Chapter 105

Translator: penny

Chapter: 105

Chapter Title: Gold Bars

A while back, I asked the veterans.

Can other mages make jamming devices too?

If so, couldn't we just trade with them and neutralize it?

Mahiro's answer on this was a firm no.

The problem wasn't trading with mages. It was that jamming couldn't be sustained structurally.

Normal jamming works by pulsing mana to nullify spells in a single burst.

Making a 'sustained jamming device' sold for points in dungeons? With current mage tech, no way in hell.

Of course, Mahiro's different.

She's the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠person closest to magic in this world.

Anyway.

After hearing that, I thought.

Why not just bring in an outside mage and have them do it manually?

Not turning them into a human jamming device, of course.

More like a one-shot EMP blast.

So the idea was.

Once Lorensia finishes her damn magic safe or whatever and installs it in Dreamland, hit it with jamming using other people right then.

That's why I called the veterans evil.

They'd install the safe, flip out in joy, and leave. But next time they come in, the magic safe they slaved over and the rulebook ground from human meat would vanish completely.

Not really trying to torture them with false hope.

I just don't have any other options.

The reason this works is simple.

The magic safe isn't like communication magic where a disruption just needs reconnecting.

It'll be like some magic tool or sustained spell, so when jamming hits, it'll fry like an EMP-zapped gadget.

This isn't just my brain fart.

Mahiro verified it, so it's legit.

And.

These guys aren't even the dungeon owner, so they'll have to step out eventually.

Hit 'em then, done.

Of course, all this assumes there's an outside mage willing to deal with Dreamland.

I know people well.

I'm one, after all.

"Restia, you like money?"

"Out of nowhere...? Who hates money? Of course I do."

Money is always right!

Famous line from that sea chef in some cartoon.

Only Buddha might disagree, in my book.

I have money.

Well, valuables that can be turned into it.

I knew this day would come, so I didn't feed the shiny stuff to Malang.

-Kerrak!

I even gave jewelry to that daily anomaly goblin as a gift.

Stashed the pricey-looking ones in the core room.

Planning to cash 'em in and trade with outside mages.

"Malang."

"Yep."

Malang brought the rare items I'd stashed separately.

I stuffed them into a backpack and set it down in front of Restia.

"This is...?"

"I need to sell these, but going out myself is tricky, so could you handle it for me?"

I stared straight at Restia.

She'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know these were spoils from intruders.

Humans like me died in this dungeon.

By the being in front of her. Curious about her reaction.

"I can sell them, but normal channels won't work. Feels too much like stolen goods... Guess I'll hit up the underworld. Prices might get slashed hard, and I'm no expert, so no clue how much it'll fetch."

She didn't seem fazed.

So I asked why.

I might be your enemy.

What's with the niceness?

"Huh? Why?"

"My rep's trash. You must've heard Dreamland's a den of devils that can go outside."

Restia blinked.

"So you're really the cause of that mana storm...?"

"Of course not. Rumor mill bullshit."

"Planning to harm outsiders?"

"Nah. No upside for me."

"Then why would you be my enemy?"

Makes sense. Can't argue.

"You trust me?"

"Yeah."

"Why the hell?"

"'Cause you're my benefactor...?"

"Even if hypothetically? Not scared?"

"Not at all. Never thought you'd sweat that stuff."

Restia sounded genuinely surprised.

Bit awkward.

"If you were truly bad, you wouldn't have saved me or the kids. People dying inside? Their fault for attacking. You stayed in here the whole time. They started it—why fear or hate you for that?"

Restia smiled brightly.

Never dreamed an outsider would get a Dungeon Master's woes.

"Not looking down on you, promise! You showed scary power then, and you're stronger now. But... rude maybe, you just feel like a good guy to me. Might annoy you, but I think we're friends."

Friends.

I'd drawn a line in my head.

She hadn't.

"Personally, I'd love for you to live long."

"Why?"

"Just better for your happiness."

Friend happy, you happy too.

Beyond lifesaver, wanna help if I can.

Like how I'd help other Dungeon Masters.

"You're one weird person."

"Hehe, am I?"

"This chat gets out, we're screwed."

"Won't happen, don't worry...!"

Not what I meant.

Anyway.

"Drop the formalities then."

"Huh?"

"You said friends."

"Oh, right. But I'm bad at initiating... you first?"

"Fine, fine."

Friend, nice to meet ya.

You're probably the only human friends with a Dungeon Master in this world.

"That's a lot."

"Lots of intruders."

"...More than the goblins and trolls I lured back then?"

"Can't even compare."

Restia shouldered the heavy backpack.

Truth is, escape scrolls are priciest.

But obvious origin might screw her over.

"Heave-ho. You really go through it."

"What can ya do? Used to it now."

Restia giggled.

"Feels surreal."

"Yeah?"

"First met, thought I was dead meat. Never dreamed it'd end up like this."

Same here.

Who could've guessed?

Oblivion probably didn't.

"Other Dungeon Masters feel the same about you?"

"Huh?"

"Heard you guys can chat. Too personal...?"

Skip if uncomfortable.

This much is fine.

"Same as you folks. Just like anyone else. All got strong personalities."

I shook my head and spoke.

"Sound like good people."

"Yep."

"Not lonely?"

"A bit? But chatting with others makes it okay."

Saying zero loneliness would be a lie.

Still, it's fine.

I got the Gallery.

People in my shoes always cheering, worrying.

"Glad."

"Right?"

"Anything else I can help with?"

"Hm."

Brought up the mage thing.

"Mage who can help with jamming?"

"Yeah."

Laid out details.

TL;DR:

Competent pro willing to collab with a Dungeon Master (paid in cash; comms mostly via Malang, so variables minimized).

"Not urgent. Location shifts anyway, might be pointless later. But good to line up now."

Said my identity's fair game.

Can't hide it or no deal.

"Feel free to pass. Super risky for you too. Nice if it works, whatever if not."

Restia pondered, then said she'd check.

"Thanks."

"Heh, nothing compared to what you did."

"Gotta exploit you more then."

"Y-yeah. Anything I can do."

"Kidding."

Restia's no minion.

Can't keep bugging a busy person.

I got shame.

Won't ask more. Probably.

"See ya in a month..."

"Yeah."

Restia headed out.

Oh yeah, wasn't she training?

"Why the makeup?"

Random thought.

A month later, Restia returned.

"I'm back."

"Knew it."

"Eek...!"

I was already at the entrance.

Minion link shares vision.

"How?!"

"Dungeon Master power."

"Wild ability. Anyway, here."

Restia plunked down 30 1kg gold bars.

From selling to black market.

If legit sourced and sold normal, worth more.

Pity, but solid cash.

"Got top dollar."

Restia posed proudly, hand on hip.

I saw her fumbling with the shady dealer on cam, but whatever.

"Wow, impressive."

"Sounds soulless..."

Paid her three bars as fee.

Restia's eyes bugged out.

Gold's pricey.

Shiny, versatile.

"N-no, too much! Don't need this."

"Why?"

Three bars exceed her lifetime earnings.

"Just take it. Gonna use you more later."

"Ugh, heart attack... Fine."

"So, mage?"

"Oh, that..."

"No dice?"

"Yeah."

Knew it.

Bummer, oh well.

Will it work?

Rejected.

Not about crazy love.

Unless you're jobless.

She's underqualified for anomaly hire, all ways.

"Wanted to help. Sorry."

"It's fine."

Thought counts plenty.

Time for goodbyes.

I waved.

"What's your name?"

Restia asked as she turned to leave.

Name, huh.

Started as a throwaway nick.

Now feels more real than my real one.

"Newbie."

"Thanks for telling me, Newbie. See ya next time."

Yeah, Restia.

Next time.

Restia left.

Canceled minion link on exit.

"Groan..."

Nothing immediate to do.

Could hole up in core room and gallery surf.

But better scout outside means.

Prep early's smart.