Dragon's Wrath: The Cursed Returnee

Vulcanic Gloves (Common) (+0)

Durability: 45/45

Damage: 50% MAG per second

Effects: It drains the mana of the user in order to use it as fuel to make the gloves burn.

Extra effect: to protect yourself from the flames, the cost of mana used will duplicate.

Cost: 02 mana per second.

Requirements: 30 STR, 30 MAG

Thankfully, that item wasn't that expensive since the power of the flames was influenced by Ethan's magic. Still, it was a cursed item with some weird effects that might sometimes be more harmful than helpful. Thanks to that, Anna and Ian couldn't help but frown.

"Is this some sort of joke?" Anna asked. "Why did you create something so useless?"

It was because Ethan wanted to train his fire and heat resistance in his free time, but he couldn't say that he used such a weird method to strengthen himself in the past. Any ordinary person would think that only a madman would try that.

"Well… it is a cursed item, Anna," Ian forced a smile. "Something that is hard to find and even more to create it! I told you Ethan can do some interesting things, and perhaps he can even help with your research."

"I'm not interested. I came here to do business," Ethan said. "Besides, I'm not good at that kind of thing."

"Any idiot can see that," Anna said.

"Hahaha, I wasn't talking about that," Ian laughed for a few seconds. "We don't need your brains, but your power and your experience might come in handy in some other aspects."

"How so?" Ethan asked.

"Well, before telling you more of it, you have to give your word that you won't spread this information," Ian said. "Your older sister might have known this, but you can't tell it to your parents."

"You have my word," Ethan said. "Whatever you are about to tell me, I won't tell anyone. If it is something important, telling my parents about it will only put them in danger."

"That is right," Ian said. "Your sister is a big shot in our country, so your family is fine here, but we aren't one hundred percent safe. Some agents of other countries might kidnap them in order to obtain intel if they suspect that they know about some secret projects. Regardless, you probably heard of those countries that were destroyed when some hero failed to save the world, haven't you?"

"Yeah, what of it?" Ethan asked.

"You see, my father is planning an expedition to one of those dungeons," Ian explained. "A hero failing in saving a world it doesn't only mean that a dungeon will appear here. It also means that the other world was completely destroyed, and it has been overtaken by monsters."

Ethan could see where that conversation was going. To summarize everything, Ian wanted Ethan to join that expedition to one of those worlds. Thanks to it, Ethan had a hard time holding back the biggest sigh of his life. Three days after returning home, he had to go to another world, and now on the same day upon returning again, he was hearing about that: an offer to go to another world. It looked like Ethan was destined not to have a peaceful life.

"Does your father want to dominate the world or something?" Ethan asked. "Why would he want to plan something like that when he is this rich?"

"Although we will obtain a lot of resources, money isn't the main goal," Ian explained. "By dealing with the problems of the said world, we solve the problem once and for all, and thus the people of the country will be able to live in peace again. In such a world, we will find new species of animals and plants, and thus that might help with Anna's research, which is actually the main goal of this whole expedition."

"So, you want more ingredients for a new type of potion?" Ethan frowned. "What exactly do you want to create?"

Although Ethan asked that to Anna, she just avoided his gaze and stayed quiet about it. Even Ian, who usually would explain their goal, stayed silent. Still, Ethan asked just for the sake of it, and it didn't matter what their goal was. Besides, he doubted that they could dominate the world with a more potent potion.

"When will the expedition start?" Ethan asked. "I assume you are going to. What are we going to do about school?"

"Well, it is not like we need to stay there the whole time, and we can come now and then and at least stay half of the week on Earth," Ian replied. "Besides, given the importance of this mission, I'm sure the high-ups will do something about it. We will go in two weeks."

"You talk as if you have decided to go," Anna frowned. "Although Ian invited you, ultimately, the last word belongs to our father, and unless you impress him, you won't go."

"That can be solved easily," Ian said. "If you reach the fifteenth stage of the simulator alone, I will send the video to my father, and he will feel more than satisfied. As for the other subjects, you probably don't want money, right? If you agree to work with us in this expedition, I will bet that father will give you twenty or so of those potions. Maybe even more if you impress him."

It wasn't half-bad, considering that Anna let out a long sigh after hearing. It only showed how difficult it was to make those potions. Although Ethan could obtain status points pretty easily to balance the extra effects of those potions, he had other uses for them. It wasn't just to increase his health, mana, and energy. Creating a connection with someone as important as Ian's father also might come in handy, so Ethan had to find the real reason to refuse.

"All right, I will join this expedition, but only if I act on my own. If the goal is to clear a world filled with monsters, then you should have no problem with it." Ethan declared. "By the way, do you know someone who would want those? They are kind of lying around, and I want to get rid of them?"

Ethan showed the rings he obtained from Rivru. Although their effects stacked with each other, Ethan had no intention of using that, just increasing his powers as little. It was convenient, but he wouldn't let his growth be bound by such cheap tricks.

"Yep, I can auction them for you," Ian said. "Those aren't half bad, and given that the people in other worlds are pretty eager to negotiate with us, I will bet that everything will be sold by tomorrow. As for your request, I can't promise you that it will depend on you. Impress my father, and he will let you work as you see fit."

"I will be counting on you then," Ethan said. "You can keep thirty percent of what you earn by selling them," Ethan said.