Episode 21: Special Ability
After the Demon Ore dropped three times in a row, Yuma observed the situation for another two days.
The result was as expected: Demon Ore was being generated from the Metal Slimes.
No doubt about it—
“That ‘Gold Magic Ore’ might be able to make the drop rate 100%. Is it affecting the ‘Luck’ element? I don’t really understand, but this is amazing!”
But there’s also a problem. He doesn’t know if this effect is only for Demon Ore, or if it also has the effect of dropping Magic Gems.
Magic Gems can be sold for money.
If the drop rate of Magic Gems can also be made 100%, he could earn as much as he wants.
If that’s the case, it might be even more amazing than the “Magic Gem” that Rui got.
Yuma was more excited than ever.
Tomorrow is Saturday, so there’s no school, and if he’s going to investigate, then—
“There’s only one place to go.”
◇◇◇
Yuma was on the first floor of the “Blue Dungeon” in Musashino. This time, he came fully prepared with a hammer he brought and a rucksack to put the Magic Gems in.
There are still a lot of people, but Yuma didn’t care and decided to look for Slimes.
He found the first one in about five minutes. A normal Slime, trembling and gelatinous.
The Slime itself already looked like a treasure.
Yuma smiled broadly and swung down the hammer.
He defeated three Slimes in about an hour. As a result, the Magic Gems that dropped were—
Zero!
So it didn’t work after all…
Yuma was disappointed and sat down on a rock in the Dungeon, stunned. The shock was great because he had been expecting so much.
Perhaps he looked pale, because the people around him were staring at him with concern.
Hope was disappearing like bubbles.
The effect of the “Gold Magic Ore” only applies to Demon Ore. In other words, it’s an ability that can only be used in the “Black Dungeon.” There’s probably no mistake about that.
There’s no point in dropping “Demon Ore” that doesn’t generate profit, no matter how much of it there is.
Two or three “Black Demon Ores” that harden the body are enough. Yuma raised his pale face and looked around.
A parent and child happily defeating Slimes, and a couple flirting and clinging to each other as they went around the Dungeon. Everything he saw looked hateful.
He was jealous of Rui, who was praised by everyone. He was envious.
If he could get his hands on a dreamlike power that would drop “Magic Gems” at 100%, he thought he could catch up with Rui.
After all, is it presumptuous to even try to stand shoulder to shoulder with Rui, who has been working hard all along?
Yuma stood up unsteadily and defeated two more Slimes, but still no “Magic Gems” dropped.
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Useless Demon Ore! Yuma cursed as he trudged out of the “Blue Dungeon.”
◇◇◇
“Haa…”
In the Dungeon in the garden, Yuma was staring at the “Black Demon Ore” rolling around in front of him.
He sighed deeply and felt disgusted.
Even after the day he despaired in the Blue Dungeon, the Demon Ore had been dropping for ten consecutive days.
“I really don’t need any more.”
Only Mamezou answered his listless words with a “Kuuuhn.”
Yuma roughly picked up the Demon Ore, went to the kitchen, washed it with water, and swallowed it whole. It was like taking a supplement now.
Having incorporated a total of fourteen Demon Ores into his body, Yuma was now able to maintain “Metallization” for a maximum of one hour and ten minutes.
It’s good that he can maintain it for a long time, but he still can’t think of a way to use it.
He returned to his room and began to prepare for school. According to what Kaede told him, Rui will graduate and immediately enter Elceed Corporation to receive training.
Even as a rookie, he will earn over 20 million yen a year, and once he finishes his training and becomes active as a “Seeker,” he can earn over 50 million yen a year.
Yuma had also taken the university entrance exam and passed, but it was a third-rate university that no one recognized. Even if he graduated, the chances of getting a job at a good company were very low.
Rui, whose future is promised.
Yuma, who is pessimistic about the future.
Where did this difference come from? While brooding over such things, Yuma left the house and headed to school.