19 Pet Shop Stall

I strolled through the Bazaar, taking a gander at the stalls. It's not too shabby, but truth be told, most of them are a bit cookie-cutter, offering the same run-of-the-mill stuff. Nevertheless, they seem to be drawing a crowd. Enjoying the Bazaar here feels a lot like hitting up Night Markets in the real world. The only difference is that these Bazaars are confined to smaller towns and villages. You won't find them in major hubs like the Capital. It's not that they wouldn't work there, but the bigwigs who run the show in the city would throw a fit. See, the Capital is a bustling hotspot for players, and having a Night Market Bazaar would cramp the style of the NPC businesses, especially the stalls.

I've done my rounds, checking out most of the stalls and their wares, but honestly, it's a mixed bag. Some items might catch the eye of newbies, but for a seasoned player like me, it's all pretty underwhelming. Just a mishmash of items that wouldn't even register on my radar anymore.

As I was strolling through the bazaar, ready to call it a day, my attention was snagged by an unusual sight. Nestled amidst the familiar stalls, there stood a tent unlike any other. It seemed as if the canvas had just settled into place, still retaining that fresh-from-the-box look.

But what really piqued my interest was the peculiar emblem hanging above it, akin to a storefront sign. As I drew closer, the image slowly came into focus: a vibrant violet magic circle intertwined with a chain that bore an uncanny resemblance to those used for taming wild creatures. In an instant, it hit me like a thunderbolt – this was no ordinary tent; it was a pet shop.

The mere existence of such an establishment here in Mining Town caught me off guard. Yet, this unexpected discovery presented an opportunity too enticing to pass up. I hadn't anticipated finding a pet shop here, but it could be a game-changer, offering the chance to harness the power of tamed monsters to my advantage.

I had some spare cash burning a hole in my pocket, and with nothing on my shopping list at the current bazaar, my attention was drawn to the pet shop tent. Curiosity piqued, I stepped inside to check out what they had to offer and see if my hunch was right.

As soon as I crossed the threshold, a medley of scents filled the air. It wasn't a repulsive odor, but rather a distinctive one that signaled the presence of creatures. That was a good sign – it meant the place was taking proper care of its animals. After all, a stench of monster sh*t and piss would've been a clear indicator of subpar pet management.

The shelves displayed an array of tools for pet care: brushes, fur trimmers for those over-furry monsters, and more. It was evident that this was a one-stop shop for players looking to take care of their diverse range of tamed monsters. I was genuinely impressed.

As I scanned the shelves, my eyes caught sight of an intriguing scene. A teenager, lugging around a hefty box of tools for taming, was in the company of a burly fellow sporting a black beard and mustache that wouldn't have been out of place on a pirate. They were both drawn to the commotion emanating from the direction of some rowdy monsters.

The teenager was knee-deep in gear, ready for some hands-on action. Meanwhile, the sturdy, bearded man barked orders, guiding the youth's every move. It was at that very moment when our eyes met as if my curiosity had disrupted their secret world of tools and monsters.

"Oh, a customer! I honestly didn't expect anyone to show interest in what we've got here. Well, welcome!" The burly guy wasted no time and hurried over to the counter to assist me. Meanwhile, the young fellow put down the crate he was carrying and stood nearby, ready for orders from his beefy counterpart.

"I see you've noticed that we specialize in pet-related goodies and taming gear. Are these items up for grabs?"

"Absolutely! Right now, we're offering pet supplies, pet food, the Chain of Taming, and even some pre-trained monsters, ready to find their new master!" He beamed with pride as he displayed the shiny Chain of Taming. I'd seen it around before, but I'd never used one. Back then, I was too afraid of my monsters getting slaughtered by those ruthless baddies that always seemed to target me. Losing them because I couldn't protect them? That would've crushed me.

"So, how does this thing work? Do you attach it to a monster, or is it more like an enchanted item that breaks once it's used, and then the magic kicks in?"

"Oh, are you new to the whole pet-taming scene? Well, you're in luck. I can walk you through the ropes, starting with how to properly use the Chain of Taming."

"How can I be sure you're not running a scam here?" I asked.

"Listen, Mr. Customer. If I were running a scam in this business, I'd have folded up shop ages ago. I take real pride in my products and creatures. And think about it, if everything I sell here is subpar and my pets turn out to be duds, my reputation would be toast. I don't want that to happen. I offer authentic guidance and make sure even someone like you, who might not know much about taming, leaves with the basics to care for these creatures."

He handed over the Chain of Taming, letting me get a good look at it. At first glance, it seemed like any other chain, but there was something strange about it. Instead of being metal, it had a soft, almost jelly-like texture. It still looked like a chain, but it felt nothing like one.

"You've noticed the difference, I see," he said casually. "The reason it feels soft is because it's made from solid mana. It's designed to tame monsters without causing them harm. But honestly, it's a bit impractical. You still have to get the monster to a point where you can use it without hurting them in the first place."

"Getting yourself a pet in this world boils down to two straightforward methods. First off, you can attempt to tame an existing monster. Now, before you get any grand ideas, let me break it down for you. Monsters that are up for grabs in the taming department fall into two categories: Beast Types and Insect Types. Sorry, no love for the Humanoid Types like undead or goblins – they're just not in the taming club."

"To get down to business with monster taming, you'll need a little something called the 'Chain of Taming.' Bet you already figured that out, but no harm in spelling it out. You can snag this item from specialty pet shops like ours, but here's the kicker: it's a risky business. To ensure a smooth taming process, you'll need to bring your target monster's health down to a measly 5%. Sounds easy, right? Not quite. There's a catch. You've got just three shots at taming a monster, and if you fail three times, that monster's slamming the door in your face for good."

"Now, onto option number two: buying or finding an egg. If you buy one, it's like rolling the dice at a Gacha game. You're in for a surprise, my friend. But if you happen upon an egg in the wild, you'll have a better idea of what's about to pop out. Expect to wait a few days for that egg to hatch – patience is key. The catch with egg-raising is that it's a bit of a chore. You've got to babysit that little critter after it hatches. On the flip side, taming monsters takes time to win their trust, while hatchlings are loyal from the get-go. And there you have it, folks. Pet supplies, including their gear and chow, are a no-brainer," the hefty guy explained with a hint of seriousness in his tone.

"I'm getting the idea, but how many pets can one person have?" I inquired.

"Well, typically, adventurers are limited to just 7 pets. However, since you're my first customer at this stall, I'll let you in on a little secret. You can actually expand that 7-pet limit indefinitely."

My curiosity was piqued. This was brand new information to me, something I'd never encountered in my previous adventures.

"A secret, you say?"

"Yeah, you see, pet-selling isn't the fastest business around. Most vendors rely on the [Chain of Taming] to make sales, as many players prefer catching their own pets. Once they've got 7 pets, the business tends to slow down. That's where this method comes in. For us tamers, pet acquisition is everything, and we're always eager to expand our team. But that pesky limit made it quite a challenge. That's when the Master of Tamers came up with this solution."

He slapped a chain on the counter, looking like the long-lost cousin of the fancy [Chain of Taming], but this one was rocking the silver aesthetic. Naturally, my curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to give it a closer look.

[Pet Slot Relinquish Chain]

Type: Consumable

Info: This little gem right here is the key to expanding your pet collection. Once you pop it, you unlock two brand-spanking-new pet slots. You can keep using these bad boys until you've hit the impressive 100-pet slot limit. Just remember, it's a "use it or lose it" situation.

Note: Now, let's get serious for a second. This thing doesn't come cheap. If you're dreaming of expanding your pet family, you better start grinding for that gold like your life depends on it!

Price: A whopping 1,000,000 gold. Yep, you heard that right. But hey, who said being a pet enthusiast was gonna be a walk in the park? Time to turn your pet love into some serious gold-digging!

"100 Slots? That's quite a handful, isn't it? I mean, I'm not sure I really need all that many slots! Taming an army of monsters at once doesn't exactly top my to-do list. And let's not even get started on the price tag – a cool 1,000,000 gold is no joke!"

I couldn't help but express my concern, saying, "This is pretty pricey."

The burly fellow across from me chuckled and replied, "Well, you see, just like those fancy Bag Expansion Coupons, this item pushes the limits. It's set at a premium to keep it exclusive to those who mean business."

I had to admit, he had a point. If they made it dirt cheap, everyone and their pet Pidgey would have 100 slots in no time. Still, I couldn't wrap my head around why anyone would need so many slots.

"I get it, you might not be rolling in gold like those folks with the Pet Slot Relinquish Chains, but I bet you can spare 10 silver for a Chain of Taming," he suggested with a grin.

I pondered the situation for a moment, fully aware of the risks that came with taming creatures. In this world, your chances of success were slim, and saving up those precious three attempts wasn't a walk in the park. Unlike Pokémon, where you can keep chucking Poké Balls until something sticks, this was a whole different ballgame. Still, I was keen on finding an easier route. While I wasn't in a rush to acquire a pet, having one early on could be beneficial, especially given my rather feeble abilities.

I cut to the chase, "You mentioned the Gacha thing earlier, right?"

The hefty man looked taken aback for a second but quickly regained his composure.

"We do have it, and it'll cost you 100 silver for a single shot. Are you up for it?" he inquired.

I figured it was worth taking a shot at my luck. Besides, whatever hatched from that egg would become my companion, and I was confident that nothing could go awry. After all, it's not about weak pets; it's about their masters. If they can't even train a weak monster, then do they even qualify to handle stronger monsters?

"Alright, let's give it a shot then."

The bulky man seemed genuinely moved as if this was their first-ever transaction.

"Thank you so much! Guy, bring over those eggs!"

The teenager named Guy gave a nod and headed back to where he came from. After a short while, he returned, pushing a table on wheels with a tray filled with eggs. These eggs weren't your everyday chicken eggs; they were slightly larger and held a mysterious promise. I've never been particularly lucky, but I was determined to find joy in whatever egg I picked. I settled the payment and prepared to make my choice.

"By the way, boss, do we have any idea what kind of creature might hatch from these eggs?" I inquired.

The boss scratched his head and replied, "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. The egg supplier never really tells us what we're getting, but it's usually just ordinary creatures like rabbits, cats, or dogs, depending on the batch."

I nodded thoughtfully. Back in my old world, I would have been shocked to hear that cats, rabbits, and dogs could hatch from eggs. But in this peculiar place, where common sense seemed to take a back seat, I decided not to dwell on it. I turned my attention to the eggs before me. It would be fantastic to hatch a bird or any flying creature for scouting the skies, but I'd make do with a cat or dog. However, my focus shifted as I noticed the egg in the center trembling. At first, I thought I might be imagining it, but the shaking was undeniable. Oddly enough, the owner of the shop seemed oblivious. That settled it—I chose the center egg, feeling confident that it was about to hatch at any moment.

"I've made my choice," I said confidently, gesturing towards the egg placed right in the center.

"Alright, then!" The hefty fellow grinned and swiftly completed the transaction.

Once the deal was sealed, I received the egg, neatly nestled in a compact incubator. Beneath it, a countdown displayed the remaining days until hatching - a solid 15 days. To ensure my new companion's well-being, I grabbed three pouches of pet food for a reasonable price of 3 silver. And just to be prepared for the wild, I snagged three pieces of the Chain of Taming; you never know when you might need to tame something in this world.

With my newly acquired treasures in tow, I left the shop, stowing the egg safely in my inventory. The countdown had begun, and I eagerly anticipated what would hatch from it. This could be a game-changer, potentially fetching me a tidy sum of 100 silver. Though I had no clue what creature awaited me, the excitement of the unknown outcome kept me on my toes.