Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Elegant Shopping at the Black Market
Gokigenyou. I am Violia Nico Fortesia.
I am currently at the black market in Elsemarin.
Speaking of Elsemarin, it is known for being scenic. The beauty of the blue sea is one thing, but the white of the sails of the ships that come there, the white of the plaster walls of the Cathedral, and the red of the brick walls of the Magic Academy I used to attend also stand out beautifully.
...However, Elsemarin is not just about such beauty.
The charm of Elsemarin lies precisely in the back side of the town.
"Hey there, big sis, won't you buy something? I'll make it cheap."
"Unfortunately, I have no need for drugs or curses."
If you walk through the back alleys after the sun has set, there are naturally those who will call out to you. They are usually dealers of narcotics, poisons, or curses. Well, I have no need for them.
"Hey there, big sis. How about spending tonight with me?"
"Look in a mirror before you speak, you ugly man."
Well, since it is this kind of street, there are also those who are under some kind of delusion. Well, even if I brush them off and they keep pestering me, I just need to poke their neck or heart with a spear.
"God is dead! Hair is also dead! I am also dead! It's the end of the world! This world is already over! Everyone die! Go bald! Die!"
"It is best not to approach them."
And then, as a matter of course, there are madmen. These people are particularly loud and stand out, but well, if you ignore them, they don't usually do anything.
...And so, such are the back alleys. Dim, filthy, and wretched. Those are the back alleys. ...However, if you go a little further, the view becomes a bit more decent.
When I say 'a bit more decent view,' I mean, in short, that there are proper shops.
Of course, do not think for a moment that the transactions taking place there or the goods being handled there are 'proper.' You would be greatly mistaken to think that anything 'proper' and 'pure white' exists in a black market.
...However, at the very least, if one can maintain a shop and conduct shady business, it means there is not much danger and they are properly following the rules of various parties. At the very least, it means it is not a business run by a madman or a mere hoodlum acting tough.
In other words...
"Excuse me."
"...Welcome. A buyback?"
"Yes. A few pieces of jewelry and a set of dragon materials, excluding the blood and meat. I brought them here because selling them to the Guild out front would only result in a paltry sum anyway."
If one is also neither 'proper' nor 'pure white.' This black market is the best place.
The shop I entered is one that buys and sells various materials.
The characteristic of this shop is that transactions are conducted using a counter with a partition between the shop side and the customer side. In other words, we cannot see each other's faces.
In short, it does not matter who brings what. It does not matter what one buys. That is how it is.
"First, these. How much for all of them?"
The first things I put on the counter are the jewelry of the nobles (marks) I obtained through my bandit work. Rings, necklaces, earrings, and so on. As expected of things worn by nobles, they are of decent quality.
"Oh my. Quite a lot has come out. I won't ask where they came from."
...Well, they are stolen goods, after all. I do not expect a very high price.
"40 gold coins for all of these. How's that?"
"Well, I do not mind."
It seems I was able to sell them for a higher price than I thought.
...Rings with noble crests are, well, troublesome to buy and sell normally, but it is not as if they have no use. There might have been some demand in that area.
"Then, next. Dragon materials."
Next, I lined up the dragon skin, scales, fangs, and claws on the counter. I also brought a few bones. Ah, they were heavy.
"Heh... not bad. You skinned it quite cleanly, customer. To have so few injuries means you've got good skill."
Even in the dim interior, which was smoky with tobacco to say the least, the person on the other side of the counter seems to have a fairly good eye.
"I will not give you even a single copper coin discount just for praising me."
"What's wrong with a bit of praise? You could just accept it gracefully. Do I look that stingy to you?"
"Unfortunately, you do not. Not only whether you are stingy, but even your face."
Hearing a withered, raspy voice chuckling eerily from behind the partition of the counter is very unsettling, but well, this is the norm here.
"3 large gold coins. How's that?"
"Not bad at all."
Well, that is quite a good price. The deal is struck.
...By the way, 10 gold coins make a platinum coin. 10 platinum coins make a large gold coin, so 3 large gold coins are worth 300 gold coins.
Furthermore, above large gold coins are blue gold coins. Above blue are red gold coins. Above those are black gold coins, but those are almost never used.
From the other side of the counter, 3 large gold coins appeared, not even in a bag. After confirming they were not counterfeit and accepting them, a skeletal, bony, eerie hand reached out from the other side of the counter and carefully took the dragon skin, fangs, bones, and scales I had placed on the counter.
"Also, there is one thing I would like to ask."
"Whoops. In here, 'just asking is free' doesn't apply, customer. Well, if you're okay with that, there might be things I can tell you."
"That is fine with me."
I grabbed some gold coins and placed them on the counter. At a glance, it was about 15 coins. From the other side of the counter, I heard a whistle.
"You're generous, customer. So, what do you want to know?"
"About Violia Nico Fortesia."
"Ah, the young lady who's wanted."
Ah, as I thought, I am indeed wanted.
"...The charges are attempted assassination of the Prince and assault on soldiers. Then, prison break. Furthermore, it's said that many dangerous criminals escaped during the prison break, and that was also the work of Violia Nico Fortesia. Quite a flashy hobby for a young lady."
"Skip that part. I want to know the current situation. Do you know her current whereabouts or anything?"
I can hear an eerie voice chuckling from the other side of the counter, but this is no laughing matter for me.
"Whereabouts, huh. Sorry, but that kind of information hasn't come here either. It seems they haven't been able to trace her since she broke out and left the Capital."
Ah, that is good. I am a bit relieved. For now, it seems I can hide without any problems.
At least, information about me has not circulated here. Just knowing this is worth it.
"Even her former servants only say 'The young lady went dragon hunting and we haven't heard from her since.' I wonder what kind of slang 'dragon hunting' is, well, I'll leave that to our imagin..."
...There, the other side of the counter fell silent.
Yes. Most likely, the dragon materials I just sold and the information that 'The young lady went dragon hunting and we haven't heard from her since' have just connected in his head!
"...I'll just leave it at 'no way.'"
"Oh, I wonder what you are talking about."
However, he is indeed someone doing business in a black market. He knows how to act, and he seems to have guts.
"And so. That's about all the info I can give. Sorry about that. ...Was 15 gold coins a bit too cheap for that?"
"No. It is fine."
For now, just knowing that the soldiers have not found me yet makes the information valuable. Money is not something to be stingy with. I can just find and kill another dragon or Ogre to get more money. Honestly, the Adventurer Guild is the best in that regard.
"It was a pleasure speaking with you. Keep it."
With that, I placed one large gold coin on the counter.
"...Whoa, are you serious?"
"I am serious."
One large gold coin is about four months' worth of a regular soldier's salary. But for me, it is just a third of the easy money I got from selling dragon materials. It is not much to lose.
"This... it seems I'll have to keep our conversation here a secret between just me and you, young lady?"
"Yes. Please do so."
From under the partition of the counter, a bony long finger reached out, and after hesitating for a moment, pulled the large gold coin to the other side of the counter.
"...Well, I didn't have any intention of blabbing about you to anyone else anyway. ...I'll take this. Thanks for your business."
"Then, Gokigenyou."
Once they have taken the money, these people will strictly keep their promise. They are kind to their cash cows and respond appropriately to capable people.
In short, to me, a high-paying and capable [Dragon Slayer], they are quite sweet! Well, if they do not want to suffer the same fate as the dragon, it is obviously a better strategy to stay on my side! Ohohohoho!
Now then. With my pockets warmed, I shall quickly buy what I need.
Entering a suitable shop, I bought a few changes of clothes. Also, a mantle with a hood that can properly hide my face. Will this make it a bit easier to move around?
Then, at another suitable shop, I bought more arrows and a few slender knives. At a general store, a few small vials. Also, some portable rations just in case.
I intend to stay near Elsemarin for a while, but I do not know when I might suddenly have to depart. It seems better to always carry food.
And then!
"It has to be this, after all."
The highest grade [Spatial Bag]! This is it! I cannot do without this!
A [Spatial Bag] is a bag with ancient spatial magic cast upon it. Its price, if it were the regular price, is a whopping 5 large gold coins! In other words, 20 months' worth of a soldier's salary!
...Well, the one I bought this time was at a 'special circumstances' black market price of 2 large gold coins. But it is worth that much.
After all, I can carry more than a whole house's worth of luggage while looking almost empty-handed! This is essential for the adventurer business! With this, even if I hunt a dragon, I can bring back the whole thing! I am broke now because I bought the [Spatial Bag], but I will soon make it back!
Having finished my shopping, I bought a takeout meal at the dining hall inside the Guild (there is a dining hall in the back of the Guild reception) and stayed at the Guild's inn (the second and third floors of the Guild building are an inn) to rest slowly.
I showed that Pin-Hane Girl at the Guild what's what, did some shopping, and stayed at an inn to relax. Today was another good day!
And from tomorrow, I shall start putting my back into the adventurer business!
Once I've earned and earned and earned... I shall bribe the soldiers or maids of the house I plan to take revenge on, gather information... and then do various things and kill them! A classic and safe poisoning would be fine, or a flashy raid based on a meticulous plan would also be splendid!
The grudge of being made a fallen noble! I shall finally settle it!