A spear couldn't be used here, so Kaito casually generated a sword.
Thanks to having the abilities of Rex Lapis, he had already surveyed the entire map.
Hehehe, it turns out you can still exploit bugs a little bit, huh?
Having all the routes mapped out, Kaito still didn't know which way to go. He simply headed deeper, then started walking towards dead ends.
After all, according to common game logic, encountering a deep dead end usually meant either a treasure chest or a monster was waiting for you. A purely simple dead end usually had nothing.
Following this rule, Kaito quickly reached the first dead end.
Sure enough, a small chest was placed right there. Before approaching, he picked up a small stone and tossed it out to test for traps. Getting no reaction, he then picked up the chest and opened it.
—Ding
[Congratulations! You have obtained: 50 points]
"That's it?"
"50 points?"
"Who are you pitying with this?"
Kaito recalled the maze map. Besides the three paths leading to the single exit, there were 20 such dead ends.
If 10 of them held monsters and 10 held 50 points, getting 500 points total wouldn't be so bad.
10 minutes later, next dead end.
Yep, it was a monster.
A venomous snake suddenly jumped out of the chest. Kaito simply stomped his foot, and it was instantly killed by a rock spike that shot up from the ground.
"Seems like no items, just pure 'monster' hiding."
Good thing Kaito had informed everyone of everything he knew before they set out. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, someone would definitely have been eliminated by now.
Well, with 10 Jade Shields each, nothing to worry about too much!
Next one.
This time the chest was much larger. It either contained a bigger 'monster' or a better reward.
Kaito tested again, confirmed it was a treasure, and opened it with a smile.
—Ding
[Congratulations! You have obtained: SS-rank Upgrade Card Fragment x1]
Description: Collect 5 fragments to synthesize an SS-rank Upgrade Card. Can unconditionally upgrade any superpower, weapon, or specific item below SS-rank by 1 level! Maximum final rank is SS!
"Oh? I was just thinking about how to upgrade my abilities, and here it comes."
"Still need to collect 5 fragments though. Either get them from Gacha or obtain them in parent-child activities."
Putting the fragment away (automatically stored in system inventory), Kaito set off again.
Having a map was great! Kaito followed the routes, heading straight for his destinations.
This time it was another slightly larger chest. Unfortunately, what jumped out was a huge black spider with glowing red eyes.
Kaito killed it with no choice and proceeded to the next dead end without looking back.
"It seems that's the maze's structure. Let people find dead ends as they navigate, and encounter opportunities or crises there."
"Hm? Someone activated a Jade Shield... Seems like Shodai's."
Even though they were in different areas, Kaito could sense it somewhat.
He was worried, but not overly concerned. He didn't believe, at the current difficulty, that any monster could break through his shield's defense.
Did they think the "Slacker-Maker Machine" was a joke?
Besides, these monsters were more like enraged animals than actual monsters, completely different from the monsters one might imagine.
At least, that's what Kaito thought, and encountering several so-called monsters in a row only confirmed it.
—Ding
[Congratulations! You have obtained: E-rank Item — Sweet Flower Roasted Chicken]
Effect: Upon consumption, restores physical injuries and temporarily ignores pain caused by injuries!
"Damn!"
"It's you!"
"Sweet Flower Roasted Chicken!!"
Good grief, he'd been waiting so long, never once getting a Sweet Flower Roasted Chicken sent, let alone having a choice!
And now, the maze gives him this Sweet Flower Roasted Chicken!
Kaito stored it in his system inventory and moved on to the next place.
The chests he found afterwards were either monsters, small amounts of points, or some consumable food items for restoring health.
Currently just these two types.
'Huh?'
Kaito seemed to notice something.
'Looking at this content, wasn't it a bit like an RPG exploration?'
'Except for the money (points) being useless, the food given was all for healing. Wasn't this just allowing everyone to restock and continue the challenge?'
'Then that means... the dead end right in the center, in front of the only exit where the three paths converge, is the boss room?'
Thinking about it, it was possible.
Wasn't that how RPG games worked?
After clearing all the other spots, Kaito finally arrived at the boss room.
Well, there was no door. It was just a wider chamber. From the outside, you could see the treasure chest, which was about the size of a single bed.
"This must be the place."
Kaito smiled, picked up a small stone, and tossed it. Suddenly, with a loud boom, a giant python burst forth from the ground.
However, it seemed this giant python couldn't fully extend its body; it could only attack within a limited range.
If you didn't approach, it ignored you. But once you got close, it attacked.
Then, it was done.
With a single spear thrust cleanly through its head, it struggled a few times and died.
"Hehe, let me see what this final reward is."
Kaito clapped his hands, happily walked forward, and opened the large chest. Golden light burst forth, and a message appeared in his mind.
—Ding!
[Congratulations! You have obtained the highest reward for this maze exploration!]
[The reward is a random item acquisition. Please wait!]
A holographic projection appeared before him, with a massive amount of items constantly refreshing on the screen.
It was like the Gacha interface. By quickly scanning, you could tell the minimum reward rank was C, and the maximum was S.
Lower or higher ranks weren't seen.
x—Ding!
[Congratulations! You have obtained S-rank Reward! Ability: The Strong Man with His Own BGM]
Effect: Can play music upon entrance, during battle, or upon departure. While your music is playing, your intimidation, combat power, pressure, etc., are all increased by 30%!
Note: Maximum effectiveness applies up to and including SSS-rank combat power. Cannot enhance EX-rank combat ability! Music can be self-selected as single tracks or multiple songs. Maximum duration is 10 minutes. If the music is short, you can choose loop mode. The effect persists until the time ends, even if the music loops and then auto-stops after looping!
Introduction: Here he comes, here he comes, he comes carrying his speaker! In my BGM, I am the invincible donkey!
"An S-rank reward, the ability to be a strong man with his own music?"
Obtaining this ability, Kaito was quite happy, though also somewhat inexplicably resigned.
Was this maxing out the Chuunibyou factor?
"Well then, if not [Idle Wanderer], what else would I use?"
Rex Lapis's exclusive BGM, said person: Zhongli.
Possessing the abilities of Rex Lapis himself, what other BGM could he use but this one?
"Good grief, later I'll have that nano-custom outfit turn into Zhongli's clothes, or maybe Morax's robes. The vibe will be completely maxed out!"