The weak have their own way of doing things.
It’s only natural. Even animals are like that.
They instinctively avoid fighting against those stronger than themselves.
When their life is in danger, they either run with everything they have or arm themselves with poison or something similar to make their opponent hesitate.
But what if there’s no way to avoid the fight?
What if you can’t run, and being discovered by anyone means immediate execution?
Then you have no choice but to fight. It’s obvious.
Like the saying “Even a cornered rat will bite”, you must bare your fangs even against your natural predator.
Still, the weak are weak. There’s no way to beat the strong in a straightforward fight.
So, from the perspective of the weak, there’s only one strategy to take.
Catch them off guard.
The tool I was looking for had to have that exact characteristic.
“How about this? It has a perception-interference enchantment, so it’s hard to track the trajectory of attacks.”
“Not sure.”
“This one’s not bad either. It doesn’t injure your opponent but causes excruciating pain through magic.”
“Hmm. Instant torture magic, huh? Still, not feeling it.”
“Then how about this? Even mana waves are useless here. Press this button and it sprays poison. One hit and the skin melts right off. It’s a deadly toxin.”
“Horrifying. But useless.”
“……”
“?”
“What, are you trying to find some kind of legendary relic or something!? It’s already been an hour!!”
“Hmmm…”
Even though Deeks shouted like that, I couldn’t help it.
The perception-interference magic was just for bluffing at close range. It would be completely countered by Camilla’s [Trajectory Analysis].
The moment I try to close the distance using that, she’ll take my head off without hesitation.
Instant torture magic? It wouldn’t break her iron will.
In the game, Camilla Bliss withstood curses far more powerful than that without flinching.
Same with poison.
[Trajectory Analysis] would easily see through it, and even if it landed, she’d counterattack without hesitation. I remembered how Camilla kept her composure even with her fingers being cut off.
“Owner. Just give me some junk for now. I’ll do the appraisals while I’m at it.”
“You’re saying Deeks magical tools are worse than a pile of junk?!”
“Well, the opponent’s kind of a big deal.”
“You cheeky brat… Just don’t come crying to me later.”
“Oh, and toss in a couple of magic prosthetic arms too, will you?”
“…Hmph. Fine.”
15 gold coins as appraisal compensation. On top of that, discarded magical tools that leaked out of the Magic Tower. And even Deeks custom-made magical prosthetic arms.
I gathered all of that and stepped out of Deeks magical tool shop.
…The discarded tools are duds, huh. All of them are first- or second-circle spells today.
It seemed even the genius mage Heinel Shifter had trouble when it came to “Shape Transformation”.
Probably figured that high-level spells were too difficult, so they were trying to tweak simpler magical formulas instead.
Not exactly ideal for me. Sure, learning low-level spells isn’t a bad thing, but right now, it’s better to use NP as efficiently as possible.
Spells that don’t help much in combat are clearly better used through my trait for temporary firepower rather than wasting NP to permanently learn them.
Looks like I’ve got no choice.
I clicked my tongue quietly.
It was expected, but what I got from Deeks shop wouldn’t be much help.
The opponent was that Camilla. The very same Camilla who, later in the game, would be called “Camilla of the Iron Will”.
To beat her, I’ll have to use dangerous means.
It’s time to visit that black market dealer I postponed seeing last time.
Ideally, I would’ve liked to go after getting a bit stronger, but time’s tight.
The next time the black market dealer operates is in a month. If I don’t go now, I’ll miss the opportunity.
“……”
I reminded myself once more. This was Black Alley.
Deeks, the owner of the magic tool shop, was unusually decent for this place. Most of Black Alley was full of criminals.
If I were as strong as a playable character, it’d be fine, but to the weak, they wouldn’t hesitate to strike.
Besides… I’ll need a magical catalyst to return to human form anyway. I have to go.
Meow…
A cat’s cry rang out from somewhere.
***
Somewhere near the entrance of an alley in the Empire, there is a fruit shop.
Black Alley.
A place completely unsuited for selling fruit, where freshness is key. It’s far removed from the residential areas of the Empire’s citizens, so naturally, no one comes to buy fruit.
But that only applies… to the ordinary fruit sold during the day.
There is demand for a certain kind of fruit sold only at this shop. It was the so-called “night fruit”.
I made my way through the winding alleys and found the fruit shop. Bruised and rotting fruits were lazily displayed on the stands. It hardly looked like a real fruit store.
I crouched in front of a fruit that looked like a Halloween pumpkin and muttered quietly,
“Night’s illusion. You have it?”
“……”
“Light Steps are good too. I also need noble bone dust.”
As I kept mumbling to myself, a voice answered from a dark corner of the unlit shop.
“…We’re closed for the day.”
“In that case, I’d like to buy some fruit that’s good for recovery. Something like Oasis Mirage.”
“…Looking for dangerous stuff, huh? Bring it in.”
Pop—
Suddenly, a light flickered on inside the pumpkin-like fruit.
At the same time, with a clunk, a hidden entrance disguised as part of the wall swung open.
You must name at least three exact items sold only at night.
That’s the way to strike a deal with the black market of the fruit shop.
As I descended the narrow staircase lit by orange candlelight, a strong incense-like scent wafted up.
This place was a black market dealing in various potions. But it didn’t sell common drugs you could find anywhere. Which meant, unless you were a major player in the underground, it was nearly impossible to know of its existence.
“That voice sounded unfamiliar… Oh, it’s you, young master. How did you find your way here?”
The shop owner who said this had her eyes half-lidded. Her clothes were slipping off her shoulders, fully exposing her collarbones. She looked utterly careless and drowsy.
That drugged-out-looking woman was none other than the owner of the black market, “Night Fruit”.
“I used to make purchases often in other regions. I heard this is the biggest fruit shop in the Empire.”
“…From whom?”
“Sorry, I can’t say.”
“…..”
“Does it matter? Judging from my build, I’m clearly not a swordsman. And with no visible magical power, not a mage either. If I’m not a customer, what else could I be?”
“Oh my… you’re right. Not bad. Mhmm.”
There was something oddly off about her sudden change in tone. But it was probably just that she was underestimating me.
I didn’t let it bother me and calmly listed the items I needed.
“…You’re only after dangerous stuff, aren’t you, young master. Do you even have the money?”
“About twenty gold coins.”
“Hmm…”
“That’s about the going rate, as far as I know.”
“That’s right… quite fair, actually.”
I didn’t need anything absurdly expensive. The potion to return to human form relied more on the correct ratios and timing of ingredients than on costly materials.
Unless it’s something like a tonic or stimulant, most medicines work like that. It’s usually a matter of knowledge, not price.
“…Are you perhaps an alchemist, young master?”
“…Why do you ask?”
“Oh, no reason. Just curious, cowardly young master. If you need that many ingredients, you must be making something, right? And since you came to get them yourself, I figured you planned to craft it on your own.”
I hesitated for a moment.
Alchemist. A word often used to mock mages who dream of creating infinite gold.
But that’s probably not what she meant here. She was likely asking if I was a potion maker… a magical apothecary, to be precise.
“I’m just trying a bit of experimentation after reading some texts.”
“Lying’s not good, young master. When you name such obscure ingredients right after casting such a polished incantation, it just loses credibility.”
“…How about we skip the games and just say what we want?”
“Oh my… that’s no fun. I wouldn’t mind bantering with you, young master.”
“……”
When I didn’t respond, her eyes narrowed again.
Unlike a moment ago when she had straightened up, her body now slouched lazily. Her jet-black hair which was a rare sight around here spilled down in a messy cascade.
“……”
Suddenly realizing just how much more skin she was showing, I turned my head away.
“Oh dear. Seeing you like this, you seem like such a pure young master… Well, fine. Why don’t we strike a deal? If you make me a few concoctions, I’ll throw in a little extra service.”
“…Hmm.”
So she’s offering to add extra goods in exchange for premade potions?
Not a bad proposal. Gold coins are accepted currency here in Black Alley, but they can also be exchanged freely outside.
Still, it felt wasteful to spend twenty whole coins here.
That said, I didn’t have the time to be brewing potions myself either.
“How about this instead….. I can’t make them for you, but I’ll give you the recipes. On the condition that I don’t care how you use them or what you gain from them.”
“Hmm? That sounds too much in your favor… now I’m suspicious.”
“In return, I’ll charge you more. First, I need Oasis Mirage.”
“…That wasn’t just a throwaway line?”
For the first time since I entered, the shopkeeper seemed genuinely startled. It made sense.
The potion I’d just mentioned was infamous. It was responsible for several disasters in the past.
“You don’t have it?”
“…I probably do…”
“And do you happen to have Headflower extract as well?”
“…That one seems relatively normal. Hold on a moment.”
As she adjusted her clothing and began rummaging through the shelves, I looked around again to give myself something else to focus on.
A space bathed in soft orange light. The strange, fragrant scent in the air. Exotic fruits and powders stored in unfamiliar containers.
Looking closer, I noticed a cat hiding in one corner.
Were there always animals like that in here? As the thought crossed my mind, the shopkeeper returned.
“Hmm. It’s in decent condition… If you were planning to take it yourself, I’d advise against it. If the effect wears off, you’ll be no different from a corpse.”
“As if. I wouldn’t ingest that. It’s for research.”
“Hehe. Of course. No sane person would ever take it.”
“……”
I stayed silent.
It was a cutting remark….but, unfortunately for her, it entirely wrong.
Or maybe, in a way… she was exactly right.
Since I was destined to become “Madwoman Adel”, I was planning to take it all.
***
To get to the point….it was a successful deal.
I ended up gaining quite a lot in exchange for revealing a few not-so-impressive potion recipes I’d learned in the game.
First of all, I managed to buy the necessary ingredients at half the usual price.
On top of that, I got the drug I’d been looking for to deal with Camilla completely free.
From the shopkeeper’s perspective, she’d gained a kind of intellectual property, so it was a profit, not a loss.
In other words, a win-win.
“…….”
I opened the box I’d received.
Even someone like that shopkeeper had been taken aback by it: [Mirage Oasis].
Its true nature was a naturally magic-infused stimulant.
It boosts your reflexes, judgment, and physical abilities to the level of a knight….just for a short time at the cost of immense strain on the body.
Because of its absurdly powerful effects and side effects, it had been banned despite not being addictive.
The ban stemmed from a murder case years ago involving an imperial knight. A supposedly ordinary citizen had taken this drug and torn a knight to pieces or so the story went.
A normal person would suffer for life from just a single dose…
But in my case, there’s a way to reduce the aftereffects.
By taking it while the Demon Seed is in bloom.
The temporary mutation of the body would dull the aftereffects and still let me draw out the full benefits.
With this, I won’t fall behind physically.
I found myself nodding.
There was a reassuring sense that my preparations to face Camilla were coming together.
And then there was the Headflower extract.
When mixed with demon blood, it becomes a deadly toxin.
If I take it before entering combat, I should be able to get a pretty decent boost.
Still not enough. Even with all this, I’ll probably lose.
My preparations weren’t over yet. I still needed to gather a few more curse-related tools.
“What to do…”
But by then, the hour had passed from night into deep dawn. It was starting to get risky.
After a brief moment of hesitation, I made my decision.
…If I don’t head back now, I might get caught by a patrolling maid.
This is it for tonight.
I packed up everything I’d obtained and turned to leave.
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