Magic Items on the Open Market

The tension is rising around Cien's stall.

Jeanne asked as calmly as possible but her anger still radiated from her body, making Veronica tremble slightly, at least until she saw the bread she had been waiting for already on the ground.

"My food!"

"Eh?"

Jeanne glanced at Veronica, who was crouching to pick up the dropped bread. Her little cousin's scream managed to alleviate the tension, even making Jeanne feel slightly guilty.

"I-I'm sorry, but! It's his fault, who told him to name such an unreasonable price? Even if it was just a joke, it's not funny."

"That wasn't a joke, though. That's the actual price. And I was already generous enough to offer that price for this creation of mine."

Cien interrupted with a confident tone. The people around them fell silent.

"Are you insane, sir?" Jeanne asked.

Cien shook his head. "No. Do you know what this is, Young Lady?"

Cien picked up a glove from the table.

"A glove."

"Hmm, yes, a glove. But not just any glove. This is a magic weapon that I call the Fire Glove."

"A magic weapon?!"

'Impossible!'

That was what Jeanne and a few others thought as they heard it. Even Veronica herself knew about the existence of magical items that are so rare and valuables.

Although she was still young, Veronica was a student at the Academy of Magic in Huntara, and she was already planning to participate in a student exchange program next year to Westya, replacing Princess Sravati. So, she knew well the value of the magical item mentioned by the seller.

"Sorry, sir. Not wanting to deny, but it's not good to spread rumors—"

"How about trying it yourself, Young Lady? This is a special offer just for you, as there seems to be a lot of doubt around us. What do you think?"

Cien didn't let Jeanne finish her words, cutting her off because he felt the atmosphere was starting to harm him. He could see the skeptical looks from the surrounding visitors. He could even see Lina, the bread seller, shaking her head.

If this continues, before the festival ends, his name may already be tarnished.

Jeanne was hesitant about Cien's offer, but Veronica, who had previously chatted with the seller, felt that he was not a scammer.

'Maybe… if what he said is true…'

Veronica approached, "If Sister Jeanne doesn't want to, let me try it."

Jeanne was stunned as she saw Veronica taking a glove from the seller's hand. Jeanne tried to stop her, but she saw the seriousness in Veronica's eyes.

"I don't think Uncle is a bad person, right?"

Cien shrugged, "I'm not a scammer."

Veronica put the glove on her right hand. Cien then explained the Fire Glove's ability and the magic recorded inside. The more Veronica heard Cien's explanation, the more amazed she was within herself.

'Doesn't this mean that a pair of gloves can produce attacks as powerful as a Rank 10 attack? If these gloves are distributed and used by many soldiers of Rank 1 or 2, then the balance will be destroyed.'

After listening to Cien's explanation, Veronica wanted to try activating the magic in the Fire Glove, but she wouldn't shoot it because it would be dangerous. As a magician, she would instantly know whether the glove is a magic weapon or not with just a little experimentation.

In a magical item, there is a Mana Core and a skill. Veronica would know right away when she activated the magic recorded in it.

Veronica concentrated, activating the Mana Core in the glove. A small light instantly lit up on the embroidered part of the glove. It only lasted for a moment, and then the light dimmed again.

Veronica opened her eyes wide, not believing what she had just experienced.

"This is indeed a magic item," murmured Veronica, her voice echoing around her. Jeanne, too, had a blank look on her face this time.

'What kind of madman would sell something as valuable as this in an open market?!'

Jeanne shouted in her mind. She had listened to the explanation of the Fire Glove's abilities earlier, and if those abilities were true, then the item would be very useful in battle.

Jeanne held her little cousin's shoulder, confirming her opinion on the truth of the magical weapon and the power it could produce.

Veronica nodded seriously. She knew what Jeanne wanted. A magic item is not something that can be seen every day, even for years. This thing was extremely rare, and they as the ones who found it had to get it!

Veronica never thought she would come across a genuine treasure.

Jeanne nodded in agreement before turning to Cien.

The people around, who were once skeptical, now became lively and started moving too. A magic item! There's someone selling magical items here!

Cien's shop became the subject of discussion that would attract many enthusiasts, unfortunately, Jeanne would not allow anyone else to get their hands on it.

"Fifty thousand Tia for a pair, is that correct?" Jeanne asked, wanting to confirm.

Honestly, the price Cien gave for the magic weapon was cheap. If the Fire Gloves were sold at an auction, they would be much more expensive than just fifty thousand.

Cien nodded, "Yup, just fifty thousand. As I said, I am a generous little merchant, Young Lady."

Jeanne didn't care about Cien's self-praise. She only looks at the gloves on the table, and in Veronica's hands. Like a flash, she swiftly took them like a thief. Cien couldn't even say anything as he watched the woman's behavior.

After taking all the gloves, Jeanne lifted Veronica up to sit at the table.

"Listen, I don't have as much money as you want right now. So, I will pawn Veronica, she is the daughter of Viscount Amary. I will go home to get the money, and come back as soon as possible to retrieve her. Okay? Bye!"

Jeanne spoke quickly without pause, then ran after taking a pair of Fire Gloves and leaving a little girl on Cien's table.

The incident happened so fast that Cien could only remain silent, watching the woman who took his gloves and ran away.

Even Veronica herself did not expect her cousin's actions. She gaped at Jeanne's silhouette as the woman moved further away.

"W-what happened?!"

"Is that your sister?" Cien asked with a blank expression.

"No, just a cousin," she said.

"Is she a bit crazy?"

"At first, I didn't think so. Now, I'm not sure."

They both fell silent. Cien never thought his merchandise would be stolen, even though he got a little girl as temporary payment. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was all absurd.

"She'll come back, won't she?"

"Of course she is! Otherwise what about me?" replied Veronica rather gloomily.

Cien looked around him. The incident had made the Fire Glove a sensation. He could feel the excitement in the air. Some people stepped forward to ask if he had any other magical items, which Cien immediately answered with no.

Cien tried to offer some other weapons from his stall, but they quickly lost interest once they saw that the weapons were only wooden spears and an ordinary dagger.

Interest in Cien dwindled, but the sensation of the Fire Glove remained. Cien could sense some suspicious people watching the situation and started to move quickly in the direction Jeanne was running.

"Your sister–"

"Cousin."

"...Your cousin, I hope nothing happens to her."