part2 · 096-ep96

Episode 96: Who Defeated It?

After Mizuki left the guild—

For a while.

In one room of the adventurers' guild, several clerks were gathered around a single magic stone.

"......"

What sat on the desk was the magic stone Mizuki had brought in a short while ago.

Even compared to an ordinary magic stone, it was clearly larger. Its size alone was enough to show it was no ordinary magic stone.

And on top of that—

Inside the magic stone, dense magic seemed to be condensed. Even someone who wasn't an expert would have felt something off about it.

But.

What was even more abnormal than its appearance—

was that not one of them could accurately appraise the magic stone.

"...Please, once more."

"Yes."

The appraiser clerk held his hand over the magic stone.

"《Appraisal》"

A short wait.

But—

"......"

The result did not display.

"...It's no good."

"Let me try as well."

Another clerk appraised the magic stone.

That clerk's Appraisal skill was—

Level 4.

Even within the guild, he was a clerk with a fairly high appraisal ability.

"《Appraisal》"

"......"

As expected.

"...I can't see anything."

The clerks exchanged looks.

"...Even appraisal Level 4, and still no good, huh."

"Yes."

"The Branch Chief's Level 5 couldn't manage it either, after all..."

"......"

No one could say anything.

"Magic content?"

"Not displayed."

"Magic purity?"

"That too."

"Quality?"

"...The same."

No one could read the magic stone's information.

And not only that—

no one even knew what the cause was.

"A magic stone like this..."

One clerk murmured quietly.

"I've never seen one until now."

"Nor have I."

Another clerk nodded too.

Countless magic stones had been brought to the guild until now.

From F-rank to S-rank. All kinds of dungeons. All kinds of monsters.

Among them were magic stones of extremely high quality.

But—

a magic stone that couldn't be appraised at all had never existed.

"...Even the Branch Chief's Appraisal couldn't see it, right?"

"Yeah."

One of the clerks answered.

"Even at Appraisal Lv.5, nothing displayed."

"......"

At those words, the room fell silent.

Appraisal skill Lv.5. It was the highest-class appraisal ability this Branch Chief possessed.

Even Lv.4 was a fairly excellent appraisal ability. Lv.5 surpassed it.

With an ordinary magic stone, he could read even fairly detailed information.

Even so—

it was no use against this magic stone.

"...What in the world is it?"

Someone murmured. No one answered.

　　　　　◇

After that.

The Branch Chief had past magic stone data gathered.

"Bring me high-quality magic stones from A-rank dungeons."

"Yes."

"S-rank class magic stones too."

"Understood."

Several magic stones were carried in. They compared the stones lined up on the desk with this magic stone.

Size. Magic content. Magic purity. Quality.

Normally, comparing appraisal results would make the difference clear.

But—

"......"

For this magic stone alone, no figures came out. They couldn't even compare it.

"...There's no standard."

The Branch Chief murmured.

"Yes."

"Treating it by the same standard as an ordinary magic stone is difficult in itself."

The clerks couldn't answer either.

The magic stone data accumulated until now. It had all been built on the premise that they could be appraised.

But. For the magic stone before them, that premise didn't hold.

　　　　　◇

Before the day was out.

The Branch Chief sent a report to the higher-ups. Its contents were concise.

—Unappraisable even with Appraisal skill Lv.5.

—Both magic content and magic purity unmeasurable.

—Value cannot be determined by ordinary assessment standards.

—Regarding the acquisition route, details could not be confirmed from the adventurer who brought it in.

The higher-ups who received the report couldn't judge immediately either.

"Even at Appraisal Lv.5?"

"Yes."

"Truly?"

"There's no mistake."

"...So a magic stone like that exists."

"At present, we cannot judge."

Silence continued for a while.

"...Further investigation is needed."

"Yes."

"Find someone with a higher appraisal ability."

"Understood."

And so—

an investigation surrounding a single magic stone began.

　　　　　◇

Night.

The Branch Chief was alone in the storage room.

Before him was the magic stone, kept under heavy guard.

"......"

He reached out and slowly lifted it. Appraised it.

"《Appraisal》"

—He could see nothing.

The Branch Chief quietly let out a breath.

"......"

What this magic stone was. Where it had been born. From how great a monster it had been taken.

He understood none of it.

Just one thing was certain.

A monster that could produce a magic stone like this—

had existed somewhere.

And.

That monster—

had been defeated by someone.

The Branch Chief stared at the magic stone.

"...Just who defeated the monster that left behind this magic stone?"

Those who knew the answer—

there were still none.