IGTL Chapter 72

Chapter 72 – Cursed Equipment: “Reverse Scale of the Naming God” ①

I headed toward the direction of the voice, and there I found “AAAA” serving as a shield for the players, deflecting the attacks of an Antlion, a monster that inhabited the advanced dungeon “Desert Cradle.”

What was bizarre was “AAAA’s” energy and his appearance.

“Fwahahaha! Attacks like that do not work on me! I am invincible!”

And, well, that was the kind of thing he was shouting.

While crucified on a cross and being used as a shield to protect the players hiding behind him…

What the hell was he doing? Was that guy an idiot?

I did not know whether he was invincible or whatever, but if the Transfer Group had crucified me and used me as a monster shield, I would have been furious. Did that guy not have any sense of shame or pride?

“Now, everyone from the Transfer Group. Please take it down while you can!”

“AAAA,” who could only move his neck, called out to the Transfer Group members like that.

“Yeah, you do not have to tell us twice! Let’s go!”

““Yeah!!””

“…”

I did not really understand what was going on, but it seemed “AAAA” had somehow been skillfully used by the Transfer Group.

Still, crucifying “AAAA” and using him as a meat shield was something else.

Even I would not do that.

While “AAAA” was getting hammered by the Antlion with wild abandon, the Transfer Group members launched their attacks at it.

As the Transfer Group attacked the Antlion, “AAAA” was…

“Fwahahaha! I told you it is useless! My invincible time will continue for another twenty seconds. I wonder if you can stay standing until then?”

He said that and laughed loudly.

However, reality was merciless.

Twenty seconds passed, and even after “AAAA’s” invincible time ended, the Antlion was still perfectly fine. The Transfer Group’s level and attack power were far too low.

They could not even defeat a single Antlion, yet they had actually thought of challenging an advanced dungeon.

Were the Transfer Group guys not rushing the advanced dungeon conquest a little too much?

“Tch, so it really is no good… All of you, pull back for now! We are regrouping!”

“Guh! What about the shield… What do we do about the shield!?”

“Obviously, we leave him behind! He is not worth more than our lives!”

“Right! Let’s go! Retreat!”

Then the Transfer Group members abandoned “AAAA” without hesitation and retreated.

“Y-You’re kidding me… Those guys…”

They had run off and left “AAAA,” who was crucified and could not escape.

“AAAA’s” face twisted in disbelief at the Transfer Group’s sudden retreat.

“W-Wait a second… bghuh!? Help m… grakh!? I do not want to die ye… ghueh!?”

His invincible time had ended, and he seemed to have entered full-beatdown time.

As if venting all its pent-up frustration, the Antlion started pummeling “AAAA.”

“W-Wait a second, Mr. Antlion, bghuh!? Let’s stop this sad battle already, hebuh!? Come on, listen to me, Mr. Antlion, grakh!!?”

That “AAAA” guy… was he actually still pretty composed?

Even though he was getting beaten black and blue like that, he was trying to negotiate with the Antlion. I never would have thought of that.

Still, this was starting to look bad.

“Hey! ‘AAAA,’ your cooldown should be over by now! Hurry up and activate ‘Wrath of the Naming God’!”

“Huh!?”

“Do not ‘huh!?’ me! I’m telling you to hurry up!”

After hearing my words, “AAAA” activated “Wrath of the Naming God,” whose cooldown had ended.

The effect of “Wrath of the Naming God,” which “AAAA” had equipped, was physical and magical immunity for a set period of time.

At level one, the physical and magical immunity lasted one minute. After that, ten seconds were added for each level.

“Ah… I-I’m saved…”

“No, you are not saved at all!”

The Antlion mercilessly continued beating “AAAA,” who muttered that. However, it seemed he was not taking any damage.

His level when I had power leveled him was fifty.

In other words, he should have been able to hold out for at least nine minutes and ten seconds.

Even while crucified, “AAAA” wore a relaxed expression.

He probably thought everything would work out because I was here.

Part of me wanted to see what would happen if I went home like this, but letting a life I could save go out would leave me with some nasty dreams.

“…”

No choice, then. I supposed I would save him for today.

When I aimed the Mob-Fenrir Bazooka at the Antlion standing in a straight line with “AAAA,” “AAAA” started making a racket.

“G-Gyaaaaaah! What are you doing, Kakeru!?”

“I mean, I thought this would be quicker if I wanted to save you from being crucified…”

“S-Somebody help me!”

“…Yeah, I’ll help you right now!”

After saying that, I pulled the trigger, and a shell was fired toward the Antlion.

The shell launched with a “Awoou,” pierced straight through the Antlion’s body, slammed into “AAAA’s” body, and exploded.

“Gyaaaaaah!?”

At the same time as the explosion, “AAAA” was released from his crucified state. However, thanks to “Wrath of the Naming God,” it seemed he had taken no damage.

I walked up to “AAAA,” who had been freed from the cross, then held out my hand and called out to him.

“Hey. Get a grip. You all right?”

Then, of all things, “AAAA” started criticizing me.

“I-I know you saved me, but wasn’t there a slightly more peaceful way to do it!?”

“Huh?”

When I glared at him, “AAAA’s” shoulders trembled.

What was with this guy? He had the nerve to complain about how I saved him after I had just saved his ass. Must be nice. I could have left him there, you know?

I had freed him from the cross. On top of that, I had saved him without a scratch. At the very least, my response was better than what those Transfer Group guys had done when they abandoned “AAAA.”

Whatever.

For now, I ignored what he said and held my hand out to “AAAA.”

Then, misunderstanding something, “AAAA” reached out his hand.

“No, what are you misunderstanding? I saved you, so there is something you should say first, right?”

“Ah, right. You’re right. Thank you for savi…”

I cut off “AAAA” as he tried to express his thanks, then made a circle with my thumb and index finger.

“…No, I do not care about that. ‘AAAA,’ show me your sincerity for being saved, and not with words. What is sincerity? Sincerity, I ask you.”

Then “AAAA” stopped the hand he had been reaching toward me and looked confused.

“U-Um, p-pumpkin…”

“No way in hell! That only works in a certain drama!”

Seriously, what was he thinking?

Sincerity was the heart that cast aside selfish desires and wicked thoughts, considered the other person’s position, and treated them with an honest attitude. In my case, in other words, it meant money.

It absolutely did not mean pumpkins.

In fact, I had even made a circle with my thumb and index finger so even “AAAA” could understand!

“M-Money…? A-Actually, I do not really have much…”

“Do not lie to me. Those Transfer Group guys were here earlier, weren’t they? There is no way you would help clear an advanced dungeon for free! Hand over the money you got from them.”

I had defeated the Antlion in place of the Transfer Group. I had also saved “AAAA.”

I thought I had every right to demand it.

As I closed in on him, “AAAA” performed a beautiful full-body prostration.

“I-I’m sorry! The Transfer Group people threatened me and forced me to help for free! So please spare me the money!”

“Huh?”

Seriously…?

Those Transfer Group guys had made him help with an advanced dungeon conquest without even paying him?

“N-No… I mean, look, the Transfer Group people said it would definitely be fine and that it was safe…”

“You idiot…”

The recommended level for the advanced dungeon “Desert Cradle” was 150.

“AAAA,” who had only just reached level 50 the other day, was completely unqualified for this dungeon.

No choice, then.

If he could not show sincerity to me with money, I would have him show it in another form.

“…Sigh. Fine.”

After muttering that, I aimed the Mob-Fenrir Bazooka at “AAAA” so he could not escape and fired a “Gleipnir” round, a magical binding chain used for capture.

“K-Kakeru!? What are you doing!?”

“AAAA” was shocked by my sudden action.

I threw some words at him.

“Well, if you cannot show me sincerity aside from thanks, I figured I would have you help with a little experiment… It is fine, it is fine. You will not die. Probably…”

“What do you mean, probably!?”

“Now, now, ‘AAAA.’ Calm down. All you have to do is equip this. After that, I will power level you too…”

“N-Nooooooo!”

As “AAAA” screamed, I handed him the cursed equipment I had taken out of my Item Storage. The mysterious black substance surrounding the cursed equipment was absorbed into “AAAA’s” body.

What I had handed to “AAAA” was one item from the Naming God series: “Reverse Scale of the Naming God.”

While the effect of “Wrath of the Naming God” specialized in defense by granting physical and magical immunity for a set period of time, “Reverse Scale of the Naming God” had an absurd effect that reflected and drained physical and magical attacks for a set period of time.

Of course, the Naming God series was cursed equipment that could only be equipped by someone who had given themselves a ridiculous name like “AAAA,” “IIII,” or “UUUU.” However, because it was cursed, just like “Wrath of the Naming God,” the wearer could never change their name for the rest of their life, and if they changed even a single character of their name, their stats would be reset. Also, because they were hated by the Naming God, healing at churches was completely nullified. There was also the drawback that even if they drank recovery potions, they could only recover a small amount.

However, the Naming God series was the strongest cursed equipment created as a prank by the game development team.

Now that he had equipped the Naming God series, “AAAA” had become a completely invincible existence for a set period of time.

That said, even the Naming God series, which could make someone invincible for a set period of time, had weaknesses.

The first was that it had no effect against restraints that were neither physical attacks nor magical attacks. The second was that after invincible time ended, there was a cooldown equal to the user’s level in seconds.

“Well then, let’s begin some fun, fun power leveling.”

I looked at “AAAA,” who had been ensnared by the “Gleipnir” magical binding chain round, and smiled.