With my [Appraisal] Skill, I Became the Top of the Streaming World - Chapter 21
The next morning, I took the remaining two items recovered from the sealed room to the dealers.
The ancient magic steel dagger was chipped and beyond repair, but the steel itself held value. When I showed it to the dealer, the representative inspected the cross-section of the blade with a loupe.
"This is an old manufacturing method. It has more impurities than modern magic steel, but pieces from this era have a unique composition that collectors look for. How does 80,000 yen sound?"
"I’ll take it."
I brought the mana-stone vial to a dealer specializing in chemicals. I needed them to confirm whether the mana fluid inside had deteriorated.
"The preservation is excellent. The seal must have been perfect. That will be 35,000 yen."
"Thank you."
The two items together came to 115,000 yen. I still have the pleasure of calculating the final total for all five items from the sealed room once the restored pieces are finished.
◇
Three days later, the refinery contacted me to say the Ether Calculus was ready.
The stones I received at the shop were divided into three small vials. Each one was highly transparent, with a greenish light shimmering deep inside.
"This was my first time doing a set refinement from the same vein, and as expected, it’s much more efficient than doing them individually. The purity levels are perfectly consistent."
After confirming the finish, I asked for a purchase appraisal on the spot.
"What would the buyback price be for these three?"
"Subtracting the refining fee, we can offer 168,000 yen."
What would have been worth a few thousand yen as individual pieces had become 168,000 yen as a set. These were just stones rolling around under a ledge in a B4F passage.
On the way home, I opened the calculator app. Between the five items from the sealed room and the Ether Calculus, the total for this month alone was reaching a substantial amount—and that was without the two items still being repaired.
Every time I go to the dungeon, I find something. Whether it’s the power of the Appraisal skill or just luck, I’m grateful the streak is continuing.
◇
Three days later, I received a call from Asada.
"Mr. Makabe, do you have a moment? I’d like to speak with you in person."
"If this afternoon is alright."
"Thank you. Could you come to the Management Bureau office in Shinagawa?"
It was my first time entering the Bureau building since we exchanged paperwork. When I arrived at the appointed time, Asada was waiting at the counter and led me straight to a small meeting room.
"I’ll be direct. Mr. Makabe, we’d like to ask you to officially register as a Private Appraiser."
"A Private Appraiser?"
"It’s a qualification certified by the Bureau. Once officially registered, appraisal requests will come to you formally through the Bureau, and we’ll issue you a certificate. When individuals or businesses want to hire someone, you’ll be able to operate officially under your own name."
I asked about the difference between that and my current position as an "appraisal provider."
"Right now, you’re positioned as an unofficial collaborator. As a Private Appraiser, a formal fee structure will apply to every request. You may be asked to accompany Bureau investigations, though you retain the right to refuse."
"Can I continue my streams?"
"There’s no problem with that. In fact, the fact that a registered appraiser is streaming serves as a great educational tool for the entire industry."
Asada placed a document on the table outlining the registration conditions and procedures.
"You don't have to decide right now. However, due to the industry media article, the Bureau has started receiving inquiries about you. Having an official status would make things easier for both sides to navigate."
"Please let me think about it for a bit."
"Of course."
As I was leaving the room, Asada added, "This isn't meant to restrict your activities; it’s about officially recognizing them. I hope that much is clear."
I walked for a while after stepping outside. What exactly would it mean to have an official status? Until now, I’d operated as an "independent scavenger," and I thought that was enough. But with the industry article and 10,000 people watching, the situation is shifting.
"Can things really change this much in such a short time since I started scavenging?"
I didn't have an answer yet.
◇
At night, I started my 16th stream. My subscribers had reached 10,340.
"Today, I'm going to do a full lap of B3F. I've been focusing on B4F and B5F lately, so it’s been a while since I've been in the shallower sectors."
『He’s back!』
『Welcome back!』
『Congrats on 10k! Better late than never.』
"Thank you. Today will be a calm patrol of B3F."
B3F is well-maintained and easy to explore. However, because there are so many people, the obvious items are usually picked up early.
"The interesting thing about the upper floors is that things easy to overlook often remain. Everyone is looking for the big score, so small items tend to get left behind."
『True.』
『I never looked at it from that perspective.』
After about an hour of walking, I noticed some fragments scattered beside a drainage ditch in the passage. They were deep purple stones. Five or six pieces, none even a centimeter wide, were lying together.
"I wonder if someone broke this. It doesn't look like they were scattered intentionally."
I picked one up and directed [Appraisal] at it.
Mana-Seal Stone Fragments
Rarity: C (Individual)
Current Value: Nearly none (Due to fragmentation)
Notes: A Mana-Seal Stone shattered by some kind of impact. Useless on their own, but collecting a certain amount from the same source allows for fusion refining. After fusion, it may be restored to a quality close to the original stone. High probability of more fragments from the same source in the immediate area.
Recommended: Collect surrounding fragments before taking them to a refinery.
"These are fragments of a broken Mana-Seal Stone. They’re worthless individually, but apparently, if you gather pieces of the same stone, you can perform fusion refining."
『Another collection quest!』
『The Scavenger's new signature move.』
『Check the whole area!』
"On it."
I carefully checked around the drainage ditch—the corners of the walls, the grooves in the floor, and the edges of the passage. They were scattered everywhere. In total, I gathered eight pieces.
"I found eight fragments. If these are all from the same stone, fusion refining should be possible."
I directed [Appraisal] at the eight pieces together.
Mana-Seal Stone Fragments x8 (Same Source: Confirmed)
Fusion Refining: Possible (Requirement met with 8 pieces)
Estimated Value After Refining: 50,000–80,000 yen
Notes: Conditions for fusion refining are met by gathering fragments of the same origin. Expected to be restored as a Rarity B Mana-Seal Stone.
"They were all from the same stone. Once refined, they’ll be worth 50,000 to 80,000 yen."
The comments stopped.
『Trash turned into 50k.』
『Stuff like that is just lying around B3F?』
『The difference between knowing how to pick things up and not is just too much.』
"I’m sure everyone else just walked right past these fragments. They definitely don't look like anything valuable."
I tucked the eight pieces into my bag.
◇
By the time I closed the stream, viewership had exceeded 10,800. It has been growing steadily since I hit the milestone yesterday. My situation was undeniably changing.
On the way home, I opened the Management Bureau’s website on my phone and re-read the registration requirements for Private Appraisers.
"An official status, huh."
It isn't a bad offer. I know that. But I felt like this would be the trigger for something to change. I just wasn't sure yet if changing was the right answer.
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