"Welcome! Can I help you with anything, juniors?"
As soon as they entered a tent, they we're greeted with exaggerated greeting from a female senior. She is wearing the same uniform that they have and the only difference is that she's got two stars as emblem.
Chris kept quiet and carefully observed the items that are in display above the huge counter top.
There are numerous accessory type of cursed object. Some are in a form of necklace, earrings, bangles, and the most common will be the ring type objects.
"Excuse his rude behaviour, senior." Edzel smiled wryly towards the senior who greeted them.
"No worries!" She waved her hand and smiled reassuringly
She led the both of them closer to the counter top and started to introduce some items to them.
"As you can see, ring type objects are very common but it still differs from which sequence pathway it belongs to."
"Do you have something that can be used for protection?" Edzel asked while scrutinizing a bangle with weird inscriptions.
"Defense type objects are usually in a form of shield or armor. An accessory form can typically enhance physical attribute."
She gave an apologetic smile seeing that Edzel seems quite disappointed. She immediately introduced some other items but to her dismay, the duo seems to have no interest in the other things they sell.
She gritted her teeth and unceremoniously pulled out a chest from her port card. Chris and Edzel gave her a curious look which made her smile in turn.
'You entered my shop so you have to buy something! I can't afford have any losses!' Like a real business woman, she immediately stopped the potential loss that might affect her business.
"What do you have in there, senior?" Edzel curiously looked at the chest and back to the conniving merchant senior.
"I just remembered that I do have the item you are looking for! 350 contribution points or 50 round gold coins and you can have it together with its seal."
She immediately went straight to the point and named her price for the item. It didn't took long before Edzel slid his hand in his pouch, pulling out 50 round gold coins.
"Just look for me if you want another one!" She yelled in glee and received the payment.
Chris looked at the cursed object that Edzel bought and squinted his eyes. The cursed object inside is actually a brooch with emerald gem. It has a very simplistic design but the item having a seal is certainly not simple in itself.
Cursed objects are items that was left by Abysmal Demons which are former Arcanist who lost control. That in itself is explanation that cursed objects have high level of corrupted energy which can affect the user.
In order to counter this corrupted energy, the Arcanist created the seals that can suppress the energy.
Usage of cursed objects can also trigger this corrupted energy and if it reached the maximum threshold, it can result into experiencing the Whisper.
"You'll have to limit the use of this thing." Chris casually commented as he watched the latter put the chest in his very own port card.
"What item are you looking for?" Edzel asked as they walked towards the next tent that caught their attention.
"I don't have anything specific in mind. A projectile would be great or some binding items."
"Lasso of Deceit fan?" Edzel teased but was ignored by Chris who entered the tent.
Just like the first store, they were welcomed by a senior and led them closer to the exhibit of goods.
They saw miscellaneous items inside and mostly are mirror type cursed object. Edzel immediately asked about the mirrors and their respective prowess while Chris just looked at the items with dead pan expression.
His eyes diverted towards a stupid looking bamboo hat with pointed top. It doesn't have any decorations or anything fancy but its presence seems to be dealier than anything he have seen so far.
"That's just a bamboo hat. It doesn't have anything special or whatsoever."
Another senior got close to him and casually commented. The latter tried to divert his attention to other items but Chris ignored him.
"How much for this?" Chris held the item up close and asked the senior
"50 contribution points or 3 small gold coins." He smirked and provocatively raised the price.
"Don't fuck with me! 2 contribution points"
"Junior, how can you expect us to earn if you're going to bargain like that?"
Chris frowned and realized what the other party is trying to do. He was trying to give him trouble just because he ignored him a while ago!
"You just said it's useless. How come it's pricier than your other merchandise?"
At this time, they already got a circle of audience that are whispering with themselves.
This immediately got the attention of other seniors which made the latter sweat in panic.
"25 contribution points or 1 small gold coin and 50 silver! I can't go lower than that!"
"Fuck you and your mother."
Before Chris could pull out his armament, a senior with deep blue eyes suddenly stepped forward and glared at the troublesome senior.
"I've been hearing your nonsense for a while now. Do you think I'm here for decoration?" He sternly said while glaring towards the latter.
"I... I was---"
"I'll deal with you later." With that, he shifted his eyes to Chris whose back to his dead face expression.
"Apologies, junior. Let me, your senior Logan deal with this unscrupulous bastard." He bowed down in apology but his eyes are secretly scrutinizing Chris who never let out any reaction.
"Since you are interested in this Bamboo Hat, I can give it to you as a freebie but you will have to purchase another item."
It was obvious from his words that he doesn't think highly of the item himself and can only make another deal with a different tactics.
Chris acknowledged the latters proposal and casually strolled inside and randomly grabbing a metal fan with peculiar inscriptions.
"This should do it." He nodded in approval before showing it to the senior named Logan
"It'll be 15 contribution points." Logan smiled and immediately processed the payment.
He was quite surprised with the contribution points in Chris' account before mentally taking note of this junior.
'He should be a top student.'
He once again bowed down in apology as he watch Chris pull Edzel out of the tent. Logan's apologetic expression soon vanished and replaced with a monstrous glare directed to his trembling classmate.
Chris who already forgot this exchange just followed Edzel as they wander in the caravan. They entered tent after tent and buying things that caught their eye.
"You barely bought anything. Just those two scraps from the second tent won't do! Buy something expensive!" Edzel pushed Chris inside another tent that he chose.
Unlike other stores though, this one seems abandoned, with few items being displayed inside.
Ten items to be exact!
One item is a mysterious triangular pendant with an eye engraved in the middle. Just looking at this item gave them both an eerie sensation.
Another item is a quill that Chris and Edzel both recognized. Edzel felt a special connection to the object and had the urge to buy it immediately.
Chris looked at the third item and found a mysterious white fat worm that is squirming next to a fragrant leaf.
They were just about to walk closer to inquire when they suddenly felt a sudden surge of power pushing them away.
Gust of wind scattered aggressively, bringing together sharp dust, making them instinctively block their eyes with their arms.
Silence pervaded for a moment and before they even realized it, both of them are already standing in front of the tall academy gate.