Chapter 214 – #47_Protection(4)
#212
One.
The time when the dusk is receding.
The receptionist opened the door and entered.
Siu was surprised.
Was it because it was so secretive? Or was it because it was placed in a secluded corner?
Until I opened the door and entered, I thought of the atmosphere and scale of the black market like the Blue Snake Junction.
This was rather similar to the night market scenery in Ulsan or Busan.
This is because the interior space is much larger and more comfortable than expected.
“Wow, how wide is this?”
“It’s 2000 pyeong.”
Since the soccer field is approximately 2200 pyeong, it can be said that it is two times larger than Siwoo expected.
Perhaps because it was a temporary store, it basically had a structure in which tents displaying products were lined up in fives and rows.
In some cases, you can see a store that uses an entire container house as a store.
Mercury vapor lamps hung from the 10m high ceiling instead of hoists, and there was also a ceiling, reminding me of an arcade somewhere.
In short, it has a much more modern feel than Border Town.
“It’s a lot bigger than I thought, isn’t it? There are too many people. I didn’t see a single person when I came in.”
“Anyway, the terms when the reception center is open are infrequent… Once it opens, witches around you come from far away.”
Hearing that, I looked around and saw witches roaming around every corner of the rendezvous.
Most of them are dressed in mundane clothes, but you can tell at a glance.
A world-class actor-class woman known for her unrealistically good proportions and visuals is walking around? If you want to be a witch, unconditionally.
The same goes for Sharon, who is right next to Siwoo.
Even so, the number of witches that can be seen at first glance is about 10 or so.
Even considering all the invisible space behind, I don’t think there will be less than 50 people.
“First of all, I’m going to slowly go through the list of things I need to buy today. Look around and don’t lose it. Follow me.”
“Don’t worry, I’m no kid.”
“Still, what if another witch suddenly gives Siu something good and follows her?”
“Am I a child?”
Sharon laughs and teases Siwoo.
The two of them began to search for items by moving between the shelves lined up in earnest.
There was a total collection of all sorts of strange items.
The amount and type of goods were incomparable to those of the small magic tool shops that I often stopped by in Taro Town.
It will probably be far ahead in terms of quality as well.
The tent Sharon stopped at was a jewelery tent.
The merchant, who had been sitting still without touting customers, greeted them in a relaxed voice only after Sharon and Siwoo approached.
“Welcome! Beautiful witch! A nice gentleman is also welcome.”
For the gray-haired old man, who looked good in stylish single-eyed glasses, it was felt that this had not been done once or twice.
It was easy to infer from just looking at the material of the tent and the display stand that they were not just selling mediocre products.
It was because the jewels that dazzled the eyes were displayed under the lights as if to show off.
“Which product do you want?”
“I’m looking for gems used for elemental magic.”
“Ohh! You are looking for a sacrifice! If so, you’ve come to the right place. At Ruby Atelier, we never disappoint our customers. We deal with rare precious metals and gems from all over the world.”
It is different from the merchant who dealt with the witches in Gehenna.
Should I say it feels like watching a mature bartender?
I felt confident and relaxed even when dealing with witches.
It was because he had greeted Siwoo without showing anything when he saw Siwoo standing next to the witch out of the blue.
Sharon’s elemental magic requires different ‘sacrifice’ depending on the elemental system.
Of course, the higher the quality of the offering, the stronger the power of magic, and the higher quality offering generally meant jewelry.
Regardless of the East and the West, sparkling stones contain eternal fantasy and symbols accumulated within them.
“Do you have anything else to look out for?”
“Can I see the Imperial Topaz first?”
Topaz has been praised as the stone of the sun since ancient Egypt.
Topaz has so many colors that it is impossible to name a single one.
Among them, vermilion topaz, which was traded at a much higher price than other colored topaz, was called ‘Imperial Topaz’ and was one of the indispensable offerings in fire rituals.
“Shall I show you the catalog first? If not…”
“I want to see it in person and choose it.”
Sharon spoke with her stern, cold tone completely expressionless.
At first glance, she looked like an arrogant witch who looked down on humans, but Sharon could understand Siu’s experience.
She knows that Sharon is doing her best not to get caught by a seemingly skilful merchant.
It can be said that it is similar to how women wear full makeup when they go to refund.
Seeing that Siwoo also had to put on a serious expression for no reason, she held back her laughter.
“Oh, there are several of them.”
The merchant went to the back of the tent and took out a wooden box lined inside with a luxurious red cloth and opened it.
Inside, Imperial Topaz of various sizes was fixed and shining brightly.
Show it off in front of a magnifying glass.
“See? A beautiful orange color like well-aged whiskey, and a pomegranate color that blends gently in it. It was mined in a mine in Brazil. From production to craftsmanship, it is undoubtedly of the highest quality.”
She knows because Sharon has also seen and handled many of her jewels.
That her products are not all bad.
“What is the price?”
“Yes, the stone below 4 carats on the left is priced at 800,000 won per carat, and the one on the right above 10 carats is priced at 1.6 million won per carat.”
“Yes? Isn’t that too expensive?”
Sharon opened her eyes and questioned.
She was so startled that her tone, which she pretended to be solemn, is gone.
There are no mines in Gehenna, so the jewels sold here go to Gehenna in this world.
But the price difference is almost the same as when I bought it at the jewelry store in Gehenna!
“If you appreciate this beauty, it is by no means overpriced. These days, the amount of mining of topaz is decreasing and the demand is increasing, so the market price is high. In particular, Imperial Topaz is rarely produced.”
Even when Sharon argues, she doesn’t even bat an eye and smirks at the merchant.
She brought the level scales and weights she had prepared before she knew it, and she asked.
“Shall I weigh you?”
“…Yes, here are the little things. And this too.”
Feeling intimidated, Sharon, like someone entering a luxury department store for the first time, chose her small stones and a small topaz.
Five topaz under 3 carats, 11.6 million won.
One 15.5 carat topaz, 24.8 million won.
A total of 36.4 million won.
Now, she must have earned a lot of money, and she was going to do a flex in the name of reinvestment.
She hadn’t spent so much money in a long time, so her hands trembled even when she was buying jewelry.
The problem is that there are many things left to buy besides this.
Siwoo gave up after contemplating whether or not to say that he would buy it for Sharon, who seemed to be in trouble at first glance.
It’s only once or twice to show condescension with other people’s money.
In the first place, Sharon didn’t even ask her first, but she thought it was too much to step forward for nothing.
“Please wrap it separately and show me pearls, aquamarine and corals next time.”
“All right.”
After choosing the offerings for the Fire Altar, you must buy all the offerings for the Water Altar, Wind Altar, and Earth Altar.
Sharon managed to purchase the amount she originally aimed for despite the merchant’s eloquence.
“The total is 111.3 million won. Would you like gold coins?”
“Above, I’ll use the Witch Bank card…”
Sharon, who received the finely-wrapped jewelry in the jewelry box (for a fee), handed her a card.
The payment method was very analog on the subject of introducing halogen lights on the shelves.
In Korea, it was only used in the 1980s, but the card number is stamped by putting the card under the slip and scratching the paper.
It was a way of sending a slip with a card number to the bank to receive payment from the account.
Lastly, Sharon, who signed with her witch name, trudged out with a box that was too light to be the price of 111.3 million won.
“It’s okay, Siwoo. I’m not sorry at all.”
“Is that so…”
“Of course! You have to prepare this much before you can use proper magic.”
She didn’t even ask, but Sharon, who was rationalizing hard, headed straight to the tobacco shop.
If you want to buy regular cigarettes, you can go to the convenience store, so there is no need to buy them here.
However, what Sharon wants to buy is a magic ceremonial pipe.
It’s to buy the pipe that was broken while fighting Della the other day.
“Welcome!”
This time, the clerk, who looked a little bit shy, greeted Sharon, rubbing her hand.
To the witches of Gehenna, cigarettes are one of the most desirable items, so naturally, the pipe is also a luxury item.
However, if you use a ready-made product that has been made haphazardly, the effect as a sacrifice will decrease.
Sharon feels time and time again that her magnetic magic is a money-eating hippo.
She also had no money, so her magic continued to stagnate.
“As for this pipe, it is a model that witches use very much. The pipe was made from narwhal ivory. The water bowl is decorated with pumpkins to add elegance. This is an item that is not available. It’s because there are only 10 of them in the world, made by Ronde Ong, who is famous as a pipe craftsman in Gehenna.”
In fact, it seems appropriate to describe it as a jangjuk because the length is close to 30cm and the combustion cylinder is small for a pipe.
For reference, the price is 15 million won.
No matter how luxurious it is, it was a price that I couldn’t understand.
“Shall I buy this for you?”
Siwoo, who was snooping around, couldn’t stand it any longer when he saw Sharon causing an earthquake.
She asked cautiously so as not to hurt her ego.
Sharon shook her head.
“No, my money was actually given to you. I don’t want to take more because I’ve already taken too much.”
“Then, while I’m buying mine, I’ll buy yours too. Then it will work.”
“No, even if I buy it, I will buy it for you.”
“Don’t be stubborn.”
I could see the merchant’s face, which had been smiling for hospitality until now, subtly hardened.
Well, the man who talks to the witch, should I buy this for her witch? If he’s the first time you’ve seen a guy who does, he thinks he can.
That is, if the relationship between the two is almost like a couple that is agitating.
“Because I’m not stubborn! I’ll take care of it. Wait. Do you have tobacco leaves? For ceremonial purposes.”
Sharon hurriedly shook off Siu and asked the merchant.
The merchant was taken aback by the unfamiliar sight, but soon regained his composure and asked:
“Ah, yes. Here it is. Do you want tobacco leaves coated with various flavors? The trend these days is coffee or cherry flavor…”
“No, please give me the basics.”
“All right.”
It was not for enjoying the smoke anyway, but for the act of ‘swallowing fire’, so there was no need for incense.
To be honest, Sharon didn’t like cigarettes.
The merchant unfolded the tobacco leaves wrapped in oil paper and showed them.
“Touch it once. It is made from tobacco leaves grown in the shade of Latifundium, feeding on high-grade magic water. It retains just the right amount of moisture, and it’s perfect for replenishing mana.”
It is about 50g, and the price is over 1 million won.
Sharon, who went around even after she bought a pipe and tobacco leaves, bought a total of 400 million won in 3 hours.
“It’s okay, it’s a necessary investment… It’s a necessary investment…”
“Yes, yes, I didn’t buy it because I have a use for everything.”
“Is not it? Do you even think so?”
Seeing Sharon muttering while holding the card carefully, Siwoo quietly patted her back.
The pity and cuteness added to make it hard to hold back laughter.
