"Hmm... d-did I fall asleep too?"
After reading the information on my guild card, I fell asleep shortly after while watching the night sky through the window.
A situation... that could be very misinterpreted by a third party.
I wanted to get up from my chair next to the bed, but I was slightly held back by Megumin's hand on mine.
I don't know when or how this happened during the night, but her hand had ended up intertwined with mine.
"Too cliché a scenario... but..."
I don't mind it.
I slowly withdrew my hand from the Archwizard's, before taking a bath and leaving the inn, leaving a letter for Megumin placed prominently on the table.
An act aimed at avoiding a misunderstanding or an awkward situation that could stem from the fact that I had slept in the same room as a defenseless girl, lacking mana.
And no, I didn't flee... my current act is a strategic retreat, carefully planned.
"This time, it's the right one."
Contrary to my expectations, it took me quite some time to search through the slums looking for Wiz's shop.
Fortunately, I was able to find those nice delinquents from the other day to show me the way.
They were really nice.
I should pickpocket delinquents more often, when I have enough strength to hide my actions from law enforcement.
"Uh... g-good morning dear customer."
After pushing the door, I was greeted by Wiz.
She seemed to be doing something before my arrival, but she suddenly stopped.
I hope I didn't interrupt anything important.
"Hello," I said simply in return, while observing the magical objects around me.
I really want to get straight to the point, but asking directly for information about the demon king and his subordinates seems... indiscreet, even indelicate.
So I have to proceed slowly.
Wiz needs to reveal the truth to me herself and, if possible, without revealing my abnormal knowledge.
After all, despite her kind side shown in the original story several times, this woman remains a formidable former adventurer who possesses a certain level of experience.
"Do you want something in particular?"
"Hmm... nothing, I'm just a bit curious about your products."
Faced with the sudden question, while I was mentally preparing the ground for a proper plan, I was slightly caught off guard.
Wiz looked at me with a disappointed expression.
Given Wiz's expression, my answer wasn't really the desirable one for a merchant.
"Are you alright?"
I allowed myself to start a conversation outside the customer-merchant field, because her downcast head seemed to be a way to break the barrier between our current statuses.
She glanced at me for a moment, looking troubled, as if she was hesitating a bit.
But finally, Wiz clenched her soft hands into fists to gather some courage and expressed part of her grievances.
I had the impression that a dam had slightly burst, and from it flowed part of her problems.
"Business is just going badly and..."
I listened for a while, until she finally stopped talking about problems caused by bad marketing and complaints from dissatisfied former customers.
Honestly, she sells objects close to cheat-level, but with dangerous or bizarre side effects.
"Sorry, y-you're a stranger and..."
"No no, it's fine."
I immediately stopped her, before she completely restored the relational barrier to its initial state.
Currently, we're still strangers, but close to the acquaintance stage.
However, I still plan to strike while the iron is hot.
"I'm the one who expressed the desire to know more about the nature of your gloomy expression."
After these words, Wiz's troubled expression was finally replaced by the tender smile I had observed on my screen, in my first life, watching Konosuba.
It's surprisingly refreshing to see in real life.
If Luna's smile has a sexy charm, then Wiz's possesses a certain innocence, which contradicts her voluptuous appearance hidden behind her loose clothing.
She awakens something in me that I'd better bury right away to avoid making a mistake in the future.
In the end, I don't want to end up as a sadistic shota straight out of an H manga.
"Thank you... if you need help or advice, then I can help."
I sketched a satisfied smile, since Wiz's words were gently steering the conversation toward the subject I wanted to address.
"Renji Takamura."
"W-what?"
"My name is Renji Takamura, but just Renji will do fine."
The moment Wiz understood that I was introducing myself to her, the lich formally introduced herself in turn.
"R-Renji... my name is Wiz."
(Image)
Finally, we fully became acquaintances, but this is just the beginning.
I still need to dig deeper, to gain her trust a bit more... without rushing things.
After all, Rome wasn't built in a day.
Today, I'll content myself with obtaining some useful objects, and maybe helping her slightly... But by the end of my nine days before returning to the island, I absolutely must obtain Sylvia's skill... as well as that of the Japanese inventor.
...
After an hour discussing with Wiz the side effects and capabilities of various objects and potions in her shop, I ended up selecting a few.
A small investment for the next quest I plan to undertake.
I don't think Megumin will always be able to help me, because it's abnormal for a beginner adventurer to chain several quests each day.
Imagine: you're a beginner adventurer, you just spent a whole day risking your life against gigantic toads in the prairie outside Axel... and you have a companion who wants to do this same quest again and again, ten days in a row.
You see the problem?
I might have the motivation, but that's not necessarily the case for all members of my group now and later.
So I shouldn't take Megumin's presence, or even that of a potential new member, for granted.
Even Kazuma already experienced a similar situation at some point in his adventure.
"I-I don't think these objects are really wise, Renji... I can suggest others, with a discount."
"No, I like these ones."
[Name: Explosive Potion]
[Category: consumable]
[Description: A potion similar to nitroglycerin, which can explode once the flask is opened or in case of even minor vibrations.]
[Name: Lightning Strike Orb]
[Category: item]
[Description: Allows triggering the advanced spell "Lightning Strike". However, the spell only targets the ground, also hitting standing users.]
[Name: Wiz's Rosary]
[Category: item]
[Description: Supposed to cause wonderful encounters... but actually attracts monsters.]
[Name: Stat Enhancement Potion]
[Category: consumable]
[Description: Increases one stat while randomly decreasing another.]
[Name: Insect Choleran]
[Category: item]
[Description: Casts a death curse on anything smaller than a mouse... including microbes necessary for life.]
The three non-consumable "items" cost me 1.9 million Eris total.
A hell of a sum, clearly out of reach for a beginner adventurer... but necessary at my current level.
And for the consumables?
I bought about twenty explosive potions, at 30,000 Eris each.
As for the stat-related potion, it's worth 50,000 Eris per vial. I took five, for a total of 250,000 Eris.
I know what you're thinking: Why buy this crap?
Yes, it's shit. It increases one stat, but sacrifices another, and randomly at that.
But the answer is simple.
And sad.
It's possible that one day, I won't be satisfied with one of my statistics.
Then, this potion will be my backup plan.
Especially since there are certain statistics that can't be increased via the classic level-up method.
It would be interesting to check the possible increase of these through potions.
So, in total, I used about 2 million 750k Eris.
A big sum... but well invested.
"You spent a lot..."
Wiz's voice contained barely concealed joy, almost childlike. And it was contagious, because I smiled unconsciously in turn.
"Yes, but the quality of your products is worth the investment... What's this?"
My gaze had stopped on a hat, resembling that of a wizard or witch straight out of a fairy tale.
Wiz followed my gaze, then explained calmly:
[Name: Magical Thought-Revealing Hat]
[Category: item]
[Description: A hat that reveals the user's thoughts. Mainly used to communicate with animals and monsters.]
Finally, I bought this wizard hat, after confirming that it automatically adjusts to the size of my head.
Total cost: 2 million 800K Eris.