Labyrinth Renovation – 021 | Sousaku – 創作

Episode 21 – A Tool Bag!

"……I-is it really alright to do that? The contents might be something valuable, like medicine. "
"It's a case of 'when it's time, it's time'. Since our survival is the most important thing, let's save the exploring and finding valuable items for more normal times."
"B-but......"
"No buts! Come on, get ready! "

Fiona and I were standing in front of the stairs leading down from the Water Dragon Room.
The two of us lifted the treasure chest and stood at the ready facing downstairs.

"You ready!? Oーne, Tーwo, three! Hou! "
"Agh! I don't care anymore! "

We threw the treasure chest as far as we could down the stairs, and then we quickly closed the door.
This dungeon door is strong enough to withstand a gas explosion.
I'm sure it won't mind the explosion of a treasure chest.

"All I can hear is the sound of the box rolling down."
"I don't think it was an explosion trap. Or maybe it didn't open."
"Let's take a look."

We opened the door and went down to check the treasure chest.
"It's open! Superb! We did it! "
"Superb? What's that? "

It means a huge success! As long as it can be opened safely, nothing else matters.
That said, I wouldn't approach it carelessly. It could be releasing poisonous gas.

"It looks like nothing is wrong. Was it really a trap or did nothing happen? "
"Well, I guess so. Nothing came out of it."
"So, a trap is like something that's physically inside."

I thought that was magic.
This is way too mysterious. Is it an explosion or is there a flammable gas sealed in? Is it set to explode as soon as it's opened?
Just who would prepare something like that? Is there a treasure chest trap craftsman living in the labyrinth?

"So, what's inside? I'm sorry if it's something like medicine in a bottle…… What is this? A bag? "
"Bag…… Or rather, it really is just a bag."
"A bag, huh? The leather is not bad, but I didn't expect something so plain to come up from the bottom of that lake."

I pulled out the bag and looked at it.
Fiona looked like she wanted it, so I gave it to her. After opening it and fiddling with it for a while, she let out a strange cry. Kyeeeee!
What's the matter? So, the dreaded side effects have finally appeared!?

"Maho! Maho! Maho! Maho! This……………… is a magic tool! The one called a magic bag! "
"What's that? "
"It only appears in dungeons very, very rarely, and only the best explorers and royalty have one. It's a bag that's worth enough to build a castle if you sell it! I heard that you could put in as many things as you like, and it doesn't even feel heavy! "

That's amazing. An item bag.
Eh? Does that actually exist?

"With this, we can carry a lot of things from the Hardware Store! Look, all of my swords fit in there! "
"Seriously? No way."

Things that are long like swords don't usually fit in bags. That's obvious.
However, you can fit these items in this bag without any problem.
Is t…… Is this a magic item……!?

"Anyway, let's go back and test it out. We don't know how much will fit in."
"Th-That's right. I've heard that the amount that can be stored in a magic bag depends on the bag. I hope it's a big one! "
"I hope so. The fact that it doesn't feel heavy even if it's filled with heavy things is great. After all, we've had a lot of trouble with the plastic tanks."

◇◆◆◆◇

And so, we've returned to the lowest level.
Uh? Wouldn't it have been better to check the higher levels first……? Well, it doesn't matter.

Fiona excitedly explained to me as we walked back, but it seemed that this magic bag was a truly precious treasure.
To begin with, treasure chests only appear rarely in the labyrinth, and it seems that there are no good ones in the upper levels, but if you go to the lower levels, you can find some good, practical things.
Swords that are covered in flames, shields that are light and unbreakable, and medicine that heals any wound in an instant.
Even in such a situation, it is said that the magic bag is a particularly valuable and practically perfect treasure.

"If it had a large capacity, it would be perfect."
"It came out near the bottom, so it must be big…… I think. I hope it's big."
"Well, let's give it a try."

For now, I'll try filling it with bottled water.
One, two, three…… There's plenty of room even after putting in one case.
When you want to take it out, you can somehow tell what it's there. Like magic.

"……Oh, there's still plenty of space left. You can tell by the way it feels."
"Is that so? "
"Mm-hmm. It's as if the bag is telling me. Also, look."
"Wow! That's amazing…… "

When I brought a 20-liter plastic container, which was larger than the opening of the bag, it fit neatly inside. Apparently, if there is room, it seems that larger items can also be stored.
This is a treasure of a level that will go down in history……Maybe?

"If you sell this, you'll be able to live without working, right?"
"Eh!? Are we selling it? I mean……"
"Uh? Well, we found it together. We need to convert this into cash."
"……Why do you say that? If we found it together, why can't we use it together?! "

If she puts it like that, I guess so. I thought so too, but Fiona would probably prefer to have some money.
The magic bag was an item I got by chance, so there's no reason to be upset about selling it.

"But it's a treasure, isn't it? Someone might kill you and take your stuff or steal it. Wouldn't it be better to sell it? "
"No."
"Why? "
“Because…… it's completely different whether you have this or not when you're carrying things from this Hardware Store. That's why, no……"
"I know that already."

In any case, things from the hardware store are not that useful in the outside world. Of course, it's better to have it.

"Fiona, you're taking really good care of the magic stones because you can exchange them for money. Isn't it contradictory that you don't want to sell the magic bag? The stuff from the hardware store…… you could probably sell it if you wanted to, but people would be suspicious about where it came from, and it would be difficult to make any money from it, right? "
"IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY! "

Fiona, who had shouted so loudly, had tears welling up in her eyes.
Of course, I know that this is a very convenient and valuable item. But I never thought Fiona would be so against it……

"I'm sorry. Either way, we found this together, and if you don't want to sell it, we won't. Whether or not to sell it was, well, how should I put it……right, a suggestion. It was a suggestion."
"Then, you can use it, Maho. I'm giving it to you, Maho."
"Eh, ehhh……? But you said it was so valuable? "

I'm not sure, but Fiona seems to want me to use this.
Well, we still have to work out how to get through the labyrinth, and it's useful for carrying things from the Hardware Store, but it's not quite the same thing.

"If it wasn't for you, Maho, I wouldn't have been able to find it, so it belongs to you. I, or anyone else, would never have thought of draining all that water."
"Is-is that so……? Then I'll use it."

As for me, I think that since we're both working on it, we should split everything equally, but Fiona doesn't seem to be willing to give in on this point.
Well, in any case, whether or not we sell is a “what if” that can only be considered after we get out. There's no point in arguing about this now.

"Well, now that we've seen how amazing the bag is, let's go eat some food and head to the next level! There might even be a transfer monument! "

After all, the next one is the 5th level.
The dragon was 1, the hydra grass was 2, the gecko was 3, the water dragon was 4, and the next one was 5.
It might be a little like a game, with warp points every five floors or so…… I wonder.
Even if that's not the case, as one might expect, the dragon was the most difficult, and there is a sense that it is gradually becoming easier. It's hard to say for sure, but I'm sure we'll manage next time too.
No, if we've come this far, we'll manage somehow!
Just you wait, sun!