The explanations in the comment section were easy to understand, so I’ve adapted them and brought them back into the main story.
Also, I’ve made a slight revision to Chapter 175.
Working on Volume 3…
Being told to evolve Ittan-Momen into a “Disassembly Manual” was too much of a stretch; it was seriously tough.
What I had considered as my trump card for defeating the Demon Lord was the “Incarnation of Rage.”
The “Incarnation of Rage” is a status-altering skill that can only be learned by players who perform a proposal event before clearing the game and trigger the “Demon King’s Blessing.”
If you only look at the positive effects, the skill is quite excellent.
While the effect duration is fixed at thirty seconds, it increases all stats, including agility and stamina, which don’t normally increase, by threefold. That’s quite something.
However, that alone wouldn’t be called an effect with “on a different level,” nor would it be considered a “balance breaker” in the notoriously quirky game, “Nekoneko.”
Moreover, being able to use this skill only once a day, and with an effect lasting only thirty seconds, relying solely on it as a trump card would be far too risky.
My true objective, the real reason the “Incarnation of Rage” became a balance breaker, lay in the penalty time that followed the threefold stat increase: “For thirty seconds after the stat boost ends, all stats become one-hundredth of their original value.”
Occasionally, people wonder if increasing parameters through skills or magic that alter stats will change the amount of stat increase. However, at least in “Nekoneko,” this generally doesn’t happen.
While explaining this thoroughly might be troublesome, let’s say, for example, that while under the “Incarnation of Rage’s” threefold stat boost, you eat a seed (an item that increases stats by +1). Your stats would increase by three times the usual amount, meaning +3.
You might think it’s more beneficial to eat seeds then, but in reality, when the skill’s effect wears off, your stats revert to one-third of their boosted value, including the increased amount. This means you only end up gaining +1, the same as if you had eaten the seed normally.
The reason for this is that skills and magic that temporarily alter character stats, like the “Incarnation of Rage’s” stat boost or “Power Up” magic stat increases, don’t directly manipulate the character’s stats.
The stat changes from “Incarnation of Rage” or “Power Up” are merely a “correction” that states “multiply specific stats by X,” essentially a temporary status effect.
Even if you eat a seed during the “Incarnation of Rage’s” effect and your stats appear to increase by 3, it only looks that way due to the threefold multiplier. Internally, your character’s stats have only increased by 1 from the start.
I was mildly impressed that “Nekoneko” was that thorough, but there was one exception.
First of all, skills and magic that change stats in “Nekoneko,” the so-called “Stat Change States,” have one clear limitation.
If you can recall how much strength you could increase with a modified “Power Up,” you’ll quickly understand: the system’s limit for Stat Change States in “Nekoneko” is between 9.9 times and 0.1 times.
In other words, stats can only be changed within a range of about tenfold at maximum and one-tenth at minimum.
Given this, the “Incarnation of Rage’s” penalty of reducing stats to one-hundredth deviates entirely from that rule.
However, the developers of “Nekoneko” must have desperately wanted the penalty to be significant.
To resolve this contradiction, they resorted to a forbidden and extremely sloppy method.
This means that during the penalty time of the “Incarnation of Rage,” instead of “applying stat corrections,” they “directly manipulated the character’s stats to one-hundredth of their value,” a reckless act.
I want to say things like, “They should have programmed it differently,” or “Did they really want to reduce it to one-hundredth?”
But the result was the creation of an incredible bug.
For example, if a Player with 500 Strength used “Incarnation of Rage,” the value would change like this:
500 (Normal) → 500 × 3 (During Incarnation of Rage) → 5 (During Incarnation of Rage Penalty) → 500 (After Penalty Ends)
Now, what if you used a “Power Seed,” which increases strength by 1, during the threefold boost of “Incarnation of Rage”? It would look like this:
500 (Normal) → 500 × 3 (During Incarnation of Rage) → 501 × 3 (After Seed Use) → 5.01 (During Incarnation of Rage Penalty) → 501 (After Penalty Ends)
The final stat is 501, which is the same increase as if you had used the seed without triggering “Incarnation of Rage.”
So, what happens if you use a “Power Seed” during the penalty of “Incarnation of Rage”?
500 (Normal) → 500 × 3 (During Incarnation of Rage) → 5 (During Incarnation of Rage Penalty) → 6 (After Seed Use) → 600 (After Penalty Ends)
The final stat is 600. This means that with just one “Power Seed,” the stat increased by 100.
In other words, this is what happens:
—When a seed is used during the penalty of “Incarnation of Rage,” its effect is multiplied by a hundred.
This is the “Seed Death Bug,” the balance breaker of “Nekoneko”!
The final stats of Players usually don’t exceed 1000, even for the highest.
However, with this bug, one seed can increase stats by 100, which clearly demonstrates how much of a balance breaker this bug is.
And this bug is most effective on Agility and Stamina.
While it also has a significant effect on parameters like Strength, Agility and Stamina don’t increase with leveling and are fixed at 100.
This means that for Agility and Stamina, eating one seed can instantly increase their stats by double, and two seeds by triple, compared to normal.
The seed-type items I acquired were: one of each type from a treasure chest of seeds in the castle, one Speed Seed from a bargain at the Royal Capital’s item shop.
Additionally, I obtained one Magic Seed by defeating the Elemental boss in the “Cave of Flowing Water.”
Furthermore, I acquired a large number of Power Seeds by repeatedly hunting the King Butcher before the Demon Lord battle.
As a result, I gained triple the normal speed, double the stamina, stats equivalent to dozens of level-ups, and overwhelming attack power.
“Don’t tell me you’re also a Transcender like Mitsuki Hisame.
Someone who can break through the level wall…”
Hearing Iasky’s words, I snapped back to reality.
As the momentary frenzy subsided, Iasky turned his envious gaze towards me, and I shook my head.
“It’s not that great.”
My strength is ultimately a temporary boost gained through a bug.
I’ve broken things because I couldn’t get used to my rapidly increased strength, and I’ve had many hardships trying to keep up with my tripled speed.
There are still some skill combos I used frequently in the game that I can’t use. In a state of nine-times speed due to “Incarnation of Rage,” I can barely move.
Although I should have higher agility than Mitsuki in terms of stats, in a practical fight, I’d be no match for him. My abilities other than attack and movement, such as defense and magic power, are only slightly stronger than average.
In fact, during this battle, if I had taken a single blow from the Magic Golem, I could have been instantly killed. It’s not a balanced set of stats.
“Besides, my strength is limited to being unarmed…”
When attacking unarmed, the character’s own Strength is substituted for the weapon’s attack power.
While there are minor coefficients, it’s easier to understand if you think of it as “Strength + Strength = Attack Power” for unarmed combat, compared to “Weapon Attack Power + Strength = Attack Power” for normal combat.
Compared to normal weapons, it depends overwhelmingly on the character’s own parameters.
Since it refers to raw stats, the effects of enhancement states like “Power Up” or “Incarnation of Rage” don’t apply to the weapon’s attack power. However, this naturally suits me, who has augmented my Strength through a bug.
Based on raw data alone, my attack power while unarmed would easily surpass my attack power when equipped with “Fire of Sh.”
Furthermore, being unarmed is advantageous in that weapons don’t suffer wear and tear.
When a weapon’s attack power is too low compared to the opponent’s defense, its durability decreases rapidly, and it can break.
This happened to my staff during this fight.
The golem dented it, so my overall attack power should have been sufficient.
However, the staff broke because its own attack power was insufficient. On the other hand, a fist never breaks, no matter how strong the opponent, so being unarmed is advantageous in that respect.
But unfortunately, unarmed combat has very poor growth potential, as if it were a deliberate nuisance.
Not only is the weapon type correction at its lowest, but the proficiency correction, skill correction, and even the skill proficiency correction are also low. Increasing unarmed proficiency doesn’t make you much stronger, and increasing skill proficiency doesn’t result in a significant difference from normal attacks. This is very incompatible with me, who can easily raise proficiency with a torch and uses skills frequently.
(Conversely, in a skill-seal state, it might be the strongest, but that’s another story.)
I wondered whether it was good or bad that I had no usable weapons in this situation and shook my head.
It’s not completely over yet.
I collected myself and looked at the fallen Iasky.
Now that he’s lost his Golem, the Magician Iasky likely has no more moves. However, I also have no way to neutralize him other than killing him.
After thinking for a moment, I immobilized Iasky by placing the remains of the Golem and a statue of Full-Build Bob, which was on the magic circle, onto him.
…The ridiculously muscular statue landed on Iasky, creating a peculiar composition that perhaps Bacarat would have rejoiced in, but with this, Iasky couldn’t move.
“Now then…”
I surveyed the room again.
First, I noticed the broken body of the Magic Golem, which I used to restrain Iasky. It might be treated as an event object rather than a Monster. On the other hand, my broken staff had disappeared at some point. Weapons that exceed their durability limit, or HP, are supposed to disappear like Monsters, so it likely vanished then.
I also checked the entrance, but as expected, it wouldn’t open from this side. My worst fears were confirmed. It’s likely judging that the event is still ongoing. Or, considering the system, perhaps Iasky is keeping it closed.
For a moment, I was tempted to complete the ritual, even if only in appearance, but I dismissed it. I couldn’t put the city in danger for such a thing. It would be better to prevent the ritual just in case.
“…What is this?”
Hidden by the Golem’s massive body, I hadn’t noticed it before, but in the corner of the room was a pile of objects covered with a cloth the same color as the wall. I approached and pulled the cloth away. Underneath it lay a pile of weapons and armor. I picked one up.
“As expected, Mithril weapons.”
These are likely Mithril equipment exceeding 1000 in value. Come to think of it, if I intended to perform a ritual, I would have to bring Mithril into this room. Were they hidden like this to prevent me from getting weapons?
“I’m sorry, but I’ll be equipping myself from here.”
“…Do as you please.”
Perhaps resigned after being discovered by me, Iasky nodded sullenly.
Mithril equipment may not be strong by current standards, but it’s better than nothing. I selected a Mithril sword and a full set of armor from the pile of weapons and equipped them. It’s a bit thieving, but I did get his permission, so it’s probably fine.
“The problem is, what to do with the rest…”
Naturally, even after securing my own equipment, the pile of Mithril didn’t seem to have decreased at all. I could come back to collect them later, but I’d be troubled if I got caught up in any more ritual-related messes. I don’t have a bag, so I decided to just break them.
“Hmph!”
I punched a Mithril dagger I was holding to test it, and it broke with surprising ease.
“You! Stop that! Those are mine!”
Iasky started to protest, perhaps because collecting Mithril equipment was difficult, but I broke them without question. It’s a bit frightening how my fist can easily overpower the blades.
The feeling of breaking weapons, like shattering fragile objects, and the particle effects that appear when they disappear… somehow, it’s like popping bubble wrap, a simple pleasure. Before I knew it, I forgot my objective and became engrossed in destroying the Mithril equipment.
Mitsuki and the others arrived just as I had mostly finished destroying the Mithril equipment and was about to break the last Mithril weapon I had set aside for myself, getting carried away.
“Are you alright!?”
Mitsuki, who rushed in first, quickly surveyed the room and immediately returned to her usual demeanor.
“…It seems my concern was unnecessary.”
While I felt a bit lonely, the fact that she arrived before Ringo meant she had rushed here in earnest because she was worried about me. With Ringo arriving shortly after and keeping the door open, the worry of being unable to escape was also resolved.
According to them, Mitsuki determined I had been teleported to the Tower of Sorcery because there was no reaction from the Explorer’s Ring for me and Iasky. She then quickly dealt with the two executives remaining at the scene and extracted information on how to enter the Tower of Sorcery.
“…Mm. I remembered properly.”
Ringo said, puffing her chest out. I thought it was a rather complex process, but Ringo seems to have a surprisingly good memory.
“It seems you were also quite active on your end.”
Mitsuki prompted, and I was reminded of it. I puffed my chest out, not less than Ringo.
“I’m sorry, but this time I didn’t use any of that strange or unprecedented strategy you seem to suspect. In fact, I didn’t use any Skills, magic, or even items. I fought head-on, fairly and squarely.”
When I said this, Ringo’s eyes widened, and Mitsuki twitched her cat ears as if to say, “Impossible.”
“I’m not lying. …Hey, Iasky.”
I turned to Iasky, who was restrained by Mitsuki. Iasky nodded with a pained expression.
“…Soma, good job!”
Ringo, though expressionless, seemed deeply moved and stood on tiptoe to pat my head.
“Come on, that’s embarrassing,” I said, acting nonchalant, but I was secretly pleased.
Mitsuki, however, kept her gaze on the remnants of the Golem and said stubbornly, “No. Frankly, this doesn’t look like the work of a human fighting normally…”
But the truth is one. I, who is always called “unconventional,” “using strange sword techniques and strategies,” or sometimes even “perverted,” can do things normally if I set my mind to it.
With Mitsuki tilting her head and cat ears, Ringo repeatedly saying “Good job, good job,” and Iasky bound, I descended the Tower of Sorcery with a refreshing feeling for the first time in a while.
Perhaps their elaborate plans were foiled, but Iasky and the Guild executives were surprisingly subdued. I restrained them all with items. Upon exiting the Guild, we encountered a Knights’ Order that Maki seemed to have called. After a brief explanation of the situation, we handed them over.
And so, this matter was concluded. Just as we let our guard down, Iasky, who was being held by a knight, suddenly roared.
“Transcender Soma! I grant you a prophecy!”
For a moment, breaking free from the knights, who should have been superior in strength, Iasky shouted with all his might.
“In the not-too-distant future, you will lose something irreplaceable and precious! That is fate! A future you cannot avoid! You will miserably… GUGH!”
The knights did not allow him to utter another word. They restrained Iasky and quickly took him away towards the castle.
Mitsuki approached me, who was stunned by the sudden turn of events.
“It’s just the barking of a defeated dog. Don’t pay it any mind.”
“…You’re right.”
Indeed, as Mitsuki said, it wasn’t something to worry about. I decided not to dwell on it. Turning my back on the departing Iasky, we headed towards our home, the Cat Ear Mansion.
“Losing something precious…”
I had never heard that Iasky had the ability to prophesy. My rational mind tells me it’s just some random nonsense with no specifics, and I don’t believe it.
But just a little.
I quickened my pace towards the mansion.
The city showed no lingering signs of chaos, and we reached the mansion without incident. Surprisingly, not much time had passed. Still, since the three of us had gone out on our own, I thought I should explain the situation to everyone. Just then.
“—AAAAAAHHH!!”
A shrill scream from inside the mansion. It sounded like the mournful cry of someone who had lost their dearest possession…
“…Soma!?”
Before I could even think, I was already moving.
‘In the not-too-distant future, you will lose something irreplaceable and precious!’
Iasky’s final words flashed through my mind. Driven by anxiety, I issued a Skill Order.
Using the step, high step, and shukuchi combo, which I could now use freely even at triple speed, I left Ringo and Mitsuki behind and reached the mansion door first. I canceled my landing recovery frames by hitting the door head-on and burst inside with the momentum of a tumble.
As soon as I entered, I saw Sahzan sitting on her behind, the floor soaked, and in Sahzan’s drenched hand was…
“I-I didn’t mean to! I was just trying to wash it with water magic…”
“Lend it here!”
Ignoring her explanation, I forcefully took it from her, as she tried to hide it behind her back.
But it was too late. Worn out to its durability limit, it dissolved into light in my hands.
“D-DARK SCHNEIDER!!!!”
My wail echoed through the mansion’s main hall.
On this day, I prevented a large-scale ritual that would have engulfed the city and saved many lives.
However, the price I paid was the loss of something irreplaceable and precious (Fingerless Gloves).
