Chapter 14

I was visiting a store in the shopping district that deals with items for adventurers.

〈Heal Potions〉, 〈Smoke Bombs〉, and 〈Decoy Dolls〉 were lined up on the shelves.

〈Heal Potion〉... As the name suggests, it's an item that allows you to recover when consumed, but in 〈Magic World〉, it takes a bit of time to use effectively.

Depending on the quality of the item, you need to drink a considerable amount to achieve full effect.

It takes a bit of time from taking it out to drinking it, which can create a significant opening.

Moreover, the HP recovery after drinking takes time and is gradual, often not keeping up with the damage dealt by enemies.

In short, it's difficult to continuously use 〈Heal Potions〉 during combat to brute-force your way through.

Recovery skills are similar; they often create openings when used.

However, even so, there's no reason not to buy recovery methods when delving into a dungeon.

"Three 〈Heal Potions〉, please."

I called out to the female shopkeeper.

"Sure, that'll be 72,000 gold."

It's quite expensive...

But if I skimp here and run out of recovery methods, it could lead to death.

There's no choice but to buy them.

"Can I ask you something? Where can I buy 〈Skill Books〉? I couldn't find them in any of the stores..."

That's right, my main goal is to get a 〈Skill Book〉.

A 〈Skill Book〉 is an item that allows you to acquire an entire skill tree, not just a single skill.

There are no 〈Skill Books〉 for class-specific skill trees like 〈Oath of Heavy Armor〉, but you can acquire general skill trees like 〈Basic Swordsmanship〉 or 〈Increased Attack Power〉.

However, you can only maintain up to three skill trees, so acquiring a new one means removing one of the existing ones.

If you have allocated skill points to the removed tree, those points will be lost.

What I want is the 〈Skill Book〉 for 〈Smoldering Fang〉.

To be honest, being a heavy knight is like a tutorial until you get 〈Smoldering Fang〉.

Without it, things don't really work out.

The skills from 〈Oath of Heavy Armor〉 and 〈Smoldering Fang〉 combine in peculiar ways, allowing you to deal several times the damage of an attack-focused class under the right conditions.

A fully developed heavy knight is not a defense-focused class.

Even calling it an attack-focused class is a bit off.

It's more like a human weapon that can unleash high-damage techniques in rapid succession.

Of course, you can switch to a defensive setup by changing equipment...

I want to get it as soon as possible, but the 〈Skill Book〉 for 〈Smoldering Fang〉 is a rare item.

Since not many classes use 〈Smoldering Fang〉, it shouldn't be too expensive, but the issue is whether the store has it in stock.

"Ah... Sir, you don't know anything, do you...? Are you perhaps a first-year who recently obtained a class?"

"Huh?"

"The buying and selling of 〈Skill Books〉 is prohibited. You can use one you've obtained, but the Adventurer's Guild buys them and distributes them to nobles and the church."

I slumped my shoulders.

"Are you serious...?"

Aiming to drop the 〈Skill Book〉 for 〈Smoldering Fang〉 on my own is practically impossible.

Even in 〈Magic World〉, aiming for a specific rare drop is considered a form of penance.

Most of the time, you get it by chance when you're not expecting it, and it never drops when you're trying to get it, which is a common occurrence in any game, not just 〈Magic World〉.

Especially in this world, where physical limitations make it impossible to delve into 〈Dream Hole〉 multiple times a day.

I had noticed that the nobles' power had become unusually strong in the game.

But I never thought something like this would be happening.

Damn nobles.

Well, I'm one of them too.

For all I know, the 〈Skill Books〉 collected in the city of Rondalme are likely monopolized by my family, the Edvam family.

"Ah... Well, it's not something I can just tell anyone, but I'll make an exception for you. Consider it a bonus with the 〈Heal Potions〉. Go to this place."

The female shopkeeper smiled and drew a simple map on a piece of paper, handing it to me.

"What is this...?"

"It's a place that deals with items from looters. They also sell 〈Skill Books〉 illegally."

"Illegally...?"

Looters are understandable.

They essentially loot the bodies of adventurers.

However, such items should be reported and turned over to the Adventurer's Guild.

"It's kind of an unspoken rule. The Adventurer's Guild knows about these black market stores but turns a blind eye. If it became too public, they would have to crack down... Some adventurers can't survive without looting, and even if the proper procedures are followed, most of the items end up in the hands of nobles. The nobles buy 〈Skill Books〉 at low prices and hoard them without using them. It's a tradition, and they benefit from it, so they have no intention of changing it. They don't know the struggles of adventurers."

"Is that how it is...?"

...It hurts to hear.

I had no idea this was the case for fifteen years.

Perhaps because I focused solely on sword training, I became completely ignorant of the world.

My narrow worldview, which led me to admire that arrogant and despicable father, was undoubtedly due to my lack of broader perspective.

Now, I realize that the Edvam family, except for the head, was in a state similar to slavery.

If I had continued to become a Sword Saint without regaining my memories from my previous life, I might have naturally become like my father.

The thought of that makes me shudder.

In this world, it might be normal to accept the tyranny of the head of a noble family, but I'm glad I've escaped from that mindset.

"Of course, you must keep this store a secret from the Edvam family and the city magistrate."

"Of course."

I couldn't reveal that I am their son, even if my mouth were to tear open.

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