Under One Roof With Moon Bora (2)

“…Isn’t this Hero-grade equipment?”

I asked in astonishment.
Then Moon Bora, whistling, responded, “Uh, really?”

A truly absurd sight.
She was the one who appraised it, so there was no way she didn’t know.

I instinctively felt she did this on purpose.

From my guess, these gloves…
They were probably the most valuable and expensive among the current rewards.

“Hey, Moon Bora… no matter how I look at it, you should be the one to use this–”
“N-no, I don’t want to… Seha, please use it.”

What, she’s not Ju Na-young…
Why is she suddenly being so stubborn with me?

We bickered for a while.
Other hunters would probably laugh if they saw us.
Since we were trying to give the good stuff to each other.

In the end, I was the one who surrendered.
She was so insistent; what else could I do?

‘By the way, this is the first time I’ve seen this equipment.’

I only glanced at the Hero grade.
I didn’t check the detailed options.

“Puak!”
“…Se-Seha?”

I was so surprised that I choked.
Moon Bora hurriedly came over and patted my back.

“I’m… I’m okay…”

I raised my hand and gave an awkward smile.
Meanwhile, my mind was in a whirl.

Just by looking at the gloves, you could tell they had amazing options, enough to make you go, “Wow, holy crap.”

The most striking feature was the “Pet” item listed under the type.

In ‘GAL’, ‘Pet’ was a category treated as extremely tricky equipment-cum-creatures.
Commonly, even weapons with consciousness, known as ‘Ego Swords’, were classified as ‘Pets’.

“They are really a troublesome type.”

Most pet-type equipment had powerful effects compared to their grade.
Just looking at these gloves, they seemed more akin to Unique than merely Hero.

‘It increases current Affinity, and future Affinity gains by +10?’

It was an insanely high figure.
The reason why this was so amazing was that when I acquired the Epic grade skill [Mesto’s Magnifying Glass], the increase in [Vampire Affinity] was only 5.

But this meant everything gets a constant +10 boost regardless of type.

‘Wow, that’s incredible…’

Additionally, any [Affinity] acquired in the future would also increase by double.

If it were a [Summoner] class, where the bond with summoned creatures and the stat increase correction were essential, this would have been used as the ultimate item.

Moreover, the [Intrinsic Skill] was also useful.

‘A space-time skill!’

To be more precise, it was a skill that opened a space-time storage that could only hold ‘weapons.’

The number of items that could be stored was only one.
Consumables or miscellaneous items like potions could not be stored.

The equipment stored in this way could be switched with the ‘currently used weapon’ upon activating the skill.

I registered [Saint’s Sword] at my waist as a test.

When I activated [Slime’s Arsenal] with a dagger… Zzz! With a sound, the equipment was replaced in an instant.

‘…Wow, damn…’

Isn’t it just a mere switching ability? One might think so.
But when considering the number of strategies possible with this, it wasn’t a skill to be taken lightly.

From the opponent’s perspective, the weapon suddenly changes, allowing for entirely different strategies. What an excellent skill for catching someone off guard.

‘Moreover, it perfectly matches my growth.’

For someone like me who learns various ‘weapon techniques’ through [Eyes of Reversed Heaven], the probability of mastering [Derived Skills] that could only be used with specific weapons was high.

Because of that, I had been worried that I would have to carry all sorts of equipment, like a <Weapon Master>.

But with this, it alleviated some of those concerns.

‘Once you switch, the cooldown is 10 minutes.’

There was no mana consumption, and the speed of the switch was decent, so it seemed usable in real combat.

The cooldown was a bit long, but still, it was something.

Additionally, for some reason…
[Shield] was also possible.
Probably, since attack types like [Push] skills were possible like with Ma Hana, it was evaluated as a ‘weapon’ too.

‘However…’

Everything was good, but…
One thing bothered me.

Because the ability of this equipment…
Was definitely the ability of someone I knew.

‘Kim Minsu.’

Villain, a senior member of the mixed clan <Tartarus> of demons and humans.

With his harmless appearance and quiet actions, he hides among NPCs.
Constantly sending information and disrupting situations like a bat.

As the story progresses, you end up fighting him.

The guy was a <Summoner> class, a <Hybrid> combatant who fought based on the unique mass summoning and surprisingly decent close combat.

Additionally, he kept changing weapons every few minutes, which was incredibly annoying…

‘I thought it was a skill, but it turned out to be the equipment’s effect.’

This confirmed it.

The main storyline I knew had been twisted.

Originally, these gloves should have ended up in his hands.

Then, an important hypothesis flashed through my mind.

‘Could it be this <Dormitory Terror> incident…?’

Originally, the story should have ended with the dormitory’s complete collapse.

Was it not the dungeon that collapsed but rather the villain clan, including ‘Kim Minsu’, who took advantage of the lull to strike?

It seemed plausible enough.
Actually, there was a story shared by a veteran player who completed the entire storyline and started a second run.

―Guys, that Kim Minsu. There was quite a difference in specs before and after the [Dormitory Terror] incident… Did he take some kind of elixir or something?

At the time, it was thought that the spec increase was just a story adjustment, but considering the causality, it made more sense to think that he had obtained such a fortuitous opportunity.

“Congratulations, Seha.”
“Huh?”

When I was lost in thought for a moment.
The voice pulled me out of my reverie.

Moon Bora, who had been watching, clapped her hands with a bright smile.

“You’ve been acknowledged by your pet, right? Since you used the [Innate Skill].”

Ah, I had forgotten, but items in the ‘Pet’ category required proving one’s worthiness to use them.

I had worn and used it without much thought…
Which meant I was now recognized as its owner.

‘……’

I silently stared at the gloves for a moment.
My feelings were a bit complicated…

‘Rather, it’s good.’

I decided not to think too deeply about it.
From the beginning, the future could change in any way since I appeared here.

For now, I decided to focus on weakening the <Villain>’s power and becoming stronger myself.

But I felt incredibly guilty towards Moon Bora…

“…Hey, Moon Bora… actually, this–”
“It must have already registered you as the owner. Don’t worry about it.”

Moon Bora smiled bashfully, pleased to be of help.
That smile pained me, so I searched through what was left.

Suddenly, something caught my eye.

‘Huh?’

A necklace with a faint blue glow.
Unusually, it contained a jewel that looked like coral, and with a curious feeling, I picked it up.

‘Oh, could this be?’

I inspected it closely and became certain.
It was undoubtedly an item I knew.

[Mermaid’s Voice].
In the community, it was an item highly recommended by any Supervisor raising a <Mage>.

As you could tell from the description, it had a very unique option.

It stimulated the mental desires of the wearer.

Supervisors often called it a ‘psycho item.’

Oh, don’t get me wrong.

It’s just the particular open culture of the community that gives it such a connotation.
In reality, it was an extremely good item.

‘Options that are hard to believe for a rare item.’

It increased Magic Power by 3, and it permanently boosted the rare Affinity by 5.

Especially for Moon Bora, whose ability was [Freezing], having Affinity wasn’t a bad thing.

If lucky, she could even make a contract with a ‘Spirit.’

Normally, it should be an item of Hero grade, but the last option probably acted as a kind of demerit, demoting it to a rare item.

“But anything can be used in its own way.”

[Obsession] was the mildest among mental-related desires.

Unlike fierce options like anger, madness, and slaughter, it was merely an increased desire for something.

And Moon Bora was famous for having high [Mental] stats.

In other words, the demerit could turn into a merit, increasing her abilities while having little impact.

“As long as she doesn’t wear it 24/7…”

There was no problem at all.

Moon Bora wasn’t foolish enough to wear this all day long.

“Moon Bora.”
“Oh, yes?”
“Stand in front of the mirror over there.”

Moon Bora tilted her head at my words.

She hesitated at my gesture but slowly walked to the mirror.

I then placed the [Mermaid’s Voice] around her neck.

A beautifully crafted blue necklace adorned her slender, white neck.

Like a pearl shimmering in the ocean, the light made Moon Bora’s beauty stand out even more.

“How about this? The options are perfect for you.”
“……”

Moon Bora silently stared at the necklace.
She touched it with a reddened face, then suddenly flinched.
She took off the necklace and placed it in my hand.

“…Moon Bora?”
“I…”

I don’t deserve to have this.

‘…No.’

The first feeling Moon Bora had.
No.

Something this beautiful shouldn’t be in her hands.

It wasn’t about the item’s value or anything like that.

It was Yu Seha.
He personally put it on her.
He personally chose it.

She was delighted…
Her heart was elated, but…

‘That’s why I shouldn’t have it even more.’

She didn’t deserve it.
She was a treacherous woman who had doubted and tested him.
With such a debt still unpaid…
She couldn’t accept such kindness from him.

Even if it was a reward from conquering the dungeon together, it shouldn’t be allowed.

Moon Bora tightly closed her eyes.
Then, Yu Seha’s finger approached her forehead.

Snap!

“Ouch!”
“Tsk.”

Yu Seha, who had flicked her forehead with a stern expression, looked at her with a scary face.

“You were thinking strange thoughts again, weren’t you? Like doubting yourself, thinking this doesn’t suit you or whatever.”
“……”
“Why worry about such things? I told you, I forgive you. There’s no need to feel sorry.”
“…But.”

Yu Seha sighed deeply and smiled bitterly.

“Anyway, I know it was a situation that could raise suspicions in many ways. So don’t feel too guilty.”

“…Seha.”

Moon Bora swallowed the tears that were slightly welling up.
She responded to Yu Seha’s words as if crawling.

“…Are you really… forgiving me?”
“Yes.”
“…Can I really trust you? You won’t hate me?”
“Yes.”

Moon Bora hung her head low.
Yu Seha finished putting on the necklace for her.

With a bright smile, he raised his thumb up.

“It suits you well.”
“…Thank you.”

Yu Seha.

Like that…
Moon Bora’s guilt was alleviated, and their hearts grew somewhat stronger.
They also divided the reward equipment evenly.
Everything seemed to be wrapping up nicely.

But there was one unexpected issue.

It was Moon Bora’s accommodation.
More precisely, the distance to the temporary lodging assigned to her.

“It takes about an hour to walk from here, right?”
“Yes, the lodging was hastily arranged… even though we are in the same freshman class, it’s a bit far.”

The distance between her lodging and here was quite significant.
If it were daytime, it wouldn’t matter much, but now it’s the dead of night.

And looking outside the window, it was even starting to drizzle.

It seemed a bit unreasonable to leave just like this.

“It can’t be helped.”
“Huh?”
“There’s a cafeteria below; I might as well order some coffee and catch a nap there.”

Moon Bora said casually, but my expression twisted even more.

‘…What?’

What did she say?
As a character…
In front of a Supervisor…
Boldly…

“…Are you saying you want to stay out?”
“…Y-Yu Seha? Y-your expression… is a bit… scary…?”

This felt like mirror therapy, and I realized it right away.

I understood why Ma Hana wanted me to stay and sleep holding her hand.

Indeed.
This isn’t really right.

Firmly.

I grabbed Moon Bora’s hand like lightning.

Then, aiming to drive a wedge, I said to the flustered her.

“Stay over.”
“…Uh, okay?”
“Today, here.”

Stay the night.