World Isekai

They kept turning, left and right, seemingly doing full circles yet not reaching a place they had been at before.

They would be on the second floor, or under the houses they had previously visited, making their way to the next one which would bring them one step closer toward the castle.

The city was an architect's nightmare.

How people lived here made little sense, as everyone would've had to step into someone else's house to get somewhere.

Mori learned that there is more indirect paths that wouldn't go through houses, but it would take too long to get from A to B.

Not only that, most of these buildings weren't made when the city was built.

It continued to be built until long after it had crumbled, most of its residents leaving.

People who simply wanted the light, and the joy of living in it built there houses where they could, with little regard of what it did to the city's landscape.

Mori was going down an alleyway, as he finally emerged from inside another building.

It was narrow, and slightly going downward.

The floor under him was made of layered bricks. Despite the ruins all around, this pavement was the nicest thing he had seen yet.

"We're on what used to be the main street," said Jax.

"Yeah, and there's barely enough space to walk side-by-side."

"Meh," said Jax, shrugging, "Nobody truly rules this place, and so without a ruler, everyone really did whatever they wanted."

It was by far the nicest walk in this city, as he could keep going forward without turning or going up stairs.

The walls on his sides barely had anything, no designs, no windows, no plant-holders, nothing.

"What's this?" asked Mori.

"Ehh. Someone who hopefully soon becomes hollow," replied Jax. .net

Mori frowned, but still approached.

Meters further on his left was a lantern attached to the wall. There was a clear hole in the wall with a sort of counter built into it.

As he approached, he could see on the side of it a sort of board, on it letters nicely carved which he couldn't read.

"Ah, welcome."

Mori was surprised, but after everything he had seen on his journey, this wasn't a surprise he couldn't live with.

"You're that old man from last time," said Mori as he reached the counter.

The place was surprisingly clean, and looking too good compared to everything else.

Inside could be seen a lot of things piled up around in an almost chaotic way. From objects Mori could clearly discern to obscure things he had never seen before.

Staves, wands, swords, spears... A lot of weapon on a weapon rack on the right. Agaisnt the back wall, armor and clothing items perfectly folded on a table, while a few lucky pieces of armor were on a mannequin

On the right was more tables, but these ones had jewelry and other ornaments.

In the middle was where it truly became chaotic, where all sorts of weird trinkets were layered around.

On the other side of the counter was the old man Mori had met. He never thought he'd see him again, yet there he was.

"It's a small world, as they say... heh," he replied in his deep voice.

He was wearing the same old black robe, his words felt as weighted now as they were back then.

"You're... selling things?" asked Mori, looking around.

"Anything you see is for sale, yes."

Mori's hand was resting on the counter, the lack of dust surprising him.

"How do you price things? What's the currency, here?"

"It depends what you have to offer," replied the old man.

"The weapons seem good," said Mori.

"Some of them are the best in their category," he replied.

Mori nodded, it did look that way.

He could tell at a first glance that some of them were of higher quality. No rust, unbroken, perfect shape, and that 'aura'.

He didn't know much about weapons, but some of them were clearly a cut above the rest.

On the other hand, some of these weapons were rusted, tested by time and looked like they barely held on.

Following Mori's gaze, the old man spoke up.

"Ah, these."

He walked toward a set of rusted swords, carefully picking them up.

"Sun and Moon. Two swords of a set, they belonged to an old king. He had both made by the best at the time, the sun representing his daughter, and the moon his wife and queen."

"They're old and clearly broken, who would buy those swords?"

The old man carefully put them back down.

"Some people find value in these," he replied.

"How about those?" asked Mori.

The old man followed what Mori was pointing at, a thinner longsword. It almost looked like a Katana, but not quite.

At the hilt, a small chain was attached, and at its end a trinket that looked like an eclipse.

"Ah, this one... It used to belong to the same king, however, he let it go for the two other swords."

"Why? Its quality is clearly better," said Mori.

Jax quietly chuckled next to him, while the old man smiled.

"Well, sometimes having the best isn't always good..."

Mori frowned, ignoring Jax's chuckles.

"I want it, then. That sword with the eclipse."

The old man's face became stern, "Sadly... it's not made for you."

With both eyebrows raised, Mori tried hiding his surprise. "Because I can't afford it?"

The old man shook his head.

"No, it's simply not something made for you."

"What is, then?" asked Mori, out of patience.

"Hmmm," voiced the old man, turning again.

He went around the small room, looking at trinkets and weapons.

"No...no..." he whispered, as he grabbed some items.

He looked around one more time, until his eyebrows finally shot up, as he had found something that finally satisfied him.

"This, would work for you."

Mori looked at what the old man grabbed in his hands.

"You can't be serious..." said Jax in a single breath.

His shocked expression struck as out of character to Mori, who turned toward the old man again.

"Huh, I agree with him," he said, pointing at Jax. "I couldn't care less about jewelry, even more if it's a crown. Even if I was the type to enjoy showing off, wearing a crown betrays an ego that's too big."

The old man laughed, as he approached the counter and set the crown on it.

It was pitch-black, and reflected no lights. No shining stone, no diamonds, no gold, only the dark material.

It was extremely thin, and its height was equally short. It wasn't one of those 'spiky' crowns. Its design had more flow to it.

The whole crown was of a matte black, yet as he picked it up and got it closer to his eyes, he could see the details.

They were extremely finely carved into it, one wouldn't notice them just looking at it from a distance.

The details on the exterior were stunning, yet the ones on the inside of the crown painted a whole scene, as he spun the crown in his hands.

"Well, it looks good, I'll give you that."

" 'it looks good', " repeated Jax.

Mori turned to look at Jax one more time, whose expression was pale and in disbelief.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Mori.

Jax ignored Mori's question, his cold stare set on the old man who clearly couldn't care less.

"Well, that's one of the few things made for you, here. As it's made for you, I require minimal payment. Would you want something not made for you, like eclipse, I could arrange something as well, but it would be a lot pricier."

"What do you want?" asked Mori, holding the crown.

"Well, I would've liked Asmodael's ring, but I know you don't have it on you..."

"How do you know-"

"-Give me a set of chains."

Mori frowned, "Those chains?" he asked, materializing cursed chains.

The old man tightened his eyes, looking at them, but then softly shook his head.

"No... no."

He walked to the counter, taking the crown back from Mori's hands.

"You're not there yet, maybe someday."

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