"The black market is the most crucial part of this world. Without the black market, the quality of life for monsters would stagnate, and the kingdom would lose its future," I emphasized the importance of the black market to some shopkeepers.
After that day, we lived a surprisingly peaceful life, even though there were many things we couldn't do and many things we weren't used to. I accepted this way of life.
The most awkward thing was her occasional bursts of words and my self-talk in Chinese, which was completely incomprehensible to anyone. But she always wanted to say something.
Aside from that, there was also the issue of salt. It didn't matter if I didn't eat sugar, but running out of salt was not acceptable. Before finding a stable source of salt, I could only rely on occasionally licking the sweat on my body and drinking a bit of animal blood to solve the problem.
If I continued living like this, I would definitely turn into a reptile.
Although we couldn't communicate in the same language, I couldn't express my needs. But there is always opportunity, like the black market.
According to my records, it was the fifth day since I arrived in this world. I sat boredly at the entrance of the cave, thinking about how to eat cooked meat with salt, how to learn the language of this world, and how to buy a pack of cigarettes again. A long, rhythmic horn sound echoed at the foot of the mountain.
She was the first to move - she strung her Turkish bow, put on her quiver, and finally donned a black cloak. Then she walked into that dark cave. Actually, I had guessed that the dark cave was where I was originally tied up, but I didn't dare to enter without permission. I wasn't foolish enough to ruin the trust that had been established.
After a cigarette-length of time, she came out, with a small pouch in her hand. The securely tied knot on the pouch indicated that it was filled with some kind of currency. Besides spending, there was no other purpose for taking out money. I didn't believe Medusa would deposit money in a bank.
Next, she threw the money bag to me...
Huh?
I had no idea how much money it was for me at that time. The only thing on my mind was why she gave me the money.
Her cold hand grabbed my forearm, indicating that we were going out. I was always sensitive to physical contact, so on the way, I slowly held her arm, little by little, until our hands were tightly clasped together.
Why was it only me whose heart was racing? - That was what I thought at the time.
Soon, we arrived at a small road at the foot of the mountain. Although I had seen rural markets before, the scale of the black market surprised me.
An endless procession of black horse-drawn carriages! I tried to count, and there were definitely more than fifty carriages lined up in a single file along the roadside, each covered with black cloth or curtains. Customers, like Medusa, wore black cloaks, while the merchants all wore black tall hats.
The only colorful things in this scene were the products on the shelves.
If there was anything different from a rural market, it was the eerie silence here, as if all buying behavior didn't require verbal communication. The only sound that could be heard was the pleasant clinking of coins.
"So this is the legendary black market?"
I couldn't help but exclaim.
Following her, we walked to the lead carriage of the merchant convoy, as if she wanted to show me. We leisurely strolled from the front. The lead carriage was pulled by three horses, and I was happy to see the same animals in this parallel world as in the real world. I even wanted to touch the mane on the horse's neck. But I immediately gave up the idea because the docile horse flashed its beautiful canine teeth at me...
Apart from having more horses pulling the carriage, the lead carriage also had a plaque with a black sun symbol painted on it.
The second carriage only had a small window, and the plaque hanging outside with a chalk-drawn simple and understandable illustration displayed how many white coins could be exchanged for a yellow coin. Of course, I couldn't understand how much it could be exchanged for, but I was sure it was not a small amount.
Looking at the golden coins (if they were gold) in the money bag, I suddenly felt like I had attached myself to a wealthy woman. Perhaps Medusa also had some treasures plundered?
Starting from the third carriage were the stalls run by merchants, with a wide range of products from spices to weapons such as axes and shields. It seemed like everything you wanted to buy could be found today.... "What's with this strange oppressive feeling?" I cursed in my heart.
Ever since I arrived here, a very unpleasant feeling has been following me - when I lower my head, I feel like everyone is staring at me, but when I raise my head, they all quickly turn away.
"What the hell, have they never seen a human who has crossed over before?"
"Is it really that rare for Medusa to have a human boyfriend?"
... Well, I guess it is quite rare. But please stop staring at me. All of those guests in the cloaks are monsters, at least I'm still a human.
Speaking of humans, these merchants are all humans. Unfortunately, they can't understand English or Chinese. I've already said "How much" and "多少钱" when buying salt.
Language is indeed important. If I could master the language of the humans in this world, even just one of them, I could communicate with the people here. So after buying the salt, I grabbed her hand and ran to a stall that seemed to sell books. It was at that moment that I bought books and a pen, because without them, it would be difficult to restore these stories in my memory alone.
Thinking back, buying books was the first time I truly showed my "intelligence" in this world. Considering that the only person I can communicate with daily is Medusa, who's holding my hand, I entrusted all language learning to her. As a "zero-level" human, I chose the thickest book with the most pictures.
Even though the world is different, the rules of books are not so different. The thicker the book, the more information it contains, and the more pictures there are, the easier it is to understand. The plan to learn the language through pictures formed in my mind.
It's probably been about an hour now, and the customers are gradually dwindling. I started counting today's gains - the things in two big hemp bags. There's a seasoning that tastes just like salt, other popular seasonings, two cheap sets of clothes, canvas shoes, books and a pen, and a bunch of things that seem like they might come in handy but I don't know how to use.
If I do the math, I spent a total of 4 gold coins and received 21 ordinary coins in return. The material of the coins isn't precious metal, and one side has an emblem while the other side has a raised portrait of a person. It's probably a currency widely used in some country or in this world. Also, just a simple calculation tells me that 1 gold coin can be exchanged for at least 21 of these coins.
My goodness, if I took this bag of coins to the city of those merchants, I would be quite the "big spender"!
Wait, calm down. The feeling in my hand reminds me of the woman in the black cloak next to me.
Perhaps I was too excited, and I forgot about her, the one who gave me this opportunity... There was a moment where I even felt unworthy to hold her hand. She has been silent by my side the entire way, not caring at all about the money she's spent on an ordinary human she only met five days ago.
I used to be a person who became cold and indifferent because of money.
But at this very moment, in this unfamiliar world, I want to make a different choice.
Before the merchant caravan leaves, I abandon my bag filled with things and run towards the only merchant selling jewelry.
When I come back panting, I have in my hand the necklace that cost me 20 gold coins - the most beautiful necklace in my opinion, without a doubt.
I lift her black hood, and amidst the astounding gazes of everyone around, I personally put the necklace on her.
"Sorry, this is the only thing I can do for you right now."
I boldly speak in Chinese without hiding her surprised expression, and then I tightly embrace her like they do in TV dramas.
As for the "strange man who is with Medusa," that strange tale would spread throughout the town much later.
