SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Monster

Damon smiled, awkwardly ruffling his head and putting up an act. "I just got lucky. I happened to hear a drunk alchemist bragging about his creation.

Ellora stared at him, one eye squinting as if she were trying to x-ray straight through his skull. "Lucky, huh?" she muttered. "Next thing you'll tell me is you overheard a goblin chieftain whispering the formula for soulsteel in his sleep."

Damon chuckled, playing the part of an innocent newbie with dumb luck. "I mean, if he talks loud enough..."

The old hag grumbled but turned around and began rummaging through her cluttered shelves anyway. Damon inwardly sighed in relief. He knew he was pushing it. He was not sure that this part of the plan was going to work. Thankfully, it did.

A second later, Ellora turned around and slammed a small potion bottle on the counter. "Here. take this and use. I don't want you blowing yourself up out of stupidity!"

[Item: Body Tempering Potion – Uncommon]

Damon's eyes shot up. Fuck. Is she giving me the actual potion?! The reputation points were no joke!

Ellora noticed his wide-eyed reaction and smirked. "What? You thought I'd hand over those ingredients to a brat like you and expect you not to mess it up? One wrong stir, and you'll melt your organs before your strength even begins to awaken."

Damon quickly composed himself, bowing his head in gratitude. "Thank you, Miss Ellora. I won't forget this."

"You'd better not," she snapped. "And don't go thinking I'm doing this out of kindness. You owe me now. 10 gold coins."

Damon's face twitched. This was bullshit! This was daylight robbery! She was charging him ten times the best market price! In just a single month, this potion would become quite common in the game. She was not handing him some game-changing treasure, it was just an uncommon rarity, basic use potion.

"Are you sure, Miss Ellora? I thought the potion was 1 gold coin?" He hesitantly asked but the old hag pretended not to hear him and simply turned to the side and whistled a tune. "Were you saying something bloodling?"

"Ah. Nothing. I was just thanking you for the loan. Thank you so much. I will repay this favor." Damon smiled. His heart ached at the thought of 10 gold coins hanging over his head this early in the game, but what the hell. Fuck it. It was an investment for the future. It was worth it.

He was just about to thank her and leave when he noticed something on the shelves. Five beautiful rings, which were obviously storage rings.

"Miss Ellora, I am afraid I am in a terrible position." Damon immediately stopped in his tracks. "In order to repay the 10 gold coins to you as fast as possible, I need to collect and carry a lot of materials. Heavy ones. Precious ones. Time-sensitive ones," he said, turning around with the most innocent, pitiful expression he could muster. "But as you can see, my carrying capacity is tragically limited."

Ellora didn't even look up. "Just out with it, bloodling. You want one of the rings."

Damon winced, hands clasped together like a man begging for his last meal. "Just a small one! Even a broken one would do. I'll bring it back. Think of it as... enabling me to earn your money back faster."

Ellora snorted. "And if I don't?"

"I'll be stuck for weeks. Penniless. No potions. No materials. You might not see a return on your investment for months." He laid it on thick, letting just a sliver of desperation slip into his voice. "I'd hate to be a disappointment."

The process by which one awakened was extremely important. The extremely precious awakening resources were always saved for the nobility. This was one of the reasons why noble titles were highly sought after in his last life. _{fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm}