Chapter 62

Probably a story about the appraiser's work?

No, it's the usual feel, with the main character operating as usual.

In the capital city of Dorahern, a flea market is held once a month.

Basically, the commerce in the capital is divided into two types: the market style, which is mostly stalls, and the shopping district, where shops line up. There is no particular hierarchy between the two. There are even shops in the market that nobles come to buy from. It's simply a matter of which form the shop owner prefers. However, generally speaking, prices tend to be cheaper in the market.

Another special form of commerce that exists is the flea market. By applying to the government and paying a participation fee, anyone can do business. Of course, dangerous items are not allowed. However, since it is a place where even travelers are allowed to do business, the monthly flea market is always bustling. With rare items that are not usually seen, the residents of the capital are also tempted to loosen their purse strings. This is true even for young adventurers who are usually short on money.

"The flea market is fun to look around, and you can find some great deals!"

"Really?"

"Cute trinkets and beautiful paintings, things that are usually out of reach, can be surprisingly cheap."

"That sounds interesting."

"Right?!"

So, Yurii was dragged to the flea market by the excited Lelai. Actually, he had never been before. It wasn't that he wasn't interested, but he was always busy with something or other. Besides, the market and shops were enough for him, so he didn't feel the need to go to the flea market.

Lelai seemed to have shopped at the flea market many times before, and she was looking around with a smile. Some of the vendors were regulars, while others were new to her. This, too, was part of the charm of the flea market. Lelai brought Yurii along because she wanted him to experience this joy and thought he would enjoy looking at trinkets. After all, Yurii was a gentle man. While men generally dislike women's shopping, gentle men find it enjoyable.

Thus, the two of them strolled around, browsing various stalls. This, too, was part of the charm of the flea market. Lelai's face lit up in front of a jewelry stall, and Yurii stopped in front of a beautifully crafted small box. It was a pleasant time. Some stalls sold food, and they bought and ate things that could be consumed on the spot, and when it came to ingredients, they were thrown into Yurii's student bag. The magic bag was quietly doing its job.

"You bought a lot, didn't you?"

"Ah... I ended up buying accessories I didn't intend to buy..."

"But that ring really suits you, Lelai."

"Yeah, I think so too. It felt like it was made for me!"

"Right?"

Lelai's right middle finger, clenched in a fist, sparkled with a ring. The stone in the center of the ring had streaks like a cat's eye. It wasn't a cat's eye stone, apparently. It was a golden stone with fine streaks, resembling Lelai's eyes. The stall owner was surprised and offered a slight discount if she bought it. He believed that gemstones choose their owners, and he thought no one other than Lelai was suitable for that stone.

With such praise, Lelai, who was already attracted to the design, couldn't resist the temptation. Fortunately, the price was manageable for Lelai, who was a trainee. Thus, the ring sparkled on Lelai's hand. As a melee fighter, she couldn't wear the ring during battles; it would surely break. So, she might not wear it often, but she really wanted it. It couldn't be helped.

"It's beautiful... But my weapon is my hands, so I can't usually wear it."

"How about a pendant?"

"Huh?"

"Attach a chain or a string to the ring, and you can wear it around your neck. That way, you can always have it on."

"Yurii, you're a genius!"

"No, anyone would think of that. And, Lelai, it's choking me, it's painful. Give, give."

While patting Lelai's back to calm her down, Yurii earnestly pleaded. Lelai, who is half-cat person, looks human except for her cat-like eyes. She has no ears or tail, so at first glance, she looks human. However, her physical abilities are inherited from her cat person father, making her a solid front-line fighter. Despite her cute appearance, her strength is formidable. She can easily choke someone.

Lelai, realizing her mistake, quickly released Yurii and asked if he was okay. She sometimes forgets the difference in strength between herself and others, though it's usually Culeesh who suffers from this. However, he has been with her for a long time and knows how to handle it. Yurii still lacks experience in this area.

Amidst this commotion, while walking through the flea market, they noticed something. It was a beautiful painting. The landscape was delicately painted. They stopped in their tracks and admired the various paintings displayed at the stall.

"Oh, you two have good taste."

The stall owner, a man in his 40s, laughed happily. He had a smile that never left his face and exuded the air of a shrewd merchant. Lelai picked up one of the paintings and exclaimed in admiration. Though not an expert in art, she could appreciate the quality of the painting. From her perspective, it was a wonderful piece.

It was a painting of a girl looking at a wheat field. The girl, wearing a white dress and a straw hat, stood in the field. The contrast between the golden wheat, the white dress, and the blue sky was beautiful. Lelai was genuinely moved, but Yurii, upon seeing the painting Lelai had picked up, furrowed his brow.

"Hey, Lelai."

"What? Yurii, is something wrong?"

"You shouldn't buy that."

"Huh? I don't have the money to buy a painting, but why are you saying that all of a sudden?"

Lelai blinked, confused by Yurii's unusual interference in someone else's shopping. The stall owner, looking puzzled, watched the two. After observing Lelai's hand, the painting, and the other paintings at the stall, Yurii sighed, a tired sigh that didn't suit him.

Yurii pulled Lelai's ear and whispered to her, thinking it was better not to say it loudly.

"All the paintings in this shop are forgeries."

Lelai's eyes widened in shock as she stared at Yurii. Yurii nodded, confirming her suspicion. To Yurii, all the paintings in the shop appeared red. The quality of the works was excellent, but that made them even more dangerous. The forger had even copied the original artist's signature. They were perfect forgeries.

"All of them?"

"Yes, all of them."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Why are forgeries being sold!? That's fraud!"

"Lelai, your voice is too loud."

Despite Yurii's attempt to handle the situation quietly, Lelai's outburst drew attention. The stall owner stared at Yurii in surprise and glared at Lelai. With a plastered smile, he spoke.

"Customer, please don't say such unpleasant things. My paintings have been appraised."

"Indeed. At a glance, they look like the real thing. The materials used are faithful, and they have even been aged to look worn."

"Wh-What!?"

"But forgeries are forgeries, right? ...Are you the forger, sir?"

It was only a matter of time before the guards arrived. Yurii calmly faced the stall owner, a fraudster. Since he could see it, there was no other choice. With the "Eye of God," nothing can be deceived. No matter how good the forgery, the appraisal would reveal, "A very well-made work, comparable to the original. But unfortunately, it's a forgery. If sold as a copy, it would be fine."

...What? The "Eye of God" appraisals are often strange? It's always like that. Don't take it seriously.

Yurii's words made the man sorting the goods behind the stall shudder. He had also reacted fearfully when Lelai shouted about the forgeries. Though it was wrong, Yurii quickly checked their professions, finding the stall owner to be a fraudster and the man behind him to be a forger. It was laughably obvious.

While they were arguing, the guards arrived and arrested the stall owner. They seemed to know Yurii, or perhaps it was partly due to Lelai, a member of the "Scarlet Lynx" and a favorite of Ali, the appraiser. These titles were more powerful than they thought.

"So, all the paintings in this shop are forgeries?"

"At least, from my perspective, they are forgeries. ...They are very well-made, which is a shame. If they didn't have the signatures, they could have been sold as copies."

"True. If they were copies, not forgeries..."

Lelai, listening to the conversation between the guard and Yurii, tugged at Yurii's sleeve. When Yurii turned to her, she asked her question.

"Hey, what's the difference between a copy and a forgery?"

"A copy is imitating, while a forgery is pretending to be the real thing."

"Why is a copy okay, but a forgery is not?"

"Well, Lelai, when you learn martial arts, you imitate to improve, right? So, imitation isn't bad. But if you claim it's your own work, it becomes a lie. That's why forgeries are not allowed."

"I see."

Lelai nodded in understanding. In front of them, the stall owner, now a fraudster, was yelling angrily, while the young forger was quietly being arrested. The contrast was so stark that everyone understood the fraudster was the mastermind.

Upon hearing the story, the young forger was a struggling artist who had been approached by the fraudster while practicing copying. Living in poverty and in debt, he couldn't refuse the man's offer. It was a very cliché story.

"What a waste..."

As the young forger was being led away, Yurii muttered. The young forger stopped in his tracks, and the guard leading him also paused. Amid the stares of the crowd, Yurii, oblivious to the attention, continued his conversation with Lelai. He was completely unaware of the stares, which Lelai noticed but didn't mind, as there was no malice or hostility.

"What's a waste?"

"Someone with the skill to reproduce so perfectly could become a painting restorer."

"What's that?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. Old paintings fade, and restoring them requires the same level of skill as creating them."

"I see. If he can reproduce so perfectly, he could do it."

"Right?"

As they chatted, a tear rolled down the young forger's cheek. The guard said nothing. None of them, including Yurii, Lelai, or the guard, knew about the profession of painting restorer. But Yurii had shown the young forger a possibility, without even realizing it.

Later, the profession of painting restorer quietly began to operate, but Yurii and Lelai never knew about it.

Thus, Yurii inadvertently created a new profession again?

No, this time it was actually helping someone. Probably!

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