BXBX NOVEL Chapter 355 354: Into The Mine
My body was slightly sore from my own actions, but I felt relieved once again, my mind clearer then it had been in awhile.
Tracing out a few runes with my finger, I cleaned myself up and moved towards my clothes, washing them out quickly before tugging them back on, going over the various straps and pouches and making sure I had everything I needed.
Next, I moved towards the loot the two had given me and sifted through it once again, staring at the blades for a few moments before shrugging.
Taking the mans sword, I sat back down and began layering some basic wind enchantments on it, enhancing its edge and giving it the ability to shroud itself in wind, increasing its piercing power.
Next, I experimented a little with the woman's sword, giving it a water enchantment that would allow the user to add on their own Water Mana to make the blade longer and sharper, acting more as a focuser instead of an actual weapon.
Finally, the daggers were given more basic enchantments, so that I could sell the blades off easily instead of worrying about needing to auction them off or be hunted down for them.
When they were all done with, I placed them inside the closet, alongside the other things I didn't want to carry with me, and I began to hide the closet away, utilizing both rubble and magic to make sure it would remain untouched.
Making it look inconspicuous enough, I nodded to myself before doing away with the woman's body, repeating my earlier actions and burying her beneath the floorboards.
Finishing up, I gathered up my gear and departed from the house, taking note of the homeless who glanced at me with a myriad of emotions.
Guilt, lust, concern, worry, fear, and more flooded their eyes as they watched me leave, most likely believing that the time I had spent inside that broken down house had been spent under those two people as they forced themselves on me.
I could tell that a few found that idea rather arousing as they continued to watch me leave, probably thinking about how I was putting on appearances after suffering for hours.
Of course, when they notice that no one is inside the house and that no one else besides me has left it, they're going to be rather confused.
Returning to the main road, I followed the flow of the crowded street and made my way towards the center of the city, where the deep pit of The Mine was situated.
The entryway of The Mine was crowded, with many of the adventurers shouting out to form larger parties before delving into its depths, while others were haggling as they traded and sold their items to others.
Situated around the interior of the pit were dozens of tents and stalls, and they were teeming with incoming and outgoing adventurers who wanted to make a last minute purchase or wanted to sell off their loot.
Following the line into the pit, I eventually moved over towards some of the stalls, listening to the prices for certain items and weapons as I tried to get a feel for what I would be selling and or buying.
Some of the things that I took note of were potions and their prices, and the ingredients that Leone had drilled into my head that were 'universal ingredients'.
A fully concocted healing potion of adequate potency was around a few silvers, but the herbs needed to make it were just a few coppers.
Listening to a alchemist name her price to a party of adventurers who handed her said herbs, I did the math mentally and came up with a.number that was under the average price for potions, meaning I could get a discount if I found the herbs I needed for the potions I needed.
Specifically, I wanted stamina potions, health potions, mana potions, and dark vision potions.
Whether or not those ingredients would be available or not inside The Mine's depths was an entirely different question...
Either way, I wanted to spend at least tonight, and maybe tomorrow inside The Mine, both for the potion ingredients, but also for some experience.
If I could continue to add to my level through fighting, then I could increase my stats some more and make the journey easier.
That, and this would help me hone my skills back to what they used to be.
I hadn't actually 'fought' something in a long time now, and I was worried about getting rusty.
That could mean a death sentence, so I wanted to shake that rust off and keep myself sharp.
Before I continued forwards though, I made my way over to an alchemist who was sitting alone, munching on a salad as she flipped through a tome.
"Excuse me miss? I just had a few questions?"
Looking over towards me, the pale blue skinned woman frowned, before sighing as she waved her hand at me.
Taking that as an okay, I asked "What ingredients would be needed for stamina potions? And what do they look like?"
Remaining quiet, the woman turned back to her book, only to turn back as I placed a few Silvers beside her book.
The frown receded, and she began to speak, her voice low and raspy.
"Stamina potions would be Statella Roots, Green Slime Gel, and Mana Water. Statella Root is a thick root about the size of your forearm, riddled with small, curved spikes. It has a deep earthy odor, and grows in clusters off of the walls. The other is self explanatory... Was that all?"
Shaking my head, I placed another few Silvers as I asked "What about dark vision?"
Taking those coins as well, she smiled at me as she said "Glowing Slime Gel of any color, Minka Carrots, and Mana Water. Minka Carrots are found four or five floors deep, and they tend to look like violet colored carrots with red veins. Don't touch them if they have blue veins; if it snaps or has anything leaking from it, you could be poisoned."
Bowing slightly, I bid the alchemist farewell before returning to the crowded pit, making my way over to the entrance of The Mine.
With my current gear, alongside my magics, I should be able to go down a few floors and find the ingredients I need.
Considering the chatter around me, the sixth and seventh floors would be akin to the Plains of Yama, while the eight floor and below would be like the Gate of Hades.
I should be fine going down to floor four on my own... hopefully.