Chapter 125: [125] We Are Broke?? WTF?

“Two months ago? Wasn’t that the time we went on the expedition…” her voice slowly trailed off when she realised what he was talking about.

When they went out to hunt monsters in order to feed the starving village, Eliron had not hunted them only for their meat…

Monsters in general were very valuable creatures. In this world where adventurers and knights were at a constant war against these beasts, they needed the necessary tools to fight them.

While some of the monster parts were used for weapons and armour, like the monster hide, some of their horns could be ground to make medicine, while the harder ones were fashioned into swords…

But because of how dangerous it was to obtain them, there was a scarcity of these materials and as a result, their hide, teeth, and horns sold for a high price.

And Eliron? He was packed with them.

His greatest asset currently was the leftovers of the Magister mammoth, that alone would be more than enough to feed them for months.

The best part was that due to the infinity pouch, it would be like they just hunted them today!

“I see… no wonder you always kept the parts…” Ash said thoughtfully, slowly nodding his head.

Eliron summoned the infinity pouch and raised it up into the air.

“With the amount of monster parts I have stashed here, we’ll be rich enough to buy a mansion in any kingdom in the world!” he said, grinning from ear to ear.

Then the infinity pouch vanished into thin air as it returned to his inventory.

Eliron glanced at the clothing and tools of his party then sighed. “Too bad, we have other concerns…”

“Once we get the money, we will use the blinking merchant’s vast reach to re-equip ourselves.”

They were long overdue for an upgrade. His elven steel sword was chipped in several places, although it was durable steel, he had put the damn sword through hell…

Few swords could boast of engaging a demon.

Ash’s sword was still okay, at least it was not chipped in any place.

Yen was using a stick in place of a magic staff… it was enchanted, but it was terrible compared to what good money could buy.

And finally, while Artie’s bow was sturdy and without fault, the sword she often switched to at times was falling apart…

Their armour was a whole other issue.

“I guess we’re shopping then? Count me in!” Yen declared, just before biting into a large piece of meat.

Artie nodded in quiet approval, she too had grown tired of swinging her old rusty sword around.

“This is excellent news. I knew monster parts had some sort of value, but I never knew you were planning on selling them, your insight is worthy of praise.” Ash smiled with pride.

Eliron smirked, basking in the praise.

Ash then took the last bite of his steak and pushed the plate away, while pulling another one closer.

“So where can we find this blinking merchant?”

“…”

Eliron was silent.

Everyone at the table suddenly turned their attention to him, then their eyes widened.

“Eliron?!” They all screamed simultaneously, excluding Artie of course who just sighed.

Eliron raised his hands up defensively. “Calm down, I didn’t say I didn’t know where they were…”

If he did not know the location of the merchant, then their lavish spending today would be their undoing.

Not only would they be flat out broke, they would have to sleep in the stables where creative forms of horse shit lay…

And that would be if they were lucky, a passing bum could have done his business in the stables as well…

Of course, Eliron knew all this, he was not a fool.

They all breathed out in relief. “So you know where they are?” Yen asked, a drop of sweat gliding down her face.

“Oh, no, not at all…”

“…”

They all gave him a blank stare, the group more than stunned.

Even in the novel, the location of the blinking merchant was never mentioned. It was not that he did not exist, it was just that they never stayed in one place.

To keep their location a secret, they changed locations at every single time of the day.

But—

“I know how to find them though…” Eliron said, finally allowing them to relax.

Yen grabbed the expensive bottle of beer and poured herself a cup.

“Don’t play with us like that, you’re going to make me have constipation…”

She gulped down the entire cup at once and slammed the cup on the table.

“Keh—! That hit the spot!”

Eliron’s eyes narrowed as he watched her, then he leaned towards the silver-haired woman and whispered in her ear.

“Should an Angel even be drinking?”

“Pfft! This isn’t heaven, chump!”

When they had finished feasting, Eliron was picking his teeth with a toothpick, his stomach as round as a ball when the serving girl suddenly appeared like a ghost.

“I see you’re done eating!” she said with a friendly smile. “Here is the bill—”

The woman slid the paper to Eliron and he picked it up casually, raising it to his line of sight.

“Alright, let’s see how much it—JESUS CHRIST!”

He was so shocked that he invoked the God he knew in his last universe.

Eliron wiped his eyes, stared at the paper, then wiped his eyes again.

The figure didn’t change—

“Two thousand one hundred and ten bronze coins?! That is more than twenty pieces of silver!”

The serving lady smiled then nodded. “That is indeed what is written on the paper…” she said in a matter-of-fact manner.

“Wait wait…” Eliron sat up straight.

He knew a little about the economy of Kingsbridge, food in a cheap tavern like this wasn’t meant to be this expensive…

“Are you sure this figure is correct? The food shouldn’t have cost this much.”

The woman placed a finger on her chin. “Oh, it wasn’t the food… it was the beer, each one costs about a hundred copper pieces, so one silver per bottle.”

She paused to count the number of bottles on the table. “One… two… fifteen… twenty. Yes, you guys had twenty…”

“Oh, and the ten bronze coins are the mandatory tip.”

Eliron felt like vanishing.

’Mandatory tip? What is this, America??’

He sucked in a sharp breath and redirected his gaze to those at his table.

’Who was it that ordered this cursed booze?!’

He immediately glanced at Yen who was emptying another bottle.

“You’re going to lead me to an early grave…”

Yen just gave him a goofy smile, the alcohol already taking effect.

Eliron turned to the rational person in the group. “A-Ash… buddy… how much do we have again—”

“Two silver, fifty bronze my lord.” He gave Eliron a blank stare, his face basically saying I told you so.

’Yeah… we’re doomed…’

“Ahh, pretty lady!” Eliron gave his most dashing smile as he looked at the serving girl.

“It seems we are a bit low on cash… any chance we can come back later to—”

“NO.”

“I see…”

It seemed when it came to money, the girl was as sturdy as a stone wall.

“And what would happen if we are unable to pay?”

“Oh?” A dark look appeared on her face. “We’ll have you reported to the city guards, or we’ll collect the money in… other ways…”

Strangely, she glanced at his chest at the last part.

Artie, who had been stoic, frowned when she heard that, her hand twitching at the hilt of her sword.

“I see…”

If it was the same city guards he had met at the gate, Eliron could already visualise what would happen.

The baron’s son would no doubt throw them in prison! And resisting would only damage their relationship with the barony, one of their closest neighbours.

So either be arrested, or become an elven whore…

Noted.

Eliron swallowed.

“Alright, what if—”

“Broke wood elves, it looks like there is nothing new in this city. After all, this is indeed a common occurrence.”

A man stepped up to Eliron’s table, a cocky smirk on his face as he stared down at them.

Of course, it was the Red Streak mercenaries…

The cliché villain troupe.

He grabbed one of the bottles and let out a sharp sigh.

“Whew! You elves should have stuck to drinking piss, this stuff is way above what sticks and stones can buy.”

A wave of laughter spread through their group.

Eliron let out a long sigh and ran his hand through his face.

“As you can see, I’m in the midst of a discussion with the ’kind’ serving girl, could you fine gentlemen go find another soul to bother?”

“My lord, shall I rid us of this disturbance—”

Ash had not finished speaking when one of them whistled loudly.

“Woah, look at that redhead, such a fine specimen! I guess the shitty forest sometimes produces the tastiest fruit.”

He licked his lips as he placed his lecherous eyes on Artie.

“What do you say babe? The weather is just right, fancy spending the night with me and the boys? We’ll treat you and your friend over there right.”

He rested his hand on the pommel of his sword, the movement casual, yet his message clear.

“How about it? I’ll even pay for your food.”

Ash was about to stand up, but a look from Eliron kept him in place.

’Just wait… when it comes to words, no one could possibly trump Artie.’

She had been staring at her empty plate with a bored expression on her face. Then she sighed, her lips parting.

“I guess dung will always stink no matter the fancy bag or in this case ’uniform’ it is packaged in.”

“Bwahahahaha—!” Yennefer immediately burst into drunken laughter. “Hahahaha, s-she called you a pile of shit!”

The mercenary’s hand twitched, a look of rage flashing on his face.

“You bitch! A lousy laggard race like yours dares to talk down on me? By the time I’m done with you, a s** slave will have more dignity—!”

He reached out for Artie, his hands nearing her shoulder when—

Swish!

There was a light gleam, and in a fraction of a second, the mercenary saw his hand flying up into the air, before landing right on Artie’s plate.

Clack!

Eliron sighed, sheathing his blood-stained sword.

“Ahh shit.” He scratched his head, toothpick in mouth, and stomach popping out like a pregnant lady’s.

Then he glanced at them, his blue eyes shimmering like sapphires.

“Look what you’ve made me do…”

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