novelraw Chapter 151
Chapter 151
Chapter 151
A-rank 10th place explorer, bourgeois explorer, factory manager of the EXP Factory, Platinum member, owner of an uninhabited island, and acting guildmaster——hello, I'm Akagi Hideo.
My list of titles just keeps getting longer.
I invited Happy-san to the EXP Factory, and since the latest model of the Great Mugen High-Load was ready, I thought we'd continue the Synthesis Festival.
Technically, I was supposed to take her to the uninhabited island, but since she seemed interested, I decided to show her the synthesis instead.
Last time, the festival ended abruptly thanks to an unexpected guest called Witch Enaga-san, but the criminal has already been arrested, so we shouldn't have any interruptions this time.
"But I don't really remember what anomalous substances we had."
"Gii-san should be holding onto most of them, I think."
"Gii (Translation: Here are the anomalous substances that might be good for synthesis.)"
At Gii-san's command, the Breakdancers began bringing in the anomalous substances.
Just like the TV show "Antique Appraisal Squad," they lined up holding trays in their hands.
'Elixir' – 1 unit
'Etchichi Motera' – 1 unit
'Dungeon Contender 2001' – 1 unit
'Magic Sword: Photon Edition' – 1 unit
'Desperado's Toughness Enhancer 25' – 1 unit
'Shooter of Magic Bullets' – 1 unit
'Witch Enaga-san's Hat' – 1 unit
'Catania's Dust' from Shirokko, and 'Giant of the Frozen Wastes' from Vladimir Bazarov—those were taken by Gii-san and Shimaenaga-san, right?
Hm?
'Etchichi Motera'?
What is this suspiciously named anomalous substance?
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'Etchichi Motera'
A secret medicine born from a miraculous fusion
Induces intense feelings of affection in the user
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"Gii (Translation: The vile love potion our lord tried to make Shurado-san drink——)"
"Ah! Gii-san, you don't have to explain that!"
"Finger Man, what's with that pink potion?"
"Please don't ask. That's my sin and burden to bear."
I hurriedly grabbed the 'Etchichi Motera' and stuffed it into my pocket.
This is that thing. A cursed legacy born from synthesizing an aphrodisiac and a popularity potion.
"Wait, but if I use this on Shurado-san..."
"Gii (Translation: He's trying to repeat the same mistake, my lord.)"
Gasp. That was close.
"Anyway, it's things like this that cause wars. Let's just synthesize it already."
What would be a good combination to synthesize something useful?
I looked over the lineup again.
'Elixir' – 1 unit
'Etchichi Motera' – 1 unit
'Dungeon Contender 2001' – 1 unit
'Magic Sword: Photon Edition' – 1 unit
'Desperado's Toughness Enhancer 25' – 1 unit
'Shooter of Magic Bullets' – 1 unit
'Witch Enaga-san's Hat' – 1 unit
Oh?
There's something I don't recognize.
'Shooter of Magic Bullets.' Is that a black long gun? It looks like an old-fashioned rifle.
"Where did you get something like this?"
"Gii (Translation: It was at the bottom of Archon Dungeon, dropped after defeating that woman, so I picked it up.)"
That's useful.
Oh right. Come to think of it, I got shot by that gun a bunch.
But I don't really use guns myself.
Yeah. Maybe Happy-san would like it if I gave it to her.
"Happy-san, would you like to use this gun?"
"If it's an anomalous substance, it's probably worth using. Still, I've never seen a design like this. No way it was made by humans."
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'Shooter of Magic Bullets'
The gun loved by a failed dark priest
A corrupted finger from the Knight of the God-Eater
It still houses dark flames, and the magic bullets melt into the Dark Mist
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So this is a finger.
"Seems like a fitting weapon for a member of the Finger Man Guild. How does it look on me?"
"Well... yeah, it suits you."
"Good. I'm glad."
Happy-san looked a little pleased.
This is kind of embarrassing. I don't think she used to say stuff like this. She's gotten kind of cute... weird.
Now I kind of want to make her even happier.
"Happy-san, you can do the synthesis."
"Me? Sure. I mean, these are the items you collected, right?"
No, most of them were stolen by my underlings.
"Honestly, I don't really need any of them. I mean, I'd like to try swords and guns, but, you know..."
I can materialize 'Finger Snap Lv7' with the 'Ring of Cthurnia', right?
If I imagine a sword, it becomes 'Absolute Sword Excalibur Lv7', a double-edged straight sword.
If I imagine a gun, it becomes 'Meteor Excalibur Lv7', a golden gun.
Since I give form to the formless, its shape changes depending on my whim.
So even if I try to use equipment, it always boils down to "Does it have power?" and whether it can exceed my skill or not. If it can't, gear that's halfway decent is seriously pointless.
That's why it's better to give it to someone who can make use of it.
Well, I could always let the Breakdancers carry it too.
That said, Happy-san is just a genuinely good person, she joined the guild, and seems to be struggling with a lot, so I want to help however I can.
"I'll just take what looks usable. 'Dungeon Contender 2001' and Toni Desperado's elemental rounds... well, they're not really my style, but I should try new things to grow, so I'll gladly take them."
"Why don't you like them? That Contender is supposedly able to switch between all kinds of bullets."
"Because it's so pretentious. Feels like something a smug Italian guy would use, you know?"
Yeah, I think a smug Italian guy did use it come to think of it.
"Why not evolve it with the Mugen High-Load while you're at it?"
"Can I?"
"Of course."
"Then... I'll take you up on that... Are you really sure?"
She's being super cautious.
I'm not even charging her or anything.
And I've got more crystals than I can count.
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'Dungeon Contender 2001 Lv6'
Breech-loading single-action pistol
Capable of firing a wide variety of bullets
ATK bonus ×3.00
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"Wow... a store-bought dungeon equipment turned into a G5 anomalous substance... I bet this could sell for a lot."
Happy-san is clearly thinking of something she definitely shouldn't.
If I ever saw it being sold on Mercari, I might actually cry.
"Can I upgrade my 'Infinite Tokarev' too?"
"Infinite?"
"An anomalous substance that can fire infinitely."
"Isn't that like, your favorite thing ever, Happy-san?"
"Are you making fun of me? Well, you're not wrong..."
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'Infinite Tokarev Lv8'
Fires just by pulling the trigger
Shoot as much as you want, it's free
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"Also, my Pizons too."
"Pizons?"
"Yeah, my main weapons."
"What about the Tokarev?"
"That's a sub. A tiny gun like that doesn't feel very reliable. My main's gotta be full-auto."
As she said that, Happy-san pulled a submachine gun from her bag.
Or so I thought—she kept pulling out the same model one after another.
Over ten of them in total. Was she planning to start a war or something?
"Why are they all the same...?"
"Aren't they cute?"
"You mean the guns? Uh, I'm not sure how to answer that..."
"Weird response."
I think the weird one is Happy-san.
"When you boost power with skills and fire, the barrel warps fast. Once it does, accuracy drops, so I toss it and use a new one."
"You're throwing away your cute babies...?"
She's terrifying.
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'Dungeon Pizon 2001 Lv8'
A tough submachine gun with a stable action unit
9×19mm magic bullet 64-round magazine
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In the end, I upgraded all ten.
I hope Happy-san treats you all with care.
"'Shooter of Magic Bullets' is a G5, so it probably can't be enhanced. Hmm... guess I'll try synthesis. Maybe if I synthesize an 'Elixir' with 9mm rounds, I can make some good magic bullets."
Happy-san unleashed her creativity and began synthesizing.
Well, synthesis is basically a gamble—you never know what you'll get.
I doubt things will go the way Happy-san wants.
Happy-san took a box of 50 9mm rounds that looked like something out of Resident Evil from her dungeon bag and dropped it into the big Mugen High-Load.
Pretty sure she's the only one in Japan carrying this stuff around.
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'Elixir Bullet'
Magic bullets that fully restore HP and MP
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"Yes! That was easier than I thought."
No way... Happy-san, could she actually be a genius...?!
"Happy-san, you can use this too."
"That 'Etchichi Motera' thing from earlier..."
Please dispose of that already.
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'Etchichi Motera Bullet'
Allows you to control whoever it hits
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"I made something insane, Finger Man."
So she really is a genius...
"Finger Man, Happy-chan might have better sense than you, you know."
"It would seem so, Doctor."
We stood back with our arms crossed, watching over Happy-san's synthesis with warm eyes.
"Chee-chee-chee."
That's when it happened.
When the strange voice began to echo.
"Huh? Did anyone else hear Shimaenaga-san just now?"
"I heard it too..."
"Gii (Translation: Impossible. Senpai should definitely still be contained...)"
"Kyukyu (Translation: This hat has an odd charm to it... I don't know why, but I feel like I have to wear it...)"
At some point, the little hedgehog had slipped out of the pocket and reached the anomalous substance 'Witch Enaga-san's Hat'.
With a vacant stare and a soft belly, it plopped down onto the tray and put on the witch hat.
I have a really bad feeling about this...
Black sparks crackled and shimmered.
A lightning bolt came down and exploded violently right in front of us.
The container blew away, the water evaporated, and the sound was so deafening I couldn't tell front from back.
I instinctively shielded Doctor and Gii-san.
What just happened?
Once everything settled, I saw the silhouette of a bird through the thick, warm steam.
"Chee-chee-chee (Translation: Finally free, chee. I've been waiting for this moment, chee.)"
No way...
"Why is Shimaenaga-san here... huh?"
As the mist cleared, what appeared was a puffed-up bird.
Except it was completely black, wrapped in a purple aura, and wearing a witch's hat.
Something's not right... What is this Patchenaga-san...?