"Let's go get your supplies before we have to head back. This little errand of yours already cost a lot of time" Milles hated the way Kathy talked to him.
The mutant seemed to have no respect for him, but there was a new look in her as well. She was getting suspicious of him and that was not good for him.
"Yeah, I'm done for the day as well" Milles made sure to hide the phone in his backpack discreetly. He had a few ideas about what he could do with that phone. Maybe he would not need those new parts so soon after all.
The main road was a far cry from the lawless area and Milles could not help but feel it getting to him now. His calves were aching and it caused him to walk slower.
The shop where he had to buy supplies was as good as empty. Most of the students had already made their rebound around and were looking at their interests now.
"Welcome, sir. How may I help you?" the lady at the front desk asked. Her smile looked to be the same professional one every sales counter in charge gave their customers.
"A first-year tool kit. The best one you can recommend me" the fake smile got larger on the female's face. She likely thought of Milles as an easy target, rich but good for nothing else.
She disappeared from the counter and Milles took his time looking around.
He recognized most of the display products. Most of them were things he had only read about but had yet to experience. He wanted to dissect them and see what made them tick.
Thankfully, the lady did not take long to return with a tool kit in her hand.
"Here. this one is the most expensive one we have. This is the top of the line, best one money can find you" the lady pushed the packet in front of Milles and waited for him to take it.
Milles instantly turned the box to have a look at the back. He could tell from experience that cost did not always equal quality.
"No, this one won't do. It is missing too many essential tools and the build is also not suitable. I asked for the best one, not the most expensive one" the more Milles spoke, the less the counter lady smiled.
There was not even a hint of a smile in her eyes by the end. The bandana on top of her head seemed odd but it suited her well.
But there was a look of acknowledgment on her face that irked Milles. She had likely realised that he would not fall prey to her that easily.
"I have a few more packages you can choose from. However, if you have a list of requirements then I can get you the individual pieces themselves. They will cost a lot more but their quality would be guaranteed" the lady's offer was good.
And Milles did know what he wanted. He had compiled a list just in case this scenario occurred.
"Here. Try getting me all this. And this time, please make it the best" Milles forwarded the list from his system to the females.
It took the shopkeeper no time to arrange his supplies. It was almost like she already had everything ready at hand before he had entered.
Then had the first box been a test? To see if he would fall prey to her and spend unnecessary money?
Milles could not be sure.
"Come back soon. There will be more shipment for goods coming soon and I have a feeling you would find it beneficial" the shop lady offered as Milles paid for his things.
"I will consider it" the shop lady waved at the pair as they left the shop with that practiced smile.
But it dropped as soon as the pair exited the shop. Her eyes looked over to the cash counter which reflected a familiar name.
Misha Raycraft
"That kid, he knew what he was talking about. He's no ordinary first-year and connected to the president as well. Now then, what should I do with this information? I guess that old fox would be interested in something like this" the bandana on the lady's head twitched.
"How irritating. Why did I agree to do this again?" the female adjusted the bandana on her head, letting her unusual bunny ears for a fraction of a second.
And then she was off to do her work once again.
Not that it mattered to the pair who had already left the shop. They were in a hurry after all and Misha could feel his legs about to give out on him.
Kathy was much faster than him and had left him in the dust a long time ago. She did turn back a few times to wait for him but her impatience had been clear.
"Can't you run faster? Enhance your body if you must" the girl snapped, too fed up with his slow speed.
"C-Can't. Type Null. Can't use high-level magic" Milles panted out and Kathy's face turned into one full of sympathy.
"Yeah, then forget about it. I guess I have no other choice" Milles did not get a chance to protest before he was picked up and held at Kathy's shoulder.
And then the girl was off.
There was a low hum of magic around the girl that made Milles sick and the fast motion was not helping him as well.
But he had to endure. Opening his mouth right then would not be a good option. Not with the way the food in his stomach was protesting against the motion.
And just as Milles was sure he could not hold on any longer, he felt the female carrying him stop and drop him down. It just added to the spinning motion inside his head.
"Kathy, what did you do? He looks as if he's about to vomit" Milles felt as if he would about to vomit. The surroundings around him were spinning as well.
"It's not my fault that he's like that. He was the one who insisted on running and I just decided to carry him because he was too slow" Kathy protested and Milles was sure she said something else as well.
But his vision was fainting and he had no energy to keep his eyes open.
[System warning: User emergy levels are too low. Going into hibernation mode to conserve energy]
Ah yes, energy. Why was Milles's energy so low? He was sure he had enough food to last him for a while…
…which he had eaten this morning before the first-year students had left the academy.
"Hey, don't fall asleep. Someone, get the medics here and fast. I can't figure out what is wrong with him" there was panic in the voice.
Milles vaguely recognized it as the person in charge of their group but he was in no condition to open his eyes and reply.
His consciousness faded to black…
…and then he awoke not a few seconds later. But his surrounding had completely changed in those few seconds.
He was no longer outside but in a room covered with a lot of monitors and more equipment. He was lying on a soft bed and had someone looking right at him.
"Good, you finally work up. You gave us quite a scare back there. You are currently back at the academy and the medical section" the person, likely the doctor explained.
He looked relatively young but it was difficult to guess someone's right age in the current times. There were spells to make one look younger after all.
"What happened?" Milles could not help but ask that question. His head was still not clear of the fog but he did feel much more awake.
He tried to move his hand but something hurt and he stilled his hand.
"Don't try to move much. There is an IV in your arm and it would be bad if you disconnected it now. Your body needs the nutrition" the doctor advised and Milles instantly stopped moving.
There was an IV in his arm and he wondered how he had missed it the first time? Maybe because he had not been paying attention to it back then.
"How did I get back here? How long have I been here?" It had only felt like a second to Milles but he could tell that it had been longer than that.
Far longer than that.
"The teacher in charge of your group brought you back. It had been a few hours since you collapsed from fatigue. You should take better care of yourself out there" the doctor advised.
He did not sound too worried so Milles figured that he was not in any immediate danger. Milles felt himself relax as the doctor took note of some readings.
"Now then. Since you are awake, I should let the principal know. He wanted to talk with you" and Milles spoke too soon. Apparently, he was not out of the danger zone just yet.