Yawning, I sat at the bed. I gazed outside the window and realized it was still dark. I patted my pockets and grabbed the Bag, I needed to take inventory.

I stood up and grabbed the chair that was under the desk; I sat in it and faced the bed. I took my rifle out first and lay it in the bed,, second is my own knife, next I took out the looted knife, then a dagger, and finally, a bullet. Remembering the chill flower, I took it out of the vest behind me and lay it in the bed as well.

I started to appraise each one.

Custom .50 caliber Anti-materiel Sniper Rifle

A custom Barrette Sniper Rifle made for accuracy and versatility.

11.3 Kilograms

(1)

Okay, it’s correct. It even shows the object’s weight, and I guess the parenthesized number is the amount I own?

Custom Military-Grade Steel knife

A black blade made up of phosphated carbon steel and custom calibrated to allow accurate throwing.

580 grams

(1)

Ohhh, so that’s what this knife is made of, huh…

Iron Knife

An iron combat knife.

400 grams

(1)

That’s all? Seriously?

Iron Dagger

An iron combat dagger.

700 grams

(2)

This too? Is that all you’ve got? Or is my appraisal level too low?

.50 Caliber bullet

A 660 grain .50 caliber bullet.

205 grams

(88)

Okay,wait… didn’t I use 13? I looked back at what had happened. I climbed a tree, readied my rifle, added two more rounds in the magazine… and cocked the gun… Oh… so that’s what happened. Fair enough. What about the flower?

Chill flower

A rare magical flower that can be used for potions and enchantments.

6 grams

(1)

Oh, now that is interesting! I’ll make sure to visit a shop that deals with those today. For now, let’s just go down and eat breakfast.

I brought all the things I have, including the chill flower, back to the Treasure Bag and went out the door. I used the key on the knob and went down the wooden staircase.

I could see no one in the counter. I went towards it and saw red splotches of fluid in the counter trailing towards a door opposite of the front door. I grabbed the Bag and took out my knife. I put the Bag back to my pocket and slowly went towards the door.

With silent steps, I opened the door. A as it opens, I immediately ready myself for a fight. Only to see a woman butchering…A chicken over a tree stump using an axe.

I calmed down when I noticed that it was the old woman and after guessing that she’s just here to prepare a meal.

“Haaah…” I sighed at her and slumped my shoulders. She noticed my presence and looked towards me, her eyes then darted to the knife I was holding and was now filled with terror.

“What is it?” I asked her, she looked hella scared. Her eyes were locked to my knife and I realized the problem, “Oh.”

I flipped the knife to a backhanded grip and put it in a sheath in my vest.

“Sorry about that, “I scratched my head, I didn’t move towards her. I might scare her further, “I noticed the bloodstains in the counter and I became worried. So I followed them here and I found you.”

She pointed to vest, towards where I sheathed the knife.

“Cursed…” She muttered with her outstretched hand visibly shaking.

“What? The knife is cursed?” I touched the knife without taking it out of its sheath. Is it because of my death attribute? How could she tell that it’s cursed?

“…Yes... yes,” She retracted her hand and nodded.

“How could you tell?” I asked her suspiciously. When I checked the knife earlier, appraisal didn’t say that it was cursed…

“It’s… it’s black… All cursed weapons are black…” She started to distance himself away from me.

“Oh, is that it? I thought you saw something magical in it, “ I grabbed the knife once again. Maybe people here don’t know how to blacken blades? “Haha, no need to worry. It’s not cursed. It’s just a chemical reaction.”

“Chemical reaction? Are you sure it isn’t cursed?” She calmed down when I said the knife wasn’t cursed. “How can you be so sure?”

“Hmm… let’s see… Do you have vinegar?” I asked her.

After five minutes of convincing, and some more time to prepare and execute a forced patina using vinegar and explaining that it’s the same process as rust, she wasn’t scared anymore and started to cook breakfast.

While I was explaining, Paul came along and had the same reaction as the old woman, who was apparently named Martha. Martha snickered him and told him to just listen to my lecture.

When I finished the lecture, it was still dark outside but the it’s already bustling. Shops are opening, and some people are buying food in hopes of acquiring the freshest ingredients. Paul was one of those people and as soon as I finished the lecture, he went out to buy some vegetables.

I asked Martha if they have some bread and if the library is opened at this time.

“Oh, we have some over there, near the utensils,” She pointed towards a wooden container near some spoon and forks. I walked towards it and opened the container; I grabbed some bread and ate it.

“Thanks.” I munched on the bread. The taste wasn’t much different from those back on Earth.

“You’re welcome,” She just nodded, “As for the library, I don’t really know. I don’t go there much.”

“Thanks anyway, “ I grabbed another chunk from the container and went out of the kitchen, “I’m off to the library, I might not make it for lunch.”

“M’kay.” Was her response.

Once in the streets, I walked towards the library while happily eating. Once there, I noticed that it was already open.

I went inside and saw that Lilith was asleep on her chair at the counter. Did she leave the door open all night? Well… who steals a book from a free library? That’s just stupid. Though looking at her sleeping face, my heart skipped a beat… Damn…

*Ahem* ANYWAY. While thinking of those things, I walked past the counter and to the second bookshelf. I picked up five books and returned to the table I previously used.

I was able to read a couple of books before she woke up.

She stretched her hands and looked around. Her head was still messy and her glasses were in the counter. Drool was visible on the side of her face and I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

She noticed my presence and went wide eyed for a moment, she then looked at the door, sighed, then mumbled something to herself

She glared at me, “What’s so funny?”

With her hair still messed up and the drool on her face, one really can’t take her glare seriously.

“Why don’t you look at yourself?,” I said to her, with the edges of my lips curled up in a grin.

She had a confused expression at first and then touched her face. She blushed, quickly wiped the drool off the side of her mouth and glared at me yet again.

I shrugged and returned to the book I was reading. I usually am not this teasing and/or talkative to someone I don’t know much… I wonder what’s gotten into me.

“Fix your hair too,” I said, still looking at the book.

“Shut up,” she replied coldly.

“Suit yourself,” I just shrugged and let her be.

The book I’m currently reading is title ‘Bestiary of Magical Beasts’.

Some of the beasts in the book are recognizable, like dragons, goblins, sirens, griffons and even zombies and skeletons. Like those previously mentioned, some beasts in this world are mythical creatures back on Earth… How could that have happened? I don't know. The creatures drawn also closely resemble the pictures back on Earth, though the illustrations here show them off as more dangerous. Some creatures were also like normal animals except with some mutations and the ability to use magic, like fanged wolves and umbral cats. And of course, some are just unknown to me like Rhestis or Shadowstalkers.

I turned towards Lilith after reading this particular book, she was looking at a map. “Lily, can I call you that? Yeah, I’ll call you that, can I buy books here?”

She put the map down the table and narrowed her eyes at me, “You’re a weird guy…”

I shrugged, “Meh, So… Can I?

“A gold for that one,” She returned to looking at the map.

I opened the Bag with one hand without removing it from my pocket. I willed my only gold coin to come out.

I drooped the book to the table and stood up. I walked towards her and handed the coin, “Here.”

“Wait, you’re actually rich? Casually spending gold for a book?” She narrowed her eyes, “Are you a noble?”

I stared at her with a deadpan expression, “Do you think I’ll go here personally if I was a noble?”

“Illegitimate son?”

“Hell no!”

“Thief?”

“Nope”

“Pickpocket?”

“…No?... I think… Is it considered pickpocketing if I found someone dead and stole form their pocket?”

“You what?!” She shouted and leaned closer.