Locator Ring

Zoldat drew the sword at his waist.

"I bought this magic sword here. It's more durable and makes my swings faster. I've used it for over a year, and the blade hasn't worn down at all."

"I see." Cain nodded slightly and turned to the clerk.

"Do you have a magic item that'll keep me from ever getting lost?"

"Um... I don't think there is one. We do have maps, compasses, and Holy Light Lanterns, though."

Cain pursed his lips, folded his arms, and clicked his tongue in displeasure.

"I thought you had everything. How can you be missing something this important...?"

If maps and compasses were enough to keep him from getting lost, he would have reached the Kingdom of Asura ages ago!

Roxy's eye twitched as she looked at her foolish apprentice. Why was he so hung up on this? Besides, she could guide him herself...

The others smiled at Cain's small figure. It seemed this little Sword God was the type to get lost. With that thought, they began browsing the magic items too.

The rabbit-eared clerk kept smiling as she spoke to Cain.

"We don't have a magic item that can always find your way, but we do have magic Locator Rings and all kinds of teleportation scrolls. You can only get them here or at our main store."

Cain's eyes stirred, and he was about to speak when Roxy frowned and gently nudged his arm with her elbow.

"What is it, Teacher Roxy?"

"Cain, magic scrolls and Locator Rings are expensive. And scrolls can only be used once."

Cain gave her serious expression a faint smile. How expensive could they be?

"Escape Scrolls cost twenty Asura Gold Coins."

"Random Teleport Scrolls cost five Asura Gold Coins."

"Tracking Teleport Scrolls cost ten Asura Gold Coins and work only within a range of three hundred li."

"We also have magic Locator Rings. They come as a primary ring and a secondary ring, each set with a pale-blue water-attribute Demon Crystal. Complex tracking magic crests are engraved inside them, allowing the two wearers to pinpoint each other's location. A single ring won't work; they must be bound as a pair. And once bound, they can't be assigned to new owners."

As Cain listened to the clerk, he saw the price tag: sixty Aras Gold Coins. Sweat broke out on his brow.

If one Aras Gold Coin was worth ten thousand yuan in his previous life, that came to six hundred thousand yuan. No ordinary adventurer could afford that...

That really is expensive...

Cain swallowed and glanced at Roxy. His teacher was staring at the pair of magic crystal rings in their elegant gift box, her eyes sparkling at the sky-blue gems.

Cain smiled helplessly.

Teacher Roxy hadn't thought it too expensive to spend more than twenty Aras Gold Coins on magic books for him. He couldn't be ungrateful. Besides, the rings could let him and Teacher Roxy find each other.

"Please wrap up this pair of rings."

Cain took out a bag of Asura Gold Coins and handed it to the delighted clerk.

"You silly apprentice! Don't waste your money like that!"

Roxy came to her senses, her cheeks reddening as she huffed and tapped Cain on the head with her staff.

"It's not a waste. Your safety matters more than anything, Teacher Roxy."

Cain rubbed his head. He pressed his lips together and continued as Roxy's face grew redder.

"And the rings will let us know where each other is. If anything happens, I can find you quickly."

Of course, if he got lost, he could use the ring to find Teacher Roxy too.

So my silly apprentice bought them for me... Well, why else would he buy two rings? But why does this feel a little strange?

Wait! Why is that silly apprentice giving me a ring? Among the Human Race, isn't that something only lovers or couples do...?

Roxy's face grew hot enough to boil a kettle. She gripped her staff tightly and stammered, unable to get a word out.

"B-but that's too much! Sixty Aras Gold Coins!"

It was the only feeble protest Roxy could manage. In truth, she was a little happy. She thought the rings were beautiful, and more importantly, their ability to locate each other was genuinely useful.

She had planned to give Cain a ring as a gift when they eventually parted. Instead, he had spent his money to give one to his teacher first.

Zoldat, the others in the shop, and even the rabbit-eared clerk smiled as they watched Roxy and Cain.

He's already given her an engagement ring, so when are those two getting together?

Cain slipped the secondary ring onto his left index finger and looked at Roxy's flushed face.

"I-I'll put mine on myself..."

Having her apprentice put a ring on her finger would be far too strange...

Blushing, Roxy pressed her lips together and took the primary ring from Cain. She put it on her left index finger as well. Then they placed their hands on the Contract Scroll the clerk had brought out.

"Are you both sure you want to form the contract? Once you do, the Locator Rings will activate. But these rings can only be bound to one person each; they won't work for anyone else."

Cain nodded, looking a little eager. Roxy's face burned as she gave a tiny nod, and steam practically began rising from her head.

This is so embarrassing. Could she stop making it sound like a wedding...?

As the contract took effect, the blue magic crystals on Cain's and Roxy's rings lit up. The glow showed that the wearer was alive. If a crystal went completely dark, it meant the other person's ring had broken—or that person had died.

"Now, let me explain the Locator Ring's other feature: its distress signal. This is important, so please remember it."

The clerk's smile remained, but her expression grew a little more serious as she addressed Cain and Roxy.

"Channel Magic Power into the ring's sapphire for five seconds and say 'locate' in your mind. The Demon Crystal will emit a special magic signal that the other ring's wearer will sense instantly. Their ring will shine brightly and guide them to the person who sent the distress signal."

Cain's eyes lit up.

"So I won't get lost, right?"

The clerk's mouth twitched.

Why does he keep asking that? How could anyone get lost with a map and a compass...?

"O-of course not. The Locator Ring will continuously guide its wearer to the other ring's wearer. But sending a distress signal damages the Demon Crystal, so please use it sparingly to keep the crystal from breaking."

Cain nodded. After buying the rings, he wanted to get a few scrolls too, but Roxy huffed and tapped him on the head, and he gave up on the idea.

"You two must be a couple. Here's a little gift to thank you for buying our magic items. I hope you'll visit us again."

Adventurers who were both wealthy and willing to spend were rare. It couldn't hurt to build a good relationship with them.

Cain thanked her quietly for the Tracking Scroll and tucked it into his clothes.

Roxy looked around the shop again. In the end, she chose a fine-steel longsword engraved with delicate gold filigree. It cost ten Asura Gold Coins, and she gave it to Cain in return.

"Th-this is for you, Cain."

Cain took the longsword from Roxy and examined it with a faint smile. It felt a little heavy, and it couldn't compare to his Demon Blade: Instant Void.

Still, judging by its finely polished blade and sharp edge, it was a rare, excellent sword. Its weight would lend strength to his swings without slowing them down.