Surviving in the Labyrinth City of the Reverse World

14 – The Sorcerer #1

Abella called us over.

I wondered when she would coldly kick us out once she found out we had no money. But now, I calmly held back my anger and approached her with a face that hid my emotions as much as possible.

“Yes?”

“What did you talk about with Verena?”

“With Verena…?”

I didn’t say anything special. Verena misunderstood us and as compensation, gave us an artifact?

By the way, it’s said that an artifact that can use “Barrier” twice costs 10 silver. Verena gave us a whopping 10-silver artifact as a gift.

It was just a gift, so I took it without thinking too much about it. Buying it with my own money would be a bit of a stretch. Even if it’s expensive, it’s ridiculously expensive.

If you think of it as the value of a life, you could say it’s cheap…

Still, the equipment that adventurers earn on the first floor of the labyrinth is beyond imagination. That was the artifact.

“Abella said that the minimum price for the artifact she made is gold, right?”

100 silver is 1 gold. I can’t believe how overpriced it is.

Abella got angry when she heard my story. She breathed heavily with a flushed face.

“That woman…! So shameless…!”

Now that I think about it, it seemed like the ill-fated relationship between the two didn’t form overnight. It must have accumulated to this point.

I didn’t know the details.

“Well, it’s only natural to keep an eye on the store across the street.”

He was trying to ruin Abella, his competitor in the same industry.

Whether it was through persuasion or lowering prices, giving artifacts as gifts to fledgling adventurers who were kicked out of the store. That was not a sin.

“Just from the feeling, Abella seems like a small shop and Verena seems like a large mart.”

Unless he called for a service and started a fight inside the store, I couldn’t blame Verena too much. Restraint was also a skill.

Abella, who was throwing a fit at Verena who wasn’t even here. She glared at me with her eyes wide open.

“So? What kind of artifact did Verena give you?”

“Uh…”

“Well, all the artifacts she sells are obvious. It’s the [Teos’s Bracelet of Protection] or [Teos’s Bracelet of Arrows].”

“Oh, how did you know? I got the [Teos’s Bracelet of Protection]. It’s worth 10 silver.”

I showed her the bracelet I was wearing on my right hand, swinging it loosely.

“Ha! It’s ridiculous that they would charge 10 silver for that trash. Seriously.”

Abella, after seeing the artifact, let out a hollow laugh and spoke as if picking a fight.

“That’s not worth 10 silver. The cost price isn’t even 1 silver.”

“…It takes a lot of manpower to get it to the store…”

“But does that mean you can inflate the price by tenfold and rip people off? Is that what a merchant does?”

Well, because he’s a merchant, isn’t he supposed to take advantage of the situation? Abella is also a merchant.

No, wait.

Why am I even getting scolded? I just received a gift.

I am just a young adventurer and a guest who has nothing to do with the unfortunate fate of Abella and Verena.

“Ahem.”

Abella, as if realizing that fact belatedly, let out a forced cough and cooled down her annoyance.

“What do you want to say, lady?”

“Ah, lady? I’m not a lady!”

“Get to the point quickly. We’re tired from coming up today.”

Nana Swanakoraksoni was not joking. It was a serious situation that made me feel guilty enough to wander the streets like this.

Abella glances at Swan and then scans me.

“…Are you a skilled adventurer?”

“No?”

One experience in maze exploration. It’s a career that is ambiguous at best to be considered skilled.

No one would call a twenty-year-old man who has just taken off his training wheels a mine disposal expert.

“Lie.”

But Abella didn’t believe me.

“Are you trying to tell me that someone who boldly carries a beast with them is not a skilled explorer? Who would believe that?”

“It’s true….”

If I had recruited a Baiho Tribe beast as a party member, it meant that I could handle the cost, so saying that they were not skilled was a lie.

That was Abella’s logical structure. And it was somewhat correct.

“If we consider potential alone, it’s tremendous. But it’s true that their skills are lacking.”

Abella had no intention of believing me. She had already drawn her own conclusion and stood before me.

“Come with me for now.”

“…Why do these ahjummas keep telling me to follow them?”

“Even if I’m not an ahjumma? Do you have to keep calling me that?”

I followed Abella for now. It was tiring and exhausting, but I thought I could spare a little time.

“…You’re such a useless woman.”

Abella glanced at Verena’s artifact shop and then went into her own store.

I entered the shop I had visited earlier, still being embraced by Su. Maybe because I didn’t ask to be let go first, Su seemed to have no intention of releasing me.

It was embarrassing, but it was comfortable. I just continued to be held.

Abella’s artifact shop didn’t have a separate reception room.

There was only one room inside the store. It was a narrow room that served as a workshop and bedroom.

“Tell me honestly. What level are you?”

“I’m level 1.”

“Please… don’t lie…”

“I’m serious. I’m a Level 1 adventurer.”

He took the adventurer’s badge out of his pocket. Hoping to find the registration date on it, he showed it to Abella.

Abella stared at the adventurer’s badge blankly and let out a sigh.

“You really are Level 1.”

“Can you tell?”

“Guys have to update their adventurer’s badge when they level up. What you have there is a Level 1 badge. Didn’t the guild tell you?”

“….”

He had no memory of hearing about the “Miracle Vanguard”. Maybe they didn’t think it was necessary to tell him.

Why bother telling him anything when they were going to sell him anyway, that kind of mindset.

Abella seemed shocked as she confirmed his level and remained silent for a while.

“You’re Level 1 and you’re traveling with a beastman? Is that possible?”

Does level matter? The number of party members is determined by the “Soul Protection” skill.

“You’re not asking about the rank of the ‘Soul Protection’ skill?”

“….”

Abella awkwardly chuckled.

“…I’m not even your party member. It’s a little strange to ask that, isn’t it…? hahahaha.”

Trying not to cross the line, it seemed like he was pretending not to know about the “Soul Protection”. Asking about his level instead was a way to gauge his abilities without mentioning the skill.

“It’s a B rank.”

“The ‘Soul Protection’ skill is B rank, huh…?”

Abella’s eyes widened in surprise. Both the members of the “Miracle Vanguard” and the “Dictator’s Sword” sisters had similar reactions.

As soon as I mentioned the B-rank, her eyes sparkled.

“Oh… since it’s B-rank, you can bring a beastman to the party.”

“Yes, so what’s the matter?”

There were two main reasons why I had to tell Abella her skill rank.

The first was that I wanted to quickly end the situation. What was happening between the owner of the artifact shop.

The second reason was Suwoo’s expression. It was completely different when he looked at Abella and when he looked at Verena. I was curious about the reason.

“What’s your name?”

“Lay.”

“Lay, do you like that artifact? Do you think the [Teros’ Guardian Bracelet] is good?”

“…If I can be saved in a real battle thanks to the artifact, if I can survive by using it at the right time… Is 10 silver a fair price? Even 1 gold wouldn’t be a waste.”

“A well-made artifact is worth more than 1 gold. There’s nothing more precious than life.”

Saying that, Abella took out an artifact. It was a bracelet with a design similar to the [Teros’ Guardian Bracelet].

Abella spoke confidently.

“Take a look.”

“….”

I examined the information of the artifact Abella handed me. And I couldn’t hide my surprise.

“This is…!”

“How is it?”

“No way!”

Abella’s artifact was different from the artifacts in the Verena store. Although I didn’t know about its performance, there was a significant difference in how it operated.

[Abella’s Guardian Bracelet (D)]

A wooden bracelet made by mixing large amounts of platinum and silver.

The magic is enchanted.

Stored magic: “Barrier (F)”

Number of charges: 3

Whether it was Abella’s Guardian Bracelet or Theos’s Guardian Bracelet, the descriptions were the same. The process of creating the bracelet itself seemed to be similar.

The important thing here is that the information on Abella’s Guardian Bracelet says “Number of charges” instead of “Number of uses”.

“You can recharge this? What is this?”

“Yeah. The artifacts I make aren’t disposable. Once you use up all the stored magic, it turns into a regular accessory and becomes useless, unlike that ugly pig’s artifact. It’s an artifact that can be used infinitely and permanently!”

Abella spat out her words with disgust.

“Wow!”

Insane!

That changes things. Even if I sell it in gold units, I shouldn’t say anything.

“It’s a refillable roller, isn’t it?!”

Truly a groundbreaking invention!

As I silently admired the artifact, Abella spoke. Her voice was slightly subdued.

“But there’s a problem.”

“…A problem?”

“Recharging is difficult.”

“……”

And then the story took a different turn.

The value of Abella’s artifact plummeted like a coin monkey. My interest waned.

“Is it inefficient?”

For example, if the cost of a single charge is more expensive than the value of a disposable artifact, then why bother using it?

There was a damn good reason.

Abella hurriedly spoke.

“But it won’t be difficult for you. I’ve tested it myself.”

“It won’t be difficult for me?”

“Yeah….”

“Why?”

In response to my question, Abella hesitated before answering.

“Your ‘Soul Protection’ is ranked B…. It will definitely be easier than the D or E-ranked ones….”

“Hmm.”

So this is a system where the guy has to recharge. I understood.

“There’s a reason why it’s not selling either.”

There was indeed a damn good reason.

“But why?”

Abella handed me the [Abella’s Guardian Bracelet].

“Do you have any intention of entrusting me with a recharge request?”

In my prison cell, Abella bowed her head deeply. Her shoulders slumped, making her look pitiful. I felt a pang of sympathy.

“…Even if it’s fully charged, there’s no one to use it. Men don’t like my artifact. They actually hate it. They say it feels strange when it’s charging…”

“Madam, what do you wish for?”

“I’m not a madam! I’m only thirty-three!”

Unintentionally, I blurted out, “But anyone would see you as a madam at that age.”

Abella’s reaction, as if she genuinely denied it, sent shivers down my spine.

“…Just say it. Don’t look at me like that.”

“Do you have any children?”

“I did. They went into the labyrinth and never came back.”

“….”

Because of my pointless question, the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

“I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay. You didn’t know.”

“….”

“And you’re working hard as an explorer too. You’re all inheriting the legacy.”

I cautiously got up from Suu’s embrace. Then, looking up at Abella, I asked, “What do you want from us?”

“…I’ll give this as a gift too.”

Abella handed me back [Abella’s Guardian Bracelet] that I had returned. It seemed like she didn’t appreciate Verena’s gift offensive.

“If you ever need an artifact, think of me first. My artifact isn’t something anyone can use.”

“Can’t you just make an artifact that anyone can use? Like Berena?”

“It’s my late mother’s technique. I can’t give it up for money.”

“Ah, sorry….”

I awkwardly muttered my thanks and received [Abella’s Guardian Bracelet]. And then I tried to express my gratitude.

At that moment, I felt a little uncomfortable.

“Um, Abella noona.”

“Just call me ajumma. It feels like I’m receiving a bow from someone when you call me that.”

“Then ajumma.”

“….”

Abella’s expression crumpled. It seems she doesn’t like being called ajumma.

Ignoring Abella’s change in expression, I continued speaking.

“Besides this guardian bracelet, do you have any other bracelets with offensive magic stored in them?”

The balance of offense and defense was more important than Abella’s feelings. Since I have [Theos’s Guardian Bracelet], I want to exchange [Abella’s Guardian Bracelet] for another bracelet with offensive magic.

“…You’re really something, aren’t you? You want to exchange a gift you received right away?”

Abella chuckled.