"Damn, that was exhausting..." - Mira
Mira collapsed on the table in the Union Hall tavern's private room. And I would have followed suit...right after I ordered our meals. Let's hope they can give us the spark needed...to live. *Groan*...
"That blasted elf..." - Garami
"Be glad we weren't arrested. Not to mention we only succeeded thanks to them." - Mira
"You don't have to remind me. But it's still vexing!" - Garami
The reason for our exhaustion is that Karion discovered what we had done. And he was not happy about it. We sorta acted like criminals there, if you look past the context of the casino being the HQ for a potential murderer group. We didn't have any precise knowledge that they were the bad guys...
Okay. From Karion's point of view, we did step into the salad there. Just goddamn good luck stopped us from actually doing a crime. Karion himself is giving us the excuse of "having infiltrated the casino under the order of the captain of the city guards", which allows us to dodge jail.
Hmm? What is this about a captain? It turns out the leader of those guards is Karion's drinking buddy. An old man with a fancy piece of armor that made me wonder if he's some sorta noble. I like him. He's the reason why Karion's scolding hour got cut short and we could escape with our minds intact.
"Just be glad that's the only thing they were scolding us for..." - Mira
"What's that?" - Garami
"N-nothing! B-besides, being forced to sell all the junk we found wasn't that bad. I'd say we got a good price for the goods." - Mira
"I wanted to keep the necromancy-related books..." - Garami
As part of the conditions for our pardon, Karion and the captain wanted to confiscate the cursed-looking items that could have a relationship with the "luck ritual" the mastermind had planned.
The captain offered to buy the stuff instead of just taking it. He must have been really happy about the list of people we grabbed from the casino. Turns out it was a debt list, and most of the new members of the city guard were on it, making it double as a list of the potential rotten eggs in the guard. Giving it to him was the right call.
Thanks to him, even if we didn't get any new toys, we are now sitting on a fortune of around 100K Sol. According to Mira, a decent set of full-plate armor costs 1K Sol, not to mention my necromancy beginner kit cost 3K Sol, and the fancy inn I'm living at currently costs 150 Sol per night, food not being counted, so we're not gonna have any money problem anytime soon, to put it mildly.
"Here is your pizza." - Waitress
Our food arrived. Yippie! Give me!
"Who knew you'd get so hungry just by being yelled at?" - Mira
"Sound attribute skills must have a side-effect of lowering SP." - Garami
It's kinda surprising that there are so many Earth-related goods here in this world. They must be introduced by Migrants such as I. Enough for them to become a common thing in this other world's culture. Maybe I should look into some of those guys? The Migrants, that is. ...maybe not. If they turn out to be OP characters while I had to sneak for my life inside a Dungeon when I first arrived in this world, I think I'm gonna cry...
"So, what are we going to do now? We have enough money to party for a month, as long as we don't go too crazy." - Mira
"I wanna learn necromancy at least before we need more money." - Garami
"Why so?" - Mira
"Disposable pawns." - Garami
Why not have the dead act as our canaries so that we don't need to end up as one of them?
"That's a grim job for such a grim magic..." - Mira
"It's not illegal. Ah, but I would need some monster corpses." - Garami
"Must you use all of it?" - Mira
"Think so. The books I've read about it say that a whole corpse is needed to obtain Necromancy Counters, which are used to create the undead." - Garami
"Which means we will get fewer monster materials to sell. That's troublesome." - Mira
"It just means we need to fight more monsters when we need to. Or is that too difficult for the great swordswoman Sprite?" - Garami
"Hell no! But Garami, aren't you more of a deviant than that magic of yours seeing as you can talk about corpses and the undead while eating?" - Mira
"You're in the same boat." - Garami
"I guess I am! Ahahaha~." - Mira
No joke. Mira says she aspires to become a proper knight, but her status page is telling a different story:
Name: Mira Aureola | [Giant Killer] Race: Light Sprite Gender: Female Level: 22/50 Traits: 2 Karma Value: -200
Skill List:
Skill List: Ability Skills:
[Extra Health Lv.7] [Health Auto-Recovery Lv.34] [Mana Lv.49] [Reduced Mana Consumption Lv.48] [Stamina Lv.48] [Strength Lv.49] [Vitality Lv.36] [Resistance Lv.21] [Dexterity Lv.25]
Attack Skills:
[Sword Arts Lv.50 (Max)] [Guard Lv.40] [Parry Lv.42] [Lightforce Edge Lv.46] [Light Impact Lv.26] [Crystal Edge Lv.19]
Active Skills:
[Crystal Key Lv.15] [Weapon Breaker Lv.25] [Armor Breaker Lv.27] [Steal Lv.18]
Passive Skills:
[Sword Proficiency Lv.50 (Max)] [Close Quarters Combat Lv.32] [Crystal Talisman Lv.12] [Evasion Lv.41)] [Battle Continuation Lv.34] [Crack Weapon Lv.29] [Pilfer Lv.40] [Concealed Thievery Lv.19] [Lockpicking Lv.7] [Cutting Reinforcement LV.18] [Destruction Reinforcement Lv.9] [Weapon Reinforcement Lv.38]
Perception Skills:
[Spirit's Sight Lv.50 (Max)]
Leadership Skills:
[Party Lv.18]
Resistance Skills:
[Light Resistance Lv.29] [Crystal Resistance Lv.4] [Pain Resistance Lv.44]
Elements:
[Light Element Lv.2] [Lesser Crystal Element Lv.8]
Monster Skills:
[Spirit's Strong Muscles Lv.19] [Spirit's Spiritual Force Lv.7] [Spirit's Nimble Legs Lv.17] [Spirit's Light Lv.50 (Max)] [Spirit Transmutation Lv.50 (Max)]
Title List:
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Title List: Achievement Titles:
[Daredevil] [Mystic Arts User] [Light Technique User] [Giant Killer] [Destroyer] [Crystal Technique User]
Hunting Titles:
[Monster Slaughterer] [Demon Slayer] [Beast Slayer] [Lizard Slayer] [Arachnid Slayer]
Status Titles:
[True Chaos]
Geez. Also, isn't she stronger than me? I have more skills and stats, but the skills are just a bunch of low-leveled guys had it not been for the various quest rewards I obtained, and my status values are enhanced by the [Demon Lord] skill. Not to mention that Mira has years of experience in combat while I brute-forced my way with easy kills and lots of EXP to evolve many times. In a straight fight, I bet I could easily lose to her...
"Hmm? Garami, are you feeling that someone's glaring at us?" - Mira
"Must be me. I looked at your stats again." - Garami
"Hey! That's an invasion of privacy! People could sue you for less!" - Mira
It is? ...thinking about it, it is quite possible. Personal info is a touchy subject no matter what world you're in. Plus, there are probably people like nobles here. Better stay clear of using [Identification] too much here in the city.
"...? Hey, Garami? You know [Identification]? Where did you get that?" - Mira
"Where did the talk about privacy go to?" - Garami
"That's why I'm politely asking~. Or would you want to summon Bloom to have her speak for you?" - Mira
"...what does that mean?" - Garami
"Isn't that little fairy part of your skill? She always comes when you ask for her, so the idea of you having a summoning skill to call on her is the best idea I could come up with. The other possibility would be that Garami has some communication ability, but that's not likely." - Mira
"How so?" - Garami
If it's that easy to guess whenever people can send messages as if they were using telepathy, then it's no harm to learn the trick behind-
"Because Garami is a loner no matter how you look at it~." - Mira
GUH-!? M-my poor heart... It was harmful learning about it... Ignorance is bliss...
...though, keeping people in the dark isn't that great either. Even for the Champion of Darkness... Okay. Let's tell her.
---
"SERIOUSLY!? You're a Migrant, a Reincarnator, AND one of the Twelve Champions of the Ultimate Gods!?" - Mira
It was right of me to ask for a private room when we sat down to eat. This girl can't speak with an indoor voice.
"Then, after you suddenly woke up in this world, you found yourself with the task of having to mess with that Dungeon? And you couldn't refuse!? That's too cruel! At least be allowed some years to train, or some amazing weapon! Rather, if you know where the source of the drought is, just tell us normal folks about it, you damn darkness goddess!!" - Mira
It's just some new details added to the story I gave Karion, but it works. I'm keeping the fact that I was born inside the Dungeon a secret. Just to be safe.
"You were also affected by the drought?" - Garami
"Who wasn't?" - Mira
"Fair enough." - Garami
"Oh, and this may come out of the blue, but can you transform yourself? Or have Bloom do it?" - Mira
"What? ...no, and I don't know. I haven't tried. Don't think she would want to try it anyway." - Garami
"Eh? Th-that's fine, don't worry about it~. (Huh? Then what was that crawling thing in that Dungeon...?)" - Mira
Mira looked a little confused by my answer and started to whisper about something that I couldn't quite catch. Probably nothing important.
"Then, are we going to fulfill the worst Goddess alive's wishes?" - Mira
"Hell no." - Garami
"I agree with that~. Your story didn't even play a role in that decision! Alvatria is said to be a goddess ruling misfortune along with Darkness." - Mira
Please don't tell me the reason I got caught up with this damn serial killer incident is because of her's influence!
"The question is what to do from now on. You said you wanted to learn that necromancy stuff? Just confirming, but are you really, REALLY sure?" - Mira
"Big time. And after that...we can see what happens." - Garami
"Spoken like a true adventurer!" - Mira
Are all adventurers opportunistic job-hoppers? If they're fine with that, then they can do as they please.
I, on the other hand, have big plans for my future, despite what I just told Mira. Plans that I've been working on ever since before I arrived in this city...is what I wanted to do, but again: serial killer incident. Blasted gamblers. The only thing that can relatively be considered as advancing those plans is seeing the items I needed at that casino auction. Not that I ever got my hands on that stuff...
"Speaking of which, what shall we do about these?" - Garami
I asked Mira that as I brought out the sole item that Karion didn't force us to sell. The blasted lie-detecting machine that always rang whenever Karion asked "is this all?" and I still had more hidden inside my Storage. Or is it a lie-detecting magitech?
Anyway, it was a blasted bell that rang whenever someone said a lie. The bigger the lie, the louder it rang. My ears still hurt from the first time it rang when I had only taken out the documents we had taken from the casino and nothing else.
"What do you mean "speaking of which"? But regarding these..." - Mira
The sole survivor of the great Karion-Consumption-Catastrophe is the three coin-like items that had been hidden along with the other items in the secret study in the casino's storage room. They were all made of a strange material that looked like gold at first glance but continued to change colors if someone held them. They had different designs, but the style of the artworks was similar. It's sorta ancient-looking, but still understandable for modern people.
"Yeah, these..." - Garami
"These are..." - Mira
"I have no clue!" - Mira/Garami
"Jinx! Another soda, please~." - Mira
"Tch." - Garami
After ordering another pair of sodas, I brought out Bloom for her expertise, yet...
"I have no idea." - Bloom
"Come on! You're the smart one of us three, Bloom! Knowledge is the only thing you have for you!" - Mira
"Th-that is not true!" - Bloom
It hurts to say this, but Mira is right. I wonder if it's possible to upgrade [Gamemaster] somehow?
"Isn't there anything written about these coins in the Kigal-Note?" - Garami
"Sorry, Master, but it is not possible to access that section of the Kigal-Note at the moment." - Bloom
"...come on! Don't tell me there are restrictions on that stupid book!" - Garami
"I don't know. According to you two, that little notebook can tell you about anything recorded in the great World System. Having instant access to all that sounds like cheating. More so than the Extra Skills some Migrants have." - Mira
"Correct. The Champions are equally warriors of the Ultimate Gods as well as representatives in the challenges the Gods sets up for each other. All of them are granted a unique item but said items have their true prowess sealed until-" - Bloom
"Forget that. What was that about some Migrants having Extra Skills? That's unfair! I want one!" - Garami
The stuff about the Kigal-Note or the Champions or the gods themselves isn't as important as this offense. Why did those random noobs get an Extra Skill while I was stuck as a small-time demon at the bottom of a Dungeon!? I demand compensation for this unjust treatment!!
"*Cough*, Terra Sol calls Garami? Are you there?" - Mira
"Where did you learn that skit?" - Garami
"From some Migrants that I worked with before. Can we return our focus to these coins? What's our gameplan for 'em?" - Mira
"...split them between us?" - Garami
"Is that fine?" - Mira
"Think of it as a bonus." - Garami
"Hmm...then I'll take this one with a sword on it." - Mira
Which leaves the coins with a spider and a fairy pictured on them for me. ...kinda fitting, with Bloom and I being who we are.
"However~, I wouldn't mind a more intimate reward instead~." - Mira
"You can try to obtain one yourself, but I warn you that it may end up with a trip to the sky." - Garami
"Oh, for Pete's sake! Can't you overcome that embarrassment of yours already!?" - Mira
Truth is, I already have. I just love to tease her so I refrain from telling her.
But from tomorrow on, it's necromancy time. Yay. Messing with corpses. More yay. Why do I have a talent for this kind of magic anyway? Well, whatever. I should also take notice of the quest board to see what kinda "materials" I can harvest in a short time. And we may end up getting paid for it as well. Two birds with one necromancy spell~. ...I hope.