Vol. 13 - Ch. 748 - Gold Chest Time! — The Brave and the Dragon Join the Party?

" " "It's a Gold Chest!!" " "

"It really baffles me how treasure chests get you guys more excited than the final conqueror's mark...... Shouldn't we be, like, first celebrating that we can now challenge advanced dungeons since this was our goal all this time?"

"Yeah, but «Gold Chest» is just as important!"

“Exactly! You can have two goals at once, Sierra! Of course, we will celebrate our success in intermediate dungeons. However, do not neglect your present—and right now, everything dictates we celebrate gold chests!”

“Spoken like a true visionary, Your Highness. Such profound insight.”

“Well, that you make a fair point, Your Highness."

“Plus, we get curry after the boss. That’s a triple win.”

“See, that's the spirit, Karua! We ought to be like her!”

With Sierra finally convinced, we decided to share the joy and claim our triple victory.

“It's the gold chest from the strongest intermediate dungeon. Surely, no one is going to argue against me opening it, right?"

Lana turned to me with her usual air of smug confidence, as if her opening it was a law of nature. Normally, this would be where I’d call a timeout and we’d haggle over it, but this time, I’d already made up my mind.

“Go for it.”

“And if you’re going to say no—wait, what? Really?”

When I gave her a straightforward nod, Lana just stood there, blinking in a daze. Looking around, I saw Sierra, Ester, and even Karua staring at me as if I’d just grown a second head. Their expressions shifted from surprise to the kind of suspicion as if I'd spoken some ancient language.

Why the faces?

“Did you… eat something bad?”

“I didn’t eat anything weird!”

“No, I mean—sorry. My bad.”

"Your apology only makes me more jittery?!"

Perhaps the shock was too great that she'd inadvertently made that remark, but she quickly amended it with an apology. ...To be frank, the apology kind of peng my heart.

"Sierra isn't wrong! Can you recall the last time you allowed me to open «Gold Chest» without bickering, Zephyr? It's definitely fishy! Come on now, confess your reason!"

"I can't believe that's how all see me!"

Well, to be fair, if Lana ever said, “The rights to the Gold Chest? Sure, you can have it,” I’d probably be pressing my forehead against hers to check for a fever, too. I could sympathize with their skepticism.

However, I had a very specific reason.

"My reason is while you can open this gold chest, I am getting the dab on the first gold chest from Advanced Dungeon. I’m not budging on that one.”

That was really it. I’d opened the first Gold Chest for every dungeon rank so far.

As the Guild Master of «Eden», and as someone who used to be a devoted player of «Dungeon Activity», this was the one line I wouldn't let anyone cross.

Much like the first person to step onto a field of pristine, untouched snow, I wanted to be the first one to walk forward when reaching a new height in reality. This was my prerogative as leader.

When I gave out my reasoning—

"Sure, I don't mind that! So I am getting my right on this one!"

“I feel much better knowing you’re still the same old Zephyr. Well then, Ester, why don’t you try opening this time?”

“......Me? Thank you, it would be an honor to share the luck with Her Highness."

“Mm. I’ve got curry to look forward to, so I’ll pass this time.”

“Aren't you guys taking this a bit too well? You could give me a little more pushback, you know!”

They're as nonchalant as if it was entirely within my character to have that reason. ...And that was supposed to be an important milestone.

Well, whatever. As long as they’re letting me have the first Advanced Dungeon's gold chest.

While I was having my internal monologue, Lana knelt before the chest and clasped her hands.

“«Sachineko-sama», please grant us something amazing today. I’m counting on you!”

Now that was a perfect attitude. I bet «Sachineko-sama» wouldn't let the prayers go unheard!

I cleared my head and added my own silent prayer. Please, «Sachineko-sama»!

With everyone's prayer finished, with a POP!, Lana opened the «Gold Chest».

"This is... another recipe?!"

"We sure are getting recipes one after another! Lucky!"

It was a recipe from a rare boss, you know? That was incredibly rare! I didn't expect to get one. I think we're going to grind this rare boss for a while for sure!

“We’ll have to decode this as soon as we get back!”

“I hope it’s something good. I can’t wait!”

What was the odd of getting a recipe just as we'd hit a wall for our current equipment? And it was opened by none other Lana. I'd say everything was telling me it's going to be something amazing!

The wind had my back! Perhaps, this was my big time. I am definitely getting this recipe deciphered as soon as we return!

“I shall go next. Please, «Sachineko-sama». I would be overjoyed if you granted us something that could power up the entire guild.”

Ah. Ester seemed to have taken the route for abstract wish, huh.

By defining a direction but keeping the specifics vague, she was attempting a high-level maneuver to bypass the greed sensor. It’s a risky move because it could backfire if the intent weren't pure, but if it worked, «Sachineko-sama» might truly grant us a wonderful item to help the entire guild.

I prayed along with her, hoping her wish would reach «Sachineko-sama».

“Here I go—”

Ester flipped the lid.

Now then, what was inside? Did her wish reach the «Sachineko-sama»? With baited breath, I watched as Ester pulled out the drop item for everyone to—OH MY GOD!

I was frozen solid in shock.

"Hmm... it seems strangely familiar."

The first to remark was Karua. It was an obvious reaction. She'd often followed me after the dungeon, so of course she felt the familiarity. After all, it was the crown jewel of Marie-senpai's job—an anything-can-investigate item, bearing the name of «Dragon». It was—

"It's the «Juvenile Dragon»!?!?!"

A super-rare appraisal item possessing the four top-tier skills—Appraisal, Decipher, Detect, and Iconography.

I remembered borrowing it over and over so many times from Marie-senpai.Wow, so we really got one……

“Oh, I remember now! That’s the thing Marie-senpai uses!”

“Yes. It seems we’ve stumbled upon something truly incredible.”

“Honestly, I am really surprised at our luck. Is it really the blessing of «Sachineko-sama»?"

“You did it, Ester! You are a legend!"

I immediately showered Ester with heaps of praise.

The other, too, seemed to have realised we have ourselves something epic from my expression. Sierra appeared perplexed, but honestly, this much was nothing for «Sachineko-sama». It must be «Sachineko-sama»'s reward for all the offerings I'd put up in the last few days. If I could, I would've pat my past self for not neglecting it!

"Hey, Zephyr, can we try it now?"

"Indeed, we can try it out on Lana-sama's recipe. Would it be alright?"

"Mhm. I want to see, too."

“Permission granted! Let me see too!”

I gave the green light immediately, practically dragging Sierra along as we huddled around to see the recipe in Lana’s hand.

“Everyone ready? Ester, if you would.”

“Yes! …Wait, how exactly do I use this?”

"You didn't know?! It's the «Decipher». Use it. This is for the recipe."

"Thank you! Then—«Decipher»!"

Everyone watched with baited breath. The recipe began to glow, and the squiggly, illegible scribbles transformed into perfectly readable text.

"Please let it be a set equipment recipe for Sierra, Ester, Lana, «Sachineko-sama», «Koneko-sama»! I’ll offer the best curry later, so please, let it be the full set!

"Stop it, Zephyr! Seeing you praying so intensely for my equipment is embarrassing!"

"Hehe, blushing Lana-sama is also cute."

"But Her Highness has a point. Zephyr, can you just keep prayer in your heart?"

The three of them were saying something, but I didn't hear a word. I stared at the deciphered recipe, praying for my fervent wish. It read—

——«Brave's Mithril Equipment Series: Complete Set (Male Ver.).

"It's for meeeee?!"

Wait. Wait, wait. Wasn't it just the complete opposite of my wish?! But... maybe, on another thought, it wasn't bad?

I mean, as the name implied, it was a resplendent set of armor, perfectly designed in the image of Brave. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but whether it was in aesthetic, or performance, it was a solid advanced-grade set of equipment. It’s one of the absolute best sets you could find among all the drops here. It was just as rare that I was dumbfounded.

Wait a minute. Was «Sachineko-sama» and «Koneko-sama» implying I should get myself propped up first?

"Thank you very much, «Sachineko-sama», «Koneko-sama»! As you command, I shall upgrade my gear first!”

I pressed my hands together in gratitude, and for a second, I could swear I saw the «Sachineko-sama» give me a little wink.

After that, I was so hyped I almost jumped for my celebration hurrah, but Lana and Sierra tackled me before I could drag Ester into it. When everything was sorted out, we dove straight back into boss farming.