"I still can't believe that Ms. Nerna spent 10L Gold coins for the High-Level Rank-3 Rock-Golem and 40L Gold coins for the High-Level Rank-4 Iron-Hound."
"Mhm! The shameless brat spent too much money."
"Felin-chan, please stop calling Mr. Nerna like that."
"Hmmm?... But she is, Mifumi-sama."
"Vier-chan! What are we going to do? Felin-chan won't stop using that word anymore!"
"Relax, Mifumi-sama. Felin understands what that word means so she won't use it always."
"Mhm! I understand. Shameless is for shameless brats only."
"Vier-chan!"
A day after the Auction event, the three of us are now back in my room.
Yesterday after leaving the Auction House, we went to see Master Berlin and asked him to strengthen Mifumi-sama's Sorceress-Staff. Since all the new Monster-Cores are High-Level ones, the Magic-Circuit engraved in the Sorceress-Staff needs some reinforcing.
We also requested to add a Mithril metal in the handle part of the Sorceress-Staff which will be used as a catalyst for the Mineral-Absorb skill.
The payment for all of that work was paid by Mifumi-sama using 3L Gold coins from her savings.
Anyway, our group won't be doing any quests until the Adventurers Admission Exam is over. We also have different agendas today so we will focus on our own work or training.
For Felin, her Mentor is visiting our town today to continue teaching her about the Sub-Spirit Magic of their race. This Mentor is Danboro-san and he is also a member of the Lightning-Beast Saber race.
For Mifumi-sama, she needs to familiarize herself with how to use those new Monster-Cores. There are new skills in those Monster-Cores that she hasn't used before so she needs to practice using and control those skills properly. And the best person to help her in Magic Lesson is none other than her Grandma, Misaki-sensei.
For me, I'm heading to Master Berlin's shop to prepare and do maintenance of my ManaTech Weapons.
"We only have 3 days before the Exam so let's do our best, Vier-chan, Felin-chan."
""Mhm!!""
After Mifumi-sama and Felin left my house, I said goodbye to my mom and went toward Master Berlin's shop.
When I arrived at Master Berlin's shop, I found him sitting at the shop's counter. It seems like Master Berlin is managing the shop today. Anyway, I greeted him and said why I'm here today.
"Master Berlin! Please let me use the Forge today!"
"Doing maintenance for your Mana-Tech, kid?"
"Mhm! I got some materials for the Scorpion-Rifle, Wasp-Rifle, and Web-Rifle bullets, so I'll be making it today. I also need to make more Iron pebbles for the Beetle-Rifle bullets and restock all of its pressurized wind containers. Then I will try to make two new Mana-Tech Grenades using the Light-Eater and Fire-Blac Monster-Cores."
"You got a lot of work to do, kid. Can you finish all of that today?"
"I'm not sure. The maintenance part is easy, and I'm just reusing the used Grenade but I need to readjust the Magic-Circuit which might take some time until I can find the right construction."
"I see. The Crimson-Hound Magic-Sword and the Crystal-Golem Magic-Sword had been picked up yesterday so I'm taking a break from work. The Forge is all yours today, kid."
"Thank you, Master Berlin!"
"If you need anything from me, I'm just here at the counter of the shop."
I left Master Berlin and went to the backyard where the Forge building is. After setting up all my Mana-Tech and the Monster-Materials that I needed, I finally began my maintenance work.
All of these things I'm going to do are meticulous, tiring, and bothersome work so I need to hype myself.
"Let's do all this maintenance!... Yay!"
First on the list is the Scorpion-Rifle. I made this Mana-Tech base from the Assault-Rifle Relic.
In my opinion, the Assault-Rifle Relic is really amazing and cool but it doesn't have enough power to take down Rank-4 or higher rank monsters. However, I still tried to replicate this Relic for my use since I can't use Magic very well.
Since the original mechanism inside the Assault-Rifle Relic doesn't work anymore, I just have to replicate it using Monster-Core, Monster-Materials, Magic-Circuit, and Mana-Crystal.
First, I replaced the trigger mechanism inside with a Rank-2 Spike-Scorpion Monster-Core and Magic-Circuit.
Second, I added a pressurized wind container in the stock part and a Mana-Crystal container in the grip handle part.
Finally, the 24 sets of bullets inside the magazine part are made from the stinger materials of the Rank-2 Spike-Scorpion monster.
After putting that all together, all I have to do is pull the trigger which will release the pressurized wind and at the same time activate the Scorpion-Stinger skill of the Monster-Core to power up the bullet. The bullet will be released with a force that is powerful enough to penetrate the body and Magic Barrier of any Rank-2 or lower rank monster.
"Cut the stingers down to three parts, flatten one end, sharpen the other, soak it all back to the paralyzing poison that I made, then dry them all again."
"Yay! That's all for the Scorpion-Rifle!"
"Good job, Vier. It only takes you an hour for the maintenance of Scorpion-Rifle."
"With that speed, you will be done before 2 in the afternoon."
"Do your best, Vier!"
"Thanks, everyone! I better finish all this so I can watch Mifumi-sama's Magic Lesson and Felin's Training."
"Kid, I know you're bored but don't talk by yourself. You look like an idiot."
"Gyahhhh!!!... Why are you here Master Berlin?!"
After many hours of boring and lonely maintenance of my Mana-Tech weapons, I managed to finish all of it a little bit earlier than I planned. Although I had to skip lunch because of that.
The maintenance for the Wasp-Rifle and Web-Rifle only takes half an hour for each Mana-Tech. For the Beetle-Rifle, it took me an hour and a half to finish making iron pebble bullets and to refill all the pressurized wind containers.
I also made one set of Shadow-Grenade using the Light-Eater Monster-Core and one set of Fire-Grenade using the Fire-Blac Monster-Core but I didn't test both of them since it's quite dangerous to do it alone.
Right now, I'm eating chicken barbecue for my lunch before heading to the Adventurers Guild Training Area where Mifumi-sama and Misaki-sensei are doing Magic lesson.
...munch...munch...munch...
"Here you go, Vier-kun. 11 sets of chicken barbecue plus that one you're eating. That's 2L Silver coins for everything."
"Thanks, Mister!"
After eating 3 more sets of chicken barbecue while walking, I arrived at the Adventurers Guild.
I went towards the notice board first to see the list of Exam takers that should be posted today. But somehow...
"Hmmm... There's nothing on the notice board. I'm sure that today is the release of the list of Exam takers. Did they post it this morning and take it down during lunch? Why would they do that? Well, it's better to ask Heleen-san about it, she's just at the usual counter anyway."
I went to Heleen-san's counter but somehow, there was another receptionist in her usual spot.
"Ummm... Good afternoon, Nell-san. Do you know where Heleen-san is? Is she on break?"
"Ohh!... Good afternoon, Vier-chan. If you're asking for Heleen-san, she went to the Smilodon Capital yesterday."
"Ehh?... But she was still here yesterday when we picked up my Monster-Materials request from the Guild before we went to the Auction House."
"Well, you came to the Guild in the early morning, right? Heleen-san leaves the town in the afternoon."
"Is she accompanying a delivery quest for the Guild?"
"She's doing that but after they arrive at the Smilodon Capital it will be her vacation. Also, she won't be back until next month since she will be riding on the Mana-Train to head back to our town."
"Sheesh!... Why is she taking a vacation when the Guild is busy because of the upcoming Adventurers Admission Exam? Is she trying to get away from the busy working season?"
"You said it right, Vier-chan! Anyway, she asked me to handle your group while she's gone so ask me anything if your group needs help."
"Thank you, Nell-san. So can you tell me about the list of Exam takers? It should have been posted on the notice board today, right?"
"Huh?... List of Exam takers? Why would the Guild post that? The list of Exam takers is classified, Vier-chan."
"But Heleen-san said that it will be posted today."
"I wonder why she would say something like that?"
I'm getting a bad feeling from this. I hope Heleen-san didn't forget to submit our Exam Form for the Adventurers Admission Exam. Anyway, that is not why I'm here at the Guild today.
"Then I'm going to see Mifumi-sama and Misaki-sensei. They're supposed to be using the Training Area, right Nell-san?"
"Yes, the two of them have been there since this morning."
"I'm going then, Thanks, Nell-san."
"Wait, Vier-chan!"
"Mhm?... What is it, Nell-san?"
"Before you came here did you perhaps stop by at the chicken barbecue store?"
"Huh?... I did buy my lunch from there, but how did you know, Nell-san?"
"The smell sticks into your clothes, well it's not important, sorry for stopping you."
"Okay! Bye, Nell-san."
After leaving Nell-san, I went to the Training Area which is located behind the Guild's main building. It is a large space enclosed with high and thick walls that are reinforced with Magic so that they can withstand any Magic attack from the adventurers using the Training Area.
After getting inside the Training Area, I found that there was not even a single adventurer in there. That's expected since no local adventurers would want to use this place if Misaki-sensei is here. After all, they don't want to be subjected to Misaki-sensei's strict and tough training.
"Wait!... Where is Mifumi-sama and Misaki-sensei?... Ohh!.. I found her. Misaki-sensei resting under one of the trees... Huh?... Why is Sensei all by herself? Where is Mifumi-sama?"
After I approached Misaki-sensei who was asleep while sitting on her chair, she suddenly woke probably because she felt my presence.
"Mmm!... Why are you here my Vier-chan? Did you come to see your Sensei?"
Ugh!... This is bad. Misaki-sensei is drunk.
"Why are you drunk, Misaki-sensei?"
"I'm not drunk!"
"Yes, you are! I can see those empty bottles of Wine at your table!"
"Boo!!!"
"It is still working hours. You can't drink, Misaki-sensei."
"I'm not working today! I'm doing Magic lesson with my Mifumi-chan!"
"Then why are you drunk? And where is Mifumi-sama?"
"Mifumi-chan? I let her take a break in the Resting Area."
"Did she exhaust herself while practicing Magic? I'm going to see her then."
"Wait!... Vier-chan!"
Before I can escape, Misaki-sensei clings to me like a child who doesn't want to let go of her mom.
"Uhg!... Please let me go, Misaki-sensei. You smell like Wine!"
"And you smell like chicken barbecue, Vier-chan. Did you come here to bring me snacks for my drinks?"
"Ehh?..."
"Yay!... You're so nice, Vier-chan!"
Of course not! Those 8 sets remaining chicken barbecues are for Mifumi-sama and Felin. And do I really smell like that? Did the smoke from the store stick to my clothes that much?
It's a good thing that I put those chicken barbecues inside my Storage-Bracelet, I can lie my way out of this.
"I eat some chicken barbecue for my lunch so the smell from the store probably did stick in my clothes."
"Boo!!! You're lying, Vier-chan. They're probably inside your storage-items."
"There's none, Misaki-sensei. I'm not lying."
"Boo!!! You're lying! Maybe I should punish you again. This time you won't be able to hide from me."
"Promise! I don't have any chicken barbecue. There's only Mana-Tech inside of my storage-items."
"Hmmm... Right! I have the new Art-Phone23! If I use the appraisal-skill in it, I can find those chicken barbecues inside your storage-items."
"Ekkk!... It can do something like that?"
"Come on Mr. Chicken Barbecue, I know you're in there. Tell me if I should punish a lying Vier-chan."
This is bad. I'm gonna be punished again. I need to think of an excuse... Ummm... Arghh!... I have no other choice!
"Surprise!... I know you're working hard every day, Misaki-sensei! So I brought you these 8 sets of chicken barbecue for your snacks!"
"Yay!... You're such a good kid, Vier-chan!"
"Then I'm going to see Mifumi-sama right away. Bye, Misaki-sensei!"
After Misaki-sensei released me so she could get back to drinking her Wine and eating those chicken barbecue, I ran as fast as I could away from her towards the Resting Area.
I guess Mr. Chad is right. That appraisal-skill in the new Art-Phone23 will mess up a lot of things. It is like the Appraisal Magic-Item used by the town's Guards, the Adventurers Guild, and the Merchants Association.
If anyone has that Art-Phone23, they will be able to see what is inside the storage-skill of Slime-Watch, Item-Bag, or any storage-items. That's very useful but kind of alarming in another way.
Anyway, did Mifumi-sama really get exhausted during their Magic lesson? The Resting Area is just outside the Training Area. I hope she didn't collapse due to Mana exhaustion.