Chapter 5: Buying a Sword
I was sitting on a bench in the central plaza with a deadpan expression on my face. In my hands was the piece of paper the old librarian gave me. It read:
Amidst the stones and graves of old,
A hidden tomb doth yet unfold.
Beneath the earth and roots so deep,
The librarian's secrets quietly keep.
Follow the twists and turns with care,
Through winding paths, beware of the snare.
The guardians of the cemetery doth sleep,
Their watchful eyes forever keep.
Look for the tree that stands alone,
Its branches reaching to the unknown.
For there, the hidden tomb will lay,
Unmarked and secret, hidden away.
Amidst the shelves of ancient lore,
The librarian's knowledge doth soar.
But take what you seek with utmost care,
For not all knowledge is meant to share.
Ah, I hate riddles! Why does everything here have to be so complicated?
Alright, so how do we go about this?
First, I need a weapon. Although I'm sure this Lord of Light is very mighty and powerful, I'm not trusting the cemetery to be safe during the day one bit.
The riddle can wait until I have a chance to look at the place in person. I looked at the time; it is currently 3 p.m. The game started at noon, so I have already played for three hours. Hmm, time flies here; it doesn't feel like I have been here so long at all.
I think I will leave the cemetery for tomorrow. It is already afternoon, and who knows how long it will take me to find the tomb? And there is no way in hell I want to be in that place at night. At least not until I'm strong enough to handle anything the game might throw at me.
I still don't know what the penalty for dying here is, but I don't want to find out myself. It would surely put me well behind other players.
So I will go buy a weapon and then explore the area around the city for a bit. I will maybe try my hand at combat if I manage to find some low-level monsters along the way.
I was happy with my plan and, full of enthusiasm, set out to find a blacksmith. I'm pretty sure I saw a few stores selling weapons on the main street close to the adventurer's guild, so I headed that way.
I could also look to see if the guild has some easy gathering quests when I'm there, I thought as I made my way through the center of the city along the main road back to the southern gates.
I soon found the store I saw previously, and surely it had plenty of weapons on display, so I strolled right in.
As I stepped into the store, the sharp scent of polished metal hit my nose. The shop was well-lit, with walls lined with shiny racks of weapons and shelves stocked with various types of armor. The swords on the racks glinted in the light, beckoning me to come and take a closer look.
The store was bustling with activity as players browsed through the different items, trying them out. The armor racks were filled with different types of armor, ranging from light leather armor to heavy plate armor. The weapons section had swords, axes, maces, and bows, all neatly arranged in various categories.
I couldn't help but feel awed by the selection of weapons and armor available in the store. Each piece was expertly crafted, with intricate designs and engravings etched into the metal. It was clear that the shopkeeper took great pride in their work and was dedicated to providing the finest equipment for adventurers like myself.
As I walked through the store, I couldn't help but notice a few unique items that stood out from the rest. One was a rare sword with a glowing blue gemstone embedded in its hilt. Another was a set of steel chainmail with intricate patterns etched into the metal. But as soon as I saw their price tag, I quickly stepped away from them.
I noticed that the group of players who were in the store with me had finished their shopping, and I headed to the counter.
The shopkeeper, a grizzled old man with a thick beard and piercing eyes, greeted me with a friendly smile. He was dressed in a leather apron and had a set of keys jingling at his waist.
"Welcome to my humble shop, young adventurer," he said in a gravelly voice. "Are you looking for a new weapon?"
"Good day, sir. Yes, I'm looking for a weapon."
"What kind of weapon are you using?" "We have swords, spears, maces, and plenty of others to choose from."
Well, that is a good question. I still don't know what kind of bonuses the librarian class will give me. I guess I will stick with a sword for now. It is, after all, the most versatile weapon.
I informed the shopkeeper of my preference, and he led me to the sword rack, where I began browsing the selection.
My heart sank as I saw the price tag. Even the cheapest sword here costs 10 silver. There was no way I could afford it with the little money I had left.
The shopkeeper noticed my discouraged expression and approached me with a smile. "If you cannot afford a new weapon, I also have a selection of second-hand weapons," he said. He then led me to the corner, where a box was filled with all kinds of swords. Most of them were rusty, and their blades were chipped.
"These may not be the prettiest swords in the shop, but it's still a blade."
I noticed an old, battered sword tucked away in the corner. It was definitely not very impressive compared to the other swords in front, with a dull blade and a worn hilt, but it looked better than the others in the pile I was looking at.
I picked up the old sword, examining it more closely. It had a few nicks and scratches, but it felt solid in my hand. "How much for this one?" I asked, hoping it was within my budget.
The shopkeeper gave me a thoughtful look. "Well, it has seen better days, so I could let it go for a fair price. How about five silver coins?"
I hesitated for a moment, considering if it was worth it to spend almost all of my money on an old sword. I was just getting ready to haggle for a better price when the shopkeeper said, "If you give me six silver, I will also give you simple leather armor with the sword. You will need some protection if you want to survive in the wilderness."
That... is not too bad, I guess? I then reluctantly handed him the coins.
The shopkeeper grinned, handing me the sword and a suit of leather armor. "A wise choice, my friend. That sword may be old, but it still has some fight left in it. Treat it well, and it will serve you well."
I thanked him as I left the store with my new sword by my side.
So I have a sword at last. I looked sadly at my remaining two silver coins. I still need to find a place to spend the night and something to eat. I was already starting to feel a little hungry from all the walking around the city.
I need to get more money, I thought as I went back to the adventurers guild to look at the available quests.
It was even more crowded than last time if that is even possible. I battled through the crowds to get to the quest board.
In the end, I picked up a basic quest to slay goblins. They will apparently pay you 5 copper coins per goblin, as they have to be culled regularly to prevent them from attacking human settlements since they reproduce very quickly.
Goblins are the weakest monsters, right? So this should be easy!
I thought as I made my way out of the city for the first time, eager to see what awaited me outside.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone