A Masked Encounter
So, why have you been following me ever since earlier?”
“Hmm... It felt like I’d seen you somewhere before. Of course, it’s just a joke, so don’t glare at me like that.”
“Haah...” Watching the woman before me speak in a teasing tone, Elina let out a sigh. Upon arriving at the entrance via teleportation, she saw a situation that was plainly troublesome even at first glance, and Elina was not the kind of person who could ignore such things. Fortunately, the thugs had vanished so quickly that she could barely tell what they were capable of, but she had gained a different kind of attachment for it. Since she couldn’t keep following her like this, Elina stopped in her tracks and turned around. And what she saw was the dress clinging desperately to the swelling chest about to burst.
“Haah... Why on earth are you wearing something like that?”
“Oh, I don’t normally walk around like this. I borrowed it from a friend this time. Sigh. But it’s pretty uncomfortable.”
Watching her fidget with the unfamiliar dress she was wearing, Elina sighed again. “Enough, enough. Honestly, what kind of nonsense are you doing in the middle of the street?”
It was awkward to say, but the sight of her fixing her dress in the middle of the road was not something others would enjoy. No, it drew attention in another, more troublesome way. Thugs who looked suspicious at first glance quickly noticed and were staring this way, and as the academy’s principal with the responsibility of leading students, the scene was far from welcome.
“Enough of that. Come over here.”
The masked child was still tying up her clothes when she heard Elina’s words and walked straight over to her.
This is ridiculous. If I’m such a worthless person, why are you approaching me so easily?
She wasn’t sure if the child was a student or not, but judging by her voice and reaction, she didn’t seem that old. Of course, her appearance didn’t match her actual age either, but Elina didn’t pay it much mind. After sighing once more, she reached out and placed her hand near the child’s chest, murmuring a simple incantation. Immediately, she heard the fabric shift, and the dress she had been wearing became neatly straightened.
“Oh. That was magic, right? How convenient.”
The child looked at her own dress that was now moving by itself and asked curiously, and Elina couldn’t hold back the sigh that almost escaped her.
“So, what brings you here? I should warn you in advance—I have no intention of helping with anything, so leave quickly.”
The child stopped for a moment and answered with a regretful tone. “Well, since you look busy, I won’t get in the way. But if there’s something you need help with next time we meet, I’ll help you.”
She was trying to gauge the purpose with a casual glance, but she quickly drew a line. The child actually waved her hand and stepped back.
“Ah, I wasn’t lying. If we meet again, pretend you know me. If I can really help, I’ll help you.”
“Hah, what a bold one...” Elina let out a light chuckle at the audacious behavior and stood quietly in place, watching the direction she had disappeared in. She too began walking toward her destination, having achieved her goal for now. She felt an intuitive sense that the child’s promise to meet again wasn’t just idle talk, but she had more pressing matters at hand for the moment.
Elina walked toward the auction house, erasing the image of the mysterious child from her mind.
***
“Whew... She was an interesting person.”
She was mysterious and kind. She had even fixed the dress that had magically returned itself with nothing more than a wave. She might not have been an easy task for someone at this level. In fact, her curiosity had tempted her to follow until the end, but since the woman seemed busy and it would only bring trouble, she had simply greeted her and left. Asking if she was an academy student was one thing, and her voice was disguised, but her tone suggested she wasn’t that young. She might even be a professor Elina knew, so she had kept her distance. In any case, the dress had a much more elegant design than it looked, and it was bringing her a great deal of convenience.
“Hmm... I really feel like I’ve become a noble.”
She turned her body slightly to admire her reflection and soon recalled her next task, beginning to head toward the outskirts of the Black Market.
As she walked, the atmosphere and scenery of the Black Market gradually came into view. In the darkness, various colored lanterns flickered faintly, luring merchants and customers. Stalls displayed baits to attract passersby’s gazes and distinctive goods, most of which were rare items difficult to obtain in ordinary markets or things that seemed expensive. Moreover, the potions on the stalls had no labels, making it impossible to tell what they were, and the colors and flickering contents inside looked far from safe.
“I can’t find this item at this price anywhere.”
“Sigh, the color suggests it’s been around a while. What kind of thing is he selling?”
Fights between merchants and customers were always happening, while others quietly conducted transactions. The surroundings were noisy and crowded with bargaining sounds occasionally echoing, but those not interested in the goods paid no attention to the loud voices and simply went about their business. As she moved through the alleys, occasionally seeing security guards, she kept an eye on her surroundings to ensure safety. The crowds had thinned out considerably, and she realized she had reached the outskirts. Since there seemed to be no trouble inside, she wondered if there was a line she should follow and searched for her destination.
“So... pass the green-roofed house, go further inside... this way?”
Following the directions Elize had given, she discovered an old shack that looked suspiciously like the map in her mind. Circling around the shack while recalling the map Elize had provided, she confirmed this was the place. From the chimney of the shack, a considerable amount of smoke was rising, and strangely, no other stores had entered the vicinity. It had a different atmosphere from the surrounding shops, and she wondered if it might have a significant presence in the game. After all, just as the Black Market couldn’t exist without the protagonist frequently visiting a shop, a store with this kind of presence wasn’t impossible.
And the owner is said to be quite beautiful too.
She reminded herself of the dark elf-like skin and personality that radiated money. Fortunately, she had the money received from Elize today, so there was no need to worry. Well, I also have the ability to hypnotize.
With her plan in mind, she approached the store. Pushing open the thick wooden door, a creaking sound from the old hinges rang out, accompanied by a bell above that chimed. A smoky scent drifted out. Ignoring the smell and the faintly flickering smoke, she entered. Inside, what looked like a massive pot was boiling on one side of the store. For some reason, the air inside the store was damp and heavy compared to the outside. It’s blatantly eerie and suspicious, but somehow it feels completely normal.
Stalls hung with herbs and mysterious potion bottles. She observed the store’s suspicious interior and shifted her gaze to the counter, where she discovered a small bell that Elize had mentioned. She stared at the slightly rusted bell and looked around once more. Through the beaded curtain beyond the counter, the owner seemed to be inside. Approaching the counter, she rang the bell several times. Ddong! Ddong! The clear chime filled the store, and soon, accompanied by the rustling from beyond the curtain, the sound of shoes stepping on the floor echoed.
Churruck! The curtain was pulled back, and the expected person appeared.
“Hmm...? A customer?”
The woman with a somewhat languid expression was undeniably beautiful. Her pointed ears, long and straight, and the many dangling earrings suggested elven blood, and her skin was a slightly dark tone that would taste like chocolate if licked. Moreover, the clothing she wore was so minimal that it was questionable whether it could perform normal clothing functions. Looking at the self-proclaimed chest beyond the fabric, Elina felt a strange sensation. It’s giving me the creeps. Definitely.
Looking at the dark purple-tinged hair and eyes, she swallowed hard behind her mask. “Alchemist. Is that you?”
“Huh? You’re the customer?”
She responded to the sensual smile with a tone different from her usual one. “I’m looking for a certain item and have a request. Is it possible?”
“First, come in and take a look? If the price is sufficient and I can do it, of course.”
The owner, who didn’t seem to care much about her tone, was staring at her intently, as if trying to read her expression behind the mask. “Anyway, so what is the item you’re looking for?”
The owner, still staring fixedly, gave a faint smile and began sipping from a teacup that looked like it had been brought in at any moment. Watching the scene, Elina calmly stated the desired item. “I’m looking for a potion with exceptionally outstanding effects.”
Puff! As the store owner spilled the contents of her teacup at the unexpected item, Elina tilted her head slightly. Did I really say something that strange?