"Yay, the exit!"
Ah, now the treasure hunting is finally over.
Let me deliver this to the guild quickly.
"Yo, long time no see — well, since yesterday."
But the trio who called themselves treasure hunters, the very ones I'd met just yesterday, were lying in ambush at the dungeon exit.
Fortunately — or unfortunately — there was no one else around the exit besides us.
"What's up? You need something?"
"Come on, are all you Raging people this carefree? What you've got there is almost certainly the 'Rainbow Drop,' right? We know. And we're treasure hunters."
"That's just robbery."
"Talk all you want. But I'll spare your life — if you tell us how you found the 'Rainbow Drop'! With that, we'll never have to work again! If we're lucky, we might even join the nobility!"
"Don't get any weird ideas. We're Mithril-ranked. You Orichalcum-level guys are no match for us."
The trio kept chatting away, but they were way too off guard.
"Oh really? And what's this?"
I held up the Elixir in my right hand.
"Wha — that's... no way, the Elixir we just found in the treasure chest! In the magic bag... it's gone — when did—!"
"You didn't even notice? So much for Mithril-ranked adventurers from Maygrant. Maybe you should quit being Mithril?"
I'd swiped it with an invisible hand from my Magic Hand skill, so of course they didn't notice.
I tossed the Elixir back to one of them.
"You think you can get away with this? You won't make it out alive!"
Ah, I said it.
They'd said earlier they'd spare my life, so I was planning to just curse them with a Black Curse so they could never open a treasure chest again for the rest of their lives. But now...
The three of them raised their weapons, aiming at me.
"Die!"
One of them rushed toward me at high speed, thrusting with a short sword.
"No thanks."
I drew my sword and quickly pierced through all three of their chests.
While I was at it, I simultaneously activated Snatch Skill on one of their Treasure Search.
They'd been using Treasure Search to sense rare treasures, and when someone else got there first, they'd simply rob them — just like this time.
"Gu... gah... you're strong... But remember this — behind us stands the 'Grandor Gem Company,' an organization that controls even the kingdom. In hell... wait for it... I'll get you..."
With that, the one who seemed to be the leader breathed his last.
They knew what they were doing was wrong.
Come to think of it — the Grandor Gem Company, huh.
Maybe I should remember that name.
◇◇◇
"So this is the 'Rainbow Drop'... I never thought I'd get to see one while working at the guild."
The receptionist at Dōkan's adventurer guild was stunned.
"I'm sure you won't tell me how you obtained it... But for a rural guild like ours, this is a huge catch! Wonderful! You can expect a generous reward as well!"
The receptionist was so excited he was talking a bit fast.
"Is that so. By the way, how do you determine the market value?"
"The original commission comes from the Grandor Gem Company. They gather requests from clients who desire gemstones..."
"Actually, I'd like to cancel the delivery."
I moved to put away the Rainbow Drop I'd been showing the receptionist.
"W-wait, please!"
The male receptionist grabbed onto me.
It's not really your fault, but I'd rather not deliver this.
"The Grandor Gem Company... they're not exactly a reputable outfit, are they?"
"Y-yes, well, that's true, but if you don't deliver it, our lives might be in danger, so to speak..."
The male receptionist stammered, unable to compose himself.