Chapter 41: Scroll

Well, our next destination is a magic item store which is the first time for Haru. As this country calls itself a magic kingdom, magic items are well-developed and there are a considerable number of stores that deal in such items. However, magic items are expensive in general. Therefore, the store is located in a part of a high-class shopping area, which will make us stand out if we come here using our casual wears.

「So this is the reason why Shishō told me to bring this change of clothes.」

For that reason, I made Haru wear the clothes she wore from the castle some time ago. I’m also wearing clothes accordingly. Anita would be suspicious of me if I went to Bristly Beard in this outfit, so after leaving the store, I rented a room from Gramps Gior in the guild and quickly changed there.

As a dandy and a lady, we gracefully came to this store.

「Oh? Hello, Deris-sama. Welcome.」

As soon as we enter the store, the owner notices us and comes to greet us. He’s an old man with grizzled hair that’s swept back. His appearance is like a butler who works in a splendid mansion, he is truly an attractive old man. Unlike the dynamic Gan-san, he feels like an intelligent adult.

「Yo, Owner. Long time no see.」

「Thank you for your patronage of our store. How can I help you today?」

「Hahaha, isn’t it obvious what I’m going to buy here?」

「Hahaha, that’s right. Please come this way.」

The magic item store sells magic items that are useful in life, as well as bags with storage functions that I and Haru have. Except for the magic items developed by the country, most of them are found in dungeons, and most of them are also rare. Even with the money that Haru received from exterminating the ash kobolds last time, I’m not sure if I can even buy the cheap one. Well, I’m a person who finds and uses them myself, so I don’t have much relation to them.

They also sell equipment such as magician’s staff. Still, I’ve never bought this either because I have a set made by Gan-san. It is very rare to find a craftsman who can process a black magic stone.

「By the way, Deris-sama. Who is this person?」

「Ah, she’s my disciple, Haru. I’m here today to buy scrolls for her.」

「I’m Katsuragi Haruna. Pleased to meet you.」

「My my, what a polite young lady. I’m Owner, the one in charge of this 『Quitet Magic Item Store』. I’m delighted to make your acquaintance.」

That’s right, his name is ‘Owner’. In a sense, It’s a name that can’t be mistaken. Eh, I’ve never mistaken it, you know?

「Please come this way.」

「Wow…!」

Haru raises a voice of admiration.

The scrolls are lined up in the inside of the magic item store, which means, the inner part is packed with scrolls for learning special magic. New magic can be learned by increasing the level of your magic skill. However, the scrolls here allow you to acquire a limited number of powerful magic, different from the magic that anyone can learn by raising the level. Scrolls are generally only available in dungeons, and depending on the kind, you can build a large mansion if you get one. This is the only thing I buy at this store. From Owner’s point of view, I’m a delicious customer which he wants to serve directly by himself.

「Show me dark magic scrolls for up to level 30. Don’t worry about the price.」

「Hou, she’s level 30 at that age, huh? As expected of Deris-sama’s disciple. She must be very intelligent.」

「「Eh?」」

I and Haru are dumbfounded in unison. Owner is having a question mark above his head, it seems that our feelings are reflected in our faces. I’m sorry, Owner. There’s but a fine line between an idiot and a genius. She’s really stupid and helplessly honest.

――――Still, I think that’s good.

「…… Well then, I will pick the things you requested. Please wait a moment.」

「Yeah, I’ll wait around here.」

「I-I’m looking forward to it!」

Together with Haru’s voice, Owner disappeared inside. Now, let’s look around in the meantime to see if there’s something I can use.

「I-It’s expensive…!」

Haru is surprised this time. It seems that she’s surprised that the price is far more expensive than the price of her shopping she usually does.

「Scrolls are often used by wealthy people, nobles, and royalties. They are one of the items that adventurers go after in dungeons because they are rare and can be profitable when sold. This 『Fire Storm』 is a scroll that allows you to learn fire magic. Its popularity is high because it has a wide attack range, a high power, and you can use it at a moderate level. What’s more, the price is also equally high.」

「Haa~…… This is something that ordinary people can’t afford.」

「That’s right. The fact is that many strong magicians are rich for that reason. Well, I can’t say it’s absolute since some of them got a scroll by chance in a dungeon and it just happened to be the same attribute as their magic.」

The scroll itself is a rare item, but there’s a rarity among scrolls. The Firestorm I just explained is popular because of its versatility, but it is still easy to find compared to the others that are circulating in the market. But, the truly rare scrolls are those that only one exists, and if you could get your hands on one, it would be the same as getting a unique magic. There are cases where a state owns it and keeps it strictly as a national treasure.

Sometimes, merchants who don’t know the value sell rare scrolls at unreasonable prices, but Quitet Magic Item Store is managing the business properly in that regard so there are no unreasonable prices. It’s truly a bargain. As part of my hobby and as a magician, I regularly visit this kind of store.

「Thank you for waiting. How about this one?」

Owner brought me a catalog divided by level. Let’s see.

「…… Among these, I think the level 30 『Fume Fog』, 『Dawth』, and 『Heart Hash』 are suitable for Haru.」

「Those three?」

「Yeah, these three.」

「Shishō, Owner-san is making a complicated face….」

Well, I chose three things that normally wouldn’t be chosen after all.

「N-No, my apologies. I will explain each scroll. Fume Fog is a magic that generates poisonous fog. Although it is weak in toxicity, it has a wide range and is effective against many enemies. However, since it is effective on everyone except the user, it may cause damage to your friends.」

Haru often acts alone, and no one will die from poison, so it’s okay.

「Next is Dawth. This one produces a liquid containing a deadly poison. The toxicity is strong for a magic of this level, and if you’re dealing with ordinary monsters, this alone should be enough. However, the disadvantage is that it can only be created in the palm of the user’s hand and the amount is only about a handful, making it a very difficult spell to use.」

Haru can apply it to the things she wants to throw, so it’s okay. It also can be used as a poison-hand in close combat. It’s an enhanced version of Adva.

「The last one is Heart Hash. It is a magic that shakes the target’s mind and causes a disturbance. It can be said that it is a powerful magic that makes you can’t make a normal decision once it is applied. But, it has very strict conditions. The distance between the user and the target is very short, the user and the target must touch each other or it won’t have any meaning, and the effect is weak if your magic power doesn’t exceed the target’s magic power.」

For the above reasons, there is no need to worry about getting closer. Rather, getting closer is more convenient for Haru. As for magic power, she’s a magician so she will most likely have the advantage.

「Shishō.」

「What?」

「I can use them!」

Haru gives a thumb up.

「I know right?」

I also give a thumb up.

「I will buy them all. Can you make it cheaper?」

Due to them being unpopular scrolls + Haru’s haggling skill, the price was reduced to less than half.