Seeker 88

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Chapter 88. Beyond The Hidden Passage

I walked down the corridor that appeared at the back of the stone wall. 

The path turns twice and eventually leads me to a door. 

So far, it has been a straight path, and I don't see any other way to go. 

The door appears to be made of wood, but since it's a dungeon mechanism, I don't know how much the material's appearance matters.

I place my hand on the door and cautiously open it. 

As I open the door and look inside...

"There are two treasure chests. And there's another door further ahead."

Inside the door was a small room. 

There is one treasure chest on each side wall, and another door in front.

I make eye contact with Kazane-san.

She nods and performs [Trap Detection] on each treasure chest.

The results show no reaction. 

It seems that there are no ordinary traps.

"But considering the floor we're on. We should estimate a higher possibility of mimics. I made a mistake; I should have taken [Trap Detection II]."

Kazane-san makes a bitter face. 

I think that might be the case.

Imagine the possibility that both the left and right treasure chests are mimics, and if you open all of them, both will attack us.

If we had [Trap Detection II]. It would have been better. 

But it's no use regretting it now.

I tap Kazane-san on the shoulder and reassure her, saying, "Don't worry. We'll manage somehow.". Kazane-san said, "Daichi-kun, you're the only one who can help me.".

She responds with a smile, saying, "Daiichi-kun, I love you." After taking a deep breath, she starts with the first treasure chest.

Her worries about the possibility of mimics turn out to be groundless. 

As Kazane-san cautiously lifts the lid of the first treasure chest, nothing happens. 

The box opens without any issues.

"It's... a bow, right? There don't seem to be any arrows inside."

Kazane-san takes out what appears to be a bow from the first treasure chest.

It's a mysterious bow with a translucent ice-blue body.

I want Yuzuki to use [Item Appraisal], but I can't calm down until we open the other treasure chest. 

So, I decided to start with that one first.

Kazane-san opens the second treasure chest as well.

It's not a mimic too.

"This is... a hair ornament? It's a hairpin."

Kazane-san takes out a single hairpin from the second treasure chest.

The decoration resembling camellia flowers is applied.

After taking out the treasures, both chests disappeared immediately.

The only remaining exploration target is the front door.

But before that, Yuzuki will appraise the two items.

Let's start with the bow.

"This bow's name is Fenrir Bow. Judging from the description, it seems to be an incredibly unique bow."

"Oh? What's it like?"

"It's difficult to summarize, so I'll just read the description of its special effects. Magic Power +5 (requires two-handed equipment). When you draw this bow, ice arrows appear. Anything hit by these arrows receives ice attribute magic damage. The power of the ice arrows gets influenced by the user's magic power and the [Bow Attack Power Up] skill and is not affected by strength. Each time an ice arrow is shot, the user consumes 10 MP."

"Um... So basically, it's like a bow that can shoot single-target ice attribute magic attacks?"

"Yeah, that might be an easier way to understand it."

It seems like a bow with quite complex special effects.

Whether it's strong or weak, I can't tell.

But wait a moment.

"However, with Magic Power +5, doesn't that make it inherently strong? I remember the Sorcery Staff that Yuzuki equips with has a Magic Power Modifier of +3. So, Fenrir Bow's Magic Power Modifier is a separate effect that works by equipping it, right?"

"With this description, it seems so. I'm not sure if we can trust the wording, though."

It's a matter that requires a highly technical judgment.

Since I don't know about it, I put the Fenrir Bow into Yuzuki's [Item Box] for now.

Weapons and armor with magic power modifiers gradually lose durability by using magic while we equip them.

So, the first point of [Item Appraisal] is done.

Let's move on to the second item, the hair ornament.

After muttering to herself, Yuzuki spoke up.

"This one is simple. But it feels simply strong. The item is Camellia Hair Ornament - Equipment Slot: Head - Defense +15, Magic Defense +10, Agility +2, Magic Power +2, Female Exclusive Equipment."

""Wow ......""

Kazane-san and I let out a warm voices in unison.

It's not quite on the same level as the Black Clothes or the [Three Strikes] skill scroll, but it's a high-performance headgear.

Or maybe I'm exaggerating due to the Black Clothes or the [Three Strikes]. Could it be that these items are also in the same dangerous class?

If we carry something like this with us, won't we become easy prey for the bad seekers, being walking treasures?

Well, it's too late now.

It's too late.

For now, we decided that Kazane-san will equip the Camellia Hairpin.

I wonder how the defense of this armor works.

If the attacks don't hit precisely on the hairpin part, it seems the defense won't come into play, rendering it almost ineffective as proper armor.

However, it also has a magic defense, and considering the Anti-Magic Ring works, it might enhance her overall defense.

Anyway.

Now that we have obtained and understood the effects of the items from the treasure chests.

Only the front door remains.

As usual, there is no turning back at this point.

With utmost caution, I grasp the doorknob, open it, and proceed forward.

Yes, I wasn't being careless.

That was never the intention.

But whether it was on the 7th floor or now on the 9th floor, we have been finding powerful items one after another without encountering traps in the treasure chests.

It might be a lie to say that our vigilance didn't waver after feeling so encouraged.

However, even if our vigilance didn't waver, it wouldn't have changed anything.

It's mostly beyond our control, I believe.

"What...!?"

"B-Bright...!"

"What is this...!?"

As we open the door, blinding light pours out from the other side, enveloping us.

Our vision turns completely white, and we experience a strange floating sensation.

Instinctively, I reach out and find Kazane-san and Yuzuki's hands, grasping them.

Since we often do high fives, I remember the feeling of their hands well.

I pull the two of them towards me, embracing them.

I also feel them clinging to me.

I can't see anything. I can't hear anything.

Only the sensation of holding the two of them is the thing given to me, and...