Luck is on my side.
Staring at that white-grade Abyssal Crystal—even though it’s the lowest grade, it’s exactly what Yukari desperately needs right now.
So-called Abyssal Crystals are energy crystals that form inside the bodies of abyssal monsters. While they’re a manifestation of abyssal power, surprisingly, these crystals aren’t particularly corrosive.
The catch is, these crystals are extremely rare.
Out of hundreds of abyssal monsters, you might only find one that carries such an energy crystal inside.
Since Yukari was first struck by abyssal power, she’s only seen these white-grade Abyssal Crystals twice. One dropped when she killed an abyssal beast, and the other is the one she’s looking at now.
Even the lowest-level white crystal is very rare, let alone the higher grades.
Currently, the higher grades that are known come in two colors: blue and purple.
Yukari has only heard about these two, never seen them with her own eyes. As for anything above purple—if there is an even higher grade Abyssal Crystal—no one knows for sure.
For now, white-grade is more than enough.
She needed to figure out a way to get this crystal from Brohl. Given how her pockets are nearly emptier than her face is clean, it would be best if she could somehow get it for free.
“Manager Brohl, you only decided to buy this because you heard some rumors in town, didn’t you?”
“That’s right.”
She got the expected answer. Thinking about it, who would risk buying such a dangerous contraband item unless they’d heard something on the grapevine?
As for why someone would need this thing, it’s closely related to curses.
You see, curses strike indiscriminately, breaking out on people without warning.
That means anyone could be struck by a curse at any time.
Here’s the problem: if an ordinary person with no wealth or status is cursed, their fate is either execution, exile, or being thrown into a dungeon like the cursed ones in Anvil City, where it’s like a prison.
But if the cursed person isn’t a commoner, but a wealthy merchant, a noble, or even someone in power—
They’d never accept such a fate.
When ordinary people can do nothing but await death as a curse erupts, those people will think up every possible way to buy themselves more time.
That’s when the use for Abyssal Crystals was discovered.
Although Yukari doesn’t understand the underlying reason, using an Abyssal Crystal really can suppress an erupting curse.
So, for a while after that, Abyssal Crystals became hot commodities.
But then, people who used the crystals were horrified to discover that although they could suppress a curse eruption, the abyssal power inside might bring about abyssal corruption instead.
There’s a chance it could accelerate the user’s death.
This discovery turned what was once seen as a life-saving miracle into a double-edged sword overnight.
No one dared to bet on whether it would suppress a curse eruption or hasten their death.
Apart from those already dying from an unstoppable curse, very few dare to try this stuff anymore.
What was once a life-saving treasure turned into a useless item no one wanted.
Yet now, Brohl chose to buy a crystal like this. He must have heard something in town—maybe some cursed lord can’t hold out until the next curse eruption and is desperate for something to prolong their life.
“I thought I could use it to climb the social ladder and make a fortune. But who could have guessed…”
Brohl stared at the crystal in the box, regret written all over his face. “As soon as I got my hands on it, I realized this hot potato couldn’t be sold at all.”
After that, Yukari listened to all of Brohl’s various complaints.
They included, but were not limited to, how he was tricked into buying this crystal, and how he searched for buyers but failed at every turn. After trying everything he could, he finally realized this hot potato would probably rot in his hands.
Maybe he should just throw it away—if he’s ever found with it, it’s straight to execution.
But as for finding buyers, who would dare to buy something like this, except those on death’s door from a curse?
If you get caught, it’s a death sentence.
There are rumors, though, that some people use Abyssal Crystals for research.
But Anvil City is just a frontier town—there’s no way anyone like that would be here.
One way or another, the thing ended up rotting in his hands, with no way to sell it on.
In his desperation, a masked person suddenly appeared and expressed great interest in the crystal.
That was like grabbing a lifeline.
Though the other party claimed to be making a bomb from the crystal, Brohl had never heard of such a thing before. Maybe it was just a cover.
As for what they were really up to, who knew? So long as he could get rid of it, what happened afterward was none of his business.
“I paid several gold coins for it, thinking I could make a fortune. Now that it’s rotting in my hands, all that money’s gone to waste.”
Several gold coins…
Yukari, who’s never even touched a gold coin, was inwardly stunned. Several gold coins would be a fortune for her.
With that much money, she could upgrade all the materials for her grappling hook device.
She could even buy a new weapon.
She’d gotten used to using short daggers, but because of their short reach, she often had to fight up close, and daggers just don’t do enough damage.
If possible, she really wanted a good longsword.
Hmm… She was getting off track.
“If you need it…” Brohl closed the lid of the box, handing the container with the crystal to Yukari. His eyes flickered with a complicated expression.
“One silver coin is enough.”
Compared to the several gold coins he’d paid, one silver coin was basically giving it away for free.
But as broke as Yukari was, did she even have a silver coin left?
Actually, she really did have one silver coin left.
A bit of a coincidence—she couldn’t have paid any more, even if she wanted to.
She pulled out that silver coin. Though she didn’t manage to get it for free, a single silver coin was still within her reach.
But once she handed over that coin, she was down to just a few copper coins.
Great… Now her pockets were truly emptier than her face was clean.
Taking the box, Yukari carefully placed it into the cloth pouch at her waist.
The magic seal was still active, so she didn’t have to worry about the abyssal aura leaking out while walking down the street.
Facing the next curse eruption, she finally had something to give her a fighting chance.
Though it meant gambling with fate.
She’d either suppress the curse this time, or be consumed by abyssal corruption and let her body fall into Iris’s hands.
The deal finished, she was about to leave when Brohl suddenly called out from behind.
Yukari turned around, and with a perfect arc, that silver coin flew right back into her hand.
What’s going on?
“Manager Brohl, what does this mean?”
“Just take it as a gift,” Brohl said, “but I have a small favor to ask. I hope you’ll be able to help me.”
Oh?
Of course, he’s a merchant—how could he possibly give something away for free? He’d still find a way to get something out of it.
“Of course, when it’s done, I’ll prepare another reward for you.”
Brohl paused, then added, “As thanks, there’s something else I have here. Maybe… you’ll be interested.”