Chapter 32: Bonus Stage

“Monster down!”

Stone Fang, closest to the beast, announced the good news.

After confirming its death, she packed up the corpse.

Vengeful spirit-type monsters rarely dropped special items.

Their possessed objects were the loot.

For the Seaweed Wraith, it was seaweed.

But the team got lucky.

Killing the monster dropped a Wraith Crystal.

Stone Fang held it up.

“Wraith Crystal! We’re making some cash!”

Wraith crystals were rare.

Rich in magic and carrying spiritual traits, they were valuable.

Meng Linna smiled.

“Let’s celebrate with a big meal later! All thanks to Teacher Big Dream!”

Stone Fang gave a thumbs-up.

“Not only do you know monster traits, but your combat and command are top-notch!”

Meng Linna shook her head humbly.

“I just checked what monsters might appear here. And spirit monsters are weak to holy spells. Other monsters might not go so smoothly.”

Humble on the surface.

Inside, she was laughing.

Yesterday’s research and Crystal Saint Bell purchase paid off.

“You did great. Don’t be too modest.”

Even quiet Kelly gave a thumbs-up.

As Meng Linna basked, Stone Fang asked.

“But this is your first time here, right? How’d you know it’s a water-attuned ruin?”

Oops, forgot that.

Meng Linna scratched her head.

“The ruin’s been open a few days. I haven’t been, but I hear rumors from potion buyers.”

Perfect excuse.

Stone Fang and Kelly nodded, convinced.

“Oh, I should keep mapping.”

As captain and the most educated (monastery dropout), Meng Linna handled the map.

After finishing the area, they moved on.

“Treasure chests!”

Not far from the Seaweed Wraith, they found three large chests at a corner.

As an experienced shield-bearer, Stone Fang mused.

“This feels like a reward room after beating an area elite. But we didn’t fight anything strong, right?”

As a temp teammate, Meng Linna felt obliged to explain.

“The Seaweed Wraith was an elite. My spells countered it, so it was easy. For you two physical fighters, it’d be tough.”

Kelly glanced at her.

“Big Dream, you’re really strong.”

Meng Linna returned a thumbs-up.

“You guys too. Without Stone Fang drawing aggro and Kelly protecting me, this squishy priest wouldn’t get a spell off.”

“Exactly! Our team’s the strong one!”

Stone Fang’s summary made Meng Linna nod.

A temp team, but the vibe was great.

“Enough talk. Let’s open the chests. Unknown rewards are an adventurer’s joy, right?”

True.

At Meng Linna’s call, they opened the chests.

The first treasure was a Crab Claw Shield.

Less a shield, more a giant claw.

It strapped to the user’s hand to block.

Smaller than Stone Fang’s shield but controllable.

The user could clamp it to deal damage.

Perfect for Stone Fang, who lacked offense.

The shield went to her.

“Feels tailor-made.”

Stone Fang equipped it on her right hand, keeping her big shield on the left.

The second was a Fishbone Greatsword.

Thin and straight, it looked fragile but was sturdy.

Its barbs tore wounds.

Maybe an eel’s bone, it could release electric currents with raw mana input.

“Barely fits my grip.”

It went to Kelly, the swordswoman.

The first two suited them.

The third was Meng Linna’s.

A shell.

Or rather, a magic book with a shell cover.

Being a water-attuned ruin, it held water spells.

“The first two fit us perfectly. But this doesn’t match Teacher Big Dream.”

Stone Fang looked disappointed.

“You’re a priest, can’t learn spells. Guess we sell it.”

“Not quite.”

Meng Linna shook her head.

“I’m not a traditional priest. I’ve got some talent in water magic.”

“Awesome!”

They were genuinely happy for her.

Though it matched her affinity, a spellbook needed study.

Unlike weapons, it wasn’t an instant boost.

Meng Linna stowed it for later.

Stone Fang glanced at the setting sun.

“It’s getting late. Let’s call it a day?”

Most adventurers worked past three p.m.

But Stone Fang considered Meng Linna’s stall.

Meng Linna gave a grateful look.

“Thanks for that.”

“We’re teammates!”

Stone Fang laughed.

“Adventure again tomorrow?”

“Definitely!”

Meng Linna nodded firmly.