ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 152: Bargains and Beasts ( )

As Hazuki approached the table, a cheerful merchant beastkin with sparkling eyes and an overly wide grin sprang forward.

"Oh, hello, Mr. Customer~!"

He said in a sing-song voice, already pouring a tiny glass of wine.

Hazuki immediately froze.

A cold sweat ran down his back.

"Ah... I have a bad feeling about this..." he muttered under his breath, slowing his steps.

Floating casually beside him, Ridan grinned like a devil about to set fire to a library.

"Just taste it," Ridan suggested smoothly.

"Nod politely. Complain it’s not good. Then leave casually."

Hazuki’s eye twitched.

"That sounds like a bad idea."

"Relax. Happens all the time. Besides, it’s free."

Ridan winked, spinning a lazy circle in the air.

The beastkin merchant shoved the small glass into Hazuki’s hand.

"Please, please, try! Only the finest local brew!"

Hazuki stared at the glass suspiciously.

The wine inside was a suspicious neon purple color, and it even seemed to bubble slightly.

Hazuki looked at Ridan, who gave a double thumbs-up.

Sighing heavily, Hazuki braced himself and took a cautious sip.

The flavor hit him instantly sweet, sour, burning, and somehow... smoky?

Hazuki’s face crumpled like a kicked rice ball.

He forced himself to nod politely, throat ablaze.

"Mm. Good. Very... unique."

The merchant beamed.

"Thank you, thank you! Now, would you like to buy a bottle? Only 1 gold each! Special deal today!!"

Hazuki coughed into his hand, forcing a smile.

"Uh... no thanks. Not my taste."

He shoved the glass back onto the table.

Without waiting for a reply, he spun on his heel and speed-walked back toward the receptionist counter, Ridan floating smugly beside him.

"Smooth escape," Ridan said proudly.

Hazuki glared sideways.

"Next time you’re drinking it, cloud idiot."

Not long after Hazuki escaped the wine trap, a man in a neatly pressed vest walked toward the counter. He was a beastkin appraiser, a tall, slender cat-type with tiny glasses perched on his nose—who nodded politely.

He picked up the basket of accessories Hazuki had placed earlier. Without saying much, the appraiser chanted a spell, making his hand glow faintly.

As his magic activated, faint glimmers of light surrounded the jewelry. The appraiser’s eyes sharpened as he carefully examined each piece.

"Hmm... This one here... worth about 1 silver," he said, tapping a cracked ring.

"This one, this one, and that one... maybe a few silvers each."

He shifted a few bracelets aside.

"Oh? This is good."

He lifted a sturdy necklace with a faint rune engraved on its clasp.

"Hmm... yeah... decent work," he muttered as he continued evaluating.

Hazuki stood there casually, arms crossed, trying not to show how nervous he was.

Finally, the appraiser cleared his throat and straightened up.

"Now, regarding the price, Mr. Human," he added, adjusting his glasses.

"Before we proceed, could you show me your identity card?"

"Here," Hazuki said, handing over his adventurer card without hesitation.

The appraiser inspected it and nodded.

"Ah, an adventurer card. That means we can process this immediately. No registration needed."

Hazuki smiled lazily.

The appraiser tapped the basket and said,

"Now then, Mr. Hazuki... How about all of this for... 2 gold?"

Hazuki’s smile twitched.

Ridan floated quietly beside him, leaning in to whisper in his ear.

"Try for 5 gold."

Hazuki nodded coolly and replied,

"Hmm... can you make it up to 5 gold?"

The appraiser’s whiskers twitched slightly. He tapped the table, deep in thought.

"Hmmm... 3 gold is the best we can give."

He smiled politely.

"After all, the merchant guild has to make a profit, Mr. Human."

Ridan floated closer, whispering again, "No... ask him for 4 gold and 50 silver." He snickered mischievously.

Hazuki cleared his throat.

"Hmm..."

He rubbed his chin, pretending to think deeply.

"How about... 4 gold and 50 silver?"

The appraiser hesitated, his tail flicking once as he scratched his chin, clearly struggling.

Ridan smirked, whispering quickly,

"Wait for it... wait for it..."

Finally, the appraiser sighed and adjusted his glasses.

"Mr. Human... the best we can offer now is 4 gold. We can’t go any higher."

Ridan floated up like a referee at a sports match.

"ALRIGHT! SOLD!!"

He shouted in Hazuki’s ear.

Hazuki blinked once, then nodded coolly at the appraiser.

"Alright. 4 gold deal."

The appraiser smiled, relieved, and quickly began preparing the paperwork.

Meanwhile, Hazuki casually bumped Ridan with his elbow.

"Good work, partner."

Ridan floated proudly in small circles.

"Of course. I’m the brains here, remember?"

The appraiser finished scribbling some quick notes on a parchment and looked up at Hazuki with a professional smile.

"How would you like your payment, Mr. Hazuki?" he asked politely.

"We can deposit it into your adventurer card, or we can pay you in physical coins."

Hazuki rubbed his chin for a moment, thinking.

"Umm..." He lifted a finger.

"Can you spare me 5 silver coins and deposit the rest?"

The appraiser nodded smoothly.

"Sure, we can do that."

He tapped something on a small magic slate.

"We will deposit 3 gold and 95 silver coins into your adventurer account. And here—"

He reached under the counter and handed Hazuki five clean silver coins in a small pouch.

"Please wait a moment while we process the transaction. You can check your balance on your adventurer card afterward."

Hazuki tucked the silver coins into his side pouch and nodded.

"Alright, we wait."

The appraiser blinked once, tilting his head slightly.

"We?"

Hazuki stiffened. Out of the corner of his eye, Ridan floated smugly in small circles like a shark around a boat.

Hazuki quickly coughed into his hand. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

"Ah—no, no! I mean... I’ll wait."

He laughed awkwardly.

The appraiser simply smiled politely, chalking it up to another peculiar human habit, and continued processing the paperwork.

Meanwhile, Ridan floated beside Hazuki, whispering,

"Smooth. Real smooth. Almost thought you’d sell me next."

Hazuki muttered back,

"If you were worth anything, I would’ve already."

The appraiser finally finished stamping the paperwork and handed Hazuki’s adventurer card back with both hands, giving a formal little bow.

"Thank you for doing business with the Merchant Guild," he said smoothly.

"Here is your card."

Hazuki took it and flipped it over, checking the small glowing balance window embedded in the back of the card.

[Balance: 19 Gold, 50 Silver, 17 Copper]

He nodded in satisfaction.

"Yep. This is good."

He slipped the card safely back into his pouch.

The appraiser smiled again.

"Thank you once more for doing business with us."

Hazuki waved lazily over his shoulder as he turned to leave.

"Yeah, yeah... thank you too."

With a smug grin stretching across his face, Hazuki strolled out of the merchant guild, feeling lighter from the satisfying clink of coins now safely secured.

Floating behind him like a smug guardian spirit, Ridan followed in slow circles, whistling a fake victory tune.

"One small step for idiotkind, one giant leap for pocket money," Ridan snickered.

Hazuki ignored him, hands behind his head, strutting proudly into the lively streets of Macia Town.

( End Of Chapter )