I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain

"Willingly," Fael said with a smile, turning his gaze. At his gesture, the waiting members of his team ran over and stood next to each member of Ian’s group.

"If you pick an item you like, they will explain it in detail. Feel free to look around and ask questions."

Fael smiled at Ian as he spoke. "I will personally assist you, sir."

Ian nodded and turned to Mev and Philip.

"Don’t forget what we discussed yesterday."

"Of course."

"I’ll choose without holding back, sir."

Mev and Philip walked toward the wagons at the back. Charlotte, who had closed the sealed box, stood beside Ian.

"I’ll look at it with you, Ian."

Ian nodded roughly and walked toward the wagons. Swords, daggers, axes, spears, and maces, as well as all kinds of defensive gear and auxiliary equipment, were abundantly displayed. There were also magical items and cosmetic equipment.

"Do you have any weapons made of silver? Preferably swords or maces."

"We have a few silver-plated swords. Would you like to see them?"

"Show me all of them."

"Understood. Please wait a moment." Fael spoke politely and quickly turned away.

While waiting for him, Ian glanced at the two in front of the other wagon. Mev was calmly nodding as she listened to the team member’s explanation, while Philip was eagerly examining the wagon’s contents.

Soon, a team member approached him with a round shield. It had a smooth metal surface with a gentle curve and several raised bumps in the center to enhance durability and deflect attacks more effectively. Philip, having strapped the shield to his arm, laughed and commented on its balance.

That kid is pretty excited.

Ian chuckled softly as Fael returned. He laid out three swords in front of Ian.

"These swords are thickly plated with silver, but their edges haven’t been sharpened yet. As you know, they’re more decorative than practical."

Ian nodded as he examined the swords. All three were standard-length longswords. They had ornate scabbards, cross-guards, hilts, and pommels. After confirming the silver blades, Ian nodded again.

"I’ll buy them all."

"All three of them?"

"Is there a reason you can’t sell them all?"

"Not at all...! They are all yours now. Ah, I thought we could handle the payment altogether with the others. Is that acceptable to you?"

"Do as you wish."

"Thank you. Haha, indeed."

Fael laughed as he pulled out a piece of paper and a quill from his pocket.

"Bor was right. It’s best to follow your words unconditionally, sir."

He chuckled and began writing on the paper. One of the team members whispered something in his ear, making Fael’s smile broaden. It seemed Philip had purchased the round shield. While everyone was busy, Ian leisurely looked at Charlotte.

"Two of these swords are yours."

"They seem too soft for me to use."

"But you’ll need them against those creatures. I’ve mentioned it before."

"...!" Charlotte, eyes widening, nodded.

Vampires could also be killed with weapons made of silver.

"They’ll also be effective against specters, so always carry one. You used to handle dual swords right?"

Charlotte grinned, revealing her fangs. "Alright. I’ll sharpen yours as well. I’ll make them sharp enough to cut through people too."

"Do that." Ian nodded and turned to Fael, who was once again looking at him.

"Show me the strongest sword made of Imperial steel and all the magical items."

"I’ll present them immediately." Fael signaled to one of the team members and quickly turned away.

The approaching team member carried away the three silver swords. They seemed to be gathering the purchased items together.

"Do Imperial merchants always trade like this?" Ian asked Charlotte.

Charlotte shook her head at Ian’s question. "Only when dealing with royalty or high nobles. In Javier’s case, he wouldn’t serve anyone less than a king like this."

This is truly first-class service.

Ian nodded and watched the busy team members and Mev. She was holding a shield, a small round shield commonly known as a buckler.

She was explaining her requirements to the team member, asking if it could be attached to her wrist guard instead of being handheld. The team member nodded, indicating it was possible. Philip, beside her, was trying on a helmet that covered not only his head but also his nose and cheeks.

That helmet will make his ears ring a lot.

Ian chuckled softly again. Watching them shop made him feel good. Deep down, he felt they deserved to enjoy this.

Well, I can’t spend all this money by myself anyway. I can say that this expenditure is quite worthwhile.

"We’re ready. If you have any questions, feel free to ask." Fael, who had been busy fetching items from the wagon, spoke while catching his breath.

Ian nodded as he took the offered sword. He could check the information on it. It was a rare-grade sword named Imperial Steel Longsword. While it had a relatively common equipment destruction rate option, its durability and attack power were quite decent. Of course, it was no match for the Sword of Judgment, but that was true for most swords in this world.

It would be nice to have another sword of relic or holy artifact level...

Thinking this, Ian handed the sword to his side as a signal to buy it and turned his attention to the magical items laid out before him.

A team member approached and took the sword from him. Ian picked up a lantern with a handle. It was a rare item with glass panels on all four sides, not commonly seen in this world. He could check the information on it. It was a Magic Stone Lamp.

"It operates with magic power. When you adjust the magic stone like this, light emits from the center."

Fael said as he pressed and fitted the magic stone into the base of the lantern. A soft light spread through the glass.

"As you can see, it’s not very bright. But it can last for quite a long time."

Ian nodded as he held the magic stone lamp up to his face. It was small enough to wear on his belt, and apart from the glass part, it seemed durable enough. Moreover, his eyesight was good enough that this level of light source was sufficient even in the dark.

"Do you get these directly from the mages of the Magic Tower?"

"Someone supplies the merchants with items made by them. Mages hardly ever make these magical tools. They consider it trivial work, so their apprentices only make a few for practice. Maybe it requires too much effort and cost for its utility. Don’t you think so?"

Fael shrugged and added, "One can just carry a torch or an oil lamp. There’s no need for an item that’s dimmer and requires a magic stone. Moreover, it’s several times more expensive."

"And yet you bought it knowing that."

"It’s a rare item. And though it’s much cheaper than magical armaments, it’s still made in far fewer quantities. Nobles are willing to open their wallets for that reason alone."

"I opened my wallet too. But I’m buying it to use."

Ian placed the Magic Stone Lamp aside and calmly examined the other magical items. Most were rare but not very useful. There were books where the ink disappeared when a circuit was activated or gloves that blew air to dry sweat from your hands.

"Hmm."

Ian eventually picked up a bracelet among the items. It had a thin surface intricately engraved with spell circuits. He was able to check the information on it. His exclamation was due to its performance.

"You have a good eye. That’s the most expensive item here. May I?"

Fael took the bracelet from Ian and wore it on his wrist. He stepped back a few steps and flicked his fingers. In an instant, magic power surged, and a flickering blue force field appeared above his forearm.

Fwoosh—

The force field dissipated within a few seconds. Fael brushed off the lingering magic as he spoke.

"It’s a Magic Force Field. It can block an arrow or a blade once. But, after about six uses, the magic stone needs to be replaced... You know how much those in power care about their safety."

Ian nodded. The force field was tempting, but it was a skill he couldn’t use. It wasn’t included in his skill tree. In the game, many types of magic or skills existed but couldn’t be learned.

They could only be used through items or quests. He had long given up trying to learn and use them on his own. He couldn’t understand how magic worked, how Mana was implemented into magic.

"If it’s the most expensive, how much is it?"

"Originally, it should be seventy gold coins. But I’ll give it to you for fifty."

"I’ll buy it."

At this rate, I might really spend all the gold I’ve saved.

Thinking this, Ian took the bracelet.

[Bracelet of Protection.]

Ian thought as he accepted the bracelet. It was a Bracelet of Protection. As described, it allowed the use of a level-one Magic Force Field. There were four uses left. It was a satisfactory number despite the limitation.

In any case, he now had a way to defend himself faster than the Frost Shield and within a narrower range than the Whirling Barrier.

Fael continued, "I’ll also include a small magic stone for free. You’ve bought a lot, so it’s a bonus."

I’ll have to find a way to get more crafted magic stones.

Ian nodded and turned his gaze to the defensive equipment.

The purchases continued smoothly. Despite being a mid-sized caravan, they were still Imperial merchants. There were many items that were hard to find elsewhere. This was why he had hoped to encounter Imperial merchants in the game as well.

Come to think of it, isn’t this the first time I’ve traded with Imperial merchants since this became reality?Since the North is technically an autonomous region.

Ian thought as he reviewed the items he had decided to buy. Shields and helmets, greaves, chain armor, shoulder guards, wrist guards, longswords, and silver swords. Several magical items as well. Not only Ian but everyone in his group had picked out a lot of items. He realized anew how much money he had accumulated.

"Payment is complete."

Fael, who had gathered the exact amount of gold coins, approached with a wide smile on his face. It wasn’t just a polite remark; his face truly had a healthy glow.

"Thanks to you, I’m relieved. I was worried about how to dispose of some of these items."

"You’re very honest." Ian chuckled.

Though he had spent almost all the gold he had saved, it was a satisfactory purchase. There were many items he couldn’t have obtained even with money if not for this opportunity. Moreover, it was just in time for the battle against the vampires.

"Will you be wearing the items right away? Or shall we move them to the inn for you?"

"Load them onto our carriage. We’ll be departing soon. Gather the items, and let’s meet in front of the stable in about an hour."

"In an hour? That’s good. I need to sort out the remaining items too. I see you then," said Fale.

Nodding, Ian turned away. As the busy team members moved away, Mev finally spoke up.

"No matter what, I can’t shake this uneasy feeling. You’ve spent so much of the money you risked your life to earn."

"Then just fight that much harder for me," Ian replied nonchalantly, glancing at Mev and Philip before grabbing the inn’s doorknob.

"Money can always be earned again. Let’s get ready to leave."

***

Before they knew it, it was afternoon. While most people were heading into the city, Ian and his group had finished their preparations to leave. The members of the Ark Caravan were carefully loading the items they had purchased onto the wagon. It seemed they planned to distribute and organize the goods after leaving the city.

Fael, who had been waiting for the process to be completed, finally walked towards Ian, who was now seated in the wagon. From his perspective, it was clear that they were about to embark on a dangerous mission akin to a war. Otherwise, there would be no reason for just four people to purchase such a large quantity of weapons. He suspected they might be planning to join a war, perhaps having been hired by Lu Sard.

If that were the case, the power dynamics at the border would once again shift. Despite these thoughts, Fael couldn’t help but smile wistfully.

"Why not stay another day? We should have a drink to celebrate a successful transaction."

"We have a long journey ahead," Ian said, leaning back in his seat, his expression showing no particular regret, just as he had looked when they met in the North.

"Then let’s save it for next time. I don’t know why you’re heading to Lu Sard, but after your business there, please visit Borta. I will give you a grand reception." Fael spoke sincerely.

It was only natural; Ian was someone who had helped him every time they met. He even wondered if this was a fate decreed by Lu Solar. A good merchant never ignored such Intuition.

"If I get the chance, I will. Of course, that depends on you safely completing your journey."

Ian’s added words made Fael nod. He felt Bor’s gaze on the back of his head. It was an unspoken pressure to not take this lightly. Regardless, Fael had already engraved Ian’s warning in his heart.

"Don’t worry. We’ll finish as scheduled. Oh, and this."

Fael handed Ian a small wooden box.

As Ian accepted it, Fael added, "Gratitude should be shown with good liquor. This is a masterpiece distilled from our local grapes. Just one sip and the fragrance will linger until the next morning. It’s quite strong, too."

A smile spread across Ian’s face. He opened the box to see the bottle inside and then shrugged as he looked at Fael.

"I’ll enjoy this. I should have spent some of my remaining money to buy a few more bottles...."

"When you come to Borta, I’ll make sure you can have it by the barrel."

"In that case, I’ll definitely visit." Ian chuckled.

Fael continued, "Speaking of which, may I ask one more thing? I didn’t get a chance to ask yesterday."

Ian looked at him, indicating he could ask.

Lowering his voice, Fael inquired, "The Dragon Slayer of the North. Do you know who it is?"

"...."

"I thought you might know, given your connections."

A low growl came from the coachman’s seat. Charlotte, catching Ian’s gaze, pretended to yawn widely. Mev lowered her face guard with a cough, and Philip looked away at the sky, lips pressed tightly together. Ian eventually shrugged and turned back to Fael.

"If you ever go to the North, ask the Northerners directly. It will be better for you."

"...?" Fael blinked in confusion.

Ian smiled and said, "Well until we meet again. Farewell, Fael of Borta, and Bor."

As Ian exchanged eye contact with Bor standing behind Fael, Charlotte flicked the reins. The large, thick-maned Northern horses began to move powerfully. The two riders who had nodded to Fael quickly followed alongside the wagon.

"...After this job is over, let’s take a long break and then head to the North," Bor said suddenly from behind.

Fael turned to him with a smile. "Why, hearing about the Dragon Slayer of the North makes your blood boil?"

"You heard what he said. Hearing that name in the North would be good for our leader."

"He did say that... but I don’t understand what he meant. Maybe he knows the Dragon Slayer personally?"

Surprisingly, Bor nodded in agreement. "It seems likely. They all seemed to know who the North’s hero was."

"...When we get to the North, we’ll have to use his name. If we’re lucky, we might meet the Dragon Slayer. If that works out... next time, one bottle of liquor won’t be enough." Fael muttered, looking back at the city gate.

Ian’s wagon had already disappeared outside.

"Before that, we should make sure to come back alive. Many people are as greedy as you, our leader."

At Bor’s admonishment, Fael chuckled and turned around.

"Don’t worry. We’ll reach Orendel safely and return alive.”

And at that time, a new merchants’ guild would be born in the Empire.

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