I sat on the counter facing this tall woman in front of me. Her hair was as light as the morning clouds and her eyes were as blue as a river. "May I ask, ma'am? What are you looking for?"
Crap! My stomach is rumbling. I haven't had my lunch or my dinner. Ugh, I just need to tend to this hunter for a while. How funny is this day? It isn't common to know that your mother actually succeeded you some magic surplus shop. Though the question still lingers, where did she get all these items?
Also, I am completely star-struck. This is Gwendoline in the flesh, and from head to toe, it really is her. It's quite rare to see some foreigner on my own property, let alone some S-rank hunter. This is something I was not ready to encounter this day.
First, the RFS, and now this strange occurrence. This day sure is something, and there's a part of me that says I don't quite like it.
"I'm looking for an item that has any relation to the Hellenic pantheon...", she humbly asked. For some reason, she was nervous and her hands were shaking. Why would a high-ranker be so giddy or afraid? Could there be an incoming distraught?! Ah, whatever.
The Hellenic pantheon- was another term for Greek gods and their mythology. You see, almost all artifacts you find in the underworld are related to the ancient history that the surface has. Though most artifacts you see in a specific regional anomaly often resonate with that specific region's mythology.
For a European to come here all over from Europe to the Philippines to search for a Greek artifact, just does not make sense. Unless... there's something in the junk that really has ties to the Greeks? What shit did my late mother come into?
I left my station to go through the boxes filled with random junk, trying to salvage anything that could be possibly related to what she wanted. The mystery of my mother still lingers the more I go through the magic items placed in dusty boxes.
"So, this is a store of a legendary magic store merchant...", the female hunter looked at the other goods that were displayed while I looked like a monkey going through a trash bin. "I only heard of you in myths..."
Pardon? I don't think she understood my whole situation. "Ma'am, you got it all wrong..."
"To think that the legendary magic merchant hides from the public eye by pretending to be an F-rank hunter." she dusted off herself. "How wise. I could never reach that level of strategy. How commendable, sir legendary merchant. You live up to your reputation."
She seemed to say those things with conviction. Her stares alone obviously can read my rank, but why is she complimenting me, and why is she thinking that I'm only pretending? For shit's sake, I'm not!
Really. Just a while ago, I was quite emotional about that... Pretending to be an F-rank my ass...
Also, what is she talking about? Has she mistaken me for somebody else? Or was she talking about my mother? What is she saying?! "What...", a minimal sigh escaped my mouth.
"Forgiveness, legendary merchant if I have offended you." she placed her knuckle on her chest. "Only a few know about the existence of your mirage store, so I was quite giddy that I had the opportunity to meet you. I have solved an entire puzzle just to track down the location of your shop."
"Why do you have to track down a store that only is in Manila?" I chuckled, trying to make the conversation lively enough. Her presence is making my feet shake.
"Quit joking, sir." she wiped her head. "You're currently on top of Kyeekyee."
Huh? Kyeekyee is one of the highest points in the world. It's one of the mountains formed during the great eclipse. How- don't tell me this- was this one of the skills I inherited from my mother?! Check skill [Magic shop]
「[Magic shop] - Settings: Randomized. Current store location: Kyeekyee, Myanmar.」
Holy shit. But, how come I don't feel chilly at this high of the world?
"How much mana do you consume, sir, to maintain this temperature this high up in the world? If you don't mind me asking?"
I seriously don't even know. How do I say that I don't even know if this consumes any mana at all? "Well, I don't even know..."
"Wow, I hope I could reach that point of mastery that I could just forget how much mana I consume..."
Bro, you're literally an S-class hunter. The one and only Gwendoline Marmite, the master of all weapons. You are a woman of power. It feels weird you praising me. Stop it. You're a celebrity.
I just continued looking for the item she was looking for. Though there's one thing I realized, the deeper I look into the huge balikbayan boxes, the higher the rarity of the items I see. What is happening?!
Appraise.
「Skull of Bakunawa - The skull of a legendary serpent. Said to inflict a curse on those who touch it. [Epic]」
Holy shit. What are these items my mother had hidden all these times?!
「The Blood of Yeshua (1:100) - A diluted drop of the blood of Jesus. Said to cure minor illnesses. [Epic]」
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
The literal Jesus Christ?! Literally?!
「(1/6) The Cane of Geras - Complete all six pieces and speed up the aging process of whoever the energy of this cane is directed to [Mythic]」
A mythic item, really?! And from the looks of it, it's Greek! Geras was the personification of old age in Greek mythology! Would Gwendoline mind if it's this piece? Well, if me 12hrs ago were the one holding this piece, I would be passing out thinking this was the turning point in my life. However, there is a question far bigger than that: How the fuck did my mother acquire a MYTHIC ITEM?!
I turned around to see the lady requesting some Hellenic item... and I see... her eyes were glistening looking at me holding a mythic-grade item. "Would you mind if I sell you this piece?"
"Absolutely not!" she bowed at me. "A normal human, even an F-rank would pass out holding such an item. This further proves your power, sir legendary merchant", she cleared her throat. "All my respect is yours."
Huh? What? A normal human would? Huh- then why am I not passing out? Am I not an F-rank? Everything happening is really bullshit!
「Answer: Due to the effects of skill [Magic shop], you are unable to get hurt, poisoned, or killed as long as the user is in the vicinity of the store.」
Now, that is what I call overpowered. Does this even make sense? How did my mother die of cancer inside the store herself? The account was named after her, yes, but none of this ever made any sense.
"How much payment would you ask for that mythic artifact, sir legendary merchant."
I guess I won't ask for any monetary value for now because I felt like I was given millions of riches, yet I don't know how to sort out how much I value.
"I won't ask for any money." I acted highly. Might as well pretend that I know my status.
"Then, how could I repay you, sir legendary merchant?"
I just wish she'd just stop calling me that. Wait- I tend to forget that she's an S-rank hunter, a big shot. By the time she acquires this item, she'd probably acquire much more credit than any before. I guess to compensate for such an item, there'd be three things I'd request.
"There are three things: Information, security, and a personal request."
Though the third one might be a little weird to ask for, given that I was seen so highly by her, she'd probably do it anyway.
"Anything, sir legendary merchant." her glare was always on the floor, always refusing any act of eye contact with me. "Though I might be able to fulfill the first request, and I may try the third one, I'd find a hard time fulfilling the second one. Because..."
She grabbed a dagger from her back and threw it at me. It was so fast that I couldn't even flinch. The dagger was perfectly aimed at my head. However, the blade shattered the moment it reached my skin. Holy mother fuck! What the fuck was that?! Was that a murder attempt?!
「Answer: Due to the effects of skill [Magic shop], attacks are nullified」
"..." I acted high, but deep inside, I was melting like butter on a pan. My soul felt like it has left.
"Pardon that sudden dagger. You are invincible. For what do you want the security?"
Oh, so it was to prove a point. But listen here, WHAT IF I ACTUALLY DIED, HUH? I still have millions of questions, yet none of them have been answered. I would greatly appreciate it if this conversation would end quickly.
"I want you to restrict any unworthy people's access to this store."
"Ah, you meant that." she sighed. "Then it shall be done though I don't get why you want that since your store is a mirage, sir legendary merchant. For the information matter, what would you like to know?"
"Tell me my reputation."
And so, she proceeded to tell me everything she knows...
It turns out, she actually believed the legendary merchant was a lady, so she was quite confused when she first entered. The rumors probably described my mother, and that made me quite suspicious about what she was and why she didn't tell me anything about this. Now, I was told that during the great eclipse in 2023, I was five years old at the time- the sudden appearance of a legendary merchant came to mankind, assisting them in battle by selling them useful items in exchange for things of the same value. For example, a monster-killing blade would be exchanged for an ancient katana from a temple hidden in the mountains- and it has always been like that. Ever since the beginning, it has always thrived in non-monetary trade. That probably would be the reason why we never became rich. Even though assisting the world, the legendary merchant suddenly disappeared five years ago. That was the death of my father, is there something I do not know between the lines? Also, the store is a mirage one and hard to find, so not a lot can find it. But how come I always come home with the same address back then? Everything is connecting, but still, I have no clue what's going on.
"That's everything I know, sir legendary merchant." she bowed. "Are you sure that's really the only you want in return? I heard those who do not pay in equal or more are to die and rot in your shop..."
Was my mother that brutal? Eek! It's better if I let her go. I need to look more into the items in this building. "Yeah, take your leave." I bowed as I handed her the item. Then, she proceeds to leave the vicinity.
"Thank you for this, sir legendary merchant!"
「Warning: Due to the effects of skill [Magic shop] - Character [Gwendoline Martite] cannot leave without paying the same or higher value of the sold item. Penalty to her will be severed.」
"Severed?" I uttered to myself. Doesn't this mean severe? Or what does the system mean? Maybe she'd just experience headaches or something. Or have I missed a detail?
Gwendoline left the shop with a smile as she closed the door. Leaving the shop at 「Location: Mexico City, Mexico.」
Good, a safe zone for an S-class hunter to drop by. I thank you for her service though she does not work for the SEA. She still keeps people safe by keeping the underworld monsters at bay.
「Alert!」
Good lord, what is happening? An alert? From the RFS?!
「Character [Gwendoline Marmite] did not pay the equal amount for purchasing item [(1/6) The Cane of Geras]. As a penalty, her head will be severed.」
What...WHAT?! This is a joke, right?! Don't tell me... WHAT THE FUCK?!
「Character [Gwendoline Marmite] has paid the penalty.」
My mother did not kill the non-payers, the system did... My mother was innocent in any shape, way, or form. But, I feel intense remorse for Gwendoline! IS THIS INFORMATION RIGHT?! Am I dreaming? Wake me up! Have I... Have I killed somebody? Am I to be blamed?! This was a mistake. What the fuck is this skill?!
「Skill [Magic shop] is a condition-based ability. Do you want to reveal its contents?」
The fuck?! Yes! Why did this just pop up just now?! I hate this! Curse this! What the fuck is going on?!
「[Magic shop]
► An ability passed down from the early eons from []. It has been said that it is more a curse than a skill. The user is tasked to sell items from other universes to keep the balance of the world. With you, humanity is still alive. You are essential. -[]
➡ Within a given area, you are rendered invincible. All attacks are nullified, however, the user may use their own personal offensive and/or defensive skills.
➡ The given area may appear anywhere in the world that has the following: A door and a space equal to the size of the given area.
➡ Anything sold in the given area must be compensated with equal to or more of the item purchased. The penalty for not following this rule is death upon the customer.
➡ The user is required to sell items to those who wish to buy them.」
This could have helped sooner!