Chapter 27
Magic Stone.
It refers to a crystal formed by condensed Magic Power, or a stone or jewel imbued with Magic Power.
Over 90% of the Adventurers staying in the Dungeon City calmly step into the unknown of the Dungeon, risking their lives and carrying fear in their hearts, just to obtain these Magic Stones.
If you asked the Adventurers why they risked their lives for Magic Stones to such an extent, everyone except a few madmen would answer in unison.
'Because it makes money!'
The refreshing water gushing from the central Fountain in the Dungeon Front Square.
The gentle glow of Magic Lamps brightly illuminating the Main Street even in the middle of the night.
No, Magic Stones are just used in almost all facilities and Magic Tools that exist in the Dungeon City.
That's right. Magic Stones are essentially a natural Energy Resource used to run the entire city.
Just as modern people go crazy over Petroleum and Natural Gas, the uncivilized fantasy medieval people went wild for Magic Stones!
And, just as resources have grades, these Magic Stones also have grades depending on their Magic Power density.
As if fantasy medieval people had an obsession with colors, they categorized Magic Stone grades by color, just like the Dungeon floors.
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[Magic Stone Grade] [Magic Stone Price(D)/(1ea)]
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| Transparent | Normal Magic Stone | 400 ~ 1,000 |
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| Green | Intermediate Magic Stone | 20,000 ~ 600,000 |
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| Red | Advanced Magic Stone | 4,000,000 ~ ??? |
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| Black | Special Magic Stone | 20,000,000 ~ ??? |
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| ?? | Magic Stone Fragment | 50 ~ ??? |
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A partial excerpt from the Patch Notes [Magic Stone Grade Chart].
Something like this.
"So, the Magic Stone we got is a Normal Magic Stone, right?"
I asked Shion as I put the Golf Ball-sized transparent Magic Stone into the Contractor's old Leather Backpack.
"That's right, meow."
Shion was pouting her lips out so far that it looked like she had polymorphed from a Cat Beastman into a Duck Beastman.
She was frowning and rubbing her Crown, likely hurting from where I smacked her Head.
She mumbled about getting a bump, but nothing was noticeably visible.
What a dramatic Cat.
"...I think my Head is broken, meow."
"If it was really broken, you wouldn't be able to say that."
"You just never want to lose an argument, meow."
I mean, who told you to tease the kid?
I definitely didn't punish her out of anger.
"Eu-ae-o i-eu eu-eo-i-eu-o eo-eu u i-eo-eo a-ae-i-e-eu!"
(Still, I'm glad we were able to get even a Normal Magic Stone!)
The Contractor babbled something while diligently tearing at the Bandages Shion had carefully wrapped around both her hands, as if they were uncomfortable.
I had been worried because she looked downhearted from Shion's prank, but seeing her seemingly recovered to some extent put me at ease.
"That's a good mindset, Mr. Adventurer, meow! Even if it's a Normal Magic Stone, if the quality is good, we can earn over 1,000 Dalants. So don't be too disappointed, meow!"
"Whoa, 1,000 Dalants is three times my entire net worth."
"...Three times your entire net worth?"
For reference, if I were to list the things you can do in the Dungeon City with 1,000 Dalants:
1. One cost-effective meal at the Rainbow Cup.
2. A half-day stay at a cheap Inn.
3. Purchase 500 Lizard Skewers.
And so on.
Meanwhile, I have no idea how these crazy Lizard Skewers are made for them to be so cheap.
2 Dalants each. Are there absolutely no material or labor costs involved?
"Just how poor are you, Mr. Adventurer, meow...?"
When Shion directed her eyes full of pity at her, the Contractor smiled bitterly and spoke as if lamenting.
"I spent some money to set up a Base. So I have nothing left."
"Meow? You already have a Base, Mr. Adventurer, meow?"
"Ahem. That's right. Although it is in the Slum...."
"The Slum?"
Hearing the Contractor's words, Shion's expression became puzzled.
The response that soon returned from Shion was nothing short of shocking.
"The Buildings in the Slum don't have Managers or Brokers, meow."
Thump.
"Excuse me...?"
The Contractor stared at Shion with a look that said her Heart had just dropped.
Her eyes, filled with disbelief and anxiety, were trembling slightly.
The Contractor, who had frozen with her mouth agape in utter disbelief, suddenly lunged her upper body toward Shion as if having a seizure and asked again.
"Th-that can't be. The person who said he was the Manager definitely told me a room was 200,000 Dalants...."
"200,000 Dalants!?"
Hearing the Contractor's words, Shion continued speaking in horror.
"With that kind of money, you could stay for 200 days at a cheap Inn near the Dungeon, meow! In the first place, the Slum is just full of Abandoned Houses where broke Adventurers pick the locks and crash for the night, meow! You got scammed by a bad guy, Mr. Adventurer, meow!"
"Ah."
Perhaps her mind had gone blank after hearing Shion's words, as the Contractor started to stagger in place.
Grab.
I grabbed the back of the Contractor's head with perfect timing as she helplessly collapsed.
Held by the scruff of her neck like a kitten being carried by its Mother, the Contractor ended up dangling from my hand.
I could feel a faint trembling from the Robe I was holding.
As a result of analyzing that unique vibration pattern.
I could tell that the Contractor was very, very angry right now.
"Ha, haha. This is funny."
A powerless laugh leaked out dryly.
In her inorganic Pupils that didn't let in a single speck of light, various messy emotions were mixed and swirling murkily.
"...."
The Contractor tilted her head left and right a few times for a moment, then calmly opened her mouth with a sunken voice.
"Raven."
"Do you remember his physical appearance?"
"Yes."
"Then that's all that matters."
Not many words were needed between me and the Contractor.
It seems I've got something to do once we go back up to the surface.
I'm glad to have a volunteer for the clinical trial of my fear Vaccine.
***
"Meow. Then, are we stopping this Exploration here, meow?"
To Shion's question, the Contractor, who had calmed her emotions to some extent, answered calmly.
"Mmm. I will follow Raven's opinion."
"What are you going to do, Crow? Are we going to catch that Swindler guy right this instant, meow? If so, I'll help too, meow! I'm confident in my Tracking, meow!"
"You're saying some commendable things."
To think she'd offer to help with something unrelated to the Dungeon. She can be annoying sometimes, but she's a Cat I'm truly thankful for.
However, I still have unfinished business in the Dungeon.
It means I can't go back up with just one Normal Magic Stone, having not even been able to use my Skills properly yet.
Therefore.
"I'd like to visit the entrance of the Green Zone. Would that be possible?"
At my question, Shion's eyes went wide.
"Crow. Are you saying we should crawl into that incredibly dangerous place taking Mr. Adventurer whose both hands are currently crippled, meow?"
"Uh, it's not quite that bad."
Shion urgently continued her words, ignoring the Contractor who was mumbling while looking at the Bandages wrapped around her hands.
"The entrance of the Green Zone might be a Beginner Zone, but it's not a place to be taken lightly, meow! Based on a 0-Tier Adventurer, it's only safe if a minimum of five people gather together, meow!"
...Is that considered dangerous?
"Aren't you a 5-Tier Thief? Is it still a problem despite that?"
"Of course, this great me, a High-Tier Dungeon Sherpa and Salutatorian of the Academy, is strong enough to stroll through the Green Zone blindfolded! But even so, it's hard to fight while protecting two people, meow! My Class is a Pathfinder, not a Shield Warrior, meow!"
Two people?
"Why am I included on the side that needs protecting?"
"Because. You're a Demon, aren't you, Crow? A Demon's role is naturally in the Rearguard, supporting the Vanguard with Magic and Authority... Hmm? Are you not a Rearguard, Crow?"
Shion tilted her head with a serious expression while rubbing her neck that I had grabbed earlier.
"Why would a Demon be in the Rearguard?"
"Meow? Because a Demon forms its physical body based on the Contractor's Magic Power, its physical durability is weak, meow... Wait, come to think of it. How were you so completely fine even after taking my kick, Crow?"
"That's...."
"Ms. Shion, Raven isn't borrowing my Magic Power to maintain his physical body."
While I was briefly choosing the right words, the Contractor answered Shion's question instead. Thanks to her, I had to close my opened mouth.
"Meow? Does that mean that body is entirely made up of his own power, meow!"
"...You could say that."
It's a character I raised, after all. In a way, you could say it was formed by my power.
"No wonder you were scattering fear everywhere like a crazy Demon! Was that all to gain the power to maintain your physical body, meow?"
"Ah! So that's why you were going around scaring other people. Now I finally understand Raven's abnormal behavior...."
"...."
Suddenly, all the crazy things I had been doing up until now were transforming into actions with plausible reasons.
At least to these two, no matter what happens, I must never let them find out that I'm not the Demon of Fear.
"Mmm. Still, I'm a bit anxious, meow."
Even after hearing that I was a great Demon who maintained his physical body with the power of fear(?), Shion didn't readily agree to head to the Green Zone.
Well, considering the balance of our current party isn't that good, it's understandable she'd be worried.
One Guide, one Summoner, and one unidentified Crow Familiar that the Summoner carries around.
'Looking at it like this, it really is a hopeless party.'
If so, what if I told her we were adding one more Party Member here?
"Thief."
"Meow?"
"If there were four of us instead of three, do you think it would be viable to go to the entrance of the Green Zone?"
"Hmm.... If we had that much, we could protect Mr. Adventurer a bit more stably. It might be doable, meow. By the way. What are you planning, meow? Are you perhaps trying to accompany another Adventurer Party, meow?"
That's....
You'll see soon enough.
"...."
Instead of answering Shion, I quietly raised one hand. It looked like a Student about to ask a Teacher a question.
'What's going on all of a sudden?'
Actually, raising my hand wasn't my own will.
Just thinking that I was going to use a certain Skill made my arm rise automatically.
"Meow?"
"Raven?"
Questions arose in the eyes of my Party Members at my sudden abnormal behavior.
However, I was just as curious.
I was truly curious as to what this damn Skill was trying to make me do by controlling my body.
"...."
As I quietly watched my body move on its own, entrusting myself to an irresistible pull.
At a certain point, the hand that had been slowly rising toward the sky stopped.
"...!?"
Then, it rapidly shot toward my chest!
With my fingertips held stiff, like a hawk hunting its prey.
'No, wait!'
-Plop!
Along with an unpleasant feeling like shoving a hand into a mudflat. In an instant, it sank into my chest all the way past the inside of my Wrist.
"R-Raven!!?"
"Crow!!! What are you doing right now, meow!!!"
Startled by my sudden self-harm, the Contractor and Shion rushed in to stop me.
"Eunyanyanyang!!! Why are you so strong, meow!!!"
"Raven! Wh-what are you doing! Hurry and pull this hand out!"
However, with their strength, they couldn't stop my body that was being dominated by the Skill.
Swoosh!
An unpleasant ripple formed in the center of my chest as my hand reached even deeper.
And then, in that moment! I firmly grasped something.
Squish!
'What is this?'
Instead of an Injector, something soft and chewy like sticky rice cake was grasped in my hand.
At that moment when my anxiety reached its peak due to the addictive, unknown tactile sensation.
My mouth slowly opened, regardless of my will.
"Call Out."
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[Call Out] [Class Exclusive]
Summons your faithful Assistant.
-Summon.
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Read more at https://noveldex.io/series/novel/i-became-the-demon-of-terror-in-the-dungeon-city