After Heleen-san extort my Hair-Color-Potions, we are now heading back to the appraisal room.
I hope there's good news from Sakura-san about those Monster-Cores to at least offset this unpleasant feeling because of what Heleen-san did to us.
...CLICK!...
...SHUTTER!...
"Grrr!... I can't believe what Heleen-san did. I just got this earlier at Master Arenea's shop, but 60 percent of the Hair-Color-Potions are already gone."
"You can take its cost from our group funds, Vier-chan."
"We'll share the payment, Vier."
"Thank you Mifumi-sama, Felin, but..."
...CLICK!...
...SHUTTER!...
"...Please stop taking my photos, Mifumi-sama!"
"Wait! I just need to find the right angle for this."
Ever since we left Heleen-san's counter, Mifumi-sama has continuously taken my photos from every different angle using our group's Art-Phone.
"I told you to ask for permission and consent first before taking someone's photos, Mifumi-sama."
"I know, Vier-chan."
"Then ask me first before you take my photos."
"Vier is right, Mifumi-sama."
After Felin told Mifumi-sama about her behavior of taking photos without one's consent and permission, Mifumi-sama finally stopped taking my photos.
I guess it's really effective when Felin is the one telling Mifumi-sama about her behavior. Well, taking photos of others is not a bad thing unless the other person doesn't want their photo to be taken.
"I'm sorry, Vier-chan, Felin-chan."
"It's fine, Mifumi-sama."
"Mhm!"
When we opened the door of the appraisal room, we saw that Sakura-san was still not done appraising those Monster-Cores that we left on her counter. So we decided not to disturb her work and stay outside the appraisal until she was done.
While waiting, the three of us continued our discussion about the Hair-Color-Potions, our new Adventures-Party name, and other things that we're concerned about.
"So why did you ask Arenea-sensei to make those Hair-Color-Potions, Vier-chan?"
"Well, I thought that Heleen-san would ask about the name BlackOpsCo. so I asked if Master Arenea could make some black Hair-Color-Potion."
"It's a good thing that you received it today, Vier-chan."
"Is that expensive, Vier?"
"It's not that expensive for a few items, but Master Arenea wants to make different colors so it becomes expensive in the end."
"If you only need the black ones, there's no need for the other colors, right Vier-chan?"
"Well, Master Arenea keeps insisting on making different colors so Huh?... Wait!... Is this why she keeps insisting to make this many?"
"She probably foresees that Heleen-san would take some if you ever show it to her."
"She always plays pranks on you, Vier."
"Grrrr!... That Master of mine!... Why do the Guild staff and Master Arenea always do this kind of thing to me?"
We also discussed the unusual changes in the date for the Exam form submission
We're quite sure that we verified the date of the submission last month. Did the Guild change the date? Did we miss the announcement on the notice board? That's quite unlikely because we make sure that we're always updated on the news posted on the notice board.
After a few minutes, we took a peek inside the appraisal room and Sakura-san noticed us then she gave us a sign to enter and that the Monster-Cores appraisal was done.
"How did the Appraisal turn out, Sakura-san?"
"Are you done, Sakura-oneesan?"
"Yes, I'm done... Huh?... What happened to your hair, Vier-chan?"
"I drank this Hair-Color-Potion earlier at Heleen-san's counter..."
Before I could finish my reply to Sakura-san, I realized that there might be another meaning to her question about what happened to my hair.
"Are you also going to ask for your share, Sakura-san?"
"Did Heleen-san ask you to give some to her?"
"Yes! And she takes 60% of all of it!"
I voice my disappointment at what Heleen-san has done. So that Sakura-san won't get any idea of asking for her share as well. There are only 40 percent left of the amount of Hair-Color-Potions after all.
"Then Heleen-san is probably gonna share that with everyone on the Guild staff. I'll just take my share from her."
"Thank you for your understanding, Sakura-san."
"You're always nice, Sakura-oneesan."
"Don't misunderstand that, Mifumi-sama, Felin. She just doesn't want to dirty her own hands..."
"What's that, Vier-chan? Mmm?"
"Thank you for always being nice and understanding Sakura-san!"
Sakura-san inquiry together with her nice smile only meant one thing... "stop what you're saying if you don't want to receive something that you need and deserve" ... that's definitely a threat for sure.
While I'm being threatened by Sakura-san with her nice and scary smile, Mifumi-sama brings out the subject of the new Art-Phone model.
"If the new Art-Phone23 is already here, we won't need to bother Sakura-san every time we need a Monster-Core appraisal."
"You won't lose your job, Sakura-oneesan?"
"Besides operating the appraisal MagicItem, I still have other work so I won't lose my job Felin-chan. Also, the appraisal-skill in the new Art-Phone model is still not that High-Level Mifumi-sama."
"Ehh?... Why won't they include a High-Level appraisal-skill, Sakura-san?"
"Well, it's quite hard to put the High-Level Magic-Circuit into something so small like the Art-Phone and the artificial Mana-Crystal won't be able to sustain the Mana required for the High-Level appraisal-skill."
"Ehh?!..."
Mifumi-sama look disappointed at what Sakura-san has said. I guess she is really expecting something great from the new Art-Phone23.
"And even if The Academy of Magic is working together with Adventurers Academy in the development of the Art-Phone, they won't share 100 percent of everything they have, right?"
"Why won't they do that, Sakura-san?"
"That's how business works, Mifumi-sama."
"Then at what level is the appraisal-skill in the new Art-Phone23 Sakura-san?"
"I think it can appraise Low-Level Rank-4 or below Monster-Materials and Monster-Cores. In terms of Dungeon Artifact, it can appraise anything around Low-Level Artifact."
"That's still very useful, but I still want the High-Level appraisal-skill."
"Don't be greedy, Mifumi-sama."
"I know, Felin-chan. But I still want it."
After being sidetracked by the Art-Phone23, Sakura-san resumed our discussion about our secondhand Monster-Cores.
"Anyway, I'm done appraising all of the Monster-Cores, do you want to know the results?"
"How did it turn out, Sakura-san?"
"Did we get something good?"
"They're not trash, Sakura-oneesan?"
"First is the group of Rank-2 Twin-Headed-Bear Monster-Cores, 2 out of 5 are already at only 5 percent or less durability and have the Ground-Control skill, Ground-Barrier, and Ground-Shake skill. The other 3 Monster-Cores are not Twin-Headed-Bear but Rank-1 Rock-Mole monster that has the Ground-Control skill and Rock-Storage skill. Also, their durability are only at 5 percent."
"Arghh!!... That scammer!"
"Let's report him again to Guards, Vier!"
"Yeah! Let's do that later, Felin!"
"We got scammed at this but there's still the other Monster-Cores. Please continue, Sakura-san."
"Okay, Mifumi-sama. Second is the group of Rank-1 Strider-Lizard Monster-Cores. All 4 of them are already at only 10 percent durability and have the Water-Control skill and Water-Step skill."
I think those monsters are overrated so I asked Sakura-san as to why it is.
"Why are those monsters Rank-1 if they only have Water-Step skill and no offensive Magic?"
"You don't know, Vier-chan?"
"There's no monster like that around our town's territory so I didn't try to study about them."
"They're maybe uncommon here in our town but you should still study other types of monsters if you're planning to enroll at The Academy of Magic, Vier-chan."
"Sakura-san!"
Mifumi-sama got a little bit annoyed upon hearing Sakura-san recruiting me to enroll at The Academy of Magic.
Well, I think Sakura-san is not that serious about what she said. She's probably just teasing Mifumi-sama.
"It's just a joke, Mifumi-sama."
"Sheesh!"
"Anyway, about your question, Vier-chan. The one-meter big Strider-Lizard is only found in places where there are large waters or a Lake-type Dungeon. They're always in groups and hide in trees near the water...
...And if they saw any person riding a boat, they would run across the water and then slam themselves into the boat to turn it over. Once the person falls into the water, all they have to do is feast on the meal that is floating in front of them...
...They're quite dangerous in their territory and that's why they're ranked as Rank-1 even without offensive Magic."
"Those are some nasty big lizard-like monsters."
"You're right, Felin. It's hard to fight while swimming at the same time."
"Please continue about the other Monster-Cores, Sakura-san."
"Next is the group of Rank-3 Steel-Hawk Monster-Cores. I think you did a good find in this one."
"Really?"
"It's not another trash, Sakura-oneesan?"
"Please tell us about it, Sakura-san!"
"2 out of 3 are already at 10% durability and have Wind-Control skill, Wind-Blade skill, Wind-Barrier skill, and Dash-Sprint skill. The remaining 1 has an additional Wind-Cyclone skill which is both an offensive and defensive skill. Also, it still has 30% durability."
"Yay!... I know we will find something good in the open market, right Mifumi-sama, Felin?"
"Mhm! The durability is already down to 30 percent but it is still a High-Level Rank-3 Monster-Core."
"Mhm! That bad Mister serves his purpose!"
"What about the remaining Monster-Cores, Sakura-san?"
"For the group of Rank-1 Fire-Blac, all 10 of the Monster-Cores are already at 25 percent durability and have the Flame-Control skill and Fire-Shed skill."
I'm still wondering what is this Monster-Core used for so I asked Sakura-san if she knew anything about it.
"Why would someone use a Magic that would burn yourself?
"The Fire-Shed skill will burn the excess Mana leaking outside the body of the user. Since the bat-like monster called Fire-Blac has fireproof skin, they won't burn themselves to death even if they use the Fire-Shed skill. I think all of these were probably used as Monster-Core inside some Mana-Tech Lantern which is similar to the Magic-Lantern that is a Magic-Item"
Upon hearing what it was used for, I think I finally got an idea of what to do with these Fire-Blac Monster-Cores.
"Are you going to use it for something, Vier?"
"I have an idea, Felin. So I like to try it sometime."
I think it can be used like the Light-Grenade and Sound-Grenade. I will try to use them together while working with the Light-Eater Monster-Core.
"What about the random Monster-Cores, Sakura-san?"
"Those are nothing special, Mifumi-sama. I'm actually wondering why you would ask me to appraise those."
"Huh?... What do you mean, Sakura-san?"
"I'm sure that Vier-chan is very familiar with that kind of Monster-Core."
"Me?... I'm not sure If I have seen this kind of Monster-Core before..."
I picked up one of those random Monster-Cores and looked at it closely to analyze its appearance.
"Hmmm... I think these look like an insect-type Monster-Core... Ekkk!!!..."
...THUD!...
Upon remembering what monster that random Monster-Core has come from, an image of mad Misaki-sensei appears in my mind.
It made me panic and scared as I tossed that random Monster-Core away from me then I lost my balance and fell on the floor.
"What's the matter, Vier-chan?"
"Are you alright Vier?"
Mifumi-sama and Felin got worried since my face became very pale. Honestly, my hands are trembling a bit.
"See? I know you will recognize it, Vier-chan. Since all of these are the Rank-0 Stinky-Bug Monster-Core."
Grrr!... Making me remember my trauma... You will pay for this, Mr. Chad!... You Scammer!