With a place to stay sorted out, Orion completely put himself into grind mode. Waking up early and receiving fluff.
Making breakfast for the fluff providers, because apparently, only he knew how to cook in the house. And running to the dungeon.
That was his routine.
Of course, it also consisted of eventually being schooled by Eina.
Over the course of the next three days, he reached up to the 10th level of the dungeon with his consistency. This number could have been a lot bigger if he wasn't just going after clearing the floors but also now focused on farming the monsters for money.
His levels were also coming along nicely until now, getting closer and closer to an advancement.
It was the weekend when he decided that it was finally time to tackle that double dungeon he had been preparing for.
With money saved by living with Hestia in her church, he had enough to not only fix the dilapidated building, but also purchase some potions and equipment before he entered the legacy dungeon.
Only having two flask charges on him, Orion had both of them put into healing. Meaning he no longer could recharge his magic.
He hardly needed it, since resting at a Site of Grace would refill his magic, and unlike in the game, magic or mental energy in this world would recover over time as well.
Still, he wished to have some mana or mind potions before he entered into the legacy dungeon, alongside other potions and herbs like poison cures and ailments for common types of diseases.
Having no idea what he would face inside, he wished to be completely prepared before he entered. He only got one chance to clear it after all.
Dian Cecht Familia makes the best potions in Orario, at least that was what he learned from a few adventurers he talked to and from Eina. They were also the most expensive potions out there.
Frugal to the core, he immediately went for a less costly alternative. That was when Hestia mentioned her friend Miach and his familia.
Fun fact, both Dian Cecht and Miach were father and son in mythology…
Miach was just like Hestia, god of poverty. Though his condition was still much better than Hestia. And there was a reason.
Miach was a kind god, one of the very few that existed in DanMachi.
He took huge loans just to provide an alchemic prosthetic to his child. At least that was what Hestia told him.
Orion had to say, he could respect gods like them.
So here he was.
In front of the Miach Familia's apothecary. A small off-the-street shop with little presence compared to Dian Cecht.
He pushed open the door to the Miach Familia apothecary, and the first thing that hit him was the smell—clean herbs, crushed leaves, and something faintly bitter that reminded him of medicine taken against one's will.
Only bad memories.
The second thing that hit him was the dog girl.
Insta-good memories.
He froze for half a second, eyes widening as Naaza looked up from behind the counter. Brown ears drooped cutely atop her head. A tail flicked behind her, sharp eyes already assessing him like prey that might suddenly start running.
Orion smiled.
A genuine child-like smile only because he was excited about finding a dog girl after he met Anya in the Hostess of Fertility.
A big, honest, utterly unguarded smile.
Naaza's ears flattened a fraction.
"…Can I help you?" she asked slowly, wondering why the customer was smiling like an idiot over there.
Was he a debt collector?
A small thought of running crossed her mind, but she dismissed it instantly.
"Yes," Orion replied far too cheerfully, stepping forward. "I'd like to buy healing potions. And mind potions. Preferably ones that don't taste like three-day-old cold soup."
Naaza narrowed her eyes. "You're not a debt collector?"
"Huh?"
"Nothing… forget I said anything. Tell me how I may help you." Naaza instantly changed the topic.
"Ah yes… as I said, it's my first time here. I want some potions," he admitted. "Hestia sent me."
That earned him a blink.
"Hestia?" Naaza repeated. "Which Hestia?"
"The one with the string under her… ahem. I mean Goddess Hestia," Orion said, halfway making a suggestive gesture to emphasize Hestia's chest size.
Naaza had no idea about this Hestia. Only Miach knew her, not Naaza. Meaning the discount he was expecting on Hestia's name was gone now.
"Potions are on the counter," Naaza said curtly, sliding several bottles toward him. "Prices are listed. No discounts."
Orion picked one up, examined it, nodded. "I see."
Then he paused.
"…However."
Naaza sighed. "Here it comes."
"Hypothetically," Orion said, leaning in conspiratorially, "if someone were to buy in bulk, and hypothetically that someone were charming, handsome, and clearly destined for greatness—"
"No," Naaza said immediately.
"—could there be a small reduction?"
"No."
"Not even a tiny one?"
Naaza folded her arms. "This isn't a marketplace stall. These are quality potions."
Orion winced theatrically. "My heart. Wounded more deeply than any dungeon monster could manage."
She did not laugh.
"Come on, lady, a little discount won't kill you. Lady Hestia pointed me to this place. I expect at least a little discount."
Frugal as he was, he practically felt like his health dropping if he paid a single valis more than he could haggle.
They went back and forth for several minutes—Orion pleading, bargaining, dramatically calculating his poverty aloud.
Turns out Naaza was poorer. At least she sounded poorer. Her tears were even more convincing.
"I had to feed my three siblings with the little I earn here, mister. Please, I can't give any more discounts…"
"I understand, madam… sigh. I too have my sick mother to take care of. I… I don't know if she will make it if I don't come back from the dungeon one day. Those potions… they can save two lives.
But… but I can't afford them all… if only there was a little discount… sigh…"
"You don't know, mister. My familia is under huge debt. If we don't pay in time, the debt collectors might even… they might even take me to the—" She sniffed.
"Oh no… that's so cruel… I can understand, sister. My father also owes money to others… they often come to make demands of us for money. One day I won't be able to pay, then even I might be tossed into the red-light district. I… I don't want my first time to be with a fat bald man…" Orion's eyes also teared up…
'Tsk… he's good,' Naaza snorted internally.
'Hehehe… who are you fooling, girl. I have seen many like you. I'll get that discount…' Orion internally smirked.
Marika, who was listening to all of this from her ethereal state, was speechless at the shamelessness of the two.
Finally, after much haggling, they decided on a reasonable price… both panting after their intense match.
"3456 valis… not a single valis less…" Naaza said with irritation.
"Ah, come on, at least make it a round fi—"
"NO!!!!"
"—gure…" Orion trailed off.
"3450…," he still added.
"Ahaaaaa. Fine, fine… 3450. Just be done with it…" Naaza almost looked like she was ready to pull out her hair.
From the original price of 5000, he brought the price down to 3450. Needless to say, Orion was a happy man.
Not if he knew that the potions were diluted.
As he was ready to pay, his eyes caught the sight of Naaza's hand.
Metal and leather, jointed carefully, well-maintained but unmistakably artificial.
He froze.
"…That's impressive craftsmanship," he said carefully.
Naaza stiffened. "Don't."
"Hey, I'm not trying to haggle, okay—" Orion said with a bit of embarrassment.
"I was talking about your… hmm… hand."
That made Naaza even more uncomfortable. Who liked to be reminded of being crippled anyway?
"Sorry, not trying to be rude or anything. I just found the craftsmanship on that prosthesis quite good…" he added later on, as he realized he was being rude.
Then suddenly it hit him.
Orion stopped himself, then frowned, mind already racing. His flask had healed wounds that should not have healed. Burns. Fractures. Things that laughed at common sense.
Could it restore something lost? Like a lost limb?
He hadn't lost a limb yet to test it out.
And more importantly…
Would it work on someone other than him?
The thought lodged itself firmly in his mind, refusing to leave.
"Here… these are your potions," Naaza snorted, handing them over to make this troublesome customer leave quickly.
Orion didn't immediately take them. Instead, he looked intently at Naaza before asking,
"Hey, miss… if I say there is a way to restore that hand of yours… would you believe it…?"
xXx
A/N : Okay... that little bickering between them was not planned, I just add in there out of the blue.
As for whether it should work or not. Do tell me. Do you guys thing it will work ?
Please review this book and give stones. Thank you....
Please Consider Donating Power Stones if you like the Chapter.
"Thank you Very Much for All Your Support"
You can check out upto 4 advanced chapter from Webnovel on My Patreon
Check my Patreon on
Patreon.com/Kamidemond