Chapter 172 - Burning (4)

WHOOOOSH!

The Orb of Fire emitted light as it registered its user. After that, however, nothing we did elicited any response. Eventually, even Raven gave up after fiddling with it every which way.

"I think... we'll have to take this to a specialist appraiser once we're back in the city."

"We're taking this with us?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Well, the thing was... Since it had come to this, I spoke honestly.

"Actually, I thought you might insist we take that book instead. Saying it had tremendous historical value or something."

"Oh, well, I certainly can't say I don't want the book."

Rather than getting angry, Raven readily acknowledged it.

"But remember what the diary's author said? To take this and use it. It must be something more valuable than the diary. Besides, I've already memorized the entire thing. I made a video recording too, just in case."

"Uh... I see?"

"Yes. So don't worry about that."

Raven then cast spellbend on the Orb of Fire. Which meant there was no undoing this now, even if she discovered it was bound to me.

'It'll look much more natural if I wait until we're back in the city to use it.'

Yes, that seemed like the better option. I hadn't known a thing. In other words, this was entirely an accident. Though my conscience did sting a little...

'It's not like I got this just for my own benefit anyway.'

The Orb of Fire was an item for the entire team. Everyone could enjoy its benefits together. Yes, until they left our team.

"... It doesn't look like there's anything else here."

We spent another thirty minutes searching every corner of the house, but found nothing of note. I'd hoped there might be something else like the diary that hadn't appeared in the game.

"Well, what now?"

"Why ask the obvious? We keep hunting."

"... I knew you'd say that."

Like the money-crazed explorers we were, we spent every last bit of our remaining time hunting monsters. And after a while...

「Transporting character to Raphdonia.」

It was time to return.

* * *

Sunlight, for the first time in an entire month. I basked in its warmth for a moment as though photosynthesizing, then set off.

At the checkpoint for seasoned explorers of rank six and above, everyone except Mister Bear gathered after a short wait.

"Why isn't Eggfried coming?"

Well, did she really have to ask? We'd been hunting until just now, so I didn't have the energy to answer.

After a little longer, Mister Bear arrived with an explorer whose name I didn't know.

"Here you are."

"Ah, thank you. You made finding them easy."

"Heh, you've certainly given me an unusual experience."

With that less-than-admiring remark, the explorer casually headed back to his own team. Mister Bear joined us with a sheepish smile.

"Haha, quite a long line, isn't it?"

Of course it was. We'd gotten in late because of him. It made me sigh every time, but I didn't bother saying anything. I was this team's leader, after all.

Everyone had strengths and weaknesses. I had to try to embrace their flaws too. Besides, my time with the Outcast Team had built up some immunity.

'The man is one hell of a fighter, at least.'

Anyway, as we waited in line together, Misha chatted with Mister Bear.

"Standing here together really makes me feel like we've made it, nyah."

"Heh, I can see why. They only recognize team ranks starting at rank six."

"Yeah, yeah. It's like we're finally proper explorers now. It feels so strange, nyah..."

I'd been feeling the same way, actually. Before, we'd had to go through separate checkpoints for our individual ranks and meet outside.

In any case, the rank-six line moved quickly. Far fewer people passed through here than through the rank-nine checkpoint, yet they had more than twice the staff. Even the inspection stations were private rooms.

"Team Apple Naraq... is that correct?"

The clerk checked our team registration and struggled to keep a straight face. After some simple paperwork, we handed over the magic crystals we'd collected, bags and all. About seven bags. Every one of them hefty.

"...!"

The clerk's eyes widened after opening all the bags and finding them filled with magic crystals. Of course, that didn't last long. Before I knew it, those eyes had narrowed meaningfully.

For some reason, it reminded me of the time I'd been dragged off to the Guild's prison, threatening to trigger my PTSD... But Raven, our advocate of dialogue, handled it before things went any further.

"We obtained all of these legitimately by killing monsters. We have video recordings to prove it too. Of course, if you insist on checking, you'll have to compensate us appropriately for disclosing our accomplishments."

"I... don't believe that will be necessary."

"Then could you hurry up and exchange them?"

Whether because she was tired or because she hadn't liked the look he'd given us, her tone was sharper than usual. Had he sensed trouble? The clerk moved briskly and soon finished the exchange.

"That's 25,190,000 Stones."

That was practically the kind of sum only a clan could earn. Divided among five people, it came to a whopping five million Stones each. If we made this much every month, that would be an annual income of sixty million Stones!

'That's a bonus zone for you.'

Even killing dozens of monsters per fight, we could never have earned this much without the double-magic-crystal event.

"Hah..."

A breath escaped my lips without my realizing it. That was how strange it felt. It seemed like only yesterday that I'd exchanged 180,000 Stones after my first expedition and earned the admiration of my fellow rookies.

"H-how much cotton candy is that?"

"Uh... enough to eat ten a day for the rest of your life without running out, nyah?"

It was especially encouraging that this was income purely from magic crystals, not plunderers' equipment or anything like that. Though earning this much every time would be difficult.

'We found it pretty early this time.'

We'd discovered the black moss ahead of schedule. Then a Millar Rodent had appeared without much of a wait, and spellbend had succeeded on the first try too. We could hardly expect things to go this well on our next expedition.

"... We're dividing the proceeds tomorrow, right?" Raven asked as soon as we left the checkpoint.

The look in her eyes told me she'd already decided on the answer.

"Let's just make it the day after tomorrow."

I hadn't intended to do it today anyway. Not only had we cut back on sleep to hunt, we'd stayed awake until midnight on the final day. Considering we normally settled down for the night between nine and ten, we were already past bedtime.

"The day after tomorrow?"

"Yes. We still have equipment and monster parts to sell."

"Oh, that... Couldn't you sell them for me, Mr. Jandel? I really, really don't think I'll be able to get up tomorrow."

"Didn't you say we could leave that to you because you had an appraiser's license?"

Raven clamped her mouth shut. Apparently she'd never dreamed that her earlier boast would come back like a boomerang...

"If it were just equipment, perhaps, but there are magical materials too. You're the mage. Only you can do this."

"... Then come with me, Mr. Jandel. Even a barbarian can carry bags, right?"

A porter, my ass. That was ridiculous coming from someone with a subspace ring, but I agreed anyway. I was curious about a mage's sales channels myself.

"Then I'll see you then."

We quickly agreed on a time, then split up and headed to our respective lodgings.

"Yawn... I'll be going, then."

Raven went to the Magic Tower, where she had her private laboratory.

"Avman, can you find your way there, nyah?"

"Don't worry. I know the way home from the checkpoint."

"Hmm, so you can at least find your way home, nyah?"

Mister Bear went to the tavern, where his wife was waiting.

"All right, let's get going too, nyah."

"Misha, can't we eat something first? I'm s-so hungry..."

"Let's all eat together after we've washed up."

"Ugh, I'll try to hold out."

And we went to the place we called home.

* * *

One in the afternoon the next day. While Misha and Aynar continued sleeping in at our lodgings, I got ready to go out. I had to sell our loot with Raven.

["Oh, then take my equipment to the repair shop too, nyah."]

["... Could you do mine too?"]

For the record, I'd packed both their equipment in my backpack too. I was a little disappointed that neither had offered to come along, but... Well, I was the team leader. It was only right to put in this much effort for the team.

"You're one minute late."

"Should I pay a late fee?"

"Do I look like a beggar to you?"

Why was she so prickly now?

'Oh, it's because she couldn't get more sleep.'

I decided to be magnanimous and understanding. She wasn't even the team leader. She'd been dragged out just because she was a mage, so of course she'd be unhappy.

'Does she like sweets? I'll get her something later.'

Recalling the survival skills I'd learned from my ex-girlfriend, I boarded a carriage bound for Commelby with her.

There was no cozy conversation on the way. We both slept like the dead.

"Yawn... That was a good nap..."

When I opened my eyes, the carriage had arrived. Since we hadn't met early in the morning, we moved a little briskly. Oh, after getting something sweet into her mouth first.

"Mmm, I don't wike shweets..."

"How about focusing your eyes before you talk?"

"Ugh, this is humiliating."

Anyway, today's itinerary was simple. Sell the Millar Rodent parts at a magic shop. Stop by a smithy to have our weapons repaired and unload the masked man's equipment. List the Expanded Backpack and Ifrit Essence at the Trade Market.

And while we were at the Trade Market, we called in a specialist appraiser and had the Orb of Fire appraised too.

"This is... You've acquired quite a rare item. I've heard that even among the major clans, very few possess one."

"So what is it?"

"An Orb of Fire. It's a magical device that consumes Magic Power when activated to reduce fire damage within a fifteen-meter radius."

"How do we activate it?"

"There is an activation phrase. I'll write it down here for you, so make sure you don't forget it."

Incidentally, the specialist appraisal cost a whopping 300,000 Stones. My stomach started aching as soon as I heard the price. These people really did rake in money just sitting around.

"So what's its appraised value?"

"Ah, I forgot to mention. Only the first person to acquire an Orb of Fire can use it."

"Huh? What did you say?"

Raven's gaze shifted to me. But what could she do about it now? It was an accident. An accident, I tell you.

"Whew..."

That sigh seemed to contain a whole host of emotions. With our business finished, we were about to leave when the appraiser made a proposal.

"Oh, might I ask where you obtained it?"

"No. We have no intention of sharing our accomplishments."

"Please come see me if you change your mind. Every clan that has obtained an Orb of Fire has kept completely silent about it. I'll pay a fair price."

"Yes, we'll do that."

We left the Trade Market, our tasks for the day complete. Perhaps thanks to our carefully planned route, we still had plenty of time before the last carriage. We had a simple meal near the boarding platform.

"Raven, just so we're clear, I didn't know about this."

"Did I say anything? What, did you think I'd demand monetary compensation?"

Uh, she wouldn't...? I'd been certain that was coming.

"Forget it. You heard the appraiser earlier. It's a magical device that's used more like a shared asset than a personal possession."

"Yes. I'll only use it for the team."

The hurdle I'd secretly been worrying about was cleared with ease. Relieved, I ate my meal and asked something I'd been curious about.

"Why did you turn down that offer earlier, though?"

"To tell him where we got it?"

"Yes. From the way he talked, it sounded like he'd pay generously."

"Generously? If we told him, he'd make several times whatever he paid us from that information. I can't stand for that."

Hmm, middlemen had it easy everywhere, didn't they? But...

"More importantly, if people find out where we got it, more of them will learn about that book, won't they? I can't have that. I'm going to investigate it properly later and turn the academic world upside down."

So she had another, real reason after all. What was so great about that damn fame? I couldn't relate to her motivation at all, but everyone had different goals.

"Anyway, I'm looking forward to continuing to work with you."

"Where did that come from?"

"I have a feeling there's an ancient secret tied to the witch hidden in the Labyrinth. I've decided to look for it."

"Hmm, so...?"

"What do you mean, 'so'? I'm saying I'll keep being an explorer. By your side, Mr. Jandel."

I still didn't understand why she was putting so much emphasis on being by my side... When I stared at her, Raven smiled.

"I felt this back at the Blood-Tinted Castle too, but you have a natural talent for this sort of thing, Mr. Jandel. How should I put it? I get the feeling you'll keep encountering unusual things like this."

So she thought staying near me would mean encountering all sorts of unusual things... I couldn't help chuckling.

"You can trust me. A mage's intuition is right more often than you'd think."

It certainly worked well, that mage's intuition.