Chapter 160 – Nice Surprises
Chapter 160
Nice Surprises
Date : Day 5 of Lunaeve 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
The cold winter air greeted them outside Borin's store. The diminished—but still bustling—Adventurer's District stretched before the two of them.
The silver sun, Luna, had already climbed near its zenith, bathing the streets in its cool silver light.
Hyoren looked toward Ina.
“Ina, let's head to the Gilded Scale. We need to appraise the loot and buy watch magic tools.”
Ina nodded happily before naturally slipping both arms around one of Hyoren's.
“Okay. Let's go, Hyoren.”
Her cat ears perked happily, while her tail swayed lazily behind her.
The two of them began walking through the busy streets of the Adventurer's District and towards Merchant’s District.
Before long, they arrived at their destination—the Gilded Scale. The magic tool shop owned by the twin dwarves.
Hyoren pushed open the wooden door. The bell above it chimed softly. Warm air immediately greeted them as they stepped inside.
Shelves filled nearly every wall of the orderly shop. Storage bags, enchanted lanterns, purification stones, camping equipment, and all kinds of runic devices were neatly displayed, each accompanied by a small handwritten price tag.
Behind the counter, the twin dwarves were deeply engrossed in discussing a half-finished magic tool.
Silver-bearded Balin held the device in one hand while pointing toward several runic inscriptions carved into its surface.
Across from him, the red-bearded Gror stood with his arms crossed stubbornly.
“No. That inscription wastes too much Aethell.”
Balin clicked his tongue.
“It doesn't if you optimize the second layer.”
The debate continued until the bell above the door interrupted them.
Both dwarves raised their heads at exactly the same moment. Smiles immediately appeared on their faces.
Balin greeted them first.
“Well, if it isn't Hyoren.”
His gaze shifted toward Ina, who was still happily holding onto Hyoren's arm. A knowing grin slowly spread beneath his silver beard.
“So it seems the rumors are true.”
Ina simply smiled. She made no effort to let go of Hyoren's arm. Instead, her cat ears twitched proudly.
Gror set the unfinished magic tool back onto the counter before smirking.
“So...”
He rested both hands on his hips.
“What do you need this time?”
His eyes wandered toward Hyoren's waist as if searching for something.
“Another storage bag? Or a new tent?”
Then a mischievous grin spread across his face. His gaze drifted toward the petite cat-clan beastkin still clinging to Hyoren.
Without another word, Gror picked up a small black sphere resting on the counter and held it up.
“Or maybe this?”
He tossed the sphere lightly in his palm.
“A Discourse Sphere.”
He chuckled.
“It keeps sounds from leaving the room. So your neighbors won't hear about your nightlife. Considering her reputation throughout Akela, you might need this! Hahaha!”
Instead of becoming embarrassed—Ina's eyes sparkled.
She actually released Hyoren's arm before walking over to Gror.
“Ooh?”
She accepted the black sphere with both hands and carefully examined it from every angle.
Then she looked back toward Hyoren.
“Hyoren.”
She smiled brightly.
“We need to buy this!”
A mischievous smile slowly spread across her face.
“I'm sure Elise would agree too.”
She giggled.
“I know she could scream like a wraith.”
Hyoren immediately felt the heat creeping from his cheeks all the way to his neck.
Unfortunately—he remembered exactly what she meant. Back when they still lived at Martha's inn, one of the reasons they had eventually decided to buy a house was because Martha had politely complained that he and Elise were—a little too loud at night.
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Then he looked toward the familiar magic tool still in Ina's hands. He remembered seeing the exact same device before. Archbishop Sherine had once used it to prevent their important conversations from being overheard.
Hyoren looked at Gror.
“Wasn't this originally made to prevent eavesdropping?”
He pointed toward the sphere.
“So confidential conversations would stay inside the room?”
Balin couldn't help smirking.
“Well...”
He rested his stubby but surprisingly dexterous hands on the counter.
“That was the original purpose of the magic tool. But nowadays…”
The corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.
“The people buying these the most are brothel owners… and couples who want to keep their nightlife to themselves.”
He laughed heartily.
“Or people considerate enough not to disturb their neighbors! HAHAHA!”
Hyoren let out a long, helpless sigh.
He had come here to buy a watch. But somehow—the first item being recommended to him was something entirely different.
***
Ina looked at Hyoren with glittering eyes.
Her amber eyes were filled with expectation as she hugged the small black sphere against her chest. Her cat ears stood straight up, and even her tail swayed eagerly behind her.
Hyoren held her gaze for a few seconds.
Then he let out a defeated sigh.
“Fine.”
He smiled helplessly.
“We'll buy it.”
Ina squealed happily.
“Yes!”
She hugged the Discourse Sphere tighter before looking at it with sparkling eyes.
“Thanks, Hyoren.”
A mischievous smile slowly spread across her face.
“With this…”
She began mumbling to herself. Her cat tail swished energetically behind her.
“We could do that... and do this... or maybe do that together with Elise... Hehehe.”
Hyoren wisely decided to pretend he hadn't heard any of that.
Instead, he looked toward the twin dwarves.
“But...”
He pointed at the black sphere.
“That's definitely not the magic tool we actually came here for.”
He let out another short sigh.
“We need a magic tool to keep track of time. A watch, I think that's what it's called.”
The twin dwarves looked at each other before nodding.
Gror turned around and headed toward the storage room.
“I'll get them.”
Meanwhile, Balin stayed behind the counter.
“Sure. We have plenty of those.”
He rested both hands on the counter.
“You need one for dungeon diving, huh?”
He nodded approvingly.
“Those are mostly used by nobles, bureaucrats…”
He pointed toward Hyoren.
“And adventurers who regularly explore dungeons.”
A grin slowly appeared beneath his silver beard.
“The adventurers of Akela are still complete newbies when it comes to dungeon diving. Hardly anyone has bought this important magic tool before! HAHAHA!”
Hyoren smiled wryly.
That explanation made perfect sense. Most adventurers in Akela had never needed to keep precise track of time while exploring caves or forests. A dungeon was different. Without sunlight or a natural day-and-night cycle, losing track of time happened frighteningly easily.
Not long afterward, Gror returned carrying a wooden tray. He carefully placed three magic tools onto the velvet-covered counter.
“They're all watches.”
He pointed at them one by one.
“Almost every timekeeping magic tool works exactly the same. The only differences are the shape and decoration.”
His grin widened.
“I only brought the simple ones. You definitely wouldn't buy the flashy ones anyway, right?”
Hyoren smiled softly. The twin dwarves really understood his preferences by now.
He stepped closer to examine the three magic tools. Ina stood beside him, her curiosity equally piqued. She picked them up one by one before handing them to Hyoren.
The first resembled a pocket watch attached to a fine silver chain that allowed it to be worn like a necklace.
Hyoren gently opened its cover.
Inside was a familiar-looking clock face with three hands. There was no ticking sound. Instead, he could feel a faint pulse of Aethell humming from inside. Rather than gears, the watch was powered by a miniature runic array.
The second one resembled a bracelet. It fastened around the wrist much like a wrist-watch from Earth.
However, the body of the device was considerably larger. Even when Hyoren imagined wearing it, it looked bulky.
The third was even larger. It resembled a small tabletop clock more than something meant to be carried around. Hyoren guessed it was intended to be placed inside an office or home.
Balin spread his hands.
“All three are the same quality.”
He smiled.
“And the same price. 1 Mil Kres.”
He picked up the bracelet-shaped one.
“Most party leaders choose the wrist model.”
He tapped it lightly.
“Easy to check. You don't need to pull it out from inside your shirt or open a cover every time. You're choosing this one too?”
Hyoren quietly thought about it.
The tabletop version was immediately out of consideration. There was no reason to carry something that bulky during dungeon exploration.
Then he looked at the wrist model again. It was certainly convenient. But—he imagined holding his shield. The large bracelet would interfere with his Ninja Gloves and slightly restrict his wrist movement.
For most party leaders, that probably wasn't an issue.
For a tank, every bit of wrist movement mattered. His answer naturally became obvious.
He gently picked up the necklace-shaped watch.
“No, Balin. I'll take this one.”
He held it up by its chain.
“I don't need to check the time constantly.”
He closed the cover with a soft click.
“Only occasionally. Mostly to decide whether it's time to rest or continue exploring.”
He nodded.
“This one is compact. And it won't interfere with my shield work. I'll buy this.”
Behind him, Ina smiled in agreement.
“I agree, Hyoren.”
She nodded lightly.
“I think that's the reasonable choice.”
She looked at the bracelet model.
“A lot of party leaders prefer the wrist version because most of them aren't tanks.”
Her cat ears twitched.
“So their wrists are much freer.”
Hyoren nodded. From his observation—the only party leader in Akela which choose to became tank was Ronald and Jigor—the rest actually prefered picking other roles.
“Yes. Ina's right.”
Balin and Gror nodded at the same time.
Without another word, Gror took the remaining two watches and carefully set them back onto the shelf behind the counter.
Balin looked at Hyoren. He folded his arms comfortably.
“Okay. Is that everything?”
Hyoren shook his head.
“That’s all what we are going to buy, but there is something else I need your help with.”
He reached into his storage bag once more before carefully taking out a necklace.
An emerald pendant rested at its center. The craftsmanship was exquisite. Delicate gold decorations embraced the emerald gemstone, while the articulated drop allowed the jewel to sway gently whenever it moved. Even beneath the shop's warm lighting, the emerald emitted a faint glow of Aethell.
Looking closely, one could even make out a tiny yet incredibly intricate runic inscription embedded deep within the gemstone.
Hyoren carefully placed it on the velvet-covered counter.
“I'd also like this necklace appraised.”
He gently pushed it toward the twin dwarves.
“We got it from a treasure chest.”
Gror picked it up first. The moment he saw it more closely, his eyes widened.
“By Gravok's beard...”
He turned the pendant around several times before immediately handing it to his brother.
“Look at this, Brother.”
Balin accepted the necklace. His cheerful expression gradually became serious.
He carefully rotated the pendant beneath the light before reaching beneath the counter.
A moment later, he took out a magnifying magic tool. The small lens glowed faintly with Aethell as he held it over the emerald.
The shop became noticeably quieter. Even Gror stopped speaking.
Only the soft crackling of the enchanted lamps could be heard while Balin silently examined every detail. The intricate gold craftsmanship surrounding the gemstone. The remarkably pure emerald. And most importantly—the tiny runic array hidden deep inside the jewel.
Several long moments passed.
Finally, Balin lowered the magnifying tool.
He carefully placed both it and the necklace back onto the velvet counter, treating the pendant far more gently than before.
“This is...”
He slowly shook his head.
“An artifact.”
His eyes lifted toward Hyoren.
“You said this came from a treasure chest?”
Hyoren nodded.
“Yes.”
Balin let out a quiet whistle.
“You're definitely one hell of lucky guy.”
Gror crossed his arms.
“My brother's right.”
He looked at the pendant with clear admiration.
“The dungeon has only just opened...”
He looked back at Hyoren.
“And you've already found an almost invaluable treasure.”
Hyoren and Ina exchanged surprised looks.
Neither of them had expected the emerald pendant to receive such an evaluation.
Balin briefly looked at the emerald pendant before raising his eyes toward Hyoren.
“My appraisal skill can identify its name and effect.”
He paused for a brief moment, still holding the pendant carefully between his fingers.
“This is called…”
Hyoren unconsciously swallowed as the dwarf paused dramatically.
Balin continued.
“Sylvana's Lavalier.”
The name alone made the room fall silent. Sylvana—the Verdant Mother—the Goddess of Nature which preceded Wind and Water elements. Also the patron Goddess of the elves.
Hyoren's eyes returned to the emerald pendant resting on the velvet counter.
“Sylvana's Lavalier? Sylvana... the Goddess?”
Gror nodded.
“It could simply be the naming sense of the craftsman.”
He chuckled.
“Not necessarily an artifact personally made by the Goddess.”
His smile slowly faded.
“But considering its effect… It wouldn't surprise me if it actually was.”
Balin touched the pendant almost reverently. His voice became noticeably more serious.
“This pendant grants the wearer unmatched qualities as an archer. Every arrow fired while wearing this pendant is automatically imbued with Wind Magic.”
He gestured with his hand.
“It flies faster. Straighter. More accurately.”
Gror stroked his red beard before adding his own explanation.
“In simpler terms… It increases the damage of arrows by roughly twenty-five percent. Improves accuracy by another twenty-five percent. And on top of that, it adds Wind Magic damage.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Meaning, the arrows can also strike ethereal targets.”
Hyoren and Ina's eyes widened even further.
Ina, who understood dungeons and dungeon loot far better than Hyoren, looked genuinely shocked. Her cat ears slowly flattened. Even her tail stopped swaying.
“For this kind of artifact… To appear in a Bronze-tier dungeon… On the very first floor even…”
She slowly turned toward Hyoren.
“Either your luck is absurdly good… Or Akela Dungeon is truly abnormal.”
Hyoren narrowed his dark eyes. He looked back at the pendant.
“Is this pendant… Sylvana's Lavalier… Really that powerful?”
Balin slowly shook his head. His silver beard swayed gently with the motion.
“Hyoren… Most magical accessories only provide a single effect.”
He counted with his fingers.
“Ten percent better accuracy. Or maybe fifteen percent more damage. Or fifteen percent increased speed. Things like that.”
Gror immediately pointed toward the emerald pendant.
“But this… It has three effects. And every single one of them is exceptionally powerful for a single accessory.”
Hyoren slowly nodded.
His gamer instincts immediately understood the explanation. Accessories usually granted smaller bonuses because multiple pieces could be worn together. Several rings. Bracelets. Necklaces.
If every accessory provided effects like this… People would become absurdly powerful simply by stacking equipment.
He looked back at the dwarf brothers.
“So… This is really valuable… How much would it sell for?”
He already knew his decision. He had absolutely no intention of selling it. Elise was the perfect owner for this pendant. Still—knowing its value would help him understand just how extraordinary it truly was.
The twin dwarves looked at each other. Then both burst into laughter.
“Hahaha!”
Balin recovered first.
“This is practically a national treasure, Hyoren.”
He shook his head.
“There isn't a proper price we could put on it. And we certainly couldn't afford to buy it.”
He pointed vaguely outside.
“If you truly wanted to sell it… Go to the Capital's Grand Auction. Maybe a Gold-rank adventurer. A Knight Captain. Or some high-ranking noble would buy it.”
Gror wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes after laughing so hard.
“My guess?”
He rubbed his red beard thoughtfully.
“100 million Kres. Maybe even more.”
That single number alone showed just how absurd the pendant truly was.
Hyoren quietly stared at the emerald. Then he looked toward Ina.
“I'm still not sure how we actually got an artifact on our very first dungeon dive…”
He paused. His gaze slowly drifted toward the shop window. Yet his thoughts wandered somewhere else. Toward the silver-haired elf with emerald eyes.
“It could make us rich… But… I plan to give this to Elise.”
Ina gently touched Hyoren's arm. She looked at him fondly.
“That's a good idea. Money was never your goal anyway, right, Hyoren? And this pendant practically screams Elise.”
Hyoren nodded.
“Yeah…”
He lifted the emerald pendant. The gemstone reflected the shop's warm light beautifully.
“The gemstone… It has the same shade as Elise's beautiful emeral eyes. And even its effects are perfectly tailored for her.”
He carefully returned it to the counter. Then he looked toward the twin dwarves.
“Thank you for the appraisal, Balin. Gror. But I've decided not to sell it.”
Balin nodded approvingly.
“Good choice. If I were you… I'd keep it myself.”
Gror chuckled.
“Yes. If people find out you've obtained something like this… They'll go crazy trying to learn where you got it! Hahaha!”
Hyoren smiled wryly.
“Okay then. How much for the watch, the Discourse Sphere, and the appraisal fee?”
Balin silently calculated for a few moments.
“The watch is 1 Mil. The Discourse Sphere is 2 Mil. The appraisal fee is 100K. 3.1 Mil Kres altogether.”
Ina immediately produced her guild card. Gror accepted it before placing it onto the familiar payment device. The runes beneath the crystal glowed softly. A few moments later, the light faded.
He handed the card back.
“Okay. Payment confirmed.”
Ina happily tucked the Discourse Sphere into her storage bag. A mischievous smile lingered on her face while doing so.
Hyoren quietly picked up the emerald pendant and carefully returned it to his own storage bag. He would give it to Elise later.
Then he reached for the watch. Just before his fingers touched it—Balin suddenly stopped him.
“Don't.”
Hyoren tilted his head.
“What's wrong, Balin?”
Balin withdrew his hand before explaining.
“Never store a watch inside a storage bag. Both the watch and the storage bag use Time Magic runic inscriptions. It won't break. But the time dilation inside the storage bag will interfere with the watch's runic array.”
He shook his head.
“The time will no longer be accurate.”
Realization immediately dawned on Hyoren.
Of course…
The storage bag had its own flow of time. Naturally, a magic tool designed to measure time wouldn't function correctly inside it.
He nodded gratefully.
“I see… I hadn't realized that… Thanks for the reminder.”
Instead of storing it away, Hyoren placed the silver chain around his neck before tucking the watch safely beneath his shirt. Compact. Easy to reach. And it wouldn't interfere with his shield.
He glanced toward Ina. She nodded once. They were finished here.
Hyoren looked back toward the twin dwarves.
“Okay, Balin. Gror. That was everything. We'll be going now.”
Ina immediately slipped both arms around Hyoren's again. She smiled brightly towards the dwarf brothers.
“Yeah!”
She giggled.
“Thanks for recommending the Discourse Sphere! We'll make good use of it.”
Hyoren quietly rubbed the back of his neck. The twin dwarves looked at each other before laughing together.
“It was our pleasure!”
“Thanks for the purchase!”
The bell chimed softly once more as Hyoren and Ina left the shop.
Satisfied with everything they had bought, the two stepped back into the lively streets of the Merchants' District.
***
The sparse Merchants' District greeted them once again as they stepped out of the Gilded Scale.
Merchants walked past carrying ledgers beneath their arms. Groups of well-dressed shoppers leisurely browsed the storefronts, while a covered wagon rumbled across the street in front of them, its wheels producing a steady clatter against the stone road.
The district remained orderly despite the constant flow of people.
Hyoren instinctively raised his head, trying to judge the time from the position of Luna.
The silver sun had already begun its slow descent from the zenith—then he remembered.
Right... I have a watch now.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
He slipped a hand inside his shirt and pulled out the necklace watch. With a practiced motion, he flipped open the cover. The three hands quietly pointed at the current time. 15:13. Hyoren closed the cover before letting the watch fall back beneath his shirt.
He looked toward Ina beside him.
“We're mostly done here. But the day is still a bit long.”
He paused for a moment.
“Any place you want to go, Ina?”
His gaze became gentler.
“Let's enjoy... our date to the fullest. You rarely get a day off, and our schedules hardly ever match.”
Ina's amber eyes widened slightly. She had never expected Hyoren to say something like that on his own.
Truthfully, there was somewhere she wanted to take him. She had been wondering how to ask. Yet before she could gather the courage—Hyoren had already offered.
A warm smile slowly spread across her face. Without saying anything, she stepped closer and wrapped both arms around him.
Hyoren blinked in surprise. Then he smiled and gently returned the hug.
“What’s wrong, Ina?”
Ina stayed in his embrace for another brief moment before slowly letting go.
She looked up at him with a genuine smile. Her cat ears twitched happily, and her tail swayed lazily behind her.
“Nothing.”
She giggled softly.
“I'm just happy my lover is being so thoughtful.”
Hyoren immediately felt his cheeks grow warm. He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Ina leaned forward slightly.
“We still have plenty of time before dinner.”
She smiled mischievously.
“Care to go somewhere with me?”
Hyoren smiled back without hesitation.
“Sure. I'll accompany you wherever you want to go, Ina.”
Ina giggled again.
“Okay then.”
She happily slipped both arms around one of Hyoren's again.
“Follow me.”
Ina led him through the wide, orderly streets of the Merchants' District.
She remained happily latched onto his arm as they walked side by side. Before long, they reached a stone bridge spanning a canal that separated the Merchants' District from the Administrative District.
The moment they crossed it, the atmosphere changed once again. The lively chatter of merchants gradually faded behind them—replaced by a quieter, more dignified calm.
Far fewer people walked these streets.
Most were bureaucrats carrying stacks of documents beneath their arms. Here and there, richly dressed nobles rode in elegant carriages or strolled with attendants following behind them. Occasionally, Hyoren also spotted clergymen and nuns wearing the white robes of Luminara's Church.
As they continued south, they passed a majestic white stone building whose polished walls gleamed beneath Luna's cool light—Cathedral of Luminara’s Church.
Not long afterward, they walked past another massive compound. Behind its sturdy walls stretched a large training ground where armored knights sparred with swords and spears. The metallic clang of weapons occasionally drifted toward the street.
That must be the Knight Barracks...
Hyoren thought to himself.
They continued walking. Several elegant mansions soon came into view.
Each belonged to one of Akela's minor noble families—judging from the family crests displayed above their gates. Guards stood watch outside every estate, their polished armor reflecting the afternoon sunlight.
Eventually, the quiet streets opened into a slightly busier area—a small dock. The southern edge of Akela City met the wide Akela River here.
Hyoren instinctively slowed his steps.
The broad river flowed steadily before him, its surface shimmering beneath the silver light of Luna. Small waves gently lapped against the wooden piers while the cool breeze carried the faint scent of fresh water.
His gaze unconsciously followed the current upstream.
If someone continued following that river—they would eventually reach the Forest of No Return. And farther still—the cave that had become his home during his very first month after arriving in this world. The place where his survival journey had begun.
A faint smile appeared on Hyoren's face.
Seeing the river again brought back countless memories. Cold nights. Lonely meals. Learning how to survive. The fear of dying. And the determination to keep living.
He slowly exhaled before returning his attention to the present.
The dock itself wasn't particularly large. It served as a river harbor more than anything.
Several cargo ships were moored along the piers while others slowly departed, carried downstream by the river's current. Most transported lumber stacked neatly across their decks, while others were loaded with crates and various cargo covered by thick canvas sheets.
Nearby, a small wooden crane creaked as dock workers hauled heavy cargo from one ship to another.
On both sides of the harbor stood tall stone towers rising alongside Akela's city walls. Each tower reached roughly ten to fifteen meters into the sky.
From their height, guards could oversee both the river traffic and the surrounding lands whenever necessary, serving as observation posts protecting the city's southern approach.
Hyoren looked at Ina.
“This is the place you wanted to bring me to, Ina?”
He looked around the small harbor once more.
Cargo ships came and went. Dock workers hauled heavy crates while merchants shouted instructions to one another. Other than the busy river harbor, he couldn't see anything particularly special.
A puzzled smile appeared on his face.
Ina giggled.
“Just a little farther. Follow me.”
Hyoren simply nodded and let her lead him once more. He didn't know where Ina wanted to bring him. But if it was her favorite place—he was sure he would enjoy it too.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he quietly matched her pace.
Ina continued walking with light, steady steps, happily guiding Hyoren through the small river harbor. She remained a step ahead, occasionally glancing back to make sure he was still following.
Around them, the harbor remained busy.
Dock workers carried heavy crates across wooden platforms while foremen shouted instructions from nearby piers. Cranes creaked as they lifted cargo between ships and the docks. Ropes groaned under tension, and every so often, a vessel slowly departed while another drifted toward the harbor to unload its goods.
The cool winter breeze carried the scent of the river through the bustling harbor.
Yet despite all the activity surrounding them, the two walked at an unhurried pace. Steady. Relaxed. Following the path toward his lover's favorite place.