novelraw Chapter 10: Are We on the Same Page?
Chapter 10: Are We on the Same Page?
Shrouding Coat(Cursed)
Grade: Uncommon
Type: Enchanted Coat
A lightweight black coat woven from an unknown material that absorbs light, giving it a faintly shifting, shadowy appearance. While it offers decent protection and boosts speed, the curse it bears makes its benefits double-edged.
Durability: 30/30Grants +3 DexterityCursed the wearer with [Unstable Presence]While wearing this coat, your presence becomes harder to track. However, your own perception and awareness are dulled over time. The longer you wear it, the greater the disorientation, which can lead to occasional moments of confusion during critical actions.
I frowned. This… is truly a cursed piece of equipment.
To be completely honest, the disorientation effect could be fatal, and the only way to counteract it would be to have a high Mind stat or a passive skill like Mental Resistance—the latter of which I could actually train by wearing this over a long period of time. However, with the limited funds I had, I doubted I could purchase it and still have enough to spare. Still, curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to ask the price anyway.
The owner’s eyes widened slightly. “You want to buy it?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Since it’s cursed, I can let it go cheap. But it’s still an enchanted coat, and those don’t come easy. Lowest I’ll go is 250 soul coins.”
For magic equipment of uncommon grade, the usual minimum price was around five hundred soul coins. So, his offer was, indeed, a bargain. Nevertheless…
“That’s still too expensive.” I shook my head. “This coat is cursed. No one in their right mind would buy it, let alone wear it in battle.
“Then why are you even interested?” He smirked.
“This…” I cleared my throat, carefully considering my words. In truth, I knew several methods to remove the curse, but they required specialized skills or a significant expenditure of soul coins—neither of which I could afford at the moment. Despite that, I had a feeling this coat would prove invaluable down the line. Missing out on this might cost me dearly.
“Well, let’s just say that I have my ways,” I replied evasively before shifting gears. “How about this: I’ll pay you 120 soul coins in total. That includes selling you my items, in exchange for the coat and for polishing the sword. Take this as an investment; I’ll make sure that I sell my items to you in the future as long as I remain in this district.”
“Bah! You look like you’ll be moving up to another district before long,” the owner said with a chuckle, his reddish hair bouncing slightly as he shook his head. “But fine. Since I’ve been wanting to get rid of this item, why not make this an investment? There’s a lack of divine warriors with potential around here, anyway.”
With that, we sealed the deal with a handshake.
You have acquired a skill: [Negotiation Lv.1].
[Negotiation Lv.1]
Rank: Common
Type: Active
Enhances your ability to influence and persuade others in trade and discussions. Higher levels improve effectiveness and unlock advanced negotiation techniques.
Ooh, a bonus!
As the store owner polished the rusty sword, he inquired, “What’s your name? I haven’t heard it yet.”
“It’s Maxim. Maximillian Anderson.”
“Good name. Sounds strong. Mine’s Hussein. Oh, and here’s your sword,” he said, handing me the now-polished blade, gleaming and completely free of rust. The speed of the process suggested that he had a related skill, likely at a high level, to accomplish the task so efficiently.
Polished Short Sword
Grade: Common
Type: Sword
A common short sword that has been polished by an experienced crafter.
Durability: 15/15I took the sword and gave it a quick once-over, nodding in approval. “Thanks.”
He waved dismissively. “Just don’t die too quick, eh? Come back with better goods next time, and maybe I’ll throw in a discount.”
Thus, I waved goodbye and stepped out of the shop after storing the sword and the coat and paying with the soul coins. The cool air outside hit my face, and I took a moment to orient myself. The place outside was still as desolate as ever, though, and I hadn’t seen Boris and Michelle around. Ever since I was transported to this world, my smartphone was gone. I didn’t even have my wallet!
But according to Hussein, there was an inn nearby where most newcomers tended to gather. It seemed like the best place to find them—or at least get some rest. I could feel my stomach grumbling in protest, and I also wanted to go to the toilet. So, I headed there.
When I turned the corner at an intersection, I came across Boris and Michelle, who appeared to be looking for me.
“Lad, over here!” Boris waved at me.
“Hey! Have you been searching for me?” I couldn’t help but ask as I approached them.
“Yeah, we’ve been searching for you everywhere,” Michelle replied with a nod. She was now equipped with light armor, an iron axe hanging on her back, a bow, along with a quiver filled with arrows, and the dagger I had given her strapped to her side.
Boris, on the other hand, was still bare-chested and only swapped his jeans for simple pants, though I could tell that these pants were enchanted, like the Shrouding Coat. “Where did you get the pants?” I asked, pointing at them. I wanted to ask why he didn’t buy a shirt as well, but I didn’t really care.
“They’re from the special voucher I got from the scenario,” he answered casually. “While you were gone, we talked to some folks in the pub. Seems like there’s a good bunch of people there, most of which are people who have been in this place for a month or so.”
“I see.” This meant that Boris also managed to complete the second extra condition from the first scenario.
“Did you get the information you needed?” Michelle asked, cutting into my thoughts.
“I did,” I replied. “I’ll share what I found once we’re in a more private place.”
“Good. We’ve got some information to share as well, and there are a few things we need to discuss,” Boris said.
“Mhm. It’s about time for dinner, too,” Michelle added. “Let’s head back to the inn.”
“Mm.” I nodded.
The inn wasn’t far from where we stood—a modest two-story building that looked like it had seen better days. A creaking circular sign hung above the entrance, swaying gently in the breeze. The sign featured a carved wooden depiction of a bed and a steaming cup, though the paint was chipped and faded from years of wear. There was also the inn’s name at the edge of the sign called “Breezy Inn.”
Pushing the door open, I was greeted by the warmth of a hearth carrying the scent of roasted meat and herbs. The low murmur of voices filled the room. The inn wasn’t packed, but a few groups of people were scattered around the tables, clearly divine warriors like us. Behind the wooden counter stood a sharp-eyed, middle-aged woman with a perpetually grumpy expression, her hands busy wiping down a tankard.
“What do you want?” she called out without looking at us. “Looking for a room, or just here to freeload? We don’t welcome beggars.”
“It’s me, Boris. We have come here befo—”
The instant she heard Boris’s name, the middle-aged woman’s entire demeanor turned 180 degrees. She leaned forward over the counter, her grumpy expression replaced with a charmed look. “My, if it isn’t the gallant sir! Do you want dinner now? I’ve prepared something special just for you,” she said, resting her arms on the counter.
I blinked, completely dumbfounded. Was Boris some kind of charm magnet for middle-aged women?
I turned to peek at Michelle, and although she was a bit surprised, it appeared that she was slightly more used to seeing this scene.
“Sure,” Boris replied with an easy smile. “Me and these two youngsters would like to have dinner now. Thank you.”
“Of course, of course. Take a seat anywhere you like,” she said, flashing him a sweet smile and even batting her eyelashes at him.
Still reeling from what I’d just witnessed, I followed Boris and Michelle to an empty table, where we sat down.
“So, you’ve booked a room here?” I asked, turning to Boris.
“That’s right,” he replied with a nod. “We’ve agreed to rent a shared room for three for one hundred soul coins. Breakfast and dinner included. It’s fifty for a private room here, so we thought, why not? Don’t worry, I’ve already paid for the night.”
Sharing a room made sense. It was safer than renting private ones, especially after the incident with those thugs trying to mug us earlier. I was surprised that Michelle agreed to it, but then again, she wasn’t from Earth, so she wasn’t that concerned over a small matter. Perhaps there was a partition in the bedroom or something.
“Then I owe you a third of that.” I opened my System screen to transfer Boris the funds. “Here, let me pay you back.”
But Boris raised a hand to stop me. “No need. Take it as repayment for your help and the information you’ve shared so far. Besides,” he added, his voice firm, “you need those coins more than I do.”
I hesitated for a moment, but seeing his persistence, I didn’t press the matter. He wasn’t wrong—I only had two hundred soul coins left. If I sat idly for two days, it could spell my end. Or worse, I might face something even more terrifying than death. The thought made my stomach churn.
With that grim prospect in mind, I knew I had to act fast. Tomorrow would be the perfect time to redo the scenario, but going in alone was out of the question—it would be nothing short of suicide. I needed Boris and Michelle to help me, maybe even a few others if I could find them. But first, how could I convince these two to join me? While I’d earned some of their trust, I wasn’t completely sure if we were truly on the same page.
“I’ve been wondering…” Michelle’s voice broke through my thoughts, trailing off as she stared into the distance. “Can we ever go back to our world? Or are we stuck here forever?”