Episode 39.12-13 (1/2)

Lecan walked away, leaving the dumbfounded Chubby behind. Arios followed in silence.

Arios spoke once Chubby was out of sight.

”That exchange was really well done.”

”Yeah?”

”Lecan-dono. You have changed.”

”Wonder if I've gotten closer to becoming a Strong Sword.”

”What is that about?”

”Nah, it's nothing.”

Speaking of strong sword, in the end just which sword should be his trusty sword, thought Lecan.

A sword that feels nice in hand, and won't break no matter how rough it's swung. A sword he can always rely on. A sword that swings nicely, or a sword with the highest offense. Lecan came to Tsubolt looking for one such sword.

For a time, Lecan believed that ideal sword was none other than <Comet Cutter>.

But <Comet Cutter> turned into an ordinary short sword on the last floor of Dungeon Tsubolt. Because its Graces has been voided.

To begin with, what is strength anyway.

Being prepared with good weapons and armor are important of course. And since Lecan is a swordsman, getting a good sword is most important above all.

But Lecan's innate strength is also important if he wishes to swing such a sword. Relying fully on Graces during battle will not improve Lecan's innate strength.

With that mind set, the sword he should use as his main sword should be a sturdy and reliable sword with no special Graces.

<Sword of Rusk>.

That sword has the best combination of handling, reliability and depth, a true great sword. An outstanding sword that refines its user the more it's swung by them. He could just take out <Comet Cutter> when the time is right to use it, but in everyday battles, <Sword of Rusk> and <Sword of Agost> are exactly the right swords to rely on.

”Hold it. Nadis Barondom should be in the neighborhood right.”

”Yes.”

”Is town of Riplin far from here?”

”Oh, Riplin is just right to the east from here. It's not really that far distance-wise, but since the path goes through mountain roads, it's going to take around five days to get there. Though well, it should be faster than that for Lecan-dono and me.”

”Alright, let's go.”

They arrived at Riplin in three days time.

They found the house where Rusk and Agost once lived. The wife of late Agost was guarding the house. Lecan listened to the circumstances that led to the creation of <Sword of Agost> and how it ultimately got sold.

The woman wept when she was informed that Lecan had been deploying <Sword of Rusk> and <Sword of Agost>.

When they found out that Agost's son was in trouble and that collecting ores in Dungeon Capadoa located right next to Riplin would solve that problem, they two dived in right away. It's a 30 floor dungeon that has an unusual system of only having ores or magic stones as drops. The two conquered it in mere three days and gathered a vast amount of ores and magic stones in the process.

Lecan's evolved <Storage> had an unexpected drawback. He can take things out of <Storage> just by willing it, however that object won't come out unless he imagines it vividly. That's fine and all, but it also consumes an abnormal amount of mana. It may not be as much as half of Lecan's mana pool, but it's still a considerable amount. Hence, this ability is only usable during critical junctures. Or rather, the old way of jamming his hand to grab a weapon inside is still faster. He managed to take a weapon out swiftly that one time, but it's not a feat he can easily replicate anytime.

<Gust> did evolve after all. Previously, he could only generate strong winds around himself. Gust strength would drastically lower at 10 steps away, by 20 steps it'd turn into a mere breeze. But now he could even use it to stagger foes 50 steps away, a much larger scope.

One thing is still shrouded in mystery.

Lecan had taken the Golden Potion in his last night at Tsubolt. Yet he couldn't figure out what skill he got even during Dungeon Capadoa's exploration. Perhaps it's not a combat skill.

The two went back to Vouka.

They arrived on the sixth of month seven.