Introduction Arc: Chapter 4.
"You can't put a price on safety. Don't be caught unprepared by the dragon lord's army. Buy my enchanted wares, and they'll help you survive." The chubby merchant said with an enthusiastic tone to the people crowding his stall.
(Dragon lords? Even after a hundred years, they're a threat?) Winter thought and joined the crowd, perusing the chubby merchant's magical wares.
A young child, no older than ten, noticed Winter amongst the crowd and tugged on an older child. "Hey, he looks like those hero from the stories." The young child said, excitement filling his eyes.
"He's an adventurer; heroes no longer exist. They've all vanished a long ago." The older child said, dragging the young child away from the crowd. "We've no time to gawk, we need to beg."
Winter scrutinized the magical wares and trinkets, squinting his eyes. There was a hint of magic amongst the items, but it was very faint.
[ Analyzing items: Weak quality enchantments, negligible defense, and resistance boosts. ]
(Yeah, I assumed so.) Winter thought, slightly scoffing at the displayed magical trinkets that the other people seemed to be interested in.
The chubby merchant, whose brows were furrowed, noticed Winter. The glare was like recognizing someone but can't quite recall them. The merchant scanned Winter, noting his equipment to be bizarrely and eerily familiar.
(This young man, is he pretending to be a hero? He's doing a good job looking like it, and that mark on his sword. That's definitely the mark of a hero! What a rare sword, he's definitely a rich noble!)
The chubby merchant said, glaring at Winter.
(Aristocrats like him who romantically revere the great heroes are the perfect cows to milk. They'll happily pay for any artifacts or items that have any heroic significance!) The chubby merchant thinly grinned; his fingers were twitching with anticipation.
The chubby merchant took out a glass vial filled with a sparkling liquid. He gargled the liquid and spat it out, smelling his breath afterward. He then ordered his assistant to apply perfume to his underarm.
Winter picked up a bronze ring and scanned it. (Wearing these things is like tightly wrapping yourself in cloth before being sliced by a very sharp sword. Did it make a defensive difference? Maybe, but you're still dead in the end.)
He mused, putting down the bronze ring, as someone then instantly picked it up.
"You there, adventurer. Monster hunting is dangerous, and I can tell you're looking for something of value. I have a tempting offer for you." The chubby merchant said while beaming a friendly smile at Winter. The merchant then gestured for his assistant to lead Winter to a tent, away from the stall.
"Sir, if you may? I will lead you to Master Enchanter's tent. He has an offer for an adventurous man like you." The young, slim assistant said, wearing a faintly red tunic, politely half-bowing to Winter.
(Not interested in what this merchant has to offer, but maybe he can help me get inside Newbie Town.) Winter mused, politely motioning for the assistant to lead the way.
Master Enchanter, the chubby merchant, had a wry smile on his face. "Beckham, attend to the customers, will ya? I have an appointment."
"Yes, sir." A middle-aged man with a bushy mustache said, also wearing a faintly red tunic.
The young assistant lifted the large, unassuming tent's entrance enough for Winter to enter without ducking his head. "Master Enchanter is waiting for you."
Winter entered the large tent and was surprised by the interior. It was a stark contrast to the mundane appearance outside. Inside, it was lavishly decorated, and everywhere he would look, there would be something that caught his eye.
A globe there, a prized necklace there, and a sword here.
A sweet fragrance then caught Winter's nose; it was coming from the freshly brewed tea that Master Enchanter prepared.
"When you sell magical trinkets, you tend to afford the best tea available. I'm Master Enchanter." He said with a hearty chuckle while pouring two cups of tea at the table.
"I'm Winter and yeah, I can see that. You have many collections." Winter said, feigning amazement at the wonders inside. His smile was fake, but it was convincing.
"But I have one that you might like. As someone who is also a great collector of heroic artifacts." Master Enchanter said, pulling out an ornately designed wooden box, no longer than forty inches. A small ruby was placed atop the wooden box.
(Heroic artifacts?)
Master Enchanter opened the box, revealing a clean steel dagger that had a small red rune on the hilt. "This is a dagger from an unknown fallen hero. It's imbued with a forgotten rune magic that scorches your target." Master Enchanter said, carefully taking out the dagger and showcasing it to Winter.
(It also won't last long...)
"This can be yours for a reasonable collector's price." Master Enchanter said with a layered smile. At the front was a friendly, welcoming smile, but behind it was a greedy, calculating smile.
"This is...." Winter said, eyes focused with hitched breathing. The expression on his face was that of excitement and awe.
Master Enchanter thinly smiled. (Hook, line, and sinker.)
Winter gulped, eyes twitching. (That is fucking ass. That's a starter dagger with a temporary burning rune embedded into it. The dagger is a reward for killing some goblins.)
[ Analyzing item:< Goblin Steel Dagger >: embedded with a limitless 'burn rune'. ]
(Limitless...?) Winter's brows furrowed; a limitless rune was something that no longer existed.
"How much is it?" Winter said, his interest piqued.
"This can be yours for two hundred thousand Pisas." Master Enchanter said with a gloomy tone. "This is a family heirloom, but what use is a heirloom if you don't have long to live?" He said with a hard cough, then shook his head.
"That's why I aim to sell it." Master Enchanter said, finished with his sales talk that was unconvincing.
Winter paused, staring at Master Enchanted. He recalled a previous conversation with Bricks, stating that his last memory of him was conversing with several players.
Bricks also mentioned that he was the sole living hero.
Now, Master Enchanter produced a starter steel dagger with a limitless burn rune. This dagger has now solidified Winter's beliefs that there were players before him and that they've influenced the whole world, leaving items and likely legacies.
(I wonder if there're players that're still alive...) Winter thought as Master Enchanter repeatedly tapped the table to catch his attention.
"Yes, sorry. I was lost in thought. I'm willing to buy the dagger, but I don't have that amount with me. I propose a fair trade." Winter said, removing the belt from his waist along with the sheathed sword.
"My sword for your dagger." He said with a confident tone.
Master Enchanter's eyes lit up, his feet ecstatically spasmed after hearing the offer, but he forced a calm expression to hide his excitement. A rare sword for a steel dagger that had a temporary rune was a trade that he never thought of, but was all too willing to accept.
"May I see the sword?" Master Enchanter said, barely hiding his excitedly jittering hands.
(This is big! An original sword of a hero costs a lot, and there are plenty of buyers willing to outbid each other. The hilt has the name of the hero, too.) Master Enchanter said, unsheathing the sword and reading the words written on the hilt.
(Winterry21! A hero who has a number on his name! That is doubly rare! This is an unexpected find!) Master Enchanter was now figuratively salivating at the sword, looking at it with animated eyes.
"Let's make a deal, right here and right now!"
"I want you to add that book behind you. The one about the history of the world and the history of the heroes to the deal, and I will shake on it."
The two then eagerly shook hands, both hiding their true feelings.
(I can't believe that an idiot naïve noble has this prized sword, and soon this will be mine.)
(I can't believe that an idiot naïve merchant has this rare dagger, and soon this will be mine.)