After collecting everything from the chest we jumped ship and made temporary camp at the base of the dune. Summon shelter provided us with an open air pagoda like structure. Solid stone floor with four supports and brown roof. The colour was the only thing in common it had with wood. It was closer to stone than actual wood.

Yui pulled out a large table and enough chairs for everyone from her storage bag. I knew she had chairs in there but had no idea she could fit such large items. Looking down at my own storage bag, I promised to myself that I would one day have a bag more expansive than hers. Damn, was this bag envy? I gave my head a shake. No, this was magic item envy. Feeling better with that thought, I looked around the table.

Everyone looked both excited and exhausted. They perked up more when I conjured a large spread of food and drink on the table. We ate, drank, and celebrated our win over the giant sand pirate ship.

Azalea and Rose, the two beastkin sisters, only had a little to eat and drink before falling asleep at the table. Miko set her tent nearby and with Richard’s help, moved them inside. According to Rose, they had to wait until just before sunrise before they were able to contact their tribe. Something about nomad sentries.

Now that the two sisters were taken care of, it was time for the best part of the tower. The loot. We all got quiet as Yui reached into her bag. She noticed us watching and stopped. She removed her hand and placed them both on the table. “Before we look at the drops, I want to talk about that fight.”

She looked to Richard. “First of all, what was that spell?”

Miko leaned forwards. “Yeah! What was that? You can summon golems now?”

A shy smile sat on Richard’s face. “Avatar of the daystar. It conjures a short lived construction that explodes on command.” He scratched the back of his neck. “Only… I did not think that the explosion would blind us like that…. Sorry.”

“You didn’t think a construct of light would explode into blinding brightness?” Miko asked with a sarcastic tone.

“Well… when you say it like that...”

Yui smiled. “Maybe don’t practice new spells in a difficult fight like that.”

Burin nudged Miko with his elbow. “What about ye? Your level ten, right? What did you get?”

Miko grinned at the dwarf. “This.” There was a blurr of movement and suddenly Miko and Burin had changed places.

Burin let out a moan, bent over away from the table and got to retaste some of the conjured food.

Miko gipped the edge of the table with one hand. “I can swap positions with someone on my team instantly. Only… it can be a bit disorientating.”

Burin reached over to grab his glass and took a swig from it. “A bit?”

“Okay, something we can practice with later.” Said Yui. “Just don’t try new spells or skills before running it by me first, please.” She let out a sigh and after a moment reached into her bag. “Okay. With that out of the way… Let’s start with the easy stuff.” Gleaming gold coins appeared from her bag and were piled on the table in front of us.

Burin choked on his drink, spraying fizzy sugar water all over the table.

Miko whistled appreciatively. At the gold, I assumed, and not at Burin’s display.

Richard learned forward, getting a closer look. “So much from a single dungeon. We should just live out here.”

Burin let out a laugh. “We are only on floor six! Imagine what is possible above.”

Miko cut in. “No way we could have cleared something like that with so few people. Without Reigner, we would have likely joined the sisters, using corpses as blankets.”

Richard winced and looked over to the tent holding the survivors. “Right… of course.” He turned to me. “We owe you a lot.”

I waved him off. “You wouldn’t have been forced to take a mazer hole in the first place if you had not decided to join me. I’m the reason you are all here, and I am thankful for your company.”

Miko spat out her mouthful of drink. “Pfft. Thank you for your company?, not I couldn’t do it without you? I never noticed before, but you are not very humble aren’t you?”

“What do you mean?” I asked her. “I am the humblest person I know.”

Yui loudly sorted the gold into five stacks, bringing attention back to her. “There are forty one gold coins all together. Split five ways means we each get eight coins.”

Richard coughed. “And twenty silver.”

“Sure, if you want to be that precise.” Yui smiled, “I thought Reigner could have the extra as a bonus for his… contribution in defeating the captain.” She looked at me, a smile on her face. “Even if you took your sweet time.” For some reason, her smile did not seem as friendly as her tone implied. “I’m surprised you are even hungry after your… snack.”

I coughed and counted my stack of coins. Sure enough, the pile added up to nine. Richard looked between me and the stack of gold and let out a sigh. “I can’t argue against that. What snack? Did you try the ship’s soup?”

“Uh, no.” I placed a coin on the table in front of me with a satisfying clink. The sound brought everyone’s attention back to the coin. “I don’t need special treatment.”

With a finger, I pushed the coin to the centre of the table. “Instead of taking extra. Why don’t we use this coin to start the team’s celebration fund… for when we arrive on floor ten.”

“Agreed!” Miko chimed in enthusiastically. “A full gold? We can celebrate for a week!”

I glanced over to Burin, who was practically drooling at the gold coin on the table. Thinking about his circumstances outside the tower, the gold likely meant a lot to him. It made me happy that he now had a small fortune. Assuming eight gold was considered a fortune. Looking at the reactions of the others, I felt it was a safe bet.

Yui pulled out and handed each of us a small glowing gem. “Tower floor gems. There were sixteen of them in total. That gives us an idea on how many climbers were expected to challenge the ship.”

Richard pulled out a notebook and started writing. “Sixteen…” He repeated quietly to himself.

“Next up.” Yui pulled out a bundle of cloth and handed it over to Richard.

He stopped writing to look over the item. “Exceptional rank. Very nice.” The item was then passed around the table as he went back to his writing.

[Robes of the Shifting Sands]

Quality: Exceptional (Magical)

Weight: 700g

Value: 5g – 20g

Effect: These robes will form to comfortably fit the wearer, providing minor protection from the elements. Good protection from physical attacks, and great protection from physical projectiles. Can store and hide small items inside itself. Self cleaning. Self repairing.

Once it reached back to Yui, she placed it on the centre of the table. “Okay, who is interested?”

“Hey.” I said as I glared at her. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Don’t ask us if we want an item before we have seen ALL the items.”

Burin let out a chuckle. “Worried ye might miss out on a spell book?”

“Bloody oath I am.”

Burin gave me a confused look. “Ye making a blood oath?”

“Uh… no… I mean of course I want a new spell.”

Miko leaned back into her chair. “I agree with the Hero. I want to see everything before making a decision.”

“Me too.” Added Richard, glancing up towards me as he continued to write in his book. Damn, I forgot I had him to compete with.

Yui sighed. “Fine. Here. Have a look.” She glared first at me and then Richard. “Only a look.”

[Rum Flask of lamentation]

Quality: Rare (Magical)

Weight: 250g

Value: 10g – 20g

Effect: The flask will be filled with a random variation of Rum after each sunset.

[Sanfur Tail Whip]

Quality: Rare (Magical)

Weight: 2.5kg

Value: 2-5g

Effect: This whip is the dismembered tail of a legendary Sand Pirate. The whip has a chance on each attack to hook an opponent’s weapon or gear and either disarm or pull them towards you, this effect can be resisted with enough strength.

[Sanfur’s Sabre of Shielding]

Quality: Exceptional (Magical)

Weight: 1.5kg

Value: 5g – 10g

Effect: Attacks made by this sabre will form a protective bubble around the wielder that will absorb a small percentage of damage delt. Weapon will need time to reform a protective bubble once the bubble has been broken.

As Richard looked over the next item, a small compass looking device, his eyes widened, and he dropped the item on the table.

Burin, who was next to him, picked it up and looked it over. “By the tower. Was this how the ship targeted people?”

“Yes. I believe it was.” Replied Richard in a shaky voice.

[Compass of the Hunt]

Quality: Rare (Magical)

Weight: 70g

Value: 10g – 20g

Effect: This compass will always point towards the nearest neutral or unfriendly climber or creature. You can adjust the compass to focus on either creatures or climbers.

The compass was sized to fit comfortably in one hand. There was a button that unlatched the lip, making it spring open, inside was a red arrow pointing off to my left. On the side was a small leaver that could be moved into three positions. There was a small image of a human, a creature on all fours, and a tear drop. The arrow only swiveled slightly as I switched positions, all pointing somewhere to my left.

“This could be useful.” I commented as I passed it over for Miko to look at.

“Useful?” Richard asked. “Yeah. So useful that high ranked climbers would either pay a fortune or kill to have one.”

“Shit.” Miko said before passing it to Yui. “We are so rich!”

After looking at the item Yui peered over to where the beastkin where sleeping. She turned back to us and spoke quietly. “Don’t mention this item to anyone. We can use it until we reach floor ten. Then I suggest we sell this to the guild.”

Richard nodded. “If so much as a rumor gets out that we have one of these, we will have targets painted on our backs. Even after we give it up.”

Burin learned forward. “Hey, no one is giving anything. Selling on the other hand…”

“Yes, don’t worry.” Yui cut in, placing the item back on to the table. “The guild will pay high price for an item like this.”

She reached into her storage and pulled out an item that caught my attention. An ornate scroll made from green jade and golden parchment was passed towards Richard. It looked to be about sixty centimeters in length. From the look, it must hold an incredible spell.

I watched very closely as Richard took the scroll from Yui and examined the item. It felt like he was taking an eternity inspecting the item. Pulling my eyes of the scroll, I noticed that Richard’s face was deathly pale, his eyes were open in horror as he continued to look down at the scroll. He glanced quickly to Yui before looking back down and opening the scroll.

“Hey!” Miko shouted out.

Crap, he was trying to learn the spell before I got to even see it! His horrified expression must have been fear of not learning the spell. I stood up and leaned over Burin to get a closer look.

It was not a spell book, of that I was certain. Blank gold shimmering parchment lay open under Richard’s gaze. His eyes were rapidly scanning over the parchment like a man possessed. Was it a cursed item? Worried that he was in danger I pulled the scroll out from his grasp.

“No dont!” Richard almost screamed the words as I looked over the item.

[Scroll of The Tower]

Quality: Mythical (Magical)

Weight: 600g

Value: ???

Effect: This scroll can be opened once per day for five minutes. After the allotted time the scroll will forcefully close until the nest sunrise. Once opened, the scroll will show a map of the current floor, detailing your position, landmarks, and all points of interest you deem important. This map can only be seen by the one that opens the scroll.

In a panic he said. “Take it and run. Don’t let anyone else see that.” Shakily, he added “It would mean our deaths.”

The parchment was blank to me. “It’s just some kind of map.”

Yui reached towards the scroll. “Let me see.”

“Don’t!” Richard cried out, his chair knocked to the ground as he jumped to his feet. “They will kill us.” He then started pacing “Shit. This is bad.”

Miko looked confused. “It’s like the compass right? I’m sure we can just sell it to the guild for a good price.”

Yui stayed seated, her hands outstretched in a calming motion. “Relax, no one is killing anyone.”

Richard slammed his hands on the table. “Don’t trust her. She and Miko will be fine. But us? I’m from another guild, Burin is a Dwarf, and you… you are too new to be trusted… Shit.” He then started pacing back and forth again.

I peered down at the scroll. Would this really cause that much of a problem? I looked between the panicking Richard and Yui who looked a bit confused but otherwise calm.

The item was impressive for sure, rated Mythical in fact, but so were the knives we received. It only worked for five minutes each day. I have seen way more impressive maps back in the other world without such restrictions. This world was too different to what I was used to and did not feel qualified to make a decision.

Since according the Richard, Burin was just as likely to suffer from the wrong decision as the rest of us, it was only right for him to have a look.

“What do you think?” I asked as I passed the scroll over to him.

Richard became more manic and started moving away from the table.

Burin’s reaction was much like Richard’s. As he read over the description, blood drained from his face. I had never seen a dwarf so pale. He turned to me and held out the scroll. He opened his mouth, but no words followed. I took the scroll back and calmly waited. I was hesitant to hand over the scroll to Yui after both of them reacted so severely. Was it really so dangerous?

Both Yui and Miko were on their feet now.

Miko had a worried expression on her face, and she looked between Yui and Richard. “What’s going on?”

Yui started walking around the table towards us. “No one is going to kill anyone. Whatever the item, I will not allow any harm to the group or it’s members. I would rather destroy or abandon it, over turning it in to the guild if it meant the safety of my team.”

Richard let out a manic giggle before vomiting onto the sand.

Fuck he was really freaking out. I had to make a choice. I looked back to Burin, he was staring blankly at the table in front of him, not moving. From what I knew about Yui, she was disciplined, kind, and had not given me any reason thus far to distrust her. Hiro seemed to be all about that samurai honor thing I remembered being a big deal back on Earth. The map was useful sure, but was it really so coveted?

Letting out a sigh, I turned to Yui and held out the scroll. “Honestly, I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s a nice item sure, but pretty limited.”

“An item’s limitations can vastly increase the strength of its ability.” Richard’s response sounded almost automatic. He was now by the front of the ship, watching us. As I handed the scroll towards Yui, he started climbing his way up the ship towards the captain’s quarters.

I watched as Yui looked the item over. Her face did not drain of blood like the others, but neither did she move. She stood still as stone, her head bent over the scroll. The only movement she did make was to flick her eyes towards Burin, and then myself. Did I just make a terrible decision?

She looked to be thinking furiously before lifting her head and meeting my gaze. “Richard is right, if the guild were to see this, they would kill him and Burin for sure.”

She turned around and looked into the dark sandy ocean before continuing. “That’s why we need to get rid of it.”

“Don’t trust her.” Richard’s voice came through the party ring link. “That scroll transcends levels.”

“Wait.” Yui spoke through the party ring. “I’ll give the scroll to Reigner, He can take it out into the sands and bury it. We will hold onto his storage pack while he hides it and can pat him down on return. No one is dying over this Richard. Please calm down.”

“I won’t tell anyone about the scroll. Please don’t look for me. I’m sorr-” His voice cut out on the last word. A moment later and I could hear him shouting from the top of the ship “I read the map.” His voice was no longer boosted through the party link. “There is a mazer hole here. At the back of the cabin… Don’t look for me.”

Yui’s hands clenched around the scroll as she looked up towards the deck of the ship. After a moment she turned to the rest of us. “Guess we have lost our healer.” She said with a sad smile.

“Over that Scroll? What is it? Let me see.” Miko stepped towards Yui.

Before she could grab it, Yui passed it back to me. “I’m sorry Miko. It’s better if you don’t know.”

“What?!” Miko complained. “But everyone else looked at it!”

Yui sighed. “Please Reigner, take it somewhere far from here and bury it in a place we won’t find…” very softly she added, “before I change my mind.”

I looked down again at the scroll, looking it over one last time.

[Scroll of The Tower]

Quality: Mythical (Magical)

Weight: 610g

Value: ??? - ???

Effect: This scroll can be opened once per day for five minutes. After the allotted time the scroll will forcefully close until the nest sunrise. Once opened, the scroll will show a map of the current floor, detailing your position, landmarks, and all points of interest you deem important. This map can only be seen by the one that opens the scroll.

I could see the appeal for the item but surely there were way better mapping tools than this thing. I remember having a pair of glasses that would automatically map out your surroundings. I thought about the item a bit longer before mentally slapping myself. All points of interest that I deem important… Does that mean I could use this to find spell books on every floor? The temptation to keep the item was almost irresistible. I wondered if I could swap it out for something but decided it was not worth the risk with both Miko and Yui watching me carefully.

Yui motioned towards my hip. “Before you go, leave your storage pack behind.”

“No need.” I handed the scroll over to my shadow.

“Toss it.” I said flatly.

My shadow took a few steps away from us and aimed somewhere in the distance. With a twist from his body, he wound back, and then launched the mythical scroll into the distance. I could only track the blurred item for a few seconds before it was absorbed by the dark night sky.

“There.” I let out a sigh. “Now even I won’t know where it is.”

My shadow pointed in the distance. “It’s over there, but good luck finding it in all this sand.” He chuckled.

Yui just nodded, dropped into the nearest chair, and stared blankly at the table. I guess it was hard for her to lose both a team member and powerful item.

I rested a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. There will be better items in the future.”

She let out a small sad laugh in return.

“Um, where did the sisters go?” Miko asked.

I looked over and sure enough, the tent’s flap was wide open. Only two empty sleeping rolls lay inside.

“Oh, they went with Richard.” My shadow said cheerfully.

“What?” Yui asked, sounding slightly panicked.

My shadow copy stretched backwards. “Oh yeah, they woke up after Richard started freaking out. Followed him on to the ship.”

“That’s not good.” I said.

“Why?... ohh right” He let out another chuckle.

“What?” Miko asked.

“They are still only wearing conjured robes.”

“So what…” Miko’s face blushed. “Oh…”

I tried not thinking about the firm, curvy, and very naked form of Miko pressed against me.

Yui looked up from her brooding. “What’s wrong?”

My shadow grinned. “Let’s just say Richard will have a wonderful morning.”

“Sisters.” I commented.

My shadow nodded sagely. “Sisters.”