The Returned Gear
“Misaki, you’re moving really well today! Are you that happy to have it back?!”
Amid the chaos of the boss fight.
“Yes… honestly…”
Misaki was confused.
She had fought the boss of Marui several times before, but never had her attacks landed this easily.
Her scythe swung faster, sharper—
and above all, her body felt unbelievably light.
She knew the scarf boosted speed.
But this was far beyond what it had ever done in the past.
Zuzuuuun.
The boss collapsed, dissolving into particles of light.
“Yesss! New record!!!”
Someone shouted.
Apparently, they had shattered their previous clear time.
Everyone erupted in excitement.
“Today’s MVP is Misaki.”
Their leader, Tetsu, announced, and the others cheered her name.
Embarrassing… but also kind of nice…
After leaving the dungeon, the party naturally flowed straight into a celebratory dinner.
“Seriously, Misaki, you were on fire today.”
“No, no, it wasn’t that amazing…”
“Oh come on! Ever since you put that thing on, you were crazy fast. We should thank that cleaning guy!”
Misaki gently touched the scarf around her neck.
Yesterday, during a low‑floor hunt, she had accidentally snagged it on her own scythe and torn it.
She knew its effects were too weak for her current level anyway.
But it was the first piece of gear she ever bought with her own saved allowance.
She loved it.
Still, once torn, she couldn’t wear it anymore.
Dungeon gear that becomes unnecessary or broken must be disposed of properly—either at the dungeon’s disposal site or on designated collection days.
Repairs were usually done by specialists, but most people simply bought replacements.
She had hesitated, but in the end, she left it at the disposal site.
And yet today, while resting at the Goddess Plaza, she saw a cleaning worker wearing a scarf that wasn’t torn at all.
At first she thought it was a coincidence—just the same model.
But the more she looked, the more it resembled the one she had thrown away.
When she gathered her courage and asked, he said he liked the pattern, bought it from the disposal office, and repaired it himself.
The torn part was completely invisible.
Normally, once gear breaks, its effects vanish permanently.
So the scarf she was wearing now shouldn’t have any effect at all.
After the celebration, everyone went home.
Misaki parted ways with her party, pretended to head toward the subway, then slipped into a car parked nearby.
The car drove for a while before entering a walled compound.
“I’m home, Shibata.”
“Welcome back, Lady Misaki.”
As she removed her gear, she remembered that today’s cleaning staff belonged to her uncle’s company.
“That scarf…”
Shibata noticed the scarf around her neck.
“I heard you discarded it in the dungeon yesterday…”
“Yes. But today, a cleaner from Uncle’s company repaired it and gave it to me.”
Misaki thought for a moment.
“Shibata. Could you submit this scarf for Appraisal?”
“My lady… are you suggesting that man may have tampered with it?”
A sharp killing intent flickered from Shibata.
“No, not that. He said he originally repaired it for himself, and he was actually wearing it.”
“Then why…?”
“When gear breaks, its effects disappear, right?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“…But what if—just what if—the effect remained?”
“Impossible! Repaired gear only has practical or aesthetic value afterward.”
“I know. But just in case. Please.”
“Understood. I should be able to report back within the day.”
“Thank you. Call my phone when you find out.”
