Chapter 31: Item Box
To make even better use of my ability, I decided to gather information.
I want to dig up a lot of Rare Drop items, but…
I need to know what kind of items can be obtained from what kind of monsters.
“In that case, an informant would be good,” Salina-san told me, so Claris and I visited an informant.
It was an eerie mansion located down a back alley.
When we entered, there was an eerie, elderly man.
“Welcome. This is an information broker. As long as you pay, I’ll tell you any valuable information.”
I have plenty of money.
“I want information regarding Rare Drop items.”
“I see… There’s a lot of that… What kind are you looking for?”
Now that he mentioned it, I hadn’t even thought about what kind of Rare Drop item I wanted.
Just searching aimlessly would be pointless, wouldn’t it…
“Let’s see… Something useful for storage would be good.”
If I’m going to collect a lot of Rare Drop items from now on, I’ll need a place to put them.
I’ve heard talk before about something that can store items infinitely.
“In that case, I have some prime information for you.”
“Really…!? How much?”
The old man at the information shop showed me an open hand, fingers spread.
Five… does he mean?
“50,000 G…?”
“No, 5 million.”
“What…!?”
It can’t be helped. It’s a bit steep, but I’ll just pay up.
After all, an Item Box must be that valuable.
“Here, 5 million. So, how can I get an Item Box?”
“That item has become something of a legend, you know…”
“Just tell me already.”
“There’s information remaining that a monster called a Pouch Troll, which lives in the Deep Forest, drops it.”
A Pouch Troll, huh… I’ve never heard of that monster.
But if I defeat it, collecting Rare Drops should become much more efficient.
I absolutely want to go and defeat it, no matter what.
“So, is that information reliable?”
“No… well, there’s more to this story.”
“Huh…?”
Even though I paid a fortune, this is anticlimactic.
Could it be a tall tale…?
“Even using my extensive information network, only three people have ever managed to obtain it in the past.”
“What…!? Only three people…!?”
Well, the drop rate must be incredibly low, but that doesn’t concern me.
I’ll become the fourth person!
“And strangely enough, it’s not just any ordinary Rare Drop item.”
“Hmm…?”
The informant’s words made me a little uneasy.
Not just an ordinary Rare Drop item…? What on earth does that mean?
“Long ago, there was supposedly a person who possessed a skill that increased the acquisition probability of Rare Drop items…”
“…!?”
“Just like Loin, right…”
Claris said.
Someone with an ability similar to mine existed in the past…?
Well, in my case, it’s a “Guaranteed” ability, so the meaning seems a bit different…
“…So, what happened to him?”
“Wanting the Item Box, he challenged the Pouch Troll many times.”
“…Gulp.”
I swallowed hard.
“But, in the end, it’s said he was never able to obtain the Item Box…”
“Wh-what does that mean…?”
A man with an effect that increases the acquisition probability of Rare Drop items failed to get it…?
In other words… it’s not just about probability?
“That’s right. The conditions for acquiring the Item Box are still shrouded in mystery. It doesn’t seem to be something that can be obtained through luck alone, like ordinary drop items…”
“…I see. Well, I guess I have no choice but to go and see…”
No matter what the conditions are, my ability is different from that someone in the past.
It seems I can guarantee Rare Drops.
It’s not something that merely increases the probability.
I’ve never once failed to get a Rare Drop.
“My, my, you’re full of confidence.”
“Well, yeah. I have some confidence in my skills, you know.”
“That’s right, if you manage to safely obtain the Item Box and find out anything, I’ll buy that information from you. Though, I’m not holding my breath…”
“I see. Well, I’ll be back soon.”
With those words, I left the informant’s place.
If I sell information about the Item Box, I should be able to recoup the ridiculous fee I just paid.
Well, no matter what kind of information it is, I doubt anyone else could replicate it anyway…
“Hey Loin, will it be okay? What if… it’s an item that even your ability can’t obtain…?”
“Hmm… Well, if that time comes, that time comes.”
Feeling carefree, I headed towards the Deep Forest.
“Teleport—! To the Deep Forest!”
The informant drew me a map of the Deep Forest’s location.
Apparently, as long as I can grasp the image of the place, I can Teleport even to locations I’ve never been to.
Alright, time to defeat the Pouch Troll and get the Item Box—!