Chapter 35: Let's Share the Good Stuff

The Black Market was situated in the middle of the vast Fonein River that traversed the continent.

On it lay an artificial island, Tatur, home to three things not found anywhere else on the continent:

First, freedom.

Second, information.

Third, goods.

This city existed beyond the reach of law, where freedom alone prevailed. It was a nexus where all information, whether from the light or shadows, converged and where countless items, unobtainable even by the royal families, were traded through the darkness.

Therefore, the black market opened for just one day, every year on January 1st. Even nobles from other nations would secretly visit the black market.

This was essentially why the Free City could exist. The nobles had implicitly agreed to not encroach on Tatur, a strategic location they left untouched for mutual benefit.

"What’s this, Kamma? You’ve brought someone along. So out of the blue too... Do the other administrators know about this?"

"Sh...shut up. I’ll talk to the others separately. You, take care of this person."

"Hmm?"

In a small building nestled deep within a back alley, the shop owner was visited late at night by someone barely dressed properly. He found it odd that one of the administrators, Kamma, was trembling behind someone like Karyl.

"What on earth did you do to cause such a fuss?" The shop owner looked at him with a listless expression. The child barely reached his chest. "Wait, what’s this? After having all that fun with the ladies recently, don’t tell me your tastes have...ugh!"

"Be quiet, damn it! Don’t talk nonsense!" Kamma quickly smacked the owner’s hand away from his throat, shouting.

"It’s a joke, you crazy old fool! Haha." The owner laughed, having known Kamma for a long time.

However, Kamma quickly whispered, his back drenched in a cold sweat. "Keep your mouth shut and listen. Venkli is dead. So stop blabbering and hand over the keys."

Fear was evident on Kamma’s face, the shop owner finally realized that something was off.

Venkli? The champion of the arena?

He glanced again at Karyl who was standing behind Kamma. The child looked nothing out of the ordinary.

Could it be...?

He had also heard rumors about the lawless port and seeing the fidgeting Suan standing behind, the owner slowly nodded.

"Alright, then. It’s the first time in my life the black market is reopening just three months later. How often does it even open in a year?"

"Don’t blabber and just open it. I’m the only customer, so it’ll be over quickly." Despite the owner's concerns, Karyl's calm demeanor left him dumbfounded.

What’s with this kid... why’s he so confident? It’s as if he’s been here before.

Even adults trembled in Tatur... the shop owner looked at Karyl with curiosity.

"Got it. I’ll open it now. Since Kamma has permitted it, there’s no need for further confirmation."

The owner took out an old key from a drawer, rolled back the carpet on the floor, and inserted the key.

Click-

The sound of the lock opening echoed.

"But three months? What do you mean by that? I thought Tatur’s black market opened every January 1st?"

It was late summer, heading into fall. If it was three months ago, as the owner said, it would have been spring, not even close to winter.

"What’s so strange about that? There was someone like you three months ago as well."

"Nonsense. According to that old man, the market can’t be opened without the approval of three administrators. The Golden Lion would have been alive then."

Karyl looked at Suan and asked, "And what about that pug nose? That guy was a champion for three years, right?"

"That's correct."

"Venkli? Ah...of course, he clinched the championship every year. But he's not the type to aim for the winner's benefits. After all, the Golden Lion manipulated the matchups."

"So?"

"You said it. The black market can open with the administrators' approval. There must have been someone eligible to receive approval. Right?"

"Who might that be?"

As the shopkeeper pulled open the hidden door on the floor, stairs leading down appeared.

"Who knows? How could a lowly person like me know what the high and mighty are up to?"

Kamma's face hardened at his words. "I don’t know either. It was approved without me, by the other administrators."

"Hmm...is that so?" Karyl cast a sidelong glance, but only for a moment.

"Come in and take your pick. Since we’ve opened suddenly, it might be a bit rushed and lacking, but..."

The sight that unfolded before them was breathtaking.

"Hmm."

Karyl couldn't help but exclaim. Descending the stairs felt like entering another world, with a long line of torches illuminating numerous weapons.

It’s been a while.

The owner spoke confidently. "I don’t know what you’re looking for, but if you can’t find it here, you won’t find it anywhere else on the continent."

***

In the black market, you can buy anything if you have money. But there's a time limit of one hour. Yet, just opening the doors of the market once a year is beneficial enough.

Karyl walked slowly through the corridor.

The limit on Time doesn't really matter to me. After all, my destination is already decided

.

He recalled what the owner had said.

-But choose carefully. No take-backs. Once you enter a shop, you must buy something.

-And if I buy more?

-You'd die. By the hand of the black market's owner.

-Me?

Karyl asked nonchalantly, but the shop owner couldn't respond to his question. Of course, there was nothing he could say to the man who had killed the Golden Lion.

The owner of the black market...

Piecing together his memories, he thought of a woman. Her face was covered with a hijab, but the pale, anemic skin and snake-like eyes peeking through were unmistakable.

Dushala.

Her face vividly came to mind. One of the four administrators. But in reality, she could be considered the true owner of Tatur. Just thinking of her sent a chill through Karyl's body.

Honestly, this city has unnecessarily many owners. Well, I'll be meeting her soon enough.

With her annoying personality, surely. Once she heard he had made it to the black market, she would have prepared something by the time he left.

Inevitably, we will meet. So, worrying is pointless.

Of course, just like she might have her plans, he had his own. He wasn't just going to stand by.

Karyl smiled lightly to himself.

First, let’s focus on the item I want.

Despite the array of goods piled up around him, Karyl didn't spare them a glance, continuing straight ahead. What he wanted was already in his mind.

Suddenly, his footsteps stopped. One of those items was now before his eyes.

***

"Where did they go to? Which section?"

"4-GJ-73, wasn't it? Where's that?"

"What, really?"

"Do you know where it is?"

"Of course, I know. Wow... How did they know to go there? Or did they actually know?"

"Where is that?"

"You must be new to the black market to not know. That's Calypson's store."

"Does the door even open? How long has it been since there was a customer?"

"I don't know. Is the even store open at this hour because of that kid? To enter such a useless junk shop."

"You lack discernment. Total lack of discernment."

As Karyl entered the store, whispers and murmurs seeped through the small window gaps.

"Shh...!! Quiet down. That kid casually sliced off Curan's head."

"Right. And Venkli was killed without anyone noticing."

"So what? The reward he gets will probably be junk. Was there ever anything decent in that old man's shop?"

"Still, you never know. It's the oldest shop in the black market."

"By the way, when did that old man come to Tatur?"

"I don't know. He was already here when I arrived."

"Me too."

"Oh, right. Me too, you know?"

"The old man... Is he still alive?"

Everyone's gaze turned towards the store. No one knew. After all, the door to Calypson's store hadn’t opened for decades.

***

"It's ruined. Out of all the shops, he chose this one."

"..."

"That one's broken. Hey, don't touch that. It's just propped up because it's shattered." A grating voice, like scraping metal, spoke.

A dwarf-sized old man, leaning on a chair, spoke in annoyance. "Kid, you really chose the wrong place to search. I was wondering why the black market got so lively, but it seems you've used up all your luck getting here. Your first attempt is utterly botched..." He lit a large cigarette, continuing to speak despite his words.

However, Karyl responded calmly, "I'm looking for something specific."

"Sure, there's nothing you can't find in the black market. But you won't find it here. Except for what's being displayed, there’s nothing else here. All just trash more than a hundred years old."

"That's exactly what I'm looking for."

"What?"

Everything in the shop was covered in a thick layer of dust.

Karyl flicked off some of the dust with his finger and said, "I’m looking for something that humans do not know."

"..."

"Calypson, or should I say, Gnome Calypson?"

The old man's eyes betrayed a flicker of surprise. "What do you mean by that..."

He was perfectly and completely human. Calypson turned his head away from him as if in disbelief, coughing awkwardly.

"Don't worry. I'm not exactly a normal human either." Suddenly, Karyl's eyes turned black.

"Could it be..." Calypson was speechless, unable to believe what he was seeing.

There were many items that could alter one's appearance. However, all magical artifacts had a condition for use: the wearer must possess magical power. Whether it was magic or magical artifacts, using any of them implied that the boy in front of him possessed magical power.

A barbarian...?!

He looked at Karyl with trembling eyes.

"I'm not here to expose your secret. If it became known that a gnome, thought to be extinct, was still alive, it would cause chaos everywhere. From magicians who would love to dissect you, to nobles who believe that gnomes' eyes are jewels." Karyl chuckled.

"I have no intention of ruining your retirement. I'm in a similar situation myself. Revealing my secret to you is a sign of trust. It's the price I’m willing to pay to get what I want."

Kary smiled at the confused old gnome.

[Gnomes? Ah, I remember. They've been paying tributes to dragons since ancient times. When it comes to crafting magical artifacts, they are far superior to dwarves.]

“That's unfortunate. Gnomes are said to be extinct now. It would be nice to see one.”

[You can see one.]

-...What?

[I used to have one who would occasionally visit until recently, bringing me quite the interesting things...]

Karyl recalled what Narh Di Maug had said.

"Bring it out," he instructed the gnome. "An item to be offered to the Platinum Dragon."