A few days later, just as the holidays were coming into view, I returned home to find a memo from Luke.
"Master, it’s a message from Mr. Luke," Roxanne said. "It says to come urgently."
It was likely about the Holy Spear. Had there been a response already? For a broker to contact a client this way, the timing seemed about right. Of course, there was always the chance the other party had taken offense at my proposal.
I felt a slight hesitation, but there was no point in piling speculation upon speculation. Since he said it was urgent, I decided to go immediately.
"I'm heading to the Merchant Guild for a bit. I’ll leave the rest to you."
"Yes. Have a safe trip, Master."
I warped to the Merchant Guild's waiting room. When I called for Luke, he arrived almost instantly, accompanied by another man.
He was a Level 8 Weapon Merchant. He had the air of a pampered young master—a bit of a dandy, by the looks of him. I wondered if he intended to have me perform a Weapon Appraisal on the staff with the MP Absorption skill. I hadn't brought it with me; in fact, I hadn't even had Sherry make it yet.
"I have been waiting for you," Luke said. "Would you mind coming this way?"
"Understood."
We moved to a meeting room. Luke took a seat across from me, while the other man sat at his side.
"This is the broker I mentioned," Luke introduced.
"Is it true that you can provide a staff with the MP Absorption skill?" the man asked, cutting straight to the chase after the briefest of greetings.
I hadn't looked at him closely during the auction, but this was clearly the man who had won the bid for the Holy Spear. Given the urgency of the meeting, he was likely in quite a hurry. It was clear he desperately wanted an MP-sustaining weapon.
"It's true."
"Then, could you tell me the name of the weapon that carries that skill?"
The man was testing me. In this world, weapons with specific skills often have designated names—like the Rod of Himorogi for 2x Intelligence. Since I hadn't crafted the staff yet, I didn't actually know its name. He probably assumed that if I truly owned such a rare item, I would know what it was called.
Wait. Was that necessarily true? For example, the Ring of Determination owned by Duke Harz was a legacy item passed down through generations. In cases like that, it wouldn't be strange for the original name to be lost to time. Owning an item didn't strictly mandate knowing its formal title.
"I had it custom-made, so I don't know the name," I replied honestly. "Even so, that shouldn't be a problem as long as you provide a reliable Weapon Merchant on your end for verification, right?"
Of course, I knew I hadn't actually made it yet, and I knew I wouldn't actually need him to provide an appraiser, but I kept that to myself.
"I see," he said, nodding slowly. "Then, why would you be willing to part with such a precious weapon?"
If I told him I simply didn't need it, he might use that as an excuse to lowball the price. If it were a legacy item, he’d argue it was old; if it were stolen, I would likely know the name. In a way, knowing the name might actually draw more suspicion of theft. What seemed like a simple question was actually quite a trap. He was a shrewd broker.
"Our party has a Shrine Maiden who uses spears. She has the strength to handle it, so the Holy Spear would be a better fit for our needs. It’s a rare opportunity for us."
"I see. Do you have the staff with you now?"
"I don't."
I managed to gloss over the lie.
"Would it be possible for you to bring it here immediately?"
"I can, but has the client given their final consent for the trade?"
"Yes. They have approved. Since it will become clear eventually anyway, I will tell you: the party desiring the MP Absorption weapon is my own family. Our main house’s eldest son is welcoming a noble daughter as his bride, and we need a proper gift for the occasion."
So the client was the broker's own family.
"That is celebratory news."
"It was decided that a weapon with the MP Absorption skill must be prepared for the wedding. To be honest, as long as it has that skill, the weapon itself matters little. The Holy Spear is a fine piece, but a staff with MP Absorption is more than dignified enough to welcome a duke's daughter. I had been making impossible demands of the master smiths I trade with, but this will put an end to that struggle. My family has agreed: as soon as the weapon is verified, we will exchange it under the conditions you proposed."
So the staff was effectively a betrothal gift. I didn't know if "noble daughter" literally meant a duke's child, but even a distant relative of a high-ranking noble would require an impressive dowry. Because the wedding was approaching, they were eager to secure the item as quickly as possible.
"Understood. I'll bring it right away."
I stood up from my seat.
"Please do."
I returned to the waiting room and warped. It was a nuisance having them watch me leave; if I had been alone, I could have warped in silence. Instead, I had to mumble something that sounded like a Field Walk incantation before vanishing.
"Sherry, I need you to fuse these."
I took out the materials and called for Sherry, who was busy in the kitchen. For her, fusing skill crystals was as easy as breathing. I placed the Scissor-type Insectivorous Plant crystal, the Kobold crystal, and the empty-slot staff on the table.
"Are you certain these are the correct crystals?" she asked.
"I'm sure."
"They haven't been swapped with anything else, have they?"
Just as she had finally overcome her anxiety about the fusion process itself, she had found something new to worry about. Truly, even if the sands of the beach were to vanish, the seeds of worry would never cease.
"You can trust me on this," I assured her.
"You were handling them quite carelessly, Master."
"It's fine. My memory is quite good."
Sherry gave me a look of pure doubt. I wanted to tell her that wasn't the time for skepticism. Reluctantly, she sat down and picked up the staff. She performed the Skill Crystal Fusion.
"Oh! It’s a success. As expected of Sherry. Or rather, as expected of my memory."
Not that my memory actually did anything. I told her not to look at me like that. I might have used my memory! In fact, if my memory served me correctly, I definitely used it.
"Thank you, Master. Though there is still a possibility that a different skill was attached..."
She really was a skeptic. If Roxanne were here, she would have showered me with praise, but she was still in the kitchen. Having no choice but to praise myself, I took the staff. The MP Absorption skill was definitely there.
The Essence-Sucking Staff. It was a rather grand name.
I warped back to the Merchant Guild. The two brokers were still in the waiting room, looking visibly relieved when they saw me return with the staff in hand. They must have been worried I’d done a runner because I couldn't actually produce the item. Between Sherry and these two, I was surrounded by people who had very little faith in me.
"Sorry for the wait. It took a moment to find where I’d put it."
"Let us return to the meeting room."
Once inside, I handed the Essence-Sucking Staff to the man. He chanted a Weapon Appraisal.
"It is indeed an Essence-Sucking Staff. No mistake."
"I thought as much."
"The formal name for a weapon with MP Absorption is 'Essence-Sucking'."
"Essence-Sucking, is it? I’ll remember that. My memory is quite good, after all."
"There isn't a scratch on it; it’s in excellent condition. There are no obstacles to the trade. Now, please, take this."
The man chanted another spell and opened his Item Box, pulling out the Holy Spear. It had exactly five empty skill slots. It didn't look like a swap.
"How would you like to handle the verification of the Holy Spear?" Luke suggested. "Since we are fellow brokers, we have an agreement not to pass off counterfeits, but if you wish, I can call upon a Weapon Merchant I know."
I could see it was the Holy Spear through my own Appraisal, but a normal person wouldn't be able to tell. Did I need to go through the motions? There was a Weapon Merchant right here, but he was the seller. If I used Luke's acquaintance, could I trust them? They could be in league. If I started doubting everyone, the deal would never end.
"There’s no need for that," I said. "That shape, that luster... it’s exactly the same spear I saw at the auction. My memory is quite good."
"If you are satisfied, then very well."
"You verified it properly when you purchased it, didn't you?" I asked the man.
He would have checked it with Weapon Appraisal when he bought it from the Baradam House representative. Since Luke had only brought me into the deal after that purchase, there was no way the Baradams and this broker were conspiring together.
"Of course I did."
"Then there's no problem."
I accepted the Holy Spear. It was indeed the five-slot version. It was a bit of a hassle, but I chanted a spell to open my Item Box and put it inside. The man did the same with the Essence-Sucking Staff.
"Your dignified composure is impressive," the man noted. "You didn't even blink when I performed my appraisal. This has been an excellent trade."
"I see."
Well, I already knew he was a Weapon Merchant. I wondered if he’d performed the appraisal so suddenly just to try and startle me. He was a cheeky broker.
"Well then, I shall take my leave."
The man nodded to Luke and prepared to depart.
"Wait—before you go. You wouldn't happen to have any Scissor-type Insectivorous Plant or Kobold skill crystals, would you?"
"Skill crystals? I do have some on hand, but..."
I figured as much. To make an MP Absorption weapon, you need those two specific crystals. They don't always appear together at auction. Once someone has both, they usually use them immediately, but until then, they're likely holding onto one or the other.
"You have the Essence-Sucking Staff now," I pointed out. "You don't really need those anymore, right?"
"That is true."
"As a bonus to our trade, would you consider selling those leftover crystals to me?"
"I see your point. It’s not that I have no use for them, but finding the matching set is a struggle. Since I bought them at high auction prices, I was prepared to take a loss if I put them back on the market."
The man looked at Luke. Luke nodded, saying he didn't mind. I suppose trading on the side could be seen as poaching a client, but the guild's internal ties seemed flexible enough.
"Well?"
"I've already used my Scissor-type Plant crystal, so I don't have that. However, I have two Kobold crystals, including a spare. If four thousand Nahl each is acceptable to you, I will part with them."
"I'll take them both."
Two of them? Even better.
"Thank you. This helps me as well. It’s getting late today, so shall we finalize the crystal trade tomorrow morning?"
"Understood."
"Then, until tomorrow."
It seemed he didn't carry the crystals on his person. You'd think a Weapon Merchant would just keep them in his Item Box. Once the schedule was set, the man left the room.
"Sorry for making a side deal like that, Luke."
"Not at all. For a man as sharp as you, it’s only natural to seek profit. I have no issue with it."
Once we were alone, I offered my apologies to Luke.
"What shall I do about the Kobold crystal order I'm currently holding for you?" he asked.
"Keep it active. I’ll likely need more eventually anyway."
"Understood. More importantly... that man’s family is known as one of the most prominent merchant houses. Are you certain about forgoing verification? You didn't even check his credentials."
"Verification isn't necessary."
"I’ve heard their family’s influence is quite substantial..."
"It’s fine."
"I see. As expected. You must have incredible confidence in your own strength."
"I suppose so," I said, but then I realized the conversation wasn't quite lining up.
I could tell the items were real because of Appraisal, but how would a normal person act? In a world where you can't be sure who to trust, neglecting verification is the mark of a fool. However, perfect verification is impossible. Therefore, the rational move is to rely on the threat of retaliation.
Especially in this world. If someone sells you a fake, you go after them. It’s about making them realize it’s not always a "moonlit night"—even if there isn't a moon here. Since I was a Free Citizen, I could legally challenge someone to a duel. If they knew that a scam would result in a bloody reckoning, they were forced to play fair.
The reason Luke didn't bring me fakes was likely because he feared that exact retaliation. In this world, that was just common sense. The other man's family was wealthy and powerful; if I challenged them, they could hire a strong proxy. Luke was essentially asking if I was confident I could beat whoever they sent.
I’d already said it was fine, so there was no taking it back. To the eyes of an outsider, I must have seemed incredibly arrogant or incredibly powerful to skip verification on a whim.
"They will surely become even more formidable after this," Luke remarked.
"Probably."
"By the way... have you been performing Skill Crystal Fusion for a long time?"
Luke was digging. I’d told him I "had the staff made." I had only recently bought the first Scissor-type Plant crystal from him. He likely assumed I already had the staff finished before the trade was even proposed, which meant I had a source for fusions that predated our relationship. If I had been doing this for a long time, it meant I was an incredibly valuable contact.
It made sense he’d be interested. Plenty of wealthy clients would pay a fortune for specific gear. If he could use me as a middleman, he stood to make a massive profit.
"Well, fusions fail quite often," I said, trying to dampen his enthusiasm. "It rarely goes perfectly."
"I see."
I brushed him off. I didn't want to be used too conveniently. If I promised a hundred percent success rate, I was just asking for trouble. I’d keep trading with Luke, but I wanted it to be a balanced relationship. Ever since I’d cashed in the White Magic Crystals, I wasn't hurting for money. It's funny—when you're broke, there are no good deals to be found, but as soon as you have more than enough, everyone starts throwing opportunities at you.
"Anyway, the price for Scissor-type crystals should drop now. If you see them going cheap, keep an eye out for me."
"You still need more? Understood."
Wait. Now that I think about it, seeking more Scissor-type crystals when I already had an MP Absorption staff might look suspicious. But whatever—a Labyrinth explorer always wants better gear. If I could add MP Absorption to a weapon that already had HP Absorption, it would be the ultimate tool. It should be fine. Luke didn't seem to think much of it anyway. Everyone has their secrets.
I headed home.
"Is it a custom among nobles to give enchanted gear as wedding gifts?" I asked Sherry during dinner.
I told her about the broker's family and the noble daughter. Duke Harz had given the Ring of Determination to Cassia’s family, too.
"I don't know much about the internal habits of high nobility," Sherry admitted. "I haven't heard of it being a strict rule."
"The broker said they needed the MP Absorption weapon to welcome a noble bride."
"Ah, I see. That makes sense."
I wasn't sure what she meant, but Sherry seemed to have connected the dots.
"By 'noble daughter,' he just means a lady from another house, right?"
"A noble lady who is likely a Mage," Sherry explained. "The weapon isn't just a gift; it's for her to use."
"So it’s for the bride herself?"
So it wasn't a dowry, but more like a wedding ring.
"They will become much stronger," Sherry added.
"You can tell that? Impressive."
She was saying the same thing Luke had.
"Master, we can't afford to fall behind them," Roxanne said.
"Well, I have no intention of losing."
"Um, Master... a party with a Mage has incredible destructive power," Sherry said, realizing I was still a bit behind.
"I know."
"To be truly elite in the Labyrinth, a Mage is essential."
"I get that."
"But becoming a Mage is incredibly difficult. Only children of the nobility or the extremely wealthy can afford the training."
It involved using those Self-Destruct Balls, after all.
"So I've heard."
"And even if you try to raise one from birth, it takes decades to produce a first-rate Mage. The fastest way to acquire that power is to marry one into the family. By securing a noble bride and an MP Absorption weapon, that merchant house has just acquired the most vital asset for Labyrinth exploration."
I see. A Mage with an MP Absorption weapon could fight indefinitely.
"So that's why they'll become more powerful."
"Exactly."
"I'm not looking for a competition, but we’ll be fine. I traded for an even better weapon in exchange anyway. Look."
I pulled the Holy Spear from my Item Box.
"A spear?" Roxanne asked.
"It's a spear," Sherry whispered.
"A spear, desu," Milia added.
"It’s the spear you mentioned, Sherry—the one that strengthens magic." I handed it to her.
"The Holy Spear? I did mention it, but I’m surprised you remembered so clearly."
"I told you, my memory is quite good."
Tonight, I’d press her until her own memory failed her. I was feeling particularly bold.
"If this is truly the Holy Spear, it is incredibly rare," Sherry said, taking it with trembling hands.
"I got it in exchange for the staff you fused. It’s thanks to you, Sherry."
"It’s my first time seeing one in person. They really do exist..."
I suppose she wouldn't have seen one before. It’s not like there are museums for legendary gear. Even in my old world, there were plenty of things I only knew from television.
The next morning, we entered the Labyrinth to test the Holy Spear. As for last night, I don't remember much because I pressed her until my memory failed me. My job was Sex Fiend when I woke up, so I must have been quite thorough.
Regardless, the Holy Spear was excellent, though it fell just short of the Rod of Himorogi. Still, for a weapon with no skills attached, it was incredible. Once it had 2x Intelligence, it would be a monster.
"I use the rod, and we still need a spear with Chant Interruption for Sherry, so it’s almost a waste to keep this in storage," I mused.
"True," Sherry agreed. "Milia is used to her one-handed sword, and the reach is so different that I’d struggle to use it effectively right now."
"When we’re only fighting Clamshells, we don't need Chant Interruption, but against Kettle Mermaids or Bitch Butterflies, we do. I don't want to be swapping weapons in the middle of a fight and throwing the Holy Spear on the ground."
I suppose I could have Sherry carry two spears and drop the one she didn't need, but that was too risky. The Holy Spear would stay in the Item Box for now.
After testing the spear and having breakfast, I headed to the Merchant Guild. I called for Luke, and the two brokers met me in the waiting room.
"We’ve been waiting. Shall we head to the Guild Temple?" Luke asked.
"The Guild Temple?"
"Yes. It was too late yesterday, but since we are registered brokers, we can use it for verification."
I spoke with the other man. I realized then that they wanted to verify the skill crystals. You can't tell what a crystal is just by looking at it—unless you have Appraisal like I do. Normally, people use the Guild Temple to be sure. The reason we didn't trade yesterday wasn't that he didn't have the crystals, but because the temple was closed for the night.
If a fusion fails, you can't be sure if it was bad luck or a fake crystal, so verifying beforehand was the logical choice. Even though I didn't need to, it would have been suspicious to refuse.
We went up to a back room on the second floor, located behind the auction hall.
"The fee is one hundred Nahl per use. Since there are two, it will be two hundred. The buyer usually covers the cost. Since only brokers can operate it, I will handle the process."
Luke opened the door. It cost money, huh? I didn't need the service, but I couldn't say no.
"Sorry for the trouble."
Inside was a white box—the same type of Guild Temple machine I’d seen at the Duke’s estate.
"Using the Guild Temple? Thank you," a Villager at the reception desk said.
I paid two Silver Coins. My Merchant discount didn't apply to the temple staff. The broker took out the Kobold crystals.
"Since you provided the Essence-Sucking Staff, I’ll give you a special price—five thousand six hundred Nahl for the pair."
Nice. Since the seller was a merchant, my 30% discount kicked in. It was a solid deal.
I went through the motions of verification. Luke placed a crystal on the machine and pressed a switch. An image of a Kobold floated within the crystal. So that's how it worked. It was likely the same technology used to read Intelligence Cards.
The second crystal also showed a Kobold.
"Confirmed. Excellent trade."
"Thank you very much."
I thanked him and headed home. I pulled the Kobold crystals, a Butterfly crystal, and a Damascus Steel forehead plate from my Item Box and handed them to Sherry.
"I got the Kobold crystals. Sherry, can you fuse them?"
"Yes, Master."
Since I’d just bought them, there was no anxiety about their identity. Sherry performed the fusion without a word of doubt.
"Oh! Perfect, Sherry."
"Thank you."
The fusion was a success.
Wind-Resistant Damascus Steel Forehead Plate (Head Equipment) Skills: Wind Resistance, [Empty], [Empty], [Empty]
The three empty slots remained intact. I wrapped the plate around Roxanne’s head.
"You should keep wearing this, Roxanne."
"Are you sure, Master?"
"It’s fine."
"Thank you very much."
I sometimes borrowed Milia’s sturdy hat when I took the lead, but the forehead plate was worn like a headband and was a hassle to swap around. It was better for Roxanne to keep it. Besides, she rarely got hit anyway.
We entered the Labyrinth and arrived at the 17th-floor boss room in Halber almost immediately. We’d made a lot of progress.
"The boss for the Kettle Mermaids is the Bottle Mermaid," Sherry explained in the waiting room. "It uses powerful water magic, so canceling its chant is vital."
"As usual, the three of you take the boss first."
We entered. I focused on the subordinate Kettle Mermaid, taking it down instantly with a barrage of Rushes. It tried to cast magic, but I canceled it effortlessly. When a monster starts a magic circle, its physical attacks stop, so I actually prefer it when they try to cast while I’m using Durandal. Being able to shut them down with Chant Interruption is a massive advantage.
I joined the others against the boss. The Bottle Mermaid had a pointed head that made it look vaguely like a glass bottle. It wasn't as ugly as the Kettle Mermaid, but it was still a bizarre-looking creature.
The four of us surrounded it. With Roxanne in the lead and Sherry and I both wielding Chant Interruption, there was almost zero chance of losing as long as we stayed focused.
The Bottle Mermaid lunged with its left arm. Roxanne dodged with a simple tilt of her head. It followed up with a wide swing from the right; Roxanne pulled her shoulder back, letting the strike whistle past. Just as she reset, the mermaid leaned forward and charged headfirst.
Roxanne swayed out of the way, making it impossible to tell if it was trying to bite or headbutt her. She completely shut down every one of its attacks while I carved away at it with Durandal.
The boss collapsed.
I hoped the boss fights would stay this smooth until the 22nd floor. Or even beyond that.
We stepped onto the 18th floor.
"The monster here is the Flytrap," Sherry said.
"Let's see... Flytraps are weak to fire, but Clamshells and Bitch Butterflies are resistant to it, right?"
"That’s correct."
My memory really was impressive. However, if the most common monster was weak to fire while the others resisted it, this floor was going to be a bit of a grind. I couldn't let my guard down just yet.
"Roxanne, this floor might be a challenge, but I'm counting on you."
"I understand, Master."
The first pack we found had a Clamshell, a Kettle Mermaid, and a Flytrap. I took down the shell and the mermaid with earth magic, then finished the Flytrap with a Fireball. They were getting noticeably stronger as we climbed.
"Is that all?" I asked after the fight.
"Yes. With your strength, Master, there are no problems."
"Only because I have a front line I can rely on. Shall we hit the 17th floor of Quratar as well?"
"Go, desu!" Milia chirped.
Since the primary monster there was the Marbrim, Milia was instantly on board. We went home to grab a map and then dove into Quratar.
"The boss room is just ahead," Roxanne said, pointing.
Already? On this floor, Marbrims were weak to earth magic while most of the others were weak to wind. We hadn't found many large groups, so we’d reached the end quickly.
"Let’s hunt around here until we get two Whole Fish," I suggested.
"Yes, desu!"
"Then I’ll find a spot with plenty of Marbrims. This way."
We hadn't found a single rare drop yet. Milia wouldn't be happy leaving without her prize, so we stayed near the boss room to hunt.
"Now that Roxanne is a Knight, maybe she should try the Defense skill during boss fights," I mused.
"Defense?" Roxanne asked.
"In Halber, the door opened before I had time to teach you the incantation."
"With the enemies here, I don't think it’s necessary," she said.
Well, she wasn't wrong. Roxanne was already untouchable.
"I-I suppose so."
"However, one never knows what might happen in the Labyrinth. It would be better if I knew how to use it. Will you teach me?"
"Of course."
"Thank you, Master."
As we hunted for Marbrims, I swapped out Monk for Knight. I removed Chant Omission and chanted "Defense." The words flowed into my mind.
"To the high lord I serve, protect the one who obeys. Defense!"
I activated the skill while Roxanne watched. I couldn't really feel if my defense had increased, which was a bit of a letdown.
"As expected of Master," Roxanne praised.
"Brahim is truly a marvelous language," Sherry added.
"As expected, desu."
I ignored Sherry’s comment about the language.
"To the high lord... who obeys?" Roxanne repeated.
"Protect the one who obeys," I corrected.
I’d heard that "those who do not obey" was a term for rebels in the old world. Since this was a Knight's skill, the affirmative—the one who obeys the lord—made perfect sense.
We kept hunting until we finally secured two Whole Fish.
"Here, desu!" Milia said, bringing me the second one. I put it in the Item Box.
"Alright, that’s enough. To the boss room."
Roxanne led the way with a brisk pace. She always knew exactly where the boss room was. I certainly didn't; even with a map, all these tunnels looked the same to me. It wasn't a memory problem—it was just impossible to tell them apart. I’d been planning to just use Dungeon Walk to get back to the nearest safe room, but Roxanne didn't need it.
"Sherry, did you know which way the room was?" I whispered.
"No, I had no idea."
Good. It wasn't just me.
"Oh, this T-junction looks familiar... maybe. Though if it were different, I wouldn't know."
"I smelled another party passing through the door ahead just a moment ago," Roxanne said. "I believe someone is already in the boss room."
Scent? That was cheating. I didn't think you could smell things around corners like that.
"I see... there was a four-way intersection back there. If we go left and straight to the back, that should be it."
"Correct. There’s a group of Marbrims to the right if you want to take them first."
"We might as well."
We took them down for some extra experience and picked up some White Fish. No rare drop this time, likely because I’d unequipped the Cook job.
"The boss for the Marbrims is the Black Diamond Tuna," Sherry briefed us as we doubled back. "It has a powerful charging attack and can use water magic."
"There's another group of Bitch Butterflies and Grass Bees to the right now," Roxanne noted.
"Let's take them too."
They were both weak to wind magic, so we cleared them out quickly before finally entering the waiting room. It was empty, but the boss door was still sealed.
"The party before us is still fighting."
"They're taking their time."
"Well... it’s just that you are exceptionally strong, Master. This is the normal pace for a party."
"Is it?"
Sherry nodded. I guess I’d lost perspective. We’d cleared two extra groups of monsters while they were still fighting a single boss.
Finally, the door opened. The previous party was gone, having successfully cleared the room. The door sealed behind us, and smoke coalesced in the center of the chamber. Two monsters appeared. The subordinate was a Bitch Butterfly, and the boss—the Black Diamond Tuna—was swimming through the air.
It was literally a fish. No legs, just a massive tuna "swimming" through the empty air. I guess anything goes in a Labyrinth.
"I'll handle the subordinate as usual."
"To the high lord I serve, protect the one who obeys. Defense!" Roxanne chanted.
She was a bit slower than Sherry and Milia, but she charged the boss. I closed in on the butterfly and hammered it with Durandal, using Rush until it plummeted to the ground.
Then I joined the fray against the boss. The Black Diamond Tuna was over a meter long and jet black. It looked like a bluefin tuna, though I wasn't enough of an expert to tell the difference. It looked incredibly tough.
It charged, and Roxanne dodged it effortlessly. It was fast—moving like a living torpedo. I definitely wouldn't have been able to dodge that myself, but with Roxanne on point, I felt perfectly safe. I circled to its side and unleashed Durandal.
The tuna whipped its tail fin, trying to swat Milia behind it. She was ready, though, stepping back half a pace to let the tail whistle past. Sherry seized the opening and thrust her spear deep into the fish’s side. I followed up with a slash of my own.
The Black Diamond Tuna seemed to struggle with side-on attacks, though I stayed alert in case that tail could whip ninety degrees. The tuna tried to charge Roxanne again, but it stopped halfway—a feint.
Roxanne reacted, then reset. The tuna charged again immediately. It had actually tried to bait her. Roxanne didn't fall for it, leaning back to let the massive head pass and slashing upward with her Estoc as it went by. It was a complete mismatch; the fish was totally outclassed.
I hammered a Rush into the tuna as it stalled after the miss. It convulsed and fell from the air, landing heavily on the stone floor. It lay there, looking very much like a regular tuna, before dissolving into smoke.
The drop was Red Meat. Since Marbrims gave White Fish, I guess the tuna giving Red Meat made sense. Milia pounced on it, though she looked a bit disappointed.
"Here, desu."
"Is the Red Meat no good?"
"Like the Marbrims, the Black Diamond Tuna has an extremely rare drop. It is called Toro," Sherry explained.
Toro, huh?
"How do you eat it?"
"Boil, desu. Grill, desu."
No sashimi then.
"We have the Whole Fish anyway. Tomorrow’s dinner will be a feast."
"Yes, desu!"
Milia cheered up instantly. She was as easily satisfied as the monkeys in that old fable about the zookeeper switching the morning and evening portions. When fish was on the line, she was simple.
"We’ll be hitting Halber more often, so we’ll stay until we get some Toro for you. Then you can cook it yourself, Milia."
"Yes, desu!"
She beamed at me. Maybe she hadn't been fooled after all—she just knew when to take a good deal when it was offered.
We stepped onto the 18th floor.
"The monster here is the Pig Hogg," Sherry said.
"Don't they resist earth magic?"
"They do."
So, while the 17th-floor Marbrims were weak to earth and resisted water, the 18th-floor Pig Hoggs were weak to water and resisted earth. It was a perfect reversal. If they appeared together, it would be a pain.
"Roxanne, find a spot with both. We’ll fight them once to get the feel of it, then we’re heading back to Halber."
On Quratar’s 18th floor, Pig Hoggs would be common, with Marbrims being the second most frequent spawn. Fighting them would be slow and annoying. Since we were focusing our actual exploration on Halber’s 18th floor anyway, we only needed to come here for the boss fight or to replenish our pork belly stock.
We found a group. I took down the two Pig Hoggs with water magic, but it took ages to finish the Marbrim with Sand Ball.
"Yeah, that’s going to be a struggle."
"It’s not so bad, Master," Roxanne said.
She was the one doing the heavy lifting while I just cast from the back, so if she was fine with it, I wouldn't complain.
"Alright, let's head to Halber."
We finished up in Quratar and moved over. We spent the rest of the day and the following morning exploring Halber’s 18th floor, but we decided to head home early to start cooking.
"Milia and I will handle the soup and the main dish. Roxanne, Sherry, you two take the side dish."
"Understood."
"Since we’re having Whole Fish, stir-fried vegetables would be a good balance," Sherry suggested.
She was always thinking about nutrition.
"Good idea."
"Understood. Sherry and I will handle the vegetables."
"Milia, you’re with me."
"Yes, desu!"
She followed me happily. It wasn't hard work like making mayonnaise; she just had to manage the fire.
Back home, I mixed salt with egg whites to create a soft paste and lined a shallow pan. For the salt, I had Milia use the mill to grind some Kobold Salt. I placed the Whole Fish, wrapped in aromatic herbs, onto the salt bed and covered it completely with more of the paste.
Salt-crust baked Whole Fish. I had enough room in the pan for some pork belly as well, so I threw that in. The second fish would be used for Ushio-jiru soup.
"I’ve never seen food prepared like this. As expected of you, Master."
"It’s a first for me as well."
"Amazing, desu!"
The three of them watched in awe. Salt-crust baking wasn't exactly common in this world—or even back in Japan, for that matter.
"We’ll put it over the fire for thirty minutes, then let it steam in the residual heat for an hour. Milia, watch the flame."
"Yes, desu!"
I left the fire in her hands. While we waited, I went to heat the bath. Once that was done, I prepared the Ushio-jiru. Using drops for ingredients meant there was almost no scum to skim off, making the process effortless.
"Alright, it should be ready."
I brought the soup to the table and gathered everyone around the salt crust. It hadn't cracked; it looked perfect. I took a knife and tried to break the shell.
It was rock hard.
"Let me, Master."
Sherry stepped in. She struck the crust precisely with her knife, and the salt shell split open perfectly. From within, the beautifully steamed Whole Fish emerged, its aroma filling the room.