arc01 · 016-ep16

Episode 16: A Fateful Encounter

Lunch with Aizawa ended up getting spent on dungeon talk and club stuff right up until the chime rang. At some point her nerves must have loosened up, because she'd gotten pretty fluent.

I got to hear plenty about the production side of things, and told her about my own diving too. Naturally, 【Plunder】 stayed under wraps.

Of everything, the goblin rare-drop clubs were what hooked Aizawa hardest. 【magic wood】 really is precious stuff, apparently. Seems it has uses in Alchemy as well, so I'll bring her back a club or so. No clue what she could make out of it, mind you.

Anyway—a genuinely great time, geeking out over dungeons with Aizawa.

This really is the kind of friends I needed. Solo, I can't help zeroing in on smashing monsters to death—tunnel vision, every time. In that sense too, joining the Dungeon Research Club, with its civilian president and Aizawa the production-type, was the right call.

And then, like it was payment up front, she went and handed me a low-grade potion plus an item called a light orb. Apparently those were meant for me from the start, but still—I've got to pay her back properly. We'll scratch each other's backs from here on out.

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And so, after school.

Today I figure I'll go take a preliminary look at weapons. Not that the destination changes anything—it's the shop attached to the guild, same as always.

I'm planning a light dungeon dive once the window shopping's done, so it's the usual jersey getup. Figured I'd also try gathering some low-floor items to hand over to Aizawa while I'm at it.

Better give Aizawa a heads-up on my phone first, just in case.

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Takeru: I'm heading out after this to grab those low-floor materials we talked about at lunch—where do you want to do the handoff?

Midori: Ah, you're going right away, huh. If it's all the same to you, tomorrow, somewhere around the café on the guild's second floor, please.

Takeru: Roger. I'm planning a quick in-and-out, so I'll be back around 7 p.m.—but tomorrow works better?

Midori: Eh?! Hmm, around that time I'll probably still be making potions in the workroom, so message me once you're back and I'll come get them.

Takeru: Okay. I'll message you again once I'm back then

Midori: Thank you very much

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All right. All that's left is to pack the materials into containers while checking the photos and list she sent over, and bring them along. Easy.

Got to the guild and headed for the attached weapons-and-equipment shop.

The shop's name is apparently 『Takumi Arms』. Hmm. East meets West, huh.

Stepping inside, there's Western armor and Japanese armor alike. Who's supposed to wear that? Never once seen anyone use either in a dungeon. Decoration, probably…

Ignoring all that, I head for the weapons corner.

"Oh, so this is the E- and D-rank gear. Just like I figured, it mostly runs 100,000 to 200,000 yen."

Main material seems to be 【magic iron】, minable inside dungeons. Every piece is crafted with a production skill, hence the price tag. Then again, thinking about it that way, isn't it actually pretty cheap? The materials come from the low floors, and the durability isn't anything special either—guess that's why it runs on the affordable side.

For the record, my steel pipe cost under 1,000 yen, so its durability is anyone's guess. A pure consumable. Store-bought gear made without dungeon-sourced materials basically can't cut it in a dungeon. Even artisan-made kitchen knives or blades are the same deal.

"I could afford this tier of weapon right now… Nah. One rank up is the way to go. I'll probably make C-rank in under a month anyway."

So on I go to the pricier zone.

"Whoaaa, this section is flat-out cooler just from the designs! Materials vary too—monster materials, mithril, all sorts."

A short sword gleaming silver-white, a spear in a jade-like green, even a mace shaped like it would hurt like hell to get hit by. Prices start around the 2-million-yen mark, apparently. Yeah, that's steep.

Hmm. The sword really is the coolest, no contest. Handling-wise the mace would be closest to my steel pipe, but still.

"Welcome. Young man, you've got a good eye. The mithril alloy sword? A beauty—light and easy to handle."

"Ah, thanks. Just scoping things out today, though… Sorry."

"No no, it's fine, it's fine. You came planning to buy one of these days, didn't you? Look as long as you like."

"Thank you very mu—hmm?"

Lowering my gaze as I gave my thanks, I spotted a jet-black knuckle duster sitting all by its lonesome in a glass case. An utterly unornamented black-silver weapon. It radiates pure intent to beat something to death.

Th-that's friggin' coooool!!!

"Ah, this? The product name's 【Iron Demon】. Mana-forged steel knuckle dusters, made by a famous master craftsman."

"Iron Demon…"

"Hand-to-hand specialists have gotten scarce as can be among adventurers lately. These actually outperform that mithril sword over there, but they just don't sell."

"Yeah… makes sense. I can sort of see why."

"Tell you what, if you've taken a liking to it, I could mark it down—both as a set for 1.8 million. …Ah, no, forget it, just kidding."

"Huh? Um… could you put it on hold for me?"

"Huh?! Y-you're serious? Of course I can—but no returns, mind you."

"No, I'm good. It just clicked, y'know? Pretty sure this guy's gonna be my partner."

"…Seems you really are serious. Well, I doubt it'd ever sell to anyone but you anyway—I'll hold it for you. About how long until you could come back for it?"

"Let's see… within a week."

"————!"

"Hm? What's the matter?"

"Ah—no, it's nothing. Just got goosebumps for a second there… Never mind. I'll keep it good and safe for you, so come on by whenever you're ready."

"Thank you! Oh—mind if I get a photo of it?"

"Go ahead, go ahead."

And so I met my destiny, and my window shopping came to an end.