The Stepping Stones

The Vendor Who Sells Good Luck

I'm a simple old man.

Simple, because I've accomplished nothing much in my life as an adventurer. It was absolutely common.

My son was also an adventurer. He had a lovely wife and a little daughter. 

He picked a place to hunt along with his wife one day and didn't return. My weary shoulders were burdened further with the weight of my granddaughter's responsibilty.

But I endured and started a stall. I rummaged through everything that I had picked in my life, ranging from rusty swords, strong talismans, weird tokens, to medicinal pills and uncommon beast hides.

It was going well, the marketplace was crowded. I was an honest dealer too.

Until one day, a curious young man stumbled upon my sword and took it a hundred times cheaper than I had originally estimated, but since it wasn't getting sold, I decided I might as well sell it.

Yeah, I'm old, and I guess my memory failed me.

That man killed the emperor with that specific sword, which was traced back to me but I was able to somehow escape with my granddaughter.

I took refuge in a new country and started selling all those treasures again. Same bastard came once again, absolutely delighted to see me and brought a few beast hides that I couldn't identify myself. Cautious as I was, I asked for double and this time he didn't haggle and gave me the amount I asked.

Two months later, the news of that bastard unearthing a hidden treasure came to me. I felt bitter but it was my fault anyway.

By this time, my granddaughter had grown too, and developed feelings for that bastard.

The third time he came, he took everything that I owned, giving me considerable money, I didn't want to sell, but none of the 'treasures' I had responded to me, so I ended up selling.

He was far stronger than me by now anyway.

He took my loving granddaughter, my last pillar of support along with him, 

"I'll be happy in his harem, grandpa, he loves me," My granddaughter told me before she left, eyes filled with guilt but even more enamoured in love for that stranger.

Dying, I had little hope, but I wasn't content. 

Strangely, a chance to extend my lifespan came, it was a grand opportunity. You didn't need anything, just a token, and you'll be able to fight for it.

I remembered.

I had it. I sold it. No, HE took it.

If I had that token, I could've prolonged my life...

I asked the heavens...

Oh mighty heavens, I picked so many treasures, but why did none of them work for me? Am I that repulsive? Was I a heinous criminal in my past life? Or did I anger you unknowingly? 

...

3 weeks ago, the unrecognised corpse of the old man that died from a heart attack was buried at an obscure location. 

His neighbours say his son-in-law was the mighty "Eternal Emperor" that recently ascended to a higher realm along with his granddaughter.

But they never came, and so the rumors were dismissed.