Walking to the rear of the prestigious shop, I glanced towards the exquisite items elegantly arranged behind the gleaming glass displays atop the pristine marble pedestals.
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My attention was particularly caught by a resplendent golden ring nestled on a plush, scarlet pillow beneath the glass. The accompanying label indicated that the ring had the remarkable ability to deflect a single C-rank attack per day.
However, as my eyes fell below the display, I hissed seeing the price tag.
It cost 500,000 Arcons!
I promptly averted my gaze from the display, acting if I wasn't interested in it anyway. It was a self-imposed rule of mine to not to show that I was too poor to buy something.
As I ventured deeper into the shop, I couldn't discern any significant changes in the interior, but I did notice that the number of items on display had multiplied. The price tag was also not merely inflated numbers conjured up for a competition of who could outdo the other.
"..."
Silently, I looked at the rows of items, swiftly skipping through those that I deemed unnecessary. The Class A outing was around the corner and, of course, it was no ordinary one where a simple picnic and idle chit chat would suffice.
We were going to hunt in the Wild Lands.
Wild lands are territories uninhabitable by humans or other intelligent races, like Elves. These lands were controlled by wild Monsters and other abominations that somehow found their way to Leclentia.
These treacherous lands were deemed uninhabitable by humans or any other civilized races, including even Elves. The vast territories were inhabited by savage monsters and grotesque abominations that had inexplicably made their way there.
Rumors and speculation ran about the origin of the monstrous inhabitants of the Wild Lands. Some conjectured that they were the unfortunate remnants of a long-ago cataclysm, unable to adapt to the changing world around them. Others whispered that they were beings from a different realm altogether, inexplicably transported to Leclentia.
Unlike the typical monstrous creatures that one might encounter, the Abominations in the Wild Lands were more akin to zombie-like beings. They possessed a human-like appearance, with their light purple skin and enormous claws adding to their menacing aura. Fortunately, these creatures did not have the ability to spread like a virus, but their ability to reproduce rapidly made it difficult for humans to expand their territory.
Taking a deep breath, I surveyed the countless artifacts on display, each one promising to grant me a significant boost in speed. I knew precisely what I needed to ensure my survival.
Though the defensive artifact may have seemed like the logical choice, I knew better. As I was in a class with the protagonists, something was bound to go awry.
Absentmindedly scratching my chin I recalled the picture of a horde of abominations closing in on our group, trapping us with no escape. Even the mighty protagonists were quickly overwhelmed by their sheer numbers.
"Speed is the key..."
If I somehow managed to separate from the class, do this and that... I could easily avoid the event. However, my actions required high precision and speed.
I was planning to destroy the metal bridge that would lead us across the wide and deep river. By doing so, we could avoid any potential danger that lay ahead.
The only problem was that I was too weak to single-handedly destroy the metal structure of the bridge. However, during one of my countless playthroughs of the game I somehow managed to get my hands on the structure's old blueprints. I knew precisely what actions were necessary to bring the bridge tumbling down.
Giving myself a high five, I quickly scanned the artifacts on display, meticulously searching for one that would be both affordable and suited to my needs.
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My eyes were drawn to a strange hairpin shaped like a bone. The artifact claimed to enhance the user's speed during rainfall, but unfortunately, only acidic rain fell within the Wildlands. I doubted the hairpin would be of much use in that environment.
Disappointed, I turned my attention to a grey wristband made of some sort of metal.
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This artifact promised to enhance the user's speed in any circumstance, albeit by a mere 5%. While it wasn't a significant boost, it was better than nothing and could prove useful in my quest to avoid abominations during the upcoming class outing.
As I continued scanning the artifacts, I grew increasingly frustrated. While many of the items could potentially aid me in my mission, none of them seemed to be the right fit.
Just as I was about to give up and move on to a different store, my eyes landed on a small display with a tattoo on it. Intrigued, I made my way over to take a closer look.
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The tattoo was in the form of a snake with striking red eyes that seemed to follow me as I moved. As I looked closer, I could see that the eyes were not just painted on, but rather appeared to be three-dimensional, giving the tattoo an eerie lifelike quality.
I quickly scanned the description below the display and my eyes widened in surprise. The tattoo was a permanent object, unable to be removed once applied. It would grant the user a 15% increase in speed, but only when the wearer was in some kind of pain.
"Perfect..."
I could argue that I was always in pain. From when I reincarnated, I always felt a slight ache in the corner of my heart. I'm not sure what it was, but it seemed that my soul was damaged or something.
Either way, the pain was very dull and it didn't affect me at all. Sometimes I even forgot it.
As I stared at the tattoo, I wondered if the pain I felt would be enough to activate its power. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if there was a better option, but ultimately decided to take the risk and purchase the tattoo.
Although I could describe the pain as subtle, maybe for some it'd be agonizing? I don't know, at this point I feel like I'm a masochist.
As I left the store, I quickly made my way towards my apartment and shut the door behind me.
Going towards the wooden I pushed the documents to the side and placed the Tattoo on the table. Looking at it for a few seconds, I sighed, picking it up and placing it on my forearm.
"Time for another power-up..."
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