"Th-this is..."
Rosethus’s voice cracked in astonishment as a gargantuan magic stone materialized on the table before him.
He was certainly surprised that the stone had appeared out of thin air, but its sheer scale was what truly left him breathless. Generally, a magic stone’s size was proportional to the monster’s physical mass, and its quality was dictated by the creature’s rank. The presence radiating from the object now before him was on an entirely different level compared to the magic stone of any low-rank monster.
"As you can see, it’s the Lemures’ magic stone. I have other parts, too. This belongs to Egret, but..."
Rei reached into his Misty Ring again and produced a fang over a meter long. It was a wicked tooth harvested from the Lemures’ maw, which Egret had claimed as his personal share of the loot.
"A... fang?"
"Yeah. From the Lemures."
"...It was a massive creature, certainly large enough to be seen even from the city. I suppose it isn’t strange for it to have fangs like this. However," Rosethus said, his tone turning apologetic, "I’m afraid I cannot certify the subjugation based on these items alone. To begin with, why would the Lemures—which has remained far offshore and never approached the harbor until now—suddenly appear on land?"
"I can only tell you that I used a magic item," Rei replied.
He proceeded to explain the effects of the magic item he claimed to have employed. Naturally, the explanation was a complete fabrication. However, he could hardly reveal the truth about a Lich—especially one like Grimm, who had lived for thousands of years. He had no choice but to insist on the magic item story.
"I see. A magic item... Indeed, if one intended to perform a Forced Teleportation on the Lemures from the open sea to the land, a magic item would be the only viable method. If it isn’t too much trouble, would you allow me to see this item once? Purely for my own education, of course."
Rosethus spoke softly, a pleasant smile on his face and a gentle light in his eyes. However, deep within those eyes, a sharp, calculating glint remained.
As a guild official—and as a citizen of the Kingdom of Mireana—he could not simply ignore the existence of a magic item capable of forcibly teleporting a target. If such a thing were used for criminal ends, it would be child's play to kidnap royalty or high-ranking nobles.
Rei merely gave a small shrug. "Unfortunately, it was a disposable item. Because the effect was so powerful, it wasn't something that could be used more than once. It has already turned to dust and scattered into the sea."
"..."
Rosethus stared intently into Rei's eyes, searching for any hint of a lie. His gaze was so piercing it seemed he was trying to look into the very depths of Rei's soul. The atmosphere in the meeting room grew heavy with tension.
Egret and Miroir watched the exchange with cool composure, but Hendeka looked as though he were about to snap. He sat as stiff as a statue, his face pale with nerves, unable to even twitch a finger.
After a few seconds of silence, Rosethus finally spoke again.
"For now, I will not pry any further into the magic item. However, let me offer a word of advice. People who possess great power, skill, or rare tools will always stand out. And where there is something of value, there are naturally those who will try to take it."
"I imagine so. I’m more than aware of the risks."
Rei glanced down at the Misty Ring on his right hand. The ring served as a peerless Item Box and was incredibly convenient, but its utility made it a frequent target for greed. Between its rarity and his own reputation, Rei was well-accustomed to dealing with those who coveted his magic items. But...
"If they attack, I’ll just have to strike them back."
"Even if the opponent is stronger than you?"
"Well, that’s a fair point. I know there are beings out there stronger than me."
At that moment, the face of the Skull Wearing a Crown—the one he had met just that morning—flashed through Rei’s mind.
"But even if I run into someone like that, I have my partner Seto. If it’s an opponent we can’t beat two-on-one, I can always choose to retreat."
Grimm, the Lich, had flown through the sky as easily as breathing. There were very few beings in this world capable of flight, and even fewer who could do so while in human form.
"...I see. If you are acting with that awareness, Rei-san, then I won’t say anything more. Ah, forgive me. We’ve strayed from the topic. Regarding the Lemures... I’m sorry, but as things stand, I simply cannot certify the kill."
"Is that because we killed it on land when it’s supposed to be a sea monster?"
Miroir was the one who interjected this time. Her expression remained neutral; she had clearly half-expected this outcome.
"Precisely. As I mentioned, if you had the physical magic item that performed the teleportation and could demonstrate its effect, there would be no problem. But without that proof, it simply looks as though you all cooperated to defeat some random monster that happened to appear."
"I figured. But if the ships start sailing tomorrow and aren't attacked... and if that continues for, say, ten days, then we can conclude the Lemures is gone, right? It's hard to provide definitive proof when no one ever actually saw the thing in the first place."
Rosethus pondered Rei's words for several seconds before finally nodding.
"Very well. Since the final judgment on this matter has been entrusted to me, let’s proceed with that plan. However, the bounty will only be paid after ten days have passed and we've confirmed the Lemures is no longer a threat."
"I don't mind. What about the rest of you?"
Rei looked at his companions, and the three of them nodded in agreement.
"Then, for the next ten days, we will monitor the situation. If the Lemures does not appear, we will officially recognize the subjugation. Now, then..." Rosethus trailed off, his eyes drifting back to the magic stone on the table. "Regarding the materials from the monster... what are your plans? Do the four of you intend to split the spoils?"
"No," Egret spoke up. "Aside from the fang I took, we've ceded all the materials to Rei. After all, he used a magic item that was practically a national treasure for our sake, even if it was a one-use thing."
"...Rei-san, would you be willing to sell this magic stone and the materials to the guild? Since it’s an unknown species, I can promise a very generous premium on the purchase price."
"Well..." Rei hesitated for a moment before answering. "Since it’s a Sea Serpent-type, I’ve harvested everything I could. But we made a bit of a blunder during the dismantling; most of the blood spilled out onto the plains, so I only have a few bottles of it."
He reached into the Misty Ring and produced several glass vials of dark blood.
"I’m willing to sell the blood, the bones, and the liver, minus a small amount I want to keep for myself. But as for the skin, I can only part with a small portion."
"And why is that?"
"Because I have a use for it," Rei stated flatly.
He offered no further explanation. Rosethus nodded with a tinge of disappointment, likely assuming Rei intended to use it for custom armor or as a base for Alchemy. He then turned his focus toward the main prize: the magic stone.
"And this magic stone... I assume it’s a 'no' as well?"
Rosethus sighed, seeing the refusal written clearly on Rei's face before the young man even spoke. Rei gave a small, knowing smile.
"Sorry, but I’m a collector of magic stones. Honestly, I’d prefer two—one for viewing and one for preservation—but since I doubt another Lemures is going to pop up anytime soon, I absolutely won’t give this one up."
"A collector, I see. You have quite the expensive hobby."
"Not really. Usually, it's something only the wealthy can afford, but I'm an adventurer. Since I hunt the monsters and harvest the stones myself, the cost isn't that much of a burden."
"...I suspect that’s only true for you, Rei-san. Most people sell the magic stone first because it's the most valuable part of the loot. No one keeps them unless they're truly eccentric."
"Then I guess I’m just eccentric."
"..."
Rosethus looked at Rei with an exasperated expression, but his face suddenly turned grave.
"Rei-san, I understand you won't sell it. But... could you at least lend the stone to the guild for a few days? I won't claim we can learn everything about the Lemures just from the stone, but it would provide us with invaluable data. What do you say?"
"What do I get out of lending it to you? No offense, but it could be stolen. If I keep it in my Item Box, it’s perfectly safe."
"In exchange... we could share all the information we glean from the research. And I swear on the honor of the Emocion Branch that the magic stone will be guarded with the utmost care."
Rei's brow twitched as he sensed the genuine heat in Rosethus's gaze.
Information on a monster like the Lemures would be useful, he thought. Especially since I only have one stone. I’ll have to choose between letting Seto or the Death Scythe absorb it. If they can figure out its habitat or properties, it might help me decide.
He reached a decision and gave a short nod.
"Fine. Since you’re so persistent, I’ll lend it to you. But hear me well. If you scratch it, or if it’s stolen because of your negligence... neither I nor Seto will show any mercy. Even if I’m branded a criminal, I won't let anyone in this guild off the hook. You’ll find out exactly why I earned my title during the war with the Bestia Empire."
"...Understood. I will personally oversee the security."
Rosethus must have felt the chilling weight of Rei's resolve. He understood that if he failed, the City of Emocion might very well be razed by hellfire. He met Rei's gaze and nodded solemnly.
He reached out and gently stroked the surface of the magic stone. It was over thirty centimeters in diameter—a massive specimen. Even in all his years at the guild, Rosethus had only seen a handful of stones this large. Its purity was staggering; compared to the magic stone of a common goblin, the difference was like comparing a roadside pebble to a flawless diamond.
"This is magnificent... B-Rank, perhaps even nearing A-Rank quality. Regardless of whether it’s truly the Lemures, there is no doubt this came from a monster of terrifying power."
"It was. Of all the monsters I've faced, it was among the most dangerous. The only things I've seen that could rival it would be..."
Rei's thoughts drifted to the Silver Lion, the Rank S monster that had served as the boss on the lowest floor of the dungeon he had explored with Elena.
Rei hadn't fought the Silver Lion directly, but he had felt its overwhelming aura. He knew the Lemures wasn't on that level, but he also knew that the difference between Rank A and Rank S was an evolutionary chasm.
"I've encountered that level of power only once before," Rei muttered.
"...Even C-Rank monsters are a rare sight in these parts. Well, I suppose they’re more common out in the deep water," Rosethus sighed, glancing at the stone.
Rei turned his attention back to Egret and the others.
"Well, our business here is done. Now, as I promised those guys outside, it’s time for a party. Rosethus, I want you to reserve the tavern for us. Consider it a celebration for the Lemures Subjugation. It’s all on me."
"Understood. Though, with a crowd that size, the bill will be quite substantial. Are you sure?"
"No problem. Just deduct it from whatever you owe me for the materials."
Nodding, Rosethus carefully concealed the magic stone and led them out of the meeting room and back down to the 1F.
"Wow, they really did gather fast," Egret noted, looking toward the tavern. A massive crowd of adventurers had already packed the room.
Rei, who was never one for public speaking, nudged Egret.
"Hey, listen up!" Egret roared, his voice booming over the din. "As promised, today’s drinks are on Rei! Drink your fill, eat until you burst, and make some noise! You all earned it today!"
A thunderous cheer erupted from the tavern as the adventurers began shouting their orders.
And so, despite the logistical headaches, the Lemures meat Rei had stored in his Misty Ring was brought out, prepared by the guild’s chefs, and served in a grand feast. For one night, the entire guild toasted to their victory, intoxicated by the rare and succulent taste of a high-rank monster.