In the Shirahama Dungeon, at the eighth floor.
As I walked, I suddenly stumbled upon a wooden treasure chest.
However, I would not open this chest.
In truth, it was a monster.
What appears here is a Mimic.
More precisely, it is a treasure cube which is a subspecies of Cubes that we defeated in the Tenshiba Dungeon, appearing rarely after the tenth floor, with its strength increasing in the deeper floors.
However, in the Shirahama Dungeon, it appears as a regular monster on the eighth floor.
While the Cube merely fled, the Treasure Cube disguised itself as a treasure chest and attacked when approached, which is why it is called a Mimic.
Its attack value is high for the eighth floor, so you can either defeat it with ranged attacks from a distance or prepare to be bitten in close combat.
The drawback of ranged attacks is that if you mistakenly attack a normal treasure chest, the contents will be destroyed.
At that moment, the contents of the chest turn into junk. Instead of breaking bottles or other items, it becomes an incomprehensible item that simply signifies junk.
Fortunately, I have the ability to sense presence, so I have no worry of mistaking a Mimic for a regular treasure chest.
「Release: Flame Arrow! 」
As the Mimic ignited, the toothy chest began to flap open and move.
I couldn’t take it down in one hit.
Well, considering it’s a low-level spell, that’s to be expected.
Hmm, it’s definitely burning.
Approaching it in this state would be dangerous.
Should I wait for it to burn out—just then, the Mimic approached me.
With no other choice, I responded with my dull sword.
Since it wasn’t moving too fast, a wide swing should connect.
Basic Swordsmanship: Fourth Move—
「Thrust! 」
I swung down from above.
Perhaps due to being scorched and weakened, or maybe thanks to my immense strength, or perhaps the Mimic was just weak, the lid of the Mimic shattered, and it breathed its last.
D coins and… yes, the Treasure Box T dropped.
Treasure Box T is an enhanced version of the treasure chest dropped by the Cube.
The minimum luck value required is 150, and if you meet that, there’s a 50% chance it will drop. Conversely, if you don’t meet it, the chance drops to only 0.5%.
And the contents of this chest are quite good.
While it won’t contain legendary potions or items like the Hero’s Elixir or the Saint’s Elixir, there are still plenty of useful items inside.
Among them are some convenient items that can’t be bought with money.
Hime gave me a mission of gathering these Treasure Box Ts.
-0-
In just thirty minutes, I collected twelve of them.
Ah, since Mimics don’t flee, it’s easier to gather them than the Cubes.
There are other monsters around, but I just need to look for the ones that don’t move at all, making the search very simple.
I found another Mimic.
Using fire magic has become tedious, so I’m just defeating it with my sword now.
A few times, it almost bit me, but so far, my clothes remain undamaged.
I need to keep gathering more at this pace—when suddenly, I sensed the presence of people. Four, perhaps?
It seems like they’re delving in a party.
The group of four approached me.
「Oh!」
I recognized two of them.
The blonde-haired ojousama with drills and Akashi-san.
So those two are explorers after all.
And since they’re here, they must be hotel guests.
The other two were well-built men in suits wearing sunglasses resembling Terminator.
Are they also bodyguards for the ojousama?
Akashi-san was dressed in the same suit as this morning, but the ojousama wore some extravagant armor, adorned with necklaces, headpieces, rings, and various accessories.
Upon using appraisal, I saw that all of her equipment enhanced her defensive power.
Moreover, they were all of the highest rank.
For now, I’ll keep the automatic inventory storage function off. It would be bothersome to explain if anyone saw it.
People might wonder why D coins aren’t appearing when I’m defeating monsters.
I nodded politely and, after defeating the Mimic, bent down to pick up the D coins and the Treasure Box it dropped when—
「You, wait!」
The blonde-haired ojousama with drills called out to me.
「That Treasure Box, I bestow upon you the honor of handing it over to me!」
「Huh?」
What is she saying?
「That won’t convey the message. My apologies for my ojousama. It’s been a while since we last met. You’re an explorer, I see.」
「Yes. You’re Akashi-san…. right?」
「I’m honored that you remember me. We’re collecting the Treasure Boxes dropped by Treasure Cubes on this floor, but we haven’t been able to gather as many as we hoped, and we’re in a bit of a bind. If you wouldn’t mind, could you sell that Treasure Box to us?」
「I believe personal sales of dungeon drops are prohibited.」
「Ojousama has obtained a permit for dealing in antiquities from dungeons, so that does not apply.」
That’s a permit held by the dungeon trading post, right?
Can an individual obtain such a permit?
So it’s possible for an ojousama.
「We would be willing to buy one for a million yen.」
The purchase price at the dungeon trading post is a hundred thousand yen.
The auction price usually hovers around eight hundred thousand.
Thinking about it that way, it’s not a bad deal.
But—
「I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.」
「What did you say!?」
The ojousama glared at me and shouted.
「I’m here in this dungeon with my companions, and we agreed to share the drop items fairly. So I can’t sell it on my own.」
「Then why not just keep quiet about it? No one else knows you dropped that Treasure Box.」
「There’s no way I could betray my precious companions.」
What is this ojousama talking about?
This is ridiculous.
As I considered ignoring her and walking away, she said,
「If you insist on refusing, I have my own ideas…」
She seemed to imply a threat.
At the same time, the two men who had been standing behind her stepped forward.
I couldn’t gauge their strength.
Should I intimidate them with Hellfire, or consider fleeing?
「Ojousama, please stop. What he’s saying is completely reasonable. If you cause any trouble, I’ll tell your mother everything.」
Akashi-san admonished the ojousama.
「Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Akashi Kimiyo. May I ask for your name?」
「…Ichino.」
「I see. Then, Ichino-san, could you please tell me the time and place where you will meet your companions? I will come to you at that time, and we can discuss the purchase again then.」
「If that’s the case, I don’t mind.」
Since Treasure Box Ts are dropping like crazy, I could probably spare at least one if Hime gives the go-ahead.
Besides, while I don’t like the ojousama, I can trust Akashi-san.
Perhaps this is a case of using both carrots and sticks in negotiation; if that’s the case, I’ll applaud her for being one step ahead.
「Well then, I’ll take my leave now.」
I said, turning back down the path I came from.
I would do my best to avoid getting close if I sensed anyone nearby.
-0-
When the promised time came, I returned to the floor and met up with Hime, Ayame, and Milk to head back to the surface.
During that time, I relayed the story of my negotiation with the blonde-haired ojousama to Hime.
「So that happened.」
「Once again, Taira is getting acquainted with a woman…」
「I wonder why that is. Perhaps it’s fate?」
Don’t make me sound like a womanizer.
Their party had two men in it, too, you know?
If we count everyone I met today, including that unknown pickup artist, there were definitely more men.
「A million yen for one, huh? Well, I suppose that’s a fair price.」
The commoner Ayame exclaimed, shocked by the amount. I could relate, as I felt the same way not too long ago.
「So, how many Treasure Boxes did you manage to get?」
「I have a total of 183.」
They filled my inventory to the brim, and my backpack was packed tight.
I opened my backpack and tossed one of the Treasure Box Ts to Hime.
「Your luck remains as outrageous as ever. You shouldn’t mention how many you’ve acquired. If you’re going to sell one, just keep it to this one.」
「I had no intention of doing so even if you don’t tell me.」
I caught the one she tossed back to me and nodded.
So, Ayame-chan, please don’t calculate that as 180 million.
-0-
After I’m done changing, I stepped outside the dressing room to find Akashi-san waiting in front of the dungeon.
「Thank you for agreeing to the negotiation, Ichino-san.」
「No problem. I spoke with my party members earlier, and they’re willing to negotiate positively.」
「That’s good to hear. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to obtain a single one, so it seems I won’t have to return empty-handed.」
Akashi-san is truly a polite person.
The ojousama isn’t with her.
It seems she returned to the hotel ahead of us.
That’s probably better for the negotiation.
Just then, Milk and Ayame returned from changing.
「Taira, thanks for waiting.」
「Is this the negotiation partner you mentioned, Ichino-san?」
「Yeah. This is Akashi-san. Where’s Hime?」
「She was talking at the reception but said she would be here soon.」
Ayame said that.
Being the president’s daughter, she probably has various things to take care of.
Just then, Akashi-san’s eyes widened in surprise.
「Ichino-san, you just mentioned Hime. Could it be—」
「Taira, thanks for waiting!」
Before Akashi-san could finish, Hime arrived.
As soon as she and Akashi-san locked eyes, they froze.
「Akashi Kimiyo—so you’re the negotiation partner Taira mentioned.」
「…It’s been a while, Hime-ojousama.」
「So, you’re the one who wants the Treasure Boxes?」
「…Yes. It is Hi-ojousama.」
Huh? What’s this? Do these two know each other?
Hi-ojousama?
That sounds similar to Hime’s name.
TN: Hime is 姫 while Hi is 妃. Looks similar, right? Both mean princess. 妃 can also be read as others like Kisaki but they’re both daughters of “King” so I guess they should be both princess so I chose “Hi”.
「Hey, Hime. Are you acquainted with each other?」
「Rather than with Akashi, I’m more related to Hi. I can’t believe she’s here…」
「Are you on bad terms?」
「Yeah. Our relationship is the worst.」
Well, I guess she is that kind of ojousama.
It wouldn’t be surprising if she said something rude to Hime.
Since Hime didn’t seem inclined to say more, I was wondering what to do when Akashi-san provided some additional information.
「Ichino-sama, the ojousama I serve, Oshino Hi-ojousama, is Oshino Hime-ojousama’s aneue*.」
TN: Oneesan but in a formal way.
Ah, so that’s how it is.
That’s why their names, Hi and Hime, are so similar.
…………………………………………………………………Wait, what?
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