After finishing my morning meal at the café and taking a short break, I decided to head straight to the clothing store.
I wondered if the clothes I was currently wearing smelled a bit of sweat. Besides, if it’s a place where Milk would go—perhaps there was a dress code. So, I opted to buy something from a slightly upscale store and change.
However, when it came to fashion sense, I was clueless.
In the end, I made my purchase based on the store clerk’s recommendations.
The total cost was a staggering eighty thousand yen, quite a sum for a high school student like me. But I liked the outfit, so I paid and headed to the fitting room to change.
I deposited my belongings in a coin locker and made my way to the meeting place.
Arriving seven minutes before our appointed time, I found Milk hadn’t arrived yet.
「Sorry to keep you waiting!」
Five minutes before our scheduled time, Milk appeared.
She was my childhood friend who always adhered to the five-minute rule.
「I was exploring the dungeon until just now, so I wasn’t really waiting.」
「Until just now? Wait, you mean since last night?」
Oh right, typically, one spends about eight hours on the dungeon’s first floor.
It was currently eleven in the morning, so it wouldn’t be surprising if she had been down there since last night.
「Haha, just kidding.」
「Yeah, I figured. Your clothes look fresh, like they’ve just been laundered. And they suit you.」
I just bought them.
Together, we headed to a pancake café.
Apparently, it was a bit of a walk from here.
But wait, was this place really just a pancake café?
It looked quite expensive.
It was my first time in a high-rise building’s sky lounge.
And there’s even a long queue.
「I’m Makino. I had a reservation.」
「Makino-sama, we’ve been waiting for you. Please this way.」
Milk had apparently made the reservation.
We went into the café with the queue at the back of my mind.
Wait, why were we being led to the farthest seat, which was clearly different from the others—a luxurious private room……? Could this be a VIP seat……? Don’t overthink, me.
From the window, we could take in the panoramic view of Osaka’s cityscape.
「Such a beautiful view.」
「Indeed.」
If it were Aoki, he’d probably say something like, ‘Look, people are like trash.’ and play the role of a dictator. But the atmosphere here is different.
I’m glad I got new clothes… If I had stayed in my explorer attire, I’d definitely stand out.
I glance at the menu.
The pasta and pancake course was priced at 1,200 yen.
Seems cheaper than I thought… Wait, never mind.
It’s actually 12,000 yen.
And drinks are not included.
「Sorry, it’s more expensive than I expected. Last time, my dad ordered without even looking at the menu.」
Milk is an ojousama, but she has common sense.
Back in the day, she used to hang out with friends at the candy store, so she has a sense of money that allows her to perceive something as expensive.
「It’s fine. I can afford this much. Besides, I invited you, so let me treat you to the lunch course.」
「Reliable as always. Okay, I’ll leave it to you.」
With that settled, we each order the lunch course and grape juice.
We made toast with the grape juice that arrived first.
It’s freshly squeezed, and the flavor is rich.
But when I think about the 1,300 yen price tag, I hesitate a bit.
As I savor the grape juice, Milk brings up a topic.
「By the way, did you read the news about Slime Sake?」
「Slime Sake news? What about it?」
Asking if I’ve read it implies that it’s information from my smartphone rather than TV.
Detailed dungeon-related news tends to circulate more on the internet than on television.
Of course, there’s plenty of misinformation, but recent laws have helped regulate such content, making it more credible.
「I heard a collector had released a ton of Slime Sake, causing a significant drop in its price. Taira, it was a good call to sell it at the store. If you had put it up for auction, it wouldn’t have fetched more than 100,000 yen.」
「Oh… I see.」
And that’s my fault.
This morning, I asked the Danpon to release some more into the market.
「…Hm? Collector? You mean collectors of alcoholic beverages?」
「Yeah, considering the quantity. It’s not something ordinary explorers can easily obtain. And apparently, it’s being sold again recently.」
「Well, with a drop rate of 0.1%, it’s challenging for an someone to gather.」
「Only if their luck meets the minimum threshold.」
「Minimum luck threshold?」
「Taira, don’t you know? Even though you’ve been diving into dungeons?」
「No, I went to the dungeon for the first time last week because Aoki invited me. Before that, I had zero interest in dungeons.」
I only did minimal research.
Like how to get around as a beginner, the budget needed for equipment, the entrance fee for the dungeon, and so on.
And I only found out about that now that Milk informed me.
I’m talking about the minimum luck requirements.
The drop rates of items are determined by a minimum luck. If your luck falls below that threshold, the drop rate significantly decreases—sometimes to one in a hundred or even one in a thousand.
For Slime Sake, the minimum luck is 50.
So whether your luck is at 1 or 49, the drop rate of Slime Sake isn’t just 0.1%—it’s less than one in a million.
The information I learned from my minimal research that the change in drop rate due to luck isn’t a big deal—seems to have come from that.
Furthermore, the reported 0.1% drop rate for Slime sake on information sites is the initial value when meeting the minimum luck requirement. As luck increases, the drop rate goes up even further. At a luck of 100, it’s around 0.2%.
「But surely everyone meets the minimum luck of 50, right?」
Everyone’s luck starts at 100, right?
It’s already met from the start. Rather, shouldn’t the drop rate be reported as 0.2% then…..
「What are you talking about? Initial luck is often around 7 or 8, you know? Luck doesn’t increase much even as your level goes up. Luck around 50 are quite rare.」
「…Huh?」
Normally, people start with luck of 7 or 8.
And luck seldom goes up?
But I started with 100 and everytime I level up, my luck increases.
Milk, are you kidding me?
As soon as I thought so, Milk showed me her smartphone screen inside a pink case, where the explanation was displayed.
The average luck was listed there.
At level 1, the average luck is 5?
At level 10, it’s 8!?
Even at level 50, the luck is only around 20—seriously!?
「Higher your level is, the higher your luck increases. So, if someone is over level 100, they might have luck exceeding 50. However, people at that level rarely bother with slimes—they prefer more efficient ways to earn money from other monsters. That’s why Slime Sake is so valuable.」
While listening to Milk’s explanation, I continued staring at the smartphone screen. Suddenly, it switched to the incoming call screen.
『Papa』
was displayed.
「Sorry, I need to take this call outside.」
Milk left, and immediately, a delicious-looking salad with salmon and salmon roe was brought to the table.
I wanted to dig in, but I waited for Milk to return while researching the minimum luck on an information site.
Apparently, even this morning’s mushroom had a minimum luck threshold, which was 80.
Even if it’s below that value, the drop rate isn’t necessarily low—around 5% to 6%. I see.
No wonder the exchange office staff were surprised.
Twenty mushrooms… I’ll have to be careful next time I visit Umeda D.
As I pondered this, Milk returned.
However, she seemed a bit upset.
「Sorry. You should have started eating without me.」
「Was the call okay?」
「Yeah. My dad apparently wasted money on something for me, and I got a little annoyed.」
「Like another crossbow or something?」
「No, it’s an experience potion. Drinking one gives you the equivalent of the experience from defeating 1,000 slimes.」
「Heh, sounds great. Getting to level 10 is tough, after all.」
If there were such a potion, I’d want to buy and consume it too.
「But it costs 5 million yen!」
「Expensive!?」
「It uses a special mushroom as an ingredient—one that’s rarely available in the market.」
Hm, mushrooms, huh?
Could it be that the mushrooms I sold off this morning… Nah, that’s unlikely. I’m probably overthinking it.
「But it’s not just about the money. Taira, don’t you think it’s unfair for me to level up by drinking potions while you’re working hard? Especially since even entering the Stone Stage Dungeon costs money.」
「Well… But Milk’s dad is a veteran explorer. He knows the struggles of low-level explorers.」
I carefully chose my words, trying not to upset Milk while still defending her father.
Mr. Makino was quite a famous explorer, ranking around third in Kansai.
I’ve seen him on TV a few times.
Being an explorer, he likely understands the challenges of starting at a low level and probably has high expectations for Milk, who awakened her magic power.
And honestly, if we’re talking about unfairness, using PD like I do might be even more unfair.
In addition, my initial luck is 100.
「But still—」
「Besides, it’ll be a while before Milk can dive into dungeons, right? I’m already ahead. Take that potion and catch up to me.」
「I might overtake you though?」
「Don’t underestimate me. I’m developing my unique dungeon-clearing strategy and steadily growing stronger. I’ll surpass your dad too.」
「――Huh!?」
When I said that, Milk looked surprised, then burst into amused laughter.
Maybe declaring that I’d surpass the third-ranked explorer in Kansai was a bit much?
「Got it. Wait for me, then. I’ll catch up soon!」
With Milk’s smile restored, I wondered whether I should eat the salad.
By the way, the pancakes were as fluffy as eating clouds and absolutely delicious.
Milk informed me that meals for dungeon explorers were considered basic expenses for maintaining physical strength.
I’d better keep that in mind when filing my tax return……
-0-
Finally, I retrieved my PD and headed home.
When I entered my room, I noticed an opened D-can with a candy inside.
Is it because of my luck?
Thanks to my luck of 138?
I considered taking it to the appraisal shop for evaluation.
Even the skill-learning candy could fetch a high price if appraised.
There’s even a chance it could be traded for several hundred million.
An amount that could sustain me for a lifetime.
But just earlier, I told Milk that I’ll become stronger and wait for her.
The moment I resolved to become stronger, the D-can opened.
It felt like there was some meaning behind it.
So, I choose the skill over money.
-0-
I licked the candy.
Learned a new skill.
And it turned out to be ‘Detailed Appraisal’.
…Wait, what? Detailed appraisal? Not the usual appraisal?」
※ ※ ※
『Hey, Papa. I’m sorry about earlier, and thank you. By the way, do you remember that conversation? The one about me finding someone I like. You said you wouldn’t approve unless he was stronger than you. That was—no no, I’m not dating anyone. I don’t have a boyfriend. 』
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