DMS Chapter 146

Flinx, together with Samuel and the three other men in their small group, planned to explore the city without a guide. The idea excited them because it truly felt like the beginning of a brand-new adventure for the five young men from Earth.

In truth, such an excursion was an adventure. Ilioven was a magical city in a fantasy world filled with wizards, warriors, dungeons, and all sorts of things that could only be found in novels.

Even for Flinx, it was a new experience. Ever since arriving in this world, he had rarely taken the time to explore. Almost everything he had done since transmigrating into his third world had been focused on a single goal: leveling up his class as quickly as possible so he could rescue his fellow Earthlings from a life of dungeon slavery.

Even now, Flinx's goals remained incomplete. He and his fellow Earthlings still intended to take revenge on the Torbal Slavers who had enslaved them. After that, they planned to return home to Earth.

If Flinx was being honest, however, Earth no longer felt entirely like home. Ilioven was beginning to feel more like where he belonged. In this new world and this new city, he was powerful. He was a Diamond Rank magic caster with formidable abilities that earned him the respect of others. With his powers and his transmigration system, he considered himself an extremely wealthy man.

In truth, the only thing Earth still had over this world was the internet and modern technology. However, thanks to his transmigration gifts, he and his fellow Earthlings still had internet access and could purchase modern products from Earth.

That meant that wherever he went, a piece of Earth was always with him.

Flinx knew things would have been different if he had family waiting for him on Earth, but he had none.

Flinx, Samuel, who held the Fighter Class, Ferdinand, the Cleric in Samuel's group, Arnel, who possessed the Wizard Class and served as the group's cleaner through the Prestidigitation spell, and Bruce, who held the Rogue Class, separated themselves from the others.

Their first destination was one of the city's magic bazaars. They all wanted to see the kinds of magical items available for purchase. They still blamed Flinx, at least a little, for selling most of the magical items he had obtained from the dungeon to the guild.

Flinx regretted it somewhat as well after learning just how rare magical items from dungeons actually were. During the past few days of dungeon delving, his fellow Earthlings had not received a single magical item. The only magical item they possessed was the wand Flinx had obtained on the thirty-fifth floor, which he had given to Mark.

The only thing Flinx could do was assure everyone that once he resumed delving into the final floor of the Dungeon of Mara, he would likely obtain plenty of magical items.

After walking for around thirty minutes and asking several pedestrians for directions, Flinx, Samuel, and the others finally arrived at one of Ilioven's many magic bazaars.

Flinx noticed that many of the people they approached initially looked annoyed at being interrupted. However, their attitudes quickly changed after seeing the Diamond Rank Adventurer Guild card prominently displayed on his chest as a medallion.

In truth, even the Gold Rank cards worn by Samuel and the others were enough to earn the respect of ordinary citizens.

The group entered the first magic shop they encountered.

Their eyes immediately lit up at the sheer number of magical items on display.

Although all of them were tempted to purchase something, the prices made them hesitate. Flinx himself had little interest in buying anything. He already owned several magical items and knew he would acquire more once he returned to delving the final floor of the Dungeon of Mara.

Still, simply browsing the merchandise taught them a great deal about the value of magical items. Flinx's initial conclusion was that the Adventurer Guild had not cheated him when purchasing the items he had sold.

Even so, he still regretted selling everything, including items that had initially appeared useless. In hindsight, he should have kept them and distributed them among his fellow Earthlings.

At the time, however, he had assumed that they would level up as quickly as he had and eventually acquire their own magical equipment.

Because of the high prices, none of them bought anything. Fortunately, the shop staff remained polite despite their lack of purchases. More than likely, the adventurer guild cards displayed on their chests prevented any unpleasant treatment from the various merchants in the bazaar.

Next, they visited an alchemist's shop.

The potions and elixirs on display would have been extremely useful for adventurers. However, many of their effects could already be replicated by support classes such as Clerics and Druids.

Their first actual purchases of the day turned out to be clothing.

Their System Shopping Site simply did not offer such garments. The closest alternative was the Cosplay Shops, but the clothing sold there lacked magical enchantments.

All of them especially appreciated the Dirt Removal enchantment available on some of the shirts they purchased.

When hunger finally struck, they decided to try one of the restaurants that specialized in meat from magical beasts.

Such meals were supposedly highly beneficial for those who possessed classes.

The problem was that the food tasted bland.

Flinx knew the issue was not a lack of seasoning. Christopher frequently brought home dishes he had learned to cook from his master chef mentor, and those meals were always delicious and perfectly seasoned. Clearly, seasonings were readily available in this world.

Since they had paid a considerable amount for the meal, Flinx asked one of the cooks for an explanation.

They learned that they had ordered the restaurant's most expensive menu items, made from the meat of some of the strongest magical beasts found in the wild.

According to the cook, such meat was intentionally seasoned very lightly. Excessive seasoning could interfere with the mana naturally contained within the meat and reduce its beneficial effects.

They did feel mana flowing through their bodies after eating, but they all agreed that they would have preferred a more flavorful meal.

After the disappointing dining experience, they resumed exploring the bazaar.

"I feel like I'm walking through the set of a fantasy movie," Samuel said. "Like a far more magical version of Westeros."

After that comment, the conversation shifted toward the television shows they had watched over the years.

All of them had become connoisseurs of movies and television during their captivity, even those who had not been particularly interested in such entertainment before being kidnapped by the Torbal Slavers.

While working as dungeon miners, they had relied heavily on movies and television to preserve their sanity during what little free time they had.

Samuel and his group, including Flinx, had been nerds even before their transmigration. They enjoyed gaming in both digital and tabletop forms.

When they first arrived in this world, Samuel and several others had been thrilled by the prospect of experiencing a genuine fantasy isekai adventure.

Unfortunately, that excitement had quickly vanished when they discovered that they had not been transmigrated as heroes.

They had arrived as slaves.

Still, Flinx had to admit that what happened to him was an adventure of a lifetime, and he would be extremely fulfilled once all of the Torbal Slavers had vanished from existence.