Comprehensive Manga: The Master is not here today

Chapter 178 Investigation, Advancement, Blacksmith
"Below-average technology for the frontline. Large amounts of resources of unknown origin."

Argo's eyes showed interest, like a mouse smelling the fragrance of oil, and he slightly raised the corners of his mouth and said:

"Interesting, it sounds like there is a hidden piece of information that could sell well."

Therefore, she nodded readily to Fujimaru Ritsuka's request and said with a smile:
"give it to me."

"But let me tell you in advance that for this kind of commission, I can't guarantee how much I can investigate. So as for the investigation fee, how about an advance payment plus a balance payment based on the value of the investigation content?"

"No problem, then please."

Fujimaru Ritsuka agreed without hesitation and transferred the advance payment to Argo.

So the investigation of the [Legendary Brave] was handed over to the professional Argo, and Fujimaru Ritsuka temporarily put the matter behind him and continued to focus on the strategy for the second floor.

After resting for one night in [Talan Village], the three of them plunged into the maze area early the next morning and started advancing.

The first level of the maze area has kobold-themed monsters, and the second level has cow-themed monsters, but...
"I hate it. Don't come here! Don't come near me!"

Asuna's eyes widened in fear, and she made a trembling voice, but she was unable to stop the strong black shadow in front of her from approaching.

But the next moment, the painting style suddenly changed.

"Didn't I tell you not to come closer?"

With the angry rebuke, the girl's figure did not retreat but rushed forward. The light sword in her hand used the charging skill [Meteor], and the attack instantly landed on the opponent's chest and exploded.

The pure white special effect light dispersed, and the opponent fell into a brief freeze due to the powerful attack.

Seizing this momentary opportunity, Asuna continued to pursue regardless. The special effects light of the skill once again focused on the rapier, and the extremely fast two strikes quickly hit the upper and lower sides of the chest. The attacker's half-naked body suddenly shook. stand up.

"Poohhhhhh!"

A scream before death came from the opponent's mouth. The head with short horns and a metal nose ring tilted upward, and the body slowly fell backwards. But before the body completely hit the ground, it turned into pieces in mid-air and disappeared. No shadow.

After killing the maze monster [Lower Bull Attacker] with the dashing skill [Meteor] and the two-hit combo [Parallel Stab], Asuna rested on her knees and breathed for a while, looking like she was surviving the disaster.

After finally relaxing, she straightened up and shouted angrily:
"What the hell is this? It's just sexual harassment and perversion!"

"I really want to initiate a sexual harassment prevention order and send it to the Black Iron Palace!"

"If you want to say whether it is a cow or a human, [-]% of them are indeed human."

In order not to offend the angry Asuna, Kirito carefully scratched his head and laughed.

The featured monster in the maze area on the second floor is the minotaur, which means in a straight-faced sense, except for the head being a cow, the whole body is still the body of a strong human male full of muscles.

Forget it, except for a piece of cloth rolled around the waist as a cover, the monster was almost completely naked. This was what Asuna couldn't bear the most.

For Asuna, who is studying in a girls' school, seeing the male protagonist and female protagonist kissing in the TV series is enough to make people embarrassed, but if you see the Minotaur wearing this kind of clothing in real life, you should be arrested!
"Ritsuka, do you think so too?"

After angrily reprimanding the Minotaur for his inappropriate attire, Asuna subconsciously asked Fujimaru Ritsuka for approval.

"Sexual harassment is indeed a bit disturbing, but actually as long as it's not completely naked, I think it's okay."

Fujimaru Ritsuka said optimistically:
"Just like in a swimming pool, boys basically only wear a pair of swimming trunks, right?"

No, I think there is quite a big difference between swimming trunks and a pair of cloth.
Kirito complained silently in his mind.

At this time, Kirito and Asuna coincidentally remembered Fujimaru Ritsuka's previous remarks about perverted naked men. Coupled with her current remarks, they always felt a little uneasy.

Then Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly noticed that the eyes of Kirito and Asuna looking at her became a little worried for some reason.

She asked with some confusion: "What's wrong? Is there any problem?"

".nothing."

Asuna shook her head, choosing to drop the topic gently, and then continued to move forward after resting.

The minotaur monster has a high attack but relatively cumbersome movements, so for the three of them, it feels even easier to deal with than the kobold on the first level.

And because of Asuna's strong dislike for minotaurs, she wanted to conquer this floor as quickly as possible and get as far away from these guys as possible, so she worked extra hard in the battle.

It took a day for the three of them to successfully advance to the No. 14 level area.

Based on this progress, we may be able to reach the BOSS's room tomorrow, and defeat the floor BOSS on the third day.

At dusk, the three people left the maze area and returned to [Talan Village].

At this time, many players have arrived here one after another, and the village, which was originally empty yesterday, instantly became lively.

And not only the frontline strategy players, but also many production players have also moved here to do business.

"Hey, wasn't that man the blacksmith that day?"

At this time, Asuna suddenly saw a familiar figure and said unexpectedly.

Fujimaru Ritsuka and Kirito looked in the direction pointed by her gaze. The blacksmith Asuna was talking about was the blacksmith they met in the main city [Urubas] who was scolded by the player. .

Since the experience of that player's weapon falling directly from enhanced +4 level to +0 level was pitiful, they also remembered the blacksmith player who just quietly showed a troubled expression in the face of the opponent's abuse. .

"I remember that his proficiency in blacksmith skills is quite high, right? Just ask him to maintain the weapons."

Asuna's proposal was agreed by Fujimaru Ritsuka and Kirito.

The blacksmith's skill proficiency is high, and the cost of maintaining the weapon will be lower than that of maintaining the weapon at the NPC. Moreover, if it is just maintenance, there will not be any tragic reduction in the enhancement level.

At this time, another opponent was strengthening a player's weapon, so the three of them stood aside to wait and watch.

In most online games, strengthening weapons is just a matter of handing in the materials and money, and then pressing the "ding" of the strengthening button to complete it, but in SAO. The strengthening process is quite ritualistic.

The blacksmith player's right hand was busy, throwing the reinforcement materials around him into the furnace next to the anvil. After all the dozen reinforcement materials were melted, a deep red light suddenly lit up in the furnace.

Immediately afterwards, he put the weapon waiting to be strengthened into the furnace, waited until the crimson light transferred to the sword body, then took out the sword, placed it on the anvil and began to raise the hammer and beat it continuously, making a crisp sound. Sound, once, twice, three times.
Although the success of strengthening is entirely a matter of probability and has nothing to do with the number of times the blacksmith hammers, the other person hammers him very seriously, and every hammer is struck very carefully, giving people a sense of professionalism and peace of mind.

After the tenth blow, the strengthening process was completed, so as the number got closer and closer, the three of them couldn't help but hold their breath and began to count in their hearts.

Seven, eight, nine and tenth!
"Chong!"

As the last hammer fell, the enhanced special effects light instantly brightened a bit.

Immediately, under their unbelievable gazes, the long sword that was strengthened by the blacksmith player suddenly broke under the last hammer, and then turned into pieces and disappeared into the air.

"."

The scene fell into silence for a moment.

The owner of the weapon stood there blankly, as if he still couldn't believe what just happened.

At this time, the blacksmith player slowly raised his head with a guilty look on his face, breaking the tranquility of the scene——

"Sorry, reinforcement failed"

(End of this chapter)