Chapter 64

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---

The following week after the reconditioning, after completing the weapon familiarization training with Jūzō, we headed to our usual dungeon. We passed through the crowded upper floors and used the reborn Shizukanae on the monsters in the lower floors.

"Huff!"

"!"

The Hound Dog couldn't even scream as it was cleanly bisected from head to toe by the Shizukanae. The blade was exceptionally sharp.

"...It's incredibly sharp."

"Yeah, mine is pretty impressive too."

"Mine as well."

In agreement with my mutterings, Yūji and Hō also nodded. At Yūji's feet lay a Hound Dog sliced into three rings, and the spear Hō held had a Hound Dog impaled from head to tail. The scene was quite gruesome, with a sea of blood around us.

"...There's no warping, so Kōsuke did a great job."

After Hō used the cleaning skill, I sheathed the Shizukanae, which fit smoothly as it did before use. If the blade had warped, it wouldn't have fit properly. By the way, the monsters were so damaged that we didn't get any drop items this time.

"Really. With this, we can use it without any problems even in the lower floors."

"Yes. At the very least, it seems we can use it as we did before."

"But still, if we use it recklessly, the weapon's lifespan will shorten, so we need to be careful."

We should avoid using it as a blunt weapon, like we did when fighting the goblin group. That probably shortened the lifespan of Shizukanae and the others.

"Then, today, let's aim for the 10th floor and target the Orcs while checking the condition of Shizukanae and the others, okay?"

"Yeah. Since it's the first practical use today, we shouldn't push ourselves too hard."

"Yes, I have no objections to that plan."

"Alright, let's go."

After preparing, we started moving from that spot.

---

We tested Shizukanae and the others against various monsters, taking several times longer than usual to reach the 10th floor. In front of us, the Orcs were growling in warning.

"Alright, let's head back up after defeating this one today?"

"Sounds good. We've confirmed the condition of the weapons sufficiently."

"Yes. Besides, it's about time."

"Alright, let's get started..."

With the plan set, I quickly closed the distance with the Orc. The Orc, noticing my approach, tried to swing its club but I was faster. I swung the Shizukanae at the Orc's neck, and the dull thud of the severed head hitting the ground was followed by a geyser of blood from the headless body.

"...Alright, it's done."

After cutting off the head, I turned to confirm that the headless body had fallen. I then returned to Yūji and Hō, still holding the bloodied Shizukanae.

"Let's head back up, shall we?"

"Yeah."

"Hō, can you clean it for me?"

"Sure, no problem."

Hō's cleaning skill removed the dirt and the splattered blood from the Shizukanae.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

After thanking her, I sheathed the clean Shizukanae. Thanks to Hō's magic, maintenance has become much easier. I really want to be able to use the cleaning skill myself. Unfortunately, the money I saved to buy the cleaning skill scroll was spent on the reconditioning of Shizukanae and the others. Maybe I'll put some magic items up for sale?

"Still, Daiki. While the blood on Shizukanae is one thing, you could have avoided the splattered blood by keeping a bit more distance. It wasn't a multi-enemy battle this time..."

"Yeah, you're right. I might have been a bit careless, thinking Hō's cleaning skill would take care of it."

"It might be fine now, but some monsters have poisonous blood. It would be better to start being careful about avoiding splattered blood from now on."

Yūji has a point. Indeed, we haven't encountered any such special monsters yet, but we can't guarantee they won't appear in the future. If we encounter a hydra, for example, it could be a problem. We should try to avoid getting splattered with blood as much as possible.

"Yeah, you're right. In the future, we should consider how we fight monsters to avoid getting splattered."

"Right. I have a longer reach with my spear, but you two, who have shorter reach, should be especially careful."

"Try to avoid causing bleeding, or take a step back immediately after attacking."

"That's about it..."

"Learning resistance or nullification skills is another option, but they are passive and cost a lot of EP."

"We don't want to be in a situation where we don't have enough EP in a critical moment."

The resistance and nullification skill scrolls we obtained from the slime dungeon are stored in the spatial storage. However, they consume a lot of EP. We should avoid using them unless absolutely necessary.

"If there were equipment items with resistance or nullification skills, that would be great..."

"Those might appear in deeper floors."

"Yes. Since such items haven't appeared in the guild's auction site, I think they will appear in deeper floors, as Hasegawa said."

I really want an accessory with special effects, like in games. Unfortunately, we haven't obtained any such items from the slime dungeon yet.

"Well, there's no point in wishing for something we don't have. For now, we can only take measures to avoid getting splattered with blood."

"Yeah, that's true."

"Yes."

The three of us sighed. After sighing, I lightly slapped my cheeks to regain my focus.

"Alright, there's no point in standing around. Let's head back up."

"Right."

"Ah, Kujō, can you prepare the Orc materials for today?"

"Sure. How much do you need?"

"Two cool bags' worth, please."

"Got it... here you go."

I took out the cool bags and Orc materials from the spatial storage.

"Thanks."

"But will that be enough? You used to bring back more..."

"Recently, the procurement price of Orc ingredients has been decreasing, so we're increasing the amount we buy from suppliers. My father said we'll switch to supplier procurement soon."

"Really, Eiji said that?"

"So, two cool bags' worth is enough for now."

"I see."

Hō finished putting the Orc materials into the cool bags and stood up.

"Sorry for the wait. Let's go."

With Hō leading the way, we started ascending the dungeon.

---

At the guild office near the dungeon, we were waiting for our turn to cash in our items. Several parties were already waiting ahead of us.

"Number 23, 'We Are the Strongest TUEEE' team. Your appraisal is complete. Please proceed to window 7."

"Ha ha ha!"

The moment the party's name was called, laughter erupted from various parts of the waiting room. Several people quickly covered their mouths and looked around nervously. In the midst of this awkward atmosphere, a group of young men and a college-aged young man, who seemed to be their guardian, walked towards window 7. The young men were walking confidently, while the guardian walked behind them with his head down, his ears red.

"...Wow."

"...Oh my."

"What...?"

We were at a loss for words and just stared at the party approaching window 7 with a look of curiosity. There really are parties with such names... How can they be so confident? The guardian's ears were red, even though his face was hidden.

"That's... embarrassing."

"Yeah, what a shame."

"Good thing we chose a normal party name. Really..."

Yūji and I sent a sympathetic glance to the guardian, while Hō was relieved that we chose a normal party name. It's a good thing we did. The guardian, noticing the gazes from the waiting room, hunched even further and covered his ears as he walked to the window.

"...Namu."

We put our hands together and offered a short prayer for the guardian. I thought, those confident young men will probably roll around on the floor next year, remembering this. I watched the back of "We Are the Strongest TUEEE" with a distant look. Black history is made this way.

---

About ten minutes after the "We Are the Strongest TUEEE" incident, it was our turn.

"Number 35, please proceed to window 7."

We stood up and headed to the window.

"Thank you for waiting. What can I do for you today?"

"We need to cash in our items and process the return of the meat materials."

"Sure. Please hand over your drop items."

"Here you go."

After the verification process, we submitted the cool bag with the Orc materials and the drop items from the monster hunts.

"Once the appraisal is complete, we will call you. Please wait in your seat."

"Okay."

We returned to our seats in the waiting room to wait for the appraisal.

"Number 35, Team NES. Your appraisal is complete. Please proceed to window 7."

A few minutes later, we were called to the window. When our team name was called, there was no laughter from the waiting room, and I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If there had been laughter or sympathetic gazes, I would have been mortified. That guardian must have been pushed into accepting such a party name by the majority of the young men.

"Thank you for waiting. Your appraisal is complete. Here is the detailed list of the drop item appraisal amounts."

"Thank you."

We quickly reviewed the list.

"...The appraisal amount for the Orc materials has decreased."

"Yes. The amount of Orc ingredients collected by explorers has increased, so the appraisal amount has decreased."

"I see."

Orc ingredients are no longer a good source of cash. But that's probably better for Hō.

"Since you want to take the meat materials with you, please sign this document."

"Ah, I'll sign it."

"Please sign here and here."

Hō signed the document for the return process. After handing the signed document to the receptionist, the process was complete.

"Next, regarding the payment of the appraisal amount, would you like it to be transferred to one account, or would you like the amount for each item to be transferred to separate accounts?"

"Can we split the amount into three and have it transferred to each of our accounts?"

"Three splits, right?"

"Wait, Kujō. My share should be the amount minus the Orc materials."

"Ah, right. Is that possible?"

"Yes, it's possible. Please wait a moment."

The receptionist quickly processed the request and created a document with the transfer amounts for each of us.

"If these amounts are correct, we will transfer the money to your accounts. Is that okay?"

"Yes, please do that."

"Understood... Here, the transfer of the appraisal amount is complete. Thank you for using our services today."

"No, thank you for handling the complicated distribution process."

We left the window with the cool bag containing the Orc materials.

---

We bought drinks from the vending machine corner and waited for the bus to the station, chatting.

"Still, the appraisal amount for Orc meat has dropped significantly."

"Yes. It's thanks to the increase in explorers who can properly delve into the dungeon."

"Before, there were just a lot of them."

"Yes."

"Thanks to the entry restrictions, explorers are now spread out across the floors, so the variety and quantity of drop items have increased."

It seems things are going smoothly, to the point where the posters announcing the increase in drop item appraisal amounts have been removed from the bulletin board. To increase the appraisal amount, we need to delve deeper into the dungeon and obtain high-rarity drop items.

"Hey, Kujō, Hasegawa."

"Hmm? What is it, Hō?"

"I have a request... How about delving a bit deeper into the dungeon?"

"...What?"

Hō's suggestion surprised Yūji and me. What does she mean?

---

The new weapons seem to be in good condition.

And, a tragedy finally happened at the window! Guardian Namu.