Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/822139844414118669/episodes/2912051595966812849
The three of them climbed up onto the platform together and stopped in front of the treasure chest.
Unlike the crude chests they’d seen on their way here, the one before them was clearly crafted with a “proper” look. Its surface had a faint sheen, and the metal fittings were perfectly straight. Well-maintained overall, it bore a striking resemblance to the ones they’d seen several times in the game.
It certainly had an air about it that made it seem worthy of sitting at the very back of the dungeon.
“Hmm… It looks the part, doesn’t it?”
Rio, who had been observing the treasure chest with a hand resting on her chin, murmured this.
Perhaps because the contents of the treasure chests they’d found along the way hadn’t been anything special, there was no trace of anticipation in her expression.
Rio stared at the treasure chest for a while, but then a bright smile spread across her face—
“Well, I guess we won’t know until we open it! Well then, let’s get right to it… Opening time~!”
Crouching down in front of the treasure chest, she checked for traps before opening it.
Rio slowly lifted the lid and peered inside, letting out a brief, “……Hmm.”
There was certainly no joy in her voice.
“How was it?”
Saying that, she peeks inside from the side.
Inside the treasure chest, just like before, there was a single, low-quality magic stone sitting all alone. However, it was of a size incomparable to anything they’d seen so far.
It’s not just a fist-sized stone—it’s big enough to hold with both hands, isn’t it?
“…It’s huge, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. If we’re just talking size… hmm, I guess you could call it a win.”
Rio gave a wry smile in response to Line’s honest reaction.
She then took out the magic stone, shook it up and down as if to check its weight, and after giving it a thorough once-over, gave a small nod and said, “Hmm.”
“The purity isn’t high, but with a size like this, I might be able to crush it and experiment with it in various ways.”
Saying this—a remark typical of an engineer—she stood up, still holding the stone.
Then, she let out a sigh, slumping her shoulders.
Her expression clearly showed her disappointment—despite its luxurious appearance, this was all it amounted to.
“So, it’s going to be like this until the very end, huh… Well, I guess that makes sense. It is a D-rank dungeon, after all… Guess it’s pointless to get my hopes up…”
“True. —That said, it’s not like it’s not worth bringing back.”
“I know that, but still…”
Rio readjusted the magic stone in her arms and puffed out her cheeks slightly.
“I mean… at least at the very end, it’d be nice to have something that makes you go ‘Whoa!!’ without even thinking! Like a reward after defeating a powerful foe!”
We gave a wry smile at Rio, who muttered this with a slightly sulky tone.
I can’t say I don’t understand how she feels…
We worked hard to make it all the way to the deepest part of the dungeon, defeated the boss, and the only item we got was a single low-purity magic stone. …It’s a reward that’s just not worth the effort.
If I’d encountered the same situation in my past life, I’m sure I would’ve reacted the same way as Rio, even through the screen.
“I think it’s perfectly practical, though…”
When Liene said this modestly, Rio glanced down at the magic stone and let out a small groan.
“Well, yeah. As research material, I’m actually pretty happy with it, you know? But as an adventurer, it’s different! Like, I’d expect something more—treasure, gold and silver! Don’t you think it’d be nice to have some materials that look totally dangerous!?”
“The former aside, the latter’s out of the question. ……It’d just be a hassle even if we got our hands on it.”
Hearing Rio’s words, I gazed into the distance, my thoughts drifting to memories of my past life.
I’ll never forget it. In the “Magic Sword Creation” event that appeared toward the end of the game, there was a clearly dangerous material called the “Black Dragon’s Fang” that was essential to obtain.
Hardness, magical conductivity, durability—in every respect, it was an extraordinary item… but.
Not only did it require defeating the Black Dragon, the highest-ranked monster, but the material itself attracted monsters and even caused status ailments—making it an incredibly troublesome item.
It took me such a struggle to get my hands on that thing and bring it back.
“What’s with that tone, like you’re speaking from experience…”
As Rio shot me a suspicious look, I shrugged and kept my mouth shut.
Rio stared at me for a while, but eventually muttered, “Oh, well,” adjusted the magic stone in her arms, and looked up as if she’d regained her composure.
“…Well, there’s no point in wishing for what I don’t have.”
The way she shrugged her shoulders slightly suggested her earlier dissatisfaction hadn’t completely vanished. Still, there was a certain lightness to her, as if she’d let it go.
“Besides, this is the real deal!”
Saying that, Rio held up the return device on her arm for me to see.
The magic circle in the center and the needle pointing in a specific direction. The magic stones embedded around the outer edge, encircling them, emitted a dull glow.
“……Are you sure it’s okay?”
“In theory, yes. I tried it near the workshop too, and it worked without a hitch, so it’s fine!”
Seeing her state it so confidently, Liene let out a sigh of relief.
Beside her, I kept my gaze fixed on the return device wrapped around my own arm and quietly furrowed my brow.
――Judging by its appearance alone, it certainly looked close to the finished product.
A metal casing. A magic circle engraved in the center. A needle to lock onto the destination. And the cluster of magic stones embedded around them. Both its shape and structure were almost identical to “that device” I had seen in my previous life.
But there was one thing—just one tiny detail—that bothered me.
“…………”
The light emitted by the magic stones on the outer rim and the radiance filling the central magic circle.
They were clearly dimmer than the finished product I knew. …In the original story, the return device should have shone much more vividly, even while in standby mode before activation.
If you were to say that some difference is to be expected since this is a prototype, you’d be right.
But from the perspective of someone who knows the finished product, it still bothered me a little.
“Lord Rai?”
“……No, it’s nothing.”
I shook my head slightly as I replied to Liene, who was looking at me with concern, and shifted my focus.
(……I’m overthinking this.)
The theory holds up. The experiment was a success.
Besides, Rio is this confident.
If that’s the case, I should trust her rather than doubt her.
“—Are you ready?”
“Of course!”
Rio answered immediately and channeled magic into her bracelet.
We followed suit and channeled magic into the return device.
The magic stones around the perimeter glowed faintly, and the magic circle in the center slowly activated. As expected, the light was somewhat subdued, somewhat unreliable.
(……)
For just a moment, a lingering sense of unease remained deep in my chest.
But—
“Alright then, here we go! Teleport!”
At the same moment Rio spoke, the light swelled all at once.
My vision was blanketed in white, and the contours of my body began to blur.
Just as a sensation of floating, as if the ground had vanished, enveloped my entire body, the feeling of solid ground supporting my feet returned.
The white light that had obscured my vision slowly faded, and the blurry scenery began to take shape.
Familiar ground and a blue sky that seemed a little deeper in hue. The coordinate markers I had set up beforehand.
No doubt about it. It seems the teleportation out of the labyrinth was a success.
“Um… did it work…?”
I heard Liene’s voice from beside me, sounding relieved.
It seemed she had also managed to teleport out safely.
“Hahaha, I told you so! I said it would be fine…”
Rio, who was also unharmed, said this with a smug laugh—but then suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
“……Huh?”
We both noticed something off almost at the same time.
My body felt strangely—light.
No, more than that, I felt a slight chill. It wasn’t just a gentle breeze brushing my cheeks; it felt like a breeze tracing my entire body directly—that sensation made a terrible thought cross my mind.
“…………”
When she slowly lowered her gaze, she saw her own naked body.
“……Huh?”
Her thoughts froze for a moment.
The moment her understanding finally caught up—
“Aaaaaaargh!!?”
“W-wait a second!? Why!? Why did this happen!?”
The screams and voices of confusion echoing from beside me drove the reality home.
When I turned my gaze to the side—just as I’d feared, the other two were in the same state. They were both holding their hands over their chests and groins, desperately trying to cover their private parts.
When I looked down at my feet, I saw the clothes and equipment of all three of us scattered haphazardly.
“…………”
I exhaled quietly once.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Liene scrambling to crouch down and Rio grabbing her clothes in a near-panic.
“D-don’t look!!”
“I’m not looking, I’m not looking!! Besides, I’m in the same boat, you know!?”
Glancing at their noisy exchange, I silently picked up my clothes as well.
(……I see.)
I had a pretty good idea what caused this.
But for now—
“……I guess I’ll get dressed first.”
“I’d do that even if you didn’t tell me!! Uwaaah, don’t look over here!!?”
I shrugged my shoulders slightly at the immediate scream that came back at me.
It seemed that while this practical exam had been a success—it was hard to call it perfect. It appeared to have ended with a rather mixed result.
–
–
If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate, Thank you in advance !