Book 2 Never Die Twice Chapter 1 The shopkeeper is your friend
"Yes, I need potions!"
Behind the counter, filled with the scent of potions and perfumes, Walter Tye barely smiled at the new customer. Why is everyone making this joke?
"Welcome to the Cauldron of Tye, Leonis' best magical item store," the spellcaster repeated his usual sales script, "What are you looking for?" Healing ointment?"
"Yes, Thai," the customer replied. It was a swordsman in a black cloak that was too long for him; Another "Japanese", based on his facial features, "Can I call you Thai?"
"Well, you've done it, why stop here?"
No one called him Walter. Everyone calls him by the last name because his shop name reads: "Thai's Boiling Pot". As the best artisan in town, the alchemist has a steady clientele, with most local adventurers visiting his shop at least once.
This complements his other businesses well.
"Is there anything on my face?" Tay asked, and the customer fell silent. Because he has white hair, pale skin, and crimson eyes, most people mistake him for a vampire at first glance; Even a few vampires he knows have enough taste to wear anything other than shirts and pants.
"You look weird."
"Just a mild case of albinism," Tay joked, who had been black-haired all the time, "nothing bad." ”
"What advice do you have for a dangerous adventure?"
"(Healing potions)," Tai replied, "a lot." I think your HP will be depleted faster than the witch on cremation. ”
"Understood." The customer replied with a smile, glancing at the impressive rows of potions and trinkets on display. Tai has amassed a plethora of magical items throughout his life, from amulets to animated dolls; Half of it was made by his own hands. "What class are you from?"
"Mostly (alchemists)," he replied, but missing a crucial detail, "and some are Spellcaste."
Other levels of the profession. I try to strike a balance between the two. ”
"Ah, craft class," replied the customer, his tone revealing his true thoughts on the matter. Dick. "I thought about taking one, but the goddess only went out with strong warriors."
Ah, a new earthling. The newcomer continued. They are the worst customers, expecting the world to bow to them because they died doing nothing in their past lives and were given a [sacred weapon] for their troubles. The few who survive the first mission either become more unbearable or mature, but it's like flipping a coin. Can that person live that long?
"Are there any rumors in the city?" The customer asked.
Did he think of him as a bartender or innkeeper?" There's always something new in Lyon, so I'm not sure what you'll be interested in. ”
"I'm going to challenge the dungeon," the customer continued, as Tye packed a pack of 8 healing potions, he loved to listen to himself.
Can't walk into a narrow hallway with a sword that's too big? He's going to die. "You should take a shorter weapon," Tai advised, because the customer is everything.
"Nothing compares to my holy sword," replied the poor fool. Well, Tai tried!" I'm after a necromancer. ”
"A necromancer?" Tay raised his eyebrows, suddenly interested. This is new. "Isn't this some dark wizard's trick to bring the dead back to life?"
"The guild believes there's one at the bottom of the dungeon," the man replied, "otherwise how would the undead keep replenishing their numbers?"
"Maybe they're just killing and transforming the fools who have been trying to challenge them?" Tay replied coldly.
The man replied, "No, he is a sorcerer, and I can't wait to cut off his head and bring it back to the temple." I bet he's got a goatee. ”
"Oh, oh, well, it's terrible to have you as a barber." If the sword did not decide the fate of the boy, it was his. "There's a very powerful 'Durahan' there. Maybe you should start with him. ”
"Isn't Durahhans headless?"
Yes, that's the joke. "That's four hundred gold coins, sir......"
"Echizen. Echizen Kazuki. When I'm famous, you'd better remember that sentence. Tai didn't want to, but he still accepted the rookie's wallet. Goodbye, Thai!"
The alchemist does not mention that he replaced one of the potions with a [laxative].
No one doubted the owner.
Thankfully, the next customer was a beautiful witch with shoulder-length brown hair and gray eyes. She was almost 17 years old and entered the Royal College of Art a year earlier than most students. "Hello, aspect! She waved at him.
"Annie," the alchemist smiled affectionately at her, having not seen her since she went to the capital, "you're back in town?"
"We're hunting orcs near the mountains." She replied. As a student at the Royal Academy, she was asked to take part in the class's "field training missions", usually clearing the countryside on behalf of the royal family. These missions are meant to prepare them for a more dangerous rendezvous, when the Nine Kingdoms form an alliance and monsters invade the human world. "When I pass by, I always see my favorite shopkeeper!"
"Thank you." This attention made Tai very happy. "How's your class?" The one from school?"
"Amazing! She replied, "I have made a lot of friends, and the princess is with us!" She's so talented!"
"Oh, really?" Tai listened intently, just in case, "Isn't the king's heir going to receive private tutoring?"
"Her brother is, but because she is second in line to the throne and is skilled in magic and swordsmanship, the king sent her to study at the Academy," said Anne, before adding proudly, "but Archmage Calvert says I have more arcane potential." ”
She deserved it. Such a kind, hardworking girl. After a brief exchange, the alchemist learns that she is going to hunt a [Yokai Shaman]. The ideal target for a novice, dangerous, but not an opponent for a well-equipped team.
"I have a [Cursed Amulet] that is perfect for dealing with elf spellcasters," Tai suggested, "and [Low Fire Resistance Elixir]. I'll give you a discount. ”
"Thank you!" Anne was delighted, and her big smile reminded him why he loved the job.
"If you have the chance, recommend me to the princess." Tay winked at her. This could be an opportunity he couldn't let go.
Anne promised him to come back as soon as he was done, and the shopkeeper watched the student leave, his smile disappearing as she disappeared from sight. "[Locks and keys]." He said the magic seal locked the front door of the store after she left.
The alchemist walked to the basement behind the shop. Cleverly disguised as a pure storage area, with barrels of potions, bags of raw materials, and chests full of magical seeds waiting to be transformed, this area is unremarkable to the uninitiated.
No one will notice the hidden secret door on the back wall, or the slightly gray stone used as a switch.
Tay pushed, and the wall collapsed, revealing a staircase leading to the darkness below......
How long did it take for him to meet Ryoma?
That night, after the service, Tay opened the basement door and walked down the dungeon.
In the early days of the kingdom, the city of Lyons used to survive on a thriving mine until they dug too deep and opened the ruins below. While the discovery of dungeons made mining impossible, the promise of hidden treasures attracted adventurers and tourists alike. If anything, it's good for the town.
Most of the upper level of the dungeon is the remains of an abandoned mineshaft, with only torches flickering and no lights in the narrow stone corridors. But that didn't bother Tay, his nature made it clear to him even in the dark.
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Zombies and [Skeleton Warrior] left him; Mainly because they don't have brains, so they don't attack other undead, even those disguised as humans. The living dead recognized themselves.
He encounters a mad, purple ghost that is more of an echo of wailing than substance. "Hello, Chief." The ghost said after recognizing him.
"Hello, Oni," Tye greeted the ghost as well, "what's down there?"
Hagen caught a prey. Live meat made a splash, it made a splash. Poor ha. He is good at talking. Use this brain, use that brain......"
"The best of us always die first," Tai said with a blank face, turning and walking towards Hagan's hunting grounds.
It didn't take long for him to find the Headless Horseman standing next to Ryoma's corpse. His old friend Kurakan is a vibrant, headless suit of black armor who has been killed by an executioner's axe; They met in the underworld of Helheim, and they have been together ever since Tye rescued them.
He has killed quite a few people since they took the dungeon.
"Hello, Chief," Darken welcomed his old friend, "look what I killed today!"
"Let me guess," Tye said, glancing at the disarmed corpse, his weapon just a few feet away from his hand. Ryoma must have slammed his blade into the wall, causing the blade to fall out of his hand. "Sword?"
"Swords," replied Kuranke, who himself carried a shorter sword and a small shield to move around the tunnels, "they will never learn." ”
"Well, if they survive, usually." Sometimes, they "come alive" like him. "But now he's dead."
"Are you going to raise him?" Durahan smiled. "You're wasting your time. He was caught by me while he was. In the dungeon. ”
"If he hadn't wanted me to be hurt, I would have raised him," Tai replied, "I'm going to try this variant I conceived." "After perfecting the technique of returning the soul to the physical shell, he struggled to find a permanent way to prevent the corpse from decomposing. Sentient zombies usually go crazy because of this.
Witchcraft is hard work.
Tay doesn't mind helping his community. He replenishes the undead animals that don't threaten anyone unless disturbed, and gets paid by equipping suicidal adventurers who want to test their skills. This brought in tourists, made his town economically economic, and created jobs. Everyone wins.
But he didn't do it out of greed. An immortal research lab costs a lot, especially since he can't buy most of the necessary materials through regular channels without alerting the guild of his true activities.
One day, once he has perfected the immortality process and created the perfect [resurrection] spell, the world will finally recognize him as a visionary, but, alas, he will have to wait a long, long time.
"Hey, I'm Ryoma," Tai grabbed the corpse's head and let his lips move on their own, "I like brains." B
aaaaaaaiiiiiii
ss !beeaaa
s !”
Hagen looked at Tay as if he was crazy; It wasn't easy, because he didn't have a head. "None? The alchemist asked, "Did I hear it wrong?"
"Boss, you're scaring me."
"Everybody's a critic now," Tate grumbled, "can you help me carry him to my lab?" I swear the more people on earth get heavier and heavier the longer. "As for the sword, since only earthlings can use it, he will either sell it on the black market or study it.
"Unless I can keep a toe as a trophy."
Transactions.
Everything I did was to kill the Grim Reaper, Tai mused, as he dragged the corpse through the tunnel with Durahan.