Chapter 5: Mysterious Little Shops Might Just Have the Best Goods
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 5: Mysterious Little Shops Might Just Have the Best Goods
Muen left the Duke’s estate in one of the family carriages, arriving at a luxury boutique he frequently visited. After ordering his guards to stand watch at the entrance, he slipped out through the back door.
Slightly disguised, Muen navigated the complex urban layout according to his memory. He reached the riverbank at the border between the Upper and Lower Districts and, seeing no one around, leaped into a drainage pipe.
A faint scent of decay clung to the air. Muen frowned, donned a mask, and threw on a voluminous black robe that completely obscured his frame before hurrying through the tunnel.
"Halt."
At the end of the pipe, a towering figure stood guard.
"Who goes there?"
Muen thought for a moment. "A sewer rat."
"What are you doing?"
"Scavenging for carrion."
"Your token?"
Muen raised his hand, showing the towering figure a black token engraved with a lifelike rat.
"Mm. You may enter."
The figure stepped aside, revealing an even narrower passage behind him.
Muen nodded, tucked the token away, and quickly brushed past the guard.
In the moment they crossed paths, a sliver of light filtering down from above caught a corner of the guard’s body.
It was a mass of flesh that looked like rotting meat, with countless maggots writhing upon it. Just passing by was enough to catch a suffocating, putrid stench.
Ugh, as expected of a dark fantasy world.
Suppressing his nausea, Muen didn't dare linger. He quickened his pace and left the area behind.
After squeezing through the narrow passage, his vision suddenly opened up.
A massive underground cavern appeared before him. The walls were embedded with stones that emitted a soft glow, illuminating the space. People were everywhere, all shrouded in mysterious black robes.
This was the underground black market of Belland’s Lower District. It was said that as long as you had the money, you could buy anything here—even "anyone."
Good thing I still remember how to get here, Muen thought, feeling a bit relieved.
In the original novel, the protagonist was a regular here, visiting every few days. Thanks to the all-powerful Protagonist Aura, she managed to score a massive bargain every single time. Half of the god-tier treasures the protagonist wielded in the later stages of the book were probably sitting right now on some roadside stall, being treated like junk.
However, Muen had no intention of trying to "intercept" those treasures. Based solely on the book's descriptions and his own unreliable memory, it would be nearly impossible to distinguish a hidden gem from actual trash.
Besides, he wasn't sure if taking things meant for the protagonist would have a negative impact on the world line.
Sigh, since I’ve already decided to live peacefully as a commoner, I shouldn't be thinking about those things.
Muen pushed those stray thoughts aside and began scanning the black market.
Normally, there was no need to come all the way to the black market for something like a knockout potion. But the person Muen intended to drug wasn't an ordinary human; it was the Third Princess of the Empire, Celicia, known as the Ice Witch.
Blessed by the Ice-Snow Goddess since birth, she possessed an innate ability to command extreme frost. Combined with the royal family’s rigorous training, her strength was terrifying.
At this stage of the story, even the protagonist was far from being her match, let alone Muen, who had neither the favor of a deity nor any significant cultivation.
I don't want to get slapped to death in bed by Celicia before the protagonist even arrives just because the potion failed, Muen thought with a self-deprecating smile.
Fortunately, he soon locked onto his target.
At the end of the street sat a small, eerie-looking shop. A massive goat-horn skull hung above the entrance, making it impossible to miss.
Thanks to that skull, Muen recognized the shop instantly. In the original novel, the protagonist had visited this place many times. The shopkeeper was a mysterious individual who always sold strange and exotic items.
Surely, they would have something like a knockout potion.
Muen pushed open the door, ringing the bell above.
"Oh my, a customer at last. Please, come in."
The shopkeeper was also hidden within a large black robe. Their voice was raspy, making it impossible to tell if they were male or female.
However, when the shopkeeper looked at Muen, two sharp glints flashed from within the hood, like a big bad wolf spotting a little lamb.
"Young master, what are you looking for? My shop may be small, but we have everything you could desire."
"I want..."
Muen originally intended to say he was just browsing, but considering his limited time, he decided to be direct.
"I want a knockout potion. That kind of knockout potion."
"Oh?"
Though he couldn't see the shopkeeper's face, Muen felt their smile turn suggestive.
"A knockout potion, eh? I understand, I understand. Ah, you rich folk love your games, don't you? Haha, as it happens, I know a few places selling some excellent slaves. Need a recommendation? Just a small finder's fee... mention my name and you'll even get a discount..."
"...Do you have it or not? If not, I'm leaving."
"I have it! I have it! Of course I do! I have the best knockout potions right here!"
The shopkeeper grabbed the hem of Muen’s robe to stop him, then hurried to turn around, bowing their head to rummage through a pile of jars and bottles.
Because of the shopkeeper's posture, Muen happened to catch the sight of the black robe outlining a breathtakingly voluptuous curve.
The shopkeeper’s rear... is quite shapely.
Muen rubbed his chin, thinking a bit wickedly, With a figure like that, could the shopkeeper actually be a beauty?
Unfortunately, there was no way to verify this.
Muen hadn't finished the original novel. Perhaps the shopkeeper revealed their face later on, but that no longer had anything to do with him.
Ding-ling.
While Muen was lost in thought, the bell above the door chimed again.
Another figure shrouded in a black robe entered from outside.
This time, the figure appeared somewhat petite and carried a faint, lingering scent of flowers.
Likely another woman.
"Hello. Do you sell knockout potions here?"
"Welcome! Knockout potions? Of course I—eh? What did you say?"
"I asked if you sell knockout potions."
"You want to buy them too?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"No, no problem at all."
The shopkeeper shot a strange look at Muen, muttering something about how today was a bizarre day before turning back to continue rummaging through the shelves.
She wants to buy knockout potions too?
Muen’s gaze subtly swept over the black-robed figure beside him.
Do women have these kinds of needs too?
She’s probably planning to ruin someone.
A pity I can't stop her.
I can only hope her wicked scheme fails.
Sigh.
Muen sighed inwardly. What am I thinking? Isn't what I'm about to do exactly the same as her?
He was in no position to judge anyone else.
"Aha, found them."
Before long, the shopkeeper excitedly pulled out two exquisite small vials and placed them in front of Muen and the woman.
Muen picked up the vial curiously, only to find a dark red, crystalline liquid swirling inside.
"This color..."
Muen was dumbfounded.
What the hell was this red liquid?
Were they trying to make it as obvious as possible that the drink was spiked?