[189] 5. Shelter of the Nor (4)
Indeed, that situation was possible. Just because something belonged to the faithful didn't make it impossible to buy.
Still, the limited-edition value remained.
Above all, the merchant knew the customers' payment ceiling was two White Elixirs. That he was pushing for the price of one meant the true cost was actually far lower.
"Can anyone use it?"
"Anyone can once it's equipped. Signa, Xed, Ark—those hunting weapons are shared, but drones are personally encrypted. Even if you steal someone else's, you can't use it. This one's brand new and hasn't found an owner yet. That's why it can be sold."
I don't know. If it's new, there shouldn't be a defect.
Was this a simple mistake born of not understanding this world? Or was a fire spirit that hard to obtain?
Unable to decide, Shirone asked Tess.
"Tess, do you want this?"
"Yes! Shirone, I really want it. Buy it for me. The other stuff is all cheap anyway—we can get more later."
Shirone snorted. Even when asking for something, Tess's straightforwardness was clearly different from Amy's.
Elixirs were better used for everyone. They should buy it, but without knowing any flaw, there was no room for bargaining.
If they asked outright, the merchant would exploit them, and Clove wouldn't lift a finger to help.
"Why won't you sell it! I brought it like you asked!"
Just as Shirone fretted, Kanya's voice rang out.
Everyone turned. The merchant, unlike Kanya, wore a composed smile.
"Hey, miss. Where's a fixed-price system in Purgatory? This is an auction. If the price's gone up, you can't just drop it on a whim."
"It was like that a month ago! Epines could be bought with one Green Elixir! You even said you'd throw in thirty Red Elixirs—why won't you sell it?!"
Epines.
Shirone recalled the white potion the herb seller had recommended.
But Kanya's reaction was far too intense for a mere stimulant. What could be so wrong about sleeping in Heaven?
"It was that way a month ago. But the price has gone up."
"No! Two months ago, three months ago—nobody said that! This is gouging!"
"Miss, auction prices are driven by buyers' desire. The more someone wants it, the higher the price. The one scheduled for the Rebirth Elixir probably only has a few days left, right?"
"Y-you…."
Kanya's face drained. Even a merchant had to have limits—how could he say something like that?
Even blunt Clove frowned this time.
The merchant didn't change expression. He never intended to sell to the faithful in the first place.
"Trying to get Epines today means someone in your family will die in a few days. So you absolutely must buy this, miss. I'll charge a high price—what's the problem?"
"You! I won't let you get away with this!"
Kanya drew her Ark and Rena screamed, trying to hold her back.
Violence was forbidden in Nor's Shelter. If a fight broke out, it wouldn't end with just being kicked out.
The community existed by agreement among a reasonable majority. The instant discipline broke, the community would collapse.
"Sis! Please stop! If you fight here, you'll die, I'm telling you!"
Rena grabbed her sister's waist. Even as she was dragged away, Kanya didn't stop cursing.
The merchant ignored the troublemaker and met the herb vendor across the stall with a look.
A silent pact: never sell Epines.
It was an oligopoly.
When Kanya had come three months ago seeking Epines, the merchant had quoted an impossibly high price.
In truth the item would trade for about forty Red Elixirs, but he insisted on a Green Elixir.
Elixirs weren't currency. You could propose exchanges, but if the seller insisted on a Green Elixir, no amount of Red Elixirs would buy the item.
In the end, Kanya had to buy a Green Elixir at an inflated price. She'd returned to purchase the item again, and now the merchant was saying he wouldn't sell even at that price.
"Why is she so upset? What's this 'Rebirth Elixir' about?"
"It's an elixir of life regeneration."
Gadrak's voice answered. He'd been napping and come over because the stall had grown noisy.
From Kanya's murderous glare alone he could guess the situation. Though this was his first time meeting her as a guide, he'd heard the rumors among merchants.
"As you know, the faithful have fixed lifespans. When their life ends, they undergo the Rebirth Elixir and are reborn. I hear that girl's mother is scheduled for it."
"Exactly what is that technique?"
Gadrak squinted.
"I'd rather not say much. It's sensitive. The faithful call the Rebirth Elixir a blessing. Most heretics, on the other hand, recoil from it and are the ones who fled Heaven. That merchant is the same. He's not harassing her because of elixirs alone."
"But they said Kanya's mother is going to die. Then what does the stimulant do? If she takes it, can she live?"
"No. The Law isn't broken. By heretic standards, Kanya's mother will die soon. Still, the reason Kanya wants Epines is…."
Gadrak made a sound of pain.
He had been a subject once. He felt pity because he understood what Kanya would give her life for.
"It's nothing. It's just a ray of light in despair—like giving anesthesia to someone dying of illness."
Shirone's chest tightened. She didn't know how differently the faithful and heretics thought, but the sincere wish to ease a parent's suffering felt universal.
Yet even that was divided by the Law.
Kanya moved back to bargaining. It was obvious she was restraining herself to buy Epines.
Two stalls sold Epines, and today might be Kanya's last chance.
Shirone glanced at the other herb vendor. He bowed his head as if guilty.
What if he bought Epines and gave it to Kanya? Wouldn't that solve everything?
As if reading Shirone's thought, the vendor quietly put his Epines away. Contracts among the Nor folk were absolute; he was preventing the commotion from escalating.
Kanya offered a last resort.
"Fine! Then let it be on credit. I'll get the elixirs no matter what—give me Epines."
"What can you possibly bring me?"
"Anything! I'll hunt my whole life if I have to!"
"Then tell me what you'll get."
The merchant no longer hid his feelings.
He hated the faithful with violent intensity. He loathed Heaven. No medicine could erase memories of living there. Ra's Law was that strong.
"You say you'll give everything and I say no—so tell me. How do you expect me to sell?"
"Is that so? If you'll sell even if I say no, then tell me. Hm…what to do…."
Feigning thought, the merchant turned to Shirone and said, "Would all the elixirs that boy has be enough?"
Shirone realized the merchant had hastily revised his plan.
He'd probably done the math the moment Kanya brought Shirone along.
Logical for a merchant—but brutal.
The sight of a White Elixir had sparked greed, but Shirone owned no truly expensive items. So the merchant tied the deal to Kanya.
Set emotion aside, it was a sound strategy.
Nor folk were said to be shrewd traders. He was certainly a skilled dealer—but not a great one.
Kanya was speechless with disbelief. The clearer her position became, the more she felt toyed with by a swindler.
"Now I see. You never intended to sell from the start. You've spent three months enjoying the idea of me dying in Purgatory! What did I ever do to you?"
Shirone felt sorry. Emotional outbursts like Kanya's didn't sway mages. Merchants were adept at exploiting people's psychology to turn situations to their advantage.
If you wanted to rile a mage, you had to match them with the same tactics.
"You're painting me as the villain. That just makes things harder for you. It's not an impossible request, is it? Hunting forever is far harder than bringing me that boy's elixir. Isn't that so?"
"That's theft! Robbery! And we can't even fight here! How could you make me take an elixir from someone it's none of my business to touch?"
"There are many ways. You're a woman and that boy is a man—there are methods, depending on how clever you are."
Kanya's lips trembled. She wanted to blast the merchant's face with her Ark. But knowing there were no more chances calmed her.
What would Shirone do if asked to hand over an elixir? To a heretic, an elixir was as precious as life.
And yet—somehow—maybe he would help. Rena might be childish, but she had a good eye for people.
—It's not that I like Shirone oppa because he's handsome. It's because he's kind.
She had scoffed then, but he was certainly different from ordinary heretics. Maybe he'd hand over the elixir—the expensive White Elixir? Maybe. Maybe!
Everything was conjecture. Still, the bleak reality left her clinging to possibility.
For her mother's sake she would do anything. She couldn't let the woman who had only lived a fraction of a normal life die like this.
Ignoring the merchant's thin smile, Kanya approached Shirone. Shirone's face, already informed by the conversation, was calm.
Kanya felt a chill. What was he thinking? It wouldn't be a good thought. She'd be asked what their relationship was, why he was approaching.
Still, she would beg. She was ready to give up everything.
Approaching him, Kanya opened her miserable mouth.
"Um…"
"Here."
Shirone held out his hand. A White Elixir lay in his palm.
Kanya choked up. The surge of feeling was like anger but not painful.
Why was this man like this? Couldn't he at least let her kneel? Wasn't buying goodwill with money supposed to be an act of charity? What meaning did this sort of mercy have?
She felt she had to accept it. But whether she could form the words was another matter.
"Why…?"
"Go buy Epines first. It's important to you."
"But—"
It's not important to you.
She wanted to spit that out, but her throat tightened and no sound came.
This boy was different. Different from humans, different from the otherworldly races. Even different from Ra.
As the blasphemous thought flashed, Kanya felt a thrill. Perhaps this was the first step toward corruption.
"Thank you."
Kanya managed at least that, then returned to the merchant.
Purgatory was different from Heaven, she thought. Strange feelings she'd never known before tangled inside her.
She approached the merchant with tired steps and handed over the elixir.
"Now give me Epines."
"No. You can't buy it with that."
"Why… why not?"
Kanya didn't have the strength to shout. The single thought of holding back her tears was the only thing keeping her upright.
"You asked for all the elixirs that boy has. And by my count, there should still be one more elixir, right?"
"No. I don't have any elixirs left."