Chapter 13: Interest Rate

The 20 hours unseen by human hunting challenge wasn't that difficult.

No, I haven't completed it, but the hardest part was the first two hours on the second floor. No, it wasn't because it was crowded by low ranked adventurers working the night shift but because I wasn't used to hunting with my senses.

You see, before I just followed the map and avoided 'mortals' while hunting. But now, I had to be an actual hunter. 'Haah,'

However, being the chad that I am, I quickly got used to it. I killed monsters while listening in to my surroundings, took their core while 'smelling' my surroundings, and moving through the dungeon while avoiding detection from humans. I ignored collecting magic stones and simple smashed the head of my oppositions with my cactus when humans were close by and moved into the next hall.

From 5:20, it quickly became 9:20, and I was an hour away from completing the 3rd floor when things turned difficult once more. You see, the day shift hunters started entering the dungeon, and they were more, MUCH more than the night shift.

I started playing hide and seek with my fellow adventurers more than I was hunting—but then again when you can just slap a goblin, and it dies, is that really hunting? The problem arose when the level 2 and 3 started either leaving the dungeon from their last descent into the dungeon's depth that might have lasted days.

They were difficult to sense.

It was Byzantine.

Am I using that word right? I think I am, and if I am, you should understand that I almost lost my three hours of work on the fourth floor because a high level dwarf decided to go down the dungeon. He was so silent, so scentless, and the only reason I didn't fail was because a magic stone rolled into another passage and being a simple man looking for money, I followed it and went to pick it up, and then he walked past without looking at me.

Bro was like a fucking ghost.

I guess that what happens when you reach a higher level and monster and other hunter's senses start getting better. But damn, my heart nearly jumped out my chest when I saw bro walk past. 

He sensed me, 100%. But he didn't really care to look and for that, I thank him.

Fuck.

After that, things continued.

~5:20 to ~7:20 for 2 floors.

~7:25 to ~ 10:25 for 3rd floor.

~10:30 to ~ and It's currently around 2 pm.

I have completed the hunting requirement on the fourth floor but not the time requirement, so I decided to just finish my twenty summons for today's mission before I forget and a new day starts.

While keeping my sense up, I called up the summoning banner and went to the event summoning. Ten premium tickets from the 'Enhance one weapon to 6' used and without looking at the reward, I used the Ten premium ticket from the 'Defeat an elite-type monster.'

With that out of the way, I opened my inventory. 

Twenty summons, and what did I get? 2 weapons and 1 armor. The rest was upgrade materials and 30 thousand Valis. 'Ok, this pull was buns.' All the weapons were common weapons. 'Haah.'

At least this one looked cool. It was called the 'Knuckle Dusters' which is basically two leather gloves with rusty saw blade tips along the area that covers the first bone in the fingers when counting from the hand to the tip of the finger. I don't know what that bone is called since I ain't no biologist, so you got to count.

It is a rank 2 weapon and miraculously, it fitted! 

Bye-bye cactus, hello gloved brass knuckles. My blunt damage paid the price for my increase in base attack, piercing damage, and dexterity. Equipping them, I looked down at the gloves that cover my entire palm down to my wrist and around the area where the sawblade tips were attached to were 'fortified.' 

Getting in a boxing stance, I quickly threw a right hook, a jab, dodging to the side and performing an uppercut while making those 'tst' sound they make to sound cool. 

Yeah, these were better. Too bad I can't throw a good punch at those short motherfuckers known as goblins. But I know that different monsters appears on the next floor—

Catching a dungeon lizard off the air, I spiked it to the ground causing it to screech out in pain and stomped on it. 

Those dungeon lizards were large, about the size of a 'perentie' back on earth. I remember that unknown lizard because I used it as a base for creating most 'drakes' in my game, but let's forget that.

Apart from the brass knuckle gauntlet, the other weapon I got was a rank 0 sabaton for the feet. Too small to fit, and I prefer my boots even if they could have fitted. The last was a rank 9 common sword. 

'Why have I been getting multiple rank 9 weapons?' First was the bow, then the nuke, now this sword? Whatever.

The sword was simply called a 'Gold Plated 3-Ring Rapier,' It was a thin sword that weighs around 30 pounds—yep, it's heavy—and an overall length of 44 inches. It had a gold-plated 3-ring guard with 'intricate' loops designed to protect the hand and the guard's fluid curves wrap around the hilt. The handle itself is wrapped in a red and silver cross-weave pattern, and the hexagonal pommel is gold-plated to match the guard.

Honestly, it looked more like a decorative item than a sword that would be used in actual battle, but when I ran it across the dungeon wall, I thought otherwise.

'Damn.' A long mark was left across the wall trailing the path the sword took. 'And I didn't even use any strength.'

I literally just ran its tip across the wall, but it made sense. This sword, though common, was made to fight against rank 8 monsters and adventurers so its cutting and piercing capability were around that level. Including its durability, I guess.

But damn. 'Haah.' Too bad I can't use it. This 'sword' looks more like a 'slightly longer dagger' in my hands. Haah.

The pain of being a large man.

At least I can—

"JESUS CHRIST!"

My heart almost came out of my throat when I noticed a child standing in front of me. And trust me, if a child suddenly appeared in front of you while you were standing in an empty and quiet hall, you would scream like a bitch like I did.

While I calmed my beating heart, I inspected the child. 'Eh?' 

The young girl stood at a height of 145 cm with a slender and petite build, and long, graceful limbs. Her face is delicate and youthful, with large, golden eyes that give her a gentle and innocent appearance, and her golden-blond reached down to her mid-back, falling in loose waves around her shoulders, with bangs framing her face, some strands falling over her forehead. She wore a blue armor dress with a sword scabbard on her back that held no sword.

'Little level 4?' It didn't take me long to recognize the girl. Sword Princess, the youngest and quickest to reach level 2, also known as, Ais of Loki.

I saw her with this same armor at around one or one thirty, but back then she had a sword in that scabbard on her back. Now, it's around two, so she has been in the dungeon for;

'Twelve hours?' Damn. And she's only eleven. 'Well, I guess most of that time would be spent traveling to the lower floor, but still impressive.' And she has no guardian? I know she is a level 4, but...

Oh, I guess the age of adulthood is 12... Wait, she is eleven, so not yet an adult. The Loki Familia are—

'Why is she not moving?' Ah, I am a massive hunk of a man, and I'm standing in the middle of the path.

I stepped to the side, but she didn't move. I moved again, but she didn't— 'No, she did.' I moved my hand, her eyes followed. I moved it again, and it did once more. 'Hmm...' She was looking at my gold Rapier.

"You want it?" I held it out to her. 

My voice snapped her back to reality, and she quickly nodded. 'Hmm...' She must want a sword because hers broke, but ain't no way I'm giving her this shit. 

Especially not when she fucking broke my nine hours streak. And I was so very close to completing the fourth floor. I lightly had to stop myself from screaming at this child. I would have if she wasn't a level four.

I doubt I can beat level four even if she is a child. Level 2? Level 1? Maybe, but nothing level three or above though.

"No." No need for explanation. Fuck this child. 

"Please." She begged, giving me those cute baby eyes.

Squatting I was still taller than her, but this brought our eye level closer, and I looked into her golden eyes. "No." 

Standing I held the sword behind my back then brought the hand from behind my back. "Gone," I snapped, "Like that."

I walked past her, "Go buy another sword."

"They all break." She ran to block my path, looking up at me with pleading eyes. "Please."

"Yeah, all swords break when you use them enough, kid." I waved, walking past her. "It's called durability. Your parents should have taught you that." I noticed her reaction. 'Aww~ Mommy and Daddy are dead~ LOL!'

I am a hater, fuck them kids. She stayed in the hall while I decided to restart my streak. 'Four hours again.' Haah, fucking child. Well, whatever. It wasn't her fault. It was mine for not having a good enough sense.

I collected the reward for summoning 30 times and got a x50 basic summoning ticket, which I decided to hold for now and completing all the daily missions gave me 50,000 exp. 

Oh, I sense a stupid goblin strolling around like the dumb monster it is. Let me go take out my frustration on—

"Holy SHIT!" I almost kicked her. I should have!

"Say something when you appear like this!" Fuck, my old heart can take this man.

She looked to the ground apologetically but said nothing. "Say sorry."

"S-sorry..." She muttered, and I nodded. 

"What?" She now had a sword, looked pretty good and well-made. New, in fact. 'She must have asked someone for their sword, and I'm sure they would give such a cute girl a sword.'

"See." She ran away, and I turned to walk the other way, but she was in front of me again. 

'...'

"This way." She beckoned me like I was a child and ran past me.

'Let me humor her so she will leave me.' I followed her down the hall to see the lone goblin charging at her. They were almost the same height which was laughable, but then again, she is a child.

She also charged at the goblin, and with one slashed, she cleanly sliced its head off. 'Ok?'

Then the goblin exploded.

'...' 

Then the sword shattered.

'???'

She turned to me and held out a hilt with no blade. "I see..." I do see it.

100% durability brought down to 0% from one attack. "This was a second class weapon..." She muttered, looking down at the blades on the ground.

'I don't know what that means, but I guess it was supposed to be good.' I nodded, 'So, I guess she is able to recognize the quality of swords.' It made sense, really. She has been a hunter for four years, I believe, so she must have gained that experience over time.

Hmm... "One-hundred million valis."

Her eyes sparkled. "Ok!" She nodded vigorously.

"Three-hundred million." She kept nodding. "Five-hundred million." This time she hesitated but still nodded. 'I guess this is the price.'

"Pay up."

"I..." She went silent thinking, "I can use the Loki familia emblem..."

"Do you have it?"

"No..." 

"GG, fam, no money, no sword." I turned to walk away, and she was in front of me again. 'Haah.'

"I-I can use my signenature?" She struggled to pronounce a word, but I knew.

"Signature?" She nodded. "Do you have a pen or a paper?" She froze, then shook her head. "..."

This eleven years old is fucking stupid.

'heheheHAHAHAHA!' FUCKING STUPID!

"Ok, let's do this." I held my hand behind my back and brought it in front of her with the sword. "I will give you this sword." Her eyes sparkled as she reached for it, but I moved it back causing her to stop. "But you have to pay me in a day."

She nodded.

"Every day past that would be a compound interest of one-thousand percent."

She fucking nodded.

They need to teach this child something else apart from hunting. Loki is so irresponsible. 

"Let's shake on it." I squatted and extended my right hand, and she extended hers and we shook. 'Tiny hand.' But her palms weren't soft. 

They were that of a swordsman. 'Respect.'

I tried to move it for the shaking gesture, but her hand didn't budge. 

"... Now, the contract is made." I released her hand and stood up. 'But will it count since she isn't an adult yet? Does she need to be in the present of an adult for it to work?'

If it doesn't work, I can just take back my sword since It's still mine since she hasn't paid.

I opened my palm. "Yours." 

She immediately took it by the hilt and held it. The gold match her hair and eyes, and it looked like it was made personally for her. 'Though,' It looked more like a longsword than a Rapier due to her small size.

Eh, who cares.

"Thank you!" She smiled brightly then disappeared. 

Literally.

'...' Let's forget her and complete this mission. 'Then we will have to avoid the Loki Familia for two days.' 

Shouldn't be so hard when you have a map.

I made a good investment and should see a 1000% return in two days of 60.5 billion. 'Or my sword back.' Or 500 million. Whichever case, It's still a win for yours truly.

Haah~Tricking that child calmed my mind after losing my streak of going unnoticed.

What a good day next tomorrow will be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Author's Note~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had to rewrite the end part like five times because of young Ais. Couldn't get her personality right and I don't think I still got it right. Tried reading some of the novel where she was a child, but eh.

If it isn't good, I will delete it and rewrite the end part once more. Give me ya opinions fam.