After laughing for a while, the three of them turned their attention back to the remaining item information.
[World-Class Item: Eternal Seal.]
[Seals the effect of a single magic or item activation. Even the effects of a World-Class Item can be sealed. However, this item itself cannot be used again unless the seal is lifted.]
[Cooldown: None.]
"This item feels pretty underwhelming. It's just average, nothing particularly valuable."
Herohero studied the description in front of him and spoke with some hesitation.
After all, anyone who possessed a World-Class Item already carried an inherent buff that made them immune to the effects of other World-Class Items. That meant this item's main effect was less useful than a simple passive ability.
It could only be called the most useless of all World-Class Items.
"I wouldn't say that," Naohara countered. "At the very least, it can be used on people who don't have World-Class Items. It can seal the effects of their World-Class Items. In a critical moment, it might still come in handy."
It looked unimpressive, even worse than a passive ability, but in the right situation, it could still produce unexpected results.
"I think this item is actually pretty strong," Momonga said, looking at the two of them as they shared different opinions. "If someone activates a World-Class Item with a massive range, or even one that affects the entire world, we could use this item to interrupt its effect. That's not bad at all."
Against World-Class Items activated by a single person, it was indeed lackluster. But when it came to large-scale or multi-person activations, its value was clear.
"When you put it that way, you're right," Herohero said after thinking it over. "If someone were to activate a World-Class Item like Ragnarök, at least we'd have a way to deal with it."
Naohara nodded as well. The chances were slim, but if it really did happen, having a countermeasure was better than having none.
"As expected of our Guildmaster, Momonga. You really do think far ahead," Herohero praised.
He and Naohara had only considered part of the picture, while Momonga had already looked much further ahead.
"Herohero, I'm really not that impressive," Momonga said a little embarrassed, rubbing his smooth skull.
"If even Blackie says so, then stop trying to dodge the praise, Momonga," Naohara said helplessly, giving Momonga's spine a light pat.
Momonga claimed it was nothing special, but the smile in his voice was impossible to hide.
"Well, if Naohara says so, then fine."
"Momonga's really brightened up lately," Herohero said curiously as he watched the two of them. "Is that because of Naohara?"
Momonga had always been a decent guy, but he'd never been like this before. If anyone had brought about that change, it could only be Naohara, who spent so much time with him.
"Yeah," Momonga nodded. "Though sometimes he gives me a real headache."
He glanced at the utterly carefree Naohara in front of him. There was no trace of the seriousness from their earlier discussion, which made Momonga sigh.
"Haha, Momonga's actually a closeted softie at heart," Naohara said with a grin as he turned to Herohero and started talking about Momonga.
With his worries gone, he was completely at ease, acting however he pleased.
"Naohara, you bastard!"
Watching Naohara whispering with Herohero, Momonga felt completely helpless. Or perhaps relieved. The more carefree Naohara acted, the more it showed he had truly abandoned any thoughts of suicide, and that finally put Momonga at ease.
All that was left now was to help him pay off his loan and find a job. The only question was whether the company was still hiring. Tomorrow, he'd treat the department head to a meal and ask about it.
Momonga lowered his head, lost in thought over the dinner plans.
"Hey, Momonga, we're supposed to be checking the next item. Don't space out."
Naohara, having finished talking with Herohero, noticed Momonga zoning out. He paused for a moment, then a mischievous grin crept across his face. Under Herohero's barely suppressed laughter, he slowly leaned in close to Momonga's ear, cranked the system volume to maximum, and shouted at full blast.
"AHHH!!"
The sudden roar snapped Momonga out of his thoughts instantly, making him cry out in shock.
"Naohara, you really haven't changed at all. You gave Momonga quite a scare there," Herohero said with a light laugh. His slime body trembled slightly, clearly in a great mood.
"And you're no better, Blackie. You've got just as nasty a sense of humor, or you wouldn't have stood there watching," Naohara shot back, rolling his eyes at the pitch-black slime. The two of them were cut from the same cloth.
"You two… Hah! I'll let it go this time, but next time, I definitely won't forgive you," Momonga said, finally recovering, glaring at the pair with an expression full of anger.
Naohara and Herohero just laughed it off. The threat carried no weight at all. After all these years, they knew Momonga too well. If he got angry that easily, he wouldn't be Momonga.
"Alright, alright. Hurry up and show Herohero the item," Naohara said with a grin, patting both Momonga and Herohero and pulling them closer. "Later, I'm planning to take a few people to stroll around the Throne Room."
"That works," Momonga replied, calming down as well. "But the next item is a bit special. You could even call it the strongest World-Class Item."
At the mention of the Throne Room, Momonga focused himself and began checking the next item. After all, there wasn't much time left.
[World-Class Item: Ring of Ouroboros.]
[Allows the user to make one request to the game's official operators, or to copy the effect of a World-Class Item.]
[After use, it disappears automatically and reappears randomly somewhere in the world.]
The description was brief, yet impossible to overlook.
"So it's this item," Herohero said, staring at it in surprise. "I remember our guild being sealed by an enemy guild using this back then. Its effect was terrifyingly strong."
He was no stranger to it. Their rival guild had once used this very item to lock down the world where Nazarick was located for an entire month, seizing their mining territory in the process.
It was supposed to have vanished into some corner of one of the Nine Worlds, yet somehow it had ended up in Nazarick. Fate really had a twisted sense of humor.
(P.S. The game world is massive and consists of nine separate world maps.)
"Yeah. Honestly, I didn't expect it either," Naohara said with a helpless sigh. "I was just out farming materials like usual and ended up picking up a World-Class Item."
Despite his words, the slight curl at the corner of his mouth gave him away completely. His whole posture screamed, "Go on, praise me," "Aren't I amazing," "I'm just that incredible."
"Well, the details are a bit different, but it really was something Naohara picked up by accident while hunting monsters," Momonga said, feeling a little speechless as he explained it to Herohero.
Back then, he had envied Naohara's luck for a long time. Why wasn't it me who found it?
Momonga sighed inwardly. Was this the difference between a lucky god and an unlucky wretch?
"So it's actually true? Your luck really hasn't changed, Naohara," Herohero said, genuinely shocked. He'd assumed Naohara was joking. After all, who just casually picks up a World-Class Item? Did he think this was a novel?
And yet, it really had been picked up like that. Herohero fell silent.
He lifted his head and glanced at Momonga, who happened to be looking back at him. The two unlucky ones met each other's eyes for a moment before both lowering their heads again.
So… the clown really is me.
...
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