CH 65

[Rewards Confirmation]

The first things I notice in the opened leather bag are three items.

‘Idaten’s Hagoromo’ that is so thin that you can see through it.

‘Sky Soaring Bridge’, a bundled, unique raw silk thread.

And ‘Pegasus Wings’, a flat piece of steel plate with a horse head as a motif.

In the original game, this group of items are commonly known as the ‘Three Sky Series’ because all of them have the character of ‘Sky (天)’ in their names.

A part of items owned by Yang Lan, probably given to me because they didn’t know the original owners.

(Hagoromo is equipped on the head slot, the thread on accessory slot, and the wings on armor slot, and equipping them all would allow you to have a paper armor, high-speed battle style, right…)

All items in the Three Sky series have the effect of greatly increasing the agility and evasion of the character.

It is to the point that if the protagonist who specializes in agility wears all of the equipment, he would be second to none in terms of agility.

In that state, the protagonist could act twice in every turn while avoiding most of enemies’ attacks, so you could have a quite exhilarating battle where you could just sit back and have him bombard the enemies to death with magic or chop ‘em all to pieces with continuous attacks.

However, with this build, his defense power would be so poor to the point of calling it paper-thin is no exaggeration; it is often the case that the successful attacks of the small fries surrounding the boss would make you feel like screaming rather than the attack of the boss themselves.

Also, at the final stage of the story, once he received an attack, it wouldn’t be easy to get him back to shape (or rather, he would die in a single hit), so it was given the nickname of ‘Icarus Build’.

He would fall straight down if his wings were removed; it is a heroic character build, in a sense.

However, even if you don’t use that build, the effect of each items in Three Sky series is useful by itself.

Originally, they couldn’t be obtained without completing the subquest from the Thieves Guild who collected Yan’s items after the incident in the opera house, so it can be said that I’m quite lucky to have obtained them in April, which is still the early stage game-wise.

The rest are just junk items – a rosary (bloody) which is Ethel Tyner’s initial equipment is also included for some reason – and gold coins as a recompense for the documents collected as evidence and hush money.

Eh, what the heck’s with this rosary?

It’s bloody and like, very scary, ain’t it? It looks more like an item that would appear in a horror game.

Are they telling me to return it to her? Won’t she charge me money for discovery fee or something? She won’t, maybe?

“But seriously, there are a lot more gold coins than I expected.” (Sakurai)

“It sure is~ How many are they, I wonder?” (Iris)

“Hey Sakurai. Is it really okay to accept this money?” (Higaki)

“Don’t worry about that. Uncle is also involved in this, so everything’s gonna be fine.” (Sakurai)

“If Teacher involved, then it’s going to be fine, huh… Hey, how’s Teacher involved in this? Were you with Teacher that night? Were you two doing something behind my back?” (Higaki)

“Stop getting angry at the drop of a hat, that’s what’s so bad about you, y’know.” (Sakurai)

I thought she had settled down lately, but Higaki keeps reminding me that people’s nature doesn’t change.

She sure is an ideal bad example.

Ignoring her, I turn the contents of the bag over.

I collect the gold coins that fall while making jingling sounds, check each one carefully, and start counting them.

The words ‘Money Counting +1’ appear and disappear in my field of vision, and while taking the writing utensils that are in the hospital room, I begin to try to find an efficient counting method.

“Ah, Sakurai-san’s at it again.” (Iris)

As I begin to be absorbed in counting money, Iris squints pleasantly, whereas Higaki sighs loudly.

The ‘Money Counting’ skill has the effect of slightly increasing the sell price of material items dropped by monsters and slightly reducing the amount of money required when creating items by alchemy.

Since it only increase/decrease value marginally, it is basic to use it in combination with other correction skills, but… There’re experience points and a level that could be raised quickly before me, there’s not even a fragment of reason to let the opportunity pass, right?

Besides, I can’t even practice-swinging, and there’s no knitting tools around, then how am I supposed to rest? I can’t settle down unless I’m doing something!

“Uhehe, one~, two~, three~.” (Sakurai)

“I’ll help you, so let’s get this over with quickly, Sakurai.” (Higaki)

“Stop!! Don’t touch them!! These are my experience points!! My experience points would decrease by the amount you counted!” (Sakurai)

“Sakurai-san, I will pile them up by a stack of 10 for now, okay~.” (Iris)

“Darashaaaaaa!” (Sakurai)

“Ahhhhh!? Why did you tear them down, even though they had been piled up nicely!?” (Iris)

“It’s because I’m gonna recount them…! Obviously…!!” (Sakurai)

These experience points (gold coins) are mine! Mine!! No way I’m gonna hand them to anyone else!!!

I’ll recount them at least 30 times to raise the level of ‘Money Counting’, so please do not disturb me for a while!

“Begone! Begone, outsiders! I won’t let anyone touch these gold coins! These are sacred treasures that are handed down to mine hospital room! People who came from outside the hospital room is not allowed to touch them arbitrarily!” (Sakurai)

“From which tribe are you?” (Higaki)

“Sakurai-san’s strange switch has turned on again~.” (Iris)

“Shoo~~! Shoo~~~!!” (Sakurai)

“Now that he’s acting up again, let’s just leave him alone for a while. I’m going to go visit Teacher again, but what about you, Iris?” (Higaki)

“By teacher, you mean the one who’s also Sakurai-san’s, don’t you? I want to say hello to him!” (Iris)

Ah, I knew it, Uncle is also hospitalized.

However, since Higaki even bother to show up here, it seems his condition isn’t that serious. Otherwise, she’d definitely stick to him, after all.

For the time being, I’m gonna count the gold coins several times until my ‘Money Counting’ level rises to a good degree, then I’ll go visit Uncle. I have to repay my debt anyways.

“One~, two~, three~, four~…” (Sakurai)

Iris and Higaki leave the room, and I continue counting the gold coins quietly next to Luisina, who’s sleeping soundly.

Afterward, there was an accident where a nurse who came to check up on me witnessed that scene and mistook it for me trying to rape a hospital staff by coercing her with money, but thanks to ‘Blood Mist’ of Luisina, who was awoken, it did not develop into a big uproar.

From now on, if I have an interpersonal trouble, turning the other party into a puppet by relying on her ‘Blood Mist’ might be an option… no, that’d seriously make Iris angry.

Then, she’d tell it to Higaki, and I might end up being chased around by the full-force of the disciplinary committee.

If I ever have to do it, I’d need to carefully scrutinize the case and get the approval of the two.

“After 37 recounts, it finally reach level 3… Well, not bad, I guess.” (Sakurai)

The time pass quickly while I’m absorbed in counting the gold coins, and now it has past noon; with my stomach starts to rumble, I decide to take a break.

Honestly, I can’t think of a way to put ‘Money Counting’ to good use, but it is mankind’s duty to raise a level if it appears before them.

I don’t know if I will have an opportunity to raise its level again in the future, but let’s keep in mind that I have acquired such a skill.

“Welp, for now, let’s go to the reception, complete the discharge procedure, ask Uncle’s hospital room, and…are Amanai and co in this hospital too? Might as well ask about them, huh.” (Sakurai)

Casting a glance at Luisina who has awakened before I know it and is quickly eating my hospital food which has been brought in -again- before I know it, I pack up my luggage.

Once again reminded of the greatness of item box thanks to the weight of the leather bag I’m carrying on my back, I head to the reception to complete the discharge procedure while pulling Luisina out of the hospital room.