Chapter 65: Reward

“Kukukukuku. Ahahahahaha. It’s my loss. I never expected you to grow this much in such a short time.”

“So, is it over?”

“Yeah. If you can fight this, you should be able to defeat the remaining A-rank monsters too. It’ll also be practice for your new skills. By the way, will you reveal your secret to me?”

As the Demon King said with a wink, both Mia and I couldn’t help but smile.

Through our interactions so far, my impression of the Demon King had changed significantly.

From a dangerous battle maniac to a reliable older brother figure.

　The fact that he looks like a slightly evil yet handsome Italian guy probably has something to do with it.

Since we wanted some advice on combat, Mia and I briefly explained how we used our skills.

“It’s a highly versatile skill. It may lack in firepower compared to offensive skills, but it’s the most troublesome skill for the opponent. Especially ‘Router,’ once they experience it, they won’t be able to attack recklessly anymore.”

My skill, ‘Router,’ allows me to freely change the destination of anything I come into contact with.

　After blocking the Demon King’s attack, I applied ‘Router’ to myself.

When the Demon King touched me, I had set the destination to revert back to the Demon King himself.

In other words, the moment the Demon King’s punch touched my face, the ‘Router’ changed the destination from ‘my face’ to ‘the Demon King’s face.’

As a result, the Demon King ended up punching himself in the face.

I had given Mia a garnet stone for the ‘Router’ skill, which I had set to make the Demon King’s direction of movement become ‘me’ in advance.

While I was fighting the Demon King, Mia used that garnet stone to set up ‘Routers’ around our surroundings.

　However, ‘Router’ requires setting the ‘target’ and ‘destination’ at the time of skill activation. The ‘target’ and ‘destination’ can only be chosen from the information obtained through ‘Scan.’

In other words, a lot of preparation is necessary to use it.

We have already verified to some extent how far the ‘target’ includes. It includes objects that are in contact, but non-contact objects are not included in the ‘target.’

For example, a sword held in the hand becomes a ‘target,’ but a thrown sword does not.

　Here’s the performance of the skill ‘Router.’

The Demon King noticed it was a trap-type skill and anticipated my escape by jumping. The direction was behind. The reason is that if it’s the place I was just at, there is a lower possibility of traps being set compared to other places.

Next is the time for Mia’s skill, ‘Reality Painting Trick Art’.

I applied ‘Fissure’ to the ground and Mia’s ‘Reality Painting Trick Art’ to the rocks.

　And then, I applied the ‘Reality Painting Trick Art’ to myself, making the surrounding rocks appear as if they were part of the painting.

While moving, the skill would be canceled, but while staying still, it just looked like a rock, things like smells and signs are all overwritten by the characteristics of the rock.  It’s seriously too dangerous.　

　——The Demon King gave permission to hunt the remaining A-rank monsters.

According to the Demon King, these monsters have their own quirks. If it comes to a battle against elves or people from another world, they will likely use magical tools and skills. So it’s a good simulation for us.

“Kukukukuku. Takumi and Mia have defeated the Demon King. It would damage the Demon King’s reputation if there were no rewards. That’s why I’ll give you this. Take it.”

The reward from the Demon King was a slim bangle-shaped bracelet.

It was made of magic silver mithril.

“This is a storage magic tool. It’s convenient for taking out and storing frequently used items.”

As the Demon King said that, he waved his hand.

Then a sword appeared in his hand.

And when he waved his hand again, the sword disappeared.

“It has limited storage capacity, but you can freely retrieve items with minimal movements. It will be particularly useful for you who can’t do without garnet stones. This is a magic tool of the demon race, so it can’t be used by humans. However, I think you can manage somehow, right?”

“Why do you think so?”

Only the demon race can repair a broken magic tool. It’s impossible even for the dwarf race. Also, the ‘Mobile Magic Circle’ and the ‘Portable Telepathy Device’ are artifacts. The dwarf race can’t create those. You two made them, right? Thinking that way, if we consider the recognition-blocking magic tool, it’s more like it has been turned into an artifact rather than being fixed. Isn’t that right?”

So, he noticed it since yesterday.

If it’s this man, the Demon King Enzo, I have a feeling he won’t force us into anything unreasonable.

“Yes. Indeed, Mia and I can turn that bangle into an artifact.”

“Then it’s not a problem. Next is this. I prepared garnet stones divided by ranks. A-rank and B-rank will be difficult to use with large magic stones, so I asked the dwarf race to process them for you. Thank Gon later and show your gratitude.”

Before coming here, we were made to wait in Gonhillrim because we had business with the Dwarf King. I see, it was for this reason.

Truly, the Demon King. He’s a man who can get things done.

I took out the garnet stones from the bag that was handed to me.

What?! There are ten A-rank and B-rank stones each, and there are plenty of C-rank and D-rank stones.

　This is amazing. I need to thank the Dwarf King later through telepathy.

“I’ll tell you beforehand. Don’t raise the ranks of the garnet stones recklessly. Normally, you wouldn’t have to worry about it, but knowing you two, it’s something you might do.”

…Indeed, it was dangerous.

If we were to ‘tamper’ with the amount of SP that can be accumulated and lost those stones, it would give birth to S-rank monsters in the world.

Mia turned the bangle-type storage magic tool into an artifact for me, and I named it the ‘Storage Bangle.’

Since we received four of them, both of us equipped one on each hand.

　When the Demon King said, “I have some business to attend to in Zoff,” while we were developing the skill, could it be that he was preparing the bangle-type storage magic tool for us?

“Enzo-san, thank you very much for these bangles. We’ll use them carefully.”

“Ah, yeah… Well, it’s a cheap thing. If something like that is fine with you, I can prepare it anytime. Oh, I’ll clean up after the previous battle. You guys should prepare for the next battle!”

　He turned his back on us and walked away.

　Mia chuckled.

　I guess she really is a tsundere, huh?

While practicing how to use the ‘Storage Bangle,’ we continued imbuing skills into the garnet stones.

By the time we finished our preparations, the Demon King had prepared dinner for us.

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