Coins

Vivian and Pana stepped outside the gate of Stonia's house.

Pana held her head down and wore a dejected expression on her face.

"Pana..." said Vivian.

Pana turned around and looked at her.

"Sorry about what happened. I tried to showcase my talents but it seems I wasn't enough," said Vivian.

Given that Pana was a receptionist in the Adventurer's Guild for assisting Adventurers with quests and Vivian was not only an Adventurer but also didn't know how to read or write, she decided to comfort her.

Had she been a complete stranger, she wouldn't even bother to comfort her, let alone talk to her.

Pana forced a smile and waved her hands.

"Please, you don't have to apologize or anything."

"But hey, maybe one day once I'm stronger I can work at her club as a bouncer and I'll try to put on a good word for you."

Hearing that, Pana's face brightened a little bit.

"Thank you. And sorry as well," Pana said and bowed. "I know that I've been acting shameless back there. It's just that, the reason why I acted the way I did was because I wanted to use her connections to have my son be mentored by a prestigious Scholar. He's still 4 years old but he will start his lessons at 6 years old."

Mentored by a prestigious Scholar...?

So there's something like a school here…?

As far as Vivian can remember, she has never seen school uniforms.

I wonder if there are like magic schools like the ones depicted in mangas and animes…

"I see. So I guess I have 2 years then?" said Vivian.

"You don't have to. I'll find another way," Pana said and smiled as she waved her hands.

"Okay, but I'll still try if I have a chance," Vivian said and smiled. "Anyhow, I'm sorry, but I have to go. I have an item that I had repaired yesterday and I have to get it."

"No problem. I too have to go back to the guild or my coworkers will get angry. Thank you and sorry for bothering you," Pana said and then bowed.

"Thank you too," Vivian said and then left.

***

When Vivian reached another street, she took out the coin pouch that Madam Stonia gave her from her satchel and opened it.

Her eyes widened and she let out a gasp.

10 GOLD COINS...!!!

She closed the coin pouch and looked around.

There were people around and she noticed a few people, especially men, threw a glance at her.

However, no one seems to be looking at her in a funny or suspicious way.

She returned the coin pouch to her satchel and went to the side to stop and think.

She took out the coin pouch once again and slid it inside her leather 

armor and between her breasts.

At the moment, she had 2 coin pouches between her breasts but she didn't care. As long as she could secure it, that was the only thing that mattered to her.

Holy shit…!

I was expecting it to be silver coins, not gold coins…

Okay, what am I going to do with it…?

She looked around.

I need a proper place to sit and think…

She noticed some cafes but all of the stores or buildings around this neighborhood seemed a bit too beautiful. Even the people walking around were wearing nicer clothes.

Come to think of it, I'm the only one here who's dressed as an Adventurer…

And I'm also carrying all of my belongings with me…

I probably looked like a broke and homeless Adventurer in their eyes…

Not probably, but definitely…

She quickly decided to leave this part of the city.

***

Vivian entered an eatery that was located in a poorer area compared to the one she had been to earlier.

There was an empty table and she decided to sit there.

Once Vivian sat down, a waitress approached her.

"Hi, what can I get you?"

"Do you have coffee?"

"Yes, which one do you like?"

"Just a normal one. How much is it?"

"It would be 2 copper coins."

She took out 2 copper coins from a coin pouch inside her satchel.

"Thank you," Vivian said as she gave it to the waitress.

"Thank you, too. I'll bring your coffee right away," the waitress said and smiled before leaving.

Now it's time to think…

How am I going to spend these 10 gold coins…?

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

She began tapping her feet.

"Here's your coffee," said the waitress.

She was carrying a tray. On top of it, there was a cup of black coffee on top of a saucer, a small wooden spoon, and a small jar.

"Thank you," Vivian said as the waitress placed the items on the table.

"You're welcome. Please enjoy your coffee," the waitress said and then left.

Vivian opened the small jar.

I guess this is brown sugar…?

She picked up the small wooden spoon and tasted her coffee.

Yup, it's bitter…

She poured 2 scoops of sugar into her coffee and stirred it before taking a sip.

Vivian's face winced a bit from the heat of the coffee and she put the down cup.

Okay, how am I going to spend these 10 gold coins…?

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

She began tapping her feet once again.

After a few moments, she stopped.

On one hand, I want to use it to buy equipment and potions…

On the other hand, I want to change Class, like a Priest or anything that has healing…

If I were to use it to buy equipment and potions, I have 2 options…

The first option is to go to a more dangerous place and just pray that I can find some rare loots…

But the problem is that I would be depending on luck…

And I won't want to depend on luck...

Back in her original world, if Vivian were to choose between luck and hard work, she would rather choose the latter. And the reason was simple -- luck is unreliable and it can go both ways: good or bad luck.

I can probably hunt some strong monster hides and try to sell it to a shop or something…

But then another problem is that I might be accused of overhunting…

Vivian recalled what the receptionists told her about overhunting.

The second one is to join a party…

Sure, I can learn more things from them, no doubt about that…

But putting aside the trust issue, the first problem is that the probability of me being accepted to a strong party is very, very low…

The second problem, since I'm just going to end up joining a weak party and also the fact that I'll outgrow them within a week or two because of my Lore Magic [Otherworldly] which grants me [Growth] or x5 boosts, how are they going to keep up with me…?

I don't have time to just kill a few monsters here and there and then go home to call it a day... 

I want to kill as many monsters as I want…

And if I force them to keep up with me, either they're just going to die or I'm going to babysit them which will slow down my progress…

My other choice is to change Class…

To begin with, I don't even like the Thief class…

Hell, even in games I would never even choose this…

I always choose some kind of healer, a wizard or a necromancer…

She recalled what the 2 Adventurers last night told her about the Necromancer class.

She also recalled what the apothecary shop owner earlier this morning told her about healing magic.

Despite killing so much and almost dying, I still haven't learned any Class Magic…

If I'm going to change my Class, that's going to cost me 10 gold coins…

And given that I'm broke, it will probably take me time to learn Class Magic... 

I might as well be a Priest or any Class that can heal so that I don't have to worry about Healing Potions anymore…

And it would be nice if what that man from the apothecary said about [Greater Heal] is true...

With my Lore Magic [Otherwordly], I believe I have the potential to be crazy powerful, but I don't believe I'll be invulnerable…

Especially in the beginning...

The probability of me losing a limb or two is so high...

Unless of course by some miracle I have an unlimited supply of that rare Full Rejuvenation Potions…

But how am I going to learn healing magic though…?

If what that woman from the Temple of Thieves guild said is true that in order to learn Class Magic is by doing actions similar to the skill's effect over and over again, does that mean I have to use Healing Potions…?

However, that apothecary guy did say that people with [Light] Affinity can learn [Heal] and [Sanctuary]…

But how will I even learn [Light Mastery]…?

Find a monster or pay someone to cast [Light] magic on me…?

Vivian recalled the description of Otherworldly. It grants [Growth] which gives her x5 to all affinity.

All Affinity...

That means I'll be able to learn all Affinities...?

I mean, I've managed to unlock different kinds of Physical Arts and they all were affected by the x5 boost...

And even if I somehow managed to unlock [Light Mastery], what level will I get it…?

If it's Level 1, sure, no problem…

But if it isn't…?

I've only been here for a few days but I've already almost died more than once, not counting the severe injuries…

There's also [Sanctuary] which is supposed to be on the extreme level of [Light Mastery] but it's not confirmed if it can repair lost limbs…

She covered her face with her hands.

Ugh…!

So many problems and so many questions…!

And after a few moments, she pulled her hands away and a serious expression appeared on her face.

"I have to go to the Temple of Priests and ask for more information."