Chapter 239
A unique skill called Shofuku Shorai (Bounty Beckoning and Bringing) that could be obtained, more so than by Nell, by a merchant who had acquired the title "Almighty".
Information to know about it actually existed even back in the game era. It could be obtained from dialogue with certain researcher NPCs found on each continent, the kind that couldn't be recruited as party members. These researcher NPCs studied skills, particularly unique skills, and would tell you from historical documents that such a skill existed as a legendary skill.
You needed a certain level of affinity with them to get this information, but because they knew about skills, they were highly valued by players.
That said, they also had some misinformation, so you needed to pick and choose, but it's no exaggeration to say they were helpful for strategizing.
"You're not getting away!!"
And the most efficient pattern we players devised to obtain Shofuku Shorai based on that information is the Thief Cat dungeon that Nell is currently enthusiastically smashing.
Thief Cats aren't that strong. In terms of class, they're about 4, so with our EXBP enhancements, we're stronger.
The troublesome part is the skill they use: Steal. It's a skill that has a chance to steal items you possess.
Their stats seem heavily focused on speed and whatever stat makes Steal successful, to the point I think their attack power is weak.
"The fact they attack in groups is also troublesome! Shock Bolt!""I heard about that characteristic from Liberta-sama. They attack in groups to steal, and the ones that succeed retreat quickly. There's no time to let our guard down."
But, they attack repeatedly to steal, not caring if their allies are defeated. Compared to their cute appearance, their actions are not cute at all; I recognize them as a harmful monster.
"Well, there are limits, like they can't steal things based on weight or size. What they steal is mostly consumables like potions, or small items like scrolls.""They always seem to steal the most troublesome things, don't they!"
When it comes to attacking these cute-looking monsters, the women in our group show no hesitation.Firstly, there's no sentiment in this world like "they're cute, so I feel sorry for them."What we have is a sense of crisis: monsters equal danger that must be eliminated.
Even if I skewer a Thief Cat on the tip of my spear and it vanishes, far from receiving complaints, they take the lead in defeating them.
Especially Nell, as a merchant, absolutely does not tolerate the act of stealing.She swings her halberd at the Thief Cats with a face like she's slaying a demon.
She beautifully swings that large weapon, which should be difficult to hit small monsters with, taking down two, three of them with a single attack.
"Thanks to Amina, we're intercepting them in a good position, but the golden scarf ones aren't showing up much.""One more gold treasure chest to go, and two more rainbow ones. I can only be amazed by Nell-sama's luck. Even though you say they aren't appearing, we've already secured about three, haven't we?""Feels like being extra cautious, huh. I didn't think we'd get this far in just five days though......"
The remaining conditions to enter the Golden Cat Palace to obtain Shofuku Shorai are just to get one more gold treasure chest and two rainbow treasure chests.
Based on my experience, I want at least ten Beckoning Cats. Ideally, having about a hundred gives me the image of being certain to obtain it.
"A simple question, but if we successfully get the scroll, and then challenge the Cat Palace again to get another scroll, can we get one?""To conclude, no. You can only get the unique skill scroll once per person. If you wanted to get it again, you'd have to reset your level once, take the titled job again, and challenge once more.""Then, if the same person tirelessly strives to get the job and then this scroll, they could get it?""Esmeralda-san, would you want to bet your life on endlessly doing this painstaking task?""No, I would not.""That's what I thought."
Getting the title "Almighty Merchant" itself requires proper effort, and only then do you get to the ordeal of a probability-based chance to get it or not. Then, after all that effort raising the job, you have to break through another probability wall—it's something beyond mere ordeal.
Lady Esmeralda sensed a slight possibility there, but I stopped her, explaining it wasn't a path of thorns but a path to hell.
Certainly, unique skill scrolls are valuable. But, you need the title to learn it in the first place, and if you manage to get that title, you can challenge it yourself.
If you ask whether I sense potential in something with such a niche supply and demand... I think you could probably sell it to collectors or nobles who desire such power for money.
But, precisely because I'm interacting with these warm-hearted spirits here, I feel the dark shades of human desire. With spirits, I somehow feel it might be okay, but I think doing this as business with humans would be dangerous.
"It appeared!! The golden scarf!!""For now, let's focus on this. Above all, Nell acquiring the skill is the priority.""Yes, indeed."
At Nell's cry, we nodded to each other and devoted our full effort to exterminating the Thief Cats.
That conversation was from three days ago.
"Given I said two months, it's good things are progressing smoothly. But I never thought we'd be ready to challenge in just a week."
Huh? Too little combat description? Should I be rejoicing and despairing more over whether treasure chests appear or not?
Give me a break. The Thief Cat dungeon boss, Banded Cat, frankly, is just a monster that leads the Thief Cats and isn't that strong.
It's classed up and has higher stats, but its behavior pattern only adds command and control; otherwise, it's nothing special.
That's exactly why, once we enter the boss room, I have Amina sing and the other women handle things while I circle around and sever its Achilles tendon.
If you're aiming for more than gold treasure chests, it's better to let Nell have the last attack. So, with its mobility gone, it's like a scarecrow, unable to move. While Nell pummels it, we handle the other Thief Cats, allowing a perfect shutout.
And as for the crucial treasure chest判定 (judgment/drop), Nell is fighting with all her might, right?Normally, stacking low probability on low probability would be called an unreasonable demand, but for some reason, we felt no despair, only reassurance.
We can run the shortest route to the boss, defeat it with maximum efficiency, and our dungeon clearing speed is considerable. Combined with Nell's luck, it's self-evident that getting the required gold and rainbow treasure chests would be faster. So what if we achieved it in one week, half the two weeks I predicted?
The treasure chest contents? What you get in this dungeon are magic stones, catnip, and Steal scrolls. And if it's rainbow, you also get Bandit equipment, which increases Steal probability... but none of us plan to learn Steal, so along with the大量 (large quantity) of catnip and magic stones, the scrolls and equipment are also tossed into storage.
They'd be convenient for item collection, but the builds that can incorporate this are not combat-oriented but collection-oriented skill builds.
I think we'll use them if we ever get a companion dedicated to that, but from a public safety standpoint, we unanimously agreed as a party that these can't be released on the market.
"We have three weeks leeway. This time we've prepared twelve golden Beckoning Cats.""Nell will be fine.""Won't it even be more than enough?""I also question if we need to gather this many.""With all due respect, for Nell-sama, wouldn't one even be sufficient?"
With most of the Thief Cat drops currently being thrown into storage like that, we were fully prepared and decided to challenge the Golden Cat Palace the next day.
Normally, I'd be the one diligently making the flower crown, but unfortunately, this dungeon can only be unlocked by someone with the Almighty Merchant job.
So, this time, I taught the recipe, and Nell made it.As Nell crouched, picking and weaving the flowers I specified, Amina and the others spoke to her back with completely reassured voices, saying they had no worries, but I remained somewhat anxious, wondering if it would really go that smoothly.
I know it's anxiety coming from experience. I hope it's needless worry, but I also know it won't be straightforward.
In the midst of this inner conflict...
"It's done!!"
The flower crown with the golden Beckoning Cat attached was complete.
"Next, I just need to grab the bubble and imagine, right?""Yeah, imagine a calico cat with a hooked tail, the one that represents the Thief Cats, while you grab the bubble.""Understood."
The Golden Cat Palace is a non-combat type dungeon. We have weapons just in case, but I don't think we'll need them.
"A golden bubble?""Could you maybe make a Golden Mochi dungeon too?""Golden types can't be made without items like the Golden Beckoning Cat. I left the Golden Mochi back at the mansion, so if we did it, it would have to be after obtaining one here."
I don't need it now, but I think I'll have to do it eventually when I need orbs for promotion. As I was thinking that, a gate with a different atmosphere from other dungeons formed.
A shining golden gate. Entering it leads to the Golden Cat Palace.
"There's a greeter, but don't attack it. It's a monster, but it has no hostile intent."
And upon entering, Nell will begin the trial to obtain Shofuku Shorai.Beyond the gate, a bipedal cat-like monster resembling a Thief Cat should greet us.
Confirming that everyone nodded at my instruction not to attack, we entered.
The golden palace I knew welcomed us, and there was a single calico cat there.The monster dressed in a miko outfit, a Lucky Cat.
"Welcome, please come in, meow—!?"
A monster talking—I'm not surprised by that itself, but the others are shocked that the monster spoke, and simultaneously, they are further surprised because it somehow struck a stunned pose as if its fur stood on end in shock.
Strange. The greeting calico cat is supposed to say 'Welcome, please come in' and then start explaining the details of this dungeon.
It should never look at us with eyes like it's seeing a monster, surprised... Huh?
It's looking at Nell?
"?"
The Lucky Cat's gaze is directed at Nell, or more precisely, it feels like it's looking at the area behind Nell.Nell, under its gaze, tilts her head, a question mark floating above her.
I also don't understand what's happening with this development.
"The Great God-sama!! The Great God-sama has returned, meowwwwwww!!!"
Great God-sama?Nell?
"Was Nell from the wolf tribe?""I'm from the fox tribe.""Yeah, right."
With a whoosh, it let out that cry and ran away.Great God-sama... Great God-sama.
"Could it mean the Great God like a deity?""Huh, Nell is a god!?""Of course not!!""But if she were an avatar of a god, her luck would make sense.""Not you too, Claudia-sama!?"
Having no idea what in the world was happening, not expecting such an event, I could only watch silently as a group of Lucky Cats came running up, pattering noisily.