Episode 103
"You are..."
"Oh? That box is?"
As I stared blankly at the shopkeeper, the owner who had been hiccupping drunk suddenly had a gleam in his eyes and reached out for the box I was holding.
"Why are you here?"
"Heh..."
When I pulled the box I was holding behind my back while looking at him with a guarded expression, the shopkeeper, having lost his balance, fell face-first onto the counter.
"You brat, I'm the owner of that box you're holding."
"You are?"
As I frowned and looked at him, an astonishing thought popped out.
Is this old man now wobbling drunk in front of me really the legendary master craftsman Rocinante, who was in charge of the item shop in Part 1?
"Just as I thought, you resemble Hanbyeol a lot... though of course, your hair color is different."
"What?"
As I was having such thoughts, the old man started spouting nonsense.
"What does that..."
"Enough, just hurry up and give me some work. Of course, I'm sure you know well that a price comes with the things I make..."
I tilted my head and tried to ask about what he muttered, but the shopkeeper interrupted my words and started speaking with an annoyed expression.
"Here, the jade token."
"Damn. I really hate business that doesn't turn a profit."
When I handed over the jade token I had received as compensation, he took it nervously and started grumbling.
"So, what do you want to craft?"
"Not craft, actually. I'd like to request repairs and modifications."
As I said that and held out the 'Mask of Deception' that had split in half, the shopkeeper said with a dismissive expression.
"What is this? Such a poor work."
"You call this a poor work?"
"Yes, if I had made such an item, I would have died of shame."
The shopkeeper, frowning deeply as he said that, then smashed the mask with a hammer on the counter, shattering it to pieces.
"Was it necessary to break it?"
"The magical effects attached to it are top-class at least, so I'm doing this to recycle it, you brat."
"You said it was a poor work?"
"I'm not a magician but a craftsman. Naturally, I can't create magical tools without materials."
Seeing him respond kindly despite his grumpy expression to my objection, I could finally feel that he was indeed Rocinante.
This was because his characteristics and personality written in the prophecy book written by my ancestor matched exactly.
"Are you alive right now?"
"What would you do knowing that? There's nothing more meaningless to you than life and death, I imagine."
"Do you know my true identity?"
"Well? I do know well that you're my customer, though."
I finally started asking the shopkeeper serious questions, but he only gave vague answers or changed the subject.
"Annoying."
"If you don't like it, leave. You came to this shop on your own two feet, didn't you?"
When I frowned, already fed up with profound settings and facts, the shopkeeper replied grumpily.
"By the way, aren't you going to return my stolen box?"
"...Here."
"Good, then let's start the work now."
When I handed over the box that had been stolen from him, he smiled as if nothing had happened and started walking behind the counter.
"It'll be over soon, so just sit there and wait! I'll make you something good with the mask you gave me!"
"Wait, I just wanted to repair the mask..."
"I'll make something several times more magnificent than that mask, so don't worry!"
Hearing his hearty voice, I quietly sighed and asked a question.
"Do you have any thoughts about working as my exclusive craftsman?"
"Even if I wanted to, I can't!"
The shopkeeper, who had been glancing at me, laughed heartily and answered before going inside the counter.
"...Kania, can you hear me?"
After watching the place where the shopkeeper had disappeared for a moment, I quietly stepped out of the shop and muttered.
- Yes, young master. I can hear you well.
Then Kania's voice resonated low from the communication magic tool I was holding, and hearing her voice, I smiled with satisfaction and spoke internally again.
"Come to where I am right now. I found the shopkeeper."
- I'll depart immediately.
Hearing Kania's calm answer, I smiled and ended my connection with her, lost in thought.
'If that shopkeeper is really Rocinante... I can't let him slip away here.'
According to what the previous hero said in the prophecy book, this person called the shopkeeper must be secured if possible.
In the first place, since he understands items given by the system and can make them even more powerful, I would have tried to secure him even without such words, but with my ancestor's mention added, I'm even more concerned.
- So, instead of me, please thoroughly beat... no, secure Rocinante. Of course, it's only theoretically possible so I couldn't succeed, but if it's you, you can do it.
For some reason, the fact that my ancestor seemed to have a lot built up against him must be my imagination.
"...Well, since he's no match for Isollet, just appropriate threats should be enough."
Of course, beating up a white-haired old man gives me quite a bit of guilt. So, I'll stall for time appropriately and when Kania joins me, I'll try threatening him.
"...Right, let's check the information window."
Sitting blankly and waiting for the shopkeeper, I became curious about what would appear if I used the information window on him, and cautiously started heading toward the counter.
"Hey, shopkeeper. Look at me for a moment."
"........."
"Shopkeeper?"
Eventually calling the shopkeeper with an arrogant voice, when no answer came back, I tilted my head and stepped over the counter.
"...Kania, don't come."
- What?
And entering the room, I made a defeated expression and muttered.
"It's no use coming now."
In the room, only a pendant and a single note were left behind.
- Order received. The item will be delivered to the mansion soon.
"...Oh ho."
Thanks to that, I who had been making a tearful face, read the note's contents and started to smile.
'At least he won't rip me off.'
Although the plan to do a good deed by restoring the mask seems to have gone down the drain, it's an item made using materials from an item given by the system, so it won't be an ordinary item.
Moreover, didn't the shopkeeper himself say it would be several times more magnificent? Although his personality is a bit eccentric, his skill is certain, so it seems fine to have expectations.
"...Hmm?"
Thinking such thoughts while smiling to myself, I discovered a small pendant placed next to the note and tilted my head.
- Easter Egg
"This is?"
With a puzzled expression examining the box, I discovered a memo attached to the pendant and frowned deeply.
'...Really, if it's an Easter Egg, at least give a legendary weapon. What is this.'
Thinking that, I carefully picked up the pendant and tried to open it.
"Hmph..."
But for some reason, it wouldn't open.
- KUGWAGWANG!!!
"...What is it?"
Thinking my strength had suddenly weakened, I lightly struck the desk, but the desk shattered to pieces instead.
Seeing that, my strength seems to be the same, so does that mean this small pendant is closed more tightly than my strength?
- PAJIIIIING!!!
Since the pendant wouldn't open no matter how much I pulled, I even drew my sword and attacked, but what broke was not the pendant but the surrounding objects.
Eventually shaking my head and putting the box in my embrace, I was about to leave the shop when my eyes turned to the objects in various parts of the shop.
'...Should I take one?'
They were quite useful items, so I unconsciously reached out my hand, but then shook my head and muttered.
'No, the mask is being held hostage right now... if I do that and he doesn't give it, it'll be a loss.'
Finishing that thought, I left the shop with a regretful expression, smacking my lips.
"...Huh?"
Coming out of the shop, I found myself opening the door of a shabby building, not the soft wall I had originally entered through.
"Amazing."
Surprised, I tried opening the door of the shabby building again and going back in, but only a ruined space and dust welcomed me.
After being dazed for a moment at such an amazing situation, I came to my senses and started examining the bustling streets.
'Here...'
Looking at it, this place seems to be the market street where the entrance to the back alley is located.
The market street where I was surrounded by beggars with Isollet last time.
"Buy vegetables~!"
"Buy potatoes~! They're delicious~!"
"...Hmm?"
Having finished my judgment and walking down the street, I inadvertently turned my gaze to sounds coming from afar.
"They're working hard..."
Watching from afar a cute-looking girl and boy quietly, I unknowingly made a dad smile, but.
"What are those kids doing...?"
Soon my expression turned cold as I headed somewhere.
It seems I need to help those kids right away.
.
"Buy radishes~! Buy green onions~! Buy onions... cough! cough!!"
"Sister, don't overdo it. You'll get sick like me."
When the girl who had been promoting the shop diligently today started coughing, the boy next to her said with a worried expression.
"But... if we save just a little more money, we can treat you?"
"Still, sister Ruby gave us gold coins last time! So take it easy!"
When his younger sibling said with sparkling eyes, the girl nodded with a proud expression.
And the same was true for the surrounding merchants and pedestrians.
They had unknowingly established themselves as the true mascots of the street.
"What? You want to rest while doing business?"
"...These kids have lost their minds?"
"".......!!!""
But that warm atmosphere didn't last long.
"When are you going to pay back the money?"
"W-we'll pay it back soon! Please just give us a little more time..."
- BANG!!
"Hiek!!"
Because intimidating-looking thugs who looked quite strong started causing trouble.
"Your stall fee is already months overdue... are you just going to keep saying you'll pay?"
"P-please just let us off this once!! Please!!"
"No. There's a limit to being lenient too."
The boy and girl started kneeling on the ground and begging desperately, but the thugs ignored them and started throwing the piled-up vegetables on the ground one by one and trampling them with their feet.
"N-no!! Why are you stepping on them like that!!"
"So who told you not to pay the stall fee?"
"But we need to sell those to earn the stall fee!! Then why on earth...!!"
"Oh my, this little brat is..."
"Heup!!"
The boy who couldn't just watch his precious vegetables being slowly trampled rushed at the thug while crying, but soon he was kicked by the thug and fell to the ground powerlessly.
"Keheok... ugh..."
"Please!! Please forgive us!! If my brother doesn't get treatment within this year, he'll be in danger!!"
"That's not our problem."
When the boy who had fallen to the ground grabbed his heart with a painful expression, his sister wrapped her arms around him and cried out, but the thug only replied with a cold expression.
"I-I'll do anything! Please just let us off this month!!"
"...Anything?"
But when the girl squeezed her eyes shut and said that, the thug who had been approaching to kick the boy again smiled and started whispering to his colleague next to him.
"If you really want to... little one... you just need to sign here..."
"S-sign...?"
Having finished a brief consultation, the thug took out a piece of paper from his embrace and started persuading.
"Yes, if you write your name on this paper here... we'll turn a blind eye for a month."
"I-is that really all I need to do?"
It was a clearly suspicious contract, and even a sinister magic circle was drawn on it, but the girl who might not know how to read reached out for the pen the man held out with a suspicious expression.
""..........""
And the merchants and pedestrians who watched that scene just remained silent.
In this poor market alley, force was stronger than law.
Moreover, since there was a solid backing behind the thugs, in fact, even the law was on their side.
Among them who were inferior in both law and force, there was no hero who couldn't tolerate injustice and stepped forward.
That was because such heroes had all died or been dragged to prison, so even if they wanted to, they couldn't step forward.
"That's right, just like that..."
Thus, at the moment when another pitiful flower was about to fall.
- CRASH!!
"...Keuk!!"
From somewhere, a liquor bottle flew and struck the bald head of the thug.
"Which crazy bastard...!!!"
Thanks to that, the thug grabbed his head and staggered, then started glaring behind with killing intent.
"Puheeuh... did you just curse at me?"
"...Heup!!"
But after confirming who threw the liquor bottle at him, he froze with an appalled expression.
"A-ah, hello! Lord Frey!!"
"Ugh... my head."
When the bald thug's colleague urgently grabbed his head and bowed to the ground in greeting, Frey, who had been staggering drunk, opened his mouth with an annoyed expression.
"Why are you blocking the way when someone is walking...?"
"W-well... we're in the middle of 'work.' Hehe."
"Work...?"
"Y-yes... you know too, Lord Frey. That this place belongs to Count Ustiano."
"Ah... the emperor of that back alley..."
As the thugs sweated and spoke, Frey nodded quietly, then snatched the contract that had fallen on the ground and started reading it.
"...Come to think of it, that Ustiano guy extended his reach to the slave market opening this time."
Eventually muttering coldly without realizing it, Frey quickly put on a spaced-out expression and said.
"Alright, then..."
"Yes! Take care!"
"...Get lost."
"What?"
"I said get lost."
At those words, when the thugs made incredulous expressions, Frey picked up the liquor bottle from the ground and shouted.
"I said get lost!!! You bastards!!!!"
"Y-yes, yes! We understand!!"
Since Frey's drunken rampages were famous to the point that no one in the empire didn't know about them, the预先 frightened thugs quickly fled the street and muttered.
"Tch, I could have gotten a bonus."
"Couldn't we just kidnap them? It's so annoying."
"I don't know... apparently, those who come of their own will sell for more than those who are kidnapped."
As the muttering thugs moved away from the street, Frey, who had been watching them with cold eyes, started approaching the girl who had been looking at him with fearful eyes.
"T-thank you..."
"Shut up."
Upon reaching the girl, Frey urgently interrupted her as she tried to give thanks and grabbed her arm.
"You, you're quite pretty."
"W-what?"
"Follow me."
As Frey said that and tried to drag the girl away, the boy who had been lying on the ground urgently blocked Frey and said.
"L-let go of my sister!"
"...Why should I?"
"I-I'll give you this! So please...!"
Saying that, the boy held out a gold coin he had only held once in his life.
The very gold coin that Ruby had given a few days ago.
"With this little thing... huh?"
Frey inadvertently took the gold coin and tried to throw it on the ground with a snort.
But.
"What is this..."
He soon frowned and started muttering.
"P-please... please... cough! cough!!"
As Frey stared at the coin for a while and the boy started grabbing his pants leg and pleading, he said in a low voice.
"Then, you come too."
"What?"
"I said come, you too."
After finishing those words and dragging the girl whose arm he was holding somewhere, Frey quietly channeled star mana from his hand and muttered.
"...Who did this?"
The star mana from his hand reacted with the gold coin the boy had just held out, emitting ruby-colored smoke.
.
"...Sigh."
Meanwhile, at that time.
"Ruby! Are you okay? You're not vomiting blood again, are you?"
"What should we do... seeing Ruby hurting that much, it must be a serious illness..."
"Sister Ruby... you can't die..."
Ruby, who was lying in bed surrounded by people, started making a quite troubled expression.
"I'm okay. I'm fine so..."
"Just hold on a little longer!! We're saving up money little by little, so we can call the Saintess of the Church!! She'll probably come within a few days!!"
"T-that's not necessary!!"
Ruby had maintained a forced smile at first, but when people mentioned the Saintess with worried eyes, she made a genuinely flustered expression and waved her arms.
"Look at that... she's worried about us instead..."
"Sun God... why do you give trials to such a good child..."
"Sister Ruby is too kind for her own good..."
But when the people didn't listen to Ruby's words at all, she ground her teeth without anyone noticing and whispered quietly.
"...What did you do?"
But when nothing happened, Ruby said in a cold voice.
"You have a help function too... so you should have an obligation to answer me, right?"
Then, a system window floated before her eyes.
[Due to the penalty from the previous quest failure, the stats that dropped significantly include 'luck', you know.]
"...Ha."
[And even if that weren't the case, it's all your karma.]
Checking that content, Ruby made an exasperated expression and burst out laughing.
".........."
And from a little distance away, Glare was quietly glaring at her.