Golden Experience

“Huh, is Blanc-chan’s turn over now?”

“Yeah, well. I’m not expecting much…”

“Huh?”

Blanc is in shock.

However, if Blanc can obtain information, Deas, who is also guarding, should be able to obtain it too, as evident from the current report.

It seems like the Count occasionally visits, but even if he obtains something there, if Deas doesn’t know about it, it’s information he doesn’t intend to share.

“So, what should I do? Honestly, Rare-chan’s information isn’t that significant in terms of effects, but its confidentiality is on a different level. It’s information that absolutely shouldn’t be known by anyone else. It violates the rules the operators have publicly disclosed. And if it’s information equivalent to that… hmm.”

“Oh, speaking of bugs, there was some strange behavior. When trying to transfer while controlling a subordinate, there were some odd messages. They may have fixed it by now since they log it.”

“Huh, really? So there’s a possibility that the transfer itself has been fixed?”

“How about that? If you’re in a state of possessing a subordinate, it seems like you can hear system messages that were originally supposed to be announced to that familiar. According to the official disclosure in response to questions, ‘NPCs cannot hear system messages, so they generally cannot transfer.’ So maybe transfer should be possible.”

“…Uh-oh, I really can’t keep up with the conversation. Um, is it okay to bring Magenta or someone next time?”

“It’s fine, right? Next time is Rare-chan’s place, so you need Rare-chan’s permission, maybe? More importantly, trying to hear system messages with the avatar of a subordinate is an experiment you wouldn’t do unless you actively wanted to and went out of your way for it. Was it bothering you for a while?”

“Yeah, well. Since it’s said that the only difference from players is there, if you can clear that, it’s practically impossible to distinguish, I thought.”

“…The only difference is there, huh. I see. Hmmm.”

Lyra is staring at us with an exploratory gaze.

For all players, it’s common knowledge that NPCs cannot use the system, including the inventory. However, the explanation that the only difference is in the matter of system messages should be seen as the developers’ deception. Lyra is likely suspicious of Rare talking about that deception information as if it were correct. If roles were reversed, Rare would probably feel the same.

“What should I do? The information disclosed by Rare-chan this time is too significant, and I can’t come up with anything equivalent.”

“Can you stop with the cryptic talk?”

“It’s a bit thoughtless to scold me only for that. Well, it’s a private tea party, so I guess it’s fine.”

“Um, do you happen to have a waffle maker? Can I exchange it for a mithril ingot?”

“I’m sorry, I need to check with Lady Lyra.”

Blanc, who completely gave up on joining the conversation, is engaging with the maid.

In ordinary thinking, it’s an absurd exchange rate, but the waffle iron is also made of mithril, so it’s not unusual.

“By the way, I mentioned a waffle iron earlier, but when I think about it calmly, it’s not really an iron.”

“Because it’s mithril. Oh, you can have a spare, Blanc-chan. If you give me a mithril ingot, I can make another one.”

“…We’re getting off track. So, what fantastic information will Lyra bring us?”

Lyra closes her eyes and seems to have hesitated for just a moment.

It might be just a pose due to the extremely short time, but it’s also possible that she genuinely made a decision in this short time. Rather than having a fast thought process, she seems to entrust decisions to her intuition. That’s the opposite of Rare.

“Alright, let’s go with this!

You’ve read the system messages, right? The FAQs too?”

“Yeah.”

“I haven’t read them!”

“…Well, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t.

There was something about wanting a means to see information about enemies or items in that question, right?”

“No way.”

“I found it! It’s called [Appraisal]!

It was a skill build that usually isn’t done, requiring both the production-based [Discernment], the negotiation-based [Insight], and unlocking both the [Genuineness] and the sensory skill [True Eyes]. The acquisition rate for this is said to be low, but does anyone even have it? Starting from scratch, even if you start with goblins, there won’t be enough experience points, and after a certain point, you wouldn’t simultaneously develop production, negotiation, and senses.”

I had thought about using a considerable amount of accumulated experience points like water later on, but it’s a good thing I didn’t. It would have required many times more experience points than originally needed.

“How did you find this, Lyra?”

“Of course, I spent many times the necessary experience points to find it. It was easier since I used the familiar artisan for the experiment, but I had [Discernment] from the beginning.”

“And what’s [Appraisal]? What use does it have, for instance?”

“Oh, seriously, Blanc-chan… Living in a peaceful world, huh…

For instance, when facing an opponent for the first time, you have no idea what actions they’ll take, whether they’re stronger or weaker compared to you, right? If you know things like the opponent’s skills, name, or even race beforehand, you can have an advantage in combat, right?”

“I see! It’s like peeking at the opponent’s hand! Then you can prepare countermeasures in advance or destroy the hand before it’s used! If both are impossible, it’s a stalemate!”

“…I can’t tell if Blanc-chan is smart or not.”

“I believe she’s smart. She just doesn’t use it often. But is this what she’s been hinting at since earlier?”

It seems her apparent contemplation was just a pose. If she had said nothing, she would have been questioned by Rare sooner or later.

I promptly proceeded to acquire the prerequisite skills and unlocked [Appraisal].

“[Appraisal].”

“You used it right away. Well, I probably would have done the same.”

“…Blanc, you’ve become a [Viscount]. When did that happen?”

“I was being peeked on!? As if I’d lose!

…

Alright! [Appraisal]!

Huh?”

<<Resistance successful>>

“It’s not clear what criteria the resistance check is based on. I experimented with various buffs and ability adjustments, but it doesn’t seem consistent. Maybe it’s based on a composite score or some other unclear metric. Even if resisted, sometimes only the name is visible, or even the race, and the results are quite varied.

I’ve been using it casually for a while, but I can’t see Rare-chan at all.

I think the last time we fooled around, it was in the form of a battle anyway, I don’t know, were you going easy on me or something? I’ve made a lot of progress since then.”

“I wasn’t holding back. It’s just that my build leans towards magic. I’ve increased physical stats too, but not as much as magic. And it wasn’t subtle at all. It was obvious.”

“Really? You could definitely win barehanded, so why bother with magic?”

“…You can do that at a dojo, right? Since it’s a game, I’m doing things that can’t be done there. Like unleashing magic or swinging a naginata seriously.”

“A naginata? Did you make one?

Oh! So, you were the one who cleared Neuschloss, Rare-chan! I completely excluded you because it sounded like something a player would do! I see, well, if that’s possible, it wouldn’t be strange for you, even if it’s Rare-chan.

I’m glad it’s someone I know. I was on guard thinking that a new dangerous player had appeared.”

At this point, the issue about the inventory has been completely exposed. Considering Lyra’s personality, she wouldn’t disclose it publicly, and as long as it doesn’t spread to other players, it’s fine.

“Is there anything else you’ve messed up? By the way.”

“Anything else? Hmm… Oh, about that frequently asked question, I asked what kind of bones skeletons are made of.”

“Who cares!”

“Huh? Isn’t it that they’re the bones of the original monster? My Spartoi, for example, used to be Lizardmen, and I thought it was Lizardmen’s bones. Well, now they’ve turned red, though.”

“I’m talking about “born skeletons”. The ones without an original monster. I mean, Blanc’s have changed into “Dragontooth” or something like that, aren’t they more like a dragon than a lizard by the name?”

‘Wait, what’s a “born skeleton”? What does it mean to be born undead?…”

“You mean yourself. You’re not a skeleton to begin with.”

“When Blanc-chan joins the conversation, it feels like being dragged into Blanc’s time and space. I don’t mind this relaxed atmosphere.

Oh, right, Blanc-chan, there was something I wanted to ask. Earlier, you mentioned Magenta-chan, right? The vampire girl among your subordinates. Was she originally a vampire, or did she get reincarnated from something else? She looks so human-like and seems convenient to use, so if possible, I’d like to have one like her under my command.”

Currently, Lyra lacks a flying unit among her pieces. While capturing random bird-like magical creatures would work, having intelligent humanoid flying units would significantly enhance strategic capabilities. With Lyra’s newfound awareness of the inventory, acquiring such units would be even more beneficial.

“Oh, finally, you’re interested in my story! It’s about Azalea, Magenta, and Carmine, right!

Those girls were originally bats in a graveyard. I caught a bunch of them and resurrected them with my blood.”

“You caught a bunch of them. Are there others?”

“Others?”

“Huh? Didn’t you catch a bunch? Normally, you wouldn’t call three people─ three creatures, many, right?”

“Oh, right!

I caught nine of them, and three combined to become one Mormo or something. Even now, when they transform into bats, they become three. Each of them seems to hold a third of the original LP…”

“What!?”

“What is that!?”

“Biological fusion is quite a revelation. If limited to individual transformations, how would, for instance, magical creatures inspired by some coral or jellyfish that are group organisms handle reincarnation? Although it’s an extreme example, the idea of multiple individuals merging into a single powerful entity is intriguing. Depending on the circumstances, you might be able to produce a magical creature surpassing existing calamity-class beings. Lyra’s [Appraisal] was impressive, but this information could be even more crucial.

…Strange, though. I thought I was offering quite a treasure, but suddenly my appraisal seems hazy.”

“I, on the other hand, have only provided information relevant to Lyra.”

“More reaction than I expected! Huh? Is something strange?”

“…No, nothing strange. Thanks, Blanc.”

“Yeah, yeah. Blanc-chan’s information is amazing.”

First, I need to consider combinations and try various things. I don’t think it’s possible for all races. The idea of humanoids like humans or elves merging into one entity would be horrifying.

However, right on the borderline, there could be a fresh golem made from the flesh of a dead zombie. It would be blasphemous, but then again, the undead themselves are blasphemous.

Other possible candidates for Rare’s camp would be Yoroizaka and Kenzaki. Rare treats them like the same entity for convenience, but the four Kenzakis are only physically attached to the shoulders. If they are integrated into a single entity, it will be a more powerful entity.

Then there’s the skeleton types. I vaguely remember reading something about a Japanese youkai called ‘gashadokuro’ or something.

If we take only the part that says “grows larger,” for example, it is possible that several rock golems could be gathered together to become an elder.

“But didn’t Blanc have zombies in her group, and didn’t she reincarnate them into lower-class vampires?

Does that mean zombies cannot combine? Or did she use a different method than with the bats?”

“Ehh, I wonder.

I don’t know if the method matters, but with Azalea and the others, I think I reincarnated them all together. That’s how I got three daughters, and it was quite a surprise.

With the zombies, if I remember correctly, I did it one by one, in a line. Reincarnation with blood is tough on LP consumption, you know. I tried to do it all at once, but I was stopped.”

So, in other words, it’s possible to fuse and reincarnate multiple characters into one by almost simultaneously using items to meet specific conditions for a particular race.

While there’s a possibility of special effects from vampire blood, considering the Philosopher’s Stone as the superior counterpart to the Noble Human’s azure blood, it’s also conceivable that the Philosopher’s Stone could be used as a substitute.

Furthermore, if the Philosopher’s Stone has a superior version known as the Great Philosopher’s Stone, using that might not be impossible.

However, in this game with abundant masked data, it’s not guaranteed that items alone are the conditions.

For instance, conditions like ‘when a vampire uses vampire blood to reincarnate a subordinate’ could also be set.

Yet, considering races that seem likely to merge, not limited to undead but also magical beings and golem types, it’s hard to believe that vampires are the only ones that are special.

What would it take to recreate this in something else?

The image of fusion suggests that the Magnum Opus of Alchemy would be a strong candidate. Using that─”

“You seem lost in thought. Did you come up with something?”

“…No, not really anything.”

“You’re bad at lying.”

“Even I can tell you’re lying… If you came up with something, just show it. My information was quite valuable, right? Consider it a return favor!”

“Grr…”

While Rare has indeed leaked quite important information, for Blanc, it’s undoubtedly worthless. Despite its importance, and regardless of value, Blanc had considered sharing information about NPC inventories with this group. With that in mind, Rare’s provided information can be considered zero. There’s a slight sense of guilt, but realistically, it’s practically zero.

“…I just came up with it. I don’t know if it’ll work, and even if there’s some reaction, it might not lead to character fusion.”

“But you were planning to verify it, right? Just show it to us. After all, Rare-chan’s contribution is practically zero.”

Practically zero often implies something remaining.

However, frustratingly, it’s also a line where one might reluctantly acknowledge.

“…You can see, but I won’t explain. Is that okay?”

“I’m fine with that.”

“Oh, I know this. You say that, but if we ask, you’ll eventually explain. What’s it called again, this kind of thing?”

Ignoring Blanc’s words, they proceed.

Allowing them to be present is not an issue, but the critical factor becomes the location.

“Where should we do it? It’s fine here, but since we might end up summoning a super large subordinate, it could be tough indoors.”

Might as well perform enhancements and reincarnations for Ururu.

“How large are we talking? If it’s not too extreme, we can use the courtyard.”

“About the size of this royal castle. If I fall, the capital might collapse.”

“There are limits!”