The hammer cost 25,000 credits.
An amount well beyond Remedy's entire fortune.
It seemed he couldn't escape his fate that easily.
Right next to him, two men.
Loud. Disrupting his concentration.
They laughed. Then—
"Hey, bro Lol! That girl over there—doesn't she look familiar?"
"Seriously, bro Gg? You just got back from an expedition and you're already thinking about another girl?"
"You know what they say: 'More meat doesn't spoil the stew.'"
A brief silence. Then—
"Yeah… You're right. More meat shouldn't spoil the stew," he chuckled.
"Bartender, a beer!"
"Hey!!! That's not an excuse to drink."
"Anyway. I'm talking about the girl over there."
"What girl— Pffft?!"
Beer sprayed across his face.
"Bro Lol! Swallow before you talk!" he snapped, frustrated.
"Uh… sorry!"
He tossed him a napkin.
"Wait—are you talking about the young mistress of the Sullen Guild?"
"Huh? Sullen? Young mistress?"
"You mean Miss Seraphina?"
The name struck Remedy from nearby. Surprise flickered across his previously annoyed face.
Seraphina.
No wonder she'd seemed familiar.
But…
"But bro, why would the young mistress of the Sullen Guild be here?"
Remedy, shamelessly, eavesdropped with full attention.
"Of course you don't know."
"While you were off on your expedition, there was a conflict between the Sullen Guild and the Drakon Guild."
"If I remember correctly, it was over a weapon called 'Scarlet Thorn.'"
Remedy immediately typed the name into the tablet's search bar.
A listing appeared.
---
Scarlet Thorn
Type: Thin Sword / Slashing Weapon
Rank: D
Level: 21
Weight: ≈ 1,200 kg
Durability: 1,900 / 1,900
Description:
A thin sword with a dark crimson blade, forged from rare materials. It possesses high cutting power and good durability.
However, perhaps too heavy for a thin-bladed style.
Linked Skill:
Scarlet Flame (Active)
The blade fully ignites, revealing incandescent veins beneath the dark crimson surface of the metal.
Effects:
· Adds high fire damage
· Greatly enhances cutting power
· Partially ignores target's physical defense
· Impacts leave a persistent burn effect
Duration: 15 minutes
Cooldown: 4 hours
---
"What a great weapon," Remedy murmured to himself.
"And it has a linked skill too."
"I wonder if…"
Then his gaze drifted downward.
Price: 75,000 credits.
"…Ahem. Back to the description."
Something had caught his attention.
"Yes. There it is."
"However, perhaps too heavy for a thin-bladed style."
Even though Scarlet Thorn was a good weapon, it weighed 1,200 kg.
Even more than the great hammer Remedy had wanted.
Unless wielded by someone with immense strength, its weight became a handicap.
Remedy looked at the young mistress sitting apart, in a corner.
No one was around her.
An employee approached her.
He carried a long, narrow wooden case.
The weapon must be inside.
Remedy stood up immediately.
This is my chance. I need to inject that weapon.
And he walked toward Seraphina.
---
"Hey, look, bro. Where's that kid going?"
"Hmm…"
He turned.
"He's heading toward the young mistress of the Sullen Guild?"
"No one dares approach that spot, but he's going? That's guts… for a level 5."
"Yeah… He's right. Takes courage to face life," he chuckled.
"Bartender, another beer!"
---
Remedy reached Seraphina.
Angelically beautiful, Seraphina concealed her eyes behind a white silk blindfold, delicately tied into her golden hair.
She radiated an aura of warm promise.
…At least, in Remedy's eyes.
"Good evening, fair lady. You're the owner of Scarlet Thorn, aren't you?"
Instantly, two guards appeared before him, blocking his path.
"Stop right there. You have no business here."
"Go back where you came from while you still can."
Remedy swallowed his rising frustration and smiled.
"Hoho, easy there, big brothers! No need to be so harsh!"
"Actually, I'm an enchanter. I believe I can help the lady wield her Scarlet Thorn properly."
His arguments seemed thin, hardly convincing for someone of his level.
"Hey, kid! Looking for trouble?"
A dagger materialized in his hand.
"If you're here to disturb miss's peace, you're asking to die."
"Hoho, take it easy, my brothers!" he tried to calm them.
Then he leaned toward the guards, a finger raised near his lips in a conspiratorial gesture.
"People are watching. If you keep this up, you'll make the lady look timid—unable to function without her guards… and lacking the courage to make her own decisions."
He spoke clearly, loudly enough to reach the most attentive ears, all while wearing an innocent smile.
"You…"
"Why you…"
The guards flushed with anger, unable to act under so many watchful eyes just waiting for confirmation.
Then—
"Interesting."
Seraphina's voice cut through the tension.
"Let him come."
"V-very well, miss," the guard replied.
They stepped aside, and Remedy shamelessly slipped between them to sit across from Seraphina.
Then he launched into his praise.
"It's an honor to meet you in person, miss. I've heard you possess exceptional talent… and now that I see you, I can only agree. I've always admired your courage and generous heart. You're a role model I draw inspiration from—"
"Enough," Seraphina cut him off.
"Stop saying things you don't mean and get to the point."
Then she added, with an equally innocent and benevolent smile:
"But if what you say isn't interesting, I'll take your tongue."
A chill ran down Remedy's spine.
Haha… what a grudge-holder.
"Ahem… very well."
"As you've no doubt noticed, Scarlet Thorn has remarkable strengths. But its weight poses a slight problem for its thin-bladed style."
"And given your level, that style isn't optimal without a suitable enchantment."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Remedy felt the tension spike.
"Ahem… that's not what I meant."
"What I mean is, I can enchant your weapon to let you fully utilize the thin-bladed style."
"Oh? And how much would your services cost?"
"Hoho, nothing much. Just 25,000 credits, for the fair lady."
"25,000? Just a small weight reduction?"
Remedy shook his head slightly.
"No. Not a reduction."
"A near-elimination of weight."
"And… the last part, and the best of all: the enchantment will work only for you. And you alone."
"So… what do you think?"
A enchantment that only recognizes one person? Do enchanters even have such skills? she wondered.
Then she manifested Scarlet Thorn onto the table.
"Is that so? Then show me this skill you're so proud of."
"Right away."
Remedy placed his hand on the weapon.
[DING! ARTIFACT "SCARLET THORN" TARGETED]
[DO YOU WANT TO INJECT THE CONCEPT "FEATHER'S WEIGHT" INTO THE ARTIFACT?]
---
Chapter 3 – End