I Became the Strongest With The Failure Frame 02

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[Well, boney monsters that were classified under the Skull-types seem to lose their toughness after their death.]

  Mist, who’s standing behind me, explained.

  [I see.]

  Mist looks like she has this reserved atmosphere surrounding her right now.

  It seems like she wants to know various things.

  You could realize it through the atmosphere around her.

  However, she knows that we’ve come to an agreement that we won’t ask questions that would intrude the other’s privacy.

  She’s probably being thoughtful about that.

  She’s an honest person.

  I stood up and turned towards her.

  [After we returned up to the above grounds, I could answer the sensible questions that you may ask.]

  Mist faintly smiled.

  [Am I really that obvious?]

  [Well, I actually have a little something I wanted to talk about with you. It’s just that, I don’t think I want to talk in a place like this where a monster could randomly pop out. Let’s quickly finish things in here and go back.]

  [I understand. At any rate, I was really astonished with your power. The Skeleton King was well-known to be a really strong enemy. An example of this is when one of them were found deep within the Magic Bone Ruins back then in the Alion. Well, I’ve only heard about it before.]

  Magic Bone Ruins?

  Speaking of which, that place was written down under the Mills Ruins.

  I prioritized in going towards Mills Ruins because I didn’t know the location of this Magic Bone Ruins.

  So, it’s a ruins that’s located somewhere near Alion huh…

  Mist looks toward the head of the King of Bones.

  [There was once a really brave hero, whose skills were a cut above the rest. He challenged the Skeleton King with great resolution within his heart and fought face to face with it… Well, that story was being circulated down into the future generations.]

  I also looked towards the head of the Skeleton King.

  The head still remains spotless even now.

  [Piii~]

  [Hmmm? What is it, Pigimaru?]

  Pigimaru’s protrusion held out and pointed towards the head.

  [Is there something in there?]

  [Pii.]

  He turned into an affirmative green.

  I tried getting closer towards the head.

  The inside of the skull-like head seems to be hollow.

  [Hati-dono? What’s the matter?]

  [Ah, it seems that he noticed something in here.]

  I illuminate what I’m looking at with the leather bag.

  There were several human bones inside of the head.

  The bottom of some torso-like bone seems to have assimilated with the interior of the skull.

  It’s probably a human being that was swallowed by the Skeleton King.

  It was quite an eerie sight.

  However, I felt that I’m already used to seeing human bones since I’ve seen them multiple times back in the Disposal Ruins but…

  [Hmm?]

  There’s something hanging on the human bones that were deep inside the skull.

  It’s somewhat wrapped inside a cloth.

  This thing was tightly tied around the bones beside it.

  I began breaking the surrounding bones around it.

  I grasped it within my palms and gently put it on the ground.

  I could feel the roundness of this thing from above the cloth.

  Is it something like a head?

  I wonder if it had just been a skull all this time…

  Keeping my vigilance towards this unknown object, I began unfastening the cloth off of this thing.

  Powwwaaan…

  [What the…?]

  The cloth that was used to wrap whatever this thing is began to emit light.

  I check the part where the light came from.

  There was something on the surface of this cloth that has began to stand out.

  I immediately took my distance and watched out if that thing was going to explode.

  However, the light immediately disappeared.

  It looked just like a common cloth you could find anywhere but…

  Was it some kind of magical cloth or something like that?

  [Pii.]

  When we’ve fully unwrapped the cloth, the contents within finally appeared.

  [This is— an egg, right?]

  It looks like an egg because of its shape.

  The size of this thing is quite close to an ostrich egg that I’ve seen somewhere on the net.

  The characteristic that particularly stood out was its color.

  It’s a gradation of red, black, and white.

  It’s the color that you would often find in the art works back in my previous world.

  Klink, klank~

  I tried lightly knocking on it with the back of my hand.

  It’s quite hard.

  How should I say this… it’s unusually hard.

  It kinds of reminds me of the skin of the monsters back in the Disposal Ruins.

  On the other hand though, it’s weight is kind of…

  Well, it’s not even as heavy as my luggage…

  [Piii!]

  [What is it, Pigimaru? Are you interested in this egg?]

  [Piii~]

  [So, you want us to take this egg back home?]

  [……Pyu?]

  “Is it no good?”

  I feel like he would pester me further if I refused.

  It is rare for Pigimaru to insist on something.

  [Let’s see… If that’s what you want, then let’s bring it back.]

  [Pyyuuu~♪ ]

  He seems to be saying his gratitude.

  [You have to be the one who will look after this while we’re still in this ruins.]

  I held the egg of rare colors under my arm.

  I also put aside the head of the Skeleton King.

  Mist who was standing behind my back suddenly asked.

  [Did you find anything inside it?]

  Her sword was already prepared to strike.

  It seems that she has become vigilant after that light show from before.

  And, Mist’s eyes became wide after she saw what I’m holding.

  [That’s… an egg?]

  [It seems to be an egg that was once owned by a human that it had swallowed before. It is also wrapped inside this unusual cloth.]

  Well, it has just become an unremarkable cloth right now.

  There’s nothing happening even after I tried injecting magic energy into it.

  Was it just a magic tool that you could only use once?

  [Do you have any idea what this colorful egg is?]

  [No… This is the first time I’ve seen an egg of that color. If it was being wrapped in a cloth, I don’t think it would be the egg of the Skeleton King but…]

  [Well, I guess we just have to pray that this is not a dangerous egg, right?]

  [Pyuuu~…]

  Pigimaru looks like it’s somehow apologetic.

  [Don’t worry about it, Pigimaru. However, you should understand that when I’ve judged that this egg is dangerous, we would leave it aside. Are we clear on that?]

  [Pii.]

  He turned into an affirmative green.

  When I finished talking about the egg, I went back and crouched down in front of the silver bone again.

  I started crushing the silver bone with my hammer.

  Crushing them into an appropriate size, I then wrapped it within a cloth.

  [Alright.]

  I neatly placed the bag of silver bones into my bag.

  [Well then, should we head back towards the ground above?]

  * * *

  Before leaving towards the ground above, I decided to part ways with Mist.

  [I don’t want to stand out as much as possible.]

  If someone was to bring back th
e Dragon Eye Sakazuki, they would surely attract everyone’s attention.

  This is the reason why I dared to give out that thing.

  Mist accepted this proposal.

  If she were to be asked, she would also like to avoid getting everyone’s attention.

  Still, it seems that Mist prioritizes rewards over inconspicuousness.

  Well, there should be no problem as long as her Illusion Technique works.

  I also don’t have to worry about Monk causing a ruckus right now…

  I called out towards Mist before parting ways with her.

  [I said this before, but I have something to talk about when we went back to the ground above. Can you meet us later?]

  Mist smiled without even a hint of vigilance.

  [Of course, I will.]

  [I also would like to talk to you alone but…]

  [Alone, is it?]

  Mist ponders a bit.

  [I understand. Where are we going to meet?]

  [How about in one of the rooms in the inn that we’re staying at?]

  I’ve reserved a room in that inn for three days before I started raiding the ruins.

  [Umm, I already don’t have my previous room in the inn so—]

  [In that case, is it okay if it’s in my room? I’ll talk to the inkeeper about you.]

  Mist’s eyebrows blinked as she looked to the side and smiled.

  [That’s quite a skillful play, Hati-dono.]

  [I’m just being overly worried. Well then, see you later.]

  [Umm, Hati-dono—]

  [I know. I will not say a word about your power.]

  [No, it’s not that.]

  Mist held my hand with both of her hands.

  Her sky-blue eyes gazed at my eyes without a hint of cloudiness in them.

  [Thank you again, for the Dragon Eye Sakazuki. Thank you very much.]

  [That’s not something you especially to be thankful about.]

  * * *

  I returned back to the ground above a little behind Mist.

  As expected, there was bit of a fuss that sprung out.

  The mercenaries that has been hanging out near the entrance of the ruins were really surprised.

  [The Dragon Eye Sakazuki!?]

  [Is that the real thing!?]

  [Eh!? They’ve found it!? Already!?]

  [A- Aren’t you even worried about that unusual incidents in the ruins!? Eh? Or are you just wagering it into an all or nothing!? Wow~! You have that much bravery under your beautiful face!]

  [This is quite a great deal!]

  [Oi! There doesn’t seem to be that much of problem even with this so-called abnormality. Let’s immediately dive into the ruins and have those treasures for ourselves!]

  I couldn’t see the figures of the Drunken Sword Party.

  As far as I could see, the checking officers began flustered with all the commotion.

  [G- Go report back to Creed-sama! Quickly!]

  [However, I still have other luggage to check—]

  [That doesn’t matter! We need to report about the Dragon Eye Sakazuki first! We also need to check Mist Barkas’s other items properly! I will permit it!]

  [Haa!]

  I immediately switched to my normal mode and went towards the officer in charge.

  [I safely went back from the ruins.]

  [Ah, it’s you! Let’s see, checking, right!?]

  I went towards the same officer who handled my things before I dove into the ruins.

  He took out the ledger and began flipping through its pages.

  [No problem! No problem! No problem!]

  [Ah, I’ve also found the raw materials of some kind of bone-type monster and a colorful egg-shaped stone inside the ruins—]

  [Hmm? Ah, you can just take those materials back just fine! The marquis would also buy these jewels and ornaments you’ve found if you want! He would also buy it five-times more than the normal price! Well, you should do what you want with the raw materials! Alright, the check is finished now with this! I’m sorry, okay?! With the discovery of the Dragon Eye Sakazuki, we really don’t have much time to waste here! Oi, you!]

  The officer stops one of his colleagues.

  [Go towards the mercenary guild that have been recruiting, and let them know about this discovery!]

  [I- I understand!]

  It seems that the Dragon Eye Sakazuki has been properly dazing their eyes away from other things.

  My luggage check ended without a hitch.

  [Anyways—]

  I look towards the plaza outside the ruins that has suddenly became boisterous.

  [With this, we’ve finished our business in Mills Ruins.]

  Chapter 66

  Making the Monster Enhancer

  I’ve finally finished the procedure of selling the ornaments and jewelries I’ve found in the ruins.

  After a while, my name was called.

  They gave me a satchel that contains coins.

  According to the officer in charge, I received quite a sum of money.

  It seems that the Marquis has instructed them to do so.

  Are they celebrating for the discovery of the Dragon Eye Sakazuki?

  Well, I’ll gratefully accept their generosity.

  Though I said that, I don’t even know the market price of those treasures I sold off.

  In any case, my purse became warmer again.

  To the extent that even the three days of lodging isn’t even a problem.

  [I also have to check some information about that egg soon.]

  Should I look through the “Encyclopedia of the Forbidden Arts” later if there’s any information written in there?

  [Hati-dono.]

  When we were about to separate in the ruins, Mist called out to me.

  [I’ve only seen it from quite a distance, but it seems that there’s an immense uproar going on in there.]

  [Holding still in your position was a great idea. It is Hati-dono who really needs to be praised.]

  Mist let out a strained laugh.

  I pointed towards my backpack that carries the silver bones.

  [I entered the ruins not because I want your praise, but because I wanted to do something for this guy. There’s no need for me to face unnecessary troubles. Anyway, what’s your plans hereafter?]

  [Tomorrow, I will be receiving some hospitality from the marquis along with the reward.]

  Like I thought.

  [I wish I could decline too. But if I weren’t to accept it, I don’t think I would be able to get my rewards.]

  [Well, it looks like that marquis is someone fixated on formalities.]

  Surprisingly, she was being recruited by the marquis to be included in his private soldiers.

  [That’s why, I’m going to have to stay another night here in Mills.]

  [Are you going to be staying in the inn?]

  [I was told that they would prepare a room in the Marquis’ mansion, but I declined their offer.]

  [Then, are you going to rent another room in the inn?]

  [Yes. Nevertheless, I would be expecting to get 300 gold coins tomorrow so I have no concern about accommodation costs for the meantime.]

  [You’re going towards their house tomorrow, so are you going to have some free time?]

  [That’s right, but it seems like I will be able to stay here for some time.]

  Around this time, the people of the Marquis were surely investigating whether this Dragon Eye Sakazuki that Mist brought is real or not.

  I wonder if they can even be appraised by people who haven’t seen the real thing.

  I take out the pocket watch.

  [How about we talk in my room at around 8:00 pm? I thought you would also want to take some rest now in the inn. I feel like they’re making the dinner separately for different people in here though.]

  [I understand.]

  Finished making an appointment with Mist, I promptly left the rui
ns.

  I already have the tools I needed to turn the bone meal into an enhancer.

  I bought it when I visited the shops with Mist before.

  They would get some cracks if I were to bring them with me inside the ruins, so I left them in the custody of the officer in charge of me at the checking station before I entered the ruins.

  The necessary tools needed for the preparation of the Enhancer were also described in the “Encyclopedia of the Forbidden Arts”.

  The basics about using these tools seem to be similar to the other tools from back in my world that resemble them.

  It seems that making an Enhancer is simpler than I had thought.

  The first bottleneck that I faced with making these were just the acquisition of the monster materials.

  However, I’ve just safely acquired the materials earlier.

  There was only one thing left that I have forgotten to buy before.

  I forgot to buy it because I put my thought more on the ruins raid rather than the Enhancer.

  I went towards the main street in order to purchase some.

  Finding the store that deals the desired item, I entered.

  There was a lot of them stocked in the inventory.

  It seems that there were no shortage of this type of goods.

  There are several types of the item I needed.

  Their prices seem to differ from one another depending on the details on the said item.

  However… the store owner won’t allow me to confirm the contents at all.

  After checking them out, I presented the selected item towards the storekeeper.

  [Can I have this?]

  I finished the transaction and left the store.

  Well, I kept standing outside the premises of the store and leaned my back against the store’s outer wall.

  Untying the knot of the item, I spread it out in front of me.

  [Let’s see, Jonato Principality is here…]

  I have just purchased a world map.

  I wanted to get this before.

  The Urza Kingdom where I am now is located in the southern part of the continent.

  Looking through here, Mills seems to be the southernmost city in Urza.

  Further south of Mills, there is a dark-colored forest and the Disposal Ruins.

  Right in the center of the continent lies the Great Ruins, the Golden Demon Zone.

  North of the continent lies the Magnar Kingdom.

  [The Magnar in the north is the forefront force against the Great Demon Emperor, or so I heard…]

  The Kingdom of Magnar was spreading out from east to west.