WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Mordor
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Surviving the Frozen Dark Fantasy as a Genius Mage ◈
Chapter 46: With Treasure Like This, How Many Loaves of Bread Is It?
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Appraising Grace Stones required a special skill.
You had to identify the type of energy contained within them. It was not something you could acquire through study or instruction. You needed a sensory blessing related to appraisal, one that could only be obtained inside the Labyrinth.
Only a few people had received appraisal blessings, and they were scattered throughout the Magic Tower, temples, and back alleys. Mages all had a shady disposition, so they were not particularly favored.
‘This is discrimination against mages!’
The back alleys had the advantage of lower prices, but trusting those bastards was worse than trusting the Magic Tower.
‘Mm-hm. Thieves deserve to be discriminated against.’
Grace Stones were valuable treasures, and absorbing one was directly tied to the owner's personal information.
In that sense, the temple was still the best choice.
Priests who had sworn oaths of secrecy to their gods could be trusted when it came to confidentiality. Of course, their appraisal fees were high, but I had Bishop Julius's favor, so that was not a problem.
“It's finished. I can sense the force of a heavy sword strike coming down in a single blow, along with the strength of two sturdy legs.”
We faced each other through a small window in a narrow confessional.
The young priest in glasses carefully set down two crystals as the priest spoke.
It was a vague answer, but as a veteran player, that alone told me what abilities the Grace Stones contained.
The brightly glowing one was Smite.
The dim one was Counterweight.
‘I got nothing but solid, reliable ones.’
Smite enhanced physical attack power for a single strike, while Counterweight increased resistance to knockback. Not every Grace Stone contained a good ability, but these were excellent.
“Based on the current market price, this would be their appraised value.”
The priest's neat handwriting was written along the side of the parchment, alongside a seal certifying the appraisal.
The price was...
“Ninety gold coins!?”
“Yes. Sixty-eight coins and twenty-two coins, respectively.”
One hundred seventy-eight silver coins.
That was what we'd earned on our first expedition.
Twenty high-purity silver coins were worth one gold coin, so we'd made roughly nine gold coins back then.
That alone had been an enormous haul, but after reaching the second floor and clearing a Secret Dungeon, we'd earned nine times that amount.
‘No, it's not just that much.’
We still had plenty of items we had not settled up yet, including Drake byproducts, magic equipment, and Mana Stones.
‘With this money!’
I could research new spells, eat better food, drink better alcohol, sleep in a clean room, and buy new equipment.
Heh.
As I gathered the Grace Stones, the corners of my mouth rose on their own.
“Hahahahahaha!”
After donating a single copper coin, I walked out of the temple.
* * *
Once Elena's treatment and the Grace Stone appraisal were finished, we sold off the rest of our loot.
We kept the Drake byproducts because they had their uses. Then we sold the equipment received from amateur Expedition Party members in the swamp, along with the Mana Stones we'd found on the second floor and in the Secret Dungeon.
“Ian's party. We will report the completion of the Hinasynth Flower gathering request. Here is your reward.”
Once we added the reward for completing the request...
“It comes to about twelve gold coins.”
“Huh? That's all?”
Elena looked disappointed.
After splitting it five ways, we'd only get 2.5 gold coins each.
“Ian. Is that right?”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but the Appraisal Office is accurate.”
A 9th Rank Mana Stone was worth one copper coin.
An 8th Rank Mana Stone cost twenty copper coins, or one silver coin.
The prisoners were assessed as 9th Rank monsters, the mutant hounds as 8th Rank, and creatures like the Jailer and the Bloodwater Golem as 7.5th Rank.
The only reason it was worth this much was because the Drake had dropped a 6th Rank Mana Stone, the equivalent of a fourth-floor monster.
‘Mana Stone prices rise by powers of two.’
Besides...
Weren't we a three-party alliance?
Naturally, we'd split the profits between three teams.
“Don't you remember the first floor? This is still a lot of money.”
“That's true, but...”
A day laborer's wage was eight copper coins.
That was what laborers doing hard work in the Labyrinth earned. By their standards, we'd made four months' worth of wages in less than two weeks.
Including the Grace Stones and magic equipment, we'd earned what they would make in decades all at once.
‘High risk, high return!’
“Ehh, ngh.”
But Elena's standards had already risen, and she began grumbling.
That damn pointy-eared girl had gotten spoiled.
‘Should've left her with her arm cut off!’
I clicked my tongue in regret.
“Hm? Why are my ears suddenly itchy...?”
Then I distributed the cash to the party members.
“Here, Daisy.”
“Thanks, Ian. Hehe.”
Gimlius had originally been entitled to thirty percent, but after his trolling, he'd been demoted to twenty percent. He received the same 2.5 gold coins as us.
“Tch. That's disappointing.”
“Then you should've done better.”
“I know. That's why I'm accepting it without complaint.”
It would've been nice if he'd shut his mouth too.
I looked at the chattering Gimlius. “Let's talk about the rest of the settlement after we get some rest.”
I was fucking exhausted, so we decided to head to the inn, wash up, and rest first.
Gimlius and Hans agreed to rest before coming to the inn where we were staying, then we parted ways.
“Then I'll see you later.”
When Daisy, Elena, and I returned to our usual inn, the innkeeper greeted us while tossing moldy jerky into the soup pot, probably received in place of lodging fees from some Expedition Party member.
“Oh, you're back alive again. Make a lot?”
Heh.
With a smile, I flicked a gold coin into the air.
“Master. Bring me the most delicious and expensive dish in this restaurant, along with two tubs of bathwater hot enough to scald.”
“...!”
The innkeeper's eyes gleamed with greed, admiration, and loyalty.
That was instant maximum favorability.
“Oh! The hero has returned! I shall serve you with all my heart!!!”
The bathwater was prepared at incredible speed, and hot food was laid out before us.
* * *
Yaaawn.
I washed, ate, and slept deeply.
It had definitely been morning when we returned, but by the time I woke up, it was late at night.
At this hour, the rural village where our orphan crew had lived would have been dark, with every light extinguished.
But not Labyrinth.
The most prosperous city.
Human civilization's last bastion.
Thanks to Mana Stones, the city was rich enough that it did not need to conserve oil or firewood, and Expedition Party members returning from the Labyrinth paid no mind to day or night.
“Wahahahaha!”
When I opened the door, the clamor beyond the old wooden door grew louder.
Beneath the pastoral atmosphere created by the fireplace and soft lamplight, Expedition Party members who had survived another day soothed their weary souls with alcohol and warm food.
Our troll party was no different.
“Ian! Why are you so late? Haha!”
“You really are weak. You need to build some stamina. Do you know how many times I woke you up?”
Daisy smiled softly in the warm atmosphere, holding a beer mug with both hands.
Gimlius had gotten thoroughly drunk again after all the trouble alcohol had caused in the Labyrinth.
Elena tore into a turkey leg with one hand and washed it down with beer.
Even Hans quietly shelled peas.
“One beer and stew.”
“Coming right up.”
I sat down and ordered. As I chewed the peas Hans handed me, I grumbled, “Mages are naturally weak. If a mage is physically strong too, is that even a mage? That's a magic swordsman.”
“Don't you know excuses are a sin? Look at Daisy. She's a Priest, but she's sturdy.”
“Uh, well... I...”
At Elena's sudden mention, Daisy parted her lips in surprise.
A little beer foam clung adorably to her red lips.
“Priests are naturally strength builds too. Don't you know about monks and inquisitors?”
“You never let anyone have the last word.”
A young errand runner, yawning as they worked late into the night, brought over the stew and beer.
As I took the first spoonful of stew to settle my stomach, Hans quietly drank his beer. “It still feels like a dream. To think we succeeded in exploring an outer dimension.”
“Wahahahahaha! I feel the same! What an incredible adventure it was! Dark elves! Terrifying monsters, a Paladin, and even a dragon! For second-floor Expedition Party members like us to experience such things!”
Gimlius marveled that it had felt like an adventure from a legend.
“I didn't know Ian was the one who summoned the dragon. How did you do that?”
“Mm, it's complicated to explain, but...”
For a while, we talked about the expedition over food and drinks.
Just sharing and unpacking our experiences with people who had gone through the same thing in the same place eased my stress.
Still, there was a subtle discomfort in the conversation.
It was because there was something we hadn't settled yet.
“So, what are you planning to do with the remaining items?”
Gimlius's eyes, which had clearly been unfocused from drink, sharpened.
Hans, who had been quietly drinking, was the same.
It couldn't be helped.
We had to discuss what to do with the two Grace Stones and two... no, three pieces of magic equipment.
Those were the most valuable spoils we'd obtained.
‘Elena has the Bracelet of Wrath, but she has to pay the party members an amount equal to its value. And the Night Crow’s Cloak and Spellcaster’s Ring don't have owners yet.’
Expedition Party members were demons when it came to money.
It was also an admirable trait every Expedition Party member needed.
“If someone needs something, they can bid on it. Otherwise, we'll sell it and split the money.”
I set down my beer mug.
“As for this ring, I obtained it without anyone's help by using my knowledge as a mage, so there shouldn't be a problem if I take it, right? No payout to the others either.”
I held up the Spellcaster’s Ring I'd obtained by smashing Meia's statue last time.
We had added a special clause for this expedition in case a hidden piece appeared, so everyone reluctantly accepted it.
“Ugh, if I'd known this would happen, I shouldn't have agreed to it. Who would've thought there'd be three pieces of magic equipment?”
“If not for Ian, we wouldn't have found those items in the first place. It can't be helped.”
Hans comforted Gimlius, who looked regretful.
Good. Nothing else could get in the way now.
Thump, thump.
I put on the Spellcaster’s Ring.
Then the mana flowing from it crackled through my entire body.
“Ooh.”
It felt as if the vessel inside me that held spells, along with my mind itself, had expanded.
This was how many parchments I had before.
[Faint Light] [3]
[Electric Spark] [3]
[Ice Spike] [3]
[Frost Burst] [1]
[Magic Missile] [2]
[Arcane Barrier] [1]
[Lightning Arrow] [1]
[Rising Water Jet] [1]
[Mystic Dimensional Gate] [1]
[Ice Spear] [1]
But thanks to the ring, the number of uses for every spell increased.
[Faint Light] [4]
[Electric Spark] [4]
[Ice Spike] [4]
[Frost Burst] [2]
[Magic Missile] [3]
[Arcane Barrier] [2]
[Lightning Arrow] [2]
[Rising Water Jet] [2]
[Mystic Dimensional Gate] [2]
[Ice Spear] [2]
Not only the basic spells, but powerful spells like Lightning Arrow and Ice Spear had gained more uses too.
Both my firepower and utility had increased to an absurd degree.
‘No wonder the Jordan Ring is so broken!’
‘Artifacts are the best!’
“Heh, ahahahahahahahaha!”
As I fiddled with the ring, licked it, and rubbed it against my face, Daisy, who had been sitting close to me, slowly moved away.
“Ian, you're scary...”
“And you call me frivolous?”
Elena shook her head as she looked at me like I was pathetic.
“Ian has the Spellcaster’s Ring, and Elena has the Bracelet of Wrath, so three things remain. The Grace Stone related to weapon techniques, the Grace Stone that improves movement, and the Night Crow’s Cloak. Then...”
Before Hans could finish, Elena shot her hand up.
“I want the weapon technique one.”
“You're greedy. Are you planning to take a Grace Stone after getting magic equipment on just the second expedition?”
Maybe Gimlius thought Elena had done her share in the Secret Dungeon, or maybe it was the alcohol, but he voiced a rather sharp opinion.
“So what? I contributed that much.”
Elena snorted.
“That's true. I acknowledge it. If it weren't for you and Ian, we couldn't have killed that monster. No, we would've all been wiped out.”
I expected the mood to turn sour, but Gimlius admitted it surprisingly easily.
‘Good thing I got him drunk.’
Hans agreed as well.
“That's right. Naturally, Ian and Elena, who played the biggest roles in this expedition, should have priority and a greater say.”
Mm, I'd been worried, but they were decent guys after all.
If they were the kind of bastards with ruined personalities, someone would've flipped the table here.
Normally, Expedition Parties decided their distribution ratios before entering the Labyrinth so disputes would not happen.
But in special circumstances like what we'd experienced, the ratios could be adjusted based on each person's contribution.
“So, I'd like to adjust the distribution ratio for the Guardian's loot separately.”
After laying the groundwork, I spoke carefully.
...
Gimlius looked uncomfortable, but when Hans nodded, he had no choice but to accept it.
“I'll accept it.”
“Okay.”
“Fine.”
Daisy and Elena simply nodded.
‘Let's see.’
As a veteran player, I ran the numbers carefully, then rested my chin on my hand.
“I think it should be fifty percent for me, twenty for Elena, ten for Daisy, eight for Hans, and twelve for Gimlius. What do you think?”
That was extremely reasonable.
...
“I only get twenty percent? Are you kidding?”
“Mm...”
Elena objected, and this time Gimlius hesitated too.
Grace Stones weren't cheap, after all.
Elena didn't seem greedy for money so much as angry that her contribution was so much lower than mine.
“I'll accept it. But I have a condition.”
At that moment, Hans nodded readily again. “In return, include me in the next expedition and the one after that as well.”
I realized why Hans was saying this.
Hans had spent three years doing only the first floor, and this was his first expedition to the second floor.
This time, he had met party members far beyond his own level, and he wanted our stronger party to carry him for a little longer.
Other than Elena, Daisy, and me, our party wasn't a regular party with fixed members yet.
‘He's lobbying me.’
‘Maybe he's smart because he has more experience.’
‘Hans is fine by me.’
I nodded.
“Sure.”
Once Hans stepped up too, Gimlius couldn't find anything to say.
“Can't you give me just a little more?”
All he could do was appeal to my sympathy.
“No.”
I'll say it again, this was a humane distribution ratio.
Without me, we couldn't have defeated the Guardian.
No, we probably couldn't have even damaged it.
“Phew, that's true. I was being too greedy. I'll accept it.”
Done. With this, I would receive fifty percent of the Grace Stones' market value.
“Good, then back to the main point. Anyone want to bid on the equipment or Grace Stones?”
“Me! Me!”
Elena chose the Smite Grace Stone.
“I want Counterweight!”
Gimlius chose the other Grace Stone, the one that resisted knockback.
“I think it would be more useful while scouting.”
Hans showed interest in the Night Crow’s Cloak.
No one wanted the same item, so after distributing them individually, we agreed to pay the other party members according to the market value and distribution ratio.
“Uh, mm... This is right, isn't it?”
“Yeah.”
Under Daisy's supervision as a Priest-in-training, Hans and Elena each wrote a contract.
“Here's the price for the Bracelet of Wrath and the Smite Grace Stone.”
I handed Elena the bill.
She was an idiot when it came to numbers, so I'd carefully written down exactly how much she needed to repay each person.
Elena's eyes widened in shock when she saw it.
“H-how much is this...? Does that mean I won't earn anything until I pay this back?”
The Bracelet of Wrath alone was worth sixty gold coins.
The Smite Grace Stone was worth about the same, making a total of 120 gold coins.
Elena had to repay the party members ninety-six gold coins after excluding her own share.
Most of the Grace Stone payment would come to me, since I had the highest distribution ratio.
Muahahaha. In the end, I'm the richest.
“Yeah.”
“You're not scamming me, are you?”
“Do you think I'm you? Hans and Gimlius have to pay for their equipment too, so it'll go down a little.”
As an experienced second-floor Expedition Party member, Gimlius had apparently saved up quite a bit of money. He immediately paid for the Grace Stone.
Hans also paid part of the price for the cloak.
“I'll repay the rest as quickly as possible.”
Though that didn't change the fact that Elena was in debt.
“This is so cruel. How am I supposed to eat like this...? Save this elf...”
Elena leaned weakly against the table, her ears drooping.
She looked like a silver-haired, twin-tailed elf character holding a pickaxe and saying, “I have to work in the mines for three hundred years now...”
“Don't worry, Elena. I'll bring you some of the donation bread from the temple...”
Kind-hearted Daisy said.
“How am I supposed to have any strength if I only eat bread...?”
Even that rude elf complained about it.
“Hahahaha! But you've grown that much stronger, haven't you, Elena? That means you'll return from the Labyrinth more safely, earn more money, and pay it back quickly!”
Gimlius patted Elena's back hard, telling her to cheer up.
“Ah! Ah! You crazy dwarf bastard!”
He was right.
For an Expedition Party member, their body was their livelihood.
With high-grade equipment or special talents like these, you could explore more easily and safely, and even raise your distribution ratio.
If you wanted to aim for the higher floors, you needed that greed and desire to improve.
‘I was planning to force her to take it if she refused.’
‘This worked out well.’
The Counterweight Grace Stone Gimlius absorbed would have been useful for Elena too, but it would have been too much to covet that as well. There was a limit to the number of Grace Stones one could absorb, so she needed to be careful if she wanted to plan for the later stages.
“I envy you.”
Then Gimlius said that to Elena.
“Don't you have such a wonderful, capable, and considerate lover?”
He was looking at me.
“W-what? What are you talking about!?”
Elena's drooping ears suddenly shot up at those words.
But her intense reaction didn't draw any attention.
“Wouldn't you accept me as your lover too, Ian?”
Gimlius smacked his lips and spoke to me as if he were genuinely envious.
This crazy dwarf.
“I don't take men.”
I rejected him firmly, but Gimlius said something meaningful.
“Why do you think I'm a man? Among us dwarves, there are women who grow beards too.”
What the fuck?
Footnotes:
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