Dark Mire Lurker

The moment he left the herb shop, worry clouded Gao De's face.

He knew he did not have much time, but he had not expected it to be this urgent.

The last day of the month.

Today was the thirteenth day of Awakening Month.

Gao De silently calculated how much time he had left.

This world also had twelve months in a year, called from the first to the twelfth month:

Frost Month, Awakening Month, Budding Month, Greenleaf Month, Flameflower Month, Sunbeam Month, Harvest Month, Darknight Month, Frostgold Month, Mistfrost Month, Icebound Month, Winter Solstice Month.

The only difference was that there were no long or short months. Every month had thirty days.

The day he awoke had been the second day of Awakening Month.

Today was the thirteenth day of Awakening Month.

Only seventeen days remained until the end of the month!

After learning the exact news from Phil's Herb Shop and accurately calculating how much time he had left, Gao De arrived at Pierre's Odds and Ends with a heavy heart.

Naturally, he had not come to spend money.

In fact, ever since buying the spell formula last time, his savings had been stretched thin. He could not afford any purchases at all.

"You're saying you can repair damaged Magic Items?" Inside the shop, Pierre stared at Gao De in surprise, as if he could not believe it and suspected he had misheard.

Gao De nodded firmly. "Repairing some relatively low-level Magic Items shouldn't be a problem."

"Aren't you an Elixirist?" Pierre asked suspiciously. "Could it be that you're an alchemist too?"

Elixirists, alchemists, rune masters—the three great secondary professions of the mage world.

Gao De shook his head. "I can't be called an alchemist. At most, I'm an Enchanting Repairman."

Alchemists could create all kinds of Magic Items, including repairing them.

Enchanting Repairmen, meanwhile, specialized only in repairing damaged magical equipment and tools. Their profession leaned more toward craftsmanship, and their technical skill was far below that of alchemists.

Though that was what he said, Pierre still put on an expression of solemn respect. Whether he truly felt that way or was merely putting on a show for Gao De was impossible to tell.

"To find a Mage Apprentice in a place like ours who studies both Herbology and Enchantment Studies—and at such a young age, too. Impressive."

"I've only learned a little of each. I don't deserve such praise from you, sir," Gao De replied modestly.

"As it happens, I have a damaged Guidance Ring here. It's been broken for several years already."

"In a small city like this, I've never found anyone capable of repairing it. But it's only a 0-ring Magic Item, so making a special trip to Bremen City for repairs isn't worth it. I'll let you give it a try." Pierre rummaged beneath the counter for a while, then pulled out a dark gray iron ring.

In a small city like Hogan City, it was still fairly common to find mages who studied Herbology.

After all, potions had a broad market everywhere.

Where there was demand, there was a market.

But mages who studied Enchantment Studies were truly nowhere to be found—small cities could barely scrape together a few Magic Items, let alone broken ones.

Anyone with that skill either starved to death or moved to a big city.

Just as doctors could always make a living in the countryside, while auto mechanics in the countryside were nine times out of ten left drinking the Northwind.

"If you can repair this ring, I can pay you thirty silver for the work." Pierre made a gesture similar to an "OK" sign, indicating the thirty-silver labor fee.

One gold was worth twenty silver, so thirty silver was 1.5 gold.

A 0-ring Magic Item generally cost only twelve to fifteen gold. A repair fee of 1.5 gold was equivalent to one-tenth of the item's value, which was already quite reasonable.

From the first time he had sold Novice Spider Venom to Pierre, Gao De had realized that this shopkeeper was someone worth dealing with.

And it was indeed so. Pierre was a fair man.

"Deal. I'll repair it and bring it back tomorrow." Gao De took the ring from Pierre.

The iron band was of moderate width, its surface polished smooth as silk to ensure the wearer's comfort. Mysterious rune patterns were engraved along the outside of the ring.

Those rune patterns were the source of the ring's magical power.

But there was also a crack in the band. The crack not only damaged the ring itself, but also ran through the rune patterns, rendering its magical power ineffective.

Pierre nodded, entirely at ease. Waving his hand, he said, "No rush. Bring it over whenever it's ready."

It was not that a few brief encounters had made him feel instantly familiar with Gao De and trust him completely. Mainly, a damaged 0-ring Magic Item was not worth much to begin with.

Unlike high-level Magic Items, which required precious materials to bear high-ring spells, 0-ring Magic Items did not.

Even the most ordinary refined iron could bear a cantrip.

So once the spell's added value was gone, this Guidance Ring was really nothing more than an iron ring.

After putting away the ring, Gao De thought for a moment, then asked, "Is there anywhere in the city where I can buy live Leyline Creatures?"

"Live Leyline Creatures?" Pierre frowned when he heard that. He did not ask Gao De what he intended to do with them, but after thinking carefully for a while, he replied, "You might find some in a big city like Bremen. In Hogan City, that'll be difficult."

"Capturing Leyline Creatures alive takes far more manpower and resources than hunting them, and there's no market for it in a place like Hogan City. So, you understand."

Gao De silently nodded in understanding—just like in his previous life, only big cities had pet stores and zoos.

Suddenly, a set of orderly, forceful footsteps came from the street beyond the alley, drawing closer from afar and interrupting their conversation.

Gao De and Pierre turned toward the sound.

A squad of City Guards in uniform was passing along the main road outside.

As they passed the entrance to the alley where Pierre's Odds and Ends stood, two City Guards broke away from the group and entered the alley, heading toward them.

The two City Guards wore dark blue long-sleeved, belted coats with epaulets marking their ranks.

The City Crest of Hogan City was sewn onto the chests of their uniforms, giving them an especially imposing appearance.

They approached and stopped outside the shop. Once they had caught Pierre's attention, they gave a slight bow. One of them stepped forward and announced in a tone both serious and courteous:

"Mr. Pierre, I have come on behalf of the City Magistrate to deliver an urgent notice."

His voice was not loud, even somewhat low, yet every word was perfectly clear and carried an urgency that could not be ignored.

A flash of surprise passed through Pierre's eyes, but he quickly composed himself to show the City Guards due respect.

Gao De likewise fixed his gaze on the City Guards, waiting for the information about to be revealed.

"The number of Dark Mire Lurkers in the city sewers has recently increased sharply, and they have become abnormally active. In a few days, it will be the city's annual Trading Day. To ensure that Trading Day proceeds smoothly, the City Magistrate requires every merchant on the streets to clear the section of sewer covered by their own storefront."

The City Guard's words were brief and forceful.

Pierre's expression changed slightly after hearing this, revealing that the news had indeed caused him some trouble.

But he quickly reined in his expression and gave the City Guards a slight nod in thanks. "All right. I'll complete the sewer clearing before Trading Day arrives."

After delivering the notice, the two City Guards turned and left, rejoining their squad.

"What is Trading Day? And what are Dark Mire Lurkers?" Compared to Pierre's concern, Gao De was far more curious.

"You're from Hogan City, yet you don't know about Trading Day?" Pierre looked astonished at Gao De's question.

"I rarely go out, so I've never attended Trading Day." Gao De's expression did not change. Knowing this was another issue caused by his incomplete inheritance of memories, he casually made up an excuse.

Though Pierre was surprised, he did not think much of it or press further. He simply explained Trading Day to Gao De.

Every year in the middle of Awakening Month was Hogan City's liveliest Trading Day.

When that time came, the Hogan City Council would open the town square to everyone and hold a trading market, allowing citizens to buy and sell all kinds of goods, including secondhand items and old belongings.

The goods sold at Trading Day did not come only from merchants, but also from all kinds of ordinary citizens.

The wares were a dazzling jumble: handicrafts made by commoners themselves, old clothes, furniture, other personal belongings no longer needed, and even hidden objects of unknown origin and purpose.

With enough luck and a sharp enough eye, one might even find something good at this market for an exceptionally low price.

In Gao De's understanding, it was a flea market.

It was simply that this world did not yet have the term "flea market."

"As for Dark Mire Lurkers..." At the mention of them, Pierre's face filled with distaste.

"They're a kind of worm that generally lives in dark, wet swamp environments, including city sewers."

"The worms themselves aren't particularly dangerous, but they constantly secrete an extremely viscous slime."

"If they are allowed to grow and move about unchecked, the slime they secrete will eventually clog the sewers, affecting the city's wastewater drainage and leaving the entire city reeking to high heaven."

"So every so often, the City Council organizes people to clear out the Dark Mire Lurkers in the sewers."

"Whenever Dark Mire Lurkers occasionally run rampant and the City Council doesn't have enough hands, they require merchants like us to take responsibility for the section of sewer passing by our own shops."

"Is that job difficult to complete?" Gao De asked.

"Those worms may not be dangerous, but as Leyline Creatures, they possess a certain ability to disguise themselves. They are good at hiding, and they live in the sewers, so they aren't easy to find and clear out."

"Wait." Gao De's eyes gradually lit up. "Boss, did you say these worms are Leyline Creatures?!"