standards.
"Why not have better stuff? You really just carry around a magic item...?"
As he continued, his brows furrowed.
Wait. The Black Bee guild's top rookie was wearing a magic item?
No, that wasn't it. He recalled that Claude had never worn such a bracelet, not even once.
"Then... it dropped from his inventory?"
It seemed like an unfortunate junk item had dropped from his inventory!
Well, I've gained enough elsewhere.
He had obtained three Unique items, which others might not see even once in their lifetime, and 70 gold on top of that. Of course, it was the result of taking two raid boss monsters himself, so it wasn't surprising.
Something does feel off because things went so smoothly, but...
After tossing and catching the Wanderer’s Guiding Bracelet a few times, Kai shoved it into a corner of his inventory.
"Well, picking this up counts as warding off bad luck, right?"
***
"Thank you so much. How can I ever repay you...!?"
"To be honest, it was quite the ordeal this time."
Kai's arm moved back and forth like a jump rope as Baron Arsen’s thick hand shook his. It was his way of showing how pleased and thankful he was!
After exchanging pleasantries, the two sat down and continued their conversation.
"I'm truly grateful for minimizing the casualties among the soldiers, including my son. No matter how many times I thank you, it's not enough."
"It was possible thanks to the help of many others."
"Your humility is really something..."
As Kai humbly dismissed the praise with a smile, Baron Arsen shook his head.
But that was only for a brief moment, as his gaze sharpened.
"I've heard the bees got a bit stirred up."
"Yes. A few very dark-hearted wasps got involved. It was a close call with death."
"I didn't know you also had a talent for exterminating pests."
"Extermination? No. I only chased them away for a bit."
"Hmm." Baron Arsen's gaze deepened. "...I've heard they are quite a formidable force among adventurers. Will you be alright?"
"Well, what can I do? I couldn't possibly refuse your request."
"Haha, oh you. You always know the right thing to say. Don't worry. As long as you're in this city, no one can touch you."
"Thank you even for the kind words."
Though limited to Glendale, having the full support of a noble like the Baron eased Kai's concerns. No matter how powerful the Black Bee guild was, they wouldn't dare cause trouble in Glendale. Of course, they didn't even know Unknown was Kai.
Why do I always get tangled up with guilds... both here and in Frica too...?
Moreover, the Black Bee guild was so big it couldn’t even be compared with the Crimson Sunset guys!
As Kai was mulling over this, Baron Arsen picked up a letter from his desk.
"Since you've successfully completed my request, it's only right that I give you the promised reward. Here you go."
"This is...?"
As Kai took the letter, messages popped up.
[Title acquired: Rising Star.]
[Affinity with Baron Arsen increased.]
[Acquired Baron Arsen’s Letter of Recommendation.]
Oh? The Rising Star title isn't a special one.
It was oddly nice to see a common title after so long!
But how good could a common title be? Without even checking the title's information, Kai's face hardened as he examined the letter.
"Huh...? B-baron Arsen! What is this?"
"I told you, it's your reward. The best I can offer as the lord of this city to its saint."
Baron Arsen smiled broadly.
"But this is..."
Suddenly, Kai's gaze turned dreamy!
At this moment, Unique weapons or whatever else didn't matter. This letter was his most precious possession.
"I've thought a lot about what reward to give you. I could have given you powerful equipment or information and requests for other dungeons. But adventurers are essentially wanderers, aren't they? You, too, will leave this city before long. So, I prepared that. Do you like it?"
"It's more than like... I'm deeply moved!"
Kai's reaction was not an exaggeration, because what he held was Baron Arsen's Letter of Recommendation! It was an item of far greater impact than anything the Bunther, Frica village’s chief, could offer.
Though just a baron, Baron Arsen was a noble!
And the recipient is... the lord of Barden Castle!
Kai's eyes sparkled.
Barden Castle was known as the frontline city of the Rashion Kingdom until just a month ago. Of course, now the levels of the elites had long surpassed 150, and top rankers had even exceeded level 180, but Barden Castle still retained its reputation as a city of masters.
Some of the top ten guilds even started in the Rashion Kingdom.
And all of them had once gathered in Barden Castle for a fierce rivalry.
Of course, it was the ordinary players, the shrimps, who got crushed in the fights between those whales, but that also meant he no longer had to face such dangers. They had already moved beyond Barden Castle.
"Thank you very much. I'll make sure it's used for something meaningful!"
"...Well, use it however you wish. By the way, have you had dinner?"
"No, I haven’t yet."
"Good. Let's have dinner together. I also have someone to introduce you to."
"...Someone to introduce?"
With a puzzled look, Kai followed the baron toward the mansion's dining room.
"Oh, you're already here."
Kai blinked and swallowed a gasp when he saw the woman slowly rising from her chair.
She had black hair, straight as a waterfall, tied back in a ponytail, and her skin was as white as milk. And she also had an expressionless face that gave no clue to her thoughts! But such minor details were not bad.
She's pretty.
She had a beauty that wouldn't be overshadowed by any average celebrity... no, an idol... no, an actress! In fact, she completely outshone them!
Kai, barely regaining his senses, stared at the clothes she was wearing.
Is she an NPC?
If she could face Baron Arsen face-to-face, it was certain that a player, unless they received a letter of recommendation like Kai, would have quality gear on. Yet, the clothes she wore seemed somewhat worn.
A look of pity briefly flashed in Kai's eyes.
It reminds me of my early days as a beginner. Cold, hungry, and without anyone to trust. They were hard times indeed.
Of course, that was because Kai had been a Cleric!
However, Kai was certain of one thing.
Of course. There couldn't possibly be an adventurer who is so pretty.
Surely, she must have been designed by the entire development team of Pegasus.
The woman, unaware of Kai's inner thoughts, simply tilted her head in confusion.