Chapter 20

---

Please, let it work!

*Guhhh!*

With a prayerful heart, I watched as Elngora was doused with holy water. Judging from her scream, it seemed to have some effect.

Then, a blue ring appeared at the height of Elngora’s chest and disappeared as it moved downward.

“This is a debuff that lowers defense!”

Moreover, upon closer inspection, the holy water had dealt damage. It seemed to have a lasting effect, as I could hear her pained cries repeatedly.

...If this continues, we might be able to finish this battle sooner than I thought.

“*Holy Heal*!”

I launched another attack, then pushed off with my legs and leaped backward. I needed to step back to recharge and heal. I drank a *Mana Potion* and took a deep breath. However, there was no time to rest as I had to dodge another skill attack that came my way.

Then, Elngora began to spin her staff above her head, and the gem on her circlet glowed.

“Alright, her HP is below 10%!”

The holy water’s effect was stronger than I expected. ...However, it seems the effect of the holy water has worn off, as Elngora no longer seems to be taking damage.

But at this point, it’s as good as a win!

Still, I can’t let my guard down. I need to carefully assess Elngora’s condition. When her HP drops below 10%, she will spin her staff to create a small tornado, nullifying all close-range attacks. Therefore, a ranged class is essential for defeating Elngora.

I cast *Holy Heal* again, took out the holy water from my *Bag*, and leaped into the air. I then doused Elngora with the holy water once more. And in quick succession—

“*Holy Heal*!”

*Guhhhhhhhh!*

As I landed a blow, Elngora’s scream echoed through the room. It was an eerie sound that made me want to cover my ears. Elngora then turned into particles of light and, with a *clank*, dropped items on the ground.

“Huh?”

I opened my eyes wide and looked at the items dropped by *Elngora’s Ghost*. There was the *Sprout Staff* that Elngora had used in life and continued to carry even after becoming a monster.

I slowly walked over and picked up the dropped items. They were the *Sprout Staff*, *Gem of Sorrow*, and *Herb*. Incidentally, the *Herb* was not rare at all; it was a common herb that grows around here.

“I was hoping for a *Rainbow Crystal*... but getting the staff is more than enough.”

The staff has a +3% recovery skill and +10% holy attribute effect. It should serve me well until the mid-game.

It’s time to say goodbye to my *Iron Bludgeon*. From now on, I can truly live as a support character.

...Actually, there’s a treasure chest ahead. It’s a one-of-a-kind chest that only the first person to find it can claim, and it never reappears. It’s no wonder my excitement is rising.

“My treasure chest~♪”

Skipping happily, I made my way to the back, where I found a small study, about the size of a five-mat room. This must be Elngora’s secret room, but unfortunately, all players know about it.

The walls were lined with bookshelves, and among them were items that piqued my interest, such as Elngora’s diary. In the center was a desk for writing, and on the floor were several wooden boxes containing magical items.

...Is it okay to take these?

I hesitated, thinking it might be stealing, but Elngora was already dead, and I had just defeated her ghost.

“Tricky... but first, I should check the treasure chest.”

The treasure chest was openly placed on the desk. It was a red chest with a gold border, untouched by anyone. It stood out from the regular wooden chests that respawn.

“This chest always makes my heart race...”

With a pounding heart, I gently opened the chest. A brilliant light, like the sun rising, illuminated the dim room.

“...This is the *Robe of Mercy*.”

I picked up the neatly folded robe, and beneath it were the *Boots of Mercy* and *Hair Ornament of Mercy*. These items provide a bonus to recovery skills, making them valuable for support characters.

I quickly changed into the robe. It adjusted to my size immediately, fitting perfectly and feeling comfortable.

The robe was primarily off-white, with a deep red accent like wine, and the chain decoration on the chest wrapped around to the back. The dark red fabric was used from the chest to the mid-skirt, and the length reached below the knees. The boots were a dark color, making the robe look more streamlined.

The hair ornament was a small piece with red gems and white lace, which I placed on the side of my fringe.

The robe provides +5% to recovery skills, +3% physical defense, and +3% resistance to all attributes. The boots provide +5% to recovery skills and +3% physical defense. The hair ornament provides +5% to recovery skills and +3% magic defense. Additionally, since these three items are part of the *Mercy Series*, equipping all of them grants an additional +15% to recovery skills, +5% physical defense, +5% magic defense, and a 10% reduction in mana consumption for skill use.

In other words, my *Heal* skill is now +30% stronger, and with the staff, it’s +33% stronger...! Amazing!

With this, I won’t have to worry about equipment for a while... or rather, for quite some time. These are high-quality, long-lasting items.

I left the boss room with a satisfied smile, then suddenly realized something.

“By the way, I need to reset my skills back to their original state...”

I had completely forgotten. The thought of drinking the bitter and painful *Skill Reset Potion* again made me feel incredibly heavy-hearted. ...But there’s no choice.

Since I had two holy waters left, I decided to make two *Skill Reset Potions* and keep one as a spare.

Thank you for your kind words and congratulations on the book release!