Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: The Black Mage's Request
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"What are these?"
I emptied out all the accessories I'd brought onto the desk. The shopkeeper adjusted his monocle and asked.
"Items from the ossuary."
"The ossuary... I heard a dungeon like that was recently discovered. Orcotta Catacombs, right?"
"That's correct."
Using tweezers for the appraisal gave off a real professional vibe. Come to think of it, being an antique shop, there were all sorts of oddities displayed around the place.
I didn't know much, but there was hope. Hope that I could offload this junk.
"Judging by the markings, these are from the Ancient Warrior Kingdom."
"Ancient Warrior Kingdom?"
"An ancient nation ruled by warriors. They say those mighty warriors commanded over 90% of the population as slaves."
"No way."
That's Sparta right there.
"Looks like this place was their burial ground."
Those skeletons charging at us with ancient weapons had been warriors from antiquity. In life, they'd spilled hot blood and claimed countless victories. Even as dusty bones now, they still fought on.
Honestly, I couldn't care less about that backstory.
"And... from the state of these accessories, they don't seem to have been high-ranking warriors. Nothing that screams valuable at first glance?"
"If there was, I'd have shown it first."
"A shame."
"So, how much for these?"
I rubbed my hands together cautiously and asked.
"Well... they don't seem to have any special value. But they do pique my collector's and researcher's curiosity."
"Meaning?"
"I'll buy them all."
Clap! I smacked my hands together loudly.
The anxiety that I'd have to take them back with me vanished clean away.
"But I can't pay top coin for them."
"Doesn't matter to me. You guys, pull yours out too."
At my words, the party members laid out all their pilfered accessories on the table. It made quite the pile.
"...That's a lot."
In the end, we each pocketed about 20 coppers. From first entering the dungeon to now, we'd amassed a lewd total of 69 coppers. A tidy sum. And we still had the pewter cups and staff left.
"Oh, and we found these too."
"Pewter cups? From the dungeon as well?"
This was the main event. Show the junk first, then bring out the real treasures. A guy buying ancient accessories for research wouldn't pass up something like this.
"...This is the real deal."
He said, slipping on white gloves and taking hold of the pewter cup.
"5 silvers each. 10 for both. Can't go higher."
"Jackpot."
"5 silvers!"
"Incredible!"
"Ho... quite the price."
Everyone let out gasps at the absurd value. 5 silvers per cup! An unbelievable amount! Each of us netting 2 silvers and 50 coppers—this was lottery-level stuff!
I was so thrilled tears nearly came to my eyes. The just reward for our hardships. One dungeon run, and we'd pocketed 2 silvers and 119 coppers in cash!
"Sold, no question. Hope your business booms."
"If you find more like this, bring 'em to me."
"You got it!"
We left the antique shop and split 8 silver coins and 20 copper coins evenly. Wallets suddenly heavier. But my heart felt incomparably lighter.
"Hell yeah! We struck it filthy rich!"
"Heh heh heh... Dungeons are decent money-makers. Shall we hit another sometime, Barbarian?"
"Yeah, sure."
Kobson burst into laughter, his spirits sky-high. Going back later wouldn't be so bad. Once we heard the necromancer was dead, that is.
Jobs done, pay split—it was time to head home.
"Well, I'll be off then. I'm sure we'll cross paths again someday, Saint Katt."
"Saint?"
"You've aided my religious duties twice now. You're as good as a saint. Can't be coincidence—must be fate. And feel free to drop the formalities."
Somehow, after two jobs together, we'd leveled up to that kind of rapport... Kidding, it was just friendly ribbing. I chuckled in response.
"Right. So you're heading back to Krasheim, Elise?"
"Yes. Long journey ahead, so I need to get back ASAP."
"Safe travels. Oh, grab a backpack or something before you go. Toting those skulls around like that'll draw unwanted eyes."
"Thanks for the advice."
It'd take a good while to reach Krasheim. I hoped her trip was uneventful. Though with Elise, I wasn't worried. She might go hunting bandits en route, smashing heads herself.
"Farewell then, Lady Meria, Sir Kobson."
"Bye~."
"Safe travels."
"No husky voice."
Elise bid the others goodbye and left.
"I'll head out too. I'll be in Isvant for a while, so we'll meet again soon."
Kobson departed, and I said goodbye to Meria as well.
"Man, I'm beat. Gonna crash. Thanks for everything."
"Your shield work was the real MVP. See ya."
"Yeah~."
With the party dispersed, I set off home. Eat, bathe, inn, collapse. Selling the staff could wait till tomorrow.
I hit the bustling streets hunting a eatery. Exhausted, I aimed for something quick and ducked into a nearby bakery. The scent of fresh flour was heavenly.
"No fucking way, they sell hamburgers?"
Inside, I spotted buns stuffed with meat and veggies. Entranced, I bought one. The big one was 2 coppers. Perfect brunch size.
Munching the hamburger, I headed to the bathhouse. I usually hated eating on the move, but burger? No hesitation—walking meal activated.
At the bathhouse, the staff was a hassle. Wouldn't fit the locker. I called a worker and handed him the stick.
"Ooh, a mage, sir?"
"Something like that. Mind holding it a bit?"
"Of course."
I wasn't even a magician, let alone a mage, but whatever. I washed up and soaked in the tub.
"Fuuuck, this hits the spot."
Scrubbed every crevice clean, feeling refreshed, I hit the inn and flopped onto bed.
The next day, I headed to the Swordsman Guild.
Had a question for Karin. Slim connections meant she was my go-to. We were guildmates bound by the thick thread of 5 silvers, blood-thick as kin.
"How've you been, Guildmaster?"
"Oh, hey."
I flung open the Swordsman Guild doors. Karin, polishing her blade in the shadows, stood and waved. Approaching, she eyed the staff in my hand.
"What's with the stick? You switch to mage already?"
"Nah. Went dungeon-diving. Picked this up."
I held out the staff for her inspection.
"Gone a few days, and you hit a dungeon. Learned anything useful?"
"Sadly, no people carved up... But the stamina training and precise cuts helped big time. Felt the difference in swing feel and fight endurance."
"Good to hear. Hoped you'd slice a couple and report back... Anyway, the staff?"
Couldn't believe she was bummed I hadn't killed anyone. I wanted real combat practice too, but having thoughts like that... Yeah, maybe I was a born psycho killer. Nah, no way.
Anyway, if I did kill someone, report to Karin... Damn, twisted thoughts again. I don't like killing people.
"Yeah. Took this fucker to the Alchemist Guild, and they lowballed hard. So I came to borrow your face, Guildmaster."
Magic Tower was out. Those assholes seemed no better than alchemists. They'd probably haggle even harder. Better to leverage city heavyweight Karin's intro.
"Alchemist Guild? What, want me to crack their skulls 'cause they suck?"
"No, not that. Wondered if you knew a legit place to sell this. Outsider like me, you're the only one I trust. Hit a snag, and boom—your face pops up."
"Hm, relying on me, huh? Flattering. But selling a mage staff..."
Karin pondered deeply.
"Black crystal, gives me the creeps—black magic item?"
"Ooh, you feel it? The evil mana?"
She traced the crystal's surface with a finger.
She could sense something from it. Residual mana, meaning real value.
"At my level, yeah."
"Skeleton mage had it. Rumor was necromancer-raised. Dig too deep, I'd be dead, so I just grabbed this."
"Smart move. Survival's swordsmanship too."
"Your definition of swordsmanship is pretty broad."
Whatever it took: kill foes, loot coin, stay unscathed, live healthy. That was our guild's swordsmanship philosophy.
Something dawned on her, and Karin spoke.
"Ah, right. That bitch."
"Thought of something?"
"Friend—no, acquaintance—runs a shop like that... Years ago, memory's fuzzy. Yeah, she did."
Guildmaster, at your age (early thirties?), dementia signs? Come on.
"Met her mercenary days. Black mage. She'll pay fair. I'll give directions. Say hi for me."
"Black mage? Don't see friends much, huh."
"Face is a pain."
She gave directions.
Black mages all evil? Running a city shop and trading? Probably fine.