The Glass Warrior [Weak to Strong LitRPG]

After a good night's sleep, Lucas felt ready to tackle the busy market streets of Zoria.The last time he was there was to buy the set he used in the Tower. Back then, he hadn't spared his coins, determined to be fully prepared to take on the Challenge.

At the time, he was pretty satisfied with his new set, but thanks to the Exchange Center, he had since acquired an entirely new one. It might look like hobo clothes, but it was far better suited to him than his old gear.

With his old set now useless, Lucas intended to see how much it was worth. If the offers didn't impress him, he was considering gifting it to Tim. Since the boy would soon be working for him, it seemed like a good idea to treat him well.

Despite arriving early, the market streets of Zoria were already bustling with activity, and Lucas didn't know where to start. According to Tim, there were plenty of maps available pretty much everywhere, so Lucas entered one of the first stores he came across and began browsing.

There were quite a few maps on display alongside various gadgets, but only a small part of the maps was open for viewing. From the few samples available, Lucas noticed that some had vibrant colors, while others seemed more detailed in their drawings. However, with the best part of them obscured, it was hard to judge their overall quality.

A sign in the store clearly stated that anyone who wanted to take a closer look at a map would have to buy it first. The rule struck Lucas as absurd, but since no one else seemed to be complaining, he wasn't about to be the first.

Following Tim's advice, Lucas paid close attention to the price tags, which made the differences between the maps obvious. Some of the cheapest ones had the most intricate designs, and Lucas could only feel sorry for the poor souls buying them in bulk.

Even with Tim's warnings, Lucas found it difficult to choose a map based solely on price. He felt ridiculous searching for the most expensive one, and in the end, he left the store without buying one.

The main issue was that he didn't need just any map of the surroundings; he needed one that marked the royal tombs. That was his only concern at the moment, and he doubted he'd find such a map in a store where maps weren't the main product.

However, just as he was about to leave in search of a more suitable shop, his eyes landed on something the necromancer had told him he'd need: a Pet Ring.

It was incredibly convenient to find one now, especially since he'd be heading to a burial ground soon. It wouldn't be too surprising if he stumbled upon a few corpses along the way.

Of course, he hadn't fully mastered the technique Faruk had taught him, but he believed he was close. If he hadn't learned it by the time he arrived, he supposed he could simply store the corpses and wait for the right moment.

Satisfied with the new ring on his finger, Lucas resumed his stroll through town. Not long after, he spotted Aysha a few feet outside the store he'd just left. She seemed lost in thought and didn't notice him until he greeted her.

"Hey! Fancy seeing you here."

"Oh, hi, Lucas. What are you doing here?" Aysha asked, flashing him a smile.

"Looking for some maps, but I haven't found anything good yet," Lucas replied, glancing around in search of a more promising shop.

"Really?" Aysha's eyes lit up. "Me too! I even bought this map," she said, pulling a brand-new map from her ring and showing it to Lucas. "But I'm not sure if it's any good. I'm considering buying another one just to see if everything matches, you know?"

Lucas took the map from her hands and inspected it for a moment. It was easy to see why Aysha had bought it. The map was beautifully crafted, with stunning drawings, vibrant colors, and plenty of information.

After examining it, Lucas turned a suspicious gaze toward Aysha. "How much did you pay for this?"

Her smile widened. "It was a pretty good deal, only a hundred coins."

Now it was Lucas's turn to smile.

"It's trash."

Aysha's face fell, and a hint of annoyance crept into her voice. "What? Why?"

"It's too cheap. If you want a good map, you need to buy an expensive one," Lucas said confidently.

"But this wasn't even the cheapest in the store, there were plenty going for 50 coins, even 20," the elf protested, but Lucas shook his head.

"You only paid extra for the beautiful drawings and painting, not the information. Trust me, if you follow this map, you might end up walking in circles," Lucas said, nodding smugly.

"How do you know all this?" Aysha asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at him.

"I like to stay well-informed," Lucas replied with a shrug, as if it were no big deal. There was no need to mention that he would have made the same mistake if it weren't for a redheaded fifteen-year-old. "Come with me. I think we'll have a better shot if we go to a specialized shop."

Still glancing at him suspiciously from time to time, Aysha followed by his side, and soon enough, they found what they were looking for.

The store didn't look expensive at all. In fact, it resembled a small, old tavern with poor lighting, but its walls were covered in maps of all kinds, and this time Lucas could do more than just take a peek.

Stolen story; please report.

While the key details were still obscured, they could see far more than what other stores had displayed.

As they stepped into the dimly lit shop, a grizzled old man behind the counter glanced up from the parchment he was inspecting. With a warm yet raspy voice, he greeted them:

"Ah, young ones! What brings you to my humble shop today?"

Aysha spoke up first. "I'm looking for a map that highlights unique and mystical regions, places with unusual climatic phenomena or natural features. Do you have something like that?"

Lucas was surprised by her request, as Aysha had never shown any interest in such things before. Still, he decided not to question her since his own request wasn't exactly ordinary.

"Ah, you're looking for something specific, eh? I believe I have a few maps that show areas known for their anomalies. Let me see what I can find for you."

Behind the counter, a small door led to what seemed to be a storage area. The old man pushed it open, revealing an even darker and more chaotic space filled with shelves of scrolls. Some were neatly tied with ribbons, while others were piled haphazardly like discarded scraps.

For a moment, Lucas and Aysha exchanged glances as muffled noises of the old man searching filled the silence. The faint scent of old parchment and ink hung heavily in the air.

Occasionally, they could hear him muttering to himself. "Not this one… too old… ah, where did I put that?" There was the sound of scrolls clattering to the ground, followed by a mumbled curse.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he emerged from the back holding a rolled-up map. His gnarled fingers brushed away a layer of dust from the parchment as he laid it on the counter.

"This here might be what you're after," he said, carefully unrolling the map. "It's old, but it marks volcanic regions, deserts, tropical rainforests, icy tundras, plains, and deep caves. And, like you requested, it also highlights areas known for unnatural phenomena."

Aysha tried to hide her excitement, but even Lucas, who wasn't looking directly at her, could tell she was intrigued.

"How much for this map?" she asked eagerly.

At that moment, the old man, who had been quite straightforward up to this point, began humming and stroking his long beard, as if deep in thought.

"I was actually planning to keep this one. It's quite valuable, you know. There isn't another like it," he said slowly, a cunning glint appearing in his eyes.

"Come on, you took forever to find it," Lucas chimed in, hoping to help his friend. "I bet you didn't even remember you had it."

The old man seemed slightly offended by Lucas's remark and turned to glare at him, eyes narrowed.

"I remember all my maps, young man, especially one made by the great Sandor Salazar!"

After his declaration, he looked at both of them expectantly, as though waiting for their reaction. However, since neither of them had heard of Sandor Salazar before, they remained unimpressed.

"Who's Sandor Salazar?" Aysha asked, to the shopkeeper's great shock.

"You don't know him? Why, he's one of the greatest cartographers of his generation! He traveled across the world, and his maps are among the best—though they can be a bit outdated."

Being a princess, Aysha lacked any trace of bargaining skill, and it didn't take long for her to start pleading.

"Please, I need this map. Name your price!" she begged, and Lucas almost face-palmed at the sight of the old man's cunning smile. She had walked right into his trap.

"Well, I suppose if you really need it, I can make an exception and let go of this precious artifact—"

"Yes, please! How much for the map?" Aysha asked, smiling expectantly.

"Three thousand!"

After the shopkeeper stated his price, a silence fell over the shop as they stared at him in disbelief.

"You can't be serious," Lucas broke the silence. "Three thousand coins for a moldy piece of paper?"

The old man looked furious at Lucas's remarks but chose to ignore him, turning instead to the elf by his side.

"If you want the best, girl, there's nothing like a map made by the great Sandor Salazar. Specific maps like the one you're asking for are expensive because they're rare, especially when crafted by a master cartographer. You can't put a price on quality."

"Apparently you can," Lucas scoffed. "And it's three thousand coins."

The old man shot him a nasty glare but said nothing, refocusing on the girl. Lucas glanced at her and could see how easy a target she was for Zoria's merchants.

Lucas wasn't much of a bargainer himself, but at least he knew how to act uninterested to drive the price down and to never take the first offer if it was outrageous.

"Well, while she thinks, I would like to request a map as well," Lucas said, drawing the reluctant shopkeeper's attention.

"What is it?" the old man asked, his tone far less friendly than before. Lucas didn't mind; he was getting in the way of the shopkeeper's business, after all.

"Do you have a map that shows the location of royal tombs on our continent?" he asked. It was Aysha's turn to look surprised, but remembering how he hadn't questioned her request earlier, she returned the favor and remained silent.

"Royal tombs, huh?" the old man muttered, his brow furrowing as he scratched his beard again. "I might have something like that... Give me a moment."

He shuffled toward the door leading to the adjacent room, muttering complaints under his breath. "Royal tombs... what's next? Dragon dens? People these days, always asking for the weirdest things..." His voice trailed off as he disappeared into the cluttered back room.

Lucas exchanged a glance with Aysha, who raised an eyebrow but stayed silent. He appreciated her restraint, though he could tell she was dying to ask questions.

It didn't take long for the shopkeeper to return, clutching a rolled-up parchment in his gnarled hands. He slapped it down on the counter with theatrical flair, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"It appears you are also in luck, because this map is also made by the great Sandor Salazar."

Lucas's brow furrowed, and his eyes narrowed. "Let me guess, it won't be cheap?"

"If you want cheap, there are hundreds of maps spread across this city. But the right map can bring you riches, while the wrong one might bring death. Tell me, do you really want to be cheap when choosing something so important?"

"Alright, alright, old man, you've made your point. Fine, how much?"

The old man seemed to deliberate for a moment before replying. "Although the quality of this map is undeniable, it isn't as rare as your friend's. So, I'll be fair and offer you a good price: two thousand coins."

Once again, Lucas was outraged by the price, but this time he said nothing. Instead, he turned to Aysha, who was clearly ready to buy, and broke the silence.

"Thank you for showing us these maps, but they're too expensive for us. We'll take a look around town and see what we can find. So long," Lucas said, raising a hand in farewell and turning to leave, pulling an unwilling Aysha along with him.

As they left, they could hear the old man shouting all sorts of curses. Eventually, he even called out, saying he could offer a discount since they were young and just starting their lives, but Lucas ignored him.

"Why did you do that? I needed that map," Aysha demanded angrily.

"We don't know that man or his store," Lucas explained calmly.

His impression of the shop had been good, and although the old man was a tough bargainer, his maps seemed as high-quality as advertised. However, that was only an impression. Before they decided anything, they needed to verify whether those prices were reasonable and check the shop's reputation.

After Lucas laid out his reasoning, Aysha begrudgingly admitted that he had a point and calmed down slightly, though she still seemed anxious about the situation. Apparently, the map was as important to her as Lucas's map was to him, if not more so.

Whatever she needed it for, it had to be significant.