Manticore is a disgusting rank 5 monster with the body of a lion and the face of a human. This guy's essence was quite unusual.

[Manticore]

Insight +40,

Appetite +30,

Jump power +30.

In fact, it all boiled down to +30 Jump Power. In some ways, it wasn't much better than a rank 9 monster essence, but his passive skill was related to the stats.

(P) Heredity is a skill that increases stats by consuming mana stones.

Judging by the content alone, it looks like a cheating skill, but there was a critical limitation.

The total number of stats that can be obtained with the skill was 200.

At first, I wondered what kind of garbage essence it was. Among the rank 5, there were many essences with a total of more than 300 stats. At the same time, the basic indicators still had to be earned with the help of a passive skill. Even active skills weren't too good. Unless they were related to Manticore's main ability, [Rampage of Random Skills], but it was an individual ability that couldn't be obtained through essences.

But...

"Everyone stop!"

The moment this essence appeared, everyone's expression changed.

Yes, so you all know the true value of this essence.

"Raven, get the cube!"

At the same time as I shouted, the dwarf growled.

"I think you'd better move away first, barbarian.

Do you think I'm going to steal it if I lose the dice?

It was ridiculous, but nothing good will come out of this argument now.

— ... Let's all move away at the same time.

"Good.

"Y-yes!" I think it's a good idea.

Starting with me, everyone stepped back together and quickly resolved the situation. The shelf life of the essence was on average 30 minutes. Therefore, just in case, I asked a question that I could not have asked before.

"I'll ask just in case." Are there any teams that will withdraw from their application?

Hans G and the dwarf both shook their heads. Hans said:

"We will participate. Except for a mage or priest, l-anyone can use this essence.

Cursed player. The true value of the Manticore essence was revealed after it was erased in the temple. Even after that, 20% of additional indicators remained. It was the same as an elixir with 40 additional stats.

"Why should I give up this expensive essence?" The dwarf asked.

— ... An expensive essence? Are you thinking of selling it?

"We don't have a place (slot) for it.

Hmm, that made sense, but suddenly a thought came to my mind.

Faithfully. These bastards are from the underground city.

For Noark researchers, removing the essence from the temple was not an easy task, especially if the city was sealed. It would be wiser to hold it and secretly sell it after the seal was removed. However, the most important question remained.

— ... But you don't have a mage on your team?

There were no mages in the dwarven's crew. A sorcerer using all of his slots for attack-type essences played a similar role in terms of firepower, but the usefulness of a mage could not be replaced.

The dwarf replied as if nothing had happened.

"But you guys have it. We will pay for the test tube and labor cost.

Why is there so much impudence in such a small body?

"And if we give up both?"

The dwarf laughed at my suggestion to stop being greedy.

"The die will be rolled anyway. And if we win, we will watch until the essence is gone.

Translated literally, it meant that they would prefer to interfere if they could not get it.

This left a bitter taste in the mouth. Explorers are explorers underground. In this respect, underground and aboveground were surprisingly similar.

Maybe we'll just ambush them and kill them here?

Of course, such extreme measures came to mind, but I managed to regain my composure. Raven's help played a big role in this.

"Mr. Yandel, we have no choice.

Yes, we haven't even rolled the dice yet. It wasn't even a basic essence like [Gigantization]. It will still have to be erased once I have access to rank 3 essences, and there are better alternatives.

"And how long are you going to stand like this?"

I came to my senses at the dwarf's insistence.

– Let's have one representative from each team.

And so the leaders of each team gathered in one place. I briefly explained the rules.

- One person rolls at a time, and the one who rolls the highest number gets the loot. But if the same number is rolled, then only these two will roll.

"Are we going to use this mage's cube?"

"This is a real Explorers Guild cube. It doesn't matter if we don't use mine. Of course, in this case, I will have to check before I quit.

"Really?" Then it doesn't matter to me.

The dwarf nodded coldly, and after the Magus of Hans G's team went out to check on Raven's cube, the preparations were complete.

"Hans, as promised, your number will be reduced by 2." So if you have something to say, speak now.

—... M-we'll be content only with the fact that we have the opportunity.

"Then that's all. So, who will shoot first?

First or last? Not that it mattered, but everyone swallowed and watched each other carefully.

Unexpectedly, Hans G took the lead.

"I'll be the first."

He picked up the cube. Even though he had trouble subtracting two points from the number, his teammates looked at him hopefully and shouted words of encouragement.

"Kriesen, do your best!"

"Hans, if you don't make the right throw, then be prepared to get your ass kicked.

"Mr. Kriesen, you can lose, so don't push yourself.

Hans G took turns locking eyes with each of his team: a rookie guide, a human warrior, a middle-aged mage, and an elf archer. The elf nodded silently. It was clear to everyone that the relationship between them was very special.

The new conductor noticed this and bit her lip in anger.

God, are we in some shonen manga?

I laughed.

"Then... I'm quitting! Hans G threw the dice vigorously.

*Throw...*

The cube rolled on the dry ground and alternately showed small and large numbers on each side.

*Tap!*

In the silence that followed, the cube stopped rolling.

[10]

The number 10 was written on the inverted side, the largest number that could appear on the die.

"Kyahhhhh!"

"It's crazy!" Insanity!

— Average market price? Mr. Parthean, what is the average market price written in the Guild?

His crew burst into jubilation. And on the other hand, we stood in a daze.

The dwarf stepped forward, as if disapproving of the sight.

"You talk as if the essence is already yours. You have not forgotten that you need to subtract 2 from the number drawn, have you?

— Ах, да... я помню.

The hot atmosphere had subsided considerably, but Hans G's team was still in high spirits. After all, 8 is still a big number.

"I'll be next."

The dwarf walked over to Hansoo G and took the cube. He hesitated for a moment, then frowned and roughly threw it to the ground.

*Throw...*

The cube rolled several times, but soon stopped moving.

[9]

… Am I really dreaming?

"Ahh

"Damn!

"I believed in you!" You son of a bitch!

Bestial screams erupted from the dwarf's crew. On the other hand, Hans G's team froze, unable to contain their expressions.

The dwarf looked at Hans G and me and chuckled. He gave out the number one phrase that I uttered the least in my life.

"Luck is on my side.

What the hell was wrong with that bastard? An overwhelming sense of hopelessness seized me. However, I couldn't just give up. There were too many things that supported me in this.

"Yandel!" Don't be so dull. It's not like you.

"I believe in you, Bjorn!" You can do it!

"Yes, yes, Bjorn!" You can do anything, remember?!

- I will not talk about the chances. It doesn't mean anything to you anyway, right?

I still had teammates who believed in me. And I also had me, the one who never gave up. So I grabbed the cube.

*Grab*

Seeing me in this state, the dwarf grinned arrogantly. It was a pretty familiar situation.

Hans' number was 8.

The dwarf's number was 9.

All I had to do was throw 10.

Probability was just a probability, it didn't make sense. Such a dramatic development of events constantly occurred in movies and comics. Judging by the development of the plot, this should work...!

Yes, it must inevitably happen.

— ... Bjorn's gaze changed.

A strange confidence fell on my hand. There was a feeling that something invisible warmth was embracing me. Before the sensation could leave me, I rolled the die.

"Forward!" A great warrior! Ainar shouted, the cube rolled.

Amazingly, as I watched, my mind was calmer than ever.

*Tap!*

His heart beat low. The air pressed coolly against my skin, and every second of the scene was etched in my memory as if time had slowed down. Against the background of this pleasant feeling, the cube stopped.

*Tap!*

The atmosphere changed instantly.

—…

Silence fell, cold and gloomy.

Instead of a cube, I watched people.

"Holy...

The arrogantly smiling dwarf, my teammates who were watching and believing in me, even Hans G, whose defeat had already been confirmed, couldn't hide his amazement and dropped his jaw.

Did it really happen...?

I checked the cube.

[1]

... He had to ask Misha to leave him.

***

The loser was silent, because everything would only be an excuse.

They could only endure in silence, as I did at the moment.

"Hahaha!" With such an expression on his face! Did you see it? Saw? I was so scared. His eyes were so confident.

A sharp sneer erupted from the dwarven's crew. A feeling of humiliation gripped me from head to toe.

"I just want to ask. How the hell did you manage to make such a look in your eyes? Hahahaha!

"Don't laugh at Bjorn!"

— Вперед! Великий воин! Пф-ф-ф! Ахахахаха!

"I'll kill you!"

I grabbed Einar, who was about to attack.

"That's enough.

"But! If you don't screw his head off...!

Yes, you can't silence him. I knew this feeling better than anyone else, but now was not the time. The other side also understood this very well.

"You'll stop too."

As I watched, the dwarf also stopped his comrades from taunting us. In the end, the winner was determined. I, too, let go of my regrets and got down to business.

"How much do you offer?"

- 15 million stones per test tube.

It was the standard price.

— And what about labor costs?

- 5 million stones.

Earning 5 million gems for casting a single magic spell was a lucrative business. However...

— 7 million.

"You're greedy.

The dwarf reached out to Hans G's team.

"Well, we don't have a test tube.

A what? I quoted a high price to share the cost of labor with them in the first place, but that changed that.

At Hans G's words, the dwarf accepted my offer without hesitation.

"I'll give you 7 million."

However, the train has already left.

"It's too late. It has just risen in price to 15 million.

In fact, the cost of labor became equal to the cost of a test tube.

"Don't be foolish, barbarian," the dwarf muttered.

It's not that I didn't understand.

With such a small stature, it was probably difficult to look at the world from a wide perspective. It is quite natural that he did not know the basic principle of the market - supply and demand.

"Unreasonable?" I think it's a reasonable price. Especially when you consider that you won't give it up.

— ... 10 million stones.

"There is no room for negotiations here. If you don't like it, don't take it.

"Think rationally, barbarian. Are you going to give up that kind of money?

"It's your choice. Throw away the essence. Or pay us, keep it in a test tube and sell it.

I boldly insisted on my own to the end. This was the reason that monopolies could spread their depravity in the capitalist market. Business continued even in this way.

— ... Gosh darn!

The dwarf trembled with anger, then parted his lips.

"Okay, 15 million stones.

— The right decision.

"I'm not for you, but for them.

The dwarf looked at Hans G.

"What?" I don't understand what you mean...

"If you pay the money, I'll give you the ownership of this essence.

Selling on the spot, right? So that's what you've decided.

It was an emotional choice that rejected rationality. It made me flinch for a moment, but ultimately it wasn't much of a problem.

"We don't have that kind of money now.

"You can pay with equipment.

"Let me first discuss...

Hans G took some time to discuss with his teammates. Judging by the way their mouths moved silently, it seemed that they had activated command voice magic. It didn't take long. The conclusion was also not much different from what was expected.

"Well, we still need our equipment...

With the equipment level of Hans G's team, at least three of them would have to throw away their main equipment to make up the difference in price. It was simply pointless to exchange his equipment for an essence that was useless at the moment.

"So... Maybe we will pay you in the city?

— ... This is not an option.

There was no way that these guys from the underground city could sell Hansoo G on credit. Cornered, the dwarf sighed heavily. Then he looked at me and said very reluctantly:

"Barbarian, at the price you said...

- 20 million stones. She had just grown up again.

"Your... Mother...

"Or we can buy the essence from you for 15 million stones, do you want?"

— ... I'll pay 20 million stones.

The dwarf burst out with curses, but it didn't affect the result much. Even at this price, the business was still profitable - about 11.7 million stones.

No wait. So we got more profit?

Indeed, it was the sweetness of monopoly. Despite the fact that our number on the die was the smallest, it was we who got the largest share.

What an irony.

***

After the end of the negotiations, things went smoothly. First, we received 20 million gems from the dwarven team.

It is clear that they did not have such money. They tried to give us their equipment, but I refused, because they began to take a bunch of unused equipment out of their backpacks. How many people did they loot?

"Give us a potion so they can be easily turned into money.

— ... We can't pay you that many potions.

"Then I'll take the rest of the gear."

I shook as many potions out of them as I could, with good reason. Since we're going to have to fight these guys in the end, I've decided that it's best to reduce their strength as much as possible before then. If I could get the gear they wear, it would be easier to deal with them.

- 7 bottles of advanced potion and 11 high-rank potions. Plus the rest of the equipment... And it turns out something like this.

With the help of Raven, who was a certified appraiser, the deal ended on the spot without controversy, and after that, we camped in a suitable location.

From each team, one person was selected for the night watch, so a total of three were on duty in each shift. First on duty were Hans G, the dwarf, and Mr. Bear. I was next.

"Yandel, it's your turn.

"Has anything happened?" For example, a suspicious conversation between them?

Hans was mostly talking to himself. I even thought that it would be more comfortable and pleasant to stand alone in the night watch.

"Okay, today was a hard day. Go rest.

My companions in the Night's Watch were an elf archer named Meyrin and a beastman warrior of the White Wolf tribe. In many ways, it was an uncomfortable pastime.

Now I understand why he said that he would be more comfortable alone.

The Beastman warrior was silent, and the elf archer kept looking at me with a disapproving look.

"Do you want to tell me something?"

"Why don't you shut up while everyone is asleep?"

Oh, you fucking woodflicker.

What could be hated in good barbarians like us? It was clear that these guys had character problems. Ervena is an exception.

It doesn't matter, I'll just stand guard.

I was more afraid of the betrayal of these guys than of a sudden attack by monsters, because the likelihood of them stabbing us in the back was now much higher. I didn't know how Hans G was doing, but that dwarven bastard was clearly ready to stab us in the back.

Perhaps that's why they paid us so pliantly.

Even taking into account the monopoly, 20 million is an amount close to extortion. But he paid that amount so calmly, as if he had a way to get them back.

… That's probably the same with me.

I still hadn't given up on the essence in vitro, and was just waiting for the time to come.

"Misha, get up." Shift time.

After the end of the night shift, which was, to put it mildly, uncomfortable, I changed with Misha and fell asleep.

The next morning, the expedition resumed.

With the exception of eating, the rest of the time we searched the forest and as a result, we were able to find and defeat the two remaining intermediate bosses.

[You killed Duokorn. Experience +5]

[You killed Kulves. Experience +5].

Unfortunately, the essence did not fall out.

However...

"Huh?" Isn't that what you told us before?!

We managed to find Chapter 3, which I expected would take another day.

[You have entered the Altar of Shadows.]

As soon as we found the altar, a black shadow enveloped us. Before we knew it, a huge barrier had formed around us. The concept of this chapter and my purpose here were clear.

[A sealed usurper resides in the body of one of the expedition members].

Okay, it's time to play Among Us. And let's start with this bastard.

"Dwarf, your face isn't like that. Is there something wrong with your head?