I'll pay you your returns!

Come to think of it, I'd skipped out on the third-place match after the semifinals. But due to various circumstances, it seems 80 silver coins in fight money had been deposited anyway.

So, back at the base.

"About that money I was holding onto, most of it came as large gold coins, so let me divide it up!"

I pulled out the coin pouch I'd received from the Goddess.

"Hey, Karina!? I heard you didn't even win, so what's with all this gold!? Where'd you steal it from!?"

"How rude. This is money I got from the Goddess. Oh, and Dea-kun, I'll pay you your returns properly! Um, how many gold coins was it again?"

"… If you got money from the Goddess, doesn't that make it sacred currency…? Anyway, my share was 20 gold coins. I'll take 2 large gold coins then."

For now, 20 large gold coins to Mashiro-san, 2 large gold coins to Dea-kun.

Then I gifted one large gold coin each to Aishia and all the Five Elders as a bonus.

That leaves me with the remaining 72 large gold coins - that's 720 gold coins!!

"O-ooh, oooooh… seriously, seriously!? 20 large gold coins!?"

"… Ooh… I feel like I've become filthy rich too."

"You know, 700 gold coins is nothing to sneeze at even as startup capital for a trading company. You're genuinely wealthy now."

While Mashiro-san and I were over the moon, Dea-kun calmly put away his large gold coins.

… Kuh, so cool and handsome…!

"Goddess's large gold coins… I wonder if they'd make good crafting material?"

"I might process mine into a weapon. Seems like it'd be good for warding off evil spirits."

"I think I'll just keep mine as is. It's a present from Kari-chan, after all."

"I'll make a pendant setting that can hold the coin and turn it into a necklace. Want me to make one for Aa-chan too?"

"I'll probably embed mine in a cup. It should make a great purification catalyst."

Even though it's pocket money, the Five Elders don't seem interested in spending it as actual currency.

"… Master, didn't I tell you before that 'getting an allowance worth more than my own price feels complicated'?"

"Keep it for emergencies! Please!"

"… Haah, understood. I'll have Grandma turn mine into a pendant too and keep it on me at all times. Um, thank you very much. But I'm absolutely not quitting being a slave!"

Aishia scolded me a little, but oh well.

"Oh, so Mashiro-san, what are you going to have made?"

"With 20 large gold coins, I think we can make some pretty good stuff!"

"A weapon and some armor, plus one item? How's that sound?"

"For Mashiro-san, we can throw in an extra one at family pricing."

"An aphrodisiac works too, you know? I'll make it my top priority, just. for. you?"

And just like that, the Five Elders started trying to squeeze money out of Mashiro-san's share. My oh my, what entrepreneurial spirit!

… So that's why they didn't use their own gold coins as money!

"Ooh! Can I really place an order already!? I want a dagger for the weapon, light armor for the armor. As for the item, I'll leave it to your expert judgment, ladies."

"Alright, alright, let's get your measurements - strip, strip!"

"Then how about a Wind Claw Dagger? It probably suits you, and you'll save on throwing weapons too."

"Speed enhancement… no wait, let's go with thought-acceleration armor. You'll dodge better that way."

"Since Kari-chan's around, bag-type items aren't needed… how about an infinite water canteen?"

"Hey now, Dea-chan's here, so take the measurements in the workshop!"

"And maybe a wound-recovery bracelet? You've got plenty of stamina, so it should work great."

The Five Elders sure are fired up!

"Whoooa! Really, is that really okay!? If you can do that, then yes please!"

"Huh, I don't really get it, but what's so amazing?"

"It's way beyond amazing!? Well, none of this matters for you, Karina, but… this is seriously incredible, you know!? Normally it'd easily cost double!?"

The Wind Claw Dagger is a weapon that extends its reach with wind claws or launches them as ranged attacks.

Huh? What if I used it? Yeah, my Area Cutter already covers that.

Thought-acceleration makes time feel stretched when you channel magic into it.

Huh? What about me? I'm invincible and take no damage anyway.

The infinite water canteen is an item that provides unlimited water for drinking or general use, handy for washing weapons and such…

Huh? What about me? I'd just go back to base and take a bath, I guess?

The wound-recovery bracelet consumes stamina but can close cuts and similar injuries.

Huh? What about me? I just use Spatial Magic to heal and stick things back together.

All these items would definitely make Mashiro-san stronger, but for me they'd be completely useless… how depressing…

"Uuu, sorry everyone. It's just because I'm too strong…"

"… Making equipment for Kari-chan is actually really rewarding, you know?"

"Yeah, yeah. It's like, 'how do we make gear useful for someone this absurdly powerful?' A real challenge that pushes our limits!"

"So far I think boosting automatic mana recovery efficiency is the best approach."

"Actually, I already snuck that into the frills of Kari-chan's dress."

"Well, I don't know if it actually made a difference in the end… but hey, self-satisfaction counts, right?"

Yep, I'm hugging them. Tonight I'm sleeping while hugging everyone!!

Oh, apparently they won't be implementing that technique where you combine equipment to cancel out curse effects.

For adventurer gear, you never know when something might break, so it'd be dangerous.

Though apparently it's fine for me and Dea-kun since we can return to base every day for maintenance.

… Huh? When you factor in the Five Elders' maintenance fees, the equipment's actual price goes through the roof? Yikes.