"I guess I don't really need it then."
"While restrictions can be applied or removed at will, the cost involved is astronomical," Gosler explained. "It’s not something that can be done repeatedly. Even the Ducal House only keeps one such item in its possession. It would be nice if they could be used more casually, but that’s simply not the reality."
Maybe there was some kind of equipment level requirement or stat lock. Even though I’d never heard of such a thing in this world, it wasn't impossible. I’d been able to use Durandal from the very beginning, but maybe Orichalcum Swords were different. Perhaps they required a certain level of physical strength? Or maybe a minimum level?
"I see."
"Because of that, they aren't used lightly unless it’s the Head of the House or the heir apparent doing the equipping. Strictly between us, even His Excellency used one for a while after he first took over the title."
It sounded like a bicycle with training wheels. They were helpful for beginners, but because the cost of attaching and removing them was so high, you couldn't just swap them around freely. That’s why they only kept one and reserved it for the Duke or his successor. In other words, he was subtly telling me not to touch that one.
So the great Duke Harz used training wheels. Interesting. Still, being born into nobility certainly had its perks, even in the labyrinth.
"Well, I’ll pass on the restricted one. I’ll just take a normal Orichalcum Sword."
"That is most appreciated."
I suspected that, deep down, they didn't even want me taking a standard Orichalcum Sword. By not touching the restricted one, I was actually doing them a favor. I’d call that a win-win.
Then again, they had quite a few of these gathered here, so maybe it wasn't that big a deal to them. They were the ones who told me I could take anything, so an Orichalcum Sword should have been within their expected losses. Or maybe they’d laugh at me later, thinking they’d tricked me into taking a heavy, useless hunk of metal.
Was the restricted sword just bait? A distraction to keep me from noticing something else they wanted to hide? Was there some other prize in here?
I decided to take one more look. I scanned the armory intently, looking so closely that not even a mouse could have scurried past unnoticed. Nothing. I searched so thoroughly that an ant couldn't have crawled out of a crack. Still nothing. I went over the room with a fine-tooth comb, but I didn't find any hidden treasures.
If it wasn't here, it wasn't here.
"Then, I'll take these two."
"Understood. Allow me to express my gratitude once again for your assistance."
I picked out two Orichalcum Swords—specifically the ones with the most empty slots—and accepted them as my reward. This would be a massive boost to our party’s combat power.
With the business concluded, I headed straight back to our house in Quratar.
"Welcome back, Master."
"Yeah, I'm home."
Roxanne greeted me, and the rest of the girls were there too.
"Vesta, can you swing this?"
"A sword?"
I handed one of the Orichalcum Swords to Vesta. If anyone in the party could handle it right now, it was her. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Lutina watching with a cold, piercing gaze. Since she knew where I’d been, she obviously knew where the gift had come from.
From her family's mortal enemy.
"I-It’s a gift from Duke Harz," I stammered, trying to frame it correctly. "But look at it this way: we’ve successfully reduced the Ducal House’s military reserves, haven't we?"
"I suppose so," Lutina replied. "Their supply of backup weapons has decreased."
It seemed she hadn't let go of her grudge for a second. I just hoped she’d keep her revenge plots away from me.
"I believe I can use this without any trouble," Vesta said.
"Can you handle two?"
"Yes... I think I'll be fine."
Vesta took both Orichalcum Swords and began to whirl them around. She dual-wielded the massive blades with effortless grace, the air whistling as she moved. What was all that talk about beginners being unable to use them?
Then again, Vesta wasn't exactly a beginner. Even if she’d only been in the labyrinths for a short time, you couldn't call someone a beginner when they were tearing through bosses on the 40th floors. Roxanne’s training had been terrifyingly effective.
"Sherry, have you heard anything about beginners being unable to use Orichalcum Swords?"
"Yes, that is the general consensus," Sherry confirmed.
"So it really is a thing."
"They are designed for high-level explorers. It stands to reason they would be hard, heavy, and oversized."
"I see."
So that was how people viewed them. My own sword was hard and large, but I didn't have any issues.
"Is that an Orichalcum Sword Vesta is wielding?" Sherry asked.
"It is."
"To think she can swing it so easily..."
Vesta was a force of nature.
"An Orichalcum Sword, huh?" Lutina muttered.
"Y-Yeah. That’s two less for the Duke," I reminded her. I didn't want her thinking I was cozying up to the man. This wasn't a favor; it was spoils of war.
"Indeed."
At least that calmed her down.
"May I... borrow it, desu?" Miria asked.
"Sure."
"Heavy... desu."
Miria took one of the swords from Vesta and immediately sagged under the weight. It was clearly too much for her. I was relieved; if even Miria could have swung it, I would have worried I'd accidentally brought home a restricted "training wheels" version.
"It is certainly heavy, but not impossible to swing," Roxanne said, taking a turn. "However, if it slows down my ability to dodge monster attacks, it defeats the purpose. It doesn't suit my style."
Roxanne could swing it, but she prioritized speed. Typical of her.
"I can swing it," Sherry said, trying it next. "And if you're going for a heavy strike, the weight is actually an advantage. But it's not really that kind of weapon, is it?"
Sherry could manage it too, though not as easily as Roxanne. It was impressive, really. Roxanne was already in a category of her own, but Sherry’s physical strength was nothing to scoff off.
So, "equipment restrictions" weren't a hard level cap or a stat gate where you suddenly became able to use an item perfectly. It was a gradient. Vesta could use them perfectly, Roxanne could manage but preferred not to, Sherry could use them in a pinch, and Miria couldn't handle them at all. Because it was based on physical capability, people just perceived them as "heavy" rather than "restricted."
But that brought me back to the question: what did it mean to "restrict" one?
"Sherry, I heard it’s possible to apply a restriction to these swords so beginners can use them. Do you know anything about that?"
"Yes. If a restriction is applied, anyone can use them," Sherry said, returning the sword to Vesta.
"That's the one."
"Was that one restricted? No... Miria said it was heavy."
"Right." If everyone had been swinging it around like a toy, I would have suspected a mistake.
"I've heard that restricting a weapon is something rich, pampered sons of nobility do for vanity. It’s said to have many drawbacks and no real benefits."
Sherry was really pulling no punches when it came to the Duke's "hobby."
"Is that so?"
"It costs a fortune, and the weapon's performance drops significantly."
That made sense. If there weren't a performance drop, nobody would ever bother removing the restriction.
"I don't plan on restricting them," I said. "What I'm actually curious about is how to reverse it."
"Reverse it?"
I wasn't really thinking about the Orichalcum Swords. I was thinking about Durandal. Durandal was an incredible sword, likely far superior to anything made of Orichalcum. If high-tier gear needed restrictions for beginners, Durandal should have been the prime candidate.
And yet, I’d used it from day one. Back when I was a Level 1 Villager. It was an initial perk, sure, but in most games, you couldn't just equip end-game gear at the start. It made me wonder if Durandal had been "restricted" so a beginner like me could use it.
"Yes, reversing the process."
"To reverse it, you simply perform the same ritual used to apply the restriction. At least, that's what I've heard."
"I see." So it was a toggle. One ritual to turn the restriction on, the same ritual to turn it off.
"You have to fuse a Guild Temple," Sherry added.
"A Guild Temple?"
"It’s the item left behind by the final boss when a labyrinth is fully conquered. If the boss on the very top floor is defeated and the labyrinth is cleared, they drop a Guild Temple instead of their usual item. It’s the same for every labyrinth."
"Huh."
So you needed the drop from clearing a whole labyrinth. That explained why it was a cost that even a Duke would hesitate to pay. You couldn't just farm them like regular boss drops. They were incredibly rare.
"As the name implies, a Guild Temple is usually used to establish a new branch of a guild. You can't start an Explorer or Adventurer Guild without one, so they are vital, high-value items. Using one just to restrict a single weapon is almost unheard of."
Sherry’s explanation confirmed it. It was a massive waste of resources.
"I see. Thanks, Sherry."
"You're welcome."
"Well, the Duke will be the one footing the bill for our next reward anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter to us."
"Wait, the Duke is footing the bill?" Sherry caught that immediately.
"It's nothing bad," I said, trying to wave it off. I had to be careful with my phrasing around them. I wasn't perfect, and sometimes my thoughts just leaked out. I was only human, after all. "Basically, he said once we're able to clear the 50th floor, he’ll point us toward a labyrinth that’s ready to be conquered."
"There are labyrinths like that?"
"Well, if one is available, he'll give us the right to clear it."
"An introduction..." Lutina muttered, falling silent. She probably hated the idea of accepting anything more from the Duke, but I needed to make sure she was okay with it.
"Well," Lutina eventually said, "if it means we're taking a resource that the Duke would otherwise use to increase his own power, I suppose it is acceptable."
Approval granted. She’d reached a logical conclusion on her own. I didn't feel like I owed the Duke anything; if anything, he was paying me for my services.
"In that case, we should make use of the offer as soon as possible," Roxanne added.
I thought I heard Roxanne mutter something slightly ominous after that, but I decided it was just my imagination. Some things are better left uninvestigated.
"Anyway, should we head into the labyrinth and see how those swords feel in a real fight?" I asked Vesta.
"Yes. I'm ready."
We headed into the labyrinth immediately. Roxanne and Lutina followed close behind. There was no escaping the party's momentum now.
I watched Vesta fight. Seeing her tower over the monsters, swinging a massive Orichalcum Sword in each hand, was a sight to behold. She was a juggernaut.
Honestly, calling her the Great Demon King didn't seem like much of an exaggeration at all.