The next evening after ordering the monster card, Luke contacted me early.
When I got home, there was a note left at the entrance.
"It seems that the caterpillar monster card has been successfully bid. It's four thousand four hundred nals, right?"
Roxane told me after reading the note.
Even though I received a message, it wasn't about the goat or kobold monster cards.
"Last time it was four thousand three hundred. They might be raising the price by one hundred nals each time to gauge our reaction," Selly warned.
"Hmm. I wonder if they would go that far."
Selly's harsh opinion of the middleman.
We need to take a discount.
"Middlemen will use any dirty tricks to get what they want."
"That might be true."
"There's a high possibility. It's reasonable to think so."
"Once you say it like that, it does seem that way."
When Selly, who is reasonable, says it's reasonable, it starts to seem reasonable.
The next morning, I went to the merchant guild.
Luke brought out two monster cards.
"Here is the caterpillar monster card. And, the goat monster card was listed in the last auction yesterday."
Luke carefully placed the two monster cards separately.
I don't need to hesitate since I can appraise them.
According to the appraisal, both are definitely genuine.
"The goat monster card, huh."
"It was bid at five thousand four hundred nals."
If it's five thousand four hundred, it will be exactly five thousand four hundred.
It seems Selly was right.
At the very least, the middleman doesn't seem to care about getting the best deal for the client.
"That was quick."
"It almost turned into a bidding war, but I managed to secure it."
There's no guarantee that Luke didn't set up the bidding war himself.
"The goat monster card isn't something we need to rush. From now on, please bid up to five thousand two hundred nals."
"Understood."
This time, I'll lower the price.
If it works, Luke might interpret it as me being angry.
Even if it doesn't get through, lowering the price is fine.
One goat monster card is enough for now.
"How much will it be in total?"
"Let's see. Including the next commission, since you are a regular customer, it will be ten thousand five hundred nals."
The monster cards are four thousand four hundred and five thousand four hundred nals, and the commission for two cards is one thousand nals, but with a thirty percent discount, it's seven hundred nals.
It seems he took some time to calculate it.
The auction price is always thirty percent off.
I paid with one gold coin and ninety silver coins, plus sixty copper coins.
When I got home, I had Selly fuse the caterpillar monster card.
The substitute bracelet is a useful piece of equipment, so it's better to get it made quickly.
"Fusing monster cards is always nerve-wracking."
"Don't worry. If it fails, it's partly my fault. Just relax."
"Okay."
I told Selly that we can generally tell if a monster card can be fused with equipment.
If it fails, it means my judgment was wrong.
If it really fails, I won't know the reason.
"What skill does the goat monster card give?"
"When attached to a weapon or accessory, it grants an intelligence boost skill. If fused with the kobold monster card, it grants a double intelligence skill."
After the fusion succeeded, Selly explained.
If fused with the kobold monster card, the skill performance improves, so the intelligence boost won't be doubled.
It might be a thirty or fifty percent increase.
"Can it be attached to accessories?"
"Yes, it can."
"If so, it might be better to attach it to an accessory rather than a rod. It will work even when using other weapons, and it can be used with a new rod in the future. If we could attach it to both an accessory and a rod for a quadruple intelligence boost... but that's not possible, right?"
"It can't be done."
I heard that you can't attach the same attack skill to multiple pieces of equipment.
The dream doesn't expand.
"Then, can we attach multiple skills to one piece of equipment?"
"I haven't heard of anyone trying that."
If you try to attach a second skill and fail, the first skill will also disappear.
That's why multiple skills are rarely attached.
It's unknown whether attaching the same skill multiple times to one weapon is effective.
I can fearlessly attach multiple skills, but I doubt it will work.
Like a high school girl thinking about it.
I might as well attach the goat monster card to the rod.
There's the substitute bracelet as an accessory.
Since I ordered the goat monster card at a lower price, I should be able to get several.
I can wait for the kobold monster card and then attach it to the rod.
"Either way, we need to wait for the kobold monster card. Roxane, wear the substitute bracelet."
"Um, are you not going to sell it?"
I offered the substitute bracelet, but Roxane didn't take it immediately.
"Of course, I'll sell any extras. But, I need a spare in case my substitute bracelet breaks. If you keep it as a spare, you can wear it."
The substitute bracelet isn't something just anyone can wear.
She might be hesitant.
"But if I get attacked and it breaks..."
I tried to give a reasonable explanation, but she countered.
It failed.
"Selly, the substitute bracelet isn't that expensive, right?"
"Yes, it's around thirty to forty thousand nals."
"Then it's fine. A substitute bracelet is cheaper than a serious injury. If Roxane dies, it would be even more troublesome. In reality, it probably won't break that often."
I can't imagine a situation where Roxane would need the substitute bracelet to the point of taking concentrated attacks.
If that happens, the whole party might be wiped out.
The caterpillar monster card is around four thousand nals.
If one in ten fusions succeeds, the substitute bracelet would cost a few thousand nals at most.
It's one of the more expensive pieces of equipment I have, but cheaper than Roxane.
"Okay, thank you."
I managed to convince Roxane to wear the substitute bracelet.
I went to where Roxane was sitting.
"I'll put it on for you. Roxane, do you want it on your ankle or wrist?"
"Um, can I have it on my ankle? It's less noticeable."
If you wear it on your wrist, it's visible from the outside.
Without appraisal, you can't tell if it's a substitute bracelet or just a bracelet.
The duke and Cassia wore their substitute bracelets prominently on their wrists.
I wear mine on my ankle.
If I wear pants, it's not visible from the outside.
It can make someone who attacks me let their guard down.
Wearing it on the wrist has the advantage of being immediately noticeable if it breaks.
The duke and duchess would assume the attacker knows about the substitute bracelet, so hiding it doesn't have much benefit.
Since wearing a substitute bracelet can make you a target or cause resentment, it's fine for Roxane to wear it on her ankle.
"Can you roll up your pants?"
Roxane took off her shoe, put her right foot on the chair, and rolled up her pants.
Her pale, slender calf was exposed.
Her legs were smooth and shiny.
They were so cute, I wanted to rub my cheek against them.
They seemed to glow in the sunlight.
Seeing them peek out from the gap in her clothes during the day felt different.
I almost reached out to stroke them and glanced at Roxane's expression.
No, it's fine.
I'm not doing anything wrong.
I'm not planning to do anything.
What's the point of stroking her leg now?
I thought about putting it on and then stroking it, but that seemed inappropriate.
I couldn't help it.
I had to resist the urge to rub my cheek, kiss, or lick, and just wrap the bracelet.
Damn, tonight.
I'll wait until tonight.
I won't let you get away.
"Thank you."
After I wrapped the substitute bracelet, Roxane thanked me.
I wonder if she'll say the same thing tonight?
In the afternoon, I visited the Amber Merchant's office.
The order for ten mirrors from Goslair will be completed with this delivery.
Before that, I wanted to get the necklace for the master's wife.
I flew from Halbar to Bode.
"We currently have only one piece of amber ore. The price is the same as last time, eight hundred nals. Would you like to take it?"
"I want a necklace. Can I get it with the amber ore?"
It seems there's only one piece of amber ore.
Making a profit from the amber trade is difficult.
The Amber Merchant can't give me all the amber they find.
But one piece is enough this time.
It can be a sacrifice for the thirty percent discount.
I told them I wanted to buy a necklace and let Roxane and Selly choose.
It's better to get their opinions on the necklace.
"Here is the small box from Taluem."
The cat-eared merchant also brought out a small box.
It's the one I ordered.
A beautiful white box with clear growth rings in light brown.
"Looks good."
"It's still in the prototype stage, but since you gave us ideas, I'll give you the box from the last purchase."
"Thanks. I'll take it."
I received two small boxes.
They were quite heavy.
The weight was unexpected.
The white color seems to be the natural color of the wood, not a coating.
It's better than I expected.
The box is heavy to enhance the luxury feel.
"This one, or that one?"
"Definitely this one."
"Which one of the two?"
"I think this is the better one."
Roxane and Selly seemed to have reached a conclusion.
In the end, Selly chose one necklace.
It's probably the one they showed me when I first visited the shop.
I think it was fifty-five thousand nals.
Since it was shown first, it's likely one of the shop's best items.
I can't really tell the difference.
Since the shop and Selly agree, I should go with this one.
My grandfather seemed to have the means to buy books, so Selly might have a good eye.
Even if not, Selly has a good relationship with the master's wife.
If Selly likes it, it's a safe choice.
"Can I get the amber ore and this necklace?"
"Thank you. Since you have the duke's letter of introduction, I'll give them to you for thirty-nine thousand sixty nals, with a special discount."
It's annoying to hear that the letter of introduction is so powerful.
It's just a thirty percent discount.
I paid the money.
One gold coin, ninety silver coins, and sixty copper coins.
"Is this correct?"
"Since you are a special customer, I'll also give you the Taluem small box. I plan to sell it for two hundred nals, but since you gave us ideas, it's free for you."
The Amber Merchant put the necklace in a cloth bag inside the small box and handed it to me.
It would be easier to get the thirty percent discount in one purchase, but since it's free, I won't complain.
I went home, took the two necklaces, and headed to Permask.
I put the necklaces on the girls in Zabir's labyrinth and gave them the silver coins for the tax.
"Are you really not going?"
Selly asked, looking worried.
She seems to have some concerns.
If I sell the necklace to the master's wife for twenty-five gold coins, it's the same as Selly's price.
Since I got a thirty percent discount, it's actually higher than Selly's price.
Being entrusted with a higher-priced item might be stressful.
With the necklace they're wearing, they have a substantial amount of wealth.
If they escape, they could live comfortably for a few years.
"It's fine. Our master trusts us."
"Yes."
Roxane understands.
Or maybe she's just carefree.
I encouraged Selly and flew to the Permask adventurer's guild.
I sent the two off.
If they each bring back one mirror, we'll have ten.
I won't have to fly directly from Permask to home for a while.
Thinking it's the last trip, I feel relieved.
I feel excited and can't settle down.
The adventurer's guild seemed to be buzzing with activity.