Chapter-06 · EP-083
Chapter 6: Legacy in the Forest Cave
Episode 83: Count Okumoto
"Hey, do I really have to come along too?"
I asked Okumoto.
"What's this? Getting nervous?"
"It's not nerves. This has nothing to do with me, right? Besides, your father is a count, isn't he? I don't know any noble etiquette…"
"To begin with, if you hadn't obtained the Rank 3 potion, Okumoto-san's sister couldn't have been helped. So just be confident."
Hearing Hikaru say that, I steeled myself.
The Rank 3 potion I had given to Hikaru the other day ended up being given from Hikaru to Okumoto to help his sister, who had been unable to walk due to injury.
Thanks to that, Okumoto's sister recovered and could walk again, returning to a normal life.
That was great, but to thank us, Count Okumoto, his father, was coming directly to Tokyo Dungeon Academy.
I thought it would be fine if just Hikaru, who gave the potion, met him, but he also wanted to thank me for obtaining the Rank 3, so I was called in as well.
Having grown up in an ordinary family, I had no idea how to behave when meeting a noble. How was I supposed to interact with Okumoto's father…?
As I was still looking troubled, Okumoto spoke to me.
"You've never held back with us, have you? Just be your usual self."
"No, you guys are noble children, but you haven't inherited your titles yet, right? Your father is a real noble, isn't he? What if he gets offended and thinks I'm rude?"
"Hahaha, there's no way he'd get angry at someone who saved his daughter. Father isn't that short-tempered."
"Really? You're sure?"
"Hahaha."
Okumoto laughed and brushed off my worries.
After a while, Professor Jonouchi came to call us.
"Count Okumoto has arrived."
Professor Jonouchi knocked on the reception room door, and a voice from inside said, "Come in." She opened the door.
"Excuse me. I've brought Okumoto-san, Hikaru Kujo-san, and Shirou Ichinose-kun."
Introduced by Professor Jonouchi, we entered the reception room.
Inside were Count Okumoto, Okumoto's father, and the school principal, who had been meeting with him.
Count Okumoto stood up to greet us.
"Oh, it's been a long time, Hikaru-san. I believe I met you at your brother's birthday celebration before. Do you remember?"
"Yes, it's been a long time, Count Okumoto."
Hikaru gave a slight bow while lightly pinching the sides of her skirt. Her movements were very refined.
"Oh, your curtsey is perfect too. You've become a fine lady."
"Oh my, please don't treat me like a child."
"Haha, my apologies. And you must be Ichinose-kun. Thank you both very much."
"Ah, nice to meet you."
No good. I couldn't use polite speech properly. It was embarrassing.
"Well, let's not stand on ceremony. Please, sit down."
Prompted by Count Okumoto, we each took a seat.
Man, this sofa was fancy. Nothing like the wooden classroom chairs.
"You've probably heard from Daiki, but thanks to you, my daughter's leg is completely healed, and she can walk normally. Thank you both so much."
Count Okumoto bowed deeply.
"I'm relieved to hear she's recovered safely."
Since Hikaru was handling it, I figured I'd just stay quiet.
"Hikaru-san, you used your influence for me, even though I belong to a different faction from your father. Didn't your father scold you? If so, I'm truly sorry."
"No, I reported it to my father, and he said that since I obtained the potion, I could use it as I saw fit. Please don't worry."
"Oh, is that so? I'm relieved to hear that. Still, high-rank potions have become difficult to obtain lately. A while ago, if you had money, you could get a Rank 3 easily."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I offered ten times the market price and asked people to look, but still couldn't find one. Some large hospitals had them in stock, but because my daughter's condition wasn't life-threatening, they wouldn't sell them. They're consumables, and demand is high. Not only that, but I hear many people are collecting them for investment purposes lately. Particularly, overseas outflow seems to be increasing."
"Oh my! These are things that affect people's lives. It's infuriating that they're being used as tools for foreigners to make money."
"You're absolutely right. It would be good if we could restrict transactions, but since they're mainly traded privately between explorers, regulation is apparently difficult."
Count Okumoto looked troubled.
I was the one who was troubled because the political talk was going over my head.
"I've digressed. Today, I've brought thank-you gifts for you two. Please accept them."
"Huh? I'm not really involved, am I?"
Hikaru was the one who gave the potion. If anything, I had refused to give it to Okumoto. There was no reason for me to receive a thank-you gift.
"What are you saying? To begin with, if you hadn't obtained the Rank 3, it would never have reached my daughter. Besides, I hear you obtained a Rank 4 recently as well. I'd like to get to know such an excellent explorer."
"No, the Rank 4 was pure coincidence…"
"Oh? Then the Rank 3 wasn't a coincidence?"
"Well, that's…"
I wanted to keep it a secret that I could reliably obtain Rank 3 potions. But my reaction might have given it away.
"Hahaha. Well, now that my daughter's injury is healed, I don't need one immediately. If something happens, I'll count on you, Ichinose-kun."
"Ha, hahaha…"
He seemed to have noticed, but he wasn't going to pry. Good.
"Now, for the gift. As you may know, I've prepared amulets. Do you know how to use them?"
"Oh, thank you. Yes, of course."
Hikaru answered. Then the count looked at me.
Naturally, I had no idea what that was.
"No, I don't know."
Unable to use polite speech properly, my sentence ended with a questioning tone. Embarrassing.
The count then took out two small boxes.
"Please accept them. You too, Ichinose-kun. Thank you very much."
Saying that, Hikaru and I each received a small box.
I asked Count Okumoto.
"Ah, may I open it?"
"Of course."
Count Okumoto nodded with a smile, so I opened the box.
Inside was a single transparent stone like glass.
I gently took the stone out of the box.
"That's a ward stone, commonly called an amulet. If you infuse it with magical power, it will nullify one magical attack aimed at you. Monsters that use magic only appear from the 10th floor onward, so you might not need it immediately, but it's good to have just in case. Hikaru-san, is that necklace also…?"
"Yes, this is an amulet too."
Hikaru showed the small stone hanging from her neck.
She wore two necklaces: one was the locket containing her potion, and the other was this pretty stone, the amulet.
"I'm sorry to give you something you already have."
"No, amulets are consumables, and this is still a valuable item. I'm grateful."
"Not at all. Unlike potions, amulets are something you can get with money, so I apologize. Still, I thought they would be useful for you both as dungeon explorers."
"Of course. Thank you very much, Count Okumoto."
Hikaru gave her thanks. Not really understanding, I also thanked him.
"Ah, thank you very much."
I wondered how much this would sell for?