Woff, Age 13 ④
Seeker.
It means one who explores Dungeons.
Anyone can register as a Seeker upon reaching adulthood.
However, the registration fee costs a whopping 42,000 Oro.
My average daily earnings are roughly 600 to 800 Oro.
Let’s say I earned 800 Oro.
300 Oro for the entrance fee. 100 Oro for food.
200 Oro for miscellaneous expenses.
That leaves 200 Oro to put into savings.
With that, I feel like I can somehow manage to save up.
But some days I earn less, so it doesn’t always go smoothly.
Besides, I can’t go to the Junkyard every day.
Because my earnings are more than double what the other kids make.
Naturally. I use the Relic [Wheel of Fortune].
Sometimes, from my past life’s perspective, I wonder if it’s cheating.
But it’s definitely not cheating. To me, Relics are tools.
Just convenient pieces of technology. That’s how I see it.
There are people in this world who worship Relics and discriminate against those who don’t have them.
Relic supremacists. I hate them. I despise them.
However, it’s not uncommon for kids to be unable to enter the Dungeon for days because they can’t earn the entrance fee.
Going every day would mean I’m earning enough to afford it, which would attract suspicion.
That’s why I decided to go to the Junkyard only every two or three days.
Besides the Junkyard… there are other jobs, though I don’t really want to do them.
They pay less than the Junkyard, but I have no choice but to save up the entrance fee that way.
I’m acting resourcefully and cautiously around here.
“Tier III… huh.”
Seekers have ranks.
The ranks range from Tier VI to Tier I.
Even a single rank difference is like heaven and earth.
Veteran Tier V Seekers make up 70% of the total population.
Tier IV is said to be the wall of talent.
Only those with true talent and strength are said to be able to climb higher than that.
Therefore, those girls who are Tier III possess that true talent and strength.
What is that true talent?
Luck is part of it, physical strength is part of it, Relics are part of it, and effort is part of it too.
In that sense, it’s truly a narrow and difficult gate to pass.
So, I saw something good.
Feeling good, I headed to the back streets.
Just behind the main street, various shops conducted business on a small street.
Weapon Shop. Armor Shop. Blacksmith. Item Shop. Apothecary. Antique Shop… this is it.
“Excuse me! Arifa-san!”
I called out as I entered the shop.
It’s called an Antique Shop, which sounds nice, but it’s actually more like a secondhand shop.
“Yeah, yeah, welcome. Oh, it’s just you, Woff?”
“Please don’t sound so disappointed right off the bat.”
The woman with braided red hair who greeted me so bluntly, Arifa-san, is the owner of this Antique Shop.
She’s a tall, active beauty with orange eyes.
She always wears clothes that expose her shoulders and chest, paired with tattered, ripped trousers.
It’s an outfit that makes it a little hard to know where to look.
Black horns peek in and out from gaps in her hair, like hair ornaments.
She belongs to a race called Faun, and true to the name, she has horns.
The Antique Shop is her main business, but it doesn’t make much money.
Instead, her side business is more prominent, leading people to think the Antique Shop is her side job.
That side business is being a Seeker.
And a Tier III one at that. She’s famous around here as a warrior woman.
She let out a light yawn and stood behind the counter.
“You’re here to sell something, right? I’d be nicer if you actually bought something for once.”
“I don’t have enough money to buy anything.”
She has treasures she found in the Dungeon, which are out of my price range.
Plus, there are many art pieces like paintings and statues with no practical use.
Who would buy a stuffed Saber Lion for 666,666 Oro?
“So, what do you have today?”
“These.”
I lined up an unbroken iron sword, a vintage Seeker’s belt, a finely crafted compass, a red bronze dagger, and an old Cornucopia Amulet on the counter.
“Heh, luckier than usual today.”
Arifa-san grinned and started appraising the items, beginning with the iron sword.
She carefully touched and examined each one.
Contrary to her appearance, her appraisal is meticulous.
Then again, Arifa-san possesses the Relic [Appraisal].
Though apparently, it can’t appraise just anything.
“You did some good work.”
“You think so?”
“This dagger and the Cornucopia Amulet are especially nice.”
Cornucopia. The horn celebrating abundance. The horn praying for abundance.
Ah, maybe she likes it because she has horns herself (being a Faun).
“How much for everything?”
“Let’s see. About 1800 Oro, I guess.”
“That much?”
“The most expensive is the compass. It’s an aristocratic item. There’s a family crest on the lid, but it’s got a history. This one’s 800 Oro.”
“It’s got a history… you say?”
“That’s right. That’s why it’s 800.”
“Okay.”
Meaning, there’s nothing more to say about it.
That’s what “it’s got a history” means.
“The Seeker’s belt is 50, the iron sword is 400. The dagger is 200, and the rest is the Cornucopia.”
“You praised it, but the price is low, huh? The amulet.”
“It’s a nice piece, but the price… Amulets like rabbit’s feet, lucky wheels, staves and books, swords or shields featuring dragons, those are reasonably popular and sell to Seekers, but a Horn of Plenty isn’t really in demand. These are things young girls give to young men, you know? Like golden needles.”
“Do amulets actually work?”
“They’re mostly for peace of mind. Unless it’s a Legacy, that’s different. Also, this iron sword is a pity.”
“A pity?”
“It’s sharp, but it’s rusted. It should normally be usable for longer. So, it should be worth closer to 2000. But removing this rust is difficult. That’s why it’s 400.”
Wow, that’s a 1600 Oro deduction?
But from my past life memories, I recall sword polishing could cost 100,000 Yen or even more sometimes.
Considering that, maybe this is cheap…?
Arifa-san turned around. She crouched down and started rummaging around.
Is she getting the money?
“……”
Visible over the counter, I won’t say what, but it’s still amazing.
Arifa-san’s butt. Bigger than a peach-perfect one.
And since she trains, it’s firm and plump.
Oops, it’s rude to stare too much. I averted my eyes.
Still, 1800 Oro.
That’s quite a haul. The best earnings I’ve had in months.
With this, I can manage for about three days without going to the Junkyard.
Right. Maybe I’ll splurge a little today and eat out for the first time in a while.
Should I indulge in some butter rice at the Cidre Tavern?
Or maybe buy some meat? I can get a chunk for 200 Oro.
Making dried meat would be good too.
As I was making plans, Arifa-san placed 1800 Oro on the counter.
“Here you go.”
Fifty Mixed Copper coins. Five Small Copper coins.
Five Copper coins. Two Mixed Silver coins.
Mixed Copper Coins are 1 Yen equivalent each, so 50 Yen. Small Copper Coins are 50 Yen each, so 250 Yen. Copper Coins are 100 Yen, so 500 Yen. Mixed Silver Coins are 500 Yen each, so— a total of 1800 Yen. Correct.
I put the 1800 Oro into the wallet in my pouch.
By the way, the currency system is like this (in Yen equivalents from my past life):
Mixed Copper Coin: 1 Yen
Small Copper Coin: 50 Yen
Copper Coin: 100 Yen
Mixed Silver Coin: 500 Yen
Silver Coin: 1000 Yen
Mixed Gold Coin: 5000 Yen
Gold Coin: 10000 Yen
Sovereign Coin: 50000 Yen
Royal Coin: 100000 Yen
“Thanks. Ah, I almost forgot.”
“What?”
I took a cloth bag out of my pouch and placed its contents on the counter.
Five rings, bronze and red bronze.
Three were bronze, and two were red bronze.
“Rings…”
Arifa-san picked up the nearest ring.
She stared intently at it, checking the inscription on the inside as well.
“How are they?”
“…Woff. I can’t buy these.”
“Eh?”
Arifa-san said with a grave expression.
“This thing is an ‘OOPArt’.”
“Eh?”
I was stunned.