"I'll Catch Up Later, So Go On Ahead!" I Said, and Stayed Behind in the Dungeon for Five Years. When I Returned to the Royal Capital, for Some Reason, I Had Become a Great Criminal, So I Decided to Retire. But Outstanding People Keep Gathering Around Me Though... - Episode 15: Gathering Materials

Episode 15: Gathering Materials

I decided to make a magic tool for Milda-san that can deploy a barrier. Today is a holiday. But as usual, I woke up early in the morning.

“Alright, before I start working, I need to gather materials.”

To create a magic tool, first, I need materials.

What I want is a magic crystal stone to be the core, and starsteel plate to serve as the outer shell body.

Since I don’t need to make it for sale, just those two are enough to make the tool functional.

Basically, I write my magic formula into the magic crystal stone and maintain the activation of the magic with the starsteel plate.

Without the outer shell, the magic would just leak out.

Those two materials are found inside the dungeon. Hmm… If I want them, I really have no choice but to go.

My destination is the Noctia Dungeon located in the royal capital.

I put on an old cloak and headed to the royal capital.

I want to complete it within the day. So time is precious.

I didn’t use a carriage. Instead, I activated body enhancement and ran to the capital.

To enter the dungeon, you need to go through procedures at the Adventurers’ Guild. But if I go normally, they’ll probably recognize me as Hero Haruto.

Also, strictly speaking, you don’t need approval from the guild to go into the dungeon.

Most people register because of the rewards, but it’s not required. So I went without doing any procedures.

I then arrived at Noctia Dungeon alone and decided to go in.

“…It’s been a while. This place.”

The official name of Noctia Dungeon is Noctia Great Deep Sanctuary.

It’s said to be a place sealed at the end of the Divine Era wars, which turned into a dungeon.

Its deepest layer is unknown. And when I was around, I think the progress had reached the twentieth floor.

Also, while it’s one of the most difficult dungeons in the world, compared to the Abyss Sanctum, it’s not that big of a deal.

Well, the Abyss Sanctum is on a whole different level.

“There are monsters—alright.”

As I went deeper, sure enough, monsters were everywhere.

The enemies were Red Wolves. They were showing their ferocious fangs. They surrounded me in a pack.

I instantly activated magic and defeated them.

Yeah. The feel of my attack magic isn’t bad.

I don’t feel out of practice at all.

As I kept defeating monsters and moving deeper—

“Oh. This is the place.”

I safely arrived at the area with magic crystal stones and starsteel plates.

This space exists on the 15th floor of Noctia Dungeon.

It’s a space that sparkles like the starry sky and is shaped like a cave.

It’s made entirely of magic crystal stones and starsteel plates. And the materials for making magic tools are mainly obtained here.

That said, reaching the 15th floor is hard unless you’re at least A-rank. So magic tools are relatively expensive.

“But… I heard prices were skyrocketing. I wonder why. There’s so much material here.”

I recalled my conversation with Milda-san.

She said the prices of magic tool materials were surging. But right in front of me is a massive amount.

There’s no reason for it to rise… but why?

Then, I used magic to chip off the magic crystal stones and starsteel plates. I put them into a small bag.

I didn’t need that much. So after collecting enough, I was about to head back.

“Hm? Earthquake…?”

Suddenly, a huge tremor occurred.

I had a bad feeling—and then a giant Golem appeared before me.

“A Ceres Golem, huh. Well, of course, it activates.”

Its body was made from starsteel plates and a magic framework—a fully mechanical autonomous defense entity.

Its surface had a smooth silver-gray tone. It shined dimly as if absorbing light.

At the joints, magical formulas rotated autonomously.

It had no face—

Instead, on the front, eight eye-like structures were arranged in a spiral. They were glaring at me.

This thing is the guardian of this space.

It activates when you extract magic crystal stones and other materials—one of those kinds of monsters.

However, unlike the blue one I knew, this one was dyed bright red.

“Did a new type appear while I was gone?”

Well, it’s not rare for monsters to evolve in dungeons.

Anyway, let’s take it out quickly and head back.

“Target detected. Eliminating.”

As it entered its attack motion and tried to fire high-output magic from its arm, I was already running a magic formula.

I focused magic power into my eyes and analyzed the enemy’s composition.

“First axis: structure detection. Second axis: magic flow control. Third axis: causal link severance. Fourth axis: magic formula analysis—Final phase: complete structural manifest.”

Magic formula complete.

I designated the Ceres Golem as the target and activated the magic.

“Shatter Disassemble Unravel – Activate”

In an instant, the Ceres Golem couldn’t maintain its body and broke apart completely.

Since the Ceres Golem is built on magic formulas, I disassembled its structure.

It went surprisingly well.

This magic, which combines those axes and phases, is my original spell developed in the Abyss Sanctum.

Well, rather than “developed,” it’s more like “adapted to survive.”

“Alright, time to head back.”

I exited the dungeon and—

Yeah.

I’m also curious about the current market for magic tools. So I’ll check the prices before heading back.

I stopped by a shop that sells magic tools and looked at the prices.

“Tha… that’s expensive!”

Seriously? Around ten gold coins is the average?

There are even ones that cost twenty or thirty.

Uh, the barrier magic tool is… huh? This is…

“Fifty gold coins…?”

No way. How much have prices skyrocketed?

As I stood there stunned, a neatly dressed female shop clerk spoke to me.

“Are you perhaps considering a purchase?”

“Ah, um. Sorry. I’m just looking this time. But, these magic tool prices seem really high…”

“Yes. Actually, it’s because a very dangerous monster was found in the area where materials are located. According to experts, the monster evolved due to previous overharvesting.”

“Huh, I see…”

“The Adventurers’ Guild directly requested high-ranked adventurers to subjugate the monster. So I think prices will settle down soon.”

“I see. Then I’ll consider it again at that time.”

“Yes. We look forward to your next visit.”

I quickly left the magic tool shop.

Yeah… No doubt.

That red Golem must’ve been the evolved one.

But if my subjugation helps lower prices, then that’s a good thing, right?

Yeah. Maybe I should offer it to Milda-san at a lower price.

Thinking about that, I returned to Rothen.

†

Royal Capital Adventurers’ Guild.

A space with a high ceiling and a vast stone hall.

Many sturdy pillars stood in rows, and tough adventurers gathered.

As the world’s top Adventurers’ Guild, everyone here had well-equipped gear.

“Hey. That’s…”

“The Flash Sword, right? She really has presence.”

“Yeah. S-rank adventurer and that beauty. She’s really amazing…”

Even though the adventurers here are high-ranked, they all respected Felina, an S-rank adventurer.

Felina wore light armor specialized for combat. It was mainly in black and silver.

The black leather jacket had hardened fiber magic cloth sewn into the stomach and shoulders.

Despite its sleek look, it had the strength to withstand sword pressure.

Her lower body had magically armored spats woven with thin steel, with small plates only covering the thighs.

At her waist, a silvery rapier was holstered. It had a magic symbol glowing on its hilt.

“Excuse me. About the request—”

“Felina-san. Actually…”

“Yes? What is it?”

“About the Golem, according to the investigation team’s report, it seems it was already defeated.”

“…What?”

Felina had received a direct request from the guild to subjugate the Ceres Golem on the 15th floor.

She had prepared her best equipment for that.

“Someone got to it first?”

“Most likely. But from the traces left, it wasn’t a fight between monsters. The Ceres Golem was neatly dismantled.”

“Neatly dismantled…?”

(That Ceres Golem was dismantled so cleanly? Its outer shell is insanely tough, and doing that is impossible. Maybe someone used magic interference inside it? But the inner structure’s magic formula is extremely complex. Even Sharo couldn’t do something like that… And also, like with the Disaster Fang Beast—Orug, dangerous monsters are being defeated one after another by someone…)

“Yes. So, the request will be canceled. We’re truly sorry.”

“No, if it’s already been subjugated, that’s good. I’ll take my leave then.”

(Could it be… No, it’s not impossible. If it’s that person I know—)

The one who defeated the Ceres Golem—

To chase those traces, Felina hurriedly descended into the dungeon.