01-20 · 002
Chapter 2: Washing It with Kitchen Detergent
A 45-year-old wooden apartment building, "Himawari-sou." This was my castle.
A six-tatami room, no bath, shared toilet. The walls were thin enough to hear what the neighbor was watching on TV. Rent was a ridiculously cheap 25,000 yen a month, but with my current total assets, I couldn't even pay next month's rent.
"...Haah, haah."
I took off my rain-soaked coat and placed it on the tatami mat with trembling hands.
A reddish-brown lump of iron I'd picked up from the garbage pile. By all appearances, it was just non-burnable trash.
"Alright! One more confirmation."
I swallowed and focused on my right eye. There was no sharp pain this time. Instead, a semi-transparent window appeared in my vision, like looking at an AR screen on a smartphone.
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[Name] Holy Sword Excalibur (Sealed State)
[Rank] National Treasure Level (SSR)
[Condition] Severe rust, seal due to curse
[True Value] Absolute severance ability that nullifies all defenses.
[Estimated Market Price] Unmeasurable (*Almost certainly over 1.5 billion yen)
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"I can see a lot of info... it really wasn't a dream."
1.5 billion yen. Just seeing that number gave me a rush. If this was real, I could buy this whole rundown apartment and still have change. No, I could live a life of leisure forever.
But the problem was the [Condition]. If I left it like this, it would probably be dismissed as just dirty scrap iron and sold for next to nothing. Worse yet, they might call it "fraud" and get my account banned.
"What should I do?"
Just as I started to panic, I noticed a new tab blinking at the edge of the window.
『Display Repair Guide?』 『YES / NO』
"Huh? A guide? Well, it's better to have one."
Without hesitation, I willed 'YES'. Arrows and markers appeared above the holy sword. It was like a game tutorial.
《Step 1: Remove physical surface grime.》 《Recommended Items: Neutral detergent, steel wool, or something like "Sanpol" (a rust remover).》
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
Sanpol on a National Treasure Level holy sword? Wouldn't that be sacrilege...
No, if the skill says so, I have to follow it. Besides, I had nothing else to rely on.
I checked my wallet and ran to the nearby drugstore. What I bought:
・Strong Rust Remover Cleaner (398 yen) ・Steel Wool (100 yen) ・Rubber Gloves (150 yen)
Total 648 yen. Half of my remaining total assets gone. If this failed, I'd seriously be eating weeds starting tomorrow.
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Back at the apartment, I put on the rubber gloves. I leaned the holy sword diagonally in the sink. It was sad that the sink was too small to fit the whole thing... but anyway!
"Please, I'm betting everything on you!"
I poured the cleaner liquid onto the rusted blade. A sizzling sound emerged, accompanied by ominous foam. Gripping the steel wool, I started scrubbing with all my concentration.
Screeeech, scrape, scrape.
An unpleasant metallic noise echoed through the cheaply built apartment. A thump came from the neighbor's wall with a yell of "Shut up!", but I couldn't worry about that now.
"Come off... come off!"
After about ten minutes of struggling, the surface rust began to wash away like sludge. And then—
Flash!
An unbelievable brilliance lit up the cramped kitchen.
"Whoa, blinding!?"
What emerged from beneath the rust was a blade of polished silver, shining like a mirror. Delicate runes were carved into the blade, and a blue gem was embedded in the hilt.
It was hard to believe this was the same piece of junk from moments ago. Even an amateur could tell this was no ordinary item.
《Step 1: Complete》 《Step 2: Infuse the owner's magical power to neutralize the seal (curse).》
The window displayed the next instruction. I gulped and grasped the hilt.
Infusing magical power. A basic technique any explorer could do. My magic capacity was pitiful, appropriate for an F-Rank...
"Haah!"
I poured in my magic power with a sharp exhale. The runes on the blade began to glow a pale blue.
Thrum...
Along with a low hum, the sword pulsed.
《Seal Release Rate: 15%》 《External repair complete. Partial functionality available.》
"A-Amazing..."
I muttered in awe. I could tell just by holding it. A sensation of power welling up within me. With this, maybe even I could defeat an S-Rank monster?
For a moment, temptation crossed my mind.
"No, that's bad. Don't get carried away."
I shook my head. I wasn't a warrior. I was just an appraiser. Even with an amazing weapon, I lacked the skill to use it properly. I hadn't actually become stronger. Besides, if I entered the dungeon with such a conspicuous weapon, who knows what other explorers might do. Worst case, they'd take it from me, and that'd be the end.
What I needed wasn't "power." It was "money" to escape my current rock-bottom life.
"I'll sell it. I'll definitely sell it. No matter what."
I steeled my resolve.
I took out my smartphone and launched the explorers-only app, "D-Market." It was the largest domestic auction site where you could buy and sell anything dungeon-related.
For my account name... using my real name would be bad. After a moment's thought, I entered "Master_Eye." It sounded a bit chuunibyou, but it should have enough bluffing power.
Next, photos. I placed the holy sword on the tatami mat and aimed my phone's camera. The background screamed "lived-in," but I didn't have anything fancy like a photo booth.
Click.
The preview showed the holy sword glowing magnificently on top of a worn-out tatami mat. So surreal it might be mistaken for a composite image.
Then, the most important part: entering the listing details.
[Item Name]
[Authentic] Holy Sword Excalibur (Repaired, Seal Release Rate 15%)
[Description]
Discovered in the deep-level area of the dungeon (waste disposal area). Appraised and repaired using my own skill. The sharpness is exceptional; it can cut dragon scales like paper (probably). No claims, no returns.
[Starting Price]
My fingers stopped here.
The market value was around 1.5 billion yen. But if I set the starting price at, say, 1 billion yen right away, no one would trust a new account with zero track record.
I needed to attract attention. A price that anyone could easily join in on, and that would make them think, "What's this?"
"There's a risk of being undervalued, but... it's the only way."
With trembling fingers, I entered the numbers.
[Starting Price: 1 yen]
It was all or nothing. If it sold for something like 100 yen, I'd be crying my way to homelessness. But if even one person recognized the value of this sword...
"Please..."
With a prayer-like feeling, I pressed the "List Item" button.
『Listing complete.』
The screen changed. My holy sword appeared in the list of newly listed items.
Current price: 1 yen Number of bids: 0 Time remaining: 24 hours
Silence. My phone didn't ring. Only the sound of the rain outside reached my ears.
"...Well, that's how it starts, I guess."
I muttered to put on a brave face and slipped into my futon. My heart was racing too loudly; I didn't think I'd be able to sleep.
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Another episode is scheduled to be updated around 7:30 PM today.