Chapter 27

"Okay!"

"Go!"

I gave the signal, and Noll, who had been running, came back to me. Without a moment's delay, Estelle's magic attacked the scorpions.

We've been doing range hunting in the northern cave for about a few dozen days now.

"Phew, that's the 35th one today. Noll, are you okay with the poison stingers?"

"I'm fine! I'm gradually getting the hang of it!"

We collected the drop items and moved out of the scorpions' detection range, then sat down together.

At first, Noll would get hit by the stingers, but now he's gotten used to dodging them with his sword. It's become so routine that the signals have become as simple as just now. It's scary how quickly we adapt.

"Ugh, being in this cave all the time is really getting to me."

"Yeah, I know. But it's so efficient, I can't stop. Hehe."

"You're grinning while looking at the screen... You're hopeless."

The sound of scorpions scuttling around in the dark is really the worst. But the magic stones and experience points are the best.

Looking at the GC screen on my smartphone, the number of magic stones has exceeded 500. Hehe, just looking at it makes me feel good. I want to pull the gacha.

"Hehe, our levels are going up so fast! It's really fun when you can feel it physically."

"I wish you could consider my situation, using magic continuously."

"I'm really sorry, Estelle and Noll. Hey, do you want a shoulder massage?"

The hunting here is almost entirely done by Estelle and Noll. I'm just here to provide a 10% buff and give signals. I can't even hold my head up.

We take breaks before Estelle's MP runs out, and when it's recovered, we start hunting again. If it weren't for the Philosopher's Stone's MP recovery speed boost, we probably couldn't hunt properly.

After about 30 kills, it's a good time to stop, so we use that as a guideline.

●

"Excuse me, can I have my proof of slaying checked?"

"Wh-What? It's you again, Ohtake-san... Did you hunt more Stingers today?"

"Yes, I'm sorry for the trouble."

We arrived at the Adventurer's Guild, and as usual, Wij-chan handled the reception. She was facing away, so when I called out, she let out a surprised voice.

I come here almost every day to claim rewards for slaying Stingers and scorpions, and I feel like her face is getting more and more tense. But she's gotten used to it recently, and her tone has softened, making her easier to talk to. Plus, she has a great figure that's a pleasure to look at.

"Here's your reward. 35 today... Since I started working here, no one has ever hunted this many Stingers every day..."

"Really?"

"Because they're so tough to kill, most people would go to other places."

The reward for slaying Stingers is 50,000G for every 5, which is quite high. Today, it's 350,000G for 7 sets. And for the Armored Scorpions, it's 180,000G for 20. In total, 520,000G in rewards. Since we started hunting, we've easily made over 5 million G.

No one has ever hunted such a ridiculous number so frequently.

"But wouldn't there be people who go with a mage?"

"The Stingers' poison stingers follow you when you shoot them. Mages wouldn't risk their lives to kill such dangerous monsters."

I see. Estelle is a UR unit with UR equipment, which is why she can easily exterminate them. Normally, they wouldn't be able to finish them off, and the guiding poison stingers would hit back. Even when Noll gets hit, he just says "Ouch!" but that one hit could be fatal.

"Still, it's so enviable. To have so many Stinger carapaces..."

"Envious? Are they that good?"

"Didn't you know? Stinger carapaces are popular among adventurers. When mixed into armor, they make it incredibly durable."

Really? I knew the monsters were tough, but I didn't know you could mix them into equipment. And if they're popular, they must be expensive.

"Actually, there are very few people who can hunt them, so they're a valuable material... Ohtake-san, you have hundreds of them, right? If the equipment shops hear about this, they might swarm you."

Even if they're popular, not many people go to such dangerous places. Still, it seems a bit exaggerated for equipment shops to swarm me.

●

"Hmm, that's interesting."

"Are you going to sell them?"

"Yeah, just today's batch."

Before heading to the inn, I decided to go to Gantz's equipment shop. I was curious since they said it was so popular.

"Welcome! To Gantz's equipment shop... Oh, it's you, Ohtake-san. What brings you here today?"

"Well, I was thinking of selling some materials."

"Really! I'm excited to see what Ohtake-san has. Dad! Ohtake-san is here!"

When I entered the shop, Pora greeted me as usual. When I said I wanted to sell materials, she called out loudly to Gantz, who was in the back. Gantz is always in the back of the shop.

I heard footsteps from the back, and then Gantz and a blonde young man came out.

Wait, this guy...

"I didn't expect to see you here."

"Oh, what's this? Do you two know each other?"

"Yes, we have a bit of a connection."

Geez, Deus!? Why is he here? I've seen him at the Adventurer's Guild since then, but we've been avoiding each other. Ugh, this is awkward.

"O-Oh, it's been a while, Deus."

"Hey, Estelle. How are you doing?"

"Great, thanks."

"Good to hear. You can always join our party if you want."

"Hehe, I'll pass."

When I greeted him, he ignored me and spoke to Estelle. This guy is so consistent. My impression of him has completely changed. Gantz and Pora looked surprised.

"S-So, Ohtake, what brings you here today?"

"Well, I've been hunting in the northern cave recently, and I heard the materials from there are popular in equipment shops, so I thought I'd sell them."

"The northern cave... Could it be Stinger carapaces!?"

"What, Stinger carapaces!?"

When I mentioned the drop items from the northern cave, Gantz got so close to me. And Deus was also surprised.

"Y-Yes, these are from today's hunt. Can you buy them?"

"Wh-What, today's hunt... You're overdoing it! What are you guys doing!?"

"I-If this is today's haul..."

The Stinger carapaces are about 50 cm in size, and I had them stacked in a bag. When I handed the bag to him, he was shocked by the number. Deus was also surprised.

"So, what do you think?"

"What do I think... I'll buy them all. Let's see... 35 of them. How about 1,050,000G?"

Wow, 1,050,000G is a lot. But I have over 500 more. The buyback price will probably drop as the stock increases, so I should mention that before deciding the price. I don't want to be disliked for holding back.

"Wait a minute!"

"What is it?"

Just as I was about to speak, Deus suddenly interrupted my conversation with Gantz. What's his deal?

"Ohtake, no, Ohtake-san! Could you please sell these materials to me?"

"Huh, what?"

He suddenly became polite and bowed his head. Ugh, it's creepy when he talks to me like that. It gives me goosebumps.

"Actually, he came here today to consult about armor."

"That's right. So, please!"

I see, he came here for armor. I'm not a monster, and I can tell he's really trying hard to bow to me.

"Hey, calm down. Actually, I have over 500 more Stinger carapaces."

"Huh?"

"So, if you tell me how many you need, I'll sell them to you."

When I told them I had over 500 more, Pora included, they were stunned and speechless.

"Hmm, I didn't expect such a reaction."

"Well, 500 or more would shock anyone, I think."

"Bro, your sense of numbers is off."

In the end, Gantz bought today's batch, and Deus will take the necessary amount later. He wants to confirm how many his party members need.

Still, it's rude to say my sense of numbers is off. Compared to the over 6,000 fangs I have, 500 is normal. Speaking of which, I haven't sold those fangs yet. I'll bring them all together later.

"No, I'm normal... Huh?"

"What's wrong?"

Suddenly, my smartphone in my pocket started vibrating.

Oh, this pattern... Could it be...

"It's here! The gacha festival is here!"

Checking my smartphone, the GC top screen displayed in large letters: [Equipment Festival is now open. SR and above drop rate tripled!]

● Noll Fanya

Level 24 → 44

HP 2260 → 2780

MP 310 → 640

Attack 530 → 860

Defense 355 → 525

Agility 81 → 105

Magic Resistance 30

Cost 15

● Estelle

Level 16 → 36

HP 610 → 870

MP 1520 → 1980

Attack 415 → 575

Defense 125 → 225

Agility 12 → 18

Magic Resistance 40

Cost 22

● [Leader] Heisaburo Ohtake

Level 23 → 43

HP 890 → 1220

MP 155 → 320

Attack 315 → 480

Defense 255 → 420

Agility 47 → 80

Magic Resistance 10