Chapter 42: Market Rates in the Danger Zone

Original: Chapter 42: Market Rates in the Danger Zone

She was probably a female student older than me. When she spotted me walking from deep within the Dungeon, her face lit up as if she’d found salvation, and she hurried over.

“Um, excuse me for a moment?”

Her voice sounded pleading. Something was definitely wrong.

She wore glasses and looked like the serious type—the kind who might be a class president.

“Y-yes? What is it?”

I don’t usually communicate much with people from school, so I felt a little nervous. Even if she were a classmate, the fact that she seemed older made it even more intimidating.

“If you have any spare Potions, could I buy one from you? I’ll pay properly.”

“Huh? Potions?”

I quickly checked the female student from head to toe.

She didn’t seem injured at all. Not even a single tear on her tracksuit. Maybe she had a big bruise hidden underneath? But this person… she probably had plenty of Stamina to spare. I didn’t get any sense that her Life Force was weakened.

“Did they sell out at the Plaza, so you couldn’t buy any Potions today?”

Maybe she didn’t have enough backup stock?

I only know about Miss Rilril’s place, but Potions sell out pretty quickly once they’re put up for sale. So depending on the timing, it wouldn’t be strange at all if they were sold out and unavailable.

Personally, I think going deep into the Dungeon without Potions is something you should absolutely avoid. It seems like nothing but throwing your life away.

“No, I did buy some, but… I used them all up.”

I checked the girl’s condition again. She still seemed perfectly fine.

“It’s not for me. A friend of mine was attacked by a Monster and is on the verge of death.”

So that’s what it was. I hadn’t considered that possibility. That’s because I always come to the Dungeon alone. I’d just assumed this female student was the same type. It made me remember… I’m actually in the minority.

“That sounds terrible. It’s fine. I have spare Potions.”

I retrieved a bottle containing a Potion from my Item Space. Holding it firmly with both hands, I offered it to the female student.

The female student showed a relieved expression, like a lost child who’d found their parent. But then she frantically waved both hands.

“Um, I’ll pay you properly for it.”

“I don’t take money for helping people.”

“No, this is important. I’ll buy it for 10,000 Pon.”

“T-ten thousand Pon?!”

I didn’t understand. I sell these to Miss Rilril for 440 Pon each.

I think the selling price at Miss Rilril’s shop is around 650 Pon, right? This is way above market rate. Why on earth would she offer such a high price…?

“W-why 10,000 Pon? Are you rich?”

“It’s because of the location. For example, water in Tokyo is cheap, but in the desert, the price of water skyrockets, right?”

“Well… I understand that, but…”

“It’s the same principle. This is a Red Zone where lives are at risk, so Potions—which could be called lifelines—are naturally expensive. By sharing your Potions with us, you’re increasing your own risk of losing your life, aren’t you?”

“Uh, well, then how about 1,000 Pon?”

“You’re a junior, right?”

She suddenly became assertive.

“I am a first-year, yes.”

“Then consider this advice from your senior. There are plenty of people in the Dungeon with bad intentions, so if a stranger talks to you, assume they’re a bad person first.”

“Whaaat…?”

“For example, what if I were lying about having a gravely injured companion and was just trying to trick you out of your Potion? Then I might go sell it to another Adventurer for a high price.”

“Huh, but Senior, you don’t seem like that type…”

“People like that actually exist.”

“But Potions are originally cheap, and surely no one would do something so scam-like…”

“That might have been a bad example, but I’m saying this for your own good too. Learn from this. Never think of this place the same way as Japan’s safe, orderly streets. Handing over Potions for free or at a low price is unthinkable here.”

“Y-yes…”

Somehow, a lecture had started. It seemed easier to just go along with it. Her friend on the verge of death must still be suffering. I felt sorry for that friend.

“I-I’ve learned my lesson. Th-then, 10,000 Pon it is. Are you really sure?”

“Yes. I’m glad you understand. If you have another opportunity like this, make sure to charge properly. Just that alone can help you judge whether someone is good or bad.”

Swiftly, she operated her screen to complete the transaction. She really paid 10,000 Pon. For us high school students, that’s a huge sum.

I thought she really was as serious as she looked.

…But maybe I’d just been taught something very important. Come to think of it, on my very first day coming to the Dungeon, I had a terrible experience right away. So no matter who the other person is, I absolutely have to stay vigilant.

This isn’t school. It’s a Dungeon where people can die under normal circumstances.

So if I act with kindness at the forefront, I think someone will definitely take advantage of that someday. To avoid having a terrible experience when that happens, I decided to take this as a lesson.