2-2. Lets Learn Life Magic! (2/2)

On the entrance of the square, a merchant is announcing something about slave market. It seems that it'll be open for 3 days from tomorrow night.

When I look at it carefully there are boys and girls with slave collars on their neck standing in line with cattle. Half of them seems to be hurt. Every one of those slaves have dead eyes. The cattle look healthier than them.

I had the urge to buy them all, but it's only for self-satisfaction so I stopped. It's not the end even after they're released after all. ...Isn't this just an excuse?

Coming out of the square, brothels lined the streetside. I subtly feel like this is a period drama.

Still, lewd professional older woman are the best, right? Rather than an unwilling slave, a pro well versed in sexual culture is better.

Tonight, let's go to a shop with beautiful older women! I wonder if there are cabaret? I'd love to have a lewd conversation over a bubble bath but...

The main topic has been grandly derailed.

The alchemy shop seems to be located in the middle of this brothel street. There's probably a high demand for drugs~

I wonder if it's thanks to Nadi-san's advice of only walking on the center of the road, I've arrived at the alchemy shop without being dragged to an alleyway. No wait, there was that pickpocket so it wasn't entirely safe...

”Good afternoon. Are you open for business?”

There's a dwarf on the counter inside the shop. Let me say this, it's not cute at all. It's a small old man about 1 meter tall. Is he a gnome? Or a hobbit?

The AR indicate that he's of a fairy race. When I look better the ”Earth Fairy (Gnome)” indication come up.

”If you're window-shopping, Go away.”

Aw, how cold.

...This isn't a pun okay?

”I'd like to buy a short cane, do you have any in stock?”

”Spell-user eh? There are cheap, expensive, and really expensive one, which one do you want?”

So rough~

”Please show me the cheap and the expensive one.”

The shopkeeper take a wooden and a copper short canes out. The short canes look like something a certain famous British boy had, it's a simple wand. If you don't understand, then please imagine an orchestra conductor's baton but a bit thicker.

I stare at each of the canes and their performances are displayed on the AR. The wooden one has [Magic Activation Support + 3][Magic Effect Expansion -2], and 2 big copper coins market price, then the copper one beside it has [Magic Activation Support +3],[Magic Focus Support + 2],[Magic Effect Expansion +2], with 3 silver coins quoted as the market price.

To be frank, even if I can see the performance I don't understand where the difference is.

The copper cane seems to have better performance, but the wooden one looks something that a magician would have, so I buy that one.

The shopkeeper looks displeased since I choose the cheaper one.

I might as well buy some medicines here.

That's right, if you're talking about alchemy then it's potion.

”Are there manual and tools for compounding?”

The shopkeeper grins while laughing. He probably think that I'm an easy mark.

[Introductory Book for Medicine Compounding, Practical Writing],[Book of Poison and Antidote][Book of Illness and Treatment], 5 compound tools set with extravagance cases, medicinal plant harvesting set tools, and chemical mixtures for beginner set. ”These are all!” So he said after piling them all up.

...Hmm? Am I being tested?

The magic imbuing tools have a [Magic Imbuing Type Fake] status. The others are genuine.

”Is there no other one for this magic imbuing tool? It's not to my liking.”

I openly point out the fake. It's how an adult interact.

”Fumu, it's a tool used to nitpick amateur who doesn't understand a thing.”

He somehow looks happy. It's not only reflected on his face but the atmosphere has also softened a bit.

This time he takes out 3 imbuing tools.

One is decorated with high-class looking ornament, another is a tool that looks like it has been used a lot, and the last one is a cheap-looking and obviously fake tool. The high class one is especially equipped with magic, when I hold it up and move my hand, it emit a weak green light. It goes without saying that the expensive one is a fake.

”Then, I choose this one.”

Of course I picked the well used one.

The market price is 15 gold coins eh. At any rate, does a beginner spell-user who comes to buy a cheap short cane look like someone who has money?

”I see, so you choose that one... If you have this one, then you won't need another, beside raw materials, even after you've become a veteran alchemist.

”How much is it?”

”10 gold coins.”

Eh, isn't it much cheaper than the market price?

The shopkeeper grins when he see my face.

”Just as I thought, you have the appraisal skill.”

The shopkeeper looks proud with his guess. I don't have such a skill.

>[Appraisal Skill Acquired]

Let's not argue back...

”Is it really okay with 10 gold coins?”

”Yeah, I'm saved if someone as capable as you studies alchemy.”

When I think about it, isn't this thanks to haggling skill?

I pay the price and receive the books among other things. As one expect, my bag doesn't fit.

I decided to return to the hotel while holding the books in both hands.

I leave the shop after thanking the shopkeeper.

The things I need to do increase again.

I will learn alchemy after I've learned life magic!