In an inn's dining hall at Alloces Domain, Rumpel and the Jungle Adventurer's Party are eating their dinner. Seeing Rumpel scrunch up his face, Ourse chuckled.
"Does the taste of the food taste bad to your tongue? You better get used to it, young master. Food in the Lower Regions tastes different from the Upper Regions. Be grateful, young master, that you aren't in the 9th Region. The food in there is equivalent to poison to the people who live in the 1st Region!"
Ourses shuddered slightly while imagining the food in the 9th Region Domains. Meanwhile, the expressions of Lev and Abe looks like they endured and experienced hell.
"The three of you traveled to the 9th Region?"
Ourse nodded her head. Taking a bite of the rye bread that she was holding. Currently, her metal gauges are placed in a vacant chair by her side.
"Just some delivery missions from various towers in the 9th Region. Delivery missions there suck, young master. The 9th Region is teeming with crime syndicates and cults. Some bastards even dared to steal our delivery goods!"
Ourse gritted her teeth while once again taking a bite of the rye bread in her hand. Looking at her passionate reaction, Rumpel sighed at their struggles.
However, he could understand why there was also an abundance of crime syndicates and cults in the 9th Region. The 9th Region is the least prioritized layer of the Goetia Kingdom. A place that was mostly left alone by the adjudicators, overseers, and enforcers. Dangerous monsters from Limbo also occasionally enter the 9th Region. Killing people and destroying various infrastructures before the various Adventurer's Guild branches situated in the 9th Region Domains could respond.
As for the Tower Lord and their mages? Who knows? From reading the Noir Hero's Wrath, Rumpel is aware that the Tower Lord of Belial Domain is an asshole who only cares about the Tower and the mages under their care.
In this world, the life of a 9th Region citizen is a horrible one. They are the ones who get the short end of the stick in various privileges and benefits.
Except for Tower Lords and the mages under their command in the 9th Region, people living in the worst layer have a total lifespan of 50 years.
Different from the 5th region, where normal citizens could live for 250 years, or the 3rd layer, where ordinary people have a maximum lifespan of 1500 years,.
Oh, the most horrible thing is that 9th Region citizens were only allowed to study when they were 45 years old and try the entrance exam at the Belial Academy. The Belial Domain is where the learning facility in the 9th Region is located. The one with an asshole tower, Lord. In every region, only one academy existed.
After eating their dinner, Rumpel and the Jungle Adventurer's Party returned to their rented rooms to sleep. In the morning, Rumpel woke up early. After some changes of clothes and taking care of his hygiene, he waited for the Jungle Adventurer's Party to wake up. While eating breakfast, Rumpel informed them of his plan to wander around the Alloces Domain. Go to the market and buy items that will pique his interest.
"The cost of renting a room here in the inn isn't too expensive. If I'm not wrong, everything here is cheaper, isn't it compared to the 5th Region?"
Abe warily glances at him before replying.
"You're correct, young master. The food, living expenses, and some of the items in the lower region are cheaper. But you should mind how you spend your money, young master. You don't have experience going in the Stolas Domain's market, is that right?"
Rumpel nodded his head.
"I haven't been there once, but I have enough to spend on the items that I like."
Face growing more wary and cautious, Abe asked.
"How much?"
"Enough."
Rumpel replied with a smile. They were in the inn filled with people, and he didn't want to attract trouble by mentioning that he had 130,000+ gold coins in his storage ring.
With that amount of money, Rumpel could afford to hire a hero for one mission.
After eating breakfast at the inn, Rumpel and the Jungle Adventurer's Party left the inn. Their destination is the Alloces Domain's market. While walking to their destination, the Jungle Adventurer Party didn't let their guard down one bit. Surrounding Rumpel and placing him in the center of them. They have their weapons with them and are ready to take action when an unexpected situation occurs.
Seeing the people they passed by staring at him, Rumpel could feel himself grow a little embarrassed.
' Well, they are doing their job. I can't stop them from doing their job, and their lives depend on completing their mission. If I die, they die. Ah, some of those people are glaring at me... '
Under the non-friendly stares and the Jungle Adventurer's Party guarding and protecting him from possible threats, they arrived at the market.
Food and items, ordinary and unusual, were on display in front of those stalls, with the vendors attracting the attention of possible buyers. Seeing Rumpel, some of the vendors called out to him.
"Young master, are you from the upper layer? Is this your time here in Alloces Domain? Come and take a look at my items!"
Rumpel glances at the vendor and the items he's selling. Placed on the vendor's stall are various pots and wares on display.
' Nope, not interested. '
While Rumpel and the others passed by, the pot and vase vendor sighed in defeat. The other vendors grinned when they saw Rumpel not being interested in the items being sold by the pots and vases vendor. But their malicious joy disappeared when they noticed Rumpel had passed them by and did not show any interest in their items.
' Nothing is interesting or useful. '
Pots, vases, kitchen tools, fabrics, accessories, food, etc. Rumpel keeps walking and walking, glancing at the stalls, his interest not being piqued. Eventually, they arrived at the less crowded and sparse part of the Alloces Domain Market.
Tapping his shoulder, Lev asked him.
"Young master, do you want to keep going?"
Glancing at them, Rumpel noted that they became more tense and guarded.
"Is this a black market?"
Lev smiled wanly.
"You aren't as naive as we thought."
"I see..."
Black markets are places where illegal transactions and items are being sold. Glancing at the Jungle Adventurer Party, Rumpel sent them an advance apology.
"Sorry. But could you go with me and protect me from danger? I want to go."
"You're not making our mission easy for us, young master."
"I apologize. How about this? If there was an item that would interest the three of you, I would buy it. One item each for all of you, and it wouldn't exceed the cost of 2,000 gold coins."
Lev, Ourse, and Abe appeared to be renewed with vigor and purpose when they heard Rumpel's proposal.
"Better keep your word, young master!"
"Wha? Ourse?! Hey!"
Humming, Ourse grabbed Rumpel's right arm and held it with her left arm. Rumpel was surprised at first before just letting Ourse do what she wanted. Lev and Abe follow after them.
Here in the Alloces Domain's Black Market, there are a lot of items being sold. A vendor was proclaiming that the books he was selling were grimoires.
A spellbook. The most important tool for a mage. A weapon that grows alongside the user. A magic artifact that helps a mage facilitate their magic spells and improve their potential.
Rumpel is leery about the Grimoires being sold here. For all he knows, there is a high chance that they are fake.
' There is a possibility that the Grimoires are from Dead Mages. '
If that were the case in his mind, using Grimoires from Dead Mages is a risky move. There was a high chance that he would end up being cursed. Dispelling curses costs a lot of money, and if someone is unfortunate enough, they could end up being inflicted with a curse that causes instant death.
Gazing at the stall that sells Grimoires, Rumpel sighed.
' How about just taking a look? And if I bought one, it wouldn't be like that; I would use the Grimoire. Students who pass the test in Academies would be provided with their own Grimoire. '
Leaving Ourse's side and approaching the stall, Rumpel was welcomed by the vendor.
"Young master, feel free to take a look! There's a lot of amazing Grimoires that may pique your interest."
' What if I just end up taking a look?... '
Rumpel mused before sighing.
' It's a bother that the Jungle Adventurer's Party accompanies me, and my clothes are a giveaway that I am elite. Vendors have been calling out for my attention since I came here to the market. '
Looking at the front desk of the stall, there is 7 Grimoires displayed in the Grimoire Shop stall.
The first one is a Grimoire that has a black swirling vortex on its front cover. A space element like the one he saw from the Marbas Mages.
' Pfff... As if! That one is fake! '
The 2nd Grimoire's front cover depicts a clock. A time element, Grimoire.
' And this one is another fake. This old lady is pulling my leg. All of the magic from the first region is impossible to acquire. The only way to obtain them is by joining the Magic Towers in the 1st Region. '
The 3rd and 4th Grimoire's front cover depicts a skull. However, they weren't the same and had clear differences.
' Uhh.... Which one is death, and which one is poison? Just like in the previous 2, Death is in the 1st Region. Another fraud, Grimoire. '
And if there was a little chance that the Death Grimoire was real, Rumpel would look at the Death Grimoire and then proceed to get away from it as far as possible. A death grimoire is a very dangerous grimoire. It is guaranteed that Death Grimoires are always cursed or a fate worse than death.
' Instant Death or Possession... Pick my poison, huh? '
As for the poison grimoire, there was a chance that it wasn't fake. Poison is magic from the 8th layer.
The 5th Grimoire depicts a cloud on its cover, while the 6th Grimoire has a symbol showing a mirror. Rumpel was confused. He didn't read about the two symbols in the Novel. It was never mentioned.
"Cloud magic?"
The old lady smiled at Rumpel and corrected him.
"This is a weather grimoire from Glasya-Labolas."
"The other one, is it mirror magic?""
"Correct, young master."
Finally, Rumpel's gaze drifted to the last Grimoire displayed on the stall. There is no symbol depicted on it.
"This one... is this an unused Grimoire?"
The old lady gazes at Rumpel with a patronizing smile.
"You can see that there are signs of tearing and age on this Grimoire, young master. Why ask the obvious? This Grimoire is used by someone, but the user has erased their magic spells and the element on the Grimoire. How about it, young master? Are you interested in this Grimoire?"
The last Grimoire. Rumpel could tell that it was a genuine one. Shaking his head, Rumpel smiled.
"I'm not interested in the Unknown Grimoire."
"Then, if there is no Grimoire that caught your attention,"
"I would buy the Mirror Grimoire."
The old lady glanced at Rumpel in surprise. She did not expect his decision. A crafty smile formed on her face.
"It would cost 7,000 gold coins, young master."
"Then please wait for a while. I need to take it out of my storage ring."
"Take your time, young master."
While Rumpel is taking out gold coins from his storage ring and the old lady is waiting for him, the Jungle Adventurer's Party, on the other hand, is bored.
It seems that Mr. Stelzehaut's enemies didn't send any fellow adventurers to assassinate the young master.
After a few minutes, Rumpel takes out 7,000 gold coins from his storage ring. And the old lady looked very pleased when Rumpel give the rucksack containing 7,000 gold coins to her.
"If you need any Grimoires again, young master, you can come to my stall in the future."
Rumpel doubts that he would need a Grimoire again from this dubious stall. As the old lady is in the process of giving the Mirror Grimoire to Rumpel, they are interrupted by a loud sound coming from the distance.
"Wait, wait, WAAAAAIIIIITTTT!!! "
Turning his head, Rumpel could see a lady running towards them.
"That Grimoire is mine!!! "
[Character detected]
[Reader's bias is activated]
[Identifying Character]. ]
[Name: Gretchen]
Age: 20
Status: Alive (Unknown: 10 years-Future )
Role: Background Character (Major)
Title: Witch Queen of Madness (Future)
Class: None
Potential: (Mage: 9th Circle)
• Dark Magic: 9th Circle
• Death Magic: 9th Circle
• Mind Magic: 9th Circle ]