-281- Dumb Luck?

Later, the raiding party departed from Tolbana and made their way to the labyrinth area.

Although they had to pass through the spacious training zone on the way, in the past, even before reaching the labyrinth tower, players would proceed cautiously to avoid being ambushed by monsters in the open field. However, this time, a group of sixty players, all among the top members of their respective teams, set out together. With such a large force, there was no need to worry about issues arising in the open field.

Under these circumstances, the massive group marched forward with unprecedented arrogance. Even if monsters appeared, they would be immediately surrounded by players and then thoroughly dismantled. Players moved forward with ease, and some even engaged in casual conversation.

As for Rozen, he showed no awareness of his role as the commander. He yawned, chewed on a piece of white bread, and fed breadcrumbs to the rainbow butterfly on his shoulder. He didn't seem like someone about to engage in a battle of life and death; instead, he appeared ready for a leisurely picnic.

Kirito and Argo walked ahead of Rozen, chatting with each other and looking at Rozen's behavior with a somewhat helpless expression.

"Even though we know he's like this, shouldn't there be at least a bit of nervousness at this point?"

"Thanks to that, the raiding party seems to have been influenced as well. They don't seem nervous at all, just laughing and chatting like this. Could ZenZen have planned it out this way from the beginning?"

"...From what I know of him, while he's smart and should have considered this, that nonchalant appearance is definitely not an act."

"...I think so too."

Kirito and Argo exchanged these words before they let Rozen be.

However, while Kirito and Argo could understand the situation, others couldn't.

"It's surprising that you all can be so relaxed, considering that we're about to face a Floor Boss."

A voice like this came from behind Rozen.

Without needing to turn around, Rozen knew who was saying these words.

Who else could it be besides the rapier user?

Rozen shifted his gaze to his rear.

There, a figure cloaked in a hood was walking slowly. She didn't even spare a glance at Rozen, as if she hadn't spoken just a moment ago.

Rozen didn't bother responding to the rapier user's words. He simply looked at the weapon hanging from her waist.

There, the rapier that had originally shone with a steel luster was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a weapon sheathed in a green scabbard.

It was the Wind Fleuret that Rozen had given to Asuna yesterday.

This girl had ultimately decided to equip the weapon.

However, Rozen's brow slightly furrowed.

Because compared to yesterday, that weapon had changed slightly.

Specifically, a faint radiance was circulating around the blade.

This phenomenon was unmistakably...

"Enhancement?" Rozen looked at Asuna in surprise and asked, "Did you enhance the Wind Fleuret?"

This question was met with a very calm response.

"Is there a problem?" Asuna replied emotionlessly, "Weapons can be enhanced, right? When I was at the weapon shop, I saw the option for 'Weapon Enhancement' from the NPC shopkeeper. Even I know that it's an option to make weapons stronger. You just need to prepare the materials. Luckily, my inventory has been accumulating a lot of materials dropped by monsters, so I used them. There shouldn't be a problem, right?"

No problem?

This was a huge problem!

You see, both weapons and armor have a limit to the number of times they can be enhanced, and regardless of success or failure, each enhancement attempt consumes one enhancement count until it reaches zero.

In such a situation, who would dare take a valuable weapon for enhancement so recklessly?

What if it fails?

Although adding specific materials could increase the success rate, the skill proficiency of the NPC blacksmiths in the first floor was very low. Even if it was okay to enhance up to +3 or even try up to +4, going beyond +5 would lower the success rate significantly and +6 would be even lower, even with the highest level of materials to boost the success rate, the possibility of success is still very low.

That's why Rozen went so far as to find the hidden NPC blacksmith, and Kirito was only able to enhance up to +6.

And now, Asuna was telling Rozen that she enhanced her weapon just because she saw the option?

This was simply a disaster!

"You... How far did you enhance it?" Rozen asked, his voice trembling.

In response, Asuna found his question a bit odd, but she still answered.

"I've enhanced it to +6, and then I couldn't continue."

This sentence rendered Rozen utterly speechless.

"...If I remember correctly, the enhancement limit for the Wind Fleuret is +6, right?"

In other words, under her complete lack of understanding, Asuna not only enhanced the Wind Fleuret to its limit but also did so without failing a single time?

Even if all the enhancement materials were added to reach the maximum success rate of 95%, with the ordinary NPC blacksmiths responsible for enhancements, the success rate would decrease to 50% at +5 and a mere 20% at +6. Yet Asuna managed to succeed every time?

"What kind of luck is this?" Rozen felt a sense of imbalance.

At that moment, Rozen once again inquired of Asuna.

"What were your enhancement parameters?"

"Accuracy +3, Durability +3."

"So it's '3A, 3D'?"

"'3A, 3D'? What's that? Some kind of math test score?"

"..."

Asuna's response left Rozen dumbfounded once more.

"Is this what they call 'Dumb luck'?"

"What did you say?"

"...Nothing, just saying that Miss Asuna is truly remarkable. I'm humbled."

This was the truth.

Though idiots might have dumb luck, after reaching its enhanced limit, Asuna's Wind Fleuret +6 had undergone a complete transformation.

Even though the enhancement parameters didn't increase its attack power, that wasn't the focus of the rapier. Known for its speed, along with its low weight, the Wind Fleuret didn't need enhancements to Sharpness, Quickness, or Heaviness. Accuracy and durability were the best choice for a rapier's enhancement parameters.

Rozen couldn't even imagine the kind of damage Asuna's exceptionally skilled swordsmanship, combined with the Accuracy enhancement that increased critical hit rate, could unleash in battle, especially when enhanced by +3. Moreover, the +3 durability enhancement meant she wouldn't have to worry about the weapon's durability anymore.

Given all this, Rozen had a feeling.

"This young lady might just outshine many male players in this raid."

She might even surpass Kirito.

This made Rozen somewhat excited.

However...

"There's something I've been wanting to ask you for a while."

Asuna suddenly pointed to the rainbow butterfly on Rozen's shoulder.

"Is that a monster? Why is it following you? It's cute, but if it's a monster, can I attack it?''"

With this sentence, all of Rozen's excitement vanished.

"Gu!"

The rainbow butterfly trembled.

Rozen thought to himself.

"Maybe I should have Argo teach her some basic gaming concepts first..."