NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 80
The assistants keep saying the crocodile looks weak.
I lowered my voice and revealed to them that the danger level of the crocodile is SSS-Class.
The assistants’ gazes towards the crocodile quickly changed.
I always feel this way, but they really switch sides in an instant.
As I was reading the assistants’ chat, the crocodile tilted its head and asked.
［Aren’t you looking at the items?］
“Ah, I was just about to.”
I took my eyes off the chat window.
When I looked down, I saw various items laid out on a cloth.
Hmm.
I had no idea what most of these items were for.
Next to the items for sale, there were only price tags attached.
There were no explanatory notes about what the items were or their uses.
“Do you have a product manual or something?”
［No. If you see something that interests you, point it out and I’ll explain what it’s for.］
“What’s this item?”
I pointed to a certain object.
It was a cylindrical plastic container with a pinkish hue.
［That’s called an onahole.］
“Excuse me?”
［If I explain it simply, it’s a popular item for those with external genitalia who like to… um, pleasure themselves.］
“······.”
［Would you like to try using it?］
“No, I’m good.”
No need to think about it.
Buying something like that would be a waste of coins.
Of course, I had no intention of trying either.
［The more you use it, the stronger your stamina becomes…］
［Are you truly not going to buy it?］
“Yes. It’s not necessary. There’s no use for my stamina to improve right now.”
【Boglebogle】─You might want it for the future…
［How unfortunate. If you bought it, I was going to give you a special gift, a dildo.］
Why are you giving that as a set, you crazy crocodile.
The urge to curse almost came out, but I managed to hold it back.
I had to watch my words since it was an SSS-Class monster.
The crocodile waved the impressive dildo it mentioned as a gift.
［Then how about buying this instead?］
What is this crocodile thinking?
It’s probably just some garbage item.
I didn’t think it would be helpful at all.
But just in case, I decided to ask.
“What’s the use of that?”
［It’s edible. The taste is a bit off, but it brings about good changes when you consume it.］
“What kind of good changes?”
［Yes. If you don’t have a penis, one just like this dildo will grow.］
“Uh, um… If I do have one, does it mean I’ll end up with two?”
［No. If you have one, it will make your size the same as this dildo’s.］
That didn’t sound appealing.
It could be enticing for someone else, but for me, it was about shrinking rather than enlarging.
‘Sometimes I think it would be convenient to have a shrink surgery, but… if it actually got smaller, I’d probably end up regretting it.’
So I decided against buying that item too.
I briefly considered holding onto it, but I figured I might impulsively use it later if I kept it around.
［So, you won’t be buying this either?］
“Yes. I don’t need any of those weird items.”
I looked down again to observe the other items.
I might as well point at each item and ask for an explanation one by one.
*
The items presented by the crocodile were bizarre.
I sifted through them to find the ones that seemed useful.
In the end, I bought a total of three items.
The first item was a map generator.
The price was 350 coins.
It automatically created a map by recording the paths explored by the explorer without needing to draw the map by hand.
Note that only explorers could use it.
It stops recording the moment it leaves the explorer’s hands.
The second item was a drifter tracker.
The price was 300 coins.
It can grasp the location of drifters who have entered the ancient labyrinth, guiding you with voice instructions like the wandering merchant tracking ticket.
And of course, it was not a one-time-use item but permanently available.
Lastly, a thick notebook.
It had a durability that supposedly wouldn’t tear unless attacked by a monster of similar level to the crocodile.
The price was 100 coins.
I bought it for the monster index.
Handing over the coins was quite simple.
It was done similarly to when purchasing tickets from a vending machine; I just needed to think of the number of coins I was handing over while shaking hands with the crocodile.
［Do you not want to buy anything else?］
“Yes. Everything else seems to be trash… No, I mean, I don’t think I need them.”
［I see. I’ll make sure to bring better items next time.］
“I hope so.”
Having completed the purchase, it was soon time to part ways.
‘I wonder if I can find the crocodile again next time… It seems tough without the tracking ticket.’
Unfortunately,
As mentioned in the explorer’s journal left by the Centauress’s mother, taming a neutral monster like the crocodile was impossible.
No matter how hard I searched, I wasn’t able to find any spots.
So out of curiosity, I made a suggestion to the crocodile about traveling with us, but it firmly declined. I also suggested if it could attach our monster to the crocodile, but that was rejected too.
［I cannot accompany explorers. I am a neutral monster that doesn’t favor anyone.］
Once it completed its role as a vendor,
It was against the rules to part ways with explorers.
Having come this far, I felt reluctant to just leave.
So I asked the crocodile a few questions.
It said it could answer simple inquiries.
But,
“Are there monsters stronger than you, um, SSS-Class in this ancient labyrinth?”
［Well…］
“Can you tell me how to become a ruler?”
［No. You’ll have to figure that out on your own.］
“Is proxy shopping possible?”
［No.］
I didn’t get the answers I wanted from all my questions.
As I was thinking about my next question,
The shape of the Crocodile Merchant began to fade,
［Then I hope to see you again next time.］
With the farewell, the crocodile vanished in the blink of an eye.
“···It’s gone.”
“Guys, let’s head back to our place.”
I turned back and looked at the monsters and said.
And just as I was about to step back towards the hideout.
“Uh?”
A notification popped up in front of me.
“Long time no see for drifters.”
“Seven….”
“Wait, ten…”
“······.”
“Forty-six.”
【Mysticism】─
What the heck.
Why are they suddenly pouring in like this?