Chapter 91
Shimaenaga-san has been synthesized.
"Finger Man, if we don't help soon it might be too late!"
I already know that without you telling me.
I quickly grab the lid of the 'Mugen High-Load ver6.0' and pull it open.
The lid bent and crumpled a bit in the process, but it's within acceptable limits.
Smoke billowed out from inside.
"Shimaenaga-san! Shimaenaga-san! Where are you?!"
"Chii-chii-chii♪"
I hear chirping from beyond the smoke.
Flap flap, flap flap—Shimaenaga-san, bean pastry-sized, flew over and perched on my fingertip.
"Good to see you're safe... Wait, did your appearance change?"
"Chii?"
It's wearing a hat for some reason.
A pointy hat, I think? Like a witch's.
"Since it was synthesized, I thought maybe wings would sprout from your finger. Looks like Shimaenaga-san's will was stronger."
That's the issue?
"Chii"
"Hmm. Well, visually speaking, aside from the hat, nothing else seems different..."
I reach around Shimaenaga-san's neck and feel beneath the fluffy feathers to find the collar—or rather, the ring—'Calamity Beast'.
Let's check the details to see if anything has changed.
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'Calamity Beast'
A ferocious bird that once destroyed the world.
You have become the master of the Calamity.
The Calamity Beast has acknowledged your indomitable spirit.
Whether to destroy the world or not is entirely up to you.
MP Cost: 1,000 – Summon the Calamity Beast.
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No particular changes, it seems.
"So we just ended up combining Shimaenaga-san with some terrifying top-tier cursed item and got Witch Enaga-san? I mean, if that horrifying anomalous substance is gone, maybe that's a good thing... but I can't help feeling like we wasted something."
"True. Perhaps it's a loss if we consider it as one less incomprehensible truth in the world. Then again, it didn't seem like something humans could use effectively anyway."
"Chii!"
Hm? Shimaenaga-san just opened their status on their own.
The loud chirp nearly knocked the hat off. So cute.
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Shimaenaga-san
Level 49
HP 12,486/111,523
MP 11,563/114,875
Skills
'Blasphemous Morning Star Lv2'
'Blasphemous Pact'
'Blasphemous Gaze'
'Blasphemous Regeneration'
'Witch's Withered Finger'
Equipment
'Calamity Beast'
'Withered Finger's Pointy Hat'
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Thanks to double EXP from Vladimir and Shirokko, they've plumped up quite a bit.
If they returned to their original size now, they might be taller than me... I'm getting a little worried they've plumped up too much.
Hm, I was focused on the crazy HP and MP, but wait—did they gain a new skill? 'Witch's Withered Finger'? That's it. I thought the witchy part was just the pointy hat, but clearly that cursed item was absorbed into this skill.
"Inventory check time."
I trace my finger over the skill 'Witch's Withered Finger'.
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'Witch's Withered Finger'
Curses the target and permanently seals a skill.
MP Consumption: 10,000
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Whoa... Shimaenaga-san, this is way too Calamity-level...
'Witch's Withered Finger' got transplanted straight into the bean pastry.
"Shimaenaga-san, that's a no-go. Now I have even more to write in the report to Shurado."
"Chi, chii! (Translation: I won't let you do that chii!)"
Hm? It's getting a bit noisy now.
Shimaenaga-san fluttered and chirped "Chii!"
Then, with a quick turn, they snatched the 'EXP Lighter Lv3' from my chest pocket.
Oh? You really think you can get away with that, you little bean pastry?
Just because your suspension got lifted... Maybe it's time to teach you a lesson.
"Excalibur."
——Snap
A crisp sound rang out.
Wait, huh? There's no explosion?
"C-Could it be, Finger Man, your skill has been sealed...?"
"Wha?!"
"Chii-chii-chii!"
Whoa! Shimaenaga-san is making a wicked face I've never seen before!
"Chii-chii-chii♪ (Translation: Chii has acquired the ultimate power to seal skills anytime chii♪ If you want your skill back, hand over all the experience from this lighter chii♪)"
What a wicked Enaga! But seriously, if my finger snap is sealed, I really can't do anything. So that's what Shimaenaga-san was aiming for!
"Gii."
"Ah, Gii-san's black tentacle is going for Shimaenaga-san's pointy hat..."
With a flick, it knocked it to the ground.
"Chi, chii!!"
"Gii (Translation: My master, now is the time.)"
"Now? Okay—Calibur."
An explosion engulfed Shimaenaga-san, turning them into roasted bird and blasting them into the water.
"Chi, chii... (Translation: I let my guard down chii...!)"
Seems like without the hat, they can't become Witch Enaga-san.
As expected of Gii-san—spotting the weak point in a flash. That 99 INT is no joke.
And just like that, the Witch Enaga-san incident has been resolved.
By the way, we've confiscated the witch hat from Shimaenaga-san.
"Chii..."
"Judgment. One-month suspension."
"Chii...!!??"
Obviously.
"Finger Man, you must keep a firm grip on the reins of the Calamity."
"I know. I don't think Shimaenaga-san meant any harm. It's just that when it comes to experience points, they turn into a total scumbag of a trashy villain—aside from that, they're a good kid."
"Sounds like the negatives outweigh the positives, though?"
"By the way, I kinda smashed the door of this 'Mugen High-Load ver6.0'..."
"Ah, no worries, I'll fix it. Might take a bit of time though."
"Got it. In that case, let's head into the dungeon."
"That's probably for the best."
Hmm, in that case, let's put the Synthesis Festival on hold and head back to the dungeon.
"Let's go, Gii-san and One-Month Suspension-san."
"Chii!!"
"Whoa there, scary scary."
I scoop up Shimaenaga-san, who's pecking at me with their beak, and shove them into my chest pocket, then head into the dungeon through the first floor door. I update "Today's Hunting Grounds" here and move on to the twenty-first floor.
Well then, shall we begin the dungeon conquest?
——Some time later
"Okay, time to put it away~"
As I snap things shut with a click-clack, the dungeon suddenly starts to shake.
"Whoa, that's scary—are we gonna be okay?"
"Chii?"
"Gii."
The shaking gradually grows stronger——ah, and then it stops.
"What was that all about..."
"Chii chii chii."
"Gii."
Everyone looks like they have no clue what just happened.
Well, whatever. Let's keep exploring.
We found the stairs to the twenty-second floor, so we're heading down.
It's our first time descending to this floor. I'm looking forward to it.