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HMJ - Chapter 33
🕑 Added 2024-06-16 09:23:20 +0000 UTCSigh He had gained a capable subordinate, but he wasn’t any closer to gaining more knowledge about alchemy. And this was such a slow skill to grind.
After Lust had signed the contract, he was sure she wouldn’t betray him. This contract they had signed ensured that neither of them could betray the other.
She would work for him and could refuse any order he gave within reason. He couldn’t harm her, and she couldn’t harm him, neither directly nor indirectly.
Harry had restored her strength by returning her souls to her. Right now, she is studying ancient languages under Jura.
While she was strong for this world and her own, she was no Army killer. Neither was she particularly strong in the larger universe.
Based on his calculations, she was about Genin level in the Naruto World, and her Ultimate Spear was nothing more than a simple Jutsu.
Since he was planning to raise a mage division in his army either way, Lust could learn magic. Once his kingdom took more shape, he would give her more responsibility, but right now he has less than 40,000 people in the total population.
The beginnings of an economy were forming, but it would take some time and more people. The entirety of the North had more than 100 times that population, making him one of the smaller lords with quite a big piece of land.
It couldn’t be helped by the savage way the Skagosi had lived before.
All of that didn’t change the fact that he didn’t have anyone from whom he could get knowledge of alchemy and survive it.
His original idea of using Lust, who could survive a complete mental search because the Philosopher Stone granted her regeneration, was prevented because she had no deep knowledge of alchemy.
It never made sense for her to study it since her body had been created in such a way that she couldn’t use it either way. Harry didn’t want to do a full-depth dive into the memories of Colonel Mustang or Major Armstrong.
His mastery over the mental arts could leave permanent damage on a human, and they weren’t evil. While he had no problem hurting others, he didn’t want to do it casually to civilians or just good guys.
“Wait…” Suddenly Harry had a flash of inspiration: “Didn’t Scar kill some scummy state alchemists that enjoyed hurting innocents in Ishval around now?
He is right now off recruiting the Ishvalian survivors, so there is no way for him to do it now.”
But before Harry could go to get Hughes to open the door to Amestris for him, the door opened from the other side.
———
A black-haired teen frowns as he slowly heads towards the meeting place one of his old friends told him to come to.
According to the friend list, they should be right here. He spots a head of golden-brown hair, waving right at him, “Yo Ki-bou!”
Suddenly, she turns around the corner, darting into an alleyway. The black-haired sword wielder frowned for a moment before he quietly followed her.
Around the corner, the dark alleyway was filled with numerous crates, almost stacked like a wall. Argo was sitting atop the stack with a smug grin.
“So… Argo. Did you figure out how she did it?”
"Of course, Ki-bou," she replied playfully, before rolling backwards, falling behind the crates, and assumedly landing on her feet, not that the black-haired swordsman could see. Kirito followed her around the wooden half-wall, seeing her lean against the brick wall of one of the buildings forming this alley.
“Do you have my dagger?”
“I do.” Kirito nods slowly. "Still, it’s surprising that you are on the same level as me.”
“Oh, I got some help. Anyway, here’s how she did it.” Argo smirked as she reached a hand down to her side, grabbing onto... nothing?
Suddenly, the brick wall rippled outwards, revealing a wooden door, causing his eyebrows to shoot up. On it was the symbol of a rood. A secret shop?
“Here it is, Ki-bou! The Dimensional Trader.”
“Hn. I see.” He mutters, studying the door with curiosity, only for a small arm to be held out in front of him as he tried to walk towards it.
“Forgetting something?”
“Right.” I quickly sent her a trade request, placing the dagger he got from the quest in the trade window, before hitting accept.
“Thank you kindly.” Argo smirked as she accepted the trade. “Now, my party is waiting. This dagger will help a lot. I would love to see your expression, but time is of importance right now. Give Harry my regards! Buh bye~” She said as she disappeared behind the barrier of boxes before shouting, “Leave the boxes as barriers; I took so much care pilling them up. We talk later!”
Party? Shouldn’t soloing be more efficient? How did she keep up with his level while partying and watching The Girl?
Kirito walked forward, placing a hand on the invincible door, and opened it. On the other side was a shop fitting into the style of Aincrad's first floor, but on first glance, he could already tell there was no way it should be here.
There were collections of armor and weapons, including bows, put on display. Steel-made equipment. The current equipment available to them was copper; even loot drops would be the same if they weren’t made of monster material.
And then there was the black-haired boy tending to the shop. While he looked humanoid, he had something ethereal about him. His ears were also slightly pointy, similar to those of the elves that appeared on the third floor but not as much.
“Welcome to the Dimensional Trader. My interdimensional shop connects your death game to my world, among many others. I am Harry, the shopkeeper!" For a moment, his eyes checked the name above his head. “So Kirito, what can I get for you? Oh, and be careful about the door; you will get a headache for a moment once you close it. Since you are outside of Aincrad.”
"What do you sell?" He quietly asks.
“Anything I can get my hands on in a medieval world. Weapons, armor, other primitive usables, food, tools, but also more esoteric things, like skill essences that can level up your skills. The earlier you use one, the better, because they don’t stack with your already grinded experience.” The young man replied.
“Skill Essences? Like for my one-handed sword skill?”
“That’s one I have available. My own is now at Level 300. But I grinded it beforehand almost to level 100 because I thought it would add 300 levels to it.” He sighed at the boy.
Still, that’s useful.
“How much do they cost?” Kirito asked in interest.
“Since they are not as broken as I thought, I have to adjust my expectations. The most expensive ones for leveling your skill to 300 will be for 3000 Cor.” Harry sighed, “But before you spend your money on a skill essence, aren’t you the guy Argo mentioned who has an interest in fishing? I’ve gathered all the different types of equipment my people are using. While they are slightly primitive, they should give you the profession.”
“Really? Did Argo mention the other professions too?” He asked now, fully understanding what this meant for them.
“Yep, we already have Smith. Argo right now is leveling Lisbeth to jumpstart the profession. She was the one who originally found the door to my shop. She also asked me for sewing stuff, carpentry, and medicals. By the way, check this out. What does your system say?” Harry said, handing him a collection of bottles.
Milk of the Poppy: A powerful liquid medicine acting as a painkiller and anesthetic. Increases Regeneration by 5 for 5 minutes. Numbs Pain. Causes the Status Effect Stunned for the Duration.
“They seem to be different liquids and herbs with healing properties.” Kirito replied, “These will come in really handy, since we at most have food as a portable healing item until Floor 5.”
“You are getting no healing skill from any of them?”
“Nope.”
“Too bad. It seems like I won’t be able to get a medical kit." Suddenly Harry stopped.
“Ehm, what? It’s fine if you don’t have any medical kits. These are already a tremendous help and will save countless lives." Kirito calmed him down.
“No, I connected to a world that should have medical kits since Argo was here. It’s technologically around the level of WW1, but they should have medical kits." Harry replied as his eyes widened.
“Oh, wait, do they have guns?" asked the Black Swordsman.
“Yeah, but it will take a while until I get some. They are strictly controlled by their military. I already made a deal for them, but I will have to help overthrow a government first.” Harry dropped that as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
“Overthrow a government." Kirito repeated it dryly.
“Welcome to my world. Like you are trapped in a death game, their whole country is about to be sacrificed to turn someone into a god. Their government is controlled by that guy.” Harry chuckled.
Kirito had to chuckle himself; suddenly, his own plight didn’t seem as heavy anymore. What a strange shop! “Well, stay safe. You already are saving a ton of lives with this shop.”
“I won’t worry. You guys don’t forget to call me for the first boss battle. I will help out. I am almost at Level 40 in SAO. So do you want to buy something?”
“Yes, I will take the fishing equipment. And can I get the sword skill essence on credit if I give you half as a downpayment?" Kirito asked, with the price of the fishing equipment, he hadn’t enough to buy the whole Essence. But waiting to get it wouldn’t be worth it.
“Sure, I am already selling my weapons to you guys on credit. So why not?”
Comments
Quill Archer
SAO Skills go up to 1000 Levels and unlock additional advanced Skills with 1000 Levels each. The Skill essences on Stock just cover the first 300 Levels. They are also rather mundane Abilites, like Swordmanship. And they are on the first floors of Aincrad, they don't have a lot of cash yet.
Diabet0s
The skill essences ate kinda thrown away for cheap here. Bit of a joke. Thats like maybe 30 bucks for a high skill with years of training...
