GILF Hunter

Chapter 519: 519 Gift

After deciding to receive back all the items traded with Calliope until now, the settlement for Frey, who was the last in line, was finished.

Since they had also each picked out an item from the shop, it could be said that all their business here was now over.

Ian, confirming that Frey had packed all her luggage, looked around at the group and spoke.

’Shall we head back soon?’

’Already? It’s fun, so I want to look around a bit more.’

’My shop is not a place for playing....’

Calliope shook her head with sad eyes, but in truth, once she had been discovered by her Master, her days of continuing business were essentially over.

Perhaps from now on, she might have no choice but to use it for display purposes only.

It was simply impossible, no matter how much she thought about it, to make that narrow-minded Master understand the charm of commerce and the beauty of jewels, and to have her collection recognized.

...Well, since the future is unknown, whatever happens from now on, happens.

Calliope agreed most strongly with Ian’s opinion to head back now.

If trading was impossible, the longer these guests stayed, the higher the chance of losing even more items for nothing. Sending them out now, after handing over a few shop items, was the best course of action for now.

’Excuse me, Captain. Captain.’

While everyone was packing the luggage they had set down for their return, Calliope approached Ian’s side secretly without any presence.

She was someone whose specialty was appearing and disappearing like a ghost even inside the Labyrinth without anyone knowing when she came out, so it seemed no one noticed Calliope approaching Ian’s side and speaking.

’This is the item you requested earlier.’

Calliope showed Ian a very small box. An item small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. It was a box mainly used for holding accessories and such.

It was the very thing Ian had ordered when he met Calliope while wandering around to find items earlier.

Since she prepared the item herself and already knew what the contents were, Calliope smirked as she handed it to Ian.

’Hehe.... I think it will suit the Hero very well.’

’...The Hero?’

’...?’

When Ian asked back with a face that suggested he didn’t know what she meant, Calliope also wore a puzzled expression.

The ’Hero’ Calliope referred to was a title used to designate the person possessing the Holy Sword. In other words, a title referring to Frenda.

Ian shook his head and spoke to Calliope.

’This isn’t something I’m going to give to Ms. Frenda.’

’...Pardon?’

Upon hearing Ian’s words, Calliope asked back with a face as if she had heard something completely incomprehensible.

’Then... who on earth are you planning to give this gift to?’

’Well....’

Muttering that, Calliope looked around at the other members in the room.

Calliope’s gaze, which was quickly checking the people in the room one by one, fixed upon a certain person.

Calliope glanced briefly at Frey and then looked at Ian with a ’could it be’ expression.

...Just what kind of misunderstanding was she having?

Ian hurriedly shook his head, stopping Calliope’s strange imagination.

’...It’s obviously not Ms. Frey either.’

’O-oh, I see. Indeed, if you cheated on that person, there’s no way you could handle the consequences....’

’What on earth are you talking about?’

Perhaps having heard her name mentioned during the conversation, Frey briefly turned her gaze toward the two.

The startled Calliope laughed with an awkward face, waved her hand as if it were nothing, and quietly advised Ian.

’Be careful. Since no matter what happens inside the Labyrinth, it can’t be known from the outside. It’s not uncommon for a person to just vanish.’

’...Pardon?’

’I haven’t dated before, but I’ve seen a lot from the sidelines, and if you keep going like that, something big will definitely happen one day....’

’....’

It seemed there was a very large misunderstanding between them.

Ian shook his head as if it were an error and explained to Calliope.

’Listen, I’m not giving this as a gift in that sense.’

’Then you mean you’re giving this as a gift even though it’s not in that sense?’

However, Calliope was even more shocked upon hearing Ian’s explanation.

Would it really be okay to hand this over as it is... Calliope pondered for a moment.

Originally, a merchant didn’t care how a person used an item once it was handed over, but since the target was someone she somewhat knew, a serious concern arose.

’I wish you luck.... And this is a charm that warns you in advance if someone hiding a dagger approaches; it’s on the house.’

’....’

In Calliope’s heart, which was torn between the merchant’s mind and her conscience, the conscience ultimately won a small victory.

* * *

’Whew.... I’m feeling a bit exhausted.’

’True. It really feels like something strange happens every time we go to the Labyrinth.’

Having returned to the lodging, Rin flopped down onto her bed.

There hadn’t been any particular combat, nor was it difficult terrain to travel through. To be precise, her physical strength was actually more than enough.

However, one might call it the mental fatigue felt after seeing strange things. It felt like such occurrences were especially frequent in the Labyrinth.

The other members agreed with those words and each sat down on their beds.

Rin, lifting her head while lying down, looked at the other members and asked.

’But what did everyone bring back?’

’Huh? Well....’

For Mika on the next bed, there was no need to even hear the answer. What Mika chose whenever something like this happened was always the same.

’For me, a new magic book.’

’For me... there was something the fairies wanted to have, so I just chose that.’

A new magic book was held in Mika’s hand.

And in the seat next to her, Tanya took out a small stone that emitted a strange light from her bag.

She hadn’t brought it because she recognized it as something of great value or felt some unknown power from it; she had simply picked it up because it seemed the fairies liked it.

It appeared to be an item similar to the [Spirit Stone] she had once possessed before.

Both had brought items that could be said were exactly as expected.

Next was Airi, who took out a very thin, fluttering black scarf-like item.

’What’s that?’

’Th-they said it’s an item that makes it hard for people to notice you.’

’...Why that?’

’To avoid being noticed by people....’

Well, that’s true, but....

Should one call it a choice typical of Airi? In the first place, Airi’s stealth actions were already high-level, so it was questionable whether such an item would be helpful.

And finally, for Ria....

She took out a very thin, fluttering black scarf.

’...Huh? Isn’t this the same as the one Airi chose?’

’...Correct.’

What Ria brought was exactly the same item as Airi’s. It was an accessory that granted the [Stealth Action] trait while worn.

There were no other particular options, and the rank of the granted trait was low, but at least it would be much more effective for Ria than for Airi, who already had stealth skills.

Rin asked Ria with an uncomprehending expression.

’Just... what are you going to use that for?’

’...The texture just caught my fancy.’

’Really? That’s unexpected. I thought Ria would bring equipment useful for actual combat.’

Ria, for some reason, hurriedly tucked it back in with a very awkward expression. In a way, she seemed to be embarrassed. It was impossible to tell exactly what she was embarrassed about, though.

...Come to think of it, I didn’t see what the Captain and Ms. Frenda received.

Thinking that, Rin recalled the faces of the two who were not in this spot.

Ian... as always, probably received something that made no sense at all. Likely with the reason that it would be needed later.

Frenda was someone she hadn’t known for long, so it wasn’t predictable at all. Well, since she’s a priestess... she probably received something boring, she thought.

Since she wouldn’t have chosen an item based on luxury or personal desire.

While Rin was having such thoughts, this time Mika asked Rin.

’What did Rin bring back?’

’Me? I....’

Just as Rin was about to answer, a knock was suddenly heard at the lodging door.

It was Ian, who had come to the room.

’Rin, are you there? Shall we talk for a moment?’

’Ah, yes.’

Hearing that, she stood up from the bed.

’I’ll be out for a bit.’

Since talking like this was something that happened occasionally, Rin followed behind Ian without much thought.

After arriving at Ian’s room on another floor, Rin asked him.

’Is it an important story?’

’No, it’s not an important story. I have something to give you.’

’Ah. Perhaps the item the Captain brought from the shop?’

The item inside the box Ian held out after nodding was... an unexpected object.

’This is... a bracelet?’

A simply designed bracelet made of woven cords.

The material didn’t seem to be simple thread. Over the surface, which looked as if gems had been drawn out like thread, a faint unknown sparkle was endlessly flowing.

Rin picked up the bracelet in the box and then realized one strange thing.

’Oh, there are two of these. Do I wear them on both sides?’

’Ah, I’ll wear one of them.’

’...Ah, I see... it’s that kind of item.’

A pair of identical items, one for each person.

After hearing the explanation of how the item was used, Rin’s face suddenly turned red.

’Hehe....’

One was fastened to Rin’s arm, and the other to Ian’s arm. Rin, slightly blushing, fiddled with the bracelet hanging on her arm.

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[Ring of Binding]

- Accessory item

- When the targets wearing the same equipment belong to the same party, stats increase in proportion to the level of affinity (Maximum 7%)

- When the targets wearing the same equipment...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ian, having fastened the bracelet to his own hand, removed the item description floating in front of him and looked at Rin.

It was because Rin had suddenly spoken to him.

’Ah, that’s right! I brought this, and I’ll give it to the Captain.’

’To me?’

’Yes. It’s the item I received from that shop.’

Rin took out an object from her pocket and held it out.

’Hehe.... I received it to give to the Captain!’

’....’

Ian stared silently at the [Highest-Grade Elixir of Stamina Increase] that Rin had handed him.