Buying the necessities

"Now then, let's go back to what we came here for."

Saito nodded, after a few seconds, we found the items we were looking for.

In front of me, is a small compass that can fit on even a female's palm. Don't underestimate its small size, this small compass is in actual fact, an automated mapping device.

Just by using a bit of magic, you can store it anywhere, and it will automatically create an extremely detailed map of anywhere you go. The more expensive and the higher the quality the tool, the larger the capacity it can hold as well as the distance it can record at once increases in proportion.

For example, the cheapest one maps an area of three meters around the user. It can also be used to store and save up to ten places at once. Of course, you can choose to erase a map that you have already fully explored, but why do that when you can just buy another one?

Anyway, let's say this expensive one over here. It costs about thirty million yen and can record a distance of over ten meters around me. It also allows me to store up to fifty maps at once.

The best thing about this one, in particular, is that it's similar to a drone. You can make it take flight above you and record as you go even without keeping it on your body.

Now you may wonder why the storage is limited. Well, sure they could make it unlimited, but then their sales would decrease by a huge margin. Even though it's limited in capacity, people would still pay for a new one anyway, since most ability-users can afford it.

Now let me talk about the trap detection tool. Like the name implies it does exactly what its name says, detects traps. Now how does it work? Don't ask me, I don't really care how items work as long as they do their job.

Anyway, the tool can be used along with the mapping tool by using magic to combine them as well. Just by letting it move over areas ahead of you, it uses some sort of waves that somehow detects traps no matter what the kind of trap is.

Now, why would I want the [Trap Detection] skill if I could just buy the tool? Well, you see it's quite limited in its use. Basically a disposable item that can only be used up to a maximum of ten times.

Even though they are disposable, they are still quite expensive, just like potions. Now, since this is a magical world, of course, there would be potions.

From healing to paralysis, poison, burn, etc. That's right, the more expensive the potion, the more effective they are. Though I may say that, even the cheapest motion costs a whopping ten million yen.

Why would they be so expensive? Well, they could be considered as a life-saving item.

Just think about it, when you are about to die, you simply drink the potion which almost gives you a second chance at life. No matter how expensive they are, can it be more expensive than your life? No, of course not.

Oh I forgot to mention this too, the more expensive they are, the better the potions taste. Though, even the cheapest potion tastes quite good, like a kind of sports drink.

I heard there are even rich people who drink potions like water just because they like the taste!

Of course, drinking potions won't have a side effect even if you aren't injured or suffering from poison, etc. Hence, such a thing is possible.

Anyway, let's move back to the plot, these explanations are taking up a lot of lines that could be used for the story instead.

"Hey, Saito, which one will you get?"

"Hmm, they are all expensive, even the cheapest one is out of my range, I don't think I'll buy one today."

"Then how about this, what if I buy them for you, and you can pay me back in full later?"

Of course, I already planned to buy them for him. Since I knew of his condition which was similar to my own one in the past, I wanted to help him even though he is my rival.

With his stubborn character, he wouldn't just let me gift them to him for free. Hence, I thought of this scheme even though I won't take his money later on even if he has enough to pay me back.

"..."

Seeing that he didn't reply, I opened my mouth to continue.

"Isn't it fine? It's not like I'm giving them to you for free, once you enter the dungeon and make some money you can pay me back. Of course, I don't want you to save by skipping meals and daily routines."

"Besides, aren't we friends now? Friends are there to help you after all."

Hehehe, how do you like my brilliant, well-thought speech? I spent a while thinking about what to say during class, of course, I did pay attention as well.

"Okay then, I'll accept, thank you Hatsume-san."

Seeing that he accepted, it seems he thinks that we are friends too. That's good.

I then called for an employee to come to us.

"How may I help you, dear customer."

The beautiful female employee who greeted us when we first entered bowed in front of me.

"Hello, I would like to take that, two of these, two of these, this, those and these."

I quickly pointed at all the items I wanted within the span of a few seconds. Since I knew that the employee would know which items I wanted even at that speed, I didn't bother trying to slow down for them.

"Let me get them for you, dear customer. Thank you for your patronage."

"Hatsume-san, are you really going to buy all of those? You even bought the most expensive things."

"What? Of course, I am, since I have the money why would I save it? Isn't my life more important? Money can always be earned again, but once your life is gone, it's gone forever."

"Now come, let's buy some potions."

I quickly moved on without waiting for Saito as I headed towards another area. Standing there, I quickly grabbed a bunch of different potions and walked to the counter with Saito behind me holding some more potions.

Standing by the counter, I used my card to pay for everything. When the employee saw my black starred platinum card, they quickly bowed and offered me a discount.

"Sir, with your card, you are eligible for a thirty percent discount at any store. I will apply it now."

Hmm, since when was that a thing? Well, since it wasn't mentioned in the game, it's not important I guess. But a thirty percent discount is nice.

"We will send the items to your home via express. Thank you for your patronage, we hope to see you again."

"Thanks, I'll come back for sure."

After paying for the things I wanted, I pretended to ask Saito for his address so I could send him the items, of course, I already knew his address but it would be weird if I sent it to him without him telling me his address.

"Well, since we're done here, let's check on Lumi."

Saito nodded as we headed back to where we had left Lumiere on her own. When we arrived, I quickly found Lumiere staring at a certain piece of accessory.

Standing behind her without a word, I had a look at what she was keeping an eye on. In front of me is a small green hairpin. It has a somewhat large green magic crystal embedded in it, while the design was quite delicate and graceful.

It really did seem to fit perfectly on Lumiere who likes things that are green.

I started reading the effects of the hairpin.

[Twenty percent boost to wind magic. Twenty percent boost to agility and dexterity. Twenty percent boost to charm.]

What the, a boost to charm?

It even has its own explanation in small writing. 'A boost to charm, to make the person you love pay more attention to you.'

…

Well, let's ignore that, the other two boosts are great, an entire twenty percent?

"Lumi, do you like it?"

I suddenly spoke softly from behind her.

"Ah! Hiro-kun, you surprised me, when did you arrive?"

"Haha, you must really like it if you didn't even notice us standing behind you. Well since you like it, I'll buy it for you as a gift."

"Really? But, it's expensive, does Futaba-san give you a big enough allowance?"

Saito standing behind us softly wondered, "Futaba-san?"

"Hehe, don't worry about it, even if I spent all of my allowance, I would still buy it for you as long as it makes you happy."

Hearing that, Lumi's cheeks became slightly red as she thanked me.

I called the same female employee from before as the three of us head to pay for the hairpin.

Standing by the entrance of the store, the employee bowed as we left.

"Thank you for your patronage, we hope to see you again."

Turning around, I nodded and smiled as the three of us left. We spent quite some time in the magical tool shop, it was already beginning to get darker.

Standing outside the mall, Lumi and I said goodbye to Saito who headed home, while the two of us went to buy a snack before heading home.