CH 48

CHAPTER 48: PARASITES AND THE “ROCK DOLL MINE”

“Ehehe, squeak.” (Tamiko)

Tamiko is lying on her back on her cheeks, her hind legs flapping. Her tail wagged from side to side.

“My, of my, I have an identification card, squeak. There’s a small squirrel, squeak.” (Tamiko)

What she’s staring at in a girly pose is the identification tag we got earlier. A front-facing squirrel is in a close-up.

“You’ve been looking at it ever since you got home, Sis.” (Noa)

“I think this might be the first time you’ve ever owned something that didn’t fit in your cheeks.” (Shuu)

“I wonder if I should have brushed up my head more, squeak. What do you think, Abeshuu, squeak?” (Tamiko)

“Yes, sure.” (Shuu)

I also picked mine up. I feel like I’ve finally been recognized as a resident of this world, and it’s not bad. With this, I can freely come and go in and out of most towns, and I can even open a bank account. Rather, I’ve already created a bank account.

“I like the one in Sugamo City…That’s nice…” (Noa)

Noa’s identification card (issued by Ikebukuro Tribe) does not have a picture of her face on it. If ours is a driver’s license, Noa’s is a simple insurance card. It seems that this is a cultural and institutional difference.

However, it is not free of charge. It cost 10,000 yen to issue the card (the fee will be added to the union dues to be paid next year).

“Abeshuu, I have my own identification card, squeak! I will never lose it!” (Tamiko)

“I’m nervous.” (Shuu)

That night, Obuchi and Yui come to visit bringing wine.

The food Noa makes is delicious. She can cook anything. Occasionally, I cook, but after living alone and my staple turned to convenience store bento and cup ramen, my home-cooking skills didn’t improve. No matter how hard I try, I can only make something that is neither “good nor bad”, so naturally Noa is now in charge of the food. I do the cleaning, and Tamiko is in charge of napping.

The celebratory menu is a beef stew, as we are now hunters in good standing. It is delicious and goes well with bread and wine.

“Me too! I’m an adult too! Taste weird, squeak.” (Tamiko)

Tamiko took a small lick and her face crumpled tightly. The beer was no good, and it seems that alcohol, in general, is no good for her.

“Abe-san, what are you planning to do from now on? Are you going to take on any quests?” (Obuchi)

“Well… I’m thinking of going to somewhere in the Metro to earn money. I’d like to level up as much as I can.” (Shuu)

“Are you going to try to become even more powerful? …It looks like you’ll be able to fight even the [Beast King] in time, Abe-san.” (Obuchi)

As expected, it may be difficult to level up more at 68, but there is no choice but to do it little by little. It would be great if it could lead to leveling up Tamiko and Noa.

“Oh, and by the way… Is there somewhere I can buy a good hunter’s weapon or something?” (Shuu)

“Buhi! A weapon huh? You were talking about it this morning, and you seem very enthusiastic about it.” (Obuchi)

“Most hunters don’t have permanent weapons, huh? They all fight with hypha weapons. But it might be useful to have something in case of emergency. I only have long weapons, so I thought it would be good to have a knife or something.” (Shuu)

Noa turns her head and stares at me. It was as if she was saying with her eyes, “Please don’t take away my identity.”

“Right. It’s true that accessories are highly versatile, and even if it’s armor, there’s no downside as long as it’s not bulky…but when it comes to weapons. Only a minority of hunters carry such things. But I think Abe-san won’t get much benefit from it.” (Obuchi )

Noa and Yui prepare tea for us. And for dessert after dinner, a cake—not.

“Wow! A youkan!” (Shuu) [T/N: a Japanese sweet.]

It’s nostalgic, I haven’t had yokan since I was at my parents’ house.

“Oh, it’s so sweet and mild. This is truly a Japanese sweet.” (Shuu)

“Yummy! It’s so sweet, it has a jaw-melting sweetness that hits me right in the heart, squeak! It’s so good, squeak!” (Tamiko)

“There are several reasons why hunters don’t carry weapons,” Obuchi said. “First, there are few weapons that can withstand continuous combat against Metro Beasts. Military police are provided with iron weapons, but if you try to dive into the Metro with only such weapons, you’ll be in a nightmare in less than a day.” (Shuu)

Only in fiction and games can you fight with iron swords and hinoki sticks for long periods of time. If you fight against metro beasts over and over again, they will break, chip, and rust. In this textbook definition of a new crazy fantasy world, I never thought I would run into such a good argument after all these years.

“What is it like in the era in which Shuu-san lived?” said Noa. “The quantity and quality of iron ore that can be mined and the technology for refining the metal are incomparable. Even iron pots and pans were quite expensive, weren’t they?”

“Ah, now that you mention it.” (Shuu)

So all of these things have to be mined domestically? That’s a serious problem.

“So, for example, if you can’t use [Katana], you don’t have a spare weapon?” (Shuu)

“Buhi, rather than carry one around, I think it would be more efficient to fight by honing one’s own abilities rather than carrying a weapon. The best thing about hypha weapons is that you can use them all the time without worrying about weapon warping, chipping, and wear. It’s only by taking advantage of that and your ability—is proof that as hunters, you are able to dive deep into the Metro.” (Obuchi)

“Hmm…” (Shuu)

“Second, there is simply the question of strength. The strength of hypha weapons exceeds that of iron armaments for skilled hunters. It is not impossible to make weapons that can compete with them, but it would require a tremendous cost, including procurement of materials and selection of a capable blacksmith to make them.” (Obuchi)

“Uh… Ah, it’s not without cost.” (Shuu)

“If it’s a mineral material found in the depths of the Metro, such as Mithril or Magic Iron. Mithril is a beautiful white silvery metal also known as holy silver, in contrast, Magic Iron is black metal. Both are more durable than hypha weapons and will last for a very long time as long as they are properly cared for.” (Obuchi)

Mithril. A word that tickles my childish heart.

“Getting a Magic Iron involves luck, or rather, it’s not something that can only be found by devoting yourself to finding one. The other day, the leader of the bandits, ‘Udeochi’, the claw he was using was probably a Magic Iron.” (Yui)

“Ah, that was really tough.” (Shuu)

I broke it by using [Iron Fist] and [Light Blade].

“The same is true for Mithril, a material that is extremely difficult to procure. Weapons made from Mithril are synonymous with being a hunter, and I hear that some hunters and Tribe Chiefs use them regularly. The price is eye-popping.” (Obuchi)

“How much is it in acorns, squeak?” (Tamiko)

“It’s the first time in my life that I’ve had to convert it into acorns, but I think I could fill the whole city of Sugamo with acorns and it wouldn’t be enough.” (Obuchi)

“Abeshuu, let’s not get one. Stick to acorns, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“I’ll get acorns for you later. By the way, do those weapons come with special effects?” (Shuu)

In this country, there are “items that have special effects due to fungus parasitizing on the material. These are so-called [Parasite] items.

For example, the cloak made from the leather of a Catoblepas, which is a mature individual I took down. It is also a fine Parasite item (although its rank is not so high).

It has a cool purplish-black finish, is cold and heat resistant, and is also highly resistant to blades. The most amazing thing is its special effect: “A little scratch or hole can be repaired by itself.” As long as it is exposed to moisture and a little light, the fungus can repair itself. I haven’t had a chance to try it out, though.

There are also “bracelets that increase physical strength just by wearing them” and “necklaces that increase resistance to poisons”. These alone are impressive enough, but if the weapons also have special effects, they may be useful in actual combat.

“There are swords that repair themselves when damaged, and wands that release fire when struck.” (Obuchi)

“Oh! I want one!” (Shuu)

A magical weapon indeed. Again, my childhood dreams were stirring.

“Basically, ornaments and clothing made from ‘Parasite’ materials are processed as they are,” Obuchi said, “Weapons, on the other hand, can also be made from natural materials, such as the fangs or bones of unique beasts. But such items are not durable enough for their rarity, and their cost is low. It’s mainly considered a hobby.”

“A hobby?” (Shuu)

“Yes, if we try to reproduce it with strong metals, it is an attempt to artificially create a Parasite material, so to speak.” (Obuchi)

“I see.” (Shuu)

“It is said that there are only one or two blacksmiths in New Tokyo who can make Parasite weapons, and the ones that exist are as rare as [Itokuri-shi]. It would be a miracle if you could see one even once.” (Obuchi)

“Well… I want to see one too…” (Shuu)

“Going back to the topic… Realistically, a weapon that would be practical at Abe-san’s level would require mithril-grade materials. If that’s the case, I think it would be quicker to steadily hone your skills. Or, perhaps you could use your friends to cover the strength you need.” (Obuchi)

“Well, I guess so…” (Shuu)

Is that the conclusion after all?

I took a deep breath and bring the tea to my lips.

I was looking forward to my next adventure, searching for weapons.

“Even if we can’t find Parasite weapons,” Noa said, “There are places where Mithril and Parasite minerals can be found. Why don’t we go there and try to get some money and level up?”

“Oh, that seems like it’s going to be fun.” (Shuu)

“Squeak!” (Tamiko)

“Ikari-san, is it possible—” (Obuchi)

“Yes.” (Noa)

Noa raises her index finger up.

“—Ouji Metro. The Golem’s nest, commonly known as ‘Rock Doll Mine’. It is said to be one of the best spots for mining gems and rare minerals in the northern part of New Tokyo.” (Noa)