Chapter 74: in the Witch Shop, is this smile kind?
After breakfast, Arthur set off with Riveria, heading towards a magic item shop called "Witch's Hideout" deep within Northwest Avenue.
The dark, winding path seemed to lead one into another world.
Pushing open the creaking wooden door, a gloomy and dim atmosphere assailed them. The shop's decor was truly uninspiring.
It was Arthur's first time seeing a shop in Orario with such a 'hometown' feel, and he couldn't help but marvel, looking around curiously.
Riveria, who was walking ahead, quickly approached the counter, tapped the surface with her knuckles, and called softly towards the curtain behind it.
"Reno, it's me, Riveria. Are you free to come out now?"
There was no response from behind the curtain for a long time. Arthur also leaned towards the counter, his eyes signaling a question.
Riveria's brows furrowed slightly, her tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.
"She might be busy with something else. Let's wait a bit longer."
Arthur had no objections and continued to browse around the item shop.
As his gaze wandered, he actually discovered several magical materials emitting strange fluctuations.
However, when he saw the astonishing number of zeros on the price tag, he decisively shook his head.
"What, young man, you don't fancy the treasures an old woman like me has collected?"
A hoarse, ancient-sounding voice, as if mixed with old dust, drifted out from the oval full-length mirror on the left.
Arthur turned his head at the sound, only to see an old woman, bent with age and wearing a floor-length robe, slowly emerging from the mirror's shadow.
Arthur's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry.
"This is... a spatial teleportation item?"
Grandma Reno waved her hand dismissively, explaining in a low voice.
"It's just a small trick to fool outsiders; otherwise, it would have been bought by someone who knew its worth long ago."
After speaking, Grandma Reno looked up at Riveria, whom she hadn't seen in a while, and noticed that she wasn't carrying her staff, which prompted her to tease.
"How rare, you're not here to replenish your magic stones this time."
A rare hint of embarrassment appeared on Riveria's face as she retorted.
"Don't make it sound like I break staffs all the time!"
Grandma Reno chuckled, "Aren't you going to introduce this young man to me?"
Riveria cleared her throat, her expression serious.
"His name is Arthur pendragon. He's a new member of our Familia, a Level 4 Upper-Class Adventurer."
A gleam flashed in Grandma Reno's cloudy eyes as she scrutinized Arthur, sighing repeatedly.
"A Level 4 newcomer, who hasn't even settled on a title yet. The younger generation is truly formidable."
Arthur lowered his head and chuckled, politely responding, "You flatter me."
"Alright, alright, my old eyes aren't failing yet. Why be so modest?"
Grandma Reno, with her hands behind her back, slowly ambled to the back of the counter and asked softly.
"Tell me, why have you come to see me this time?"
"We'd like you to appraise something."
Riveria took out a colorful magic stone from her inner lining and gently placed it on the counter, signaling for her to come forward and examine it.
Grandma Reno leaned forward, narrowing her deep eyes, and meticulously examined the unique magic stone.
After a moment, she averted her gaze from the colorful magic stone, lifted her head, and her ancient face could not hide her surprise and suspicion.
"Is this a magic stone?"
Riveria and Arthur exchanged a glance. The former nodded affirmatively, responding.
"That's right. It came from a new type of monster that appeared on the 51st floor. It not only has the instinct to pursue magic and devour magic stones, but it also crosses floors on a large scale."
Arthur asked with a grin, "Grandma, do you think this isn't a magic stone?"
Grandma Reno, however, no longer looked at the colorful magic stone, and snorted.
"I never said such a thing. Since it was obtained from a monster, besides dropped materials, it can only be a magic stone, right?"
"Do you have anything else you want appraised?"
Hearing this watertight statement, Arthur and Riveria understood perfectly.
This colorful magic stone was indeed strange, but Grandma Reno simply didn't want to get involved.
Arthur wasn't too bothered by not getting the answer he wanted.
He quickly approached a bottle of magical material shimmering with a steel-like luster, a smile in his eyes.
"Grandma, can you give me a discount on this?"
Grandma Reno glanced at the item on the shelf and replied indifferently.
"Eighty million Valis. Pay up and take it."
Arthur's mouth twitched, "That's too expensive. How about sixty million?"
"Ninety million."
"Huh!?"
Who taught you how to do business like this!
Arthur: (╬ ‵ ︿ ′)
Riveria, who was standing by, watching the show, saw Arthur's hesitant expression, smiled, and waved for him to go out and wait.
Soon, Arthur, who was squatting by the shop entrance observing ants moving, saw Riveria push the door open, holding the bottle of magical material he had previously taken an interest in.
"Here, fifty million Valis, deducted from your expedition bonus this time."
Arthur nodded slightly, stood up, and took the bottle of material with a steel-like luster.
"No problem. Thanks to your help, I can try out new magic now."
"New magic?"
Riveria's eyes sparkled, and curiosity about unknown magic once again appeared on her pretty face as she asked.
"Would it be alright if I observed when the time comes?"
Arthur carefully tucked the material bottle close to him, nodded, and smiled.
"No problem. I'll show it to you once I'm done debugging."
"Debugging?"
Riveria's face showed confusion. She lowered her head, muttering something softly again.
Don't all adventurers' magic manifest by refining magic power and chanting?
What did debugging mean?
Testing the actual attack range and magic consumption?
She vaguely felt that her understanding of magic and the magic Arthur spoke of seemed to have some fundamental difference.
Just as Riveria was lost in thought, Arthur waved his hand in front of her eyes, reminding her.
"Let's go. First, we'll report the situation to Finn and the others, and then we'll all go out for a celebratory meal."
"Hmm? Oh! You're right."
Riveria, snapping out of it, raised her hand to brush back her emerald hair, stepped around Arthur, and quickly walked out of the narrow alley.
...
As the sun gradually set, everyone who had initially processed the expedition's spoils returned to the Familia's base to report.
Afterward, all members, led by their Goddess Loki, marched in a grand procession towards the famous Hostess of Fertility tavern.
Bang--!
Loki, at the forefront, kicked open the heavy wooden door and, with her unique tone, called out to the bar.
"Mama Mia! We're here to give you our business!"
The Goddess's overly boisterous actions immediately drew the attention of the customers inside.
Upon realizing that the newcomers were the main force of Orario's top Loki Familia, the patrons no longer stared, each lowering their heads to continue eating, drinking, and chatting.
And Mia, the tall and imposing proprietress standing behind the bar.
She merely snorted at Loki, neither too lightly nor too heavily, her hands still busily working on unfinished dishes.
Arthur stood behind the group, his gaze subtly observing the gray-haired waitress who was carrying a tray and gracefully moving between the tables and chairs.
'Strange... that chilling and eerie feeling from last time is gone?'
'It can't be just my imagination, can it? Or is it because she isn't paying attention to me right now?'
Just as he was filled with doubt, Syr, with her signature sweet smile, gracefully walked towards the Loki Familia group and bowed.
"It's wonderful to see the Loki Familia return from your expedition. So, this time, it's the same as before: one table inside, and then the outdoor seating."
Everyone nodded, signaling for Syr to lead the way.
Finn suddenly reacted, turned sideways, and raised his hand to call out.
"Arthur, you should still sit inside."
At these words, nearby customers cast curious glances, secretly beginning to scrutinize Arthur.
The regulars of the shop knew very well that those qualified to celebrate in the private rooms inside were all executive-level members of the Loki Familia.
The only exception was the Thousand Elf, the direct disciple of the Nine Great Mages.
Who was this unfamiliar young man?
A newly promoted executive of the Loki Familia?
Arthur didn't care about the probing gazes around him. He merely glanced at Syr, who still wore a sweet smile, and thought to himself.
'It's confirmed. That chill didn't come from me; the problem lies with her herself.'
Unable to think of a deeper reason, he shook his head helplessly.
It would be best to visit the Hostess of Fertility less often in the future, lest he truly encounter something sinister one day.