## Chapter 50 – The Black Magician’s Request
“It’s a bit of a shame the crystal is broken.”
She opened her mouth after fiddling with the staff for a while, assessing it. The silence before she spoke felt like sitting on pins and needles.
“Ah, that…”
It was already broken. It wasn’t my fault.
I felt like she was blaming me, so I instinctively shrank back.
“Hehehe, were you scared? There’s no need to be. I’m not accusing you.”
“Ah, yes.”
As if my worries were unfounded, she smiled kindly. Her attitude and way of speaking felt very old-fashioned, so I couldn’t relax at all. Just listening to her talk, she seemed twice my age. How old is she, really?
Judging by her pointed ears, is she an elf? Elves can supposedly live up to 300 years, so if she’s an elf, it wouldn’t be strange if she were older than me. There’s a rumor that they start aging when they have about 50 years left to live.
Hmm, she’s probably an elf. This unreal beauty couldn’t possibly belong to a human. Her beauty has a bewitching quality unique to those who have fallen into magic, which must be a result of the elf + black magic combination.
“My name is Risha Leongreen. Would you tell me your name?”
Introducing herself as Risha, the witch asked for my name.
…My name? What was my name again? No, before that, is it okay to tell her my name? According to legends, witches can cast curses just by knowing someone’s name.
Of course, that’s just what adventurers say. It’s just a story from ignorant guys who blindly believe in folk beliefs and think ridiculous things are true, so it’s not very reliable, but I couldn’t help but think that way out of anxiety.
“Ah, my name is Kim Geun-tae… no, Katt.”
I tried to make up a fake name, but my real name suddenly popped out of my mouth. Real name: Kim Geun-tae. My father named me that so I would become a man like a big axe. I don’t know what it means, it’s just an incomprehensible name.
My father had a terrible naming sense… Ah, damn it. Suddenly thinking about my dad makes me want to cry… But what was that just now? It felt like my mouth opened completely against my will…
“So, you’re called Katt. Then, Katt, tell me how you came to acquire this item.”
“That is…”
I explained everything I knew as she asked. I told her the truth about going to the dungeon, defeating the skeletons, and bringing it back, without omitting a single detail.
“That’s an interesting story.”
“Is it?”
“Now, how much should I pay for this?”
All I’m interested in is the price of this staff.
“The crystal isn’t in great condition, but it has quite a decent amount of magical power…”
ㅡgulp.
I swallowed involuntarily. I watched her face with a mixture of anticipation and fear. Honestly, if she lowballs me here, I’ll just sit down and cry.
Grinning, she held out her palm.
“Would five silver coins be enough?”
“That’s such a reasonable price! Beautiful witch!”
I jumped up from my seat like a spring. Indeed, beautiful people have beautiful hearts. She was the perfect example. The strange sense of fear that had been suppressing me until just now vanished as if washed away.
Just because she looks a bit like a witch, I misunderstood her. I’m no different from a racist. The discrimination I suffered, I was subconsciously using it as a standard to judge others.
I immediately felt regret.
“Of course, you’re very welcome! No, rather, for the witch to buy my staff for such a large sum of money is like a huge… huge. That, whatchamacallit. Anyway, thank you so much!”
I was seized by the urge to dance for joy.
5 silver!
That would make the total profit from the dungeon 8 silver and 16 coppers! With that amount, I can replace my sword with a new one and buy a gauntlet. Or I can take it to Karin and learn more useful skills. And I’ll still have money left over. Finally, I can breathe!
“Are you that happy? Hehe… It’s a fair price, you’re a bright child.”
“Keuheuhe. The beautiful witch’s grace has made me so bright. By the way, I was wondering if you’re uncomfortable with me calling you a witch?”
“No, it doesn’t matter. Call me whatever you like.”
“How can you be so beautiful, even in your heart!”
Looking closely, Risha was a truly fatal beauty. Snow-white skin and red eyes. Above all, that silver hair! Honestly, the long ears are a bit inhuman, but even considering that and her girlish appearance, she possesses a transcendent beauty.
“And, perhaps…”
I grinned and reverently accepted the five 1-silver coins that had appeared out of nowhere, putting them in my wallet.
“Could you do me a favor?”
“A favor?”
Risha said that to me. I don’t know what kind of favor it is, but there’s no harm in doing a favor for someone so generous.
“Yes, a simple favor. There aren’t any useful kids around here… It’s hard to get materials these days.”
“I see. Are you saying it’s difficult to obtain magical ingredients or something?”
“That’s right. It shouldn’t be too difficult, and I’ll reward you if you bring me the items I ask for… Would you like to try?”
Collecting simple magical ingredients is something I can do. Back in my F-rank days, I wandered around the forest collecting magical herbs, medicinal herbs, and magical mushrooms countless times. I have knowledge in that area.
“Ah, well, I don’t want to refuse the witch’s request, but I’m not a very useful guy… I’m afraid I might disappoint you…”
I replied, becoming polite without realizing it. I’m full of energy, but if I take on the job and fail, I’ll disappoint her. That felt very uncomfortable.
“Oh my, there’s no need to be modest.”
“I’m not being modest…”
“You’ve killed five people.”
Huh?
“Wouldn’t that be considered decent skill? The competence of a warrior is expressed by the number of people they’ve killed. With that much, I can trust you with it.”
Huh?
Five?
No, wait a minute.
One, two. Three.
And four, and finally five.
Five.
How did she…?
“Are you surprised? Ah, it’s nothing. You said you know Karin? Then I thought we could get to know each other too. Won’t you do this witch a favor?”
I couldn’t help but nod blankly, leaving that chilling question behind. Looking back now, I might have been charmed by some kind of magic. It was like a dream, but the five silver coins newly added to my wallet were a clear truth.
When I came to my senses, I was in the back alley outside the black magic shop.
“What the hell…”
In my hand was a piece of paper with a list of magical ingredients written in an old-fashioned font.
At this point, it seems impossible to refuse. Now that I think about it, I forgot to say hello to Karin. I should gather the ingredients and go back.
“Well, she said she’d pay properly, so it doesn’t matter.”
It’s a bit embarrassing, but I have a new job, so it’s good to move right away. Of course, it’s not a quest from the Adventurer’s Guild, so it won’t be reflected in my achievements, but what’s important is the money, not those achievements. I’m a man who’s confident that I can be promoted to D-rank adventurer at any time.
I was about to leave the alley. I folded the paper without thinking and put it in my pocket, and was about to call for Seol Woon-do’s compass.
“Hey! Brothers, that bastard! That dark bastard over there!”
“What’s this bastard again?”
A man with a bare upper body and a familiar face shouted at me, pointing his finger. Wait a minute, let me guess who you are.
“Ah. The bastard whose knife I took earlier.”
Two men with bare upper bodies were following behind him. It seems this son of a bitch held a grudge against me and brought his friends. I calmly examined them. One was holding a short club, and the other was holding a hand axe.
“So… you brought your friends?”
My tension was at its peak. If there are two guys with weapons, I might have to fight a life-or-death battle. I glanced back. It doesn’t seem like I’m surrounded since there’s no one there.
Should I run away to the back? No, I don’t know the geography of this alley. And if I think there might be more of their friends… it’s better to break through.
“I heard you extorted our brother’s money?”
“Ah, that? This bastard suddenly started a fight, so I took it as a sign of reconciliation.”
The man with the club, putting a lot of strength in his shoulders, said.
“I’m sorry for starting a fight first… but do you know that extortion is illegal? If you extort money just because you started a fight, why is there a law and why is there a City Guard? I’ll forgive you, so I want you to give it back.”
He proudly rattled off words that weren’t funny at all, as if he had a talent for stand-up comedy.
“Of course, with compensation.”
Looking at the way he talks, they were typical thugs who had done this kind of extortion countless times. But can’t these bastards see my equipment? Have they lost their minds, or do they have something to believe in…?
I think they’re just stupid.
They must be living like this because they’re stupid. I’m similar, though.
“If you don’t want to give it back, we have no choice but to use force.”
The guys picked up their tools. Do they think they can beat me with two people?
As I always say, one can never beat many. But that’s when the armed state is equal. Unlike the guys who are shirtless and holding short weapons, I’m wearing armor, and above all, I’m holding a proper sword. The outcome of a fight depends not only on the number of people, but also on individual strength and equipment.
And since I haven’t left the alley yet, I won’t be surrounded even if the two of them attack at the same time. Terrain is also important in a fight.
I drew my sword.
Above all, once you’re looked down on, you fall to the bottom in this world.
“You back alley thugs… have you ever seen a proper swordsman?”
Adventurers who have switched their profession to murder-robbery are quite formidable opponents. When those guys who used to roam outside the walls to catch monsters realized that there was nothing as valuable as human blood, they transformed into true plunderers.
But these were not the thugs who extort money in the back alleys. They don’t go outside the walls because they’re afraid of monsters. They don’t want to fight, so they don’t risk their lives. So they hang out in the back alleys, extorting money from the poor and being satisfied.
Those guys can never beat me.
“When I look at you, you’re not even E-rank, let alone F-rank. I’ll say it nicely, put down everything you have and get lost. Or you’ll all die here.”
