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TL: ALT
Chapter 128 – Earnings Buds
‘The rank of Usurper has been raised to B!’
The Voice of Heaven suddenly descended to me,
“Huh?”
I involuntarily let out a voice.
However, the rank increase itself is not a surprise.
In the professional world, it is a natural phenomenon that is common knowledge.
But it was only today that I set the usurper and began to fight in earnest.
It’s too early to say, even though it’s a rank increase from C to B, which is the lower limit of rank.
“Is it because this is an S-rank dungeon?”
But if that’s the case, I should have been able to level up on my way here.
Of course, you could say that it was the experience gained along the way that allowed me to level up here.
Also,
‘The unique bonus for the job of Usurper has increased!’
“Huh?”
‘The unique bonus of ‘Slightly more likely to get better items from monsters’ has increased to ‘Reasonably more likely to get better items from monsters.”
“The unique bonus has grown…!”
This is also not an unknown concept.
In very rare cases, the expression of the degree of unique bonus can be ranked up…
Even in the job world, explorers are aware of this.
But this “very rare” is the problem.
In fact, it is so rare that no one knows how the unique bonus growth works.
This very, very rare event just happened.
“Given the type of bonus that grew, was it the effect of Hotei’s unique bonus? Or was it because of all the items that Trehobis stole?”
I had already checked Hotei’s status in the job world.
Hotei also had the same unique bonus that he grew up with.
In terms of skills, this bonus corresponds to Treasure Hunt.
“The condition for growth is to repeat a special action in combat, right?”
No, even other explorers would have tried that much.
That means,
“Is it because I’m fighting a monster with a higher level?”
I don’t know if it’s a requirement that it be a higher level or if it’s just that a higher level is more efficient.
“I often hear that job rank increases are more likely to occur when fighting stronger opponents…”
They say it’s because it’s easier to accumulate skill against strong opponents or because something like a spark doesn’t happen unless you fight strong opponents.
Or some say it’s not the level of the monster; it’s the level of the dungeon.
I suspect that there is a relationship between dungeon rank and job rank and that when dungeon rank > job rank, there is a bonus to skill.
My usurper used to be ranked C, while the Okutama Lake dungeon was ranked S after the collapse.
The gap between job and dungeon ranks may be the reason why skill accumulates at an unusual rate.
Since ordinary explorers focus on one job, most of the explorers who challenge S-rank jobs are likely to be S-rank.
It is not surprising, then, that there has been no verification of what happens when a C-rank job is raised in an S-rank dungeon.
It’s not something you could easily test, even if you wanted to.
“…Oh, by the way, there’s one more thing. Job skill tends to accumulate as you perform actions appropriate to the job.”
Right now, I’m in a situation where I’m using the usurper’s skills to summon Hotei and have him fight.
On the other hand, so far on the road, I have never cut the monster card for any other purpose than to use it as a decoy against the dark gazer.
As for the fighting style, it was centered on the magic swordsman style that was ingrained in my body.
“If that’s the case… then the current situation is the perfect situation for the usurper to gain proficiency…”
The battle is left to the summoned Hotei, but that Hotei was summoned by my usurpation of authority.
Hotei’s experience is related to my proficiency as a usurper.
Furthermore, the countless Treasure Hobbits that Hotei has summoned to battle have also contributed to my ability as a summoner…
Of course, it’s not confirmed yet, but it seems likely enough.
“Let’s just see how it goes, then.”
About ten minutes into the battle, the usurper’s rank increased from C to B.
It is said that the level of skill required for rank advancement quadruples with each rank increase.
It may take more time because the gap between dungeon rank and job rank shrinks as the rank increases.
However, if I stick around for a few hours, I can get the usurper’s rank up from B to A.
Maybe even S, if I’m lucky.
And there’s a good chance that some unique bonus growths will occur during that time.
“I guess… I’ll leave it at that. I feel sorry for Hotei, though.”
I feel sorry for Hotei, who keeps summoning Trehobi while breaking out in a sweat, but let’s make it easy for him here.
Seven hours later.
‘The rank of Usurper has increased to S!’
“Yeaaahhhhh!”
I use Usurpation of Authority to usurp Shadow Roper’s Projective Split ability.
Usurping an enemy’s ability can be done when the usurper’s job rank reaches A.
The card that appeared in my hand was titled “Ability [Projective Split].”
It was a beautiful SSR-spec card with glitter and holograms.
With my Usurpation of Authority, it lost its ability, and Shade Roper’s multiplication stopped completely.
From that point on, it was no longer my problem.
Under Hotei’s direction, a swarm of Treasure Hobbits began to attack the Shadow Roper.
‘The enemy was destroyed!’
‘You didn’t gain any experience.’
‘You earned 53,040,000 yen.’
‘You have obtained the magic sword, the Shadow Slayer!’
“Oh, a magic sword!”
So far, I had only obtained Tears of the Phoenix and the Magic Key to the Second Floor of the Okutama Lake Post-Collapse Dungeon by stealing from the clones.
I thought the third drop slot was a special slot for stealing, but this time, it’s a regular drop.
This may be due to the influence of the unique bonus, which has grown to “the chance of getting a better item from a monster is incredibly high.”
Item──────────────────
Magic Sword・Shadow Slayer
It can deal damage to opponents without substance.
The damage to an opponent with substance will be reduced to a certain extent, but the damage to an opponent without substance will be greatly increased.
To use it as a magic sword, you need to have the corresponding job.
Corresponding Magic Sword: Abyss Opener
A blade that cuts off shadows and opens the gate to the underworld for a very short time. The gate sucks in everyone around it except the user. Those sucked in cannot return to this world.
PP +12000, STR +21070, INT +21070, MND +10400, DEX +4230
────────────────────
“This is a masterpiece!”
The curved tip of the sword’s blade pulsates like a wave, and the sword’s edge disappears into the void.
I’m glad that it’s especially effective against opponents with no substance, but the downside is that it’s less offensive against normal opponents.
Even if that’s the case, I’m sure I can beat up a bunch of weak monsters with the Abyss Opener.
Also, my magic swordsman has a unique bonus that allows me to use two swords.
It would be nice to have a Stormcaller and a Shadow Slayer, and the magic medium would be a magic sword instead of a staff.
The usurper’s unique bonus allows me to switch equipment instantly, so I can choose either magic sword depending on the situation.
After more than seven hours of having Trehobis steal from the clones, I received 145 Tears of the Phoenix and 73 Magic Keys to the second floor of the Okutama Lake Post-Collapse Dungeon.
“Oops, I need to equip this thing.”
I pulled out a jewel-like object from my magic bag, clasped it tightly in my hand, and jumped into the black portal to the next floor.