Book Eater

Chapter 10 - Dealings with a Black Market Trader (2)

In any city, the outskirts were always more deserted than the center. The same was true for Bergen City. The tall buildings were gradually decreased in height, and the clean roads became dirtier. The nobles would automatically frown at the sight. However, Theo just felt a strange nostalgia.

This area hasn't changed at all.

It was different from the main streets which were always changing. Most of the hanging signs were difficult to read, worn out from the wind and rain. It was also common for signs to fly away or to have no letters on them anymore. If Theo stepped into the dark alleys, he would see the beggars tossing and turning. The scenery, which remained the same despite the three year gap, caused Theo to think back to the past.

Three years ago, he had just entered the second grade. The Theodore Miller of those days hadn't been cynical nor distant from others. In the first year, the lessons had focused on theory rather than practical skills, so he had been able to get better grades than everyone else. Theo's future prospects shone brightly enough for some noble children to pay attention to him. He knew there was a black market trader in this area because he had visited it with a friend at that time.

"Ha, what friend?"

Theo laughed coldly at the memory. As soon as his inferiority was revealed, they all turned their backs on him. The one they'd regarded as their friend was an 'excellent magician', not 'Theodore Miller.' It was ridiculous that he hadn't recognized their duplicity, and their act of turning their backs on this relationship was disgusting.

But he'd remembered the path they'd taken. Theo stopped walking as he arrived at his destination. There were no errors in his memory.

"This place... is it open?"

However, Theo hesitated for a moment before turning the doorknob. There was no sign on the shabby shack. The windows showed no signs of being cleaned, and the stairs creaked like they would fall apart at any minute. If there wasn't a sign saying 'OPEN' on the door, he might have turned around.

In the end, he turned the doorknob.

Kkiiik.

The decrepit door opened with a complaining whine, grudgingly revealing the interior. It looked similar to a general store, where miscellaneous items were piled up on shelves. Their purposes looked impossible to guess. However, unlike a general store, the prices weren't attached. One of the characteristics of a black market trader was that you could bargain prices with the owner.

So, any naive or stupid person will have their nose cut off.

Black market traders were still merchants. They were talented at extracting money from the pockets of their customers. In fact, their main source of income was selling things cheaply. So, it was necessary to be accompanied by a person who wouldn't be easily shaken when using a black market trader.

Theo recalled this fact and prepared his heart. It was at this moment that a cheery voice sounded from the back of the store.

"What, a customer?"

Theo turned toward the counter and realized one more thing.

... The black market dealer has changed.

In the past, it had been a balding middle-aged man with a sturdy physique, but the one who greeted him now was a slim young man. The arms exposed under the sleeves were clearly trained, and his sleepy eyes hid a snake-like gaze. He wouldn't be as easy to deal with as he seemed.

"Then please look around. Our store isn't kind enough to explain things, so you will have to choose on your own."

It was a mess, but this was also a rule for a black market trader. They wouldn't explain anything about the goods they were selling. If they were asked about a defective product, they would lose the sale if they explained it. The same went for cursed goods, but in that instance, the cost of cleansing cursed goods exceeded the price of selling it.