ALL NOVEL Chapter 42
The silver lining for me and Aina amidst the situation was that today’s Royal Capital Black Market was especially chaotic due to the elf slave being put up for sale. This meant that the security personnel were particularly busy, and we got off with just a stern warning for the brawl.
“…I didn’t know you were that short-tempered.”
“…Sorry.”
A scene where a teenage girl single-handedly sent a large man flying certainly drew the attention of those around us. Even though the Royal Capital Black Market was known for having a rough crowd, it seemed that Aina’s actions were justified in the eyes of those witnessing the man’s behavior. His attitude must have been intolerable even to them.
As a result, Aina’s outburst was met with applause, and the guards, gauging the atmosphere, concluded that Aina wasn’t entirely at fault.
However, on the other hand, Aina, the assailant, was clearly feeling down—so much so that you could practically see the comic book sound effect “Zuuun” hovering around her.
For her, the fact that she had physically struck an ordinary person seemed to weigh heavily on her.
That said, there was nothing I could do to console her. Sure, the guy was terrible, but an adventurer, someone with superior physical abilities, resorting to violence against a civilian could potentially be a serious crime.
We were lucky this time, but under different circumstances, she could have ended up a criminal. That’s why I chose to remain silent.
…Well, I’m sure Saioji will give her the lecture she needs, so there’s no need for me to say anything.
—
Possibly due to the commotion earlier, our purple potion attracted quite a bit of attention at the stall.
Since it’s a rare item, many potential buyers were hesitant. However, a number of people still expressed interest in making a purchase.
Most of them weren’t merchants but rather adventurers decked out in full gear.
“The guild’s certification… Alright, I’ll take it, shopkeeper.”
“Thank you.”
At 5 million per bottle, it’s far from a cheap purchase. Yet there are still people who decide to buy it immediately after taking a quick glance at the potion and certification.
The surrounding customers let out a collective “Ooooh” in surprise. Even in the bustling Royal Capital Black Market, where high-priced goods are sold daily, deals involving something like a purple potion seemed rare.
“…By the way, shopkeeper, how did you manage to acquire this?”
“Let’s just say I pulled a few strings.”
The customer who bought my handmade potion was a male adventurer with notably long hair.
He was also tall, standing a head higher than most of the other customers around him. But his frame was rather slender, giving him a somewhat delicate appearance.
“I see. If you manage to stock more, I’d like to buy it. Here’s my adventurer’s card. If you bring it to the guild, they’ll handle the purchase. The price can be whatever it’s going for at the time.”
“I understand.”
He handed me what looked like an adventurer’s card… or rather, a copy of one, which seemed to function similarly to a business card in this world.
His name appeared to be… Maxwell.
“Are you sure? I have no intention of overcharging, but the price could easily double depending on the circumstances.”
“That’s fine. Just be mindful of the expiration date.”
While we sold it for the lowest possible price this time, the cost could rise significantly, even doubling, depending on the situation.
Such times typically occur when an uncharted dungeon is discovered within the country or when the threat of war increases.
Like the stock market, the price of potions fluctuates based on the rumors circulating in the Royal Capital.
Although the Kingdom of Cainrieze is generally peaceful, nearby nations frequently experience conflicts.
For example, the independent cities to the south, known collectively as the Einharbor City States, are in a constant state of warfare. And even outside of wars, monster outbreaks or disputes among nobles frequently lead to battles, so there are always plenty of sparks ready to ignite.
That being said, there haven’t been any conflicts lately, so potion prices have remained relatively low.
I cautioned Maxwell about this fluctuation, but he didn’t seem concerned.
The fact that he’s so unconcerned about a price that can fluctuate by millions is pretty remarkable. He might be a well-known adventurer.
“Purple-grade potions rarely make it to the market. It’s good if even one is sold per month. That’s why many injuries remain untreated.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Regenerative treatment, especially, is beyond the abilities of most healers. That’s why there’s such a high demand for purple potions, but the supply is limited. Hence, I told you the price doesn’t matter.”
According to Maxwell, minor injuries can be healed with low-grade potions or healing magic. However, adventurers often find themselves in situations where fingers, arms, or even legs are blown off during battles with monsters. Such injuries are apparently not uncommon.
The purple potion he purchased today, he said, would be used on a party member who lost a finger in a battle with monsters last month. The treatment involves cutting off the damaged area and applying the potion like an ointment—just the thought of it gave me chills.
But it seems there are many adventurers willing to go through such extreme measures to recover.
(That makes sense. If they can’t recover, they might have to retire.)
An adventurer’s body is their livelihood. If they sustain injuries or fall ill, they can’t fight properly.
When that happens, their income dwindles, so there’s a strong demand to get regenerative treatment, no matter the cost. From what I’ve seen, there are more adventurers than I imagined who are willing to pay whatever it takes for a swift recovery.