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Chapter 38: The Storage Vault

Guided by Togo-san, Seira and I descended into the guild’s deep underground ‘Unidentified Item Storage.’

We passed through several layers of strict biometric authentication and thick bulkheads, taking a dedicated elevator dozens of meters below ground.

(He went out of his way to bring me here… so they definitely know I’m Master_Eye himself. Well, I appreciate that they’re not making a fuss about it.)

As I thought this, I looked around. The moment the storage door opened, a powerful stench hit my nose, making me grimace even through the gas mask.

Piled up haphazardly like a scrap yard were mysterious magic‑infused steles, cracked jewels, and blood‑stained, rusted weapons. Perhaps due to the enclosed space, the smell and the oppressive aura of the junk clung thickly in the air. Honestly, it was even worse than the garbage piles in the Upper Layer Area I usually visited. It was clearly a heap of non‑performing assets no one bothered to manage… but still, the Japan Dungeon Guild could have tried a little harder.

“Ugh… Jin‑san, isn’t this just a pile of junk?”

“That’s why it’s called the Unidentified Item Storage. It’s filled with things that were too cursed to be appraised, or that were just left because no one knew what to do with them. Best not to touch them barehanded.”

Seira wrinkled her nose and grimaced while I activated my right eye’s ‘True Appraisal’ and surveyed the heap.

Semi‑translucent windows appeared one after another in my vision, but most of them were genuine trash like ‘cursed iron scrap’ or ‘mere mana‑clogged stone.’ But at the far back of the room, at the top of the scrap mountain, I spotted a single ‘tattered longsword’ giving off an especially ominous, dark aura. It was caked with mud and rust far worse than anything else, yet my Appraisal skill reacted to it as if strongly drawn.

—Thrum.

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[Name] Sentient Magic Sword (Dormant due to severe rust)
[Rank] Legendary Level (when restored)
[Condition] Heavy contamination and binding curse. Due to dungeon mud and monster blood rust, the sword’s ‘will’ has turned completely malicious; it has degenerated into a cursed sword that drains the magic power of anyone who touches it and spews curses.
[True Value] An autonomous weapon that responds to its owner’s magic power, moving automatically to protect them.
[Repair Method] Dissolve the stubborn surface mud with a paste of baking soda and citric acid, then polish for three days and nights with an ultra‑fine metal abrasive to physically (through cleaning) knock the sword back into shape.
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“Oh, that’s good.”

A wicked magic sword with its own will, one that would drain its owner’s power and try to take over. A true ‘cursed equipment’ that no ordinary explorer would touch. But… as expected, it seemed my cleaning skill combined with household products could fix it. It was less about “repair” and more about physically cleaning the grime away and “setting it straight.”

(If I clean this up and knock some sense into it, it could protect me even when Seira‑san isn’t around.)

Sadly, my combat ability was at an ordinary person’s level—F-Rank. Back in the alley earlier, if Seira‑san hadn’t been beside me, Goda’s desperate knife might have actually stabbed me. As my business grows, the risk of attracting resentment like Goda’s or being targeted by criminals after my assets will only increase. I couldn’t rely on Seira‑san to fend off every threat, so an ‘autonomous weapon’ that could fly around and protect its owner was exactly what I desperately needed.

Alright, I’ll take this.

“Guild Master Togo. I’ll take this sword.”

With a low voice through the gas mask, I climbed the scrap pile and pulled out the mud‑caked magic sword.

“Hmm? You sure you want that rusty, muddy thing? Isn’t it too filthy? There are some mana‑imbued gems over here, even if they’re cheap. Not that they’re any use either.”

“Really, Agent. That sword is giving off such a nasty aura… and it smells like rotting garbage mixed with blood. It’s definitely cursed.”

Togo-san sounded exasperated, and Seira made a disgusted face, stepping back.

“It’s no problem. My master has a fondness for quietly polishing up seemingly hopeless junk like this.”

I quickly stored the tattered magic sword in my item box to avoid any ill effects.

◇

Business concluded, we returned to the guild headquarters’ entrance. Stepping through the automatic doors, the outside was fully bright, a new morning beginning. The streets of Shinjuku in the distance still showed black scorch marks from last night’s Stampede, but recovery heavy machinery was already at work, filling the city with vigorous activity.

“Fwaah… well, I’m going home to sleep now. I’m all dirty, and I want to take a bath.”

Seira yawned adorably in the morning sunlight. Even with the Star Spirit Choker, she’d been in the dungeon since yesterday afternoon, fought through the night against a horde of monsters and the Hydra. Her fatigue must have been immense.

“Thank you for fighting through the night and even helping with the aftermath. Please get some rest.”

“Yeah! Oh, and… the sushi promise is definite, okay! I’m ordering the most expensive course!”

Seira pointed at me sharply with a wink to emphasize her words, then hopped lightly into the guild’s waiting car.

With the overwhelming ‘Special Class A VIP Pass’ granting exemption from nationwide taxes, and a ‘Magic Sword’ that would serve as a new guard, I had received the guild’s finest rewards. Elated, I returned to our office where Rin was waiting.