Walking down the street while being bathed in killer gazes from all the guys around, it was a situation that was literally having “a flower in both hands”.
Soon after leaving the clothing store, we reached the flea market, a narrow street with makeshift stalls lined up on both sides. The appearance was “that” but I’ve heard stories of others finding treasures here for cheap. The key was having good eyes!
“Now, let’s see…”
We slowly walked down the stalls, checking each item that caught our attention. Should I say as expected? But Minerva and Hekate were both interested in the accessories displayed here and there.
They were completely enamored by a pair of necklaces, both following their specific colors of light brown and white.
“You want that necklace?”
I asked the two, pointing at the article they were staring at with sparkling eyes.
“W-We’ve already received enough from Sir Will… We can’t possibly indulge in your kindness any further than this.”
Minerva quickly denied it, but her eyes were still glancing at it every now and then. Hekate was the same, acting shy and reserved.
“It’s fine; don’t worry about it.”
I quickly petted their heads, reassuring them both. However, as soon as I approached the stall, I noticed something as I stared at the necklaces in question. No, rather than the necklaces, it was all the accessories that were displayed at the old man’s stall.
“… This is…”
I’m not sure, since I could be mistaken, but from my memory, this is…
“… Recording Skill?”
It was the most traumatic function that was added to the black card I got before from the Government Office. The one with the function of recording the events around it and either transmitting everything to a receiver or storing it all inside.
Just remembering that item makes me feel like something is definitely wrong with these accessories.
‘Is this function added by default? Or did the creator…’
I stared at the old man who was selling it, but he didn’t seem to be the one who created it.
“Can I take a closer look?”
“Feel free, young lad. I’m sure these necklaces would fit those two beautiful girls behind you. Ho ho ho.”
“Thanks.”
This old man was pretty skilled at making others want to buy his wares, it seems. However, as soon as I took one of the necklaces and tried to look closer at the energy that was circulating inside it, using what little I knew regarding engraved skills and such, I quickly determined its real function.
‘This really is a recorder. Something like a hidden camera that broadcasts everything around it to another place.’
What a scam! Does this mean that anyone who bought it, if they were unaware, might make their naked bodies available to whoever set this whole thing up? Why didn’t I think of that before? No, I mean, how could that person do something so horrible?!
“Fortunately, for something like this…”
I let a flood of energy wash over the circuit, completely destroying it. If I could, I would want to find the location where the receiver was, but I don’t have the skills to do such advanced tracking. If I have the receiver, then I can…
“So, young man, are you buying those two?”
The old man asked with a thin smile; his gaze was telling me that not buying it here would make me look bad to the two girls behind me. Fortunately, I already destroyed the “trap” that was inside the necklaces, so there’s no problem anymore.
“Alright, I’ll buy both!”
I paid about 30,000 Credits for the two combined. It wasn’t expensive in my senses, but thinking that such a price could let me survive for a month when I was just starting out, I’m slowly realizing how my sense of money got skewed.
“Here, take these.”
I passed the necklace to the two of them, and their eyes glowed with expectations. With trembling hands, they reached for each necklace and stared at it for a while.
“You know what? Let me do this…”
Seeing that they were hesitant to wear it, I quickly snatched the necklace from Minerva’s hands and moved to her back. I carefully wrapped it around her neck before securing the clasp.
Without waiting, I did the same thing to Hekate, although it was harder to do since her neck fur was in the way. It was soft, though, so I managed to somehow put it on her. The chains were hidden inside the fur, but the white gem was dangling right before her chest, visible for all to see.
I moved back, then stared at the two before nodding my head in satisfaction.
“Yep, it looks good on the two of you. Right, Mr. Vendor?”
“Yes, yes, of course. But I think if they had matching rings too, they would look even more astonishing!”
Ha Ha, sorry, old man, but I’m not falling for that trick.
After we left the old man’s stall, we went around looking at others. There was an extremely wide variety of goods on their displays. Weapons and armor were a matter of course, but there were even gems, artifacts, and vases. I’m not sure why someone would buy vases in a place like this, but it looks like his business was booming, seeing that his stocks were almost gone.
As we walked on, something finally caught my eye. With hurried steps, I approached the stall and stared at the object that I thought was just my imagination.
“Oh! You have good eyes, brother! That artifact was brought in just yesterday from a newly opened dungeon!”
“This? An artifact?”
I looked at the item and doubted his words. After all, no matter how I looked at it, the item was nothing but a normal one… Albeit a little too futuristic for this world. It was a rectangular item with a shiny screen on one side, a familiar sight since Ember showed me something similar a little earlier. It was a smartphone. And just by looking at it, it was a real one and not a toy or replica!
“Can I touch it?”
I asked, just in case, but the man who was manning the store crossed his arms and scoffed.
“Sorry, brother, but this item is too expensive. I can’t allow you to touch it casually!”
His fingers were turned into the symbol of money, so I guess he’s asking for a deposit just for me to check the item. I sighed before taking out a single sheet of a 10,000 Credits bill.
“Hmmm… Not enough.”
… Damned opportunist. I was the one who got curious first, so I guess it’s my fault. I took a few more bills and didn’t count them; I just passed all of them to the guy, who then whistled as he saw how much I took out.
After getting his permission, I touched the item and scanned it from all angles. I quickly found the volume and power buttons, so I tried pressing them, but then the screen suddenly turned bright.
“…!”
It’s still working! How the… Wait, I can’t show this much interest or else…! Too late. The owner was already grinning at me from ear to ear. I guess I can’t stop him from hiking the price now.
“A-Ahem. I wish to buy this one. How much?” .
I tried playing it down, but since he told me that it was “expensive” and an “artifact,” I prepared myself to hear a minimum of millions in price.
“You look like a nice guy, so let me bring down the price. It’s originally a billion credits, but I’ll let you buy it for 500 million!”
“Go f*ck yourself! Who would pay that much money to buy this scrap?!”
500 million?! Even I don’t have that much!
“10 million; any higher and I’m out!”
“What? So you’re just a beggar… Heh, go away, shoo shoo. I don’t need beggars in my shop.”
“What shop? This is a street stall, idiot! 12 million!”
“100 million.”
“15!”
Our exchange of prices continued until the price reached 40 million. Although it was still too much, I guess I can say that it’s more than worth it for a working smartphone.
He’s a hateful dude, but I guess he’s just working to feed himself too. I don’t have 40 million on hand, so I asked for someone to send me money. How? I asked one of the girls under Servant Contract with me to send some. In a minute, a large bag containing piles of bills appeared, popping out of the Server Ring, making a lot of eyes turn in our direction.
“M-Mister?!”
The stall owner panicked as sharp gazes were pointing at him now. I just smiled, getting back at him for hacking the price up. Well, I already have what I wanted to buy, so good luck fending off anyone who wants a hand on “your” money!
I could smell trouble brewing in the air, and I felt some gazes falling on us three too, so I quickly moved out of there. Mr. Stall Owner, I hope you survive!