part2 · 097-ep97

Episode 97: Investigating the Magic Stone

The next day.

In one room of the adventurers' guild, several clerks and the Branch Chief had gathered.

What lay on the desk was—

the magic stone Mizuki had brought in yesterday.

Clearly larger than an ordinary magic stone, and inside it dense magic was condensed.

As of yesterday, even the Branch Chief's Appraisal Lv.5 couldn't read anything. For that reason, they had requested an investigation from the higher-ups.

And today.

A single expert had been dispatched to this guild.

"This is the magic stone in question."

The clerk indicated the magic stone.

"Understood."

The expert stared at the magic stone.

The appraisal ability this person possessed was—

Lv.8.

It was an extremely high appraisal ability, even by world standards.

"Now then, I'll confirm it."

The expert held his hand over the magic stone.

"《Appraisal》"

Magic flowed into the magic stone.

After a while—

"......"

The expert's eyes opened slightly.

"...I was able to appraise it."

"Truly?"

"Yeah."

The clerks leaned forward.

"What can you tell?"

The expert checked the displayed information.

"Magic content, magic purity, magic density... I can confirm them."

The Branch Chief asked.

"How much?"

"...Extremely high."

"A-rank class?"

"Beyond that."

The room fell silent.

"This magic stone shows considerably high figures even compared to the highest-quality magic stones currently confirmed."

"Higher than S-rank class?"

"By simple comparison, that would be the case."

The expert stared at the magic stone.

"However..."

"What is it?"

"I myself have never seen a magic stone with this much magic."

　　　　　◇

After that.

The guild gathered past magic stone data.

A-rank dungeons. S-rank dungeons. The highest-quality magic stones recorded in the past.

They compared those with this magic stone.

"......"

The expert checked the documents.

"As I thought, it's abnormal."

"How different is it?"

"It clearly surpasses the highest record until now."

The clerk drew in a breath.

"That much...?"

"Yes."

The expert answered matter-of-factly.

"It's not just magic content. The purity and density are high too."

The Branch Chief folded his arms.

"In other words, it's the highest class even among the magic stones confirmed until now."

"...The phrase 'highest class' may not be enough."

"......"

At those words, everyone fell silent.

　　　　　◇

"Then, what about the monster that produced this magic stone?"

The Branch Chief asked. The expert thought for a moment.

"We cannot identify the monster's species from the magic stone itself."

"I see..."

"However."

The expert continued.

"To produce a magic stone like this, it would have to be a monster with a corresponding amount of magic."

"How much?"

"At the very least, it couldn't be compared to the monsters generally confirmed until now."

The clerks exchanged looks.

"Then, in past records?"

"There is no corresponding monster."

"Slaying records either?"

"None."

"Sighting records?"

"Cannot be confirmed."

The Branch Chief silently looked at the magic stone.

A monster that produced a magic stone like this. For a being of that caliber, it wouldn't be strange for some record to remain.

But—

There was nothing.

"...That's strange."

The Branch Chief murmured.

"If a monster that left behind a magic stone like this had existed, there should be some sort of record."

"Yes."

The expert nodded too.

"However, at present, it cannot be confirmed."

　　　　　◇

After a while.

One clerk spoke up.

"...Shouldn't we check with Kanzaki-san once more?"

Everyone's gaze gathered.

"The one who brought in this magic stone is Kanzaki-san."

"Yeah."

"Yesterday, all we heard was that she'd been entrusted with it by an acquaintance."

The Branch Chief thought for a moment.

"...Not yet."

"But—"

"She may have circumstances she can't speak of."

"......"

"If it becomes necessary, we'll confirm it from our side."

"Understood."

The clerk nodded.

　　　　　◇

Evening.

The expert finished the investigation and left the guild.

The Branch Chief, left behind, headed alone to the storage room.

The magic stone kept under heavy guard. He stood before it.

"......"

With Appraisal Lv.5, he could see nothing. But with Appraisal Lv.8, the information could be seen.

Magic content. Magic purity. Magic density.

All of them abnormally high.

Even so—

the identity of the monster that produced this magic stone was unknown. Where it had been. What it had looked like.

And—

And who had defeated it.

The Branch Chief stared at the magic stone.

"...A monster that produced a magic stone like this existed somewhere."

If so. There is someone who defeated that monster.

"......"

The Branch Chief murmured quietly.

"...Just who defeated it?"

Those who knew the answer—

there were still none.