Chapter 34: Beware of the Merchant in the Dungeon, Part 2

Smile. Just smile.

No matter who you’re facing, no matter what they do to you. Just smile.

A smile makes everything less unpleasant.

I practiced my smile in the mirror, forcing the corners of my lips upwards with my fingers.

There. That was a smile, wasn’t it?

I could barely breathe.

Unbeatable monsters? Hostile humans?

An adventurer of Hermia’s caliber had faced them all.

Even though they mostly stuck to low- and mid-level dungeons, they’d occasionally encountered dungeons with incorrect difficulty ratings or hidden connections to higher-level areas.

The latter had become more frequent after they gained some notoriety, no longer anonymous nobodies. Other adventurers assumed the Hermia Exploration Team could handle anything.

They’d overcome countless challenges to reach their current level of skill, their minds hardened against fear.

But not today.

If they’d been ambushed by hostile adventurers, they wouldn’t have been this shaken.

But a merchant? A merchant?

In this dangerous labyrinth, deep within its treacherous depths, a frail-looking merchant, with no visible equipment or combat skills, offering to trade?

Even if she’d expertly avoided monsters, reaching the deeper levels without encountering any was impossible.

Each of these unsettling details piled upon Hermia’s growing fear, like bricks forming a wall.

But regardless of the merchant’s identity or intentions, Hermia had to do something.

She had to save her companions.

Even though this reckless expedition had been planned without her consent, it was still her responsibility.

She’d failed to prevent it, failed to rein in their recklessness.

It was her fault, her failure as their leader. That’s what Hermia truly believed.

“P-please… help us…”

Even as she spoke, her instincts screamed at her.

Don’t make a deal with her. Don’t take her hand.

You’ll regret it.

“Payment. What can you offer…?”

“…My… my soul… I’ll offer… my soul…”

But she had to. She wanted to. She would.

Even if it meant dealing with a demon, she would do anything to save her companions.

Her parents had sacrificed themselves for the same cause, entrusting her with this treasure.

Hermia clutched her necklace, trying to calm her racing heart.

“Hmm… a soul. That’s… not very valuable, is it?”

“Then…?”

The merchant pointed at Hermia’s chest.

At the necklace radiating a warm, comforting light, suppressing her fear.

“Th-this…”

Hermia fidgeted, realizing the merchant was referring to her necklace.

The only memento from her deceased parents.

Her only connection to them.

“Is that necklace… more precious than your lives…?”

But nothing could compare to the value of a life.

She could always buy another necklace, even if it lacked the sentimental value.

Her parents…

Her selfless parents who had sacrificed themselves for strangers…

…would understand.

“…No. I’ll… make the deal.”

“Alright. The deal is made.”

Snap.

The merchant snapped her fingers, and a bright magic circle appeared beneath Hermia’s feet.

“Let’s… not meet again… in a place like this…”

And then, Hermia and her companions were back at the labyrinth’s entrance.

As if… it had all been a dream.

When I opened my eyes, I was in Ravakion, the Labyrinth City.

This was the third time I’d experienced such a sudden relocation.

But unlike before, when I’d been transported to Lucia’s location, I wasn’t near her. I’d been right beside her before the blackout.

Another peculiar detail was…

“Cough…”

…my current state. I felt… drained. And my substantial savings were gone.

Was this the price for defying the world’s flow?

My actions had been minor, yet the penalty seemed excessive.

I shuddered to think what would have happened if I’d killed Rahat myself.

I might have become a real merchant of death.

Anyway, I had to start earning money again.

If I were still in the kingdom, I could have raided the organization’s vault, but I was now in the Empire, far from the kingdom’s reach.

Unlike my time in Bagus, where I’d had some remaining funds thanks to the “generous” robbers, I was now completely broke. And Ravakion was even more competitive than Bagus.

The established shops were backed by powerful trading companies and had exclusive contracts with veteran adventurers, making it difficult for independent merchants to thrive.

While setting up a stall outside the labyrinth wasn’t prohibited, it came with the risk of being harassed by disgruntled adventurers.

And the fools who waited until reaching the labyrinth to purchase supplies were usually dead before they could even use them.

“Levi?”

Silence.

“Hmm…”

And for some reason, I couldn’t summon Leviathan, leaving me vulnerable.

This made it difficult to establish trade with organizations that employed assassins…

So, I decided to sell goods inside the labyrinth, targeting those who were ill-prepared or caught in unexpected situations.

I could also rescue people and build a positive reputation.

Unlike the kingdom, I wasn’t a wanted criminal in the Empire. Perhaps if I earned a reputation as a benevolent merchant here, it might help clear my name back in the kingdom.

After a month of trading within the labyrinth, my income was… decent.

I’d even set up a small shop in a secluded corner of the labyrinth.

While I earned less than I did managing the organization’s finances, it was still better than my time in Bagus.

While I felt slightly guilty profiting from people’s desperation, I was saving their lives.

The price included a life-saving fee.

And it wasn’t entirely a joke. Some people had offered their souls in exchange for their companions’ safety.

While a tempting offer for a demon, souls held no value for a mere merchant like myself. I’d declined and accepted more tangible forms of payment.

Souls weren’t exactly profitable.

I was enjoying my new life, rescuing people and accumulating wealth, but…

This necklace, received from a girl I’d rescued, wouldn’t convert into cash.

Whenever I tried to put it in my bag, it would be rejected.

I’d assumed it was just an ordinary jeweled necklace, but perhaps it had some hidden significance?

But the girl who’d given it to me had said it wasn’t particularly valuable.

Something… something felt familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it.

If only I knew the girl’s name…

By the way, Hermia, how did you escape the labyrinth?

Th-that…

Lost in thought, staring at the necklace resting on the counter, I heard a commotion outside.

This shop was located quite a distance from the central labyrinth, so these were likely customers.

I quickly hid the necklace under the counter and composed myself, putting on my customer service smile.

Perfect.

Cling.

“Are you sure… there’s a good shop… around here…?”

“I’m telling you, it’s real! I heard it from Ray, the adventurer…”

“Welcome to the General Store. Is there anything I can help you with?”

The group, chatting excitedly, froze as they entered the shop and saw me.

Even for someone who’d seen all sorts of people, their reactions were… intriguing.

“Whoa…”

The man stared at my… chest, letting out a strange sound.

“Ah…”

The woman clutched a new-looking necklace, her body swaying.

Wait… that girl… she was the one who’d given me the necklace.

It seemed the original wasn’t that important to her, since she’d bought a new one.

“Oh my. It’s been a while.”

Thud.

The girl, startled by my greeting, collapsed.

Oops.

Was she anemic?