Chapter 41: Full Moon Bazaar ①

The moving palace.

This was the rumored VIP area.

Exiting a small room with the exact same layout, we were greeted by a dazzling corridor.

A red carpet stretched down the center, with magnificent landscape paintings and stone statues spaced at regular intervals, and doors lined both sides. Columns like those in a temple stood proudly along the hall.

“All of these are teleportation rooms. The shop area is this way.”

Ahead, we saw a courtyard with a spectacular fountain. It was quite spacious.

“Huh?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…”

I thought I saw Ruma-san and Samaniya-san in the courtyard. Probably just my imagination.

Hoss-san hadn’t returned since then. Where was he, and what was he doing? I felt a slight worry.

Leaving the courtyard behind, we headed to the second floor.

The second floor opened into a wide hall. From the hall, corridors stretched left and right, lined with doors similar to those of the teleportation rooms.

“This is the shop area?”

Mineha-san furrowed her brows.

“Yes.”
“No tents, huh?”
“No. Each room from the second to fifth floor of the palace serves as a shop.”
“The sixth floor?”
“That’s the throne room. If I’m not mistaken, the House of Cards championship match takes place there.”
“The card game one?”
“A one-on-one duel against Hyzen’s champion.”

I see… a card game. Not particularly interesting.

Mineha-san gave a similar response.

“Still… it feels kind of plain.”

Mineha-san was visibly disappointed. I understood that feeling.

I had expected more luxurious tents or extravagant decorations.

But I suppose the VIP area was meant to be understated, not flashy.

“The witch’s shop is over here.”

At the far right end, the door was numbered 216.

Gieza knocked.

“Yes, yes, please come in.”

The witch’s voice came from inside, and Gieza opened the door. A small bell jingled.

We were invited in and stepped into the room—her shop.

A long, large table occupied the center, and chairs lined the walls from end to end.

On the table were the yellow-glowing items the witch had brought from the dump that morning.

A single window had a thin, dark curtain.

“This is the shop?”

Mineha-san muttered, surveying the room. Feeling it was safe, she removed her hood, seemingly relieved.

“Well, well, the interior’s going to be polished a bit more later.”

“…It kind of feels like a jewelry shop, doesn’t it?”

“Oh, oh, well spotted, Wof boy. The interior is modeled after an exclusive, invitation-only jewelry shop in the royal city. All their gems are appraised and legendary. The basement even sells cursed items.”

What kind of store is that?

Mineha-san furrowed her brows.

“Cursed items… they’re real?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, they are.”
“Indeed, they exist.”

We all affirmed in unison. I, after all, couldn’t wield a sword because of a curse from the Sword Goddess.

“So then, what exactly is a curse? Simply put, it’s a relic effect.”

The witch leaned against the table as she spoke.

“A relic?”

“Well, strictly speaking, a relic effect. For example, some relics can strip away freedom of movement. Anyone afflicted by such a relic naturally loses control of their body.”

She picked up a ring nearby—a double ring—and twirled it with her fingers.

“That’s exactly what it does. That’s its effect. What are you saying?”

“Right, but Mineha doesn’t think it’s permanent, does she?”

“Permanent? Isn’t it just temporary?”

“No, no. Your freedom is continuously stripped away. That’s why it’s called a curse.”

Mineha-san widened her eyes in shock, clearly bewildered.

“What about cooldowns?”

“Ah, yes, a very good question. Curses are relic effects, but they have no cooldown.”

The witch set the double ring down. Mineha-san looked troubled.

“That’s… impossible.”
“Well, there’s a reason. The curse continues by paying a price—the ancient relic’s power… life itself.”

Her words made Mineha-san and me catch our breath.

Gieza sighed quietly.

“Life? What do you mean by that?”

Clearly, Mineha-san understood, but she needed to voice it to accept it.

“Simply put, the relic’s possessor continuously sacrifices their own life to maintain the effect. Or they use someone else’s life instead. In other words… a sacrifice.”

“…How vile.”

Mineha-san clicked her tongue in disgust.

The Sword Goddess likely uses the first method. And it seems her life never truly runs out.

At that moment, a bell jingled as the door opened.

“How’s the preparation going?”

A woman with tanuki ears entered, her long blonde hair loosely curled, the round ears poking out.

Clear blue eyes. A face as refined as the witch’s or Mineha-san’s. Upon closer look, this room seemed to be filled only with stunningly beautiful women.

They all had a sweet, creamy scent.

Her outfit was a black cape and flowing dress. Though simple in design, she exuded overwhelming presence and elegance. That dress seemed far more luxurious than it appeared.

She also had two tanuki tails. A tanuki humanoid. Ah, Ponpoko, that’s what that refers to.

“My lady.”
“Oh… uh, could it be—”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Wof.”
“I’m Mineha.”
“Kon. And the witch, right?”

We introduced ourselves. My lady… so this must be Lady Seiran.

“Nice to meet you. Pon is Seiran Zensera. The head of the Zensera family—witch, you already know, so no need for introductions!”

“Haha, well… what a female tanuki.”

“Fox girl…”

Seiran turned her face in mock anger, then glanced at me. Curious, but keeping her distance.

“…My lady, what’s your business here?”

“I just wanted to see. To check what kind of shop you made. Hm. Not bad, for a witch.”

“Uh… excuse me?”

“Y-yes?”

Startled, I handed her a letter from my uncle.

“This is from my uncle.”
“Huh…?”
“For Lady Seiran.”
“Huh?”

She froze, then slowly touched the letter, snatching it up. Her twin tails bristled. A wild tanuki, perhaps?

“My lady, you’re like a beast.”
“Sh-shut up, Gieza.”
“Oh my, so it was a love letter, was it?”
“Don’t smirk, fox girl!”

Seiran glared at the witch before carefully putting the letter away.

“Glad I could deliver it.”
“Th-thank you… oh, this!”

Embarrassed, she picked up a hair ornament on the table.

“Oh? Something caught your attention?”
“…How much?”
“Hmm… let’s see. Since it was interesting, 50,000 Oro is fine.”
“Gieza, pay for it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”

“Witch, by the way, where did you get this?”

She looked at the ornament.

“Hmm… probably from the previous bazaar.”
“You weren’t there! Liar.”

Seiran gave the witch a sharp look. Gieza paid her 50,000 Oro.

“Well then, do your best.”

Seiran and Gieza bowed and left. After a moment, the witch murmured:

“Hmm… this could be problematic.”
“What’s wrong?”
“That hair ornament… probably a memento of someone Seiran knows.”
“Ah.”
“She’s suspicious now.”

Mineha-san sighed. The witch rested her cheek in her hand.

“What should we do?”
“Well, it can be handled. No need to worry. Also, Wof boy, I want Shaldina and Anna Kreutzen to help with the shop.”
“Understood. I’ll let them know. By the way, witch, may I ask something?”
“Oh my, what is it?”

I asked about the daughter of the Sword Goddess. The witch had indeed forgotten, but denied doing anything to her.

“Then who did it?”
“Well, they seem to have many enemies.”

The witch laughed, clearly enjoying herself. Mineha-san was exasperated.

“Seems like it. I’m one of those enemies too.”
“Hehe, anyway, I’ll take full credit for the feat.”

As expected.

After helping the witch a bit, we left the room. Descending the stairs, we looked at the courtyard again—the fountain was magnificent.

“Hey, look over there.”

Mineha-san pulled my sleeve, hood deep over her head.

A group of about six armored figures approached.

The man at the front wore a strange oval mirror on his face. My reflection passed across it as they walked.

Watching their backs, Mineha-san whispered:

“I feel like I’ve seen them before.”
“The mirror-faced man?”
“That creepy one, I don’t know. But the others with him—they’re explorers from Coon Hunt. I’m sure of it. I’ve seen them in Hydrangea’s dungeons a few times.”
“Coon Hunt…”

A cold, unpleasant feeling washed over me. Coon Hunt was involved… I didn’t like it.

If they tried anything, I’d crush them. To me, Coon Hunt were like cockroaches.

On the way back, we tried stopping at the Berg Diner.

The two figures I’d seen earlier crossed my mind.

But it was closed. Probably a regular day off.