Chapter 111, Celebratory Gifts

Translator: Barnnn

 

That morning, after donning his leather chestplate, Hal absentmindedly ran his fingers over the amulet hanging at his chest. The gesture wasn’t just for syncing magical energy; it had become something of a shared habit. He’d seen both Ize and Fieda do the same, usually without thinking.

But today, something was different.

 

“Ow!”

 

A sharp sting, like static electricity, pricked his fingertip, and Hal jerked his hand back with a startled yelp.

 

“Huh? What the hell?”

 

Brow furrowed, he leaned in to examine the Magicite embedded in the amulet, crafted from materials gathered from a Giant Turtle and a Bambush. It had always been transparent, yet now, deep within the core, a swirling glint of red shimmered like fine glitter.

 

“What is this…?”

 

Muttering to himself, Hal focused his magical energy and activated his Appraisal skill.

Amulet of Protection

A defensive charm crafted from Giant Turtle Magicite.

Having absorbed the immense magical energy of the Fire Dragon, it now bears an enchantment.

Effect: Reflects a single lethal attack once.

“Wha — HUH!?”

 

Hal’s exclamation rang out, too loud and too confused to form coherent words. The commotion drew Ize from the next room, freshly dressed and adjusting her collar as she entered.

 

“Good morning, Hal. You’re loud and lively today. Looks like you’re back to full strength.”

“Ize! Wait, did you KNOW about this!?”

She blinked, caught off guard by his urgency. “Know about what?”

 

Hal pointed frantically to the amulet on his chest.

 

“Oh, that,” Ize said, as though it were nothing.

“So you DID know!?”

“More or less,” she replied with a shrug. “Fieda was upset the amulets’ protection didn’t work, and then Bardveles started gagging and retching…”

“Retching?”

“I think Fieda remembers the details better. I, uh… wasn’t really paying attention.”

 

She glanced away, sheepish. Hal could tell that it wasn’t indifference. She’d been too worried about him to focus on anything else.

 

“Got it. That’s more than enough. Thanks, Ize.”

 

Smiling, Hal gave her a light pat on the head.

 

◆

 

Later, over breakfast, Fieda filled in the blanks.

 

“To put it simply,” he said between bites, “that idiot Dragon’s magic was so damn dense, the amulets didn’t even have a chance to trigger. It’s obvious in hindsight; the magical pressure from a Giant Turtle and an idiot Fire Dragon aren’t even in the same league.” He leaned back and crossed his arms. “So the idiot Dragon’s energy just overpowered everything, flooded the Magicite, and disabled the protection. So that idiot decided to tweak the magic that got absorbed and slap a blessing on it as compensation.”

 

There was a lot of “idiot” being thrown around, but Ize and Hal understood the gist. A Giant Turtle’s magical output might be a bucket of water compared to the vast ocean that was a Fire Dragon. No wonder the amulets had failed.

 

“So the Appraisal picked it up?” Fieda asked.

“Yeah. It says the blessing will reflect one fatal blow.”

“Good. The idiot said it’s strong enough to reflect even an attack from the Dragons inside the deeper Dungeons.”

“Ugh…” Hal groaned.

“Whoa, Fieda, you can’t say that!” Ize shouted.

Fieda raised an eyebrow. “What? Why not?”

Ize sighed dramatically. “Look, Fieda, you’re tempting fate…”

“Tempting fate?”

“Yes. You say something like that, and BAM — one of those creatures actually shows up.”

“Wait, creatures like–”

“DAH! Don’t SAY it!”

Ize held up a hand with authority. “Listen carefully. We do NOT speak that word aloud. It’s for our own safety.”

“R-right,” Fieda nodded quickly, hands raised in surrender.

 

And so, from that day forward, all three of their amulets gleamed with a faint red at the chests.

 

◆

 

“Welcome back, everyone. Congratulations on completing your request, and on setting a new record for the geyser.”

 

The receptionist at the Adventurers’ Guild greeted them with a warm smile as they stepped through the doors.

 

“We’d like to report the completion and collect our reward,” Fieda said.

“Of course. Please follow me.”

 

The trio were led to a back room, drawing curious glances from other adventurers as they passed. Inside, slouched over a desk like a melted candle, was an A-rank adventurer looking very much the worse for wear.

 

“Well,” Volhelm muttered, not even lifting his face from the desk, “thanks for leaving me to die yesterday.”

“Volhelm,” the receptionist chided gently, “that’s not very polite.”

“I’m just saying,” he grumbled. “I’d have appreciated a little sympathy. I had to take on that crowd of lunatics all by myself.”

“I’m really sorry, Mister Volhelm…” Ize said softly, lowering her gaze.

“Ah, no, no, Ize, I didn’t mean you! You’re not at fault at all. You did great, yep. No complaints here, not one…”

 

Faced with Ize’s apologetic expression, the man flailed for words and quickly lost the will to complain further.

 

[Well played, Ize.]

 

Hal offered silent praise as he watched Ize narrow her eyes with feline mischief. That had been deliberate.

 

“So,” Fieda asked, “about the reward. The one-week hot spring pass… does it have an expiration?”

“Actually,” the receptionist said, folding her hands, “your reward has been changed. Instead of a temporary voucher, the mayor has issued each of you a lifetime pass. Should that be an issue, though, you do have the option to change it back…”

“Wait, what!?”

“Yeah, the mayor’s feeling really generous this time!” Volhelm chimed in. “I got one too.”

“What kind of pass is this, exactly?” Hal asked.

“It’s issued to those who’ve made significant contributions to the town,” the receptionist explained. “It grants unlimited free access to all hot spring inns and bathhouses.”

“Wait, even lodging?”

“Yes.”

 

Free, unlimited access — that was indeed generous. The trio exchanged glances and quickly started discussing their travel plans.

 

“That reward works for us,” Hal decided. “If it lasts a lifetime, we don’t need to use it right away.”

“Understood. So you’re not planning to stay for now?”

“Not at the moment,” Fieda replied. “Anywhere we go now would just be exhausting.”

“Yeah, imagine that. Coming to a hot spring town and leaving more tired than before…” Hal muttered.

The receptionist chuckled. “Very well. I’ll prepare your passes. Please wait here a moment.”

 

As she left the room, Volhelm raised his head — barely — and looked over at Fieda, resting his chin on the desk like a man too tired to move.

 

“So, you heading to the capital next?”

“Not quite yet. There’s a Mushroom Dungeon we plan to visit first.”

Volhelm’s brows shot up. “That place? Not exactly an exciting spot for adventurers.”

“Why not?”

“Well, the mushrooms are a local specialty. The Guilds tightly control harvesting. They monitor how many people go in, how much they pick… all to avoid overharvesting.”

“So if we just show up and ask to go in–”

“Yeah, they’ll probably say no. Even to A-ranks like me — or rather, ESPECIALLY to A-ranks. High-ranking adventurers entering a Rank-5 Dungeon like that would be treated like they’re some kind of locust swarm. Trust me, I’ve been on the receiving end of THAT look.”

 

The trio sighed in unison. They had been curious about the Dungeon, but it seemed like visiting would only cause trouble for the locals. With some regret, they decided to give up on the idea.

 

“Then… are there any good mushroom dishes there?” Ize asked with a glimmer of interest. “Something we could enjoy in the village without having to go into the Dungeon?”

“There sure are,” Volhelm replied, reaching into his Magic Bag. “The area’s known for its dried mushrooms.”

 

He pulled out a few small pouches and handed them over to the group.

 

“See? They’re dried like this, so you can just toss them into soup while you’re traveling. Really handy stuff.”

 

As one of the bags was opened, a faint earthy scent typical of mushrooms drifted out.

 

“This one’s… shiitake, I think,” Hal said, peering into a pouch.

“This one looks like maitake,” Ize added, examining another.

“There’s a whole bunch of long skinny ones,” Fieda murmured, frowning.

“Ah, you’ve got enoki,” Hal said with a grin.

 

Hal and Ize seemed to have a knack for identifying the mushrooms, while Fieda, less confident, ended up relying on Hal for the correct name.

 

“For rarer varieties, though,” Volhelm continued, “you’d want to pick them up fresh, right where they’re found. I can’t remember all their names, but things like… mattsundake? Trufa? And… giiholle? Those are popular. It’s worth checking them out.”

“Trufa…? Giiholle…?” Hal repeated the names under his breath, rolling them around on his tongue. Then, after a moment, he asked, “These trufa… they’re the ones that look like black lumps, right?”

“Yeah, that,” Volhelm said with a chuckle. “Honestly, when I first saw one, I thought it looked… well, kind of gross. But once it was cooked, it’s got incredible aroma.”

“I knew it!” Hal said, nodding excitedly.

“Are these ‘trufa’ famous mushrooms or something?” Ize asked, blinking.

Hal chuckled. “Hehe… You see, Ize, ‘trufa’ is what it’s called in Spanish — in English, it’s truffle!”

“Wait, truffles are mushrooms!?”

“That’s the part that surprises you!?” Hal groaned, his head drooping in exaggerated disappointment.

 

“Well, they sound too different! ‘Mattsundake’ is obviously matsutake — I got that. But anyway, that means we can expect some tasty dishes, right?”

“And ‘giiholle’ is probably girolle mushrooms. The stuff they use in French cuisine.”

“Fuyuya has a lot of mushroom dishes too,” Fieda added. “But I bet this place has even more to offer. Shame about the Dungeon, though. Still, let’s make a quick stop here.”

“”Okaaay,”” Hal and Ize replied in unison.

 

With Fieda’s final decision, their next destination was set: Shetsuba Village, commonly known as “Mushroom Village,” home to the Mushroom Dungeon.

 

◆

 

Before the Guild receptionist returned, Fieda took the opportunity to speak with Volhelm in a lower voice.

 

“Did you report what happened with the Fire Dragon to the town?”

“I glossed over the details a little,” Volhelm replied. “But I told the mayor everything. We agreed to announce that the Fire Dragon had learned a regeneration spell and that its wings might heal — that it had gotten excited by the possibility.”

“Not a bad cover,” Fieda said with a nod.

 

He accepted a pouch from Hal and placed it in front of Volhelm with a quiet clink.

Volhelm raised a single eyebrow at the sound.

 

“What’s this?”

“A thank-you, for helping us stay off the spotlight,” Fieda said. “We’d appreciate it if you’d accept it. You can also give some to the mayor — he’ll probably be overjoyed.”

“He’d probably start crying,” Volhelm muttered. “But this is a lot. Don’t you think it’s too much?”

“We were hoping,” Hal said, stepping forward, “that you could use the extra… for a certain purpose.”

“Something to do with the Fire Dragon?”

“No. This is about the Mandragora.”

 

At that, Volhelm frowned slightly.

 

“The Mandragora? What does this… gift have to do with that?”

“We want you to use it to gain the favor of certain nobles, ideally those who oversee territories with high-tier Dungeons.”

Volhelm narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“To push for legislation protecting the Sugar Mandragora,” Hal explained, “or at least to establish penalties for nobles who consume Mandragora for anything other than detoxification.”

“So… you’re starting with Dungeon-holding nobles to sway the adventurers?”

Hal nodded. “Territories with Dungeons rely on adventurers. If those nobles understand our reasoning, they’re the most likely to support the right way to use the Sugar Mandragora.”

 

That would be the wedge to drive into the noble class — to change the system from within.

 

“Hal,” Ize whispered, “she’s coming back.”

“Got it. Sorry, Volhelm, we’ll have to continue this later.”

“Wait, what am I supposed to do with–?”

“Quick! Hide it!” Ize urged in a hiss.

“Ehhh, seriously?” Volhelm muttered, scowling.

 

In the commotion, Hal shoved the pouch — containing Bardveles’ scales — into Volhelm’s hands. With an audible sigh, Volhelm tucked it away just as the door swung open.

 

“Thank you for waiting,” said the woman who stepped into the room.

 

All four of them greeted her with composed expressions.

Oblivious to the exchange that had just taken place, the receptionist sat down and began explaining the final procedures.

 

“These are your lifetime passes. If you happen to misplace them, don’t worry; your names are recorded in the town registry, so replacements can be issued.”

 

She laid out several small, card-sized slips on the table. Though they were plain, bearing only the name of the town, these were essentially golden tickets — valid for inns, hot springs, and more.

 

“As for the promotion delay you requested before taking on the quest,” she went on, “the Guild’s higher-ups have approved it. When you’re ready to move up a rank, just notify the Adventurers’ Guild and take the test. There’s no issue.”

 

They each signed the confirmation form and picked up their cards. With Ize and Hal’s C-rank promotion issue now settled, their business with the Guild was complete.

 

“Anything else we need?” Fieda asked, glancing around.

“Don’t think so…” Hal said, then turned to the receptionist. “Oh, actually, what about leftover supplies?”

“You’re welcome to keep them,” she replied, but then hesitated, eyes darting briefly.

“Is something wrong?” Fieda asked.

“Well… starting yesterday, the townspeople have been sending MORE gifts…”

“Gifts?” Hal parroted.

“Yes; to celebrate your record-setting achievement. They’ve been arriving at the Guild and are scheduled to be delivered to your inn tomorrow morning. However… we just checked the storage unit, and… well, it’s already nearly overflowing.”

 

Fieda winced. The secondary storage they’d used for the pre-quest deliveries had already been quite spacious. If the main unit was now considered overflowing, then…

He glanced at the clock. It was still before noon. Which meant more was coming.

Noticing his expression, Hal leaned forward.

 

“You want us to take some of it today, don’t you?”

“I’m terribly sorry to trouble you,” the woman said, bowing her head slightly. “But yes, if possible.”

“No problem. Lead the way,” Hal said with a smile.

 

Relieved, the woman nodded and gestured toward the hallway.