Overgeared, page 293
Pavranium was a mineral with its own will. It considered Grid’s safety as the top priority and moved with its own judgment. It was far more efficient to give it freedom than to limit it to his body. What was the best type of item to utilize that freedom?
‘A symbol of freedom…’
“Snack.”
“…It is a snack. Eh?”
Grid frowned. Snack? Who was the person who suddenly interfered with his deep thoughts by speaking nonsense? Grid shifted his gaze in that direction. The guy who had devoted himself to monster hunting since arriving in Reidan was now resting on the window sill.
“Give me a snack! Give it to me! Nyang!”
He had a very proud and arrogant attitude. It was almost a command.
“Have you lost your senses? No, in the first place, why are you after a snack? Don’t you eat monster or human souls?”
“That is food! Snacks are snacks, nyang!”
“What jerk gave you the concept of snacks…?”
“Your wife! Nyang!”
“…”
Setting aside where he learnt the word ‘wife,’ he was talking about Irene.
‘I heard that Irene has a hobby of baking cake these days.’
Irene was the daughter of an earl, so she never learned how to cook. Now after coming to Reidan, she wanted to learn how to cook and bake, so that she could give Grid a little joy. Thanks to her, the Overgeared members and the soldiers were able to enjoy sweet snacks. Noe seemed to have been added as well.
“Sigh, okay. Take a nap and don’t interfere with my work.”
Grid decided to ignore Noe and started thinking again about what to make with the pavranium.
‘An item that can highlight the advantage of moving on its own…’
“Teddy bear.”
“…A teddy bear is good… Ah, you.”
Grid frowned. Teddy bear? Who was interfering this time? The incensed Grid turned towards the owner of the voice. It was Randy, who was in the appearance of a little girl.
“I received a teddy bear from Irene!”
Randy was pure and cute as she extended the bear. Grid nodded roughly towards the child.
“Okay. Go and play with the teddy bear.”
“Yes!”
Randy smiled and went next to Noe to play with the bear. But her playing didn’t last long. Noe teased Randy by repeatedly batting at the teddy bear.
“…I’m going crazy.”
Randy started crying while Noe laughed, interrupting Grid’s meditation time. So he kicked them out. Then he wondered again.
‘The item I should make out of pavranium…’
“Please make farming equipment.”
“…The answer is farming equipment… Hah.”
Grid’s face distorted like a demon. Farming equipment? This time, someone was pouring cold water on him! The owner of the voice was Piaro. Piaro was wearing dirt-stained clothing. Grid could no longer overlook it.
“Piaro, what is your job?”
“I am the leader of the Overgeared Knights Division, commander of Reidan, and a farmer.”
“Isn’t there something strange in there?”
“No.”
Grid couldn’t understand it at all.
“Why on earth do you keep clinging to being a farmer? Are you doing your duties as knight captain and commander of Reidan?”
“Yes.”
Piaro answered without hesitation. He felt pride in his responsibilities.
“Then I’m glad. But what about your goal of becoming a sword saint? If you don’t have time due to your duties, isn’t it better to quit farming and practice your swordsmanship?”
[A legendary farmer has been born!]
The main character of the notification window that all users in Satisfy saw wasn’t Piaro. Grid was certain, but he couldn’t help feeling nervous. In this case, his uneasy feeling was proven correct.
“I realized that I am a farmer, not a sword saint.”
“…”
Grid was no longer a fool. Piaro was faithful to his role as a farmer. It was rumored that the seven guilds’ invasion of Reidan was repelled by farmers. The users doing field work, and so on. All of these things attested to the fact that Piaro was the legendary farmer.
Grid just didn’t want to admit it.
Sword Saint Muller. Grid hoped that Piaro’s strength would be recognized as the strongest among the legends.
“…Is it because your talent isn’t enough to pursue the peak of swordsmanship? In the end, you gave up and became a farmer.”
Grid couldn’t hide his anger as he tried to provoke Piaro.
“…”
Piaro knew the role that Grid wanted for him. He knew the sense of loss that Grid would be feeling. Piaro was determined to prove himself to Grid. He would prove that he was superior compared to when he was a great swordsman.
“Farming is the foundation of our lives and it is more valuable than anything else in the world. I just chose a more valuable path.”
“It is possible for women to harvest the crops. You aren’t the only one who can do farming.”
“However, I’m the only one who can master it.”
“Why do you need to master farming? Ah, to create a good harvest? It is very minor. If you have power, you can occupy more territory. Then there would be more people and we can secure a large amount of food using it. It is much more profitable to develop the armed forces to aim for more land.”
“Mastering farming isn’t merely raising crops. I can exert more power if I have an understanding of nature. I can confident that I am necessary for My Lord.”
“Really? Then prove it. What type of power can a farmer exert?”
This was what Piaro wanted. He had been wanting this situation since he asked for farming equipment.
‘I must be acknowledged by My Lord.’
He would let Grid know the greatness of a farmer. Piaro took out his hand plow and plow, while Grid armed himself with Failure and Grid’s Greatsword.
“I will return you to your original form. Your hands are meant to hold a sword, not dirt-stained farming equipment!”
At present, Piaro wasn’t sane. Grid had to return him to the right path. Grid put on the Slaughterer’s Eye Patch and used Blacksmith’s Rage to overpower Piaro. Piaro made a sad expression.
‘His talent is weak compared to Kraugel and Chris.’
Grid made great strides after defeating Pagma’s Doppelganger, but his lord was fundamentally unskilled. It was unlikely that his growth had continued since then.
‘You might be poisoned with frustration after losing, but I believe that you can overcome this poison as usual.’
Piaro would first relieve his burden by proving his value. Piaro judged and blocked the blue greatsword Grid was swinging, then counterattacked while avoiding a dark blue greatsword. In his head, Grid had already collapsed.
But what was Grid’s specialty? It was the power to overcome common sense and destroy predictions.
Chaaeng!
“…!”
As soon as the blue greatsword and hand plow collided, Piaro’s eyes widened.
Chapter 318
Chapter 318
As soon as the blue greatsword and hand plow collided, Piaro’s eyes widened.
‘Heavy!’
Grid’s swordsmanship was rough. It wasn’t outstanding. However, his high strength and agility wrecked considerable havoc.
‘How far has he come?’
Piaro had experience teaching Grid. He knew more than anyone that Grid was dull-witted. Even though he inherited the legendary skills, Piaro was confident that a rapid growth wasn’t possible for Grid.
But he was mistaken. Grid’s growth rate was comparable to the geniuses that Piaro recognized, Regas and Ibellin.
‘Now!’
The synergy between the Slaughterer’s Eye Patch and his high insight exploded. As Piaro was feeling confused, Grid’s eye flashed red and he shook the hand plow off Failure. At this point, Grid’s greatsword moved horizontally.
Chaaeng!
“Uh…!”
Piaro groaned. A powerful shock was delivered despite the defense of the plow. Blacksmith’s Rage and the buff on the pavranium meant that Grid’s attack power currently surpassed Chris. In particular, Grid’s high agility gave him wings.
Chaaeng! Jjang! Jjejeong!
In the time it took Chris to attack twice, Grid had attacked three times. Piaro was very surprised. It was surprising since Grid was predicted to be below Chris’ level. But this surprise didn’t last long.
Grid had one lacking point. It was his understanding of swordsmanship. Chris executed a trajectory that forced the enemy’s movement to slow, while Grid was just fast.
First, defend and then pierce through the gap. Piaro turned to the left, aiming his hand plow at Grid’s left shoulder. It was an attack that precisely aimed for the weak point, but something unexpected happened.
A golden blade flew and guarded Grid. Piaro blocked the attack and was amazed.
‘Indeed!’
A legendary blacksmith. Grid made up for his lack of swordsmanship with tools. However, didn’t the golden blade stiffen from one strike? Piaro didn’t consider the pavranium to be a variable. This was a natural judgment. It was too early to express this as carelessness.
But who was Grid? Once again, he was a legendary blacksmith. He transcended predictions with his items.
Peeng!
“Heok?”
Piaro had been the strongest ever since he became a great swordsman. He was considered invincible and rarely experienced a fright. The golden blade went stiff after protecting Grid’s shoulder. Then it launched Magic Missile!
“Ugh!”
It was a completely unexpected type of attack. He never imagined that magic would come from the blade. Then Grid leapt forward through that gap.
Chaaeng!
Once the attack was blocked, he took advantage of the rebound and swung Grid’s Greatsword. It was an exciting linked combo.
Puok!
“…!”
Blood dripped down Piaro’s chest. However, the damage didn’t seem to be great and there was no shaking in his posture. Grid knew how robust he was and linked the attacks without hesitation.
Slashing and a descending cut. Landing and then a horizontal slash. The subsequent counterattack was defended by Failure and then countered with Grid’s Greatsword. He succeeded in a total of five attacks with Grid’s Greatsword. Then the option of Grid’s Greatsword was activated, making the fifth attack a critical attack.
[Critical!]
[You have dealt 22,900 damage to the target.]
‘Ridiculously durable.’
The person wounded was Piaro, but Grid was the one who felt surprised. It was because Piaro’s defensive power exceeded Elfin Stone’s, despite him only wearing simple clothes. His health must be at least 300,000.
Piaro was a legendary farmer, so he now had significantly higher stats than when he was a great swordsman. In addition, he raised his level through continuous training. Piaro’s current level was 405, which was 38 levels higher than when Grid observed him with the Great Lord’s Sword.
Grid was only level 301, so his attacks couldn’t deal proper damage. This was a judgment based on level that the system decided by default.
Piaro expressed his respect.
“I am proud of you.”
Had he been working hard since the day he struggled with Pagma’s doppelganger?
“I have to salute My Lord, who has done your best despite your lack of talent.”
[Piaro’s loyalty has soared to the peak.]
[The absolute trust in his lord has increased Piaro’s willingness and opened up his potential. Piaro’s stats will permanently increase by 10%.]
“Heok.”
Grid would normally be glad about the notification windows. But now was an exception.
“W-Wait a minute!”
Piaro should become stronger after the battle! He didn’t have time to put that thought in his mouth.
“Free Farming 1st Style, Sowing.”
Pa pa pa pat!
Piaro sprinkled dozens of seeds.
The pavranium responded because it was aimed at Grid.
Out of the 27 pavranium, four of the pavranium turned into blades had been mixed with the Water Clan King’s Tears. The remaining 23 were the basic form, showing a weak defense. They couldn’t fully defend against all the seeds sowed around Grid and stiffened.
[You have suffered 9,320 damage.]
“This damn thing!”
Grid was hit by a rice seed that penetrated through the stiff pavranium and screamed. In the past, a low level user in Patrian was hit by a bone and died. Now Grid was in the same position.
“Free Farming 2nd Style, Rapid Growth.”
Kwaduk! Kudududuk!
After hitting the pavranium or Grid, the seeds on the floor started growing rapidly.
‘What is this?’
Grid freaked out as he saw the rice growing.
“This is a power that only a legendary farmer can exert.”
Piaro’s will was firm. As a legendary farmer, he wasn’t incompetent. So he wanted to be acknowledged. But Grid couldn’t accept it. No matter how strong a legendary farmer, he couldn’t get rid of the idea that a sword saint was better.
“Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Link!”
A sword dance was quickly unfolded.
Pit! Pipipipipit!
Dozens of attacks flew out and scattered the rice plants. Grid and Piaro’s eyes met.
“Pagma’s Swordsmanship…!”
“Free Farming!”
Kuooooh!
The air around Grid sank heavily. The intense aura around Grid was concentrated at the end of the greatsword, making the target feel an extreme threat. It was the manifestation of Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Kill.
Piaro’s skill was even more amazing.
“6th Style! Flailing!”
The plow was replaced by a flail. It ruthlessly struck Grid’s Greatsword that was aiming for his chest.
Pepeok! Bam bam bam!
“Heok?”
Grid was surprised. It was because the energy of Kill was unable to bear the power of the flail and dissipated.
‘This is crazy!’
Flailing! One of his strongest skills was disabled by a farming technique. The thing that made him even more irate was that the old flail Piaro was using was a rare rated farming tool that Grid made a few months ago. In contrast, his weapon was legendary rated!
‘Shit!’
It felt like he was grain hit by a flail. Piaro’s skill wasn’t just strong. It also had a tendency to break the enemy’s self-esteem. It was very powerful.
‘He might be a farmer, but a legend is a legend. This is pretty amazi… No, no.’
He couldn’t acknowledge Piaro as a farmer. Piaro should only be a sword saint. Grid barely recovered from his confusion and gave orders to four pavranium blades that contained Magic Missile.
‘Shoot from all directions!’
The pavranium only followed Grid’s will. They immediately reacted by surrounding Piaro and firing Magic Missile all at once.
‘This basic magic isn’t a threat to me!’
Piaro was caught off guard before, but not now.
Piaro demonstrated the hidden technique of Free Farming, ‘Natural State.’ Then the earth, air, trees and everything in nature gave him strength, causing his stats to rise dramatically. It was natural that his magic resistance would also increase.
But it was useless.
Pepepepeng!
“Cough!”
The Magic Missile (Enhanced) Grid received from Braham completely ignored the target’s magic resistance. Despite the use of Natural State, Piaro suffered a lot of damage.
‘What is with the strength of this magic?’
Piaro had fought with Earl Ashur, one of the 10 great magicians of the continent. But Earl Ashur didn’t have magic that was this fast and powerful.
‘The magic of an artifact transcends that of a great magician…!’
His lord was truly great. Piaro felt sincere respect.
On the other hand, Grid was cursing.
‘Dammit.’
He was able to add magic to pavranium thanks to the Water Clan King’s Tears sent by Euphemina, but there was a problem. In order to deploy the Magic Missile attributed to the pavranium, Grid’s mana was consumed.
Malacus’ Cloak and the Black Quartz Earrings increased Grid’s intelligence, giving him mana close to 16,000. The mana cost of the legendary skills was very high, so it was too much to use both Pagma’s Swordsmanship and Magic Missile (Enhanced).
But in this situation, Piaro became even stronger.
‘Natural State…’
It amplified his stats, like Braham’s Magic Drain. It was an excellent legendary buff skill.
‘On the other hand, my Blacksmith’s Rage…’
Blacksmith’s Rage was based on sympathizing with blacksmiths! It couldn’t be denied that it was a great buff that increased attack damage and attack speed, but the disadvantage was that the duration was too short. The skill at level 5 only lasted for 35 seconds. Piaro’s Natural State and Braham’s Magic Drain were undeniably better.
Pepeok! Bam bam bam!
“Ugh!”
Would Blacksmith’s Rage one day be reborn to match a legendary skill? Grid’s thinking was broken by Piaro’s flail. Grid tried to defend, but it was difficult. The flail was light, its attack speed was fast and its trajectory was irregular.
‘This is a joke…!’
Piaro was very fast after using Natural State. He avoided all the Magic Missiles fired by the pavranium again. Grid was distressed about the one-sided beating.
‘If only I had two more hands…!’
He would be able to resist Piaro’s flail and also reverse the situation by using Item Combination.
‘Ah?’
Grid was struck with an epiphany.
‘Yes, hands!’
The hands of a legendary blacksmith! What if he could reproduce these great hands with the pavranium? Just imagine it! The legendary blacksmith hands that moved according to his command.
During combat, he could use multiple items, maximizing the power of his items. In addition, they could be his substitute for the long activation time of Item Combination.
