SWNOVELXO Chapter 11: - Beware of the Stall
The sixth day in the other world began with shopping.
I started by browsing for equipment at the armour shop for my head, arms, and legs. It appeared that earrings and a necklace fell under the accessory category, and not armour, so we would need to visit a different shop for those.
– Labyrinthine Cowhide Headgear: DEF+4, VIT+1, MIN+1, Durability 13/13
– Labyrinthine Cowhide Gloves: DEF+4, VIT+1, DEX+1, Durability 14/14
– Labyrinthine Cowhide Boots: DEF+4, VIT+2, Durability 15/15
I attempted to buy equipment for Anneliese as well, but she declined the headgear as she was concerned about her hair getting messy. The elderly woman was about to say something, but I decided to encourage the idea that age shouldn’t dictate a woman’s fashion choices. In place of the headgear, I purchased a wizard’s hat.
– Wizard’s Hat: MDEF+2, INT+2, MIN+1, Durability 9/9
– Labyrinthine Cowhide Gloves: DEF+3, VIT+2, Durability 13/13
– Labyrinthine Cowhide Boots: DEF+5, VIT+1, Durability 14/14
Even among the Labyrinthine Cowhide Gloves and Boots, there was a subtle difference in stat bonuses. Knowing this from previous experiences, I chose the best ones I could find.
“Beginners don’t have this level of equipment.”
“Is that so?”
“Take a look at that.”
Anneliese urged me to look in a certain direction, where I saw a party of five villagers.
“They stay at the inn, eat their meals, and their funds run out. They don’t even have proper armor. That’s the reality for beginners.”
Some of them were even sewing wooden boards onto their clothing as makeshift protection. It was evident that they were trying to reduce damage in any way they could.
Their weapons, too, were well-worn copper swords and spears, with their durability limits significantly reduced.
Weapons and armor lose durability over time with repeated use and maintenance. Eventually, they become unusable. While it was rare to use items to the point of breaking, people needed to be cautious when inheriting equipment from others.
“Is there a shop that sells accessories?”
“You plan to buy accessories as well?”
“Is that not okay?”
“No, it’s a good idea to prepare your equipment. It increases your chances of survival.”
“Yeah, I think so too. So, can you guide me?”
Anneliese nodded and led the way.
She guided me to a dubious-looking stall on a side street from the main road. There, in front of a stall with items spread out on a piece of cloth laid on the ground, we stopped.
“Good items here. This one, for example, was used by royalty in a neighboring country.”
A suspicious-looking man with a catfish-like mustache showed us an extravagant necklace.
“Today, it’s a special offer for 100,000 Grills. You won’t find a better deal anywhere else.”
A necklace used by royalty for the equivalent of one million yen. Quite suspicious, indeed. (Laughs)
▼ Appraisal Results ▼
Fake Royal Necklace: A dazzling necklace in appearance. It holds no value as either equipment or an accessory.
As expected of such a suspicious man. To ask for one million yen for something worth next to nothing is truly impressive.
“That’s quite expensive… How much is this plain silver necklace?”
“Well, that’s a silver necklace, so it’s 30,000 Grills.”
▼ Appraisal Results ▼
Lead Necklace: Contains 1% silver, 91% lead, and 8% chromium. Prolonged wear can lead to lead poisoning.
While it contains silver, selling this as a silver necklace with such gall is remarkable. And it comes with a bonus of lead poisoning. I wouldn’t buy this for 300,000 yen. It’s not just about selling fakes; it’s infuriating to curse someone with illness.
“What about these earrings? They look plain.”
“Those are 500 Grills.”
The plain and unimpressive earrings were 5,000 yen.
Magic Earrings: INT+5, MIN+3, Durability 16/16
I wanted equipment that boosted STR, VIT, and AGI, but these were just right for Anneliese. Of course, I bought them for 500 Grills. The shopkeeper recommended overpriced and useless items, but there was no way I would buy those.
“Anneliese, you can wear these.”
“Thank you.”
I looked around at other dubious stalls, but all of them were selling worthless items. However, I found something good at the last stall I visited.
“Sir, how much is this?”
“That one is eight gold coins.”
Eight gold coins were 80,000 Grills, approximately 800,000 yen.
“What about this one?”
“Three platinum coins.”
Three platinum coins were 30,000 Grills, about 300,000 yen.
“And this?”
“…Three silver coins.”
About 300 Grills, roughly 3,000 yen. He said it reluctantly because it was cheap.
I handed over three silver coins and purchased it.
Whether in Japan or in this other world, the standard practice is not to ask the price of something you want right away. You should inquire about several items first and then place your desired item among them. The accessories I bought were a dull silver necklace.
Necklace of Fortune: Avoid instant death three times (3/3)
While it didn’t increase any stats, it could prevent instant death three times. It seemed like a useful amulet, so I decided to wear it. Just the thought of not having to worry about instant death lightened my mood.
“Having Appraisal helps prevent mistakes during shopping, but normal people can still get deceived, right?”
“There are people like that, but it’s rare to find decent items being sold in stalls. Even so, those who choose to buy them do so at their own risk.”
“Could there be people who don’t know about these things?”
“Even if there are, it’s their responsibility.”
Thanks to the record cards, there were hardly any false accusations in this world. People with a history of fraud or other crimes would have it recorded on their cards, deterring such behavior.
Anyway, those people were clearly suspicious, so the best course of action was not to buy from them in the first place. It was only natural to prioritize self-defense, so if you absolutely wanted something from them, you should bring someone with Appraisal along.
However, that lead-poisoning necklace was unacceptable. I thought about secretly reporting it to the authorities. I hoped they would act upon an anonymous tip (accusation)…
The secrecy was to hide the fact that I possessed Appraisal. I had decided to keep my Unique Skill hidden, and I didn’t want to do anything that would raise suspicion.
After that, we went to a regular accessory shop, but we couldn’t find anything appealing. There were accessories that enhanced abilities, but they were incredibly expensive. Even the cheapest ones were 500,000 Grills, which I could technically afford, but it would drain my funds completely. Besides, I didn’t desire such a significant boost in abilities, so I refrained from purchasing them.
Anneliese mentioned that these items were reasonably priced, and the two we bought from the stall were hidden gems. I agreed with her assessment, so I didn’t complain to the shopkeeper.
Since today had been spent shopping, we decided to start exploring the dungeon in the morning. With the armour we bought today, my DEF had increased significantly, and I felt more at ease.