episode_0142

“We found a lot, but none of what we wanted…”

A bitter taste filled my mouth. What we truly desired was an amazing artifact. Something like barrier-generating equipment, or an artifact that would unconditionally block a specific attack once.

At this rate, it felt like a cheap mobile game that forced you to grind dungeons endlessly until you got the item you wanted. We searched every corner of the room, but so far, it was all junk items.

Before we knew it, it was mealtime.

We set out a lavish feast. I had filled my inventory with freshly cooked, piping hot dishes. There was enough to feed a hundred Violet Company members and six boys and girls with plenty left over.

“Eat up!”

“There’s so much.”

“It feels like we’re on a picnic…”

It was always fun to see the team members’ surprised reactions. Except for Daphne and Irene, who were accustomed to my inventory use, everyone else looked like they were seeing food for the first time.

“We should have caught those monsters then…”

While we ate a late lunch with the team, the Violets chatted among themselves.

Number 795 took a spoonful of lasagna and turned her gaze to Levi. He had finished eating and was cleaning his ballista. Granite was also polishing his axe.

“Ugh! From now on, I’ll tell them to only move when necessary.”

Number 795 grumbled, and Number 129 replied.

“Well, I don’t think there’s any reason to blame the team. You didn’t properly instruct them on what to do, did you?”

“That’s true…”

Thinking about it, it was also my fault for being so fixated on artifacts that I forgot to communicate.

“Next time, let’s promptly relay instructions to the team members via radio! Radio Violets, are you listening?”

The radio Violets, including Number 76, replied.

“Understood!”

After the radio Violets finished their conversation, we moved on to the next agenda item.

“Considering the amount of artifacts we’ve collected so far, I think we should go back and sell them.”

“Then we can go to the deep zone?”

“Of course!”

There were quite a lot of artifacts currently loaded onto the truck.

Most of them were just bundles of cloth, worthless trinkets, or metal fragments of unknown origin. They could be sold, but their value was relatively low.

The truly valuable artifacts we sought were deeper in.

The deep zone was swarming with more dangerous monsters than the border zone, but because fewer people ventured there, we would be able to find rarer artifacts.

After the meal, Violet Company’s commander, Number 167, briefed her friends on their future plans.

“First, we’ll sell everything, then come back and continue our work. And around tomorrow, let’s head beyond the deep zone!”

Lucian, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

“The deep zone is also divided into several specific locations. Have you thought about exactly where we’re going? The Berdan Hotel, the railway station, or the industrial complex?”

“We’ll stop at all of them! We’ll go to the hotel first.”

At the mention of “hotel,” Granite, who had been listening silently, raised his hand.

“Excuse me, by hotel, you mean the place famous for its wine, right?”

At the word “wine,” Kalia pondered something deeply, then let out an exclamation of understanding.

“I’ve heard of it. The news about someone finding a wine cellar and getting rich. So that was the place!”

“That’s right! That’s the one!”

Kalia was right. Somewhere in the hotel’s basement, there was a hidden wine cellar.

Wines corrupted by aether were said to become elixirs with strange effects, selling for high prices. Even if not corrupted, a rare wine aged for a century would fetch unimaginable prices at an auction.

Daphne raised her head and looked at me with a cautious gaze.

“A hotel… there will be many people there, won’t there?”

“If you’re worried about friction or anything, don’t be. We have plenty of people too! And our main goal isn’t to get wine.”

While money was good, acquiring useful artifacts was the priority.

We discussed our next destination a few more times before standing up.

***

Immediately after returning to the border zone’s base camp, Lera felt her head pounding as she listened to the explanation from a member of the Mystical Investigations Department, Division 3.

“Analysis shows the artifact has lost its function.”

The agent explained, referring to the artifact brought from among the fanatics. Even if it had value as research material, its practical use had long since broken down and vanished.

“It can’t be helped. We’ll have to search other locations. This isn’t all of the known Toothed Spheres. In any case, the core is the Vision Prism. Finding that is the priority. Since the particle accelerator is broken, considering other methods was the Director’s… no, the Archmage’s directive.”

She stepped out of the container office. Agents and hired mercenaries were doing odd jobs nearby.

“There’s more bad news. A report just came in from the safe zone: the Federation has made a move. According to an insider on the Federation side, they seem to be targeting the Vision Prism as well.”

“Suddenly? What’s the scale?”

The agent reported.

“One tank platoon and an unspecified number of mechanized units.”

Lera calculated by comparing the available strength of the clan in the current area with the conventional combat power of the Federation army.

The quality of awakened troops was low, but the firepower of vehicles and non-awakened soldiers was somewhat lethal. It would be best to avoid a full-scale confrontation. Even cultists were roaming around.

“…This is troublesome.”

A Vanguard agent, sitting nearby and chatting with his subordinates, snorted.

“Hah, those Federation guys who only rely on weapons. Why are you already scared? We’ll handle the big problems, just leave it to us.”

The modified mages put their sealed masks back on and stood up. After the report concluded, Lera walked around the camp once, deep in thought.

‘To keep the plan from going awry, I need to move quickly.’

With the academy’s underground research facility currently breaking down for unknown reasons, the board, and the clan, needed an alternative.

Suddenly, Lera recalled the unidentified enemies Kroshel had warned about. Enemies who used teleportation, dressed in black combat suits, and called themselves the Obsidian Legion. It was a time of crisis.

‘Even so, the project must succeed. For the sake of the world.’

She looked out of the camp. The dungeon’s shadow was still dark.

***

I went to the safe zone and sold all the items.

“Yay! Money!”

Although the quality was low, the earnings were substantial. It was enough to fill three trucks.

The sales staff looked as if they were wondering where on earth we had gotten such a large quantity of artifacts.

“No one can hide from numbers!”

The method was simple. Hundreds of people just had to go to the trouble of searching through wall crevices, rat holes, and even inside monsters’ bellies. Numbers meant power and wisdom!

Once all the items were sold, the truck’s cargo bed, which had been full just moments before, was now empty as if it had never been filled.

I exited the sales office with Irene. Thanks to my friend, I had subtly gained a bit more profit.

In the late afternoon, the safe zone’s outpost was even more bustling than in the morning. It was like a marketplace.

I bought a few consumables like signal flares from a nearby stall.

As I was looking around, vehicles emerged in a line from the cargo elevator. They were large armored buses. The buses had the logo of an academy I knew well.

“Aegis Academy?”

It had been a while. What brought them to this area?

As I was returning to the truck where my team members were waiting, someone called out from behind me.

“Excuse me? If I may ask…”

At the familiar voice, I turned around. And I was greatly surprised. I hadn’t expected to meet someone I knew in such an unexpected place.

“Ah, hello!”

“As I thought, my hunch was right. It’s been a long time. Future junior, it’s nice to see you!”

I stammered in surprise. Standing before me was a woman with wavy golden hair and confident, amethyst-like purple eyes. It was Adela!

Her appearance was different from when I first saw her. Instead of the white school uniform she wore at the academy, she was clad in a stylish, uniform-like coat made of reinforced fibers and a plate breastplate.

Her combat attire emphasized her mature beauty.

Adela’s eyes held curiosity and delight. She looked like a child who had found an unexpected gift.

“Irene! What are you doing here? Did you come for work? The Vittorio Arcade is dangerous for beginners… Where are your parents? Do you have another guardian?”

Adela began to question me excitedly and with a hint of worry.

I was a little flustered. How did she recognize me?

“Your recognition suppression device is off!”

“Ugh! I forgot!”

Oops, Number 167 had temporarily removed her mask for external activities.

“Irene, you say…”

“Who’s next to you? A friend?”

The real Irene, standing beside me, looked at me with a bewildered expression. This was driving me crazy. Why had I chosen my friend’s name as my alias of all things?

I gave my friend a piteous look, signaling for her to understand, and she decided to go along with my act.

“Yes, I’m Irene’s friend. So I’m…”

“Violet! What are you doing here?”

Suddenly, someone called out to me. I made a startled sound and turned to the side. Daphne was standing there, holding two crepes.

“They were selling these. They looked delicious, so I bought them. But who is this?”

“…Violet?”

Adela, having heard what was just said, looked at me with a slightly doubtful expression.

“Daphne, what are you talking about? I’m Irene!”

“What are you suddenly…”

As I tried to muddle through it, Kalia tapped my shoulder from behind.

“Hey, Violet. Aren’t you done with your errands? Let’s go quickly. The kids are waiting.”

“No! I’m Irene!”

“What nonsense is she spouting?”

Deception was now impossible. Adela muttered as if she couldn’t understand.

“So you weren’t Irene? Violet, you say? Why did you lie about your name?”

Oh dear, I’ve been found out.