I had barely slipped my new treasure back into its sheath when, out of the corner of my eye, a suspicious movement caught my attention.

I spun around, only to see a hooded man sprinting away at full speed—with my sword in his hands! For a moment, I stood frozen, stunned into inaction.

“Hey! Come back here! That’s my sword, you thief!” I finally shouted, snapping out of my daze.

But it was too late. The man darted into the crowd and disappeared before I could even process what had just happened. Swearing under my breath, I took off after him, determined to get my weapon back.

Before I had taken more than a few steps, the vendor called out to me with an amused expression.

“Relax, young friend! No need to get so worked up,” he said with a sly grin. “This sort of thing happens all the time here at the Black Market.”

I stared at him, dumbfounded. “What do you mean, ‘happens all the time’?! That man just stole my sword! You can’t seriously be okay with this!”

The vendor shrugged, waving a hand dismissively. “Oh, calm down. It’s just part of doing business around here. Honestly, you should consider yourself lucky—it could’ve been worse.”

He leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice. “See, this area is crawling with mercenaries. They have an unfortunate habit of targeting our customers…”

His words sent a chill down my spine. Mercenaries? That didn’t sound good.

“Mercenaries?” I repeated, feeling my stomach knot. “Then how am I supposed to get my sword back?”

The vendor chuckled softly. “Well, my young friend, you don’t have much of a choice. If you want it back, you’ll need to steal it yourself.”

He pointed lazily toward the forest in the distance. “They’ve probably holed up in the woods of Valoria. Their camp is about three hours from here.”

Panic prickled at me. Three hours? What if they ambushed me along the way? Was it worth risking my life for a sword?

But this wasn’t just any sword—it was an exceptional weapon, one that could prove invaluable on my quest. If I let it go, who knew what those mercenaries might do with it?

Taking a deep breath, I straightened up, resolve hardening in my chest. “Fine. I’ll get it back. But tell me—do you know of any way I can neutralize them without putting myself in too much danger?”

The vendor raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by my determination. Then, a cunning smile crept across his face.

“Well, since you’re asking so nicely…” He rummaged under his stall and pulled out a small vial of shimmering blue liquid. “This might come in handy.”

I took the vial cautiously, examining its contents. “What is it?”

“A powerful sedative,” he said with a conspiratorial wink. “A single drop in their food or drink, and those mercenaries will be out cold. You’ll have plenty of time to grab your sword and leave unnoticed.”

I nodded slowly, impressed. “That’s… very clever. How much is it going to cost me?”

The vendor laughed quietly. “Don’t worry about that! Consider it a welcome gift from the Black Market.”

He winked again. “We value our reputation, you see. And we always appreciate loyal customers who know how to play by our rules.”

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I blinked at him, surprised by his generosity. Maybe the Black Market wasn’t all bad after all.

Tucking the vial safely into my pocket, I thanked him warmly. “Thank you. I’ll do my best to recover my sword—and prove my gratitude.”

The vendor gave me a satisfied nod. “I’m sure you will. Good luck, young friend!”

With that, I climbed onto my horse, gripping the reins tightly. Taking another deep breath, I spurred my mount forward, heading straight for the forest of Valoria.

As I galloped across the countryside, nerves began to creep in. These mercenaries were surely experienced fighters, likely armed to the teeth. Could I really take them down with just a vial of sedative?

But the sword—it was worth the risk. Its craftsmanship was unmatched, and it could be the key to completing my quest. There was no way I was letting it slip through my fingers.

Jaw set, I focused on the road ahead, determined to retrieve what was mine. No way was I letting those thieves keep my prize.

After a grueling ride, I finally reached the outskirts of the Valoria forest. Following the vendor’s directions, I entered the woods cautiously, alert for any signs of danger.

The forest was eerily quiet, save for the occasional chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves under my horse’s hooves. Slowing my pace, I scanned my surroundings with care.

Then I heard it—a faint crack of a twig nearby. Instantly, I froze, ears straining for any other sounds.

That’s when I saw them: two hooded figures crouching in the underbrush, weapons at the ready. They hadn’t spotted me yet, but their tense posture made it clear they were watching for something—or someone.

Without hesitation, I activated my interface. [Mana Amplification!]

A surge of energy coursed through me, sharpening my reflexes and slowing the world around me. My enemies’ movements seemed sluggish, almost as if time itself had been stretched thin.

Using the advantage, I leapt from my horse, drawing my blade in one fluid motion. I struck the first mercenary with the hilt of my sword, knocking him out cold.

The second man barely had time to react before I disarmed him with a quick slash and drove a knee into his stomach, sending him sprawling.

“Where’s my sword?” I demanded, pointing my blade at him.

The mercenary stammered, clearly dazed by the assault. Frustrated, I grabbed him by the collar, forcing him to look at me.

“Answer me, or I swear you’ll regret it!”

Under pressure, he finally cracked. “Th-The camp… under the dead tree,” he gasped.

A cruel smile tugged at my lips. “Good. Stay put if you know what’s good for you.”

Leaving him on the ground, I mounted my horse again and headed toward the camp.

The camp was a simple setup—a single tent, a few scattered bags, and, just as promised, my sword leaning against a gnarled, lifeless tree.

I dismounted and approached carefully, retrieving the blade with a sense of relief. It was undamaged, its polished surface gleaming even in the dim light.

“Finally,” I murmured, running my fingers along its edge. “I missed you.”

As I admired the weapon, something caught my eye—an inscription etched into the blade. Squinting, I read it aloud:

“Sword of the Dark Lord… Valoria.”

Valoria? The name sent a shiver through me. This sword was more than just a weapon—it was a relic. Curious, I used my interface to analyze its properties.

[Weapon Equipped: Sword of the Dark Lord Valoria]

[Effect Active: Absorbs Light]

I stood there for a moment, letting the information sink in. A sword that absorbed light? This could be incredibly useful against the demons of Xanatos, who thrived in darkness.

A grin spread across my face. Yes, this was worth every ounce of effort. With this blade, I was ready to face any challenge.

Securing the sword in its sheath, I climbed back onto my horse and turned toward the road ahead. As I left the camp behind, I couldn’t resist one final jab at the sleeping mercenaries.

“Thanks for keeping it safe, boys.”

A rustling sound behind me made me pause, but when no threat appeared, I relaxed and rode on.

This time, I was prepared for whatever came next.