Chapter 173 – The Lion and the Goat

“I’ve been instructed by His Majesty to assist all of you,” said the female treasure room manager as we toured the interior together. Since there’s a catalog system, if you state your preferences, they can guide you to sections where desired items are grouped together. Therefore, finding what you’re looking for isn’t particularly difficult.

In my case, I’m looking for a coat or robe – or similar magician’s armor this time. Grace, who can’t wear armor types either, plans to search for clothing-based items similarly this time.

While there were many varieties, size considerations naturally narrowed down the practical options.

I’m interested in a black coat, but… it gives off a strange magical energy. When I slipped my arms through the sleeves, it adjusted to fit my physique, clearly indicating it’s no ordinary item.

“What about this coat?”

“It’s called a Chimera Coat. It’s for self-defense for magicians and apparently incorporates magical creatures,” the manager said while consulting the thick catalog. Armor that incorporates magical creatures… similar to Ouroboros then. For now, it looks ordinary though…

“It seems that by supplying magical power, the wearer can activate the magical creatures,” the manager explained.

“May I try summoning them briefly?”

“Please.”

With permission granted, I experimentally channeled magical power into the coat… The shoulder areas bulged upward, and heads of a black lion and black goat emerged. At this sight, the manager displayed a strained smile and took a step backward.

“Well now…”

The lion can extend not just its head but also forelegs equipped with sharp claws. These animals can emerge not only from the shoulders but can change their appearance points to some degree through sleeves, hem, and other parts.

I see. A chimera indeed. Apparently, by supplying magical power, they move and understand my intentions, providing close-quarters escort. Though they call it self-defense – since it can deliver attacks using the lion’s fangs and claws, it should be effective offensively too. It simply increases my options.

Being magical creatures, they follow commands and move with some autonomy. As long as I’m wearing it, I can keep them completely under control and move them like my own limbs.

“What about the goat’s head?”

“Besides headbutting with its horns, it can apparently exhale breath attacks. Though the wearer needs to supply magical power for that.”

“…It would have been perfect if it had a snake too.”

Well, I’ll leave that role to Ouroboros. Though that one’s a dragon.

For now… since it’s not a magic activation body like a staff, I don’t have to worry about burdening my magical power circulation. And I can incorporate it into my magical power circulation. Meaning enhancements will apply to the lion and goat too… The rest I won’t know until I actually try it.

“Somehow… this is interesting.”

I considered combination attacks with the lion and goat, keeping them as hidden cards for surprise attacks… or conversely, they should help prevent the wearer from being ambushed.

“Additionally, being magical creatures, the coat can self-repair even if damaged.”

It adjusts size too… and can receive enchantments. Plus self-repair on top of that. Could this potentially be a lifetime item?

“Hmm. I’ll take this one.”

“Understood.”

When I stopped supplying magical power, the animals retracted.

Good. Now let’s see what everyone else chose.

“Um. What do you think?”

Grace asked after spinning around to show off the dress she was wearing. She seems to have selected a rather plain black dress.

Probably… this is an extension of her maid uniform. I imagine it wouldn’t look odd with an apron worn over it. Grace tends to prioritize functionality, but with this dress, it seems to be more than just that.

“Yeah. It suits you. But… this also gives off a strange magical energy.”

“Somehow, it feels mysterious and I like it,” she said.

The magical energy from the dress is close to that of dark magic systems. No wonder she likes it.

“That’s called the Moonlight Dress. It’s imbued with dark spirit power. It’s also self-repairing armor.”

“I see…”

I nodded at the manager’s explanation while she consulted the catalog.

Both Grace and I fight on the front lines. Our armor wears out quickly, so self-repairing armor is very welcome.

“May I decide on this one?”

“If you like it, Grace. Probably, I think it has good compatibility with you, and even if I were choosing for you, I’d pick this one.”

Grace smiled happily at my words.

Probably, just by equipping it, it will comprehensively boost Grace’s abilities. For example, she should be able to exert her full power even under sunlight.

“What about you, Ashley?”

“I’ll take this.”

It’s a circlet adorned with pearls and coral… but this isn’t just an ornament either. What looks like gems are actually all magic stones, clearly a magic-related item.

“Ocean’s Queen. It says it enhances water magic.”

So for Ashley, this should strengthen both her attack methods and healing magic simultaneously, I suppose.

There were many unknown aspects about the treasure room’s contents. I’ve left the choices largely to everyone’s discretion, and they seem to have selected quite good items.

“What did you choose, Marlene?”

When I asked, Marlene smiled cheerfully and showed me what appeared to be a lantern, holding it with both hands.

“This is called Phantom Light… It’s somewhat difficult to handle, but it can create and move illusions of whatever you envision in distant locations.”

“An illusion magic tool, then.”

That should suit Marlene, who typically operates in the rearguard. She could protect summoned monsters with illusions, create saucers to cause confusion… The possibilities expand endlessly depending on how she uses it.

If she cooperates with Seraphina, they should be able to create illusions accompanied by sound.

“What do you mean by difficult to handle?”

“It requires high concentration and imagination to use. Illusion magic itself is said to be difficult to master.”

Hmm… In that regard, Marlene shouldn’t have any problems.

“I’ll take this.”

What Sheila showed me was a bracelet modeled after a spider.

“That’s the Arachne Band. From the spider motif, it can project adhesive threads and webs.”

“Another vicious one…”

Combined with Sheila’s physical abilities, this should become quite a weapon. Even in ancient Roman gladiator circles, the style of restricting movement with nets before going in for the kill was quite dominant.

Paired with her dagger throwing, this seems like a pretty good magic tool for mid-range suppression, doesn’t it?

“What about you, Irmhild?”

“I’m taking a bracelet too.”

On Irmhild’s left wrist was a silver bracelet. When she made a gesture as if pulling something from the bracelet with her right hand fingers, something like an arrow emerged, radiating magical brilliance.

“That’s the Arrow Ring. It can create arrows from magical power. It’s useless without a bow, but for archers with abundant magical power, it should be convenient, right?”

“…Definitely convenient.”

No need to buy or make arrows individually. You’re also freed from the hassle of retrieving usable arrows after shooting or worrying about remaining supplies.

Originally bow-focused, she had excess magical power even when using cursed melodies. And since they’re made from magical power, we can likely expect enchantment effects too.

“I’ll take this.”

What Seraphina brought was a horn that seemed large relative to her body – or slightly small-sized from a normal human’s perspective.

“This is called the Shatter Horn. It’s an offensive magic tool.”

From what I heard, it’s a weapon capable of powerful sonic wave attacks. Another perfect weapon for Seraphina. Unlike when she was rampaging, she herself lacked active attack methods. Ranged weapons are good too. Seraphina is basically rearguard.

“Did you find something good, Claudia?”

“I’ve already received various things,” she said with a quiet smile.

It seems she’s sitting this one out since King Melvin has already accommodated her in various ways this time, and she won’t be fighting monsters in the labyrinth. Even if she fought in the labyrinth, it wouldn’t enhance her abilities as the administrator, plus she’s in a position where she needs to conserve magical power consumption.

“What kind of new equipment did you choose, Theodore-sama?”

“Ah. When I channel magical power, magical creatures emerge and provide various support.”

When I made the lion’s head emerge from my shoulder, everyone’s eyes widened.

When I stroked its mane and throat, it made purring sounds characteristic of felines, which was quite amusing.

…Though it might be too intimidating in appearance… But that’s easily solved by not summoning them when unnecessary.

But we obtained more than I expected. As expected of the royal castle’s treasure room, I suppose.

That said, we need to get accustomed to the new equipment, so we’ll have to train properly for that. But well, when new challenges like this appear, it becomes… enjoyable somehow.