A Broken Store

 With how much they earned, a day off is in the table, which is something the girls are glad for. After all, they only arrive at Midarna City, and still did not have the opportunity to explore the city yet.

 Even Ian and Kell are excited by the prospect, the later to look at the scenery while the former want to look for any magic books as well place to learn alchemy.

-x-

 The group split into the usual group, Kell, Lisa and Ana in one group while Fiona and Ian in the other one.

 As the first group looked for equipment, and from what he heard, clothing, he prayed for his brother in everything but blood to be strong.

 As for him and Fiona, the later seemed interested in buying a mage robe. Ian also interested in one, even if it just to for aesthetic. 

-x-

 "Looks like the the past one is 1 silver coin while the most expensive is around 2 gold coins, one we can afford," Ian muttered. There were even more expensive mage robe, all of them seemingly weave with rare materials and exude magic energy, no doubt the reason it cost an arm and a leg.

 "We should buy in the good quality yet still affordable for us," Fiona muttered. Kell had decided each of them will have 3 gold coins each to buy whatever they want. The rest is save for emergencies and for their rent.

 In the end, they bought mage robes that cost 50 silver coins, enchanted with Weather Resistance and Durable.

-x-

 "Looks like even the most basic magic books is so expensive," Ian uttered, looking at the ridiculous price he is seeing. 

 For a single book that is probably even worse than even the Grimoire of Support and Tome of Flame, the price seem exorbitant. 

 "Yeah, 1 gold coin for a single book seem much, but it is a magic book," Fiona unable to make her decision. After all, with a magic book, she could learn new spells to add to her arsenal.

 "Let see if there is anything that will be helpful for you," he decide. After all, he has the system store, and could buy any magic books he want. 

 He also remind himself to talk to Kell about their daily missions, as well as some of the achievement quest they finished. Thankfully, as long as they finished the daily quests, even if they don't know about, they will receive the points.

 After scouring the shop, they bought a single magic book for Fiona, one with three spells of the Lightning Elemental, most of them not that strong but will increase her arsenal as the debuff specialist in their party.

-x-

 "We shoul- what is that?" Ian suddenly said, his eyes falling on a broken-down shop. Unlike other shops next to it, which look in pristine condition, the shop is dirty with mosses growing on the walls.

 The door looked worn-down with the windows even looking it will fall anytime soon. Yet, Ian could feel someone casting magic inside. He subtly used Mana Sense and could not help be curious by what is happening.

 He went to the store, a reluctant Fiona following her regardless of her wishes. As he opened the door, his nose is assaulted by dust, making him sneeze.

 "Atchoo!"

 "Oh, is someone here," a voice asked from behind the counter. The voice soon revealed itself to be a beautiful young woman. She is shorter than Fiona, but with breast almost as big as hers. Her pink hair is also eye-catching.

 Her green eyes shining at the sight of the newcomer.

 "Hello there, are you here to buy anything?" the woman asked.

 "We came here to look around," Ian reply, as he walked around the store. The store itself is unkempt, with plenty of books and boxes on the floor, making it a veritable maze if one is lower than the boxes.

 "What kind of store is this? There seem to be no sign or anything," Ian asked. 

 "Well, this is an alchemy shop, well, it used to be one," the woman said.

 "Oh, why is that?" Ian asked, interested. While he did not prefer to take advantage of someone in trouble, if he could gain something out of it, he will do it.

 "The one of alchemist who work in this store fell into a debt and flee from this store. And so, the owner of the store, my father have to use all of his savings and treasures to paid the debt collector.

 And so, we can't afford to hire any adventurers to get the necessary materials to perform alchemy and so the store fell into obscurity," 

 While he sympathize with the woman, he could not help but compare her to an NPC. "So, what do you even sell here?" Fiona asked.

 "Well, considering I cannot perform alchemy without materials, I can only sell books about alchemy that I have, along with some equipment. They all old but still usable," the woman said.

 "Are there any magic books?" Ian asked suddenly. Fiona raised her brows at the unexpected question but before she could question him, the woman answered,

 "Yes," this make Fiona turned her head towards the woman, almost having a whiplash.

 "Really?!" even Ian said in shock. After all, he merely joking. While alchemist used magic, they mostly used it in creating different items for everyday use. In a way, alchemist is the same thing as engineer, except instead of technology, they depends on magic.

 "Yes, we use to be a successful store and my father had bought three magic books in case I don't want to be an alchemist and want to be an adventurer. But growing up with an alchemist as a father, I want to follow his footsteps, so I became an alchemist as well," she told her story.

 Now Ian is sure she is an NPC.

 "How much for the magic books, all of them?" Ian asked, ready to haggle with the woman.

 "Hhmm, while I need money, I cannot sell the books at an expensive price or you just leave. Hhmm, how troublesome," the two adventurer sweat drop hearing her mutter.

 "How about a deal?" Ian proposed.