Shop of Mysteries
Raja's eyes snapped open at the sound of the approaching mana train. The low hum of its engine echoed through the station, a familiar sound to anyone who had traveled across the vast empire. The train's sleek design, powered by intricate **mana circuits** and a **mana engine**, reflected the ingenuity of the human empire. It wasn't the most luxurious way to travel, but it was efficient, fast, and most importantly—cheap. For commoners like him, the price was right.
He paused for a moment, glancing toward the readers with a wry smile. "*Hey, it may not be the fanciest way to travel, but 10 Copper Pennies for a ride? That's what you call a steal. At least they didn't gouge us on this,*" he said before stepping onto the train.
The train came to a smooth halt, and the doors slid open. Raja stepped forward, and the **conductor**, an older man with silver streaks in his beard, tipped his hat and asked, "Where to, lad?"
"Skyward Market," Raja replied, handing over the 10 Copper Pennies. As the conductor inspected the coins, he gave Raja a curious look.
"Ah, heading to Skyward, eh?" He looked the young boy up and down. "Are you one of them academy students?"
Raja hesitated slightly. Then, he turned his head toward the readers. *"Right, social skills. I was a loner in my past life, remember? Conversations like this? Still kinda new to me. But hey, I gotta start somewhere, right?"*
Clearing his throat, Raja nodded. "Yeah, I just started."
The conductor's eyes brightened. "My daughter was in that academy four years back. Smart girl, but..." His face darkened for a moment. "She had to come back after the first year. Didn't have enough merit points."
Raja felt a pang of unease. "Merit points, huh..."
The old man gave a slow nod, leaning in a little. "Get as many as you can, lad. It's the only way to survive there, especially for commoners like us. And trust me, you're gonna want to get yourself a **space ring** if you haven't already. You'll need it for the first exam—it's tough. Easy to lose points if you're not careful."
Raja raised an eyebrow. "Lose points? How?"
The conductor lowered his voice to a near whisper, making sure no one else could hear. "The noble kids. They'll take points from commoners if they can. Stick to the shadows, don't stand out too much. Better to play it safe than risk losing everything."
Raja nodded, pretending to take the advice seriously, though he couldn't help but glance at the readers with a smirk. *"Come on, like I'm really gonna lay low. They'll come after me no matter what. But don't worry, I'm not gonna spoil anything just yet. You'll see how I handle them soon enough."*
"Got it," Raja said aloud. The old man smiled warmly, satisfied that his advice had been heard.
The ride went on, the train whizzing through the fields and small towns until the massive silhouette of **Skyward Market** came into view. Raja thanked the conductor and stepped off the train.
---
As he walked into the bustling marketplace, Raja couldn't help but marvel at the towering **magical clock tower** in the center of the square. Its enormous clock face displayed the time—**10 AM**, sharp.
Turning toward the readers again, he raised a hand and gestured toward the market. *"Welcome to Skyward Market, the place where you can find literally anything—from enchanted artifacts to shady deals with all races merchants. It's chaotic, it's overwhelming, and somewhere in this mess, I've got to find my way to that item. Oh, and I'm looking forward to seeing what reality's version of those 2D characters looks like. Should be interesting."*
Raja adjusted his dress and set off into the heart of the market, eyes scanning for the old, shabby shop that held the key to protecting his mind from the dangers lurking in the future.
As Raja stepped into **Skyward Market**, his eyes widening at the sheer scope of the place. It wasn't just big—it was *massive*. **Towers of shimmering stone** lined the streets, each building bustling with life. Merchants had set up stalls that spilled over into the walkways, and the air hummed with the chatter of various languages and the soft hum of mana from countless artifacts.
Glancing toward the readers, Raja couldn't help but grin. *"You know, they really did a good job making this place feel like the center of the world. I mean, look at this place! It's beautiful, it's chaotic—*" he gestured around, *"—and it's probably where you'll get ripped off if you're not careful. I'm mean scammed."* He winked, moving deeper into the market.
As he walked, his eyes wandered over various items that had been taken from **beast bodies**. These weren't ordinary creatures—they were beasts that used **mana cores** inside their bodies instead of circuits. Some of the merchants were selling everything from claws and fangs to scales, but what caught his eye were the glowing mana cores.
Raja looked toward the readers again. *"See those? They're used in a lot of things—artifacts, potions, you name it. We'll get to the details in academy classes later, so just stick around."*
Next, he passed by an assortment of **mana crystals**, some as small as his fist and others the size of an elephant. Their vibrant hues reflected light in all directions, dazzling him for a moment.
The market wasn't just a hub for humans either. Raja noticed several **merchant stalls** run by **elves, dwarves, and beastfolk**. There was a male **catfolk** merchant haggling over weapons with a grumpy **dwarf**, while a **fox clan merchant** demonstrated the potency of a potion to a crowd.
Glancing quickly at a **witch's shop**, a shiver ran down his spine. The stories from his childhood about witches flashed through his mind, making him quicken his pace. *"Nope. Not going near that,"* he muttered, casting a nervous glance toward the readers. *"Childhood trauma's a thing, right? You'd think with all this experience of 22 years of loner, I'd be fearless, but... yeah, witches are a no-go for me."*
As he moved through the bustling crowd, something even more impressive came into view—a **monument**. It was enormous, towering over the entire marketplace. The **Memorial of Saint Jeanne Joan and The Hero Blackswordsman** stood in the center, both figures carved with incredible detail.
The **hero** stood tall with his sword in hand, as if prepared to defend against an unseen enemy, while the **saint** embraced him from behind, her expression soft and loving. Raja stared at it for a moment, his mind racing.
*"Wait... I don't remember reading about these two in the original novel."* He turned toward the readers, a mix of confusion and excitement in his eyes. *"This has to be part of the history that didn't make it into the novel. I do remember King Uther Pendragon fighting alongside four other heroes against the Demon Army, so these two must be part of that group."* Raja paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. *"There's probably a lot the novel didn't cover. Guess I'll have to figure it out as I go."*
Turning back toward the statue, he murmured, *"Also, no gods here except for Mother Earth, and the church is dedicated to her. Apparently, saints can marry here, too. That's... different."*
---
After **two hours** of searching through the labyrinth of shops, Raja finally found what he was looking for—an **old, shabby shop** tucked away in a narrow alley. The wooden sign above the door was so worn it was barely legible.
**Shop of Mysteries**
He stepped inside, the musty scent of dust and ancient wood hitting his nose immediately..
Raja pushed the creaky door open further, stepping cautiously into the old man's shop. Dust floated in the air, illuminated by the faint sunlight filtering through the narrow windows. The place was eerily quiet.
"Hey, anyone here?" Raja called out, his voice echoing in the small space. No response.
He raised an eyebrow. *This is weird,* he thought. Then, turning toward the shelves filled with ancient relics and trinkets, he grinned mischievously and muttered loudly enough to be heard, "I guess no one's around. Guess I'll just take what I want."
As soon as the words left his mouth, there was a loud shuffling noise from behind the counter. A moment later, a figure emerged—an old man with a long beard that nearly touched the floor, looking as ancient as the relics he sold. He glared at Raja.
"You brat!" the old man shouted, his voice rough but laced with a hidden warmth. "Trying to steal from me, eh? I'll curse you where you stand!"
Raja flinched but quickly recovered, raising his hands defensively. "Whoa, whoa, Gramps! I was kidding! You weren't coming out, so I just said that to get you moving."
The old man narrowed his eyes, but the corners of his mouth twitched as though he was holding back a smirk. "Brat, you look like one of those poor street rats. You're here to buy, aren't you?"
Raja nodded, trying not to let the old man's words sting too much. "Yeah, I'm here to buy something. I mean, I don't have much, but I need something important."
The old man huffed but moved aside to let him browse. "Go on then. See if you can find anything worthwhile."
---
As Raja sifted through the dusty shelves, he took a moment to glance back at the old man. *"He's exactly how he was described in the novel,"* he thought, *"Strict, but with a heart of gold underneath."* Raja turned his gaze toward the readers. *"There wasn't much backstory about him in the original novel, but he helped Grey out a lot. His shop was eventually destroyed by demons, but he always seemed like a mystery."*
Raja sifted through a box of random trinkets, his eyes scanning the ancient items. *"There's definitely more to him than the story let on. Maybe one of those powerful backstories that'll reveal itself later? After all, old men in stories and anime are always secretly strong, right? I wonder what happened to him in og novel or that stupid author forgot about him."*
After a few more minutes of searching, something caught his eye—a simple but weathered **ring**, tucked away in a corner. *"This is it,"* Raja whispered to himself, then turned toward the readers with a triumphant grin. *"Found it."*
---
He walked over to the old man, holding the ring up. "Gramps, I want this."
The old man's eyes widened slightly, and his expression grew more serious. "No."
Raja blinked in confusion. "Wait, what?"
The old man crossed his arms. "You heard me. You're not taking that ring."
Raja was stunned. He looked back toward the readers, his mind racing. *"In the novel, Grey didn't have any trouble getting this ring! The old man just handed it over, no questions asked. Is this because I'm not the protagonist? Dammit, Grey and his ridiculous luck!"*
He turned back to the old man and, without thinking, began to beg. "Please, I need this ring."
The old man raised an eyebrow, unmoved. "Why? What's so special about it?"
Raja paused, feeling the weight of his next words. He met the old man's gaze and spoke with a rare seriousness. "I don't know... I can't explain it, but I feel like this ring is... protecting me. Like a blessing."
For the first time, the old man's hardened expression softened. He stared at Raja for a long moment, as if weighing his words carefully. Then, with a heavy sigh, he nodded.
"Fifty Copper Pennies. No less."
Raja let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and quickly handed over the coins. "Deal."
---
As Raja stepped outside, the ring now safely in his possession, the old man watched him leave from the doorway. A satisfied smile crept across his face, his eyes twinkling with a secret knowledge.
"It seems this kid can feel its purpose after all. You have Mother Earth's blessing, brat."
---
"Hey, wait a minute. It's me, The Great Raja. Did you see, my social communication skills increased. Seems like I reached one level up folk's. Anyway Please support this novel with stones and comments. And Be careful reader's. Lets meet in another chapter and find out about this old ring."
**To be continued...**
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