Naturally, I would try to find the merchant. As I entered the black market, I was controlled by guards of the black market who didn't see me before so I could sneakily submerge into the bustling main hall of the black market.
Shortly I needed to search the center until I finally found the right stall. And as the crowd spit me out in front of the merchant, I was so jittery I stumbled over my first words, disregarding any caution I used before: "F-from w-whom did you buy the robe?"
"Huh? Who are you?" The merchant asked and squinted his eyes at me. Only at this moment I realized, that I shouldn't have asked like this, so I tried to act like a customer again
"There was this robe I wanted to buy from you a few days ago. When I asked who sold it to you, you were taken by the guards of the black market."
"I don't remember ever meeting you and don't know which robe you are talking about."
"It was the [Crimson Phoenix Magician's Robe] with the gold tread lining special edition design." I almost yelled at him. How could he forget me and even the robe? Where was it even? Did he sell it already? But the merchant just swiped his hair back and then shook his head.
"I had one of these last year but didn't get my hands on one of those this year. And even if I had one, I would not disclose my sellers to a random customer. You must have mistaken me for another seller. But since you have a good eye for robes, let me show you the stylish [Tiger King Magician Robe] made of the pelt of an authentic golden tiger. It's level was 68 and it's not only durable but you will be the center of attention wherever you go! And..."
"Where were you last week?"
"Oh, I was taken by the guards of the black market, just like the merchant you talked about. But they took me by mistake and released me a little while after taking me prisoner."
"I was the customer you talked to before being taken and you were the one who talked with me about the robe. Do you still not remember me?"
"I never saw you before. Also, the texture of the pelt ist truly…" The man seemingly forgot who I was and that he ever owned the robe. With a high probability, he would've forgotten the seller, too. What else could help to get him to remember the memories he had lost?
"What did the Lord of the Underworld say to you?" I asked, attempting another strategy entirely. It was the last time I saw him close up.
"The Lord of the Underworld? Gods gracious, I luckily never met him. I was just imprisoned before they noticed their error and released me. But if you look at the sewing of this robe you will notice..." I didn't hear anything the merchant told me anymore. My thoughts raced wildly. He did not remember talking to the Lord of the underworld?
I was forgotten and the robe, too. Earlier I thought, not all of the rumors about the feared ruler of the black market were true. But the more I got to know him and people who were in contact with him, the more terrifying he got. It was said he could manipulate people and reality itself. Today I saw the results of his power. A man who forgot how things happened which I saw with my own eyes. There were no traces of enchantment or a spell on him. The Lord of the Underworld was able to alter memories and make even the absence of events go unnoticed by the affected person.
But why? Why did the man forget the robe and me? Was the robe gone? I looked around the stall, trying to find it between the other clothes. But while there were more high quality weapons and equipment, there was not even one of the [Crimson Phoenix Magician's Robes] to be found. Who took it?
My only clue to the robe was gone, replaced by a hurdle absolutely impossible to pass. Who could question the man who was even feared by the city lord? Who was I to demand answers from someone like him, the Lord of the Underworld himself?
But this was it. My only clue evaporated into nothingness. The remaining leads all pointed me to impossible endeavors to find Coven's murderer.
Blind to the world around me, I stumbled to the crowd until my feet carried me to the entrance of the forbidden tunnels where more guards of the black market stood.
"State your identity." One of them said.
"I am Mystyval Ru-ná, training under his excellency and fulfilled the mission I was given. Bring me to his grace so I can report the news." I told them after collecting my thoughts briefly. Because I had no choice I would even dare the impossible. Daring things I would've run from before, challenging myself to pick the stars from the sky.
"We've been expecting you." A guard stepped forward and my view was hindered again by multiple layers of blindfolds, before he led me behind the massive doors leading inside the forbidden tunnels. After they closed, I walked for a long time. I was on the way in this direction for the second time already, but something was strange. Some of the turns changed and the points where we walked higher and then deeper downwards changed. It was as if the tunnel system was altered completely. Either it was another way leading to the same place, a legend or I would discover soon, if all these rumors about the mysteries turned out to be true or at least partly true.
I entered the room filled with tall shelves again. Books, magical equipment and other stuff filled them to the brim. Only two assistants were in the room with the lord of the underworld.
"Your excellency, I completed the hunt." My spoils were taken out in front of the castle. One of the few servants brought it away immediately.
"You were faster than anticipated. Since you're already here, you can go clean the interrogation room." The man mumbled without raising his eyes from the documents he was reading.
"Your grace, might I request a small reward for fulfilling my missions?"
"How greedy. You are repaying me right now but ask for rewards. But fine, amuse me, what do you desire?" He looked up. A gaze so cold it sent shivers down my spine. Slowly the expression morphed into a sadistic glee, as if satisfied by my discomfort.
"Answers. I just want you to answer a few questions of mine truthfully."
"Be my guest." he snorted. I breathed in and out deeply, then stepped forward until I was only a short amount away from him, enough to perceive anything on his face.
"Do you desire to get rid of the city lord of Daystreak?" He started laughing, a deep and scratchy tone which sounded like iron brushing against stone.
"You can ask me anything and this is your first question?"
"I just wanted to find out if you would lie or be truthful. Your answer?" I never thought I could act this bold and confident. But this may be my only chance. I couldn't mess up.
"I want to burn him alive at the stakes, scatter his ashes in the sewers and rid this city from his damned legacy." he purred with a dark undertone like it was a sweet bedtime story and not his violent fantasies he was describing.
"Anything else you are curious about?"
"What did you do to the merchant a few days ago? Why doesn't he remember meeting you?" The expression shifted a bit, his eyes squinted a bit more and the amusement vanished.
"Are you asking if I could erase thoughts and manipulate people?"
"No. I just want to ask why he doesn't remember ever owning an item called [Crimson Phoenix Magician's Robes] and why it went missing from his stall. Are you involved in these happenings or was it a byproduct of wiping the memories from the merchant?" The Lord of the Underworld raised one corner of his mouth.
"You have quite the guts to confront me with your claims. What if you accused me unjustly?"
"I just asked questions with your approval. How could you ever be offended by something so insignificant, your grace?" As I was talking, he slowly rose, stepped around the desk and in front of me. As he closed in, I could see his terrifying scars even closer. His attackers at that time must've clawed his face apart. He lowered his head until his orbs were piercing mine and barley millimeters away, I saw an evil glinting in them.
"Oh, fear not, I won't be offended. I will even answer you. Getting rid of this item was a mission issued to the black market. I wonder how much you would do to get the information about who the contractor is? Here ends your reward. Leave."
I held back the emotion bubbling inside of me, swallowed down anything that wanted to escape my mouth and left the room.
I had gotten my answers and they didn't satisfy me. Was this how far I could get? Would my revenge end like this? I stopped at the door, my feet rooted to the ground.
"Your excellency, allow me one further question."
"Denied."
"Why did you personally erase the merchant's thoughts of the robe's seller? If the robe was their only requirement, why did you step in?"
"Guards! Drag her out."
"Answer me! Why?!" Guards came in, took me and my questions stayed unanswered. But this itself was the answer. The black market was connected to Coven's murderer. Even deeper than I assumed.
[!!!]
[From here on, self-harming content follows. Who cannot handle self-harm, please skip this part.]
[!!!]
As the guards threw me in the torture chamber to clean the bloody mess once again, my brooding mind replayed the answers in a loop, analysing even the smallest detail. I must get out of here and find out who issued the quest to steal the magician's robe. My thoughts raced further, trying to think of a way to find Coven's murderer, as I suddenly found a way to escape. With a renewed hope, I stood up. In my room, there was almost nothing to help my escape. Even the washing bowl was switched with a wooden one, after the first night. But here, I was alone. Many, many torturing devices around me. Although a ban on the castle hindered me from taking things out of my inventory, those weapons could be used. Since I wasn't in a cell, the system wouldn't register me as a prisoner. But my time was running out. I hastily stood up and took the nearest blade, a small scalpel and began cutting my arms vertically, but contrary to my expectation, my health depleted slowly. And suddenly, I heard steps outside, like guards who closed in to the door. Not hesitating anymore, I directly slit my throat. Luckily, my pain receptors were still on the lowest level, but it still was very uncomfortable. The door opened, just as my HP hit zero. Turning around and looking in the guard's surprised faces, I disintegrated. A short moment of light later, I was at a reincarnation point. But wait a minute. This wasn't the black market! People around stared at me and started whispering. Shouldn't I have been sent to the closest reincarnation point? As if acknowledging my question, the system mumbled.
[Welcome to the city below, Daybreak. You are the first player to discover Daybreak. For one week, you have a 25% default discount at every shop and you will get one 1 platinum coin for discovering a hidden location. Congratulations.]
Little fireworks bloomed around the notification. But I was too starstruck. 1 platinum coin? Holy moly, I am fucking rich!!!