ch21-ch40 · 037-ch37

Chapter 37: Mountain of Treasure

With the excitement of the battle still fresh, we started sorting through the items.

The sheer volume was enormous — according to everyone, there was nearly ten times the normal World Clock haul. I don't know if this is the standard for inside the Clock, but apparently it's worth Hunters risking their lives for.

"Both the difficulty and the rewards are ten times higher... I wouldn't be surprised if they start throwing every S-Rank Hunter in from now on. That'd suck."

Kunimori-kun grumbled.

With that Minister and all, I think it's entirely possible.

Anyway, regarding how to split the items — at first it looked like the consensus was "90% goes to Lumiel," but I refused because there was no way we could take that much. (Not to mention she herself turned it down, saying she didn't want it.)

If anything, I thought it'd be better to put it toward rebuilding Cross Guild, who lost their master, and the Hunting Dogs Guild, who lost members.

"Hagane-san, you've got no greed. Alright, I'm taking all the weapons then."

Kunimori-kun said, picking up a sword lying nearby. Narashima-san shrugged.

"'Alright'? I don't have any objections per se, but items harvested from inside the Clock are completely unknown territory. At least let us put them through investigation first."

"But I want these though."

"That's why I'm saying we'll give them back after examining them. I'm not gonna steal them, so come on."

"I want them now."

They're seriously going at it.

Narashima-san argued that the items and resources here should be submitted to a national research agency for investigation, while Kunimori-kun insisted on taking all the weapons now (he said it differently, but that was the gist).

The one who folded was Narashima-san.

"Haah... fine. It's not like our mission orders said anything about loot anyway, and the relay drones weren't flying."

He's started convincing himself.

"We almost died too. It's not like the gods would smite us for pocketing a little, right?"

"I agree!!"

"N-Narashima-san, that's not good..."

Akisame-kun's faint voice disappeared into the void.

And so, the fun item distribution began!

The Hunters charged toward the treasure mountain like starving beasts. People become Hunters for all kinds of reasons, but for most of them, it's wealth. I guess everyone here is a real Hunter at heart.

As everyone got started clamoring over what they wanted, I started browsing for promising items with Lumiel (in white cat mode).

There were mainly two things I wanted.

One was a weapon so I could actually fight. The other was something to supplement Lumiel's defenses.

『...』

"That catch your eye?"

Lumiel was pawing at a ring with a leaf motif. It was probably a magic tool too — apparently, if we have an expert at the Hunter Association appraise it, we can find out the detailed effects.

『Magic power amplification ring. With this, I can become a little stronger.』

"Amazing, Lumiel. You can tell what items do too?"

『I just have a vague sense of it.』

Alright then. When I told her what I was looking for, Lumiel brought back a different ring from the treasure mountain.

It was a beautiful ring set with a green gem.

『This is a ring that slowly stores the wearer's magic power and creates a shield when you're in danger.』

No way, that's exactly what I was looking for. Lumiel-san, do you also have some kind of "dig here, boy" ability?

"Alright, can you find something that could be my weapon next?"

Lumiel left again, and this time called out from a distance: 'Over here.'

I headed toward her voice — it was right where the king Lumiel had defeated was.

The enemy's corpse was gone. In its place was a fierce-looking gauntlet glowing crimson.

When I picked it up, the crimson light subsided, and it shrank to fit my hand size.

"Magic tools are amazing..."

It was made of a dull metallic material, like a noble knight's gauntlet. Red gems were embedded in both palms, and I could see a faint magic circle unfolding.

When I put it on, I couldn't feel any weight.

In fact, I couldn't even feel like I was wearing it.

And then the gauntlet disappeared somewhere.

"Huh?"

Did I lose it? No, there's no way I'd lose something this conspicuous. Please tell me it didn't break or anything...

『It's fine.』

Padding over, Lumiel hopped onto my shoulder and looked down at my hands, seemingly satisfied.

『It's equipped on your hands. Just invisible.』

"Like optical camouflage? Magic tools are amazing..."

How many times am I gonna say that?

But I can't help it, they're amazing.

『It can store some of the power Koh absorbs there. Your punches will hit harder.』

I see — a gauntlet that uses absorbed energy as fuel to boost my punches.

I don't know how strong that boost is, but it's an item dropped by the boss of that insane space. It's probably incredible.

I wonder if it can do rocket punches? At least it looks like my hand won't get mangled next time.

"—You sure? You said you wanted a sword."

At a short distance away, Cross Guild members were gathered, showing each other their items.

The one being asked was holding armor, not a weapon.

"It's fine. Armor sells for more."

"What, you're picking cash over romance?"

"Yeah. Because I'm... retiring."

Everyone there fell silent.

Nobody tried to stop him.

Of course, we had no right to say anything. We couldn't begin to fathom the grief of people who'd lost their guild master.

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And so, everyone stuffed their chosen items into Magic Bags and luggage, and the rest was set to be investigated by the Association and distributed evenly afterward.

They loaded it onto what looked like Arakimu tribe carts, planning to pass through the horizontal shafts and then use psychokinesis to lift it elevator-style to the surface.

"You're taking stuff like that too?"

Kunimori-kun muttered, bored.

Akisame Hunter had loaded several thin stone slabs inscribed with Arakimu script.

After confirming everything was loaded, the Black Knight began pulling the massive cart.

"O-of course. From these we can learn about their ecology and culture, and I need to compile a report including everything I remember."

"Ugh, government work sounds rough."

Fighting isn't the end of it — that's the hard part about working for the government. Anyway, if we leave the details to the survey team, it should be fine.

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