Chapter 7 - New Equipment
The search for the West Tower is progressing smoothly day by day, and we've already broken through the tenth floor. Due to repeated battles, my longsword is spilling its blade, and it seems to be in need of repair.
「Hey, Alec, I'm going to take my sword in for repair today, is your sword okay?」
I ask Alec, who was eating a late breakfast.
「Yes, mine is still fine, but Meena, your sword needs to be repaired.」
「Yes, but...」
「I'll buy you a replacement, so don't worry.」
「Yes, sir.」
The enemies in the tower are getting stronger the higher you go, so you'd better make sure you have the right equipment.
「I'll have to buy you some good stuff.」
「That's right. Shall we exchange the jewel for cash?」
The auction at the merchant's guild should be more expensive, but it seems the date is still far off, so Alec said he'll go to the adventurer's guild.
「Oh, Alec, it's been a while. Since you haven't shown your face, I was a little worried that you might have gone off to sleep somewhere.」
The man at the guild's reception desk said that, but Alec didn't seem to have done much in the way of quests.
「I'm not screwed up, but I need to cash this in. Is the quest for the jewel still on?」
「Oh, the jewels, huh. No problem. It's not easy for anyone to bring them here. Well, it doesn't have enough ranks, but I'll make an exception for immediate payment of 10,000 gold. Check it out.」
It exchanged one gold coin.
With this, Alec has a little over 28,000 gold. The steel armor is expensive, but it will probably be enough.
「Alec, your adventurer rank is now D. Why don't you take the promotion test while you're at it? I can raise your rank to C.」
When Uncle said this, Alec thought for a moment and then said,
「That's too much trouble.」
「What? It's fine isn't it? Let's aim to become an A level adventurer together. By the way, I'm a B-rank now.」
I'll recommend it.
「Maybe another time.」
「Ehh?」
「Well, it's not safe to raise it too quickly. Just take it easy. A number of people have died in the dungeons recently. Especially in the west tower, three groups of eight people have been killed this month. You guys shouldn't go there.」
The uncle warned us, but we're already there to capture.
「Oh, we're raiding there now.」
「Ehh? It's okay for you, Serina-chan, but Alec, show me your card again. You're still a level ......」
「Look closely. I'm already 21, and I'm well equipped, so there's no problem」
「Mumuh, that's true. You've come a long way. You just started last month, and you're doing great.」
「Hee, Alec-san, you've already passed level 20? That's quite a feat!」
Shin pokes his head out of the back of Alec head and hugs Alec's shoulder in a familiar way.
「Let me go. What is your level?」
「Hehe, it's a secret.」
He then smiles and leaves. It's kind of disgusting.
「You could have at least told me that. We're fellow heroes, aren't we?」
I say.
「Yes, but, Shiraishi-san, why don't you have dinner with me at a fancy restaurant? I'll teach you many things if you do. Lots of things, hehe.」
「Yeah, I'll go with you if Alec come with us.」
「I'm not going.」
As usual, Alec doesn't get along with me.
「Geez, you guys are such a pain in the ass.」
I shrugged my shoulders in resignation.
「Too bad. So, are you done with your business?」
Shin asked me, but I guess he has business with the guild.
「Yeah, we're done.」
Alec stepped in front of the counter.
「Then, can you exchange this for cash?」
Shin puts the red dagger on the counter.
「Hmm?」
This dagger looks familiar.
It was a dagger that a young man named Dillmud had in his possession in the west tower.
It's a rare sword with a vermilion blade, and it's the same shape, so I'm sure it's the same. It's a Cutlass of Iniquity.
「Oohh, it's a work of art. If you put it up for auction, I'm sure you can get a good price for it.」
「Yes, I'd like to exchange it for cash as soon as possible.」
「Shin, where did you get that?」
Alec confirmed.
「It's in the west tower. I found it on the ground by accident.」
「There were no adventurers nearby?」
「No, there were no adventurers. There was a magician's staff on the ground, and it looks like someone did some fighting there, but they must have been killed by a strong monster. We have to be careful too.」
Shin replied nonchalantly.
「Oh, those people, they got killed. ......」
It's shocking to see someone you've met lose their life.
For some reason, Meena suddenly tried to step in front of Alec, but Alec forcefully hugged Meena's shoulders and left the scene.
「See you later, Shin.」
「Yes, we are both heroes, let's do our best, hehe.」
Alec left the adventurer's guild with an unamused look on his face.
「Let's go to the inn.」
「Yes, sir.」
「What's wrong with you two?」
「Just come on, you guys.」
Lily and I go to Alec's room together.
Alec locked the door as well. Meena looked serious and alert, her sword drawn and ready, her eyes on the door.
「And, what's wrong?」
I asked the two of them what their actions meant.
「It's possible he's doing a PK.」
Alec said as he opened the door.
Lily suprised when she heard that.
「Uh, I'm sorry, what's PK?」
But I don't really know what that word means.
「From there, huh ......」
「Because I don't know. I've heard of it, though.」
I think my friend Tamae used to say it sometimes when she was talking about games.
「It stands for player killer. Now you know.」
「Ah, yeah. Eeehhhh!? Did Shin do those adventurers?」
「I don't have any proof, but it's very possible. Shin said the dagger was dropped by accident, but if other adventurers walked by first, the sooner the better. Besides, if it had been that long, there would still have been bodies left behind.」
「But I don't think it's reasonable to assume he's the killer just because of that.」
「There are other circumstantial evidences. Remember Sylvie's story. There's been an increase in the number of deaths in the dungeon this month, and that's probably after we were summoned. He's got to have gotten some PK-specific skills.」
「He's probably chosen to solo because he's played those games too. And he's got a lot of money.」
「You too?」
I'm nervous to ask.
「I'm not really into that kind of game, and you know I made my money thanks to rare skills and treasure, PK woman.」
「No, Geez. I'm really sorry about that time. And I'm sorry I doubted you. But I'm not either.」
「Yeah, I know. I know that, though.」
「Besides, I could smell Dil something on Shin. Apart from the dagger, that is.」
Meena added, but that's the clincher.
He probably winged him or something when he killed him.
「Uwahhh, it's scary to be around a murderer!」
Lily shuddered. Shin isn't so bad as to say, and the fact that he doesn't look like it makes him even scarier.
「Lily, we'll deal with him soon, but in the meantime, just act normal. I don't want him to notice us.」
「Y-yeah, okay.」
「When you say "settle", do you mean report him to the guild or the Order?」
「We'll do that too, but we'll need proof. Besides, he's supposed to start stalking out the west tower today to get rid of us.」
「Huh? Why? ......Ah, because we saw him selling that dagger.」
「Yeah, I guess he didn't expect to find anyone who knew Dill something there. He's a bit of a naive.」
I'd rather not fight Shin, who is also a heroes, but since he's done the killing, it's unlikely that we'll be able to talk it out. Besides, it seems unlikely that he will leave us as witnesses alone.
In preparation for the final battle, we quickly bought equipment and upgraded our skills.
It was mainly Alec and Meena's equipment that we updated.
I, Ione, and Sylvie already had our steel gear. Lily is not likely to be able to wear heavy armor, so we made her wear light leather armor.
Steel shortswords +1 for 4,000 gold each.
One steel breastplate +1 for six thousand two hundred gold.
One steel round shield +1 for three thousand four hundred gold.
He also bought two cheap working knives for a hundred gold.
Alec was concerned about the weight of the shields, but he said it would be better if they had a wide range of protection, probably because the opponent had a bow gun. I see.
With my [Discount] skill and Alec's [Bargain] skill, we were able to buy it cheaper than the regular price.
If anything, I wanted a rank +2 armors like Ione has, but it seems that there are no higher rank armors available in the stores.
Alec seemed to have taken a few skills in preparation for the battle with Shin.
『Heruko, please』
『Yes, ye~s. It's like checking your boyfriend's phone while ignoring it's privacy, [Appraisal]』
Geez, you're so annoying.
――But.
『Oh my, oh dear, I can't see his status now. It's a definite affair, Serina-san.』
『What are you talking about?』
『Fufu,It looks like he took the concealment skill. Serina-san also has 【Lady's Taste☆】, so others can't see your skill structure!.』
Then, there's nothing we can do about it.
「Meena, you should take the skill that increases your fighting ability. Lily, you should get the skill that can strengthen your evasion skills」
「I understand, master.」
「Hmm, evasion. Okay.」
Meena should strengthen her combat skills, and Lily should strengthen her evasion skills.
I'll also strengthen my combat skills.
I'm not sure if my trump card, Starlight Attack, is already at the highest level, but it's grayed out and I can't level it up any further. Other than that.
【Athleticism Level 3】 Level up!
【Evasion Level 3】 Level up!
【Swordsmanship Level 3】 Level up!
【Quickness Up Level 3】 Level up!
Now I'm ready.
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