Chapter 25
“It’s quite good to accept them. We always give this much away whenever someone from the Pfalzgraf estate visits. We owe the Count so much.”
“Really? Has our Count been of any assistance to you?”
“Of course! Do you have any idea how many lives he has saved? He also built homes for orphaned kids whose parents had abandoned them. When the children reach the age of majority, they send them to the city for schooling.”
As the grocer reiterated what the general merchant had said, the Count’s good deeds appeared genuine.
The Count established an orphanage and assisted the destitute, while Adrian was revered in the hamlet as an angel…
These were details I was unaware of when playing the game.
In the game, I never visited or could access a village.
It was exciting to see behind-the-scenes stories from the game, but it also felt spooky, as if this was a real world with real people.
What distinguishes gaming characters from living individuals if they have their storylines and situations?
I noticed the merchant’s hand casually lying on the counter.
His skin was dry and cracked, and the veins were visible.
His hand had thickened and hardened from carrying products and working alone.
I was intrigued.
Would those veins be warm and throbbing with blood?
“Some nobility are truly evil, but our town has been blessed. You should feel grateful for the opportunity to serve such good people.”
Meanwhile, the merchant continued to praise the Pfalzgrafs.
I turned away from the merchant’s hand.
Even if warmth existed, it was programmed.
Meaningless.
“Of course. I am eternally grateful… But what about Young Master Adrian, the young man? Is he a frequent visitor to the village?”
“I’ve heard he comes by now and then, but I’ve never seen him. If he does arrive, he does not come to see us merchants. Given how religious the Countess is, he might go to the temple. I’ve heard she’s been sick recently. Has she improved?”
The merchant seemed interested in the Countess, leaning in slightly as if looking for gossip.
Her illness was already a topic of conversation, but everyone kept it to themselves.
“Yes. She’s doing a lot better now. But I rarely see her as a humble servant.”
“Is that correct? I was just thinking… She used to frequent the temple, but we last saw her a few years ago. I was concerned!”
“I see. Thank you very much.”
I gave a confused response and prepared to leave the shop.
I tried to cram everything into one bag to avoid carrying multiple, but just as I thought everything was going well, the familiar white writing began dancing in front of my eyes.
「Bag capacity has been exceeded. More items cannot be added. 」
Like when I tried to lie down on the bed without a pillow, it was as if an invisible hand had pushed me away, and the object slipped smoothly out of the bag.
「Would you like to purchase a temporary bag capacity increase item? (Cost: 40G)」
“Great, just when I thought things were going well, now this…”
“For what? 40 gold? I didn’t have it with me. And now they’re attempting to sell me something…”
“Uh? What did you say?”
Organizing the food into my bag, the grocer raised his head and stared at me.
“Oh, nothing.”
「Would you like to purchase a temporary bag capacity increase item? (Cost: 40G)」
The constant white writing reappeared as I picked up another item.
It was aggravating.
They were attempting to sell a ‘temporary’ boost in bag capacity to someone with a total worth of 6 gold.
It was as if a robber who had robbed me every night had now appeared in broad daylight to sell me goods.
I don’t believe it!
“It appears that you do not have enough room in your bag. Unfortunately, I don’t have any spare bags to provide.”
「Do you want to buy a bag?” (Cost: 50G)」
When the grocer expressed concern, the system immediately displayed updated text.
I wanted to know if an NPC lived off my money behind this system.
“No, it’s fine. I can empty the bag by removing some items. Sorry, but I’ll take the remainder the next time I visit. Today, I don’t have enough hands.”
“All well then. It’s a shame. Please pass on my greetings to Leticia.”
Instead of spending money, I left behind items that were not mine.
I calmly eliminated the items the general merchant had added that weren’t on Katarina’s list and only retained what was necessary, such as salt and pepper.
The machine, apparently unprepared for this, urgently requested again.
「Do you want to buy a bag? (Special Offer: 30G)」
It secretly reduced the price because it knew I wouldn’t buy it.
I wouldn’t buy that even if it were 10 gold.
I snorted at the system and strode out to the street.
The settlement was small, and walking around it would take ten minutes.
One of the modest but diversified stores caught my eye.
“Welcome.”
It was a bed and bath store.
I noticed them at the back of the store while passing by the beds near the front.
Pillows are the newest hot item.
Several sorts were placed in a row, ranging from hard neck pillows to cervical pillows and white goose-down pillows.
Each one was enthralling.
The merchant approached me while I drooled over them.
“I notice you’re interested in pillows. Many new goods have recently arrived. I’ll open the display case for you, and you’re welcome to touch the items.”
Each pillow was accompanied by a little window with a useful description as the merchant opened the glass case:
「Standard Pillow – 1G, Cotton Filled. The soft cotton texture is fantastic. You may, however, wake up with a stiff neck.
Premium Pillow- 5G, Comfortably stuffed with cotton. You may feel quite light when you wake up.
Rare Pillow- 50G, Soft and cozy, with toasty feathers within. The key to getting a good night’s sleep.
Heroic Pillow- 200G, A pillow that is so nice it’s addictive. After using this one, you will not want to lay your head on any other pillow. It provides firm yet comfortable support for your neck and head.
Legendary Pillow- 1000G, Expensive, but a once-in-a-lifetime pillow. Never tears at the seams and has an infinite lifespan. The material, filling, and features are flawless. Even the most chronic insomniacs fall asleep within a minute of lying down on it.
Mythical Pillow- 10000G, The ultimate cushion that will transport you to heaven as you sleep. The continent’s only one of its type, enchanted by Archmage Zenith’s slumber magic.」
The costs were progressively outrageous, yet they appeared impressive enough to entice me to try them at least once.
Given how invigorated I felt even with a lower-tier pillow, I wondered what would happen if I utilized the Mythical Pillow.
If the normal pillow might raise my work efficiency to crucial levels, the Mythical Pillow’s potential was interesting.
According to the rates, the pillow I had ruined was a Premium model.
I was surprised it wasn’t a regular pillow.
Adrian’s cushion might have been Legendary, given that I passed out as soon as I laid on it.
A thousand gold coins… I can buy the pillow with 20 gold if I save my full paycheck for 34 days without spending any.
However, the system will likely find a variety of justifications to take my money away.
It’s unlikely to work.
“Would you like to buy a pillow?”
The merchant inquired after noticing me clinging to the display case like an octopus on a rock.
It was impossible, but my gaze kept returning to the Legendary Pillow.
Could I have it once before I die?
“I’ll take the… no, a Premium Pillow, please.”
“Right this way, please.”
I was left with only a single gold coin after paying 5 gold for the premium pillow at the counter.
Only one gold… To be left with only one gold after all the tribulations I’ve faced in this world.
I overheard some guests exploring the mattresses and conversing while I waited for the clerk to pack the cushion.
“…Did you hear the rumor? Jake vanished without a trace, and his body was discovered by the river a few days ago, with his wrists cut.”
“Really? Emma was urgently looking for him, and this is how it ended. So, how did he pass away? What does the constable have to say? It’s horrible…”
“Haven’t there been a few missing person cases before? I believe the most recent one was roughly two years ago. This appears to be the same case. He was stabbed and killed instantaneously, according to reports. The cut was so precise that it had to have been done by a professional. Constable Harrison apprehended some suspects, but it was a dead end. He was certain that such a murder would never happen again. What else can he say?”
“Oh my goodness, it’s terrifying. Just as we begin to forget, another tragedy like this occurs… We should not go out at night.”
Despite the distance, the whispers of the two customers discussing the subject were audible to the merchant and me.
A murder case in this neighborhood occurs every few years.
“Do you believe it is the same person? It might be different persons duplicating the strategy each time.”
“Stop saying such horrible stuff. To think there could be a few people like that in our small village… It gives me goosebumps. So, where can we feel safe?”
“I just hope the cops catch them soon….What exactly are you doing?”