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High School Hack and Slash Chapter 48 Part 1

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Pasifista

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The Proper Way to Use Magic Items

「I’m already one of you, so I don’t particularly mind teaching you about it, though.」

The backyard of Asagi-sou, the place that’s also where the open air bath is planned to be constructed at.

With the traits of having no standing trees growing in its surroundings, it’s just an ordinary empty vacant lot.

「… On the contrary, being able to conquer the dungeon without awakening your magic item is the more surprising one.」

Shizuka draws an adequate circle on the ground with the butt end of her lance and heaps salt on the four sides of the circle, east, west, south, and north.

There are not many opportunity to use it in the dungeon, but it appears to be a『Miko』 skill to put up a barrier called『Sanctuary』.

It’s a skill that depends on catalysts and rituals, so it works even outside the dungeon.

It seems that duel barriers of the Student Duel (Mensur) Committee are also making use of this.

After that, if you crush some monster crystals inside the barrier, you are able to bring forth a certain level of miasma concentration.

To begin with, site conditional-wise, the area around Asagi-sou is a place where miasma is easy to accumulate, which probably serves as the cause for it being called a haunted house.

「It’s impossible to awaken magic items unless you’re in a dungeon environment, after all. Even in the dungeon, the deeper you are, the easier it is to awaken the magic item, and the power of the magic item itself is also boosted.  Well, more than that, the monsters also get stronger, though.」

Otoha-senpai steps into the Shizuka barrier, which is completed like a sumo ring.

Closing her eyes and breathing in through her nose, she nods her head in affirmation.

Certainly, the inside of the dungeon has a miasma smell, or perhaps a magic smell, at any rate a peculiar smell.

「I guess this is good enough. Now then, I shall show you how it’s done.」

「Please.」

「Break a leg, Otoha-chan.」

「I wonder if she’s putting her spirit into it in an attempt to show off.」

In addition to the members from earlier, Mikan-senpai and Rinko-senpai have also joined the field trip.

Even among the craftsman members, they are specialists in arms manufacturing and appraisal.

「Now then, let’s start with the basics. You do know that the categories of magic items are divided into three, right?」

The correct answer should be『No Name』, 『Named Vessel』, and『Innate Armament (Origin Gear)』.

「Yes. You’re right, Touma-kun. I’ll give you a reward later.」

Otoha-senpai, who is acting like a private tutor, is slyly cute.

Shizuka-san, who is smiling ear to ear, is eerily cute.

「The ones that can actually be awakened are magic items of Named or Innate Armament level. Nameless items cannot be awakened, no matter how powerful they are.」

Otoha-senpai grabs a dagger from her weapon collection, which she has equipped on her waist belt.

If you’ve been diving in the dungeon for a year, I guess you’ll come to be in possession of a certain amount of magic items.

「Pour your magical energy into the magic item like this… Do you understand? It’s the same feeling as when you use a skill or magic.」

A faint glow is lit on the cleanly polished blade of the dagger.

「This is the excited state of the magic item. It’s an activated state where it’s imbued with power, the user’s magical energy or what so-called aura in the case of the vanguard class. The performance of the item will rise, but of course you’ll expend as much aura.」

Everyone is going ooh, impressed.

Especially Saki’s eyes are sparkling and Dangerous.

「In case the item is nameless, this is the limit. But if it’s a Named item —『Light up!』」

The dagger, reacting to Otoha-senpai’s trigger word, raises a booming sound and gets engulfed in flames.

Everyone’s ooh voices are also louder than before.

The flame snake that twines around the blade has also reached the hand of Otoha-senpai, who holds the grip, but strangely she shows no sign of getting burned.

「This is『Awakening』. The state in which the power of the magic item is drawn out 100%. It also depends on the quality of the item, but maintaining this state consumes a whole lot aura.」

「So cool!」

「Fufufu. I believe you’ll be able to learn it quickly, Saki-chan. It’s just that, what you have to be careful of is that just as how you can draw out immense power from magic items engraved with powerful『Inscription』, the aura needed to awaken it is also as much immense. It’s not an uncommon story for one to have their aura sucked up by their magic item and self-destruct, so be careful, okay.」

I see.

In other words, I wonder if it’s something along the lines of us being able to use an external extension-style additional skill.

Like Knight-senpai being able to use fire magic.

This is an element that can serve as your trump card, as it can be used either to cover your weak point or to boost your strong point.

「By the way, the name of this dagger is『Flame Dagger』. It’s an orthodox weapon among the elemental-type magic item.」

「Raaaaargh!」

Borrowing the dagger from Otoha-senpai before anyone else, Saki lets out a manly yell.

It’s like, the blade is overwhelmingly glittering.

「Err, before you get used to it, you’ll become hot yourself, so slowly….」

「『Burn』!」

*Bororoom* Flames rise from the tip of the sword like a flamethrower.

I have a feeling that it’s something we shouldn’t have told Saki about.

「Ah, yes…. For the trigger word, it’s important to choose a word that’s easy for you to imagine. Yes, I think I’ll re-train myself in the dungeon too….」

I get the premonition that if Otoha-senpai dives into the dungeon by herself, she would end up in a kuh kill me situation, so we should head there as a party.

For the time being, I’ve understood that when it comes to the handling of『Named Vessel』, it’s important to know the inscription engraved on it.

We’ve also found a number of『Named』 items from the treasure chests, but it’s hard to tell what kind of power they have from the weapon name alone.

I guess there’s a need to actually give them a try and train to wield them.

「By the way, Otoha-senpai…」

「Hmm? If it’s about the reward, at night….」

「How do you awaken an『Innate Armament (Origin Gear)』?」

For the night, I request for a private tutor x poor student situation please.

「Ah~,『Innate Armament (Origin Gear)』 are rear equipment that it’s a wonder whether you’ll be able to obtain one while you’re enrolled in the academy, so I think you don’t need to worry about it as of yet, though. Basically, the method to awaken it is also the same. It’s just that, even if you do find it, be careful when you awaken it for the first time. I think you’ll be able to see some Origin Gear users in the tournament, but those are a really weird item, you see.」

◇ ◇ ◇

――『Yomotsu Hirasaka』, a branch realm attached to the labyrinth of Perforation Realm, 『YGGDRASILL』――

――The『eight』 stratum, 『uncharted』 domain――

The purpose of the dungeon dive this time is not conquest, but a combat practice where we make use of our magic items.

We’ve already cleared the relatively large chamber as well as set a timer as a measure against the『Natural Enemy (Aggressor)』.

Incidentally, I was told by Seiichi that I’m banned from the『Arena (Colosseum)』 until things cool down.

「Rawr!」

Saki has easily awakened her beloved katana, the『Water Tiger King Katana』.

The Mikan-senpai-made Water Tiger King Katana has become familiar in her hands as her main weapon, and it appears that in such a manner, the more you use an item, the easier it is for you to awaken it.

「… Uwaah. Himecchi is too assertive. She’s totes like, uwaah」

「Oh, so it manifests like that, huh. It’s certainly a rare, but it’s a not so uncommon, physical boost-type awakening, isn’t it?」

Tiger-patterned animal ears and tail are suddenly growing out of Saki, who is in high spirits with the Water Tiger King Katana that’s coiled with blue and silver phosphorescent in her hand.

Her pupils are tinted red, and whiskers have also sprouted out on her cheeks.

With an appearance like that of a half-beast, half-human, she ends up metamorphosing.

Rather than looking like a monster, she looks cute, like the ones that would appear in an anime and the like.

「Saki-chan, amazing! For you to easily awaken a double-skilled『Named Vessel』.」

「There’s also a monster called the water tiger, so I guess『Water Spirit (Aqua)』 and『Tiger Factor (Tiger Gene)』 are a combination with good affinity.」

Our main goal this time is training which has less danger, so in addition to Otoha-senpai, Mikan-senpai and Rinko-senpai continue to accompany us.

「Given the fact that it’s able to maintain the awakening, it looks like the quality of the katana is also high, huh. To have a double Named, so enviable…. I guess I’ll gather the materials and have Mikan-chan enchant mine for me. But if it fails, it will end up breaking…. Uuu.」

Otoha-senpai appears to be troubled, but real life luck seems to be on the lower side, so I get a feeling that she’s going to go kuhoho.

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