Chapter 8 Selling the Spoils
I began strolling through the streets of Altheria, thoughts swirling as I tried to figure out where I could sell all the loot I had collected from the Goblin King's dungeon.
The town bustled around me-merchants setting up colorful stalls, shouting their wares; townsfolk chatting over breakfast bread and cider; horses clopping gently over the cobblestones.
Despite the liveliness of the city, I couldn't shake a certain unease.
"I'm new here," I muttered under my breath. "If I go to a random shop, I might get scammed."
Sure, I had valuable goods, but I didn't know the market or the reputation of the local merchants. Selling rare items without guidance was a quick way to get fleeced, especially in a place like this where adventurers came and went by the dozens.
Then it hit me-the Adventurers Guild.
They had already proven helpful, and if anyone could point me in the right direction, it would be them. Without wasting any more time, I turned on my heel and made my way back to the guild.
When I stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. Conversations died down, mugs froze mid-air, and suddenly, all eyes were on me.
I paused at the entrance. Is this because of what happened yesterday?
Trying to ignore the stares, I walked to the front desk where the same receptionist from the day before stood.
Her honey-brown braid was tied a little neater today, and she greeted me with a warm smile, though her eyes flicked briefly to the side, perhaps nervous about the attention I was attracting.
"Good morning, Sir Raito! Doing well, I hope?" she asked, her voice bright but tinged with curiosity.
"Yeah," I said, returning her smile. "I found the inn you recommended. It was perfect, thanks."
Her expression softened. "I'm glad. Not everyone takes advice, you know. Adventurers can be a proud bunch."
I chuckled. "Guess I'm not like most adventurers."
She tilted her head, studying me for a second before nodding. "You're here for your updated guild card, right?"
I nodded. "Yes."
"Alright then, wait here a moment. I'll grab it from the back."
She disappeared into the storage room. A minute later, she returned, holding out a new card made of iron. It gleamed slightly in the morning light.
"Here you go," she said, handing it to me.
"Thanks." I took the card and admired it for a moment. It was sturdier, with my name etched elegantly beneath the guild's insignia. It felt more real now-like I had a place here.
After a few moments, I looked up. "By the way, does the guild know where I can sell rare items?"
Her expression shifted slightly, eyebrows raising. "There are a lot of shops here in Altheria, but not all of them are trustworthy. Some adventurers, especially new ones, have been scammed more than once."
I nodded slowly. So my instincts were right.
"If you're interested," she added, "you can always sell the items to us. The guild buys rare materials, artifacts, monster parts, that kind of thing."
I thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I'd like to sell some items."
She perked up. "Great! What kind of items are we talking about?"
I hesitated. "Is it alright if we do this in the back? Some of the items are... unusual. I'd rather not draw attention, especially after what happened yesterday."
She glanced around and noticed the lingering eyes of the other adventurers. With a knowing nod, she replied, "I understand. Follow me."
She led me into a private room behind the desk-a large chamber with a heavy oak table at its center. The air was quieter here, less tense. This was clearly a place where important exchanges happened.
"Alright," she said, folding her hands in front of her. "Go ahead and bring out the items."
"Sure."
I activated my [Item Box] skill, and with a shimmer of light, I began pulling out the items one by one: silver jewelry encrusted with gemstones, iron daggers still coated in faint magical residue, tattered cloaks that held enchantments, clusters of mana crystals, and even bundles of rare herbs I'd picked up along the way.
The table quickly filled with an eclectic mix of items.
Her eyes widened with every item I placed on the table. She reached forward slowly, as if afraid to disturb the energy around them.
"You can use an Item Box, Sir Raito?" she asked, her voice hushed with awe.
"Yeah. Guess I got lucky," I replied casually, but I couldn't help the slight grin tugging at my lips.
She chuckled softly. "Only a small number of people can use that skill, and most of them are summoned heroes. You're not one of them, are you?"
I shook my head. "Nope. Just a regular guy with some unusual luck."
"Really lucky," she murmured, her gaze still on the items.
As I pulled out more, I reached into the box and retrieved something wrapped in cloth-the Goblin King's crown. A faint dark green shimmer reflected off the jagged gemstones embedded in its golden base.
Her face paled slightly. The room felt heavier.
"Sir Reo," she said carefully, her tone more formal now, "would you mind waiting here for a moment?"
I blinked. "Uh, sure."
She stepped out quickly. The air hung in silence. I felt a prickle of tension crawl up my spine.
A few minutes later, she returned-with someone else in tow. A man with sharp eyes, a neatly trimmed beard, and a commanding presence. He wore a coat with the guild insignia stitched across the chest and a longsword at his side.
"This is the Guild Master," she said, stepping aside.
I stood straighter, subtly adjusting my stance.
The man stepped forward, his eyes scanning me with quiet intensity. "So you're Reo," he said, voice low and even. "You've stirred up quite the buzz around here."
He extended his hand, his grip firm and confident.
"I'm Garron Veldane," he added. "Guild Master of Altheria's Adventurers Guild."
"So you must be Sir Raito," the man said
"A pleasure," I replied, shaking his hand. "Didn't expect to meet the head honcho today."
Garron let out a low chuckle. "I usually don't get involved in evaluations, but your submission... warranted an exception."
"Mind if I take a look?"
"Be my guest," I replied.
He walked up to the table and examined the items carefully, fingers brushing over the Goblin King's crown with practiced reverence.
"You've brought quite a haul," he said. "Rare items, enchanted gear, monster parts... and this crown. That's not something just anyone could get their hands on."
I met his gaze. "I'm stronger than I look."
He smirked. "Clearly. To defeat a Goblin King, you'd normally need at least a B-rank party. Or one A-rank adventurer. You did this alone?"
"I had some help," I lied smoothly. "But yeah, pretty much."
He leaned back, folding his arms. "And who exactly are you, kid?"
I shrugged. "Just a free man who knows what he's doing."
He laughed, a full and hearty sound that eased the room's tension slightly. "Sure, kid. So how much do you think all of this is worth?"
I rubbed the back of my head. "Maybe... ten or twenty gold coins?"
He burst out laughing again. "Not even close. That crown alone is worth seventy. Altogether, you're looking at around 120 gold coins."
My eyes widened. "A hundred and twenty? Seriously?"
"Seriously." He held out his hand with a confident grin. "You won't find a better price than this-so, do we have a deal?"
I didn't hesitate. "Deal."
"Good. Elira will handle your payment."
I turned to the receptionist. "Elira, huh? I never did asked your name before. Nice to meet you."
She smiled, looking a little flustered. "Nice to meet you properly, Sir Reo. Please follow me."
She led me back to the front desk, where she counted out several small pouches filled with gold coins.
"If you ever want to sell more items," she said, "you can always count on us for a fair deal."
"Thanks," I replied. "Oh, and one more thing-how long do I have to accept a quest before my card expires?"
"Now that you're F-rank, you have one month of grace period before you need to complete a new quest."
"Got it. Thanks again."
"Come again soon," she said with a warm smile, her tone a little softer now.
As I walked toward the exit, the other adventurers were still watching me, whispers following my steps. I pushed the door open and stepped into the bright morning light.
But the moment I crossed the threshold, a strange chill ran down my spine. I paused and activated [Advanced Search].
A red outline pulsed in the distance-someone was watching me.
Intent to kill.
I narrowed my eyes, noting the location. They were perched on a rooftop across the street, cloaked in shadows. Their gaze was fixed on me.
I ignored them for now and kept walking, blending into the crowd. But I didn't turn off my skill.
Altheria maybe Peaceful on the surface-but underneath? Just as dangerous as any dungeon.
And something told me... I'd need to be ready.
Because I'd be meeting them very soon.