GILF Hunter

Chapter 513: 513 Identify

As soon as everyone stepped into the shop, someone rushed out from the inside, as if they had noticed their presence.

’Ah, guests at a time like this?’

Wearing a worn-out robe and a hood pulled down deep, their face was completely invisible.

The person who emerged from within was exactly who everyone had inwardly expected. The suspicious figure they had encountered several times before....

It was the [Suspicious Merchant].

After all, this person was likely the only one capable of setting up such a full-fledged shop inside the Labyrinth. It was a question whether they could even be called a person in the first place.

’I had the shop doors closed... where on earth did you get a key!’

’You dropped it, didn’t you?’

’No wonder I thought one was missing....’

The merchant muttered that, then casually spread their arms toward Ian’s group in a welcoming gesture.

’Well, welcome. Hehe... whatever the reason, you’re guests visiting after a long time. Please, come this way.’

Following the lead of the suspicious merchant, Ian and his group walked further into the shop.

The interior of the shop was larger than expected, with a substantial number of rooms and corridors intertwined like a spiderweb. It was unclear how they had expanded the space inside the Labyrinth, but it looked as if it had undergone multiple renovations.

Following the merchant, they arrived at a room that was somewhat wide, like a living room. It was a place where display cases were lined up alongside a long table.

The merchant pointed toward it and spoke. Although their face was hidden, their voice sounded a bit proud.

’These are my collectibles. Would you like to take a look?’

The display cases were decorated with items that looked quite precious at a glance. It seemed to be a place where the most exceptional items among their possessions were gathered.

Since this merchant primarily dealt in such items to begin with, a collection they specifically put effort into gathering would naturally consist of incredibly rare treasures.

Even with a brief look, it seemed to Ian that the collection consisted primarily of items that were at least Legendary grade.

As if sensing everyone’s gazes, the merchant spoke with a tone of regret.

’Regrettably, the items here are not for sale. They are personal collectibles. But... do you see this? This was from the Labyrinth’s marshlands a long time ago....’

For some reason, the merchant began to explain the collectibles very actively.

...It was a bit out of the blue, but since most of the items were precious Legendary-grade objects, the merchant’s stories about how they were obtained were quite interesting in their own way.

Was this fellow always this talkative? Everyone wore such expressions while listening to the merchant’s story for the time being.

Rin, standing nearby, quietly asked Ian.

’Was this person... always this talkative?’

’Well... no guests would usually visit a place like this. Since they’ve gathered so much, they probably wanted to show it off.’

’...They seemed like a truly suspicious person, but hearing that makes them seem quite ordinary.’

Rin muttered that while observing the merchant.

The inside of the hood was shrouded in pitch-black darkness, making the face completely invisible, but their voice made them sound quite excited.

Meanwhile, someone slipped up beside Ria, who was staring intently at an item in the display case, and spoke in a low voice. It was Frenda.

’Um, excuse me... who is that person?’

’Ah.... Is this your first time seeing them, Ms. Frenda?’

Since everyone seemed to know each other, Frenda, who had just been following along quietly, took a moment to ask Ria, who was standing next to her.

Ria thought about how to explain this before speaking to Frenda.

’He-they are a suspicious person. Someone who does business inside the Labyrinth.’

’Pardon...?’

Hearing that explanation, Frenda’s confusion only deepened.

Perhaps thinking her explanation was very lacking, Ria belatedly added various details.

’They suddenly appear inside the Labyrinth to sell things. We don’t know who they are, but the goods are quite good anyway. People who travel the Labyrinth just accept it as it is.’

’The Labyrinth has things like that too....’

A merchant who suddenly appears in the Labyrinth. She thought she had become somewhat accustomed to the place called the Labyrinth, but every time something like this happened, it felt as if inexplicable things continued to occur.

At that moment, Frenda suddenly heard a strange voice.

- Wait. That brat, could it be...?

’What’s wrong? Do you know them?’

Frenda wore a puzzled expression upon hearing the Elf’s murmur, which sounded as if she recognized who the merchant in front of them was.

’You said you were trapped with the Holy Sword since the Labyrinth was first made. How could you know that person?’

- No, there’s no mistake. Pull out the Holy Sword for a moment!

’...In this place?’

- It’s important, so hurry.

Frenda was a bit flustered.

Of course, they were a suspicious-looking person at a glance.... But to suddenly pull out a sword in this atmosphere? Wouldn’t they think it’s an attack?

However, it felt wrong to just ignore the Elf reacting like this. Because that friendly-looking appearance could be a disguise, and they might actually be a wicked entity trying to lure them into a trap.

Watching the situation carefully, Frenda took advantage of a brief pause in the explanation to ask the merchant.

’Um, please don’t misunderstand.... Is it okay if I pull out my weapon for a moment? There’s something I need to check.’

’Ah, of course it’s fine. You may pull it out without concern.’

Frenda quietly manifested the Holy Sword.

...Since she had been steadily practicing manifesting the Holy Sword alone after showing that embarrassing sight in front of Ian last time, she didn’t show such an ungraceful appearance again.

Light gathered as the Holy Sword was formed in Frenda’s hand.

’Eh, wait. Is that by any chance the Holy Sword....’

The merchant, who had guaranteed it was fine to pull it out, was somehow looking very flustered.

Frenda felt doubtful seeing that reaction.

To be this flustered upon seeing the Holy Sword. Are they indeed a wicked being...?

- Hey!

Before Frenda’s doubt could conclude, the Elf’s voice was heard first.

That voice didn’t just echo in Frenda’s head; everyone present could hear it. A dazzling mist rising from the main body of the Holy Sword formed a human shape.

The Elf’s appearance had been materialized.

It seemed that while the Holy Sword was manifested, she could utilize the gathered mana to use it in this way.

Of course, it was a function rarely used because the efficiency was poor and there wasn’t much more she could specifically do just by showing herself.

- Calliope! It’s you, isn’t it!

’Gehek, M-Master...!’

The Elf ghost grabbed the scruff of the suspicious merchant’s neck.

The flustered merchant’s hood was pulled back, revealing the face that no one had supposedly seen until now.

Various speculations had circulated regarding the identity of this [Suspicious Merchant] that one would inevitably meet at least once while traveling the Labyrinth.

That there were hideous scars on their face. Or that they were a Lich, an Archmage who had returned to life.

Or there were many people who thought there was a possibility they were a monster like a talking goblin.

Since they were a merchant wandering the Labyrinth, not a single person thought they were a normal human being.

However, the merchant’s face revealed there was an appearance no one had expected.

A girl with a remarkably beautiful face and flowing long blonde hair.

And the pointed ears revealed through it.

Ian muttered as he saw that sight.

’An Elf...?’

’Ah. Is that an Elf?’

Frey, seeing an Elf for the first time, asked.

Based on the verbal descriptions, she thought they would look like spirits. Aside from the unique ears, they looked just like humans.

Meanwhile, the Elf ghost began to scold the merchant called Calliope.

- I told you to live quietly while training until the world became safe, and here you are playing around! I was worried ever since I left you outside!

’Playing around! I was helping the heroes who were conquering the Labyrinth in my own way!’

- Helping? In what way?

The suspicious merchant.... That Elf called Calliope answered confidently, but her voice lost confidence as she felt her Master’s gaze.

Then, with a face lacking confidence, she slightly turned her head toward the other guests present and asked.

’You there, everyone. I definitely helped you a lot, right?’

’...Hmm.’

Ian and his group, and even Frey. Their heads tilted slightly at that question.

Had they... received help?

Didn’t they take a corresponding price?

At the very least, it wasn’t a business where one side took a one-sided loss, but it was a transaction rather than help.

The Elf ghost seemed to have figured out what had happened just by looking at that reaction.

- You still haven’t broken that habit of gathering shiny things. Return everything you’ve received back to their owners.

’Geek.... Do you know how hard I worked to collect these... and how am I supposed to return all of this!’

The Elf ghost pulled Calliope’s ear without a word.

’Ow, owowow! O-okay! I’ll return the portions for the people here first!’

- Sigh. Honestly.... What were the elders thinking, entrusting such a child with the important role of spreading the Elven descendants again.

Watching that scene blankly, Frey muttered to Ian, who was also watching from beside her.

’I’m really seeing all sorts of things because of you.’