The final, convulsing death rattle of the Ember-Maw Basilisk had seemed to suck all sound from the cavern, leaving behind a vacuum filled only by the ragged symphony of our breathing and the lazy plip-plop of cooling lava.
After I stored the corpse, as a moment passed, with a soft, ethereal chime that was utterly out of place in this chamber of fire and death...
A pedestal of smooth, white stone rose silently from the floor near the creature's vanished body.
Atop this altar sat a chest, not one decorated with gold and gems, but solid and unadorned, carved from a single block of dark rock banded with natural silver.
Captain Borin leaned heavily on his notched sword, his chest heaving.
"There it is... reward of our hard work."
He wiped a gauntleted hand across his soot-streaked face and nodded towards the chest, his gaze finding me. "Aria... You were the one who held the line. You have earned it... Go on."
He was asking me to go and open the reward chest, something that appears after a boss monster is dead within a dungeon, something that is produced by the dungeon itself as a reward for the challengers, something that almost got me killed the last time.
'Yes, that last chest was different, but the bad experience was still not easy.'
A ripple of agreement from the rest of the team, tired but genuine, went through the group.
Finn gave me an eager thumbs-up, while Kaela offered a slight, approving nod.
Cass just looked relieved we were all still standing.
"Guess I have no choice then," I sighed in defeat, pushing off from the wall I'd been using for support.
My legs felt like jelly. Despite having just leveled up, I had not felt as bad a headache as this one, but a thrum of anticipation fought back the fatigue.
'This is my first real dungeon chest as an adventurer.'
The wood of the chest was cool to the touch under my fingertips. There was no lock.
'Let's see what we get this time~.'
As my hands settled on the lid, it dissolved into motes of soft light, revealing the contents inside.
[You have obtained: 120 Coins.]
[You have obtained: Elemental Dagger (C-Rank). Properties: Shifts elemental affinity (Fire/Frost/Lightning) based on wielder's intent.]
[You have obtained: Stat Enhancement Elixir x3. Permanently increases Strength or Agility by 1 point.]
The coins vanished into my status window with a satisfying digital chime. Thɪs chapter is updated by novelꞁire.net
It was my first time hearing that chime... it almost sounded like a bunch of coins falling in a pile of existing coins.
The dagger lay on a velvet cushion, its blade shimmering with a faint, unstable light.
Next to it were three vials of a viscous, amber liquid that swirled with tiny, sparking motes.
"Isn't this a pretty sight?" I couldn't help but gasp at this sight.
Finn whistled as well, his eyes glued to the dagger. "Ooh, a shifter! Those are tricky to enchant.
Great for a rogue or a nimble fighter." His eyes then darted to the potions. "And stat boosters! Pure gold!"
The party looked at me, expecting me to claim my champion's share.
They didn't just want me to open the treasure chest; they wanted me to be the one to choose my reward first as well.
"Don't be so considerate, people. I might get greedy."
I picked up the dagger with a smile on my face, my head shaking at the party.
The sharp weapon was well-balanced, but it felt alien in my hand— a tool for a trade I had no interest in.
The short sword that we got the last time was different; it adapted to the user. But this one was nothing like that.
Maybe it would be better in Cass's hands, but I don't have any use for this pretty piece of weaponry.
As for the potions... I focused inward.
'Rose? Will these do anything for me?'
Rosaviel's response was immediate and clinical as usual.
[ "Analysis of the item shows that the elixirs catalyze a specific metabolic response in muscle fiber and neural pathways associated with physical exertion." ]
[ "Your physical statistics are derived from your Class Core and are enhanced holistically upon leveling." ]
[ "The marginal gain from a single elixir would be statistically negligible, approximately a 0.5% increase in base physical capability. Final analysis: not recommended." ]
In other words, it was junk food for my system. I'd get more of a workout from climbing the stairs to my inn room.
"Nah, fam." I placed the dagger back in the chest and waved a hand dismissively at the potions. "All yours, I guess. The pointy thing doesn't fit my aesthetic, and the potions... let's just say my body runs on a different operating system."
Finn's eyes widened in disbelief first, then glee shrouded those calculating eyes. "Seriously? You're passing on stat boosters?"
The leader and the lady aside, this guy was pretty fun, pretty likable.
"Think of it as an investment in you not getting melted by the next lava-spewing monstrosity," I smirked at the happy little bastard, wanting to punch his nerdy face.
Then Captain Borin looked at me with a deep, considerate look in his eyes. He didn't question my decision. He simply nodded with a smile. "Then we will split the potions. Finn, Kaela, and Cass, you can have one each.
The dagger goes into the party fund for now." He then turned his gaze back to me. "And the coins?"
I'd almost forgotten.
The 120 coins felt insignificant compared to the fortune currently residing in my status screen, but they were a fortune to the common adventurers who had to split up their earnings.
I focused, and with a flick of my will, I divided the sum.
[You have transferred 90 System Coins.]
"There," I announced with a considerate smile. "I'm keeping 30, the captain can think about what to do with the rest. Consider it a bonus for putting up with my... creative problem-solving."
The gesture, small as it was, seemed to solidify something within the party's bond. It wasn't just about loot; it was about being a team player.
But after giving up most of the loot, I couldn't just incur a net loss.