At The Open Market

Days have passed since the result of the Adventurers Academy Admission Exam came out.

With the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf successfully passing the exam, Vier is now back to her usual morning routine, lazing in her bedroom until late in the morning after eating her breakfast.

...thud...thud...thud...

...Huh?... Someone is running up the stairs and heading to my room...

Hearing the hurried footsteps coming from the staircase, Vier gets back on her bed to pretend that she's still sleeping to who might be coming to disturb her lazy morning.

...BAMM!...

"Ekk!..."

When the hurried footsteps stop in front of Vier's room, someone kicks the door, making it swing open and startling Vier. It was Mifumi, and behind her were Felin and Rozze.

"Vier-chan, wake up!... Look!... I finally got it!..."

"Mhm!... Mifumi-sama got it, Vier."

"Please stop pretending that you're sleeping, Vier."

What Mifumi is trying to show to Vier, who still hasn't given up on her pretend sleep act, is a Magic Item called Artphone.

Artphone is a Replica of the Relic known as Smartphone. It's a Magic Item capable of taking pictures and record information about Monsters, Dungeons, and news about the latest events within the Adventurers Guild.

"Look, Vier-chan!... It's the Artphone 24..."

With its new model, the Artphone, which is the reward for the Adventurers Party who were able to pass the Admission Exam, has a new feature of Appraisal Spell.

"With this, we won't need to bring our Monster Cores and Monster Materials to the Adventurers Guild every time we need an appraisal."

It's indeed quite useful to have an Appraisal Spell. However, it's still not enough to convince Vier to give up her pretend sleep act.

"Sheesh!... Stop pretending that you're still asleep, Vier-chan! If you don't get up now, Felin-chan, Rozze-chan, and I are gonna drag you outside while you're still in your pajamas!"

"Mhm!... Get up, Vier!"

"We got lots of things to do today, Vier"

...Zzz...Zzz...Zzz...

"Okay!... Felin-chan, Rozze-chan, grab Vier-chan's feet. Leave her hands to me."

...Mhm!!..

"Wait, wait, wait... I'm already awake so please stop."

"Sheesh... If you're already awake, then get up from your bed, Vier-chan."

"Mhm!... Don't lie that you're sleeping, Vier."

"Let's go to the town's Open Market, Vier."

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The days after Vier got discharged from the Guild Infirmary have been very busy for the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf.

There's the meeting about the Adventurers Academy Admission Exam result. Then Vier, together with Mifumi Felin and Rozze, build a grave for Poru-III at the Cemetery.

Unlike Vier's pet slimes, Poru-I and Poru-II, she wasn't able to recover Poru-III's Monster-Core and store it at her keepsake. That's why the four of them made a grave for Poru-III since it's the only one whose Monster Core is lost forever, and Vier wants something that will always remind them of Puro-III.

After Puro-III's funeral, Vier has to solve another problem now that Puro-III is gone.

Aside from the problem that Vier wouldn't be able to use Storage Skill without Puro-III, all of Vier's Magic Items, including her Magic Item Shotgun and Revolver, were lost together with Puro-III.

Vier's Aurichalcum Shield was destroyed, and all of her Magic Item Grenades were fed to the Black Weretiger Monster, leaving Vier with no weapons.

It's not like Vier won't be able to remake all of her Magic Items before they leave their town heading to the Adventurers Academy on the floating island of Liber. She only needs to ask for help from her Master Berlin.

It's the same for the money needed to remake all of her Magic Items. Vier still has her secret reserve funds but it wouldn't hurt to earn some money by selling their loot and other items.

That's why Vier, together with Mifumi, Felin, and Rozze, are at the Open Market today to earn some extra money for their Adventurers Party's budget.

...Mhm! Our stall looks good!...

With Felin's help, the always skillful Rozze easily built a stall at the town's Open Market. Vier, with her mysterious connection to the Merchant Guild, was able to get the permit they needed to sell their loot and items. Meanwhile, Mifumi, with the new Artphone 24, apprises all of their Monster Cores and Monster Materials, deciding which one to keep and which to sell.

With their combined efforts, the Black Ops stall, as the stall's official name because Vier doesn't want the name Dwarf Cat-eared Elf stall, is now open for business.

"Let's take a photo together with our stall."

...Mhm!!!...

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"Thanks for buying."

Most of the items that the Black Ops stall is selling are Swords, Daggers, and Knives that Vier made while practicing blacksmithing, along with some of her Magic Items and the Monster Cores and sword horns of the Sword Horned Beetles Monster that the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf defeated during the exam.

Only the largest sword horn of the Boss Sword Horned Beetle will be kept for Vier to make a Sword for Felin and its Monster Core to be used by Mifumi. While the Monster Core and Monster Materials of the Web Weaver Monster were given to Rozze.

The blade scythes of the Blade Reaper Monster will be kept by Vier to be used as material for her Magic Items.

"Tell your friends to buy from us, Mister!"

"Of course, little cat Miss."

With Felin acting as the stall poster girl, the Black Ops stall has been quite successful in selling its items. On the other hand, Mifumi is taking every chance she gets to use the Artphone 24.

"Ummm... It's all right if I take your photo..."

"Ehh?..."

"Mifumi-sama, you can't take a photo of every person who will buy from our stall. You're making our stall look weird."

"But this is our remembrance for being a Merchant, Rozze-chan."

"I actually don't mind you taking my photo, young Miss..."

"I don't want any photos of a random old man as a remembrance, Mifumi-sama."

After Rozze's harsh rejection, the customer left disappointed because Rozze didn't allow Mifumi to take his photo or any more photos of upcoming customers.

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The Black Ops stall continues selling its loot and items. And after a while, a familiar group arrived at their stall.

"So you're the granddaughter of the famous Black Elf Sorceress."

...click!...shutter!...

"Mifumi-sama! Please don't take pictures of the other stall without the owner's consent."

"It's all right, Rozze-chan. I'm going to ask their consent later."

"You're supposed to ask first before taking pictures, Mifumi-sama."

"Grrrr!... Hey!"

It's not like Vier, Rozze, and Felin didn't hear the girl who wanted to talk to Mifumi. It's just that they're to focus on stopping Mifumi's photo rampage.

Since Mifumi didn't seem to notice the girl, the three also decided to ignore her.

"Hey! Don't ignore me! You're Mifumi Greendale, right?!"

The girl raised her voice and shouted Mifumi's complete name as she finally managed to get Mifumi's attention.

But the girl raising her voice to get Mifumi's attention didn't go well with Felin, making her a bit hostile to the girl.

"Mifumi-sama, there is a shameless brat calling your name."

"Felin-chan, where did you learn that words?"

"Please don't use those kind of words, Felin."

Mifumi and Rozze, acting like an older sister, try to stop Felin from saying such an intrusive word.

"That's right, Felin. Whoever teaches you how to use that word is really irresponsible..."

"But Vier said you're a shameless brat if you do that."

"Huh?... Wait... Me?"

"Vier-chan!"

While Mifumi is stretching Vier's cheeks in the opposite direction as her punishment, Rozze continues asking Felin about what Vier has taught her.

"Do what, Felin?"

"If you asked others names and didn't introduce yourself."

"Vier-chan! Why are you teaching words like that to Felin-chan?"

"Wait... Ummm... That's only an example. It's not my fault if Felin asked what a shameless brat means."

"Grrr!..."

The girl seems to be reaching her limits and getting angry that the members of the Black Ops are still ignoring her.

"I'm not a shameless brat! I'm Nerna Isenzand of the Isenzand Viscount House from the Dweorg Kingdom!"

After properly introducing that she's a Noble, the Black Ops won't be able to continue ignoring her. Specially Mifumi. After all, greeting another Noble properly, regardless of their differences in status, is the etiquette between Nobilities.

"It's nice to meet you, Ms. Nerna Isenzand. I'm Mifumi Greendale of the Greendale Baron House of the Smilodon Kingdom. But please address me as Mifumi since I'm here at the Open Market today as an Adventurer."

"I'm also here as an Adventurer so just call me Nerna."

After her introduction, Mifumi continued her conversation with Nerna.

"Congratulations on passing the Admission Exam. Let's work together as we travel towards the Adventurers Academy on the floating island of Liber."

"Of course! The Aurikal Sword won't lose to the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf so you better be prepared, Mifumi."

Nerna didn't mean for what she said as a challenge. However, her usual aggressive way of speaking made Felin think otherwise.

"Do you want to fight us? You, shameless brat!"

"Felin-chan, don't say that word."

While Mifumi is trying to calm Felin as Vier and Rozze try to restrain her, Nerna's friends join in the conversation.

"Nerna-sama didn't mean any hostility in what she said. She was just overjoyed that she would be able to compete with the successor of the famous Black Elf Sorceress that she idolized."

"And you are?..."

"It's nice to meet you, Mifumi. I'm Acier, I'm Nerna-sama's Retainer. These two boys are our friends, Kupfer and Birini. We're all members of the Bronze Rank Adventurers Party Aurikal Sword."

Upon being introduced by Acier, Kupfer and Birini gave their greetings.

"Hello!"

"It's nice to meet you!"

"They always get nervous in front of other girls so please forgive their awkward greetings."

"You don't have to say that, Acier."

"We're not nervous, okay."

"Huh?!"

...Ekkk!!..

Acier gave a serious and sharp stare in reply to the remarks that Kupfer and Birini said against her. That single response of hers made the two boys startle.

Since Acier introduced their group, Mifumi also did the same.

"We're the members of the Bronze Rank Adventurers Dwarf Cat-eared Elf. This is Felin-chan and Vier-chan. Rozze-chan is also an Adventurer and my Retainer as well. It's nice to meet you all."

...It's nice to meet all of you as well...

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"So are you looking for something to buy, Ms. Viscount?"

...Vier-chan! / Vier!...

Mifumi and Rozze got a bit annoyed with Vier teasing Nerna. However, Nerna seems to doesn't mind Vier's teasing.

"Hmmm... I'm not currently interested in weapons or Monster Cores and Monster Materials. I'm looking for something a bit special like Dungeon Artifacts or Old World Relics."

...As if something like that would be here at the Open Market!...

That's the thought of all the other stall owners who are secretly listening to the conversation of the Viscount Lady and the daughter of their town's Lord.

"Of course, we don't have those. But I have something you might be interested in."

...Why do still have that, Vier!...

The stall owners, who are locals of Green Dale Town, immediately recognize what Vier pulled out from her box of items to be sold. After all, Vier, along with Mifumi, Felin, and Rozze went on a rampage using this item back when they were younger.

"It's that a Replica of the Relic Handgun?"

The Black Ops is quite surprised that Nerna was able to somehow recognize the item that Vier showed to her. But her guess is not right at all.

"No, this is a Replica of the Relic called Paintball Gun. It used pressurized wind to shoot paint bullets."

As Vier demonstrated what the Paintball Gun could do by shooting at a wooden target, Nerna couldn't hold her excitement.

"I want it!... Please let me buy five of them!"

"Thanks for your purchase, that will be 1L (L = large) Gold coin each..."

...What a rip-off price!...

All the stall owners are right. Vier is indeed trying to rip off Nerna since their stall is the only one selling a Paintball Gun.

However, before Vier can easily earn 5L Gold coins, Rozze, Felin, and especially Mifumi have a different say about the Paintball Gun.

"Didn't you said that all the Paintball Guns were destroyed, Vier?"

"Did you lie, Vier?"

"Didn't Grandma forbid you from making any more Paintball Guns, Vier-chan?"

Listening to her friends' remarks, Vier still tries to lie her way out about her hidden stack of Paintball Guns. However, Vier's excuses failed against Mifumi, Felin, and Rozze.

In the end, only one Paintball Gun was sold to Nerna at the price of 1S (S = small) Gold coin, and the other Paintball Guns were confiscated by Rozze and Mifumi to be surrendered to Misaki later.

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PoruShark Writer's Note

Here are the characters' concept designs for the members of Aurikal Sword. Look at the comment.