Earth Dungeon 10.1

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Chapter 10.1 The Wooden Stick

Three more days later. Through the crows, I set up five new stores in Nagoya and Osaka. So Sakimori decided to go out for the first time in a while. Installing five units uses 50 mana. I didn't want to go out much because it would drain nearly half my mana. So, I only went to nearby places.

The old man lives a cautious life. Even though I have residual mana skills, if I die, I'm finished. Resuscitation medicine isn't on the store's list. How does Shizuku-san know they exist?

Stores can be used, even through messengers, if they're in people's sight. It was after I got the chain store skill, though. I guess it's an appropriate specification for the chain store skill.

The world must be in an uproar. After all, stores appeared in Osaka and Nagoya, and a wooden stick was added to the lineup.

...... Don't be fooled by the wooden stick. Stores have popped up all over the world, and it sold more and more items. If people turn their heads somewhat, people would think there will be more and more items in the future. If they take the idea further, if they put more cores in the stores, there will be more items for sale.

"If they were smarter, they would put in more highly ranked cores. Even if they confiscate it, think of some meaning in it."

Muttering, Sakimori exited the penthouse of the abandoned building and descended with a clunk-clunk-clunk of footsteps. The inner city must have some high-ranked monster cores. I don't think they would put that many cores in considering the danger.

The building was as dirty and unpopular as ever, and the black cat stood quietly in a lonely place with nothing but silence.

The old man, clad in shadowy clothes as usual and seemingly dressed in black and embarrassing clothes, was walking around in a non-serious manner, thinking serious thoughts.

[Even if we could defeat them, they would be D-ranked. There are too many enemies, and it's too risky.]

Fuyofuyo and the floating Shizuku are right. We're weak. We don't want to fight monsters considered C-rank even if we summon all the machines.

[Yes, that's right. They have guns, can use bazookas, and even dragons with tanks and fighter planes, the national army has defeated them in the past. I believe I will have access to powerful skills and weapons with a high-rank core. So far, though, the list has only been released up to D rank].

The goblin knight the national army defeated the other day was D rank. Sakimori could beat them up to that level. It was quite dangerous, though. It is possible to fight it in a long battle, but there is always more than one enemy. There are solo enemies, but they are vicious even within the same rank. That's because it means they have the power to fight solo.

"If you put in one of the higher ranked cores, I can check the list of that rank, even though it's locked."

I wonder if they could include a core of dragons. They're valuable but shouldn't have any use. Could they be used if they have crafting skills? No. Maybe it could be used as a material, but it shouldn't be usable because they don't have enough skill levels. I have level 2 skills in store, so it might be impossible.

Incidentally, the dragon's nest was the first to be destroyed when the dungeon arose. People destroyed the large dungeons. I wonder what's behind the dungeon. A dungeon core? In that case, they could sell the dungeon core to the store. I'd like some info on that.

"Well, let's keep it real. We have to walk forward, one step at a time."

[I pray that you're not going too slowly and become senile.]

"I'm not going to walk that slow. I've got chain store skills. You've gone from the tortoise steps you've been taking to a little run."

At these words, Shizuku huffed and gave a mischievously cute smile, and the old man turned his mouth into a thin smile and went downstairs.

There were children again on the first floor. There was a little girl waving catnip at my black cat. There was also a child drinking water from a canteen, probably bought at the store. Clean water was precious to the residents of the abandoned town, but now, thanks to the store, they should be able to get it without difficulty.

I am relieved that he looks better than he did the other day. I'm glad I created the store.

"Hello, Sakimori."

The boys notice me and gather around. I know they're not here to gather today.

"I did as you asked. I gathered them a short distance away."

I nod at the leader boy's words. I gave him the instructions two days ago. To teach them how to earn a little money.

"Okay, lead the way."

I nodded back and followed the boys as they led the way this way. After a short walk through the dirty ruins, I see what I'm looking for. It was set inside a building with only the bare concrete and outer shell remaining.

"How do you like it? Is this good?"

The boy pointed to a cage made of wooden sticks. It was made from wooden sticks bought at an equivalent exchange store, cut into thin strips, and made into a wooden cage. The cage was quite large, probably one tatami mat in size.

There were several slimes in it, melting and eating the dead body of the big roach inside.

"Excellent. Did they hurt you?"

Even though the slime is weakly acidic, it will still dissolve, so I check to confirm it. The key to this operation is to succeed without getting hurt. I don't want them to get hurt.

These are kids, not even old enough. The leader is about 12 years old. They are still very young.

"Don't worry-nya. I did it myself-nya.