01-20 · 006
Chapter 6: Transaction Complete
“…!”
My heart lurched unpleasantly. I'd been found out? Why? My mask and hat should have been perfect. I'd even lowered my voice. Cold sweat ran down my back as I desperately tried to play dumb.
“…What do you mean? I'm just someone who was asked to deliver it by Master_Eye-shi—”
“It's your eyes.”
Seira brushed back her damp hair and said, sounding unimpressed.
“When you handed me this sword, you weren't looking at the sword itself. You were looking slightly above it, right?”
“Huh?”
“It's a habit unique to those with Appraisal skills. The way you look at the status window, not the object. You look the same way an appraiser I know does.”
…You've got to be kidding me. So S-Rank explorers even observe such minute eye movements. I gave up and let out a deep breath. Continuing to lie would only worsen her mood.
“…Haah. I give up. You're right, I'm the seller myself.”
“Hehe, I knew it! Good, you’re being honest.”
Seira smiled mischievously and plopped down onto the sofa. Her healthy thighs extending from her shorts were dazzling, but since she'd just pointed out that eye movements give me away, I couldn't stare. I averted my gaze.
“So? Why did you try to hide it? Even though you have such amazing skills.”
“…I wanted to avoid trouble. I have no combat ability whatsoever. If my face got out and dangerous people targeted me, I wouldn't stand a chance.”
This was my true feeling. An F-Rank carrying 1.6 billion yen was nothing more than a walking treasure chest.
“I see. Indeed, I don't sense any strength from your magical power. You're only slightly above an ordinary person.”
Seira stated the cruel fact casually, then grinned.
“But those eyes and that skill are real. After all, you restored this National Treasure Level sword to combat-ready condition in just one day.”
Well, about that skill… it was just commercial cleaner and steel wool…
As I was thinking this, she took out her smartphone and pointed it at me.
“Hey, want to exchange contact info? You have a D-Chat account, right?”
“Huh? You, an S-Rank, want to exchange with me?”
“Yeah. I want you to give me priority if you come across any more finds in the future.”
There was no reason to refuse. A connection with an S-Rank explorer was the strongest armor. Besides, she knew about my “weakness” and still valued my Appraisal skill.
“Alright. I'm honored.”
With trembling hands, I displayed my QR code and registered her as a friend.
《Seira Jinguji has added you to her 『VIP List』.》
“Alright, registered! Oh, make sure you check the payment for the sword, okay? I'd be in trouble if you said it wasn't enough later.”
“Yes, 1.6 billion yen has definitely been deposited.”
“Okay. Then take care on your way home, Master_Eye. …No—”
She came to see me off at the entrance and whispered softly in my ear.
“See you later, Toru Soma-san ♪”
“!?”
I spun around, more shocked than I'd been all day. In her hand was the ‘entry card’ I'd left behind. My real name was clearly written on it.
“Isn't your guard a little down, Toru-san? See you~”
She giggled and closed the door with a soft click.
◇
After leaving the apartment building, I don't remember how I got home. Before I knew it, I was back in front of my usual run-down apartment.
“Haah, haah…”
My knees were shaking. Whether it was from the pressure of being near an S-Rank or the weight of the 1.6 billion yen now sitting in my account, I couldn't tell.
I climbed the apartment stairs and opened the rusty door. The smell of musty tatami. The thin walls. The scenery was exactly the same as it had been hours ago.
But the world inside my smartphone had changed dramatically.
With trembling fingers, I opened social media. The top trending words were undoubtedly ‘Holy Sword’ and ‘1.5 Billion.’
『[Breaking] Mysterious seller Master_Eye sells Holy Sword Excalibur for 1.5 billion』 『The winning bidder is the Sword Saint herself! Will she use it in tomorrow's dungeon raid?』 『1.5 billion lol. How many times the lifetime salary of a salaryman is that?』 『Has the seller been identified yet? Do your job, tax office!』
All of Japan was abuzz with talk about me. The attention was almost frightening. Yet, strangely, it didn't feel bad. The ‘incompetent,’ ‘useless’ me from just yesterday had shaken the world overnight.
Just then, a particular post caught my eye.
‘ID: Brave_Leader’ ‘Damn! If the Sword Saint hadn't interfered, we could have bought it!’
…That was Goda's account. The leader of the party that had expelled me. The profile picture was a selfie of him, no doubt about it.
‘ID: Brave_Healer’ ‘I know, right? Ah, I wish 1.5 billion would just fall out of the sky somewhere. Then we could buy the same gear.’
They didn't realize. That the one who had gotten that 1.5 billion was the man they had treated as ‘trash’ and discarded. And that the place where that holy sword had been lying was right near the dungeon where they had left me behind.
“…Ahah.”
A dry laugh escaped my lips.
How ridiculous.
Were they, right now, preparing for tomorrow's quest with their worn-out gear? Meanwhile, I could buy mountains of top-class equipment with a flick of my finger.
“I'm not going to say ‘serves you right’ or anything, but… ahaha.”
I closed my phone and looked up at the ceiling. The ceiling with the leak stain. From the next room, as always, the sound of a TV drifted through.
“I'm moving out.”
I decided.
First was the basics: food, clothing, shelter. I'd sleep in the best bed, eat the best meat. And then, using this ‘Appraisal Skill’ and ‘Online Auction,’ I'd earn even more.
I was connected to S-Rank Seira now. I had capital. My counterattack had only just begun.
—Grrrrroooowl.
A grand stomach growl echoed through the quiet room. Come to think of it, I hadn't eaten a thing all day.
“…For now, I'll order some top-grade sushi today.”
I opened the delivery app and sorted by ‘Price: Highest to Lowest’ with trembling fingers. I added the ‘Supreme Sea Urchin & Fatty Tuna Extravaganza (50,000 yen)’, something I'd never even seen before, to my cart.
My finger, as it pressed the order button, was still trembling just a little.