Chapter 191: Curse

"Gil, what do you see there? Walker stopped slowly trying not to draw too much attention. The rest stopped with him looking at him curiously.

Gill made small glances while pointing around at the other stalls not to draw attention, he had started to notice what Walker was feeling. His sharp eyes were zeroing in on things that were just not exactly right. "That frail short girl in the turban with green hair poking out is limping. She has bandages on her arms under those long purple sleeves. Her clothing is definitely much too old and small for her. She is also sweating a lot, she does not seem very healthy at all." Gil was becoming more and more tense as he watched the girl move more. It was obvious to him that she had many injuries and was not eating properly. On top of all this was the man in the middle.

"That man sitting in the middle is wearing much nicer clothing, his face and hair do not match a single bit of the girl, they can't be related in any way. He is also very clean and has no visible injuries. Well actually I think his knuckles are a bit red." the last bit was almost a growl for Gil, he had started to put some things together that he absolutely did not want to see. The man was wearing the same purple long sleeved shirt and purple pants that the girl was but his were completely spotless and brand new. He breathed easy and didn't lift a finger to any customer allowing it all to be handled by the girl. Walker was almost certain the girl would pass out soon. 

"Leader, this can not be normal, how can someone allow this to happen?" Su was too pure to accept that this kind of thing could exist. 

Gil was twitching his hand slightly almost as if he was imagining grabbing his bow. "Calm down and breath Gil, we will do something about this." Walker explained the possible connection in what Gil saw so that Onyx and Midnight could understand. Su had already grasped it and Like Gil Remey's anger was growing. "It looks like that man has been beating the girl and forcing all the work on her. We don't have proof yet but we can see it from the way their bodies are injured. Something still feels off though...ah! I can't see any animal or monster-like traits on them. I wonder if they actually demi-humans." Walker tried to look harder and so did Gil but after a few more moments confirmed that they showed no signs of being demi-humans at all.

"We should just go and force him to admit it, if anyone hurt my brothers or sisters like that I would end them." Remey was imagining the girl as her family back at the orphanage and it was causing her to become a bit unstable. 

"Like I said we will do something, let me use my appraisal skill. Maybe we can find something to ask the man to get him started talking. We can get him to accidentally spill the details of what he has been doing. Once we do that we can get the guards to properly arrest him, even though we are in another country we all know that injuries like hers are not from training at all." while the demi-human kingdom strongly encouraged training at a young age, they did have limits. They would never risk the health and future of a child that could grow in to a very powerful warrior. 

Walker focused on a pendant in the shape of an eye to try and dig up a good reason to ask the man some questions. Activating his all around appraisal skill yielded more than he expected.

' Cursed eye of the abyss

Increases affinity for darkness at the cost of sanity. Was forged by a blacksmith who had been driven insane after spending years alone crafting in the darkness.'

Walker's jaw dropped, the others just looked at him like he had started to lose his mind. Why would he be making such a face now? "Brother, sister and I are becoming worried about you,"

Onyx did not like that Walker seemed to be stuck. He was always thinking and trying to make sense of things but at this moment there was nothing visible. 

Walker was furiously using his appraisal skill,

' Cursed gem of ice

+10matk

Created from the blood of one hundred snow imps and frozen by the coldest night of winter. Cursed by the hex tough of the demon Vincent.

Cursed staff of flames

Allows stronger fire magic attacks. Special attack blue flame wall is able to be learned through in depth study of the staff innate affinity. Cursed by the demon Vincent's hex touch to cause the same damage to the user as it causes to the opponent.

Cursed glass of poison

A normal glass cursed by the demon Vincent's hex touch to store a mana eating poison on its surface at all times. Any liquid placed inside becomes laced with poison.

Cursed….

Cursed…

Cursed…

Cursed by…

Cursed….

Cursed by ….'

Every item on the tables was either cursed or had been cursed by this demon named Vincent's cursed touch. Walker couldn't fathom how so many cursed items in one place were even possible, how dangerous was everything here. Each and every item was enough to kill its own user or put them on the path to kill others and themselves. "We need to do something as soon as possible." Walker finally moved his mouth in a stunned whisper. Everyone heard it as they were hyper focused on what he was doing due to his strange actions. "We may need the guards, as soon as possible…" Walker wasn't sure they should approach the man anymore.

"Chain quest: Justice for Ordist

The party has discovered the dastardly culprit behind multiple plans to weaken the kingdom of Ordist. This demon has caused many deaths and much suffering. 

Requirement: 

Shut down the sale of cursed objects.

Reward:

100exp

Requirement:

Pursue the target and rescue the unnamed girl.

Reward: 

300exp

Requirement: optional

assist the guards to capture the demon Vincent

Reward: 

600exp

Requirement: optional

Defeat the demon Vincent

Reward:

400exp.

Time is limited. The party must act before the criminal flees the city.

Punishment:

Loss of five levels'

Every member of the party felt that their heart had stopped and they may die. Not only was this a chain quest to shut down a cursed item merchant but also to subdue a demon? They even had to rescue the girl with the. Even more terrifying was that although this quest had amazing rewards it also came with a failure penalty, they could lose five levels, this was unheard of in any situation. The system was basically forcing them to act, Walker was certain this was another effect from the hero title. " Remey go find the guards and show them your travel medal, tell them we found someone selling cursed items and that they are most likely a demon. Gil keep back and focus your eyes on the slightest movement, if anything happens we are counting on you. Onyx, Midnight, stay fast enough away as not to be caught up in anything but close enough to come to support it. Su, you and I are going to go have a word to keep him distracted while we wait for the guards," Remey had already started off before Walker finished, she had read the quest and knew just how dangerous things would be, this was their first run in with a demon. Unfortunately their sightseeing was cut shirt, they had all hoped that they would not be targeted by a demon or even run in to it in the first place but it seemed the hero title was pushing their fate in a different direction. 

Gil had blended in to the crow hiding himself from view, Walker couldn't spot him but felt his eyes watching. Midnight and Onyx seemed to have disappeared in to the shadows, Midnight was using her skill shadow wrapping to blend in the shifting shadows of those on the street. With all of the movement it would be nearly impossible to pick out midnight as the shadows she wrapped herself with moved with her. 

Walker gave Su a look, he really did not want to move any closer to the chaos that was sure to ensue after they interrupted the attempts to sell the items. The girl quickly zeroed in on the two approaching. "Hi there, welcome to our little stall, we have plenty to choose from. How about this stone pendant for the lady, not only will it increase her looks but it will also make her defense stronger. Maybe you fancy the swords we have? You can give them a swing, we promise you may even like one so much you can't put it down!" The girl was using all her energy to try and push for the sale. Walker could feel his heart breaking as he knew she was most likely pushing through tremendous pain to do so.