Chapter 95

"Those who conquer summer conquer the exams."

The cliché words entered my right ear and promptly exited through the left.

What I was thinking about now was only the current temperature and how to make the lukewarm breeze feel cold.

The annual event where the principal, who usually stays behind the scenes from the students' perspective, comes out to "kill" the students was about to end.

After that, the physical education teacher in charge of student guidance would likely take the stage and list the summer vacation precautions.

This was a routine part of the closing ceremony.

"Summer vacation starts tomorrow. Are you going on a trip, Taigara?"

Aoki, who was in front of me, asked in a low voice.

"A trip... I don't have any plans. Actually, I think I'll probably go to the dungeon even during the summer vacation."

"With Makino and the others? That sounds great, a dungeon run with all girls."

"Well, to be honest, I do feel lucky."

"Damn, if you say that, I won't lend you the DVD of the Dragon Ball movie!"

"Huh? You have that too!?"

I really want to borrow it.

The other day, 3 billion yen was transferred to my bank account as a reward for work, so I could buy it if I wanted to, but this is different from that.

Just because a large sum of money came in doesn't mean a person changes so easily.

Looking at Aoki, something like a strap was hanging from his bag and the pockets of his pants.

That's—

"Hey, Aoki, those rubber straps—"

"They're the popular Alpha from Team Messiah."

"O-Oh... I see..."

Alpha is the avatar name of Hime.

We, who saved Osaka and Nara by clearing the Nara Amusement Park Dungeon, are called Team Messiah by some.

And the merchandise is being sold without our permission.

The government is apparently trying to regulate unauthorized sales, but a lot of merchandise is still circulating.

"Aoki, it's better not to buy that kind of thing."

"This one is handmade, so it's okay."

"Handmade, huh?"

Is that okay?

Well, if it's for personal enjoyment, it's probably fine.

I don't know what Hime would think if she saw it.

"But, what kind of people are Team Messiah? According to some official announcements, they are 18 years old and as cute as their avatars. If they're that cute, they should appear in the media."

"They probably have their reasons. Not everyone wants to be famous."

"That's true... I don't want to be famous for crossdressing either."

Aoki scratched his head and said.

His crossdressing is really cute.

The closing ceremony ended, and when I returned to the classroom, the homeroom teacher came in to distribute the report cards.

My results this time were better than before. After all, I was severely scolded by my parents over the previous incident and was banned from going to the dungeon until the final exams. Not just me, but Ayame too.

I guess it's because both of us neglected our midterm exams due to the dungeon.

Somehow, my mother and Ayame's mother had teamed up.

I haven't even met Ayame's mother yet.

Even Hime couldn't resist, and in the end, we all gathered to study, and the final exams resulted in our best scores ever.

No remedial classes, and we were able to welcome the summer vacation without any issues.

After making a plan to go to the arcade with Aoki, I was on my way home.

"Kazeno-kun, wait a moment."

Mizuno called out to me.

"What's up?"

"Yeah. The D-Can opened, so I'm reporting that."

"D-Can?"

"Did you forget?"

Wait, hold on.

Hmm, I remember asking her to open the D-Can when I collected 150 Pokémon on my own.

"So, what's inside?"

"I'm not sure. It might be some kind of paper? I thought I'd show it to you."

If it's paper, it's probably not a skill orb or unique equipment.

But, it's not impossible for a paper weapon to exist.

In some games, scholars fight with books.

I can't be sure until I appraise it.

"Everyone is supposed to gather at my place today. Mizuno, bring that paper with you."

"Okay, I will."

Kuro and Shiro will be happy too.

So, I went home first and showed my report card to my mother.

She nodded in approval.

The evaluation was good, and it seems the dungeon exploration ban won't be reinstated.

The first to arrive was Hime.

She was already on summer break. College students have longer summer vacations than high school students.

"Welcome. What would you like to drink?"

"I'll have milk, please."

Hime always asks for milk when she comes over.

She usually drinks milk first and then asks to buy the magic thermos (milk), but it's my mother's favorite, and it's also the best drink for Kuro (Shiro is a regular dog and can't drink milk).

I have no intention of giving it up.

Hime, having no choice, puts the milk in a metal milking can and stores it in a cooler.

A milking can is not something you'd use in a regular household, definitely not.

After a while, Mizuno arrived.

She brought a large Tupperware container.

She seems to be planning to take curry home.

Our magic thermos is as popular as ever today.

"Hime got here first."

"Yeah, and you said Mayu's D-Can opened?"

"Yep. It was tough, especially catching the Snorlax... If only I could use Master Balls."

"You managed to catch it?"

"No, I couldn't, so I had to use [Censorship] to [Censorship] and [Censorship] to [Censorship] and send it to the main body to force it to 150."

What is she talking about?

I don't understand, but I can tell Mizuno worked very hard.

She then took out a rolled-up piece of paper tied with a string.

"This is... quite rare... It feels like Taigara's luck has reached its peak."

Rare?

Is it that amazing?

I'll appraise it.

[Recipe for Magic Item: Using this will grant a recipe to create a magic item]

Wow... Hmm?

I'm not sure if it's that impressive.

"You know that the magic thermos is sold commercially, right?"

Ah, not the one that dispenses milk or curry, but the regular water bottle, right?

Of course, I know and it's been very helpful.

"Other items we have, like the pocket watch, are also magic items. That's why we can bring them into the dungeon."

That's right.

The pocket watch automatically adjusts the time, so it tells the correct time even in PDs where time flows differently.

"Do you know how they are made?"

"Yeah, they're super expensive... Wait, how are they made?"

"Blacksmiths make them. Blacksmiths with the Magic Item Manufacturing skill, to be precise. However, the skill alone is not enough. You also need materials and a recipe. This is the recipe. Only about one in a hundred blacksmiths has the Magic Item Manufacturing skill. Do you remember any blacksmiths that Empress knows? I'll ask her—"

"Um—"

Mizuno slowly raised her hand.

"I have it. The Magic Item Manufacturing skill."

"Huh?"

"I got it when I finally reached level 25 after drinking the experience potions I received from Kazeno-kun every day."

Wow, you reached level 25.

I thought it might be relatively easy to level up to 20, but it would be tough after that.

We also drank the experience potions in PDs when we had free time, but they fill you up more than regular water, so you can only drink about ten a day.

Maybe Mizuno pushed herself quite a bit?

"Didn't you push yourself too hard?"

"No, I'm fine. I exercised to digest what I drank! So, can I take on the task of making magic items? It's a bit much to just do Pokémon—"

I glanced at Hime and suggested to Mizuno.

"I want to draw up a contract. I trust you, Mizuno, but it's not good to proceed without a clear agreement for both our sakes."

Mizuno accepted.

Her salary as a blacksmith would be a base salary plus commission.

I'll adopt the same system for this.

The items made with the Magic Item Manufacturing skill will be sold by Tenka Musou, which will also set the prices and handle distribution.

Mizuno's share will be 20% of the sales.

If it's not profitable, I can request a halt in production, in which case Tenka Musou will relinquish the exclusive rights.

The payment for items we use will be decided by mutual agreement.

That's the gist of it.

Hime quickly prepared the contract on our home computer.

Mizuno signed and stamped it.

And then—

"Okay, I'll open it."

Mizuno cut the string with scissors.

The moment she unfolded it, the paper disappeared as if a ghost had been laid to rest.

"I got it... the materials and the items that can be made. The material is the shell of a monster egg. The type of item depends on the type of egg."

"An egg shell... What can you make with that?"

"A capture ball, which is used to capture and control monsters."

A capture ball?

Wait, that sounds like—

No way! (Even though I've said it many times before)