"It seems you've glimpsed my origin before entering this shop; you truly are a formidable being," said the merchant with a smile, returning to his initial demeanor.
"Roxy, is that old man dead?" Eris asked, slightly frightened; she hadn't noticed it.
"I didn't notice at first, but it seems to be the case..." Roxy, like Eris, had no words to describe her feelings.
The merchant shook his head and said, "But that doesn't matter. My death was hundreds of years ago, and all I've done since then is sell until every item in this store is gone. It's a shame not everyone is willing to buy my items without crying about the prices. As long as I sell everything, I can finally rest in peace."
"That means..." Roxy understood those words to some extent.
Gilgamesh smiled and said, "It means a piece of his soul is in this shop because he won't depart until all the items are sold. His unconditional love for his objects makes him cling to life; he must have been a very powerful mage to achieve that naturally."
"Is that possible? I mean, I've never heard of something like this before..." Eris's expression changed immediately. She was at a loss for words after hearing the merchant's response.
The merchant continued with a deeper tone, "Dear customer, at this moment, our little shop is closed only for special customers. Of course, what else would you like to buy?"
"Then sell me all your items..." Gilgamesh finally nodded after seeing everything and looked deep into the merchant's eyes.
"Please, follow me." The merchant didn't seem to distrust Gilgamesh's words, so he walked towards a basement where numerous walls were lined with gold ingots.
"How much gold is here?" Roxy asked, extremely amazed.
"Enough to live a life of luxury for hundreds of years without problems..." said the merchant, sharing a bit of his life. "Long ago, I was a passionate merchant. My life was dedicated to selling and buying valuable items. Every day was an adventure, exploring markets and deals, seeking hidden treasures and unique pieces that could pique the interest of the most discerning collectors."
Upon hearing these words, Gilgamesh created a golden ripple and pulled out a golden jug, pouring drinks for everyone, including the old merchant in front of him. Roxy and Eris were surprised that Gilgamesh would bring out that wine; after all, it was something that, according to him, very few people could taste.
"My shop was a treasure in itself, filled with fascinating objects from every corner of the world. There were ancient relics, rare jewels, and art that told silent stories to those willing to listen. For me, each item was a connection to history, a link to the past that allowed me to travel through time through objects."
However, as my love for treasures grew, a magical illness began to devour my own life. I didn't know where it came from, but its symptoms were unmistakable: my skin paled, my strength waned, and my eyes lost their shine. The wizards I consulted couldn't do anything for me; my disease wasn't a curse that could be broken.
Gilgamesh watched as the figure of the merchant became increasingly translucent, as if slowly fading from life itself.
"As my body weakened, my love for valuable objects became even deeper. I began to collect even more exquisite pieces, as if I wanted to embrace the beauty of the world before it completely abandoned me. My clients noticed my decline, but my passion for trade was stronger than my fear of death."
"A lingering life. It turns out we were drawn to this place to buy... The trap or riddle was to make sure to have the money, be worthy of the purchase, and not hesitate about the prices. I suppose he just wanted to pass on his treasures before dying..."
Gilgamesh drank the wine in his hand, a vague memory of himself wanting to give away his treasures at the end of his life was ephemeral because it never happened. War broke out, and he died on the battlefield.
"What do we do with all this stuff?" Roxy looked at those huge bookshelves without knowing how to react.
"We take it; it's ours now." Gilgamesh didn't hesitate, and eventually, everything entered his Gate of Babylon.
All these treasures were small compared to his treasury, but it was still a great fortune for anyone who entered and suddenly obtained all this.
For Eris, having obtained those magical fish was what she liked the most. As for Roxy, she simply remained silent, knowing that death, in most cases, is lonely and bitter