Chapter 35

The discussion over how to divide the money ultimately went nowhere... For now, we decided to get the money first and think about it afterward.

Ruche and I decided to visit the 〈Tattered Grimoire〉 first to sell off our items.

...The shopkeeper here seemed shady, so I doubted she’d offer us a particularly good price. But there were so few places that could handle a 〈Skill Book〉 that we’d probably have to rely on her.

It would be a problem if we asked around at too many shops and started rumors that we were trying to sell a 〈Skill Book〉 illegally.

"Well, well, you’re back. And this time you’ve brought a cute girl along. Is she your companion?"

As before, the old woman greeted us with a long-stemmed pipe in hand.

"...You still have that, right?"

"You’re a suspicious one. Of course I still have the 〈Frenzied Smoldering Fang〉 Skill Book. A shop like mine has to value trust, you know."

...I didn’t believe a word of it.

I couldn’t shake the feeling she’d marked up the price and would sell it off the moment another customer came along willing to pay.

She’d honored our agreement last time, at least, but that didn’t mean I trusted her.

I’d only wanted to reduce the chance of the 〈Frenzied Smoldering Fang〉 being sold off, even if only by one percent.

The 〈Frenzied Smoldering Fang〉 Skill Book was rarer, though less versatile than 〈Intermediate Wind Magic〉.

In a world with such strict regulations, there was no telling how long it would be before I could get my hands on another one if I let this chance slip by.

Honestly, I’d pay a hundred million Gordo for it on the spot, if I could afford it.

"So the item you said you wanted, Elymas-san, was something from this shop."

Ruche seemed to understand and clapped her hands.

"What an innocent-looking girl. Don’t tell me you’re planning to have her learn that Skill Tree?"

The shopkeeper gave a small smile.

"...Don’t be ridiculous. Why would I do something so tasteless? It’s for me."

"Hmm. Either way, it’s strange for a rookie adventurer to want that... or anything like it."

Ruche tilted her head, puzzled by my exchange with the shopkeeper.

I understood what the shopkeeper was getting at.

Used normally, 〈Frenzied Smoldering Fang〉 was a Skill Tree that put its user in far too much danger.

She probably thought I was either rushing toward death or trying to recruit a rookie adventurer as a disposable pawn.

"I’m not here to buy anything this time. I came to have some items appraised."

"Oh? I thought someone as sharp as you would never even consider selling anything here."

The shopkeeper said it without sugarcoating things.

It seemed she knew I had a terrible impression of her.

Ruche cast the shopkeeper a wary, narrowed-eyed look, then glanced at me with concern.

I started showing her the items we’d gotten from the 〈Angel’s Toy Box〉 one after another.

Two 〈Tin Swords〉, followed by two 〈Larna’s Shining Ornamental Swords〉.

Those alone had a total market value of nearly forty million Gordo.

"Now that’s a surprise. Two 〈Larna’s Shining Ornamental Swords〉... I thought you were an oddly confident kid, but I never expected you to get your hands on something like this in such a short time. If I’d known you were such a big shot, I wouldn’t have been so upfront with you. What a loss."

"I don’t want to bother with haggling. If you’ll pay thirty million Gordo, I’ll sell them here. If not, I’ll try another shop. I wasn’t expecting much to begin with. I only came to ask for a quote."

"Even a respectable shop would have trouble paying thirty million. They’d need to have money saved up, like we do. I can buy everything in one go, so you won’t have to worry about rumors spreading and people getting jealous. Someone with your abilities shouldn’t put yourself at extra risk just to save a little money. Twenty-five million."

Th-This old woman...!

I’d just told her I didn’t want to waste time haggling.

"Elymas-san, doesn’t the shopkeeper have a point? Twenty-five million is still a lot of money..."

"Don’t let her sway you, Ruche. If you show weakness, she’ll take advantage of you."

The shopkeeper was right.

Thirty million was a somewhat aggressive price.

Even if I went around to a bunch of shops, I might only get around twenty-eight million.

In that case, considering the extra risks, selling everything to this shopkeeper for twenty-five million was one option.

Still, I didn’t think it was a good idea to let the shopkeeper set the pace.

I had a feeling she’d keep dragging the price lower and lower.

Even if I agreed, I didn’t want to show any weakness.

"I have the money from cashing in the magic stones, too. I can keep the 〈Larna’s Shining Ornamental Swords〉 as assets until a good opportunity comes along. Trying to sell everything at once is what draws attention."

I said it with confidence.

"Well, then, I can’t force you. What a shame."

The shopkeeper wore a nasty grin.

...I felt like she saw right through me, but at least I’d managed to keep up a bold front.

Still, this old woman was clearly enjoying the bargaining. She’s got quite a personality.

Well, I could tell that this shop would offer twenty-five million... maybe twenty-six million if I really pushed.

I should count that as a win in itself.

"Now, there’s something else you really came here for, isn’t there? It seems you’re serious about not having to sell your things here."

"...I have a 〈Skill Book〉 that dropped from a 〈Dream Lord〉. I’m still deciding whether to use it, but I’d consider selling it if you offered me a decent price."

As I spoke, I took out the 〈Skill Book〉 for 〈Intermediate Wind Magic〉.

My claim that I was still deciding whether to use it was a bluff, meant to drive the price up even a little.

I couldn’t let her take advantage of me on the assumption that I couldn’t sell it anywhere else.

"You really have surprised me in such a short time... You might—no, the two of you might—be called heroes before long. I see. So you’d want to sell it here, if you were going to sell it at all."

The smile faded from the shopkeeper’s face.

She seemed interested in negotiating, but I wasn’t sure how far I could get with this old woman.

"Its market value is twenty million Gordo... Even I’d be taking a risk handling it. The Guild would probably only pay around seven million. You seem like a shrewd one, so I could add a little extra with future business in mind. I’ll take it for fourteen million."

"You’re just going to put it up in your shop for an outrageous price again, aren’t you? With 〈Intermediate Wind Magic〉, it should be easy to find someone who wants it. It’ll be easy to size up the buyer and get more out of them, too. If you really want to do business with me, shouldn’t you offer around twenty-two million Gordo?"

"Well... For a kid, you sure know the value of a 〈Skill Book〉. And seeing the prices here last time probably helped. But you two have no intention of using it yourselves, do you? Don’t get too greedy."

"That sounds more like you. We’ve just agreed that I’ll be a customer here in the future. Can’t you cut me a little slack?"

I couldn’t back down here.

The market price of a 〈Skill Book〉 was practically meaningless, since trading them was publicly forbidden and each one was so rare.

If I let my guard down, I’d get taken for a ride. I had to stand my ground.

"You’re knowledgeable for your age, and you’ve got courage. On top of that, you’re good with words. How cheeky."

The shopkeeper licked her lips.

This was bad... I had little chance of winning if we got into a serious negotiation, so I’d wanted to stonewall her without giving her much of a chance to talk.

But I couldn’t do that with a 〈Skill Book〉.

"...Um, how much is the 〈Frenzied Smoldering Fang〉 Skill Book that Elymas-san wants?"

Ruche timidly raised her hand.

The shopkeeper narrowed her eyes and glared at her.

"What is it, girl? You’re interrupting the best part. The 〈Skill Book〉 that heavy knight kid wants is a rare one worth fifty-five million Gordo."

"F-Fifty-five million Gordo... I was prepared for something like that, given where the conversation was going, but that’s an incredible amount..."

Ruche’s face stiffened with surprise at the price.

"...Its market value is around thirty million Gordo, though. She’s really taking advantage of me."

"I-I see..."

After I added that, Ruche nodded seriously, then covered her mouth and fell into thought.

Then her face suddenly lit up, and she clapped her hands.

"Um! Shopkeeper, I just had an idea! What if we traded the 〈Intermediate Wind Magic〉 Skill Book and the items I brought out for the 〈Frenzied Smoldering Fang〉?"

"Hah! And here I thought you were going to say something worthwhile. That’s not a proper offer. Don’t just blurt out some idea and get in the way—"

The shopkeeper stopped and frowned.

"...Hmm. No, that’s a surprisingly good offer. I can get rid of the 〈Frenzied Smoldering Fang〉, which has few buyers, and get a selection of easy-to-handle items in return. Not bad."

Ruche’s proposal was certainly quite favorable to us in terms of value.

The items I’d just had appraised were worth forty million Gordo at market value... If I sold them all at once, I’d get no more than twenty-eight million.

And that was only if things went well.

As for the 〈Intermediate Wind Magic〉 Skill Book, judging by this conversation, even a generous offer wouldn’t get us more than twenty million.

That made forty-eight million in total... The 〈Frenzied Smoldering Fang〉 had originally been priced at fifty million, and if we negotiated again, there was a chance she’d raise the price.

Getting everything exchanged together here was a good deal.

I’d get the 〈Frenzied Smoldering Fang〉 while keeping all the money from the magic stones and the reward for defeating Embryo in my hands.

"I would’ve liked to toy with you a little longer, but with conditions that fit this neatly, there’s not much a merchant can say. I’ll accept."

"Wait, h-hold on!"

There was a major problem with those terms.

These items accounted for most of our reward this time.

"Ruche, if we do that, I won’t be able to give you your share of the money."

"...I can’t thank you enough for the party and for helping me raise my Level. I’m happy to let you have this much."

"N-No, this is too much to dismiss as a favor..."

"It’s only natural to invest in a companion’s equipment, isn’t it? Think of it as operating expenses. We both need to get our gear in order, and with a split like that, we won’t be very efficient going forward, will we? We can pool what we earn for a while and divide it up as needed. That way, Elymas-san will get a lot stronger and be able to do more to earn money for us, right? Then there’s no problem!"

...It was true that I wanted to secure 〈Frenzied Smoldering Fang〉 as soon as possible.

But if I accepted fifty million Gordo from her now, that would be far too much in my favor.

"Look... Ruche. Things worked out this time, but there’s no guarantee they will next time. What if something happens and we have to break up the party right away?"

"...Elymas-san, are you planning to ditch me and form a party with someone else? I’m starting to think you’re trying to avoid any hard feelings..."

Ruche glared up at me with narrowed eyes and firmly grabbed my arm.

She looked determined not to let me get away.

"N-No, that’s not what I mean... I’m just saying, in case..."

Ruche’s face brightened at once.

"Then there’s no problem, is there? Think of it as a thank-you gift from me. If you still can’t accept it, you can make it up to me by doing great things and earning it back!"

"Well, that’s true, but... I mean..."

"Come on, Shopkeeper, let’s make the trade already! Before Elymas-san says something else unnecessary!"

"You did a good job talking him around, girl. Keep a firm hold on him. Don’t let him get away."

Ruche and the shopkeeper high-fived as if congratulating each other on their efforts.

Why were those two getting along so well...?