12. Exquisite Workmanship

Sitting prominently inside the chest was a shimmering piece of glassware—maybe a pitcher? Regardless, it was a beautiful object. I lacked the refined eye of a connoisseur, but even an amateur like me could tell: this was exquisite work.

But that wasn't the point!

I was looking for the thrill of discovery!

Since we were opening a treasure chest in a dungeon, I’d been hoping for weapons or magic tools. We were supposed to divvy up the loot, bolster our combat strength, and then head off in search of the next big find. Wasn't that what a grand adventure was supposed to be?

Deep down, I knew I was being selfish. Most adventurers braved dungeons for the sake of coin, first and foremost. In that sense, this treasure was likely a "big hit." In fact, everyone in the party besides me seemed thrilled.

"Is this silver ornamentation? It's remarkably fine detail. I doubt an average craftsman could even hope to replicate such delicate work," Rei noted.

"Forget the silver, look at the glass," Sally added. "I don't know a single artisan capable of processing it like this. The way the blue hue shifts across the surface is stunning. It has to be a dungeon-made item, right?"

"True," Mil agreed. "And I've never seen a piece of art quite like this. It’s likely one-of-a-kind."

They were certainly happy, but this wasn't what I’d expected at all. Wait, was it normal for adventurers to be so knowledgeable about art? My image of an adventurer was someone who said, "I don't know what this is, but it looks like it'll sell for a lot! Gahaha!" So why were they critiquing it like professional appraisers?

Rei and the others seemed to come from even wealthier backgrounds than I’d initially suspected. They were likely children of wealthy merchants or perhaps even nobility. Well, whatever. Pedigree didn't matter much when you were an adventurer, and I was sure they’d tell me if it ever became necessary.

"Anyway, we should sell this and split the proceeds, right? We can't exactly cut it into four pieces," Rei said after staring intently at the pitcher.

Four pieces? That meant Rei, Mil, Sally... and me?

"Wait, I get a share too?" I asked.

"Of course you do. We're in the same party, aren't we? The policy is to split rewards equally. If there's something you personally want to keep, you just have to buy it out from the group."

They had found the chest before I joined, and I’d intended to offer my lockpicking services as a condition for entry, so I wouldn't have complained even if I’d received nothing this time. But if they were offering, I was definitely taking it. I’d complained about the lack of "excitement" earlier, but money was still a top priority.

We had only just met, but I could tell Rei was a straightforward guy. The same went for Mil and Sally. Watching them interact, it was clear they were honest people who trusted one another implicitly.

I’d been allowed into the party, but I knew I’d have to build that same level of trust with them bit by bit if I wanted to become a true comrade.

Because of that...

I didn't want to keep secrets from them if I could help it.

"Oh, right. Since we're here, why don't we appraise it?"

I reached into my Storage Ring and pulled out my Appraisal Loupe. It was a strange sight—the loupe appearing instantly in my palm where nothing had been a second before. By showing it to them like this, they were bound to notice the existence of the ring.

Sally was the first to react. I’d pegged her as the quiet type, but she suddenly looked quite worked up. Her energy level shot through the roof in an instant.

"Wait, where did that come from? Do you have a storage-type item?!"

"Yeah," I replied.

I unwound the tattered cloth wrapped around my finger to reveal the Storage Ring.

"Whoa, incredible! So that's a Storage Ring! Unlike a Magic Bag, you just have to touch it and think about storing something, right? And as long as it's within the ring's capacity, there's no limit on the size of the objects you can put inside! That's so convenient!"

Magic Bags were in the same category as Storage Rings, but they were limited by the size of the bag's opening. If you couldn't fit it through the mouth of the bag, you couldn't store it. That made them significantly less versatile than a ring.

I hadn't expected Sally to be this enthusiastic. She was practically clinging to my arm as she inspected the ring. Rei and Mil were wearing wry smiles, but they didn't look particularly shocked. I took that to mean this was her usual behavior.

"Sorry about her," Mil said. "Sally has an obsession with magic items. It's not every day you get to see a Storage Ring, so she's completely losing her head."

"Is a Storage Ring really that rare?" I asked.

"So it seems," Rei answered. "There are a handful of magic tool crafters who can make Magic Bags, but apparently, nobody knows how to manufacture Storage Rings anymore."

If they could only be found in dungeons, there was no guaranteed way to get one. Combined with their high utility, they were far more precious than Magic Bags. I decided I would definitely keep it hidden from anyone other than these three.

"You have an Appraisal Loupe, too, right? Let me see, let me see!"

"Oh, sure. Here."

"Thank you! You can appraise things just by looking through this? That's so cool!"

Sally was practically hopping with joy. She really did love magic tools. I could relate, in a way. Back in my previous life, I was the type of person who got giddy whenever I saw a new high-tech appliance. ...Though maybe this was a little different.

As I watched her with a fond smile, Sally peered through the loupe at the pitcher and let out a gasp.

"Everyone! This pitcher is a magic item too!"

Wait, what!?

It wasn't just a fancy pitcher?

"Are you serious?" Rei’s voice sharpened. "That changes its value entirely. We might be looking at more than ten gold coins...!"

Ten... ten gold coins...!?

Holy crap...!