Chapter 7

Central Square.

It could be said to be the largest bustling area of the holy city, Lepheria. The sacred site of the Order and the venerable cathedral of Lumière, with a thousand years of history.

The two core institutions of the holy city, the Administration Office and the Security Headquarters.

One of the six great magic towers, the Tower of Light.

The main branch of the Reiner’s Commerce, one of the three major trading companies.

Just mentioning these significant buildings is enough. In addition, there were hotels, various types of restaurants, bars, clothing stores, bookstores, weapon shops, jewellers, and more.

Every building you could think of was gathered there.

My stepping into such a bustling area was not for luxury or pleasure. With the mess that Max had spread far and wide, I had no room to indulge in luxuries every day.

The only thing I had managed to resolve so far was finding a swordsmanship teacher. I had to at least find an archery teacher to meet today’s quota. The archery teacher, she was also one of the basic skill masters I had found. But unlike Turk, it couldn’t be done with money alone. Another method was needed.

That’s why I was thinking of getting the necessary item.

“Stop.”

The carriage stopped.

I slowly got off and stood in front of a building. A respectable fourstory red brick building.

“This is the place.”

I confirmed that it was the very place from the game and walked towards the building. At that moment.

“Huh?”

A surprised moan burst out from behind.

I didn’t need to look back to know who it was.

Dolph.

The reason was obvious. Because this building was a bookstore. How surprising it must be for someone who has completely walled off books to head to a bookstore. But it was a misunderstanding. However, there was no need to clear up the misunderstanding.

Click.

I opened the door and entered the bookstore. Books filled every shelf. The unique smell of paper stung my nose. Of course, I had no interest in books. A middle aged man with glasses, sitting at the counter on the first floor reading a newspaper.

I approached him.

As I got closer, the man with glasses turned his gaze towards me.

“Is there something you’re looking for?”

“Basement goods.”

“Please speak.”

“Goods from the basement.”

As soon as I said those words, the man with glasses eyes changed.

But it was only for a moment, and soon they returned to their original calm.

“Ah, that book. We happen to have one in stock. Please come this way.”

The man with glasses opened a door behind the counter and gestured for me to come.

I went inside.

Creak.

As soon as I entered, the man with glasses closed the door. The inside of the counter was empty.

Not a single book was in sight. Meaning, the man with glasses hadn’t called me here because of a book.

The man with glasses glanced at me once and then silently pushed one side of the wall.

Rumble.

Soon, an empty space was revealed.

It was a secret passage.

“Then I hope you find the trade you desire.”

The man with glasses gestured for me to enter and said.

“Thank you for your efforts.”

I stepped into the secret passage.

“They dug quite deep.”

I smirked bitterly. The stairs of the secret passage went down for a long time without end in sight. How much longer did I walk?

Finally, the stairs ended, and a door appeared ahead. I approached without hesitation and put strength into my hand. The door wasn’t locked and opened easily. Soon, a wide space illuminated by magic lamps appeared before my eyes.

“Please come in.”

A middle aged man who looked similar to the man with glasses from the counter greeted me.

I knew him.

The owner of the secret shop, Carson. The man with glasses upstairs was his son.

“I’ve come to look at some goods.”

“Guests are always welcome.”

Carson smiled, showing his teeth.

He said guests were always welcome, but that wasn’t true. Without knowing the pass phrase ‘goods from the basement’, this secret shop would never open to anyone.

For the current protagonist, who is only in chapter 2, this place is absolutely inaccessible. But I am not the ignorant protagonist of chapter 2. That’s why I am here.

“If it’s the young master of the Celtrine family, it would be even better.”

Carson mentioned my identity. It was impressive intelligence. But I wasn’t surprised. Because I already knew about such organizations.

“Well, good. Bring out a few Invisibility Scrolls for now.”

I asked for the item I was looking for indifferently.

At that moment, I noticed a slight tremble in Carson’s smiling lips. I roughly guessed the reason.

It must have been unexpected for him that I didn’t react at all despite him revealing my identity.

If it were about me, there would be no information other than that of a clueless, wasteful young master.

But Carson, being an experienced merchant of the underworld, quickly composed his expression.

If it were someone with ordinary discernment, they wouldn’t have even noticed the change in his expression just now.

“Ah, the Invisibility Scroll? I’ll bring it right away.”

Carson left the counter with a smile and went to what seemed like a warehouse.

After a while, he returned with five scrolls.

“These are quite popular items, so we don’t have much stock. But it’s fortunate that we have a few left.”

It was a typical merchant’s lie. Making it seem like there was little stock to raise the price even a little. Knowing his intentions, I chuckled inwardly.

“Give me all five.”

“Normally, it’s 25 gold per item, but since it’s our first transaction with a distinguished guest, I’ll give you five for 100 gold.”

Carson said as if he was doing me a favor.

“100 gold?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that too expensive?”

“That’s an absurd thing to say. Surely, the young master who has gone out of his way to come here knows that there has to be a risk premium attached.”

Risk premium.

That was true.

The magic scroll I was trying to buy was the Invisibility Scroll.

A spell that turns the entire body invisible for a certain period of time. Due to its nature, it could obviously be abused for crimes like home invasion or theft at any time.

Not just Invisibility.

All offensive magic could be abused for crimes. That’s why the procedures to buy such magic scrolls from the magic tower were very strict. Anyone with uncertain identity was outright excluded.

Even if the identity was certain, if there was no approval from the magic tower for its use, the purchase was not possible. And as the regulations of the front world become stricter, naturally, the market of the underworld emerges.

The place where magic scrolls secretly produced by corrupt mages seeking personal gain gather in the market of the underworld. But as it was illegal, the risk always existed. The risk of rotting in jail for who knows how long if caught while producing and distributing such items. Naturally, there had to be an incentive for the risk.

That’s what Carson was referring to.

I agreed with that too.

However,

“Of course, I know that. But even considering that, it’s too expensive.”

“That’s not the case.

“Don’t treat me like a rich fool, Mr. Carson.”

I cut off Carson’s words coldly. At that moment. A clear sign of agitation appeared on Carson’s face for the first time. Because I had said his real name.

As someone involved in the underworld, he had been thoroughly hiding his identity while operating. Except for his closest confidants, no one knew his real name.

And yet, his real name had slipped out of the mouth of someone who was nothing more than a young boy.

It was inevitable that he would be taken aback. A moment of silence. Carson closed his eyes deeply and then opened them to calm his agitation. The smile that had lingered on his lips was now gone.

“This, it seems I have underestimated you, young master.”

He clicked his tongue and continued.

“Where did you hear about my real name?”

“There are information organizations not only on your side.”

I answered arrogantly with a look of knowing something. But there was no such thing.

I knew because I had played the game.

it’s not something that can be answered so easily. Pretending to have some plausible background and showing off isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Indeed… It seems that what is seen of the Celtrine family is not all there is.”

Carson, who convinced himself. He had an expression of acceptance. Acknowledging that his own intelligence was lacking. That I was not just a spoiled brat who grew up comfortably. Carson eventually said with a face as if he had given up with both hands and feet.

“I have failed to recognize you, young master, and have committed a great rudeness. Please consider the 100 gold as the greedy merchant’s nonsense and forgive me. Instead, I will give it to you for 80 gold, cutting 10 gold from the market price of 90 gold.”

A normal person would have no choice but to fall for such words. Who would think that in such a situation, they would try to overcharge again? I couldn’t help but smirk inwardly at the thought of how despicable merchants are. And then I thought about how to give this cunning merchant a taste of his own medicine.

My thoughts were soon organized.

“Carson.”

“Yes?”

“Are you playing with me now?

I frowned and spoke seriously. At my reaction, Carson seemed a bit flustered.

“What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“I made it clear. Don’t treat me like a rich fool.”

“No, I never…”

“If this is how it’s going to be, I have no intention of dealing any further. It’s not like this is the only place I can do business with.”

I turned my back coldly. And I was about to open the door and leave. Just before that. Carson’s hand caught me.

“Oh, my lord, I’m getting forgetful in my old age. Now that I think about it, the market price was 80 gold. I’ll give it to you for 70 gold, cutting 10 gold.”

“Joking?”

“Oh, 60 gold.”

“Fool?”

“……55 gold.”

“I’m leaving.”

“5,50 gold”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

And so the deal was made.

Carson’s expression was not good.

He ended up selling it for a price not much different from the market price, instead of overcharging. But he couldn’t just tell me to leave because I was dirty, because I am the heir to the famous wealthy Celtrine family. If he loses a big spending customer to another competitor, he’s the only one who loses.

“Is there anything else you’re looking for?”

Carson, licking his lips as if it were a pity, handed over the invisibility scroll.

“Show me a bow.”

“You mean a bow? We have a few good ones.”

Carson quickly went to the warehouse and brought back several bows. Almost all of them were in good condition and boasted shiny exteriors, as if their well maintained luxury goods were speaking for themselves.

But my gaze was not on such luxury goods.

“How about this one? Made from the sturdy horn of an ogre and elegantly gilded with pure gold, it’s an artwork in itself…….”

“Give me that one.”

“What?”

“That one, please.”

What my finger was pointing at was a shabby short bow made of a bare bone frame placed in a corner. It was an item that looked worthless to anyone. Carson said with an awkward expression.

“Ah… that one. It’s definitely for sale, but it’s a no name item that my son picked up rolling around in the forest…….”

“It doesn’t matter. Give me that one.”

I was firm Of course.

Because I knew the true value of that item.

It was a short bow made by the legendary undead hunter Marcus after he killed the Skeleton King. The bow was made from the Skeleton King’s bone frame. It’s not just any bone frame. It’s a bone frame imbued with the Skeleton King’s immense grudge.

That’s why it was possible to shoot arrows filled with a grudge. Grudge is a lump of curses. Just brushing against it weakens the opponent.

Weakening is a serious abnormal state where all abilities are reduced. That’s why it could be said to be an utterly despicable weapon in itself.

Such an incredible weapon was buried as junk in the underground warehouse of a black market merchant, its true value not yet revealed. In terms of the game, up to chapter 7.

If you go beyond chapter 7, Carson will accidentally discover the true value of the Marcus Bow. By then, the item’s price will skyrocket to the point where you can’t buy it even with a fortune. No fool would let time pass knowing that. I came here to buy it for a steal before that happens.

“You really want to take that one……?”

Carson tilted his head with a questioning look.

Don’t doubt it. You bastard.

Because you never know where this damned game will take you, I came up with a slightly tense response.

“That’s right. It seems like the perfect bow for shooting practice.”

Carson, still with a thoughtful look in his eyes. I looked at him with a nonchalant face as if it was nothing.

Did that face work?

Carson nodded.

“I see. Well, okay. Since there’s no real market price for the item, just give me about 50 silver.”

‘Done.’

I cheered inwardly.

I tried not to show my pleasure and spoke calmly.

“That sounds reasonable. Here you go.”

I handed over 50 silver.

After Carson collected the silver coins, he handed over the Marcus Bow. The deal was established.

‘You’re back in my arms again.’

I smiled inwardly.

“Have you ever seen such a despicable bastard?”

As soon as Max left, Carson cursed. In such backdoor dealings, it’s common sense to accept some degree of overcharging. Because it’s clear that the risk is high and the distribution route is difficult…

But that greenhorn kid even tried to cut down the market price. I was so angry I wanted to tell him to get lost, but I forced myself to hold back Because he’s the heir to the Celtrine family?

That’s part of it, but it’s also because he openly threatened me with effective blackmail, talking about other business partners.

Lose such a big customer to another business partner? That would be even more infuriating and will make me sleepless.

“Oh, I’m putting up with it because I’m dirty.”

Carson grumbled.

Even if he sold it for a price not much different from the market price, it’s still not a loss. He’s a customer who will bring considerable profit in the long run, so he has to put up with it.

Besides.

“……He’s certainly no ordinary guy.”

A background that could find out his real name?

It’s not just that.

The guy himself was not the simple spoiled brat that the rumors suggested. He’s a guy with an unusual aspect.

“It’s not bad to have a connection.”

If he becomes a big shot, that’s good. Even if not, he’s definitely a guy who will bring profit as the heir to a wealthy family.

“Hmm, but…”

That bow

Why did he buy such a trashy bow?

Is there something to it?

“No, that can’t be.”

Carson and his son had looked it over and tested it thoroughly, but it was nothing special. Carson, with a thoughtful look in his eyes, soon muttered as if it were nothing.

“Well, if it sold, that’s good. And for 50 silver at that.”

Carson chuckled.

The item was originally worth more than 5 silver.

Selling it for 50 silver meant making more than ten times the profit. It wasn’t a large sum, but he felt somewhat relieved to have overcharged for even one item.

“That guy, he won’t get the better of me next time.”

Carson resolved to make a proper profit next time.

“Young master, what makes you so happy?”

Dolph asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

“I’ve just managed to haggle properly with a cunning merchant and got the item.”

“Th,that’s amazing.”

“They must have thought I was a fool, but I’m not such a simpleton, right?”

“……Of course not.”

“Your response is late?”

“Pplease forgive me!”

“No, no. It’s true that I’ve been a foolish simpleton and a good for nothing until now. Well, one could think that.”

“I..I certainly do not…”

“Enough, let’s head to Harkin Mountain.”

“Huh?”

Harkin Mountain was located north of the capital Lepheria.

There was one reason to go there.

To catch a big fish And a whopper at that.

“No, I’ve forgotten something. Let’s stop by the magic tower first and then head to Harkin Mountain, there’s something I need.”

After stopping by the magic tower and buying the last necessary item, the carriage quickly moved towards Harkin Mountain.