𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟕: 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩

Now, the social observation is coming to a climax.

Yes, it’s the red-light district!! How exciting!

However, since it’s supposed to be open at night, there are very few people during the day.

Only carriages carrying bottles of liquor and food for the night-time restaurants are moving.

The old man who calls out to customers is just cleaning in front of the store.

“It seems a bit deserted.”

John comments.

“Yes, it’s open from sunset. The block over there is a residential area. The security is good during the day here because the boss keeps a tight control. The residents don’t go out at night.”

That’s Robin-kun’s explanation.

Well, the red-light district has a different face during the day.

“What a letdown.”

Feruppo seems disappointed.

“The bars aren’t open either.”

Alex is looking at the entrance of a closed bar.

It’s a pretty shabby bar. The sign is broken.

“Those kinds of shops are often open from sunset to sunrise. I don’t recommend it. Many of the customers are rough.”

Robin knows a lot.

“Right. Remember the terrain and the location of the shops and the information center while it’s still light.”

“Are we going at night?”

Alex asked. I’m a little worried, I’m afraid of getting sick. 

It didn’t come up in the game. No, there should be a tool shop selling cursed tools nearby.

“I heard there’s a magic-related shop nearby.”

Robin flinches, he’s fidgety.

“No, I’ve certainly heard of it, but I don’t really. . . recommend it.”

As we walk down the street, there are stairs leading to the basement of a building.

The dilapidated sign barely reads “Magic Tool Shop”.

Is this the place. . .

It seems to be open for business, but there’s no sign of people.

“Shall we go in?”

“I would advise against it. . .”

Robin tries to stop us with an ambiguous statement, he doesn’t seem to want to go in.

Everyone else looks worried.

“Alright! Let’s go!!”

Only Alex has an excited expression.

This guy needs to be careful or he’ll really die.

We form a tight formation and descend the narrow stairs.

When we open the dirty door, the shop is filled with strange goods hanging from the ceiling.

“Oh my, what unusual customers.”

There’s an elf granny, she looks just like Yoda.

If I saw this monster granny kneading a pot in a back alley at night, I’d run away in a dash. 

“We’re just browsing.”

“Well, well, if you’re just browsing, I’d like you to leave. But I’m bored, so I’ll have you keep me company.”

“Hey, let’s go.”

Alex whispers in a scared voice.

Robin looks pale.

Feruppo is captivated by a pot shaped like a face.

Marco doesn’t take his eyes off his younger brother.

Carl and John have their hands on their swords, on guard.

“Do you have any rings or anklets that protect against drain magic?”

They should be selling them because they appeared in the game.

“Oh, it’s rare to know about drain magic, isn’t it?”

“I know it exists. It’s the one used by the undead.”

“I have it, but I can’t sell it.”

“I see. . . Do you have any talismans or medicines that work against the ghost or undead?”

“I do, but they’re expensive. They start at 30 gold.”

“I see, that’s expensive.”

“You’re quite knowledgeable for a young man.”

“Well, if you have it, that’s good. I might come to buy it later.”

That’s right, I should also collect information about game-related items.

“Do you have any books about monsters or dictionaries about demons?”

The Monster Dictionary and the Demon Dictionary seem to be banned books, they appeared in the game. 

It’s a handy item that shows the enemy’s status during battle when you get it.

“Hmm, you’re asking about things that don’t sell well. What are you going to do with such things?”

“Who knows what a wizard will use it for. . . was it?”

That’s the line the NPC says when you buy it.

“Ho ho ho, who did you hear that from. . . It’s your first time here, isn’t it? I don’t remember you.”

The monster granny laughs in a way that makes you uneasy.

The Misoccus group seems to be scared.

The granny pulls out a book from her sleeve.

It seems to be magically stored, the cover is black and there’s a skull on it.

“This is the Demon Dictionary. Can you read it? It’s said to be written in the language of demons.”

You can’t unlock it if your level is low.

I should be able to unlock it in the middle of the game.

“How much is it?”

“It’s not for sale. It’s enchanted so that only those with qualifications can hold it. No one has ever opened it.”

“I see. . . Can’t be helped, can it?”

“Aren’t you an interesting boy? Want to take a look? If you’re qualified, you should be able to open it.”

The granny extends her hand holding the book with an amused look.

I take the book. Marco whispers “Hey, stop it!” from behind.

The cover clearly says “Demon Dictionary” in kanji.

I search. . .

🩴

Search Results

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥: Demon Dictionary (Locked)

𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭: A dictionary from another world that lists the names and characteristics of all demons.

—————————————-

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

🔹𝐀𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢e𝐬.𝐜𝐨𝐦 ― 𝐈𝐧𝐝u𝐥𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 “𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬” 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬🔹

Hey, hey, is Japanese the language of demons. . .

Well, they were certainly like demons. Especially the “department head”.

The book won’t open. Well, it’s locked.

“Unlock”

The book glows black and unlocks.

As I flip through it. Yeah. Inside is a monster data collection from a strategy guide.

The GUI displays “𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥? →𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐍”.

When I select 𝐘𝐄𝐒, a black light envelops my entire body and disappears.

There is nothing wrong with the contents of the book.

I close the book and mutter “𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤” and return it to the granny.

“I see, I understand well.”

“Y, You. You understand this book!!”

“I wonder, I don’t understand at all.”

“You can’t be. . .”

“There might be someone who wants that book soon, but don’t talk about me.”

I leave the shop, ignoring the trembling granny.

When I step outside, the outside is dazzling.

There’s something harsh to the matured eyes in the dimly lit shop.

“Hey, Otto, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m totally fine. It was an unexpected harvest. It was a pretty good shop.”

“Something glowed black! Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?”

Carl and John are worried about me.

Marco, Robin, and Feruppo are a step back.

“What was that book?”

“Alex, that book is a dictionary. Of some monsters.”

“They said it was the language of demons!!”

Marco shouts in a trembling voice.

“It’s not a demon, it’s the language of another world. Well, they’re worse than demons.”

Ah, it was hell when the “department head” and the “executive director” teamed up.

“How can you understand such a thing?”

“It’s the magic of translation.”

Of course, it’s a lie.

“Translation? The language of another world? A magic that can “decipher” everything?”

Feruppo asked.

“Hmm, it’s not that convenient. Well, it’s an uncertain magic that works sometimes and doesn’t work other times. I can only understand fragments.”

“Hey, teach me that magic.”

“Carl, hmm, it’s difficult. . .”

“Is it that difficult?”

“It directly manipulates the inside of your head. If it fails, it won’t return to normal. I’m planning to experiment with prisoners if I join the army.”

“I see. I’ll stop.”

Carl backs down obediently.

“Robin, do you want to participate in the experiment?”

Robin turns pale and shakes his head.

I hear the voices of the brothers in the back.

“I wonder what kind of people the inhabitants of the other world are?”

“Stop it, little brother, they’re probably guys like Otto.”

Hey, hey, that’s harsh, it’s half correct.

---