Chapter 16, Our Party Splits Everything Evenly

Translator: Lizz

 

At the place where the skeleton had fallen, a single card remained.

 

It was about the size of a playing card, with a smooth glossy surface. It glowed faintly blue from magical power, as if insisting it was genuine.

 

“I forgot to check the drop item.”

 

Both of them had forgotten in the excitement of leveling up, but normally it was something to search for immediately after defeating a monster. Especially with stronger monsters, the drop rate was high, and valuable items like skill cards could be expected.

 

“There’s a skill card here… Fireball?”

 

The card Rika picked up had no words on it. It only showed a picture of several fireballs floating.

 

Skill cards had no descriptions, so one had to guess the obtainable skill from the illustration. Even when discovering an unknown skill card, which effect was not immediately clear, someone still had to claim it.

 

If the skill matched expectations, there was no problem, but if it turned out to be something else, it often led to regret like ‘We should have sold it’. Using an unappraised skill card was a gamble, but this time it was a common one, so they immediately knew what skill it granted.

 

“It’s Fireball.”

 

It was the skill the skeleton had used. The number, power, and speed varied depending on the magical energy put into it, and it remained usable even against stronger monsters. It was versatile and popular.

 

If sold at an explorers-only auction, it would fetch over two million yen. That was enough for Rika to pay off her loan at once and for Masato to replace his broken equipment.

 

On the other hand, there was also the option of using the skill card instead of selling it.

 

Learning the skill would make future explorations safer and more efficient. Orcs on the 3rd floor could be defeated easily. Even on the 4th floor, they could hunt with ease. Simply having Fireball made one attractive to many parties. An explorer who owned such a skill was valuable and a reliable companion.

 

“What should we do…?”

 

She held out the skill card in her hand to Masato.

 

“Let’s cash it in and split it.”

 

“I think I wasn’t even on the battlefield for a full minute, so I’ll pass.”

 

“If you hadn’t drawn its attention at that moment, I would have definitely died. It wasn’t about time.”

 

“…But still.”

 

Rika, who had only been running around, didn’t feel like she had actually fought the skeleton and didn’t think she had been useful. Masato, on the other hand, felt indebted because she had helped him at a critical moment. Their perspectives were different, and that gap made them hesitate about how to use the skill card.

 

Keep it all, split it, or invest by learning the skill.

 

After a brief silence, Rika voiced one concern.

 

“The skill you learned, Masato-san, it’s ‘Experience turns into skill’, right?”

 

“Yes. Are you concerned about something?”

 

“There’s no doubt it’s an amazing ability, turning accumulated experience into skills. If you use a knife, you learn dagger techniques, right? But what about a skill like Fireball? How are you supposed to gain experience for that?”

 

“I see, that’s what you mean.”

 

How could they gain experience for a skill like Fireball?

 

Neither of them had any idea. Because of that, the experience needed to turn it into a skill wouldn’t accumulate. Rika was pointing out that problem.

 

“It’s a bit of a dilemma…”

 

Skill Sublimation was still new, and Masato didn’t fully understand all of its abilities, but he had a vague belief that he would be able to learn it.

 

It could be dismissed as optimism, but skills were something one instinctively understood how to use. Intuition wasn’t something to be underestimated.

 

“Rika-san, do you want to learn Fireball?”

 

“I use a sword, so I don’t need it. If anyone should use it, it’s you, Masato-san.”

 

“Then let’s sell it at an auction. I don’t need it.”

 

With his level-up, Masato’s physical abilities had improved dramatically. On top of that, he had the extraordinary ability to gain skills through effort. As preparation for the future, that was more than enough. So he decided it was better to use the card’s value for immediate living expenses and equipment replacement.

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“I got stronger with the level-up and Skill Sublimation. Besides, Fireball is one of the easier skills to obtain. Even if I don’t gain experience for it now, I’ll have another chance to get it.”

 

“I see.”

 

“And the proceeds from the skill card and magic stone will be split evenly. That’s non-negotiable.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Masato packed the broken equipment into his backpack, then climbed the rope Rika had used to descend, and they emerged from the cave.

 

“Let’s head back without fighting.”

 

Saying that, Masato took Rika’s hand and activated his Stealth skill. Magic enveloped them, and their presence faded sharply.

 

Unless someone used a powerful skill, they couldn’t be detected. Without encountering any monsters, they safely escaped from the dungeon.

 

◆◆◆

 

The sale of magic stones was carried out at the buyback office attached to the dungeon. Since magic stones were used as an energy source, selling them anywhere other than the designated location was prohibited.

 

After safely escaping from the Tokyo Dungeon, the two waited for the reception to open. Clean white floors stretched out, lined with rows of chairs. Explorers carrying weapons like swords, spears, and bows waited their turn just like Masato and Rika, each holding a numbered ticket.

 

“Ping.”

 

On the counter sat a liquid crystal monitor, and with a soft sound, the displayed number changed. The explorers seated all raised their heads at once to check their tickets.

 

“Number 248 please. Thank you for waiting.”

 

It was the same number on Masato’s ticket. He stood up, walked to the counter, and sat in the office chair provided. There was only one seat, so Rika observed from behind.

 

“I’d like to sell a magic stone.”

 

He placed the skeleton’s magic stone on the counter as he spoke. It was slightly smaller than a fist, with a transparent red glow. It was so beautiful one might believe it was a ruby.

 

“I’m taking it.”

 

The female clerk admired it inwardly but didn’t show it outwardly.

 

She placed it into a metal box etched with geometric patterns. When a light similar to a UV light was shone on it, details and price appeared on the computer.

 

“The magical density is 34.2, rank C. At the current market rate, that will be 500,000 yen.”

 

The buyback price of a magic stone varied depending on the amount of magical power it contained. For goblins, the average magical density was 5.0, with the lowest rank of F.

 

The skeleton’s magic stone was rank C. Within the Tokyo Dungeon, that was considered equivalent in value to monsters appearing around the 10th floor. Even at the Tokyo’s exchange office, where the largest number of magic stones in Japan were traded, this quality was rarely seen.

 

From the rank alone, it was clear that a skeleton was not the kind of monster a Level 1 Masato could normally defeat by himself.

 

“What should we do?”

 

He turned to hear Rika’s opinion.

 

“I’ll leave it to you.”

 

“Alright, then let’s go ahead and sell it.”

 

When he told the clerk they would sell it here, bundles of cash were taken from the safe beneath the counter. After being placed into an envelope, it was set on the counter.

 

“500,000 yen. Please confirm.”

 

Masato counted the bills, then asked for another envelope. He split the money in half and handed one envelope to Rika.

 

“Our party splits everything evenly.”

 

He emphasized it again so she wouldn’t hold back.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Smiling wryly at his insistence, Rika accepted the envelope properly with both hands.

 

Masato turned back to the clerk.

 

“And I’d like to list this as well.”

 

He took the skill card from his backpack and placed it on the counter.

 

“You’ve acquired something rare. The commission fee will be 20% of the sale.”

 

Skill card auctions were also mediated by the buyback office. Individual listings by explorers were prohibited, both to prevent fraud and to protect personal information.

 

In the past, fraud had been rampant, and incidents of explorers being murdered after listing valuable skill cards had occurred frequently. Because of that, even with high fees, using the official system was the only option.

 

“Alright.”

 

He signed the listing agreement, and the process was complete.

 

By the next day, the card had been successfully auctioned. A few days later, Masato received a large sum of 1.6 million yen.