With my [Appraisal] Skill, I Became the Top of the Streaming World - Chapter 23
The next morning, I brought the Mana-Resonance Stones to my usual dealer.
The representative stared at the two stones placed side-by-side for a long moment without moving.
"Are these... both from the same stone?"
"They were split from the same unit."
"This is the first time I've seen them brought in together. They have no value when separated, so usually, people only ever bring in one half."
After checking them carefully against the light, he offered 155,000 yen.
"If you ever find another pair in the future, please bring them to us."
"If I find any more, I certainly will."
As I was leaving, I noticed a missed call from the repair shop.
『The two items you found in the sealed room are finished. Drop by whenever you have time.』
It was a voicemail. It took quite a while, I thought, but I headed straight there to pick them up.
◇
The two items I received from the repair shop looked completely transformed.
The exterior damage on the Old-Model Mana Amplifier had been patched, and the internal formulas were now so stable they were almost visible. "The formula construction is much more meticulous than modern products," they told me.
After paying the repair fees, I immediately made the rounds to several magic tool specialists. The Old-Model Mana Amplifier was valued at 190,000 yen, and the Mana-Storage Charm fetched 52,000 yen.
Recalculating the total for the five items from the sealed room, the amount I’ve earned so far—even excluding the two items still being repaired—has exceeded 350,000 yen. Even after subtracting the repair costs, I’m well into the black. All of this came out of a room that wasn't even on the map.
"I really owe it all to this Appraisal skill."
◇
Shortly after noon, I headed to the address provided by the Management Bureau. This was my first official request as a registered Private Appraiser.
The client was an explorer in his 30s who appeared to work solo. He was waiting in a small shared workspace he seemed to be using as an office.
"Are you Mr. Makabe? I heard you were just registered the other day."
"That’s correct."
"Are you... going to be alright?"
"I may be newly registered, but I am well-practiced in appraisal itself."
Are you going to be alright?, huh. He’s right to be anxious, given how new I am. I’m the one who chose this path; now I have to prove myself through the results of my work.
"Hmph. Fine. These are the items I’d like you to look at today."
Eight pieces of equipment were lined up on the table: two swords, three charms, two magic stones, and one bracelet. He had apparently bought them over the past year.
I appraised them one by one.
Seven of them were fine—quality that matched the market price, with no contamination or forgery. However, when I directed [Appraisal] at the eighth item—the bracelet—something caught my eye.
Mana-Circulation Bracelet (Sealed State)
Rarity: B
Current Value: Low (Due to seal)
Estimated Value After Unsealing: 180,000–250,000 yen
Notes: Appears to be a common, deteriorated bracelet, but a formula is sealed within. The seal is intentional and can be removed by a specialist. Without an appraiser, this item would likely be sold off at a pittance.
Recommended: Take to a specialist in magic tool unsealing.
"This bracelet has a seal on it."
The man raised his eyebrows. "A seal? You mean it’s not just broken?"
"The formula was intentionally suppressed. If you have it unsealed, it will be worth 180,000 to 250,000 yen."
There was a long silence.
"How much did you buy it for?"
"8,000 yen. At a second-hand market."
"It was likely priced low because of the sealed state. You should take it to a specialist."
The man stared at the bracelet for a while, then let out a deep breath.
"I’m so glad I asked an appraiser. Thank you!"
"The other seven items were all fine. You clearly have a good eye for what you buy."
I filled out the appraisal details on the official forms provided by Asada and handed them to the client. There was a section at the bottom for the appraiser’s registration number and signature. I felt a bit of pressure as I signed my name for the first time.
After receiving my fee, I headed home. My first official job ended much more quietly than I expected.
◇
At night, I started my 18th stream. My subscribers were at 11,250.
"Today, I'm patrolling B3F. Small items are often left behind in the upper floors, so I'm going to look carefully."
At the entrance, I made eye contact with the middle-aged staff member.
"Back again?"
"Yes."
"I saw a few unfamiliar faces loitering around the entrance yesterday. Might be looking for you."
"Is that so."
"I won't tell you to be careful, but... just keep it in mind."
He left it at that and walked away. The talk from the "Identity Thread" might be reaching the actual dungeon sites now.
Shifting my focus, I entered B3F. Tonight, I moved even more meticulously than usual—checking along the walls, the corners of the passages, and under ledges.
The comments drifted by slowly.
『I low-key love this.』
『Watching him search every nook and cranny is so relaxing.』
『Wonder what'll turn up today?』
About 40 minutes in, I spotted an old leather bag lying by the side of the passage. It was about the size of a fist, made of worn brown leather, with the top tied off with a cord. It was filthy and looked like literal trash.
"There's a bag here. Looks like I can pick it up."
『That looks like actual garbage.』
『What do you think is in it?』
『Appraise it!』
When I picked it up, it was much heavier than it looked. It had a weight that didn't match its size.
"...It’s heavy. For its appearance."
I used [Appraisal].
Dimensional Storage Bag (Old Model · Contains Items)
Rarity: B (Including storage function)
Current Value: Medium (Depends on contents)
Notes: An old-style storage tool woven from mana. The internal space is much larger than the exterior. Currently contains multiple items. The material of the bag is deteriorating; the storage function may expire soon.
Recommended: Remove contents immediately.
The chat went still.
"There’s something inside. The space inside is larger than it looks, and several items are stored there."
『Wait, what?』
『A pocket dimension in a bag?』
『Open it! Open it!』
『How did no one notice that?』
"I suppose it's because it looks so worn out that everyone assumed it was trash. Even I wouldn't have picked this up without the Appraisal skill. It seems to be deteriorating, so let's take everything out now."
I untied the cord. When I opened the mouth, the depth was impossible given the bag's exterior size. I reached in.
The first thing I pulled out was a small cloth bundle. Inside was a deep red magic stone.
High-Grade Crimson Magic Stone
Rarity: A
Estimated Value: 220,000–280,000 yen
Notes: High mana density; wide range of uses as a catalyst or material. Excellent condition with no degradation.
"...It’s a magic stone worth 220,000 to 280,000 yen."
The comments exploded.
『Straight out the gate??』
『220k from a bag!』
『And that's just the first item??』
"There’s more inside. Continuing."
The second item was a thin metal bracelet.
Silver-Mana Alloy Bracelet
Rarity: B
Estimated Value: 50,000–70,000 yen
Notes: Alloy of silver and magic steel. Lightweight and highly durable.
Third item: a rolled-up piece of what looked like paper.
Old Formula Manuscript (Partially Decipherable)
Rarity: C
Estimated Value: 15,000–20,000 yen
Notes: Records of old formulas. A specialist could partially decipher it.
"A formula manuscript. Around 20,000 yen."
The fourth item was a bundle of three charms tied together.
Sealing Charms - Old Model (Deteriorated) x3 Rarity: D Value: Nearly none Notes: Formulas have expired over time.
"These are worthless. They’re charms, but the formulas have run out."
『3 out of 4 were hits!』
『That 220k stone carried the whole bag lol』
『Who put that there and why?』
"I don't know. Maybe someone dropped it a long time ago, or maybe it was hidden. The bag itself was deteriorating, so it must have been here for a long time."
I checked the bag one last time. It was empty.
"That's everything. Since the bag was about to fail, I'm glad I could get these out tonight."
『Perfect timing.』
『Is this the 'Scavenger's Eye'?』
『I bet people have been stepping on that for years.』
"I’m sure plenty of people have."
◇
By the time I ended the stream, viewership had climbed past 12,500.
On the way home, I opened the "Identity Thread" for the first time in a while.
『Late last week, I saw a guy in a hood near the entrance of the Shinagawa Pier No. 7 Dungeon. Height around 170–175cm. He went in alone. Could that be him?』
An eyewitness account. It wasn't just online speculation anymore; it was a post from someone who had actually seen me there.
Feeling a chill, I closed my phone. It connected perfectly with what the staff member had said about "unfamiliar faces loitering." People who were looking for me had started showing up at the site.
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