The Red Hat and the Red Nose (Part 6)
Where did I get the hat from, you ask?
It was just loot I acquired after taking down some random roadside bandit.
"Is there some problem?"
Swept up in Heinrich's solemn atmosphere, I unconsciously lowered my voice as I asked.
He carefully placed the red hat on the counter as if enshrining a sacred relic.
"A problem? Yes! A very serious problem!"
"What, what is it?"
I swallowed hard as I waited for Heinrich's answer.
Then he declared with passionate intensity, as if enlightening the ignorant masses.
"This is none other than Duke Rasmond's 21st masterpiece! 'The Friendship of Griffin and Drake'!"
"...Duke Rasmond's masterpiece?"
"No, how can this be. Do you truly not know of the Empire's legendary Grand Master, Duke Rasmond?"
Wouldn't most people not know?
As I stood silent like a speechless fool, he excitedly launched into a lengthy explanation.
"Look closely. Red drake suede preserving this wild texture, hardened with powdered top-quality ruby for the griffin feathers. And even the signature mark made of orichalcum! Doesn't beauty just overflow from it?"
Heinrich, in the midst of his passionate speech, pressed me for an aesthetic opinion.
His eyes sparkled like a child's, making me extremely uncomfortable.
I didn't know about drakes or griffins, but orichalcum being a Rare Metal must be expensive.
I took a slight step back and answered awkwardly.
"I understand this hat is extraordinary. So how much is it worth?"
"Hmph, how lamentable! This bleak era that values the weight of gold more than the praise of art!"
"......"
I understood that Jack's hat was more valuable than I had thought.
But ultimately, wasn't it just a luxury item for the wealthy?
If he kept talking this nonsense only he understood, I'd have no choice but to get rough.
Perhaps sensing my irritation, Heinrich finally spoke up.
"Ahem. Lady Rene. Would you be willing to sell this masterpiece by Duke Rasmond for 25 denar?"
Twenty-five gold coins.
It was an unimaginable fortune, but I knew nothing about this field.
25 denar might be a rip-off price.
I silently placed my hand near my waist.
It was a ready stance to draw and swing my sword at any moment.
His eyes widened in shock as he panicked and raised the price.
"Ah, no. Why are you doing that? Then how about 28 denar?"
Silent intimidation sometimes makes for the best bargaining.
I had already shown him my killing intent once before.
I glared at him with even more ferocious intensity than last time.
"Ah, alright! 32 denar! That's a price where I won't make any profit!"
Even then, I didn't stop and fiercely raised my eyes.
Stomping his feet in frustration, Heinrich finally surrendered to me.
"Grr...! 36 denar! This is truly my final offer! Any price higher than this would make even serious collectors hesitate to buy!"
His tearful, choked-up response didn't seem like acting.
I immediately relaxed my killing intent and brightly accepted.
"Good. 36 denar."
"Huh? Umm, but Lady Rene. This doesn't have a quality certificate and upon closer look there's some dirt on it, so maybe we could lower the price a bit..."
I immediately furrowed my brow and tightened my grip on the sword.
Heinrich then frantically waved his hands in panic.
"Ah, no! The maintenance is actually excellent, what am I saying! 36, grr! I'll buy it for 36 denar!"
Why was the owner of a weapon shop in the city center being so dramatic?
Only after receiving the coin pouch containing 36 denar did I remove my hand from the sword.
"Congratulations. You've become the owner of Duke Rasmond's 21st masterpiece."
"...Thanks a lot."
Heinrich replied sullenly as he stored the red hat in an ornately decorated box.
It was quite ironic that such a precious item was being worn by some lowly bandit.
Now I understood why he valued that hat more than his own life.
Anyway, thanks to this, I got my hands on the huge sum of 36 denar.
This meant I could pay for the dire wolf equipment right here and now.
Even without me rushing him, Heinrich immediately brought out the items.
"Here, the equipment Lady Rene commissioned. As ordered, it consists of top and bottom, gloves and boots."
First examining the tank top-style top, it had just the right thickness with an extremely soft material.
Similarly, the hot pants-style bottom was also smooth as silk, good enough to wear as underwear.
"As requested, I minimized the surface area to lower the cost, and applied special processing carefully for comfortable wear. Of course, there are no issues with protection, so don't worry about that part."
Clothing made from dire wolf leather, even if it looked like thin black sleeveless top and underwear.
Its defensive capability would overwhelmingly surpass that of ordinary hardened leather armor.
"Would you like to test it out?"
I nodded at Heinrich's suggestion.
Pretending to draw a dagger from my chest, I summoned Agony's Ecstasy.
I immediately raised the blade and began indiscriminately slashing at the sleeveless top and underwear.
But no matter how much I stabbed and cut, the clothing didn't get a single scratch.
"How is it? Doesn't that guarantee protection and durability? Ah, of course it doesn't absorb impact well, so be careful with blunt weapons."
The performance exceeded expectations.
With this level of sturdy defense, it shouldn't be easily pierced by a dire wolf's fangs.
It seemed Master Heinrich wasn't called an artisan for nothing.
"The magic resistance it possesses is also excellent, so it should provide some resistance against magic and magical energy."
That comment was also welcome news.
I had been completely helpless against the magic of Maria, who claimed to be the wife of goblins, and the magical energy of dire wolves.
Now I had at least some basic safety measures.
"Excellent. I'm really satisfied with the results."
If the thin top and bottom were this good, there was no need to test the thicker gauntlets and boots.
Heinrich finished his explanation with a few additional comments.
"I put particular effort into the gloves and boots. Unless it's an upper-class monster or a knight's aura blade, they absolutely won't tear."
That level of performance was more than sufficient.
Upper-class monsters and knights were far beyond my level anyway.
If I ever had to fight them, I'd be worrying about my life rather than my armor.
"How much do I owe you? Ah, you remember promising to deduct 50 arshen, right?"
Heinrich, who had measured my chest size while subtly teasing my nipples and committing indecent acts.
I had used that as leverage to threaten him into guaranteeing a discount of half a gold coin.
"...O-of course. Just give me 12 denar and 50 arshen."
Instead of taking out money, I placed my hand on the sword at my waist.
Just like with the hat, I didn't know the market rates in this industry.
Intimidation would be more helpful than mere bargaining.
"Waaaah! If I lower it any more, I won't make any profit! Please believe me! There's no one more conscientious than me in this city!"
But Heinrich responded to my strategy by throwing an ugly tantrum.
I guess this approach wasn't working anymore.
I had no choice but to hand over the money.
"It was a good transaction."
"...It was a good transaction."
Heinrich replied with a reluctant expression.
Though he had some perverted and petty tendencies, his skills were undoubtedly genuine.
After telling him I'd visit again, I left the shop.
Since it was already late at night, I headed straight back to Rose's Grace without stopping elsewhere.
Total earnings after deducting equipment costs from the bandit extermination money: 25 denar and 30 arshen.
I placed that glittering pile of gold and silver coins into the box in my room.
My cash holdings now totaled a whopping 81 denar and 50 arshen.
A fortune that had grown exponentially in just a few weeks.
It felt like my sense of money was becoming numb. With this amount, wasn't I somewhat of a nouveau riche?
Compared to my impoverished days of spreading my legs for 10 grange, it felt like a different world.
But such luck doesn't always follow.
I washed my body clean and changed into my work négligée.
While making piles of gold coins was certainly joyful, I couldn't lose sight of my original purpose.
If mercenary work could bring in huge sums at once, night work was a steady means of earning silver coins.
Moreover, today was the day Doctor Verduci had reserved my backside.
Calming my already moistening pussy and twitching anus, I waited for the doctor who would soon arrive.
Before long, he entered my room with a light knock.
"Well, it's been a while. Miss Rene."
"I hope you've been well, Doctor-nim."
I immediately stood up and bowed respectfully.
He was a big spender who had bought my entire night for tonight's affair.
The payment would start at a minimum of one gold coin.
"Ah, very well indeed. My expectations are high today. I've specially prepared some toys for you."
Saying this, Doctor Verduci showed me something he took out.
A vulgar stick with beads lined up on it.
An adult toy - anal beads.