Seeker 20

Test

Chapter 20. Arms Shop Old Man

We went inside the arms store and explained to Ohsako-san, the tough-looking old man with the skinhead, about what had happened outside.

Ohsako-san, by the way, is the store manager and used to be an excellent seeker.

He's said to be of a much higher level than the man named Nitta.

He's still a skilled seeker, but he's not diving into dungeons and is running an armory store here.

He also serves as a mediator when there are disputes among Seekers.

After listening to the whole story, Ohsako-san commented.

"Hmm, I see. I had always thought that Nitta's behavior was not so good, but I can't let him get away with it. I can't help it if he's a bully to newcomers, but what he did goes beyond that, doesn't it?"

"Um, are you going to believe our  story?"

When Kodachi-san asked him this, Ohsako-san smiled.

"That's right. Nitta and you guys have different impressions of each other. That's his fault. And then there's the situation you just described. There's no doubt about it."

"Oh, thank you!"

"No, you don't have to thank me. I'm the type of arms dealer who chooses his customers."

The skinhead manager's teeth gleamed as he said that.

He's cool. I like him.

According to Kodachi-san's story, she met that man, Nitta, on the second day after she started exploring the dungeon.

He told her, "I am a veteran seeker and I will form a party with you.", and "I will teach you how to be a seeker. At that time, Kodachi-san felt something unpleasant about the man's attitude, so she gave a good reason and refused.

As a result, she was accused of the same thing as before.

According to Ohsako-san, the skinhead manager, if I discussed what had happened with him at the dungeon general information desk, they might be able to at least suspend him (suspend his seeker's license), depending on the outcome of the interrogation.

"It's not that there aren't people like that at all, and there are opinions that seekers should be treated as military personnel and be disciplined and operated as a military force. But so far, the opposition from the seekers has been so strong that it has been put on hold. I am also against it."

"Why is that?"

"Because it's no fun to be a seeker who isn't free.

Ohsako-san grins again.

I understand how he feels, but I wonder about that too.

Ohsako-san may be a free person, too.

Well, let's leave it at that.

"But it's frustrating. I thought I was still a rookie seeker, and I knew I wasn't strong enough, but I didn't realize there was such a power gap."

I clench my fists.

Perhaps I was caught off guard because things were going so smoothly.

My power was no match for that thug-like man, it wasn't even a battle.

I am convinced that even if I had used the spear, it would have made no difference to the outcome.

I wanted to be stronger than I was now.

So I would like to think that what happened this time was a good cold water to wake me up.

No, I still can't forgive what that man'll do to Kodachi-san.

"The skill level of general experienced Seekers is in that class. Except for seekers like me who are [Limit Break]."

"[Limit Break], is it ......?"

Yes, but that's not what I'm concerned about right now. But that's nothing to worry about now. Whether or not you can encounter a [limit breakthrough event] depends on your luck anyway.

After saying that, Ohsako-san clapped his hands.

"Well, then, let's get back to business. What did you guys come to buy today?"

"Oh, that's right."

Kodachi-san opens her [Item Box] and takes a sword from it.

She told Ohsako-san that she wanted to sell it.

Speaking of [Item Box], I also saw [Item Box] in the list of skills I could get, probably because I had reached the 5th level.

Kodachi-san has it, so it's not that essential if I'm supposed to party with her, but it would be inconvenient in some details, so I'd like to learn it too if possible.

"Hmm. I tried [Item Appraisal], but it's just an ordinary broadsword. The [Durability Value] doesn't seem to have decreased either, so if you're willing to sell it for 15,000 yen, I'll buy it."

Kodachi-san looked at me when she heard that, and I nodded.

As a result, the sale for 15,000 yen was concluded.

But I heard that tax withholding would be applied to this as well.

Ordinary recycling stores don't have such a system, but I heard since the sale of seeker's items is a business, it's required to do so. Oops.

As a result, Kodachi-san and I received an additional income of 6,750 yen each from the sale of the broadsword.

That's still big enough.

By the way.

"Um, Ohsako-san..."

"Stop. I'm the old man of the weapon shop, so call me old man."

The skinhead manager tells me no to calling him Ohsako-san.

He is particular about that.

I think that man Nitta also used to call him Ohsako-san. Well, it doesn't matter.

"I understand. What is the [Durability Value] you were talking about earlier, Oyaji-san?"

I was curious because Oyaji-san had decided on the purchase price based on what he said about the [Durability Value] of the broadsword I gave him.

"Ah. That thing, it's like the remaining life of a weapon or armor before it breaks. If it's unused, it's a flat rate of 100; it decreases when you hit it with an attack or take damage, and when it reaches 0, the item got destroyed. You can check the remaining [Durability Value] with the [Item Appraisal] skill."

"I see."

I don't have [Item Appraisal], and it's not on the list of skills I can get.

I don't know about Kodachi-san.

"Conversely, as long as that thing doesn't go to zero, the armor will continue to perform perfectly. If it's armor, once some part is penetrated, it will repair itself immediately. How much [Durability Value] it drains after how much use depends on the item."

Dungeon-made items, wow.

I wonder if they are more magical than magic.

Then Kodachi-san interrupts.

"By the way, I was wondering about something yesterday. The clothes Rikusou-san is wearing are not [Dungeon Clothes] are they?"

"[Dungeon Clothes]......? Is there such a thing as clothing for dungeons?"

"Yes, there are. Clothes for dungeons made from magic stones are like armor, and if they are damaged, they repair themselves. Even blood that has gotten on it will disappear cleanly. This is also true as long as the clothes' [Durability Value] is not lost."

"Ah."

Come to think of it, the clothes I was wearing yesterday had holes here and there.

I wonder what to do about it since I don't want every piece of clothing to become unusable.

"I have [Dungeon Clothes] in my store. Take a look if you like."

The skinhead store manager - the old man at the armory - gives me a thumbs-up and a good look.

Ummm, dungeon exploration costs a lot of money. I should not consider my income the same as a part-timer's salary.

In addition, I have heard that the annual income of freelancers and sole proprietors is about three times the annual income of salaried workers, considering expenses and taxes.

Of course, that depends on the type of work.

Anyway, all I can say is that if you are going to work as a seeker, you should not be satisfied with your current situation but earn more money.