Chapter 66

The princess is experimenting with various things.

I suggested, "What if we play rock-paper-scissors together?"

I thought it would go on with ties indefinitely, but it was decided in one go.

On the other hand, the quiz didn't have a clear winner.

When I tried a question, both of them gave the same answer simultaneously.

"What's the status of the clones like?"

Are they exactly the same as the original, or weaker?

There's also the possibility that the original's status decreases.

It could become a skill that's hard to use, like when Goku said to Tien, "Splitting into four was a mistake!"

"The clones have 1/5 of the original's HP, and the other stats are the same. The downside is that my maximum HP also decreases by 1/5 when I use a clone. There's no pain when the HP decreases."

The two princesses said this while swinging the kunai they each held.

Do you carry kunai around even in private—just in case?

Hmm?

Right, the clothes and equipment of the clones are also copied—

"Couldn't this be misused to do some pretty nasty things? If I buy something with the clone's money, the contents of the original's wallet wouldn't be affected, right?"

You could even make counterfeit bills to trick vending machines.

You could even deposit them in a bank ATM.

"We wouldn't do such bad things," the two princesses said with a glare.

Well, the princess doesn't need to do such things.

She's a young lady who can get anything she wants with money.

So what can't be bought with money?

"If the princess has a skill orb and I lick the one held by the clone, can I learn the skill without using the orb?"

If so, valuable potions like the Hero's Elixir could be used freely with the clone skill.

Wow, I just thought of the ultimate use.

But the princess's expression wasn't good.

"Hmm, wait a moment."

The princess canceled the clone and went into the inner room.

When she came back, she was in her usual twin-tail appearance.

The princess cloned again, and the clone handed me something.

"Taira, try equipping this."

"Ah, it's a bright red coral hair ornament..."

I remember it increases defense by one percent.

I put it in my hair and checked my stats.

"Wait, the defense hasn't increased?"

"Of course not. The substitute bracelet also doesn't work."

"It hurt normally when I was hit. Ah, the kunai works fine. Probably, the effects of magical items and potions can't be copied."

The clone princess showed me the substitute bracelet.

Even when I appraised it, I couldn't see its effects.

It had become just a regular bracelet.

From this, it seems that the effects of skill orbs can't be copied even if the princess clones while holding them.

"Arrows for a crossbow might be copyable, though."

"That's about it. If the effects of magic could be copied, we could copy experience potions in bulk and level up easily."

"True."

We can make experience potions if we want, but at our current level, we'd need to drink hundreds to level up.

Recently, we've been hunting mimics in PD and getting a lot of Treasure Box Ts, which also contain experience potions, but I haven't been drinking them.

"D-cans are amazing... Taira, can you appraise all the D-cans on the market for me?"

"To be honest, I'd rather not. I have a lot of unopened D-cans at home. I'd rather you help me open them. There are many that are a hassle to open by myself."

Dampun has been telling me to clean up the mess.

There are many I can open myself, but many are a hassle.

"What should I do, for example?"

"Like, if the princess runs a full marathon with D-cans hanging from her waist."

"I'd be happy to do that! I might get a skill related to a full marathon!"

No, the probability of getting a skill orb from a D-can isn't that high.

If it's a full marathon, maybe we'll get an Olympic gold medal or a water bottle?

Well, since the princess is enthusiastic, it's fine.

I'll bring them tomorrow.

"Surprise! There are two princesses!?"

Milk came in and was naturally surprised.

After that, I'll look forward to Ayame's reaction.

I wanted to hold up a sign saying "Prank succeeded" because Ayame was so surprised by the two princesses.

After that, I felt bad leaving Ayame out, so I explained about the skill orbs.

"Sorry for not telling you. It wasn't that I wanted to leave you out, it just happened that way. I'll prepare a skill orb for you next time."

"No, I've already received the Great Mage's equipment from Ichino-san, which has given me more power than a skill orb."

Ayame, you're such a good girl.

I should prepare her skills as soon as possible.

After that, the four of us went to Tenshiba D.

After confirming that no one was around, we immediately used the clone skill.

The princess charged into a group of Tsubotako.

The Tsubotako spat ink, but the princess easily dodged and used the clone skill.

She successfully wiped out the group alone.

"Mr. Ono is amazing!"

"Thank you, Ayame," the two princesses said in unison as they put away their kunai.

Next, we'll hunt cubes.

By the way, Milk's level has reached 20, so she can now go to the fifth floor.

"I could have gone to the fifth floor since I joined Papa's EPO corporation. Now, I can go up to the eighth floor."

At the Kusaka Amusement Park Ruins D, Milk's level shot up from 16 to 20.

The combo effect of the Growth Bracelet and Growth Ribbon helped, but the battles with no safety margin provided a lot of experience.

In the later stages, Milk almost single-handedly defeated the Stone Giants.

The princess is level 28, and Ayame is level 27.

By the way, I'm now level 35.

I only reached level 34 at the Kusaka Amusement Park Ruins D, but I also dived into PD afterward.

So, Milk can go up to the eighth floor, and with a level increase of 5 for each floor, I can go up to the eleventh floor.

"Princess, can I go to the eleventh floor for a bit?"

"Taira, you're already level 35? Then, please collect the iron from the Iron Golems on the eleventh floor. We'll need dungeon-produced iron in the future."

"Iron from Iron Golems, got it."

I borrowed a map from the princess and headed to the eleventh floor alone.