I nodded reluctantly.
"...Sigh, fine. How many do you want?"
"Hmm, hmm. Let me see. I'd like at least five."
"Five? That many?"
"No worries, no worries. They grow in clusters, so there are plenty."
"Got it."
"And, and, how about 600 oro per stalk?"
Five stalks for 3,000 oro.
That was an extraordinary price for herb gathering.
"Really?"
"Well, well. They're extremely valuable, you know. Oh, that's right. Let me add this too."
Without warning, the witch plunged her head into a nearby wooden crate.
Hey—wait—the skirt!
I could see it! Something black and sheer!!
Wait, does she normally wear that kind of thing!? She's a witch! A real witch!
Ignoring me trying not to look, she rummaged around and pulled something out.
"What's this?"
She placed it on the table. A round, leather... canteen?
A large crescent moon was painted on it, slightly worn and dirty.
This was a canteen that Kon had obtained and used long ago.
Kon is the witch's first-person pronoun. Maybe it's because she's a fox.
"You've had it for a while, huh."
How many decades old is this thing.
"Well, well, it's an old thing, isn't it. But, but, this is really something special."
"The canteen is?"
"Would you believe it—it has a water purification function built right in."
"Purification!?"
"Hehe, hehe, surprised, are you? This canteen is a Legendary."
"A Legendary...!?"
I was genuinely taken aback.
One year ago.
Just like always, when I was having Arifa buy my haul from the Junkyard.
A question suddenly crossed my mind.
"Legacies exist, don't they?"
"Hm? What about them?"
"What's a Legendary?"
"Oh, that's a good question. If you're going to be a delver, you should probably know about this."
"Y-Yes."
"First, a Legacy is a general term for items that have effects similar to a Relic. You get that part, right?"
"Yes."
If I had to put it in terms of my past-life memories, you'd call it a magic item.
"Legacies come in three types: consumable, limited-use, and permanent."
"Yes. I know."
"The permanent type is what we call a Legendary."
"The permanent type is a Legendary?"
"That's right."
"Why does only the permanent type get its own special name?"
"Because permanent types are incredibly rare. That's why they're called Legendaries, out of respect. The most famous one is the 'Crescent Moon Vessel.'"
"Are Legendaries really that hard to come by?"
"Completely impossible. If you got your hands on one... let's see. You could easily buy five shops the size of this antique store."
"Th-That much?"
"A Legendary is worth that much."
"........."
I was genuinely stunned.
"...Huh?"
"Oh my, what's gotten into you?"
"Well, I mean, a Legendary—"
"That's right, that's right. That water bottle is a Legendary, you know. It's got a purification function."
"Something that precious... as a reward?"
"Indeed, indeed. I have no more use for the bottle."
"You're giving away a Legendary?"
"That's right, that's right. No need to worry. It's been properly washed."
"Well, that's—"
"Oh my, oh my. Perhaps it would have been better if it *hadn't* been washed?"
"Th-that's not it!"
Why is the witch grinning like that?
"Giving away something so precious is a bit much..."
"Hmm, hmm. Since I have no plans to use this Legendary again, I concluded that passing it on to my promising disciple, young Wof, who will need it from now on, is the best course of action."
"Th-that's... thank you very much. What was that last part?"
"Also, also, young Wof, you do want the Legendary, don't you?"
"Huh? I do, but can I really have it?"
"Yes, yes. Of course, of course. It's a good thing, you know. The condition is that you gather some Mōryu grass."
"Understood. I'll bring it for sure."
"Wonderful, wonderful. I appreciate it."
"Then please tell me where to go and what the Mōryu grass looks like."
"Yes, yes. I'll give you a map and an illustration."
She must have had them prepared beforehand.
The witch handed me a piece of parchment folded in two.
"Then I'll be off."
"Off I go~ Take care now, hear?"
Mōryu grass gathering begins.