Chapter 36

Flam and the equipment continued to stare at each other.

She repeatedly scanned the pile of scrap metal, which emitted an ominous aura, while muttering, "Not this, not that," as she rummaged through it.

"Did you find anything good?"

Gadio, who had been watching her from behind, asked casually.

"Sure enough, as a collection of A-rank adventurers, the equipment here is quite powerful."

"But you seem to be quite troubled despite that."

"I thought it would be nice to have epic equipment. You know, cursed equipment usually looks like this."

As an example, Flam held up a helmet and showed it to him.

Made of pitch-black metal, it had discolored in parts to a purple hue, and its form was unusually spiky.

"In this case, the helmet’s strange shape narrows the field of vision. That might be part of the curse as well."

Saying that, she opened and closed the helmet’s faceguard.

"Indeed, face-covering helmets are a matter of personal preference. Once you can sense your surroundings to a certain extent, the drawbacks become less significant."

"I haven’t reached that level yet."

As her "senses" status increased, she might be able to detect the presence Gadio mentioned.

To do that, she would need to find equipment with a stronger curse, but the helmet she currently held did not have such power.

When the black helmet was placed aside, it seemed to tremble with resentment.

Ignoring it, she continued to search for equipment that suited her.

"Hmm, this is..."

What she pulled out was a leather ring.

It had a buckle like a belt, but it was far too small to be worn around the waist. It was only large enough to fit around an arm or leg.

Unlike the other equipment, it had no blood or mysterious stains.

Flam, unsure of its use, cast a scan to confirm it.

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Name: Ugly Obsession Leg Garter

Quality: Legendary

[This equipment reduces your magic by 131]

[This equipment reduces your senses by 456]

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Despite its name, for a small accessory meant to be worn around the leg, it had a considerable status reduction.

Flam placed the leg garter in a different location and continued her search for equipment.

The higher quality equipment tended to be found lower in the pile, and the more practical equipment increased.

Epic-quality items began to appear, and Flam couldn’t help but smile.

Gadio, watching her happily rummage through the pile of cursed equipment, had a somewhat complicated expression.

In the end, including the leg garter from earlier, Flam selected three pieces of equipment from the pile.

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Name: Leather Belt of Pain and Screams

Quality: Epic

[This equipment reduces your health by 363]

[This equipment reduces your agility by 212]

[This equipment reduces your senses by 749]

[This equipment removes your resistance to poison]

[This equipment amplifies your pain]

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Despite its grand name, it looked like a simple double-pronged belt made of dark leather.

Perhaps the color was the result of the belt being soaked in blood, but since it didn’t have a particularly strange smell, Flam didn’t think too much about it.

Judging by its thickness and length, it seemed more like a decorative item to be worn around the waist rather than something to secure pants.

Since it was an epic item, it could be freely taken out and put away, and this belt should be fine for everyday use.

Well, if sudden screams started coming from nowhere, then she would have to think about it.

"Does this equipment, which has the enchantment to 'amplify pain,' not bother you?"

Gadio asked as Flam fastened the belt around her waist and checked her body’s condition.

She didn’t feel anything particular from wearing it, but since the enchantment existed, it must be affecting her in some way.

Flam then slammed her hand against the stone floor.

A dull sound reached Gadio’s ears, and her hand was red, but it quickly returned to normal due to the regenerative power.

After opening and closing her hand a few times, she replied.

"It seems to have reversed, making me less sensitive to pain."

Seeing Flam’s lack of resistance to self-harm, Gadio couldn’t help but frown.

"It could also mean that your senses are dulled. Don’t take unnecessary risks just because you don’t feel pain."

"I understand, and it’s not that I don’t feel any pain at all."

Despite her words, Gadio was inwardly worried.

During the battle with Dain’s subordinates, she had a tendency to charge into the enemy.

This was partly because she needed to touch the target to use the reversal magic.

Indeed, her fighting style, which didn’t shy away from being hurt, was threatening to the enemy.

The body is not a disposable item.

If one had a proper sense of values, they wouldn’t waste it in a single battle.

This was a strategy that only Flam could use, taking advantage of the enemy’s normal thinking... but it also seemed to result in her taking more damage than necessary.

He hoped that this enchantment to reduce pain wouldn’t lead her in a worse direction.

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Name: Laughing Killer’s Damascus Gauntlet

Quality: Epic

[This equipment reduces your strength by 1312]

[This equipment reduces your magic by 674]

[This equipment reduces your senses by 377]

[This equipment sets your body on fire]

--------------------

Next, she put on a gauntlet with an unusually spiky design.

The tips of the fingers were sharp like weapons, and as usual, it was black.

Perhaps the metal that absorbed human resentment and became cursed turned black.

Flam was currently using a blood-stained steel gauntlet, but with the acquisition of an epic item, she would have to part ways with it.

She had developed a slight attachment to it since she had obtained it when she first met Milkit, but thinking about it, it was strange to have an attachment to a gauntlet stained with blood.

Considering what to do with the equipment she no longer needed, Gadio suggested,

"Is this cursed equipment as well? If you don’t need it, you can just leave it here."

Taking him up on his offer, she placed it at the top of the pile, saying, “Thank you for all the times you’ve helped me.”

When Flam concentrated her mind on the gauntlet, it turned into particles and disappeared.

Then, a blue mark appeared on the back of both her hands.

Combined with the red mark of the soul eater on her right hand, it formed a single pattern.

When she tried to store the belt as well, a mark appeared below her navel under her shirt.

Since it didn’t affect her appearance, there was no need to store it, but Flam pulled down her shirt and made the belt reappear.

Currently, she was wearing five pieces of equipment.

When the increased stats from these were combined—

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Strength: 1922

Magic: 1262

Health: 1587

Agility: 1167

Senses: 1723

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Flam’s actual stats were currently in this state.

A total of 7661, which was on par with a mid-level A-rank adventurer.

Including the power of reversal, regenerative ability, and knight swordsmanship, her strength was considerable, to say the least.

Compared to when she was sold as a slave to Jean, the difference was not just a matter of degree.

Flam herself could feel her body becoming lighter, her magic power filling her, and her senses sharpening.

"Um, can I take the three pieces I’m wearing now?"

"Sure, do as you please. I can’t use them anyway. Cursed equipment tends to have larger numerical changes than normal equipment, which makes them troublesome, but being able to use them effectively is convenient."

"Well, there’s a price to pay, of course."

Ordinary people would see their stats increase the more they trained and fought.

But she didn’t have that.

Being able to handle cursed equipment sounded good, but in reality, without using cursed equipment, she couldn’t even fight F-rank monsters properly.

"If the ability reverses, I wish I could just get stronger by being lazy and doing nothing."

"The world isn’t that kind."

"I think it would be fine if it were. No one would lose anything."

Flam’s words made Gadio chuckle and say,

"Indeed, you’re right."

He sighed, looking somewhat melancholy.

◇◇◇

When they left the basement, a small someone immediately jumped into Gadio’s chest at the top of the stairs.

"Daddy, play with me!"

It was Halom, whose willfulness had reached its peak.

From the other end of the corridor, Kereina approached, looking troubled.

"Halom, leaving your mother to play hide and seek is just too mean!"

"You’re the one who falls for it, Kereina."

"Ugh... I can’t help it, when you look at me with those teary eyes and ask, I can’t say no as a parent, you know!?"

Kereina raised her voice, perhaps to cover up her embarrassment.

"Hey, Daddy, are you done with your business with that person? Can we go now?"

"Indeed, but it would be rude to the guest, Halom."

Gadio stroked her head and tried to reason with her, but Halom’s mood didn’t seem to improve.

Feeling somewhat guilty for causing a rift in the family, Flam felt a bit uncomfortable.

"I’m sorry, Flam."

"Don’t worry about it. It just means that Gadio is well-liked by Halom."

Of course, Gadio couldn’t be genuinely pleased with that.

It wasn’t that he disliked Halom.

If she weren’t the child of his best friend, and if Tia weren’t still at the center of his heart—perhaps he could have chosen to marry Kereina.

"Well, I’ll take my leave now. I don’t want to intrude on your family time."

"Aw, are you leaving already, big sister?"

Flam blinked several times at Halom’s unexpected reaction.

She had thought Halom wasn’t interested in her since she had hardly paid attention to her before.

"Let’s play together, big sister!"

"Hey, Halom, you’re making her uncomfortable. I’m sorry, Flam, my child is saying something strange."

"No... I don’t mind, but will I be in the way?"

"That won’t be a problem. In fact, it would be a help if you could stay a little longer."

With Gadio’s encouragement, she couldn’t back out.

In the end, Flam was led by Halom to her room and spent several hours playing with her.

By the time she declined an invitation to dinner and left Gadio’s mansion, it was already getting dark outside.

◇◇◇

At home, Milkit would be waiting for her to return.

Flam hurried to the West District to avoid being late for dinner.

"Ah, isn’t that Flam?"

However, she was unexpectedly stopped by someone on the way.

The man who called out her name as they passed by was Reach, whom she hadn’t seen in a while.

He was wearing a white shirt with a black vest over it, a relatively casual look.

He didn’t have any attendants with him and wasn’t carrying any luggage, so he was probably just out for a walk.

"Since you’re coming from that direction, did you perhaps visit Gadio’s mansion?"

"Yes, well... Wait, did I ever mention that I knew Gadio?"

"I’ve heard that you live with Eterna Linbau. When I asked for herbs, I didn’t realize it was the hero Flam Apricot herself, but now I do. It’s quite a mean trick to keep such important information to yourself, Flam."

Reach said it jokingly.

"Please don’t call me a hero. I’ve always been useless."

"Whatever the circumstances, you’re a hero for saving my wife."

"Oh, right, how is your wife doing?"

She hadn’t seen him since she gave him the herbs she had gathered in Enichide.

The medicine should have been ready by now, and if so, it should have taken effect.

"Thanks to you, she’s on the mend. She even said it felt like magic."

"Hehe, is it okay to laugh at that joke?"

"I couldn’t help but chuckle when I heard it. The herbs were necessary precisely because magic couldn’t cure her."

Of course, Reach’s wife knew nothing of the circumstances.

He had made sure to tell her not to reveal the reason for her recovery to anyone.

Though somewhat air-headed, she was a smart woman and wouldn’t let anything slip.

"Oh, Reach, what a coincidence to run into you here."

As Reach and Flam were talking, a woman interrupted them.

Her attire was nothing if not flashy.

She wore a red coat with fur, a dress adorned with large corsages, nails that glowed in seven colors, and several large gold rings with gems on her fingers—topped off with opal hair that mixed blonde, pink, and blue.

"Are you out for a walk, Satires?"

"Indeed, just to change my mood. But if it means I get to meet you, Reach, then walking isn’t so bad. By the way, is that slave standing there yours?"

Satires’ cold gaze was directed at Flam.

It was the look of someone who saw slaves as inferior beings.

Flam was used to it, but being used to it didn’t mean it wasn’t unpleasant.

Just as she was about to glare back, Reach stepped in.

"Not at all, she’s a very capable adventurer, Satires."

"But she looks completely unarmed. What kind of requests can she handle in that state?"

"Appearance and numbers don’t determine one’s abilities. I have full trust in her."

Flam, who hadn’t done anything to deserve such praise, shifted her feet and adjusted her position, feeling a bit awkward.

She knew it was just a formality, but it still made her uncomfortable.

"Hmm..."

Perhaps intrigued by Reach’s words, Satires now examined Flam from head to toe.

However, after looking her over, her gaze stopped, and she furrowed her brow, saying, “Hmm?” in confusion.

She had probably used a scan to see Flam’s stats, which were all zeros.

"... Well, if Reach says so, she must be a capable one."

"Yes, she’s very reliable."

"Since she’s not your property, and she has a good face and some use, I thought I might have a chance, but I guess not."

"Use?"

Flam tilted her head.

What was Satires talking about, and what did she intend to use a slave for?

Flam instinctively felt that this was a person with a twisted personality, someone to avoid.

"Oh, if only a cute slave would fall from the sky... Reach, if you come across a good one, could you introduce