The soul trader. Still adorned with glowing lamps and draped with blue and silver cloth. But now, two additional guards were standing outside of it, for some unknown reason.

'I guess I made an impression. Will they let me in?'

He approached the door like last time, hoping this wouldn't become an issue. His fragment had regained ten minutes of time, but he wanted to save it for his visit to the castle later if he could.

"Hey, kid, this place isn't a place to play," one of the guards said, stepping in front of the door. "Go somewhere else."

"I'm not a child, my good sir. I'm a halfling. But I'll excuse your ignorance; it seems we're a rare sight in these parts. Will you let me in?"

The guards looked at each other with furrowed brows, then they studied Nova closer. "... You do have a certain air about you… Very well, please go on in, sir."

"Thank you!" Nova replied, walking past them and through the door. "Good day!"

The woman behind the counter froze as she saw him, wide-eyed and jaw-dropped. "Y-you're… W-welcome, sir." She took a deep breath, gathering her nerves. "How… Can we help you?"

"I'm not here to cause any trouble," Nova started, approaching her with his hands in the air. "I'm here to make up for what I took, so we can both move past what happened yesterday."

She looked over at the other counter, trying to contact the man there with her eyes. He was busy with another customer, but they did share a glance. Then, her focus returned to Nova. "I believe that's acceptable, sir. But first, can you tell me the name I should use?"

Nova smiled, figuring she was making sure he really was the one who spoke to her in the shadows. "You may call me Noctis."

She swallowed quietly, still with a nervous body language. "Very good, sir. You may call me Eliana." She bowed lightly and retrieved another soul stone from under her counter. "I believe you recognize this?"

"Of course, a soul stone."

Eliana shook her head. "Not just a soul stone, sir. The same one."

"... Oh. I will have to speak to the adventurer's guild then."

"That would be advisable. What are your questions?"

Nova narrowed his eyes, sensing that Eliana was getting braver by the second. 'Is there a reason for that? Am I sitting in a trap? Or is she just adapting to the situation?'

"... Well, my first question is…"

[Fragment of Nova Noctis equipped.]

"... Have you forgotten who I am?"

Among mythical traits that could grant supreme magical talent or godlike strength, his focused on a single, specific ability—pure killing intent, honed beyond mortal limits. Eliana collapsed instantly, her body refusing to move as instinctive terror took hold.

[Fragment of Nova Noctis unequipped.]

She sat there in silence for several seconds before she could stutter a response. "I-I'm s-sorry! I-I'll stop the ch-church from coming here!" She remained behind the counter, perhaps too afraid to come back up.

The room had turned silent, and everyone was looking at the two of them—even the guard by the entrance, who had been acting like a statue until then.

"Good. I have no trouble with the church, and we would both prefer it stayed that way. I don't like making threats, but you've already gone further than that, haven't you?"

"W-We just told the church what happened, I promise!"

"And I'm here to make up for it. Can we proceed, or would you like me to speak to someone else?"

"... Could you?" She lifted her face over the counter, looking like a nervous wreck. "Daniel, can you… take him to Miss Valeria?"

The man behind the other counter looked confused by her reaction. To him, it would look like she simply fell to the ground after Nova's question, not feeling any of the killing intent.

"I can, but… Are you sure?"

"Yes! Don't…" She shook her head, looking like she wanted to escape someplace else. "Please, just do as he wants."

Nova sighed, not pleased with the situation at all. 'Quick in and out, right? No reason to go to a different soul trader, right? I'm a dumbass... But at least I noticed the ambush in time.'

The man, Daniel, stepped out from behind the counter with stiff movements. He gestured for Nova to follow him and started walking up the stairs.

Nova followed, figuring it was easier than leaving. He didn't worry much about any danger, and they already knew of Quinn, so he didn't have much to lose.

The second floor was much like the first, with intricate woodwork and red velvet covering nearly every surface. It had taken many hours to create, if nothing else. They walked down a short hallway with doors on both sides, before Daniel finally stopped before the last one. He knocked politely, waiting for an answer.

"Yes?" a light female voice came from within.

"The sir from yesterday is back, sister Valeria, and he wants to discuss a trade with you. Eliana didn't…" He glanced down at Nova, as if nervous to talk openly about him. "Well, she halted the plan."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"I see… Let him in."

Daniel opened the large wooden door for Nova, looking at him with curious eyes.

Nova walked wordlessly past him, entering a large office decorated in white and gold—much like the cathedral in the city's center. It smelled faintly of parchment and incense, reminiscent of a cloister. Large windows decorated the back and left walls, letting sunlight in for most of the day.

Behind a desk sat a young woman dressed in strange white clothes. She wore a straight hat twice as tall as her head, a scarf covering her entire neck, and a simple robe covering the rest of her torso.

'That's almost certainly religious in origin, right? Is this a nun of sorts?'

She remained seated as Nova entered, staring at him with firm eyes. "So you're the little rascal." Her tone had a clear edge, poorly concealed by a false lightness. "Or was it someone possessing a child? Why are the rats so afraid of you?"

"Oh, so you have spoken to them?" Nova clasped his small hands behind his back, revealing a bit of what he thought of as his true self. Her words confirmed his suspicions about communication between the church and Nihil's people. "They have reason to fear me. But the trap you set suggests you didn't take their advice?"

Her eyes remained firm, only showing a hint of fear by tapping her desk. "You stole from the church. We don't allow that." Her words seemed backed by a strong faith in the church, however illusory it may be.

"Well, perhaps you should have accepted the business trade without going to these rats." He couldn't help but let a hint of derision seep into his voice, questioning their judgment.

Valeria stood up from her chair, planting her hands on the desk. "Did you think we would buy human souls without any questions? An old relative, we understand. A grieving widow, sure." Her voice turned sharp. "But a child coming in here with the soul of a street boss? What would you have done?"

"I didn't expect you to cooperate with them enough to know whose soul it was. But perhaps my view of churches is different than reality." His voice turned icy cold. "Do they kidnap children for you as well, or is it mostly for the despicable harvesting?"

"You watch your mouth!" Valeria slammed her palms on the desk, causing her hat to fall back slightly on her head. "The church has nothing to do with their vile schemes!"

"Well, forgive me for jumping to conclusions," Nova replied sarcastically. "What would have happened if I let Eliana speak to you yesterday?"

Valeria fixed her hat with quick movements. "I would have come down personally to thank you for ridding the streets of such a character. But then I would have told you to take your business elsewhere."

Nova backed down slightly, now realizing he had likely misunderstood the situation. "... I acted for my own safety, so I won't apologize. Besides, you got the stone back, and I can make up for the cost with today's trade."

"Really?" Valeria sat back down with a scoff. "What illustrious hoodrat have you brought us today, then?"

Nova shook his head, spreading his arms wide. "You think so little of me? I have hunted quite the beast, you see. But before we get to it, could you tell me the approximate value of each type of trait in the soul?"

'If I ask after showing you the soul, I won't be able to trust your price, will I?'

Valeria leaned back in her chair, relaxing slightly. "Mmh, sure. Commons are worth about ten Soul Power or so, uncommon about two hundred, rare is close to a thousand, and epic is close to six thousand. The ones over that are judged case-by-case, but legendary ones usually get up in the tens of thousands. We don't handle those kinds of sums here, though."

Nova stood in stunned silence for a while, shocked by the incredible value he was walking around with. He had expected a good deal, but nothing like this.

'This could buy me nearly five years of time! Although, I would use it to get stronger as well, making it easier to earn more souls.'

"Of course," Valeria added, noting his reaction, "multiple traits lower the chances of getting the good ones. An epic trait with three common ones isn't worth nearly as much."

"Ah… that is disappointing. But I still think you'll be surprised by what I'm bringing here."

"Really? Put your offer in this rock for me, then." Valeria smirked and pulled a soul stone from her desk. She tossed it at Nova with casual strength, forcing him to catch it with both hands. It was a heavy rock, so she had to have some considerable power. Compared to the average human, at least.

Nova hesitated, recalling what happened the last time he handed over a soul. "... Before you get the chance to do anything underhanded, please know that these souls will go to saving innocent lives. Lives that I am ready to kill for."

"A true hero, hmm?" Valeria's lips curved into a mocking smile. She spread her arms wide. "Well, fret not; we honor our deals with the church's name on the line. That being, the Church of Order."

Nova didn't bother responding to her sarcasm. Instead, he held the soul stone carefully and guided Gragh's massive soul into it. The stone trembled as it struggled to contain such power. Then he threw the stone back to her, more carefully than she had.

Valeria snatched it from the air with one hand. Her smug expression vanished instantly as she felt the soul's presence. "You threw this?!" She clutched the stone to her chest. "What in the hells are you thinking?!"

"... You started it?"

"It was empty!" Her voice cracked with panic. "The soul would have dissipated if it shattered!"

"... I figured you would catch it." Nova remained stone-faced, but he was silently cursing his own carelessness.

"Well, this... this is..." Her hands trembled as she studied the soul, eyes closed in concentration. They snapped open suddenly. "The Mountain King's son?! You're the reason for the disturbance yesterday?!"

"I didn't know!" Nova threw his hands up in frustration. "I thought it was just a troll!"

"You..." She leaned forward, gripping the stone tight. "How did you escape?"

"Trade secret." Nova folded his arms, making it clear the topic was closed. He wasn't about to reveal how rich his knowledge of formations was. Tuck was enough for now.

"But..." Valeria slumped forward, resting her head in her palm. Her tall hat tumbled off, revealing a tight bun of light brown hair. She stared at the stone with wide eyes. "It's even bright in purity… And a humanoid, so high compatibility… God, this… this will make a dent in our storage."

Nova couldn't help but smile at her reaction. "Still interested, I take it?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" She sat up straight, composing herself. "It's a great shame about the two other traits, but the chance at a legendary trait like this will considerably increase the price." Her fingers traced the stone's surface. "And not to mention, it's nearly at four thousand Soul Power on its own!"

"... How will the payment work?"

"That depends on you." Valeria set the stone carefully on her desk. "Well, mostly. We don't have enough to trade you in straight Soul Power." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Are there any traits you'd like to get?"

"Nope, but materials and stuff could be traded." Nova leaned forward slightly. "What number are we looking at exactly?"

"... I'd say..." Valeria did some quick calculations in her head. "Fourteen thousand, if we remove the value of the soul stone. And we can get you ten, plus some materials to cover the full cost. Plus a tiny bit to make up for the soul you lost yesterday."

'The soul I lost, she says… Like her stubborn clerk had nothing to do with it.'

"... That sounds like a good deal. I accept it."

She looked down at the stone again, shaking her head in disbelief. "... First a mythic trait comes to Brother Morrin's door, and now this..."

"What's that?" Nova's ears perked up at the mention of a mythic trait.

"Oh, nothing." Valeria waved her hand dismissively, but her eyes held a distant look. "The church has just been having a windfall lately. It's like our God truly is watching..."

'... Mythic trait? Millie?'

Nova felt an immediate need to check on the Garden to dismiss this suspicion.

'Surely it's just not as rare as I thought… right?'

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.