48. Leveling

"Hey, Mitoka. This world's combat system—could it actually be following my design specs after all?" Shiro asked Mitoka.

"Yes, that's right," Mitoka said.

"So, experience points from the monster are split based on damage dealt when multiple people take it on, right?"

That’s right.

That means I can't do the final level-up with just the last stop.

Shiro sighed. He thought it was strange—designing something himself, yet resenting the very version of himself who had made the design.

Shiro had always felt a sense of unease reading stories where leveling up came too easily. So, in the game system he’d developed, he made sure it was “fair”—experience points only awarded based on actual effort, making easy leveling impossible.

"Right, so when you actually get into that position yourself, it's frustrating how hard it is to level up—no matter how much you try."

And Shiro thought.

I’m doing fine. With the Apostle title, I’m leveling up fast.

But when you make companions, it’s a problem if you can’t upgrade them. Shiro’s scratching his head over how to level up Shestia and the others.

"Ugh, there's gotta be a better way..." Shiro pondered.

The world's combat system is the foundation of its level and status systems.

Leveling up—or increasing stats—means there’s some kind of input, and your abilities scale based on that value. In this world, monster-slaying experience is generally the input. Incidentally, regular training and practice also grant a modest amount of experience.

The amount of status increase and the degree of level-up are determined by a pre-set algorithm, and in this world, Shiro cannot alter that.

Status values and level values are indicators of current state—they aren’t things that can be changed directly.

“So, about those titles like ‘Apostle’—how does that system work…? Some kind of system parameter magic?”

“Shiro, regarding that classification of system parameter magic—you did put it off, didn’t you?”

“Huh? Put it off?”

“Yes. Implementation-wise, we never decided on the category—whether it’s magic, divine magic, or sacred magic.”

“Was that right? What difference does it make?” Shiro asked, clearly confused.

“Thus, in this world, the method of parameter setting remains unclassified.”

“Huh? So what happens then…? Wait, if that’s the case…”

Shiro paused, thinking.

He couldn’t use divine magic right now, so he couldn’t directly alter another’s parameters. You need divine magic to manipulate someone’s soul level, after all. And the fact that it’s unclassified means no method has been implemented for any type of spell—making it unusable through magic.

The best option would be to grant it as a skill—but that also requires divine magic, which he can’t use.

So the real question becomes: is there another way to alter that parameter?

—Thinking about the combat system, strength is…

He paused, then realized.

“That’s it! In the combat system, strength is…”

Strength is roughly calculated as: combat level × ability score × modifier coefficient × skill level coefficient × equipment maturity coefficient ×实战 experience coefficient.

Of those, the only one that can be influenced from outside is the equipment maturity coefficient.

And under the equipment maturity level coefficient, there was a setting for status correction values based on equipment. So,

"Wait—oh, right, I just need to make a magic device that directly affects system parameters!"

Shiro shouted.

"Technically, that’s correct," Mitoka smiled in reply.

"Actually, I completely forgot about magic devices—no, even more so, I’d forgotten about alchemy altogether. And the 'uncategorized' category was probably meant to allow for creating exactly this kind of magic device..."

Shiro recalled, then said,

"Wait—actually, if magic devices can be made at all, why not just create a powerful weapon and hand it over?"

He realized the most straightforward solution. But,

"Shiro, unfortunately, that method won’t work, even though it seems like it should. Even if you craft a powerful weapon—say, one with magic infusion or elemental affinities—it won’t be usable unless the user’s magic power or magic level is sufficient," Mitoka explained.

"Even if you use a magic stone to supply power, there’s a limit."

"Wait—really?" Shiro blinked in surprise.

Just having a strong weapon didn’t make the user stronger. To wield it effectively, the user first had to be strong enough. It was the classic chicken-or-egg problem.

"Well, that restriction exists, technically, because if everyone could become extremely powerful with ease, it would throw off the world’s power balance," Mitoka said. "It’s a system constraint, not a flaw in your thinking."

That’s your philosophy, isn’t it? she added.

Then, she continued with a smile.

"But precisely because of that, Shiro, who operates outside the system’s framework, can bypass those constraints," she explained gently.

"After all, in practice, such powerful magic devices aren’t easily made," she added.

“And then,” Mitoka continued, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.

"Magical artifacts that affect system parameters require the addition of a higher-tier spirit. Usually, you can't do something like that, can you?"

And Mitoka tilted her head, smiling as if asking a question.

"Ah, I see," Shiro smirks.

"So, basically, if I slap on a bonus-boosted, appropriately balanced spirit to a weapon that’s just strong enough, it’s technically compliant with the rules, right?"

I think so.

Mitoka answered with a composed smile.

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