novelraw Chapter 54: The Joy of Getting Things for Free
Chapter 54: The Joy of Getting Things for Free
When Korobus heard this, he didn’t turn Leon away. Instead, he nodded. “Come find me again when you’ve saved up the money. I can set aside an Iridium Sprinkler for you in advance.”
“Alright.”
Leon hadn’t given up on buying the Iridium Sprinkler. After all, if he had to make one himself, he had no idea how long it would take to raise his Farming level to nine.
“This is our first meeting, so you can pick one item from my shop as a gift. However, I can’t give you any one-of-a-kind items.”
Though their deal hadn’t gone through, Leon’s friendly manner—and the fact that he hadn’t looked at Korobus with any strange expression—left the shadowy merchant feeling at ease. So, as Leon was about to leave, Korobus decided to show a bit of goodwill.
“Really? Then I’ll gladly accept your generosity.” Leon wasn’t one for needless politeness. Mutual willingness in getting something for free was always tempting, like when supermarkets hand out free eggs.
“So, what will it be? One of the two types of magic essence, a monster drop, or a Prismatic Geode?” As he spoke, Korobus reached into the void and pulled out a large sack, opening it to display its contents.
Leon ignored the strange-looking monster drops entirely. Instead, his eyes locked onto a plate-sized, irregular chunk of mineral, as if several stones had fused together, its surface mottled with spots of various colors. “Is that a Prismatic Geode?”
“Yes. You seem to like it, so I’ll give it to you as a gift.” Seeing Leon’s gaze, Korobus immediately took out the mineral and handed it over.
“Thanks. In return, I’ll give you a gift too.”Leon recalled Korobus’s list of favorite items. Most were beyond his means right now, but there was one cheap and readily available thing he did have. After taking the Prismatic Geode, he pulled out a Wild Horseradish and handed it to Korobus.
“This is truly a wonderful gift. In my tribe, receiving one of these is considered an honor.”
Korobus’s eyes narrowed in delight, and his mouth curved into a smile as he accepted the Wild Horseradish.
Leon tucked the Prismatic Geode into his backpack. He didn’t bother hiding his dimensional storage ability in front of Korobus—after all, the merchant seemed to have a similar power. Among those who dealt in the mysterious, there was no point in pretending.
“Now, my new friend, I want to remember your name.” After carefully stowing the Wild Horseradish in his pocket, Korobus looked at Leon seriously.
“My name’s Leon,” he answered honestly.
“Leon. I’ll remember it. From now on, you’re my friend.” Korobus repeated the name happily, then added, “By the way, the Prismatic Geode needs to be cracked open by a professional to get what’s inside. I suggest you visit the blacksmith in town.”
“Got it. Well then, goodbye, Korobus. I’ll come back when I’ve saved enough money.” Leon nodded and took his leave.
Korobus was reluctant to see him go, but he knew Leon likely had other things to do. The sewer might be comfortable for a Shadow Person, but it wasn’t so friendly for humans.
“Alright. Goodbye, Leon. And when you come next time, as a friend, I’ll give you a twenty percent discount on your purchase.”
“Thanks in advance. See you.” Leon was delighted by the offer. Waving, he left the sewer the same way he came.
All the way out, he kept feeling like something was following him. But whenever he looked back, he saw nothing but darkness. Given that Korobus was likely the only living creature in the sewer, the identity of his shadow wasn’t hard to guess.
Still, the presence carried no malice. It was probably just a protective gesture, a friend seeing him off. The thought moved Leon, and he quietly let go of any scheming intentions he’d harbored toward Korobus.
A good person shouldn’t have a gun to their head. And tricking someone kindhearted for profit went against Leon’s principles. Korobus’s goodwill deserved goodwill in return.
When Leon finally emerged from the sewer, it was already close to dusk. The orange-red glow on the horizon and the fiery clouds above were breathtaking, but he didn’t linger to admire them.
Once he stepped outside, the mixed stench clinging to him became all too apparent. Without a second thought, he dashed straight back to the farm. The moment he stepped into the cabin, he stripped off his clothes and shoes, then treated himself to a thorough bath.
Plans could never keep up with changes. He hadn’t caught any fish today, but he’d gotten a free bicycle as transportation, met the unique merchant Korobus, and scored a Prismatic Geode—all in all, a pretty good haul.
He ate dinner at the farm. With the bicycle, he could have gone into town without much effort, but right now he wanted to save money wherever possible. There were too many things that needed funding.
For example, the Starfruit at Korobus’s place and the cash offerings required by the Community Center’s vault—both expensive projects. The former could boost his physical abilities, while the latter would unlock the bus route to the Calico Desert.
Though Leon could technically reach the Calico Desert without the Stardew Valley bus, the route planning, travel time, and potential dangers made him drop the idea.
Just because you can sneak in doesn’t mean it’s worth doing. Why pedal through the desert heat and wind when he could take a bus after the vault repairs were complete?
And even if he went now, the only things worth doing were visiting Sandy at the oasis shop and foraging for Cactus Fruit and Coconuts.
The main draw of the desert—the Skull Cavern—required the Skull Key from the bottom of Pelican Town’s mine. Without the key, there was no point in going.
Unlike the unguarded sewer outlet, the Skull Cavern’s entrance was a trial site chosen by the mysterious Mr. Qi. If Leon tried to break in, he was pretty sure Mr. Qi would show up with bodyguards, tie him up, and hang him out in the desert to dry.