Chapter 20

As soon as we were kicked out of the Dungeon, I checked what I have in my hands.

On my right hand is a broken knife. It just broke after we left the Dungeon. I will really need a more powerful weapon it seems. Or maybe it's just because I use the knife on something that shouldn't be cut. I need to do a lot of experiment for this.

Then on my left hand, it's something that shouldn't be able to be taken out of the Dungeon. The torch. With the flame still burning.

"Whoa, I can really take it out. I thought that even if I remove it from the wall, I can't bring it out of the Dungeon. I guess it still works," I said as I lift the torch to right in front of me and flipped it in the air.

Bob also walk over and look at the torch with me. He also reaches to the fire with his hand.

"It's still burning. But it doesn't burn just like how it is in the dungeon. When you attend Hero Academy, make sure to not do this in front of other people. Just don't take anything that normally can't be removed out of the dungeon unless you are with someone you can trust," Bob said.

"You're not going to say unless I'm entering a dungeon with you?" I asked.

"I know you. You are good at deciding people you can trust. I don't need to teach you that."

"…You have too much trust in me. Well, I won't ask why again. Where should I store this torch? It's not like I can take this out of the slum."

"Just use this building to store your belongings. It's an abandoned building after all. I'll tell the others that this is your warehouse so you can bring anything here."

Just like that and I got a building. Well, not legally. But it's good that I have a warehouse.

"Though unless it's something unavoidable, don't stay here. I still won't allow you to stay here," Bob said.

Well, he still forbids me to stay here even if he just gave me a building. But at least I have a new hideout in the slum. In case of emergency, I can bring my family here for their safety.

"Then I'll leave the torch here. It won't burn anything, right? I'll just leave it on the ground. Maybe I need something to cover it," I said.

I look around and grabbed a dusty blanket. Maybe someone in the past before Bob came here used this building as shelter. Leaving behind some blankets.

I covered the torch and the light is covered. If it's still giving light when I put it, then someone might be curious and take it when they see it. Even if this is Bob's territory, I still can't trust everyone here.

"Here's your clothes. Put it on. The magic mark on your body has disappeared," Bob said as he threw me my clothes.

"I thought that the battle could be harder so I removed my clothes. It was easier than I thought. I didn't even need to remove them. I didn't even receive any damage."

I put on the clothes and it feels lighter than before.

"You took my Magic Crystal?" I asked.

"Yes. And every item you ignored as well. I'll get you a better weapon next time so I will use your money. If it's not enough, then you need to clear more dungeons to get the money," Bob said.

"I guess that's fine. It's not like I can buy weapon myself right now. I'm still a high school student after all."

"So what kind of weapon you want? Knives?" Bob asked.

"Yes. If possible, a gun as well. But I think it will be hard with a gun. Just normal knives are fine. The more the better. It's just for a few months. Once I attended Hero Academy, I should be able to buy my own weapons," I said.

Weapon stores are extremely restricted. If you don't have the permit, you can't even buy a single knife from there. So you need to be a Hero or a Hero candidate. Someone who attended Hero Academies.

Though I believe a lot of criminal organizations or maybe someone like Bob has connections with people who sell weapons. That's why for now I'll trust Bob to get me weapons.

"Knives are difficult. They are easier to make since they are smaller than a sword. But not many blacksmith forge knives because not many people use them in a fight," Bob said.

And it's not like Hero needs a knife. If it's a normal fantasy setting where you have to dismantle a monster's corpse, then a knife is a necessity. But in this world, there's no need to have a dismantling knife. So not many people buy them. Not even for self-defense.

"Just a normal kitchen knife should be fine. I think the main reason why the knives broke was because I don't have enough mana to make them even stronger. Once my level increase, any weapon will be deadly in my hand," I said.

"Then I'll get you kitchen knives. And be satisfied with the quality of the weapon I bought for you. It's hard to get good quality weapon in any illegal store after all."

Now the problem with weapons is done. I can rely on Bob for that. I just need to give him the loot I got from the Dungeon.

"…Do you have to take everything? I don't have any other source of money other than from my allowance. So I don't want to spend them all for weapons." I asked.

It's still my first income. So I want some of it at least.

"Kaiser. I've seen how you fight."

Oh? Bob's tone as he said that seems serious. Is it something important?

"You are somehow experienced in fighting. And from the way you fought, it's a fighting style mainly used to fight against humans, right?"

He's right. He must be suspicious of the seemingly ordinary high school student to have so much experience in killing.

"Sorry but I can't tell you everything. It's part of the unspeakable," I said.

"I understand. I just want to suggest something to you. It's not something that I can ask a high school student to do. But if it's you, I think you will be fine. As you know, the slum is somewhat like an information guild. We are actually pretty secretive and no one really knows who and where we are. Other than people in the slum and you. So—"

"So you want to recruit me to join your information guild? Is that it?" I interrupted him.

"Right. And it's not like sharing information is the only thing we can do. We also receive commissions from clients and take care of them for money. We lack people who do that. So I want you to join and help us take care of missions from clients. Just think that we're like an adventurer guild in a game or novels you read," Bob said.

"Alright. I'll do that. Though I'm not really surprised by that. I can kind of expect that's what you do. Because it's not like you can get all those equipment in your base with money from dungeons. After I explored one, it seems like not all dungeons gave a lot of profits. So you must have other means. And I guess you receive requests from clients in exchange for a reward. But what surprises me most is that you know terms from games and novels. Do you play games?" I asked.

"Haha, I'm this old. Of course I experienced many things. Including games, novels, comics, and anime. Though I'm not as dedicated in these hobbies as you," Bob said.

That's cool. Maybe I can influence him to be even more of an otaku than this. I'll have him addicted to anime.

"If you're thinking of recommending something to me, don't bother. I just enjoy them to pass the time."

Plan failed before commenced. What a shame.

"So is there any mission you want me to take? Because it seems like you asked me to join you for this," I asked.

"Not at the moment. Whenever you need money, you can take a mission from this app. I don't really understand modern technology so you will have to ask someone else in the slum. And once you get the reward, you can give them to me or someone I assigned for you for us to get you weapons or something," Bob said.

I just rejected recruitment from a proper guild last week and avoided being involved with an illegal organization. But I ended up joining another illegal organization. But this one is better I think.

"Oh, by the way, if this organization is doing stuffs I don't like such as killing innocent civilians, I'll pass. It's best for us to never meet again if that's the case."

I don't mind cutting off my connection with someone like Bob if it's for something I believe in. Even in my past life, I refuse to kill innocent civilians. Though it's good that the gang I was in doesn't do that. I don't want the organization I'm in this time to be like that.

"It's fine. We also hate that. Don't worry about it. Also, even if you're with us, you can still join a guild in the future if you want. We don't have any restriction other than to not tell anyone about us. Not even your family. Unless you have no choice. But we will decide if your family can be trusted or not," Bob said.

"Then it's done. I'll join you guys."

"It's good to have you with us. The others will be happy to know this."

And we exchange a handshake as an agreement for me to join.

Still a group of homeless people actually created their own app? And it's even better than the app developed by the association? This slum is just too amazing.

Though I don't think I'll take any mission anytime soon. I'm tired today. And I don't have a weapon.

I think I'll take a mission every weekend at least if I don't have any plan. I can also get more money before entrance exam to the Hero Academy. That's good.