Scam or not?

<Sigh >, I was roaming around the close area, but soon enough I regretted my decision. This city is bigger than I thought so I decided to get a map of the city from a local library. But before that…

* Location: Azberon Brewing Shop, Atlas City.

<click eeerrr>

I want to get some potion in case of danger. Thankfully, I found this potion shop sooner than I thought. With each breath, I can smell all sorts of different herbs which is fascinating by itself, and the cases are labeled by names that I don't know even though I read about them before.

"What do you want?"

"Oh hi, I would like to purchase some basic quality healing potions if you have any."

His look gave off some badass vibes, but overall he is just an old man.

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*[ Harbert Azberon

Age: 81

Job: Potioneer ]

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"Basic healing potion? It doesn't seem like you want them for a minor cut. Are you an adventurer by any chance?"

"Yes, I am an adventurer. What is the problem?"

"Basic healing potions won't do for critical damages. If you want to have something to rely on in tough situations, I suggest you get at least a normal quality potion."

Well, I don't know a lot about the potion so maybe he is right.

"How much for a normal healing potion?"

"4 Silver coins each. You can also get 3 for the cost of 1 gold coin."

What? 4 silver? I can sleep for 4 days in a warm place and you want me to pay that much for a potion that I'm going to use for a single time?

"Isn't the price astronomically high?"

"It seems like you don't know anything about the potion-making process. You need a lot of rare materials and it's hard to make, plus, you need an alchemy skill unpear the potion rank. I've been doing this job for more than a decade and this is the price that I was selling from the start."

He is right, but the price is too much. I couldn't find any shop other than this one in the area so I can't compare the price. I need the potion for emergency. I can't remember, but I feel like if I'd got a healing potion in my past life, I wouldn't be here, and because of that I can't risk this near-perfect run for mere money.

"Ok, I'll get the 3 potion option. Also give me a discount."

"Sure, I will give you an extra normal healing potion too."

"Thank you."

Why do I feel like a pushover?

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***

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*Location: Big Library, Atlas City.

Finally, I'm here. I lost my way on here because of the maze-like streets of Atlas, but something like this can't stop me.

<thud boom>

Books, books are everywhere. The feeling of surrounding by books and the odor of the pages. Kinda makes me remember my first life. The only things that were left for me in my first life were books and just books, but now, the situation is different.

"Hello, are you a member?"

"Hi, no I'm not a member. I'm here to buy a map of the city and the surrounding area. Can you help me find them?"

"Oh yeah absolutely, but you need to register first."

"Ne I don't want to read books, I just want to buy a map."

"I understand. For buying anything such as books and maps, you need to be a member first."

… what? Where on earth do you need to be a library member to buy a book? I feel like I'm being scammed by these shopkeepers. I can't even go to another library because this library is the one and only library in the city.

"<Sigh > What do I need to do?"

"Easy, the membership fee is 8 bronze coins and you can give me an identification sheet if you have any. That's it."

<gling >

"Here is the money and also my Guild card."

"Hmm perfect. Mr. Zenith, you can get back your guild card. You can come whenever you like and read stuff with just your Adventurers Guild card. Normally I would give you a membership card, but I write your name on the list and since it's impossible to forge an Adventurers Guild card, you and I should not have any problem."

"Ok now tell me about the maps section."

"Oh, you can see the maps on the bookshelf number 13. Also, you can check the geography section on the bookshelf number 14 if you're interested in it."

OK, I need to take a look at the map before I lose all of my money.

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***

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<Step step>

I couldn't buy the map because it was expensive, but I could read it so I had a rough idea of the city and its surroundings.

I'm going to the inn. The sky is still bright but I'm pretty exhausted because of the battle and walking.

I have only 7 silver and 2 bronze coins left and also,<grrr > I didn't eat anything yet so it will be another minimum of 5 bronze coins. I need to start doing some missions as soon as possible or else I might sleep on top of the trees.

*Location: Cross Inn.

Finally, I'm here. Crowded as always

"Hi Alise, do you have anything for me to eat?"

"Yes of course. Take you to sit and I'll bring the food as soon as possible."

The vibe here is always like this. Does every fantasy have this vibe? Aesthetic vibe? I don't think having infinite reincarnations is a bad thing after all. Although experiencing infinite realities and infinite apocalypses sounds horrible, but I don't care about them if I experience this kind of excitement for eternity too. I need to be prepared, not just for this universe, but for every universe that I'm going to reincarnate in after this one.

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- I was feeling excited and scared at the same time about the future. What was going to happen was the main reason for that and I didn't know what kind of journey I was going to face.