Chapter 38
Ruche and I were looking up information about 〈Dungeon〉 at the Adventurers Guild.
“Since our levels went up so much last time... maybe we should start by upgrading our gear.”
Even though Ruche had effectively spent around fifty million Gordo on my 〈Frenzied Smoldering Fang〉 Skill Tree, we still had almost all of the ten-million-Gordo reward for defeating Embryo and the 4.6 million Gordo from the magic stones we collected.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to upgrade our weapons first.
“Hmm... I really like the 〈Ironpiercer〉 you bought for me, Elymas-san... Do you think I should replace it?”
“You’re around Lv: 40 now, Ruche, aren’t you? Unless we’re up against an exceptionally tough opponent, the 〈Ironpiercer〉 isn’t well suited for ordinary battles...”
Since we had the money, buying somewhat stronger gear shouldn’t hurt.
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〈Ironpiercer〉【Recommended Equipment Lv: 18】
【Attack Power: +3】
【Market Value: 550,000 Gordo】
This knife is effective against tough opponents.
When an attack lands, the opponent’s Defense is treated as 15% lower when calculating damage.
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At Ruche’s current level, the 〈Ironpiercer〉’s ability was starting to feel a little lacking.
It couldn’t reliably deal damage to monsters.
For a weapon suited to Lv: 40, I’d want around +10 Attack Power, and ideally some kind of bonus effect, too.
The same went for me, since I was still using the gear I’d bought at the start.
Both Jesters and Heavy Knights suffer from having low base Attack Power.
That was why I’d learned 〈Counter Slash〉 early on, so I could at least deal some damage with its Defense-piercing effect.
We should get even slightly better weapons to make up for our weaknesses.
The only reason we’d beaten Embryo, who was above our level, was that we’d had a good matchup.
If the 〈Dream Lord〉 had been the type to rely on raw physical strength instead of technical tricks, our damage output would’ve been far too low for us to put up a proper fight.
“Ugh... But good weapons are really expensive, aren’t they? And the shops here don’t have much stock... Come to think of it, do they even carry weapons suited to Lv: 40?”
That was the sticking point.
In the city of Rondalum, adventurers at Lv: 40 were already considered quite high-level.
In other words, only a limited number of adventurers in this city could hunt for item drops suited to that level range.
Especially in a world where useful things like strategy information weren’t easily shared.
The odds of finding the weapon we wanted at an affordable price were slim.
On the other hand, if we settled for a weapon, it would probably become useless as soon as our levels went up.
There was no doubt that adventurers shouldn’t be stingy with money, but I honestly hated the idea of spending a fortune on gear we’d soon outgrow.
“Oh! I’ve got an idea! Elymas-san, what if we relied on item drops from 〈Dungeon〉 for our weapons?”
“Look, Ruche, you can’t just decide to hunt for a specific kind of weapon drop...”
I remembered that we’d gotten duplicates of both the 〈Bear Shield〉 and the 〈Tin Sword〉, even though we hadn’t been targeting either of them.
We already had enough to outfit two swordfighter classes.
“...Actually, maybe you can.”
With Ruche’s Luck, it probably wouldn’t be much trouble.
She had a point. Rather than pay a high price for weapons we’d soon outgrow, it might be faster to hunt monsters ourselves and wait for a weapon drop.
“Yay! You accepted my idea! Then let’s do that! I’m getting really excited!”
Just as Ruche’s excited voice rang out, the Adventurers Guild’s doors were flung open with a rough bang.
The noisy Guild fell silent all at once.
I was shocked to see the two people who had entered.
My heart raced, but my mind was strangely calm.
A well-fed, middle-aged man dressed in extravagant noble’s clothing.
A black-haired girl with pale skin, dressed in light armor.
My father... Aizasu, head of House Edvaughn, and Malice, the next head of the family.
“Why, Count Aizasu-sama...! B-but why have you suddenly come to an Adventurers Guild like this...?”
The Guild Master appeared at once and bowed repeatedly to Aizasu.
“I have important business. Now then... clear the place.”
Aizasu looked around, then ordered the Guild Master to clear the room.
“Pardon? But if that’s the case, couldn’t you discuss it in a back room without clearing the place...?”
“Didn’t you hear me? I said to clear the place.”
Aizasu repeated himself, anger in his voice.
The Guild Master bowed his head and said, “I’m very sorry!” before turning toward us.
“The Count has come on urgent business! I apologize, but the Guild is closing for the day. All adventurers, leave at once!”
Some adventurers looked unhappy, but when Aizasu glared at them, they forced strained smiles and meekly backed down.
The heads of noble houses, who were responsible for protecting their domains from monsters, had far higher levels and combat skills than ordinary adventurers.
If an ordinary person dared to defy one, they could find themselves beheaded the very next moment.
“...Let’s get out of here, Ruche. We don’t want to draw his attention.”
I didn’t know what Aizasu was after, but I didn’t want anything more to do with him.
He probably felt the same way.
Besides, I was no longer a member of House Edvaughn, so none of this had anything to do with me.
“Y-Yes... So that’s Count Aizasu-sama. It’s my first time seeing him. I didn’t have a very good impression of House Edvaughn to begin with, but... he seems a little overbearing. He gives me a bad feeling.”
Ruche said with an awkward smile, then pressed her fingers to the corners of her eyes and pulled them upward, mimicking Aizasu’s displeased expression.
“You there, adventurer. You will remain in the Guild.”
At Aizasu’s words, Ruche’s body jolted.
“Y-Yes, sir! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! E-Elymas-san looked so gloomy, so I was just trying to make a silly face to lighten the mood, and, um, I really didn’t mean anything by it...!”
“Don’t worry, Ruche. It seems I’m the one he wants.”
Aizasu and Malice stood side by side in front of me.
I didn’t want anything to do with them, but it seemed I wasn’t going to get my way.