“What, you mean I can eat it?!”
“Yes, the meat and eggs of the Darkness Wyvern are poisonous. So the meat has to be discarded, but the eggs can be used as ingredients for poison. However, this much…”
Returning to the West Adventurer Guild, I was quite disappointed.
“However, the Tamer Division will take the eggs that are close to hatching.”
Even so, it wasn’t that expensive.
“What should I do with this?”
He brought out the corpse of an Evil Wizard here, not in the material storage. Well, it might be a bit of harassment.
“Since it’s a rare monster, we’ll take it in for now and let you know the results later.”
“I had this with me.”
Nina-san handed over the Illusionist’s Staff.
“I will investigate the owner, but since it’s an item drop, you’re free to keep it. However, if the owner is still alive, it would be helpful if you could refrain from selling it for a while.”
That was more of a matter of morality, a request really.
“Understood, but I might put it up for auction.”
“If nothing comes up by then, you can sell it.”
Still, it had such high performance that it would be a shame to lose it.
“Then, what about the magic stones?”
“We got a lot of Wind Magic Stones, Derus.”
“Yes, yes, look how many.”
He dumped them on the table as if to harass me, and because he was short, the spilled magic stones hit my face, hurting a bit.
“Please take those to the material storage.”
“Ah, I know.”
I was frustrated that the Darkness Wyvern meat was of no use. No wonder there were so many of them; no one wanted to hunt them. The only treasure I could consider a success so far was the Illusionist’s Staff.
“Sekki, what should we do? Should we cash this in and split it?”
“No, we were just here to observe the Evil Wizard, but…”
“What is it?”
“If you’d be willing to team up with us again tomorrow…”
“Understood. Anju won’t be here in the morning, but is that okay?”
We were ecstatic about raising the Golden Succubus, but the Smile Handmade people would want to get it back tomorrow.
“Then we’ll see you tomorrow.”
Leaving the Hero Reception, I figured today was farewell to Sekki-san and the others too? I wanted to have dinner with them and hear their party formation stories. I walked while chatting in a low voice with Nina-san.
“Nina-san, Nina-san.”
“What is it?”
“Actually, I have a proposal…”
“What is it, go ahead.”
(Why is your voice so loud even though I’m whispering?!)
“Hero Derus-sama.”
After handing over the magic stones and other items to the material storage, as I stepped outside to have dinner with everyone, a Dwarf suddenly blocked my path. He had a lot of beard, and I couldn’t tell if he was an old man or a grandfather, or even how old he was. There were many behind him too.
“Are you perhaps Mariu-san’s?”
“Yes, the Princess has summoned you. She also wishes to have dinner with you.”
“Um, are you going to treat everyone to dinner?”
“It’s fine, but in that case, only Derus-sama will go to the Princess’s room.”
“Did you hear that, Nina-san? My wife, what do you think?”
She didn’t seem displeased with that way of addressing her.
“We’re saving money before the auction, aren’t we? That’s what he says, Sekki. This Dwarf gentleman will treat everyone.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. I could kiss the back of that princess’s hand.”
No, I really think you should reconsider that.
“Understood. Please follow me.”
He then led us to what was probably the best inn in the West District. Anyway, I had a lot of items I wanted to have forged, so I couldn’t refuse. As we were surrounded by the Dwarves, it felt a bit strange.
(If it’s me or Anju, it’s fine, but for our tall female members, does this even make sense?)
It wasn’t reassuring enough to be called protection, and too easy to break through to be considered being surrounded. Was this mysterious formation some kind of Dwarf culture?
“Anju, what game are you playing?”
“…It’s a game where you float and move, just barely.”
Her feet were slightly lifted, and she was gliding. She’s quite skillful. By the way, she was holding the Illusionist’s Staff.
“Oh, this is helpful. The ground is complicated, so the guidance is appreciated.”
Sekki-san said it refreshingly. He’s always come through with a nice follow-up. He’s truly living up to his hero title.
“We can see it now, over there.”
Looking closely, the inn’s name was “Moonlight Hotel.” It sounded like a place for secret rendezvous at night. Thinking about it, I could guess what would happen next and glanced at Nina-san.
“What is it?”
“…I love you.”
“I know.”
She lifted me from behind and hugged me tightly. I felt like a large stuffed animal, but it was a comforting embrace.
(Ah, I kind of want to meet Mariu-san like this and see her reaction.)
When we entered the inn, we took a magic elevator and stopped on the third floor. Apparently, there was a special high-class restaurant here. Everyone got off, but I was held back and seemed to be going up.
“Nina-san, I’m off.”
“Yeah, I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
Yes, Nina-san also seemed to understand the “unavoidable flow of events.”
(Well, it can’t be helped.)
We arrived on the sixth floor, the top floor’s VIP suite. The Dwarf who guided us knocked.
“Princess, we have brought him.”
“Thank you.”
As I was prompted, I entered alone. Mariu-san was there, dressed in a beautiful princess outfit. However, her muscular arms and short stature made it seem unsuitable. Was it rude to think so?
“Um, I’m here to pick up the weapons you processed, and for dinner too.”
“I’ve been waiting for you. Come, this way.”
As expected of a VIP suite, there was even a separate room for dining. The dishes would be brought up by a small magic elevator connected to the kitchen of the third-floor restaurant. Mariu-san proudly explained this. Human maids would serve the meal.
“Hero Derus-sama, how was your hunt today?”
“Yes, there were good things and bad things. Actually…”
I told her the story of defeating the Darkness Wyvern swarm and the Evil Wizard. By the way, my meal was vegetables-focused. I had told her about my past before, so they added just a little bit of meat as a topping on that account. It was delicious.
“That must have been tough. But it’s good you got the Illusionist’s Staff.”
“Yeah, it had incredible effects.”
“But, I think this will be a spare. Hehe, please look forward to it.”
After enjoying the high-class meal, the maids all withdrew, and we went to the large living room. It was already night outside the window. When I looked, Anju-chan was floating there!
“W-what’s wrong?”
“I’m going home. Derus-kun, can’t you go home?”
“…Probably.”
When I replied,
“…I see.”
She disappeared sadly. Her expression when she vanished with instantaneous movement was sad.
(I need to take care of Anju-chan too.)
Thinking about it, Clarice-san is also quite tough, though. As I was gazing out the window, Mariu-san brought an item bag.
“First, this.”
“Oh, a whip and a scythe!”
“The item names should have changed too.”
Yes, the Black Panther Whip had become “Pitch-black Whip,” and all four of the fang scythes had become “Scythe of Death.” Visually, both seemed to have increased their blackness.
“Thank you. These are amazing.”
“Both have been upgraded to level three. The scythe can be used by Clerics, Magicians, Sages, and Illusionists. Considering their appearance, I also processed them with their value as collection items in mind.”
Indeed, unlike the original, which looked like fangs and claws combined, they were now sickles that exuded a sinister aura, thanks to the Dark Magic Stone.
“And as promised, this is the staff made from the bones of the Undead Dance Dragon.”
Wow, two beautiful white staffs and another two black staffs. They were engraved with intricate patterns, and they were truly works of art.
“Both have been forged to level four as promised. It was difficult because the bone material is fragile.”
“Thank you. The effects seem amazing.”
“The price will be twelve Platinum Coins.”
I paid directly from my Item Box. We had talked about waiting until the auction, but Nina-san and I agreed that it would be better to pay when I could. Yes, it was a huge sum, but there was no doubt it was worth more.
“Thank you. Please sign here.”
“Huh? Ah, yes.”
She was quite thorough with these things. I checked to make sure it wasn’t something like a marriage contract disguised as part of the deal, and it seemed okay.
“Now, from here are bonuses made from the leftover bones.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Then, two staffs with incredibly elaborate carvings appeared. One was a long crystal staff emitting a glittering, semi-transparent light aura, and the other was a long staff emitting a dark aura that could be called abyssal rather than pitch-black.
“T-this is!”
“These are the ‘Crystal Angel Staff’ finished to level six, and the ‘Velvet Devil Rod.’ I’m sure the effects will surprise you.”
“This isn’t made from a single bone, is it?”
“That’s right. Three were combined and fused.”
This must be incredibly expensive!
“H-how much is it?”
“They’re yours.”
“Free.”
“No, no, no, no!”
Mariu-san went to the window and closed the curtains.
“It’s my feelings.”
“This is going too far!”
“Then it’s just my feelings that are going too far.”
Mariu-san nestled into my chest.
“O-on, the other hand…”
“Yes?”
“Ple-ase, gi-ve me a re-wa-rd.”
Although I felt a sense of fear, I responded to her feelings with my body.
(Ugh, this freebie is definitely not going to end with just being free!)
