part2 · 101-ep101

Episode 101: The Value of the Magic Stone

Mizuki headed to the adventurers' guild, carrying the Aqualizard and Great Sea Serpent materials, along with the magic stones.

Ren was waiting at Mizuki's house. This time, the only one coming to the guild was Mizuki.

First—

whether materials this small could be sold without issue. That was what she was there to confirm.

　　　　　◇

"Welcome."

The clerk standing at the reception desk noticed Mizuki.

"Ah, Kanzaki-san."

"Hello."

Mizuki placed the materials she'd brought on the counter.

"Today, I'd like to request a purchase of materials."

"Yes. Let me check them."

The clerk checked the materials one by one.

"An Aqualizard and a Great Sea Serpent."

"Yes."

"Both are in good condition. Do you have magic stones as well?"

"Yes. Here they are."

Mizuki took out the Aqualizard's and the Great Sea Serpent's magic stones. The clerk checked the materials and the magic stones.

"Then, I'll purchase the materials and magic stones together."

"Please do."

The Aqualizard's hide, fangs, claws. The Great Sea Serpent's hide, fangs, and other materials. And each of their magic stones.

All of them taken from monsters equivalent to B-rank. The clerk proceeded with the assessment as usual.

After a while—

"The assessment amount is ready."

"Yes."

"For one Aqualizard's worth of materials and magic stone, eight hundred thousand yen."

"...Eight hundred thousand yen."

"Yes."

The clerk continued to confirm.

"For one Great Sea Serpent's worth of materials and magic stone, one million yen."

And then—

"That comes to a total of one million eight hundred thousand yen."

Mizuki looked at the amount presented.

"...Please go ahead with this."

"Thank you."

The clerk proceeded with the purchase. The procedure finished without any problem at all.

Mizuki felt a little relieved.

Even a monster equivalent to B-rank would come to this much if you combined materials and magic stone. With this—the materials she still had in huge quantities could probably be sold off little by little.

That was what she thought—and it was right after that.

"Kanzaki-san."

"...Yes?"

The reception clerk called out.

"The Branch Chief is calling for you."

"...The Branch Chief?"

"Yes. Could you spare a little time?"

"...Understood."

Mizuki's expression changed just slightly.

And then—

The magic stone she'd brought in the other day crossed her mind.

About that magic stone. Perhaps they'd found out something.

Following the clerk's guidance, Mizuki headed to the room where the Branch Chief was waiting.

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When she entered the room, the Branch Chief stood up.

"You came, Kanzaki-kun."

"Yes."

"Sit down."

"Excuse me."

Mizuki sat in the chair. The Branch Chief turned his gaze to the magic stone placed on the desk.

"It's about the magic stone you brought in the other day."

"...Did you find out something?"

"Yeah."

The Branch Chief nodded quietly.

"The detailed appraisal results have finally come out."

"...What were they?"

The Branch Chief was silent for a moment.

And then—

"I'll speak honestly."

He looked at the magic stone.

"...The order of magnitude is different."

"......"

"Compared even to the S-rank class magic stones currently confirmed, it doesn't bear comparison."

Mizuki's expression changed.

"Magic content."

"Magic purity."

"Magic density."

"All of them greatly exceed the highest standard confirmed until now."

"...That much?"

"Yeah."

The Branch Chief nodded.

"By the standards of existing magic stones, this magic stone's value cannot be accurately calculated."

"......"

"In other words—"

After a brief pause.

"We can't put a price on it."

Mizuki looked at the magic stone.

She had thought it was abnormal from the time she saw it before.

But—

Even S-rank class didn't bear comparison. That fact was beyond what Mizuki had imagined.

"Then... what will you do?"

"That's the problem."

The Branch Chief gave a wry smile.

"How this magic stone can actually be used. How much energy can be drawn from it. That's still unknown."

"......"

"So at present, we cannot set an official price."

The Branch Chief looked at Mizuki.

"So, the guild has a proposal."

"...A proposal?"

"First, we will pay one billion yen."

"...One billion yen."

"Yeah."

"As an advance payment."

Mizuki listened in silence.

"Honestly, whether this amount is cheap or expensive, we in our present state cannot judge."

"......"

"But if the magic stone's use becomes clear going forward, and we know how much energy can actually be utilized—"

The Branch Chief continued.

"at that point, we will recalculate its value."

"And then?"

"We'll pay the difference."

Mizuki thought for a moment.

"...I understand."

However—

she couldn't decide on her own on the spot.

"May I confirm one thing?"

"Yeah."

Mizuki took out her smartphone.

And then—

she called Ren.

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"...Hello."

'Ren?'

"...Yeah."

'I'm at the guild right now.'

"...What is it?"

'It's about that magic stone from before.'

Mizuki explained briefly.

The appraisal results. Magic so far beyond comparison that even S-rank class magic stones didn't compare.

And then—

an advance payment of one billion yen.

'...One billion?'

"Yeah."

On the other end of the phone, there was a brief silence.

And then—

"...I'll leave it all to you, Mizuki."

'...Really?'

"...Yeah."

'Got it.'

"...Because I don't really understand it."

'Yeah.'

"...I'm leaving it to you."

'Got it.'

The call ended. Mizuki put away her smartphone.

"...How was it?"

The Branch Chief asked.

"It seems he's leaving it all to me."

"I see."

Mizuki nodded.

"Then, please proceed under the condition of the one-billion-yen advance payment."

"Understood."

The Branch Chief nodded too.

"Then, could you tell me the transfer destination?"

Mizuki answered without hesitation.

"...Please use my account."

"...To your account?"

"Yes."

Mizuki nodded.

As for the magic stone's owner—

he still couldn't be known.

For now, she would stand in front.

"Understood."

The Branch Chief nodded.

However—

"There's just one problem."

"...What is it?"

"This one billion yen is an advance payment."

"Yes."

"If the magic stone's value becomes clear going forward, we will have to pay more."

"......"

"In that case, we will need to conclude a formal contract."

Mizuki listened in silence.

"If possible—"

the Branch Chief continued.

"I'd like to contract with the magic stone's owner in person."

"......"

In that instant. The smile vanished from Mizuki's expression.

"That—"

Mizuki said quietly.

"isn't possible."

"...Why?"

"I have no intention of bringing the owner here."

The Branch Chief's eyes narrowed slightly.

"If we can't contract with the person himself, that would be a problem."

"In that case—"

Mizuki didn't hesitate.

"please consider this talk null and void."

"......"

"I don't need the one-billion-yen advance either."

"Kanzaki-kun—"

"Please return the magic stone as well."

Mizuki looked straight at the Branch Chief.

"If direct contracting with the person himself is a condition, I won't sell it."

"......"

Mizuki's voice was quiet. But her will didn't waver.

"The owner of this magic stone values his current life."

"......"

"So I don't want to drag him into anything unnecessary."

The Branch Chief silently looked at Mizuki. Mizuki didn't yield a single step.

More than the magic stone's value—

protecting the peace of someone precious was far more important.