ch341-ch360 · 343-ch343

Chapter 343: The Undead-Slaying Weapon

Miko-san wasn't there.

According to Hiramatsu-san, she'd gone off to Okinawa—something about searching for Umemoto-san.

What drives her to go that far......

Come to think of it, Dr. Amamiya apparently went to Hokkaido recently as well, and she said there was no one who fit the description at that branch either.

Since he shouldn't be able to enter dungeons, searching the branches seems pointless to me, though.

I thought she was looking in all the wrong places.

"A weapon that works on skeletons, huh...... If it has to work on undead, silver's the material, right? Silver Golems mean I've got the raw material covered, but the strength is the problem...... Make it an alloy? No wait, what even IS a silver alloy?? Still, the higher the silver purity, the stronger the effect seems like it'd be. Then it's silver plating? No idea. I'll just make a bunch of different ones and test them."

Before leaving, 'Sword Saint-chan' placed a weapon order at Mia-san's shop.

Apparently she's looking for weapons to counter the skeletons of the 40s floors.

She's ordered from shops all over, not just Mia-san's, it seems.

And right now, Miyako-san is racking her brains over it......

"Does silver even work on undead in the first place?"

Aikawa asks Miyako-san.

"Well, what matters is that I BELIEVE it does, y'know. As for effectiveness, I'm actually more stuck on how good a product to hand over."

Believe it?

I've heard skills' effects change depending on the user.

Take 【Presence Detection】 alone—Atsushi-san can apparently gauge an opponent's strength from the size of their presence, and 'Blue Shadow' can apparently tell what feelings someone holds toward him.

And I can't even tell a goblin from a human.

I suppose 【Smithing】 works the same way.

"You're not going to make it seriously, then?"

"No, the item itself I'll make seriously. I'll make it better than any weapon a Triple-Rank production job ever made...... The question's just whether I use a skill on it after."

"Ah, that kind of thing...... But you've already handed some over to Anego-san and the others, right?"

"Weapons only. Even for those guys, the feedback was 'it feels creepy' or whatever...... Hand something weird to a 【Sword Saint】 and she'll see through it right away, y'know. That part I'll need to discuss with Kasumi-san."

Aikawa and Miyako-san's conversation is so incomprehensible I can't follow it—what's a creepy weapon, though?

One that moves on its own?

"Haruki, here, take this."

Soushi hands something over.

"Paper? Oh, a charm. You sure? Isn't this the one you're using tomorrow?"

Tomorrow, we'll be fighting the Manticore on Floor 40.

Not that I'm doing anything but watching.

"I had exactly enough MP left over for one. It's a good-luck charm—hold onto it."

Not that it helps ME hold it......

"How do you use it?"

"Channel mana the same way as 'Weapon Enhancement' and the pass connects—after that, you just activate it whenever you like."

"I see......"

Nope, no idea.

I've never even used 'Weapon Enhancement' in the first place......

"It's got a decent kick, so don't point it at yourself, okay?"

Hm? Front or back—which side does the magic come out of?

Charms are the things you stick on things, right?

If I stick it on my forehead, does it come out of the blank back side?

No, here I should just ask plainly......

"I'm home. 'Blue Ocean' has all gone home, so every Formation is now lifted. Thank you for your hard work."

Watanabe-san has returned.

She went with 'Sword Saint-chan' and company to the surface-side branch, something about having business with Watanabe-san alone.

Looks like 'Sword Saint-chan' and the others headed straight home after.

Oh, and I'd forgotten—the evacuation drill seems to be over too.

I was wandering around during the drill—am I going to get scolded for that later?

"Ah, Kasumi-san, perfect timing. I wanted to talk to you about that commissioned weapon......"

Miyako-san raises the matter with Watanabe-san.

"Please do give the weapon your very best. I'd like to consult with you about that too, Mia-san...... Please come to my home today. Also, in case of unforeseen circumstances, please make a spear similar to the commissioned one. Naturally, I will pay the same amount for it."

"No, you don't need to pay me, but...... What's this about unforeseen circumstances?"

Tomorrow, once we beat the Manticore, we'll be able to go to Floor 40 too, right?

Level-wise, I should be fine going there.

Especially if there were a weapon that works on skeletons......

"'Sword Saint-chan' left some rather unpleasant words behind...... Well, that talk can wait too. It's about time—I'll see Haruki-san out. Haruki-san, let's go."

Just as a good smell started drifting through the shop, it's time for my curfew.

I wish I could eat here with everyone once in a while.

Though I suppose it's not right for an outsider like me to eat the shop's staff meals......

"Haruki-san. Are you interested in Floor 50?"

As we passed through the 'Dungeon Gate' and came out onto the surface, Watanabe-san asked me.

"Interested? Well, I do wonder what it's like."

"......Then what do you think of 'Blue Ocean'?"

What kind of question is that?

"You ask what I think, but......"

"Would you be sad if they died?"

That's asking the obvious.

"I only got to know Yukiya-san recently, but he's been good to me, so I'd be sad if he died. The others...... Well, today I went and talked with them too, so we're acquaintances now—I'd rather they didn't die."

"......I see. Tomorrow is Floor 40. Please rest early tonight. Then—see you tomorrow!"

She saw me off with sudden brightness......

What was that question even about?