Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: City of Eternal Night
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I learned about the black market around the time my regression count hit double digits.
The Night's Fangs organization that ruled the back alleys of the Labyrinth—I'd once been recognized as one of their own and invited into the black market.
'Around here.'
I placed my hand on a dead-end wall.
It was an ordinary wall that wouldn't budge no matter how hard I pushed.
'The eternal darkness promises a sanctuary. Reaching it is your final trial.'
The cryptic hint from the Night's Fangs.
The first time I'd heard it, I'd muttered to myself, What the hell is this nonsense?
But now I knew it all too well.
It meant finding a place in this city where sunlight never reached.
"The beast's fangs are the key that opens the world of night. Unlock the closed path and show me the other side of the mirror."
I whispered it so softly no one could possibly hear.
There was no one around to see or listen anyway, but I murmured it low all the same.
'Man, this never gets any easier, no matter how many times I do it.'
The words coming out of my mouth gave me goosebumps.
My magic resistance just couldn't handle spouting lines like that casually.
'We're a secret organization. Having a password is basic, right?'
I suddenly recalled the guy who'd come up with this passphrase.
I'd suggested something simple and less cringeworthy, like Moonflower or Wolf's Fang.
He'd shot it down flat.
Eventually, they did adopt part of my idea—"The beast's fangs are the key that opens the world of night"—but since it'd already happened, I was stuck reciting this incantation for the foreseeable future.
'Next time I see her, I'll suggest changing it.'
I closed my eyes for a moment, then opened them.
The twisted scenery of another world came into view.
The warm morning sunlight vanished without a trace, replaced by a thick veil of night.
The street lined with shops and houses transformed in the blink of an eye into gaudy buildings spilling colorful lights.
Ear-piercing noise overflowed from every alley, and people in red masks wandered here and there.
Nox, the City of Night.
A pleasure district accessible only to those granted permission.
The back alleys of Labyrinth City were always brimming with hot passion.
'I'm in. Time to get ready.'
I took a deep breath.
I tried to attune myself to the chilly night air.
-Remember this, my disciple. The most important part of elemental magic is feeling and becoming one with your environment.
Digging up that old advice from memory, I altered the nature of my mana.
The cluster of blue galaxy-like lights twisted into a sharp, swirling vortex.
A cool, pale green wind draped over me like a cloak, erasing me from the world's sight.
I was now invisible to everyone.
'Magic isn't my specialty, but this should do for now.'
I unpacked my bag and dumped all the money from the pouch into it.
Gathering mana at my fingertips to form a sharp awl, I poked two holes in the pouch, crafting a cute little mask.
Disguise complete, just in case.
I pulled it over my head and stepped into the street.
"Hahaha! Drinks are on me tonight!"
"Hey! More booze over here! The night's still young!"
The streets of Nox lived up to its moniker as the city of revelry—loud and chaotic.
The atmosphere was like a club, drenched in flashy lights, with endless laughter and chatter.
Shady backroom deals happened openly everywhere, but people passed by indifferently, as if it were everyday scenery.
The city's rule was not to ask or reveal identities, so they focused solely on their own purposes.
Anyone except the organization's elite guards was just a visitor enjoying the city.
That's why guests stuck to reveling without prying too deep into the city's affairs.
Cross that line, and the ruling organization would claim their lives without hesitation.
'One slip-up, and you're dead.'
This city was another world created by an unauthorized artifact to begin with.
Its very existence was a crime, and talking about law or morality here was foolish.
Only power and money mattered.
Everything was decided by violence and cash.
But as a city, it had minimal rules.
Listing them all would take a day, but the most infamous one:
Uninvited guests who set foot here were executed on the spot.
I'd hidden my identity with wind magic, but it was only temporary.
I had no pocket watch proving my status like the other guests, nor the red masks reserved for organization members.
The moment I was caught, the organization would come after me with everything they had.
Having once been a member, I knew that better than anyone.
The longer I stayed, the riskier it got, so I planned to finish my business quick and get out.
'There it is.'
The dilapidated restroom building from my memory, and in front of it, a person lying under newspaper.
"Hello."
I approached the homeless man sitting on a wooden crate, dressed in rags.
Empty bottles littered the ground, and reeking of booze, he stared at me while hiccuping nonstop.
"I've got a question."
"..."
The old man chugged his bottle, ignoring me completely.
Treated like thin air, but I pressed on regardless.
"I want to sell some Mana Stones. I hear you can do that here. Mind if I use your services?"
"Hmmm."
The old man paused, then kept gulping down booze.
"Hallucination? Guess I've had too much to drink."
"Not a hallucination."
"Wha—pfft!"
I dropped my invisibility, revealing myself to the old man.
A person popping out of thin air made him spit out the liquor in his mouth onto the ground.
"Wh-what the hell are you! Dropping out of the sky like that!"
"I've been here the whole time. Whatever. Just buy my Mana Stones."
"Ma-Mana Stones!?"
The old man eyed me up and down.
Especially my wrists, the pouch, and my masked face.
"You look like an uninvited guest to me, no matter how I slice it."
"That's why I snuck in."
"Scram! I have zero interest in buying from the likes of you."
Fearful of retaliation from the organization, he refused outright without even seeing the goods.
But I ignored him and closed in.
"I've got them right here. Take a good look and decide."
"!"
I pulled the Mana Stones from my bag one by one and laid them before him.
The old drunk's hazy eyes snapped wide open, locking onto the stones.
Nine blue Mana Stones from the upper floors— a huge haul even for private trades, but not shocking in a place rife with black market deals.
But among them gleamed a transparent white Mana Stone that no expert could ignore.
A Wraith Knight's Mana Stone.
From an elite upper-floor monster—not something you got easily.
"You! Where'd you get these?!"
"Picked them up."
"You expect me to believe that?!"
"It's true. I killed the monster and picked it up off the ground. What else do you call that if not picking it up?"
"Hah."
The old man's eyes glazed over at the rare Mana Stone. He pulled out a magnifying glass from his pocket and examined it closely.
He gulped, his eyes glittering with greed.
"Normally, I only deal with verified organization members. You know that, right?"
"First time here. How would I know?"
"What bullshit! You came to me knowing I'm the Mana Stone dealer, but claim ignorance? Looks like nothing but excuses to me!"
Tch, not buying it. This old geezer.
I thought the booze had dulled his judgment, but apparently not that much.
Even I could see my excuse was too obvious.
"If you don't wanna deal, I'll shop around. Plenty of buyers in the black market for these."
"Who said I wouldn't buy?! I'm buying, so quit whining!"
Grumbling even though he's gonna buy anyway.
It was the outcome I'd expected, so I leaned against the wall and waited leisurely.
The old man, who'd been slouched like he'd lived his life already, straightened up.
He opened the wooden crate he'd been sitting on, revealing Mana Stones, gold and silver coins—high-value items galore.
"You know this is the black market. Don't expect full price."
"You don't lowball me either. I know the market rates."
"Fine, fine. Got it."
The old man counted out money from the crate.
Skilled hands alternated gold and silver into a pouch until it was heavy.
"Here. Count it if you don't trust me."
I checked inside the pouch he handed over.
A heavier feel than what the Association paid. Elite mob Mana Stones really fetched a premium.
"Seems like ten silver short. Am I wrong?"
"Short?! You said you knew the rates!"
"There's a Labyrinth lockdown, right? Mana Stone values are up. You trying to skim that off?"
"Sigh, you're a real piece of work. Trying to squeeze every coin from a broke old man."
Tsking his tongue, the old man finally handed over the remaining ten silver—grudgingly(?).
Our deal wrapped up with both sides satisfied.
"Heading out now?"
"Yeah, business in the black market's done. Gotta leave the city."
One thing left, but it'd sort itself out on the way.
"You sure you can get out?"
"I know the exit."
"You know I mean something else."
The old man chuckled mockingly.
"You showed yourself to me, even briefly. The elite guards will move soon. They'll be on your tail."
"If I was scared of that, I wouldn't have come."
"Fair point."
The old man kept grinning like it was hilarious.
Don't underestimate our city. You'll learn its terror soon enough—some cliché like that?
Honestly, who knows.
This wasn't the Labyrinth depths.
It reeked of human life; to me, it felt as cozy as a studio apartment.
"See ya. Keep up the good business."
"Take care."
Leaving his fading laughter behind, I dashed into the darkness.