Chapter 52

Sunday morning.

The first gathering of the four in a week.

Since pets are not allowed in the hotel, Kuro is staying at home.

"Sorry about yesterday, I suddenly had to cancel. My mom came back from America unexpectedly. It caused quite a commotion here."

"Is everything okay now?"

"Yes, it's fine. I was about to explain today's dungeon exploration, but—"

Before I could talk about the growth ribbon, Ayame raised her hand.

"Um, can I say something first?"

It's rare for her to speak up like this.

"Ayame, what's wrong?"

Milk asked.

"It's faster if you see it—here goes."

Suddenly, her clothes changed. It wasn't like a transformation hero who becomes naked for a moment; it happened in the blink of an eye. It looked like a magician's outfit, quite a cute design.

"Ayame, what's with that outfit?"

"I got it from the D-can from Ichino. Could you, Ichino, appraise it for me?"

"Is it okay to appraise it in front of everyone?"

"Yes."

I see.

Ayame has made up her mind.

【Grand Mage's Robe: A legendary robe that significantly increases magic power and awakens magic (※Exclusive to Ayame Higashi)]】

I read out the appraisal result. Naturally, Hime and Milk were surprised.

"Exclusive equipment... I've heard about it from Dad. It's extremely rare."

"It's likely to be a legendary-grade item."

I then explained its effects.

Magic Defense: Reduces magic damage by 50%.

Absolute Magic Doctrine: Nullifies the effects of magic seals.

Disguise: Can disguise the appraisal result.

Ownership: Cannot be worn by anyone other than the owner. Consumes 20 magic points to instantly don the robe.

Indestructible: This robe will never break as long as the owner is alive. It will self-destruct when the owner dies.

Ultra Frugality: Reduces magic point consumption by half.

Grand Mage: Increases the owner's magic power by 50%.

This time, everyone was speechless, except for Ayame.

"When I put on this robe, my magic power stat increased significantly, so I thought maybe... I haven't told anyone else yet, but the staff I have also has a similar effect—"

Ayame explained the effects of the staff she had, looking very troubled.

"I was recognized by Oshino and joined the party, but in reality, it's the equipment that's strong, not my actual skills. I know Milk has been working hard and looked very strained in Shirahama, while I've been getting stronger so easily—sorry."

The D-can I gave her as a gift seemed to have been causing her distress. I feel bad.

"No, Ayame, you're not at fault. If you think about it, I'm getting a 20% experience boost from the growth ring and another 20% from the growth ribbon I got from Taiga, so I'm getting a 40% advantage over everyone else."

"That's true. Besides, if only Ayame can use it, then it's her strength. Hold your head high."

Hime said firmly and looked at me.

"By the way, Taiga, can appraisals be that detailed?"

"..."

Yeah, I knew this would happen.

While Ayame and Milk didn't notice, I was sure Hime would. I had made up my mind when I told her the appraisal result, believing this group wouldn't leak the information.

"My skill isn't just appraisal; it's called Detailed Appraisal."

"Detailed Appraisal?"

"Exactly, it's a skill that allows me to know things in more detail. For example, this D-can."

I took the D-can from my inventory.

"The appraisal result says, 'A can with unknown contents. Opening methods vary widely. Rarely opened. Boasts the highest strength but loses it once opened.' However, with Detailed Appraisal, I can determine the opening conditions. For example, this one—opens when struck with a diamond of 1 carat or more."

"Wait a minute—"

Hime went back to the room and returned with a watch. It was a high-end women's wristwatch.

"It's a cheap one I use daily, but I like the design. However, this diamond is over 1 carat. The downside is that it can't be brought into the dungeon."

It's not cheap at all.

Hime tapped the D-can with the watch, and it glowed and opened. Inside was a piece of diamond ore, quite large.

"Amazing."

"Yeah, even if dungeon-produced gems are cheap, this size would still be quite valuable."

"That's not the point. Taiga's Detailed Appraisal. So, the D-can you gave me—"

"Yeah. I thought it would open if you had it. The opening condition was the owner's dexterity. Also, I knew the D-can I gave Ayame would open after half a day and that it was likely to contain Grand Mage-related equipment. The opening condition was that the owner of the Grand Mage's staff had to possess it for half a day. Sorry for not telling you."

"That's not something you should apologize for, Ichino."

"True, I wouldn't be able to talk about it easily if I had such a skill."

"Of course, it's unprecedented. By the way, do you trust us too much? Taiga, do you plan to make Detailed Appraisal public?"

"No, if I did, I'd be swamped with appraisal work and wouldn't be able to explore dungeons. I don't want to be an appraiser. Oh, and keep it from Ako for now. I trust her, but we've only just met."

"True, I've only known you for a month. I'll have you sign a non-disclosure agreement, though. I need to be thorough. Ayame too."

Hime brought a computer and started drafting a contract, muttering about buying up all the D-cans.

Ushizou collected that many in a day.

How many would Hime gather with corporate resources?

"Um, if we're making a contract, I have something I want to talk about. A new magic I learned. It's a unique spell."

"Unique spell?"

"Yes, it's called potion magic, which allows me to create and manipulate potions. So far, I can create potions, holy water, and gunpowder."

"Wait, wait, I've never heard of such a spell! Even if it's a unique spell... a spell to create potions? Holy water? Gunpowder?"

Hime looked at me.

I—

"Yeah, I'm involved. I'll tell you about it later."

"You still have more secrets?"

"Yeah, I have a lot of secrets. Honestly, Detailed Appraisal is just the beginning for me."

"Haha, I thought I was a genius, but at this rate, I might be the most ordinary in the party."

Hime smiled wryly.

"Milk, what do you think? Will you join our EPO corporation? With your unique spell, you could transfer to any organization you like."

"Of course, I'll join as a full member. My dad's EPO corporation is just a front now. Looking forward to working with you, Hime!"

"Great, I've been waiting for a deputy position. Welcome, Milk."

Hime and Milk shook hands, welcoming her. This marks the official formation of the EPO corporation, Tenka Musou.

"By the way, the growth ribbon I gave Milk had two. How about the other one, Hime and Ayame can take turns using it?"

"That's very kind, but is it okay for you, Taiga?"

"Me, a guy, using a ribbon—"

"Is that a problem?"

"It's a big problem."

"Understood. Do you have any other secrets you want to share now? I'll accept anything."

Thinking about Sano, I hesitated. If I told her now, there would be no going back. I decided to keep quiet about the blacksmith for now and instead—

"I brought 50 more experience potions. Can you handle the sale?"

"Taiga, if you don't want to share a secret, keep it. How did you manage to make 50 experience potions in such a short time? You can't sell them all at once; it would cause a price drop and put potion makers out of work."

"True, maybe we should use them ourselves."

Just then, Hime's phone rang.

"It's from Shousho. What's up?"

She answered the call from Ako, and her face turned pale. It didn't sound good.

"Wait, put it on speaker."

She put the phone on speaker and placed it on the table.

"Say that again."

"Yes. The government just informed us that a new black dungeon has appeared in Japan. It hasn't been announced to the media yet, but in case of an emergency, there's a possibility we'll need to dispatch the magic weapon, so we've been asked to be on standby for 24 hours."

The magic weapon.

It's definitely referring to me, who fought at Mount Fuji. I probably won't be able to go to school tomorrow. The request is for a standby, not an order, because the owner of the magic weapon is listed as the GDC Group and the U.S. military, not Hime.

"Where is the dungeon?"

"Osaka and Nara border—Mount Ikoma's summit."

What? The summit?

No, Mount Ikoma's summit—

"Mount Ikoma Upper Park."

The party is finally transitioning from a provisional to an official formation.

And here, Part 2 concludes.

What? Here?

What about Mount Ikoma Upper Park? What about Sano?

There are still questions, but this is the end.

And tomorrow, Part 3 begins!

The dungeon streaming starts?

At the end of Part 2,

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