Market District (3)

<Author's Thoughts: I'm releasing an extra chapter as thanks for reaching more than 10 Power Stones this week. Thank you, Jitna and Maximus1334!>

 

Vivian exited the shop and went straight to the street vendors.

 

She began searching for anything that would catch her eye.

 

Vivian knelt down on one knee and pointed at an item.

 

"Hi, how much is this?"

 

The vendor was a man in his late 20s. He eyed Vivian and the item that she was pointing at for a moment before answering.

 

"15 silver coins."

 

"Can I touch it?"

 

The man nodded and Vivian picked up the item.

 

It was a sword.

 

She didn't swing the sword because there were too many people around so she just inspected it.

 

And even though this street was a perfect place to steal purses due to the number of people, no one would dare to do such a thing because most of the people who would come here are types whose profession involves killing.

 

Hmm…

 

So the items being sold here are used items…

 

Although the sword looked well maintained, there were still some signs on the handle that it was a used item.

 

And it's still 15 silver coins…

 

Assuming that 10 silver coins is 1 gold coin, then that means this is 1 gold coin and 5 silver coins…

 

Even though it's at the very least 95% cheaper compared to the store, I still can't afford it…

 

Really sucks to be broke…

 

Vivian knelt down and returned the sword.

 

"Thank you," she said and then left to check another vendor.

 

She found another item that caught her attention and knelt down.

 

"How much is this?"

 

It was another sword. But this time, it was a short sword.

 

"10 silvers."

 

"I see. How about this?"

It was a dagger. But compared to Vivian's dagger, this one looked like a legit combat dagger.

 

"8 silvers."

 

"I see. Thank you."

 

Vivian left to find another vendor.

 

I remember the saleslady saying it's made of 100% Mithril…

 

Does this mean the items being sold here aren't mithril or just part of it…?

 

And assuming that Mithril is the lowest grade, what is the highest…?

 

Vivian shook her head.

 

What is the point of thinking about that when I can't even afford the items here…?

 

Vivian found another 2 items that caught her interest.

 

"How much is this?"

 

It was a pair of metal gauntlets.

 

"30 silver coins."

 

"This one?"

 

It was a pair of metal greaves.

 

"30 silver coins. But if you buy the gauntlets and greaves together, I'll sell them to you for 50 silver coins only."

 

Vivian couldn't help but let out a smile and said, "I could only dream about having that kind of money."

 

The vendor let out a chuckle.

 

Vivian got up to search for another vendor and saw a vendor selling belt bags and pouches.

 

Oh right... 

 

I forgot to buy a sack for the hearts… 

 

She then saw a vendor selling a spiked club that had nails attached to it.

 

Maybe there's a construction company here that sells steel pipes…?

 

I got to check that later…

 

Vivian saw an item that caught her attention.

 

"Hi, can I ask what's this?"

 

The item she pointed to was a huge light green colored marble which was about the size of an infant's head.

 

The vendor, who was an old woman, looked at Vivian.

 

"It's a magic marble infused with the Wind Affinity."

 

"How much is it?"

 

"100 silver coins."

 

"Oh… I see… Thank you."

 

Vivian immediately left the vendor as if it was cursed.

 

She continued to look around until she saw something that made her eyes shined.

 

"I've got to check that!"

 

She approached the vendor who was a dark-skinned woman.

 

"Hi, is this a weapon?"

 

The woman smiled.

 

"You're the first one who asked me that since I started selling here."

 

Vivian didn't say anything.

 

"I'm not selling that. That's just something I use to train my pets."

 

The item that Vivian was asking about was a black thin rod that looked like a whip and was almost 2ft long. However, what really drew Vivian's attention to it was that it was made of rubber.

 

So as far as she was concerned, it was easy to carry around and it wouldn't break that easily.

 

"You're a Tamer as well?" asked the woman.

 

Tamer...?

 

Does she mean like I train animals...?

 

"No, but I'm interested in this item. Can I see touch it?"

 

"Sure."

 

Vivian picked up the item and bent it a little bit.

 

It really is rubber…

 

So there's rubber in this world, huh…

 

But how come I've never seen any rubber flip-flops…?

 

"Where did you buy this?"

 

A confused expression flashed across the woman's face.

 

"Just go to any animal shop or farm. You can buy one there."

 

"I see, do you know where's the nearest animal shop or farm here?"

 

"Yeah, there's a butcher shop in the corner over there," the woman said and pointed. "But if you really want to buy this, I don't mind. I have many."

 

"How much?"

 

"Well, 5 coppers -- I mean, just 4 will do because it's already used."

 

"I don't mind," Vivian said and handed over 5 copper coins.

 

"Well, thank you then."

 

"By the way, do you know where they sell clothes here? As much as possible, not the used ones, but still affordable."

 

"Just head this way and turn to the left. You'll find some tailoring shops there."

 

"Thank you so much."

 

"Thank you too."

 

Vivian left.

 

***

 

Vivian arrived at the street where the tailoring shops were located.

 

Compared to the other streets she has been within the Market District, this one had more women than men.

 

Vivian chose a shop that didn't look too cheap but also didn't look too expensive either -- basically, just right in the middle.

 

"Welcome! How may I help you?" a woman said to her when she entered.

 

"I'm looking to buy some clothes," Vivian said and looked around.

 

Come to think of it, this is my first time going to a female clothing shop...

 

It would be also my first time buying one…

 

Sniff.

 

Sniff.

 

I don't know if female clothes just smell pleasant or because outside just smells foul…

 

"What kind of clothes are you looking for? Tailor-made or ready-made?"

 

Ready-made...?

 

Do women's shops use that term...?

 

"Ready-made, I think…?"

 

"Okay, we have here dresses, underwear, sleeping gowns, bras, head scarfs --"

 

The woman mentioned a couple of more things that Vivian had no clue about.

 

"How much is the... Um... underwear and bras?"

 

"One underwear is 5 cents each, same goes for bras. But if you buy a set, it will cost you 9 cents. And if you buy 2 sets, it will only cost you 15 cents each."

 

"I want to buy 2 sets, black and red. But do you have my size?"

 

"What's your size?"

 

"I'm not sure."

 

Vivian could more or less guess her underwear size. But when it came to the bra size, although she believes she's a C-cup, she has no experience in buying and wearing bras.

 

"Okay, let me measure you," the woman went to a drawer to grab a measuring tape.

 

"Wait!"

 

"Yes?"

 

"Do you have sports bras here?"

 

"Sports bra?"

 

"You know, something like what Adventurers or warriors use because we have to move a lot during fighting? Leggings as well -- it's something like an underwear but it's like a tight and stretchable shorts."

 

"I'm sorry, we don't have that. However, I can assure you that our bras and underwear can meet your expectations because we also have female Adventurer customers that shop here."

 

"I see."

 

Hmm… 

 

Looks like I should befriend female adventurers…?

 

But wouldn't they find it weird that I, a 24-year-old grown woman, don't know much about being a woman…?

 

What if they ask about menstrual cycle…?

 

What am I going to answer…?!

 

Vivian noticed that the woman was just standing and looking at her.

 

It took a moment for Vivian to realize why.

 

"Oh, sorry, please measure me now because I plan to buy other clothes as well."

 

"Okay."

 

"Oh!"

 

The woman stopped and jumped in surprise.

 

"I'm sorry?!"

 

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

 

Vivian noticed that there was a full-body mirror in the corner.

 

"Can I use your mirror?"

 

"Use it…?"

 

"I mean, see my reflection? I've been working and running around since this morning and didn't have the time to fix myself."

 

"Oh, sure."

 

"Thank you," Vivian said and went to the mirror.

 

Oh, wow…

 

I didn't expect this…

 

Looking at her reflection, Vivian was surprised to see that she had a beautiful face, purple-colored hair with red highlights, and pink or slightly red eyes.

 

So I'm not that bad-looking at all…

 

However...

 

Vivian had RBF, which meant resting-bitch-face.

 

No wonder…

 

She formed a smile.

 

I still kinda look scary...

 

Or to be specific, strict...

 

But I'm still cute though that I'd even date myself if I was still a man…

 

It was a lie.

 

If Vivian was still a man and she saw this face, she would have little to no patience in pursuing. The moment she sensed an attitude she didn't like, she would immediately ghost her. After all, Vivian came from a world where everyone was connected. Gone are the days where people would stick to one devotedly for years in hopes that one day the person they're yearning for would look at them and finally realize their worth. Furthermore, it wasn't like she was the only beautiful person in the world, not to mention every second, a woman turns 18 years old.

 

And to describe Vivian's beauty, if she were in a movie or TV show, she had the face of a female villain. Beautiful, but not the female main character that people would root for.

 

At least that was what her face looked like to her.

 

She massaged her cheeks to try to make herself look less scary.

 

Hmm…

 

It's not working…

 

She turned to the side.

 

I also have nice breasts…

 

Vivian's hair was tied into a ponytail but the red highlights on her purple hair were still evident. 

 

She leaned forward to check the roots of her hair that had red highlights.

 

It's still red...

 

So it's not artificial…

 

Based on Vivian's experience, to know if someone has dyed hair or not was simple.

 

One simply had to check the roots.

 

Maybe this is something like gray hair…?

 

She recalled the old people that she encountered.

 

Yeah, it's not…

 

She turned to the woman.

 

"Sorry, please measure me now."

 

"Okay."

 

After this, I still have to buy a small sack for the hearts and also a kitchen knife…

 

 

Chapter end