CH44: Deep Layer Material
“Oh, Orn. What’s the stuff?
Selma’s asking questions in an unusually brusque manner.
“The material you got from the deep level?”
“I know that when I see it! Why do you have that amount of deep material!”
“I got it when I was in the Brave Party and never used it…”
“Wow… Could it be that the other members of the heroic party have this many?”
“Well, I don’t think they have any. Except for Luna… they’re the type to spend money. They’ve been spending a lot of money on things like having meaningless magic tools made and selling materials for fun.
Yeah, Oliver used to manage the party fund, but he bought so many things he didn’t use that it almost ran the party fund short.
So I decided to take care of the money.
I’ve been able to save up some money since then… but now that I’m gone… I feel like the party’s in serious financial trouble…
Maybe Luna’s following up.
“Alan-san, is this enough to make a sword?”
“Oh, yeah. “Oh, yeah.” “With all this stuff, it shouldn’t be a problem. I mean, if you have this much, you should make it.”
“Ha-ha-ha… I didn’t think I’d have a chance to use it even if I made it, so I thought it would be a waste…”
“Wow, wow, wow! These are gryphon claws and these are manticore fangs! I’ve never seen materials like this before! Hey, hey! Could this be the material of a 93rd Layer Demonic Beast?”
Lecrae asks me, holding the shiny white material.
“Ah, the horn of the unicorn from the 93rd layer…”
“Oh, wow! That’s so cool! Oh, this…”
Lecrae was in high spirits earlier, but when he saw something, his tension plummeted.
… Those are the Black Dragon scales I got yesterday.
The black dragon represents a trauma to this party.
Selma’s agitation when she saw the black dragon in the 50th layer was extraordinary.
The air turned heavy in an instant.
I guess I made a mistake putting out the black dragon material…
But since it’s a floor boss, it’s of much better quality than the materials of the monsters that appear from the ninety-third layer.
If you’re going to make a sword out of the materials here, you should probably use the Black Dragon Scales as your main weapon.
“… If we use the Black Dragon’s scales, we could make a great sword. What do you think, Mr. Alan?”
Ms. Lane will try to keep her voice bright.
This kind of thing makes me realize that I’m the oldest in the party.
“Ah! I can make the best sword ever!”
“But how could such a large amount be stored in a storage grimoire? It’s probably more than the capacity of a single storage grimoire.
Selma asked me a question.
It’s true that ordinary storage tools can’t hold this amount of stuff. But this one’s specially made.
He explains, tapping the bracelet on his left wrist.
“When I was in the heroic party I used to take care of all the magic stones and materials we got from exploring the labyrinth. But then, the ordinary storage grimoires didn’t have enough space. I didn’t want to have more than one, so I asked a certain mage to make me one that could hold as much as several storage mages.”
“… Can I ask you to introduce me to that mage?”
Well, it’s gonna happen.
“Sorry. The conditions for having this made are that you keep the mage a secret and that you don’t show the formula of this mage’s art to anyone. So I can’t show it to you. Telling people that it has a lot of storage is also a gray area, so please don’t tell anyone if you can.”
“I see. I’m sorry to hear that. I promise I won’t tell anyone about the spellcaster. Do you understand?
Everyone nodded at Selma’s question.
“I know I’m getting off track here, but we should just make a sword out of the Black Dragon Scales, right?”
Alan will get back to you.
“Yes. Yes, please.”
So, tell me what you want.
I guess we’ll have to have a welcome party some other time.
Will mutters ruefully.
Will, I’m sorry.
Don’t apologize. We can always go out to eat.
“Right. Well then, I don’t think we’ll be much use to you here, so let’s just go home.
After Mr. Lane’s statement, the other members left.
That’s when the meeting with Alan started.
***
“Are you serious?”
When I told him about my ideal sword Alan gave me a disgusted look.
“I’m serious, too. It’s custom-made, so please be thorough!”
“Well, if you say it’s no problem. But it’s going to take you a while to finish it. And you’ll have to seal the formula. That’s not my area of expertise.”
Yeah, no problem.
“Okay. It’s late today, I’ll start on it tomorrow. It should probably take me about a month.”
“… You’re early. I’m aware that I’m asking you to do something quite unreasonable, so I thought it would take longer.”
“It’s a crazy request, to be sure… but making a sword is no problem. It’s more about the formula. Can you do that?
Maybe I can.
“That’s a vague answer. Well, since you’re trying to do something impossible from a blacksmith’s point of view, it’s only natural…”
“I can see a faint glimmer of it, so all I have to do is make it into a formula. That’s the hard part…”
This is my master of magic… Maybe I should talk to Grandpa.
“I hear that developing magic is very hard… so it stands to reason. I’ve heard that the people in the Magic Department are having a hard time too… All I can do now is make the sword. I’ll make it the best sword ever.
Okay. I’m looking forward to working with you… May I have this sword? I’m surprised how well it fits my hand. I’d like to use it until it’s finished. I’ll pay you for it.
I’ll check if it’s okay to use Alan’s handmade sword, which was used to determine the sword’s center of gravity, in the labyrinthine search.
“Yeah, no problem. And you don’t have to pay me. You’re giving me all this material.”
Why? You’re going to make a sword for us, so I think it’s our duty to provide the materials.
“Ah… you’re new here so it’s only natural you don’t know. We don’t allow private ownership of magic stones or materials. They’re all bought by the Search Department. And the money goes to the party fund and we use it to hire craftsmen to make equipment and magical tools.”
“… So you’re saying that the explorer won’t be providing the material?”
“That’s right. The materials are unloaded from the Search and Rescue department, and we’ll make what we need out of them.”
Well, that’s an interesting system.
In other words, if a party that can only go to the middle level gathers enough funds, they can get equipment made from materials from the lower levels that they can’t get on their own yet, right?
Furthermore, by putting all the materials and magic stones in one place, you can easily manage your inventory.
Plus, there’s no more tussling between parties while you’re trying to sort out the loot.
Loot distribution is the biggest factor that can bring down a party.
“I see. Well, I’ll be glad to use it.”
The meeting lasted for several hours and finally ended at midnight.
I’ve given them everything they want. I hope they make good swords.
I came back to my room and fell asleep right away.
