I gazed over the array of mana-embedded artifacts that Orla had displayed on her stall.

"I didn't have much time to look at your wares yesterday. Mind if I take a closer look now?" I asked.

"Of course, of course," Orla said, gesturing to the artifacts around her. "Take your time. Let me know if you have any questions."

I felt Leona flutter her wings atop my head.

"Peep!"

I thought you were going to take me to get food. But fine, I do believe you ought to protect yourself better, so I'll allow this. But after this, food!

"Yes, we'll grab food after," I muttered under my breath to her. However, given Orla's raised brow above her one good eye, I clearly didn't do a good enough job of being discreet.

I'm going to need to do something about this. Perhaps there's something that can allow me to communicate telepathically, as Leona had once suggested I learn to do.

I picked up a small, intricately designed ring and read the System's description.

[Item: Thundering Ring of Vengeance]

[Description: Amplifies the wearer's Strength by 50%, allowing for powerful strikes against opponents. The ring also emits a powerful shockwave upon impact, stunning enemies and disorienting them.]

[Warning: Wearing the ring for longer than #$ minutes will cause internal damage to the wearer at -20 HP per minute. Overuse will lead to extreme fatigue and weakness, and possibly even death. ]

Orla was quick to provide a summary that was similar to what the System gave.

"Wow, it's remarkable," I commented, turning the ring over in my hands. "But I'm afraid I'm too weak for it."

While useful in a fight for someone stronger than me, it was a complete waste on someone like me, for whom a 50% increase in Strength only meant a grand total of 6 stat points.

But I'll keep it in mind if I successfully recruit the Ogre and revert the effects of the poison that Kleave tossed at him. A ring such as this would be pretty valuable then.

I put the ring down and picked up a plain-looking necklace, wondering what its effects might be.

[ Item: Necklace of Preservation ]

[ Description: Protects the wearer from aging, illness, and injury at an efficacy of @&%. ]

[ Warning: Overuse of the necklace can cause the wearer to become increasingly isolated and disconnected from reality. Extended use can result in the wearer permanently forgetting important information about themselves or others. ]

Feeling dubious about the repercussions of the necklace, I put it back down and moved on to the next artifact.

[ Item: Talisman of Clarity ]

[ Description: Increases the wearer's mental acuity and problem-solving abilities. Improves Intelligence and Perception by 20% for the duration of wear. ]

While the benefit was quite impressive, the repercussions were quite nasty.

[ Warning: After taking off the talisman, Intelligence and Perception will temporarily drop by 40% for three days. Extended use of the talisman can also cause the wearer to become increasingly irritable and short-tempered. These effects increase with prolonged use. ]

"Ah, this talisman here is perfect if you want to get smarter and more perceptive," Orla gave her pitch. "When you wear it, you'll feel like you have an extra brainpower boost. It's like having a really smart friend who sits on your shoulder and whispers good ideas in your ear."

I felt Leona flutter on my head.

"Peep!"

I don't know about that 'smart friend' sitting on your shoulder bit. You already have me sitting on top of your head. And I can provide the most excellent of ideas.

"Just be aware that when you take it off, you will temporarily become dumber for three days. Your mood will be quite irritable too. So, don't overdo it," Orla finished speaking.

"If I never take it off, would that mean I'd maintain the improved boost in brainpower?" I asked.

Orla shrugged. "In theory, yes."

As I fiddled with the chain that held the spiked talisman, it became apparent that it wasn't designed for comfortable long-term wear.

It could be beneficial in perilous situations. However, the risk of being dumbed down by 40% for three days after taking it off was too significant to ignore. Never mind the other side effects. And I could already imagine the snark the System would throw my way.

I spent the next few minutes examining the remaining artifacts, listening to Orla's insights, and reading their item descriptions using the System. However, I had grown quite frustrated after turning over my thirtieth artifact. Each one came with a somewhat problematic adverse effect that I was unwilling to experience, or it wasn't worth their benefit in my current state.

Apart from the Thundering Ring of Vengeance, only one other item caught my attention as a worthwhile investment.

"Do you have anything with lower repercussions?" I asked. "When I saw you last, you mentioned that you had artifacts of a higher… older quality."

Orla chuckled.

"Of course," she replied. "I have a few antique artifacts if that's what you're asking about. However, they're not cheap. I don't even bother taking them out if I don't have a guarantee that a client can afford them."

Her one good blue eye moved and gazed past me, seemingly looking at Ben.

"Did my grandmother set a budget for my birthday present?" I turned to him.

Ben's solemn expression gained a tinge of a smile.

"Madame Ruth Arankagul is quite familiar with Orla Rex," he nodded toward the seller. "And I am certain she would be happy to provide a fair payment in exchange for whatever artifact catches your eye."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Orla's smile widened.

"Ah! Aren't you quite lucky to have a grandmother like yours?" she said, "If that's the case, I am more than happy to show you the three special artifacts I have on me."

Orla pulled out her Pandora's Flask and opened it over her other hand. A fog of purple and yellow poured out. As it dissipated, a rune-locked cherry-wood box appeared in its place.

"You are in for quite the treat today," she said, dusting off the box. "Even among antiques, you don't see many beauties as these."

Click. Click. Click.

The three compartments opened up.

"I suppose I had something even more impressive until recently, but that's already accounted for and has left my hands," Orla mumbled.

She pointed to artifacts. "Here are the three I mentioned. But if you don't see what you'd like, just let me know. My specialty is being able to source just about anything my clients might fancy."

I examined the artifacts one by one. The first was a small ring with a green gem in the center.

"This ring enhances memory," Orla explained. "It's quite useful for the studious sort."

I smirked at this. 'Studious' was far from the description anyone had ever described me.

Nonetheless, I pulled up the System's description for the ring.

[Item: Ring of Mental Acuity]

[Description: A ring imbued with magical properties that allow the wearer to instantly recall information stored in their brain. It is handy for remembering written information from past notes or textbooks.

[ Note: The ring only works with information the wearer has encountered and made a point to remember. ]

Hah. I already have the System for that, though, and it can recall information without me even bothering to read it and study it myself.

"This isn't quite for me," I said. "I'm looking for something to help save my neck should danger befall me."

Orla nodded and handed me the second artifact, a pocket watch on a golden chain with a long thin crack down its middle.

"This watch causes time to slow down upon command, allowing you to react quickly and avoid it," she said. "This is one of those irregular artifacts you asked about last time."

I examined it closely, marveling at the intricate design. Yet, there was not a single mana stone in sight to indicate how it was powered; that was the mystery of irregular artifacts.

[ Item: Time Dilation Watch ]

[ Description: When activated, time will appear to slow down for the wearer, allowing for quick thinking and reflexes. In actuality, the watch causes Dexterity and Perception to gain a momentary boost of 500 points for three seconds at a time, which creates this illusion of time slowing down for most wearers. ]

[ Note: This artifact has a fixed number of uses, as shown on the watch. When both arms hit midnight, the watch will shatter. ]

I whistled.

"This is impressive," I said.

Looking at the hands on the watch and based on the golden moon in the background, it was currently 11:15 PM. Ancient as it were, it was astounding that it wasn't closer to midnight already.

"How quickly do the hands move?" I asked.

Orla smiled. "It depends on your use, but it's like any other pocket watch. The small arm is for hours, the long other is for minutes, and the thin one is for seconds."

I nodded.

"And the third artifact?" I asked.

"Oh yes, this little pendant," Orla said, holding up a small silver necklace with a gemstone hanging off it that appeared to change color from red to green to purple, depending on the light. "It might not be what you're looking for, but it has a rather intriguing effect. It will cause a random object to appear before you once a day."

I pulled up the item description.

[ Item: Chromatic Pendant ]

[ Description: Once a day a random object will appear before the wearer. The object can range in size and value but is usually small and of little practical use. ]

I raised an eyebrow.

"That's an interesting ability it has," I noted. "What sort of objects has it brought about?"

"Well, it's hard to say," Orla replied, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Once, it brought forth a pair of mismatched socks, as cozy as a bear's den in hibernation. Another day, a small but intricate music box played a tune so lovely, it could charm the pants off a prince. And just last week, it was a feather quill that glowed like the fires of the Fire Swamp. Quite a sight, if I do say so myself."

My curiosity was piqued as I heard Orla's examples.

"What's the most unusual item you've seen appear from it?" I asked.

Orla took a moment to reflect. "Ah, I do recall a rather peculiar item it once conjured. A glass orb, you see, no larger than a grapefruit, yet containing a whole miniature world within. The landscape was made of crystals and minerals, and tiny creatures lived in it, scurrying about and interacting with one another. It was truly a sight to behold."

"They were alive?" My eyes widened.

"Indeed!" Orla replied enthusiastically. "The creatures inside seemed to have their own little world, ecosystem, and way of life. I tried to study them, but they were too small to observe properly."

"That sounds incredible," I said.

"Peep!"

Or terrifying.

Leona piped in.

Can you imagine being one of its inhabitants and suddenly appearing in the hands of a giant from their perspective?

I felt an odd pang. Leona had a point.

"What did you do with the orb?" I asked.

"I sold it off." Orla shrugged. "As much as I would have liked to keep it as a conversation piece, I am a businesswoman first and foremost. And when a client offered me a sum of money that could make a king weep, I had to let it go."

"So, are you interested in the pendant?" Orla asked.

I shook my head.

As unusual as the pendant was, it had little practical benefit in helping me survive should a dangerous situation befall Leona or me again.

"I'll take the pocket watch," I said.

"I thought you might. It'll certainly come in handy in perilous situations." Orla nodded and wrapped the watch carefully in a yellow silk cloth before handing it over.

She glanced toward Ben. "I presume Madame Ruth Arankagul will pay in the usual manner?"

"Of course," Ben nodded.

"Ah, but there is one more item I wish to purchase," I said.

Orla grinned. "You're going to bankrupt your old grandmother, you know?"

"No," I said. "I don't need another antique or irregular artifact. And I plan to use my own money for it. Can I purchase this necklace?"

I pointed to the mana-embedded item that had caught my attention earlier. It was a thin golden chain with an old stamped coin.

[ Item: Whispering Necklace ]

[ Description: Allows the wearer to communicate telepathically with anyone within #$% feet without verbal communication. ]

[ Warning: Overuse of the necklace can permanently damage the vocal cords. ]

"A very good choice indeed," Orla said. She then provided a description of the item, adding to the System's missing information that it worked within one city block of my target.

I nodded at this, with Leona cheerfully chirping in approval.

"Peep!"

Finally! Human, you will no longer ignore me when we're out and about.

"That'll be 320,000 gold Duex coins or 320 phoenix eyes," Orla concluded.

I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

"What?" My eyes widened in shock.

I knew it would be expensive, but not so expensive that it nearly wiped out all my winnings from the Gilded Siren.

Orla chuckled. "My dear, it's like they say—you get what you pay for. And in this case, you're paying for a necklace that can do more than just match your outfit. It is a rare and powerful artifact, sought after by many. The price is simply what the market dictates."

I hesitated for a moment, but if I had any hope of communicating with Leona and the System without risking looking like a madman in the future, I would need this necklace.

"I'll pay it," I said, resigning myself.

"Wonderful," Orla smiled widely. The multicolored mana stone in her tooth sparkled.

***

The carriage bounced back toward my grandmother's villa. Leona sat on a cushion beside me, happy as can be after having toured a good twenty food stalls.

How was she going to eat dinner now?

However, even as I thought this, I had little concern about her lacking of appetite. Second stomach or not, it seemed like she couldn't eat enough, no matter how much she ate.

I gazed out the carriage window at the darkening sky stretching out before me like a vast canvas. The last of the sun's fiery glow painted the horizon in shades of crimson and gold.

My eyes refocused on my reflection. The Whispering Necklace hung around my neck, and in my right hand was the golden pocket watch.

I looked down at the Time Dilation Watch and traced my finger over its cracked crystal cover.

"Ben, if an artifact like my necklace cost 320 phoenix eyes, just how much did grandmother pay for this watch?" I asked.

I knew she was quite wealthy, but even for her, this seemed like a ludicrous amount of money to spend on a birthday gift.

Ben smiled mysteriously. "You don't need to worry about that. The Madame has her means of making payment other than with money."

Hmmm.

Perhaps it shouldn't have come as a surprise. After all, my grandmother kept a dragon beneath her villa. Who knew what other secrets she had that I wasn't aware of?

But for tonight and tomorrow, she was simply my grandmother. We would eat together, play chess, and I would undoubtedly lose to her again.