Chapter 69 – Peddling Metal

As the morning sun filtered through the cracks of the worn-out building he called his temporary home, Rusty prepared for the day’s mission. He sorted through his inventory, selecting the best bronze and iron weapons he had crafted. Though they weren’t the most valuable, they were functional and would fetch a reasonable price if sold in bulk.

Once he had selected the weapons, he used his SP to generate multiple copies of the same quality. His guides had warned that it could be dangerous if they encountered an exceptionally skilled craftsman. All the replicas were identical, which might raise suspicion. If that happened, they advised him to claim that he had received them from a peculiar craftsman with a unique skill that allowed him to produce such identical items or just keep his mouth shut.

“Remember, Rusty, we need to keep a low profile. The merchants might get suspicious if you sell too many weapons at once.”

Rusty nodded, understanding the need for caution. Aburdon, however, was less worried about subtlety.

“Just sell them quickly and get out. If anyone asks questions, just remind them of the last merchant who pushed too far.”

Aburdon cackled menacingly but Rusty wasn’t sure what the demon lord meant. He had not attempted to sell any weapons before so there was no ‘last merchant who pushed too far’

“There was a merchant that pushed too far?”

“Hm, our young Rusty doesn’t seem to understand wordplay or jokes, don’t worry about it, you’ll eventually understand. I meant that in a more hypothetical sense, of course. You know, as a warning. Merchants of the lesser races can be quite… nosy. It’s best to keep them in line.”

“Lesser races?”

“Of course? Every race is below the demon race!”

“Is it?”

Rusty glanced in the direction of his other guide Alexander who was quick to dismiss Aburdon’s assertion.

“Don’t listen to him, Rusty. There’s no such thing as ‘lesser’ or ‘greater’ races. It’s just the way some beings try to justify their power or actions. Treat everyone equally and they will respect you.”

“Hah, just like you did hero and got stabbed in the back? That worked out well for you, didn’t it?”

“Shut up!”

Rusty sighed as the two guides continued their bickering. He found their banter entertaining at times but it often made his decision-making more complicated. With the plan now set, Rusty stepped out into the bustling streets, the sun casting long shadows as the early morning light filtered through the narrow alleys.

The city was beginning to stir with activity as merchants set up their stalls, filling the air with the mingling aromas of freshly baked bread and sizzling meats. Rusty’s monster senses picked up the scents, and though he couldn’t fully appreciate them, he was made aware that the body hidden within his armor could taste food if he allowed it. Rusty’s metal frame clinked softly as he moved, his form was nothing out of the ordinary as he blended in with some of the other early-rising adventurers.

Now that the sun had risen he had the opportunity to look over this large city. It was much different than the underground dungeon he came from but there were also some similarities. The city’s layout was a chaotic yet functional mix of winding streets and towering buildings, much like the dungeons Rusty was familiar with. The side alleys reminded him of the narrow corridors and the stone buildings of the temples on some of the other floors.

The buildings were constructed with stone and timber, their roofs overlayed in red and brown tiles. The streets were uneven, worn from years of foot traffic, and the occasional clatter of hooves echoed as carts passed by. Rusty observed everything through his visor, taking note of the market district’s layout as he walked towards it.

‘So this is the market? Who should I go to first?’

He had arrived at the main square with many street vendors and merchants around. Some of them were just sitting down on rugs filled with items, others had wooden stalls with food. It was early in the morning so the customers hadn’t arrived. This made it an ideal time for Rusty to do business. His deposition of not needing any sleep was very handy when it came to shopping as most people were just waking up or getting past a hangover.

“Look for a smith or an armory stall. They’re more likely to buy weapons in bulk, and they might not ask too many questions if the price is right. But first, we should look around and get an idea about the prices before we make a decision.”

“Yes, yes. Find someone who looks like they could use an influx of goods. And remember, Rusty, if they get too nosy, we can always… persuade them with a slight nudge…”

“A nudge?”

Rusty asked but before Aburdon could answer he was interrupted by Alexander.

“There will be no nudging!”

The two started arguing again and he was forced to order them to stop.

“Examine the prices then and figure out how much the bronze and iron weapons should go for…”

For Rusty, this arrangement was quite convenient. After his Call Guide skill evolved, he could summon both guides in either their Familiar form or their previous forms. The mana cost for the skill had become so low that he could slowly regenerate his MP even with both guides active. They could see whatever he saw, hear whatever he heard, and give him constant real-time advice. While their bickering was annoying, he needed both of them in this city.

Rusty approached the stall, which was adorned with an assortment of weapons: swords, shields, and other metallic goods. The man on the other side didn’t look like a full-fledged blacksmith. He looked quite young and sleep-deprived, his hands slowly polishing a large sword while his head tilted to the side.

‘Is that a blacksmith?’

He asked and got a reply from Alexander.

‘No, that’s probably a blacksmith’s apprentice or maybe his son. They usually get them to sell weapons outside the smithy where more people gather. We won’t find any enchanted weapons here but it’s enough to get rid of the bronze and iron weapons you made.’

Rusty approached the stall, his metallic steps echoing softly against the cobblestones. The young man behind the counter looked up with bleary eyes, his fatigue evident. Despite the disheveled appearance, there was a certain shrewdness in his gaze that suggested he had experience in the trade.

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“Good morning.”

Rusty said as guided by Alexander to show proper decorum when interacting with the merchants.

“I have some weapons to sell. Could you tell me if you’re interested?”

The apprentice’s eyes narrowed as he assessed Rusty. Before him stood a man about two meters tall, clad in a full suit of armor. While the voice confirmed it was indeed a man inside the armor, the apprentice’s attention was drawn to a peculiar bundle of items strapped to Rusty’s back. It was wrapped in what appeared to be a gray bedsheet and secured with cheap string. Various weapons protruded from the bundle, revealing a large quantity contained within.

“We’re always interested in new stock. What kind of weapons do you have?”

Rusty’s spatial satchel was not large enough to contain all the weaponry so he decided to use the bed from his inn room to assemble a backpack. Thanks to his crafting skills he was able to create something sufficient for this occasion.

The apprentice’s eyes widened as Rusty unwrapped the makeshift bundle to reveal an assortment of bronze and iron weapons. Swords, daggers, and sabers were inside and even a few spears made their way in. He could tell that they were crafted by an average blacksmith as none of them were particularly high-end but neither were they low-end.

“These look… decent.”

The blacksmith’s apprentice said, eyeing the weapons with skepticism.