EPIC: Path of Demons and Dragons

Chapter 5: Princely Attire



With slots for his wrists, two rings, earrings, a necklace, two layers of torso armor, pants, a belt, shoes, a cape, underwear, and two weapons, Vahn spent hours considering his options before deciding on a Set called the Eastern Prince's Casuals. He couldn't see the detailed parameters of what he was purchasing beforehand, but Set Effects were shown, as well as a preview of what he would look like when wearing each piece.

Though it was embarrassing to admit, Vahn had always wanted to be the main character of his own story. Thus, given functionally limitless options, he tried picking an outfit he thought made him look cool. The result was a soot-black dress shirt, which was left unbuttoned by default, a dark grey vest with notched lapels, matching grey slacks that were easy to move in, a white belt, golden bracers, a stylish golden necklace, comfortable white socks, and black dress shoes. He wasn't comfortable with the thought of piercing his ears, but he purchased a pair of rings with large red and blue gemstones, a paired set that increased his resistance to flames and water by 20% while increasing the rate at which he replenished his stamina.

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[Eastern Prince's Dress Shirt]

Rank: B

P.Def: 110

M.Def: 160

Enchantment(s): [Eastern Prince's Charm(-)], [Temperature Regulation(B), [Grime Resistance(C)], [Corrosion Resistance(D)]

A stylish dress shirt woven from the silk of a Shadowsilk Moth, granting it the ability to absorb light without causing the wearer to overheat.

Set Effect: (2) 10% to all Elemental Resistances except Void. Immunity to Instant Death Effects. +10 Charm.

Set Effect: (4) 20% to all Elemental Resistances except Void. Immunity to Instant Death and Weakening Effects. +20 Charm.

[Eastern Prince's Vest]

Rank: B

P.Def: 140

M.Def: 125

Enchantment(s): [Eastern Prince's Charm(-)], [Shock Resistance(C), [Grime Resistance(C)], [Corrosion Resistance(c)]

A durable black vest that was woven from the silk of a Shadowsilk Moth and treated with a special resin to increase its ability to mitigate impacts. Also prevents the wearer from overheating, even in the most unrelenting desert climates.

[Eastern Prince's Slacks]

Rank: B

P.Def: 190

M:def: 80

Enchantment(s): [Eastern Prince's Charm(-)], [Temperature Regulation(B), [Grime Resistance(C)], [Corrosion Resistance(D)]

Tailored from Shadowsilk Moth silk, these refined slacks absorb light for a shadowy appearance while ensuring coolness and freedom of movement.

[Eastern Prince's Dress Shoes]

Rank: B

P.Def: 240

M.Def: 130

Enchantment(s): [Eastern Prince's Charm(-)], [Temperature Regulation(B), [Grime Resistance(B)], [Slip Resistance(C)]

Crafted from the hide of a rare Ebon Crocodile, these sleek shoes are as glossy as they are durable. Though unsuited to sandy climates, they are exceptional at displacing heat.

[Stylish White Belt]

Rank: B

P.Def: 180

M.Def: 170

Enchantment(s): [Eye Catching(B], [Curse Resistance(C], [Waist Support(C)]

A stylish white belt made from the treated hide of an Alabaster Drake. It has a quality that draws the eye of others, enhancing the wearer's charm.

Special Property: Charm +5

[Cozy Compresses]

Rank: B

P.Def: 130

M.Def: 130

Enchantment(s): [Comfortable Fit(B)], [Fungal Resistance(C)], [Fresh Fragrance(D)]

Comfortable white socks that make the wearer feel as though they're walking on clouds. As an added bonus, they completely eliminate foot odor, replacing it with a fresh, minty smell that others find pleasant.

Special Property: Charm +2

[Bracelets of Dominion]

Rank: B

P.Def: 300

M.Def: 90

Enchantment(s): [Returning(-)], [Perfect Guard(B)], [Power Boost(C)], [Golden(C)]

Golden bracelets that allow the user to recall a designated weapon and completely mitigate the damage from an enemy attack with a well-timed guard. Though some might consider their appearance gaudy, others find the glistening of gold without parallel.

Special Property: Charm +10. The wearer may be targeted by those who wish to claim the bracelets for themselves.

[Necklace of Command]

Rank: B

P.Def: 170

M.Def: 200

Enchantment(s): [Commanding Shout(B)], [Pinch Hitter(C)], [Golden(C)], [Curse Resistance(D)]

A golden necklace that allows the wearer's voice to be heard across vast distances and increases the efficacy of Magic with a vocal component. As it is constructed almost entirely from gold, the wearer will not be able to avoid the attention of others.

Special Property: Charm +10. The wearer may be targeted by those who wish to claim the necklace for themselves.

[Twin Ring of Flame]

Rank: B

P.Def: 290

M.Def: 10

Enchantment(s): [Flame and Water United(-)], [Flame Boost(B)], [Flame Resistance(C)], [Golden(D)]

A gold ring imbued with a special ruby harvested from the heart of a volcano. It is very pretty and pairs well with its sibling.

Special Property: Charm +5

Set Effect: Increases Flame and Water Resistance by 20% and increases the rate at which the wearer recovers their Stamina.

[Twin Ring of Water]

Rank: B

P.Def: 10

M.Def: 290

Enchantment(s): [Flame and Water United(-)], [Water Boost(B)], [Water Resistance(C)], [Golden(D)]

A gold ring imbued with a special sapphire harvested from the heart of a glacier. It is very pretty and pairs well with its sibling.

Special Property: Charm +5

[Angel Down Pantalettes]

Rank: S

P.Def: 1,000

M.Def: 3,000

Enchantment(s): [Indestructible(S)], [Comfortable Fit(A)], [Self-Repairing(A], [Lineage Protection(B)]

A pair of pantalettes produced from the down plucked from a high-ranking Angel's wings. Their comfort is described as heavenly, but their primary function is to protect the most vulnerable and important part of a male's body.

Special Property: Charm +20, but only when worn alone.

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"Is it just me, or did I become really handsome...?" asked Vahn, staring at himself in his bathroom mirror.

(It's the effect of boosting your Charm.) explained Sis, sensing Vahn's confusion and elucidating (Charm, as the name implies, influences how charming you appear to others. Power, Guts, and Proficiency denote your strength, your resistance against various forms of attack, and your overall skill. As for your Alignment, it changes depending on whether you perform good or evil acts.)

"Can you bring up my Status real quick...?" asked Vahn, prompting Sis to comply without hesitation.

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[Status]

Name: [Vahn Mason]

Age: 17

Race: Human, Sealed

Title: N/A

Parameters: High School DxD

Power: 4(5)

Guts: 37(40)

Proficiency: 6(7)

Charm: 51(108)

Alignment: Neutral

Soul Tier: 1 (Mortal Soul)

Karma: 113

OP: 364,323

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"Wow, my Charm more than doubled..." remarked Vahn, looking to his OP and adding, "And I still have a ton of OP left over. Those Aspiring Saint's clothes must have been really valuable."

(You can always check their price, buy them back for their sell value, or repurchase them in the future.) appended Sis. (But your current outfit should more than suffice for your first trip into the Corridor of Intertwined Fates.)

"I just need a weapon," said Vahn, prompting Sis to pull up the spears he had been perusing previously. There were dozens of options, but he was leaning toward a 300,000 OP spear known as the Legendary Spear. It had a simple but refined design, and though it apparently started with a single point in its physical and magical attack stats, it could grow more powerful by consuming minerals and slaying monsters. The alternative was a spear with a sun motif that should benefit greatly from the Flame Boost(B) of his Twin Ring of Flame.

Having read a manga called Danmachi, Vahn knew that weapons with the capacity to grow were almost always better than those without. Thus, as cool as the Sunspot Spear looked, he ultimately disregarded it along with the remaining options, stating, "Sis, Please use all but 50,000 of my OP to purchase the Legendary Spear and some minerals to nourish it."

(One moment.) responded Sis, her words followed by a surprisingly long spear with an ivory white pole with tapered ends that flared out, accented by gold. The pommel had a thin, black, needle-like spike that looked like it could pierce armor cleanly, while the tip was much broader, rounded near the base with a long, gladius-like blade that was black with a silver sheen along the edges, set with a crimson orb.

Ignoring the multicolored ingots that had appeared next to the sink atop the counter, Vahn picked up the spear, jolting as it abruptly retracted to a more comfortable size. It was still around two and a half meters long, but that was a good length for his 175cm height. Unfortunately, it was still too large to swing around in the bathroom.

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[Legendary Spear]

Rank: A

P.Atk: 1

M.Atk: 1

Enchantment(s): [Spear Spirit(-)], [Resizing(-)], [Aura Conductivity(B)], [Self-Repairing(B)]

A replica of a spear formed from the fragmented soul of a Guardian Deity. Though not the original, it has the power to surpass it if the wielder takes care to grow it well.

Special Property: [Mineral Refinement], [Essence Absorption], Proficiency Boost equal to 5% of Physical and Magical Attack. Current Bonus: 0

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"Oh, wow...that special property is incredible..." noted Vahn, basing his assumption on the defensive properties of his equipment. He assumed it wouldn't be particularly difficult to get the spear's Physical and Magical Attack stats above a few hundred points, so he should be able to gain at least a few tens of points in Proficiency for free.

Confirming his suspicions, Vahn went through the process of feeding the various ingots Sis had purchased to his spear. He had to start with weaker metals and work his way up, but by the time the process was finished, his spear's stats had increased considerably.

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[Legendary Spear]

Rank: A

P.Atk: 293

M.Atk: 141

Enchantment(s): [Spear Spirit(-)], [Resizing(-)], [Aura Conductivity(B)], [Self-Repairing(B)]

A replica of a spear formed from the fragmented soul of a Guardian Deity. Though not the original, it has the power to surpass it if the wielder takes care to grow it well.

Special Property: [Mineral Refinement], [Essence Absorption], Proficiency Boost equal to 5% of Physical and Magical Attack. Current Bonus: +21

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Interrupting Vahn's starry-eyed appreciation of his newly upgraded spear, Sis reminded (Don't forget to equip it properly. The effect of your bracers will not trigger otherwise.)

"Right," responded Vahn, willing his Inventory to open before placing his spear into the window, causing it to ripple like the surface of a pool. Once it was inside, he pressed his index finger to the spear's icon and dragged it into the weapon slot for his right hand. This didn't cause the weapon to appear, but so long as it was equipped properly, he could call it out with a thought and resummon it to his hand thanks to the Returning effect of his [Bracelets of Dominion].

do-dee-doot-da-doot~

Hearing what sounded like music coming from his room, Vahn startled for a moment before exiting the bathroom to ascertain its origin. It didn't take long for him to determine it was coming from his phone, so after staring at the tiny screen on the back, displaying the name Takashi Fumiko in bright green text, he flipped it open, raised it to his ear, and answered, "Hello? Is this Fumiko-san...?"

"Indeed it is~!" responded the voice over the phone, sounding different from what Vahn remembered but similar enough that he was convinced it was the actual Fumiko.

"May I ask why Fumiko-san is calling...?" asked Vahn, genuinely confused as he wasn't expecting a call until the following morning.

"Oh...well, I've been tasked with showing Vahn-dono around the city and familiarizing you with the route to Kuoh Academy," explained Fumiko, her voice sounding tense and slightly awkward compared to the enthusiasm of her previous response.

(Look at the time, Vahn. It's already after 7:00 AM.) said Sis, causing Vahn to blink in surprise, his eyes widening and brows rising to their limits as he checked the clock to see that it was 7:06 AM. Fumiko had told him before they separated that she would return to pick him up that morning, but he had been so immersed in choosing his new clothes and equipment that more than twelve hours had passed without him realizing it.

Feeling guilty, Vahn's expression and tone became apologetic as he said, "Sorry, Fumiko-san...I hadn't realized what time it was. I should be down in a few minutes..."

"Please, take your time~" responded Fumiko, sounding markedly more upbeat. Fortunately, most of Vahn's outfit could pass as casualwear, so after unequipping his necklace, bracelets, and rings at Sis's suggestion, he buttoned up his shirt and made his way down to the first floor where Fumiko was waiting patiently in the foyer, wearing notably more makeup than the previous day...

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..

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