Vol 3: Chapter 5
Muge-san is a Lev citizen, who conducts trades with caravans, even with those outside the Lev Magic Empire. His suggestion to us was–
「Lev citizens are allowed to enter the Labyrinths where the Capture Divisions have entered. Would you like to join me?」
Muge-san might be able get his hands on magical tools that the Capture Division may have missed, and we – I, to be more precise, might be able to meet Lulusha-san.
As a matter of fact, capturing a labyrinth is quite dangerous, so no one knows if Lulusha-san will come back alive. If I miss my chance here, I will surely regret it. Dante-san and the others nodded in agreement.
「Please let us join.」I offered.
After that, Muge-san went to the labyrinth and turned in an application, so we decided to collect information in the Empire until the application was approved. In the first place, I have no idea what kind of a place a labyrinth might be.
There was also an Adventurer’s guild within the Empire for Lev citizens. Muge-san said that information could be gathered there.
「All right, let’s meet again at night~」
It seems that there are few accommodation facilities here because not many people other than Lev citizens set foot in the Empire. Therefore, we have to lodge in the warehouse at night.
The number of people in the Empire should be over 100,000… but, to think it is possible to isolate an entire country to this extent.
The first place we went to was the Adventurer’s Guild. There was only a reception on the first floor – the bulletin board for requests was nowhere to be found. The number of Lev adventurers in the country is small, and it seems that all the requests of the people are submitted to the country. It seems to be an organization only to connect with the outside guild.
The labyrinth is also owned by the country, not for adventurers to enter.
「Ohh… are you going to participate in the large-scale dungeon capture?」
A feminine guild staff at the reception—I thought she was a woman because her eyelashes were long and thin—replied when we asked for information.
「A number of companies have applied themselves. The adventurers who are gathered “outside” were directed from guild branches in other countries and hired by those companies. That’s the model in place. I think it’s about time they start entering the Empire.」
「Are there any documents regarding the labyrinths?」Dante-san asked.
「But I have already handed the documents to the companies.」the staff shook her head.
「Sorry, but we were hired by a personal acquaintance. That company is also going to apply for the capture today.」
「Oh, the shabby company—」
「What was that?」
「…Ahem. Nothing. I have a copy here which you can have.」
We were able to get the documents smoothly, probably because Dante-san put pressure on the staff who let slip a mistake.
But just what is “shabby company”?
It is true that Muge-san uses a shabby-looking steam car, and I don’t see any other car like Neko-chan in this town, but it isn’t really causing a problem to anyone… Dante-san was all smiles, but when he received the documents from the staff, he casted a sharp glare. The staff was taken aback, an “Eek!” escaping her mouth.
We were out of the guild, but still we heard about “shabby company” from all around.
While having a meal, we were asked “Where did you come from? Who are you staying with?” at the cafeteria, and it was known that Muge-san hired us just by walking through the city. The word that appears each time is “shabby company”. …Isn’t it too early for rumors to start spreading?
Man… I wish I didn’t have【Hearing Enhancement】at times like these.
By the way, our meal was a mushroom with strong seasonings.
「Is this a magic tool shop?」
Since Silver Balance had been to the Empire once, they brought me to a store where a mannequin-like doll was placed in a show window facing the street and armor was put on it. There was a golden armor with spikes, an armor with a roundish protector with aerodynamic form, and other unique items that I have never seen anywhere else.
Since it was the first time for me and Zerry-san, we were looking all around.
「Welcome–」
A shopkeeper with a solid physique, wearing black-rimmed glasses, seemed to be reading a newspaper. When we entered, he set down his glasses and stood up.
(There is already printing technology in this country…)
The same is true for newspapers and the documents for the labyrinth that we received earlier. Both were machine-printed matter. Are such magic tools also discovered in the labyrinths?
「You guys have been here before, correct?」
「Oh, you remembered us.」
「Hah. There is almost no one else other than Lev citizens here, after all. I have enough intelligence for that, at least.」
「It sounds cynical when a Lev citizen talks about intelligence. You people are probably the best in the world when it comes to magic tools.」Dante-san responded in a light tone.
The shopkeeper looked like a nice person. In the meantime, we looked at the weapons displayed in the store.
The interior of the store, which used plenty of magic lamps, was bright and clean. Weapons placed on iron racks weren’t swords or axes—they were full of weird gadgets.
Claws attached to a gauntlet; a spring was installed, and it seems that it can also be ejected. And there was a huge club, but there were many holes at the tip – fitted with magic tools which can produce flames.
The armors were also equipped with magic tools. From easy-to-understand things such as heat resistance and cold resistance, to things where the metal deforms when receiving a hit and protruding out thorns.
And the rest are… junk items? A pile of small metal parts of unknown use were piled up in a wooden box.
「Are you curious, boy?」
The shopkeeper talked to me as I studied the items enthusiastically.
「They’re all nothing like the items you can find “outside”, right? Around these parts, the ‘weapons’ and ‘armors’ are unconventional, and they aren’t affected by skill orbs.」
Skill orbs bestows humans with special abilities, but on the other hand, they have no effect on anything other than their specific ability. Having【Spear Technique】does not help one bit with swinging a club.
「-I see. Because Lev citizens can’t use skill orbs.」
「Yes. So we have to rely on magic tools. On the contrary, we have the freedom to apply creativity to weapons and armor. This spring-loaded weapon is the simplest. It seems that skills react depending on the weapon, but I’m not too familiar with it. This kind of item is called “Steel Gear”.」the shopkeeper explained.
The next thing the shopkeeper took out was a shield that glowed slightly.
「This guy is stacked with magic; when attacked, it activates a repulsive force. Therefore, skills do not recognize it as a “shield”. It’s called a “Magic Gear”.」
The shopkeeper put back the shield, and clapped his hands.
「And one more thing… it’s not here but there are these tools found in the “Labyrinth of 9 Emotions” which were used as reference for these kinds of magic tools. Many of those are impossible to analyze, but for us, the magic tool makers, it’s the seed of creativity. They are called “Heroic Gear”.」
「Heroic Gear…」
「If you find something like that, it is quite a big deal. It may lead to a new invention, so His Majesty the Emperor will buy it directly from you. If you wish, you even can get your own personal magic airship.」
The shopkeeper said so, and then smiled at me.
「…But the Labyrinths of 9 Emotions aren’t that forgiving. Numerous labyrinth capture teams, who dreamed of making a fortune, rushed in, and now tens of thousands of corpses are sleeping within the labyrinth.」
It was a ferocious smile.
When we returned to Muge-san’s company in the evening, Muge-san welcomed us with all grins. Apparently the application went smoothly without a hitch, and it was decided that we could enter the labyrinth from tomorrow onwards.
「…So, when we go inside tomorrow, I think many of my peers will be there. They may say things that might make you feel a little uncomfortable, so…」
「It’s okay. We are adventurers and you are the client. So–」
「Shabby Company…」
When I said that, both Muge-san and Dante-san were surprised.
「Reiji!」
「N-No, that’s fine. That is the fact…」
「No, Muge-san. Let’s turn that “fact” into “not a fact”.」
I flicked through the documents we received from the Adventurer’s Guild.
「Reiji? What’s wrong? You’re acting a little weird.」
「Dante-san, Mimino-san, Non-san, I am indebted to Muge-san. He has been with us on our journey here, and even helped me with information about Lulusha-san. So I would like to return the favour.」
「So that’s what it is.」Dante-san grinned, and Mimino-san and Non-san nodded.
「So, why don’t we make it a goal of this labyrinth exploration…to find loot comparable to “Heroic Gear” for Muge-san.」
「EEEHH!? T-That’s impossible!」
Muge-san alone was against it, but–
「It’s okay. I was irritated to hear bad things about Muge-san too.」Dante-san said.
「That’s right. We are adventurers, after all. We have to dream big.」Mimino-san said.
「If you get a large reward, can you set up a church in the Empire?」Non-san asked.
「Bocchan, what about meee?!」
There was one person who was flustered because I didn’t call her name, but everyone else seemed to agree.
「Muge-san, we’re going on a labyrinth exploration, so might as well enjoy it.」
When I smiled at Muge-san, for a moment, he had a look that seemed to regret having made a request to us.
The share of loot was 50% for Muge-san, our employer and the one who got us the opportunity to enter the labyrinth, and 50% for us, Silver Balance.
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