Episode 18.17-18 (1/2)
By floor 43, the battles became way more intense.
And the four perfected their coordination even further.
They engaged in seven battles between meals, a treasure chest spawned on the seventh.
”That's one flat treasure chest.”
”I mean, a sword would be thin after all.”
”It's as if there is a picture frame inside.”
”I'm opening it.”
What inside was a <Shield of Wolkan>.
Lecan took it up.
Bathed in the dim light of the dungeon, the shield let out a noble shine.
”Lecan-dono. Is that, perhaps”
”<Shield of Wolkan>.”
”I knew it. Ooh! To think the day I witnessed it spawning would come.”
”It's really a nice-looking shield. Almost looks divine.”
”Huh? But this is the same shield Lecan has right?”
”Yes, it is.”
”Heles.”
”Umu.”
”Use this shield.”
”Eh?”
”I'm in charge of dungeon items allotment. That's the deal. This shield is yours.”
”T-this is. This shield. This <Shield of Wolkan>, for me?”
”Take it.”
Heles reverently accepted the shield over her head.
”Do you know the spells?
for reducing,
for turning it back to shield. Put it on your left hand and give it a try.”
”Umu. <Reduction (Pirua)>!”
The shield settled on Heles's left arm in the form of a gauntlet.
”Ooooh. My goodness. It truly is a <Shield of Wolkan>.”
”Turn it back.”
”Acknowledged. <Deploy>!”
The shield transformed back and naturally got held in Heles's left hand.
”So this is <Shield of Wolkan>. I had never imagined I would ever be an owner of one.”
”Heles-san. Is that so rare?”
”It is said to be the superlative equipment for prestigious knights. Even among Royal Knights, only knight commanders and the vice commanders own one.”
”Is it expensive?”
”It's more like, high-ranking nobles would buy up all <Shield of Wolkan> that showed up in dungeons. In order to bestow them to their knights.”
”Ah, I get it.”
”Laying hands on this shield is an unattainable dream to every knight. Ufufu. Fufu.”
Lecan suddenly recalled something.
The <Shield of Wolkan> Jinga carried came from Dungeon Ninae. Perhaps Jinga even delved in this dungeon himself.
”I was so tempted to enter that tournament as well. But I knew that it was a sham, I didn't bring my shield with me, and no store was selling a decent shield here. But then. Ufufu.”
And quite to a deep floor at that. Which means, perhaps Jade would know Jinga if he asked him.
”You have my gratitude, Lecan-dono. I can never thank you enough.”
”Heles.”
”What is it.”
”How about using that shield from here on.”
”No. That's impossible. This Magic Silver sword is too heavy for me, I'm incapable of wielding it in one hand.”
”Put that away. I'll lend you this one.”