7 Chapter 7: The Past and the Marbles...

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Arthur Leywin:

Walking out of the guild building with a happy smile, I started walking home.

My first dungeon dive went better than expected, ending on the ninth floor because Sylvie went into a magic stone food coma.

Having recreated Thunderclap Impule and Absolute Zero, I decided it was time to create my own spells. But I'm scared, scared for my wallet.

Yes, wallet. Most of the spells will involve me using a sword in some way. Therefore, I need to buy a dummy sword to keep my current one from breaking due to a failed spell.

Selling enough Magic Stones to earn 1.500 Valis. Adding the remaining Valis I got from grandpa, I have 13.750 Valis in total. It should be enough to buy at least one sword.

Not knowing where to find a cheap sword that won't break easily, I decided to ask Uncle Vince. Arriving at the apartment, I used my key and left Sylvie in my room before walking into the living room.

"Oh, Arthur, you returned. How was your first dive?"

"Yeah, thanks to grandpa's training, the first floors were not that difficult. I only got a few scratches, nothing that a potion won't fix."

He observed me for a while before answering with a sad smile.

"It seems so."

"Actually, I wanted to ask you where I could buy armor and replacement swords for a good price."

He started thinking about it before answering.

"If you go south from where we met yesterday, you will find a shop named The Married Blades. The owner is an old friend, so if you tell him I sent you and give him this, you should be able to get a sword without paying much."

He threw what looked like a simple half-transparent marble. I didn't understand how a marble would help me, but I didn't ask questions.

Before leaving, I took a quick wash and changed my clothes not to stand out by walking around with tattered clothes and monster blood.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Vince:

I was sitting on the couch, reminiscing about the past.

After Zald's death last year, I became the sole surviving member of the Zeus Familia.

When our familia was disbanded, I retired, settled with the woman I loved, and married her the following year.

Becoming a merchant wasn't planned, but it worked out, so I can't complain. Taking products from Orario and selling them in the villages outside was a relaxing job compared to the deadly dungeon.

One day when I was in a small farming village a few hours from Orario, a boy came to me, and like any other kid, he wanted to hear stories about adventurers fighting monsters in the dungeon.

Reminding me of my past self, I told him different stories of our past adventurers and some news of this day's adventurers. This continued every time I stopped at that village, but one day he came with his grandpa. Even if fifteen years had passed and he looked like a simple farmer, we recognized each other instantly.

To think, after fifteen years, I would find the perverted Zeus settled down while taking care of two kids.

We talked a few times after that, and when Arthur decided to become an adventurer, Zeus asked me to help him while he was in Orario. Not seeing a problem with it, I agreed.

My thoughts were broken when I saw Arthur enter the living room.

"Oh, Arthur, you returned. How was your first dive?"

"Yeah, thanks to grandpa's training, the first floors weren't that difficult. I only got a few scratches, nothing that a potion won't fix."

I couldn't stop myself from showing a small smile. If the Zeus familia still existed, he would fit perfectly with us. Returning from his first dungeon dive with wounds and just shrugging it off. If I didn't get a good look at him, I would believe he only went to the first floors, but the slight remains of poisonous powder told me otherwise.

What kind of monster did you rise now, Zeus?

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Arthur Leywin:

Opening the door to The Married Blades, I stepped inside the store, and rows of weapons greeted me. Not seeing anyone near the counter, I decided to look around.

Ignoring the other types of weapons, I looked at the swords. Great Swords, Claymores, Longswords, Rapiers, Katanas, and many more that I didn't know the names of. But what worried me was that they didn't look cheap.

At the current pace I earn money, it would take months, if not years, to afford one of those weapons.

I asked for something cheap, not this Uncle Vince!

"What are you doing here, brat? This isn't a place for kids, so go back to your mom."

Looking in the direction where the voice came from, there I saw a man standing while looking at me with an annoyed look.

He looked to be in his late thirties with short white hair swept backward, gray eyes, and tanned skin. He wore an apron covering his shoulders, chest and extended to his knees. Under that, he had a simple white shirt matched with black pants and shoes.

"I'm here to buy a sword, Sir. Uncle Vince told me you were his old friend. He gave me this..."

"Give me this!"

Snatching the marble from my hand, he turned around and started leaving.

"Wait! What about my sword?"

I asked, not understanding why he would snatch the marble from my hand and leave.

"Just take the one you like, and don't bother me anymore, brat."

I wanted to ask what his problem was, but hearing him cackling about marbles from the other side of the wall made me want to take the first best sword and leave.

Making a mental note never to ask Uncle Vince for anything again. That man will hunt me in my nightmares tonight.

Seriously, how did Uncle Vince even meet that guy? I was worried he would jump me for more marbles.

What's the deal with them anyway?

After testing multiple swords, I ended with a straight, single-edged Japanese sword. It had a black scabbard with a matching hilt and was perfect for stabbing or slashing.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Authors Note:

Thank you for reading this chapter.

MARBLES! ehem...

If you enjoy this story, remember to vote and leave a review if you haven't.