Episode 41
Linel Milliquel was silently immersed in contemplation as he touched a dagger.
“… … .”
The fumbling dagger was not hers.
The quality is quite usable, but the clunky design is obviously not to her liking.
It was retrieved from the scene last night.
“… … There’s nothing cute about it.”
However, the emotion in the voice as he murmured the words was far from irritated.
If anyone had heard that here, they would have noticed it right away.
Just then, a sign was heard outside her office.
It’s a deliberate footstep sound. I didn’t even have to ask who it was.
“… … come in.”
“All right.”
Linell’s throne-level merchant, Kellon.
As soon as he entered cautiously, he quickly rolled his eyes as if looking at the owner of the black market.
I saw the dagger on the desk, but I didn’t say it on purpose.
“what’s the matter?”
“Yes, I sent the product to that boy.”
“Yes, if it was communicated correctly, that was it.”
stuff as promised.
Xelferid’s key.
As promised in the beginning, Xi’an dealt with the monster right in front of her eyes.
Of course, it was a verbal promise, and he could have taken it off if he wanted to, but Linell didn’t dare.
Because I judged that it would be much more damaging to regret that much.
Xian proved his skills.
Even if it’s a verbal promise, the one who breaks it will suffer a lot more damage considering the future.
More than anything… … .
“miss?”
“… … what?”
“Even putting aside the promise to the boy… … Would it really be beneficial to continue trading afterwards?”
He usually doesn’t disagree with me on anything, but somehow, on rare occasions, he expressed a different opinion.
Rather than being displeased, Linell calmly asks the truth.
“why?”
“To be honest, I was underestimating the boy when he said he was a warlock. Even the young lady knows the level of those guys.”
Even in the dark shop, if necessary, they hire several black magicians to lead them.
There are times when you need the help of someone who uses black magic as well as public magic.
It wasn’t something I could honestly say.
“Honestly, I was underestimating myself.”
Linell sighed and spoke frankly.
Not all black magicians are inferior.
For example, I’ve heard rumors about only one dark magic class professor working at the academy.
But that’s a minority.
However, Xian was also a formidable talent.
“If it’s black magic, isn’t it really scary?”
It wasn’t just Linel.
At that time, at the scene where Xian defeated the monster, there were other subordinates, including this merchant.
“I bet, the next time the boy comes to our firm, most of them won’t even make eye contact with him.”
“Understanding… … go.”
You couldn’t laugh at them as cowards.
A large amount of evil energy scattered by the monster.
An evil power that makes hard railroads rust and makes people who touch it rot like mud.
The boy laughed casually at it and retorted it.
That’s a boy only fifteen years old.
“… … What kind of monster he will become in the future.”
“That is what I mean. … … Can I really keep the deal?”
Even in the black market, there must be a class of customers that obviously shouldn’t be involved.
“Aren’t you okay?”
“… … yes?”
Kellon’s eyes widened at the tone of the hostess, who was lighter than he expected.
Something like predicting the boy’s future or expecting something else.
He would have noticed that it was somewhat far from such calm, planned feelings.
No, actually, I guessed a little while ago.
He glanced at the dagger on the desk again.
should also be pointed out.
“miss… … .”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I just figured it out as a useful guest.”
It’s kind of hot. Haven’t you said anything yet?
“You have a good future, right? I also have skills. Wouldn’t it be okay as a guest if I was moderately conciliated?”
“Isn’t the lady’s ability working? Other than that, who is a sukmaek?”
“hey… … ! Do you want to die?”
I glared at him as if he was telling me not to say anything useless.
“Even if it’s not an ability, appeasement might be possible. that… … First of all, I’m not bad.”
The young female merchant evaluated herself objectively.
I was still only 20 years old.
Even if it’s not her ability, she reigns over this black market with her skills and appearance.
“That demon… … It bothers me, but well, it’s a familiar.”
I don’t think he’ll even meddle in private human relationships where he doesn’t use his abilities.
“and… … .”
“and?”
Somehow, with some hope, the merchant questioned, but immediately frowned.
“If there is a difference of five years, can’t we try to conciliate somehow? What do you think?”
“… … Are you stupid? miss?”
Unable to hold back, those words were spoken to the young mistress for the first time in her life.
Linell just tossed a pile of papers to see if he was aware that he was talking nonsense.
* * *
He kept his promise properly.
Through the person Linell sent, you received the key to Xelferid, the item you promised.
“As expected, a young female merchant in the black market. What you said is right. Also, is it quite big?”
What was surprising
Aside from the key, there were other things in it too.
From various medicines to materials that are difficult to handle.
It will not be a strong sale. He wouldn’t be that person.
Because it was obvious that I sent it by sniping my demand.
“Isn’t that like a return? Is it like the loyalty that saved you?”
“Hey~! I guess it’s not just like that?”
For some reason, Emily tilted her head as if guessing something when she saw the gift that came separately.
“I think it smells kind of disgusting.”
“smell? Is it because of the medicine?”
Even if you ask, they won’t teach you. It feels a bit more absurd than anything else.
For some reason, it seemed that Emily didn’t like the female merchant very much.
well, it happened
The important thing is that the key I wanted to get was right in my hand.
I put away the gift for a while and smirked as I touched the key.
“Is that the artifact you wanted?”
“Yes, luckily I got it as planned.”
In my gaming days, I only got my hands on it after going through a little more painstaking work.
At least according to the scenario at the time of the game, under the premise that the existence of this key was known in advance, it was only possible to obtain it at the beginning of Chapter 3 at the earliest.
You’ll get it sooner.
“A key is something that opens something, right? where?”
The key itself is meaningless.
Whether it’s a door somewhere or a treasure chest, there’s bound to be something you can use to open it.
Even on the black market, it was judged only as a work of art because they did not know what to open with it.
“don’t worry. The one I need to open with this is unexpectedly close.”
It will be dark under the lamp.
“You can also go there for a day trip today.”
There was no need to prepare to go far.
because.
“The ‘entrance’ to use this is right here in the academy.”
* * *
Xelferid’s key.
It is an artifact that exists only for a specific event, and cannot be seen as having any special power or value in itself.
An item prepared for a suitable event to use a certain gimmick in the game.
“The conditions for using this key seem to have these words.”
‘A person who has the will to learn, a child who deserves to face the truth of himself and the world.’
‘The moment that child holds the key, he will be greeted with a castle of secret trade.’
what do you mean
“It seemed that a person attending the academy should have it.”
“It is a strange condition. Who the hell decided that?”
“Nandl, do you understand?”
I really don’t know.
It is a kind of thing that cannot be revealed in terms of the story because it exists only to establish an event outside of the game.
However, since I know how to use it, it doesn’t matter.
“Inside the academy library block. The area where the old books are kept.”
The Imperial Academy’s facilities have a long history.
Among them, if you ask where the oldest place is, the library of the academy.
It was prepared from the beginning of establishment and has been repeatedly expanded.
one of the oldest areas.
“It’s a very unexpected place for a treasure chest.”
“Well, it’s a tradition to find something in a place like this since ancient times.”
“Where is the tradition, that.”
It’s a world you don’t know.
As I picked up the key and headed towards the section of the library, a response finally came.
“Oh!”
Float.
《The conditions for using the Key of Xelferid have been met.》
《You can rush into the event.》
thank god.
I got it at best, but it would have been embarrassing if it ended with nothing happened.
That devil noona would make fun of me every night.
“this… … Mana, Xian!”
Emily looked around the key and, as if she sensed something else, let out a wary voice.
“are you okay. It’s as planned.”
《Do you want to use the key?》
Of course you should write
As if my intention had been conveyed, the energy felt from the key intensified.
That moment.
sh*t.
There was a sound like metal cracking.
Where? You don’t even have to look for it.
the key i’m holding.
The key that used to shine is cracked.
Soon it shatters and scatters.
《Use the key》
The fragments soon spread like grains of light, and soon permeate into my palm.
《You have been registered as the owner of the key.》
《The key will be engraved.》
《From now on, you can enter Xelferid Fortress.》
“indeed… … Is it registered in this way? It’s nice that I don’t have to lose my keys.”
Come to think of it, there was no depiction of the key remaining in the inventory even after it was consumed.
Literally, only one person can qualify by fulfilling the conditions.
“Then I guess I can do proper shopping now.”
I recognized that I would activate the event by squeezing my free hand.
《Enter the secret shop.》
The view changes.
“… … draft?”
I think I can hear Emily’s voice in the distance, muttering in surprise.
Soon, what unfolded before my eyes was not a place filled with old books, but a spacious hall in an old castle somewhere.
“Here.”
familiar to the eye
There was no way I wouldn’t recognize that the world in the game was becoming real.
The old castle of Xelferid.
The place where the secret shop event, commonly referred to as the secret shop in the game, takes place.
The purpose is to obtain certain rare items that cannot be obtained normally in the game scenario.
In short, it is an element that exists to evoke the convenience and challenging spirit at the time of the game.
being able to open it.
‘You can get the power to definitely break through Chapter 2 of the main story.’
I smiled contentedly as I engrave the scenery in my eyes that was tantamount to proving that the plan was proceeding smoothly.
* * *
After passing through the hall of the old castle and entering the only entrance, the place where I came out soon was.
It was the scenery of the room that could be called the main building of the secret shop.
A place where various products and elixirs are displayed.
And the only woman there came out and greeted me as if she had been waiting.
“We warmly welcome you to our store. You are a qualified guest.”
Bow down politely and introduce yourself.
“I am Celina, the manager of this modest shop and the one in charge of guiding the customers here.”
“… … It is Xian.”
“Yes, Mr. Xian. I will remember it.”
Celina.
An NPC who was in charge of this place even in the game days.
I don’t know the detailed settings or identity.
That’s right, there was no explanation at the time of the game!
This is a place that exists only for the convenience of users.
Since she is not involved in the scenario, there is no need to mention her true identity.