Vol. 13 - Ch. 753 - Overloaded Excitment - Is It a Reality, or an Illusion?

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"...Um, Mister? Why are you turning your cheek to this side?"

"I am hoping someone will give me a slap."

"You aren't making sense at all. Did you pull some kind of insane move or something?"

"Ah, right, sorry. I was a bit out-of-the-state. Pretend I never did that."

"Huh? Sure. It's not like this is the first time."

"What do you mean by that?"

Really, just what kind of person was I in her eyes? I really wanted to know now!

I mean, there was a valid reason this time. Just look at these recipes!

«Sacred Devotion Garb Set»!

«Sacred Shield Luminous Armor Set»!

«Regal Azure Armor Set»!

All of these were the exact recipes I had been wanting for so long! Believe it or not, but I had really thought their grinding would take us around a month easily. Never in my wildest dream I imagined them to drop just at the last day of dungeon week! 

It all feels like a very long dream. I really think I need some slaps to grasp the reality of it. This situation was absolutely incredibly ludicrous! Hell, if I had said that in a gaming forum, they would've immediately shouted "Bullocks (slap)!". And imagine if I'd posted the screenshot... oh boy, that would roused a storm of screams and slaps. 

It wasn't exaggeration to say it might have even surpassed 256 HIT. Perhaps, even a new world record. 

Did you get it? That's how unbelievable it was all. 

Did Lana do something? Or was it all the blessing of «Sachineko-sama» and «Koneko-sama»?

Alright, this deserve nothing less than a super-duper delux offering! And I just knew the perfect thing—the special meat of «Golden Topul» cooked in special sauce made from «100% Mellow Apple Juice». Yep, let's request this from Mirius-senpai. Just would've to keep it a secret from others!

That's why, please continue to bestow these wonderful blessing on us, «Sachineko-sama», «Koneko-sama»!

Basically, my mind was such a centre of maelstrom of all these thoughts where I was still trying to get a grip on reality, and why I unconsciously turned my cheek to Marie-senpai. 

Ahem. Time to re-do, and the recipes just were just the perfect thing. Time to overwrite the earlier memory with a shock.

"Just look at this, Marie-senpai!"

"I'm looking at them even if you don't shout!! Geez! I've already lost count of how many times I nearly got fright from all those surprises you dropped, but this is just wooooah! I even forgot to breathe from the shock, sheesh!!"

"I so understand, Marie-senpai. My legs are still shaking as a fact."

Could you believe it? Even I was shaken. 

And just then, the people I was waiting for took their entrance.

"Excuse us, Marie-senpai. We're here~."

"Marie-nee, you here~?"

Hannah and Aruru's voices echoed as they entered inside the workshop of Marie-senpai. 

We're currently at Marie-senpai's guild. 

I was going to visit this place either way to deliver the materials we’d obtained, even if not for recipes, but since I acquired these recipes, they became the main reason. And with that as a chance, I was also going to request that she begin crafting these set equipments,  but then I recalled the help from two other production job members were just as essential so I contacted Aruru and Hannah and asked them to meet me in the workshop.

"Ah, you're already here, Zephyr-kun?"

"'Sup. There's something I want both of you to see quickly.... um, Marie-senpai? Can you take off your hands?"

"Aah?! It was just a reflex. It was as if they'd some mysterious enchantment on them. Yeah, it was definitely not me."

"Haha, I didn't think I would see you running jokes, Marie-senpai!"

Marie-senpai had grabbed my hand, as if to say she wasn't going to let go of these recipes. ......Wait, this was giving me a deja vu.

Anyway, even Marie-senpai couldn’t help but act on her instinct. She just said the same thing as I did a while ago. Truly, a glance at the recipe made us lost in our minds. What a terrifying charm. 

Immediately, I showed these recipes to Hannah and Aruru as well. And to no one's surprise, they jumped like deer suddenly seeing the headlight as soon as they laid their eyes on it. 

"Wait, huh? This, I-Is this... no way! A set recipe?! A-and all of them?!"

"What the heck?! Three advanced-grade recipes?! And would you look at their abilities!? What the heck?!"

Aruru was so shocked she even ended up going in loop with her words.

I know, right? I keenly nodded to their reaction in agreement.

"These are the spoils we acquired today after taking down a rare boss. I called you all here for one reason—I want you to start on them as soon as possible. These are going to be Lana, Sierra, and Ester's set."

I pointed at the recipes, explaining who will be using them respectively. I was thorough here since I didn't want some sort of misunderstanding to take place, and have them craft for male instead of females. 

Imagine you thought you struck a lottery and saved your time, but only to still take that long. ...Maybe I was still in an illusion? 

Anyway, this was the last process. Once this was over, we could finally take our first step to the advanced dungeon.

"Uh-huh, and here I thought we finally can have a break having finished your equipment. And lo and behold, another shocker."

"So true~."

"Hmm? Wait a minute, Marie-senpai, Hannah. Finished? What do you mean?"

I nearly skipped over their nonchalant remarks when my mind suddenly screeched to a halt, quickly coming to realise what they just meant. 

No way, like, really? My set was finally done?!

"Of course. Hannah-han, Aruru, and I gave our best. This ought to be our top work!"

"I was so nervous, but we somehow did it~."

"In the end, I even forgot how many advanced-grade items Marie-nee brought in vanished in making it, but the result really didn't disappoint. Frankly, the performance is just wild."

Aruru remarked while fetching an expensive looking paper box from her «Item Bag», and placed it on the workbench.

I hadn't seen it yet, but my heart was already racing like crazy!

"T-t-this is it... right?!"

"Mhm, I was thinking of handing it over when we met, so I'd it with me all the time."

Gradually, Aruru opened the box, showcasing its content—a silvery armor, bearing the resemblance to my «Firmament Armor», but much more powerful. Its strength was perceivable even from a glance.

The entire set had body armor—a combination of metal components put together with clothes at its base—a pair of bracers and greaves, and lastly a helmet in the shape of a circlet. 

"And here's the product, as requested. All finished!"

"Woah! «Brave's Mithril Shield» looks so cool!"

And adding the finished touch was a shield. 

There was no weapon in the set. Though it didn't matter now that I'd acquired «Galantine». 

The excitement was so much I could've felt my eyes sparkling literally.

"T-That's truly amazing!!"

Whoever'd said people lost their words when moved couldn't have been anymore correct. I was so moved I didn't know know what to say, and ultimated uttered these simple words to express my inner feelings.

"Hehe, as long as it pleases you, Mister."

"Mhm! This is the truly our best~."

"Looking at Zephyr-onii-san's gleeful expression made it worth having the production job."

Marie-senpai, Hannah, and Aruru gathered around me, each giving a content node at my reaction. 

I couldn't hold back anymore.

"I am going to change!"

I swiftly swooped the set into my arms, and rushed to the dressing room.

I said my farewell to «Firmament Armor» and «Firmament Shield», they'd truly been a worthy partner in all this run, placing them into my «Item Bag», and changed into «Brave Mithril Armor Set». 

The changing room also had a full-length mirror. A grin slips in when I see myself in new equipment. 

"Well, what do you think?"

Ta-dah!

Stepping out of the dressing room, I revealed myself to everyone outside.

Hmm? Had I finally snapped out to accept reality? Of course not, but before the newfound excitement of my new equipment, they're nothing!

I drew my sword, and assumed my heroic pose. Posing was important! I also kept «Galantine» in front of my eyes—gotta show the new sword as well!

" " "Woooaahhh!!!" " "

And just as I'd wanted, everyone's gasp echoed in the air.

"You're looking dashing, Zephyr-kun! Yeah! Totally!"

"Way to go, Onii-san! It's almost made for you!"

"It might be tooting my horn, but Mister, you truly are rocking the set~. Well, but was it alright to show it to us first before your guildmates?"

Their praises fell over me. Mhm, there was something about being the centre of attention, wasn't it?

"Ah, wait, what's this sword?! I definitely didn't see it before!"

"As expected of you, Hannah. You noticed it well."

With exhilarating emotions, I sheathed the sword into its scabbard slinged at my back, and showed it the three. 

Yup. It was a perfect 4/4 jackpot from gold chests. I revealed it to them. Truly, it had making to be on the end of "World Record for Slapping!" (Tentative)

Anyway, I was in middle of ascertaing the labour of our productioner's hard work. Right, couldn't have all the attnetion on sword.

I then slung the sword on my back, and ran my gaze through the equipment details Marie-senpai appraised with «Juvenile Dragon». I couldn't help but gasp.

"Holy, this is truly inredible. No, it's the best! You really have me stunned!"

"Isn't it? Even I'd doubted my eyes for a moment. I didn't think the difference between standard-grade equipment and advanced-grade equipment would be this vast. Enough to make me feel stupid why I didn't try to get an advanced job earlier. ...Then again, not that I could've gotten a ticket by myself."

"Hahaha."

Marie-senpai's reaction was legitimate. The chasm between two rarities was beyond what could be explained with words like 'incredible' or 'too far.' No, they're just on a whole another level. 

This was truly the bleeding-edge equipment set that was made from countless advanced-grade materials. It even pale the other equipments from drops. This was why I'd pulled the three production jobs together. 

There was a giddy smile on everyone's face... ah. They're not even looking at me anymore, instead their attention had turned to the three recipes. 

These girls. They're already enormed by their next target. Didn't you guys flip your switch too soon from me?!

"A-ahem. Once again, thank you very much for your wonderful work. Your efforts have brought this closer to our next challenge."

"If anyone ought to say thank you, it have to me. With our knowledge, we would've never been able to make true advanced-grade equipments. Isn't it right, Hannah-han, Aruru?"

"Truly! You can rest assured about these recipes, Zephyr-san. We will do our best!"

"It's fun to face tough challenges like this. You can indeed count on us for the rest, Zephyr onii-san."

Heh. It was apparent from their eyes they'd already set their eyes on their next challenge. 

Well, it was good to see that. I also cheered for them.

"Of course. I am counting on all of you!"

" " "Leave it to us~!" " "

With advanced equipments in our hands, the finals hurdles, too, were but a moment away from crashing down.

Compared to what I'd envisioned, our challenge was going to be sooner than I expected. Not that it changed anything. I was still just as excited for real life gauntlet against advanced dungeon!

                                                             —Arc 13 END—