Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Tenth Fragment, Althemia
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The old lady approached Yuda with slow steps.
"Looking for something in particular? Shall I help you? Or would you prefer to browse and pick it out yourself?"
"I'll pick one out myself and take it."
She looked unwell, and there was no need for her to select one anyway, so he politely declined. She told him to take his time looking around and returned to the counter, settling into her seat. Yuda began browsing the items.
"Is this really okay?"
Jeanne glanced at the ailing shopkeeper and whispered to Yuda. Her eyes held a hint of distrust, wondering if it was truly fine to buy from this place. Even the weapons right next to them were impeccably maintained. Yuda pulled a longsword from the rack nearby and handed it to her.
"See for yourself. The quality of the weapons isn't bad at all."
"Hmm, I see."
She took the sword and noted the sharp edge, her face showing surprise. The shop might look rundown, but the display shelves were spotless, as if cleaned daily. She returned the longsword to its place.
"If you need anything, pick it up now. I've heard this place has top-notch quality."
"No, I'm fine."
She answered immediately. Of course, a Blue Lance Knight didn't need extra equipment. She could summon everything from full plate armor to lance and shield. No need to buy and use anything else.
He paid no attention to longswords or bastard swords and headed toward the daggers. For such a small shop, it carried a surprising variety of weapons. The daggers were tucked away in a corner.
'Hmm. In the game, the shopkeeper just sold it outright.'
In the game, there was no need to hunt around; the NPC displayed the sales list. At the very bottom, the most expensive one—identical to the others—was Althemia.
To be precise, like a Russian matryoshka doll, Althemia was hidden inside the dagger. The shopkeeper was unaware, treating it merely as a family heirloom.
If you lacked the funds when buying the dagger, the NPC would say, 「This dagger was made by our great-grandfather—it's a heirloom. We don't normally sell it, but... if you truly want it, I'll let it go at a fair price. Family circumstances mean I can't haggle. Come back when you have the money.」
But now, with the shopkeeper sighing nonstop, it felt awkward to suddenly ask if they had a heirloom and demand to see it. Yuda picked up one dagger after another, checked the info window, scanned it roughly with his eyes, and set it down, repeating the process.
'Hmm? Why isn't it here?'
He checked all thirty or so daggers one by one, but nothing stood out as a potential heirloom. The info window couldn't lie, and there were no separately displayed daggers.
'Is it hidden?'
Or maybe someone already bought it.
No, that couldn't be. Yuda believed that.
Still, he couldn't help frowning and growing anxious.
"Why does the shopkeeper look so ill? Surely there's a temple here too."
Jeanne, who had been watching Yuda select a dagger, spoke up. She stared at the proprietress, who kept sighing at the counter. But while Jeanne's tone was concerned, Yuda's response was indifferent.
"Who knows..."
The proprietress looked ill not from some disease, but from worry over her daughter. Her daughter suffered from a rare illness untreatable by priests' healing magic or alchemists' potions—only able to stabilize her condition at best. Even that required vast sums of money.
That's why she sold the dagger hiding the fragment at a high price. After buying it, you could take a quest from the new shopkeeper, but it was optional—do it or not, your choice. Not essential. Completing it, however, provided enormous aid later when venturing to elven lands.
'But that quest requires getting Althemia first, whether you complete it or not...'
What to do. Yuda tossed a dagger into the air and caught it repeatedly, lost in thought.
Ask the shopkeeper directly if they had the fragment? But per the game lore, they were completely ignorant that a fragment hid inside their heirloom.
He checked once more, but still no luck finding the heirloom dagger. Yuda sighed and set down the dagger. Logically, they wouldn't mix such a precious heirloom with ordinary weapons in a regular arms shop.
As he walked to the counter, the weary old lady lifted her bowed head. Her face, full of worry, naturally evoked sympathy. No wonder Jeanne had been concerned.
"Are those all the daggers you have?"
"Yes. Not to your liking?"
"No, it's not that. It's just... the one I'm looking for isn't there..."
Huh. Wait. Yuda's eyes shifted to the display case in the corner behind the counter. A long cloth covered it, but the bottom shelf had shorter fabric, revealing the weapon inside. A dagger. It looked ornate and expensive at a glance. Other weapons seemed to be in there too, but he ignored them. With a hunch, he checked the dagger's info.
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[Name: Dagger with Something Hidden by the Craftsman]
[Rank: Legendary _ Ordinary Dagger]
[Equip: Dagger]
[Durability: 5/5]
[Attack: 30]
[Description]
It appears to be a dagger crafted by an exceptional blacksmith, but it has serious flaws. It seems to hold some special secret.
-Secret (Passive): The dagger hides some special secret.
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Found it! That's the one!
Althemia was inside that dagger. Calming his pounding heart, Yuda pointed to the dagger in the case.
"Could I see that dagger?"
"The weapons in the display case are family heirlooms... I can't show them on my own authority."
She couldn't sell it. Normally, he'd turn away here, but he absolutely needed that dagger. The game hadn't been this picky.
"I'll pay whatever you want. Please sell me that dagger."
"......"
The proprietress looked troubled. But at the offer of any amount, she seemed to waver.
"15 gold coins. I'll give you 15 gold coins."
"15 gold coins? Really?"
"Yes. Even as a heirloom, opportunities to sell at this price don't come often. What do you say?"
In the game, it cost 10 gold coins—he'd upped it by 5. Her eyes widened, and she clenched her fists. Biting her lips showed her deep conflict.
"Wait just a moment? I'll talk to my husband."
She jumped up and hurried to the back of the shop. Jeanne, beside him, grabbed Yuda's shoulder.
"Are you insane? Yuda? What's so special about that dagger that you'd offer such a sum? 15 gold coins could buy a truly fine weapon! This is a waste—utter madness!"
"Ah, don't worry, Jeanne. I'm perfectly sane. Just... I'll explain later, so watch for now. You'll be shocked when we get back."
"Hah!"
Jeanne sighed deeply in frustration. Her face screamed utter incomprehension. She started to speak, then clamped her mouth shut and exhaled.
"Fine. I expect a proper explanation I can understand. Whew—I'll step out for a bit."
"Yeah, it'll be quick."
Jeanne stormed out with heavy footsteps, not looking back. Yuda gave a wry smile at her retreating figure. Soon after, the proprietress returned with a burly middle-aged man whose muscles rippled. She fidgeted nervously. The man approached the counter and looked down at Yuda.
"So, you want to buy the heirloom?"
"Yes. 15 gold coins."
The middle-aged man looked incredulous at Yuda's words. His eyes said a kid like you couldn't possibly have that much money. Instead of replying, Yuda pretended to reach into his coat pocket, opened his <Bag>, and pulled out the gold coins. Even in the dim shop light, they gleamed. As a blacksmith who handled metal, he'd know these were real, not fake. He swiftly pocketed the fifteen coins Yuda offered.
"Hmm, it is a dagger made by our great-grandfather—but it's not an exceptional weapon. In my opinion, it's not worth 15 gold coins. Sure you won't regret it? I could sell you something else."
Not worth 15 gold coins? Yuda barely suppressed a scoff.
No place on the continent let you buy a fragment for 15 gold coins.
"No, it's fine. I only want the dagger."
"If you're that insistent... alright. Wait a sec."
He removed the cloth from the case and handed over the dagger from inside. Spotless, its blade gleamed sharply. Yuda took it with a satisfied gaze. No message yet about acquiring the fragment.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you."
Suddenly, the proprietress beside him bowed deeply to Yuda, thanking him sincerely. Her voice trembled with tears, and she began to cry. The middle-aged man approached and embraced her tightly; she soon burst into sobs.
"I paid a fair price, so no need to thank me, but it seems there's a story here?"
At Yuda's question, the middle-aged man hesitated, as if debating whether to speak, then let out a long sigh.
"It's nothing. We just needed money."
"How can you say it's nothing!"
Crying in his arms, the proprietress lifted her head and shouted. The man, flustered, gripped his wife's shoulders with a stern face.
"Honey! You know I didn't mean it like that!"
"Even so—how can you! Seeing our child in such pain, how can you call it nothing!"
Yuda couldn't dream of interrupting their conversation and simply waited for them to calm down.
========== Author's Note ==========
It was Malbok today—did everyone have samgyetang?
I went out to a restaurant with a friend for lunch, then had seconds in the evening courtesy of my mom.
Ate it twice, but it's still sweltering -_-
Stay cool out there!
Q. Author-nim, I know it's a hassle, but could you add the fragment names and descriptions to the work settings? It's so hard to find them ㅜㅜ
A. I've already uploaded the fragment types and names to the work settings. That said, I plan to overhaul all the detailed lore, so I can't post more ahead of time.