Chapter 161
They completely forgot about going all out to obtain their jobs, becoming utterly absorbed in achieving the live event.
They pushed themselves so hard that they might have burned out.
"Ehehehehe""V!!"
Amina was grinning while checking her status, while Nell energetically made a V-sign. They had been like this ever since returning.
They must have been really happy about obtaining their jobs.
"Congratulations""Thank you!!"
Despite being low probability, they successfully obtained the pinnacle jobs for their builds - the Supreme Diva and the All-Purpose Merchant.
I praised them sincerely without any jealousy.
"But is it okay that you didn't get the skill Liberta mentioned?""That's right, I thought I'd get Gold Smash""Skills need to be obtained through separate quests"
With this, it's confirmed that Nell and Amina can now be fully leveled up to the maximum.
With two fully developed Class 3 characters' levels and stats, we'll have more than enough to defeat the Locust General.
Unfortunately, according to information from His Excellency the Duke, Ingrid and I won't be able to complete our training in time.
"I'll get Last Song when I reach Class 4. Instead, today I need Amina to obtain two skills. First, get Center Light.""Center Light?"
So now we'll focus on training Amina and Nell who can still progress.
"It's a common job skill available not just to Divas but all singer-type jobs. The effect makes a spotlight shine on the user to increase attention.""Is the effect just making light?""There's no buff effect on yourself, but it dramatically increases enemy attention, making hate management easier. It draws more attention than clumsy hate-gathering skills."
Center Light's usefulness lies in easier hate management, low MP consumption cost, and wide effect range.
It's an essential skill for so-called idol live raid battles.
"The quest to obtain the skill is easy, so we'll go get it first thing tomorrow morning.""Got it! What's the other one?""The Healthy Voice skill.""Ken-sei? Do I use a sword?""Not that kind of sword saint. It's 'healthy voice' written with different characters. It reduces the cost of singing-type skills and lessens throat strain. With this, you can sing for long periods without problems."
The other skill, Healthy Voice (written with unconventional characters), is surprisingly useful.Skill cost management becomes increasingly important - you might think you can keep singing at full power now, but powerful skills generally have high MP consumption costs.
Using them repeatedly will make your recovery unable to keep up with consumption, stopping skill activation.For singer-type jobs that need to continuously maintain buffs, that downtime can be fatal.
This skill helps reduce that.
"Wow, is it that amazing?""It's subtle but very important."
Class 3 provides three additional skill slots.Currently Amina has three empty skill slots, which with Class 3's slots makes six total.
Four of these will be filled with job skills obtainable through job quests.
Not all enemies can be defeated in short battles.Skills that improve sustained combat ability are very useful for dungeon crawling too.
This should be enough for Amina for now.Depending on the situation, we might want to get attack-boosting singing skills from the skill shop or His Excellency the Duke, so I'll look into that too.
Next is Nell.
"For Nell's skills, first we'll go get the Gold Smash I mentioned earlier.""Understood."
Nell is our party's important firepower.With this leveling and obtaining skills, plus Gold Smash, she'll surpass even Claudia's firepower.
This skill is somewhat unusual - instead of leveling up through usage count, its level increases based on money spent.
It works like 1 zenny = 1 point - the more money you spend, the higher the skill level.
"And Nell, I want you to learn Bank too.""Bank?""Yes, a skill used in combination with Gold Smash."
The skill that pairs well with Gold Smash is this Bank skill.As you might guess from the name, this skill serves a banking function.
"The skill effect is simple - it lets you deposit money."
Carrying actual money every time to use Gold Smash, which converts money into firepower, would be quite troublesome.There are weight issues, and more importantly, it's inconvenient to transport.
The Bank skill, which only Merchants can learn, solves this.
"So it's a skill for carrying money around?""Right, it can store infinite money with no theft risk. It has several amazing features - one is that when activating money-consuming Merchant skills, it can deduct directly from your deposit."
As I explained the skill, Nell nodded in understanding.Skills that require carrying actual money are extremely inconvenient, and having to count money each time to activate firepower skills is cumbersome.
This skill solves those problems.
"Also, when you level up the skill, the interest rate increases."
Another feature makes this skill exceptional for Merchants - your money grows just by leaving it there.The interest system means simply depositing money in your skill makes it increase. Investigation teams theorize the money might be invested by the trade god Goldos.
The actual system is unknown, but money increases just by being deposited.
"At max level (Class 10), you get 5% annual interest. 5% per year might not sound like much, but imagine 100 zenny becoming 105 zenny just by leaving it there - isn't that amazing?"
This would be unimaginable interest in modern Japan - there was a time when fixed deposits offered such rates, but now it's considered fantasy.
"That's true. Even if it's only once a year, the more money you deposit, the more it grows - that's impressive.""Well, the skill is so special that it's hard to level up.""How do you level it?""There are two methods: one is that interest earned directly becomes experience, the other is investment."
At Bank skill Class 1 Level 1, you don't get such interest rates yet.But compared to modern Japan, even the starting rates are exceptional. Since we're planning to use Gold Smash, having even one more financial method ready is essential.
"Investment?""Lending money to promising businesses when you don't have capital, then getting your money back with returns when they profit. Somehow, obtaining the Bank skill automatically finds investment opportunities where you can invest money in the god's name."
This investment system could almost be its own skill, but it's built into Bank.When I played as a Merchant, I thought this system was robust enough to be its own game.
"Well, I'll explain that system gradually - don't use it for now. Careless use could bankrupt you."
The tricky part is that not all investments are guaranteed successes.
I remember once thinking "it's just a game" and investing heavily, only to fail.Since we don't need to level the skill immediately, we can leave it for now.
The experience gain is only once per year, and the alternative method risks losing money.It's a very volatile skill.
"Understood.""Good. Now, though we're a bit tired, let's first go get Nell's Gold Smash.""? Is it that easy to get?"
Since we can't obtain Bank today, we'll focus on getting Gold Smash for Nell and Amina's easiest-to-get skills first.
"Only two items needed.""Eh?"
Before Ingrid finishes dinner, we'll quickly obtain it. I take out the Mochi Dungeon key from the magic bag.
"First is this dungeon key - technically we have business with the boss.""We're defeating it, right?""Exactly. Second is this sturdy leather pouch containing a heavy wallet.""...Don't tell me""Yep. Gold Smash has several acquisition conditions: 1) Be a Merchant, 2) Use a wallet containing 1000+ zenny as a weapon, 3) Defeat an enemy with that weapon."
Next I take out one of several pre-prepared wallets.
This isn't for shopping - I hand Nell these two items to beat the Kagami Mochi with them.
"The acquisition is probability-based, but defeating the boss gives relatively high odds, so do your best.""...Got it. But Liberta.""Yeah?""Wallets aren't weapons.""Take complaints to whoever designed this skill acquisition method.""How could I?"
As I wryly smile at Nell's retort, I see her off to challenge the Mochi Dungeon.Nell will probably acquire it in one run, I think, then turn back to Amina who's grinning while checking her status.
"Amina, we're getting up early tomorrow so go to bed soon tonight.""Early? Why?""To get Center Light, you need to bathe in morning sunlight."
I explain that she needs to sleep early today for her skill acquisition.
"????""You look confused.""Well, why would morning sunlight help learn a skill?""Those are the acquisition conditions. Center Light requires: 1) Having a singer-type job, 2) Bathing in strong light, 3) Having many people see you in that light."
Center Light's acquisition is bothersome, but considering how many capital residents are active before sunrise, it should be obtainable.
"Um...""Namely, tomorrow we'll wake before sunrise, fly to a rooftop near the market, and perform a song there."
Even after listing conditions, Amina still seemed confused, tilting her head questioningly.
With a wry smile, I simplify the explanation, making her suddenly beam.
"Leave it to me!""Bring Claudia too, just in case.""Okay!"
She makes a determined pose with her wing-hands.
Amina singing on a rooftop at sunrise will be quite noticeable, so she should easily acquire Center Light.
"Now for Healthy Voice and Bank..."
I want to obtain these two skills tomorrow too.The Stampede is imminent - His Excellency is buying us time, but that won't last forever.
I efficiently plan the next steps.
"Amina?""Yeah?"
Healthy Voice is acquired through probability after vocal care following singing skill use.
"At the morning market, buy apples, honey, and ginger too."
This just requires alternating between singing and throat care.Grated apple mixed with honey and ginger dissolved in warm water should work.
For Bank, buy a safe, put money in and lock it, then repeat opening and taking money out - acquisition is probability-based.
Neither should be too low probability, so no problem there.
"Also tomorrow we need to visit Ganji."
The question is whether our additional equipment will be ready in time.It's been many days since we ordered.
Time-wise, it should be done, but we haven't heard anything yet.
Having it or not will greatly affect the difficulty, so I really hope it's finished.