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Over the Infinite Chapter 27 Part 4

 

[ Ramen Shop ]

 

「Look, there’s a ramen shop holding a big eating contest. Why don’t you give it a try, Tsuna? 」

 

On our way, Yuki spotted a ramen shop hosting an eating contest.

It’s usually just a challenge to eat a large bowl for free, but this contest seemed to offer a prize. However, there seems to be a restriction on species, disallowing giants and other large types. Magic seems to be prohibited too.

 

「Nah, you might be misunderstanding something, but I’m not really a big eater. 」

「Really? I always thought you were always hungry. 」

「My skills make me digest food quickly. I don’t eat much, but I need to eat frequently. 」

 

Contrary to the image, I can’t really eat huge amounts. About 2 to 3 servings is my limit.

Skills like ((Viscera Strengthening)) and ((Super Digestion)) make me digest quickly, so I get hungry fast, which makes my fuel efficiency pretty bad.

Without these skills, maybe I wouldn’t have needed to eat goblins.

 

「Let’s not challenge that monster ramen. How many servings is that even? 」

 

The sample for the contest looked like a bucket-sized ramen with heaps of toppings. Eating that would make me look like an orc.

By the way, an orc is currently trying the challenge. He’s grunting away, but it looks like he’s about to fail.

 

[ Pawn Shop ]

 

A place I’d been very curious about but never got the courage to visit: the pawn shop.

It’s a fantastic place where you can get high-performance weapons and armor at reasonable prices. However, the unique atmosphere always kept me away. Now that I’m actually here, I feel enveloped in a miasma-like air.

This is definitely the den of Terawalos. Impressive.

 

「Uh, the air feels kind of heavy」

「It’s okay, according to the surveillance site’s information, Terawalos shouldn’t be here today」

 

Still, even without him, this atmosphere is hard to endure.

 

「What kind of store is this? 」

「It’s where items lost in dungeons due to death get sold. After a while, they’re put up for sale to the general public. 」

「Why does it feel so oppressive? 」

「When items are lost, it means the adventurers also lost their money and other belongings. If they don’t have savings outside of what they brought in, they can’t buy back their items.

The items are sure to be sold, but they can’t give up hope. That’s why people gather here. 」

 

It’s truly a gathering place for the defeated.

Do they really want to watch their beloved weapons being sold to someone else? It seems like torment. The rule of a 6-day wait between dungeon dives and death penalties means they can’t just go back to earn money.

If it was a complete loss, maybe they could move on, but being so close yet so far must be agonizing. What a cruel system.

Even the contents of an ((Item Box)) disappear. I need to be careful.

 

「Yuki, when you died recently, didn’t you lose Cobra and other items? 」

「I didn’t bring Cobra to the rookie battle because its durability was in a dangerous state. That was close. 」

「There’s insurance against item loss, but it’s quite expensive. This place is a lesson for those who skimp on it. Be careful, Lilika-san. 」

「Y-Yes, I will. 」

 

Stepping inside, the shop looks like a regular weapon store, but the oppressive feeling is overwhelming.

There are benches strategically placed in front of the glass display windows, where slumped adventurers sit, engulfed in despair.

Only despair lives here.

 

「Welcome. 」

 

At the register was a clerk. …What’s with this person?

 

「…Something wrong? 」

「N-No, nothing. 」

 

The clerk managing the store was an extraordinarily huge old lady. A two-meter-tall grandma in an apron, grinning away. What kind of monster is this?

 

「You folks aren’t ‘Lostmen’, are you? 」

「’Lostmen’? 」

「The ones over there hanging their heads. They’re called ‘Lostmen’ because they lost their items in the dungeon.

They all wear the same kind of air about them, so it’s easy to tell when someone’s not one of them. 」

 

What a harsh nickname.

 

「So, you can just normally buy weapons here? 」

「Yeah. They’re all used, but they’ve been fully restored in terms of durability, and given their performance, I think they’re quite affordable. 」

 

But buying while those adventurers are watching? That’s unbearably awkward.

 

「If they don’t sell within a certain period, they go to the dungeon’s treasure chests or become monster equipment.

I think it’s better to make use of them, though. 」

 

That makes sense, but still.

 

「Since you’re new customers, let me explain how this place works.

This is where items lost in dungeons, either due to death or inability to recover, are resold.

After being lost, the original owner has exclusive purchasing rights for a week, during which they can buy their items back.

Once that period is over, as you see, they go on general sale. If they don’t sell in three months, they become pawned. That’s the system. 」

 

Three months seems like enough time, but those folks must have lost some really expensive gear.

They can’t avoid the possibility of someone else buying their gear during that period.

 

「In the showcase, each item has a tag showing its status.

‘Selling’, ‘Negotiating’, ‘Reserved’, ‘Sold’ – the tags change through these stages.

Those ‘Lostmen’ over there have their gear labeled as ‘Selling’, but if, say, I switch it to ‘Negotiating’ like this… 」

 

One of the adventurers suddenly looked up, their face a picture of despair, as they saw their gear being potentially sold off. This system is devilish.

The grinning grandma is just as bad.

 

「Ah, you don’t need to demonstrate that… 」

「Well, that’s the system for you. 」

 

I see, Terrawalos must have been laughing at this. More twisted than I imagined. These people, including the grandma, are like devils.

 

「Can you tell me which items aren’t being watched over by a ‘Lostman’? 」

「No problem. Many give up quickly after losing their items. 」

 

Upon inquiry, the grandma efficiently listed the items not being watched over by ‘Lostmen’.

Bad taste, but efficient work.

 

「We should insure our important gear too. 」

「Yeah, I’ve learned that lesson.」

 

It was good to see it once.

Will I ever come here again? I’d rather not.

 

Though we browsed the grandma’s list, in the end, we left the pawnshop without buying anything.

 

「By the way, how much is the insurance? 」

「It varies. A common plan covers everything except total durability loss for one loss incident, and it costs about 30% to half of the item’s sale price. 」

 

If you use very expensive equipment, that can be costly.

You should use weapons that suit your level.

 

「There are also enchantments to prevent item loss, but applying them is also quite pricey.

They’re mostly single-use and expensive. Permanent ones exist, but they’re out of reach unless you’re upper-level.

We mainly rely on insurance. You should insure your ‘Fuhige Kiri’ too. 」

「T-that’s right.」

 

My wooden sword, though just that, has become quite valuable to me. Losing it would be a problem.

I’ll check the price later.

 

Later, I found out that equipment made by the Dungeon Master comes with an ability that prevents it from being lost.

 

-4-

 

[ Pet Shop ]

 

Rejuvenated, we returned to our city tour.

Our next stop on the way to the arena was a pet shop.

Lilika wasn’t as interested, but Kuro and Yuki were quite keen.

 

「Pet culture seems pretty normal here. 」

 

There were typical pets like dogs, cats, birds, and lizards, though I didn’t recognize all the breeds.

 

「We can’t keep pets in the dorm. At home, we have quite a few dogs. 」

「I wonder if they sell a ‘Topopo-san’ here. 」

 

Yuki-san, that would be problematic to sell.

 

「Hey, bro, wanna take me home? 」

「…What? 」

 

Turning toward the unexpected voice, there was a dog in a cage. …Did it just talk?

 

「Yuki-san, I think this dog just spoke. 」

「Don’t be silly. 」

 

But that’s a cat.

 

「Hey, in this day and age, even dogs can talk a bit. 」

「It… the dog really spoke… 」

 

So I said.

 

「Do all of you talk like this? 」

「Not all of us, but it’s not that rare. That panda over there doesn’t seem to talk. 」

 

Looking where the dog gestured, I saw a panda sitting in a large cage.

Unlike the sunglasses-wearing panda, this one couldn’t speak and was holding a sign saying, “Please buy me (´；ω；｀).” The desperation was palpable, but did it understand what it was holding?

 

「What’s your take on being kept as pets? What about your pride? 」

「We’re companion animals, so being kept as pets is a matter of pride for us. We’re professionals. 」

 

What kind of professionals?

 

「Sorry, I can’t keep pets; I live in the dorm. 」

「That’s a shame. If you get a place where you can keep dogs, consider me. …Oh, hey miss, how about taking me home? 」

 

Realizing it was unlikely with me, the dog started soliciting other passing customers. Indeed, a professional.

 

「Labyrinth City is incredible. 」

「The way Yuki says that really conveys a lot of meanings. 」

「In your world, there aren’t talking animals? 」

「Not in our world or in our past life either. 」

 

Kuro seems a bit too influenced by this city.

It’s worrisome if this place becomes the norm.

 

「Asha said she likes pandas, but does she keep one? Since they’re sold here. 」

「True, they even sell them in pet shops. We actually had one at home for a while, but it left on its own a while ago. It sometimes comes back to visit. Its name is Michael. 」

 

Talking about pandas here, but it sounds like a grown-up son who’s left home.

…Surely it’s not mixed in with the ones we meet on the 10th floor.

 

「Pets are fine, but are there no slaves in this city? 」

 

A key element in Chelem. It’s a trope worthy of ranking.

I have a past of being sold into slavery and being refused, an unpleasant memory.

 

「There’s no slave market here. I’ve heard it used to exist long ago, but it’s meaningless now as a labor force. 」

「It existed in the Empire. But the royal capital on the way here had a larger market. Surprisingly cheap. 」

「Lilika, are you familiar with this? 」

 

Not what you’d expect from its appearance. But there’s still slavery in the royal capital. Like a bargain sale of slaves. What’s that country coming to? 

 

「I’ve fought several times against kidnappers targeting that market. Once I started dressing like a mage, they stopped attacking me. 」

 

A real experience. Different ways to be involved in such matters.

Do thieves not target mages because they fetch a high price? It’s like a risk calculation for them.

 

「In this city, there’s no market, but irredeemable criminals are sometimes exported. Maybe sold in the royal capital? 」

「Can’t afford to do bad things, then. 」

 

I wonder if Sarges is safe. I’m a bit worried now.

Not just detention, but could he be exported from the city? That’s a concerning possibility for him.