After leveling up, Isagi obtained many new abilities.
Coupled with the brand-new Character Cards, his status panel instantly became incomparably complex. He remembered that on the day he leveled up, Lady Goddess spent quite a while just transcribing the panel, eventually revealing an expression so complicated it looked somewhat 'painful'.
She was too lazy to even study it.
And that didn't even count the 'miraculous effects' hidden beneath the text that only Isagi could understand and comprehend.
However, in his own view, it wasn't considered complex; it was even quite easy to understand.
Especially after unlocking the new [Night of the Hunt] Character Card, Isagi discovered that, generally speaking, his Character Cards could be divided into three categories.
The first was the 'Combat Type'.
[Land of Reeds] and [Night of the Hunt] both belonged to this category. They simply and crudely improved his combat capabilities.
Especially after upgrading to Lv.5, Isagi could feel the 'All-Weapon Proficiency Bonus' brought to him by the foundational 'Sword Saint Secret Skill' had reached an exaggerated level.
As for [Night of the Hunt], it was even more direct.
Its most basic ability, 'Divine Blood', could significantly increase all his Ability Scores and strengthen his attack power and destructive force when facing 'non-human beasts' (this point was even somewhat similar to Ais's Skill, Avenger).
However.
'Divine Blood' could be actively activated—that is, directly injecting it into the body to drastically boost one's own capabilities again. But the price seemed to be that one would eventually become a 'Beast'.
Isagi hadn't tried it yet, but since he could resurrect, it shouldn't be considered a negative side effect.
These were all things he needed to go to the Dungeon to attempt in a few days. He already had a plan...
On the other hand.
[Golden Age] and [Retracing the Westward Journey] appeared to Isagi to lean towards the 'Magic Type'.
They didn't bring him any powerful passive boosts to Ability Scores or combat power themselves, but they possessed quite a few usable and practical 'Active Skills'. Whether it was various Magics, Arts, or Spirit Transformations, and so on.
Finally, there was the 'Support Type' represented by [Puppet Kingdom].
It had no combat power itself, but it could bring many useful 'equipments' and even more special abilities to him and the squad. At a glance, it might not seem like much, but in reality, it was extremely 'heaven-defying'.
For example.
The latest project he and Cecil had been researching recently—putting adventurers' souls into armor or puppets.
This benefited from the special nature of [Puppet Kingdom], which allowed him to acquire 'Ego Essence'.
Confirmed by the Goddesses, the interior indeed possessed 'souls', but they were extremely mixed. It was impossible to identify or distinguish exactly what they were, which was normal, because these Ego Essences were extracted by Isagi from Magic Stones.
Even if they possessed souls, they should be the souls of monsters, right?
But undoubtedly.
Adventurers' souls did exist within the Dungeon. Whether it was the 'Red Spirit' he encountered before, or the 'Nameless Hero' and 'Alfia' who appeared as Bosses later on.
The only problem currently lay in the fact that the 'Red Spirit' was confirmed to be unable to communicate. However, it was hard to say for the latter two; what if they could?
If his conjecture was correct, perhaps it was possible to bring the dead back to life.
What Cecil was participating in now was precisely such a 'grand' plan!
Coupled with the need to forge Isagi's new First-Class Armament and such, Ais's Hunter Weapon Compendium, and Miss Heith's First-Class Armament, etc...
There were too many things to do.
So, Isagi thought not to trouble Cecil with the forging of these 'Hunter Weapons'. Anyway, they looked quite simple, so handing them over to other Blacksmiths in the City should be fine.
Of course, with the current economic situation of the Astrea Familia, they wouldn't go so far as to casually find some random guy on the roadside.
Isagi's original idea was to just find a regular Blacksmith from the Hephaestus Familia.
As the largest Blacksmithing Familia in the City.
This one-eyed Goddess who presided over fire, sculpture, and forging had countless Blacksmiths under her command. Not only did they have the most conspicuous shops in Orario, but they also had considerable 'appeal' even in Solingen.
Even some of Cecil's relatives and friends she knew from childhood were 'studying' over here.
Because of this, they ran into some acquaintances.
Isagi hadn't expected his luck to be so good that he happened to run into Tsubaki, the Captain of the Hephaestus Familia. After learning of his purpose, the other party accepted the order with great interest.
Subsequently, she forged this quite simple and plain 'Saw Cleaver' for him first.
It wasn't until he held it in his hand...
For some reason, clearly no special materials were used, and even Tsubaki frankly admitted that because it was too simple, it was merely at the level of ordinary 'Standard Armament'.
Reasonably speaking.
It should be about the same as those weapons sold on the street for ten or twenty thousand Valis, the kind Lv.1 adventurers would just throw away and buy a new one after breaking.
But at this moment, holding it in his hand, Isagi had an indescribable feeling.
This weapon was resonating with the Hunter's Blood in his body... no, with his [Night of the Hunt] Character Card.
He seemed to understand a little why it could hunt 'Beasts' and 'Outer Gods'.
Tsubaki also sensed its peculiarity.
So she was very interested in continuing to forge other Hunter Weapons for him. Isagi naturally had no objections to this. Even though as the Captain of the Hephaestus Familia, her fees were much more expensive than other Blacksmiths, the current Astrea Familia had money!
After confirming some details with the other party again, Isagi and the maidens bid farewell to this carefree and careless Strongest Blacksmith in the City.
Subsequently, they left the Valka Red Room, the encampment of the Hephaestus Familia.
They passed through Central Park, then walked toward the direction of North Main Street.
The night scenery here was just right.
The cold, light rain was still falling, but neither Isagi nor the maidens held umbrellas. It didn't hinder them anyway. Habitually, they stepped onto the somewhat wet, dark long street, illuminated by the Magic Stone lights spilling from both sides.
Isagi was whispering with Cecil all the way.
The scene of the boy and girl walking and whispering together with their heads close was simply too natural, leaving one unsure of how to even comment on it.
Ryuu, by the side, appeared somewhat absent-minded.
It wasn't that she couldn't join the conversation at all. What Isagi and Cecil were chatting about at the moment were just daily topics. Such as what late-night snack to eat when they got back; Lefiya said earlier that an Elf from her hometown seemed to have opened a café in the City that was very good, and they could find time to taste it; and...
Regarding new products for the burger shop, Isagi already had new ideas and was preparing to discuss them with the Goddesses when he returned, and things like that.
Ryuu was thinking about her own matters.
Regarding the matter Isagi mentioned after leveling up—that perhaps in the future, it might be possible to resurrect adventurers who had already died—she had heard about it long ago. The boy's meaning was very clear; he said directly that if she was willing, perhaps she could see her former companions again in the future.
However.
This matter hadn't even started yet; it was just saying there was this possibility.
Adventurers' souls indeed existed in the Dungeon. Especially since the existence of Alfia, who died on the 18th Floor, was confirmed, then Alise and Kaguya might also exist.
When the time came, if they could really find a way to house adventurers' souls...
If they could make some kind of 'armor' or 'puppet', that would indeed be resurrection in a certain sense. Especially since Fels, the [Sage], also said that such a thing was not impossible.
Because...
As long as Fels existed, it proved it could be done.
Ryuu's mood recently appeared extremely complex because of this. Reasonably speaking, she should be happy, but why... The Elf maiden remained silent, thinking about this question with effort and seriousness.
She felt somewhat strange.
There was a bit of discomfort. Perhaps she should respect the deaths of Alise and Kaguya.
Shaking her head.
Ryuu decided not to think deeply about this question for the time being. After all, who knew? Isagi also said this was just a bold idea, and the success rate was not guaranteed at all, so there was absolutely no necessity to worry about it now.
However, the boy and girl at this moment had truly already taken action.
They didn't return to the Familia encampment. On the contrary, Isagi and Cecil had another place to go. Ryuu appeared somewhat preoccupied, so she parted ways with the two at North Main Street and went home a step ahead.
Thus.
Crossing the long street sprinkled with light rain once again.
Isagi and Cecil arrived once more at the encampment of the Dian Cecht Familia, the Pure White Healing Center.
The towering building was still brightly lit, but it didn't look as busy as before. At least, from far away, one could see Amid sitting in the courtyard at a glance, seemingly waiting for the two of them.
The silver-haired maiden looked quite petite, probably only around 1.5 meters tall.
As the [Battlefield Saint], if not for that earnest, beautiful face being truly too mature, one would definitely think she was a child.
At this moment.
Amid was sitting on the bench in the courtyard with great concentration, looking at the small golden tree before her eyes.
This was the Golden Prayer Isagi had taught her before.
Its characteristic of being able to slowly and continuously heal everyone around was simply the hospital's most perfect 'good helper'.
With Amid's Magic, she could maintain it for a whole day without any pressure. Moreover, there were so many Healers in the Healing Center; they could also help share the burden.
This was the reason why the maiden was willing to join Isagi and Cecil's 'Resurrect Adventurers Project'.
That's right, to successfully complete such a great matter.
Isagi didn't think he and Cecil alone could succeed. They should try their best to pull in more companions.
There is strength in numbers, after all!
And most importantly, Amid could make 'prosthetics'.
Not the kind of prosthetic limbs in Isagi's understanding that could barely undertake some daily activities, but 'prosthetics' in the true sense, manufactured with complex craftsmanship and technology, that were completely indistinguishable from 'real arms and legs'.
Those adventurers who had once lost arms or legs due to cruel battles could even head to the Dungeon to adventure again because of them.
This was simply incredible!
Of course, making such prosthetics was no simple matter. While being very time-consuming and labor-intensive, success wasn't guaranteed, and the price was extremely expensive.
Every adventurer needing a prosthetic had to have it personally customized by Amid, because this was a power brought by her own [Mystery].
It was precisely because of this that she attracted Isagi's attention.
He and Cecil said they wanted to forge armor or puppets capable of housing souls, but as everyone knew, whether it was armor or a puppet's body, it was definitely completely different from a 'normal human body'.
But if it were Amid, perhaps she could achieve it—a perfect body with absolutely no difference from a 'living person'.
Why did this feel somewhat 'taboo'?!
But Amid was somewhat moved by this.
Because, if death were eliminated, illness would naturally no longer exist either.
Or to take a step back.
This was equivalent to providing a brand-new treatment method for certain 'doomed' adventurers.
Coupled with the fact that Isagi took the initiative to teach her the Golden Prayer which possessed healing abilities, Amid chose to join the 'Project'.
And on the other side.
Besides this, Fels was also invited to join in.
In fact.
Isagi felt that the [Sage] who had lived for several hundred years and whose body was completely a skeleton was already, in a certain sense, the best proof...
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