Chapter 94

<093. Blessing the Path Ahead>

I became completely engrossed in D/Z SAGA because of one character's route.

Actually, I wasn't that into it until I saw that character's ending, but anyway.

During that time, I wandered quite a bit.

I played various games, replayed classic RPGs, and even went back to games from the orphanage.

As I mentioned before.

The orphanage computers only had classic games installed, and we grew up mostly playing those classic games.

Of course, there were classic RPGs in online games, but most of them were subscription-based, making them hard to play. Or they required excessive cash payments.

In particular, the classic game M (mobile) series with catchphrases like "Reinterpretation of Classic Games!" or "Do You Remember Those Memories?" or "It's Been a While. How Have You Been?" left a strong impression.

So, I had the opportunity to play a game called "Smartification of Nostalgic RPGs!"... but ultimately, I quit all of them.

In the end, I'm just for D/Z SAGA.

***

Of course, D/Z SAGA isn't a perfect game.

A perfect game exists, but its release has been delayed.

So, let's put aside the unreleased perfect game and talk about D/Z SAGA.

Gathering party members, seeing endings, raising characters, creating skills, collecting items, changing growth routes, changing traits... there's a lot, but among them, the skill combination system is particularly interesting.

For magic, it's like "Main Spell : Support Spell : Support Spell." Depending on which few you combine, things like 'spell range,' 'spell power,' and 'support effects' change. "Black Crystal : Single Shot : Max Enhancement" gives you that exact feeling.

Next is the combination of crafting skills, which is quite fun.

For example, if you use Shining Patisserie twice, it's like the options and options combine, and you can also combine 'crafting skills' with 'crafting skills.'

"Indeed, to obtain a blessing item, I have to use skill combinations."

Blessing is a hidden option that's harder to get than you might think.

The grand story where blessings are mentioned and fight against curses, enveloping the entire world, is a route that requires breaking multiple flags and reaching a new branching point. There's even a special heroine in that route.

So, in a sense, the boss of Act 2 should have 'unstoppable curses,' but with a few tricks, it's possible to obtain 'blessing' items from now.

The probability did increase, but there's only one thing to do to raise it.

"Ivy, help me."

"I'm so busy, really!"

I was asking for help from my bloodline mate with a polite request.

***

"If you say something useless, I'll really shoot."

"Is the standard for usefulness determined by you?"

"Of course."

Looking at Ivy, who was exhausted, I thought for a moment.

Actually, getting help from Ivy isn't that difficult.

If I say, "The Black Flag is targeting famous people in the academy. Help me," it's easy.

But the explanation afterward is very troublesome. "How do you know that? What happened during your term?" If you get questions like that, your answers become awkward.

I could say, "Don't meddle. That darkness is mine. Darkness... is also the mission of this Wolfram von Loen格林." But my 29-year-old soul can't accept that.

So, the way to persuade Ivy here is give and take.

What does Ivy like?

Ah.

"I'll give you candy."

"......What? Wait a minute. You don't think I'd fall for just a piece of candy, do you?"

"Special flavor candy. If you want a specific flavor, I can match it."

"......No way, I wouldn't fall for that? Huh, really."

"I'll give you five packs."

"......No, I wouldn't fall for that much, either?"

"I'll give you ten packs."

Ivy didn't respond, just held her breath.

I don't want to make more than ten packs; it's too much trouble.

"......Will this be done today?"

"Of course."

Fortunately, my bloodline mate is the type who follows when given candy.

***

So, the two of us arrived at the convenience store and stood in front of the sign.

After hearing my brief explanation, Ivy trembled.

"......So, what are you going to do?"

"Remove this sign."

"You...... Do you remember who gave this to you?"

"It was you."

How could I forget?

This is the Elwood sign Ivy von Loen格林 gave me.

"Did you also break into my savings account, which I've had since I was a child, a month before it matured?"

"Oh, did I?"

"I'll kill you here and take the sin with me. We'll meet in hell, Wolfram von Loen格林."

Hey, put away the crossbow.

"There's a reason. Listen carefully."

"......Okay. Explain. If I don't understand, I'll shoot you."

"Um. Alright. It's an embarrassing story, but I lack mana. You know, my mana is only 3."

"......Yeah, I know."

"But most skills require mana. So, when I make something, I quickly run out of mana, and as a result, I have to drink a mana potion."

"Okay."

"But I also lack stamina. If I drink too many mana potions, my body can't handle it."

"......【Crossbow : Storage : Release】"

"......Thanks."

"No...... I was lacking in consideration. Keep talking. I'll listen."

Putting away the crossbow is good, but why look at me with such a pitiful expression?

The sympathetic gaze of someone with 22 mana is too painful. I'd rather you stab me with the crossbow, really.

"So, this sign. I'm going to remove it."

"......I don't understand."

"The material of this sign is Elwood. What's its characteristic?"

"It absorbs a small amount of ambient mana and uses it as an energy source. It can almost infinitely generate mana, right?"

"Right. That's why items made of Elwood can be used almost permanently without a mana stone. But have you ever thought of this idea?"

"What idea?"

"Concentrate the mana emitted by Elwood in a certain area to create a 'field where mana recovery is faster.'"

"......? Ah, hmm. That...... isn't impossible. But how did you come up with such an idea......?"

It's also one of the hidden options in the game.

When the material is Elwood, the mana recovery stat increases by 1.

"Can you do it? With your mana, it shouldn't be difficult, right? After all, you made the sign glow 24 hours a day. You're just redirecting all that mana into a mana field."

"Yes, I can. But I'll only do half."

"Half?"

As she said, Ivy flicked her finger.

Then the sign floated in the air, and a mana array shot up. Looking at the countless characters and lines forming the array, Ivy moved her fingers lightly, like a world-class pianist playing the keys. After counting about a minute in her head, the sign returned.

"Half done."

"Exact meaning?"

"From 6 AM to 6 PM, the sign will be off, and the mana field you wanted will be active. But at night, the sign will be on."

"Reasonable. But why are you so angry?"

"Hmph. It's your fault for completely negating something I worked hard on."

"I'm sorry. I was in a hurry."

"......Huh?"

Ivy looked at me with wide eyes.

Why are you so surprised?

"What?"

"I didn't expect you to sincerely apologize. ...Wow. You still have feelings, don't you?"

Tsk.

What do you take me for?

Frowning, I saw that Ivy found it very amusing and laughed lightly, shaking her head.

"Just kidding. Since you made me go through so much trouble, I'll show you what I can do with this mana field and treat you to a drink."

"Um. Not hard. Come in."

***

When we entered the convenience store, a comfortable atmosphere enveloped us. It was more pleasant than before.

Ivy also noticed and widened her eyes.

"Wow......"

"Indeed."

Ivy uses the Soul Change skill, which is inefficient, to convert mana into stamina.

After that, due to the heavy workload of the student council, she can't use her 22 mana without a penalty.

So, if you want to invest in Ivy, mana recovery items are the rule.

It seems that as soon as she came here, she felt a strange joy as her mana recovered.

"......I'll take another look, Wolfram."

"What?"

"Thanks. No, well done. It's a great place. I praise it in the name of this Ivy von Loen格林."

Saying that, Ivy sat down and leaned back in the chair.

She looks like Ayla when she says, "Today's rebellion was a failure......"

"This is the blessing of the Elwood. ...I never thought of using it like this."

"Didn't you learn why the elves, called the forest race, are strong in the forest, and what battle tactics the great ancestors used against the elves?"

"......If you want to fight in the forest, set it on fire, and if they don't surrender, threaten to set it on fire, and if they still don't listen, drag them out of the forest."

"Right. That's why the elves, along with the celestial and demon races, were difficult to conquer."

"But