Chapter 66
Manuke FPS 66
Four days had passed since I had begun my exploration . On the eighteenth subfloor, I had taken a quick break before I had set out again . My goal was to scout out the twenty-first subfloor, though, I had half-given upon conquering it despite its small size . I passed through the empty Gatekeeper . I descended down to the twenty-first floor using the teleportation circle .
There was a loud sound as I stepped down the stairs, something that repeatedly hit the ground . It was similar to the night forest, but it rained on this level . The rain was so heavy that I couldn’t barely a few meters ahead . It was like a squall that could knock out things, and the forest path was muddy . Even the corona flowers were dim in the rain .
“This is terrible…”
Field dungeons mimicked weather patterns, and this rain had happened decades ago . Other labyrinths mimicked heat waves, snowstorms, and rainfall, though not as heavy as this . The small arms I was used couldn’t fire without gunpowder, and I think they could be fired when wet, but I needed to test it .
The stairs that connected the two floors were covered by a large rock . The rock blocked the rain, so I stuck out the AA12 in my right . I held the shield in my left for protection . I pulled the trigger while keeping most of my body behind the shield; I also watched through the shield’s window . I watched as the rounds flew through the heavy rain .
After I confirmed that FRAG-12 rounds worked, I returned to the twentieth subfloor . I was relieved that the A12 worked without any problems . After the Emerald Demon Labyrinth festival, I’d prepare my conquest strategy for the twenty-first floor .
My journey to the surface took two days, and that included rest . I had summoned the KLR 250 and passed through them since I already knew the path . I ignored all but the monsters that attacked me . Like that, I left the labyrinth with a minimal amount of battles . By the time I had reached Barga, the Emerald Demon Labyrinth had been declared safe, and the Harvest festival was about to reach its peak .
I had some time to go to the inn, though, I had to go to the Marida Company to sell the stones I got . I also had to purchase more non-attribute stones and talk to Maltsan about the Rot Poison dagger . I was slightly worried that I would run into Alm and Silvara there, but after some thought: I had never seen a personal escort greet a guest . Even when I approached the company, I hadn’t seen them at all . Maybe they went to the warehouse or were at Maltsan’s side .
“Good afternoon . ”
Sponsored Content
“Welcome, Schwartz-san . ”
I greeted the staff at the front desk .
“Is Maltsan here?”
“Yes, I’ll call him immediately, so please wait inside . ”
This scene played out so many times, but it still built human relationships . I also wanted to have a good relationship with Bill-san, the branch manager of the Barga branch . Bill-san was a man with a healthy appearance . His hair was ash-grey and swept back, and he was slightly taller than me . He had a gentle feel to him while also the firmness of a career-minded person .
Maltsan came immediately after I called for while I waited in the usual reception area . Bill-san tried to leave, but Maltsan stopped him and even asked him to sit with him .
“Sure . ”
We had already talked about this on the way back . With Maltsan frequently going back and forth between the Capital this season, he would stay for good in the capital after the festival . With Maltsan not here, it was necessary to increase the number of people I could transact with . They’d also have to know about some of my secrets .
That was why I decided that I would deal with Bill-san in the future . I explained to him how I was a Manuke, and also about the Gift Box . Afterward, I made him promise not to talk about it before we moved onto our other topics .
Sponsored Content
“It seems like you went to the deep bottom again, eh . ”
Both men looked at the stones with magnifying glasses to appraise them . It was almost like a gem appraisal .
“Schwartz-san, does this magic stone come from… an ogre?”
“I don’t know which one I took from an ogre, but I also subjugated ogres . ”
“That’s wonderful! As expected from the gentleman, the chief does business face to face!”
“Schwartz-san, were you already on the twentieth subfloor when you killed the ogre?”
“Yes, I’ve taken a look there . It seems like it’d be hard to move around there . ”
“I heard the reason why they hadn’t conquered the Wolves’ Labyrinth was because of the heavy rain . Visibility is too weak, and they can’t hold their weapons properly . The floor is taxing, and they can’t rest . It’d make their conditions deteriorate .
“Yeah, its surprising that there was a party that had reached the twenty-fifth subfloor after all, though . ”
“It happened twenty years ago . The part had challenged the labyrinth had come from the best Barga clan, but they couldn’t defeat the gatekeeper . They had to withdraw . ”
Sponsored Content
“Does that mean that no one had managed to reach the gatekeeper other than them?”
“The clan disbanded after that expedition . After that, the leader joined the Guild . There was even a time when they had banned exploration beyond the twenty-first subfloor .
“Banning exploration? Well, it’s certainly suicidal to go through that rain without any preparations . ”
“That’s right . However, they had found out that the rain that falls from the basement is magic water . Now, they’ll sometimes release the ban so someone can collect some of the water . ”
“Magic water?”
“Yes, it contains magic, and it’s a valuable raw material for recovery medicine and alchemy . ”
“I see, will you buy it if I bring some here?”
“Yes, of course, we will! But how will you… ah . ”
After that, I sold my stones, and half of it was paid in coins . The rest was with non-attribute stones . They also prepared a large box to collect the magic water with and waterproof cloth bags . If I used my Gift box, I could ignore the limited space of the box and store it that way . There was a limit to the number of toolbags an ordinary adventurer could carry, and they couldn’t move items that were too large .
I thought about the additional income aside from the magic stones, but this was like having gold just fall right into my lap . I wanted to delay my subjugation schedule and just start counting my chickens before they hatched, and I almost forgot my other reason for coming here .
“That’s right, Maltsan . I picked up a magic weapon in the labyrinth . It’s already appraised from the guild with a certificate, but I’m troubled with how to sell it . Can you give me some advice?”
“Oh! Magical weapons have different properties, so their values vary . Can you let me see it first?”
I had already taken the dagger from my gift box before I came and pulled it from my field jacket . Since it had no sheath, the blade was covered with cloth . I handed it over to Maltsan . He asked for permission before he removed the fabric, then he carefully inspected it with his magnifying glass . For some reason, I felt like I understood how someone who had their antique appraised long ago .
“Can I also take a look at the certificate?”
“Of course . ”
I showed the certificate to Maltsan, and he nodded . Bill-san also examined the items .
“This was appraised by Lesmond-sama, so there shouldn’t be a mistake . The blade is only ten centimeters in length, so it can only be used as a concealed weapon . The design is good, though . Can you keep it for a while? I’ll try asking some nobles who collect magical weapons . ”
“Sure, if you can do that, I’ll have to trouble you . Even if I have it, I can’t use it . I don’t have that sort of happy, and I don’t own a place to keep it as decoration . ”
With that, I finished my business with the Marida Company . It’d be late soon, so I thought of going home, but Maltsan invited me to dinner together with Bill-san . So we headed out to eat